Embroidery Books

I just found a bookstore with a huge selection of embroidery books, the store belongs to a friend's niece. The name of the store is "Booksmith" in San Francisco, California.

The link is under "Favorite Shops" on the right- you can do a search for embroidery and find many pages of books.

Too many books and so little time to do the stitching.

Silk Shading at RSN

Just returned from San Francisco, I was there for two weeks taking the silk shading certificate class from the Royal School of Needlework. The above picture is the first day getting ready to stitch. I love the sweet pea!

Lucy, a graduate of the school, lives in San Francisco and is the USA Education Coordinator. They will be offering the Certificate classes in April/May and September/October each year. They offered day classes this time too and will offer day classes next spring and maybe this fall, check the website for the RSN http://www.royal-needlework.co.uk/or contact jessica.aldred@royal-needlework.org.uk for more information on the classes and the new Foundation Degree beginning this fall in England.

There were 11 students from all over the country in two class rooms doing silk shading, gold work, Jacobean crewel for the certificate class and two working on advanced classes in gold work and stumpwork. It was fun to watch all the projects and learn more about each technique. Everyone worked very hard to complete their projects in two weeks.

Here is a picture of my project, I am looking forward to it arriving in the mail after the assessment, hope I pass the class. Keeping my fingers crossed!

MS Walk Today!!

Thank you to all the people who made donations on my behave, I know the money will help someone with MS and maybe they will find the cause and a cure.


We completed the 4 mile walk today. We had beautiful weather and had a great time walking, watching the other walkers and talking. I think everyone enjoyed the walk because there was sunshine for a change.

Here are a few pictures:


Thanks again for your help!

MS Walk April 5th

Our daughter was diagnosed with MS last May. Her and I have registered to do the MS Walk on April 5th. We will be walking about 4 miles, I am thinking dry weather for the day.

I set a low goal and made my goal! If anyone feels they could help, the donation would be much appreciated and will help someone with MS. I know the medication our daughter takes would cost $2,000.00 a month, if she didn't have insurance.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message.

Think sunshine for Sunday!

Royal School of Needlework - San Francisco, California

Here is the link to see the classes the Royal School of Needlework are offering in San Francisco, California in April and May, 2009.

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e85d7377c1&view=att&th=11fb716d950309b3&attid=0.1&disp=vah&zw

I will be taking the Silk Shading Certificate Class. Two of the tutors are coming from England and the third one is from England and now living in California. I have taken classes from both Owen Davies and Helen McCook, I am looking forward to seeing them again.

The classes will be wonderful even though they aren't at Hampton Court Palace, I love the palace and the gardens around it.

If you are interested in taking classes you can visit the RNS website for the person to contact.

http://www.royal-needlework.co.uk/

I am looking forward to my class!!

Witch, Handwarmers & Biscornu

This was my Christmas gift from my friend. Isn't she lovely?

Here are the hand warmers I made, while another friend made hers. I learned that I needed to pay attention when I was knitting these.

This is the project my cousin and I worked on while she was here last week. She finished her's after she went home, now we just have to wait to get a picture of hers to join mine.

Sampler Challenge

While we were in England, the Sampler Guild received an invitation to join in the Alphabet Sampler Challenge with the Northwest Sampler Guild.

The only requirements were that the sampler had to have an alphabet. There is a tree in front of Hampton Court Palace that has mistletoe growing on the branches, I decided to make my sampler using the tree as my inspiration. Added a few flowers around the bottom and the rabbit ran into his hole at the bottom of the tree.

The following is a list of the stitches I used:

Fly stitch

Chain stitch

Cross stitch

Lazy daisy

French knots

Satin stitch

Turkey stitch

Straight stitch

This was a really fun project to do, might even do another one in the future!