Last Post of 2007!

With last Monday being Christmas Eve and today being New Year's Eve I didn't stitch and won't be stitching on Just Nan Queen of the Needle so last night I decided to do a bit on it. I am pleased with how it's looking and I love the effect of the roses. They didn't take me too long to do and I managed to finish that band and make a start on the next so here is my progress:) Do you think my piccies are better? LOL! That's because I borrowed Abi's digital camera that her Grandad M bought her for Christmas! I even managed to take a decent close-up of one of the roses:)

I won't be stitching tonight as the four of us have decided to play on Mario Party for a while then watch Take That bringing the New Year in:)

Tomorrow Karen and I are starting our SAL on Ink Circles Sea Stars:) I'm really looking forward to this as I've never stitched an Ink Circles before so it'll be very new to me. Can't wait to see what Karen does with hers as we're both using different threads:)

While I had Abi's camera out today I took pictures of my new stash.

This is from Lisa:)

The cute little box and one of the threads is from Julie and the other thread is from Jayne ( there was a Cadbury's Magical Elf but I have eaten it!) :)

This is from Karen:)

And finally from DH:)

I have to say that I was overwhelmed that my stitchy friends had sent me presents as I truly did not expect anything so I feel bad that their pressies were either chocolate or candles as I did not have chance to buy anything stitchy for them.

So it's the last day of 2007 and 2008 will soon be upon us. I want to thank each and everyone of you for being with me through the last year and hope you will continue to visit me as I will all of you. You are all my inspiration and I feel blessed to have joined this wonderful community of bloggers. Thank you for the encouragement you give and for all your kind words. Have a wonderful New Year and I will see you in 2008:) {{{{hugs}}}}

Introducing........

Sloane the Snowman!! I finished up this little chappie on Christmas Eve but I haven't been on the PC since to show him. This is the design by The Trilogy that I mentioned in a previous post. He was stitched on 32 count linen using GAST. I'm not sure how I'll finish him off yet but I will have a think and decide:) As I said before this chart was an RAK from Missy on the SMO MB so I'd love to pass this on to one of my regular blog commenters so if you would like the chart just leave a comment saying so and I'll pick a winner late next week.

Anyway I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We've had a brilliant time just chatting and playing. We were lucky enough to get a Nintendo Wii for the girls from my Dad ( just in the right place at the right time when Gamestation had stocks) so we've spent quite a lot of time on playing bowling, golf etc.and generally having a laugh. The girls were really pleased with their presents as were DH and I. I received a Nintendo DS Lite ( I think we're keeping Nintendo going this year!) along with the Brain Training game and I won't embarrass myself by telling you all what my brain age is at the moment! I also received clothes, body spray, shower gel, boots, a book, several CDs ( Mika, Nickleback, Westlife and 2 by Take That), a DVD, slippers, and a bag.

I did get some lovely stash. DH bought me AMAP Victoria's Quaker and Blackbird Designs With Needle and Thread book, and I also received some fabby and threads from Karen, Drawn Thread Spot of Winter from Lisa, thread and a lovely little box from Julie and thread from Jayne ( along with a Cadbury Magical Elf!). I haven't done a deal of stitching though over the past few days. Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV came out and I did a little bit of that but I'm not sure I have the enthusiasm to finish it. Last night I prepared my fabby for the RR that Lisa, Chris, Tracy, Jane and I are doing and I might even start that tonight. Will see how I feel as I'm full of cold and not feeling too brilliant. I thought I'd missed out on it as DH has had his about four weeks now.

Time to review my goals for 2007 and see how I've done. I must admit that I'm quite pleased as I've just about completed everything I wanted to stitch barring Winter Sampler from Cross Stitcher ( not started), Indigo Rose Bee Charmer ( not started), Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV ( started but not finished) and Midsummer Nights Designs Sweet World ( not started). So not too bad really! I haven't even looked at my stash to see what I'd like to stitch in 2008 but I may well just leave it open and decide as I go along! Anyway here is my up-to-date WIP piccie of the Christmas Mystery. As I have said before this has put me off ever doing another of the Chatelaine mysteries without seeing a lot of it first! Once bitten, twice shy as they say!

I am now doing the 20 project challenge and am keeping my finger's crossed that I can do well with it. I was going to wait until 1st January but I won't be buying anything else now so I may as well make a start:) I fancy a new start tonight but I think I should just concentrate on what I have on the go for now! I'll have a new start on 1st January as that is when Karen and I start our SAL on Ink Circles Sea Stars which I'm looking forward to. I need to sort my fabby but my threads are wound onto bobbins ready to go!

That's it for me! If I don't get chance to blog before I'd like to wish everyone a Happy, healthy, prosperous, stash- filled 2008:). I promise to catch up on blogs over the next couple of days. Google Reader tells me I have 127 posts to catch up on! LOL!

Happy Christmas!

Wishing all of you and your families a Happy, peaceful Christmas and a Happy, Heathly, stash- filled 2008!

Thank you to everyone who reads and comments on my blog. Without you all there would be no point to this little place on the web. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

My Christmas Biscornu:)

Yesterday I was able to finish off my Just Nan Christmas Biscornu and I am delighted with the finished thing. It is so beautiful and so sparkly although the pictures do not do it justice at all. It's so dull I am struggling to get decent photos. It's too dark without the flash yet the flash bleaches it out. Anyway thanks to photo editing software these are not too bad! I am definitely not going to be putting this one away with the Christmas decorations:)

Now that is finished I have made a small start on The Trilogy Sloane the Snowman. Nothing to show yet but there might be before Christmas! It uses WDW and GAST but I tried to match the colours to GAST as I don't have WDW. I decided ages ago that I couldn't collect both and prefer the GAST!

Postie was good to me today and I finally have my Christmas ornament from Simone's exchange just in time for Christmas! I honestly thought I had been forgotten in this exchange so it's nice to have this at last. This is from Tina B and it is lovely.

Well the shopping is done, the pressies are wrapped and now all that I need to do is make a Yule Log and prepare the food for Christmas Day. I have had a weep this morning for my Mum as I still miss her so much even after 22 years.

Whilst we were grocery shopping this morning ( seems like everybody had the same idea of going early and it was bedlam) DH asked me if a lady stood across the aisle was Alison who was my best friend at secondary school. I said no it isn't but she had her head down a little reading her shopping list. When she looked up I realised it was so went over to her. It took her a while to realise it was me but when she did she flung her arms round me! It was lovely to see her as we've not seem each other properly since my Abi was a baby and now we're hoping to get together in the New Year!

That is all for today. I may not get to blog again until after Christmas so, just incase, Merry Christmas to all my lovely blog readers, and a Happy, healthy, prosperous, stash- filled New Year:) {{{{hugs}}}} to you all.

UFO Night

Tuesday evening was UFO night on Stitch and Stash as usual so out came Heaven and Earth Designs Winter ( artwork by Sara Butcher) and I finished the 10 rows I was working on last Tuesday and started the next 10. I truly cannot believe the progress I have made just on a Tuesday evening for these past few weeks so I may well be carrying on taking part in 2008 BUT I will have to cheat as I have something else on on a Tuesday starting 1st January ( waving at ya Karen!) so it may be UFO Wednesday for me instead! Lol! I decided to take a photo of the whole piece so far this week. Image should be clickable but I know sometimes in Blogger it doesn't work.

I have spent two afternoons secret stitching and it is done! I just need to make it up but, of course, it has to remain a secret for a bit longer yet! Last night I made a start on the snowflake side of the Just Nan Christmas Biscornu and managed to get lots done, so much so that I may get all the stitching finished tonight then I'll add the beads tomorrow in what day light we have here!

I have a real urge to do some snowman stitching! It's all June's fault ( hi June!!!) as she's been doing a lot recently so I've kitted up The Trilogy's Sloane the Snowman to start next. I was RAK'd this chart with the buttons a few years ago by Missy from the SMO board and had not got around to stitching it so decided the time was right. He might get finished for Christmas but he might not but either way I'm going to enjoy stitching him!

I have been doing a wee bit of stashing recently before my self imposed trip on the chart stash wagon. I used my birthday discount to buy two Bent Creek charts, Christmas Eve and Christmas Carols, with the idea of stitching them up for myself and my DH for next Christmas ( they're stockings). I saw them om somebody's blog and loved the idea ( guess which one mine will be!). I also placed a small order with Down Sunshine Lane and bought Homespun Elegance All is Calm along with the latest issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework for the last part of the keepsake book. I did a small order with Thread Bear ( which has just arrived) as I needed some sewing maching oil. I did not realise that I needed to oil my new sewing machine before I used it so am still waiting to try it out! I thought I had seen it on Thread Bear and sure enough it was there so I also ordered Brightneedle Pretty in Pink which I have been wanting a while:) Yes naughty I know but it is Christmas and I need lots to keep me going next year! Oh and I also bought a Prairie Schooler leaflet as I've seen so many lovely PS ornament finishes so I got A Christmas Visit and will stitch these ornaments up over the course of next year ( I hope). Wow now I've written it all down I feel quite ashamed of myself!

Anyway I am seriously thinking of joining Teejay in her 20 project challenge. That should get my stash down quite a bit but not sure how long it'll take me to do. I know it depends on how big each project is but I usually do smaller stuff in between my HAEDs. If I do it I'm not going to list what I'm going stitch as I could change my mind but I will have a 2008 goals list:) Just need the enthusiasm to look and see what I fancy stitching next year.

Jess came home on Wednesday and announced that they were finishing at lunchtime on Friday as opposed to 3.30. Nothing like leaving it until nearly the last minute to decide is there? I thought it must just be 6th Form but then Abi came in and said they were finishing at 1pm! I bet there'll be a few working mums who won't be too pleased about it being so last minute.

Thank you for all your hugs and messages after my last post. I'm feeling a little brighter but that's about it. I am struggling with my back and just know it's going to go before long so I'm trying to be very careful how I move etc and I've even bought some heat pads in anticipation! There are other things getting me down too which I won't mention here. I try so hard to let things go over my head but sometimes it's just not that easy.

Anyway, before I forget I have a couple of Winnie the Pooh charts here that Sew and So included in my last order. They are both exactly the same and look as though they have come off a calender. If you like stitching Pooh and friend It's Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Pigelt with butterflies) just email me ( email is in my profile) and I'll send to the first two people, but it will after Christmas now:)

I am going to leave you with this email I received. I don't think it happens too much here in the UK but one day it will.

MERRY CHRISTMAS....On the way home last night, I was listening to the radio when a newscaster called his little 91 year old granny to talk to her about the 'Holidays'. He mentioned that he had noticed that Christmas has become so 'politicallycorrect' that no mention of Christmas is made by most retailers, we now wish people 'Happy Holidays.'His granny said she missed the Old Fashioned Christmas when everyone wished each other 'Merry Christmas'. I thought about it and agree...so this year I will be making a conscious effort to wish everyone Merry Christmas...my way of saying that I am celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Just a Quick One Today

Just a quick post today as I'm not very happy with myself. If I am honest I haven't been for a few days so it's best I just show what I have to show and go away!

Last week I stitched on HAED quick stitch Girly Gothic after the SAL with Helen and UFO night on S&S. I am very pleased with the progress I made and at last I have an ear and an eye!! It has really given me a boost on this getting to where I have so when she comes out again ( in the New Year!) I shall be raring to go on her:) Stitched on 25 count Stormy Skies using DMC and Madeira Glissen Gloss. Unfortunately the sparklies don't show up too well.

Last night was Just Nan Queen of the Needle SAL night with Helen. It went well for me last night; how about you Helen? That rose was rather fiddly but the effect is just gorgeous!

Tonight is UFO night on S&S so HAED Winter will becoming out then for the rest of the week it'll be Just Nan Christmas Biscornu and some secret stitching:) I like secret stitching! Lol!

I am still waiting for my Christmas ornament to arrive from Simone's exchange. I know there's still a week to go before Christmas but you know when you just get that feeling that you're going to be one of the ones who doesn't receive theirs in time or get one at all! This has been the first exchange I've taken part in for a long time and I am going to be so disappointed if it doesn't work out right. We shall see and I'll keep you posted.

How is everybody's Christmas preparations going? I've got all presents wrapped, non-perishable groceries are bought so all I have to do now is get fresh stuff at the weekend. We have to go through to Beverley on Saturday to pick Abi's new glasses up so we may get the fresh stuff from Morrison's then.

Hope everyone is having a good week. I'm going to be very lazy this afternoon and watch a few episodes of the CSI Miami DVD Jess bought me and stitch! To hell with housework today!

{{{{hugs}}}} to everyone!

Thank You Michele!

Some of you may remember that a few weeks ago I won Michele's blogoversary contest. Well yesterday I had a package to pick up from the PO and look what was inside:) The gorgeous Shepherd's Bush Believe ornament/ wall hanging, some lovely NN thread, some cording, some chocolate and it was all packed in the snowman tin:) Wow, Michele certainly spoiled with this prize. I am not going to want to put Believe away when the Christmas decorations get put away so this may well stay out all year:) Thank you so much Michele, I love it all! Here is a better picture of Believe.

Thank you all for your birthday wishes and thank you to those of you who sent cards too:) I had a lovely day, although I did feel a bit down towards the middle of the day but I was soon lifted up again by my lovely DH and my two lovely DDs. I had gone and bought myself a cake as I didn't think anyone would bother to get me one then Jess came in from school and had bought me one! The funniest thing was she had bought the same one as I had!! So I now have two cakes:) My DH came in with these gorgeous flowers for me

Abi made chicken curry with rice for tea ( which was delicious) then she disppeared back into the kitchen with instructions for me to stay put in the dining room. A while after she shouted to Jess to turn the light off and in she walked with my cake with 10 lit candles on it. They then sang Happy Birthday to me by which time I was in tears:) They really spoilt me and I am just so proud to have two wonderful daughters who make me feel so special and so loved:)

I have been busy stitching on HAED QS Girly Gothic since Wednesday evening. I want to get lots done but it's not really happening! I want to start QS Holly Fairy which I was gifted with for my birthday but I really can't until I finish GG and I haven't even finished the first page of 4 yet! Lol! It'll happen one day I hope; God willing:)

Thank you all for reading my blog and for all your lovely comments. I have been so blessed at "meeting" you all in blogland and I love you visiting and love visit your blogs too {{{{hugs}}}}

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yes it's time of year again:) Today I am 44. I don't want to be 44! I don't feel as though I should be 44! LOL! BUT I am and I am having a lovely day although I am a little lonely sat here on my own with my little budgie Billy for company!!! Anyway just for the awww factor or to give you a giggle here I am with my Mum when I was christened all those years ago. I miss her. Aren't I a cutie?!!!

I have been totally spoilt today and received many lovely cards and some gorgeous presents:)From my DH I got the latest Westlife CD and some body spray, from Jess a CSI Miami DVD, from Abi a gorgeous pink necklace, from my cousin and her husband a stationary set and cute little teddy, from family friends some Avon body lotion, body scrub, bag, and manicure set, from my Dad a Brother sewing machine and from DH's auntie some socks and money. I also had money from my FIL and from my BIL and his wife. Abi bought me a helium balloon that says on it So Many Candles, So Little Cake!

Yesterday I had an early birthday present from Jeannie- Maree ( Fudgey) from the Heaven and Earth Designs Yuku forum of this gorgeous chart. Isn't she sweet? This was released not long ago and went straight onto my wish list on HAED and now I have her I am delighted. She is going to be my next new HAED start when ( yes I did say when) I finish QS Girly Gothic! Thank you so much Jeannie- Maree {{{{hugs}}}}

Now I have a couple of piccies to share and I think some people have been in cahoots here! LOL! The needlebook is from Karen, the fob is from Lisa and the tin is from Julie See what I mean about being in cahoots?! Girls I love it all and I am so blessed to have friends like you who have taken the time to make these beautiful gifts:) Big hugs to all of you and I wish you were here to share some cake with me. Here is another photo to show the inside of the tin as there is a teeny needleminder, a Dragon Floss thread and a pin.They are all going to be put to good use:) I took the needlecase and tin to show my Dad this morning and will take the fob to show him tomorrow as that hadn't arrived when I went out. He loves seeing stitched stuff.

Onto my bits of stitching now:) First up is Just Nan Queen of the Needle, the SAL I'm doing with Helen on a Monday evening. Helen is a bit ahead of me now as I'm onto the white perle bit and it's a bit hard going. Still loving stitching it though and can't wait to get onto the next band. I just love everything about this piece and those who know me quite well will know how much I love Just Nan designs:)

Last night was UFO night on Stitch and Stash and the fear of Julie and Mr Stick gets everybody motivated to stitch and I made a bit of progress on HAED Winter. I am actually really enjoying this piece a lot now I'm getting a bit done very week and it's keeping me well motivated so thanks Mr Stick ( and Julie!).

While I remember Chris and I are going back on the chart wagon starting January 2008 and Paula is joining us. We are going to keep each other motivated to carry on for as long as we can so would anybody like to join us? It would be brilliant if there were a few of us to help each other out. I think Karen and Julie are also going on the wagon! Of course we will have exceptions such as fabric and threads if we need them and I am seriously thinking about getting the new Lizzie*Kate flip-it's for 2008 but I'd put them on auto somewhere! Still making my mind up about that yet!

That's it from me today. Abi is going to make chicken curry for tea tonight so I don't have to cook so I'm looking forward to that. She made one at school last week adn it was delicious! I hope you are all having a wonderful week and thank you to all those who visit and leave comments. {{{{hugs}}}}

Some Finishes:)

Apologies for my lack of blogging over the past week. I just haven't anything to show or blog about really but now I have! Lol!

It's my friend Sheila's birthday coming up soon so I decided to stitch a little something for her. I wanted somethign quick and easy to make up so chose the Papillon Creations freebie Tiny Little Quaker and stitched it up using GAST Purple Iris and made it into an ornament. I do hope she will like it but time will tell:) I don't seem to be able to get my cording stitched on neatly somehow but never mind:)

I have also completed my second bourse but on this one I did it a little differently and stitched a Mill Hill heart treasure on each fold over bit. I am quite pleased with the way it turned out but it is not square as it should be as I stitched it on Belgian linen. Anyway it's now wrapped up with a pair of earrings inside:) I really love stitching these and now I've learnt how I shall do more using different charts.

Once I'd finished these two I decided to have a new start and started Just Nan Christmas Biscornu and I have loved stitching it:) The first side is finished but I had a bit of job with the beads in bad light last night as I had bother telling the difference between the gold and silver and had to take a few off and re-do them today! I think this is a beautiful design and I can't wait to get the second side done and make it up ready for Christmas. Having said that I won't be putting it away with the Christmas decorations as it's too nice to put away!

That's all the stitching I have to show for now:) Tonight is Just Nan Queen of the Needle SAL night with Helen and tomorrow night is UFO night on Stitch and Stash so HAED Winter will be coming out. After that it'll be HAED quick stitch Girly Gothic for the rest of the week. I really should get Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV finished but I can't get motivated to get it out. It might happen, it might not!

I wrapped a few Christmas presents this morning but my back and neck ached that much I didn't get them all done! There's always another day:)

Right I shall go and catch up on some blogs for a bit before the girls get in from school. Hope you all have a good week:) Stay warm if it's cold where you are. It certainly is here!

Done and Dusted:)

Christmas shopping is done and dusted barring a gift certificate and some bits and pieces that we've ordered online! Phew! I just have the second bourse to finish stitching and make up then I might just get some Christmas stitching in for me as I'd love to try and get the JN Christmas biscornu done and Lynne Nicoletti's Christmas Robin but I can't see it somehow. When I plan to stitch in an afternoon I find something else I have to do and end up not stitching! Lol!

I have a few things to show you in this blog entry:) First off Andrea from The Craft Room emailed me to say that she'd like to send me one of her stitched Christmas gifts. She had wanted it to be a surprise but did not have my address. Now Andrea's stitching is beautiful as is her finishing. Look what I received from her yesterday. This picture really does not do it justice I'm afraid. It is absolutely beautiful and is backed with the prettiest rose fabric. It is so me! Thank you so much Andrea. You truly made my day with this gorgeous gift {{{{hugs}}}}.

While I remember I really must show Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV part 11! I have started part 12 but have only stitched so much of one angel's wings. Yes we have two angel heads to stitch this time with over one faces! HELP! It's a long time since I stitched over one on 32 count fabby so it may prove interesting! I'm not sure when I'll get it finish but I think it's certain that it won't be on display this Christmas. I don't see how I can get it finished and made up for Christmas!

Still unsure about this but I think the angels might make a difference to the piece.

I sent Karen's PIF gift out to her last Friday and she received it yesterday so I can now show it:) This is the Assissi Pincushion from the June issue of The Gift Stitching. I know that Karen likes pink so I stitched it with DMC 68 I think it was. I hope you like it Karen:)

My last piccie today is of the ornament I stitched for some family friends. I chose Charlotte's Web Needlework For My Friends from the 2006 JCS ornament issue. The couple it is for have been friends of DH's family for many many years. Margaret was his Mum's best friend and it hit her very hard when she died. We have kept up giving them a small present at Christmas for all his Dad does not bother with them and their family much anymore and I thought this little ornament was quite apt.

The ornament I stitched and sent to Kerri in Simone's ornament exchange has reached it's destination safely and I'm happy to report that she loved it:) If you'd like to see a better piccie of it as well as the back of it head on over to Xmas Ornament Exchange 2007 where I have posted it:) Still excitedly waiting to see what the ornament I have been sent is like and who has made it for me:)

Oooh I almost forgot ( bad girl!). Last night was JN Queen of the Needle SAL night with Helen. I didn't get much done as I was messing about on the PC trying to sort some stuff out BUT I am pleased with it so far. I love the colours in this and am so pleased I chose the fabby I did for it. Nancy the fabby I'm using is Polstitches Dragon Shades Dusky Rose. Anyway here is my progress before I forget to upload the photo!

A few of you asked what I was going to order from Needlecraft Corner using my birthday discount. Well the answer now is nothing:( I was going to get Just Nan Christmas Wallet chart with embellishments, fabric and Pamela's Finishing Touches finishing kit BUT Drema no longer stocks older JN charts so doesn't have it nor does she have the finishing kit. As you can imagine I was very disappointed but I have ordered the chart and embellishments from Sew and So with some threads I needed ( then I forgot I needed more perle for QOTN and white DMC!) so at least I will have those. I have no idea where to get the Graziano fabby from so will more than likely end up stitching it on plain fabby but I'm not that bothered really.

I hope everyone is having a good week and not getting too strssed doing Christmas shopping etc. I'm feeling much more in the Christmas spirit now especially now we have all the decorations up:)