Friday 14 March 2014

Finishes, Starts and A Birthday Gift

Lol! It would seem my blog titles are not very creative these days! I can never think of a good, gripping title to draw you all in but never mind. My mind is too full of stitching and what to with it when I finish it at the moment.  I was waiting for Abi to get ready to go feed the ducks, geese and swans this morning ( it's a regular thing now ) and decided I'd get all the finishes that are in one of the drawers out, make a note of them, their sizes and what I plan to do with them in the hope that as the year goes on I'll get them ready to display.  Friends don't hold your breath as the pile will probably just get bigger rather than smaller. 

Yesterday I had the house to myself so decided I'd get all the Little Sheep Virtues out and sew basting lines around them in preparation for sewing them up. I'd nearly got them all done when I picked up Friendship, looked at it and realised something was not quite right. Hmmmmm I'd stitched the left hand border too far over so it has to come out! I can't leave it as it will bug me. It's a good job Chris and I hadn't got together since my birthday as I still have the last few charts. She is buying them from me.

Last Friday was the lovely Lesleyanne's birthday so I stitched this for her. It was so lovely to stitch and I'm looking forward to stitching it again later for me :)

Lizzie* Kate Bonus Chart from Simple Things

Polstitches 28 count fabric from grab bag.

DMC

Birthday gift for Lesleyanne.

I am so happy that she likes it :)

I have had a couple of finishes recently.The first one is this beauty.

Cottage Garden Samplings March's Daffodil

40 count linen

DMC

Started 26th January 2014

Finished 9th March 2014.

The second finish I had mixed feelings about because it was the final sheep of my SAL with Barb but I have 12 adorable sheep :)

Little House Needleworks Little Sheep Virtues Joyfulness

32 count Vintage Country Mocha linen

DMC

Started 24th February 2014

Finished 10th March 2014.

Thank you so much dear Barb for SALing with me on these. It was has been a sheer pleasure and I'm looking forward to next week for the start of our next one :)

I have had two new starts since my last post. It's funny how something as simple as starting something new can give you renewed enthusiasm. Firstly I started Country Cottage Needleworks The Tea Room which Mouse lent me. I was originally going to stitch it over one on 28 count but the white wasn't going to show up so I found this  30 count RR linen ( can't remember the colour off hand ) which I bought last year from a friend who was selling off a lot of her fabrics and I really like how it's looking. I have enough to stitch the Needlework Shop on it too.

Second new start is Brightneedle Lo How A Rose from the Better Homes and Gardens book which Lois kindly passed onto me when she'd finished stitching this one. I am stitching it on a lighter dye of Crafty Kitten Fall Foliage which Dawn dyed for me to stitch Sally Spencer Sampler which I started then hated so I unpicked what I had stitched so I could reuse the fabric. Unfortunately you can still see where the red stitches were but I am hoping that might get stitched over and not be noticeable.  I am loving stitching this and The Tea Room so far.

Last Friday Barb and I started Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas.  This will be finished this evening :)

Wednesday in the parlour with Barb and the girls at Needlecraft Haven saw me frogging! I was stitching the lower verse on The North Wind when I discovered that it wouldn't fit in! After much deliberating as to where I had messed up I found it was on the branch where the robin is sitting so out came the words and so much of the branch. With branch corrected I decided I wouldn't restart the words but would move onto the border.

Finally a little progress on my SAL with dear Shirlee. Yes it's the dreaded Snow Angel which I am enjoying more now! I have got a little more stitched since I took the photo but will show that next time.

So that's all my stitching. I'll be having more new starts as I'll be starting the next Garden Journal, April's Daisy, as well as the first Frosty Forest. Barb and I will be SALing, me with Frosty Forest and Barb with Calendar Girls :)

After 3 weeks I finally managed to get back to craft group this week. It was lovely to be back and lovely to see all the ladies again. My friend Gill and I have started our crafting afternoons again after a few weeks off and we were knitting and chatting away for ages on Wednesday afternoon.  I had messed up on my next square of the afghan at craft group *sigh* so I was knitting that back up again. I was looking at the pattern for the next block and as it is very lacy I'm thinking I should maybe not try that one at craft group!

A few photos from this morning. This goose is actually on my foot! 



 These two saw us walking along and thought we had something for them! They were too late!

The Helleborus  in my garden

I finally gave in and went to see my doctor last Friday. I came away with some pills, which I have taken before, but not so sure they are doing any good. I am feeling brighter than I was but there are also times when I feel as bad so I don't know what the problem is and neither did my doctor really! I had blood tests on Monday and had no idea what for as she never mentioned it. It turned out it was for haemoglobin and something else that I can't remember which has me totally puzzled as to why so I will have to ask when I go back.

That's it for now. Thank you for visiting me and for your comments :). They mean more than you know.

Until next time.

With much love

Sally xx

27 comments:

Beth said...

A goose on your foot! March Daffodil is so pretty. I really like North Wind too.

Margaret said...

Beautiful stitching! Love your pictures -- you are very good with a camera! lol about that goose!

Vickie said...

Your stitching is so lovely Sally. I saw Lesleyanne's gift, and I love it!
Are that goose's eyes truly blue?

Bianca said...

Thanks for sharing another lovely post, Sally. You're right, new starts are so fun! The LK looks so cute, I love the trim with that fabric. Also, the garden series is such a lovely one...sheepies too, I wish I had time to start them all, lol. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying Snow Angel more now, it's looking very nice :) Good luck with everything, and I hope you feelbetter soon.

Ellen said...

Beautiful gift for Lesleyanne! I love your finishes especially the Daffodil!

I did one of the sheep on 30ct linen and found it too big for my taste. Will stitch the rest on 40ct linen, I like my ornaments small ha ha!

Love your new starts! The tea room is looking great! Will follow your progress!

Hugs,

butterfly said...

Allyour stitching is so beautiful Sally, I love them all and alot of them are on my to do pile.
Lovely photos .
Have a happy weekend.

Christine said...

Sally you could call your post "Bob" for all I care I'm still going to come and look to see all your wonderful stitching, not to mention the gorgeous nature photos you post.

Sherry said...

love all your stitching!

Mary Ann said...

I always love seeing a post from you--I know that there's going to be lots of lovely stitching to see--and this time did not disappoint!! Your Cottage Garden Samplings March's Daffodil is a beautiful finish!

Kay said...

Great goose! I love the soft colours in the Lizzie Kate design, really pretty. I also like the bright colours of your new flower design too. There are so many gorgeous charts out there to stitch, my wish list just keeps growing.

Barb said...

You have been busy your needle must be smoking. Loved your finishes and Wip's. Your animal pictures made me wish spring would get here. But we have several inches of snow on the ground yet.

Barb said...

Lol at Christines comment Sally, I too love visiting and although we do stitch a lot of things together I still love coming to see what you are up to. Love the goose , they have such expressions. Love the way angel is looking . Hope the results give you peace of mind. See you Monday
Hugs.

Andrea said...

Wonderful stitching, lots of lovely new starts. Great photos, love the swan.

Cindy's Stitching said...

Some really pretty pieces. really nice picture.

Julie said...

You've been busy on a lot of different things this past week,
Hope the doc can help you and answer your questions.
Nice piccies from your walk and a lovely gift for Lesleyanne.

Lesleyanne said...

Your finishes are gorgeous Sally. I especially LOVE my gift thank you. Your stitching is looking great. Love your photos.

Carol said...

Such beautiful stitching, Sally, and that was so sweet of you to make the lovely pillow for Lesleyanne. I can understand why it is a bit sad to say goodbye to the sheep series stitching with Barb--they are all so adorable. Glad the two of you will be continuing to SAL :)

Looks like spring over there with all the ducks and geese--enjoy!!

Marsha said...

Lots of great finishes and starts. I just finished something that I started over 20 years ago. Shameful of me. I love that goose! He seems to like you. A lot.

Maxine said...

You get through so much stitching Sally I don't know how you do it lol. Your pics always look so good as well, whether it's your stitching or anything else....your blog is such a joy to read and I know that if I'm in a stitchy slump seeing all your beauties just makes me want to pick up my needle. Hope you are feeling better too :)

Simply Victoria said...

It's so great to watch your progress and finishes. I probably say that every time I comment :) but I really find it inspiring. The Tea Room looks great on the fabric you picked. I want to stitch that one - one of these days.

Mii Stitch said...

Love your little finish for Lesley ann's birthday, it's really pretty!

Brigitte said...

Such beautiful stitching as always. You are so right - starting something new is a strong motivation. And I can also motivate myself when I pull out a long neglected UFO and continue stitching on it.
The more I see of this monthly Garden Journal the more I love it. It's high up on my wish list.

Chris said...

Wonderful update Sally! What a sweet gift for Lesleyann. Your other projects are looking great too.
I hope that the spring lifts your mood and you start feeling better. I know that the silly ducks and geese make you smile.
Hugs!

ricketyjo said...

Lovely stitching and congrats on your finishes!!! :)

Karoline said...

Beautiful gift for Lesleyann and your finishes are lovely. Great progress on your projects and I can just hear that goose saying 'feed me'!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Sally you're always so wonderfully productive!!!! Your finishes are beautiful!

Gandja said...

All is beautiful ! Congratulations ! ;-)