Nearly one whole year since ANG Conference

Hi everyone, 
I can't believe it is nearly a year since ANG Philadelphia. Although I would love to attend again one day it wont be for a few years unfortunately. Can I wish everyone who is going this year a great conference and I would love to see what you stitch.

Friends and I spent a lovely day sorting over 400 skeins of beautifully coloured silk into dark to lightest shades ready for packing into kit size cuts. We had four long trestle tables with rows of rainbow colours silks, just beautiful. Needless to say it will take a couple more days of work to get them completed. Being a threadaholic this was just thread heaven.

Another beautiful orchid to share

Sorry no stitching pictures today but I hope the beautiful orchid above will make you smile. As I am typing this the wind outside is howelling and the rain is coming down sideways. So a reminder of sunny days and pretty flowers is just what is needed to brighten grey skies.

Happy stitching, bye for now Carol

My first class in Queensland

Hi everyone,

The booklet for Koala Conventions 2014 has just been printed. This week long convention runs from 28 June to 6 July 2014 in Brisbane, Queensland and I have 2 classes on offer.

"Elegance" in two colourways

"Egypt" by Carol J Young Designs

Each class runs for 2 days so there will be plenty of time for relaxed and fun class time. I haven't been to Queensland for quite a few years so I am looking forward to my time there. The way this year is flying by it will be 2014 before we know.

The little Periwinkle Promises pillows have their tiny tassels and I have added to the collection of near finishes.

Mexico,Italy,Sweden and China
Periwinkle Promises,35/36ct ,silk threads

This last 6 months has been a very trying time for a few of my friends and my family with sickness and bereavement marring 2013. To you all a big hug. Last night the girls got together and talked, reminisced and laughed. Thanks to Anne for being the host who makes the best Tuna Mornay in the Southern Hemisphere and thanks to the company of great friends.

Here is a flower spike from a beautiful Green (favourite colour) orchid grown by Joan. Isn't it beautiful.

Happy stitching, bye for now, Carol

  

Goodies from the Craft Show

Hi everyone,

Our girls day out at the Stitching and Handcraft Show was fun. Not as much hand sewing items for sale as I would have liked but I did manage to snaffle some lovely evenweave and overdyed threads.

Overdyed 32count evenweave by Sewitall
Threads by Country Cottage Threads, Threadworx and Thread Studio
overdyed cotton fabric by EGSA

This year the Thread studio from Western Australia had a stall. This is where a bought most of this lovely thread. The Cottage Garden threads on the left come in a beautiful range of colours with very Australian sounding names. This little collection of blues are to complete a whole in my collection of their colours. Blue is not a colour I usually buy so now the space has been filled nicely.

This week the post delivered some little pincushion charts by Periwinkle Promises. I found out about these little treasures from Just Carol's blog (from my bloglist). As these are all older charts I tracked down the designer Barbara Rakosnik and asked if she still had them for sale. The answer was yes and as long as she has access to the materials all of her charts are still available. There are lots and lots of delicately patterned pieces to chose from. I challenge you to chose just one. 

Here is the two I have managed to stitch this week.

Periwinkle Promises charts by Barbara Rakosnik
stitched with enclosed silk
changed out fabric from 28count to 35/36 Count Linen

These two are Mexico and Italy from the Country Accents sets. I love the little tassels and the finished design size on 36 count (Italy) is about 3 x 3.5". Really nice pieces for gift giving.

Not much progress on the counted canvas pieces as I have injured my right hand thumb pulling the thread through the canvas for way too many hours. 

Note to self: I must learn moderation....quickly and pace my stitching time.

Bye for now, Enjoy your stitching time, Carol

Where have I been?...............

Hi everyone,

It has been a while since we chatted. There is no hidden mystery to my absence, just that I needed a little break and time to catch up on some class pieces and a sampler for a Guild project. 
Here is my latest class piece, which will be in September 2013

Needlework Accessories Class coming up in Sept 2013
at EGSA, South Australia
Copyright Carol J Young Designs

It seems the stitching brain switched to canvas pieces for some light relief. You can only do so much one over one cross stitch before your eyes become permanently crossed and your fingers cramp into twisted stumps. So I pulled out a couple of pieces I bought last year in USA. One is Seasons by Amybear Needlepoints and the other is Rio by Needle Delights. Both of these are quite different colourwise and because there is a lot of satin stitch they have grown quite quickly.

Seasons by Amybear
18 Count eggshell canvas using
Watercolors threads, original colours

The colours on this piece are much brighter in person. The chart did offer several other colourways but as I was quickly shopping at the time I fronted up to the LNS and said please kit it up as is. So this is a really different palette which is always a good thing and got me  out of my colour rut of purple/green.

Now Rio is another story altogether. Bright, bright and bright. Beautiful clear shadow dyed Threadworx silks. Yummmm.

Rio by Needle Delights
18 count canvas, original colours

Rio is only a small piece so it has become my travelling project. It comes and goes to Guild meeting days. 

Tomorrow is Friday 19th here and there is a Stitching and Craft Show over this weekend. So the girls and I are off to see what treasures we can find to bring home. Hopefully I will have some stash to share next time we chat.

May I welcome my new followers and thankyou for all your kind words about my work. I love to share and always enjoy reading and seeing all of your own wonderful creations through your blogs.

Happy stitching, bye for now, Carol

Michael Boren's "Frankie" WOW...............

Hi everyone,

Well winter has surely hit with a vengeance in South Australia. The days are still warm if you find a sunny patch but  the nights are just made for stitching in front of the fire with a hot drink and a furry pair of slippers.

During the past two weeks (eek that long) I have had the privilege to stitch a wonderful canvaswork piece by Michael Boren called "Frankie". Anne and I were very lucky to met Michael and Carole Lake at the ANG seminar in 2012 and while we were talking we asked if it would be possible to purchase Frankie which was still a teaching piece at that stage. Well, he kindly agreed and this is the end result.

Frankie, Michael Boren stitched in the original
colours Monet

The colours are more luscious in real life and it has a sparkle in the background. The good news is that the Shining Needle Society is now offering this piece as a cyberclass. Registrations have just been extended. So if this piece calls to you act now and don't miss out. You won't be sorry.

Little House Needleworks, Hometown Holiday Series
35 Count Natural linen, specified colours except the Red
Cardinals DMC321

Here is the continuation of my Christmas tree pieces, The Little House series stitch up really quickly and the Olde World colours on the natural are just right. I haven't made these up yet but I am thinking about using them in a wall quilt with some christmasy quilting fabric as the sashing. This will require a sewing machine so a friend will be called on to lend a hand to guide me through the mine field. Yes Anne, I mean you.

Happy stitching, and for more great stitching check out some more blogs from my bloglist. Margaret's (Margarets Blog) Hardanger tassel and one over one England piece, Kevin (Cabbages and Kings) interview about male stitchers and Liz's new Bargello design.

Bye for now, Carol

M Designs finish

Hi everyone,
Late I know but some months are like that, you just cant plan anything life just happens.

I had one left over finish from last post to share with you

M Designs - Rose Mosaic Needleroll
32 count Antique White, own colours, crystals and beads
finished with overdye silk ribbon

These needle-rolls have gone out of fashion a little but I still think they are a great way to finish a piece if you don't want to frame it or make a flat ornament. They look good in a large bowl or basket together as a display on your favourite tabletop. There are a few more in the stash waiting to be stitched at a later date.

This week was my second date with the Back to Basics course at the Guild. I finished the pincushion and it has gone in for assessment  Now the wait to see what I could have done better. The second piece is a Needle-book with flannel sheets between the covers to hold your needles. This is all hand stitched with a handmade cord around the outside and a loop closure. I have chosen some pretty lavender quilting fabric and a darker lavender for the cover. I will share a photo next time as I have to set up a sampler of stitches first. The front cover has my initial C stitched in 3 types of chain stitches which is a real stretch as I don't do much  (none) surface stitchery. The girls tell me it will grow on me but I have my doubts. I miss the holes in the fabric very much and the evenness of the counted stitches. I am a counted girl through and through but it's good to get out of your comfort zone occasionally, I think.........

Happy stitching, bye for now, Carol

Santas Village and lots of finishes

Hi everyone,
This week has been a busy one and very productive. Monday I joined in with a stitching group who come together to stitch samplers on the second Monday of the month, Tuesday I played around with some new linen and quilting fabric, Wedneday was a fabulous lunch with the girls at a favourite cafe called Cena and there is still 2 more days of this week to go. Lucky me.......

Santas Village is growing. I am currently 2 behind, but here are the current completed 4 ornaments.

Santas House,North Pole Post Office,
Poinsetta House, Mr Claus Cookie Shop
Country Cottage Needleworks

Only 8 more to go. Ekkkkkkk. I am considering having a shadow box made with 12 compartments in the shape of a christmas tree to display the finished 12 pieces. What do you think?  I am thinking they will get lost amongst the branches of a real tree.

Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose has always been one of my favourite designers of all time. This week I managed to complete and finish 2 of her designs.

Indigo Rose, Needle holder
Just Cross Stitch magazine June 2002

the inside of the needle case

Inside holds wooden need cases
with 24,26,28 needles

Both pieces are stitched on 28 count Antique white linen using some threads from and English thread company, 21st Century yarns. There was some left over linen some I adapted the design and made up the mattress style pincushion. Then added a buttonhole loop and pearl bead as a closer for the needle holder. Great fun.

The second piece is another Indigo Rose that I bought from the USA as a kit on sale last year.

Indigo Rose, Bead Blanket Sampler
28 count linen, au ver a soie silks and
Mill Hill beads

Inside there is a rectangle of bead mat material so you can keep your beads from rolling away.The edge is finished with 2 colours of beads and makes a really nice finish to the edges.

There is one more finish but I will keep that one until we chat again.

Bye the bye Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has released some fabulous new boutique hand dyed threads called the 1795 range. Lots of beautiful sampler style shades and the great thing is they come in 20 yard skeins. Click here and join in the fun to win 5 skeins or just enjoy the eye candy. I have used the thread before and I can happy recommend the quality.

Bye for now, happy stitching, Carol