Seduced by a kingfisher

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:23 pm

eBay is great ... honestly ... I love it ... but it does throw an awful lot of temptation my way.

I mean, how could I possibly resist this John Merry kingfisher for a mere Â£4 plus postage?

I know, I know, there's the door sign and the afghan and the white rose sampler -- but this is beautiful and just the right size in that it's a bit bigger than the things I usually do but not too big.

Can anyone think of any other suitable excuses to use when a husband wonders about the parcels one is receiving

?

Jilly · Post by **Jilly** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:03 pm

That is wonderful! and such a bargain too

Hmmm excuses for parcels.
Late birthday presents- good for at least 6 months after the day, so you are fine for a long while.
Then, early birthday presents

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:46 pm

Oh that is lovely Mabel!
I look forward to seeing that one in progress.

Excuses ... no, no, excuses aren't the way to go here. Enthusiasm! You must enthuse about the money you have saved him. Emphasis goes onto the savings rather than the spending!

mags · Post by **mags** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:53 pm

Oh lovely bargain. I can see we are all going to be doing kingfishers soon

Excuses - a bargain present for somebody

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:17 pm

Sometimes being blatant does the trick, so I just let my husband read this thread -- he had to laugh so much that the kingfisher passed practically without comment

mags · Post by **mags** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:20 pm

Jenny-M · Post by **Jenny-M** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:20 pm

Long live Ebay- unfortunately I have to go through hubbys paypal so don't get away with parcels magicaly appearing

Good for the bank account though!

Its lovely, I love kingfishers, Reminds me of holidays on the Norfolk Broads, its the only place iv'e actually seen one **.....drifts into wonderful childhood memories....**

I have seen a kingfisher design in a magazine recently that wants to be on my to do list........... don't think i'll ever get to the bottom of it!!

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:48 pm

Jenny there is no bottom to a todo list!!!!

Kingfisher is a beauty.

Excuses no excuse just ask him how much he spent on tools, or fishing supplies, or the motorcycle or the snowmobiles. When the tides turn on how much was spent they tend to get very quiet.

mauveme · Post by **mauveme** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:08 pm

4quid is squat for something really beautiful.

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:56 am

Rose wrote:Jenny there is no bottom to a todo list!!!!

Absolutely true -- I've just decided to turn from my stack of little projects to the larger ones I've got lined up and there, lurking in an old magazine, is a small art nouveau rose design that I've simply got to do...

Rose wrote:Excuses no excuse just ask him how much he spent on tools, or fishing supplies, or the motorcycle or the snowmobiles. When the tides turn on how much was spent they tend to get very quiet.

Unfortunately his hobby (vintage cars) is also our business, so they can all be explained as business expenses

No, he's very good about all this really, he likes me enjoying my hobby and got me the three workshops at the craft fair for my birthday; and he usually waits for his birthday, which also happens to be our anniversary, for me to get him something vintage car related *goes into (fairly) recently married person's revery about perfection of partner*

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:40 am

yes I get the it is for the business excuse also but truely it is just an excuse.

I hate to burst your (newly married) bubble but there are no perfect partners some just aren't as bad as others.

Mine is a pretty good one.

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:53 pm

My Kingfisher arrived in the post this morning! And also my parcel from Tandem which should contain the Qsnaps, so I think I'll combine the two

First some work to finish though, which I am doing at the moment in between writing to the forum, and then after lunch a Good Stitching Session!

I'm hoping to make it into a cushion but have never done that before -- any tips?

crossstitchpro · Post by **crossstitchpro** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:58 pm

I tell my husband it's cheaper than therapy or jewelry (most of the time...)

Lori

Serinde · Post by **Serinde** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:26 pm

Cushions aren't difficult. Two tips I've used successfully:

1. When you are sewing the design to the backing fabric, go around the corners at lease twice: that's where the greatest stress on the stitching and fabric is. Also remember to clip the excess fabric at the corner on the diagonal before you turn it right side out.

2. Use a pillow form about an inch or two bigger than the size of the cover for a plumper pillow.

I should also add this for those who might put their stitching into local judged shows: pillows need to have an opening of some sort along part of one side: a zipper (eeeks!), buttons, press-studs, something. For all the rest of us, ladder stitch usually does the job!

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:56 pm

Thanks Serinde, that's so helpful! Just one question (sorry, I never learned to sew in English

) -- what's ladder stitch?

Serinde · Post by **Serinde** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:01 am

Hoist on one's own petard! I never learned to sew in English either.

So have a look here:
http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch ... adder.html

mags · Post by **mags** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:18 am

That is what I use on my biscornus (and ATCs

)