Le Coffre du Trésor de la Reine
(The Queen's Treasure Chest)

A stitching caddy fit for a Queen ... This design was inspired by my travels to France last year and my continuing fascination with all things 'Marie Antoinette'. The outside of the box has been kept deliberately beautiful and plain ... with the intial band on the ribbon giving just a hint of what might be inside ... then untie the ribbon to discover the glorious stitching treasure within!

As you lift the lid the front panel falls open, revealing swags of roses, hearts, bows, tassels and pearls. Drawn thread pleated pockets run around three walls, in which to tuck your favourite stitcher's toys, a scissor slide can be found on the front panel to house a beautiful pair of embroidery scissors, and a mattress pin cushion is anchored to the base to hold divine pearl headed pins ... and everywhere you look there are delicate silk ribbon bows!

Stitched on 32 count 'White' Belfast Linen from Zweigart, using Gloriana and Dinky Dye silk threads and ribbons, this project actually stitches up quite quickly - but will require some patience to assemble.

The design calls for:

1 piece of 32 count Zweigart 'White' 3609/100/55 linen 31" wide x 19.5" high (which includes a 2" border on each edge)

Gloriana Silk #122 Merry's Mauve (1 skein)
Gloriana Silk # 127 Purkle Fred (1 skein)
Gloriana Silk # 080 Bellflower (1 skein)
Gloriana Silk # 072 Sierra Haze (1 skein)
Gloriana Silk # 118 Twilight Blue (1 skein)

Dinky Dyes Silk # 60 Argyle (1 skein)
Dinky Dyes Silk Ribbon 4mm #04 Strawberry Ice (5.5m)
Dinky Dyes Silk Ribbon 7mm #04 Strawberry Ice (4m)
(these three items are available as a pack from Dinky Dyes)

DMC Cotton - White (1 skein)
Two 'Heart' shaped thread rings from Kelmscott Designs
Mill Hill Petite Glass Beads #40123 (1 pack)

This design is a booklet only - with the charts, stitch diagrams and comprehensive stitching and step by step construction instructions and photos. The instructions show you how to make the outer box, and the inner panels, pockets, pin cushion and scissor slide, and to put the whole chest together.

Stitches used: Cross Stitch, Rhodes Hearts, Lasy Daisy Stitch, Spiderweb Ribbon Roses, Back Stitch, Algerian Eyelet Stitch, Drawn Thread Hem Stitch, and my very own Tassel Stitch.

The mother of pearl 3" rule, Heart threadkeep and Baroque thread winder are distributed by Kelmscott Designs.

'Blessed With Happiness'
Embroidered Box

Add a little magic to your life with this gorgeous embroidered
five-sided star box. The delightful Irish blessing ...

May your troubles be less
And your blessing be more
And nothing but happiness
Comes through your door

is embroidered on four panels, and an alphabet
can be found on the fifth panel.

Model stitched on Lakeside Linen's Vintage Maritime White
28 count linen, using Dinky Dye silks, Kreinik blending filament
and Mill Hill antique glass beads.

The pamphlet includes charts and detailed instructions for
construction of the box.