While on the subject of needlework....

Jennifer's cushion

If you remember ages ago Jennifer guessed that the 'Mystery House' I was constructing, starting back in February, was the John F Craig Mansion by Debbie Young.  As promised, I made her a little cushion as a gift for her hard work looking back through a heap of posts to work out what it was, and posted it off.  I adapted the design partly from a William Morris carpet chart by Sue Bakker, which had been published in a dollshouse magazine ages ago, and used the peach and blue colours that Jennifer requested.  I'm quite pleased with my arrangement of the elements.  Here is a photo of it when I had it pinned out to dry in shape after stitching, though the colours look brighter in the photograph than in reality.

I know I have a photo of it all finished but I can't find it at the moment.  I trimmed the edge with cording in the same darker blue.  My first attempt at this cushion had the background in the darker blue as well but then the stems didn't show up so I had to make it a lighter background.  I really like the design and I hope Jennifer does too.  In fact I hope it even got to Jennifer - I know she was moving and all my attempts to contact her have been in vain, and I haven't heard whether she received it or not.

Progress on Giveaway needlework

Meanwhile I am working away on a 1:12th scale rug for the 200 Followers giveaway.  I haven't decided on the 1:48th scale items yet, but it will probably be flowers.  Here is the rug so far: 

I'm well on the way with it as you can see.  It is the same chart as I used for the cushion above, but done in the colours that Sue designed it in.  She has adapted this design from a carpet that William Morris designed and wove as a wedding present for Margaret Burne-Jones, about 1880.  I think it's a lovely design, and the use of two slightly different shades of colour for the blue background and the twining stems gives a great effect.  Because I am doing it on 32 hpi silk gauze it is not very large: it will measure about 3" x 5" or a big bigger when completed.  I really love it, and will probably re-do it for myself later on.

Only 6 more Followers to reach that 200 mark, so I'd better put a good effort into finishing it off and doing the quarter scale items too.  

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