Wednesday, July 21, 2010

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

The Secret Garden
JBW Designs
28 count Irish linen
DMC Threads

The Secret Garden (book and movie) have always meant a lot to me. I read the book over and over as a child, and occasionally still pick it up - it never loses its magic. And my now husband and I saw the movie on our sixth date - after which we agreed not to see other people. So anything having to do with the words Secret Garden gets my attention. I bought this little design on eBay some time ago, and it was the perfect "in between projects" piece to stitch. It came with three charms (two flowers and a little bird) but I haven't been able to attach them. I tried French knots as the instructions said, but they just pulled through the linen. The other suggestion was to attach them with beads but I didn't have the right kind. So it is a charming but charmless design for now.

Oiseau (Bird) freebie found here
Gazette94
Belfast linen
DMC 221

I found this little bird on a wonderful French blog - there are lots of beautiful free charts there. The bird's eye is a Smyrna stitch - I do so dislike the dead looking eye a cross stitch makes. I was hoping to turn this into my first tin topper but it is just a tad too big for an Altoids tin, so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for something suitable.
You all know how much I love The Snowman - well, I just hit the jackpot on Amazon.com. I'd been looking for this book for ages but used copies were selling for $100 or more. Then one day I idly checked on Amazon again, and lo and behold there was a new copy that, with shipping from England, cost less than $20! I snapped it up in a heartbeat and it came today. I don't know when I'll stitch another Snowman design, but I certainly have lots to choose from now.

Meanwhile I have a new project that I'm working on for my husband's birthday in September. He pays absolutely no attention my stitching so I can work away right in front of his eyes without his having a clue!

6 comments:

Teri said...

What great stitched pieces! I really like the secret garden sentiment. Congrats on the The Snowman find!

Kathy A. said...

Love the Secret Garden project.
What a great find for your The Snowman Collection.

Anonymous said...

Your secret garden looks like it would work perfectly in one of the stitched neighborhoods. You might try the French knots again, only make sure you come up in one hole and go back through in a different one to hold the knot in place.

I love the bird (thanks for the link). And what a great find on the Snowman patterns. I should buy the music for that show. I just love it.

Sally said...

Love both your stitched pieces. Secret Garden is absolutely gorgeous.

Congratulations on finding the Snowman cross stitch book.

Carol said...

I'm so excited for you that you were able to find "The Snowman" cross stitch book--what fun you'll have...

Beautiful stitching!

staci said...

Beautiful stitching Michele! Have fun with your snowman book...could use a little cooler weather here ;)