Wednesday 21 August 2013

Stitching, Stuff and Well Done Abi!

We've had a busy couple of weeks with some stitching and a lot of kitchen ripping out and fitting but things have settled now so I can finally update my blog and, hopefully, catch up with you all. I feel so guilty that I am not visiting you all, so much so that I considered giving up blogging myself but I enjoy doing it and it's a way of showing my stitching.

So the kitchen is done barring kick boards, up stands, tiles and either paint or wallpaper. There won't be much wallpapering to do so we're hoping we might be able to get away with painting the walls  but we will have to see. Once it's all done I'll pop some pics up. Of course I now have to get used to cooking with an electric fan oven. I'm used to gas so meals may be a bit hit and miss for a while  but what I have cooked so far seems to have been successful!  We did well with the fitting really. Abi and Jess helped too. In fact Abi got well stuck in! I am really pleased with it all but I am a bit disappointed in my glossy worktops as they already have marks on them in spite of our best efforts to prevent it from happening. However we had a huge amount of dust and still have dust off the walls so I guess it can't be helped.

Last week Abi got her A level results. She was extremely nervous as last year she ( and many others) were let down by the marking system changing and the moderators messing things up and she was so sure it was going to happen again. Anyway she need not have worried as she got Bs in IT and Photography and C in Art. She was delighted with her results and was so relieved she cried!  We are so proud of her after all she has been through as it would have been so easy for to say to hell with it and give up. She is not sure what she is going to do now but will probably look for a job. She is rather sick of contacting people then not hearing anything especially those who have said they will get on touch.

Well I guess what you're really here for is stitching updates so here goes! Not only have I managed to complete my July ornament for the Christmas All Year Round SAL I have also done my August one as well as the wee bonus chart that came with All is Calm. Unfortunately my gingerbread on Gingerbread Village are either blind or have their backs to me! I couldn't for the life of me get the French Knots to go right and the beads I have are too big so I gave up!



I am now giving away the chart for All is Calm so if you'd like it just say so in your comment :).

Lesleyanne very kindly lent me the Gingerbread Village chart. Thank you so much Lesleyanne.  It's ready to come back to you so will get it in the post as soon as.

I didn't manage to make a start with Barb on LHN Little Sheep Virtues Faith when we had planned as we had somebody in  to cut the worktops for us that Monday evening. There was so much dust and noise and I couldn't get sat down in the living room as we had to move the settee to get the worktops out the patio doors to be able to cut them to size then bring them back in to cut them to join them etc. I made a small start later in the week then picked it up for a little while last Monday.

Before the sheep arrived we did a bit more on the mystery. Not sure when this will come out again.

I have almost finished Lizzie*Kate Not All of Us. This one has been such a joy to stitch as it's so easy to pick up and I just love this saying.  I took it to craft group with me yesterday in the hope of getting it finished but it didn't quite happen.

I didn't stitch at all on my HAED QS Spirit of Winter Robin last week so was happy  to get back to it last night.  Almost finished the 10 rows I'm stitching.

Finally some making up. I decided I really needed to get my Just Nan Floral Fifteen completed. I'd done so much and left it but decided to keep going until it was done. It was a bit fiddly but it's done and I amso pleased with it!


This is The Sampler Girl Northanger Abbey that I stitched over a year ago now hung on my Sampler Girl wall.

I have more to make up yet. I have a pile with fabric and trims at the ready so I need to get myself motivated to get it all done.

Oooh I am excited but also rather nervous as tomorrow evening I get to meet Mouse! She is working about 45 minutes away from me for a couple of days so asked if she could pop in for a cuppa so I said yes! Then one day next week my surrogate sis Lisa is hopefully coming to spend the day with me:).

Well I think that is all I have to tell you and show you for now so I will say goodbye and see you next time.


With much love

Sally xxxxx

36 comments:

Shirlee said...

I've missed you Sally ... good to hear from you! Despite the problems now, you will soon have a beautiful new kitchen & you will barely remember the difficulties you had to endure for it. Kind of like childbirth ... lol! You have been busy & all your projects are looking great! No need to pop my name into the drawing for All is Calm ... I have that one. How exciting to get to meet Mouse! I'm sure you'll have a great time together! Hugs to you, my friend!

cucki said...

Beautiful stitching..all your projects are so sweet,
Hugs x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful stitching and congratulations to Abi (:

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Yeah! for Abi! I know she must be relieved; good for her!
You have been a busy girl between the remodel, the stitching and the finishing. ALl your finishes are wonderful!

gracie said...

Beautiful stitching...especially the Biscornu...I adore stitching them. I have not gotten this particular pattern... yet.

Vickie said...

Oh Sally! How fun to be meeting Mouse and Lisa!
I love your stitches. Most especially Northanger Abbey and Just Nan!!

CalamityJr said...

What beautiful stitching and finishing! Have fun tomorrow. There are many of us, I'm sure, who are wishing we could join you and Mouse!

Mii Stitch said...

Great post!!! Congrats to your daughter for her exams :) Love your stitchy finishes, especially the biscornu! Have fun with Mouse, I'm sure you'll both have a great time x

Dani - tkdchick said...

Sally I would be interested in stitching all is calm. I think you've done a lovely job with all of your ornaments.

Congrats to Abi for getting great marks this year!

All of your stitching and finishing looks fantastic.

Barb said...

Hi there Sally congrats again to Abi, and wow what a busy girl you have been . I have just done a post with my progress on Faith!!
I love absolutely love that saying on the Lizzie Kate one ,need to stitch that one. I do not usually like her designs but that one Wow!
Hope the kitchen will soon be dust free and your worktops get back to spotless. OOH how nice to meet Mouse. You will not be stitching I bet.
Hugs.

Linda said...

Congrats on all the great stitching and finishing Sally. I would love a chance to stitch the chart. Please enter me.

Linda

Tricia T said...

Yay for Abi! And I'm so jealous that you get to stitch with Mouse... although you'll probably not get much stitching done in between the cups of tea... Your stitching is beautiful as always. I really like how your HAED is coming along. I'd love to be entered for the All is Calm chart. It is such a pretty stitch!

Tricia

Mouse said...

ooooo gorgeous updates ... and if you want I will do the wee french knots :)
congratulations to Abi too .. wonderful results....
I've got part two already but you have stitched more than I have as I haven't started the LHN one yet ..lol
can't wait to see you ... :) love mouse xxxx

Mylene said...

WOW! Lots of beauties you've accomplished as well as working on. The Just Nan turned out gorgeous.

Congratulations to Abi!

Cath said...

Lovely stitching Sally . The LK and Robin are looking great . I love the Just Nan finish , so pretty .
Please put my name in for the chart draw .
Thanks .
Congrats again to Abi . Hope she manages to find something that she wants to do .x

Cath said...

Forgot to say , hope you and Mouse have a fab time .x

Margaret said...

Congratulations to Abi -- that's so great! Congrats on the new kitchen too! Have a great time with Mouse -- what fun that you get to meet her! Love all your stitching. And your finishing is gorgeous!

Bianca said...

Great progress on all of your projects! I would love to have my name thrown in for All is Calm.

Lisa V said...

Oooo soo much eye candy. I'm also working on the LHN mystery sampler and have received part 2 which looks a little more enjoyable to stitch than part 1 did.
Love your Sampler Girl wallhanging,colours are beautiful.
Could you pls enter my name for the LHN chart, thats one I dont have, thanks for the opportunity. Have a wonderful time with Mouse.

Catherine said...

Congrats to Abi!! How fun to be getting together with mouse ~ enjoy!! All of your projects are beautiful!

Christine said...

Oh no, please don't stop blogging sally, I'd really miss coming here to catch up on your news and see all your wonderful stitching.
Glad the kitchen is all done. Well done to Abi on her A level results

Chris said...

Great update Sally! Congratulations to Abi! I hope that she finds a position soon. I am looking forward to seeing the finished kitchen :)
Gorgeous stitching and finishing!
Have a wonderful time with Mouse. I am looking forward to hearing about it.

Pam in IL said...

Beautiful stitching and Congrats to Abi! We did some kitchen work last fall--it's always nice to get it done and get things back to "normal".

jane said...

Congratulations to Abi!
I can relate to your kitchen story, it was just the same when we did ours.
Lovely stitching as always and how exciting to be meeting up with Mouse (and of course Lisa)

Michelle said...

Oh well done Abi so pleased. Lovely stitching Sally and so glad to see you posting - you have been missed. Wishing you a happy time with Mouse xx

Julie said...

Congrats to Abi on her results and good luck in the job search.
Have a fabulous time with mouse and Lisa.
Floral fifteen looks superb.

Bernadett said...

Lovely stitchings and finishes.:)

butterfly said...

Fantastic stitching love every thing, hugs.

Karoline said...

Congratulations to Abi on her great results

Your finishes are gorgeous especially Floral fifteen and great progress on your wips.

Enjoy your get togethers with Mouse & Lisa

Anne said...

Good to hear from you Sally and that your renos are going well. Congrats to Abi on her successes with school. Love all your stitching but that finish of Just Nan's multi sided biscornu, is just precious. Well done! I love Silent Night and if no one else wants to stitch it, I will! And pass it along as well :D So exciting you get to meet Mouse!

Lesleyanne said...

Congrats to Abi on her A level results. Please don't give up blogging I love seeing your stitching. Looking forward to seeing your new kitchen. All of your stitching is looking beautiful. Hope you had a lovely time with Mouse.

Andrea said...

Congratulations to Abby.
Great stitching. Love your finishes, especially your hanging piece.

Brigitte said...

So good to see you post again and good to know that everything went well with your kitchen remodeling so far. It's always a bit of a chaos and dusty and a bit messy when you do this. But fortunately the result is worth it. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures.
Congratulations to Abi on finishing school so successfully!
Your two stitchy finishes look absolutely gorgeous. I love how you finished the Sampler Girl project. And the Floral Fifteen is fantastic.

Tatkis said...

Wow, you've been busy! I love the Just Nan 15 biscornu!

Hugs,
Tatyana

Stitchingranny said...

Lovely work Sally, love the Just Nan and the Sampler girl finishes.
We did our kitchen at the beginning of the year and it seemed to take ages before the dust really disappeared. I would do it every morning and half an hour later there would be dust everywhere again, I thought it would never end, but I am pleased to tell you it does disappear eventually.

Annette-California said...

WOOHOO!! I found it:)) Your Floral Fifteen is Gorgeous!!! I can't wait till I get to assemble mine.
love Annette