August?!

Seriously how did it get to be August?! The weeks are just flying by and it's been a while since I blogged. I have to admit that I find it a bit of a chore but I want to try and keep on so that I have a record of my stitching. That was my plan when I said I'd post finishes only and it would seem I can't even do that lol!

Anyway I have been stitching and have had some finishes and I even have some FFOs too. Not many but I have some anyway!

The first finish I have to show is also an FFO! No I can't believe it either! 

With Thy Needle and Thread Snow Birds

32 count pearl grey linen

DMC, GAST, WDW & CC

Started 28th May 2019

Finished 23rd June 2019.

I joined in the Summer SAL on the Sheep Loving Stitchers group on Facebook. We had 4 designs to choose from and I chose this one.

Plum Street Samplers Woolemina

35 count light mocha linen

DMC & Classic Colorworks

Started 8th June 2019

Finished 7th July 2019.

Absolutely loved stitching this one!

Christmas in July stitching started on Instagram and I managed a finish!

Country Cottage Needleworks Merry Christmas

32 count mushroom dot murano

Classic Colorworks & DMC

Started 2nd July 2019

Finished 30th July 2019

Started and finished this next one in a day! 

Shepherd's Bush Joy to Ewe

18 count natural fabric

DMC

Started and finished 30th June 2019.

I really don't like stitching over 2 on 18 count!

Another Christmas stitch started and finished in a day is my July ornament.

Brightneedle To Thee Hope

28 count fabric

DMC

Started and finished 7th July 2019

Final finish is this beauty. Loved every single stitch!

Little House Needleworks Honeybee Sampling

Unknown fabric

DMC & Classic Colorworks

Started 14th July 2019

Finished 27th July 2019.

Of course I can't post without showing a WIP of A Saviour's Praise.

I ended the first half of Stitch from Stash with a very good + figure of over £300 so I was very pleased with ,myself. I'd sold lots of stash as I'd finished with it and also sold threads that I knew I wouldn't use as well having lots of finishes. So part B has started and we are allowed to use any balance leftover and not declare any purchases ( it gets used as a gift). So I have been buying some stuff which isn't good I know. I have still declared some of it though and no I haven't spent £300 or anywhere near that! Lol! I've been wanting some OOP Blackbird Designs books and managed to buy a couple ( Tokens of Friendship and With Needle & Thread) at a very reasonable price ( not extortionate Ebay or even some of the selling pages on Facebook prices!). My dearest friend Barb then gifted me another one ( Peppermint and Holly)  from her stash which made me want to cry but in a good way! I have also bought a couple of sheep charts from the USA that I couldn't get over here ( well I did end up with two of one as a shop over here had one so Barb bought that off me so look out for a SAL of Lulu's Flock next year). The other one was Sheepish Designs Betsy which I have wanted for a long time. Had to get that from The Silver Needle as they were the only ones with stock left. I read somewhere that a distributor had found some stock of it which was why it was available again. I am also trying to collect the Blackbird Designs Magical Mystery Tour charts and so far have ordered Blackbird and Strawberry Fields Forever. BBD have reprinted Eleanor Rigby and The Long and Winding Road which I am waiting to come into stock over here as well as Yellow Submarine which is OOS at the places I buy from. I'm hoping the BBD ladies will decide to reprint Octopus's Garden too. I think I need to hide myself away! At least I'm stitching my stash and getting that down more than I'm adding to it!

Well that's all from me now. I know my blog is pretty boring and I apologise for that and also for the fact that I don't visit your blogs. Maybe one day I'll come back to it properly.

Until next time.

With much love,

Sally xxx

It's A Wrap!

Hello fellow bloggers and stitchers! It has been a few weeks since I was here last but I have not been slacking on the stitching front. I have even ( shush!) done a bit of finishing. Very simple finishing but it's still finishing. There are still lots in the pile to go at though.

So before I start showing my finishes etc I will apologise for my photos! I forgot to change my settings from when we'd been out taking photos at a nature reserve! 

My big finish news and the wrap in the title is this one.

With Thy Needle and Thread O Tannenbaum

36 count vintage country mocha linen

Classic Colorworks, GAST & WDW.

Started 1st February 2019

Finished 21st June 2019.

I am hoping my DH will make me a box tray thing to display it in as for me to get one from the States will probably cost an arm and a leg in shipping. I have been asking him ever since I bought the chart so I'm not holding out much hope really lol!

For my June ornament I chose another Brightneedle one.

Brightneedle To Thee A Very Merry 

28 count fabric

DMC threads

Started 2nd June 2019

Finished 13th June 2019

I have already decided to do another for my July ornament!

I saw that Lainey was stitching Shepherd's Bush I'm Dreaming so, as I had it in my stash, I had to join her! Such a cute stitch.

Shepherd's Bush I'm Dreaming

32 count vintage country mocha linen

DMC & WDW

Started 21st May 2019

Finished 4th June 2019

Now that I have finished O Tannenbaum and Barb has finished Kringle and Woolard we are having a new sheep start and that will be Plum Street Samplers Wool and Flax Company. Lainey is joining us.

Next month Sue and I are starting Little Dove Designs Christmas Wishes which I am very much looking forward to. I'm also joining in a Christmas/ Winter SAL on the LHN/CCN Facebook group. I will be stitching CCN Merry Christmas because I have it in my stash and it is kitted up. 

I have been making a little progress on A Saviour's Praise. I decided to choose my own colours for the alphabet but ended up having a frog the A as it didn't show up. I am now happier with it. Just deciding as I go along! 

Finally the bit of finishing I have been doing. I have a couple ready to sew up and another sewn up but have run out of white pom pom trim. I need a trip to Hobbycraft! 

That is all for now. See you in another week or so!

With much love Sally xxxx

A Teeny Weeny Mouse!

Hello! I seem to be getting better better at this blogging malarkey as long as I have finishes of course! I may not be visiting and commenting but at least I'm recording my stitching which is why I started a blog in the first place all those years ago. 

So what I have I been up to? A few weeks ago my DH, Abi and I went to York so I said if it's not too far out can we please go the Viking Loom so that I can get some Peacemaker needles. They are my favourite needles and I was down to my last two. While we were there we had a quick look at the cross stitch charts and Abi saw Just Nan Frosty Chillingsworth Mouse and asked if I'd stitch it for her. So I bought the chart and this week I got all the stitching and beading done. Yesterday I got it made up. He's not perfect as it was fiddly to put together but Abi is very happy with him! She's even taken him to work today to show one of her colleagues.

Just Nan Frosty Chillingsworth Mouse

Unknown fabric

DMC

Started 29th May 2019

Finished 30th May 2019

Last Sunday would have been dear Gaynor of Stitchers Anon's birthday so I decided to start something of hers. It stitched up very quickly and I plan on starting another of the primitive hearts soon.

Stitchers Anon Designs Season of Love Primitive Heart

Unknown fabric

DMC threads

Started 26th May 2019

Finished 27th May 2019

As you may know there are a few of us doing a JCS ornament SAL. My plan is to stitch one design out of each of the mags I have so that's over a year! I'm starting my one for June tonight and this one was May's.

Brightneedle To Thee Peace

28 count evenweave

GAST & DMC

Started 5th May 2019

Finished 19th May 2019.

Finally I said in my last post that I wanted to show my WIP on a Saviour's Praise each time so here it is. I'm still taking it steady and I've changed a couple of colours up to now. 

I've had some new stash. Yep I've done it again. Gone for a few months and been very good then splurged a little! I did have pennies from stash sales to pay for it so I don't feel too guilty. Another good thing is I'm getting plenty stitched from my stash too :) So what have you been buying I hear you ask! Well I pre ordered the collaboration between Summer Stitch Workes, Hand on Designs and Ink Circles and I had asked my ONS if they could get me The Scarlett House In The Berry Beginning and they arrived the other week. Then I had asked my ONS to save me The Scarlett House A Perfect World when they got it back in stock and, of course, I had to have the 2019 PS Santa as it has a sheep! They arrived this last week. Oh and I also had to get the BBD booklet The Bells on Christmas Day. I have one more to come once my ONS gets it in for me and that is With Thy Needle and Thread Pink Sparrow Sampler which I fell in love with after seeing WIPs on Instagram. I'll be saving up to get the threads for that one as the colours are gorgeous! I need to have more self control and hide away from the internet! Lol! 

That's it from me for now. See you again when I have another finish!

Until then take care everyone.

Sally xx

July Stitch From Stash & Another Finish!

It has soon come around to my Stitch From Stash report. I can't believe that we are a week away from August.  Also ow on earth did that happen?

This month does seem to have been rather productive in the finishing department and I have also started some older stuff from my stash :).

So my big finish for July is this beauty.

Brightneedle Lo How A Rose ( from the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas book )

32 count Crafty Kitten Fall Foliage ( lighter dye that Dawn did for me )

DMC

Started 8th March 2014

Finished 20th July 2014.

The book is now on the way to Barb :) Thank you Lois once again for sending me it.

I have made a little progress on Country Cottage Needleworks Frosty Forest Snowman's Cottage.

Day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas didn't quite get finished so Barb and I will, hopefully, finish it this Friday.

Almost finished JBW Designs Our Family.

I made a start on June's Honeysuckle.

New start in the parlour over at Needlecraft Haven was Little House Needleworks Needleworker. I messed up and had to frog twice!

Another new start in place of Warm Winter Woolens is Just Nan Wintry Mix. I've had this in my stash for God knows how long!

Do you remember this finish I had last year? Finally all finished up properly!

I'm debating what to start in place of Lo. It may be a Carriage House Samplings from a JCS magazine that Suzanne passed on to me a while ago then I bet it passed on as I promised it to Faye. I've sorted threads and fabric.

So before I announce the winner of the Jane Greenoff chart I'd better fess up to my little bit of spending for July. Last year some of you may remember that my sister and I had a poem read out at our Dad's funeral and I was after a chart of one of the verses which was his favourite. My sister remembered him writing it in her autograph book and he'd bought me a bird bath with the verse inscribed on it. Well at the time I couldn't find anything that I liked so, just on the off chance, I emailed Diane of Silver Creek Samplers to see if she would consider charting it. I had a lovely reply from her then left it at that. A few weeks ago I noticed that she had some new releases and there it was! The verse I had asked her about so beautifully charted. It is called Garden Bliss. Thank you so much Diane for a beautiful design. I will admit to having tears in my eyes when I saw it. I entered a contest she had running to win our choice of her new releases but decided that I would buy it when the next Frosty Forest auto came out which it just has so I'm hoping I won't have too long to wait for it arriving. So I spent about £5 on that lovely chart. My Frosty Forest doesn't count as it's an auto. That leaves me with £10 from the July budget so I have £42.90 to carry over :).

So onto the winner of the chart I was giving away. Just 4 people entered, Gracie, Bianca, Dani and Cucki, and the randomiser chose Cucki :). Cucki I think I have your address so I'll get it in the post to you as soon as I can.

I was very happy to receive a message from Dani to say that I'd won one of the travelling patterns, LHN Summer Garden, so watch out for that one when I receive it and get it stitched :). Thank you Dani :).

Finally thank you to everyone who posted congratulations for Jess on her graduation. Let's hope it isn't too long before she can find a job. Poor Abi has been looking a year and still not got one. She's applied for several but not even been offered an interview.

So that's it from me for today. I should be finishing a gift so better get this post published and get my sewing machine out!

Take care everyone and  try and stay cool in the  rather warm weather we're having. It has been too hot for me I'm afraid!

With much love

Sally xxxx

 

Wee Giveaway & Finishes

Oops it has been a while since my last post so this may be picture heavy. I haven't really been in the mood to blog then last week was quite a busy one.

On Monday last week I helped my friend Gill with her first open day for her wool business. She had asked me a while ago if I would help out and I was happy to. It was a brilliant day and I enjoyed it. Of course I could not resist buying a hank of lovely wool and a pattern. Tuesday morning was my usual craft group morning then Wednesday I hopped on the bus to see Chris for the day which was brilliant as we hadn't seen each other since my birthday last December.  We had a lovely day chatting and stitching. Thursday Gill came up to see me and we spent the morning chatting. No crafting done but it's lovely to just sit and chat.

Since I last blogged I've had some finishes. You know what they say about buses, you wait ages for one then several turn up, well it seems to be the same for me and finishes! 

This is the first one.

Country Cottage Needleworks The Needlework Shop

30 count R & R Irish Creme Linen

DMC

Started 9th April 2014

Finished 9th July 2014

Thank you Mouse for the loan of the charts :)

Next finish is my SAL with Shirlee. I must reply to your email Shirlee.  I have been so lax of late.

Little House Needleworks Warm Winter Woolens

35 count WDW Straw Linen

GAST

Started 8th May 2014

Finished 10th July 2014

SAL with Shirlee.

Final finish is this one. There hasn't been one of these that I haven't loved.

Cottage Garden Samplings My Garden Journal May's Lily of the Valley

40 count pearl grey linen

DMC

Started 18th May 2014

Finished 13th July 2014

Last Tuesday was my dear friend Karan's birthday and I stitched this little beauty for her. It is a Jane Greenoff Tiny Linen Pinkeeps Dutch Sampler. Karan loves it so I'm a happy stitcher.

I won this chart in a giveaway June had so would now like to pass it on so if you would like to win it please say so in your comments and I'll pick a winner next week :)

I have almost finished Brightneedle Lo How A Rose.  The wording is done so just have the rest of the flowers to stitch. This design is so pretty.

As you may know Lois very kindly sent me the book with the chart in so I decided to stitch a little something as a thank you. I like to do this when people lend me chart etc and even though it may take me a while I do get around to it eventually. So this is what I sent her and I'm so pleased that she loves it.

Shakespeare's Peddler Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet

36 count fabric

DMC

Started 31st May 2014

Finished 10th June 2014

So not many WIPs now until I have some new starts. Only other ones I have are the CCN Frosty Forest series so here's my progress on Snowman's  Cottage.

My lovely friend Barb is feeling a little better so is back stitching with me so Friday we did a little on Day 9 of The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas.

Do you remember this WIP?

It is JBW Designs Our Family. Julie very kindly sent me ages ago and I started it but it turned into a UFO. I decided it was time to pick it up again and get it finished.

A while ago I purchased some wool and a pattern from my dear friend Gill.  I started knitting it a while ago but not very often so I haven't done much but this is where I am at. It is knitted sideways which is new to me but it is going OK so far! This photo doesn't show the true colour though.

My big news of this post is that at the beginning of July Jess  got her results  from uni and obtained a 2.1 Batchelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English.  Yesterday was her graduation ceremony at Hull City Hall so off we went for a proud parents / sister day :). She didn't really want to attend but we said it was a celebration of her hard work so she agreed to go. We don't have the official photo as yet as we have to order it but I have a few that we took. It was a lovely day and we all shed a few tears when we first saw her in her robes and then again when she went to receive her degree.

 Jess and Abi

 Jess and Me

 Jess, her Dad and me

 Jess

 Spot the redhead!

Actress Sheridan Smith became an honorary doctor

I will be back next week I would think for my Stitch From Stash report!

Until next time.

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx