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

Stitching Up A Storm!

Hello from a rather misty east coast of England. The sun is trying to break through but it looks like it might be the perfect day to stitch or read.

Since I last posted I have finished 3 pieces which have now gone into the rather large finishing pile I have. The other day i went through my stash of finishing fabric and managed to pick some out for several of said items in the pile and will, one day, get some done!

You may remember on my last post that I would have had another finish had I not had to unpick the vine. Well this is the one that caused me all that trouble!

Tralala Coeur de Cygne

Unknown fabric

DMC

Started 2nd April 2019

Finished 8th May 2019

I just love this one even though it caused me a headache!

This next one I found started when tidying out my crafting drawers. I have no idea when I started it but I got it finished this last week!

iStitch Designs

40 count ( I think) Gander linen

DMC 

I don't know why I left it languishing in a drawer as it's such a pretty design.

Last year I joined in a free SAL that I found on a blog. I only stitched it at craft group and after I was there on Tuesday I only had two words to stitch so, of course, those two words had to be done!

Dessine Par Elke SAL Christmas 2018

28 count fabric

DMC, Carrie's Creations & GAST

Started 4th September 2018

Finished 15th May 2019.

I have no idea how I'm going to finish it!

I know I said I was only going to blog my finishes but I am going to have to show my WIPs on this biggie. It is Shakespeare's Peddler A Saviour's Praise. I am taking this steady in the hope that I don't make any mistakes! I am joining in the SAL on Instagram but stitching it on a Monday instead of a Sunday. I am loving it so far.This is 2 evenings stitching.

That's all my news for now. Thank you to those of you who have dropped by and have also left a comment. I truly appreciate it.

Until next time.

With much love Sally xxx

Where's My Snow! Lol!

Hello from a rather chilly England! No snow where I live unfortunately but other parts of the country have it. I'm still hoping that we'll get some soon. It's going to be very cold over the next few days so you never know what might happen.  This time two years ago we had lots of  snow. I remember it well as two years ago on 14th my Dad passed away. I still miss him so much. Life has not been the same since.

Anyway let's talk about stitching as that is what you're here for. Barb and I started our second SAL and have now had 2 Fridays stitching on Country cottage Needleworks Angels from the Classic Ornament Collection.  I noticed last night that I'd made a mistake on the vine under the angels which means that my middle angel is higher than it should be but I'm not frogging anything! It will stay as it is as it's not too bad! This is stitched using the recommended fabric and threads as when I signed up for the auto I chose to get the fabric and hand dyes needed. Mainly because I liked the red used on this one!  I plan on finishing it the way Vonna did so I bought the ribbons in Harrogate.

My robin has been getting a little more attention so it's growing slowly but surely. Lisa is stitching up a storm on the piece she's stitching with me and it looks amazing!

Speaking of Lisa it was her birthday yesterday and this is what I stitched for her.

Shakespeare' s Peddler Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet

40 count Sand linen

DMC

Birthday gift for Lisa.

I am very happy to say that Lisa loves it . I am disappointed in my finishing as there is still red showing on the tin lid . I didn't get the top glued in the right place. One day I will get this right.

After several weeks on hold while I tried to get other stitching out of the way I have finally picked up August's Poppy again. I have loved getting back to this as it's so pretty. Hopefully I'll get another good evening on it tomorrow but Abi has got me addicted to Dragons Rise of Berk game and I have to keep checking my progress!

A little more progress on Spell of the Moon with Barb now. I ran out of CC Black Coffee so asked Karla at The Patchwork Rabbit to add one to my next ornament auto and guess what?! I had a skein in my stash! I didn't like to ask her not to bother and I'm sure, when it arrives, that it'll get used at some point!  

As I'd finished the February cottage last week I started the March one on Tuesday. This is another one that has such pretty colours in it.

Frosty Forest is going quite well. 

Finally a little more progress on my SAL with Chris. She has finished hers and I'm excited to see how she finishes it off. I am slow on it now as  Barb and I have started our SALs and I've gone back to August's Poppy so I just stitch on it on a Thursday evening now but I've had a birthday gift to stitch as well.

Speaking of  birthdays it is with great regret that I'm going to have to cut down on the amount of birthday gifts I send out. I have thought long and hard about it and have realised that I can no longer do so many due to postage costs etc. I will still be sending some but just not as many.

Oooh I almost forgot! CCN Needlework Shop is ready for display! Just have to do The Tearoom next. I think they will hang on my landing.

Apologies for so many photos. I may have a change of the way I work my rotation once Frosty Forest and the Garden Journal are finished so that I'm not stitching on so many. I will see how I feel :).

Great news for Jess this week as on Wednesday she received a phone call from The Card Factory to go for an interview on Thursday. She must have made a good impression during her time there as a temp as she starts next week on a permanent contract. It's a minimum of 8 hours a week. She is really pleased and so are we. 

That's all my news for  now. I've been steadily catching up on blogs but still have a few I haven't visited yet but rest assured I'll be there eventually!

Take care everyone and stay warm.

With much love

Sally xxxx

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