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

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

Ornament Exchange With Chris, My Birthday and Stitching!

I'm so sorry but this is going to be a rather picture heavy post!

Last Friday I hopped on the bus and went through to Hull to see my friend Chris. It was so lovely to get a day out to see a dear friend. We chatted and stitched, drank tea and had some lunch. I really enjoyed my day with her and it was over too soon. We do a private ornament exchange every December and here is what I stitched for Chris.

Little House Needleworks This Is My Joy

Classic Colorworks Belle Soie Fox Red

For Chris.

I am very happy to say that Chris loved it :)

This is what Chris stitched for me.It is a Lizzie Kate from a few years ago and I love it! It is so beautifully stitched and finished and I have it hanging with a few other ornaments above my fire in the dining room.

I look forward to us having another day stitching and chatting soon.

Last Saturday was my birthday and I just had a quiet day. It was grocery shopping in the morning then Abi wanted to visit a local to us garden centre and we had a look round the Christmas displays. They always do such fantastic displays and have lots of lovely Christmas decorations for sale. When we got home I got Jess' Doctor Who scarf out and finished knitting that. We did go out for a meal on Sunday evening though :). Anyway I received some gorgeous cards and gifts from both my family and my stitchy friends and I'll show the ones from my stitchy friends. Thank you all so much for making me feel so special. Love and hugs to you all. I will let the pictures do the talking but there are a few themes going here lol!  :)

From Chris

From Gill.

From Clare.

From Lisa.

From Karan.

From June.

From Christine.

From Lainey.

From Michelle.

From Lesleyanne

From Julie.

As I said in my last post I received a gift voucher for The Patchwork Rabbit from Barb and this is what I bought with it.

I went a little bit over, as I wanted to get what I didn't have to stitch the chart, so I also added this chart as well! I will get the others as and when Karla gets them back in stock!

Karla also included this beautiful needleminder with this note. Isn't that so sweet?!

I am so blessed to have such lovely friends who remember me on my birthday. I don't express my feelings very well but I appreciate your friendships so much and love everything. 

Chris and I have been stitching away on our December SAL. I had already started mine and Chris started hers when I visited her. I've stitched more on mine since then as I am really enjoying it.

I started the last CCN ornament and just stitched the red on the dress. I hope Barb has managed to start hers too.

I also got Fa La La made up.

This is how I made up my finish for the Mani Di Donna contest on Facebook. This is on the way to a friend for her Christmas tree :).

I was hoping to get the page finished on my robin but I didn't make it so we'll see what happens this weekend!

Goodness and Growing is growing slowly! I want to try and get the box done over the weekend but it depends on what else I have to do!

Oooh I better show Jess' Doctor Who scarf too! Not a great photo as I took it with my tab!

I am so behind with blog reading yet again but will try to get caught up over the weekend. I doubt I will be blogging again before Christmas so I'd like to wish you all A very Happy Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Stash and Stitch filled 2016.

With much love.

Sally xxx