Mongrammes and tea tidy

I have always liked monogrammes, especially the posh intertwinned white/cream on linen. Here is my first one. I hope to make something for my d.i.l. with it. I used 1 strand of Anchor thread on linen. I wonder if it's a tad to dark?
This is the start;

Finished 'T'

I did realise to late that the rose in the middle of the T is more or less the same red as the T so it doesn't stand out as well.

Here is a close up;

For some reason the T looks a tad wonky but in real life it's straight!
 The white strands are ordinary sewing cotton (as I couldn't be bothered to get up and used what was beside me in my sewing box!) but I think it looks OK. I do a have some 'proper' silk threads which I might have a practise with on something else. Got to finish this one first!

On a completely different note here is a Spotty cat. I commissioned him from a lady on a craft forum I frequent who does pottery. www.clairemanwani.com I wanted something that goes in with the rest of my kitchen and to replace the dull manky brown tea bag holder that I had.

Look at his sweet face and blue eyes, and here he is with a tea bag (Scottish blend of course :0P )

The photo doesn't do him the justice he deserves. Why does red never photograph properly? Gotta go and have a cuppa!

handmade Monday and also http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com.ar/ and http://sewmanyways.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/ has once more come around with lots of crafty blogs.