Wednesday 20 January 2016

First Two Finishes of 2016

It has been a rather chilly past week here in the UK but it is so much better than the mild, rainy weather we have had. I have been so fed up of that and it looks like we're going to be returning to that at the weekend. Yuck! Unfortunately we didn't get any snow here on the coast where as other areas of the country did and I was very disappointed!

So, as the title of my post suggests, I have had my first two finishes of 2016. The first one was started last year but nevertheless it is still a finish this year.

Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Fold Goodness and Grace ( as kitted)

I forgot to add the buttons but I'll do that and show it again once I've got it all made up. I am enjoying these fold pieces and am so glad I finally decided to sign up. I'll be starting Cherish Life tomorrow :)

Barb, Chris and I started our JCS ornaments SAL and I finished mine on Monday. Barb thought that mine was Legacy Designs Give Love For Christmas but it isn't! It is......

The Snowflower Diaries Pure Love

40 count sand linen

DMC & GAST.

Mistakes were made! I forgot I was using GAST for the leaves and stems so some of them are stitched with DMC! Duh!! Anyway they look OK so I am not ripping it out. I have decided on my February ornament but it's a secret so Barb can guess what it is but I will say it's from the 2015 mag again. Barb I think yours might be Little House Needleworks Snowy Days.

Last weekend I wanted to get plenty done on my lovely Robin but I just wasn't feeling it somehow and didn't get as much as I would have liked done. I'm hoping to make better progress as I'd love it finished for 10th February as that would have been my Dad's 87th birthday and 3 years since I started this piece.

Wednesdays are parlour nights although I didn't sign in last week so I must remember this week. I'm making slow but steady progress on CCN Countdown to Christmas. I'm enjoying this one and it's a nice easy one to do.

Last week I decided that I really needed to make the effort and get my Anniversaries of the Heart piece out again. I made a start on Evergreen Lane a bit ago then put it away but now it is back out again and I will, hopefully, stick with it until the whole piece is complete. 

The Heaven and Earth Designs group on Facebook is running another challenge and this time it is 100 stitches a week over 10 weeks but they have to be done in 10 x 10  blocks diagonally. At first I wasn't going to join but then I thought if I get Mini Jolly Old Fellow out it'll get a little done on him and depending on what the rest of the challenges are over the year I can maybe get a couple of pages finished! So on Sunday for a couple of hours I stitched on him and got 400 stitches done. It was easy because there are only a few colour changes in the background!

This Friday Barb and I will be getting on with our sheep SAL and we are starting Sweet Violet by With Thy Needle and Thread. I have sorted my fabric so just need to do my threads then I'll be ready to go. I think I'll be using a mixture of the recommended threads and DMC as I know I only have a few of the recommended ones. 

I am so sorry that I haven't visited your blogs yet but every time I think I'll do that something comes up and I don't get there. So, fingers crossed, I might just get to a few this afternoon once I've exercised. 

Thank you visiting me and for all your lovely comments and I will, hopefully, be popping by to visit you later today :) Thank you for your good wishes for Abi. 

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx


27 comments:

Vickie said...

I just stitched up Snowflower Diaries' Pure Love myself.
SB is so pretty Sally.
I hope you reach your goal with your Dad's Robin. I remember when your father passed and when you began this robin for him. I am still cheering you on!

Tricia T said...

Congrats on the finishes!! I put that robin on my wish list at HAED the other day. I might pick him up if one of the challenges on the board is one I don't want to do on my current WIP. I really liked the diagonal challenge! I'm filling in my blocks now, but I think when I get to the next page I might work on it that way. : )

Cindy's Stitching said...

Lots of pretty stitching. sorry about all of the rain. Ugg.

Barb said...

Hi Sally .Well you got me there, but you have guessed wrong too will show another pic next time I blog or even send you a pic. You are so very close with your dads Robin and like Vickie I am encouraging you , You can do it Sally. I will even let you have a Monday or a Friday off if you like lol.See you in the parlour later.

Emma/Itzy said...

Some lovely finishes! I can't believe it has been three years since you started you Robin - it doesn't seem that long at all, but you are so close now :)

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Love everything that you are working on or have finished but I have a particular fondness for your Shepherd's Fold piece and your Robin.

Clare-Aimetu said...

Beautiful work, I just love the robin. I'm sure you'll finish it in time for your Dad's birthday - a perfect item to treasure as robins are believed to be visitors who are no longer with us x x

Justine said...

I can't believe your Robin is almost at a finish after three years! He is gorgeous and a lovely tribute to your Dad.
You are always stitching something lovely, your SB and ornies are so pretty.

gominam said...

Congrats on the lovely finishes. Your pretty robin is almost done too. Youve got beautiful WIPs for the year, love the HAED. Have fun:)

cucki said...

I love all your stitching so much
Beautiful finishes xx

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Beautiful finishes and in progress works, Sally! I have no doubt you can finish your robin in time. It is beautiful!

Linda said...

Congrats on the beautiful finishes Sally. Great progress on the others. I am going to attempt my first HAED with the same challenge your doing.

Linda

Le trame della Galaverna said...

Great stitching and progresses
Your are doing a beautiful work

Carol said...

Pure Love is so, so pretty, Sally! And the SB piece is adorable. Looks like 2016 is starting out as quite a productive year for you! I'm so excited that your beautiful robin may be finished within a month :)

Blu said...

Lovely finishes!

Rachel said...

Such a lot of stitching going on and some finishes in there too! Everything's looking fantastic. My fingers are crossed that you will get your robin finished soon. He really is a handsome fellow! :)

Lois said...

Two lovely finishes Sally! Your Robin is so close to a finish! I can see you completing him soon. We woke to a covering of snow one morning last week but it melted very quickly. It's been a funny old winter, hasn't it.

Ele said...

Hello Sally,
your blog is very very inspired and your cross stitches are so beautiful!

Have a happy stiching time and greetings from Bavaria
Gabriele

Christine said...

Two gorgeous finishes there Sally

Mii Stitch said...

Congrats on the beautiful finishes.
The robin looks wonderful & I do hope you manage to finish it by your deadline. I'm sure you will!

Maggee said...

I would be so exciting to finish the Robin in honor of your father's this February. You haven't got too much to do... relatively speaking! All of your projects are great, and you have done lots so far! Hugs!

Julie said...

Pure Love is beautiful and the SB fold is delightful.
Not much more to do on Mr Robin, I'm sure you'll have him completed.
Lots of lovely things you have been working on.

Brigitte said...

You have two nice finishes here, Sally. And great progress on your robin although not as much as you had wanted to stitch on him. But there isn't a lot left so I'm sure you will get that little bird done in no time.
Great that you could pull out your Anniversaries again. They are such a lot of fun to stitch. And good luck with the HAED challenge.

Andrea said...

Pure Love is gorgeous. That's 2 I've seen stitched now and it has to go on my to-do list forthwith! You have so little to do on the Robin piece, I'm sure it won't be long now until there is a finish there.

Michelle said...

Beautiful work Sally - I am just wondering if we are going to have the tail end of the snow that the USA has xx

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

So many stitching projects....so much loveliness. Good luck in getting to that special finish line!

Penny said...

Lovely finishes, Sally! And you are working on some beautiful pieces, too. Still hoping you get a little snow before the winter is over. :)