Wednesday 31 December 2014

Goodbye 2014!

It's certainly hard to believe that we are into the last day of 2014. The year has just flown by and soon we will start anew. I'm not making any resolutions. Not a single one simply because I never keep to them so I'll play it by ear and see what happens! 

My stitching year has been a successful one both with finishes and managing to keep up with Stitch from Stash. Tomorrow I'll be starting over on SFS and hoping to do even better. I have had 64 finishes over 2014 ( 64?? How did I do that! ) and have stitched 30 charts from my stash. I am feeling rather accomplished I must say!

Well Christmas came very quickly. I am always so sad when it's all over. We had a quiet one as usual. I was hopeful that my sister and her partner would accept our invitation but deep down I knew they wouldn't. It made me sad but never mind. So it was just the four of us, with my DH's auntie joining us at tea time,  and we had a very enjoyable time chatting, playing a board game and racing on the Wii. We do get a little competitive! We ate far too much, drank just a little and watched a little TV ( Dr Who and Mrs Brown's Boys! ). We all received some gorgeous gifts. A few of mine were robin, sheep or angel themed! I received some lovely ones from my stitching friends which you can see below :)

I do feel quite bad as I just can't send to everybody but Mouse told me it is better to give than receive :)

In no particular order.

From my surrogate sis Lisa. How can I resist not going back to Guardian now that I have a needleminder but it will have to wait a wee while!

From Michelle this beautiful box full of finishing items and Christmas tea.

From Barb some cute sheepy socks.

From Mouse a sheepy scarf, backing fabric and robin purse ( the note says start of Harrogate fund!)

From June a sheepy themed gift :)

From Karan a lovely chart by Jeannette Douglas Designs

From Shirlee some lovely teas, wooden sheep, needle threader and LHN ornmanent. The White Christmas tea is now no more as I drank it earlier today. It smelt and tasted delicious!

Thank you so much my dear friends.

We didn't get any snow here like other parts of the country did on Boxing Day but we did see some in the fields when we went to Meadhowhall shopping centre in Sheffield on Monday. It certainly turned very chilly though so we have been waking up to some beautiful frosts. I am still hoping for some snow before the end of Winter though!

I have been stitching a little and finished this ornament up just before Christmas.

Heart In Hand Christmas Alphabet

36 count fabric

DMC

I also made up this ornament before Christmas.

My CCN January Cottage is made up. I spotted this finish on Pinterest and decided to have a go. It's not quite how I wanted it look and I may add something to make it look better. I found the ricrac fiddly to add but, hopefully, the more I do the better they will look.

The February Cottage is looking very pretty. I have got more stitched since this photo.

I made a start on the next block of Frosty Forest. This one is Snowgirl's Cottage.

My robin came out to play again :) I'm SALing with my surrogate sis Lisa :)

Finally my December SAL with Chris. I love this and can't wait to get it finished and on the wall. It'll be a while yet though!

Last photo is of Abi. This makes me smile. She works at The Works and on Christmas Eve they have a fancy dress day. Here she is in hers :)

New Year's Day is going to be different for us as, unfortunately, Abi is working. She wasn't down to work but was asked if she could when her colleague couldn't do it. I'm disappointed but we'll make the best of it. I get quite cross at shops opening Boxing Day and New Year's Day as it's just so unfair that the employees are not getting to spend time with their families. Some of the convenience stores even open Christmas Day. It has to stop before we lose Christmas altogether. Greed and selfishness are taking over.

That's it from me for 2014. Thank you to each and every one of you who has stuck with me through the year and for all your friendships. Have a Happy, Heathly, Stash Filled 2015.

Take care everyone.

With much love.

Sally xxx


25 comments:

Angela said...

Congrats on all your finishes! All your stitching is lovely :) Happy New Year.

butterfly said...

What a wonderful post full of lovely stitching and lovely gifts .
We are all so blessed to have a friend like you .
I am looking forward to see all your stitching in 2015 l love the January one I have been looking at something like that too and may give it ago later in the year.
Wishing you and your family a HAPPY NEW YEAR. HUGS.

jane said...

Happy New Year Sally x
Lovely pics of your stitching and gifts.

Clare-Aimetu said...

Happy New Year to you and all your family x x

Christine said...

Lovely gifts and stitching Sally.
Happy New Year to you and your family

Tricia T said...

Happy New Year, Sally! Beautiful stitching and presents and WAY TO GO on 64 finishes! WOW!!!

Jane said...

Fantastic achievement Sally, 64 finishes and you were so good with your Stitch from Stash, well done you.
Your gifts from friends are so lovely, I love all the sheepey bits and pieces.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, I hope 2015 is a good one for you and all your family xxx

Juls said...

Great finishes and WOW 64 pieces!!!! Wonderful

Mary Ann said...

Happy New Year, Sally!

64 finishes in 2014--WOW!! I can believe it, though. : )

You received some very nice stitchy gifts from friends, and had some lovely finishes!

Shebafudge said...

Lots of lovely gifts and lovely stitching! I really like the pink ruffle ribbon you finished one of the designs with.

Happy New Year!

Vickie said...

I have to agree with you completely Sally on the greed interfering with Christmas!!
That is a LOT of finishes! :)
A Blessed, Happy New Year to you!

Deb said...

Hello Sally, what a lovely blog. Happy New Year. I am in awe of the amount of finishes you achieved, wow congratulations.

Mouse said...

coooooo that's a lot of finishes and impressive with your stitch from stash list too ... lovely gifties you got and have you actually peeped into the robin ???
DD1 is working tomorrow too and Dh comes in from the grave yard shift at 3.00am .... sooo a quiet day for me too ..
wishing you a another wonderful stitchy year :) love mouse xxxxx

Julie said...

Happy new year to you and your family Sally.

Kate said...

Congratulations on your achievements through the year. We encountered the snow in Leeds when we collected DS1 on Boxing Day - he'd worked both Christmas Day
& Boxing Day!
Wishing you a happy, healthy & peaceful new year.

Jackie's Stitches said...

64 finishes is amazing! Congrats!

Happy New Year to you and your family - may it be safe, healthy, and happy!

Margaret said...

Lovely gifts and lovely stitching! Cute pic of Abbi. Sorry she has to work -- what a bummer. Happy New Year!

Linda said...

Awesome gifts, finishes and stitching Sally.

Happy New Year
Linda

Barb said...

Happy New Year my stitch along friend, what a lovely post and I am in awe of your 64 finishes . Your stitching is lovely as always off now to sort out some stitching for 2015 wonder if I will stick with it.Hugs Barb

Carol said...

I don't make resolutions, either, Sally, as they are always broken one way or the other! I am so impressed with your 64 finishes--and so many are ones you've given to friends. You are always very generous. I know just what you mean about not being able to send everyone something--there is just not enough time in the day to stitch for everyone :)

Lovely WIPs and finishes, as always--I look forward to seeing what springs from your needle in 2015!! Happy New Year!

Andrea said...

64 ... a massive achievement. Wonderful stitching.

A Happy New Year!

Miamina said...

Lovely gifts! Well done for completing all those charts and sticking to the SFS challenge!

Happy New Year!! Hope 2015 is a good year for you!

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Happy New Year. What a great selection of stitchy (and non-stitchy) gifts you've received. I like the finishes you've made as well.

Maggee said...

You had a very productive year, with 64 finishes! Wow! I have yet to count mine... maybe after I finish reading all my blogs! Your ongoing projects are looking great... the Robin is one I cannot wait to see completed! I hear you about the commercialization of Christmas. It is NOT good! I do not make resolutions for the very same reason--why bother, when they will be broken? Ha! Happy 2015!

Brigitte said...

Congratulations on your successful SFS challenge and your stitching year. 64 finished, wow, that's a very impressive number. You can be so proud of all your accomplishments.

You have received some lovely gifts from your friends all over the world. So many things to enjoy.

Great stitching in this post again. And two wonderful finishes, too. I hope that the new stitching year will be just as successful for you as the lasdt one.