AUTUMN EXCHANGES

Autumn was the theme for a bookmark exchange on EMS Forum. and I received this lovely one from Terri in USA. It is almosr too nice to use, meanwhile it sits by my computor so I can enjoy it.

I send my bookmark to England and had a lot of fun stitching a design that I adapted from http://www.leschroniquesdefrimousse.com/ I think her little elf designs are really cute and it was quite simple to change this one into a bookmark. The design is called  "L'automne arrive..." and can be found on the web site, on  the left side under the heading Les Lutins.

BLACKWORK BOOKMARKS

I took part in a recently in another  EMS Cross Stitch Forum exchange.
The subject this time was a bookmark to be stitched in purple blackwork,
Black work is one technique I have enjoyed stitching over the years.
I taped Ivy leaves to paper then scanned them to make my design.
My bookmark was sent out to an embroiderer in Singapore. Stitching the exchanges is fun as they are always small pieces and I enjoy the challenge of designing something new for each one.

Today I received a lovely packet in the mail from Romania which included two bookmarks in it so I have been quite spoilt. I think the bookmark with the tulip on it is my favourite, the design is quite elegant. It appears to be stitched on fine linen about 40 count. The little flower is an aida band ( and wont sit where I want it on this posting at present!!!!!!! will try and move it around again later)
These came from the same embroiderer I had sent my red pendibulle to a few months earlier.
Through the exchanges one makes friends all round the world.

BOOKMARK FOR A FRIEND

"Daisies ye flowers of lowly birth, embroiderers of the carpet earth."


I have often used this quote by John Clare, (English Poet 1793-1864) with my embroideries and when planing to use it again this week decided to check out where it came from. Found it was part of a long poem, "Songs of Praise Imitations of the 148 Psalm", found too that the verse on the daisies was preceded by two others mentioning flowers, first cowslips then violets. The result was a completely different design than originally planned and my new bookmark design stitched for a friend has these three flowers.