Monday 30 December 2013

Almost 2014.

Well the New Year is almost upon us so that means that Stitch From Stash 2014 is almost here too. I have been good for a week now. My last chart purchase was iStitch Designs Sew Advent and Sew a Brown Bunny. I didn't sign up for Sew Advent when Carol announced the SAL as I knew I had too much on to keep up with it so when she released it once the SAL was over and I had also seen the lovely progress I decided to have that one last treat. I am rather ashamed of what I have bought lately but it's not all charts as I have bought fabric as I received a GC from Kerri ( no blog)  for Colour Cascade Fabrics a couple of weeks ago which I added pennies to so I could buy a Gold/ Silver Duet which arrived on Saturday. That was amazing as it was posted on Christmas Eve and winged its way from Australia in record time! I do have some fabric on order from The Crafty Kitten along with a couple of finishing forms which I have paid for today :) The next chart in the CCN Frosty Forest series arrived so that has gone away ready for when I start it sometime early 2014!


So even though there are still a couple of days left in 2013 I'm not going to succumb to anymore ordering! I will start as I mean to go on. No more charts until December except for buying one probably in November for the SAL Chris and I will be doing in December and fabric and thread when I need them.

Speaking of the SAL Chris and I will be doing next December I have set up a poll  on my side bar and ask if you would help us decide which one to stitch please! We have 3 and can't decide which one to do! Here are photos of the 3.

Barbara Ann Designs O Christmas Tree
 New York Dreamer Frosty Night
 UB Designs Beerenherz im Winter


So I guess I'd better show what I've been stitching and the gifts I received for Christmas. As I said in one of my last posts I finished both February's Primrose and Mary's Sampler but didn't show them. I'm not sure how I'm going to finish Mary's Sampler yet.

I can now show the challenge piece I stitched from the Jura Point De Croix blog. I loved stitching this. It was a must stitch for me!

I've been desperately trying to get plenty done on Little House Needleworks Song of the Seasons so have been stitching mostly on that. I finished part 2 and am getting on well with part 3. It won't get finished before the end of the year but hopefully it will be an early finish in 2014.

A little progress on Friendship with Barb :)


The only other thing I can show is my progress on Country Cottage Needleworks Silent Night which is my December SAL with Chris. I settled down yesterday with it and got quite a bit done.

I stitched an ornament as a little gift for Michelle which she loves.

These are the lovely gifts that I received for Christmas in no particular order. This is what I received from Michelle.  Isn't that ornament so me!

This is my beautiful glass robin from Barb which was made by her DH Martin.

This lovely ornament came from Shirlee.

This lovely needle threader is from Lisa.

This is Rory the Reindeer which is from Lainey.

This lovely notebook is from Karan. I am going to use it as a stitching diary for 2014 and beyond :)

My DH bought me these fabrics and chart ( they were on my Christmas list! ).
Thank you all for my wonderful gifts. Hugs to you all :)

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. We had a quiet one full of happy memories, a few tears and lots of laughs. We ate far too much, drunk a little, watched a little TV and just generally chilled. I asked Father Christmas to bring us a Wii U console, which he did, and it's great fun. I downloaded the new Wii U Fit for free. It's a 31 day trial but if you buy a Wii Fit Meter and sync it to your console you get to keep the full version of the game which is a great deal. My meter arrived today so will see if I can get it synced! Hope so as it's no use without the game lol! It's been lovely just chilling and spending precious time together as, believe me, you never know what is going to happen. 

Anyway I have had a very successful stitching year finishing a grand total of 44 projects. Not as many as previous years but I've just been enjoying it and having great fun with it. There have been highlights and low points through the year. The highlight has to be my 50th birthday earlier this month as my family and friends made it so special for me. I will never, ever forget it as long as I live. The low point was January 14th when my dear Dad passed away. I still have guilt and I don't feel as though I have anyone I can talk about it to. Hopefully I'll be able to deal with it better in 2014. 

This is my last post for 2013 so I shall see you all, hopefully, in 2014 with some new starts, WIPs, SAL's and finishes. Thank you all for reading and commenting on my blog. It means the world to me. Happy New Year to you all!

With much love

Sally xxx

33 comments:

WendyCarole said...

Happy New year you and your family.

Nicola said...

Happy New Year Sally! I hope it will be a good one for you.

I like the New York Dreamer Frosty Night for your December SALwith Chris.

Kate said...

Lovely update Sally - love the Jura piece, I just got the pattern the other day as I love snowmen.
Sounds like you've had a lovely family Christmas.
My advice to you would be to try (and I know it's difficult) to forget the guilt and enjoy the happy memories.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year x

Jackie's Stitches said...

Happy New Year Sally!

Your post is full of lots of pretty things! Great gifts both to and from you. I'm not setting any specific goals for 2014 other than to spend my free time more wisely and deliberately. Sometimes it's hard as work seems to wear me out mentally!

Looking forward to seeing what you get up to in 2014!

Bianca said...

What a lovely year end post. I loved seeing all the pictures. As far as casting a vote for the next project, for some reason I only was able to see two pictures, but I googled the Barbara Ana design and my vote is for Frosty Night. Whichever you pick, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Happy New Year!

Myra said...

Gorgeous gifts and some beautiful stitching too. Wishing you all the best in 2014!

Margaret said...

Good for you for stitching from stash! I'm not sure I can manage such a feat myself, but I should try. Love seeing all your projects and everything else too! Happy 2014!

Angela said...

Lovely gifts and great stitching on all your projects. Happy New Year!

Justine said...

What a lot of progress on your lovely pieces. I can't believe you had 44 finishes and that was a quiet year! You have finished some lovely ornaments for your friends too.
I will be joining you on Stitch from Stash. I might put one last order in today!
Could I please have the other Cottage GardenSamplings as you finish them if you are still happy to sell them on? I am looking forward to starting January's snowdrop later this week as part of Crazy January Challenge.
Sorry to hear that you are feeling guilty about your dad's death. Have you thought about counselling? A neutral ear to listen and gently help you to understand your feelings.
Looking forward to seeing your stitching in 2014.

Shirlee said...

Wonderful finishes & WIPs my friend! I am partial to the New York Dreamer Frosty Night ... plan on doing that one myself this coming year : ) I wish you a very happy & blessed new year!

Barb said...

Super post Sally ,love the reindeer from Lainey and the challenge piece you did. Very reflective piece you wrote about 2013 hope the New Year is kind to you and yours.
The second one on the list by New York Stitcher is the other one I ordered with snowman trio ,great minds.Happy New Year my friend to you and yours.

Christine said...

As always gorgeous stitching sally, and some lovely gifts too.
All three of your possible SAL pieces are lovely in their own way, but I absolutely love the heart shaped one at the bottom.
Have a very Happy New Year

Chris said...

Happy New Year Sally!!
Lovely stitching recap. You have many lovely projects going and new stash. I love all of the Christmas pieces so I can't help you narrow it down to one. Lovely gifts from your stitching friends!

Vickie said...

I like Frosty Night also.=)
Good for you with the exercise Sally. May God richly bless you this coming new year!

Kay said...

Happy New year to you and your family.

Melanie said...

Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful New Year Sally. I love the New York Dreamer Frosty Nights, that would be my choice for the SAL. You have certainly managed to stitch quite a few things this last year, well done. I too am considering only stitching from my stash this next year and will save any allowance for Harrogate next November :) x

Mary Ann said...

Lovely stitching and wonderful gifts! Happy New Year, Sally!!

Andrea said...

A lovely post. Lots of beautiful WIPS, SALs, finishes and gifts.
I vote for New York Dreamer Frosty Night, just love the snowman.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Heather said...

Happy new year Sally! ! Your stitching is lovely! You have made great progress on your pieces. My house is back to normal so I can start stitching again! Yeah! I hope to start on my frosty forest today. :-) I am voting for the snowman and robin piece for your sal. I love that one and will have to find it. :-) I'm joining you in the stitch from stash challenge. :-)
I am praying for you that you will have peace and healing about your dad's death. Big hugs!

Michelle said...

Lovely gifts received Sally and so deserving my friend. You are a great friend to many. Wishing you a very Happy New Year - much love to you xx

Brigitte said...

Congratulations on having 44 finishes this year. That's a considerable number. Like you I'm looking forward to the stitching from stash year, it will be awesome to finally stitch some of those precious charts that we bought during the last ten or twenty years and have never touched again so far.
Have a happy and healthy 2014!

stitchersanon said...

wow what amazing stitching projects...you have done brilliantly! I have voted..and added to my own wish list lol. I am so sorry you are still experiencing guilt re; your dad. Sometimes talking to a complete stranger can help: you can get my email from my blog..and thanks to chemotherapy I can guarantee I will forget the conversation lol. Have a happy and hopefully healing New Year xxxxx

Lesleyanne said...

Happy New Year Sally to you and your family. Lovely gifts received and gorgeous progress on your wips. I voted for New York Dreamer for your SAL with Chris.

Mouse said...

lovely to see all the stitching again and I wish you a wonderful stitchy new year full of finishes and new starts all from stash of course hehehhe :)
love mouse xxxxxx

Jennifer M. said...

Such gorgeous stitching you are working on. Love the gifts you received. That red glass Cardinal is amazing.

Happy New Years! I hope 2014 is a fabulous year for you.

Catherine said...

Lovely post of goodies and stitches!! May your New Years be all that you wish for!

Oma said...

I love the snowman also...but please, please talk to someone, anyone about your father. It will bring you much peace. I lost my father young, and it was very difficult. Big hugs to you and happy stitching!

Julie said...

All the Sal pieces are nice, but the heart at the bottom gets my vote. Lots of lovely stitching, the snowman ornament is wonderful.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

Unknown said...

Waw, how many wonderful stitches you made last year!!! I wish you to make even more in this 2014!!! Happy New Year!

stitcherw said...

Happy New Year, hope it will be a good one for you and your family. Loved seeing all the pictures you posted, lots of lovelies to look at. Snowy Deer is so cute. I haven't done a Little House or Country Cottage piece for a while, think I may need to pick one for one of my new starts. As far as your SAL, my pick would be Frosty Night, love the snowman and the little cardinals.
Sue

Mylene said...

Happy New Year!! And Best wishes for 2014!

Simply Victoria said...

Wonderful gifts and giving.
May the new year bring you healing with your dad's passing and many blessings to you.

Karoline said...

Happy new year Sally, I hope 2014 is everything you want it to be