Exchange NSP

I belong to a french Yahoo group called "Artextile", and we have an exchange NSP (Non secret partner). My partner is in Israel, and she has just received her present, and you can have a look too.

I found my inspiration from a blog called "Trousses de brodeuses" which you could translate as "cases for embroiderers". It is in french, again, but the photos talk by themselves. The lady who runs it is a bit overwhelmed by the number of photos she receives, and can't keep up.

I made my new friend an embroidery case or roll, which includes a pocket, a needle holder, scissor holder, a little bin for cut threads, and some rings to attach the embroidery threads.

Half open, and then fully opened.

Here is a photo when, the case is filled, and a shot of the thread bin while I was making it. It is very easy, only folded fabric like an origami.

The outside is decorated with some machine stitched cross stitch (I know I cheated but it was so easy and neat), and her name Ruth written in Boutis.

Here is a close up. It is difficult to take a photo of white on white !

The boutis is a technique originating from the south of France where you stitch 2 layers of a very fine fabric together, some batiste in France, following a design, and then fill the gaps between the layers with cotton (like the cotton used for crochet for example). You have to make 2 little holes at the back to insert your needle with the cotton, and then you push the weave back to close the holes. It is very time consuming, but beautiful at the end.