Quick update on The Stitchery

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     embroidery, stamped embroidery, the stitchery, traced linen

I have removed the link to The Stitchery from our site.  Google has determined that it is a site that could be harmful to your computer … Whatever that means!  Alan and Cathy are not sure what has happened, they are still looking into it, apparently it has been down for 3 weeks.  Unfortunately they were away when it happened.

Rest assured, they are still in business and happy to hear from you.  Please call them on 02 9875 2264 for all your traced linen or stamped embroidery requirements.  They do lovely duchess sets, table linen and babywear and have a great range of  floral and traditional designs.  Cathy will send you out a full colour brochure of their designs and products.  Good luck getting back online soon.

Mother and Baby Animal Cross Stitch: Our October Book of the Month

Dionne    Book of the Month, Cross Stitch     book of the month, Cross Stitch

This beautiful book first came to our attention through a customer and we just had to include it as a stockline.  DMC have translated the artwork of Britain and Europe’s foremost wildlife artist, Pollyanna Pickering, into cross stitch designs you will love.  16 designs featuring mothers and babies from the Arctic Circle to the African Savannah.  Every design is presented with artwork and colour and symbol charts for counted cross stitch art you can reproduce or adapt. 

While entering it onto the site I was tempted to put it under the Baby Sampler category as well.  But managed to restrain myself.  This is a lovely book any cross stitcher will love to own.  Available now online or instore for $35.00.

Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine 5

Dionne    Knitting and Crochet, What's New     debbie bliss, fair isle, knitting magazine, vol 5

Well, this little ripper snuck past the keeper.  Have had a full on month and only just had a chance to review this latest magazine from Debbie Bliss.  Fair Isle has made a reappearance and once again her value for money is unsurpassed with over 30 individual patterns for under $14.95.  There is a great variety available, wonderful cosy weekend knits and a baby’s wall tidy with alphabet and teddy motifs.  Available now, check out the other great Debbie Bliss range online and instore at Victoria House Needlecraft.

Gardenia: Elaine’s Botanicals

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     double running stitch, Elaine's botanicals, embroidered, gardenia, stumpwork

Last week I gave you a preview of things to come.  Well, they say confession is good for the soul.  Maybe it is, but if this is my last post, you will know I went down in a blaze of glory, … um, …, well,  maybe under a pile of soil?  I had a lovely one of these when I was a young, groovy, twenty something girl-about-town living in the inner Sydney suburb of Petersham.  Actually I had many of them over a period of time.  As the Princess of Darkness to all things containing Chlorophyll, my hands of death wreaked havoc on these poor defenceless plants.  I had to replace them regularly, ie once a year when my mother came to visit.  She bought me the original one.

Dad was onto me immediately when she mused after 4 years that it appeared to grow very slowly, but it was surprising that it was still alive.  He suggested that I buy a slightly bigger one every year.  Doh!  He also confessed how they had to replace the Governors tree at the Agricultural college he attended.  Name of College and reasons for tree death will remain classified to protect the innocent.

So there you have it Mum.   I killed them, … at the rate of one per year and bought a lovely new one every year just before you arrived.  They had a glorious aroma.  Sadly Gardenia mark 4 did not survive the move to Mittagong.  I think the frost got it, well I am blaming the frost anyway.  These days I leave anything involving the garden to Craig.  At least it will live!  Elaine’s Botanicals‘ Gardenias a little challenging to see online, you have to hit the close up button to see the detail.  It is a simple design embroidered in double running stitch, with a slight nod to miniature stumpwork in the form of a sweet little ladybird perched on a leaf.

Welcome Cindy

Dionne    What's New    

There is a new face at Victoria House Needlecraft.  Perhaps some of you who have been long term customers at The Crewel Gobelin may remember her.  Cindy has a wide range of talents and interests in needlecraft and will be working on Saturdays with Kerry.