A Easter Blog Hop Extravaganza!

Hooray, it's time for Jo's Easter Blog Hop! If you're happening upon this post with no idea what's going on, please start here at her blog and hop around like the little bunny you are and collect the letters. They'll spell out a mystery phrase!

they're too cute to not reuse

Here is my little contribution! These blog hops are turning into a great way to experiment with finishing things in new (to me) ways!  And to get me to make more pretty floral pieces! I present to you my first ever needle book.

a needle book blossoms

I hadn't originally planned to finish it this way; it just sort of happened!   I had thought to stitch the whole lovely tile but very quickly realized my turtle pace wasn't going to let that happen this century.  Luckily Whim Crafting came to the rescue!  I really like the center motif with its pretty hydrangeas and dahlia.  That dahlia caused its own kerfuffle -- my DMC 602 and 603 dyelots are indistinguishable from each other!  I wound up unpicking half the flower and making a blend of 602 and 605 in order to get some contrast in.  I did change the borders to a white color instead of the charted pink because, well, there was enough pink for me in the dahlia!

backside

On the back, I made a same-sized square and used the "porch brackets" from the corner motifs of the pattern.  Then, I crocheted a tiny rose using up a little bit of vintage thread.  I've never seen a yellow and pink colorway, even in modern colors, so I lightly tinted the white and cream bits with pink marker so it would be reminiscent of my rose bush.  Of course, it could've (should've?) been a daffodil, but all the patterns I've found are not flat; the trumpet would stick out a good deal, moreso than the rose currently does.

a safe haven

I used up some scrap felt I have floating around as padding and for the leaves.  Also I found a little piece of fabric from the remnant bin at JoAnn Fabrics that fit in with the soft feel of the piece! Little bits of ribbon for the closure and to hide the sewn seam of the leaves and voilà~! I have a needle book!  It's not quite perfect as I am not so great at sewing, especially when it came time to turn it right side out and finish off the unclosed seam....  Note to Self: start on the top and front next time so they can be perfect, instead of the bottom and back hah!

Technical Details

• "Spring Floral Tile" freebie pattern by Aurelia Eglantine, found here!
• Rose from "Rose Ruffled Centerpiece", Lily Design book #76
• Mystery 18-count blue-ish lilac Aida
• Started: March ??, Finished: April 17, unknown hours.  

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
And here's what you've been breathlessly waiting for -- the letter!

the letter H

Your next stop is with Christine at The Alchymyst's Study! Since I've scheduled this post to appear in the wee hours of the morning here in 'Merica, I'll come back to update the links to go to the specific page. EDIT: Updated links! :)

Happy Easter!