UK Stash

A few months back my sister came to me and said she was going to England for vacation. This was very sudden and unexpected. The worst is I couldn't even join her as I'd already planned on going to the JEC. She asked if I wanted something from there and I told her: YES! She had already offered to pay for the Alison Cole cyber class, but I told her to forget it. She can get me my birthday gift from the UK.

She didn't have a lot of time, but I kept hoping she would be able to go to Hampton court to visit their gorgeous gardens and... hopefully get me something from the Royal School of Needlework. It was getting closer to her time to get home and she still hadn't gone there. I thought it wouldn't happen until I got this video from her:

She really did go :) She even called me while she was there and we video called so she can show me the shop. It was awesome! (I have the best sister) Thank you Lindsey for helping her pick out everything.

My sister remembered I wanted the goldwork fox kit by Becky Hogg <3 It's lovely to know my family actually listens to me when I ramble about stitching stuff lol. She also got me a seat frame with clamp which is perfect timing for the summer. I'll finally have a hands free frame that I can use outside.

Lindsey was kind enough to slip in these pretty pamphlets of the different exhibitions the RSN held. I love the one with Mary Poppins.

The kit is really adorable and comes in a lovely gift box, there's even a coupon inside to get a rebate on the next kit. I'm thinking the badger but I wonder if it's too similar to the fox in terms of technique.

The kit comes with the instructions.

At first glance they seem to be very good. Lot's of illustrations to help along the way.

The kit comes with everything, including the hoop to stitch and display the final piece.

The pattern is already transferred on the fabric and the felt so you can just start straight away. The piece is actually smaller than I expected, but aren't they always!?

My sister really wanted to get me a pair of scissors or some sort of stitcher's tool. For example look at this stilleto. But I was very good. I already had my goldwork scissors and mellor, what I was really missing was a pair of nice tweezers. While she was waving her camera around in the store I noticed these. They are uncle bill's sliver gripper and have been mentioned multiple by other embroiderers as the best tweezers. I haven't used them yet but I will be taking them with me to seminar and will give them a go there.

At this point I've accumulated quite an arsenal of stitching tools. I think at this point the only thing I might still need is another pair of tweezers with a flat tip for goldwork. I really should put all my main tools together in one case that I would always carry with me to classes.