Little things and a big surprise

Hi everyone,
I received a lovely surprise on Monday when I met with friends for a stitching day. Margaret presented me with a large white box tied with a pretty red ribbon. Inside was a fabulous new LED light made by Horn Australia a company that is very well known for their sewing cabinets. We had admired them at the Country Bumpkin market-day and Margaret was very impressed with the idea that the light has a dimmer switch with several settings. There are 2 models, the other has an extension arm allowing it to move all over the place. I tried using it indoors during the day with a lower dimmer setting and again at night by using a higher setting and it was just great. Even DH has given it the seal of approval, being that he used the call my other light "Big Strobe" and headed for the sunglasses. So stitching in front of the TV with DH snoozing next door is no longer a problem, and the added bonus is it folds flat and weighs next to nothing. Thank you, thank you Margaret for such a wonderful gift.

I have made a tiny bit of progress on FMTM but I am up to date with this one so I have slowed down as to not get too far ahead. The colours are coming together ( I hope) and the dark purple is a silk/wool blend Gumnuts thread.

Because I have been out and about I started a new little project that packs up small for stitching days. Yep it is the Keslyn's Teensy Weensy chart. This one is stitched on 26 count evenweave with sparkles using one ply of Painters Threads overdye, stitched one over one thread. Aren't the colours of the threads lovely, such a variety with names like Renoir, Van Gogh and Klimt. My plan is to stitch the names of the threads into the border.

This is a bit of a long post but I do have some great extra news. Anne and I have been advised we were successful with our class choices for the ANG Seminar in Philadelphia. Woo Hoo. So the next few weeks will be busy choosing flights and making travel plans. Very exciting. Hope to see you there.


PS. Carol, thank you for posting a comment and a name suggestion for my new bear, although I decided to call her Clementine if I ever buy a male bear Hershey would be such a lovely name. Please would you email me with your snail mail address and I will send some goodies to you for posting your help.


Bye for now, Carol

Start of Moorish Splendor cyberclass

Hi everyone,
This week I finally started Moorish Splendor a cyberclass by Jane Zimmermann. This is a design using lots of metallic and lots of silk laided in all sorts of fancy ways. When I finished the centre star it just looked a little plain and you know how I love bling. So with my threads from Cathe at Needle in a Haystack in CA was a reel of a very pretty Kreinik cord with a holographic green/gold hint that I added as a star over the already laid lavender silk. Now I am happy it sparkles.

Moorish Splendor
Jane Zimmerman

As you can see there is still a lot more metallic to be added so it will shine a lot more when it is finished. I have 2 more sections to catch up and the next part is due out very soon so I will concentrate on the lower right hand corner and add the other corners little by little.

I have made some more progress on Trees which I usually stitch at night while watching the television. There is only 1 more row of 4 trees to complete and this has been fun to stitch, so much so that I have dug out another Keslyns "Teensy Weensy" to do next. 

Here is My Little Trees so far.

My Little Trees
Keslyns

On a different note I have been trying to name my new bear. Friends and family have given me a few names but none have really stuck. If you can think of a lovely name for my Milk Chocolate bear please post and let me know. If I chose your choice I will send you some Australian goodies as a thank you. Have fun and happy stitching.

Bye for now, Carol

A Beary good story

Hi everyone,
I have a lovely story to tell you today. Yesterday 25th my family got together for lunch there were 6 of us and a very large carry bag. Carry Bag? ummmm.
We ordered our meals, sipped coffee and chatted away for a little time and then the mysterious carry bag was lifted onto the table by my brother-in-law Gary. Before he opened the bag he told us that when my mother died a few years ago my sister Debbie had kept my mother's artificial fur coats in a wardrobe in her spare room and hadn't been able to let go of them. Well, he was playing around on the internet and found a lady called Nicole in Perth Western Australia who makes Bears and he had contacted her to ask her to make 3 bears from the artificial fur. Guess what came out of the mystery bag? You guessed it 3 bears, all different and all with character and attitude. They have our names on the soles of their feet and the words "In love of Mom". Needless to say happy tears all around and big hugs for Gary from all of us. What a wonderful surprise.

White Bear for Debbie,Chocolate Bear for Samantha and
Milk Chocolate Bear for Carol

On the stitching front there is only a little more of Trees finished and I have been setting up for my cyberclass piece Moorish Splendor so no photos yet.

Do hope everyone in Australia had a lovely Anzac Day with family and friends. A final few words, spoken many times today by returned soldiers and service men and women all over Australia.

"We will remember them"

Bye for now, Carol

A computer triumph there is a slideshow

Hi everyone,
After much muttering and a few very naughty words I have been able to add a photo slideshow of some of my designs available as charts and also as free designs in previous posts. Woo Hoo. You can teach an old dog new tricks after all.


Last Wednesday the 18th was the Market Day. There were lots of visitors and many stall holders from all over Australia. This was my chance to market some of the photographed charts for sale. Although sales were slow I have learned a lot and I would do things slightly different next time. I had the chance to meet lots of lovely stitching enthusiasts and store owners and at the end of the day I was so exhausted I fell asleep not long after I got home.


Now I will be able to have some time to stitch some more designs waiting patiently in the WIP heap (or should I call it a mountain). Well, one thing I can state is I will never be bored there is just too much to do.


Thanks for dropping by, Happy stitching, Carol

The sun is shining

Hi everyone,
Today is just glorious. The sun is warm the sky blue and the birds are out and about singing to us all. A day like this makes you feel 110%. So having said this there has not been a lot of stitching happening. I spent quite a few hours finishing up notes for charts and fine tuning the photos for their release on 18th April. Now all there is to do is wait and see how the market day goes.


Here is the latest photo of trees. Nearly two more trees completed. Sorry about the hoop marks but getting out the ironing board was just too much of a hassle. So just pretend they are not there and I will too.

I received a note from Cathe at Needle in a Haystack in California that my supplies for Jane Zimmerman's Moorish Splendor cyberclass are on their way. Looking forward to a surprise parcel. Cathe has been such a dear and has worked out another colourway for me to stitch this piece.  As Jane was not able to supply materials for this project to overseas students it was advised I contact Cathe to obtain what I needed. Many thanks Cathe. Looking forward to starting this piece as the class has started and I don't want to get too far behind.
So the WIP's are growing. I know, absolutely no self control when it comes to stitching. But isn't it fun starting new projects? Yes, you know it is.


There has been some amazing stitching going on out there. Some of my favourite designers are coming out with lots of new projects. To name a few Threedles, Laura J Perin, Needle Delights, Keslyns and Rosewood Manor. We are soooo spoiled for choice and because I know these are some of your favourite designers I will get to see you stitch them and post about your progress long before my copies get to the top of the to-do heap.


Happy stitching, Bye for now, Carol

New chart designs and trinkets

Hi everyone,

Next week in Adelaide, South Australia is the “Beating Around the Bush” stitching event run by the Country Bumpkin Needlework Store. They are best known for their publication “Inspirations” and during this week as well as classes they have a mid week market day. Happily I have been offered the opportunity to display and sell some of my charts and trinkets. I have been busy for weeks behind the scenes creating these pieces, bits and bobs. 

Here is a little collage of a few of the items I will have on sale.

Copyright 2012,Carol J Young Designs

If there is anything that you may like to buy, please email me and I will let you know the price and postage costs if you are not able to attend this event. Little by little I will be adding more charts to my design range so keep a watch for these in the future. It is mainly my computer skills holding me back, but I am learning as quickly as I can.

If you are in Adelaide I hope to meet and chat with you at the event, click the link above for details of where and when.

On the personal stitching front I have completed a little more of My Little Trees but not enough to post a photo yet, but soon.

Yesterday friends Anne , Lis, Margaret and I had a lovely day packing kits for Margaret’s Sui Embroidery. Lots of luscious silk in heavenly colours and so many wonderful designs. It is just so easy to get sidetracked, (note to self: no you are not starting another technique, be strong)

I must pass on a big Thank You to Pam at Cottage Gardens Threads for adding me to her list of designers who use her wonderful threads. I plan to use many more in future projects. Many thanks, Pam

Happy stitching, Hope your day is a sunny and bright as it is here today.

Bye for now, Carol

Marigold and Trees

Hi everyone,

Last Wednesday my friend Anne and I went to see “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, movie and enjoyed every minute. Maggie Smith was amazing and it was quite strange not to hear her rather refined speaking voice (as in Downtown Abbey) in this part she plays the part with a more “working class” tone. In equal parts it made you want to weep and then, moment’s later laugh. You come out of the cinema feeling good and that you had just spent 2 hours very well indeed. Go see it if you get the chance.

On the stitching front, here is some further work on My Little Trees. I think I will have to do some more of Keslyn’s designs, they are all quite small designs and fit in well as in-betweeners while stitching on larger projects.

Lara over at Diet Pepsi and Xanax blog posted about some amazing counted canvas stitchers from Russia. I had a look at their blog, needlepoint-club. The stitching is amazing with some really fantastic photographs of their finished projects. Really beautiful girls, I am in awe of your talents. Looking forward to future projects.

Happy Easter to you all, bye for now Carol.