Some Making Up and A Day Out! ( Picture heavy ).

Good afternoon from a sunny east coast of England. For all I don't like very hot weather I am enjoying the sun today and the slightly warmer temperatures. As long as it doesn't get too hot I will be happy.

I have a couple of birthday gifts that I stitched to show you. First of all my friend, Gill, had a birthday at the beginning of June. I wanted something seaside themed for her as she loves the beach/ sea and I suddenly remembered that there is a perfect design in the Blackbird Designs A Stitcher's Journey book. I adapted it as you will see!

Blackbird Designs Seaside Retreat ( from A Stitcher's Journey )

40 count Sand linen

GAST Black Crow

Birthday gift for Gill.

I changed the word stitch to knit, left off the border and added the name of Gill's wool shop to the top. I am very happy to say that she loved it :)

June also had a birthday this month and I couldn't resist stitching her a happy little sheep!

Shepherd's Bush Sheep Freebee ( can be found here on page 3 of the newsletter )

32 count Colour Cascade Fabrics Silver Springs

DMC

Birthday gift for June.

June loved her wee gift :)

Since my last post I have finished stitching this one and got it made up!  I added mine and my sister's first initial and my Mum's initials inside the heart

Shepherd's Bush My Mom's Garden

32 count Vintage Country Peach linen

DMC

See the cute bee button? I've had that in my stash for a long time waiting for a special piece to put it on! It was made for me by a lovely Italian lady called Barbara :)

I offered the chart in my last post and the winner is Vickie! Vickie the chart is on the way to you. Enjoy!

I have also been finishing up some other bits that have been waiting in my finishing pile. It is going down a little now although I have some bigger pieces that I'm not sure what to do with. 

This one was stitched last year and it is JBW Designs Our Family.

The following were stitched this year and will be coming out for Halloween!

Not a lot of stitching was done last week so I only have a bit to show as July Cottage, Ghoul Tidings and Let Us Adore Him aren't worth showing. Well Let Us Adore Him would have been but I have to frog as I got carried away and stitched white where I shouldn't have! I had a new start on Thursday with Barb as we SAL on Shepherd's Bush pieces on Thursdays. I made a start on A Full Heart which is the first in the Shepherd's Fold series.

LHN Comfort is looking very pretty with the pink stitches now :)

My Robin is coming along really well. Isn't he adorable?!

Finally a bit of progress on November's Chrystanthemum.

So last week my DH and Abi were on holiday from work. Jess didn't get the week off but she only worked Tuesday afternoon and Sunday so she managed some days out with us. She didn't want to go to RSBP Bempton so we went there while she was at work. We had a lovely day and saw lots of beautiful puffins as well as many other seabirds. At this time of year the cliffs are covered in various birds. I took lots of photos but I haven't sorted through them as yet. We also had our annual day out to Yorkshire Wildlife Park which is a fantastic day out. Again I took lots of photos and have sorted some so I'll post a few here. We were very honoured to see Tschuna the Amur tiger's sweet little cubs. Since we went last year they have 2 polar bears named Victor and Pixel. Pixel is Victor's grandson!

That's all from me this time. I'm hoping for a more productive stitching week although I didn't mind not getting as much done last week :)

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

Our Family & Another Wee Giveaway

Hello again everyone! It's supposedly a little cooler today and, even though the wind is blowing and it's cloudy, it doesn't feel like it is.  Phew it has been way too hot for me but these last few evenings I've been sitting out on the patio stitching and it has been lovely. Much cooler than sitting indoors.

First of all I have a finish. This lovely chart was passed on to me by dear Julie I don't remember when. I started it and for some reason it became a UFO. I picked it up and still have no idea why it got put away as I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching it. So here it is!

JBW Designs Our Family

Unknown fabric

DMC

I did not have a bird charm so used a bee instead. My plain heart charms did not fit in the box so I used a made with love charm.

Now Julie has said I can pass this chart on so if you would like to stitch this please tell me in your comment. I would prefer it if you have a blog so that when you have finished with it you can pass it on or if you are a member of Needlecraft Haven and can pass it on there.

Typing of Julie it is her birthday today so Happy Birthday Julie! I saw a lovely design that Gaynor of Stitchers Anon  had designed for her retreat both virtual and real but as I couldn't stitch it straight away I asked if it was OK if I stitched later! So this is what I stitched for Julie and I am happy to say she loved it. I also sent her a needleminder but forgot to take a photo of that!

Stitchers Anon From The Heart

40 count sand Newcastle Linen

DMC

Just want to say thank you for all your lovely comments on my Lo finish.  It will be going to the framers soon I think. Sue asked which Better Homes and Gardens book the design was in.  I can't contact you directly as you're a no reply blogger and you have no blog either so I hope you will read this :). It is from the Better Homes and Gardens A Cross Stitch Christmas book which you can find on Amazon UK or USA  here and here. I do hope that helps.

I do have another finish and this time it's the 9th Day of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I can't believe that Barb and I only have 3 more to do!

The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas Day 9

32 count vintage country mocha linen

DMC

I had a new start on Saturday to replace Lo. Oh how I like a new start! I have felt a little stale with some of my stitching lately so it's been nice to finish some things and have  new starts. Helps keep the ole creative juices flowing! Just wish I could get more creative with the finishing!  So this is my new start. It's from a Just Cross Stitch magazine from a few years ago and is Carriage House Samplings 1823 Emma Elizabeth Blackwood Sampler. I'm stitching it in DMC on 40 count cream Gander linen.

Sitting outside stitching has kept me away from my tablet so has meant no interruptions playing games etc so more progress. Here's June's Honeysuckle from Sunday evening.

Snowman's Cottage from Monday evening. Hoping to finish this next Monday and start the next one.

I managed to stitch on LHN Needleworker with no frogging this time. I'll be stitching on this tonight with the ladies in the parlour at Needlecraft Haven.

Finally some progress on Just Nan Winter's Eve.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my final auto of Frosty Forest will be here soon as that will mean that Garden Bliss will arrive too. My long time online friend Fiona asked me to order her one too which I was happy to do. It should still be within what customs will allow but now I'm worrying a little as if they include postage it won't be. I think if they take postage into consideration it's a con! However I will see what happens. I'll have to be patient but waiting for new stash is not a patient matter! Lol. ETA IT'S HERE! Will show it next post :)

I am hoping to try and blog and comment on blogs more regularly than I have been doing of late. I start off with good intentions but it never seems to last. I need a good kick up the butt and a good talking to lol!

Take care everyone and thank you for visiting :) Please leave me a comment if you have time as I love reading them.

With much love

Sally xxx

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