Saturday 12 April 2014

The North Wind and Other Stories

It has been a wee while since I last blogged. Unfortunately I have found it to be a bit of a chore and I have read before of several bloggers feeling that way. I will continue to blog at least once a month to keep up with my stitch from stash and I will try and get back to regular commenting as I know I've been very bad of late. I hope this won't mean I will lose visitors and commenters but it's for my own sanity and right now I don't think my sanity is good! I have founds things very difficult of late, I go to bed and my mind goes into overdrive so I cannot get to sleep then when I do I don't have a good nights sleep. I have felt unwell for a while now but my blood tests came back fine which, as silly as it sounds, was disappointing as I just want to know I'm not going mad! I haven't said much on my blog as it is, after all, a stitching blog. I miss my Dad terribly and still cannot come to terms with never seeing him again and I often find myself thinking I just want my Dad. I know he will always live on in my heart and in my memories but it hurts so much still. I have even found that my stitching is not really making me that happy and I'm forcing myself to do it, possibly because I'm stitching Snow Angel and haven't been enjoying it and having the thread shade problems on Lo How A Rose put me off. However this week has been better with my stitching and I can see the end of Snow Angel.

So since I last blogged I've had two finishes. The first one being this :)

Little House Needleworks The North Wind

28 count Polstitches Clouds

DMC

Started 29th January 2014

Finished 2nd April 2014

In place of this, as it's a SAL in the parlour over at Needlecraft Haven I started CCN The Needlework Shop.

My other finish is The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas Day 6 which I am SALing with Barb.

And here are Days 4 and 5 ready to display.

Ooooh and my 12 lovely Little Sheep Virtues ready to hang when I feel up to getting on steps to hang them how I want. 

My Monday SAL with Barb is CCN Frosty Forest Racoon Cabin. It's steadily growing. Barb is stitching the LHN Calendar Girls.

CCN The Tea Room is coming along rather nicely. I think this is the only thing that has kept my interest up as I just love it.

I didn't stitch on April's Daisy last Sunday as I had some secret stitching to do but here is where I left it the Sunday before.

Finally the dreaded Snow Angel which is my SAL with Shirlee. Shirlee has finished hers ( I'm so jealous! ) but, as I said, I can finally see an end to it. I do still have quite a bit to do and am hoping to have it done by the end of April then Vonna, Shirlee and myself are starting LHN Warm Winter Woolens which I am very much looking forward to.

The other week I received a lovely RAK from my lovely friend Michelle. She had been to a stitching show and sent me these gorgeous fabrics and trims. Aren't they beautiful? I have to find something to use one of these on soon. Thank you so much Michelle xx

I can't end my blog post without some photos. I hope you don't get bored of seeing these as I mostly take them at the mere. I love it there and feel at peace when I'm down there. I am thinking of upgrading my camera sometime this year as, although it's a great camera, I don't have the scope to do certain things and the aperture setttings are  not brilliant on it but I shall see!










Until next time take care everyone and have a wonderful Easter weekend next weekend. My sister was saying the newspaper says we are going to have freezing weather and snow. I will believe it when I see it!

With much love

Sally xxx

39 comments:

Vickie said...

What a wonderful sheep collection there. You are doing so well on so many of your WIPs. I am sorry to hear that you are still so blue Sally. I hope it is a comfort to know you will spend all of eternity with your father. This life is so quick really. I will pray for you my friend. ♥

Jackie's Stitches said...

Snow Angel looks really good and your collection of Virtues looks amazing. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Barb said...

Hope you get to feeling better soon. What a group of projects, loved the sheep virtues.

cucki said...

Oh dear get well soon..
North wind is looking so lovely with other stitching :)
Huge hugs x

Tina said...

Love the sheep virtues,looking forward to seeing how they are displayed.
Loving that snow angel,put it on my Need list lol

Great pictures,looks a lovely place.

Hugs,hope you feel better soon x

blue star stitcher said...

Love all your pictures, and hoping for brighter days ahead for you.

Justine said...

Sorry to hear you're feeling blue. I'm sure your followers won't go anywhere while you're having a little break from blogging. I hope your stitching starts to bring you some comfort soon.

Kay said...

Beautiful stitching, I always enjoy seeing what you have done. Sending hugs. xx

Beth said...

North Wind is beautiful. The sheep virtues.. what an accomplishment. Hope with better weather you get to feeling better too.

stitchersanon said...

Love the stitchyness..sorry to hear you feel unwell. Sometimes we just need to step back and take time for ourselves xx Im sure we will all be here when you return xx. love the pictures xx The lambs are so cute.

Angela said...

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you after losing your Dad, take care of yourself :)

Love all of your stitching and as for blogging I completely understand that. Once a month sounds like a good idea.

I love seeing pics of the Black Swans :)

Von said...

Be gentle on yourself, Sally, give yourself time to adjust to a new normal. Although you'll always miss your dad, I pray the sting of his loss will lessen.

Ellen said...

Wow, love your sheep ornaments! They love great together! Love The Tea Room too, I must stitch that ha ha!

Hope you are out of the blue soon!

Hugs,

Deb said...

What an amazing collection of stitching you have been doing Sally. They are all beautiful. It is so hard when you are feeling horrid and do not know what is happening within yourself. Just take each day as it comes, make the most of the good days and on those blah days just do the best you can. I know how you feel as I have the same problems and it is so hard some days. I just hope you start to get more good days than yukky ones. Take care and never feel obligated to blog, it should never be an obligation. Use it as a release to make you feel happy.

butterfly said...

Sally your stitching all looks amazing.
Sorry you are feeling so low, don't forget it is still early days for you yet and time will heal .
Your dad will want you to be happy my friend sending you big hugs and xxx.

Poppypatchwork said...

I hope you feel better soon, it is so hard to lose a parent, no matter how old we get. Love your stitching. We will always be here, waiting should you want to share things with us. xx

LaNelle said...

Amazing stitching...be kind to you take time to adjust, many blessings to you in the days ahead.

Christine said...

Oh dear, I hope you feel better soon. In the meantime don't blog if you don't feel able, we won't go anywhere.

Julie said...

The sheep virtues looks fabulous, a wonderful project completed.
North Wind is beautiful too.
Super pics from your walks around the mere.
Take care x

Margaret said...

All your stitching and finishing is beautiful! Love your pictures too. I hope you are feeling better. If a piece of stitching isn't making you feel good, move on to something that does. Missing your dad will never go away, but hopefully it will become easier to deal with. It took a long time for me when my mom died.

Annie said...

Your stitching is all very beautiful. It's a shame you're not enjoying it for now, but hopefully you will feel better soon. Wishing you the best!

rosek1870 said...

I pray you can find peace and get back to feeling good again. It took me awhile after my mom passed but although I still miss her every day I also feel she is with me all the time and I do find myself talking to her a lot. If your stitching is making you crazy put it away and start a fun project. Sometimes that helps me. Blog if you feel like it and know we will be here whenever you do.
Sending hugs and prayers.
Rose

Michelle said...

Sally I echo what some have said - don't worry about blogging until you feel able. We are all here. Lovely stitching my friend xx

Barb said...

Hello my friend ,
You have made a great job on your sheepies will love seeing them in situ. You put me to shame all the stitching you get done. Snow angel looks fabulous -and the start on the needlework room is going to be another nice one. Keep taking those tiny steps one day it will be a big stride forward. Take care will speak soon and keep that Sally smile smiling.
Hugs.


Linda said...

Hi Sally. Please don't give up blogging. I so enjoy reading your posts.

Congratulations on all the finishes and new start. Wonderful progress on your other projects. I enjoy seeing the pictures at the mere.

Linda

Chris said...

Hey Sally!
I am sorry that you are struggling so much right now and not feeling well.I hope that things will be better soon.
You have been doing some beautiful stitching and finishing. I hope that the snow angel is finished soon :)
Hugs!

Shirlee said...

I'm so sorry you're missing your dad so much right now. As you know, I miss mine so very much as well. For some reason I have been thinking of him even more often this past week or so. I miss him more than I can say. Of course I know what you're going through with Snow Angel as well. I think your coloring looks a lot better than mine! Lovely photos! Your finishes & WIPs look great!

Jennifer said...

Well you've certainly gotten in a good bit of beautiful stitching!

I'm sorry about you missing your dad. It's so hard, and you devoted a good portion of your time to taking care of him. That void is not one that will fill easily and quickly.

Lesleyanne said...

Your sheep ornaments are stunning Sally. Lovely progress on your wips. You will never get over the loss of your Dad but I hope as time passes you feel a little better. Sending you hugs xxx

ricketyjo said...

I hope that you are feeling better soon Sally, take it easy and don't be hard on yourself.
It looks like you've managed to do a fair amount of stitching and everything looks so beautiful! And I love your other photos.
Take care and let us know what you've been up to when you feel like you are in the mood - it shouldn't be a chore. Lots of love to you. xx

Andrea said...

Beautiful stitching. Your Sheepies look great all together. I for one love all of your picturesque photos, it's good that you have that space so close to you. Hope you feel better soon.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Sorry you've been finding life difficult right now. There is no timetable for grief, just take each as it comes.

I must say your stitching does not seem to have suffered, your work is as beautiful as ever. I think SAL with friends is a great motivator.

Brigitte said...

So good to read you again, I had already missed a post from you. But so sorry that you don't feel good. I can only hope that you will soon feel a lot better.

So much eye candy to be found here. What a wonderful collection of all the sheep virtues, and all so nicely finished. And your WIPs have seen a lot of progress too. I hope that you will soon have a finish with Snow Angel so that you can enjoy your stitching to the fullest again.

Sonda said...

Been there on the blogging funk...life is full of seasons. This might not be your season for doing a lot of blogging. Those who really care won't leave you 'cause you're not blogging. They'll wait patiently for that next post to show up in their feed and smile when it does.

The hardest thing about emotional/mental/spiritual struggles is that they don't show up as easily on the outside and they seem to fall outside of modern medicine's "easily fixable" list.

I will keep you in my prayers and hope you find some needed peace.

Karoline said...

*hugs* Sally. I agree with Jo, there is no timetable.

Your Virtues are all gorgeous. Congratulations on your finishes and your other projects are lovely.

Great photos, I always like to see them

Carol said...

I'm sure I'll feel equally forlorn when my mother passes, Sally--just can't imagine life on earth without her. I'm so sorry you're having sleeping difficulties--that just wears you down so quickly. I hope you can find comfort in your stitching, photgraphy, and the beauty of nature...

Thanks for posting no matter how infrequently--it is always a pleasure to see your lovely work :)

Jeanne said...

What a lovely post Sally with so many beautiful things. Congrats on your Sheep Virtues collection - just love them! Snow Angel is sitting in my stash and love yours came out.

Don't worry about your blog, we'll still be hear when you have time and feel more like posting.

Miamina said...

I don't often comment but I do read very regularly and felt today I should offer my support.

Your stitching is beautiful and well done on the finishes.

Sharing your work and blogging should be a pleasure and not a chore. Don't feel guilty about not blogging, everyone needs a break at times. People will be here whenever you decide to post :)

Please look after yourself and don't be afraid of getting help. Talk to your GP and maybe ask if you can be referred for counselling, it might not help but you won't lose anything by trying.

Sending love and hugs xx

Simply Victoria said...

Life is hard. There is just no other way to say it. I too have wished at times that there was a diagnosed reason for why I have felt down. It would make you feel less crazy like you said. But, in the midst of the hard times, there is always hope. Don't lose that.
Thanks for pressing on and sharing what you are going through and all your progress. Hugs to you.