I’ve been wanting to create some more watch case pendants for a while and last week I finally got round to hunting out the box they live in. I was also determined to do one at a time that I could actually finish, rather than planning all of them at once and overfacing myself.
I had a lovely little rounded piece of driftwood that I wanted to use for this one and teamed it with a pretty gold flecked batik cotton.
Seaweed first, in good old feather stitch and some overcasting with added cast on stitch picots to help hold the driftwood in place.
Then some maidenhair stitch and beading. Maidenhair stitch is a feather stitch variant where you stitch three loops gradually increasing in size on the same side before stitching three on the other side, rather than alternating as in ordinary feather stitch. It’s a new stitch to me and I really like the effect it gives, especially when you curve it like a plant stem.
Some more feather stitch and Palestrina stitch to give a different texture.
After one more swirl of Palestrina knots with a touch of purple, time to add the sea glass. The sea glass nuggets are held in place with a dab of superglue just to make sure they don’t go anywhere before I work the holding stitches over them.
Lastly I gathered the design over a piece of pelmet vilene before setting it into the watch case.
It just needs a silver plated chain attached (somehow…) and it’s a finish.
My not so little, little one turned 16 at the weekend and as I was completely out of inspiration for an original card, I used a pattern from the internet to cross stitch one of her favourite characters from Star Wars:
I was reminded how long it takes to cross stitch even a relatively small and simple design (best part of four hours for this one and I don’t think I was stitching particularly slowly) but it was worth it – she loved him.
Under A Topaz Sky 
It’s so tiny, the photo makes it look big. Happy birthday to Grace.
This one is so delightful! I love the colours and am eyeing up that batik with a certain amount of jealousy. The card is great too and thanks for the honesty about the time commitment – I swear cross stitch almost feels less efficient than surface embroidery sometimes. Maybe it’s the stitch density?
I honestly thought of you when I chose the batik!! It has purples in it too. ;o) I am always amazed at how long even the smallest cross stitch pattern takes to work up and I don’t know how people can sell them as cards for under a fiver. I think you’re right – the stitch density is much higher than most other forms of surface embroidery and then you have the counting too.
I’m going to be known as the ‘crazy batik lady’ 🙂 I know… I assume these things get better as practice (as I usually have to count each row as I forget five times) but still….
I’m intrigued to know how you attach the chain there – but surely that type of watch usually has one attached?
Yes, with a d-ring (now missing) which clips into recesses on either side of the winder. I’m planning to use a jump ring which will go round the stem of the winder and the chain will be joined to that. Hopefully!!
So pretty. I’m a sucker for picking up the tiniest pieces from the beach and loving them, but not knowing what to do with them. Seems a shame to cage them in small jars. 😄
I agree. Mine are in bowls but even then so many get lost!