March

I love this old calendar from a pharmaceutical and its rhyming ads!

I'm looking forward to a bright March. Last week's earthquake marked a most fateful beginning of the year, but things are going back to normal gradually. A lot is still to be done in this country. These hangers have become my own personal seismograph – they swing along with each aftershock.

Shaken tread

Tråd (Tread) pattern by Birgitta Hahn/10-gruppen

A dreadful weekend. On Saturday's early morning central and southern Chile was awaken by a devastating earthquake and following tsunami that damaged coastal and insular areas. Fortunately my family, friends and I are all right. Thanks to all of you who have expressed your concern through messages and emails.

Though this is the second earthquake I experience (last one in central Chile was in 1985) and we are quite used to frequent seismic activity, this 90-second quake frightened the h out of me. It was the darkness, the noise, the stuff falling from shelves (if not the shelves themselves), but most of all, the fear of uncertainty or yet, the certainty, the actual possibility that "this is it!"

I can't say the worst has happened – the number of dead people is constantly rising, there's looting in the affected cities and towns, and the prospect of recovery looks like a long and hard way ahead. But I do hope that sooner than later everything will be fine again :)

French Knot

I found this old and abandoned felt project and decided to add some texture by stitching French knots.

HOW
1. Bring needle up in A (any insertion point), twist thread around needle.
2. Put needle in at A (or just beside it) pulling the thread until it fits closely round the needle. Pull needle through.
3. The finished knot.

According to my source, the thread should only be twisted once round the needle, never two or three times.

Little embroidered pincushion

This is a little pincushion I made as a gift.

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I've been nominated for a Poppy award at Poppytalk blog! I'm so honoured to be in the list with such talented people. If you haven't already cast your vote, go here and pick your favourite.

Plastic bag

This plastic bag has managed to survive all my cleaning raids. I got it a couple of years ago when working in the corporate world and all the employees were given this bag with two bottles of sparkling wine and a Christmas cake.

Cut-outs

Cut-outs from cross-stitch patterns.

Crochet Cushions

100% wool crocheted cushions.
Here

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Thanks to Ez at Creature Comforts blog for the lovely post on my work!

Bags

New bags in the shop

This I accomplish

Some of my work during this year.

During the coming days I'll be reading This I Accomplish: Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt and Other Pieces by Kyra E. Hicks. A former Georgia slave, Harriet Powers' figure and quilts are just the inspiration I need for the new year.

Cornflower Blue + Sand

Cornflower Blue + Sand pillow photographed over the endpapers of an old embroidery book. I love the marketing in it – «Sort out your future or your finances studying with the methods from Marti de Gili» and «Modern procedures in cut, sewing and haute couture.» Encouraging.

Find this pillow here.