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Monday 7 September 2015

Welcome to my New Home

No, I haven't moved house, I've just built myself a new one!  It's a little "bijou" as the estate agents would say and the roof needed some work too.  I am also wondering how I will fit all my stash into it, or indeed anything larger than a petite needle!  Without further ado, here is my detached des res - Sugared Almond Cottage:



This little beauty designed by The Nutmeg Company was a gift from Susan Yellow Flower Meadow.  Here are the sides prior to making up:





The roof is stitched on 28 count pink evenweave and the walls are stitched on 36 count white evenweave.  The beads are all Mill Hill gold petites.

And here are some Work In Progress photos:

Sewing the four walls together.  
This was quite simple, I just whipstitched through the back stitched outlines.


I knew the roof would be tricky because it overhangs the walls rather than fitting flush.
So I decided to make a false inner roof using some scrap linen:


Stitching the false roof using my new curved needle:


Curved needles are epic!  They make things like this so much easier, with a straight needle I was getting it stuck on the beads and in the fabric.

Once I'd finished the false roof I attempted to fix the real roof using double sided tape.  Unfortunately it started to lift away at the edges.  Because the roof is one piece it wants to lie flat rather than be bent in the middle.  So I had to stitch it in place after all.  However, having the false roof to hold it in place made this much easier so I would use this technique again.

The finished property!


Now who would live in a house like this?

Finally, for puzzle lovers and Teresa Wentzler fans, I am hosting a competition to win a TW chart over on the TW blog.  Please do tell your friends and invite them to join in.  Clsoing date is 17th September.  If you already have the chart or are not a fan please feel free to nominate a friend to receive it.  Here's the link - Teresa Wentzler Competition Time






43 comments:

Vickie said...

Woo hoo! You know I would live in this house! It is awesome. Well done Jo.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, Jo, this just stunning. Such an adorable little finish. And with the word little I do not mean that it was little work to stitch and assemble it. No, it just rfers to the size. It is wonderful. And a good idea to show the main steps of how you were putting it together. A real little treasure.

cheryl said...

Precious!

krayolakris said...

Wow, it's beautiful! Who wouldn't love to live there? Thanks for sharing!

Joyce Clark Frank said...

Love it. Great job.

Ariadne said...

What a lovely little house! I know I would love stitching this but wouldn't love putting the pieces together!It seems really difficult!AriadnefromGreece!

gracie said...

I love it. I may have to look for these patterns.

Susan said...

Very cute. Wish I had come up with the false roof idea when finishing mine.

Ann said...

This is adorable!

Linda said...

Congrats on the gorgeous finish Jo. You did a fantastic job of sewing it together.

Linda

Justine said...

Gorgeous! Perhaps The Borrowers will move in? Thanks for showing the build photos as well.

jocondine said...

"Drink me", ok I'm ready to visit your sweet small home! Am I too much early for the housewarming party? So lovely stitching, must visit Nutmeg Company, thanks for sharing WIP pics. xxx

Ewa said...

I love it, Jo! I definitely wouldn't be brave enough to try my hand at something like this.

Heather said...

Wow great job! I'm sure if we could find ways to stitch our real houses we would be!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Beautiful! I love it! You've done a great job :D

Nupur said...

Nice job Jo!
I have a similar project by Merry Cox which houses needllework accessories - lots of fun stuff - thanks for sharing this

Cross Stitch Claire said...

That's adorable! I've never seen anything like it before, just lovely x

Kaisievic said...

Wow! Jo, it is so pretty and your construction work is so clever - did we see this one as a WIP, I can't remember seeing progress pics - I think that you have snuck this one up on us! lol! Gorgeous stitching.

gominam said...

Stunning finish! You are so creative:)

Jacqueline Morris said...

It's wonderful!!! Very pretty indeed, I love it! And your curved needle looks interesting too... I imagine a lot easier for those trickier places?
Smiles :)

CathieJ said...

Oh my that little house is so pretty. I have a curve needle that I inherited that I have never used. Now I have an idea for when I can use it.

sunny said...

Your house is awesome!! I would love to live in such a cute cottage.

sew.darn.quilt said...

Absolutely darling.

Anthea said...

Oh my goodness Jo, I do indeed love your new home! Just gorgeous & so perfectly stitched! What a wonderful finish!

Mini said...

Oh what a cute little gorgeous house. I would love to live in it. Congratulations on a great finish

Barb said...

What a wonderful little house. Thanks for sharing your construction details!

Leonore Winterer said...

I just LOVE this little cottage *screams* - and your finish is just perfect! Great job!

Christine said...

What a fabulous little finish!

StitchinByTheLake said...

Adorable! Blessings, Marlene

Suz said...

That's wonderful! Great job, and thanks for the awesome photos!

Tiffstitch said...

Wow!! Fantastic finish and thank you for the WIP photos and the false roof tip. It's a really neat idea.

D1-D2 said...

It's so pretty! I love the beading on it.

Terri said...

I love, love, LOVE this house! Is the pattern still available somewhere? Your version is just gorgeous!!

Bea said...

What a fabulous little house! It looks stunning.

Aurelia Eglantine said...

Such an amazing, adorable finish!!! With the little decorated tree at the back, I think this design would also work wonderfully in Christmas colours on dark brown for a Gingerbread Cottage :) The curved needle is an interesting idea too!

rosey175 said...

This is adorable! Has Vickie moved in yet? :D I like Aurelia's idea too but I like gingerbread houses a lot haha.

Re: curved needle. Is that an upholstery needle? I have a big fat one not at all useful for dainty work like this!

diamondc said...

This is just to adorable.

Blessings
Catherine

Margaret said...

Clever you! I always find curved needles difficult to manipulate but you look to be a master :-)

Sheryl said...

Gorgeous design, just perfect

Stitching Noni said...

I love your cottage! You are so clever... I have never used a curved needle and even attempted a 3D piece... but I can see now that you are a master builder :o)
Just adorable!
Hugs xx

The Crafty Princess said...

Awww that is so gorgeous, love the wee lil house!! What a talent you are my friend!
xoxo Alicia

Steph said...

Oh that is beautiful! And so clever. XoX

Caitlin @ Naughts Cross Stitches said...

Wow so beautiful. I love the idea of the false roof! That would make it easier to attach.