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For as long as I can remember I have had a 'Grandma' Doris, who I love dearly. She has been neighbours with my family for over thirty years. And although strictly no relation whatsoever, she has delightfully filled the role of Grandmother and continues to to this day. Proving that sometimes you can indeed choose your family.

In the same way, Cohen and I have adopted an extra Mother in law. Gratefully appropriating my sisters lovely Mother in law, Clare, into our little family. Now, as Doris was to me, Cohen also has an extra Grandmother. And I have a kind, supportive and thoughtful 'Mother in law.'

Above is a little 'thinking of you' package she sent me recently.

Do you have special people in your life you've adopted into your family?

My Creative Space

Finished. Six embroidered linen napkins ready to be gifted to a lovely someone for Christmas. 

From the tutorial I shared here.

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More Creative Spaces here (or maybe not.)

Embroidered napkin tutorial

I've been working on these embroidered linen napkins as a Christmas gift for a lovely someone who will appreciate a handmade Nana style gift from yours truly. They are simple but sweet and I've put together a little how to for anyone interested.

You will need:

Napkins - you can make them yourself or pick them up from a craft shop. I found mine on sale at Spotlight.

Embroidery needle

Six Stranded Embroidery thread - you could use white as I have, one colour or multiple colours

Embroidery hoop - slightly larger than your design, but not too large, so it isn't cumbersome

Washable Erasable marking pen - from a craft shop

You will also need designs for you napkins of course. I drew these myself, using a tin to trace around for the circles and decorating each one differently, six in total. You can draw your own or search for free Christmas embroidery patterns online. (If anyone is interested I can scan my pictures and add them to this tutorial.)

Print or draw your designs in a dark colour, lay your napkin in your desired position over the design and trace with the washable marker. If you have a light box you can use this. Or you can tape both pieces in place on a window with light coming from behind and trace it there. Mine was easy enough to see as is.

Place work in hoop, gently tugging on the fabric all the way around to pull it tight. Tighten the thread on the screw at top so everything is secure. Cut a manageable length of embroidery thread. I tend to use about a 40 - 50cm length. Divide the thread in half, so you are left with three strands in each half. Thread your needle with the three threads, make a knot at the end and start stitching.

I used back stitch and French knots on my napkins, but you can be as inventive as you like and use as many stitches as you like. Stitch happily each night for a bit of couch craft or sneak in some stitching while children nap or friends visit. 

Pull your napkin out of the hoop, wash and iron it and admire your handiwork. Consider keeping it for yourself. Wrap it up beautifully with your other completed napkins and gift lovingly to someone special.

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As a few things have been crossed off 'the list of things to make and do for birthdays and Christmas' of late, I couldn't help but take a little detour. Even though I thought I should be finishing some of the projects I have started, this black apple embroidery was too difficult to resist.

Hope your having a lovely weekend.

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My finished postcard.

Made a little difficult, as my swap partner doesn't have a blog and didn't leave any notes on her likes and dislikes.

Inspired by Mel's lovely cushion and with thanks to Follow the White Bunny for the free pattern. -

The Stitched post card swap.

My Creative Space...

My first embroidered initials for a friend, as a part of the tutorial I am working on.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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Why is it that when I go to Spotlight for wool, I come back with fabric and embroidery supplies? But no wool?

Ah well, I could not resists the dotty dots or the vintage inspired fabrics new to the fat quarter range. They are quite at home in my stash already.

I have been planning a little tutorial for the calico and embroidery thread.

I hope to share it with you soon.

Linen love...

I was delighted by the discovery of these two linen table cloths of my Grandmothers.

The first of which has been the started while the other awaits the first stitches.

These lovely pieces would have to be over fifty years old.

Do you think it would be too terrible for me to finish them?