Saturday 24 June 2017

A Finish For a Birthday

Hello again. I know it's been a while. I think I'm going to have to be content with a blog post a month rather than pushing myself to do more as it's just not happening at the moment! I should do them more often as I just end up with a picture heavy post but never mind!

So my friend Gill had a 50th birthday coming up at the beginning of June but I didn't get chance to see her before hand and she was away on holiday for her birthday. I finally got to see her yesterday and give her her gift so I can now show it. I had a bit of a problem finding something to stitch for her. She loves the beach and the sea but I didn't have anything in my stash and nowhere in the UK seemed to have anything in stock that took my fancy so I had to resort to plan B! I remembered her saying that she really liked something I had stitched for someone else a few years ago so I stitched that! I am happy to say that she liked it. Phew!

Homespun Elegance Family, Friends, Faith Forever ( from the Jan/ Feb 2013 issue of Just Cross Stitch )

32 count white jobelan

Victorian Motto Sampler Threads Faded Berries

Started 21st May 2017

Finished 29th May 2017

Birthday gift for Gill.

The other night I had another finish. I just love this piece. I've stitched it for Abi :)

Lizzie*Kate Promise Me

32 count Sparklies Gingerbread Murano

DMC.

I just can't get a good photo to show how pretty the fabric is.

So I had a new start because I'd finished Promise Me. I had another Lizzie*Kate kitted so that is what I started. It's one of the Boxer series and it's I Cannot Count My Day Complete. I'm stitching it on the fabric that came with the chart and DMC.

Barb and I are still doing our sheepy SAL on a Friday evening. I have nearly finished mine and just have a little backstitch to do to finish the sheep off. It is Forget Me Not which I won in a giveaway from Chris in the USA a while ago. 

Barb and I are also stitching together on a Monday evening but we are doing different themes at the moment. She is stitching Spring by Cross Eyed Cricket Collection and I am stitching Silver Creek Samplers Through the Storms. I have restarted the verse and got it all stitched!

Mini Jolly Old Fellow has been a bit slow going. I think I'm getting a bit bored now but I am nearly there. Well I say nearly but I do still have 2 more partial pages to go after this one!

I have finished the first bit of The Magic! I am so glad that I persevered with over one on 32 count as it does look rather good. I might not finish it the same as the model. I made a small start of the next bit.
Everytime I do a post I forget about LHN My Lady Christmas but not this time! I only stitch on this for a couple of hours a week at the craft group I go to. I love how it is looking.

I have been a bit naughty since my last post *hangs head in shame yet again* but I have done really well so far this year with my stash buying. Anyway I have been looking at the Stitchrovia charity SAL for a while and finally decided to buy it. I think it is for such a brilliant cause ( MIND in case you haven't heard of it or seen it ) and as someone who has suffered from mental health problems and whose Mum went through it and tried to commit suicide I felt I just had to have it. Both my girls have anxiety issues and struggle with depression from time to time too so it something very close to my heart. I haven't made a start yet but hope to soon.

My next purchase happened when I was surfing on Peakside Needleworks and I saw Sue had an LHN chart called House Rules which I really, really wanted so I ordered that along with a piece of 36 count fabric to stitch it on and a DMC I was running out of.

Then this last week I needed that DMC to finish Promise Me and my local shop is now closed so I can no longer just nip in there when I need the odd one. So I went through my charts and my DMC to kit up a few projects for the next few months and popped an order in with Lakeside Needlecrafts as they are the cheapest I've found DMC here in the UK. They arrived very quickly too so I was impressed :)

Now I need to behave for a few months at least! As I said I have done well on Stitch from Stash and hope to keep it up for the rest of the year. I have signed up for part B starting next month. 

Thank you all for your lovely comments last time especially those congratulating Abi on passing her driving test. She now has a lovely little Fiat 500 Pop to drive around in. It is taking some getting used to and her anxiety kicked in big style when she got it but she's getting there now. She hasn't been far in it yet but she did pluck up the courage to go to Beverley the other day and that boosted her confidence.

That's all my news for this time. I have some pieces half made up so hopefully by the time I post again I'll have them fully finished!!

Until next time.

With much love,

Sally xx

23 comments:

Mary said...

Very lovely gift. Your wips are looking wonderful.

Mouse said...

love your piece for Gill .. well done on the other stitchy progress .. coooo nice wee car for Abi .. she will soon be zooming over here ;)
I have the new start you have started ..re found it today hahahah ... got some exchanges to get done before I start it ... and don't panic you needed that stuff to get things finished :) love mouse xxxxx

Vickie said...

I think that turned out to be a fantastic gift for Gill. And I like what you stitched up for Abi. Her first car! Good for her!!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Such lovely projects Sally! Abi will be gone all the time doing this and that before you know it! She won't know why she hesitated!

Linda said...

Congrats on all of the awesome finishes Sally. Love all the other projects your working on.

Linda

Kay said...

I always love to see your stitching, your friend must be thrilled with her gift. I have the Promise Me chart waiting in my stash, I use a lot of Sparklies fabrics too so high look out for the gingerbread one. Thank you for the tip of the cheapest DMC shop, always good to know. x

Mii Stitch said...

Beautiful make and lovely finishes!! You have been working on such sweet designs.

Christine said...

Lovely gift, and a great finish on Promise Me.
All the WIPs are looking good too, I love that Silver Creek one

Manuela said...

A wonderful gift for your friend.
Your other works are so beautiful as always.
Happy Sunday.

Barb said...

Okay Sally , now you have shown me up big time by all your wonderful stitching and how much you have done. I am trying to get a finish done this weekend but somehow I dont think it will happen. Shall have to pop and have a look at what you have bought as it is bound to appeal. Speak soon x

StitchyDragon Creates said...

Such beautiful projects! I think you were very restrained on the stash buying - there are so many tempting pieces out there and the internet makes it way too easy to indulge! Happy stitching,
Helen

Goofin' Off Around the Block said...

Those are all such beautiful projects. That Santa HAED you are working on is really delightful. I love a good Santa stitched up. Thank you for sharing all of your photos. There can never be a post that is too photo heavy. --Andrea

Justine said...

What beautiful stitching Sally! Congratulations on your two finishes for special people, they are both gorgeous. I absolutely LOVE the Silver Creek chart you're stitching. It reminds me of the words to You'll Never Walk Alone which is what I walked down the aisle to (played on a harp) - lovely words.

I'm stitching my Tralala Alice on the Cassia-Rose 32 count, it's gorgeous isn't it?

Glad you decided to stitch the Mind SAL. It's for a great cause.

butterfly said...


Sally you are stitching up a storm ! woderful stitching .
Lots of lovely designs and a lovely gift for your friend.
Enjoy your summer hugs.

Brigitte said...

Sally, I'd say, write a blog post when you feel like it - as long as you don't stop blogging :))) I always love to see what you are working on.
That little birthday gift for your friend is so darling and I think you found the perfect chart. I remember seeing this design in JCS and thinking: hey you should stitch this. But I still haven't.
Lovely projects that you finished.and started. And great progress on the other WIPs, particularly on your Santa. I can't wait to see him finished.

Maggee said...

Don't worry about frequent postings to your blog... just don't ever stop! I cannot read them timely, so... your nice long ones are fine with me! I stitched the piece you did for your friend also... in blue. It looks wonderful! I loved doing it, and also made it into a pillow. Seeing yours in a different color makes me want to stitch it again!! And the piece for Abi is also wonderful...May want to stitch that one for my oldest granddaughter, who may go off on her own very soon! I surely love the same designers you do... Have oodles of Lizzie Kate and LHN, and love Silver Creek Samplers too! Jolly Old Fellow is looking fantastic. You will be finished in no time at all. Have not heard of the The Magic, and may pop over there next! You are an enabler... I have been seeing the Stitchrovia SAL pieces being stitched here and there, and love to see them... but I really hate backstitching, so you won't see me doing them. However, it is a great project and a very good cause! Best wishes to Abi becoming a more confident driver. Thanks for sharing with us! Hugs!

RJ said...

Hi Sally! I love the gift you made for your friend. I'm positive she loved it. All of your Lizzie Kate projects look great too. She has neat charts that I like to stitch too. Jolly Old Fellow looks like a work intense project but he is going to be wonderful. Blog when you can but like others have said just don't stop. I tried to follow but it said error. I will try again later. Thanks so much for stopping by our new blog. We loved having you come over. RJ @ stitching friends forever

Andrea said...

A wonderful gift for your friend. All of your WIPs and finishes are lovely. Jolly Old Fellow is gorgeous.

Julie said...

A lovely gift for your friend.
I have Promise me in my stash - its a lovely saying.
Always something lovely to see that you have been stitching and lots more to come with the lovely new stuff you have treated yourself to.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Lovely ornie for Gill's Birthday, the perfect gift.
Nice work on all your other stitching too.

Margaret said...

So many beautiful pieces of stitching to admire! And how lovely that Abi has a Fiat! I'm envious. lol! I'm glad she's getting comfortable with it and all. As for posting -- once a month has become my speed too. Makes sense to me!

Carol said...

Always a treat to catch up with you, Sally. I am only posting once or twice a month these days, too. It is a lot of work to sit down and get a post written up for a blog compared to a quick posting on Instagram, isn't it?

Lovely gift for Gill--pretty thread color, too!. And your other projects are moving along nicely. Can't wait to see your jolly old Santa all finished up.

Have a lovely July!

Rachel said...

Lovely gift and it's nice seeing all of your progress! I'm also currently on the once-a-month schedule...when I have a choice between stitching and posting, stitching always wins!:)