The Common Thread

I am on a bit of a roll here!!   The Common Thread is now on Facebook.  You can follow me there on https://www.facebook.com/threadsincommon?ref=hl

The Common Thread

My new Etsy Shop

I have finally got my Etsy shop up and running.  I have listed lots of beautiful Chameleon Threads; some counted thread work kits and some silk ribbons.  There is also a beautiful silk ribbon garland called "les Fleurs".  It is fully kitted with full packs of ribbon and all the needles and fabric, plus a very good set of instructions with colour photographs.  If you are interested and would like to visit my shop this is the link https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheCommonThread1?ref=si_shop

These are some of the Chameleon Thread Collections I have listed for sale:

Cottage Garden - Perle #8 collection

Lilac Border - Perle #8 collection

Vintage Elegance - Perle #8 Collection

... and this is les Fleurs

Happy New Year to One and All

And so, another year has gone by.  Did you manage to finish all those lovely stitching projects you started and promised yourself you would finish?  Or, on looking back over the year, did you discover you had too many WIPs and not enough finishes?  I can count on one hand the number of stitchers I know who finish one project before they start on another one. The majority of us are like butterflies - we flit from one piece of linen to another, drawn in by the beautiful colours of the threads, or the intricate design.

Each year I promise myself that I will finish every project that I start - and each year I fail miserably. So this year, I am not going to make the same promise, instead I am going to promise myself that I will learn at least one new stitching technique.  This year I am going to master Reticello.  I love the look of this technique and I have signed up to take a distance class with Lee Albrecht  http://leealbrecht.blogspot.co.uk/. I will keep you posted on my progress. I wonder what your new technique will be?

And now, my friends, I leave you with these words of wisdom:

Remember that friends don’t let friends stitch drunk.  Please stitch responsibly this year and may all your stitching dreams come true in 2014.

Merry Christmas and wishing you all a very Happy New Year

Sewing Pouch



This is what it looks like when it is closed

I wanted to show you a little pouch I have made - it is a gift for a very special person and will be on its way to South Africa tomorrow.  It is a very quick and simple way of turning 2 pieces of square fabric, a couple of flower beads and two bits of silk ribbon into something special.

It has two flaps that open on either side

... and the middle is filled with threads and scissors

Silk Ribbon Embroidery

I am busy designing three ribbon embroidery pieces.  The yellow one is a lid for a small pompadour which will hold a pair of small scissors, a thimble and some needles; the pink one is going to be a small pouch, either for jewellery, or as a gift for a bride and then the heart shaped one is a "just because" - just because I felt like updating a piece I had designed when I first started silk ribbon embroidery nearly 18 years ago.

My Sewing Pompadour

And this is another project I am working on - and teaching as I go along.  It is one of Di van Niekerk's designs called "Summer Garland".  It is full of ribbon work, stumpwork and beading and is just glorious to stitch.

I will endeavour to keep you posted on my progress.

Casalguidi Class



Caslguidi Pouch stitched using
Chameleon Hand Dyed Threads

 Yesterday I taught my first class at Bee Crafty http://www.beeingcrafty.co.uk/ - a lovely shop in Ellington, near Huntingdon. I taught a Casalguidi embroidered pouch using very non-traditional wedgewood blue linen and beautiful, variegated hand-dyed threads.  It was a small class, but this made it quite cosy.  It was a very sociable one too, as it was held in the shop, so customers coming in found themselves receiving a quick lesson in Casalguidi.  Sarah and Julie kept the tea and coffee flowing, as well as the lovely home made biscuits.  A complete kit is now available for this pouch.  If you would like to purchase one please email me at tdfhaines@aol.com

 

If you are interested in learning a bit more about Casalguidi embroidery then I highly recommend this book "Casalguidi Style, Linen Embroidery" by Effie Mitrofanis.  You may also find this blog very useful http://italian-needlework.blogspot.com/2010/07/casalguidi-embroidery.html.  



Here is a more traditional piece of Casalguidi
which I am busy stitching