Friday 31 December 2010

Last Finishes for 2010 and Gifts Received!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are all ready for the New Year and more stitching :) I am happy to say that, looking back on 2010, I have had rather a productive year of stitching, have tried different finishes and my biggest achievement without a doubt has been without a doubt my Just A Thought casket. Never in a million years did I think I'd be able to do anything like that and make it look like it's supposed to be but I did!

Anyway I have had two finishes this week which will be last of 2010. First on Wednesday evening I finished Little House Needleworks Poinsettia House, my Winter SAL piece with Chris, Lisa, Lesleyanne, Hazel,  Claire and Nicola. I have loved every single stitch of this of this gorgeous design so thank you ladies for SAL-ing with me. I know Chris and Lesleyanne have finished theirs too.


Little House Needleworks Poinsettia House

28 count tea dyed opalescent evenweave

Crescent Colours & DMC

Started 1st December 2010

Finished 29th December 2010

I now have to decide how I'm going to finish this! I am already looking forward to Chris and I's 2011 December SAL. I think Lesleyanne may be joining us. This is the design we've already chosen to stitch!!!

I decided to have a new start on Christmas Day and although I did not get a lot stitched as I was enjoying myself playing on the Wii with Jess, Abi and my DH I have managed to finish what I started! My dear stitchy friend, Michelle, sent me the chart and I thought it would make a lovely new start for the festive season. I popped the final stitches into it this morning after DH and I had been to the shop so I could pick up a skein of DMC 930 as I'd run out!

The Sampler Girl

Wonderful Life

36 count Sand linen

DMC

Started 25th December 2010

Finished 31st December 2010

The only other stitching I have to show is my measly WIP on CHS SoHRH! Let's just say it won't be finished by the time the clock strikes midnight tonight so I will just have to finish it in early 2011 instead! I only stitched on this a little bit on Christmas Eve so this is my wee start on block 12.

My New Years Day new start won't be a biggy as it has been in the last few years. My first biggy will be on Monday and that is with Barb and Colleen. We are each stitching a Shepherd's Bush design. Mine will be Emmanuel's Song, Barb's will be The Journey and Colleen's will be Chequered Sheep. Anyway back to my New Years Day start! Lisa and I are going be SAL-ing on the Kelmscott Designs Hornbook Angel and we are both looking forward to it.

Speaking of Lisa I can now show the wee gift I stitched for her for Christmas. I took part of the Little House Needleworks Peace design ( a design for UNICEF) and stitched this :) I am delighted to say that Lisa loves it :)

Little House Needleworks Peace ( design for UNICEF)

40 count blue cloud evenweave

DMC

Gift for Lisa.

I love the pom pom trim. I was determined to get some as I thought it would be perfect for this and I actually managed to find some!

You may remember that Chris and I have a private ornament exchange each year and Chris emailed me yesterday to tell me she'd sent a recorded delivery parcel to me and I should get it today. Inside was an ornament, a Christmas card and a birthday gift. Poor Chris had to admit that she'd lost the birthday gift she'd made for me and had had to stitch something else. Anyway let me tell you both the ornament and gift were well worth the wait:) Here is the ornament which is a Blue Ribbon Designs one and I absolutely love it.

And here is Shakespeare's Peddlar Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet mounted on a tin which is finished so beautifully. I've been wanting to stitch this for a while and even bought the chart earlier in the year but never got around to it. Inside the tin was some Lindt Chocs :) Thank you so much, Chris, for both the ornament and the tin xxx. I absolutely love them both and will treasure them.

Christmas was quiet for us this year but we all thoroughly enjoyed it. It's the first time in several years that I actually felt happy and relaxed about the festive period and it's the best Christmas I've had in a long time. It was just the 4 of us, we talked, played games and just generally relaxed.

I was blessed to receive some gorgeous gifts from some very dear stitchy friends. First of all from Lisa I received these gorgeous marking pins by My Big Toe Designs. They are so pretty and a beautiful colour. Thank you so much Lisa xx

I think Jane had been looking at my wish list as I received the beautiful LHN All is Calm chart, which I am looking forward to stitching in 2011, and she stitched The Sampler Girl New Year New Ewe! I couldn't understand her comment when I showed the one I stitched for Barb about it looking familiar and now I know why! She also stitched it for Barb! Thank you so much Jane xxx I will treasure it. At the moment it's hung on the garland on my mantle piece but after the decorations have been taken down I'm going to hang it with my other TSG pieces :)

I think Elaine must know my love of snowmen as just look at what she stitched for me. Isn't he adorable?! She also included a pair of beautiful pair of blue and white scissors and a snowman chocolate. Thank you so much Elaine xxx I will treasure them ( although not the chocolate as I have eaten it! lol)

Last but by no means least I received these gorgeous Dinky Dyes silks and a bookmark with the most beautiful saying on it from Karan. I don't know if you can see it but it says " The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". Thank you so much Karan, I absolutely love the threads and the bookmark. I was going to stitch my Kelmscott hornbook angel in black thread but now I think I'm going to use one of the DD silks instead :)

DH's Dad, my Dad and DH's auntie always give us money to buy Christmas gifts for the girls and ourselves so DH and I try to buy things for each other rather than buy our own. We make lists to give each other ideas and my DH bought this stitchy stash and wrapped them up from my Dad so these will keep me busy for a while! The top fabric is for the BBD AotH when I start them as I want to finish Shores before I do!

Yesterday postie a lovely card ( a reindeer of course :) )from across the pond from Michele and inside the card was this lovely red thread. It's such a pretty shade too. Thank you so much Michele xxxx

Phew! I think that's all I have to show! Sorry for rambling on so long! I must apologise for my lack of blog reading and commenting over the last week but I will get caught up with you all after tomorrow :)

As 2010 rapidly draws to a close I just want to thank each every one of you for your friendship in 2010 whether you be old friends or new. I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, Stitch filled 2011 and here's to another year of stash, stitches and friendship. Hugs to you all xxxxx

Happy New Year!

Love & hugs

Sally
xxxxx


32 comments:

Meadows08 said...

OMGoodness! Such lovely stitching and gifts. You are blessed with lovely family and friends!

Great job achieving your stitching goals and have fun with your new SAL's this coming year. Happy New Year!

KarenV said...

Lovely gifts Sally, both sent and received - I really love the Jenny Bean tin.

Glad you had a good stitching year, looking forward to seeing your stitching again in 2011. Happy New Year!

Barb said...

I was so pleased to hear you had a really good Christmas Sally after all the pre Christmas angst. Looks as if you had lots of goodies too and the tin you had from Chris is just lovely.Looking forward to Monday and starting the journey with you ,wonder where our wanderings will take us!! Happy New Year to you and yours and I will get the suitcase out ready to make the journey over to yours on Monday , Colleen may already have set off as she has futher to come lol.

Christine said...

Your Poinsettia House is beautiful, and I love the peace ornament with its pompom snowballs.
Some lovely gifts there too

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas Sally, so many beautiful gifts. Congratulations on your final 2010 finishes, it looks like your first finish of next year isn't too far away! Happy New Year to you and yours!

Lesleyanne said...

Congratulations on finishing Ponsietta House. I can't wait to see how you finish finish it. Yes please I would love to join you next year. I think I may stitch a L*K Snowman. Lovely gifts sent and received. Look forward to seeing your stitching in 2011. Happy New Year. Love the pom poms.

Unknown said...

Wow! Awesome! I love your projects... the primitive ornament, the tin!
Great Job!

Berit said...

Amazing blog; there are just so many great stitches!

I, too, love just about all of BRD's Christmas ornaments (my favorite things from them).

And, that finish your friend made of the JB is really nice. :)

Happy Year ahead! I'm glad you were able to enjoy some truly mellow family time. :D

Misborda2 said...

Happy New Year 2011!!!
May all your wishes come true!!!
Best wishes from Spain, Laura

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Sally!

Elisa said...

Wow some lovely pictures and gifts and HD's Sally. Sending you and your family love and best wishes for 2011 xxxx

Sue said...

Wow, everything you've stitched, sent out and received are so nice. Glad you had a nice Christmas and hope you have a Happy New Year.

Julie said...

Lots of lovely gifts

So pleased you had a lovely relaxing Christmas with the family

Happy 2011

Belinda said...

Happy new year Sally. Such beautiful stitching in your post, the gifts you received are lovely too. Look forward to your stitching progress in 2011.

valerie said...

Beautiful stitching and gifts! Absolutely love that pompom trim pillow. So cute!

I plan on starting AoTH tomorrow...wasn't sure if you were still planning to SAL.

Happy New Year!

Sharon said...

Beautiful finishes and beautiful gifts! Happy New Year to you Sally and your dear family!

Ellen said...

Happy New Year!

Beautiful finish - Poinsettia House! Love that Jenny Bean tin, great gifts!

Wishing you a wonderful 2011 with lots of stitching fun!

Lucy said...

Wonderful stitching! Love Poinsettia House! Have a beautiful New Year full of tons of stitching!

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

Congratulations on your finish of Poinsettia House, Sally - it's lovely.

All your stitching gifts are gorgeous!

Happy New Year to you and your family!

John'aLee said...

Your work is stunning! So inspiring!

Carol said...

I'm always amazed at the amount of stitching you get done each week, Sally--and such pretty pieces!

I do hope 2011 is a wonderful year for you and your family :)

CalamityJr said...

Thanks for all that you shared. Your finishes are beautiful. May your new year be blessed!

Patti-Rocky Mtn Stitcher said...

Wonderful work. I hope to dedicate myself to some WIP this year as i did last year and get thos eornies done!!

Michelle said...

Lovely photos thanks for sharing them with us Sally. Happy New Year to you and your family - sending much love xx

Christina said...

What a great post Sally, so many finishes to enjoy!
Your pom pom trim is gorgeous, did you buy it in the UK? My haberdashery sells bog standard, basic trims unfortunately.
I love how organised you are with your 2011 Dec SAL! I had a quick look at the piece you've chosen to stitch. It's a design I was admiring myself only recently. Is this the website that you purchase Tralala charts from? I've seen a few Tralala designs that I really want, but can't find anywhere that sells them at a reasonable price! I'm such a cheapskate!
Happy New Year to you and your family. XXX

Catherine said...

Fabulous stitches and goodies!

Solstitches said...

Two gorgeous finishes Sally and your friends have really spoiled you with some lovely things.
It sounds as though you have some great stitching plans for the year ahead.
Happy New Year and happy stitching in 2011.

Hugs,
Margaret

Dani - tkdchick said...

Sally I'm glad to hear you had a wonderful Christmas and you have received so many wonderful stitchy gifts for both xmas and your b-day! How nice!

You've had a great 2010 stitching wise and I'm sure it'll be a wonderful 2011

Siobhán said...

Oh my goodness! What gorgeous stitching both sent and received. I love your finishes! You had such a good, productive stitching year in 2010--I hope this year is even better!

Elizabeth MacGregor-Kirkcaldy said...

Dearest Sally thank you so much for your encouraging and kind sweet words and well wishes... it means so much to me, Hun!

What lovely stitching you've finished all year long... as always! And what a productive stitching year! I hope to do much better this year and have more finishes! I LOVE Poinsettia House... It's just gorgeous on that fabric and the colours are so lovely... must add this one to my stash! And what lovely, lovely gifts ~ sent and received... I love all your finishing, Hun! Lovely fabric and charts from your Dad... I just Love, love, love Scarlet's Christmas Sampler by Chessie and Me!!! I really must go ahead and add that one to my stash soon! And I can't wait for you to start stitching AotH!

Wishing you and your lovely family much Joy, Love, Good Health, a warm Hearth and Good Cheer, loads of stitching thyme and Blessings abouding in the New Year my dear friend!

Blessings and Love always in stitches...
Lizzy
xox

Lisa said...

Congrats on your final finishes of 2010, they are both gorgeous.
You'll have Shores finished in no time I'm sure, that will be one HUGE happy dance.
You received some lovely gifts at Christmas, we're so lucky to have wonderful stitchy friends aren't we.

Carin said...

Beautiful stitching. I'm still searching for that Peace (Unicef) pattern, but can't find nobody who wants to sell it.