Flower pincushion

Here it is. My yesterday project:

I found tutorial and pattern here.

2013 Ornament SAL–January report

 

As January ornament I’ve made this Christmas Bell designed by Sam Hawkins (American School of Needlework, 1988).

I’ve bought several bell shaped frames and forgot about them for long time. When I discovered such a treasure I looked trough books and charts I have and chose this green-red design. I substituted some stitches for beads.

 

Для январского орнамента я выбрала колокольчик из дизайнов American School of Needlework. Я купила несколько таких рамок и благополучно о них забыла. Недавно обнаружила и покопавшись в своих книгах-схемах выбрала этот дизайн.

Some new stitches

This is part of today’s project (which will be ready soon)

I practiced “Wheat Stitch “ (or wheatear stitch)

Illustration I found on http://www.victorian-embroidery-and-crafts.com/chain_stitch_variations.html :

Here is what I‘ve get:

What I’d say,

I need more practice for sure

Saturday… Sun… Biking..

 

 

What could be better on sunny Saturday than biking. T. fixed flat tires and we  left for adventures. We decided to ride on the newly reconstructed path along the river. When this paved road ended up we even ride further along the old path. What a surprise! Fields of blackberry! Ok, we’ll be back here at summer

 

On the way home we ride by some interesting house.. We sometimes walk there and those paintings on the front wall are never the same. Depending on season or holiday owner displays different paintings. Today it were flamingo and parrots.

 

 

I couldn’t pass this mail box with cats on both sides. I love it! 

 

 

 

 

And there is a short story about last picture. This squirrel was probably having breakfast when I spotted it. T. took several pictures. One day I saw this squirrel eating tangelo sitting on the tree branch. I should name it and call my pet

Another Dark Rye Bread recipe

I found this recipe at food.com. I followed the recipe (except I didn’t use coffee and caraway seeds)  an it came out very well. This bread isn’t sweet like the previous one I made. I’ll keep this recipe for the next time.
You may see on the picture what I’ve got 

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 cup rye flour
• 2 tablespoons gluten flour
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
• 1/2-1 tablespoon caraway seeds (optional)
• 2 teaspoons yeast

Directions

1. Place ingredients in bread machine according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
2. You may substitute 1 package yeast for 2 tsp yeast.
3. If possible, use the Whole Wheat cycle, light crust.
4. Be sure to check the dough ball after 5 minutes.
5. Add Water or Bread Flour to adjust the consistency.

Stitching week’s update

First Snow Bell is finished!!! Such a fancy snow woman And update on “Lost no more” – little closer to the end

Browsing the Net

There are some interesting links:

    

           Framing Tutorial by Alicia Paulson   and  blog in French with beautiful designs (this one was published on December 16th, 2012).

6 Snow Belles–first week

What a frosty morning!

Last couple days was really cold here in Sacto. This morning is 25 degree which is kind of unusual and really frosty. Poor our plants! They aren’t used to such a temperatures. I found one empty pot (which I just cleaned yesterday)  broken in halves.

Несколько дней у нас было весьма холодно. А сегодня температура опустилась до –4С. Несчастные мои растения совершенно не привыкли к такому холоду. Те каллы что я посадила и подснежники полегли совсем. С утра обнаружили что цветочный горшок что я накануне вымыла и оставила на улице, раскололся на две половины

2013 Ornament SAL

I’ve just jointed the Ornament SAL. I like the idea of stitching ornaments in the company Just finished my first ornament but will post it on January 30th

First Snow Belles arrived :)

 

Today I received from 123stitch.com “All dressed up” chart of Lizzie Kate 6 Snow Belles series and linen I going to use for my year project. When I opened the chart I found out that it has beautiful tiny snowflake button. I didn’t see it on the picture before so I checked all Snow Belles designs and they all have snowflake on each. I like it!!!  I also bought an erasable highlighter (never used one). I going to use it on Lost no more chart because the yellow one I’m using now makes it unreadable on some symbols.

I’m so eager to start my Snow Belles but first some small Christmas works from December need to be finished. Otherwise those things will be unfinished whole year  

Сегодня я получила посылку с 123stitch.com со схемой от Lizzie Kate для моего нового проекта на этот год. Я не ожидала что к схеме прилагается еще симпатичная маленькая пуговка – снежинка. Я посмотрела фото дизайна поподробнее и обнаружила что на всех схемах со снеговиками присутствует эта пуговка. Так хочется начать вышивать уже снеговичков но сначала надо доделать кое-какие рождественские вышивки иначе до конца года пролежат недоделанные. Да еще, купила синий маркер стирающийся, попробую использовать.

Garden time

This Saturday was about gardening. I and T. went to the nursery to buy some new plants for our garden. We choose an apricot tree, raspberry and blackberry plants. Doesn’t these apricots look yummy? I can’t wait to taste it Tags on blackberry plant promises 30lb per plant!!! Sounds great but unbelievable.  I also bought some new bulbs.

 

Russian Rye Bread

Today I decided to bake rye bread since I bought rye flour recently. So what I’ve got

I found Russian Rye Bread recipe at food.com. I didn’t have caraway seeds (cumin) so I baked without. The bread tastes a little bit too sweet for me (may be I put too much honey) and also it made small loaf. Next time I’ll adjust ingredients. There is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup warm water, plus
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 2 tablespoons dark honey
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups bread flour
• 3/4 cup rye flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seeds
• 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer.
2. Select Basic bread cycle and start machine.

Other recipe Basic Rye Bread from allrecipes.com has cocoa powder in it. I’m not sure how it’ll taste.

2013 Stitching plans

• First of all I’m going to finish my old project “Lost no more” I’ve started couple years ago

 

That’s done by today (more than 2/3 I believe).

• Lizzie Kate 6 Snow Belles
• Fabyreilly Cornflower biscornu
• Zolotoe Runo (Russia) Old Prague    or
• RTO (Russia) Towers of Old Town
• and something else (as usual)