Flossbook for Joanne

The Stitching Accessories themed Mail Art has safely reached Joanne ! I picked this Mary Garry Sewing Cabin complimentary chart from my collection, I didn't even know its existence until the day that I wanted to start stitching the MA. Stitched using DMC flosses as per charted and did slight changes to pattern. I was pretty skeptical with the colourway intially (it is not the usual colourway I use), but changed my mind completely after I've done stitching.

I made an attempt to make another 2-in-1 mail art. The 1st one is MA cum draw string pouch that I did for Zarina (for Primitive style Mail Art Exchange).

This time is a flossbook for Joanne. The picture quality is not as good as I wanted. Will try to get some pics from Joanne later.

Mail Art for Niza

Niza had received it! I picked this pattern from UK Cross Stitcher magazine and actually a greetings card pattern. I omit a bit from the original pattern to give some space for recipient's address.
Closure - white butterfly button and lilac tying ribbon. Err... is there such white butterfly out there or should I just write it as 'moth' hehehehe. I also put a 'Velcro dot' for more practical closure. I lined the mail art with flutters and bugsies print fabric.

Mail Art from Niza

I received a mail art from Niza! She said that it would be her final piece since she will no longer stitching mail arts due to some reasons. She already had a huge collection of them anyway *wink*

She stitched a chart from Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin. This designer is no longer making new designs. I'm really glad to have a stitched piece with a Mary Garry design on it.

Mail arts by Niza have a distinctive feature - she always used batik prints to line them. And I simply love the batik print that she picked for me. Thank you Niza.

Tea Bag delivery

I tried my luck participating in Mail Art competition organized by Daisy Stitches. Due to loads of stitching obligations as well as personal commitments, I didn't have much time to think of a theme. I simply decided on teatime theme b'coz I've just finished a Teatime Mail Art exchange in early July. As the closing date was on the August 15th, I needed to mail it out by end of July to ensure that it would reach its destination (across the globe) in time. Finishing style - and as usual, I love to try new style for every MA I made. A 'tea bag' MA suddenly came into my mind.

I like stitching an excerpt from any Little House Needleworks patterns for the Mail Arts I made. This is 5th MA I stitched an excerpt from LHN pattern (I've made 10 Mail Arts so far). This time I took an excerpt from 'Spot of Tea' - special rendition for tea lovers included in LHN's original 'Spot of Coffee' pattern.

I jumped in joy to know that I won the 3rd prize. You could see the Grand Prize winning Mail Art and other winners & runner ups Mail Arts here.

Thank you Daisy Stitches and sponsors for organizing this competition.

MYS Neighbourhood RR 2007 - round 4

Round 4 - I have to stitch on Zarina's RR piece. Unlike the rest of us, she has specifically decided on neighbourhood gardens for her RR theme. The participants have to stitch the 'gardens of their own'.

Knowing that Zarina fancies oriental gardens, I flipped lots of magazines to find oriental sceneries patterns. I couldn't find much but I was really glad to see 'Fujiyama pattern' in one of the magazines. Since the pattern is way too big for the RR, I merely stitched a portion from the whole pattern that includes the coral pink shrubs, stream and pagoda garden lamp/lantern. And stitched a bridge from another pattern, a complement to the oriental landscape. Thought of oriental gardens, that we could always find willow trees next to the bridges or streams, I charted on my own a simple willow tree pattern to 'complete' the garden.

I really enjoyed stitching the oriental garden. I used DMC flosses with some colour changes and adjustments to the patterns for this oriental scenery.

The'show-off' must go on...(part 2)

MYS Quaker Pinkeep Exchange - I received a lovely Quaker Pinkeep from Margaret!

She stitched a pattern from Ackworth Quaker book. How lovely! Stitched on lugana using muted colour Dip&Twist floss and it gives a vintage look.

On the back, she stitched another pattern from the same book and personalized it with out initials , M and Z. I really like it! This exchange was really exciting coz I got learn to stitch & sew a stitching accessory that I never try before.

The'show-off' must go on...(part 1)

4th May was the dateline for MYS Quaker Pinkeep Exchange.

I had never stitch & sew a pinkeep before, and this is the very first pinkeep I ever made. The pattern from The Workbasket (strawberry quaker), stitched on 28ct jobelan using Dip&Twist overdyed.

I love the colour of the overdyed floss (bright pink) , it had made me thinking of strawberries and finally made up mind to stitch the strawberry quaker pattern. Though I must admit that after finished stitching, I found that it looks more like beetroots. I think it is b'coz of floss colour.

I put rickrack around the pinkeep and strawberry print cotton at the back.


And, this is another Quaker pattern I stitched in April. It's designed by Barb Adams & Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs. Stitched on 32ct linen using the same overdyed colour that I used for Quaker Pinkeep that I made for the Exchange. I took this pattern from Just Cross Stitch magazine (Ornaments issue) and will be finished into a Strawberry (shaped) Pinkeep.

Neighbourhood RR - round 2

Here is my stitching on Margaret's Round Robin piece. The pattern is actually a combo of 3 Little House Needleworks (LHN) patterns, mostly from LHN's 'City Stitcher, Country Stitcher'. I did some colour changes.

I personalised the piece with a letter box (my name is 'written' on it),

I also added a garden bench and a swing,

Do you notice the lamps? If you were happened to be a LHN fan, I'm very sure that you will know which chart I 'snagged' them from.

Around the World Mail Art for Naomi

The mail art has finally reached its destination - Naomi in United Kingdom. I stitched a traditional motif on 28ct jobelan using Anchor multicolour floss. The pattern is an adaptation from one of 'songket' motifs.

Songket - a handwoven cloth made from gold/silver and silk/cotton threads, usually worn to certain ceremonial functions. This fabric is also popular for the Malay traditional wedding attire (bride & groom). It is a bit uncertain of the origin of 'songket' but it has been a treasured textile throughout the Malay archipelago since many centuries ago. Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia are 'sharing' this Malay heritage & art of weaving and have been producing 'songket' with distinctive motifs ever since.

The postage stamps are from 'Visit Malaysia Year 2007' commemorative stamp series.

The background fabric in the above picture is a 'sampin songket' from my dear hubby's personal collection. 'Sampin songket' is an additional sarong-like cloth to Malay men's traditional attire.

The inside envelope is fully-lined with 'batik' fabric and I also 'showed off' the same fabric on the back of the envelope. I stitched my address on a small piece of jobelan before attaching it onto the flap of the envelope. I used a black velcro strip for the closure and embellished with 'vintage looking' buttons.





* Around the World Mail Art Exchange - we were required to stitch something about the place where are we from or where we live

Needlecrafter RR 2007 - another progress

Just to show a picture of mes croix on my own Round Robin (RR) piece. DMC Sunshine Flowers is a big chart and for this Round Robin each person is required to stitch merely the maximum stitchcount of 60X60 on 14ct aida (approx. 4.25" X 4.25") which is equals to 3600 stitches. I determined to use the pattern as my RR pattern b'coz I really like it, furthermore I've never stitch a big ones. It made me actually stitched one third of pattern and the rest is equally divided into 5 portions. Other participants have to stitch approximately 3600 stitches ea.

However, I couldn't finish stitching my portion before sending it out to the next participant, there is another 20% to complete. I have to resume stitching and finish it off soon after the RR piece comes back to me - which is I'm really looking forward to.


* Needlecrafter RR 2007 - 6 participants Round Robin

Mail Art from Penang

I received a mail art from Penang nearly two weeks ago. Initially I was puzzled to receive a mail art (MA) from Zarina coz we hadn't arranged any personal swaps for the month of April. We actually had done 2 personal swaps before.

Finally it came to my senses that the MA is meant for Around the World Exchange. A note in the envelope had confirmed it. I called Zarina up and we giggled over it. She really knows how to keep it a secret!
For this exchange, we were required to stitch something about the place where are we from or where we live. Zarina stitched a butterfly and a pair of cute flutterby buttons on the front of the envelope. Penang Butterfly Farm is one of many attractions in Penang.
And she stitched a row of starfishes on the back of the envelope. What do you think about when you see a picture of starfish? ....You are right! It reminds us of beaches and sea. A strip of beaches is simply another Penang attraction. Batu Ferringhi is one of the famous beaches - look closely at the postcard in the picture.

Thank you Zarina for the Mail Art and giftie. To receive a mail art from you had made this exchange is more like a 'surprise me' themed exchange to me... hehehehehe

Quaker teaser

Take a peak at the Quaker motif I've finished stitching on Monday. Yet to start on the finishing part. It is going to be mailed out by end of this month as the Quaker Pinkeep Exchange which is organized by Mona in Malaysian Stitchers Group.

Needlecrafter RR 2007 - WIP (ii)

Another progress picture of my stitching for Needlecrafter RR 2007 (1st round). You can see now the shading on the pots.

Another Mail Art in progress

Take a peek ! I'm working on another mail art to be sent out by end of this month.

Hint: traditional motif

Take a peek !

I've just finished sewing a Mail Art on Sunday and couldn't wait to share a pic with you. Take a peek! Will post some more pics & detail after the MA is safely in the hand of the recipient.

I have another Mail Art WIP, better get back to my stitching

Have a nice day everyone!

Needlecrafter Round Robin 2007 - WIP

Just to share a progress picture of my Needlecrafter Round Robin piece. 1st round mail-out will be at the end of this month. This is one of my current stitching obligations. I have to send out at least 3 items by end of this month...

Neighbourhood RR - 1st round

I'm participating in Malaysian Stitchers Neighbourhood Round Robin 2007. It is a 6-person RR with 6 mail-out dates. The 1st mail-out was 28th February.

As for the 1st round - we were required to stitch our own piece of RR . I stitched Beekeeper's Cottage designed by Elizabeth's Designs on 28ct linen. I omitted the trees, 2 bee skeps and bushes and added a signboard pattern.

2nd round - My RR is sent to Roz and I 've just received Margaret's RR.

This is going to be a whole year project. Each participant will get to see their own RR only after 31st December.

Love Hearts

I stitched Love Hearts by Loopylou Designs with different colour way. In the website, the pattern is in purple theme. I've done hardanger before but I found this pattern is rather tricky. Been through some froggings before I could proudly show it to my hubby.

Tea for Two

I stitched a freebie from Six Strand Sweets website - Tea for Two. Stitched on 28ct linen using SSS Southern Sweet Tea and Mulberry Vine as per charted. I embellished with 2 silver charms.


**bdb

Paid my dues - part II

I sent 2 ornaments to Adam in England - my 3rd Pay-it-Forward recipient. The extra goes to his significant other who is currently pursuing her PhD.

The 1st ornament - I stitched a chinese character for happiness. I chose the plum blossom print as the finishing fabric. Plum blossom is the symbol for courage and hope.

The 2nd ornament - I stitched Heart in Hand's Study Hard on 18ct navy aida. I actually backstitched 'Business' & 'E-commerce' for the books titles.




**bdb