Wednesday 24 April 2013

Mailart received

During my stitching weekend in Hauho, I asked Kirsi if she'd be interested in doing a mailart exchange with me. I have seen many of those envelopes but never tried one myself. 
We decided to do a primitive design theme and set the date to beginning of July. You might understand my surprise when Kirsi's envelope arrived already yesterday. I am completely blown away by the beauty of her stitching.
I just love how she included this felted wool heart into the design.
The package also included a few goodies.
The bird ornament and wall hanger are both from wood and the thread is a hand dyed thread from "Dragon Floss" in the colour "Antient Oak" It is such a beautiful soft colour. I think I will stitch something very special for myself with it.

Monday 15 April 2013

My stitching weekend

Just as promised in my last post, here are now the pictures of the stitching retreat last weekend.

The retreat took place at an old country estate called Wuolteen kartano in Hauho. It was the most beautiful place. Unfortunately the weather wasn't of its finest. Sping is still far away and we had quite some rain.
This is the front view of the main building. Here we had our rooms and took our meals.
The main house seen from the lake side.
The little house on the right is the sauna building. It is right next to the lake.

The whole weekend was organised by Kirsi through her cross stitching supply shop Emmuli and needless to say Emmuli was open for business during the entire weekend.


Most tempting for me where all those beautiful fabrics and hand-dyed flosses and ribbons by Nina and I got myself quite some beautiful goodies.
Included in the weekend package was a little stitching gift.

Quite a few stitchers already finished it during the retreat. Though not I. I was far to busy working on my Biedermeier Sampler. I just couldn't lay it aside and made great progress. 

Now that this sampler is almost finished I have to start thinking about the next one. Sari brought along one very old Burda magazines that includes a gorgeous German reproduction Sampler. She was so kind to borrow it to me and I can't wait to buy some more 35ct. Floba to start it.

But I have also bought another reproduction Sampler chart from Emmuli.
This one is Miriam Chilver's Sampler from 1833 by "Samplers Remembered". The Sampler is most likely American but includes English Symbols. It is much smaller than the Biedermeier Sampler and I think I will stitch it on a lower count. Maybe one of my new 30ct's.

After all, I had a wonderful time with good friends and lots of cross stitching.