A happy dance from last week

Hello friends!

Sorry for not posting earlier... I just didn't manage to find enough time to post. And yet, I finished the Angel of Sleep almost a week ago!

L'ange du Sommeil, by Angèle et Cie
Stitched on a Silkweaver Belfast Solo
(click for a larger picture)

The braids were such a hoot to make - you braid the floss like real hair, really! I chose to make them very long... 'cause I love long hair, and that's the way I like to wear mine (every time I've cut it significantly shorter, I've regretted it!).

I really love that piece! And I have to confess I'm happy with my colour choices. I used Anchor multicolour threads (#1304 for the moon and stars; #1349, which I'm very fond of, for the nightdress sleeves, the book, and the wording; #1302 for the wings) ; and Gentle Art Sampler Threads for the nightdress (Sugarplum), the cheeks and the "sac à bisous", i.e. bag of kisses (Hibiscus).
Following your advice, I added a smile to her face... Several of you remarked that she seemed worried, and I thought you were right! An Angel of Sleep definitely can't look anguished now, can she?

All I need now is to find a pretty frame for her, and hang her above the bed. I would have fancied finishing it into a wallhanging, but since the fabric and some of the threads are dyed, I won't take the risk of washing the project - so I don't want it to gather dust.

I started my Spring Exchange for the SBEBB yesterday evening. All I can say is that it'll be 100% French!
I know exactly how I want to finish it and what to include in the package... Spring is so inspiring.
I also finished a piece for an Easter exchange on my French Yahoo sewing group - but I can't share a picture, even on my English blog. Since the recipient doesn't read English, though, I can at least tell you what I made! This is a sewing exchange, but I know that my partner enjoys stitching too, so I stitched the Spring bluebird freebie by Waxing Moon designs, and added it to the front of a little bag I made using one of the fabrics that dear Becky sent me (the fresh green fabric, second from the left in the picture).

I hope you're all having a good week!

Good news and two more birthday gifts

Hello friends!

Wow, what a long week this has been. And I still have lots of work to do this weekend! I do hope I'll manage to make it to the sewing machine though. I can see her from the corner of my eye, begging me to come and pay her due respects!

I DO have very good news though! I had my eyes set on a specific flat for little sis, but I was forcing myself not to hope too much as there were many candidates for it... Now guess what - the landlady chose us! I first visited the flat on Monday, with MANY other candidates - my sister couldn't come as she was working late at the hospital, but since it was ideally situated and very good value (well, for Paris anyway! ), we thought it was worth my visiting it alone. I really thought it was the loveliest flat we visited - new, well isolated, very well equipped, cute and roomy enough for one; besides, it's in a nice neighbourhood, 2 minutes from a strategic metro junction (which is essential for my sister, as she changing hospitals every 6 months for the first 2 years of her internship); and it's only 15 minutes from my own place, which I'm VERY happy about! In fact, it's on the other side of the Canal Saint-Martin from my flat; for those of you who know that part of Paris, it's a very pleasant neighbourhood - friendly, animated, though not posh . I tried to make the best impression I could on the landlady last Monday, and told her that my sister would definitely want to visit it whenever possible. Which we just did - and voilà! I still can't believe she chose us (I caught a glimpse of her notebook and there were something like 15 candidates listed)! Woohoo! My sister will have the flat on March 15. I am so happy for her - I thought we'd be flat-hunting for several long, stressful weeks. What a great pick-me-up for her!!

Now, as promised, here are the two other gifts I made for Becky and Karen...

Karen is a heart collector and since she likes natural tones, so I made her this heart in beige, cream and brown:

I really couldn't decide whether it was pretty or not... But I thought I'd better send it to Karen anyway, and let her decide. Fortunately, Karen said she likes it! Karen, I do hope you didn't say it just to have me stop worrying!

And here's the pillow I stitched for Becky:

The design is by Virginie Goussé of C Mon Monde ("It's my world"); she's a new French designer whose naive, whimsical creations really appeal to me. I also enjoy following her blog, and she offered this design as a freebie to her readers. I do hope you go see her creations; I know she is preparing some new designs for Spring right now. You can see them here: C mon monde I and C mon monde II. I just saw she released two new designs: la fée des Lilas and a very pretty May design!

Here's a close-up on the embroidery:

Stitched over two on 32-count natural linen

The red is an Atalie silk thread in Beaune (Beaune being a wine-producing town! ). It was the very first time I stitched with silk, and wow! I loved it! The house was stitched with a GAST in Peacock (thanks again, Carol! Your gifts sure go a looong way, and I think of you each time I use one of the threads you sent me last Spring! ); the yellow is simply Anchor floss. Virginie added a heart-shaped button to her own piece, but since I didn't have one at hand, I made a lace heart on my e-machine. I then sewed some narrow lace all around the design, to match the heart.

The backing fabric is a deep red embroidered fabric:

It's in the same range as the backing fabric I used for Karen's and Becky's quilts:

I love that fabric, but since it was a slippery poly, of a very different weight from the cotton quilt top, I had a hell of a time sewing it to the quilt top! I do hope Becky and Karen don't mind the slight irregularities!

Now... I have to confess that Becky's quilt has ribbon loops to hang the quilt - but Karen's has a sleeve.

Only while making Karen's quilt did I realize that a sleeve would be more appropriate for a wallhanging of that size. Unfortunately, Becky's quilt was already on its way to her... I wish I'd though about it earlier, dear Becky... I hope the wallhanging hangs fine nonetheless. Big (((hugs))) to you!

I also have a happy dance to share with you - l'Ange du sommeil is all done! But I don't have more time tonight - I'm not finished with my work for today, and haven't had dinner yet (it's 8 pm)... A crazy week I tell you! But also, such a happy week.

Everyone enjoy your weekend!

Thank you so much everyone :)

Friends... Thank you all so much for your support! It means so much to me. Reading all your messages felt like getting a big hug each time! Thank you...

I just found a few minutes to write an entry, but posting may remain sparse for the next few weeks, what with the flat-hunting and everything. Besides, my work is particularly demanding at the moment (well, when isn't it, right? ;) ). I did manage to make some progress on l'Ange du Sommeil last night though (as there was no flat to visit!). I'm hoping for a happy dance this week.

Now that Becky and Karen both opened their birthday gifts, I can share them with you. Since they are close friends, I decided to make them similar wallhangings, which I named "Waiting for Spring".

(click for a larger image)

Here are their Birthday cards:

(click for larger pictures)

I also made them another small gift each - I'll share them with you next time I get online.

Thanks again to each and everyone of you! It is so good to know that you're here and so supportive :). My little sister is feeling better and more confident in what the future holds for her :) We have always been extremely close, since she is only one year younger - she's always been my very, very best friend. I am honoured that she turned to me for help, and this experience is drawing us even closer together. So it's not all bad :)

I do miss reading your blogs... Hopefully I'll manage to leave a few comments soon! :) (((((Hugs)))))

Taking a break from the Internet

My dear friends,

I need to take a break from blogging and emails for a while... My little sister is having a rough time and came to me for a home - she needs lots of love and attention, and we've also started looking for a place for her in Paris (which is no piece of cake!). This leaves absolutely no time for stitching or the Internet (I have to use every spare minute to work, obviously!).

Friends, I'll be missing you, and hope to be back as soon as possible! In the meanwhile, I hope you all have a happy time.

I would like to send special thoughts and (((((hugs))))) to two friends...
First, to dear Becky, whose Birthday is today!!! Lots of love to you my dear friend... I hope you're having a fabulous day!! I am so disappointed and ashamed that my gifts didn't reach you on time - how unloving that must have felt for you... The only benefit is that it'll make your Birthday last longer!

I am also sending special thoughts to dear Barbara, whose house was robbed last week. Barbara, I am keeping you in my thoughts and hope that this will soon be but a bad dream for you all... ((((((hugs!))))))

Everyone take care !

Ange du Sommeil update

Hello friends! I hope you've all been having a good week!

First I'd like to send plenty of hugs to Karen, who has her birthday today! Karen, I guess you won't read this right now since you've left for the weekend, but... Happy Birthday!


I've been stitching on the Ange du Sommeil this week.

My progress on her isn't that fast, as I've been working pretty late all week... But she is definitely growing, and I'm enjoying stitching this piece. Anyway, I still haven't received the supplies to start Summer into Autumn, so there's no rush. There seems to have been quite a few troubles with the postal services in France lately, and that makes me really worried about the gifts I mailed out last week.

I hope you're all fine! Have a good Friday and a great weekend everyone!

L'ange du Sommeil

Hello friends!

I'm back from my Mum's Birthday weekend, and decided to let the migraine that spoilt the entire last week stay over at my parents' . It feels so good to be headache-free once again! Thank you so much for your kind notes and concern... They meant so much!

Oh, and my Maman loved her embroidery!

Although my evenings last week were pretty busy, I cannot show you a single thing that I made - yet -, as they were gifts for three friends. But when I was back home last night, I picked up l'Ange du Sommeil ('the angel of sleep') again. I finished that big moon and went back to some of the angel's details:

(Stitched on a Silkweaver Belfast Solo)

This is going slower than usual, as the variegated threads call for one full cross stitch at a time. This is such an amusing project, though, and I am enjoying changing the colours to match the hand-dyed fabric. You can see the finished result in my left-hand sidebar.

Have a great week, everyone!

Headache, go away!

Hello friends!
I meant to post this earlier this week, but that stabbing headache just wouldn't let go, and I had to stay away from the computer... (I do hope it's gone for good today!) As a compensation, this entry shall be twofold.

Becky's Hello package came on Tuesday! Included were lovely sewing fabrics (Becky sure knows I'm a fabric addict!), stitching fabrics, a needleroll design (Cherub Needleroll by M Designs), and a cute travel diary, which I hope will be put to good use!

Thank you again Becky, this is way too much... (and I wasn't saying I didn't deserve this out of false modesty... I really mean it! How could I deserve all this?)

Thank you my friend for your sweet card and words... You are one amazing friend. ((((hugs!))))

~*~

My friend Shashi finally received her gifts... I made them a month ago, but had to wait till Shashi was back from India to send them off to England... Then they took twice the usual time to reach her! I made her a towel hanger, with matching towels (a small one to go into the hanger, and a larger one); as well as a small French lace doily.

(picture courtesy of Shashi... )

I had made a similar towel hanger for Ann in January

I'll try and post another entry tonight... Hopefully that headache won't come back today!
Hugs everyone!

I certainly don't deserve all this...

... But it does feel good to be so spoiled!
I just received a boxful of Valentine goodies from Becky, who is my Adopt a Stitcher sender. What better way to start off a week?

Do click to enlarge!

I just love every single thing that Becky so thoughtfully included... It is all too cute for words! The scissors fob that Becky stitched is so pretty! There's even a heart-shaped pancake mold, and a kitty puzzle... I just can't wait to start sewing with the purse kit, to use that adorable fabric and the tucked pillow! There's also a lovely wintry pillow x-stitch kit from Pine Mountain designs... Ah, I just want to start playing with it all at the same time!
(You will notice that I've been very good: the candy boxes haven't been opened yet )

What can I say? Becky, I feel overwhelmed with your kindness and generosity. Overwhelmed in a good sense, I mean - it truly warms my heart to realize your immense, caring thoughtfulness in choosing every gift and making up the box... Thank you so much... Big ((((hugs)))) to you!

Finished and framed :)

Hello everyone!

I finished stitching my Mom's Birthday gift, and framed it today:

My Ange du Sommeil also finally got some attention yesterday evening:

L'ange du Sommeil by Angèle & Cie
Stitched on a 32-ct Silkweaver solo.

I had put that piece aside to make gifts and stitch on the Petal Fairy, but since I've decided to start Summer into Autumn when I'm done with this project, I'm pretty motivated to finish it soon now!

Hope you had, or are having, a lovely weekend! I won't stay on the computer any longer - migraine attack