So What Have I Been Up To?

You may ask! This week I decided it was time I actually plucked up the courage to make up the Just a Thought Sampler Garden Needle Casket I finished stitching a while ago. Abi was out with a friend on Tuesday and DH back to work after the bank holiday weekend so I thought that day would be ideal to get everything out and get on. Of course it took me longer than a day, although I kept getting distracted, and what with all the cutting, gluing, sewing, ribbon gathering etc I finally got finished today! So I'm going to let the pictures do the talking!

Casket, needle custodian, needle cushion and needleroll

Casket top

Casket bottom

I am sooooooooo pleased with this. I never thought that I would make something like this in a million years but Judy O'Dell's finishing instructions are so clear that even I can follow them! Now I need to find somewhere to display it.

I can only show two other bits of stitching in this post. First piece is Blackbird Designs Their Song which I made good progress on on Sunday evening.I just love the verse on this one.

Next up is mine and Barb's new SAL start from Monday evening. Monday was quite stressful for us with Jess moving into her student house so I was glad of a new start and SALing with a very dear friend. So this is The Sampler Girl Jane Austen Sampler Stocking. I am already loving this one so much so thank you Barb for suggesting the SAL :) Looking forward to seeing how you got on and stitching more on Monday.

I'm afraid Chatelaine Spring Morning has not been out this week because I wanted to finish the casket. Thankfully Julie and Mr Stick have given us a week off this week so I don't feel so bad not doing anymore beading!

We got Jess moved into her student house on Monday. I must admit it looks so much better than it did the first time we saw it ( thank God) but it was so hard leaving her there and Abi and I cried when we'd left ( well Abi started before we left!). Tuesday lunchtime I decided to text Jess to see how her first night had gone. I wasn't expecting miracles but I wasn't expecting the text I got back. She said it was horrible, that she'd wanted to come home and had even thought about quitting university so she didn't have to live in that house. She did, however, say that she OK now. Well, as you can imagine, I was in bits at the thought of her being so unhappy that she'd quit uni. Both Abi and I spoke to her yesterday and she sounded a lot happier and I know she'll settle once she gets used to it.

Hopefully I'll be back next week with more WIPs and maybe a finish!

Thank you for all your lovely comments. I cherish them all :)

Take care everyone and stay safe if you're on the east coast of USA.

Hugs

Sally

xxx

More Winter Wingding and Stuff!

I decided yesterday to do some finishing up. Blue Ribbon Designs Winter Wingding had been wallowing in my finishing pile since I finished the stitching a while ago as I couldn't decide how to finish it. Anyway I decided on a simple pillow finish so out came my sewing machine. For all it's a simple finish I am rather pleased with this. Please excuse my photos in this post as it's been rather dull and I've struggled with the photo editing program I'm using.

Another one that has been waiting to be finished is Just Nan 4 Wishes. Like my other JN finishes I've used a simple bell pull finish. I have run out of space on my JN wall so this one will have to go on another wall!

Finally I stitched this little fob up when I stitched the LHN Needle and Thread Scissor Bed a while ago but never got around to adding the cording so that was another job for yesterday and is now complete :)

I've had two more finishes this week so I'm rather happy! I think I have missed having a good few finishes and now that I'm getting quite a few it makes stitching on the bigger pieces easier! If that makes sense. Anyway first finish is Just A Thought Sampler Garden Casket and Accessories. Obviously this now needs making up but it might be a good idea for me to wait until I am on my own to do it. I have loved stitching this and I just hope I can do the piece justice when it comes to making it up.

Just A Thought Sampler Garden Casket

32 count Belfast linen

DMC and Threadworx

Started 28th March 2010

Finished 1st August 2010

My final finish for today is...... wait for it........ a Halloween ornament! Yes I will have at least one ornament on that black tree! Not made up yet but that will happen soon lol. I would like to try and get some nice bright ribbon for it.

Raise The Roof Boo Whoo ( JCS Halloween issue 2008)

Possibly a Jayne's Attic fabric

DMC thread & JABC Buttons

Started sometime in 2009!

Finished 4th August 2010.

Onto my WIPs now :) I didn't quite get blocks 6 & 7 finished on CHS Shores of Hawk Run Hollow but it was close so I should get it finished this weekend then I can move onto block 8. I am not so bothered if I don't get a block a month done on this. It was my plan but I am just wanting to enjoy it rather than think that I must finish it :) If it's not finished by the end of the year I shall just hold off starting my big piece for next year then it'll give me more time to save up and collect the charts!

Monday evening was my  Jane Austen SAL with Barb which I look forward to every week. I had the DMC that I'd run out of so the verse is now finished as is the ship and I have sea too!!! So now you can linger and gaze at the sea lol! I just love Tanya's Jane inspired designs.

Lastly and a little closer to a finish is Chatelaine Spring Morning. Once I've finished all the stitching there are a lot of beads to sew on so that'll probably be a good afternoon's work. I prefer to sit at the dining table when I sew beads on incase I spill them!

So what's next? Well I have decided to replace the casket with Blackbird Designs Their Song which Nicola kindly sent me last year when she had stitched it. It was a bit of a toss up between that and Shepherd's Bush Emmanuel's Song, which Barb kindly sent me, but I decided on Their Song because I've had it the longest then once that is done I'll make a start on Emmanuel's Song. Last night I made a small start on my SB roll for this month and I chose Violet which is really pretty. I'll continue to stitch on that tonight then once it's done I'll be starting LHN Holly and Berries I think.

I have added The Cat's Whiskers For My Friend Scissor Case chart ( gently used) to my for sale page so it's there with Just Nan 4 Wishes and M Designs Reindeer Needleroll and Sampler. Please email me ( in my profile) if you are interested:)

It looks very much as though my days of being a SAHM are numbered but I have to admit that going back out to work after nearly 16 years is scaring the hell out of me and also I am scared that I won't be able to find a job and wondering what hell we'll do if I can't. We need another wage coming in as we can no longer manage on DH's wage alone. So when DH goes back to work after his holiday I'll be job hunting. I can't say that I'm too happy about it as I wanted to do this on my terms not being forced because everything is going sky high beyond what so many of us can afford, but I know we're not the only ones in this situation. So no stashing for me unless I have pennies in my PP account! Good job I have plenty to stitch but I'll be putting some bits on my Christmas list lol!!!!

Well it's time I stopped waffling on and got caught up on blogs.

Take care everyone!

Hugs

Sally

xxxx

I LOVE Shepherd's Bush!!!!

I'm guessing that my regular readers already know that actually seen as how I've been stitching one of their rolls a month for the past year and a half as well as other designs by the wonderfully talented ladies of Shepherd's Bush!! My latest finish is equally as gorgeous as anything else I've stitched by them so without further ado let me show the pictures and see what you think!!!

Shepherd's Bush 2010 Fob Kit

Started 22nd July 2010

Finished 24th July 2010

Made up 27th July 2010.

Now I must admit that I have more fobs than I do scissors so I have asked my DH to make me some sort of wall hanger that I can display them, and other things, on. I think I need to crack the whip flutter my eyelashes to get said hanger made!

Now this cute snowman has been in a draw for some time now patiently waiting to be finished into something so that he can be shown off. So he was part of my finishing Friday last week but he didn't quite get finished! As you can see he's another pinkeep but I do love them as they are so simple yet can be jazzed up. He is The Trilogy Sloane the Snowman.

Sunday evening I had hoped to finish the stitching on the pieces for JAT Sampler Garden Casket but 1) I ran out of DMC 3051 and 2) I'd be pussyfooting doing some very important things on the PC! However I did get a fair bit done whilst watching Top Gear and the modern day Sherlock Holmes which was just brilliant!

Monday evening was Barb and I's Jane evening. Unfortunately I couldn't complete the verse as I needed that elusive DMC 3051 which I had very stupidly forgotten to get on my trip to the shops on Monday morning ( I need a slap!) so I moved onto the flowers and stems at the top. I am loving this and I think I may just have a new obsession addiction!

Finally last night was S&S UFO night and to save a possible beating from Mr Stick and Julie I thought I'd better behave myself and get Chatelaine Spring Morning out. I am happy with the progress I made and I hope Mr Stick will be too!

 

So what to stitch today??? I think I need to pick the Halloween ornament I started God knows when back up and work on that or another year will go by with nothing on my black tree. My mind has wandered with thoughts of said tree coming out again for Valentines and Easter too. Now I never stitch for these occassions! Pray tell what is wrong with me???? Middle age crisis???? I have no idea but it does feel good!!!

 

Yesterday an envelope arrived from Barb. She has recently stitched up the Shepherd's Bush Glad Tidings Fob ( please see her blog for her lovely finish) and very kindly sent the chart to me. This will be started sooner rather than later as, well, I just love these fobs! Thank you so much Barb!

 

Right I have waffled on for long enough. I'm away to find that started Halloween ornament and pop a few stitches in it then have quarter of an hour on the Wii Fit. I am trying to get back into exercising after not doing any but I'm just taking it steady at the moment. Still not 100% but think I am getting there. I often think it is sort of stress/ menopause related. I am having relentless hot flushes and the muggy weather really doesn't help. I worry about my Dad as he is looking so thin and ill and all my sister says is there's nothing we can do to make him eat better which I know but it doesn't stop me worrying. It upsets Abi so much when she sees him and now she doesn't want to see him.

 

Thank you for all your lovely, kind comments. 

 

Take care everyone.

 

Hugs

 

Sally

xxx

Just a Quickie Birthday Gift FOR Karan

Just a quickie post today, well as quick as I can, as I have been told by the doctor I saw this morning to stay off the PC and away from TV ( I don't care about not watching TV but I do care about having to stay off the PC!!!!) So I'm doing this blog post then will catch up on blogs another day. I actually feel as though she was taking the mickey but admittedly I did spend all afternoon on the PC on Saturday when I was feeling a bit better only to start feeling worse in the evening so maybe there's something in it! I thought I might have an ear infection but she couldn't see anything but she did say I could have a build up of fluid in my inner ear which she wouldn't be able to see. Thankfully I do know that there are no tumours,blockages or bleeds etc as the head and neck CT I had back in January was clear. Of course now I'm worrying as my pulse rate was up so she was concerned about that but I always get that when I got to the doctors but she made me hold my hands out and I was shaking ( which I do when I'm nervous or hungry) so that made her even more concerned! I think I should have just not bothered going! It's always the same as well, the doctor I wanted to see, the best one there in my opinion, was fully booked! Anyway enough of that or I won't get this post done before Jess drags me off here kicking and screaming! She's given me until lunch time then that's my PC for today done!!!! Lol!

So without further ado I heard from Karan that she had opened my wee birthday gift to her:) After seeing Chris' thread holder I decided to give one a go. I'd been thinking about for ages and seeing hers just spurred me on. It's by no means perfect but I am rather pleased with it. I chose to stitch Casa Mia Stitching Angel in a DMC Variations thread ( red as you can see!). Karan loves it :)

I didn't get much done on Shores this weekend. Friday evening was the start of the annual carnival here so DH and I decided we'd go have a look and see what was happening. Jess and Abi had gone together then Abi was meeting up with some of her friends. Her evening did not go well and she ended up with us in tears. Anyway yes Shores! I did do a little bit before we went out then did a bit more on Saturday evening. I'm not sure what is wrong but I couldn't get the sea part to go right all the way across so I decided just to do a bit at a time. I am hoping that I haven't gone wrong on the two blocks above this one and not done enough stitches. Finger's firmly crossed.

I am almost there on stitching all the parts for Just A Thought Sampler Garden Casket. This is the needle cushion almost finished then I just have the custodian to do and I can start making it all up. I have loved stitching this.

Last night was my Sampler Girl Jane Austen night and I got quite a lot stitched on Return to the Sea.

When Chris visited last week she brought the Just Cross Stitch ornament preview issue to show me and, as it has some lovely ornaments in it and other things, I decided to go order it from where she gets her subscription, Magazine Cafe. I was happily looking forward to getting it but I ended up getting a refund from them as they did not have stock of that issue:( I was very disappointed and vented my disappointment on Facebook!!!! Ann ( no blog) kindly offered to pick me a copy up from her local newsagent and that has just arrived so I'll be popping a cheque in the post to her and relaxing with the mag this afternoon:) Thank you so much Ann :)

Right my times almost up so I'd better get off here before I get into bother from Jess!!!! Not that she'll notice as she's on the PS3 but if helps me to feel better then I'll behave!!!!

Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xxxx

Petite Lettres Rouge Revisited

You may ( or may not!) remember a while ago I stitched up the Blackbird Designs freebie Petite Lettres Rouge? Well let's say I made a bit of a mess of it after I'd started to make it into a pinkeep. I made the mistake of attempting to tea dye it ( using cold water) and the threads ran. At this point I threw it to one side in disgust and left it. After a while I thought well I've nothing to lose I'll take it to bits and try rinsing it in cold water. Although this didn't remove the runs all together it did seem to help a bit so I then put it back together and it's been waiting for me to add ric rac to it since! Abi says it doesn't look too bad as it makes it look old and even though I'm older and supposedly wiser than her I do trust her judgment! I am not happy with the ric rac so I might take it off and put something else on! This has my paternal grandma's name and year of birth on it and that is her in the picture:)

This week's finish is the SB roll I showed as a WIP last Friday. I loved stitching this one ( well I've loved stitching them all so far!). It is Americana roll. I just love the colours in it. I think the ribbon I've used is a bit wide but I thought it looked nice!

I have made more progress on Shores but I appear to be a bit out somewhere as the compass is a couple of stitches too close to the border but I have no idea where I've made the mistake so it's staying! Jane and Nicki how are you both getting on?

I finished the needleroll for the JAT Sampler Garden Casket on Sunday so will move onto the next bit this coming Sunday. I'm trying to pluck up the courage to start making the casket up but I'm still chicken!

Monday evening saw more progress on TSG Return to the Sea with Jane Austen which is my SAL piece with Barb:) Barb and I are planning another SAL on a smaller piece ( I think we'll be doing a different piece each) before we start the JA stocking! I do enjoy SALs!

I'm not sure if Julie and Mr Stick will too pleased with me this week!!! Lol! Don't panic I did stitch on Chatelaine Spring BUT it wasn't much. I had problems with the jessica stitch flower on the right hand side. No matter how hard I tried I just could not get it to go right so had to frog it several times before I realised what I was doing wrong and then when I did get it right I had to frog it again because I'd used too many strands!!!! Duh!!!!! So by the time I put it away all I'd done was finished the vines, two flowers and started the hummingbird! Still at least it is something:)

Last night I was not in the mood for HAED Guardian as I'd felt unwell ( won't go into detail but I've had this several times before) and I just wanted something simple. I had decided to join in the monthly SAL challenge over at Stitch and Stash and this month it's The Workbasket Mr Penguinee so I started that. He has been out again tonight but I've found a mistake and as I'm stitching over one on 25 count I won't be frogging it but will be binning it and starting again :( I can't show it until reveal day anyway which is 25th July and I'm hoping to have it restarted and finished by then!

I had some lovely post yesterday. Barb very kindly replied to my plea about SB roll charts and sent me Happy Pumpkin but not only that she also sent me the BBD Loose Feathers chart Hedgerow Birds:) Thank you so much Barb, I appreciate your friendship and kindness very much xx Andrea also kindly replied to my plea and is lending me the Antique Hearts roll so not many more to go now:) Thank you so much for your kindness and friendship Andrea :) Stitchers really are the best. I just wish I could meet you all in person. Woudn't we have a fantastic party!

I think, thanks to Siobhan, I have decided on my biggie project for next year! It had become a bit of a tradition for me to have a new start on New Years Day each year and each time it has been a biggie that has lasted me almost all year ( this year it's Shores). Well Siobhan is stitching the Blackbird Designs Anniversaries of the Heart series on one piece of fabric and personalising it with details of her family so this got me thinking about doing the same. It's a wonderful idea and I hope you won't mind me borrowing it Siobhan!

Unfortunately my box making day at Chris' had to be abandoned because of me feeling ill. The way I feel a bus ride was out of the question so I was very upset and just wanted to sit and cry. So Chris came here for a couple of hours, we had a chat and a natter and showed each other our stitchy projects. She cheered me no end. Thanks Chris {{{hugs}}}

I almost forgot I have some San Man Originals pieces that I have stitched and had on display that I no longer like so will be putting them up for sale. I'll add them to my For Sale page tomorrow but in the meantime if you think you might be interested please feel free to email me for details. They are nearly all snowmen!!!! Edited to add I've now put them up on my For Sale or Trade page.

Well it's time I was in bed. Hope you enjoyed my finish and my WIPs:) Thank you for all your comments, I love reading them:)

Take care everyone!

Hugs

Sally

xxxx

I've Been So Naughty!

Yes I have to confess that I have been stash shopping! I wanted to find a stockist of Ewe and Eye and Friends charts but was having a hard time finding the one I wanted anywhere ( have they stopped designing???) so did a search and came across Des Filles Et Une Aiguille so I ordered Love Letters as well as a BOAF ( another one no longer designing????) Love ( do you see a trend developing here???)  which I had seen stitched up on someone's blog a while ago. I placed my order on Thursday evening and they arrived today but I am not too happy with my postie as he's bent the envelope thus bending the BOAF chart:( Anyway as well as that a while ago I asked Kate at Thread Bear if I could add Carriage House Samplings Hearts and Flowers to an order I had with them for some finishing bits and that arrived on Friday along with a couple of charts from Needlecraft Corner ( LHN Poinsetta House and The Workbasket Little Seasons ( that one was on sale) ).I also took advantage of the Wimble Bees closing down sale and bought some 32 count fabric at 50% off seen as I don't have any left! I do feel very guilty now but I have lots to keep me going and I know that sooner or later I won't be able to afford to buy new charts etc. I had planned to stitch the CHS one (adapting it a bit) for mine and DH's 25th wedding anniversary next April but I've had a change of plan!

Anyway enough of my stash acquisitions! Onto my WIPs. I didn't stitch on HAED Guardian last week so will have to make extra effort this week! I did stitch on my other WIPs although not much got done on Chatelaine Spring Morning. I love this piece so much now that I've got into it again. I wonder if I can get back to the Christmas Mystery that I abandoned???? LOL!

CHS Shores is continuing to grow and this block is growing surprisingly quickly. I am getting a little bored of the sails now so thank God they're just about done!

Finally JAT Sampler Garden:) This is just so pretty. This will be the needleroll when I get it stitched up and made up. I ran out of DMC 316 which is so annoying but I've bought another skein today:)

I do have another finish but until it's been received and opened I can't show it but it's another new type of finish for me which I am rather happy with:) Also hoping to finish up Drawn Thread Spot of Summer (both Spots charts are now up for sale) into a mattress pinkeep when I've exercised on the Wii Fit later this afternoon then this evening I'm making a start on The Sampler Girl Return to the Sea With Jane Austen which I'm SAL-ing with Barb:)

I think that's all my stitchy news for now:) Other news Jess has passed her first year at university so we are all very pleased and proud. Just three more years to go! Abi has an interview for her work experience tomorrow so she is very nervous about that. She's hoping to get a placement with our hairdresser as she agreed to take her so fingers crossed! Poor girl has been choked up with hayfever which led to her having three days off school last week and a visit to the doctors. Thankfully the eye drops and nasal spay that the doctor prescribed on top of her pills seems to be helping immensely.

Right time I got off here and did my Wii Fit session! Have a great week everyone! Hopefully I'll be back later in the week:)

Hugs

Sally

xxxx 

Another Spot!

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my first mattress pinkeep:) I cannot believe how wonderfully easy it was to make ( thanks to Vonna again) and I can't wait to make up this one:) Yes I started Drawn Thread Spot of Summer and was enjoying it so much I just had to keep going until it was finished!

The Drawn Thread A Spot of Summer

28 count evenweave

DMC and Carrie Creations

Started 17th June 2010

Finished 24th June 2010

I don't have any other finishes this week just my usual WIPs! First up is CHS Shores of Hawk Run Hollow and I am making, what I consider, to be relatively good progress on block 6 and 7. For all it's a double block it is going really well and I think I might just get it finished before the end of July ( I'm trying to do a block a month and seen as this is a double block I'm giving myself June and July!!! Lol!)

I am still plucking up the courage to start making up the casket of my JAT Sampler Garden piece but in the meantime I stitched a bit more on the needleroll ( I think!) which is one of the accessories that will go in the casket:) As you can see I've just started stitching the cat.

I actually got loads stitched on Chatelaine Spring Morning on Monday and Tuesday partly because it was such a nice afternoon on Tuesday I decided to sit out in the garden and those green vines just seemed to fly by!!! I do love how this is looking.

Finally HAED Guardian came out on Wednesday, again I sat out in the garden for a couple of hours, but when it came to stitching in the evening I just didn't seem to be in the mood somehow although I did make myself stitch on it for an hour before I put it away. I made a start on page 5 which is my 7th page. It's not a full page so, hopefully, it will go quicker!

I am really pleased with all the stitching I've done this month ( can you believe it's nearly July?!) and I feel I am finally back on track after spending way too much time on the PC over the last few months. I got too into the games on Facebook and now I've got rid of the ones that were taking up too much time which means I can now see posts from my family and stitchy friends!  It also means less time on the PC and more stitchy time! I feel the happiest I have in many months in most aspects of my life.

Anyway next month Barb and I starting another SAL. It's another The Sampler Girl design and it's Return to the Sea With Jane Austen, which I am really looking forward to starting :) If anyone would like to join us please feel free to do so:)

I am really looking forward to visiting Chris for the day one day next month:) We're going to have a making a box day lol!!! I can't wait as I've never made one before:)

That's all my stitchy news for now:) I will be stitching on Shores this evening whilst watching Dr Who!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I'm hoping to sit out in the garden again tomorrow and stitch so keep your fingers crossed that the lovely weather we're having here continues:)

Take care.

Hugs

Sally

xxx

My First Mattress Pincushion

It was such a lovely day today so I decided this afternoon to sit out in the garden and finally make up The Drawn Thread A Spot of Spring into a mattress pincushion. I used Vonna's brilliant tutorial and it made it so easy :) I really enjoyed making it up and I am extremely pleased with my first attempt. Si without further ado here's the pictures. These were taken outside so please excuse the shadows. I have now started A Spot of Summer and will make that up in the same way.

Another finish is another Shepherd's Bush needleroll, this time Beehive. This was a quick, fun stitch. I forgot to look on the SB website to see where the bees were supposed to go and as I only had one bee I just put it where I thought, which may well be in the wrong place!

Shepherd's Bush Beehive Roll

28 count vintage green linen

DMC threads, Delica beads

I made quite good progress on CHS Shores last Friday and Saturday but would really like to do better this week! Of course stitching on something like this whilst watching Dr Who is never an easy thing!! However I will try harder lol!

Sunday evening I managed to get my name stitched on the piece that will be the bottom of my Sampler Garden Casket. Unfortunately it's not quite in the middle but I didn't fancy having to frog the over one so it's staying where it is.

Chatelaine Spring Morning is going well for all I ended up having to frog the Algerian Eyelets as I had stitched them in the wrong place. I would have considered leaving them but they would have been the wrong colour so they all had to come out. I love how this part is looking though. The piccie is not too good as it was taken outside and has come out a bit too bright.

Finally I managed to get the page I was stitching on on HAED Guardian finished and I've gridded the next page which isn't a full one so this one might go a bit faster! I am really enjoying stitching on this again and, hopefully, I won't get fed-up of it again!

I am itching to stitch so many things right now! I could very seriously have startitis if I let myself but I really must behave!

Thank you to everyone who visits and leaves comments. They mean so much to me:)

Hugs

Sally

xxxx

Sweetheart Sampler Stocking

First of all thank to everyone who left good wishes and hugs for Abi :) They were all greatly appreciated. She returned to school yesterday after feeling rather rough for a few days. Her eye is now almost back to the pre-cyst days which we are very thankful for:)

At long last I stitched up a little RAK for Nicola. Last year she very kindly sent me her BBD Their Song chart when she had stitched it up ( and I still haven't stitched it yet even though my fabby and threads are all ready!) so I decided to stitch the Sweetheart Sampler stocking from the February stocking booklet. Instead of using red thread I decided to do something a little different and chose Carrie's Creations Banana Split and backed it with an autumnal material. Nicola received it yesterday and loves it so I am pleased:)

Blackbird Designs Sweetheart Sampler Stocking

30 count linen

Carries Creations Banana Split

Started 1st June 2010

Finished 3rd June 2010

RAK for Nicola

After Abi's surgery last Friday I didn't get much stitching done in the evening due to a return of the headache I'd had on and off all week so I didn't get much done on Shores. I did, however, manage to get the dolphin ( ?) stitched on Saturday night. There actually looks to be loads of stitching in this double block but I think it may not take as long as I think it will!! Time will tell:)

Sunday evening JAT Sampler Garden Casket came out again after not seeing the light of day the week before! This is the casket bottom ( not top as I've written on the photo!) and I just have to finish stitching the year then decide whether I'm going to add my name or just my initials. After that I may have a go at making the casket up but I need a trip to The Range or Boyes to get some ribbon- lots of ribbon! I still have the accessories to stitch after that but they shouldn't take too long.

Since breaking Chatelaine Spring Morning out from the depths of my fabric box I have really been enjoying stitching on it. I had forgotten what a gorgeous piece this was and would love to stitch Autumn Dusk next to make up the four in the series and as I have it in my stash it may well get started this year ( just don't quote me on that!!!!)

Finally the angel that Dani wouldn't mind eating crackers in her bed!! (  Dani I LOL'd at this when I read your comment!) Having said he could eat them in my bed too!!!! I didn't get much done on him this week so am hoping next week I can get the page finished and move onto page 5 which is only a small page!

It's all hell let loose in our house at the moment as Jess is home from university for the summer! We've had to sweetheart my father-in-law to store some of her stuff in his spare bedroom as we just don't have room for it here. It's nice to have her home though!

I think we may be getting some decent weather tomorrow so I may sit out in the garden and stitch. It's been so cold again this week. We really need some sun!

Thank you to all of you for your continued visits and comments. They mean so much xx

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs

Sally

xxxx