March

Happy March! These weeks are flying by so quickly! Last week March came in like a lion with "the beast from the east". To be honest it was a bit of a let down where I live. We didn't get the amount of snow that was forecast but we did get the high winds which gave us a wind chill of -10. This week it is more like Spring although yesterday we did get snow but it melted very quickly. 

So since I was here last I've been getting a fair amount of stitching done. I really need to get myself motivated to do some finishing but I need to go through what I have to finish then go through fabric and trims etc. 

The first piece I have to show was finished last time I blogged but I couldn't show it as it was on the way to my dear friend and fellow stitcher Barb for her 70th birthday.

Silver Creek Samplers Sweet Friendship

28 count cream cashel linen

DMC

Started 19th October 2017

Finished 31st January 2018

Birthday gift for Barb.

I covered a paper mache box with fabric and mounted my stitched piece onto the top. Barb was delighted with it :). Inside the box I popped a sweet little glass bird that I spotted in the local garden centre. 

I have had a few more finishes since my last post.

The Snowflower Diaries I Will Be There

40 count sand linen

GAST

Started 8th February 2018

Finished 27th February 2018

I stitched this one for the third, and final, time.

Lizzie Kate A Little Stitch

28 count Amber linen

DMC

Started 19th February 2018

Finished 28th February 2018.

Final finish is a snowy one!

Country Cottage Needleworks Snow Place Like Home 1

40 count vintage country mocha linen

DMC, CC & WDW

Started 14th January 2018

Finished 24th February 2018

Of course I had to start Snow Place 2 :)

Lesleyanne very kindly lent me all 3 parts of the Lizzie Kate A Little Mystery. I did have it and stitched a couple of the bonus designs ( gifted one of them) then sold the charts. I had forgotten about the piece I had stitched and gifted and came across the photo on my PC late last year and instantly regretted selling the charts! So I have made a start on the main design and got part 1 stitched and part 2 started. Thank you so much for lending me them Lesleyanne :)

My progress on LHN Little Red Barn is going slow but, hopefully, I might have a finish on Sunday. The next one in the series, Horsin' Around, arrived last week. 

Barb and I still doing our sheep SAL ( and our LK one as well as the Farmhouse Christmas with a lovely lady called Sue) and I am plodding away on The Pastoral. I might actually have a sheep soon!

Of course no post is complete without my HAED pieces. Lisa and I stitched on the 25th of last month on our stockings. It doesn't look much but at least it's progress!

We are also doing well on our 300 stitches a week SAL. Last week I got carried away and did more but this week I haven't done any yet BUT Lisa is visiting tomorrow so I'm going to do mine then. We are both so excited to have the opportunity to have a stitchy afternoon again :)

Finally I'm still plodding along on the dragon. I'm getting there slowly!

Oh I almost forgot about the Stichrovia Quotes to Live By WIP. I only stitch on this at craft group and if I have something I need to get more done on it doesn't get much love. So it's going slow but I have got a bit done on it in recent weeks.

After Lizzie Kate's announcement about her retirement I decided to add a couple of her charts to my stash. I know I'm doing stitch from stash but I knew I'd kick myself if I didn't get them so I bought Winter Smalls and Collect Moments. Then the other day I was thinking maybe I'd get a few more. The places I use seem to be sold out of a lot and taking a while to get more in but I managed to do a couple of orders and picked up most of what I wanted. There is another but it comes with threads so I'll just look out for it chart only on the Facebook selling sites. I did miss out on it when a friend was selling some stash! 

Thank you so much to all of you who left good wishes for Jess. It really means a lot. She is doing really well, has been to the hairdressers, doctors and out to Dungeons and Dragons which she plays with old school friends without having a panic attack. She is also back at work. Work have been so good and very understanding.

So that is all my news for now. Until next time take care everyone.

With much love,

Sally xxxxx

New Starts & Finishes

Hello! Here we are in February and it has been chilly. We haven't had anything more than a few light snow flurries which has been so disappointing. Some parts of the country have had quite a bit but I'm still hoping! In the meantime I'll just stitch Winter.

So since my last post I've had quite a few finishes so that means a few new starts. First the finishes.

 

Lizzie Kate A Little Stitch

32 count Lambswool linen

DMC

Started 3rd January 2018

Finished 7th January 2018.

Birthday gift for Chris.

Of course this was finished when I did my last post but I couldn't show it as it was a birthday gift for my dear friend Chris. I am happy to say that she loved it :)

Another finish is this one.

Mani Di Donna Winter Cottage in a ball

Weeks Dye Works gingham linen

DMC & GAST

Started 1st January 2018

Finished 24th January 2018

Please excuse my photos. I think I had my settings wrong on my camera!

As you may remember Barb and I stitch on Lizzie Kate Designs on a Monday evening. I finished this one.

Lizzie Kate Christmas Sampler

28 count Amber linen

DMC

Started 20th November 2017

Finished 22nd January 2018

Then I started this one and finished it at craft group today.

Lizzie Kate Flora McSample 2016 Treats Do You Hear What I Hear

28 count Lambswool linen

DMC

Started 29th January 2018

Finished 13th February 2018

On Fridays Barb and I stitch on sheep designs.I popped the last stitches into this.

Little House Needleworks Born in a Manger

40 count vintage country mocha

CC & DMC

Started 10th November 2017

Finished 12th January 2018

Now I have started The Drawn Thread The Pastoral. No sheep yet!

As I said finishes mean new starts. First one is Country Cottage Needleworks Snow Place Like Home 1. I'm stitching it on 40 count vintage country linen using the suggested threads.

Barb, Sue ( no blog) and I are SALing on the new LHN Farmhouse Christmas series and we started it a week last Sunday. I am using threads from my stash for this one.

Lisa and I made a start on our stocking SAL. It is going to take us years to get them done but it's nice to stitch on it just one night a month. My start doesn't look much but this is 2 evening's worth.

My dragon is getting some love and I am now determined to get him done. It's going much easier now I've worked out exactly what I'm doing!

Of course Lisa and I are working on doing 300 stitches a week on a BAP of our choice and I'm doing well at keeping up with mine.

I almost forgot that I got my Winter Days Sewing Basket made up. It is far from perfect as I really struggled with it.

Finally you may remember my Baa-ble hat from my last post. Well I decided that it was too big and I was likely to lose it off my head so out it came. I had to order some smaller DPNs to knit it up again and it's finished and fits much better this time :)

So far 2018 has not been brilliant. Well it actually started Christmas Day going to a family meal and just went from bad to worse quite quickly. My eldest DD has been suffering with anxiety attacks and a couple of weeks ago it got so bad that she couldn't even leave the house to go to work. I rang our surgery to ask for a home visit but I was refused one because she's too young. I felt like screaming well what the hell am I supposed to do! Thankfully they were able to give her a phone appointment and she was given short term medication so that she could eventually get to the surgery. That was fun  trying to get her there last week as she had an anxiety attack but the staff were very good. Anyway she is now on longer term medication and seems to be doing that bit better. She is managing to get out the house now with me for short walks but the doctor has signed her off work for 3 weeks. It has been awful seeing her like this and it made us all very anxious but fingers crossed she's starting to improve. We know it's going to be a long haul and that there could be set backs.

That is all my news for now. Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxxx

Some Sewing and The Sanctuary is Finished!

My second finish of the month that I can show is Drawn Thread The Sanctuary! I finished the stitching on the 1st of the month and finally finished all the hemstitching yesterday. I took it to craft club with me as I was feeling really tired so my eyes were tired too and I thought the hemstitching would be nice and easy. Several of the ladies were intrigued by this piece and thought it was beautiful. This was so lovely to stitch and it definitely keeps you interested with all the different stitches. The chart is now for sale so please email me if you're interested.

Drawn Thread The Sanctuary

32 count linen

DMC and WDW

Started 24th May 2011

Finished 1st November 2011

I'm not quite sure what to do with it now it's done. Any suggestions on how to hang it on the wall?

I plucked up the courage to make my pouch for LHN Travelling Stitcher at the weekend and armed with the instructions Katrina sent me and the measurements and fabric  Lisa S had sent me I set on. It is most certainly not as easy as it looks but by Sunday evening I had these two. One for me and one for my surrogate sister Lisa seen as we started stitching TS together when we had our stitching day back in August. I don't think they are too bad for a first attempt. As you can see I've got my stitching sewn to it so it's ready to use:) Once I get the needle case done I'll use it for craft club for smaller charts and fabric.

Jane and I have decided to put our Blackbird Designs AotH on hold until the New Year so we can concentrate on some Christmas stitching. I haven't actually picked mine up for a while as I wanted to get The Sanctuary done. So I'm planning on some ornament stitching and a few other bits I think.

I stitched a bit more on Little House Needleworks Winter Band Sampler, my SAL with Lesleyanne and Angela, on Sunday evening. I just love this piece and am really looking forward to having this on my wall. 

Monday was Christmas Carol SAL night with dear Barb and we are now both building. I just don't seem to be able to get this house done but, hopefully, next week I will have it all finished. I'll move up then I think. 

Finally Barb and I started another SAL last night! Yes I did say another one. This time we're having a Jane day again and we're stitching Good Tidings with Jane Austen ( I've been calling it Glad Tidings- sorry Tanya!). I got quite a good bit stitched last night and really enjoyed it.

It's SAL night with Lisa tonight and 6 Fat Men ( lol) so looking forward to that. I'm going to order the next 3 charts in the JJ's Birthday Sale tomorrow:) 

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my Peacock Pin Keep finish! I loved reading them all.

I just got the latest BBD Loose Feathers from Amy at Down Sunshine Lane. I also got Little House Needleworks Snow in Love ornament as it's so cute!

I better get going and get myself sorted. I planned on stitching up The Primitive Needle By the Light of the Moon this afternoon ( a bit late for Halloween I know!) but I'm not sure I'm in the right mood! 

Thanks for popping by my little stitching place. 

Take care everyone.

Love and hugs

Sally

xxxx

Almost There!

It's been over a week since my last post and I have to admit that ,although half term played a part in my lack of blogging, I just did not have the enthusiasm for it. I did, however, do quite a lot of stitching and have been on a mission to try and get Drawn Thread The Sanctuary finished, stitching on it 4 nights a week, and it's almost there. I wasn't going to post a photo today but changed my mind. I just have to finish stitching the pink flowers around the border then I'm done and can finish it with hemstitching. The cutting, removing and reweaving threads went badly and I thought I was going to have to scrap the whole thing as my threads kept breaking. It may not be perfect and I may not be 100% happy with it but the piece is so pretty so it makes up for it! Hopefully by the end of the week it'll be totally done:)

I've also been doing a bit of finishing off on a couple of pieces. First up is LHN Belle Pepper which I stitched ages ago. This is a simple hanging pin keep type finish with some rather nice trim that I found in Hobbycraft.

Second piece is LHN Red House in Winter with a gathered ribbon finish. This will go on my Christmas tree:)

I've also been trying to finish my Blackbird Designs Peacock Pin Keep. What a carry on! I am guessing that the BBD ladies must have used a thick coat type wool for the pin keep as I must have used way more than the 1/4 yard on the chart! I went and bought a pair of wool trousers from one of the local charity shops and by the time I'd got those cut up and wound I still didn't have enough! So back to the charity shop this morning and another pair of wool trousers! I don't need a lot but I'll make sure I keep what's left just in case I need some in the future! So I will, hopefully, have that to show later in the week.

Scrooge's house on The Primitive Hare's Christmas Carol Sock has grown a wee bit since the last time I posted it and I'm hoping to get more done this evening with Barb. If I'm to get it done and on display for Christmas I'd better get my finger out. I can't believe it's November tomorrow! 

Craft club last week was much warmer so no fingerless gloves needed thankfully! One of the ladies had brought some knitting magazines she no longer wanted and so I didn't feel left out she brought some cross stitching ones too so I spent some time looking through those before I started stitching then a break later for a cuppa and a yummy piece of flapjack made by the lady who runs it. I really must get the recipe. Anyway this progress picture of LHN Winter Band Sampler is two Sundays and a Tuesday mornings worth! I hope Lesleyanne and Angela are enjoying it as much as I am.

Last but by no means least is my Wednesday night SAL with my surrogate sis Lisa. Mine went much better this week and I just have the scarf and a few snowflakes to stitch and I can start the next one:)

I'm looking forward to the final part of the iStitch mystery SAL this weekend. I finished stitching part 7 yesterday and will post a picture in my next blog post.

That's all from me for now. I need to get caught up on blogs again when I get home from craft club tomorrow.

Take care everyone!

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx

 

Lots of Stitchy Progress

Before I show my stitchy stuff I just wanted to thank everyone who left such kind comments and hugs for both Abi and I on my last post. I am trying so hard to be strong for Abi but I have to admit that I am missing little Leo loads and I've sheds many a tear. Poor Abi has been so upset by the passing of her beloved little pet and can't bare to talk about it. I feel so bad for her and as a Mum really wish I could put things right.

Anyway on to my stitching before I cry again! Monday evening was Christmas Carol SAL night with Barb. I added some window frames and more brick work to Scrooge's house and am hoping to get more done next week. Half term means a lie in so no need to go to bed quite so early! Now that I have got used to the 35 count fabric I am really enjoying stitching this.

Tuesday at craft club it was freezing! The museum is now closed but the heating had, supposedly, been put on for us but I was frozen. My hands were freezing and were going blue! Two of the ladies kept their coats on! I think I shall take my fingerless gloves next week just in case! Anyway I made a start on Little House Needleworks Winter Band Sampler and am loving stitching it. I'm stitching along with Lesleyanne and Angela.

So Tuesday evening I didn't get much stitched on The Sanctuary as my heart just wasn't in it. I had got some done on Sunday evening and I picked it up again last night. I must admit that I am quite desperate now to finish this so that I can start TSG Gald Tidings with Jane Austen with Barb. I want to get some more Christmas ornaments stitched too.

Final progress picture is my SAL with Lisa which is Lizzie*Kate 6 Fat Men. I had such a going on with this this week! I got so far on the snowman then had to keep frogging one bit as I just could not get it to go right. I know my mind was not exactly on it and I almost threw it across the room! I dislike the fabric but am not starting over as I can't afford to waste it. Hopefully it'll go better next week.

I've been gearing myself up to get some finishing done and have been making the "pin keep" bit of the BBD Peacock Pin Keep this morning whilst waiting for the plumber to arrive. I do have all my stitching to attach to the bits yet and I'm hoping to do a bit more when I get off here. I ordered some fabric and one trim from Thread Bear last night to finish three pieces ( Duo Noel, A New Day and Dandy Dreams) and will have to see if I can get some ribbon or trim from Boyes next week. I also need to get a Halloween piece finished or it won't be on display this year!

I popped to my local newasgent the other day to pay my Dad's paper bill and just happened to notice the JCS Christmas Ornament magazine on the shelf so asked if they had one put away for me, which they hadn't, so I grabbed one off the shelf! I'm been eagerly waiting for it to come in and I have to say I was not disappointed when I looked through it. There are several that I really want to stitch so I really need to make a point of getting some done.

Hmmm I just realised the Online Needlework Show has started. Should I look???? Lol!

After having no hot water or central heating for  over a week we have finally got our boiler fixed today! Phew. It feels so good to have hot water again and know we can have the heating on if we want. £250 worth of parts have been fitted. Thank God we have insurance and don't have anything to pay as there'll be labour on top of that.

That's it from me for today. Carol R has sent out part 7 of the mystery SAL today so I'm hoping to get that stitched over the weekend and maybe start a Christmas ornament? Lol!

Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxx

Gifts For Friends & A Finish

It was my friend Elisa's birthday on Monday so I stitched up a little pincushion for her from the Blackbird Designs Joyeaux Noel book. I've been itching to stitch something from this since I bought it months ago and I thought Elisa might like this and I'm happy to say that she not only likes it- she loves it! I changed the year to her birth year ( yes she is 40). Happy Belated Birthday Elisa!

Blackbird Designs Vintage Pincushion

25 count fabric

DMC 4210

Started 27th September 2011

Finished 2nd October 2011

Birthday gift for Elisa.

I was being nosy the other day and looking at Lesleyanne's list of things that she wanted to stitch and saw this so stitched it up for her and sent it along with the travelling pattern.

Lizzie*Kate Peace Joy Love freebie

Silkweaver 28 count Sparkling Cider lugana

Carrie's Creations Hollyberry & Mistletoe

DMC B5200

Started & Finished 6th October 2011

Just because gift for Lesleyanne

I added the year to the back and finished it with a beaded edge using red and green beads. Lesleyanne said I was a very naughty girl lol but she loves it:)

Monday evening was SAL night for Barb and I on The Primitive Hare Christmas Carol Sock. I finished the roof of Scrooge's house and made a start on the "brick laying"! I am sure he'll appreciate me building his house to keep him warm lol!

At craft club yesterday I had a finish and a new start! I knew I didn't have much to stitch on Tra La La Duo Noel so I took a couple of other things with me so that I wouldn't be sat there with nothing to do. So here's my Duo Noel finish :)

Tra La Duo Noel ( Mouton)

28 count own tea dyed evenweave

DMC

Started 20th September 2011

Finished 11th October 2011

Thank you so much Lesleyanne for sending the chart onto me when you'd finished stitching yours:) I have now sent it onto Barb:)

So what did I start after that? Well I took LHN Summer Splendor with me and the next SB ornament from the JCS ornament mags and decided on the ornament. As Lesleyanne and I are going to be starting Winter Band Sampler soon I decided to leave Summer Splendor until after that :) What I didn't realise was the fabric cut I'd taken with me was 25 count so here's a very teeny shepherd!

Finally my progress on DT The Sanctuary from last night. I'll be stitching on this again on Thursday as I really want to get it finished. I'm in two minds at the moment whether to finish it once I've got the words done or whether to carry on and do the removing threads, border and hemstitching. I'm thinking that if I only do the words I'll finish it sooner and I'm very nervous about removing and reweaving threads!

I have been so lucky of late winning a few giveaways so I couldn't believe it when I saw that I'd won Rowyn's giveaway for Shakespeare's Peddler Weeds Make Haste:) I'm looking forward to seeing Rowyn's finish of it and receiving the chart. Thank you so much Rowyn:) I keep thinking that my lottery numbers might come up but noooooooo!!!!

Tonight is SAL night Lisa and those cute 6 Fat Men! Can't wait!

I seriously need to get some making up done as I have several things waiting in the wings. Some I would really like to get framed but they will be have to wait a bit. I started making the "roll" for the BBD Peacock Pin Keep but got bored with it so must get back to that! I also have the pouch for LHN Travelling Stitcher to make but I haven't managed to find any fabric online as yet. Can anyone suggest any good online stores in the UK where I might find some? 'd like something similar to what was used in the picture on the chart. I have 4 SB ornaments sewn, stuffed and waiting for the holes to be sewn up! I should be ashamed of myself for leaving them like that lol! Oh and I also have SB Rosy Egg to make up but still on the fence about how to finish it and if my skills are up to an egg shape!!!

Thank you for visiting me and reading my ramblings today and for leaving me lovely comments:)

Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx