My Birthday, Finishes and Father Christmas Framed!

Hello everyone! I'll apologise now as this is going to be a bit of a picture heavy post. I'll start with my two recent finishes.

First up is this lovely.

Little House Needleworks Christmas Angel

32 count Platinum linen

DMC

Started 31st October 2017

Finished 14th December 2017

Then this one.

Mani Di Donna Winter Days Sewing Basket

28 count Permin Silver Blue Linen

DMC

Started 26th August 2017

Finished 16th December 2017.

If I get chance I'll start making up the basket before Christmas!

As you may know I do a private ornament exchange each December with 2 of my dear stitching friends Chris and Barb. This is what I stitched for Chris.

Lizzie Kate Very Merry ( JCS ornament mag 2017)

32 count Permin Natural linen

DMC

Started 14th October 2017

Finished 17th October 2017.

Ornament for Chris.

And this is what Chris stitched for me which I love. I've hung it from my new garland on the mantlepiece. Thank you so much Chris xx

This is what I stitched for Barb.

Lizzie Kate Flora McSample's 2016 Treats Do You Hear

32 count Permin Lambswool linen

DMC

Started 14th October 2017

Finished 31st October 2017

Ornament for Barb.

And this is what Barb stitched for me which, again, I love! Thank you so much Barb xx

I am getting down my WIPs now and am hoping for an almost clean slate to start 2018 with! Haha! If it happens it'll be a miracle!

Chris and I started our annual December SAL. We are stitching LHN No Place Like Home. I am stitching mine on 28 count Permin Amber linen using some of the recommended threads. I have frogged the words more times than I care to remember!

Barb and I are still stitching away on our SAL pieces. For our Lizzie Kate I am stitching this one.

For our sheep one we are both stitching LHN Born in a Manger. I am loving this one!

I am still plugging away at LHN Lantern Lane and now have a wall and some railings! I can't see this one being finished for the end of the year!

My socks are finished but I didn't take a photo! I'm waiting for the sock blockers I ordered to arrive so that I can block them. Fingers crossed they arrive before Christmas! I have now started a hat. Call me brave or stupid but it's my first hat and I've chosen a fairisle one!

I framed Mini Jolly Old Fellow although I am not 100% happy with him. 

Finally it was my birthday last week and I was thoroughly spoilt by my family and friends. Abi took me out for lunch on Wednesday to Costa so we could try one of their festive sandwiches and hot chocolate. We were going on my birthday but some of the roads weren't too good after rain then a keen frost. Anyway I will let the picture do the talking as I've written on them who they are from.  The only one not photographed is the jacket that Jess bought me as I have been wearing it :) Thank you all so much for thinking of me on my birthday xxxx

Oh also ( I have so much to show you that I almost forgot!) I received some ornaments from Barb, Michelle and June for my tree :). Thank you so much ladies.

Well I think that is all my news for now. I know I won't get chance to blog again before Christmas so I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Stay safe and have a wonderful time. Thank you for continuing to visit me and leave such lovely comments even though I don't visit you all as often as I should.

With much love,

Sally xxxxx

HE'S FINISHED!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited! After way too long my Father Christmas is finally finished!! So without further ado here he is 😍

Heaven and Earth Designs Mini Jolly Old Fellow

Artwork by Dona Gelsinger

25 count Magic Guide fabric

DMC

Started 21st June 2013

Finished 6th December 2017

Yes he took me 4 years but he did get put away for quite a while. I am so pleased with how he turned out. In my opinion Dona Gelsinger does THE best Father Christmas! I have a frame for him so will be getting that done soon.

Next year my surrogate sis Lisa and I have some plans afoot to stitch so many stitches a week on our BAP WIPs so for me that is HAED Guardian B&W and Tilton Crafts Always ( Alan Rickman tribute ). I will alternate as and when I feel like it. I have HAED SK A Dragon History to finish but that will get stitched on a Tuesday evening I think in place of JOF but probably not until after Christmas. Then ( yep there's more) we have also decided to do a stocking SAL starting 25th January and stitch on them on the 25th of each month or more if we want to. As it is my birthday tomorrow Lisa suggested I buy into the HAED Birthday Club then the stocking chart would only cost the $10 for the price of the club. So that is what I have done and I shall email Michele at HAED tomorrow.

Barb and I will be carrying on SALing next year too so I am looking forward to that as well.

I just have a couple of things I have finally made up to display. I have WIPs to show but I'll leave that for another day.

This one is the one Chris and I stitched for our December SAL back in 2014. Jess had this tray she had saved that had toiletries in and was throwing it away earlier on in the year so I kept it. I've roughly painted it and mounted Silent Night into it and trimmed it with white pom pom trim.

This one is Shepherd's Bush Red Snowman which I stitched last year.

I have finally found a 5" tart tin so that I can finish off Plum Street Samplers Merry Ewe. I am going to have to paint it though as it's silver coloured rather than black or dark grey so I got some paint yesterday and DH has found some metal primer in the shed. I need to rough the surface up a bit then I can get on with it. It's too cold and was rainy and sleeting to go outside to spray the primer on so that will wait until another day!

That is all my news for now. I'll be back another day with my WIPs and maybe some photos from my birthday. I have had a few packages arrive in the post from my stitching friends :)

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx