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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

April Bunnies
Week Four 

SOMETHING NEW

This month is really going by quickly!  It’s week four and we will be sharing our "new stitches" for April. 
  
Spring is here and it's the perfect time for stitching bunnies.   Our new stitches will show more variety in finishes each month.   We will be using fabric, decorative stitches, trims and other details to complete them.   Bunnies are always fun to stitch and patterns are hard to resist buying.   We have two of our favorites to share.


RJ Topiary Bunny is actually a small part of a sampler called Button Bunny Sampler by Homespun Elegance.   The minute I saw the bunny holding the topiary I knew he was the one I wanted to make.   I had two challenges with this stitch.   One was the topiary itself which was made with a chain stitch.   I had done this stitch many years ago in needlepoint but had totally forgotten how.   But after watching a you tube video a couple of times (well actually many times) it came back to me!

My next challenge was all of those French knots for his tail.  They became easier and went much quicker as I made more of them.    This bunny was a fun stitch and I will make the whole sampler one of these days.  It has many great details and I think you would enjoy stitching it. 


This stitch was made with two green fabrics, flax linen, called for over dyed threads and a carrot charm.   The charm was made from a set of earrings I had never worn.   One was a bunny and the other was a carrot.  I pulled them apart and now they will be put to great use as charms for stitched ornaments.

This is a closeup of the chain stitch on the topiary.

Button Bunny Sampler
by Homespun Elegance
40 ct. flax Newcastle linen

Hobby Lobby fabrics
over dyed threads

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Mary -  This sweet bunny is called The Rabbit and the Elderberry and is by Primitive Acorns. It can be purchased on Etsy.

I substituted Gentle Arts threads for DMC because I love the way over dyed threads bring more depth to my stitches.  I used Cidermill brown for the body of the bunny, Woodtrail for the urn, Dungarees for the flowers and Avocado for the leaves.

This was an enjoyable and easy stitch and I had even more fun finishing it.  Many a package makes its way between Florida and New York as both RJ and I like to shop for fabric and adornments for our stitches.  She sent me this adorable set of garden tools and I knew exactly where they would be used. With the use of some blue crochet trim I had in my stash, this finish came together quickly and was a joy to work on.

     
The Rabbit and the Elderberry
Primitive Acorns

20 ct. linen
Moda fabrics
stitched over one



Have a great week friends.   Next week will be our big project to start the month of May.   See you then.   RJ and Mary

                                    Spring is when life's alive in everything
                                                             Christina Rossetti

32 comments:

  1. Two really pretty bunny finishes! Perfect little decorations for the season :)

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    1. Hi Mii! We love stitching bunnies. We are so happy to have you here for a visit to our blog. RJ

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  2. I love them! I love french knots. Those tiny garden tools given to your bunny, Mary, ha! Genius!

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    1. Hello Vickie! We are so happy you came by. I love how French knots look but sometimes have a hard time making them. The garden tools are a charm from Joann's. RJ

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  3. What adorable bunny pieces you shared! I love the addition of the charms to both. RJ, I think you did a great job with the chain stitch and the French knots. Mary, I love the blue crocheted trim on yours.

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    1. Hi Robin! I could not believe how quickly I forgot how to make the chain stitch. Thank goodness for youtube. As always thank you for your visit. RJ

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  4. Oh my they both are adorable, it is always fun to put decorations and beads on stitched projects, the coordinating fabrics you chose are perfect.
    Adding you to my Blog Roll today.

    Blessings
    Catherine

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  5. Hi Catherine! Welcome to stitchingfriendsforever. We are so happy you will be adding us to your blog roll...that makes my day! RJ

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  6. Both pieces are so adorable! I love the charms!!
    Happy weekend to both of you!

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    1. Hi Lili! Thanks for visiting us. Glad you like our bunny ornaments. They both were fun to do. I tried to follow your Instagram last night but I must have done something wrong because it did not take. I'm going to try again. I love looking at all of your stitches. RJ

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  8. Darling, sweet bunnies! Love the finishes....BTW, I added your blog to my blog list...so interesting that the two of you do this together...would make a great Flosstube!

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  9. Hi Susan! Great to hear from you again. We love visitors. Thank you for adding us to your blog list. We did the same. I think we all got started around the same time. I have to watch a Flosstube...I have to admit I have not done that yet. RJ

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  11. I love the way you have finished these cute little bunnies. I will be adding you to my blog list.

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    1. Cathie, Thank you for adding us to your blog list! Finishing is always a challenge for me and this bunny was an easy finish, wish they all went so smoothly!

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  12. Hi Cathie! Thank you for the kind words and so happy to be added to your blog list. We will be coming over to see you too. Have a great weekend. RJ

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  13. The bunnies are just adorable. How did I not know about your blog before. I will be catching up on your posts. Have a blessed weekend.

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    1. Hi Cindy, so glad you visited and hope you come back, our blog is only a month old but we will have lots of fun projects planned and we will eventually have a stitching party that I hope you join. So much inspiration comes from other stitchers. Mary

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    2. Hi Cindy! So happy you came by to visit. I so enjoyed your post last night. I miss not living in California and enjoying the wonderful weather. San Diego was a special place. Have a wonderful Spring. RJ

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  14. Well, you both know just how much I LOVE bunny stitching so this was a wonderful post to read :) Both are so cute and I love the idea of pulling apart a set of earring to use as charms on finishes--now that is a first! I hate French knots, but just make myself do them. As you say, RJ, they do get easier the more you do.

    Wishing you both a lovely May--hard to believe that 2017 is 1/3 over, isn't it?

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    1. Carol, your last PS bunny is on my wish list to make, I love how you finished it, bunnies are just the sweetest creatures. It's quite a chilly start to May! Enjoy your weekend! Mary

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    2. Hi Carol! So glad you stopped by. I knew you would love the bunnies. They are two cute ones and you are a big bunny lover. They are hard to resist. I'm glad to hear someone like you hates French knots too. Hope your May is a great one. RJ

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  15. Lovely to find your blog. What a great idea to share one with a stitching friend! I love both your bunnies and it's great to see FFOs as most of my finishes don't get "finished"!

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    1. We are glad you found us, and one of the reasons we started the blog was to inspire us to finish, we both love to stitch, finish-not so much!

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    2. Hi Justine! So happy you came for a visit. Finishing is the hard part for so many of us. I could stitch all day but I have to push myself to finish. RJ

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  16. These bunnies are great, I love the addition of the little gardening charms.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comments.

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    2. Hi Jo! So happy you came by for a visit and that you liked the bunnies. There are so many of us that love bunnies and they are so much fun to finish. RJ

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  17. Lovely stitching and great finishing!

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    1. Hi Tina and welcome! I'm a big Texas lover. We are very happy you came by to see our bunnies. Come back often. RJ

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