First up is this adorable four seasons freebie design from Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm. She gave this to the members of the FB Primitive Stitchers Society. The original had red and white striped candy canes for winter, but I substituted a teacup with steam rising from it. That little motif is courtesy of one of the Little Stitcher's designs. I decided to try and bind this in an octagon shape. I almost ruined the piece in the process, but did manage to rescue it. I had planned on a much wider border originally. The backing is the same as the border fabric and there is a layer of quilt batting for the sandwich. This may be the last octagon I ever attempt. It's basically coaster size now and I rest my glasses on it when I take them off. The fabric is 36 ct Edinburgh Dirty Linen.
I recently discovered an adorable Italian designer who goes by the name of Cassandra FairyWool and sells her designs on Etsy in the "FairyWool in the Wood" shop. Her designs are primitive style that show-off her quirky, humorous side. I fell in love with one of her recent designs called "Rabbit and Ghosts". The rabbit looks very much like her real-live pet rabbit. He's digging up carrots from the garden while ghost carrots are flying all around him. I stitched it up and made a pouch for my newest wooden hoop. It's stitched on 36 ct HDF linen. That's a little wooden heart button in the bottom right corner, added for symmetry.
The finishing urge struck me and I completed the final five (count 'em, 5!) pages of the Joyful World Calendar SAL. So all done now and nothing to do but wait for each month to 'turn the virtual pages'. Each used a different fabric, all from my stash. Here are the final five:
And here are the ensemble photos:
Super post, Annie! I really like your octagon shaped finish along with your hoop pouch. Way to go! Congratulations on getting the remaining Joyful World SAL pieces in finished form! They all look great.
ReplyDeletePS Like the new blog background!
glad you are feeling better. Love all the calendar pieces, that will be so much fun through the year and the octagon is very effective. It'll be easier next time
ReplyDeleteNice to know you are feeling better :)
ReplyDeleteWell, your octagon finish might have been a pain to do but it was all worth it! What a sweet finish! I love your design swap too. That cup of tea looks great.
Great finishes on the pouch and calendar. Now sit down & enjoy your handy work :)
Holy smokes Annie! I am blown away by your octagon piece! I keep staring at it. Amazing. The rabbit on your hoop pouch is so sweet. Congrats on finishing all the months now.:D I am so glad your health is improved my friend!
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased to hear your eyes and general health has improved :-) Loving your stitching as always. The octagonal coaster is a masterpiece! I have just finished making some folded patchwork coasters, and the trickiest one was a hexagonal. I'd hate to try to make an octagonal, although I've seen them done. I'm for the easy life, lol :-}
ReplyDeleteNo one would ever know that you struggled with the octagon binding! It looks amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on doing all the finishing work. I'm glad you're feeling much better!
So glad you hear you are feeling better and are seeing better too! Love your finishes, and of course, the Joyful World finishes are the best!
ReplyDeleteAnnie, they are all just beautiful. Some really pretty pieces to display.
ReplyDeleteWow! You really were on fire this month, Annie! I feel like a real slacker :) The octagon finish is incredible--I don't know how you figured that out--must be that mathematical mind of yours!
ReplyDeleteAnd the Joyful World finishes... all I can say is congratulations! They look fabulous and will brighten up your fridge all year long.
The ghost carrots are a hoot--that piece just makes me laugh! And a great finish for your hoop.
Finally--how wonderful that the meds have kicked in. It will be nice to be feeling better and getting out and about in this warmer weather :) Really happy to read that!
Some very pretty finishes in this post. I have seen so many finishes of the Joyful World SAL but yours is the best till date.
ReplyDeleteYour octagon piece looks wonderful, a bigger border might have taken away from the design.
ReplyDeleteI love the Rabbit and Ghosts, she does have some fun designs!
The finishes for the calendar are fabulous! I think you are the reason I did french knots in my hydrangeas, but I wish I had stuck with just a couple colours instead of using so many. Yours are beautiful!
Your stitching is wonderful, but I am so motivated by all of your incredibly creative finishes! I love your Joyful World calendar. Each page was just finished off with the perfect fabric! I'm so inspired to try something new.
ReplyDeleteSo much stitching!! :D wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteI love that bunny pouch, if I had just seen the photo first, I would think of you immediately! Looks very much like the style of designs I'm used to see here =) I bet you are happy to have found that designer!! :D
Oh my, Annie, your Joyful World calendar looks absolutely gorgeous. Great stitching and finishing. And you are right, when the finishing bug is visiting you have to pull out as many finished projects as possible and finish-finish them, lol.
ReplyDeleteA nie little bag that you made with the new designer's pattern. I always love to discover new designers, too, and I love the fact that many of them now sell their designs as a pdf format. This makes everything so much easier.
Your octagon looks gorgeous.
The octagon coaster looks great. I made an octagon box once, that wasn't easy!
ReplyDeleteI do love the way you've finished the Joyful World SAL, such an easy way to display each month in turn.
So pretty Annie. I want to do the series. So many pieces, so little time.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you a feeling better Annie and able to stitch and complete some pretty work. The coaster is a lovely design and I like the colours used. The rabbit is adorable and finishing for your hoop just perfect - I must have a look at Cassandra´s shop. Also beautiful finishing on the Joyful World designs.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful finishes! What are you going to hang your calendar pieces on?
ReplyDeleteSO many lovlies!!!
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