Christmas Humbug Decoration

As a lover of canvas work, I enjoy creating new and interesting pieces. I have recently created this Christmas Humbug Decoration which was sent last week overseas to a special friend for Christmas! I hope she likes it!

And this is the back of the decoration! I have used a colourful silk variegated thread with beautiful Christmas colours!

Christmas is coming!!

I enjoyed making this little open Christmas bon bon which I plan on filling with something special for someone special! It is from an Anni Downes pattern from Hatched and Patched and I really love the Christmas fabrics I chose (Nancy Halvorsen)!

This was just before I tied it up into a bon bon shape!

Country Bumpkin Inspirations

Here are a few more photos of my visit to "Country Bumpkin" in Adelaide. There was a lovely room full of books and magazines and a couple of chairs filled with beautifully embroidered cushions!

And some more cushions!

Another smocked dress which was just divine!

And row upon row of inspirational "Smocking" and "Inspirations" magazines to browse through! It was a great couple of hours for me!

Wednesday's Inspiration!

Tricia showed us this beautiful Teddy which she has made and embroidered called "Rose". She is gorgeous and very pink!

Ethel bought in her finished and beautifully framed painted embroidery which she has now completed following a class which Jenny Stephens taught at our group.

Doris has made this whimsical cross stitch - a special gift for a special daughter-in-law! We could all have one of these hanging on our wall couldn't we??

And Jenni has almost completed this bright and colourful embroidered quilt based on one of Anni Downes patterns. The colours are fantastic and the stitching superb. Well done ladies!

More of "Country Bumpkin" Store

Just a couple more photos from my visit to the "Country Bumpkin" Store! And this beautiful teddy and smocked dress were sitting on a lovely old Singer sewing machine at the door! The smocking on the dress was spectacular!

Everywhere I looked in the store was a simply irresistable view - looking back through the stained glass doors from the enclosed outside verandah, was a beautiful display of threads!

The hydrangea flowers and leaves on yet another beautifully smocked dress were exquisite!

And I have long been a fan of the beautiful "Liberty of London" lawns which have been used in this gorgeous embroidered quilt. I remember making little dresses for my girls out of "Liberty of London" lawns and falling in love with the fabric! This was sensational! I am now running out of descriptive words for this place - beautiful, gorgeous, sensational and exquisite - simply don't do justice to this beautiful haven of embroidery and needlework which I visited!

A Visit to "Country Bumpkin"

I have had a lovely morning out exploring some of the special shops in Adelaide! A visit to "Country Bumpkin" was on my list and I was not disappointed! I think I spent at least 2 hours there and the ladies were so lovely! There was a group of ladies doing social stitching so I felt right at home and had a look at what they were doing - all beautiful work!

The smocking is to be seen to be believed - it is exceptional! And the best thing was all the beautiful samples from the pages of "Inspirations" magazine which were all around the shop and surrounds - very inspiring!

A beautiful Christmas tree decorated with gorgeous smocked Christmas decorations greeted me at the door!

And here is a close up of just one of the stunning smocked decorations! Can you tell how much I enjoyed myself??

Sights of Adelaide!

David and I are in Adelaide for a couple of days for work and this morning we wandered through the Adelaide Central Markets - full of fantastic foods, sights and smells! We enjoyed breakfast in a tiny cafe buzzing with atmosphere and great coffee!

Beautiful fresh and colourful fruits and this enormous basket of free range eggs!

We headed out to Glenelg on the tram for lunch and after a particularly salty Italian bruschetta for lunch (full of olives and anchovies) one of us enjoyed a beautiful lemon gelato!! Yum !!

Favourite form of transport other than walking was the tram ride to Glenelg!