Christmas is a coming!

Tina Francis Tapestry Copyright 2014

So this year has gone super fast!  I've moved house, moved studio and have been really enjoying myself.  But tapestry waits for no one and so whilst living the life of Riley I have been working hard on my first seasonal design, Gingerbread House.   

I was introduced to ginger bread house decorating by a good American friend of mine, each year she would bake and assemble ginger bread houses for a group of friends and we would arrive sweets in hand to decorate them whilst we caught up on each others festive plans.  I since held my own parties and it's a great way to have a calm evening catching up at the busiest time of the year.

My gingerbread design is printed here in the UK and is available as a full kit, printed canvas only or a block chart.  It makes a great cross stitch too!

There are some fantastic tapestry needlepoint kits for the festive season around that once stitched will become beloved heirlooms. I love the new kit from One Off Needlework of a Poinsettia a favourite plant of mine.  The great thing about this design is that it can be used as a glasses case or a cushion insert, just lovely.  Also at One Off Needlework is a beautiful range of Christmas Stockings my favourite is Black Garland but that might be because it has my brothers name on it! 

Also great on the Christmas Stocking front is the range from Jolly Red, real fun designs here with my fave being Christmas Alphabet which is just so jolly!  I love the way that both Jolly Red and One Off Needleworks stockings have space to add your own name.

Finally in this kit round up (!) take a look at the Winter Sampler by Elizabeth Bradley, a fantastic use of winter berries and a dream of a house make this a really special kit to stitch, every time I look at it I see something else.

So it seems that my new kit is in great company and who knows maybe I will have another to add to the list next year.

The Autumn shows are in full swing now, I am just back from Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally.  This years event was bigger than ever lasting 5 days and having a late night opening event on the Thursday evening. I was in the same spot as last year and so it was great to meet up with people again.  My workshops were popular and everyone left with a smart needlepoint brooch attached to their lapel.  I am already chomping at the bit with workshop ideas for next year!

I am getting ready for Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate but in the meantime have two events that I am really looking forward to. The first is this coming Thursday and is a Christmas Fair being held at the Copthorne Hotel in Birmingham for Edwards Trust. Edwards Trust supports children and families in times of serious illness and bereavement, it is a great charity and I am really pleased to have s mall stand there selling my wares.  Secondly I will be doing a talk and workshop at Birmingham Embroiderers Guild all about using your stash and making a beautiful brooch with scraps of wool, I am really fortunate to have been asked to do this and hope it lives up to the quality of speakers they have all year round.

Until next time, Happy Stitching!