Thursday 11 August 2016

Lots to Show.

Hello everyone out there in blog land! It has been 6 weeks since I last blogged and I will admit that I really don't know where to start! I have so much to show you so be prepared for a picture heavy post although I may end up forgetting some bits! I really need to blog more regularly. 

First of all you may remember me stitching Garden Bliss by Silver Creek Samplers almost 2 years ago. It has been languishing in my finishing pile waiting for me to to get my head around personalising it for my late Dad. Well I finally did it and had it framed. It's been hanging on my living room wall for a few weeks now.

Barb, Chris and I have been getting on with our ornament SAL. I managed to get another one made up, finished stitching June's and July's and started one for August.




I needed to order the eyes for my August one and the only place I could find them online in the UK was Sew and So. I couldn't just order those so I also ordered a DMC I had run out of, CCN's Merry Christmas My Deer, which is the one Chris and I will be stitching for our December SAL, and one of the CCN Gingerbread Village charts as Chris and I are planning to do a SAL of it next year and sharing the cost of the charts. I have been very good this year when it comes to stash buying and I have to say I am very proud of myself. Compared to other years I've bought very little and long may it continue!

I finished off With Thy Needle and Thread Sweet Violet as a simple pillow. I do love how it turned out even though it is a simple finish. 

I passed the chart onto Lainey and look what she sent me as a thank you.

Isn't it just so cute! Thank you so much Lainey.

Of course Sweet Violet was stitched with Barb for our sheep SAL and since then I've stitched 2 other sheepy designs and started a 3rd.



Barb suggested that we stitch on one thing for a week each month and I thought it was a brilliant idea. This week is the week and I decided to stitch on my HAED Mini Jolly Old Fellow. I feel very slow on my HAEDs compared to some of the people who stitch them but I do stitch on other things as well. 

I've made some good progress on my SK Dragons History too. I haven't stitched on it for a couple of weeks but I will get back to it! Those eyes are so cute!

OK what else have I been stitching? Hmmmmm. Oh yes! LHN Soft and Sweet! I finished that one then made a measly start on Season's Greetings. I guess it's a start though! I've had this in my stash for nearly 2 years so it was time I started it.


Another finish was the bonus sampler from the Lizzie Kate The Little Mystery. I wasn't keen on the colours as I was stitching it but now it's finished all the colours have come together nicely. I have the 3 charts and embellishment pack for sale if anyone is interested :)

I think I had finished the stitching on LHN Hands to Work last time I blogged and now I have it made up!

I think I just have 2 things left to show you. ( breath a sigh of relief! I'm so sorry but it has been 6 weeks!). I've been picking up Tilton Crafts Always ( Alan Rickman tribute ) a little bit and am still stitching black. Lol! Typing of Tilton Crafts if you've never seen Shelley's lovely charting and love stitching BAPs then please head on over to Tilton Crafts and have a look. If you're on Facebook search for her page as there is a coupon code to use for 25% off charts and there's only a few days left :)

Final stitching to show is the bonus block on my Anniversaries of the Heart piece. I haven't done as much as I would have liked but again this one hasn't been stitched on much these last few weeks.

We had been talking about having our bathroom done last year but just never got around to it. We'd asked one firm to give us a price a few weeks ago but they never got back to us ( one of my pet hates!) so we asked my DH's cousin ( we'd have asked him in the first place but we didn't know he did them ). He said he could do it before he went on holiday otherwise it would be 3 months after that meaning it would be nearly Christmas. Getting it done before he went on holiday meant a mad rush to try and get a bathroom suite and all the bits needed for the job and lots of stressful moments! Getting it done wasn't straightforward as he found problems that had be fixed but, having said that, it was a good job really otherwise it would have led to more problems and more than likely lots of damage! It's not quite finished yet but it is so good to have a new bathroom. We bought this house in 1988 and the suite was in when we bought it. Next job will be the dining room! 

Last week my DH and Abi were on holiday from work but we didn't do much. We had a couple of trips out so the girls could do a bit of shopping and I ended up adding 5 books to my collection! Oh dear I really must stop it for the rest of the year but Abi and I are still waiting for CL Coffey to do a signing in Hull for her new book and we keep hoping it'll be soon! I have also been looking for a Snape Pop Vinyl figure and have looked in every shop that sells them whenever we have been out. We walked into Waterstones in York and there he was! So I had to buy him! 

I think I now need to go hide away from books and get on with reading some of the ones I already have! I'm currently reading Sourcery by Terry Pratchett but have found it hard to get into. I am finally enjoying it, put my stitching away last night and had just starting reading the next paragraph when the power went off!

Well I had better stop waffling, get all these photos uploaded and publish this. I do hope you won't all have left me and will still visit.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

18 comments:

WendyCarole said...

Always nice to see your stitching. It all looks lovely. Glad to hear your bathroom is almost done. It makes such a difference doesn’t it?

Vickie said...

Oh Sally you have so much to be proud of here. I have to say Garden Bliss is my favorite. Just wonderful.

Von said...

Glad to see your post today after your break. I inadvertently take breaks now and then too. :)

At least while you were out, you got so much stitching done! Everything looks great! And I'm jealous of your bathroom remodel. I need to get busy and get the bathrooms in my house redone. The house was built in 1964 and desperately needs an update!

Sue said...

Such a lot done Sally and all beautiful. Especially love the tribute to your Dad x

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

A lovely selection of stitching and your finishes are so neat. I'm envious - wish mine were as good.

Tina said...

Lovely blog post Sally,fabulous stitching and finishing.glad the bathroom has been done,looks lovely x

Barb said...

So! pleased to see your post, oh my goodness I am having a panic attack as you speak you have accomplished soooo much. I love the tribute to your dad and Hands to work , will have to order that one I think at some point. I have not got any willpower, none, zilch so I will just not think about all I have , decision made.
Where is pic of new bathroom I cannot see it.
Will be in touch very soon, the sheep are still no where to be seen but maybe by the end of the week.
HUGS

Heather said...

Sally,
Lots of lovely projects and finishes!

Carol said...

Such pretty stitching, Sally--I'm always glad when you pop in with a post. Barb's idea to work on one thing for a week each month is wonderful--you'll make lots of progress...

So glad your bathroom reno went well. We should be doing that here as well as ours are all 20 years old and are looking a bit dated. Enjoy!

Mii Stitch said...

What a lovely blog post with plenty of beautiful finishes and progress :)

Maggee said...

Six weeks worth of stitching AND inspiration! Love all your projects! The finishing is wonderful, the new starts will be great, and you make good progress on your WIPS every time. That memorial piece by Silver Creek Samplers is so wonderful! The sentiment is perfect, the fabby is so cool, and the framing just makes it pop! Nicely done, all around, Sally!

Christine said...

So much gorgeous stitching Sally!
I love the Silver Creek piece you did in memory of your Dad

Le trame della Galaverna said...

Wow all is so beautiful

Brigitte said...

Oh my, Sally, what a fun filled post this is. So many finishes that you had since you posted the last time! And so much stitching going on. You used your blogging pause in great way :)))
Lucky you that your cousin could do your bathroom before his holidays.

gominam said...

You're right, it is picture heavy, but I love it! Everything you've stitched up are gorgeous, same goes for the present. Love the framed piece and the pillow one. Happy Stitching:)

Julie said...

Such a lot of stitching accomplished even with the upheaval of a new room being remodelled, all very nice and colourful. xx

Justine said...

What a lot of gorgeous things you have stitched! I love the Silver Creek tribute you stitched for your Dad. Everything about it, the colours, fabric, personalisation and framing are just perfect. A great job.
Love all your smalls too and Hands to Work is beautifully finished. You have a whole flock of sheep there!
I have been tempted by the Alan Rickman tribute chart too but must stay strong.
I love your and Barb's idea to stitch on one thing for a week each month. I'm sure you'll see lots of progress.
I think you do really well with your HAEDs. At least you do finish them!

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

Lots of lovely stitching to admire this post! I think my favourite is the cute little dragon.
I agree with you about Sourcery, it's not one of my favourites. I'm reading the entire series out loud to my son. We started with The Colour of Magic in April 2014 and have reached The Wintersmith! Not far to go now.