Tuesday 8 March 2016

I am Still Here!

I know it's been a while since I last blogged! I try so hard to make the effort but it just doesn't seem to be happening but I guess if I blog every now and then to keep my hand in I won't lose the bug all together.  I most certainly don't want to use Instagram ( although I am on there but hardly ever use it! ) as it seems so impersonal and I have always loved the blogging platform and made many lovely stitchy friends since I started a few years ago. There was a point a few days ago where I thought I'd just give up but I don't want to so you won't be getting rid of me lol!

First of all I just want to say a massive thank you for all your good wishes for Abi. All her bloods came back normal which is good but also a little frustrating when she has been ill on and off for so long and lost weight. She gets so down and suffers with anxiety which doesn't help either. Anyway she seems to be picking up a little now and is slowly eating better so fingers crossed she is turning a corner. The doctor thinks she has picked up a winter bug that has taken some getting rid of and that she will pick up again over time. She has started coming to craft group with me ( she taught herself to crochet a while ago ) when she's not working so she's seeing different people.

So what have I been up to stitching wise. Well my fourth Shepherd's Fold piece, Cherish Life, was finished and I finally finished making it up yesterday. It is far from perfect but I love it. The wool inside is supposed to have a herringbone stitch down the middle but my brain wouldn't engage so I didn't do it!




So the fifth piece, Fear Not, was started . This one will be a needleroll. I look at these pieces and think oh that won't take long! Haha! They take longer than you think but then again I do only stitch one evening a week on them.

I finished the stitching on my February ornament and waited for March to come around to start another.

Blue Ribbon Designs Snowmates

40 count Sand linen

DMC

I'll get this one and my January one made up soon. The craft knife that I used for cutting card disappeared and even though I turned the house upside down it didn't turn up! DH was sorting the boot of the car out and found it in there! We'd put Christmas wreaths on our parents graves early in December and taken the knife to cut string to tie them on with!

Last night I made a start on my March ornament.  Any ideas what it is Barb?! It is from the 2015 mag.

Barb and I have also been stitching away on our sheep SAL but we are not really feeling it with this one. I'm going to persevere with it though as it will be lovely when it's done. Violet is now complete and she has her sheep by her side. Now she just needs her flowers to water.

Gill and I have been trying to get back to our craft mornings recently and we've managed two so far! I have picked up HAED Mini Jolly Old Fellow to stitch when we have our mornings and I also stitched this on Sunday ( Mothers Day here ) as I was on my own. I've filled in all the squares from when I did the challenge on the HAED Facebook page. I can't wait to get to Father Christmas although it will slow me up a lot then!

The first page of HAED Dragons History was finished a couple of weeks ago and I made a start on page 2. I can't wait to get further down the page as the top of the dragon will appear!

I went through all my HAED charts last week writing order numbers on the front pages and if they were RAKs, birthday gifts and who they were from or I'd bought them myself. Bad idea as I wanted to start so many of them! Of course I'm not going to as I don't want to get snowed under again like I have in the past as that is when they end up getting put away for ages. The times I've said I'll keep going until one is finished and ended up putting it away is ridiculous!

I have stitched a few extra times on CCN Countdown to Christmas to try and get more done. I love it but I'm a little fed up of it now but don't want to put it away for fear I'll never finish it! I still have quite a lot to do but hopefully those little motifs in the boxes won't take too long!

Oooh I am so excited as I have almost finished AotH Evergreen Lane! I just have to fill bits around the border and add the personalisation but I'm not sure how I'm doing that yet. So just one more block to go and the bonus bit! I wonder if I can get it finished by mid year!

Have any of you seen anything that you like from Nashville Market? I don't think I've seen everything but nothing has really jumped out at me which is good! I'm not buying anyway as I haven't finished 10 things yet and I'm trying not to buy on impulse when I allow myself to buy as that is not good!

As I mentioned earlier it was Mothers Day here in the UK on Sunday. My girls gave me some lovely card and pressies. Jess bought me the Harry Potter colouring book. She says mistakes were made as she didn't realise there were snakes in it lol! She'll be colouring those pages for me! Abi bought me the book and the choccies which look too nice to eat.

A couple of weeks ago I decided I'd had enough of my hair style. I loved it when I had it cut for my 50th birthday but it wasn't how it was then having had to change hairdressers when ours left. So I messaged my current hairdresser and told her I wanted a change, took in some pics to show her and off I went last Wednesday feeling rather nervous!  If you look at my profile photo that's me just after I'd had it done. Of course I can't get it like that  no matter how hard I try lol but I love it.

Time for me to get some photos uploaded and publish this! Thank you for reading and for all the lovely comments you leave me. You have no idea how much they are appreciated.

With much love.

Sally xxxxx

27 comments:

butterfly said...

Oh Sally so much lovely stitching and lots and lots of lovely sheep .
Nice hair cut , and so happy your daughter is feeling better.

gracie said...

Oh OI love the new haircut...we never can get it the way the hairdressers do! Wonderful stitching...

Poppypatchwork said...

Blog land is a lovely place to hang out, we share so many things. I'm glad your daughter is feeling better, my youngest went through something a few years ago, lost loads of weight, had loads of test done, and all we could think was it was to do with stress, she is much better and now again a normal weight, but it is a worry.

Vickie said...

Yes! I noticed your new picture right away! It looks great. Ask her to go through styling next time. Or message her again. Are you going natural with color? I am.
You have so very many projects going on. Sweet Violet is looking adorable.

Maggie said...

Lots of lovely stitching Sally.
I'm glad your daughter is starting to feel better, kids are a worry whatever age they are.

I tried Intergram too but didn't like it either, much prefer blogs. Glad you're sticking with yours :-)

Linda said...

Awesome stitching and finishing as always Sally.

Linda

Lois said...

Love your SB finish Sally and also your Christmas ornament. So many lovely WIP pics. I always enjoy seeing a post from you pop up in my blog feed!

Hazel said...

Lovely post Sally. Love your SB finish. So pretty. x

Christine said...

Your Shepherd's Fold is gorgeous Sally! Great progress on the WIPs too.
Glad to hear Abi is improving, hope she's feeling completely back to normal soon

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Sally, a lovely selection of work. Two HAEDs on the go at once? - you're a brave woman.
Pleased to read that Abi is picking up. It must be such a worry for you.

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Forgot to say - I like your new hairstyle.

Mii Stitch said...

Plenty of stitching going on :)
As always your projects all look lovely!
Great Mother's Day gifts too.

Julie said...

There's always lots of lovely things to see when I visit here Sally.
Your new haircut looks great.
I know a few peoples who have been battling with various bugs/germs for the most of the winter, I do hope Abi is well on the mend. Great news she taught herself to crochet and is becoming a member of your craft club, its great to meet with like minded crafters, perhaps it will inspire her to do more.

Le trame della Galaverna said...

All is so beautiful
I adore designs and colours
Yours projects are really fantastic
Many many compliments

Justine said...

Glad to hear you are sticking with blogging Sally. Yours is one of my favourites as you always have so many lovely projects on the go. I can't get over how much you have stitched on your TWO HAEDs! As well as all the other lovely things.
Your new haircut is lovely, really suits you. I hope Abi starts to feel better soon. There have been some nasty lingering bugs around this year, I know a few people who have been ill since before Christmas.

Cindy's Stitching said...

Lots of pretty stitching Sally.

Penny said...

You did a wonderful job on Cherish Life ~ very pretty! And you're working on some very nice stitching projects, too. I'm very glad to hear Abi is doing a little better - hope she continues to improve. Love your new hairstyle! I can never duplicate what the stylist does either. :)

Brigitte said...

Sally, I love your new hair style.It looks really good, no wonder that you are happy with it. And good to hear that Abi is slowly getting better.
Great stitching is going on here, and lovely finishes, too. You chose a pretty February ornament and I'm curious to see what the March one will be. Violet is so sweet. And your needle book very beautifully finished.

Carol said...

I'm glad you've decided to continue blogging, Sally, even if you don't post often. I don't either, but I love the contact with my blogging friends and I like having a record of my work for me.

I hope Abi continues to get better--perhaps the warmer and sunnier spring and summer days will help. Your stitching is lovely--am amazed at you starting another HAED piece so quickly :)

And what a cute haircut!! I actually love the way my hairdresser cuts my hair, but NOT the way he styles it so as soon as I get home, I wet it and redo it myself :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

Such beautiful stitching Sally, I always enjoy your blog and the variety of projects you have on the go. I'm glad that Abi is doing better, I totally get how frustrating it is to have tests come back negative when you are looking for answers. Great new hairstyle - I noticed the change in the profile pic straight away!

Andrea said...

Beautiful stitching. Lovely WIPs too. Great new hairstyle, it does suit you and glad to hear Abi is doing a little better. I hope this continues.

Angela said...

I almost gave up blogging for Instagram and now I'm glad I didn't as IG is turning out to be just a bunch of spam and I think blogging is more personal too. Lovely stitching :)

Rachel said...

You've made lovely progress on so many projects Sally. Please stick with blogging, even if it just the occasional post. :)

Unknown said...

Sally, I love reading your blog! I was born and raised in England and it takes me back there to read how you phrase some things and some of the words you use. Thanks for giving me a part of my childhood back now and then! Your stitching is beautiful, keep up the good work!!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Wow, you have been busy stitching even if you haven't been blogging so much.

The SB pieces are particularly lovely.

Maggee said...

Hi Sally! Glad to see a post from you again! Don't feel bad if you don't post every week or whatever... just when you can or find time... we look forward to hearing from you AND seeing your pictures! I can't believe you are starting to stitch two HAEDs--my you are brave! After finishing the Robin, I would have had to take a break! But--I am about to start a pretty big one, so who am I to talk? You always make progress on your projects, so nothing to worry about... Like the tortoise, slow and steady wins the race! Glad your daughter is perking up some... Hugs!

Michelle said...

A lovely post Sally its hard to keep up with blogging isn't it - I decided to do an update once a month which seems to be working well for me. I love your projects xx