Needlebooking

We had a gorgeous long weekend here, celebrating Victoria Day. My guerrilla gardening attempt for this year has begun and I hope to finish up today. Not sure why I bother, but I keep hoping my black thumb may turn green someday. Most of what I did last year did survive so maybe my thumb is more charcoal now. :)

We're doing needlebook swaps for the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild this month. I drew Laura's name. She stipulated that she didn't want pastels or solids. No solids?! I've been teasing her that I'm pulling all the solid pastels from my stash just for her needlebook. And she will looooove it! ;)

A needlebook is one of those things that's been on my to do list for eons, but I just haven't got around to making one yet. For directions, I checked out these great tutorials:

- nanacompany.typepad.com/nanacompany/2011/10/needlebook-tu...
- lotsofpinkhere.blogspot.ca/2011/10/12-gifts-of-christmas-...
- sewshesews.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/quilted-needle-case-t...
- www.instructables.com/id/how-to-sew-a-needle-book/?ALLSTEPS

And then I decided to do my own thing. There's that inability to follow patterns again. Ahem.

I know Laura likes Essex Linen and Charley Harper fabrics so I pulled out those (love that teal fabric!). I decided to make two needlebooks, just in case one didn't turn out well.

I also pulled out my grandmother's button tin to find a good button. She collected all her spare buttons for years so there are some fabulous vintage finds in there. I picked out a light one first and then the dark one. I think I prefer the dark one, but I'll let Laura decide which she prefers.

A little pocket inside with a spot for a stitch ripper and space for embroidery thread since I know Laura likes doing hand stitch embellishments.

Hopefully Laura will like one of these, but if she doesn't, I guess I'll just have to make her a solid pastel extravaganza. ;)

Hope it's beautiful and sunny wherever you are!