April TUSAL and my Stitching Library

 

It's TUSAL time!

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current project:

We've just had a WIPGO Weekend and my Bothy Threads 12 Days of Christmas was my chosen project.  I got quite a lot of progress from here:

to the point where I have stitched almost all the gold in the number 1.  Next I have to couch the white perle to form the outline.  This is quite an unusual project in that you backstitch very little.  Instead you couch long lines of the perle to form curving outlines.

What's on my Shelf?

This is a new feature I'm going to include on my TUSAL post until I run out of books! I started a Page on my Happy Dance blog for my Stitching Library and realised what a huge task it was so decided to break it down to one book per month. For the next four years...

This month's book goes well with the 12 Days design and the medieval manuscript look to the piece.

Title: Celtic Cross Stitch
Author: Gail Lawther
Publisher: David and Charles
ISBN: 9780715302729

This is one of my favourite designs inside, a stylised alphabet:

I stitched this Celtic Cross and added some words for a friend's spiritual church back in 1995.  Unfortunately I did not take a photo before giving it to her.

The book itself is divided into three section; Knot and Patterns, Animals and People, Lettering and then a final Pattern Library so you can make your own designs.  There is a little bit of information about Celtic designs at the start of each chapter but mostly it is the projects themselves.

I used one of the alphabets to adapt this design into a Birthday card for my friend Kathy:

If you like a bit of Celtic knotwork but get in a tangle designing your own, then this is a good book for you!

Finally, the Easter Treasure Hunt is still ongoing.  You have until the 15th April and my GG post to try and guess the Mystery Phrase.  Don't forget to leave comments on the blogs as you hop around.