Productive Sunday

I had a lovely productive Sunday on the old finishing front! I don't know why I didn't sit down sooner to do it as I'm very happy with what I achieved. The only problem is I get my sewing machine out, sew stuff up then it's the adding the trim that I can't be bothered to do! So last night I decided no stitching just adding trim so here's what I got done :)

First one is Little House Needleworks Summer Splendor which I actually stitched a while ago and it's been languishing in my finishing pile. The trim I used was in a prize package that I received from Kate earlier on in the year. I'm really pleased with this one:)

Also finally finished Little House Needleworks A Stitcher's Heart. I was undecided whether to gather the ric rac like it is on the model or sew it on straight as I was bothered I'd run out but I bit the bullet and gathered it and had more than enough:) This one is so pretty.

Scarlet has finally been reunited with her friend Belle Pepper on my wall. Yep Chessie and Me's Scarlet's Christmas Sampler is finished up and I've hung her with LHN Belle Pepper:) I'm very pleased with this one too.

Final finish up is a simple one of Shepherd's Bush The Angel's Sang. I've finished the rest of these simply but I may add something else to them before I hang them all on my tree. I think I have one more to stitch to complete the set.

I have more to do yet but am happy that I am steadily getting down them!

As I said in my last post I was joining in a SAL on Needlecraft Haven so I had my new start on Wednesday evening. This is Little House Needlworks Home of a Needleworker ( Too!). I'm stitching it using the called for Crescent Colours, 1 strand over 1 on 25 count fabric. I think this is Stormy Skies from Silkweaver. I am a wee bit disappointed with my CC Old Blue Jeans as it's dull compared to the one used in the model but I find that many times with overdyed threads.

I've made more progress on both my HAEDs. QS Holly Fairy is coming along nicely. I decided after stitching on the hair I'd do a bit more of the background.

I'm very happy with my progress on Guardian this time as I almost got 20 rows completed on page 9. If I can do this every time I pick him up I could get a page done maybe in a month. 

It's SAL night with Barb tonight so hopefully I can get BBD Small Token finished:) Not sure which BBD I will pick next. Will have to see.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post. It makes me happy to know that there are so many lovely stitchers out there reading my ramblings:)

With much love.

Sally

xxxxx

A Little Knitting and Lots of Stitching

I am still stitching and knitting away and doing as I'm told and not doing much of anything else. I still have a nap some days depending on how I feel. I have been feeling a bit low as I'm not convinced that my surgery has done what it should so I have been thinking about seeing my GP but I have to rely on my DH to take me in the car as I know I won't make it that far walking. I don't really want to waste an appointment when I would just basically be asking for reassurance so, as I had to ring to get an appointment for Abi's repeat blood tests, I asked if my GP could ring me and lo and behold they do phone appointments! I never knew that. Anyway she had none left for today so she's ringing me tomorrow. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing as it's probably still swollen and bruised but I just need that reassurance. 

So I've been stitching and knitting quite a bit since my last post. Not sure where to start so guess the finishes would be a good place.

Chessie & Me Scarlet's Christmas Sampler

36 count Lakeside Linens Vintage Pearled Barley Linen

GAST

Started 18th May 2012

Finished 27th May 2012

I absolutely loved stitching this one although there are a few mistakes where I've stitched the wrong colour ( part of the tree and the pot) plus I chose not to stitch the smyrnas and just did cross stitches instead.

Next finish is my SB SAL with Barb.

Shepherd's Bush Our Hearts Pincushion ( as kitted)

Started 14th May 2012

Finished 28th May 2012.

I do have to add the buttons but it'll have to wait until I'm allowed to lift an iron so I can get the creases out!

Last Wednesday Mouse and I started our SAL of Little House Needleworks A Stitcher's Heart/ Shakespeare's Peddler Gentle Stitches. This is my little bit.

I've been enjoying stitching The Sampler Girl Northanger Abbey and stitched loads on it on Sunday.

I treated myself in The Sampler Girl's Memorial Day sale to her new Queen's Diamond Jubilee Sampler. I much prefer to buy printed patterns but decided on the PDF of this one or it wouldn't get stitched in time. I made a small start on it yesterday.

Please excuse my photos. The colours are not true to life as I took them in a bit of a hurry and not where I normally take them.

Last week I had some lovely cards and gifts through the post. First off my dear friend Elaine sent me a lovely card, a gorgeous Shepherd's Bush ornament and a knitting magazine. See the red jumper? I'd love to have a go at that! Thank you so much Lainey for thinking of me. I will treasure the ornament and the mag will definitely be put to good use {{{{hugs}}}}

Then my dear friend Karan sent me this lovely card and a very pretty JBW Designs chart. I'm going to start this one soon as it'll be an everlasting basket of flowers to aid my recovery :) Thank you so much for thinking of me Karan {{{{hugs}}}}

Finally I was rather confused when a Graze box popped through my letter box! It was from my dear friend Heather and her daughter Marion. Look at the yummies inside which I shared with Abi. It was delicious! Thank you so much Heather and Marion for thinking of me {{{hugs}}}

Knitting time now. I finished knitting Abi's snood on Sunday. I do have to block it and sew it up but that will have to wait. That cute little penguin is what Abi bought me when I was hospital. Isn't it sweet?

So yesterday I finally plucked up the courage to cast on the Holden Shawlette. I'm a little scared but I'm going to give it a good go! This is how far I've got. I'm using Stylecraft Special 4 ply in raspberry.

Last week I gave myself one hell of a scare. As I said in my last post I'd had a couple of short walks so when Abi got in from her lesson on Wednesday ( after my blog post) I decided I'd see if I could make it to the PO and shop around the corner. Not much further than I already walked but I got into the PO and thought I was going to pass out. I was so damned scared and I have never been so happy to see my house when we got back! It scared me so much that I didn't go out again until Saturday when we went to the hairdressers in the car and I walked the little way from the car park. It really knocked my confidence to get out but I have walked just a little way each day since. I won't overdo it again. 

That's it from me for this time. Going to get my stitching out later  and maybe also get in some knitting if I can.

Thank you for all your lovely comments. I'm only sorry that I'm not leaving many myself at the moment but I will get there!

With much love.

Sally

xxxx

Lots Of Stitching

I have lots of stitching to show. Please bear in mind that I can't do much of anything else then sleep, rest, stitch and knit so I have done a lot more stitching than I normally would have. It has been frustrating watching my DH and Abi do all the cooking, cleaning etc while I sit back but if I don't do as I'm supposed to my surgery will have been a complete waste of time and there is no way I am going back into hospital even though it was a nice one and all the staff were absolutely brilliant. So this post will be picture heavy.

My first finish was the night before I went in for my surgery.

Birds of a Feather Love

35 count white linen ( I think)

DMC

Started 1st May 2012

Finished 8th May 2012

I picked up my stitching again on the Saturday after my surgery. I had taken Little House Needleworks Snow White in with me but did not feel up to stitching.

Little House Needleworks Snow White

32 count Sparklies Pisces evenweave

DMC

Started 12th May 2012

Finished 19th May 2012

Because I sorted several projects before my surgery I actually pulled out some charts I'd had for a quite a while and one of them was this one.

Midsummer Night Designs Remember Me Stitching Pocket

32 count ivory evenweave

Crescent Colours

Started 14th may 2012

Finished 17th May 2012

This one was an absolute joy to stitch and I have to admit that I did not want to put it down. I am so pleased I bought the CC threads for it when I bought the chart. I don't think this will be my last MND piece.

Final finish is this lovely one.

Little House Needleworks Joy to the World

32 count raw linen

DMC

Started 15th May 2012

Finished 16th May 2012.

I now have three WIPs. First one is my SB SAL with Barb ( not sure if Colleen is still with us or not) and this is the front of Our Hearts Pincushion. I'll start the back next Monday.

The next one is Chessie & Me Scarlet's Christmas Sampler. I am using the fabric which came with the chart ( it's Lakeside Linens and it's gorgeous to stitch on ) with GAST. I didn't buy the limited edition ones for this so am using normal ones. I stitched more on this yesterday but couldn't be bothered to take another photo today.

Finally I couldn't resist a Sampler Girl design for my recovery period so I started Northanger Abbey.

If you've stuck with me so far thank you :) Lol! Here's a couple of photos of the cards I've received from family and friends.

My lovely friend Michelle sent me this beautiful card and pincushion which is gorgeous and really lifted my spirits. It was waiting for me when I came home from hospital. Thank you so much Michelle {{{{hugs}}}}

Another lovely friend Ann ( no blog) sent me this lovely card and pillow which I absolutely love. Thank you so much Ann for lifting my spirits {{{{hugs}}}}

My dear  friend Tricia sent me one of her beautiful hand made cards along with some pretty thread and a very yummy sounding Red Raspberry herb tea bag. Thank you so much Tricia {{{{hugs}}}}.

I am now very near at the 2 week post surgery stage and I am not doing too badly at all. Some days are better than others. I still get very tired and I don't think I've slept this well for months. From the day after my surgery right through last week I think I cried every single day! Yesterday was not brilliant as I've been feeling under the weather. I had a very short walk ( just half way down the street!) on Sunday with my DH as the patient information leaflet said I was allowed and then on Monday Abi took me out and I walked a teeny bit further. Problem is remembering not to go too far as I have to get back!

Mouse and I are starting a SAL of the Little House Needlworks/ Shakespeare's Peddler charts that were released at Nashville tonight. I'm looking forward to that :)

Thank you for reading and thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post. Not sure when I'll be back again but I'm going to try and read and comment on a few blogs today but please bear with me if I don't.

With much love.

Sally

xxxx

Just a Quickie

I have some progress to show you but haven't got photos taken so just going to show something I finished a few weeks ago and can now show. Last Friday it was Karan's birthday and I stitched up what I think is a really sweet freebie design and made it into a little pincushion. I am very happy to say that Karan loves it :)

Chessie and Me Bird and Flower

Unknown fabric

DMC

Started 16th June 2011

Finished 23rd June 2011

I added our initials to the back.

I've been to craft club again this morning and there were a few more ladies there. It's funny how you recognise faces but can't for the life of you think where you actually know them from!

I'll be back in a day or two with my WIPs and by then I'll be able to show another wee finish which was for a gift:)

Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx