Monday 28 February 2011

Some Finishing Off:)

A while ago I finished Little House Needleworks Poinsettia House and after much searching online for some fabric and trim I finally found some lovely London gingham from one of my favourite Ebay sellers Favourite Fabrics 1. I also picked up some lovely East of India ribbon from her. Unfortunately when it arrived my fabric was too white so out came the teabag and I tea dyed it for a more creamy look to match the fabric I'd used for PH but you can't see it at the front. I also wanted some trim for the outside of the fabric "frame" so bought some in Boyes along with the little poinsettia trim that I've added. Anyway here's the picture. It's not a good one but it gives you an idea of how it looks. It was really dull when I took it so I struggled to get a decent one. Thank you KarenV for emailing me on how to make this type of finish :) I shall definitely be using it again as it works out much cheaper than framing and is perfect for smaller finishes :)

I also finished and made up the Prairie Schooler Summer Pinkeep from the Gift of Stitching Magazine. This is a fun little design which now completes my set of pinkeeps :) The fabric it is on is the one I used for the backing.

Prairie Schooler Summer Pinkeep

Unknown 32 count fabric

DMC

Started 17th February 2011

Finished 24th February 2011

Another finish is the pincushion from the Blackbird Designs Winter Wonderland chart which Lindsay kindly lent me. I will have the chart back to you ASAP Lindsay; thank you so much for the loan:) This was a very quick stitch and would have been finished off as well but we ended up having a bit of a busy weekend.

Blackbird Designs Winter Garden Pincushion

32 count Vintage country mocha linen

DMC and GAST

Started 22nd February 2011

Finished 24th February 2011

Just one more piece of stitching to show and that is my progress on BBD Valentine Rose, my SAL with Valerie, Jane and Lisa B. I only stitched on this on Friday evening as I just couldn't be bothered on Saturday evening but I am very happy with my progress. If I can get two good evenings this week I am hoping to have it finished and move onto the next one:)

This year Abi will be leaving school and going into 6th form so in July she'll be going to the year 11 prom which means prom dress shopping! As I'm sure everyone who has done this will know the dresses are not cheap but our local retail outlet was having a prom event last weekend so we decided we'd have a look. They were still rather more than we had hoped to pay but I had saved some pennies. Abi chose a shorter dress and a long one then we patiently waited in the queue for her to try them on. As soon as she got the shorter one on she didn't like it but the longer one was a huge hit! As soon as she got it on she said she felt like a princess and I must admit, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I had to agree! One of the assistants came and laced the back up for her then before we knew it she'd fetched all the other assistants in to have a look at her! I felt so proud. Anyway I want to share a picture that DH took when she tried the dress on again at home:) I dread to think what I'm going to be like on the night itself!

Saturday afternoon Jess rang her Dad for help. She'd bought a flat pack bookcase and was trying to put it together but some of the holes did not line up. So off we went armed with a drill through to see her and help put the bookcase together. I am quite ashamed to say that I didn't really want to go as I knew I'd end up in tears and sure enough I did. It's the first time we've actually sat down with her to talk about her wanting to change course etc at university. I won't go into detail but it's a huge worry for my DH and I wondering what is going to happen and what she's going to do plus there's the extra worry of where she's going to live as they seem to have got into their heads that they'll be better off renting privately rather than going with a university vetted company but my DH and I don't think they will. Still they think they know best so we just have to let her do her own thing, make her own mistakes ( or not!) and hope she comes out of it OK.

On Saturday evening Abi announced that she was taking me out on Sunday to cheer me up. When I say taking me out it did actually mean me driving us to where she wanted to take me- lol- but she wouldn't tell me where we were going until we set off. In the morning she dyed my hair for me so my greys are now fairly well covered and not quite as noticable. They look more like highlights now! Then just after lunch we set off and she treated herself and me to the cinema and we saw the film "Paul" which was absolutely brilliant! So damned funny. I love Simon Pegg!!!! Loved him and Nick Frost in "Hot Fuzz" so seeing "Paul" was a must!

Well I had better dash and have a blog catch up:) Looking forward to seeing what you are all stitching and stashing! I am hoping my BBD Stitcher's Journey book will be here this week :)

Thank you for continuing to visit me and leave comments :) They are very much appreciated.

Love and hugs

Sally
xxxx

36 comments:

Nicola said...

Lovely finishes and SAL stitching Sally. Abi's dress is beeeeeeeautiful!!!!!

Kate said...

Sally I love your PH finish it's gorgeous. PS & BBD are lovely too. I'm not surprised that you welled up with tears she really suits that dress - I'm in the same position as my oldest is finishing Yr 11 too. It does make you very proud.

Barb said...

You GIRLS make me feel so darn old,as my Grandson is having a prom this year too. Oh dear you turn around and they are all grown up ,just wait until she maybe changes it for a wedding dress one day Sally !! She is a beautiful young lady.
Oh WOW i abslolutely--love-- that finish of the PH, not suprised you will be doing more.
Hugs

gracie said...

I love your finishes and the WIP. Your daughter looks stunning in that dress.

Kajsa said...

What a neat finish! Everything is looking wonderful! It's so hard dealing with your kids and their decisions and no matter what you say they don't quite get it. All parents deal with it I think.

Patty C. said...

I like the BBD pincushion - Awesome :)

Stitchabilities said...

Abi looks beautiful in that dress!
Hope she has a great time when she wears it!
I love Simon Pegg and want to watch that film

Jackie's Stitches said...

Abi is a beautiful girl and the dress looks fantastic on her. Love the color, the fit is as if it was made for her, and there even is a bit of a sparkle which every girl needs!

Congrats on your finishes! I just finished my first ornament and getting the right fabric for the backing and the right trim isn't as easy as it would appear.

Lesleyanne said...

Congrats on the gorgeous finishes Sally. Lovely progress on your wips. Abi looks stunning in her dress - it really is beautiful.

Claire said...

I ADORE your finishes Sally - especially the Ponsettia. Abi looks so grown up and lovely in that gorgeous dress. My Katie leave primary school in July - such nervous times.

Enjoy looking at your WIP pieces.

Hugs to you Sally xxx

staci said...

Beautiful finishes Sally...I just love how your LHN piece turned out!

And Abi looks gorgeous in her dress :)

Christine said...

I love how you've finished Poinsettia House, its gorgeous.
Abi looks stunning in her prom dress, Nim is only going into Y10 in September but she's already talking about hers!
I loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, so that one is on my must see list too

Michelle said...

Lovely finishes Sally - the bee fabric is so cute. Wow she looks just wonderful in her prom dress. My sons is in June - he looked so handsome when we went for the fitting - makes you feel old doesn't it!

Cath said...

Beautiful finishes and WIPs . your daughter looks gorgeous , so tears are pretty much a must ,lol .At least they are the good kind.
Glad you had a nice time on Sunday .X

Ranae said...

I love the finishes and the WIP is looking great.
A gorgeous dress for a very pretty young woman
Don't worry!! everything will turn out as it should

KarenV said...

Lovely LHN finish Sally, glad you found my instructions helpful :)

I love the little BBD finish too, that's a sweet little design.

valerie said...

Lovely finishes Sally! Your PH finish is really cute and I live the trim. Wonderful progress on your Valentine Rose! I've cheated and started the bonus pattern because the prestitching for my class is driving me nuts. It's too fiddly and I frogged 1/3 of it! The bonus is very easy. lol You will love the BBD book. I got mine over the weekend and I want to stitch all of it! Abi looks stunning in her dress. I love the style and she will look great at prom. So sweet she took you out to cheer you up! It's the little things that make the difference.

jane said...

Lovely stitching Sally and the finish on PH is great, I wonder if it is easy enough for the finishing challenged (me!).
Abi looks beautiful in her prom dress!

Unknown said...

As usual, I love all your stitching. Your Abi is not only beautiful to look at, but appears to have a beautiful heart as well. That comes from great parenting - good on you!

Ellen said...

PH finish is gorgeous, I love this new way of showcasing your stitching!
Your PS pinkeep is lovely too and I know how perfect your finishing is.

Abi looks great in her prom dress!

Hugs,

Michele B. said...

PH looks fabulous and so does Abi! Her gown would have been worthy of the red carpet at the Oscars last night.

Colleen said...

Hi Sweetie, Love Abi's dress & Abi is so beautiful, very easy to have tears & a lump in the throat; you are allowed. Good to hear that Jess called & you were able to be with her & discuss her need to change course. I really think that our kids believe that we have money trees in the yard, to fund their desires. But, that is youth.

Love the finish of the Poinsettia House. It is different finish & you did lovely on it. Love the Blackbird finish. Between you & Barb, I have fallen in love with their designs.

Thanks for sharing. Take care.

mbroider said...

Hey i loved what Abi did for you!!

She looks very good!! There is something that makes a mother's eyes moist, isnt it!! It happened to me too last week:)

Unknown said...

fantastic works...very beautiful
Pat

Nicky said...

Beautiful finishing and stitching Sally. Seeing your daughter in her dress brings back wonderful memories. Great to hear you had a nice day out with her too.

Carol said...

Oh, you daughter looks fabulous in that lovely dress, Sally! What fun!!
I really missed out on the enjoyment of dances and proms having had only boys...

Your finishes are gorgeous, too :)

WendyCarole said...

Great finished. I have some of the bee fabric in my stash.

Abi looks wonderful.

it is a worry about Jess and uni. Lib was in uni rental the first year and then found houses with other people in her other two years. Luckily it was fine.

Lindsay said...

Your very welcome :)

All you finishes look fantastic and Abi is beautiful in her dress.

Sue said...

Your stitching is beautiful as usual and so is Abi.....I LOVE that dress. She looks gorgeous in it.

Lois said...

Lovely finishes Sally. What a beautiful dress. No wonder the assistants all came to have a look. It's stunning on her! Hope things work out for your other daughter.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Sally your daughter looks just spectacular in that prom dress!!! I know she'll thank you for saving those extra pennies!

All of your finishes are just beautiful!

sammyjo said...

the finishes look great sally! nice work.
hope you dont get too stressed about jess, i left uni last year as it wasn't really for me but with the support of my mum i found that id made the right choice in the long run, hope jess finds something at uni that suits her better and doesn't make too many or big mistakes :)

Solstitches said...

Everything in this post is just beautiful Sally.
I love your Poinsetta House finish and the pinkeep is very pretty alos.
Your daughter looks stunning in her prom dress. You must be so proud of her.

Lisa said...

PH looks gorgeous Sally, well done on such a lovely finish. If it's ok to pass them on, would you mind letting me have the instructions on how you finished this?
I love your PS Summer pinkeep, I've only ever done the autumn one we did as a SAL years ago, I really should do the others soon. Ooh, I could maybe join the PS SAL on NH and do the spring one?! Would have to find which issue it was in though lol.
Your Winter Wonderland finish is cute, and Valentine Rose is coming along fabulously, I love the colours in it.
Abi looks absolutely stunning in her prom dress, she is going to be a heart breaker!

Julie said...

Abi's dress is stunning!

Great finish for poinsetta house

Jennifer said...

Sally, your finishing is always SO lovely!!!