Some Finishes and New Stash!

This week has been a time for a new start and some finishes plus a page finish!

Yes, at long last, page 4 of my lovely robin is done! Talk about being determined to get it done! I didn't manage it on Saturday evening so, as my DH was out on Sunday, I sat down on Sunday afternoon and did not move until it was done! I also gridded the next page ready to start tomorrow :) Let's hope the next page goes a bit quicker although I won't have that tree to contend with!

Sunday evening saw the final stitches being put into October's Marigold. I just love this one! The colours just pop! I'll be starting November's Chrysanthemum on Sunday evening. I keep thinking this is my least favourite one but the more I look at it the more I like it! Almost done with the series yay! Then I can get them all mounted into my book. I must remember to stitch the journal cover!

Cottage Garden Samplings October's Marigold

40 count pearl grey linen

DMC

I had some frantic stitching to do to get June Cottage finished as it suddenly dawned me that it's the 1st June on Monday. Please can we slow things down a little to give me more time to get these cottages stitched each month?! Lol. I was doing so well and am not sure what happened! 

Country Cottage Needleworks June Cottage

32 count Natural Opalescent Linen

DMC

Barb and I are continuing with our Halloween SAL and this week I had a new start :). I decided to do something a little bigger rather than an ornament and chose Plum Street Samplers Ghoul Tidings from one of the JCS Halloweem specials. I'm stitching it using a mixture of the suggested GAST and DMC as I didn't have all the GAST colours in my stash. I can't remember what the fabric is but is 36 count :)

My second new start this week is Little House Needlworks Comfort which I won in Mii's giveaway along with the leftover threads. I am stitching it on 40 count Gander linen.

Just a little progress on My Mom's Garden as I didn't stitch on it last night. I need to get this finished though!

The reason I need to get it finished?! This arrived today! 

I was so excited when I read in the Fobbles newsletter that they had received their Shepherd's Bush shipment as I knew I'd be getting the first part of the Shepherd's Fold :). I don't think I've felt this excited about new stash since I went to Harrogate last year. I love the new stash I've had but this is something rather special in my honest opinion. I do feel considerably guilty as this is the most expensive kit I have ever bought and it nowhere near as expensive as some SB kits! I will now have one a month to look forward to as well until I get caught up :). I am on the look out for a nice wooden box that is not as expensive as the Lone Elm Lane one used. They are very beautiful but way out of my league. So if you see any online in the UK please let me know. Failing that I'll have to dress up a paper mache one.

ETA please excuse my photos! I didn't think they looked right and I have just looked at my camera and I had it on a vivid setting from when I was messing about with it yesterday!

I have been knitting a bit this week as well. I have made a start on the leaf edging for my afghan. It is going to take ages to do but the worst bit is I don't understand the part for easing it around the corners! I am hoping one of the ladies at craft group can help me out so I'm knitting it as fast as I can so that I'm at the right part by Tuesday! 

That's all my news for now. I look forward to catching up with you all over the next few days :)

Take care everyone.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

May Stitch From Stash & Birthday Gift for Michelle

It's that time of the month yet again! So here's my SFS report then I'll show my birthday gift for Michelle.

May Report.

Carried fwd from April : £86.84

Amount Spent : £16.38 ( more than I'd hoped but I needed more fabric for my cottages )

Earned : £24.00 ( for 3 finishes, Summer Witch which I can't show yet, May Calendar Girl and another I can't show yet!)

Balance to carry over : £119.46.

I must say this month has been difficult. I don't know why. Maybe it's my mood as I always crave new stash when my mood is low but I have managed to stop myself by looking at what I already have and giving myself a damned good talking to ( and calling myself some not so nice names ) plus reminding myself that I do have the Shepherd's Bush Fold to look forward to for the next 6 months or so. Of course I am getting rather impatient now for it to arrive but, fingers crossed, it should be soon. I hope so as if it doesn't arrive before July I will be well and truly screwed on SFS! Lol! 

Onto my actual stitching now! The lovely Michelle had a birthday at the beginning of May but I was late with her gift as I didn't even finish the stitching until the day of her birthday. I was so pleased that she loved what I stitched for her and here it is.

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl

32 count Colour Cascade Fabrics Silver Springs

DMC

Birthday Gift for Michelle.

Another finish is this cute one. Makes me smile.

Country Cottage Needleworks Christmas Cheer

32 count Lambswool linen

DMC & WDW

SAL with Barb

After weeks of waiting my LHN Song of the Seasons was ready to pick up from my framer. He had problems with his oval mount cutter and ended up having to order a new one. I have to say it was well worth the wait and this photo really does not do it justice.

I have been busy trying to get plenty done on my June Cottage seen as June will soon be here! Love this one. 

Barb and I are also SALing on Shepherd's Bush pieces. This is my progress on My Mom's Garden. I should get all the cross stitching done this evening then move onto the speciality stitches.

My robin is getting there on page 4. Hopefully not much longer! I say that every time don't I?! Lol!

Finally October's Marigold is almost done! Just a little more on the flowers and some bits to fill in here and there and it'll be done!

I almost forgot about the charts I was giving away. There were not many takers for them but here are the winners.

Shepherd's Bush Happy Birthday : June

JBW Designs To The Beach : Heather

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl: Kay

Heather and June I have your addresses so Kay can you please email me yours :)

That's all from me for now. I got caught up on visiting and commenting but I am probably a long way behind again now! Thank you all for continuing to visit me  and for your lovely comments :)

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xx

May Already?

Hmmmm we are already a week into May and I am just doing my first blog post of month.  It must be 2 weeks since I last posted but I just couldn't be bothered to do one.  That is bad isn't it?!

I've had a few finishes since I last posted. One I can't show until it has been received as it's a birthday gift. So here's my first one. I did mention in my last post that this would be finished and, indeed, it was. Look I have even got it all made up!

Country Cottage Needleworks Christmas  Cookies

32 count Patina linen

DMC and  Classic Colorworks

SAL with Barb.

Chart is now for sale.

Of course finishing this meant starting Christmas Cheer:)

I ran out of the green so had to work round that.

I had several extra evenings stitching on this to get it finished ready for May.

Country Cottage Needleworks May Cottage

32 count natural opalescent linen

DMC.

I also finished a couple of ornaments that had been stitched up a while ago as well as my finally finished SB All Seasons Fob which Barb bought me. I started it when she sent me it and got it out again recently to finish stitching. Snow Love is almost made up. I just have to  make some white cording.

I have had a few new starts but can only show one as one is a birthday gift and one is for the Four Seasons SAL at  Needlecraft Haven. That one is Snowflower Diaries Summer Witch and I am also stitching it as part of the Halloween SAL I am doing with Barb. So June Cottage is the only one I can show!

I have been  making a bit of progress on my WIPs. In my bid to get the May Cottage finished my robin and October's Marigold took a back seat but I was back to them last weekend.  Lots still to stitch on the marigolds!

Final WIP is My Mom's Garden which is another SAL with Barb. We thoroughly enjoy our SALs even though they are only  virtual. Maybe one day we will get to stitch together for real.

I was so excited to see I had won Mii's giveaway for the beautiful Little House Needleworks chart Comfort along with the leftover threads and it arrived yesterday.  I am looking forward to stitching it and will be passing it along when it is done. I have been very lucky lately as this is my second win. I do only enter for something if it's something that I really love.

So I am having a wee giveaway for the following  charts:

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl ( was sent by mistake last year and Annie told me to keep it rather than return it. So I'm giving it away. Thank you Annie ).

Shepherd's Bush Happy Birthday with leftover threads.

JBW Designs To The Beach.

Please say in your comments which one you would like or if you'd like 2 or all 3 lol! If there's more than one person I'll pick a winner for each chart. It is open to everyone providing you are a regular commenter :).

My DH and I went for a walk so far around the mere and look what we spotted. She's a bit far away but she's a beauty!

That's all from me for now. Hopefully I'll be back sooner next time!

With much love.

Sally xx