Flower Pounding

Despite a busy schedule, I attended two workshops during September. The first, arranged by the Oxford Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild, was 'Flower Pounding' with Linda Rudkin. Earlier in the year Linda had given a talk to the branch on 'Colours from Nature'. I’d found the talk fascinating and had been looking forward to the workshop but as the day approached, I was so busy that I nearly didn’t go. In the end, I decided that if would do me some good to have a 'play' day so I went along.

I think this is the prettiest workshop that I have ever been to. Everyone had raided their own, and their neighbours’ gardens, for a good supply of plant material; the tables were covered in multicoloured flowers and foliage.


The process of Flower Pounding is relatively simple but Linda passed on all the tips and tricks that she has discovered that give the best results and soon we were merrily pounding our petals and leaves.

In the morning we sampled our materials to see which specimens worked best and in the afternoon we used what we had learned to make a small composition.


Linda also showed us how a method of flower trapping.


I thoroughly enjoyed the day and was glad that I had decided to go.

Happy Stitching.

A Little Bit of Not Much

I can't believe that it has been over a month since my last blog. I've been busy with something that has left me very little time for embroidery or for blogging about the little bit that I have done and then I have been on holiday. I did take some embroidery away with me but we did so much while away that I didn't even look at it. I'll try to find time to tell you about the wonderful week we had in Italy but until then, here is a quick update on a couple of the things that I have managed to do.

At the Stitch and Creative Craft Show last month, I bought a few beads to make a couple more necklaces.

For the first I chose a grey glass disc with a foil center for the accent bead, some Chinese crystal beads and rhinestone rondelle spacers to compliment it and some seed beads. I threaded one crystal, a rondelle, a second crystal and a few seed beads onto a length of tiger wire. I threaded the same combination, but fewer seed beads onto a second length of tiger wire then threaded both pieces of wire through a rondelle, the accent bead, then another rondelle. Onto each length of wire I then threaded a series of seed beads and crystal/rondelle/crystal sequences and finally added a toggle clasp.


I liked the necklace very much but it was a little too long and the two 'tassels' didn't hang nicely so I decided to remake it. This time I threaded the 'tassels' onto head pins that I attached to the tiger wire threaded through the accent beads and used a slightly different, shorter bead combination. This version is an improvement on the first but the 'tassels' are still a little stiff. I think this is because I have made things too tight. I may take it apart and try again when I have some time.


For the second necklace I selected some green oval glass beads with rose and foil details, Chinese crystal beads and silver spacer beads. I made a number of sections by threading first a silver spacer, then an oval bead, then a second spacer, onto an eye pin. I cut the pin to length and made a loop on the end.


I also made a number of sections in the same way using crystals instead of ovals.


I linked the sections together alternating between ovals and crystals as I made them. When the chain was the desired length, I added a toggle clasp.


I found the sections fiddly to to make and remade many of them several times but I am rather pleased with the finished necklace.

Happy Stitching

It's Show Time

I’m just back from another weekend in Manchester at the Stitch and Creative Craft Show. As always, we have had a great weekend and met some lovely people.

The name of the show might suggest that embroidery and textiles are well represented. Sadly that is not the case. It may have been in the past, but in the few years that I have been going the paper craft stands far outnumber the textile stands. There is nothing wrong with that and I am pleased that those who enjoy paper crafts are well catered for, I just wish that there was also an exciting selection of fabrics and threads on offer. The embroidery lovers who visit our stand frequently remark that none of the stalls are selling thread; they feel that the show has little to offer them.

Every time I demonstrate at a show, I take Bridge Between East and West. The piece has become affectionately known as my show piece, because it only comes out at shows.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I like to use it for demonstrating purposes. I am familiar with most of the techniques used on it, so I can describe what I am doing while I stitch.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Between shows, I usually put it away in favour of something I want to finish and it gets forgotten until the next outing.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Slowly but surely, it is progressing. This weekend I all but finished the last of the flowers. All that remains of these are a couple of stems that I have missed.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I don’t think I have done my best stitching on this piece but it is a very pretty design and I like how it is coming along.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Floral Glove Scissor Case

A few months ago, I signed up to an on-line course. When I first heard about The Floral Glove course I resisted signing up but when some places became available for late sign up, the temptation proved too great.

The silk and gold embroidery is based on the beautiful and elaborate gloves of the Stuart era. My main interest in the course is to learn the gold work techniques. I also hope to improve my long and short stitch. Another aspect of the course is the history lessons. They take a detailed look at some of the professionally worked gloves that inspired this project, with close up pictures and information of the materials and techniques used. I have found this totally fascinating.

The supplies for the project are gorgeous: Au Ver a Soie silks, seven different types of metal threads, spangles, double-faced silk satin ribbon and gold lace. It was extremely difficult to resist the urge to drop everything else and start stitching this immediately but resist I did. Then my mojo did his disappearing act!

I thought that this project might draw him out of his hiding place, so I framed it up and left it in plain view. Sure enough it was this project that he first picked up when he visited the other evening.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

As much as my mojo loves embroidery, he prefers to watch me stitching to doing it himself. Last night he reverse stitched what he had done, handed me the frame, and asked if I would mind doing a little stitching for him! Mind! I was more than happy to oblige. Happiness is stitch away with my mojo on my shoulder purring contentedly.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Tread Softly

Ssshhh! Come quietly! I’ve spotted my mojo and I don’t want to scare him away.

I’ve felt his presence for a little while now, a slight tingling in my fingers, and occasionally I’ve caught a glimpse of him in the corner of my eye. I’ve sat very still, patiently waiting for him to feel comfortable around me again. I’ve started to leave out a few nice things to tempt him.

A couple of evenings ago he crept out of his hiding place and played quietly with a nice silk and gold project I had framed up for him. He didn’t stay long but I was a delight to have him around, even for a short time. When he was ready to leave, I didn’t make a fuss or cajole him to stay longer and this morning I was rewarded with another visit. He sat straight down at the Poppy Pouch that I had left out and started to stitch. He enjoyed himself so much that I didn’t want to remind him when it was time for me to leave for work. I could see how reluctant he was to put the beads away but I reassured him that he is always welcome.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Have you Seen my Mojo?

July has been a very strange month for me; I have barely lifted a needle. I’m not ill, I’m not injured. My stitching mojo has simply deserted me – temporarily I hope. I have read on many blogs of this happening to others, so I know that it is a fairly common phenomenon and I am trying not to let frustration get the better of me but I WANT MY MOJO BACK!

I completed one quick and easy beading project very early in the month. While in Amsterdam, I visited my favourite bead shop and made a necklace and earrings (with a great deal of help from the assistant).



I selected the Venetian glass beads to go with a new skirt.


I have been dabbling with another small project but progress has been very slow and patchy.


Nearly half way through August and I am still in the stitching dull drums. If you happen to see my mojo, tell him I miss him and please come home.

Happy Stitching

A Stitcher’s Trousseau

Immediately after my wedding last August, a very good stitching friend said that she would like to send me something to mark the occasion. Susan warned me that it may be a while before I received it but, according to wedding etiquette, one year is an acceptable time frame for sending a gift.

In March, I went to Bournemouth for my Japanese Embroidery course. I took a laptop with me and kept up with emails but for over a week I did not visit the blogs that I follow. When I did catch up with missed posts one, on Plays With Needles, was titled A Stitcher’s Trousseau. At a glance, my eyes took in the first line and photograph. I very strongly suspected that this was about my gift and read no more. Days past, then weeks, but no parcel arrived. I wondered if I had jumped to the wrong conclusion but if it was my parcel I was concerned about its whereabouts. Eventually, some correspondence with Susan confirmed that it was my parcel, it had been sent and it was taking longer to arrive than expected. More time passed and still there was no sign of the parcel. Two parcels that I have sent overseas have never arrived at their destination and I was beginning to fear that I would never receive my longed for gift.

Then in June I received an email from Susan
"Guess what landed in my door stoop today??? YOUR wedding present!
It says it was "Not called for" and was there from 4/22/10 ??? ..."

Well, I didn’t call for it because I hadn’t know that it was waiting somewhere for me but, joy of joys, it was not lost and had safely made its way back to Susan. Then in July Susan emailed again to say that she had resent the parcel and told me the tracking information. Every couple of days I logged into USPS to track its progress and 'virtually' watched my parcel travel across the pond until finally I received a Royal Mail card saying that I could collect my parcel from them. The waiting was not quite over as I could not get to the depot until that weekend.

I collected my parcel first thing on Saturday and could hardly wait to get home to open it.







Susan had put together a Stitcher's Trousseau (I knew that much from my accidental peek at the blog entry). Anything from Susan would have been a treasure, but I should have known that it would have been assembled with such creative thought and care. Everything, from the beautiful box and purple heart koma to the gorgeous fabrics and findings, was chosen to reflect a bridal theme or my interest in all things Japanese. It contains so many treasures. I haven't included pictures of them all here, Susan has done that far better than I could on her blog.

It is a very generous, thoughtful and fabulous gift and I very lucky to have it. Thank you, Susan, for the wonderful gift, the lovely things you said in the enclosed card and you friendship. I will treasure them all.

Happy Stitching