Needlepoint Bag in Progress

I started a needlework piece a couple of weeks ago, originally it was going to be a small handbag, but I deciced it'd be a much better book/knitting etc bag.



The pattern is from Mary Norden's book named "Mary Norden's Needlepoint", there are beautiful folk patterns all through the book. It is a pattern for a cushion, but needed only a little alteration to make it the shape I want. I think it'll be a few more weeks until it is finished, as I only do it while watching TV at night.
The needlepoint is stitched on 10# Penelope Canvas and in DMC tapestry wools. I have used the colours the author suggested, except for a few that had been discontinued (it is an old book) and I got close substitutes.
I love how when I put it on the lounge to photograph, my crocheted rug which is always on my lounge, echoed the colours in the needlepoint. Must be "my" colours, maybe I should look at expanding my wardrobe into some of these :D

Cranberry Christmas

I know it's no-where near Christmas time, but that's no excuse for not partaking in Christmas crafts! The new owners of the needlework shop I work have allowed us to stitch on our on work in the quiet times. This called for a small piece that didn't matter for many interruptions or for hospital like cleanliness. Dada! enter the prairie schooler redwork series.



Now I have completed the "Cranberry Christmas", I have started on the "Redwork Santas". The plan is to make them all in a nice Christmas wall hanging when they are all done.
They are stitched on 25# Floba which I chose for it's great colour and it's dense weave, perfect for a quilt. I started out using 2 strands of DMC floss but it didn't give the coverage I thought the design needed, so pulled that out and did it in 3 strands - perfect!