Saturday 6 August 2011

A Gift FOR Lainey

Dear Lainey has been having a rough time of it of late and knowing how much a wee gift can bring some cheer when times are rough I decided to stitch this for her when I came across this chart in my stash. I received a totally mad Hallmark thank you ecard from her yesterday ( loved it Lainey) so can now show what I made for her. Lainey is like me and mad on sheep and snowmen:)

Midnight Stitching Heartstruck Quakers

32 count tea dyed fabric

DMC

Started 7th July 2011

Finished 17th July 2011

I finished it as a pin keep with a rudged ribbon edge. So glad you like it Lainey:)

As I haven't done a blog post for a week I have some progress to show. I didn't stitch on my AotH piece last weekend because the threads I needed hadn't arrived so stitched on HAED Guardian instead. I also stitched on it on Thursday evening so here is my progress. I'm trying to get this into my rotation for one evening a week and then next year when I finish the AotH piece ( hopefully!) I'll make it two evenings and try and keep at it.

I've done a bit more on Blackbird Designs Peacock Pin Keep this week and have almost got the alphabet bit done. Just the bottom border and it'll be done. I had fun trying to make my initials fit. That W is a nightmare!!!

Monday was SB SAL night as usual with Barb and Colleen :) I started the border on Family Sampler so please cross your fingers and hope it meets!!! Actually this border is so simple  if it doesn't meet it means that I am not safe to be let loose with a needle and thread! Still hoping for an end of August finish on this :)

I made some decent progress on Drawn Thread The Sanctuary. I don't know if Chris and Kajsa are still stitching along with me or not.

So that's my progress. I took my secret stitch with me to craft club on Tuesday. I was dreading going as I hadn't been for two weeks and I did feel a little like the new girl again.

I need to have a rethink of my rotation and after chatting to Lisa the other day I think I may have it sorted. I always do this to myself! I get too many larger pieces in my rotation then have little time for smaller ones and of course I want to keep HAED Guardian in there now as I know if it goes away again that will be it and it'll end up getting scrapped. So instead of stitching the SB ornaments on a Sunday evening I'm thinking of doing those at craft club. Sundays can be a smalls evening or a HAED SAL night with Lisa. I need to keep at least one evening for smalls then at least I'm finishing something! ETA What do I do??? Lol! I keep looking at Guardian and thinking can I ever finish it and what is the point of wasting valuable stitching time if it won't ever get finished? Let's face it it's 30 pages ( I think) and I've only completed 7. So that leaves 23 pages. At one evening a week there's no way I can get a page a month done so it's going to take me well over 2 years to do and I'm not sure I want to put that much into something. Why do I do this to myself! Maybe I should get a print of it and stick with a QS!


I'm so looking forward to next Wednesday as Lisa and I are having a stitchy day :) We've been friends online for many years now and we have met once before but it's been a while now since we last saw each other. She is coming to my home for the day and we're starting Little House Needleworks Travelling Stitcher. See you soon Lisa!!!


Last photo of the day is of the furry kind. Of course because Jess is home we also have her hamster Ivor. I have to admit that I wasn't too happy when she bought him but seeing her with him and realising how he makes me feel when I hold him I can understand perfectly the concept of having a pet to lift your blues. He is the cutest, funniest little thing and here is is asleep in Jess' shirt!

We're off out for Sunday lunch tomorrow as it's Jessica's 20th birthday and I can't wait. I've been feeling low the past few days so looking forward to getting out and not having to cook!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Take care.

love & hugs

Sally
xxxx 

37 comments:

Margaret said...

Happy birthday to Jessica! Her hamster is so cute! Love all the stitching. The gift for Lainey is so nice! All your stitching looks great!

Jackie's Stitches said...

I'm sure Lainey was thrilled with the snowman pinkeep - it's gorgeous!

I've never seen a hamster sleep on a person like that! Too cute.

Gabi said...

What a gorgeous pinkeep. Love it.
All your other stitching is gorgeous too.
I always look up to people who have a rotation and being able to keep up with it. I would too if I could.
Love the picture with the cute and cuddly hamster. Happy birthday to your daughter :)

Anonymous said...

Hope your feeling better today. I am sure going out to lunch will lift your spirit. I enjoy your blog thank you ;)

Mouse said...

oo hhh lovely gift :) well done on the progress .. :) have done the travelling stitcher you will enjoy :) Happy birthday Jessica and wayyy cute hamster :) love mouse xxx

Tricia T said...

What a sweet gift for Lainey! I'm another snowman and sheep person, so I can just guess how happy that made her! I'm enjoying watching your progress on your rotation - although I don't always comment. I love your SB piece and Drawn Thread one. I know you'll enjoy stitching Traveling Stitcher. That was one of my favorites! Happy stitching!

Catherine said...

How sweet to send something to Lainey! I know she loved it!

Love all your stitching projects!!

Happy Birthday to your daughter! Her hamster looks comfy, cozy!

WendyCarole said...

Happy birthday Jessica, love the hamster

Stitching all looking great

Heather said...

What a lovely gift you made for Lainey.

What a cute hamster.

Have a wonderful birthday tomorrow Jess, those teenage years are now behind you!!

Colleen said...

The snowman pinkeep is lovely & I know that Lainey is thrilled & has lifted her spirits!
A happy birthday to Miss Jessica! Enjoy your day with her & the family.
As always, Sally, your stitching projects are gorgeous. Love each one.
Hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

Oh my... that hamster is so cute sleeping like that! We've had hamsters before, but they were never what I'd call "cuddly"-- always running around!

Hazel said...

Lovely finish for Lainey and your wips are looking good. Have a lovely day with Lisa. I love hamsters. They are such cute creatures. You know only a hundred years ago they were thought to be extinct. x

Christine said...

Great stitching Sally, I love the pinkeep you made for Lainey.
Happy Birthday to Jess, her hamster is just adorable!

Littlebit said...

Oh, the snowman pinkeep is so pretty, and I LOVE that edging you you used!!! VERY NICE!

Lesleyanne said...

Great stitching on your wips. I hear you with trying to stitch on as many things as you can. Gorgeous gift for Lainey, I'm sure she was thrilled. Happy Birthday to Jessica. Hope you have a great day. Enjoy your day with Lisa too, if only I lived nearer lol.

jane said...

That's a lovely gift you made for Lainey and your WIPs are looking great. I am going great guns with AotH 11 at present.
Have a lovely day with Lisa and enjoy your family Sunday lunch. Not sure about the hamster - we use to have one when the girls were younger but I never really took to it.

Tina said...

AWWWWW Jessica's hamster is so cute.Love your pressie to Lainey and your wip's are so lovely.seeing the progress on the sanctuary makes me think i need to start mine.Love your SB piece the colours are so lovely what we need is more time xx

Maggie said...

All your stitches are lovely and no wonder that Elaine was thrilled with the pin keep you sent her, it's beautiful :-)

I'm having the same trouble finishing anything small this year, too many larger projects going on, last year i completed all the LHN christmas ornies in the 2010 series, this year i haven't done one!! Might take up your idea and dedicate one night to smalls - good idea, at least then i'll have some new decorations for my tree come Christmas.

Have a great time tomorrow, and Happy Birthday to Jessica (the hamster is really cute BTW :-))

Unknown said...

What a cute pick me up you sent Lainey - I can see why she was thrilled with it!! All your WIP's are growing beautifully. I agree that you need to find a time for smalls, it really does help to have a finish fairly regularly. Good luck figuring out your schedule. Oh! And Ivor looks cute. My DD Lisa had hamsters when she was young, but they kept multiplying - scary.

Karen said...

What a sweet stitching gift for your friend. You certainly have some great WIP in progress! Happy stitching....

Myra said...

What a lovely, sweet gift for Lainey. That is very thoughtful of you. Love seeing the progress on your WIPS.

Ellen said...

The Snowman pinkeep is gorgeous! I enjoy seeing the progress on your wips!

Hugs,

mdgtjulie said...

Ah, Sally, IDK what to tell you with Guardian. Maybe someone else would want to finish it for you? I have several HAEDs in my rotation, and I don't think I've ever done a storykeep or quick stitch. I LOVE big projects. I'm just a BAP kind of girl!!! I have six in my rotation right now, sort of. I have three Selina Fenechs kitted and ready or started, and I'm going to be kitting three of the deadly sins to add to my rotation somewhere. I'm gonna add them randomly, so I'll have them all spread out in my rotation. I love multiple page projects, and even if I only get a couple of pages done per year, I'm okay with that. So maybe you should find someone like me that loves the large project, and offer Guardian to them. At least this way, it doesn't all go to waste!!! All your other projects look lovely. I really like Sanctuary. Pretty colors. You keep up the good work. The furry little hamster is adorable!!! And good for you going out today. I truly hope you enjoy yourself!!! Hope you get your rotation sorted!!!

Kate said...

Gorgeous pinkeep for Lainey - I'm not surorised she loved it.
Great progress on your WIP's - I know that I couldn't stick to a rotation Sally so you get huge respect from me.
Hope you and the family have a lovely day for Jessica's birthday and enjoy your stitchy day with Lisa.

KarenV said...

What a sweet gift you made! Lovely progress on your WIPs too. Happy Birthday to Jessica, hope you all enjoy your Sunday lunch out today :)

Barb said...

Hi Sally, Lovely Lainey gift. Wips progressing nicely. Can understand how you feel about the guardian, I did that with a HAED just felt I could not carry on with it ,but you have done more than I had so perseverance may be the name of the game.
Happy Birthday Jess,enjoy your lunch out.
Love the hamster just watch it does not decide to investigate the back of the settee (therby hangs a tale).Enjoy your day with Lisa,sure you will.
I shall be sal with you tomorrow ,hope for a happy dance.
Hugs

Stitchabilities said...

Lovely Gift for Lainey, and some lovely progress pics.
Aww cute Hamster, Maybe doing some voluntary work with animals would be good for you Sally!!
Happy Birthday to Jessica

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Great stitching! Have fun at the luncheon and enjoy your family.

♥marylin♥ said...

♥ absolument merveilleuses ces images ! de gros bisous bisous ♥

Lainey said...

My gorgeous pinkeep is sitting right on top of my basket Sally, he makes my smile everytime I walk past, thank you so much sweetie.
Belated Birthday wishes to Jess, hope you had a nice lunch.
Your rotation pieces are all looking fab. Hugs!

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday Jess. Love the Hamster too cute! Sally you are so kind - your stitched piece is lovely and no doubt will be cherished. xx

Brigitte said...

What a lovely gift your made for Lainey. And that finishing with y ruched edge looks absolutely perfect.
I love your progress pictures and it's amazing how fast you are stitching on Sanctuary. I once started it but haven't stitched but the pond in the middle, then I abandoned it and even don't know why. Maybe I should start a UFO-finishing-year next year, lol.

Carol said...

Oh, Sally, I love the little snowman pinkeep you made for Lainey--it's just perfect!

Happy 20th to your daughter--hope her coming year brings much love and laughter...

Mary Ann said...

The gift you stitched is lovely, as is all your other stitching for the week! And, Ivor the hamster is certainly cute!!

Julie said...

Belated birthday wishes to Jess, i hope you had a lovely meal.

You and Lisa will be having your day together today, hope it's fun, I bet you didn't get much stitching done!

Levely to see Guardian out again, nice gift for Lainey

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

That hampster is adorable - I've fallen in love with the pygmy hamsters at the local pet store, but realize that I could never have one - I'm sure that they would be a little snack for Indy, our german shepherd.

Your gift for Lainey is gorgeous!

Your stitching is coming along nicely!

Siobhán said...

Happy birthday to Jessica!

Great job on the pinkeep--it is adorable! All of your stitching is wonderful. I'm amazed at how much you get done!