More Finishing and Some Stitching!

Yet again it has been a while since I last posted! I was intent on doing a post the week before last but it didn't happen. So I am here now and guess what?! I've had my sewing machine out again! I have been watching some of Vonna's finishing tutorials on You Tube and after seeing her using a quilting ruler I decided I had to get one as it would make things so much easier. Well I hoped! Anyway I wish I'd had one years ago! I finished another 3 pieces and although they are not perfect ( practice makes perfect right?) I am very happy with them! I am struggling to get my stuffing right into the corners but I will get it! So here's my finishes. 

This one was stitched last year and is Little House Needleworks Soft and Sweet.

This one was the December SAL I did with Chris starting last December and I finished the stitching in January. Of course it is Country Cottage Needleworks Merry Christmas My Deer.

Finally this one.

The Primitive Hare Prim Christmas

32 count Vintage Country Mocha linen.

DMC & Rainbow Gallery

Started 9th July 2017

Finished 25th July 2017.

I am aiming to try and get everything in my finishing pile done eventually and try and keep on top of any new finishes I have. Hmmmm!!!

A fair bit of stitching has been done but none finished as yet. I was hoping to get my sheep SAL piece with Barb finished but I ran out of a thread. I must admit that I am not too happy with the hand dyes on this one. None of them are the same as the photo and it's not even a slight difference but a considerable one. I know that is the problem with hand dyes as no two skeins are the same. I actually swapped out the GAST for the snow as it was just not snow coloured and used DMC instead. This should be finished this evening.

Barb and I have started a new SAL on Mondays. She was saying she had lots of Lizzie Kate charts in her stash and asked if I fancied stitching on some with her. She knew I was toying with the idea of signing up for the new Christmas mystery and thought I could join her on that. However I have decided not to sign up but I do have some Lizzie Kate charts in my stash so I made a very small start on Snowman '10. Yes it is a very small start lol!

1831 Christmas is going well. The hand dyes on this are very close to the photo on the chart so I am very happy with this one. It is so pretty too and that sheep is very cute! 

The Stitchrovia charity SAL Quotes to Live By is going very slow but I'm not stitching on it every week. I think I shall stitch a little of the border as I add the quotes rather than stitch the border all at once. I think I'll get bored quickly! 

I am getting close to finishing Through the Storms. I just have the clouds at the top to fill in and the grass at the bottom so it should be finished next time I pick it up. Please excuse the lovely envelope covering the personalisation!

As usual no post would be complete without Mini Jolly Old Fellow! Look!!! I have finished page 7!! Just 2 more partial pages to go!!! I am debating what to do once this is finished. I have a storykeep ( remember the dragon??) to finish so I might get that out until it's finished. After that I don't know whether to have a rest from HAEDs ( well BAPs) or get one of my BAP WIPs out. I have Guardian B&W almost halfway or Tilton Crafts Always started.

As some of you may know I am on Instagram and came across a SAL starting on 3rd September of LHN Lantern Lane. I got the chart, fabric and some of the threads for Christmas last year so I decided that, if I can get a few pieces finished before then, I would join in. I'm quite excited by this and have been thinking about starting it for a while.

Have you seen the gorgeous new chart coming soon from Little House Needleworks? It's one of a new set of seasonal charts and I am really looking forward to them. I have already put my name down for the Autumn one when it reaches our shores and hope to take part in a SAL on the Little House / Country Cottage Facebook page depending on when it arrives. I have been very good on Stitch from Stash as I could have ordered loads but have stopped myself and made myself really think harder about if I really want things! I was very close to signing up for the Lizzie Kate Christmas mystery, as I mentioned earlier, and the With Thy Needle Thread schoolhouse series and I kept asking myself will I really like them that much or will it  be something I regret. So something good has come from Stitch from Stash this year! I have been doing better each year I've taken part but this year seems even better. I hope it lasts!!!!

That's all my stitching news for this post. Fingers crossed my sewing machine will come out again soon or my cutting knife to cut card lol! I'll be making time to come visit all your blogs as soon as I can. 

Until next time.

With much love,

Sally xxx

Finishes, Progress and Bad People

Well I am here at last with a couple of finishes and some progress. I was intent on blogging on Monday but other things happened which just left me with no heart to do it but I'm feeling a teeny bit easier now so here I am.

Last Saturday was my dear friend and SALing buddy Barb's birthday. Now anyone that knows Barb will know of her love of sheep. So this is what I stitched for her.

The Primitive Hare Awakening

28 count Vintage Country Mocha linen

DMC

Finished into pin cushion and a fob

Birthday gift for Barb.

Can you see the cute little sheep pin in the top of the pincushion? I am so pleased with how these turned out and I'm delighted to say that Barb loves them and the scissors. 

And speaking of Barb we have been stitching up a storm on both The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas and Little House Needleworks Little Sheep Virtues Gratitude.

Here is Day 3 finished :)

And here is Gratitude finished :)

I joined Barb and the ladies of Needlecraft Haven in the parlour virtually last night with LHN The North Wind. Now I seem to be having snow issues! I was thinking as I was stitching that I just might have messed up stitching with white as I couldn't remember whether I'd started with white or B5200. Of course it's difficult to tell stitching under artificial light. Guess what. Now I've taken a photo I can tell that I am now using white and I when I started the design I was using B5200! Why didn't I see this last time! Arghhhhhhhhhhhh! I have decided to frog the B5200 as there isn't as much of that!

More snow issues in Lone Elm Lane Snow Angel. I mentioned last time that I was not happy with the colour of the snow and to be honest it's making me not want to continue with this but I most definitely don't want to restart it. The photo makes the snow look much lighter than it is in real life. I wish I'd used white :( I will make myself finish it and see how it looks. 

Angela now has a full body :) Just need to add her eyes and mouth next week and do all the white stitching. Love this sweet design.

Finally some progress on March's Daffodill. I had made a mistake on this but I've sorted it. Not frogged it all but it looks right now!

My afghan is going well. The second block on the second strip is finished and I've also managed a little more of the insertion. I didn't go to craft group this week so block 3 isn't started. 

An envelope arrived from my dear friend Barb this morning. Look what was inside. This is the gorgeous fabric she has been using to back her 12 Days of Christmas. I had asked her about it but when I wanted to order some I couldn't ( don't want to tell the whole story on here but I will just say there are some bad people out there who like to steal your details ). Barb was ordering more for herself and as they had very little left she bought me some too. Thank you so much Barb, that is is so sweet of you {{hugs}}. I'm planning on getting some finishing done either this weekend or next week. 

Barb this is for you :) Taken by me :)

Stitch from Stash is still going well. Since the last report I've spent £1.60 on 2 DMC threads that I had run out of. My proper report and email to Mel will be done next week but so far I'm feeling very proud of myself. OK it's only 2 months but I haven't even been tempted. Usually after just a couple of weeks I'm rocking in a corner desperate for new charts! There are some lovely new things from Nashville Market but I'm still going to be good :) I keep thinking of all the lovely charts I have in my stash to stitch and that keeps me on the straight and narrow!

The weather over here appears to have calmed down. We've had a couple of sunny days up here but oh boy I am so not ready for double figure temperatures! We haven't had a proper winter yet! 

Fingers crossed I will be back after the weekend with some finished finishes! 

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxxx

Some Almost Finishes!

I am queen of the almost finishes this week! You know how it is you can see the finish but it's not quite there yet and no matter now much faster your needle goes it doesn't happen!  However by this time next week I * should * have 3 finishes or maybe even 4! Wow! To  be fair 3 out of those 4 were started last year.

So first almost is Little House Needleworks Song of the Seasons. Just have some leaves etc and the  bottom part of tbe border to do. Hmmmm not sure I can get all that done on my next session on this one but I will try very hard!

Next one is Jardin Prive La Pensee Positive. I am hoping that when I pick this up this evening I can get it done. Barb has finished hers so we'll be starting The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas next Friday :)

Neither Barb or I finished Kindness on Monday but we don't have much more to do so we should get done next Monday then we can start Gratitude.

Look what arrived yesterday!  The last sheep and November's Garden Journal chart. So that's one auto done and one more to go on the garden journal auto.

I also had a couple of bits from Crafty Kitten. Dawn said she could get me some finishing forms when I asked about them on Facebook a while ago and they arrived just before Christmas along with the autographed chart I won on the Norden Crafts Facebook page. As I'd ordered a piece of Winter Skies opalescent fabric I had to wait for it all to be sent to me  but it was paid for in December so does not count as money spent during Stitch From Stash!

I think I went a little off the WIP track there! Here is another one I am hoping to finish soon. My December SAL with Chris. I just have snowflakes to do and finish another bit as I ran out of thread.

Lastly here's my SAL with Shirlee. I had to frog a little last night and, boy, this house seems to be taking forever lol!

I do have the one finish I can show now. Yesterday was my surrogate sis Lisa's birthday and this is what I stitched for her. I changed some of the colours to ones we both like and I added two hand charms to represent hands of friendship. I am happy to say Lisa loves it. I always get in a panic when stitching gifts!

The Primitive Hare Sister Stitcher

36 count flax linen

DMC and DMC Variations

After over a year of being away from it I picked up my knitting this week. Let me tell you it had become so close to going back in the bag! I took it to craft group with me and managed to get a couple of rows done no problem but then ended up having to take a row back and reknit it several times! Then I couldn't work out hkw to do yarn overs before a purl so asked the lady next to me. I got going with it only to discover I was somehow making 2 stitches with my yarn over each time! So I told her what was happening and she got the lady who runs it to help me out. So in two hours I only got 4 rows done! By the time I got sat down late in the afternoon to try it I'd forgotten what she'd shown me but I worked it out in the end!

That's it from me today.  I really must apologise for not visiting and commenting on your blogs. I will get around to it one day!

Take care everyone.

With  much love

Sally xxx

I Sew'd My Heart and A Couple of RAKS

Thankfully my DH knew how to blur out my maiden name on my finish of I Sew'd My Heart and how to is now firmly lodged in my brain for the next time I need to do something like that! I had a little "Duh!" moment when I realised where I was going wrong:) Anyway I personalised it with my maiden name and added the year 1970 but I'm now thinking I should have stitched a later year. Did schoolgirls of old stitch samplers are the age of 7????

Heartstring Samplery I Sew'd My Heart

32 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen

GAST

Started 3rd February 2012

Finished 11th March 2012

I have to say that I just love this piece and it is definitely my favourite finish this year so far. If you're interested in finding out about this design and how to obtain the chart please read here:) I don't know how I'm going to this yet. Any suggestions?

The two RAK's I entrusted to Royal Mail yesterday have safely reached their destinations. First off this little pin cushion arrived at the Mouse house.

The Primitive Hare Please Enter Your Pin

35 count coffee dyed fabric

DMC

Started 8th March 2012

Finished 10th March 2012

RAK/ Thank You for Mouse.

Mouse kindly sent me some pretty pins so I stitched this up as a thank you for her:) 

The second RAK went to Jane as she's been very much under the weather with a nasty chest infection. As soon as I saw this design I just knew I had to stitch it for her. Those of you who know Jane will know she has two of the cutest little bunnies called Tilly and Oscar so I thought this would be nice for her :)

Pilgrims & Pioneers 1820 Bunnies and Tulips

35 count coffee dyed fabric

DMC

Started and Finished 8th March 2012.

RAK for Jane.

 Mouse and Jane love their little gifts and that makes my day :)

I've got another piece all finished up from my finishing pile. My Feb ornament The Cat's Whiskers Joyeux Noel.  Please excuse the dull photo.

I have been stitching on my WIPS SB The Journey and L*K 6 Fat Men but forgot to take photos of them so will save those for my next blog post. 

Still catching up on blogs too so if I haven't got around to you just yet I will do soon. 

I was intent on maybe doing a little stitching this afternoon but I guess I'd better do some housework instead!

Thank you to those of you who take time to read and comment on my ramblings :) It means a lot to me.

Until next time:)

With much love

Sally

xxxx

Yesterday....

Was my dear friend Lesleyanne's birthday and after much deliberation I decided to stitch her this. 

Le Chalet des Perelles Un Peu D'amour et D'amitie

28 count Silkweaver Tutti Fruiti Linen

DMC

Started 25th February 2012

Finished 28th February 2012

Birthday gift for Lesleyanne

Now I am terrible at making decisions as to what to stitch so it always makes me so happy when I know that the recipients love them so I'm happy to say that Lesleyanne loves this! I backed it with calico and ruched some pink gingham ribbon around the edge.

Today is another dear friend Jane's birthday and this is what I stitched for her.

Martine En Rose et Gris

35 count lightly coffee dyed fabric

Victorian Motto Sampler Threads

Started 28th February 2012

Finished 2nd March 2012

Birthday gift for Jane F.

I am also very happy to say that Jane loves it! I backed it with calico and added a pretty trim that I bought in the local cardmaking/ scrapbooking shop. Wish I'd taken a photo of the trim as it's really pretty.

You may remember that I decided to take part in The Primitive Hare's contest to stitch her design May Love. Well I finished the stitching a while ago and have finally got it made up and I think I am now allowed to show it. I am not 100% happy with my finish and I know that there will be far better finishes than mine but I am just happy to take part:)

The Primitive Hare May Love

32 count linen dyed in cranberry and raspberry tea

Carrie's Creations Old World Red

Started 19th February 2012

Finished 24th February 2012

I have put this in my red basket. Yes I've started a red basket after seeing a few on blogs. I already have a few red pieces that I have stitched and that have been gifted to me so I have a small start!

Right WIPs now! Monday was SAL night with Barb and Colleen so I continued with The Journey. As you can see I now have a sheep:) and part of a dress. 

Tuesday I started my next L*K 6 Fat Men my SAL with my surrogate sis Lisa. I started Let It Snow so am leaving the long one, Snow Day, until last as I think that will probably take the most stitching!

At craft club on Tuesday morning I started my March ornament for the Christmas All Year Round SAL. This month I chose Blackbird Designs Joy from last year's JCS ornament magazine.

Finally last night I stitched more on Stacy Nash Primitives True Love Sampler Bag. I really love how this is looking and it's stitching up quite quickly too. 

Not sure what I'm stitching tonight. I may start an RAK that I'm coffee dying some fabric for. I never seem to be able to get that mottled effect though which is very annoying!

Off to have a cuppa and a catch up on blogs now before I set about some finishing. The pile is getting bigger. I get so far then the enthusiasm goes!

With much love.

Sally

xxxxx

A Couple of Shepherd's Bush Finishes

More Shepherd's Bush I hear you say!! Yes more Shepherd's Bush. What's a girl to do when it's one of her favourite designers and a SAL with two dear friends on a Monday evening??! 

I was just a few stitches short on finishing Simple Joys last week so couldn't resist adding those few stitches before the weekend and getting it made up.

Shepherd's Bush Simple Joys

32 count vintage country mocha linen

DMC ( subbed best I could!)

Started 13th February 2012

Finished 24th February 2012

I backed with a plain calico type fabric and edged it with Nancy's hand dyed ric rac stitched on with beads which Barb had leftover from the kit. 

Another SB i couldn't resist starting during the week was this one. Another one off my stitch from stash list.

Shepherd's Bush Sophie's Pincushion

32 count ivory murano

DMC ( again subbed best I could)

Started 22nd February 2012

Finished 25th February 2012

Again backed in simple calico fabric and trimmed with Nancy's hand dyed chenille trim.

One that I finished stitching just before Valentine's Day but didn't get finished in time. The old calico backing again and Nancy's hand dyed chenille! 

I'm frantically trying to get some gifts stitched as well as get my ornament for the Christmas All Year Round SAL done but the ornament will have to wait I think. I did get some done at craft club this morning but there was much chattering and some muttering to myself as I had to frog a bit too! I did have a new start for SB SAL night last night with Barb and Colleen. I wonder what Barb started after her happy dance last week. This is what I started.

Any ideas???? No? It's The Journey. Again I've subbed with DMC best I can and so far I love it. After much deliberation I decided to stitch it on 32 count vintage country peach linen. It was either that or the mocha one. I love these vintage country linens and could do with a whole stash of them! 

Almost forgot after ages of wondering what to do with my iStitch Mystery stitch and weeks of getting it made up this is what it turned into. Not too pleased with it if I'm honest. I could have done a much better job of it. I need to stitch the pincushion to go inside at some point. 

Remember I said I'd bought myself a trunk type box to keep my ribbons, trims etc in. Well this is it. Some of my ribbons etc are in it but they are just dumped in it at the moment! I need to have a good tidy of them.

Finally Abi bought herself a new camera last week as the one she had didn't do enough of what she needed and as she's hoping to take up photography as a career and is doing it in 6th form we thought it was a good investment for her and so did school as she got a £100 bursery to put towards it. So DH, Abi and I went out a couple of times last week taking photos. Saturday afternoon as the sun was setting we went off to Lissett, a little village not far North from us, where I shot this.

I have a little point and shoot camera and never imagined I could get anything like this.  I am so chuffed with this photo. This is a memorial to the airmen who flew out of the airfield there and lsot their lives. All their names are on there. It really makes you stand and think. It was quite spooky when we drove up to it as it looks so real and as you're walking away you find yourself looking back thinking you're being followed. You can read about it here

Have you all been looking at the Nashville Market releases?? I've had a look and have fallen in love with the Little House Needleworks/ Shakespeare's Peddler pattern pack. Both patterns are gorgeous and the pack contains enough threads to stitch both designs and also the trim for the heart. I must admit my clicky finger has almost got the better of me especially as Anita's Little Stitches has it on sale. I did think that it could be a treat and something to stitch while I'm recovering from my surgery but I feel like I'm letting myself down again so I'm going to be a good girl and wait!

Well that's all for today. Thank you for all your good wishes and hugs for my upcoming surgery. I can't wait to get it over with now. My pre-op assessment is on the 24th April so hoping that goes OK!

Take care everyone. 

Much love

Sally

xxxx

2011 Fob & Ornament Made Up

My sewing machine has been busy again but I can only show one thing that I sewed up using it as the other is in the post as I type!

I actually decided to hand sew my Shepherd's Bush 2011 Fob as it's so tiny. I'm not the greatest hand sewer by a long way but I did it! I did have bother adding the ribbon as I kept thinking I was going to run out but after some in my head cussing I finally got it done! 

I also made up my January ornament for the Christmas All Year Round SAL. I'm a bit limited with my fabrics but didn't want to buy anymore just yet. I do like how this has turned out though.

I've been trying to get CCN Snowflake Serenade finished and now just have the border to stitch. I stitched on it two evenings last week so that I could plenty done and I love how it's looking. 

Friday and Saturday I was determined to pick up Blackbird Designs AotH Swan Lake. I started AotH in January last year as a SAL with Jane and Valerie. I think Valerie may have abandoned hers for now but Jane is still stitching away steadily as I am. I think once the house on this block is done it should stitch up quite quickly.

I had a wee new start on Saturday evening as I wanted a bit of a break from that house on Swan Lake! Just in time for Valentine's Day but not made up is this.

The Primitive Hare Valentine

28 count fabric scrap ( possibly Polstitches Hot Potato)

Carrie's Creations Cranberry Sauce

Started 11th February 2012

Finished 12th February 2012

Finally a little progress on Heartstring Samplery I Sew'd My Heart. I ended up frogging the flowers I'd stitched last time as I stupidly stitched using two strands rather than one! I had also stitched the heart with two strands but I've left that. God only knows what I was thinking of; clearly I wasn't thinking!!!

Typing of not thinking, brain fog is horrendous today. It's days like this that I swear I have early onset dementia. Days like this I hardly dare open my mouth to speak for fear of the drivel that might come out of it. I've gone 6 months since my last period and I'm hoping and praying with all my might that this might be the end. I know I have another 6 months to go yet and I may well curl up in a ball in a corner if I start!

Anyway I'm going to catch up blogs now then sort some fabric for my new SB start for my SAL with Barb and Colleen tonight. I'm starting Simple Joys.

Thank you all for your continued visits and your lovely comments. I appreciate each and everyone :)

Until next time... keep stitching :)

Much love

Sally

xxxx