Proud Mum Moment!

This is not stitching related, but I am just bursting at the seams to share, with anyone who will listen...lol!! My eldest son Jason has just had his fourth book published. This one's about Prince and it's his biggest one yet - a big photo book with a velvet cover which at the moment is only being sold as an exclusive deluxe edition through Barnes & Noble in America and through their website. You can see it here with additional pictures. I have my very own copy, signed by the author himself of course...lol!!

A Mon Ami Pierre Pinkeep

I've finally got around to making up this pinkeep for myself! It's the pinkeep design from the A Mon Ami Pierre chart Alphabet Brodeuse. I had finished stitching it a few months ago, when I made the Miniatures D' Alphabets' pinkeeps for my Mum and sister Sarah. It is stitched 1/1 on the same 32ct Vintage Antique White Linen and again using DMC 815. I've also used the same fabric for backing the pinkeep but this time instead of the ruched ribbon trim I have finished it with a twisted cord. Is it just me...my reds never look right in my photos? This red looks so much nicer IRL then it does on my screen!

Designer: A Mon Ami Pierre
Design: Alphabet Brodeuse
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Vintage Antique White Linen
Thread: DMC 815

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments left for my needlebook...I have enjoyed reading them all! A few of you have asked how I had put my needlebook together. It really was very easy and if you have made a pinkeep before you should definitely be able to finish a needlebook this way. I have tried to explain a little of how I finished mine, which you can find HERE. It is not a tutorial with pictures I'm afraid, but it should help if you wanted to have a try at finishing your own.

A finish at last!

The reveal for the August challenge on Jayne's Attic Stitch and Stash forum was on Saturday. The chart chosen was an A Mon Ami Pierre complimentary design which I have finished as a needlebook and made a little fob to go with it too. This is my first EVER needlebook...can you believe that! You would have thought I would have got around to making one before now! Sometime ago I had seen one made up this way on another blog. I can't remember where now but because I couldn't find a tutorial for it at the time I saved a picture to remind of how it looked. I don't suppose I've got it quite right but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The chart listed Vicky Clayton silks which I substituted for DMC, choosing similar colours as I thought they would go well with the fabric I had already decided to use for the needlebook cover. The scissor fob and needlebook were both stitched 1 over 2 on cream 40ct Newcastle Linen. I stitched Nun's Stitch around the edge of the needle page.

Design: A Mon Ami Pierre (complimentary found here)

Fabric: 40ct Cream Newcastle Linen

Threads: DMC 926, 924, 640, 3721, 223, 632, 3064, 902, 3052

I have a couple of A Mon Ami Pierre pinkeeps to make up which I had finished stitching some time ago, so will hopefully have more finishes to share soon!

I must edit this post to say that I have received a lovely comment from Nataliejo with a link to a picture of her needlebook that she had finished some time ago. Nataliejo thought perhaps it could have been her picture I had seen! I'm so thrilled that she left me a link, because it was definitely Nataliejo's needlebook that inspired me to try the same finish! Please visit Nataliejo's blog and take a look at her needlebook. It's absolutely beautiful, and you will see why I just had to have one too! :o)