Wednesday 2 March 2016

WOYWW 352 embroidery

Hi everyone! Here is my contribution to What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, headed by our chief 'desker' Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground

There is nothing on my desk this morning, so no photo of that. But I will show you what I am doing at the moment. 

Last year I joined an embroidery circle in the village. Embroidery is something I had never done before (apart from cross stitch, but that doesn't count as embroidery according to the 'experts'). 

I started last year by buying some heavy bordeaux (wine) colored material for a table cloth. 

Then I chose a motif

 and yarn,  and I have been dutyfully embroidering every Tuesday evening for two hours. I've unpicked it about four times but now I am happy with the 'fill-ins'. This is the result so far:

I work on this table cloth when I am with the ladies. 

At home I am working on this linen hand towel. It's cross stitch so I don't dare bring it to the group.
This side is finished and I am in the process of finishing the other side. I would like it to go in my new bathroom, so I better hurry up!

Our new place is coming on steadily. My DH is working on the bathroom, but as this week is such glorious sunny weather, he has decided to tile the big terrace. So the bathroom is as yet unfinished. 

The kitchen is taking shape. The carpenter has delivered and put up the carcasses of the kitchen units. 

And today he will come and do the doors. (photos on this Friday's blog). We have ordered the granite worktop yesterday. So we're getting there!

That's it for today. 

Wishing you all a great week.

Happy WOYWW,

Lisca



28 comments:

  1. Sorry, but I had an image of the ladies with a big sign saying Cross stitch is forbidden!! Lol it tickled me that yu have to do it secretly at home!! I love the embroidery you've done, especially against that lovely deep burgundy fabric. It really looks good (as does your kitchen!!)
    Hugs, LLJ 14 xx

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  2. you have such patience, i can only dream of having so much patience. Happy WOYWW Vicky #3

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  3. My gosh! The house pictures are fun to see how far you're coming along. Good on you doing some embroidery. I don't have the patience. Cross stitch is better cos it grows faster! And I'm like you. Too many visitors and holidays and general busy-ness going on here to scrap much at all [insert sad face]....just as well I got my DT stuff done early and scheduled!!!

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  4. Your embroidery is beautiful Lisca, both pieces will look so lovely in your home when it's all done. There's something so good about sitting sewing in a group as well isn't there? Have a great week :o) Annie C #25

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  5. Your embroider is looking beautiful Lisca and so is your lovely towel. What a huge kitchen you are going to have. Glad the work is moving on. Now you're teasing us with your weather. It's so cold in this area today although the sun has just come out. Have a lovely day. Barbxx

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  6. I didn't know cross stitch didn't count as embroidery. Huh. Love your table cloth though- it is very pretty and looks great. Sounds like a fun thing to do. :)

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  7. I'm chuckling here cos your home sounds so much like ours. Hubby is tiling a bathroom, fitting a new hall window, knocking a porch down and filling a skip [another one!] this week.....a little going on in many places :-)
    Hugs,
    Annie x # 7

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  8. I spent my early years struggling with crewel embroidery and, when cross-stitch became the rage, I looked down on it as 'not proper' then I tried it ...........
    Love your embroideries - as long as you enjoy it it's 'proper'!! lol
    Have a good week
    Christine aka Bishopsmate #29

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  9. Lisca your kitchen looks very big, looking forward to seeing it finished.
    Your tablecloth is a lovely colour and how proud you'll be when its finished and you tell your guests you made it.
    Happy WOYWW
    Jan no 33

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  10. Your embroidery is certainly a labour of love. The colour of the cloth is fabulous, and it will certainly be something to be proud of. Your cross stitch is really pretty too, love the delicate colour. Happy WOYWW Judith xx#32

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  11. Nice progress on your building works! I used to do embroidery in primary school as part of the curriculum. The boys did DIY instead - not at all sexist, huh? Your tablecloth looks lovely with the detailed pattern and the cross-stitched towel is fantastic as well! I wouldn't dare use it to dry my hands, though! Happy WOYWW! zsuzsa #34

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  12. Such beautiful delicate work! Enjoy your secrets! 😉
    Diane WOYWW #31

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  13. Extremely neat work on that table cloth Lisca - lovely, and can I say as an ex lecturer in textiles I think people are too sniffy about cross stitch and yours is beautiful. How did you do it? Count the threads on the linen or using waste canvas? x Jackie 23

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    1. That part of the linen is woven differently and can be counted easier.

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  14. I love your embroidery. Strict rules on the 'no cross stitch allowed' lol. I cross stitch - the designs can be very beautiful and detailed. I also love seeing old samplers. They tell a story.

    The house looks like it's coming along great.

    Have a lovely week
    Sharon K #42

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  15. your cave is coming along so well - love the kitchen! Gorgeous embroidery too. Helen #2

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  16. Beautiful embroidery! I've done crewel and cross stitch but it's been a LONG time. Eyes just aren't what they used to be. Looks like your kitchen will be fairly open, no pun intended, maybe spacious would be a better word. Thanks for the visit and Happy WOYWW!
    Carol N #40

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  17. I'm back..so many things the past 2 wks have taken place. Hoping to be back to normal. Great projects you've got going. And always nice to get the DH finishing up projects. Enjoy some sunshine..

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  18. That is one fancy towel for your bathroom and it's always so exciting when installing cabinets go in them you can really see how your space will turn out your kitchen looks nice and big too hugs Nikki 4

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  19. Such patience Lisca with that embroidery, Gorgeous! Have a great woyww and happy crafting, Angela x 22

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  20. Wow Lisca, your new kitchen is looking amazing! As for your embroidery, it is all simply gorgeous. And I would take issue with anyone who says that cross stitch is not proper embroidery! It's a perfectly respectable stitch with plenty of potential for being creative. I used to do a lot of embroidery and have recently taken it up again and at the moment I'm workin on an ancient UFO (UnFinished Object) which I started at least 25 years ago - a Hebrew alphabet sampler in cross stitch, and I would be very insulted if someone told me it wasn't embroidery lol! I am working on it at our fortnightly KnitterNatter craft group from church. Thanks for your lovely enthusiastic comment - the biscuits went down very well on the unit this afternoon - both chemo-ites and staff all enjoyed them! I had some lovely conversations with several people and it was great to have the opportunity to encourage them, having got through my cancer journey with flying colours. Phoebe in my guitar case has certainly raised a few smiles on WOYWW this week! Unfortunately she's not very musical but knows a good thing when she finds it! My fingers continue to be very sore after only 4 days of practising for about 1/2 hr and today I can see white patches on my fingertips which look suspiciously like blisters... Oh well, no pain, no gain!

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi #28

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  21. I didn't know you were such a talented with needlework, Lisca. Your work is exquisite and intricate, especially the needlepoint piece. Happy WOYWW!

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  22. Your embroidery is utterly gorgeous! Glad the kitchen is taking shape too! See you Friday!

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  23. The excitement and anticipation of the build is tangible now, it's turning into the time when you get to choose and decorate..lovely. Your embroidery is lovely, quite a feat in evening Iight if you ask me! I love the linen too, my gosh you are accomplished!

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  24. Hi Lisca, I've just checked your blog archive. You're up to 257 posts so far! You'll probably beat me to 300!

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  25. Loving your embroidery and the cross stitch - it might not be embroidery but it is still skillfully done regardless! Hope the house will soon be just as you want it! Ali x #63

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  26. Hullo Lisca, a bit late sorry!
    ... had a chuckle at your gorgeous cross stitch being unworthy of taking to the group, I too unpick a lot when I crotchet.. and have embroidered too the real stuff not just cross stitch mind you, "petit-point" which have also done is real embroidery in my mind much more tedious than lots of embroidery!
    Thanks so much for popping over and for sharing.
    Shaz in Oz.x

    {Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

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  27. You are a multi talented lady Lisca...that looks awesome.

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