December SAL Finally Finished!!!

First of all I just want to say a huge thank you for all the lovely comments on my BBD stocking finish in my last post. It really lifts my spirits to get such wonderful comments. I am hoping that the recipient will like it as much as you all did and I do:) I will be stitching this again for myself and will more than likely do the beaded edge again.

Back on 1st December last year Chris and I embarked on our second December SAL. Well Chris finished hers ages ago and I have been a little slow with mine but at long last I put the final few stitches into it on Friday so here it is!

Blue Ribbon Designs Peppermint Twist

40 count own coffee dyed linen

DMC threads

Started 1st December 2009

Finished 26th March 2010.

I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching this gorgeous piece and plan on making it up into a hanging pinkeep ( yes another one!!). Thanks Chris for another brilliant SAL and looking forward to out next December SAL!

My other finish which I mentioned on my last post is Just Nan 4 Wishes which was one of my new starts for the new year as part of a Just Nan SAL with the girls from Stitch and Stash. As you know I've had this in my stash for years so am pleased to have finally got it out and stitched it. This is another piece I absolutely love and I can't wait to get it up on the wall.

Just Nan 4 Wishes

28 count raw linen

DMC threads

Started 4th January 2010

Finished 24th March 2010

Finally I have a little new start. I was at a bit of a loose end on Thursday evening as I couldn't finish Peppermint Twist as I ran out a thread I needed. So I decided to start Little House Needleworks Needle and Thread. I am using the suggested fabrics for both the scissor mattress and the fob. It's only a tiny start :) but it has wetted my appetite! Lol!

I spent all afternoon today basting my fabric so I could start Just a Thought Sampler Garden Casket. Oh what fun that was!!! Lol! Anyway it's done and I made a tiny start.

It's the Easter holidays for my girls! Jess has been home from uni for a week and Abi finished school on Friday. It's good to have them both together for a while.

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend!

Take care

Hugs

Sally
xxx

February's Violets

I have another little finish today! This cute little stocking should have really have been finished last week and in the post but I was so wary of stitching it up. Don't get me wrong the instructions with the chart are brilliant but it's just me when I come to making up a new shape and stuff. Anyway I decided to do a beaded edge on it and I am quite happy with how it looks.

Blackbird Designs February's Violets from Love is in the Air

30 count fabric

DMC and GAST

I just have a couple of WIP pics to show now. I do have another finish but it was dark by the time I finished it so I couldn't get a decent picture so will save that for another post. Friday and Saturday, as usual, were spent stitching on Shores. I decided I'd had enough of the white so filled in some of the colour. I do like the look of this block and am really looking forward to stitching more on it this week.

I am very close to finishing BRD Peppermint Twist so am going to stitch on it tomorrow to try and get it finished. I have done a little bit more since I took this piccie.

I am thinking of maybe starting Just a Thought Sampler Garden Casket next to replace Peppermint Twist on a Sunday evening and Barb, Hazel and I are hopefully starting The Sampler Girl At Home with Jane Austen on 9th April and I'm really looking forward to that. I am enjoying my stitching so much these days:)

I have received this lovely sunshine award from Claire Thank you so much Claire :) I am supposed to pass this award on to 12 bloggers but I am going to be very naughty and not do that but will say that it's for all the bloggers out there who I visit as there are so many wonderful, inspiring bloggers out there.

I am steadily catching up on blogs again and love seeing what you are all stitching. I get so inspired.

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my humbug finish:)

Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xx

A Little Bit of Winter in Spring

Lisa and I started Just Nan Winter Heart Humbug last week and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed stitching this piece. I just love everything about it especially those Rhodes Hearts in the middle of the snowflakes. They are so pretty in GAST Jasmine. The making up was very easy too although I did read and re-read the instructions and keep checking as I was stitching it up just to make doubly sure! So here it is, front and back view:) I think I may have overstuffed it as it doesn't quite sit right but I do love this.

Just Nan Winter Hearts Humbug

28 count cashel pearl flecked white linen

DMC, GAST, Beads

Started 16th March 2010

Fnished 19th March 2010

I will be back later in the week with my WIPs and maybe another finish. BRD Peppermint Twist is close to being finished so I'm going to get that out again tomorrow then once that's finished I'll stitch on JN 4 Wishes for a couple of nights until that is finished. Then I can have some new starts!! Lol! And you will not believe what had been out today! Lisa was saying she was doing 10 stitches a day on her personalised sampler and I asked if I could join her in doing 10 a day on............... wait for it................ no Julie, sorry it's not the Christmas mystery......................... it's Chatelaine Spring Morning!! I dutifully popped 10 stitches in today but carried on and did a few more but, woe is me, I discovered a mistake I'd made the last time I stitched on it ( nearly 2 years ago!!!!) and ended up frogging all I'd put in today and more! Lol! However I did put at least 10 back in so that's OK!!

I had a wonderful start to Monday as I discovered I'd won a giveaway on Robin's blog. I am so excited to be one of the lucky winners and it certainly cleared that Monday morning feeling! Thank you Robin!

Have a great week everyone!

Hugs

Sally
xx

A Roll for March

Another small finish, this time my Shepherd's Bush roll for March. You may remember Chris and I did a SAL last year and decided to keep going this year. I hope you will not be fed-up of seeing this one as this is the 4th time I've stitched it but it will now be the last! Lol! This one is for my collection this time :) I did not have any heart charms left so I added a butterfly charm instead and it's also a little thinner as I somehow I managed to cut my fabric too small ( oooops!) but it looks OK thankfully!

Shepherd's Bush Friendship Roll

blue fabby from stash- no idea what it is!

DMC and Mill Hill beads

Started 15th March 2010

Finished 16th March 2010

I've been getting along quite nicely with my WIPs and, for once, CHS Shores went without a hitch this time. That means no frogging!!! Yay! No frogging makes Sally a happy stitcher!! Lol! I reckon this block may take me a while but having seen Nicki's almost finished will spur me on as it's such a pretty block.

Next up was Sunday ( Mother's Day) and a semi- lazy day sat with my lovely two girls was spent stitching. The girls had bought Final Fantasy XIII between them so spent their time taking it in turns to play that until Jess went back to uni! So BRD Peppermint Twist is quite close to being finished and I just LOVE it! I love the colours and everything about this piece. This was my December SAL with Chris ( we've already decided on our next December SAL!!!) and she finished hers ages ago but I'm afraid I'm lagging behind!

Another piece I am hoping to finish very soon ( can I do it for the end of March???) is Just Nan 4 Wishes. This is another one I absolutely love and for all I struggle a bit with the linen and have had to frog the border more times than I care to remember I enjoy stitching it. It's such a fresh, bright, cheerful design and it makes me smile everytime I look at it.

Finally two small WIPs that I have recently started. Lisa and I decided to SAL with Just Nan Winter Hearts Humbug and once we got all our supplies together we decided to start yesterday so after tea I sat and made a start. Unfortunately the picture does not show what a pretty piece this is. I love the colours and the sparkly fabby just adds to it. I think I'll be stitching more on this tonight.

Last week I made a start on one of the stockings from Blackbird Designs Love is in the Air. This one is February Violets and it's so pretty. I need to get this finished soon as it's for a gift but I'm safe to show it as the lady doesn't read my blog!

Thank you to those of you who have purchased charts from me and also traded with me. I recently did trades with Christine and Michelle, thank you so much ladies. In the piccie you can see The Sampler Girl Jane Austen Sampler Stocking which I traded with Christine for and The Sampler Girl Good Tidings with Jane Austen and 32 count linen were from a trade with Michelle.

Finally I have received this lovely blog award from Belinda, Carol and Elaine  I am very honoured to have received this award from these ladies as they are all incredibly talented. Thank you so much ladies {{{{hugs}}}}

Here's how the award works. The rules are simple:

1. One must accept the award


2. Thank the person who gave you the award


3. Add a link to the person who gave you the award


4. Paste the award on your blog


5. Write 10 things about yourself that others might not know


6. Pass the award on to 10 others

This is going to very difficult to write 10 things about myself as I'm an incredibly boring person but I'll give it a go! Lol

1. I have never been out of the UK but would dearly love to one day.
2. The place I would love to visit the most is Canada closely followed by New Zealand.
3. I never wanted children but am so glad I changed my mind.
4. I have a thing about angels and believe we all have one looking out for us.
5. In between having my two daughters I had a miscarriage ( although medical staff said it couldn't be termed as one) due to a blighted ovum.
6. I actually prefer being at home to going away somewhere, although I do enjoy it once we are away but it's always nice to come home.
7. This one you probably already know but I like to try and stitch every day even if it's only for half an hour. It's my way of relaxing.
8. I absolutely love listening to music. When everyone else is out I always have music on. At the moment I'm listening to Pixie Lott.
9. I love the Terry Pratchet novel The Hogfather from the Discworld series. I have the DVD although I'm yet to sit and watch it as it disappeared into Abi's bedroom when it arrived and I've not seen it since!
10. If I live to be 100 I will still probably not stitch everything I have in my stash!

Phew! Now to the even more difficult bit and that's passing the award on to 10 others as there are so many wonderful ladies out there. Anyway here goes.

Chris, Lesley, Harmien, Dovile, Becky, Christine, Hazel, Vonna, Wendy and Barb

Well that's it from today! I'm off to get some lunch, catch up on blogs then maybe stitch a bit before I go on the Wii Fit. I'm proud of myself as I have lost about half a stone since I started using it:)

Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally
xxx

It's a Fob!

What's this, another blog post this week??? It's so rarely seen from me these days that I've surprised myself! And the reason for this is another finish. Yes I do sleep ( Christine!!) but this one was quick to stitch and easy to finish and it complete's the trio of stitchy accessories.

Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Fob

Stitched as kitted.

My cording leaves a lot to be desired but I am, nevertheless, really pleased with this.

I have updated my For Sale list so please take a look. Everything must go!!! Lol! I am open to offers and willing to trade for fabric or threads as well.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my previous post. I love getting comments so really appreciate them all:)

Take care everyone!

Hugs

Sally

xx

Been Doing Some Finishing!

Well I was intent on blogging sooner but I was kind of putting off mounting my With My Needle Quaker Hornbook onto the hornbook incase I made a mess of it but now it's done and dry and I've also finished up something I stitched in 2007 I am here!

So, without further ado, here is my Quaker Hornbook!

With My Needle Quaker Hornbook

36 count flax linen

DMC Variations 4120

This was a lovely, quick stitch with my absolute favourite DMC Variation ( well who doesn't love red?!!! Lol! ).

Back in 2007 I stitched La D La Love is Patient and it's been in my stitching drawer ever since as I didn't really know what to do with it ( yes shame on me!). Anyway the other day I came across it and decided I really must do something with it. I didn't want to frame it so I decided on a hanging pinkeep type finish with a gathered ribbon edge. I used two colours of ribbon. I have to say I am delighted with the way this turned out.

Now onto my WIPs. Shores came out to play again Friday/ Saturday and block two was duely finished and block three started. Guess what??? I made the same mistake on block three that I did on blocks one and two. One stitch short on the border!!! I seriously need to learn to count! Anyway I had to frog all the white on the right hand side and the chimney on the house at the same side but thankfully I did get it all resitched!

Sunday I decided on Blue Ribbon Designs Peppermint Twist and made a little progress. I do love this piece even though I have made a boo boo on it and did not realise until I was stitching the cardinal's legs and realised I should have stitched the border of two of the snowflake borders the same colour! Anyway they are staying as they are!! I'm being a rebel! Lol!

Last night was JN SAL night and you may or may not notice on the piccie that I've missed the last band on the Summer bit and that is because I did not have enough DMC 932 to even start it! So I really need to remember that I have to go back to that! I have loads of DMC but none of that colour spare! How typical is that? Lol!

Last week I had another new start. Now that I've stitched Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Purse I couldn't resist starting the fob to go with it. This piccie is pre today's stitching so I've finished this bit of it barring the beads and made a start on the other side but ended up frogging what I'd stitched on there because I did it in the wrong colour!! Lol! I sometimes actually wonder why I bother stitching!!!! But I enjoy it and I have some beautiful pieces at the end of it so I think that's good enough reason!!!

I've also had some new stash this week. I really shouldn't have but I've been good for quite some time and the stuff I ordered from Fobbles ( not arrived yet as they were out of stock but should be arriving any time soon) I had the money for. Anyway in the piccies are Little House Needleworks Needle and Thread with CC threads and Impie, Hattie and Bea Scissor Bed and Pin Pillow and Blackbird Designs Love in the Air stockings chart with GAST and CC threads needed for those and the JN humbug Lisa and I are going to be stitching. One of the stockings will be stitched for a gift.

Well that's all my news for now. A huge thank you for all the lovely comments you left on my BRD Winter Wingding finish. I had some new commentors which is always so lovely as I love finding new blogs to visit. Thank you for your continued visits and comments. I treasure each and every one of you xxx

Hugs

Sally

xx

Another One Bites The Dust!!

No I'm not singing again, I have another finish! Now this one should really have been finished last year but I took a break from it and then, with Lisa's encouragement, I went back to it and now it's finished. I am not sure how I'm going to finish it up so any suggestions would be welcome. It's 8" square.

Blue Ribbon Designs Winter Wingding

36 count Blue Cloud evenweave

DMC thread and a bit of metallic!

Started 31st May 2009

Finished 28th February 2010

So Sunday's are supposed to be UFO night but I've decided to stitch on Peppermint Twist instead until it's finished. My other UFO is Chatelaine Spring Morning, which I last stitched on almost two years. Last progress pic can be seen here but I don't fancy picking it up again just yet! Anyway here's the little bit of progress on BRD Peppermint Twist after I've finished Winter Wingding.

I didn't quite make my hoped for finish of block two on Shores. There was just too much still to do so, hopefully, I will finish it next time I pick it up and move onto to block three! I am really enjoying this piece and had I more wall space I think I'd quite like to stitch the Christmas one next year!! Lol!

Finally a wee bit of progress on Just Nan 4 Wishes. I have almost finished the Summer band, just one row of speciality stitches to do then I can move onto Autumn. This is such a joy to stitch, even that satin stitch border which I seem to spend more time taking out and restitching it than I do anything else!

I have put up my two other planned SALs in my SALS list in my side bar. Barb and I are planning a SAL on The Sampler Girl Jane Austen Sampler Stocking later in the year. We have not decided when yet but I'm really looking forward to it. I also plan on stitching At Home with Jane Austen from The Gift of Stitching sometime as well as a couple of other of Tanya's Jane Austen samplers. I haven't put up the SALexandre that Lisa and I are thinking of doing as it's not a definite yet! I also think I might make a list of things I would really like to stitch this year as a reference for myself and to motivate me into getting plenty of stitching done! These will not be goals as such and if I don't get them done I don't :)

It's a beautiful day here today and it was yesterday too. My longed for frost and sunny day arrived and this morning we had a dusting of snow so the sun is shining. I had a lovely long walk along the seafront yesterday morning which lifted my spirits no end. And talking of lifted spirits, whilst blog walking yesterday I discovered I had won Christine's blogoversary draw and I am so excited! Christine's stitching and finishing are gorgeous.

Time for me to go and do some catching up again!

Take care everyone!

Hugs

Sally

xxx