mum's birthday

today is my mum's birthday, since I couldn't get home to her (just yet-one week on Tuesday and I'll be home with her, Row and Joe!) I stitched and made this card for her.
The motif is from Susan Bates' gorgeous book; Hearts, Birds and Flowers (http://www.susanbates.co.uk/hearts-birds-flowers/4585360972) She is one of my favourite cross stitch designers and my mum loves her work too, so I thought this little bouquet would make a lovely birthday card. I changed a few colours and added the backstitch wording.
Mum loved her card and I can't wait to give her her presents on Tuesday-most of which are handmade so I will be posting photos here very soon.

little fox embroidery

this is my very latest Bustle and Sew finish; a little leaping fox surrounded by a flower wreath. the fox himself is appliqued and the rest is embroidered onto cream cotton then framed in a 6 inch wooden embroidery hoop. the first photo shows it in progress, the second shows it completed and framed.

I do like framing my pieces in hoops, I find I do this more and more as they are easy to move about and rearrange. what's your favourite way to display your stitching?

I loved making this piece, although I had a few issues with the colours I had chosen; colour isn't my strong point. Clothing wise I tend to stick to classic, natural colours like white, cream, green, brown and grey. It's not that I don't like colour (I love it!) I'm just not very good at deciding which colours go well together. For this one, I decided on pastel shades with the two bright flowers on either side.

To help with my colour choices, I've been pinning all sorts of lovely palettes onto my pinterest board;  https://www.pinterest.com/hollyannlouise/quelle-colour/

I absolutely love pinterest; please do give me a follow and let me know your pinterest accounts so I can have a look-see :)

https://www.pinterest.com/hollyannlouise/

hello hydrangea

my mum bought me this beautiful potted hydrangea when she came to stay in May, but I'm sorry to say it's looking a little worse for wear, probably because it hasn't been in the sun enough. so with the drooping flower heads I couldn't resist 'faffing' around with them!

hydrangeas are a flower I used to hate as child; I thought they were so old fashioned and boring; now of course I see that they have a simple, innocent beauty.

I hope my little plant recovers-it'll be so lovely to be able to take it to me and bill's new home later this year.

any advice on how to keep it going strong?