Thursday 15 December 2016

Ornament Exchange , A Big Finish & Happy Birthday to Me!

Can you believe that Christmas Day is just over a week away?! How did that happen? I still seem to have so much to do but I'll get there.

Anyway I can now show the ornaments I stitched for Chris and Barb for our private ornament exchanges.  I am happy to say that both were very well received :).

This one is the one I stitched for Chris.


Historic Handworks Friends are Christmas Treasures

32 count Nougat linen

DMC.

Then this is the one I stitched for Barb.

Charlotte's Web Needlework For My Friends

28 count cream linen

GAST, DMC & Classic Colourworks

I showed last time the lovely ornament I received from Barb and this is what I received from Chris.

Isn't it gorgeous?  Chris was saying this is the first thing she has made and finished on her new sewing machine so I feel very honoured. We were hoping to have a meet up before Christmas but she has been rather poorly with this nasty cold virus that is going around. Get well soon Chris.

Ooooh big, big news!! I have finished my Anniversaries of the Heart! I was forgetting all about that. How could I forget?!  So I'll let the photos do the talking on this one!















Blackbird Designs Anniversaries of the Heart

36 count Rosewood linen

DMC, GAST, WDW and Classic Colourworks

Started January 2011

Finished 12th December 2016.

A long time in the making as it got put away for a while but it was well worth every stitch.

This week Barb and I have been having our stitch on one thing week and I've been stitching on Mini Jolly Old Fellow. I've not done a massive amount but every stitch counts, right?! We still have a few days yet to make good progress.

I've done a little bit more on the December SAL with Chris.  I took it to craft group to do a bit more on Tuesday ( I remembered my tin with needle and scissors in this time ) but the snow on the right took some getting right! I stitched and frogged that bit several times. Arghhhhh!

I also made a teeny bit of progress on my Winter SAL with Barb. Poor Barb has been waiting on fabric to start this. I think we'll be stitching it well through January and into February as there is a lot of stitching on it!

No progress on anything else but we'll see how things go next week. There are things I was hoping to get finished for the end of the year but it's fast approaching so it's doubtful.

Monday was my birthday and I was thoroughly spoilt by my family and friends. Rather than take lots of individual photos I've been rather lazy and taken just 3. I am so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. I had a quiet day as everyone was at work so I just had a lazy day and stitched a little. We had a takeaway at teatime then watched a film. Thank you so much for your beautiful cards and gifts :)

These are from my DH, Jess, Abi , my sister and her partner, auntie and Carl's brother and his wife.

These are from Barb, Lisa, Julie and Mouse.

Last but by no means least from Lainey, Christine, Chris, Michelle and June.

Yesterday my big sister got married to her partner of 25 years! It was so lovely to see her get married at long last and we had a lovely time. I'll have some photos next time hopefully as my DH took quite a few.

Stitch from Stash is coming soon and as it was birthday I'm going to have just a little last splurge. Well I say last but I'm signing up for an autoship on CCN Snow Place Like Home so I will have a chart to pay for for the first few months of 2017 but it will be well within my budget. I might even get the first 2 this month as Karla has the first 2 in. I won't be buying fabric as I have the perfect one in my stash :). It's a bit naughty but I've wanting it since I first saw it announced and got talked out of it but it'll be a birthday treat to myself!

I don't know if I'll be back before Christmas but I will try and get one more done so I can show some wedding photos.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxxxx

19 comments:

Barb said...

All so lovely Sally, all those houses you have almost built a village! The ornaments are lovely and Chris was starting a trend there I think. So pleased the wedding went well. I have my fabric whoo hoo so when I have finished stitching my last ornament for this year for Kate I will be with you.

Mii Stitch said...

Belated birthday wishes!!
You have received some beautiful gifts.
Love the ornament for the exchanges too & as always lovely pretty little crosses on all your projects!

Manuela said...

Congratulation on this wonderful finish.

Vickie said...

Happy Birthday Sally! Congratulations to your sister! Congratulations to you on the big 'ol finish! Yay!! Your gifts given and received are fantastic!

Christine said...

Congratulations on the AotH finish, it's gorgeous. Beautiful ornaments too.
I hope you had a lovely birthday

butterfly said...


What a wonderful post of lovely stitching .
Love every one of them you are stitching some lovely designs .
Have a love week with the run up to Christmas hugs .

Andrea said...

Congratulations on a beautiful finish. Lovely gifts for your birthday. Happy Belated Birthday!

Maggee said...

Happy Belated Birthday! Have fun getting all the CCN Snow Place Like Home series for your birthday present! You received many lovely gifts...thanks for sharing! And there is the AOtH finish--I knew it was coming! Congratulations on such a big finish! Hugs!

Linda said...

Happy Birthday Sally. You have received lots of lovely gifts. Congrats on the gorgeous finishes and nice progress on the others.

Linda

gracie said...

Magnificent stitching..

Kay said...

Happy birthday!! I really love your Blackbird designs masterpiece, it is so beautiful all together. I have some of the designs but will probably do them separately. x

Cindy's Stitching said...

Beautiful pieces. The big piece is just amazing. Merry Christmas

Mouse said...

so pleased you had lovely birthday :) your gifts are lovely and well done again on your wonderful big finish ... I have to start mine yet ... congratulations to your sister and will look forward to the photos :) love mouse xxxxx

Brigitte said...

Such lovely ornaments you made for both private exchanges. And congratulations on finishing the Anniversaries of the Heart. It's a big piece and all the personalization needs a lot of thoughts.

Happy belated birthday, Sally. I hope that you were having a wonderful day. And you really got spoiled by your family and friends. Enjoy all the great gifts you received.

Carol said...

First of all--Happy Belated Birthday, Sally! What a wonderful group of gifts from your stitchy friends!! And secondly--a big congratulations on finishing the BBD piece. I can't wait to see it all framed up--what a treasure you have there :)

Hope your Christmas will be filled with stitching gifts!

Julie said...

AOtH turned out so beautifully, such a wonderful finish for the end of the year.
Lovely birthday gifts, I do like Chris's quilted ornament to you, I saw some of those at a recent craft fair.

x

Penny said...

Wonderful stitching all around and congratulations on finishing Anniversaries of the Heart - just beautiful. Happy birthday, Sally! You received some very lovely gifts - looks like there was a bit of a sheep theme going on. : )

Justine said...

Belated happy birthday wishes Sally! You deserve to have been spoiled.
AOTH is a stunning finish, so beautiful and all the personalisation just makes it extra special.
Love your Jolly Old Fellow too - he's gorgeous and stitching up quickly too!
Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas.

gominam said...

A big finish indeed! Lovely closeup shots. Each one is neatly done:) Congrats.