Queen of the World Cross Stitch and More

Thanks to Covid-19 and staying home a lot I will soon be finished my Teresa Gil Queen of the World cross stitch. Today I will start on the beading on the skirt. Yesterday I stitched the crown, had to send to America for the silver thread as I couldn't find it anywhere in Australia.

Was sure I had given up collecting aprons then this one came up for sale. Can't resist fully hand embroidered ladies or kookaburras.

Already had the sugar bowl, milk jug and one plate in my collection then saw cup saucer and plate for sale, hope one day to have the full tea set. It's from the cancelled royal visit to Australia in 1949. Princess Margaret was coming too but the king became ill and had to cancel.

When I moved to my new address I joined a new craft group. This is a very colourful  and warm coat made by a member. You can see the sleeves are a work in progress.

 Very disappointed in Harry and Meghan and didn't want to read these books but of course curiosity got the better of me and I had to buy them. The library does not have these books.

Captain James Cook Commemorative Tea Cosy and more

 250 years ago this week Captain James Cook sailed into Botany Bay. What better way to celebrate that momentous occasion than with a souvenir tea cosy. Here is Cook with a map or chart in one hand and a telescope in the other. No I did not knit this, it came from Tea Cosy Folk in the U.K. Tea Cosy Folk only make 2 for demonstration I believe then sell the pattern.  They design and knit so many fun patterns, don't usually post to Australia but of course they had to make an exception and send Cook home. Many thanks to Susan at Tea Cosy Folk.

 The back view with hat removed so Cook can show of his wig with bow at the end of his pony tail. You can see he has already made friends with local wildlife.

 Thought I had given up collecting aprons through lack of space then I saw this one. Prince Henry visited Australia in 1934 for the Victorian Centenary celebrations and must have visited Sydney too. Henry was the brother of George VI and later became Governor General of Australia from 1945-1947.

 A close up of the embroidery.

 Had to have this one too with the car fully stitched in. Very pretty.

 I did have one without the car filled but sold it on eBay for more than I paid for the new one.

 And another very pretty George VI coronation tablecloth. This one is unusual because it has 6 matching napkins still with the cloth.

A close up of one corner also shows the very nice hand crocheted edge.

1953 Coronation Party Dress 1937 Coronation Apron and More

 Another dress made from Coronation fabric in 1953. This dress is made from cotton fabric, has no label so might have been stitched by a home sewer or local dressmaker. The belt is missing though there are keepers for a belt at the sides. The dress has 2 pockets so I have placed a Coronation hanky in one and a Queen brooch on the shoulder. There are cap sleeves and gathers over the bust and a side zip.

 And a full circle skirt. I might have been able to make a belt from the hem but the hem has been stitched right on the edge. So did this dress go to a coronation party? I will never know.

 A close up of the fabric.

 This is me a few years after the Coronation and I am wearing a dress of almost identical design. I made this dress and I know it had a full circle skirt and a 2 inch hem. According to my late mother a full circle or flared skirt should hang for a week before hemming then have a large hem so the skirt would hang properly. Wish I had a colour photo of this dress as it was in pretty rainbow colours with sparkles and I am wearing silver sandals ready to go dancing.

 Another lucky/amazing find on eBay. Coronation apron from 1937 with George VI and Elizabeth and I was the only bidder. Sometimes I can't believe my luck when I find an item like this which spans 2 of my collections. Royalty and Aprons.

 A friend took me for a picnic to Woronora Dam on Sunday. The dam is south of Sydney.

When it was time for our picnic lunch friend produced this mug for my tea. I think my Royal Reputation is spreading.

Teresa Gil 'Kate' Update and Amazing Apron

My Teresa Gil cross stitch is looking good, there is a lot of work in the skirt but all easy stitching. The skirt took 4 weeks to stitch and I have to admit to a little bit of unpicking. Always happens when I think something is easy,I relax and make a mistake. I'm always checking and double checking as I stitch so not too much unpicking just enough to be annoying.

 Arrived today, another beautiful apron from eBay. Perfectly stitched many years ago but the crochet edge never finished so never washed, never worn. I would like to frame this one, I think it's a work of art.

 A close up of the top, the pocket is a fringed lamp. I have a few dancing couple aprons. This might be the best. The seller was so slow to post and didn't answer emails I had almost given up receiving it.

 Showing the perfect hand stitching on the back and the hem stitching just waiting for the crochet hook.

 A Beach Girl apron with the embroidery finished but no edging or pocket in place. This one needs bias binding and I have finished some that way but now there are too many and I want to concentrate on my 'Royal' stitching.

Then there are lots of aprons like this in my collection. Started with great enthusiasm then put away and forgotten for many years. No, it wasn't started by me and yes I have lots of UFO's of my own and yes I collect other peoples as well. If only I knew how to sell on eBay. Much easier to buy.

George V Coronation Sampler 1911 and More Embroidery

 A rare (I Think) and stunning hand embroidered sampler from the Coronation of George V. Fresh from eBay in the U.K. I wouldn't dare take this one from the frame to wash. The sampler came sealed in the original frame and I have found a place on my wall for it. With only some slight moving around of other samplers.

 For my apron collection I now have another hand embroidered masterpiece. Lady with kookaburra sitting on outstretched hand and holding a bunch of wildflowers in her arm.

 A close up, kookaburras are a popular theme in old aprons. On the right you can see I already had this apron but not stitched.

 Not Royal or an apron but somehow I had to have this large hand embroidered masterpiece. Bought from a nearby antique/junk shop the seller told me it is from Croatia. I think it has been hand drawn on fabric then stitched by hand. It seems to tell a story. The sailor is begging Red Dress Girl to elope with him on his boat. She has turned away after telling him to come back with a much bigger boat then she'll think about it!!!
Owing to lack of space I've hung this across a doorway. Lucky for me I'm not very tall so can walk underneath. Tall guests(grandsons etc.) must bend their heads to walk through the doorway and be thankful I didn't place the embroidery in a solid wood frame.
I had to go back to the shop twice and bargain hard to get this embroidery down to my price range. I think I only got a bargain because the seller's lunch was getting cold.

24th May 1819. Queen Victoria's Birthday.

New Teresa Gil Kate Design and More of Diana

My pretty Teresa Gil 'Princess Diana' cross stitch is finished and framed.

Now Teresa has put out a 'Kate Duchess of Cambridge' design. This will make a lovely pair and I have already made a start on Kate. I couldn't find the gold 'Ophir' thread for the cross stitch in Australia and anything I can't find here I buy from 'Sew and So' in the U.K. My order is always in the post next day and they take Paypal. Perfect.
Kate is wearing the Alexander McQueen gown she wore to a dinner in Los Angeles in 2011.

A beautiful Diana shirt complete with lace and rhinestones. Made in France, I found it on eBay then quickly made a skirt from some Kate and William wedding fabric I had.

A great companion for the Queen.

A Charles and Diana wedding sampler new in my collection. I have had the kit to stitch this one myself but much better to find one already stitched. I added the name and dates to the bottom only because I already had the frame and mat surround so had to fill in the space.

My apron collection is still added to now and then. This one shows a flower seller in Piccadilly Circus, it just needs binding around the edges and the pockets put in place. I also have this one not stitched so again my luck held and I found one stitched.

More Royal Embroiderey

 Found on eBay, a Royal Visit 1954 cushion cover. Haven't seen this design before and I've framed it but it can revert to a cushion cover any time as I did not cut into any of it. I bought the frame at an op shop sale months ago, knew It would be perfect for something one day. By a bit of shuffling around I even found space on the wall for this treasure.

 Love these little embroidered coronation brooches and the one on the far right is new in my collection. Top left is not embroidered. I could stitch some of these brooches myself as I have old embroidery transfers. It's on my 'to do' list. The brooch bottom right has a loop for a chain so could also be worn as a necklace

 A compact from the Silver Jubilee still has the Max Factor face powder intact. I could use it but the shade is a little too dark for me. I've had the other compacts for a while, one even has an embroidered cover.

 This little collection of coloured cups and beakers is growing and I know there are more colours out there to collect. The two on the far right are from the 1937 coronation and are made from Bakelite the rest are plastic and are either coronation 1953 or royal visit 1954.

My William and Kate wedding cross stitch is coming along slowly though I have been working very hard at it. Trouble is there are so many odd stitches and I keep losing my place. Now I have to mark off every stitch as it's worked. I had even thought maybe I could just do William and not Kate but her hand is already in the crook of his arm so she will have to be stitched too. Do not attempt this sampler unless you are a real lover of Royalty like me.

Now I have 3 dressmaker models. The first were bought at the op shop and were not cheap to buy. I found the latest one at the side of the road put out for rubbish collection. It was in my car in the blink of an eye and dressed in a T shirt I already had. I also had some more Charles and Diana wedding panels and quickly made a skirt. The skirt now matches the curtains and bed quilt in that room.

The models are perfect for displaying aprons. The latest apron with the scalloped edge was bought from an Etsy shop in Canada, Vicki over at Saffron's Strawberry Patch alerted me to it.

Can you believe it? Edward VIII abdication speech printed on a silk scarf. I have seen two of these of different colours so perhaps they weren't so rare in 1936 but I am pleased to have one in my collection.
Next post I will give an amazing household hint of how I am displayng this scarf and the Queen Victoria one from the previous post.
Prepare to be amazed and no the ceiling is not being used.

Royal Baby News and lots More

 Great news from the Palace, I'm sure this baby will equal Prince George in being so cute.

 Charlotte shares my excitement.

 There will be more samplers to stitch and souvenirs to collect for the new baby. Meanwhile I have taken on a huge stitching challenge. William and Kate in their wedding clothes. This will take me a year or two to finish and there will be more baby samplers to stitch. Charlotte I wish you could sew and help me.

 Beautiful new apron arrived today for my collection. Hand embroidered of course. I think this is the one I will choose to wear on 'Tie One on Day' ( an apron I mean) November 26th.

 An interesting scarf is now in my collection, made for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria it shows a lot of detail about her family and the highlights of her reign. On the 9th September 2015 Queen Elizabeth II will pass Victoria's record reign

 I know the house is becoming a bit crowded Charlotte but the swans stay. Don't worry I will find space for new Royal Baby souvenirs.

 Went to a cat show on Sunday. The judge has declared this British Blue a winner.

Oh No. Shock Horror. I think a flea was found on this cat. The shame of it all. Will the owner ever recover. I think the cat is receiving counselling to cope with the disgrace. Cat and owner will never be able to show their faces in public again. But I still love you White cat.