Tin box workshop

Here are the tins the ladies did when I showed them how to make a tin box pretty. Sorry the photos aren't brilliant but I forgot my camera and my friend Helen lent me her iphone to take them, which I am really grateful for otherwise I wouldn't have been able to show anything of them to you apart from probably mine, Bev's and Jen B's at a later date..
Back L-R Ann, Lucy, Janet, Elsie, Jen B & Elaine
Front L-R Bev, Barbara, Judith, Jen & Me

Here are a few of them in a little more detail, this one was made by Ann and the one behind it was made by Lucy.

These were by Janet (Quaker one), Elsie and the beaded one with the owl was made by Jen B, Elaine's is at the back

Here are Jens, Mine (Christmas one), Jen B & Judith's

We had a great day and I enjoyed it very much, after my initial nervousness, I find it easy to show 1 person, but to show 10 was a bit different LOL! It was great to see everyones different types of finished tins and the different ideas for the stitched or beaded pieces.
I must add very special thanks to dear Yuko, who obtained the tins for me and sent me them over earlier this year, without them I couldn't have done the workshop as easily.

Another has arrived.....

safe and sound - that little old pigeon has been flapping her wings overtime I think. Susan made a wish on the Grant a wish exchange and I said I would grant it for her. Susan let me know tonight that it had arrived today for her. As Susan's wish was for a tin topper and I knew how much she loved LHN designs I chose to stitch her Needle Necessities - only modified slightly to fit too which was good.

The inside I lined with a pretty fabric I had in my fabric drawer that I felt matched perfectly. The outside I trimmed with crochet lace and gingham ribbon in a toning colour. I've stitched it 1/1 and used the recommended DMC colours.
I am so pleased that Susan liked it.

I'm up late as I am having trouble sleeping so I have been busy stitching another exchange and have finished all the stitching, this one I want to do a different finish on - all will be revealed at a later date if it doesn't work than I will have to have a re-think. Tomorrow I'll start on another Grant a wish, I've picked my pattern out, now I just have to get started.


I hope everyone has a great weekend its been lovely and sunny here in Cumbria and more is forecast this weekend.

Tin FOR Vonna

Ok, before I went off to Lanzarote I posted the tin I made for Vonna so that she received it before I came home again. I am really glad to say it arrived safely.

The design top is taken from Homespun Elegance ABC Friendship design, I again stitched the tin top on 40ct fabric.
I changed the style of the inside from what I have done on the other 2 tin exchanges and instead of lining it with just fabric I did a stitched inside and I took an element on the design and did the bird and flower and stitched a V for Vonna. The rest I lined with fabric and cotton ribbon.

Tin exchange TO Eva

Eva e-mailed me tonight to let me know that she has safely received her tin from me today. this is the first one of my 4 tin exchanges to go out, it arrived in France super fast too!!

I stitched BBD - Vintage flowers as Eva is a big fan of BBD's - It was Eva who moderates and organises the BBD SAL's that I join. We have become quite good friends over the past few months I'm pleased to say.

The tin top as I mentioned is Vintage flowers and its all stitched in the recommended DMC colours. I stitched it on soft cream 40ct linen. I added the different beads in colours that are in the design rather than just x stitches as I felt it added more interest. I edged the sides with vintage cream crochet lace.
Inside I lined it with 2 different moda fabrics and trimmed the inside bottom with cord around the edges. Inside the lid I added some silk ribbon to tie on the scissors and another piece of lace (the same as the front edges) to hold the scissors in safely). The bottom of the tin I have put some hamd-dyed felt so that it has a soft 'bum' LOL!!

I made a wee fob and took elements of the top design there's the rose and then on the reverse of the fob I stitched an E and used again part of the main design for the eyelet flowers. I edged the fob with some toning beaded trim and used the same hand-dyed silk ribbon to make the scissor fastner part of the fob.

I really enjoyed stitching and making this up for Eva and my next tin exchange went out today too so hopefully that will arrive the early part of next week.



I apologise for not doing my normal blogging, but we have still been feeling off-colour but I have been very busy stitching and getting on with exchanges and things andso I'm afraid that blogging has suffered a wee bit.

Thanks to everyone for your lovely comments on my work, and for the nice emails too, if I owe you an email I will get mailing soon I promise.