Thursday 23 July 2015

July Stitch From Stash

Here we are again at that time of the month where we declare how good we've been or not as the case may well be! You may remember that Mel had allowed us to carry over any earnings from part A as long we had not already declared them and as I didn't declare any in June I am going to have a good bit. I sort of feel like I'm cheating but Mel did say we could do it. So here's my report.

July Report.

Amount spent : £34.25 ( Lizzie Kate Littles Mystery part one, paid for but not yet received, Just Cross Stitch Halloween Magazine, Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Fold part 3)

Earnings : £40( 2 CCN cottages, SB My Mom's Garden, LHN Comfort and CGS October's Marigold.

Balance carried fwd: £30.80

I have been trying to get more bits finished off since I posted last and CCN Frosty Forest went into see my trusty framer and here it is on my wall.

Do you remember Barb and I stitching Tralala Tricotine last year? Well I wanted to make a knitting bag and it has taken me a long time to actually pluck up the courage to get some fabric let alone make the bag! Mistakes were most definitely made. The stitched piece is a little too low but I can't get it off as I machine stitched it on. I have tried but fear I will ruin both the fabric of the bag and my stitched piece. The handles are on wrong too! Oh dear I clearly wasn't thinking when I did those lol! However this is my first attempt and I am quite happy with it. It is just a plain tote bag with no pockets, zips, fasteners etc.

Ages ago I bought a frame in the sale at Matalan. I didn't have anything in mind for it but I liked it. I am not quite sure when I stitched this piece but it is LHN Curly Q Ewe which Lainey, Mouse and I SAL'd on and I just love how it looks in this frame.

I have a couple more pieces half finished so look out for those hopefully soon!

So what I have been up to stitching wise? Well Ghoul Tidings is going rather well and I think I might just get it finished on Monday. Not sure what I will stitch next but it may just be something from this year's JCS Halloween mag which I received last week. I wasn't going to get it but I saw the gorgeous basket by Mani Di Donna and changed my mind!  Of course if I stitch that it means I have to buy the handle and button!

Barb and I have still been SALing on our ornaments and our SB pieces. I had hoped to get By The Chimney finished but I am somehow not feeling this one. Fingers crossed for a finish this week.

The first part of the SB Fold is looking so good even though I say so myself!  I just love the threads and the colours and the fabric is just so lovely and soft.

Again I seem to be so behind with my cottage. Not much longer to go to August so I am hoping I will get this finished just in time!

November's Chrysanthemum is looking so pretty. Still a fair bit to do yet but I hope to have it done soon so that I can start the December one!

Last but by no means least my lovely Robin! 

I have started a new knitting project! No my afghan is not finished yet but I need a little break from it! Can you guess what it is lol?

It was carnival weekend here last weekend and imagine my delight when I found out my surrogate sis Lisa was coming over with her DH and DD for the weekend. We arranged to meet at some point on Saturday afternoon and spent a lovely maybe an hour and a half chatting in the beer garden at one of the local bars.  It was so lovely to see her and we always get on so well.  I'm looking forward to the next time :).

I am finally hoping I am on the mend  but I am not  getting too excited yet! Sometimes I feel OK then other times I don't and I get so frustrated. Our central heating boiler sprung a leak ( lovely wet carpet in Jess' bedroom but thankfully it is just a drip ) and trying to get under the boiler to see where it was coming from was not pleasant!

So we called an engineer out to have a look at the boiler ( we have insurance on it thankfully ). He was here an hour on Monday afternoon as once he had worked out where it was leaking from he ran a diagnostic on it only to find it was dangerous as the emissions were too high! Arghhhh! It was decided that it could be to do with the part that needs replacing  but it is still not fixed. He turned up at just before 8 pm last night. He could only get one part which didn't fix it so he's now ordering more to see if that works and coming tomorrow to fit them. This boiling a kettle lark to wash pots is no good. He has recommended we get another boiler before Winter.

I am so sorry that I still haven't visited and commented on your blogs. I will get it done soon I promise but I have to be in the right frame of mind to do it. Even doing a blog post seems to take so much effort these days but I do still love it.

Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments. They really do make my day.

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

28 comments:

Vickie said...

Oh Sally, your finishes all done up look splendid!
I hope the engineer gets you all fixed up today.

Julie said...

The SB is growing well and so is Mr Robin, he's going to be spectacular when all done. Lots of other lovely things to see too, the knitting bag looks perfect for the job its intended for, well done.

gracie said...

Love the projects. How frustrating it must be for you to not getting the boiler fixed in a timely manner.

Cindy's Stitching said...

The framed piece looks amazing. So many beautiful pieces. You have been busy. Enjoy your summer

butterfly said...

Beautiful finish on all your stitching .
Love what you are working on at the moment.
Sorry about the boiler . But happy to hear you fell a little better hugs.

Esmeralda said...

Well done on your sfs budget
Beautiful finishes love how they have been framed :)
Your bag looks so lovely, you done a good job
Look forward to your next update
Wish you a lovely evening with a lot of stitches

Linda said...

Your framed pieces look amazing Sally. Especially Frosty Forest. It is gorgeous. Lovely progress on all of your other pieces.

Linda

Hazel said...

Your finishes always amaze me Sally. I love your bag and the framed Ewe and Eye piece. So lovely. Nice that you met with Lisa. Such a lovely lady. I haven't spoke to her for while. Hope she is okay. x

Daniela Bencúrová said...

Sally, your Frosty Forest is in a nice frame on the wall!
The first bag you succeeded to A!
You have so many new beginnings!
A Strike already - it's great!
Greetings!

Christine said...

Frosty Forest is gorgeous Sally! Great work on all your other projects too

WendyCarole said...

Love all your stitching and the bag is lovely. Robin is looking great and looks like he will be finished before too long :)

Hope you get your boiler fixed soon

Lisa V said...

Beautiful framed finish, and your SAL's are coming along nicely.

Lillie said...

What a wonderful post and all your WIP looking great.
The frames are perfect for your finished pieces, love your choice of fabrics for the bag.

Frances said...

You have been one busy stitcher!!! Everything looks great!
I love your bag--I've never tried to make one and yours is lovely!
Maybe I'll get the courage to fix one sometime in the future!

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

Frosty Forest looks beautiful Sally as does all your stitching! I love your bag, I'm terrible with finishing as I convinvce myself that I will ruin my stitching or the fabric or both lol! Seeing other stitchers finishes is such an encouragement to me, so I'm always grateful when others share their beautiful work :).

Mii Stitch said...

Lovely finishes & great wip updates :)
Look on the bright side, better having boiler troubles in Summer than in Winter with heavy frosts & snow! I'm sure it will get sorted in no time.
Happy stitching x

Dani - tkdchick said...

Sally it must feel so nice to get some pieces framed and up on the wall also some finishing done. To me your knitting bag looks lovely!

You've got lots of great WIPs on the go and it looks like a few will be finished in the near future! Look forward to seeing those.

gominam said...

Your framed finishes are sooo beautiful! Love frosty forest. and good thing you used that other frame, looks fabulous. For a first try that tote looks so good:) Great progress on your WIPs:)

Barb said...

Oh Wow !!!! Sally, Love the bag didn't you do well , the fabric matches so well. love Curly Q in her posh frame, finished Ghouls are great and I am sure the cottage will be finished soon , All progress is just perfect and The Forest and Robin are stars of the show. Just absolutely FABULOUS . I know what the knitting is lol. You put me to shame with all your work. I am looking forward to seeing what you choose on Monday .
Hugs

CathieJ said...

Practice makes perfect. I really like the bag and the framed piece. I have to get myself going and frame some of my cross-stitch pieces myself. It has gotten too expensive to have them professionally framed all the time. Your WIPs are great also.

Carol said...

Such gorgeous finishes, Sally--I really love the tote bag even if you think it's not quite right :)

Hope your engineer got things squared away at home and that you're feeling all better by now!

StitchinByTheLake said...

So many pretty things! I love the Frosty Forest! I've been looking at the Santa's Village one and just love it but can't decide to spend that much money yet. :) blessings, marlene

Maggee said...

Lots to see in this post! Loved it all! The Frosty Forest is beautiful in it's frames, as is Curly Q Ewe (in my stash...). And your WIPs are coming along well. Keep to it--you always do well! Hugs!

Justine said...

There are always so many gorgeous things to see on your blog! I love seeing Frosty Forest framed, it's very inspiring to me having stalled after the first two squares! I will pull it out again this winter I'm sure. I love love love how you finished that bag - super talented! And all your WIPs are looking great!
Hope you get all your other troubles sorted soon then you have more time for stitching!

Michelle said...

Sally your WIP's are all lovely been following them on Facebook. Sorry about the boiler - at least it will soon be sorted and ready for the winter xx

Linda K's Stitching Corner said...

I just love all of your stitching projects...they are so lovely...great progress on all of them. I wish I could Knit but I do Crochet though.

Happy Stitching
Linda K

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Lovely stitching. I hope your boiler problem is completely sorted soon.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, Sally, I love the bag you made. It turned out reaqlly great. And all your stitching is just beautiful.