Friday 3 April 2015

Major Happy Dance!

Get those disco balls out and your dancing shoes on folks as a major happy dance is coming up!


Country Cottage Needleworks Frosty Forest

32 count pearl grey linen

DMC, GAST, WDW and Classic Colorworks

Started 17th March 2014

Finished 2nd April 2015

I LOVE how this turned out! I have counted each block as a finish over the last year and I think that helped me keep going with it. I don't know how I'm going to finish it yet but I'm thinking cushion. It won't be washable though so I may have to rethink. So that's one more to the ever growing finishing pile. 

So new start for me next week :) Well two new starts actually! I'm moving my CCN cottage stitching to Wednesdays in the parlour over on Needlecraft Haven so new start no. one will be on Tuesday. I haven't decided what it will yet but maybe a Lizzie Kate. Second new start will be a new SAL for Barb and I on Thursdays. We're going back to our Shepherd's Bush SAL. I will be starting My Mom's Garden ( unless the fold arrives before then! ) and Barb will be starting Earth Gatherer. I'm really looking forward to some SB stitching again. Oooh typing of SB stitching I finished the All Seasons fob and I have forgotten to take a photo again. Sigh! I'm going to see if I can get it made up over the Easter weekend. 

I forgot to say that the UB Designs Beerenherz im Winter is now for sale. Please email me if you are interested :)

WIPs now. Not so many to show until I get those new starts lol! I had a new start on Tuesday and that was the CCN May Cottage. I didn't get a good start on this as I messed up ( I told that silly frog to stay away! I need to yell frogs legs before each stitching session I think! ) and had to unpick most of what I'd stitched but, thankfully, it wasn't a massive amount when I realised I'd made a mistake. Love these colours.

A little more progress was made on Ocotober's Marigold. These colours are gorgeous and it really pops! 

And a little more Halloween stitching on Perched on a Pumpkin. The owl is so cute. I'm going to look through the Halloween mags to see if I have anymore Blue Ribbon Designs ones. I know there is a big one so what I might do is take a bit from that so I can stick to ornament sized pieces. I'm in a BRD mood!

I haven't taken a photo of my lovely robin as there wasn't a great deal to show to look out for that next post. 

Do you remember the shawl I was knitting for Abi and what a pain it was? Well I did finish it a while ago and have kept forgetting to take a photo. Anyway a friend from the craft group I go to lent me her blocking wires this week and I tried using them but couldn't get on with them at all. I ended up bending a couple of them and was so upset with myself. So my ironing board came out and I steam blocked it but Abi has decided she wants it bigger. This is it after steam blocking and as you can see the top edge is not straight. I've set about blocking it again this morning by just pinning it out and realised that the top edge is meant to be curved round at the ends! Duh! So we'll see how it turns out this time!

I have left THE best until last. When I arrived home from my Auntie Mary's funeral on Wednesday there was a package waiting for me from my dear friend and SALing partner Barb. Look at what was inside.

Isn't it amazing! It was made by Barb's very talented DH Martin and the gorgeous card was made by the equally talented Barb. I could not believe my eyes when I opened the package. I have told my girls that when anything happens to me they must keep all the Martin made beauties as well as all the Barb and other friends made beauties! 

Thank you for all your lovely comments and all your hugs on my two aunties passing. My Auntie Mary's funeral went well and me, my sister and our cousin ( my Dad's brothers son ) found out something we never knew. Her name was actually Constance and Mary was her middle name! We saw 2 of my Dad's cousins as well as one of my Mum's cousins who I had never met before. Well not that I remember! It seems strange now that that my Dad and his two siblings are gone but they are reunited now and will no doubt be getting into all sorts of mischief together with their spouses and parents! This is a photo of my Dad, Auntie Mary, Uncle Bill and their parents from way back when :) My Dad is in between my Grandma and Auntie Mary.

That is all from me for this time. Hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend and don't eat too many eggs! Lol!

Take care everyone.

With much love,

Sally xxxx

31 comments:

WendyCarole said...

Frosty Forest is beautiful. I love it :)

Lisa V said...

Congratulations Sally, lovely finish.

Margaret said...

Congratulations on the big finish! It looks wonderful! Love all your WIPs too -- and the shawl for Abi is gorgeous! Blocking is never my favorite thing. I'm putting off a blocking with blocking wires because of the blocking wires part -- never used them before. lol! Love the present from Barb and Martin too!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

firstly I'm so very sorry Sally for the loss of your Uncle and Aunt...may they rest in peace...but you are so right, a family reunion in heaven. That is something to smile on!
Your Frosty Forest is stunning and I'm so happy for you! YAY! gorgeous!
And that darling sheep glass window is so cute! What a darling thing for your friends to do for you!

Tricia T said...

What a gorgeous finish!!! I have the SB My Moms Garden kit... started it once but couldn't work with the linen. Maybe I'll have to pull it out and find some fabric I can stitch on! : )

Gillie said...

Well done on the finish, Sally. Are you a quilter, was thinking it might look good with some frosty looking, ie paler, Christmassy fabrics around to make a small quilt to hang for Christmas?

Blu said...

Congratulations on a gorgeous finish.

Vickie said...

Oh good for you Sally! That is a wonderful gift Martin has made you.

Annie said...

Beautiful finish! Congrats!
Wonderful progress on other projects, too.

Manuela said...

Congratulation.
It is a wonderful finish.
Happy Easter, Manuela

Unknown said...

Your Frosty Forest is ready - now spring can come:)) Great work - I love it !!!
Happy Easter
Marion

Daniela Bencúrová said...

Frosty Forest have at home - we have a new snow:-)))
Your Frosty Forest love, not ours! I have spring:-)

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

What a beautiful finish, Sallly! Your other WIPS are all so cute and that little sheep glass gift is adorable.
I"m sorry for the loss of your aunts. What a great pic of them with your dad!
Happy Easter!

Linda said...

Congrats on the gorgeous finish Sally. The shawl is very pretty. Lovely stitching on the rest of your projects.

Linda

Carol said...

Such an impressive finish, Sally--a lot of hard work went into those nine squares, I'm sure! It looks wonderful--congratulations :) And I love your gift from Barb and Martin--so sweet and thoughtful of them!

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter!

Justine said...

That's an awesome finish Sally! It looks great. A cushion would look fantastic but I understand about the washing.
Thanks for sharing that lovely photo of your Dad and his family. So sorry for your loss xx

butterfly said...


So sorry about the loss of your two aunts.

Love all your stitching Sally . And love your gift from Barb and her husband .

Wishing you and your family a Happy Easter hugs.

Hazel said...

Stunning finish Sally! Tracy is currently working on it. Xx

Christine said...

What a fantastic finish Sally! I love the shawl too. I tend to avoid any pattern that may need blocking as I really struggle with it too, the best way I've found is to throw an old blanket on the dining table and pin it into place on that, I've never tried using blocking wires.
Fabulous gift from Barb!

Mii Stitch said...

Congratulations on your beautiful finish!!

Barb said...

Whoo hoo Sally , Really happy dancing with you, the Parlour will have to be decorated and the carpets pushed back on Wednesday,
Love the owl on the pumpkin , shall have to go look in my mags now, you do set me off don't you. The shawl looks lovely, and we were so pleased you liked your card and gift.
Love and hugs .

Cindy's Stitching said...

Awesome finish. congratulations. Happy Easter.

Frances said...

I love all the stitching you posted! You have really been busy! Very nice!
And your gifts are lovely!
I'm sorry for your losses...

Andrea said...

I'm happy dancing with you. Wonderful WIPs too. Lovely gift too.

Julie said...

Hoppity skip..... super finish, it looks fabulous.
Gorgeous sheepie gift from Martin and such a lovely handmade card from Barb, I too received one for Easter, she is clever isn't she.
The shawl looks gorgeous.

gominam said...

Congratulations on your beautiful finish! Lovely WIPs and gifts! And what a good gorgeous family you come from;)

Maggee said...

Congrats on finishing Frosty Forest! It is going to be ever so lovely displayed, however you decide! Looking forward to what you pick! You will finish up those WIPs in no time, and then what? What a great Easter gift from Barb and her Husband! A treasure for sure! Hugs!

Brigitte said...

What a gorgeous finish this is. It was worth all the work you put into it. Nice to see your WIPs and I'm looking forward to seeing your new starts.
Great gift from Barb and Martin.

Michelle said...

Oh Sally its beautiful well done - lovely story about your Dad xx

Miamina said...

Well done on the stunning finish!

Your progress pictures look lovely! Well done!

So sorry to hear of the sad passing of your Aunts. My thoughts are with you x

Anonymous said...

Hello!

Just found your lovely blog.
Congratulations on your fantastic finish and lovely wips too.
So sorry to hear about your Aunts.
I love the little sheepy present.
Hope you have a good weekend x