And this is version 2 which I started late last night. This is an interesting way of adding beads along the core threads joining to the vsp on the previous round. Might just follow this through with another version. Time will tell!!!!!

Progress on motif # 7

Here's a scan of the finished version number 1 which can be seen being worked in yesterday's post below.

Latest ideas - motif # 7 (aka suncatcher, snowflake or whatever!)

I'm not entirely sure yet what I shall call this but I'm hoping it will be simple enough for my Christmas 'giveaways'. Time will tell!!! Kept me outa trouble for ages and I'm not sure it's going to work yet!!!

Christmas giveaway (aka motif # 7)

This is what I'm now playing with. Starting from the bottom and working up you will see the progression from

Next round started!

After a very pleasant hour or so on the living room floor I decided to go with the idea of another round. This will sort of represent the sky and will be made in blues, purples and mauve combinations. I'll post another picture when I've got a few motifs done. Meanwhile the next new pattern 'idea' has gone on the back burner!!

Next round of my garden mat finished!!

Finally got the next round of this mat finished last night. What I really love about this one is that it doesn't need 'blocking' before pressing! I just threw it on the ironing board (WHEN I found it - that's the ironing board) and then (having finally located the iron) threw that on top!! It now measures 19" from 'point to point' and 17" from side to side. Now, do I do another round? Hmmmm, fancy a 'sky' round in blues, purples and mauves. This is proving a good way to use up my stash of 60, 70 and 80 threads. I'm using whatever is in 'the box' and adding a filament type to go with it. The filaments are also lurking in the same box. Great fun deciding which combinations to use next and trying to work out whether there's going to be enough!!

Elephant finished at last. Final tweaking to get the 'cute' factor and he's ready for the web page. Started getting a whole load of new patterns ready yesterday but so many interruptions that I didn't get very far!!!

Sad day - lost an elephant!

Well what a day. I've spent ages looking for a trial elephant (a baby one) this morning so finally gave in and made another. The last one had leg problems (perhaps that's why it's hoofed it) and the ears weren't quite right. Think this one is nearly, nearly OK. All made in one with no cutting and tying til you get to the end. The ear lies on top of the body and can be flapped open if wanted.
Anyway instead of nattering - here it is!!!

England’s Flag © Jane Eborall 2006

An afternoon in the garden (far away from the television) while England were playing their first match in the World Cup (I think) resulted in this design with the pattern below. Enjoy.Using two shuttles using white thread CTM
Row 1
R1: 3 vsp 3 vsp 6
SR2: * 6 / 3 vsp 3 repeat from * 3 times
SR6: 9 / 3
Row 2
SR7: 6 vsp 3 / 3
SR8: 3 vsp 3 / 3 + (SR5) 3
SR9: 3 vsp 3 / 3 + (SR4) 3
SR10: 3 vsp 3 / 3 + (SR3) 3
SR11: 3 vsp 3 / 3 + (SR2) 3
SR12: 3 / 3 + (1st p R1) 3 vsp 3
Row 3
SR13: 3 / 3 vsp 3 vsp 3
SR14: 3 + (SR11) 3 / 3 vsp 3
SR15: 3 + (SR10) 3 / 3 vsp 3
SR16: 3 + (SR9) 3 / 3 vsp 3
SR17: 3 + (SR8) 3 / 3 vsp 3
SR18: 3 + (SR7) 6 / 3
Row 4
SR19: 9 / 3
SR20: 6 / 3 + (SR17) 3
SR21: 6 / 3 + (SR16) 3
SR22: 6 / 3 + (SR15) 3
SR23: 6 / 3 + (SR14) 3
R24: 6 vsp 3 + (SR13) 3 T & C

Cross sections – 2 shuttles red, of course! CTM. First work the longest left to right stripe as follows.
R1: 4 + (space btwn SR7 & SR18) 4
SR2: * 4 / 4 repeat from * 3 times
R6: 4 + (space btwn SR12 & SR13) 4 T & C
Next the up/down stripe
R1: 4 + (space btwn SR3 & SR4) 4
SR2: 4 / 4 down joins with both shuttles into centre space btwn SR’s of first cross section.
SR3: 4 / 4
R4: 4 + (space btwn SR21 & SR22) 4 T & C
I did use a little red thread to gently attach the middle of the red cross to the white flag.

Flag pole 1 shuttle with black thread – starting at top with the knob on top of the pole.
R1: 4
Ch: 2 + (vsp on side of flag) 4 + (next vsp on flag) continue joining to all vsps and as long as you like to give a good pole!!!

The good thing about THIS Monday morning is .....

That yesterday evening I finished the owl and this morning I could add it to this blog!!!!! I don't think there's a lot more I could do to this little creature. Any suggestions would, of course, be more than welcome.

Back after a few day's break

Sometimes helps to take a break from a new design. The head is looking better but the stitch count needs to be 're-visited'. The wings are better too now. Not sure of the stitch count on the eyes either and am still 'pondering' whether to have tufts or not. Perhaps another go this evening will make it 'right'!!

Yet more playing with owls!

Last attempt for yesterday evening. This one has no tufts. Owls don't have ears but I think they look better with a tuft. Resolved the problem with the second wing but still not happy with the top of the head or the wings.

Next attempt sees a much better owl. Now worried about the second wing. This will need a drop picot in it. Yikes - this one's called Nelson. The bead in the right eye has gone and got itself 'twisted'.

Another evening on the owl and this is the progression! As this first one progressed I realised that I needed a very long picot on the second chain. Duh!!! Still, I think the wing looks a bit better. A cross eyed owl!!!

First try at the onion owl

First two attempts at an owl. The wings are wrong, wrong, wrong. New idea this evening to be tried out.

Diary of an owl - from birth to flight!!!

Final wings!

Last time.

More wings!

Rain stopped gardening AGAIN. Here are my final (I think) wings on the pig.

Another flying pig!!

Sue suggested that those other wings weren't quite right so here's a third attempt. Second attempt - in the trash!!!

An alternative pig!

Thanks, Gina!!! Now I see flying pigs everywhere!!!!