Just a Little Stitching

I only have a little bit of stitching to show this week as we've been so busy Christmas shopping plus last night was the GCSE Celebration Evening at Jessica's school and all I wanted to do when we got home was sit, relax and watch Heroes:) The celebration evening was really nice and all the students who had said they would be there were presented with their GCSE certificates:) Of course Jess had to wait until the last batch of names were called out so she was yawning and getting rather bored:)

Anyway Monday night was SAL night with Helen so out came Just Nan Queen of the Needle. I didn't get a great deal done but was fairly happy with it anyway. I love the colours so far as they are so pretty. I'll eventually get around to seeing how Helen did this week when I catch up on blogs!

Tuesday evening is UFO night on Stitch and Stash so out came HAED Winter. Again I didn't get as much done as I would have liked as we'd been to Meadowhall in Sheffield and I was tired! Anyway I did manage to finish the 10 rows I'd been working on last week and make a start on the next 10 so progress was made; albeit a little:) I should be stitching on this all week this week but I think I'll carry on with the second bourse tonight so that I can get it finished, made up and wrapped.

I did manage to make up the ornament I have stitched for some family friends and I even managed the beaded finish but not without a fair bit of cursing and crossed eyes! Lol! I have no picture to share as yet as it's been way too dull when we've got back home from shopping to take a decent picture so that'll be something to show another day.

I keep forgetting to show you part 11 of Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV! I have photos on the camera but forgot all about them. Somebody please remind me for the next time I blog! Part 12 came out this week but I don't know when I'll get around to stitching it!

Tuesday I received my birthday discount letter from Needlecraft Corner but I didn't think I was going to take advantage of it this year as I have had a few new charts since coming off the chart wagon but I have changed my mind! I shall be placing an order in December but I'm not saying what although I will say it is not on my wish list!

Jess' biology group have gone to Salford University today. She left the house at 7am and won't be back at school until 7.30pm so I think she might just be tired when she gets in! She texted me a while ago to say she'd had a good day.

Christmas shopping has gone quite well and we have done what we are doing in brick and mortar shops; the rest is getting done online. It has been a bit of a nightmare as my Dad and DH's Dad give us money to get the girls what they would like and for us to get what we would like. Well this year it has been easy for DH to spend the money my Dad gave for me and we have pooled the money his Dad gave us to get something. I have struggled a bit to get DH something from my Dad but I think by the time I'm done it should be OK! Of course as the girls get older they don't know what they want so it's more difficult and they would rather have presents than money so we have struggled a little but think we have got there! Then there's getting presents for DH's brother and his family, my sister and partner plus both our Dad's. This year we asked his brother and family as they just buy their kids what they want when they want it so chances are they will already have what you've bought them. Anyway I am now less bah humbug than I was at last Saturday and actually starting to look forward to Christmas!

Well I am going to catch up on a few blogs for a bit. I hope everyone is having a good week. Tomorrow evening we're going to our town's Christmas lights switch on:)

A Couple of Better Pictures

Just thought I'd post a couple of better pictures of my bourse as the one with the digital camera wasn't very good. Here's the inside.

And here's the outside:)

I finished up part 11 of Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV yesterday but haven't taken a picture of it yet so that'll be a blog entry for next week when I have time. DH and I are Christmas shopping next week and I think I'm turning into Scrooge as I'm really not looking forward to it. If it was a just case of going and doing our own I think I'd be fine but I'm getting towards the end of my tether with it all and we haven't even started yet!

I received my fabric from Drema at Needlecraft Corner today for the Quaker RR I'm taking part in starting January. I decided upon the fabric used in the model and it's gorgeous! I've never seen a piece of Lakeside Linens before and I love it! It's 36 count Maple Sugar.

I've finished the ornament I was stitching for some family friends for Christmas so will get that made up when I'm done on here. I'm going to try a beaded finish so wish me luck! I've never done it before so you could hear me shouting and screaming all over the world!

Right that's it for today. Just a short post I'm afraid. My blog has been very quiet since my last post. Are you all busy stitching and celebrating Thanksgiving? I hope all of you who celebrate had a wonderful time:) Just a normal day for us here I'm afraid:( {{{{hugs}}}}

JN SAL and UFO Night

Monday was the start of the Just Nan Queen of the Needle SAL with Helen. I've been looking forward to this SAL ever since we decided to do it so I was eager to make a start:) I'm stitching it on Polstitches Dusky Rose and so far it looks lovely! Not got a lot done but for one evening I'm really pleased. I can hardly wait until next Monday to get more stitched! Helen how did you do?

Last night Mr Stick threatened as always on a Tuesday ( UFO night!) so out came HAED Winter. I was determined to make good progress last night so managed to get sat down quite early after tea and stitched for about 3 1/2 hours on it. I think Mr Stick will be happy so there'll be no bashing for me this week! It's been good these past three weeks getting a bit stitched on this. Next week there might be a bit more progress as I should stitch it on it all week, barring Monday as that's SAL night, so we'll see how I do! No stitching Wednesday evening next week as it's GCSE celebration evening at Jess' school and there's no way we're missing that:)

I received my SANQ magazines yesterday from SB&B. They are lovely mags and have some gorgeous things in them. The keepsake book is beautiful so I will definitely be stitching that sometime in the New Year just not sure when! I really need to slow down and think about what I'm doing for a while instead of going feet first and saying yes I'll stitch this such and such a time! My DH says I take too much on and at the moment I have to agree with him as there's so much I want to get done before Christmas. The main things are getting the ornament for our family friends finished and made up and the other bourse stitched and made up. After that I can do what I want as regards Christmas stitching. If it doesn't get done for this Christmas it'll get done for next! Lol! Anyway back to SANQ. The final part of the keepsake book is in the latest issue then it looks as though that's it but I think I'll check with the publishers by email.

I'm trying to get caught up on Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV before the final part comes out on Sunday. I have to admit that I have not looked forward to any of the parts since about part 4 and if I have to stitch one more star on the final part I will scream! Anyway after I'd been to the surgery to see the nurse yesterday afternoon ( once every three year thing; not pleasant) I set about stitching and got one lot of longstitch stars done and hope to get the others done and dusted this afternoon if I can.

I couldn't believe it on Monday when I was blogwalking and discovered I'd won Michele's blogoversary drawing! I am so excited as I never win anything so thank you Michele:)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my dear American readers. I hope you all have a peaceful, safe, wonderful time:) Hope everyone in the UK is staying dry. It's been an awful few days for rain; please come back frost! Have a great Wednesday everyone! {{{{HUgs}}}}

Lots to Show!

First of all I'd just like to pass on hugs and thanks from Abi for all the good wishes you left her for her birthday. For all she was at school she had a good day ( especially because she didn't have to go in uniform as they were having a non-uniform day for Children in Need!) and her close friends really spoilt her:) Here is a piccie of the birthday girl and a piccie of her cake:) She had a friend to sleepover on Saturday night which she enjoyed.

I've been doing a little bit of finishing these past few days but I can only show you two bits as one as them is Karen's PIF gift so I will post that when it reaches her but that won't be just yet! So, without further ado, here's my very first bourse! As you already know I stitched The Cat's Whiskers Heartstrings and was going to wait until I'd stitched it again before I tried my hand at a bourse. I decided at the weekend to have a go at the first one as I need it to be ready wrapped to go to DH's auntie early December. It's not a very clear picture but it gives you an idea of how the finished article looks. I'm really pleased with it for my first attempt and it was much easier to make up than I expected.

I also finished up the blogoversary giveaway prizes. I just hope the winner likes them:) As Winter is fast approaching I decided upon Trail Creek Farm's Winter freebie, stitched it twice and made a pinkeep and a fob. I added a little snowman to to the bottom of the fob. Unforunately it wasn't until I had the pinkeep all made up that I realised I'd missed some stitches so I must apologise to the winner about that. I guess it makes it unique! Anyway I guess I'd better tell you who the winner is! Thank you to those of who entered! The winner is( drumroll please!)................... Gill! Gill please email me your address and I'll get these in the post to you sometime this week:) ( My email is in my profile). Also in the piccie you can see my Gingher Sophia scissors. Chiloe asked to see my scissors so there they are. I love them!

My last picture for today is my progress on Heaven and Earth Designs quick stitch Girly Gothic which was in my rotation for the last week although I will admit to not stitching on her every evening! Even though I didn't I still feel as though I made really good progress almost completing 20 rows. There was quite a lot of confetti stitches in her hair so that held me up quite a lot but I am still pleased. I think I should get a good go on her next time as it's coming up to an area with quite a few big blocks of colour:)

I received my With My Needle Ackworth Friendship Book chart from Thread Bear on Friday ( I think!) and must say that I am very impressed with it. I don't think I've ever seen a chart so nicely put together and I just hope that when I make the book up I can do it the justice it deserves. I was going to use 32 count fabric but I really like the way the model looks in the photograph so have decided on 36 count Lakeside Linens in Sugar Maple. I finally found that Needlecraft Corner stocked it and actually had it in stock, plus there was 20% off it, so I ordered it from there. I have ordered from Drema many times before and she is always so helpful.

I had a bit of stash through the post today as well as Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End on DVD! I pre-ordered it ages ago from Play and got it at a very good price for a 2 DVD one. Anyway the stash was a Cat's Whiskers/ Dinky Dyes collaboration called Happy Holidays which can be seen here but you have to scroll down almost to the bottom. I am hoping that I can have at least one of these stitched to hang on our tree this year:)

I am getting a little worried about my Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly magazines as it's two weeks since they posted to me by global priority ( or whatever it's called now) and I'm still waiting. Oh well guess they will turn up sooner or later! Also just noticed that the latest issue has part 3 of the keepsake album in, which is what I wanted the other two for, so can anyone who gets this magazine tell me if there are anymore parts to it please? I don't want to order this issue then find that there are more parts to come. I'd rather wait until they're all done and buy them then.

Tonight, as far as I know, Helen and I are starting Just Nan Queen of the Needle. I'm really looking forward to starting this as it's a beautiful sampler.

Well I guess I'd better end here and go catch up on your blogs:) It's lovely to come and see what you are all up to. I've had so much inspiration from you all:) Have a wonderful week everyone!

Who's a Teenager?

Happy 13th Birthday Abigail!!!!!

Yes my baby is 13 today! I was going to take a photo of her this morning before she went to school but it was all a bit of a rush this morning so didn't get one taken. So this one is from the summer holidays of Abi, Jess and me. Abi is in the middle:) We are so proud of her and think she is growing up into a fine girl:) Yes she has her moments like any other child but she is so loving. I hope you have a wonderful day sweetheart, even if you are at school, and that all your hopes and dreams come true {{{{hugs}}}} and kisses.

UFO Tuesday

Last night was UFO night and Julie had Mr Stick out ready to bop anybody who didn't do their stuff so I though I'd better get my finger out and do a bit on HAED Winter! I didn't get that much done but did complete the 10 rows I maade a start on last week and did a bit on the next 10. So here it is! I hope Mr Stick is pleased!

I don't have any other stitching to show I'm afraid! I was so excited that I'd got my refund yesterday that I didn't get back to finishing up the giveaway for my blogoversary and I've been catching up on blogs this afternoon so I'm hoping to get that done Friday afternoon unless something else crops up!

On the ONS Yahoo group front it seems the owner had changed the settings until things calmed down but did not know why some people could post and others couldn't. Last night after I'd done my blog post I found that I could post again but others still couldn't!

I'm hoping my Ackworth Friendship Book chart arrives soon and my mags from SB&B. Tracy got her friendship book chart today so keeping my finger's crossed mine will be here tomorrow:)

Better go now as I've been on this PC all afternoon! Hope everyone is having a good week:)

Happy Blogoversary!

To my blog! LOL! Sorry I haven't been here to celebrate today but I've been a little busy trying to finish up something to give away to celebrate! So if you'd like to receive something from me in commemoration of this wonderful event please leave a comment saying so. All readers welcome:)

Good news on the ONS refund front. This morning I decided enough was enough. I started my dispute with her a week ago through Pay Pal and hadn't heard a thing. Things were getting heated on the Yahoo group, I was finally able to post and added my two pence worth and nobody was getting anywhere so I decided to escalate my dispute to a claim. This afternoon I had my refund plus she has finally updated her website to stop taking orders. Downside is I appear to have been stopped from posting on the Yahoo group along with a few others.

More good news. Kate from Thread Bear rang this afternoon to say she'd got mine and Tracy's With My Needle Ackworth Friendship Book charts so mine is now on it's way to me. I can highly recommend Thread Bear as if they don't have it in stock they will try and get it for you.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with some stitchy updates! Have a great week and don't forget to join in my contest if you'd like to:)

ETA I just gave Dawn a good giggle as the title of my post was Happy BOGoversary! Just gave the girls and a good giggle too when I realised!

Christmas is Coming!

Bah humbug!! Lol! I don't mean that really! Although I might do by the time we've done three lots of present shopping at the end of the month! Thought I'd post the ornament I stitched for the exchange. We don't know who we are receiving from so even if the person I'm sending to reads my blog ( which I don't think she does) she won't know it's for her! Lol! This is Patricia Ann Designs Christmas Poinsetta from last year's JCS ornament magazine. Instead of backing it with Christmas fabric I used the same fabric I had for the front and stitched our names and year over one on it. Hopefully this will be on it's way to it's new home next week:)

Last night I put the final stitches into my first Cat's Whiskers Heartstrings. One down, one to go! I did cheat a little ( well a lot really) and left off the backstitched vines. I just couldn't face doing them for some reason so decided not to attempt them at all. So once I get the second one stitched I'll make them both up into bourses for DH's aunties. I have found the perfect silk dupion for them on Ebay so think I will buy that to save looking for some in the shops.

I made a start on one of my PIFs last night! Yes I know I have 365 days but I'm quite eager to get started on them so number one is started and I have ideas for the other two too!

Last photo today is of my framed Papillon Creations Seredipity. It's not a good photo though as it really does not show the colours very well. Abi has claimed this piece and it's now hung in her bedroom! I don't mind, though, as it is perfect for her room:)

Well I shall go and catch up on your blogs now. Thank you for reading mine and welcome to new readers and commentors. You are all very welcome to drop by:) {{{{hugs}}}}

Mr Stitck Threatens!

Last night was UFO night on Stitch and Stash and Ann T suggested I join in so that I can carry on a bit each week with HAED Winter. It's not officially a UFO but I thought it was an excellent idea as I'd get a bit done each week in between stitching on her for a full week and I'd see a bit of progress and perhaps not get so disheartened. Also with Julie and Mr Stick behind me I daren't not stitch on it! Lol! So I did make quite a bit of progress almost getting the first 10 rows of page 4 done. Best laugh is this could have almost been a disaster! On Monday evening I decided to grid the page ready for Tuesday evening so I didn't waste any valuable stitching time. Once I'd done I thought I'd just check out what the page was like; whether there were big blocks of colour or lots of confetti. I'm looking and I thought why is there a snowflake on this page. Yep I'd only gridded page 5! So out it all came and off to bed I went and I gridded the correct page yesterday! I've now had to resort to using the digital camera to show my progress as this piece will no longer fit in the scanner!

Update on trying to get a refund from that ONS. I've now set up a dispute with Pay Pal so she now as 20 days to resolve it. Keep your finger's crossed:) I'm sure there are plenty trying to get refunds.

Still not feeling 100% with my head but I think it's getting there. I'm feeling the best I have in a quite a few days today so I'm hoping it's on it's way and it's not going to come back for a very long time. I think I have had more days with a sore head than without in the last couple of months. I think a return to the doctors will be in order soon:(

My magazine order is on it's way from Stitching Bits and Bobs! I truly did not expect them being shipped so quickly as Bobbie is having a sale and I know she gets very busy then.

Well time to go and get some lunch:) I think my sewing machine will be coming out later so I can get the Christmas ornament for Simone's exchange finished off. I might post it out next week then it's done!

Winter Page 3!

Wahoo!! I actually managed to finish page 3 of Heaven and Earth Designs Winter ( artwork by Sara Butcher). I didn't think I was going to get it done but I had a really good night's stitching on Saturday which left me with very little to do last night, although I had lots of colour changes so it did take me all night to do what was left! I must say I was feeling a little despondant when I first picked this up again but getting the page done has helped a lot with that and I'm looking forward to picking her up again in a few weeks time:) Another two full pages and a tiny bit of one and I'll be across the top of the design. I really need to get more than three pages in a year done if she's going to finished by the time I'm 50!

Please, please sign up for my PIF ( see previous post). I only have one taker so far ( waving at ya Karen!) and would love to have the other two places filled.

Edited to add: My PIF is now full. Thank you Karen, Kyrie and Michele for signing up. Please send me your snail mail addresses ( except Karen as I have it already!).

This week is another smalls week in my rotation so I'm going to start the week by carrying on with Cat's Whiskers Heart Strings. Love this design:) Once I've got it stitched I'll move onto something else before I stitch another. My ornament for Simone's exchange is all done barring the making up so I'll do that once I've finished off stitching a couple of things I have on the go and do them all at the same time.

I ended up ordering Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarlerly issues yesterday! I ordered them from Stitching and Bobs as, even with shipping, it worked out cheaper than ordering here in the UK. I'm not bothered that it may take a while for me to get them as I won't be starting the book for a while with everything else I have going on!

Oh and I'm still waiting for a refund from the ONS I was talking about in a previous post. I don't want to name names on here incase I get into trouble but she hasn't updated her website as yet which means those who aren't on her Yahoo group won't know what's going on and could still be placing orders. There are people waiting for stuff from as far back as August. Anyway I have now ordered from elsewhere in the hope that I get my refund soon.

Thank you for the good wishes you left for me. My sore head is still not fully gone. Yesterday I felt so much better for all it was still there a little but today I have got up with it again so I'm not very happy. I think I'll go out for a walk along seafront this afternoon and blow some cobwebs away; see if that helps!

Better get off here and get some washing hung out, although it's looking increasingly like rain. Have a great week everyone:)

Autumn Pin Keep Revisited and a PIF!

I have finally finished up my Autumn pinkeep from The Gift of Stitching:) I sat yesterday afternoon whilst waiting for Jess to get in and stitched it up and added the ribbon and pins. I am delighted with this little piece as it's so small and cute:)

I have just signed up for a Pay It Forward ( PIF) on Nic's blog. So in return the first three people to comment and say they'd like to take part will receive a stitched gift from me in the next year:) In return all you have to do is post on your blog that you will make gifts for three other people:)

I am hoping to finish stitching up the Christmas ornament for Simone's exchange this afternoon. DH is at work so thought I'd have a quiet afternoon stitching until he gets in, although my head is sore again so I am feeling pretty fed-up with myself and have all sorts going through my head. I don't know if these sore heads are hormonal related but I have about had enough. Oh well there are people worse off than me so I guess I should just pick myself up and get on with it:)

I still haven't made up my mind whether to get those two issues of Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly. I don't want to get it then realise I won't stitch the keepsake book because I'm too scared to give the finishing up a go. So I'll mull it over for a few days then decide, although it would be nice to have a go at something that's different to your normal framed pieces etc. It's not as though I have nothing to stitch and I sometimes look at what I have and think there's not a lot of point in buying anymore. Still that's the fun of being a stitcher isn't it- adding more stash to your already overflowing pile? Lol!

Small change to my rotation! I have decided for now to have two smalls weeks so that I can get on with Christmas presents, ornaments etc. There's not a lot of point in starting the Winter Sampler when I haven't even got gifts sorted!

I've made my Christmas Cake this morning and it's now cooking slowly in the oven. Can't smell it yet but I know my kitchen will soon be filled with the most gorgeous aroma:) All I can smell at the moment is lemon as Abi is making the lemon cheesecake she should have made at school the other day! I can't wait untl teatime:)

It's my first blogoversary in 10 days so I'm hoping to stitch something to give away to celebrate. I can't believe I've kept this blog going for this long and have made so many wonderful new friends over that time:)

Right time to go and do the girls and I some lunch! Have a wonderful weekend everyone:) and thanks for visiting.

Look-eee What I Got!

Yes my JCS ornament magazine arrived yesterday from Jayne's Attic along with Ink Circles Sea Stars! I had a quick look at the mag when I'd done a little stitching last night then this morning I had a better look and picked out 21 I wanted to stitch. For this Christmas??? Ain't gonna happen! I'll be lucky if I get one stitched! Lol!

I think I had better make that all my new stash for now although I do have With My Needle Ackworth Friendship Book on order and am still waiting for it. I have requested a refund as the ONS I ordered it from is struggling right now and, apparently, has outstanding orders from August so there's no way I'm going to get the chart before January when others have been waiting that long. I have been polite and emailed for a refund but if I don't get one in the next few days I will have to go through Pay Pal for it.

Actually I am thinking of getting a couple of issues of Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly. {hangs head in shame!} I saw the latest issue on Deb's blog and fell in love with the keepsake book so want the Summer and Fall issues as it is in both of those:) I have found somewhere in the UK that stocks it and am just waiting to hear when they will be getting the Fall issue in stock:)

And speaking of Deb I would just like to thank you to her for awarding me with the You Make Me Smile Award:) I was very humbled and surprised to have received it once, let alone a second time, and I actually left a comment on Deb's blog as I wasn't sure it was me! So thank you Deb, you have made my day {{{{hugs}}}} I am not going to pass on this award to just 10 people this time as I felt awful last time that I had to miss so many of you ( I never thought of passing on it!) so this time it goes out to all of you as you all make me smile. Starting my blog almost a year ago was the best thing and I have "met" so many wonderful people in that time and you are all precious to me:)

Yesterday, as we all know, was Halloween when witches and warlocks and all things scary appear and, wait, WHAT is this? Oh yes it's Jessica dressed up for her fancy dress day in 6th form! Now I know she may not look THAT scary from the photo but, believe me, she scared the hell out of me! Lol! I gelled her hair to make it look very untidy and Abi did her eyes and around them black ( Jess does not "do" make up!) and she had black skinnies, black waistcoast, white blouse and borrowed her Dad's burgandy cravat and my black jacket and went as Sweeny Todd the demon barber of Fleet Street! She said she got lots of funny looks walking down the street with her friend who went as a witch I believe! She stayed like this to greet trick or treaters at our door last night!

I will be finishing up my PS Autumn Pinkeep from The Gift of Stitching soon. Karen very kindly sent me some black pins and they arrived today. Thanks Karen {{{{hugs}}}}

Well that's it from me today. No stitching to show as I haven't finished my week on Winter yet. I've managed 10 rows on page 3 over three nights so I doubt page 3 will get finished this week:( Please head over to Lynn's blog if you have time to wish her good luck for her op. She's going into hospital this weekend. Will be thinking of you Lynn {{{{hugs}}}} Oh and the change to my blog template was not intentional! LOL! I clicked the wrong button!