Added sparkle!

Posted on March 5, 2024 by wybrow1966

After finally handing in my RSN certificate goldwork piece, I can now move on to the Diploma and I have opted to start with…..goldwork! Of course I have, I just love this technique. I prepared my slate frame before my first lesson and mounted up a piece of dark blue, cotton velvet as I wanted to try a new background fabric. Needless to say it picked up lots of fluff before I even had the chance to get started. My design is based on the William de Morgan ‘Heron and Fish’ tile – however the large fish has been turned around and the Heron is now standing out of the water.

The next step was to get my design pricked and pounced before painting the outline. This was then left to dry and any pounce remaining was brushed off. Here is where I am up to now…..

Homework will be to stab stitch down the silk and start get the different layers of padding prepared – and boy there are a lot of layers to sort out! Wish me luck!

Happy stitching everyone.

Posted in goldwork, RSN Diploma goldwork, rsn goldwork | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

SAL 87: Gawthorpe needlecase

Posted on March 17, 2024 by wybrow1966

Well I am afraid that very little has been going on in the last three weeks as I have been distracted with preparing my new RSN goldwork piece – that and parents evening and Easter prep at school! So here was where I was up to last time….

Now I have just added a few satin stitch leaves and fly stitch stems to the bottom of the design and used a little covered ribbon and beads to finish off. Sorry about the picture but the lighting is bad today.

So, now the piece looks like this………..

Just to let you know that I will be unable to post in three weeks time as I will have limited (if any) internet access. So look forward to seeing everyone’s work in 6 weeks from now.

Many thanks for popping in and please check out all the other talented stitchers in our group!

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.


Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret, Ci

Posted in Current projects., Etui, SAL | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

SAL 86: Something fishy….

Posted on February 25, 2024 by wybrow1966

Well three weeks have shot past and I have managed to do quite a bit on my SAL piece. As you know I have been working on the Gawthorpe needlecase designed by Jenny Adin-Christie – and last time I posted, it looked like this…..

Now I have worked on the ferns around the sides of the design. These are worked in a fly stitch using silk threads and finished with Japanese metal tape and sequins to add a little sparkle. And I do love a bit of sparkle!

Below these ferns are leaves worked in split stitch which are a nod to the Jacobean style of embroidery. The loop under the bow is outlined in pearl purl and the insides are worked in olive green silk perle over a heavy gimp cord to give it a slightly raised feel. I have completed a satin stitch padding over the bow and this will be covered in long and short ‘needle painting’. I think I might leave this till last as it is not my favourite technique.

So now my piece looks like this……

Many thanks for popping in and please check out all the other talented stitchers in our group!

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.


Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret, Cindy

Posted in Current projects., SAL, Etui | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

SAL 85: Here’s a little fishy…….on a little dishy!

Posted on February 4, 2024 by wybrow1966

Hi everyone, I hope this finds you all well. Life has been rather busy for me of late (plus I had a little disaster when I smashed my computer to the floor yesterday and had to buy a new one!) But I have still managed to get a little work done on the Gawthorpe Needlecase, designed by Jenny Adin-Christie. Last time you saw it, it looked like this….

I had also made a start on the little fish which takes centre stage in the design. The scales have now been laid over the main body of the fish…..

And now the fish looks like this……

The next thing that I had to tackle was the pulled thread, star eyelets. These are made by piercing holes in the fabric – something I was very worried about doing. But with courage in hand I managed to give this a go and think the results are not too bad. So now my piece looks like this……..

I must say that the thing I loved most about this design was the little fish – so here is a closeup…

Many thanks for popping in and please check out all the other talented stitchers in our group!

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.


Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret, Cindy

Posted in Current projects., Etui, SAL | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Balthazar Beetle

Posted on January 21, 2024 by wybrow1966

Finally all my little beetles found a new home this Christmas!

The kit is produced by @inspirationsstudios and the design is by Tania Cohen. They were designed to be brooches, but as very few of my friends wear brooches I have made them into decorations. Only when I put them on the Christmas tree 🎄 to photograph them did I notice I had missed the antenna. Oh well, still have 2 to finish, so might get one right 🙄🤣

The red and green is the original colourway from the design.

But then I decided to raid my stash for the blue colourway.

And finally I tried a pink colourway.

The beetles were great fun to make (I still have two more to finish) and I plan to turn one of the remaining ones into a brooch that I can wear. Well, it seems a shame to only bring them out at Christmas.

Thanks for dropping in.

Happy stitching.

Posted in Beetle brooches, Current projects., goldwork | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

SAL 84 – Making a start!

Posted on January 14, 2024 by wybrow1966

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I have survived a bout of Christmas Covid, which was not too severe and gave me time to do a little work on the Gawthorpe Needlecase, another kit designed by Jenny Adin-Christie.

I started with some counted thread work – something I find very difficult, a fine linen background making it even harder for me. I really admire anyone who can do whole pieces in counted stitches.

Even more counted thread work and more beige on beige….

I then made a start on the fish covering. The scales are created by working counted buttonhole stitch in a Japanese metallic thread on a fine nylon tulle.

The next step will be to complete the little fish and add his fins and tail. Here is a reminder of the finished project.

Many thanks for popping in and I hope that the New Year is kind to you all!

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan,

Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret

Posted in SAL | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

SAL: Not much to see here!

Posted on December 4, 2023 by wybrow1966

Hi all, I am afraid that I have not even started my next SAL project as I have been rather busy making Christmas gifts. So all I have to show is what I have been working on recently. Here are some pictures of the Balthazar beetle, a kit produced by the Inspirations Studio. The beetle is designed to make a brooch, but I thought I would make a few more as hanging decorations for my friends.

As you can see, most of the wing cases are complete and all I need to do now is add the legs and underwings. This is a super design and I am sure I will be making more.

So that’s it really, and I know that I will be unable to post in 3 weeks time as it will be Christmas day and I usually stay in Cornwall where there is little (or more likely – no) internet. So even though it is still early, I would like to wish all the members of the SAL a very happy Christmas and New Year and hopefully I will have started my next SAL project by then.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in the New Year!

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan,

Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret

Posted in SAL | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

SAL 82: Something new….

Posted on November 12, 2023 by wybrow1966

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I have been trying to decide what to do for my new project for the SAL – I have decided on the Gawthorpe Needlecase, another kit designed by Jenny Adin-Christie. As you can see…. just like all her kits it uses a lot of different techniques.

The needlecase was inspired by the Textile Collection at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire, amassed by the late Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth (1886-1907) whose family had owned Gawthorpe since the 14th Century. I have had the kit for quite a long time and really love the look of it – but until now have felt a little overwhelmed by all the techniques. However, after completing her bird kits I do feel that I can now do this little needlecase justice.

 So what is inside the box?

With the Christmas holidays approaching, I hope to be able to make a start on this soon.

Many thanks for popping in and look forward to catching up in three weeks time.

Happy stitching.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan,

Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, MaryMargaret

Posted in Etui, SAL | Tagged , | 27 Comments

SAL 81 – belated happy dance

Posted on October 23, 2023 by wybrow1966

Hello everyone, and sorry for a late posting. Going back to school has proved more than hectic and I have finished off the week with a rather nasty cold. I completely forgot to post pictures of my finished project. A big apology to Avis for being so tardy!

So here it is, the finished  peacock sewing etui designed by Jenny Adin-Christie.

And here he is with his tail feathers….

So all I have to do now is choose my next project!

Happy stitching everyone.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Please check out the other talented ladies below to see some lovely examples of work.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, 

Megan, Sharon, Daisy,  Cathie, Linda, Helen, Cindy, MaryMargaret

Posted in Current projects. | 24 Comments

SAL 80: Three little birds….

Posted on September 10, 2023 by wybrow1966

Very little sewing has been done in the last three weeks as I have prepared to go back into the classroom. That said I am very close to finishing my peacock sewing etui designed by Jenny Adin-Christie. Here is what it looked like last time you saw it……

I have now added a needle lace edging to the base of the birds neck line and covered the raw edges of the tweed with a fine metallic ribbon. Sorry about the slightly out of focus picture…

The legs are custom made by Jenny and these have been stuck into the base of the bird. Here you can see the peacock with the other two little wrens that I have made (also by Jenny Adin-Christie)

All I need to do now is attach the tail feathers – but completely ran out of time for this post!

Happy stitching everyone.

We are a small group of crafters using a variety of different techniques. Please check out the fabulous stitching by all the other members of the SAL. If you are interested in joining us you can contact Avis for details.

Please check out the other talented ladies below to see some lovely examples of work.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, 

Megan, Sharon, Daisy,  Cathie, Linda, Helen, Cindy, MaryMargaret

Posted in Etui, SAL | Tagged , | 19 Comments