It's Nearly 2012

Nearly time for my stitch from my chart stash and I'm going to start it with a determination to make it through until at least July!

I've been busy stitching away since my last post and spending time with my DH and girls. We've had lots of lovely festive food and a little bit to drink ( spiced rum- yum! ) but first of all I'd like to show you the two gifts I stitched.

First off is what I stitched for my surrogate sis Lisa. We've both had a rough year this year and sometimes we both need a reminder that it is a wonderful life for all the crap it sometimes deals us so I stitched this for her.

The Sampler Girl Wonderful Life

Can't remember the fabric

DMC 

Started 24th November 2011

Finished 3rd December 2011

Christmas Gift for Lisa.

I also stitched a little something for Michelle

Little House Needlworks Thankful

25 count fabric

DMC and Crescent Colours.

Started 4th December 2011

Finished 9th December 2011

Christmas Gift for Michelle

Now you will have to please excuse the following photos as I've taken them using this, which was one of my Christmas presents,

and am trying to get used to it. I usually use my DH's DSLR camera but fancied something of my own that I can pop in my pocket when I'm going out for a walk and also use for my stitchy pictures. Although the colours of the threads are as near as the fabric isn't but I might have been better using the flash! It's trial and error at the moment. I will say that for an inexpensive camera it takes some good photos as I took it out with me the other day and got some good ones.

Anyway we had a lovely Christmas dinner with my Dad, my sister, her partner and DH's Dad here. It went much better than I expected and everyone enjoyed themselves. My sister and her partner even played with us on the Wii at Mario Kart Wii and it was hilarious! I am, however, rather cross with myself that I let myself get so worked up and stressed over it as it totally spoiled the run up to Christmas for me. However I seem to look on the black side these days rather than the bright which is not good.

I did get some nice stitchy stash for Christmas. DH's Dad, auntie and my Dad give us money for when we go Christmas shopping and we buy gifts for each other from our lists. This is what I got from DH's Dad.

And this is what I received from my surrogate sis Lisa. Thank you so much {{{{hugs}}}} I did confess to Lisa yesterday though that I have two of these as I very naughtily ordered it in the JJ's End of year sale not thinking that someone would buy me it but I have plans for both of them!

And this is what I received from Michelle. Isn't it gorgeous? Thank you so much Michelle {{{{hugs}}}}

So Christmas Day evening was the start of my SAL with Michelle so with a cup of "Christmas Tea" and my fabric and threads I made a start. The tea cup and saucer was a Christmas gift, amongst other things, from my DH.

This is where I'm at as of Tuesday afternoon. Michelle's needle has well and truly been smoking as she is almost finished and it looks gorgeous!

Of course on a wet and windy afternoon there is nothing better than a cup of Twinings Lady Grey and a cinnamon cookie:)

Tuesday evening I decided it was time I picked up CCN Snowflake Serenade. I'd stitched on it on Christmas Eve as well.

Wednesday as usual is my SAL night with Lisa although from 2012 we are moving it to Tuesdays. I finished stitching the wording across the top and the bird house. The fabby colour is definitely not right on this one!

Last night I decided to pick up Tra La La Snowman my December SAL with Chris and Lesleyanne. As I'm so close to finishing it I think I shall stitch on this tonight as well.

I don't know if I will stitch at all tomorrow evening but if I do it'll probably be on Christmas Tea. On New Years Day Lisa and I are having our New Years Day new start as we did last year and we're both looking forward to it. Here is what we are stitching along with the thread I have chosen. I just need to sort a small piece of 32 count fabric and I'd ready to go!

Well if you've got this far thank you for reading! I'll be back more regularly in the New Year. Happy 2012 to you all. I hope it is Happy, Healthly, Prosperous and Stitch filled. Thank you all for your friendship in 2011 and I will see you in 2012! I have some photos from Christmas but will leave those for another time as I need to make them smaller yet! I must apologise as I've been mostly marking blogs as read in my reader as I just haven't had time to read and comment but normal service will, hopefully, resume next week!

With much love

Sally

xxxxx

Definitely.......

My last post before Christmas! I had to squeeze one last one in to show two finishes and a WIP before I go offline for a few days to spend some precious time with my DH and two wonderful daughters. 

I finished up the next block on L*K 6 Fat Men so it's another finish for 2011. I love this one. The snowman's friends are just so cute! I'm stitching this with my surrogate sis Lisa

Lizzie*Kate 6 Fat Men Snow Friends

32 count Amber linen

DMC

Started 2nd November 2011

Finished 22nd December 2011 ( wow this took ages!)

I stitched up a little of the extra bit and will finish that before I start another block.

Last night, after seeing this on Michelle's blog I started and finished this TSG freebie ( available at Pattern Mart) whilst watching A Christmas Carol ( the Jim Carrey version) and A Muppet Christmas Carol. I love the simplicity of this. It's not made up yet as I don't have time to get it done.

The Sampler Girl Jane Austen Winter Ornament

Unknown opalescent fabric

Caron Waterlilies Moonglow

Started and finished 23rd December 2011

Last photo is my progress on Tra La La Snowman the December SAL with Chris and Lesleyanne. I just love this piece and am enjoying stitching it so much. I don't want to put it down when I'm stitching on it.

Not sure what I'm going to stitch on tonight. The girls and I will watching the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol ( our Christmas Eve tradition) after Merlin so I might just pick up the Snowman or maybe CCN Snowflake Serenade.

Here's Father Christmas with my last two days of my wonderful advent calendar from my surrogate sis Lisa :) A very useful diary which I will use to write my stitching starts and finishes in and a lovely Dragon Floss called Everlasting Friendship :) Thank you so much Lisa.

I'm all set for my SAL with Michelle starting tomorrow evening and am looking forward to putting in the first few stitches.

I listed my chart and kit stash but I think I may have missed some. In fact I know I've missed two small kits so will add those later on. I just can't remember exactly what they are!!! Have fun reading and don't laugh too much at the amount of stash I have!

So, once again, Merry Christmas to you all. 

With much love

Sally

xxxx

The Stocking is Hung.....

Do you think Father Christmas will fill it for me??? Lol!

I had a spurt on with the stocking and as I was so close to getting it finished I stitched on it last night instead of picking L*K 6 FM Snow Friends up. I shall go back to that tonight:) So here it is...... my stocking. I changed the colour of the flowers and the letters where the name is ( they should have been white)

The Primitive Hare Christmas Carol Sock

35 count tea dyed linen

DMC and GAST

Started 3rd October 2011

Finished 21st December 2011

SAL with Barb.

Thank you so much Barb for SAL-ing with me. I look forward to us getting back to our SB stitching in 2012:)

Last time I promised to show you my TSG finish another SAL with Barb:)

The Sampler Girl Good Tidings with Jane Austen

28 count count fabric a greeny colour

DMC

Started 8th November 2011

Finished 16th December 2011

SAL with Barb.

I have finished this the same way I finished my other Jane sampler pieces and it is now hung up the stairs with those:)

A very simple, last minute finish now of Daffycat Designs Peace ornament. I really wanted to get Sharon's cute reindeers stitched too but it didn't happen so I'll try and do one a month next year :)

I did have my new start at craft club on Tuesday of Shepherd's Bush Merry Be but I forgot to take a photo so will save that for another time. We all had a lovely time at the craft club Christmas "do" after our crafting session. The room looked lovely with tinsel and lights up and candles and there was lots of food and drink. 

Here's Father Christmas doing his duty of showing my advent gifts from Lisa from the last few days. There is a Galaxy square, some silk thread, the L*K Snowman 2010 chart and a pin wheel:) Thank you so much Lisa. Just two more days now. I have loved my advent so much and I can't thank you enough for doing this for me {{{{hugs}}}}

It'll soon be 2012 and I'll be starting stitching from my chart stash for the first 6 months of the year. It's going to be hard but I have to admit that I am rather looking forward to getting to grips with my charts and stitching some that I've had for a while. Now I have thought about doing a page on my blog to list all my charts/ kits and cross them off as I do them. What do you think? Would be interested in seeing what I have and what I, hopefully, achieve and if I do well I might even consider doing it for longer! Dare I list what I have!!!!

I am looking forward to my SAL with Michelle of Plum Street Samplers Christmas Tea over Christmas. Michelle very thoughtfully sent me some fruity tea bags and some ginger to make some Cranberry Tea so I shall be doing that to drink while I'm stitching :) Thank you so much Michelle {{{hugs}}}

I am also thinking of no new starts until I've finished everything I have started ( BBD Aoth and HAED Guardian are the exceptions to this!) other than any gifts I might want to stitch. Or maybe no new starts unless I finish something! Lisa and I are having our new start on New Years Day as we did last year but we have picked something that we start and maybe finish on the day.

I think this will probably be my last post before Christmas unless I can squeeze one more in so I would like to thank you all for visiting me and also for all your support through the difficult times when I was so low. I'm not out of the woods yet but I certainly don't feel as bad as I did at the beginning of this year. It goes without saying that I treasure each and everyone of your friendships and you are all the best. Merry Christmas to you all and here's to a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, Stitched Filled 2012.

With much love

Sally

xxxxx

Busy Finishing, Stitching & Birthday Gifts

My sewing machine has been out this week and I've finally got a couple more finishes under my belt. Just three more to go now and that's it for now! I seem to be a bit finishing shy but once I get going I'm OK with it. So here's my couple of latest ones.

Little House Needleworks Winter Band Sampler was a recent SAL with Lesleyanne and Angela. I wasn't really sure what to do this one but didn't want another pin keep type finish as I seem to do so many ( having said that I am finishing two other things as hanging ones!). So I decided on a pin cushion / pillow type finish with a gathered ribbon edge and beads. You can't see the beads on this picture though but they are green in contrast to the red ribbon.

Next up is Renato Parolin Peace Love Joy. It hasn't turned out quite how I would have liked but it's OK I guess.

I have finished stitching The Sampler Girl Good Tidings with Jane Austen but will show that next time as I haven't finished doing the nun stitch around the edge. I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching this piece with Barb.

I've done more on Tra La La Snowman the December SAL with Chris and Lesleyanne. I love this one so much and love stitching on it. I think I'll do more tonight.

Last night while the Stricly final ( way to go Harry!!!!) I decided to pick the Christmas Carol Sock up. I thought if I get some extra stitching in on it here and there I might get it finished. The white does not show very well at all but nothing I try makes it any better so it can stay as it is! I still have quite a bit to do yet but it the festive season and miracles happen! 

On Friday I received a package from dear Lainey for my birthday. I couldn't believe all the goodies that she sent me. She well and truly spoilt me. See the stitched snowman? She said that I loved it when she showed it on her blog so she saved it for me:) Thank you so much Lainey {{{{hugs}}}}

I feel humbled to have been gifted all the gorgeous things I have been for my birthday, as I really don't think I deserve it, and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Lots of hugs to you all.

Advent calendar time now. I've got two photos as I wanted to get a photo of Fridays so that I could wear it. It's a band with my name on it but it also has lots of inspirational words on it like believe, wish, hope, dream etc etc. I intend to wear it every day. Yesterdays and todays were DMC thread and my favourite needles:) Thank you so much Lisa :)

I still haven't got caught up on blogs yet but I'm going to have half an hour or so once I've published this as I may not get time tomorrow or Tuesday. Tuesday is craft club and afterwards we're having a bit of a Christmas party. We're all providing something and I've been chosen to do mince pies so I'll be making those tomorrow. I might have a new start for Tuesday as I'd like to stitch SB Merry Be in time for Christmas but I think I might be pushing it a bit!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my last post and my Duo Noel finish. I think it's my favourite finish of this year:)

Take care everyone.

Lots of love & hugs

Sally

xxxx

I Am So Chuffed!

First of all I want to say thank you to all of you who left me birthday greetings on my post on Monday. I am truly blessed to have so many stitching friends and I treasure each and every one of you. I have made some amazing friends and many of you have been wonderful and helped me no end this year ( you know who you all are) and for that I am truly thankful. It has been a tough year and many of you have been there for me when I really needed someone.

Before I start crying I'll move on to what I'm chuffed about before showing a couple more of my lovely birthday cards and gifts.

A while ago I was chosen to become part of the stitcherhood by the lovely Mouse and I duly stitched Shakespeare's Peddler Count Your Blessings. I have been wondering how to finish it and a while ago Kathy gave me the inspiration to finish it like this. It's sort of a needle roll but bigger and chunkier. I absolutely love how it's turned out.

I am desperately trying to get my pile of unfinished finishes out of the way before Christmas as they are on a chair in the dining room at the moment! I have card cut, some bits are laced on the card waiting to be be sewn up and have trim added, some are nowhere near that! However this one is now done! I showed my finish a while ago but now I can show my finished finish! I added some organza ribbon but more loosely than I usually do, a bow at the top and added one of the JABCO Sheep pins that Jane sent me for my birthday. I love how this turned out too and am hoping that the other bits I have to finish turn out as good! I am actually feeling quite good about my finishing for once!

I have a couple of other finishes too but can't show those until Father Christmas has delivered them:)

I am humbled by all the lovely birthday cards and gifts I received and I have received two more.

Look at this lovely card that Karan made for me and the fabric and threads she sent me. Thank you so much Karan {{{{hugs}}}}

Lisa B sent me this lovely card and limited edition Dinky Dyes silk. Thank you so much Lisa {{{{hugs}}}}

Here's Father Christmas again showing my advent gifts from my surrogate sis Lisa. There should be a packet of Haribo sweets but I ate them!!! Lol!

OK stitching progress now. Actually I have a finish first of all. It's the last of the Renato Parolin pieces and it's Joy. Hopefully the next time you see these I will have them made up. 

I can truly say right now that my Christmas Carol Sock is not going to be finished for Christmas although I guess I could stitch on it more than one evening a week then I might just get there! There is snow on top of those trees and also round the house! Not sure if they show up on the photo or not. Barb was hoping to finish hers this week.

Good Tidings with Jane Austen is going well and this will get finished next week! I took it to craft club with me on Tuesday and did a bit there and then stitched more on Tuesday evening. I think I shall take it again next week. I don't have much more to do on it. 

The headless, handless snowman now has a head and the blind owl can now see! No hands yet but I'm sure I'll put that right the next time I pick him up! I am really enjoying this now I've got used to the stiffness of the fabric. I think Lisa was hoping to finish block this week :)

Finally my progress on Tra La Snowman who now has a hat and a bird on his arm! Love this piece so much!

My order arrived from 123 Stitch today. I am very impressed with the speed my order was despatched and considering the time of year 10 days from the USA is not bad going at all so all in all I am one very happy customer and ready to SAL with Michelle on Christmas Tea!

I decided what to treat myself to with my gift certificate from Wasatch Needlecraft from Colleen:) I've told Colleen and will show you on here when it arrives!

That's all from me for now. Hopefully I'll have some more finishing over the next few days. Maybe I should lock myself away until I get it all done!

Take care everyone.

Lots of love and hugs

Sally

xxxxx

I Am So Blessed.....

To have the most amazing family and friends. Today is my birthday and I have been so spoilt. I feel so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life to make my day so special. I have been gifted with some lovely cards and gifts and I feel like a Queen!

So this post will be picture heavy with photos of the gorgeous gifts I've received. I hardly know where to start!

My DH bought me a charm for my Nominations bracelet. It's a red opal heart which is beautiful. I saw this book on Barb's blog and added it to my Christmas list so was surprised to see it when I opened my gift from Abi this morning. It's the illustrated book of The Secret Garden. Like Barb I have never read it. It is so beautifully illustrated. A card arrived from Jess on Saturday and she says there's something in the post for me!!

My surrogate sis Lisa made me this lovely pillow. I absolutely love this and the saying is so true!!!! Thank you so much Lisa {{{hugs}}}

My dear friend Barb sent me an email the other week saying she'd ordered me something from The Nimble Thimble and it would be arriving soon. I was a very good girl and kept it until today to open and look what she gifted me! Shepherd's Bush Pink Snowman! Thank you so much Barb {{{{hugs}}}} it's on my 2012 to do list:)

From my dear friend Chris, who came to see last Friday, I received a lovely band sampler. I don't know who the designer is but this is just so gorgeous. Chris actually stitched this for my birthday last year but lost it then found it later! I'm so glad she did as I love it and I have it hung in my dining room. Thank you so much Chris {{{{hugs}}}}

My lovely Sb SAl-ing friend Colleen gifted me with a $25 GC for Wasatch Needlecraft. Thank you so much Colleen {{{{hugs}}}} I haven't decided what to treat myself to as yet but I will definitely tell you when I do :)

My dear friend Lesleyanne stitched me this sweet sheepy pincushion:) How cute is this?! Thank you so much Lesleyanne {{{{hugs}}}}

My dear friend Michelle sent me a lovely package containing some fabric, thread, a sweet little sheep charm and a keyring with my name on it. Thank you so much Michelle {{{{hugs}}}}

 My dear friend Elisa sent me this gorgeous birdy pillow which is so me! It is so sweet. Thank you so much Elisa {{{{hugs}}}}

I am just in total awe of all the lovely gifts I received. From my lovely friend Christine I received these lovely Carrie's Creations threads. Thank you so much Christine {{{{hugs}}}}

From my dear BBD AotH SAL partner Jane I received this cute sheepy pincushion and JABCO Pins. Thank you so much Jane {{{{hugs}}}}

From one of my stitchy friends that I have known the longest, Julie, I received this gorgeous bunny pinkeep which is just so sweet. Thank you so much Julie {{{{hugs}}}}

Last but by no means least from another of my stitchy friends that I have known the longest I received this gorgeous hand made card. Fiona makes the most gorgeous cards. Thank you so much Fi {{{{hugs}}}}

I just feel so blessed and an so thankful to all my friends for thinking of me and making my day extra special. I cannot thank all of you enough. I have had lots of birthday wishes on Facebook too so thank you all and lots of love and hugs :)

I do have some stitching to show and a finished finish but I'll save that for another day:)

I'm so sorry I'm so far behind on blog reading but I hope to catch up tomorrow. I miss seeing what you are all stitching :)

Take care everyone!

Lots of love and hugs

Sally

xxxxx