Rooster Cushion

I fell for a couple of easy folk art cushion kits in very bright cottons from Herrschners a few months ago. They are produced for Herrschners by Duftin, a Hungarian company whose products I have successfully used before. I like their products that come ready-made and stamped to embroider. They make for easy, attractive products to embroider while on holiday, talking or watching the world go by.

This was no exception. The threads were sufficiently well organised and labelled to be usable without further work, the pattern was clear and the instructions simple, bold and easy to manage.

I began just before going to Carrickalinga for Christmas by embroidering the central line of the design.

By the time I went away I had some tail feathers done, and had decided to use stem stitch and split stitch in place of satin stitch for a good part of the design.

When I came home on 26 December I had a large part done and was enjoying it very much.






It is a lot of fun to work on something so bright and shapely. It is an exercise in colouring-in and the interest and satisfaction is in adding each component and watching the colours lift and complement each other.

The body of the roosters and the pink flowers practiced my long and short stitch.




I finished it, appropriately, on New Year's Eve, washing and blocking it on New Year's Day. I haven't inserted a cushion yet. I will give this to someone who could do with a cheery cushion!

A few days ago Herrschners had a special on the shoulder bag in the same pattern and fabric. Even with the deteriorating exchange rate and a generous stash of projects I did not resist.

Travel Project- another Duftin bag finished.

I have been in Bali for the last two weeks on holiday. I took another of the Duftin cross-stitch bag kits I ordered from Hungary with me - easy to do on the plane and by the pool. The threads are pre-cut, the pattern printed so I don't need to continually refer to a pattern.

I chose the Paradise Bird taking nectar from flowers - appropriate for Bali, where we stayed with friends in their villa with a beautiful garden. This one is stitched and backed in black.

I began the project on the plane to Bali and by the time we arrived I had a good start.I took 4 other projects - just in case I ran out of things to do! I did do a few hours on one of them - another story.

It was great to sit by the pool and stitch away, when I wasn't reading or swimming.

The work progressed steadily. It has a lovely sweeping flow to it.

I finished it the day before we returned home and am very pleased with the result, dappled here by the shade of the frangipanni trees.

Shall I give this as a gift or keep it to remind me of those two relaxing weeks with friends in Bali?