Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Home Sweet Home Tea Towel


Morning everyone! Just a quick post today. I wanted to show you a tea towel my friend Gemma asked me to make for her, and how I made it. It took a while to stitch the letters but I had fun messing about with the flowers on the house.

Now I look at it here, it looks a little too stark, what do you think? I wonder if some ric rac trim wouldn't have perked it up a bit. I like the coloured threads against the clean white linen but I think this one, with it's very homely message and little cottage, wouldn't have benefited from some prettifying? Hmm. I'm off to bake another sourdough loaf, rye this time, I'm a bit nervous...  Have a very happy Tuesday!

33 comments:

  1. It is beautiful Gillian. Ric rac would be lovely but it is great as it is! Enjoy your baking x

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    1. Thanks Karen. I am terrible at sewing on ric rac so it would be good practice if nothing else! x

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  2. I think the ric rac trim would have been cute but then you may have lost and taken from how simple and beautiful the design is. I don't think it looks stark at all. Your friend, Gemma, will love it! Enjoy your sourdough loaf baking x

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    1. That is a good point Hazel! I didn't want it too fussy. x

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  3. How about a simple running stitch in those colours around the edge? Looks lovely.

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    1. Colette, that is a genius idea. Wouldn't take long to do but would look pretty. Thanks!

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  4. Gorgeous Gillian, ric rac would be nice, but I like it as it is. I think it's just enough :)

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  5. It's lovely! What pen do you use to outline the letters? Xx

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    1. I use a fading felt tip pen I bought in Hobbycraft. It's brilliant - you just draw straight on to whatever you are using and the ink fades over a couple of days under UV light. x

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  6. Oh you are good!

    It looks just as beautiful as it is, but you can never go wrong with a bit of ric rac - maybe ask your friend.

    Nina xxx

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    1. Nina, I'm not good, I just like a spot of sewing in the evenings! The oven remains uncleaned, the kids ate chicken dippers for tea... x

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    1. Thanks Col, I am getting inspired by all the gorgeous Etsy stuff you keep posting on your blog!

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  8. It's lovely, so fresh and pretty, I'm all for ric rac or some pretty ribbons.

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    1. Hi there! Ribbons, i didn't think of that! Good idea! Gillian x

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  9. You have the most perfect chain stitch! xxxx

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    1. From a lady who is learning how to embroider I will take that as a huge compliment! xx

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  10. That is stunning! Beautiful embroidery... x

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    1. Ah, thanks Emma. Loving the tea towel love :-) x

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  11. I think it's simple and lovely... great job! Good luck with the rye bread. I am sure it will be delicious!

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    1. I have made the rye bread but fear it may be a brick! My first attempt at baking with rye flour. Will have to taste it and see!

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  12. Thanks Essie - they lettering took ages! Swapping the colours stopped me getting bored!

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  13. Hello Gillian from Canada...
    Such a lovely blog you have here...
    Warm and friendly...

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Hello Linda, how nice to meet you! Thank you for such a nice compliment. Gillian x

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  14. Its gorgeous as it is. You can't actually use these can you? It would be a shame for them to get all messed up, as they do in house. x

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    1. You can use them, but I wouldn't try up the greasy roasting tins with them! You are right, tea towels get trashed in this house. But, tragically, I keep a nice one hanging over the oven door and shout and John if he uses it (I possibly need to get out more...) x

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  15. Such lovely embroidery Gillian and I agree with the rest of your commenters - one can always go on adding extra embellishments to things like this but I don't think it needs it in the least. And less is so often more - I love the deceptive simplicity of this - deceptive because to make it seem like that, an awful lot of careful work has gone in, but to such good effect! Well done you! Hope the rye bread turned out OK - rye can be temperamental in my experience but it's worth persevering, the taste is lovely especially with a few caraway seeds added to the mix. I tend to mix it with strong white flour which makes it lighter and more cooperative if you know what i mean! E x

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth, you are right, I could keep on sewing forever like a crazy lady. The rye was ok I think, but much heavier than white, and it rose a lot less. The friend I made it for assured me it was nice! I think next time I will do half rye half strong white, and thanks for the caraway seeds tip, I will try that. x

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  16. I love your tea towel! Ric rac would also be cute too.

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    1. Thanks Angela, I am making some more and may add ric rac for a bit of colour.

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  17. I love your tea towel! Ric rac would also be cute too.

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