Wednesday 3 October 2012

Sheep and Stuff

Last week it was my dear friend Lainey's birthday and as everyone who knows her will know she is rather partial to sheep and snowmen. Well my gift for her last year was a snowman so this year it just had to be a sheep didn't it? So this is what I stitched for her.

JBW Designs French Country Lamb

32 count white Jobelan

DMC

Started 12th September 2012

Finished 17th September 2012

Birthday gift for Lainey.

Lainey loved it so I am very happy. I love it when my stitching brings a smile to someone's face:) The chart is now for sale if anyone is interested. I still have some other bits for sale too. Please take a look and see if you can take anything off my hands!

So what have been up to stitching wise? Well I had a wee new start last week. Shouldn't have as I'll be going into overload and having a stitching melt down! I wasn't going to show this as it's going to be an RAK I think but I'm yet to decide who I'll send it to. I haven't done an RAK for a while so thought it was time. I took this to craft club with me yesterday and took everything I needed except............. a needle! 

I had another two evenings on HAED Guardian Friday and Saturday. I almost got the top 12 rows of page 9 stitched. I'm in it for the long haul on this now. I will grit my teeth with sheer determination to keep going and actually finish it. I was looking back yesterday in my stitching diaries and I started it in April 2007! It's shameful as had I kept going I'd have finished it by now!

I still haven't finished my September ornament for the Christmas All Year Round SAL. I thought I had apart from stitching a horn ( not buying the charm as it's too expensive!) but then after I'd taken the photo I realised I had to back stitch the vines at the bottom. I've chosen a Sam Sarah Design for this month.

Monday was SAL night with Barb and I was hoping to get mine finished but it did not happen. I did make good progress though and I think my mojo is returning fast now. 

Last night I picked up HAED QS Holly Fairy. I had stitched a bit more since my update last week and it was going well until last night's session! I had to frog some , got it restitched then realised I'd stitched a bit in the wrong shade of grey. Needless to say that hasn't been frogged. I don't think it's too noticeable and even I'm not sure which bit it is! I think I'm having bother with the Magic Guide fabric now. It was fine when I was just stitching rows of black but now I'm getting to the bits with lots of colours it's a bit more difficult to do. I'm so used to gridding in blocks of 10 x 10 and this is blocks of 20 x 20. I'm quite tempted to grid it but I'll get used to it I guess!

Tonight I'm having a new start. Yes I know what you're thinking! What is wrong with this woman?! Barb was telling me a while ago about a SAL on Needlecraft Haven ( a friendly forum run by the lovely Clare). Now I used to be a regular on NH but haven't been on it for ages now and this SAL is going to be perfect for, hopefully, getting me back on there. It's called The Little House in the Country with The Sampler Girl SAL and you can stitch Little House Needleworks, Country Cottage Needleworks or The Sampler Girl so I'm starting this.

Luckily, after forgetting my needle at craft club yesterday ( and no one had a suitable needle lol) I had also taken my afghan with me. It's growing nicely but yesterday I kept having to take it back ( I seriously think I should not have knitted or stitched yesterday but today is a new day!). I am onto the third square now and it's a lovely pattern.

That's all my news for today. Hopefully I'll be back sooner and get into regular blogging again. Thank you for continuing to visit me and for your lovely comments. They are appreciated more than you know :)

With much love

Sally
xxxxx


31 comments:

Catherine said...

It's always so fun to see what your have been working on, Sally! Lovely gift for Lainey ~ very sweet finish.
I used to only stitch one project at a time, but over the last couple of years, I have become a mult~project stitcher. It is nice to take a break from some of the bigger ones now and again, but then sometimes I have a hard time going back to them!

♥ Nia said...

Lovely gift for Lainey =)
You have so many wips on your hand! You multitask! eheheh

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your mojo is most definitely back! Such wonderful projects!

Samplers, Silks and Linens said...

I know how difficult it is to finish those HAEDS - i havnt managed to finish one yet - too many tiny stitches! i like how you finished the sheep ornament with the ribbon around it - i have a thing for sheep too - but then thats the new zealander in me, i cant help it, we have so many of them! hugs and stitches, Amanda

cucki said...

wow all the stitching projects are so cute..super cute..
very sweet gift too.
love for you xx

Emma/Itzy said...

As always you have been so busy - you put me to shame, haven't done a single stitch for over a week!

blue star stitcher said...

What a great birthday gift. I always love making stuff for other stitchers who actually appreciate the work and skill that goes into it.

Barb said...

Sally I have just opened the door down in the country so would love to see you in the parlour this week!Loved the post ,and as usual like all your stitching you keep me inspired. I have almost finished the 3rd of the 4 Know your own happiness so expect yours soon.
Hugs.

Shirlee said...

You are certainly keeping busy with projects ... they are all wonderful!

Elisa said...

Gorgeous gift Sally, lovely progress on your WIPs and your knitting too. I am interested in both your Shepherd's Bush charts you have for sale...will drop you an email xx

Margaret said...

All of your stitching -- and knitting -- is so great to see. I don't know how you manage to stitch on so many things at once. Love Lainey's gift -- so pretty!

butterfly said...

Such a lovely post Sally your gift to Lainey was so beautiful. All your WIPs and Knitting look fab, hugs.

Lesleyanne said...

A lovely gift for Lainey. I stitched her a snowman. I love all of the projects you have on the go. Look forward to seeing your SAL on NH.

Julie said...

Your blog posts are always so full of such differing projects. It'll be nice to see you in the parlour on Wednesdays with the other ladies.
Super giftie for Lainey.

Brigitte said...

What a lovely gift for Lainey, so perfect for her. You have been stitching a lot on your projects, great progress pictures. And your new SAL with the ladies from Needlecraft Heaven will be a lot of fun. Why not start a new project qwhen you so much pleasure in it. I do that all the time, lol.

Deb said...

Your have so many great things that you are working. Your sheep is really cute.

jane said...

What a lovely gift Sally. Glad you feel like your stitching mojo is returning and lol about the needle - same thing happened to me at a meet up recently.
Look forward to seeing Home of a Needleworker in the SAL.

Vickie said...

Lainey's gift is wonderful. My you certainly are busy right now. Good for you!

Hazel said...

Lovely stitching Sally. Nice gift. x

Michelle said...

Sally your gift to Lainey was so beautiful - I am sure she adores it. All your WIPs and Knitting look wonderful. I think TSG chart is lovely xx

Mylene said...

Such a cute gift for your friend!!
And lovely updates on your WIPÅ›!!

Christine said...

Great stitching and knitting as usual. Lovely gift for Lainey and Small token is looking fabulous. Sorry about the frogs. Had to laugh at you going to Craft Club without a needle, that is exactly the sort of thing I'd do

Dani - tkdchick said...

I"m sure I've said it before Sally but I'm so happy you're moving full steam ahead with Guardian Fairy! Its such a fantastic piece and I'm enjoying your progress!

What a cute little lamb!

I love the grey fabric you're going to use for your new start!

Annie H said...

Hello

Your blog is lovely!
The sheep ornament is very sweet.
Gorgeous knitting too!
I hope you have a good weekend.

Angela said...

I always love to see what you are stitching next :) Lovely gift for Lainey!

Michele B. said...

It's always so nice to see a post from you. That little lamb is so sweet - I love JBW Designs (just finished her Owl). I am in awe of your HAED - don't give up, you will finish it, but it is a massive project, so don't be hard on yourself for taking awhile.

Kathy Ellen said...

I love your beautiful lamb gift for Lainey, and she is sure to be thrilled with it too. You have so many special WIP's....great progress on all of them, and your afghan is really beautiful.

Blessings!

Myra said...

What a sweet and thoughtful gift for Elaine. All your stitching is so pretty.

stitcherw said...

The little lamb finish is so cute, I'm sure she loved it. I love to stitch but hate to do finishing, you finished it off wonderfully. Lovely to see Guardian out and getting some time too, and I don't think that 2007 is that old, I've a WIP quite a bit older than that which I'm trying to stay motivated to finish and it's a whole lot less detailed than Guardian. I'll be interested to hear how you like the magic grid as you go along compared to gridding your own. I've not done a large one like a HAED yet so am still working out how I want to approach it.
Sue

Veronica said...

Woot! You've been busy. Love seeing what you've been working on. HAEDs are difficult. I doubt I'd ever finish one and admire those who do. Looking forward to see more.

Hugs,
Veronica.

Solstitches said...

What a lovely ornament you stitched for Lainey.
I'm loving the knitting and am looking forward to seeing more.
Margaret