[mumofstig]

That's a shame Grannie 

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes, I have to cheat now! lol

I am making the cupcakes for my Nici's 40th. half of them will be mermaids on top from a little mould I got from USA, and the other half are rice paper toppers in black with text in silver or white saying Nici's 40th Birthday.

I know black sounds yuck, but the colour theme is Nici's favourite colours of black, silver and gold.

[mumofstig]

The rice paper toppers are soooo good, and easy, for cupcakes 

[GrannieAnnie]

Woohooooo!     Finished Nici's 40th birthday 'card' at last!

Don't know why its coming out sideways though. It is upright in my file!

[Yorkie]

Beautiful - how big is it?

[Springlands]

It is lovely Grannie - you must have put such a lot of work into completing it. 

[devonbarmygardener]

She is lovely Ann. I'd quite like to sew her for one of my neices

[GrannieAnnie]

Thanks everyone.  I started her in February, but with so many tiny beads, sometimes I had to have a week or 2 off!  She's about 13" x 17".  She is in a picture frame, then I stick a plain A4 card to the back with the verse and my sentiments in.

I was given a photocopy of the design, but it was missing 1 small bit, so I had to go onto Ebay and buy the whole chart!

[devonbarmygardener]

I was given a photocopy of the design, but it was missing 1 small bit, so I had to go onto Ebay and buy the whole chart!

That was a nuisance. Looks fabulous. I love sewing with all the tiny beads. 

[mumofstig]

That's truly beautiful Grannie 

I don't have the patience for the small stitch work, so well done you 

[GrannieAnnie]

I used to do embroidery, but sewing lots of little crosses is so much easier, especially as I used to do it on the train when I worked in London.

I started in 1990 when I got fed up with reading on the train and I got a needlework magazine with a free tiny kit on the front.  I look back on my first efforts, I've still got some of the early magazines, and they look so childish! 

I don't do bit things very often as I haven't as much patience now, I like to see things finished in a couple of days!

[snowdrops]

That's lovely Grannie,I find cross stitch very frustrating,but I will master it.Is it a surprise for Nici?

[devonbarmygardener]

Just finished my latest project - at the last minute - they're leaving pressies for 2 friends whose leaving do i am going to tonight!

The jute bags were found on ebay - a couple of pounds each. They're just big enough for carrying your lunch in!

[devonbarmygardener]

This one is the original pattern from a magazine in the original colours - I just added the metallic thread and beads.

[devonbarmygardener]

On this one I took the butterfly out of the original pattern, changed the colours and had a play with pretty buttons and things.

Bondaweb type stuff used to attach the picture to the bag at first then a running stitch around.

I really like them! :happy: :happy: :happy: