Sunday 8 September 2013

September.....

September is here and the mornings and evenings have an Autumnal feel to them. In fact the whole day has had that feel as we have much welcomed cooler temperatures today. Phew. I don't know if it will last or if the heatwave will come back but I don't know about you ladies I don't want it back now! 

I have been getting some stitching in but have also been trying to get to grips with my new camera. Yes I caved and bought one and it's my treat with some of my inheritance. I think my Dad would approve. When I went to the store I went with two cameras in mind, one of which he said was very heavy and the other he said I wouldn't be able to get it anywhere, but I ended up with a different one. It's a Panasonic Lumix FZ72 and I will admit having bought it and then read reviews and comments on those reviews I did go through a period of regret and wished I'd waited to try and get one of my original choices. However having played with it I'm getting some pretty nice photos. I'm mostly using it on intelligent auto but am learning other bits too. I've only had it a week and am rather pleased with it now. I think I'll learn to try and make my own mind up and not listen to others! Anyway I'll pop up a few photos that I've taken with it later other than my stitching!

I finished the Love-ly Pincushion from the Lizzie*Kate Not All of Us Boxer chart and love it! It's not made up yet but I'll get it done sometime. My sewing machine is misbehaving and I'm not sure if I'm going to have to have it serviced so am not a happy bunny!



Lizzie*Kate Love-ly Pincushion

Unknown Fabric

DMC

So the chart for this and Not All Of Us is ready to go to another stitcher and that stitcher is...............Clare! Clare I will pop it in the post to you sometime this week :)

I've been doing a little finishing of a few pieces. These two I stitched way back last year. I've also started to finish off a couple of ornaments and just have trims to add on.

Country Cottage Needleworks Snowflake Serenade


JBW Designs French Country Flower Basket

I only have a few WIPs I can show this time. Here is LHN Little Sheep Virtues Faith which I'm stitching with Barb. Loving this one. Can hardly wait to get Patience and Wisdom!

LHN Curly Q Ewe which I'm stitching with Lainey and Mouse. I've started the border and am hoping when it's eventually done it'll meet!

I started my September ornament for the Christmas All Year Round SAL at craft club last Tuesday. I chose My Bog Toe Designs His Gift from last year's JCS Christmas Ornament mag. I'm feeling quite excited for this year's mag. 

Finally a little bit of progress on HAED QS Spirit of Winter Robin.

I've had some stash this past week or so. The final part of the LHN Song of the Seasons mystery arrived from Patchwork Rabbit then I had asked Dawn at The Crafty Kitten if she could get me LHN Needlworker and that arrived this last week. I can hardly wait for the end of my autos then I really must stop buying charts!

Just a few photos now taken with my new camera.




 Taken out of the window. My holly bush against the sunset.
 This cat likes to sleep under our conifer hedge. He belongs to the family next door but one.




My kitchen is almost finished. my DH is tiling as I type! Yay!

Until next time... with much love

Sally xxxx


45 comments:

Jackie's Stitches said...

Congratulations on your new camera purchase! Your photos are fabulous! They are a bigger testament to your camera vs the reviews you read.

Love your posts - they're always full of wonderful stuff!

CalamityJr said...

Ooh, your camera is producing some lovely photos. Hope you continue to enjoy it. Thanks for sharing!

Vickie said...

I am glad you are happy with your new camera Sally. Very nice pictures you have shared. Your stitched pieces are lovely.

Pam in IL said...

Great stitching progress and wonderful pics with your new camera!

Myra said...

Wonderful finishes Sally - I love snowflake serenade. Your pictures look fantastic. Those new cameras take a bit to sort out but worth the effort when it comes to taking good pics. (I still haven't figured mine out and I have had it for years! LOL)

Melanie said...

Enjoy using your new camera Sally. The detail on the Pansy is wonderful and I love the sunset photo. You are stitching your Little Sheep quicker than me, I am also on the autoship but well behind at the moment. x

Anonymous said...

Hello Sally
Your new camera takes lovely pictures! I love the ginger cat (:
Beautiful stitching too (:

gracie said...

Love the stitching and finishing and the pictures! We always read the reviews on items we want to buy. They are not always the right answers...I think your pictures are great...so you must have made a good decision.

Heather said...

Sally, your photos are gorgeous! !!!!! Your stitching is fantastic too! I love Snowflake Serenade! !!!! I love how you have finished it. I have that chart in my stash and need to dig it out! Yeah for your kitchen being almost done! I hope you have a great week.

Jennifer M. said...

Wow! I love all your stitching pieces. Such an awesome variety you are working on.

The finishes came out perfect. :-) I love CCN and LHN designs.

Your camera takes really awesome pictures. You sometimes have to take reviews with a grain of salt cause those people just may not be using it correctly and they just think its the camera.

Barb said...

Hello there Sally, who is a clever girl then photos are fab, I always wanted a ginger and white cat ,perhaps I will catnap it when I come calling tomorrow lol.Stitching up a storm as usual and I too am awaiting the post with Patience and Wisdom!!
hugs.

Petites xxx et Cie said...

Fabulous !
Take care my Dear Sally.
Bisxxx

Linda said...

Congrats on the awesome finishes Sally. Great progress on the others. I think the pics you took with your camera are wonderful. Love them all.

Linda

Kay said...

Lovely stitching, as ever. I really like the way you have finished Snowflake Serenade and the JBW piece.

Cath said...

Your photos are great Sally .
Lovely stitching too .xxx

Michelle said...

Lovely stitching Sally. I am with you roll on Autumn and Winter. Always cozy stitching times. Your photos are stunning so glad you are enjoying your Camera xx

Mouse said...

yeahhhhh to the fab photos :) love the dandelion head one ... gorgeous stitching as always ... done a boo boo on my Curly Q sooo going to have to frog WAHHHHHHH ... love mouse xxxxx

Bernadett said...

Wonderful works and photos dear Sally.:)
I was waiting for calm autumn evenings,too...:) Just to finish my yearly/monthly school projects....and I will be calm to stitch...:)))

Christina said...

Lovely photos Sally - I'm sure your dad would aprove! :0)
Love your finishes and can't wait to see photos of your new kitchen! :0)

Lesleyanne said...

Lovely stitching progress Sally. Gorgeous photos, I love the sea and beach ones. Your new camera seems to be working well. Look forward to seeing your new kitchen. Hugs xx

cucki said...

Great stitching progress ...
i love them all...
and wonderful pics with your new camera :)
Hugs x

Dani - tkdchick said...

Lovely finishing Sally

Katrina said...

Have fun with your new camera Sally :) Your stitching and finishing is all lovely!

Margaret said...

Wow, you are a talented photographer! I love your pictures! Beautiful! Your stitching is lovely too, of course. I bet you're glad your kitchen is almost done!

Ellen said...

Wow, lots of beautiful stitching and finishing!

Wonderful photos, you made the right choice with this camera!

Hugs,

Shirlee said...

Lovely stitching my friend, & beautiful photos with your new camera! I have an older model Lumix & may have to look into updating it. How wonderful that it feels so much like autumn on your side of the pond. Unfortunately summer is taking what is hopefully a last hurrah lately but the temps are supposed to be lower starting Friday. Hooray! Have a great week!

Christine said...

Great stitching and finishing Sally, and some lovely pictures from your new camera.
I love the improbably balanced seagull, he looks as though he might topple over sideways at any moment

butterfly said...

Your photos are just wonderful you would have won a prise at our show last Saturday.
Your stitching is also beautiful.

Clare-Aimetu said...

Great stitching Sally - as always :-) I'm so surprised and very happy to win the chart, thank you.

Veronica said...

Beautiful stitching you've got there, Sally.

Now, I'm not an expert on this but I've once read that a camera is only as good as its photographer. So just make the best of what you have (and it seems like you already are... lovely photos you've taken, by the way), learn as much as you can of the techniques behind photography. It's the knowledge/skills and not the gadget that counts.

Hope you don't mind me rambling on there :P

Hugs,
Veronica.

Julie said...

Your new camera certainly takes first class pics, they are so clear. I like the holly bush in the sunset.
Lovely finishes and stitching as always.

Chris said...

Your camera is taking wonderful pics.I love the cat pic.
Lovely finishing and such great projects. Your stitching is lovely.
Have a great week!

Carol said...

What great photos you and your new camera are taking, Sally! Love the sunset and seagull photos so much. And your stitching and finished pieces are gorgeous. The Winter Robin amazes me each time I see him :)

Mii Stitch said...

I adore your Christmas finishes!!! The first one especially, it looks superb :)

♥ Nia said...

I love your snowflake serenade :D
Nice work! :)

Andrea said...

Love your finishing. The CCN piece is just gorgeous.
Wow the new camera is looking good. I would love a Panasonic Lumix. I’ve always had Fuji. Next year maybe.

Southpaw Stitcher said...

What fantastic finishes, and your WIPs are marvelous, too. Of course you know I love Curly Q Ewe! The photos that you're taking with the new camera are awesome!

Penny said...

Gorgeous photos! Love that sweet little hamster face. :) Your stitching is beautiful as always! Glad to hear your kitchen is almost done - I'm sure you're very happy as well. :)

Karoline said...

Enjoy your new camera, those are great photos

Congratulations on your finish & finishing, they are lovely as are your wips

Brigitte said...

So great, your new finished pieces. And you made some nice progress on your WIPs.
I don't understand anything about cameras, I just want to click and have the picture, lol. I love the pictures you made with your new camera, they are really beautiful.

Simply Victoria said...

What lovely photos with your new camera and great finishes too!

Catherine said...

Lovely stitches and love all your photos ~ especially the sunset!

Pumpkin said...

Glad to hear that you're making progress with finding a new camera. You'll know it when it feels comfortable :)

Love your LK finish! Very cute!

Your other two finishes are adorable :) How sweet is that pompom trim on that pillow?

My fingers will be crossed that your border will connect. That would be the worst feeling... All your WIPs look great Sally.

TFS all those photos! I'd say that camera does very well.

Kate said...

The pics from your camera look great Sally, until I started blogging I wasn't at all interested in taking photographs, I may have to progress from our compact to something a bit more adventurous.
Lots of lovely stitching updates, I especially like the JBW flower basket and the way you have finished it.

stitcherw said...

The pictures look like they turned out wonderfully, especially Wesley (who's always adorable) and the kitty. Loved seeing the various finishes and WIP's, Snowflake Serenade is beautiful and your Robin is looking so cute.
Sue