Father’s Day is on the 16th June in the UK and in America it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.
There are only a few sporting motifs here but I hope they may be of help to some of you. If not for Father’s Day then they could be suitable as small birthday cards.

The summer chaffinch is the second in the seasonal bird series to be found in the latest edition of Cross Stitch Collection. The spring blue tit was a great success with a lot of readers (see the preview in an earlier blog piece) so I hope the rest will be as popular. I have certainly enjoyed designing this group…..and please do look out for the lovely little wren set in an autumn landscape that will be printed in a couple of month’s time.

A strong palette and use of backstitch make this design leap off the fabric:
Chaffinches, like so many of our native birds, are not as common as they used to be but this chaffinch is at home amongst the red poppies and the sweet briar roses as he looks across the pasture.
If you would like a FREE download that goes with this chart then go to: http://crossstitcher.themakingspot.com/blog/free-butterfly-download

Just an update on a design of mine that can be found in the latest GOLD magazine…………..to see another picture of mine in this issue, Oriental bird and flowers, then click on to the section on Ideas for You.

I enjoy nothing more than spending time in my garden as there is always so much to do – WELL! apart from sitting in the sun with a glass of wine, relaxing and thinking of the charts I should be designing!

If you like this style of stitching, which I tend to call; New England style, then this picture will be great for you. Here, all manner of smaller motifs make up little pictures of their own – REMEMBER you can stitch each motif as an individual design for pretty cards to give to green – fingered friends.

If preferred, then stitch my FREE chart of a heart filled with spring flowers.
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As promised the chart is now attached for the latest zodiac sign of Gemini

Strengths: Energetic, clever, imaginative, witty and adaptable

Weakness: superficial, impulsive, restless and indecisive

For a sneak preveiw…………….

The chart will be ready next week ………….Lx

I saw my first bee and butterfly in my garden about a week ago, but apart from a single Cabbage White nothing else. It really has been a hard time for insects and the birds. I have one baby robin on my patch. The nest was built in my barn which must have given the birds some protection from the cold and wet.

Anyway, I am putting the FREE chart of the Painted Lady here for you to download. Let me know if you would like any more butterflies like this one as they would make lovely, simple cards. And, If so, then I’ll add to the group through the coming months.

Image is taken from the latest edition of CSC

This peacock design is in the latest edition of Cross Stitch Collection. Many of you will have already received the magazine as I am still trying to catch up with work and my blog after a week’s holiday. The holiday was lovely but the catching up can be difficult.

Whilst on holiday in France a few years ago, I stayed on a farm in the region of Provence. The farmer was pleased to show me his first peachick, which had recently hatched. Each morning, the proud father paraded up and down the gardens with his tail feathers on show for all to admire.

This picture of the peacock is more decorative than realistic, as the blossoms are quite large. They help to form a gentle curve and give movement to the peacock, so we can appreciate the glorious colours of his plumage.

Pale yellow stitches surrounding the peacock and blossoms create a radiant quality …….see the smaller images…..this colour further enhances the bird’s impressiveness.

To get your FREE blossom motif to download that goes with the peacock design, visit: http://www.crossstitcher.themakingspot.com