Some Making Up

At long last I have finished up my With My Needle Ackworth Friendship Book which I stitched as an RR last year with Chris, Jane, Lisa and Tracy. It was great fun stitching on these ladies pieces and thank you all for stitching on mine. It has taken me a while to actually finish it and I am not totally happy with my finishing but it’s done and I can now display it.

Another item made up this week is Tournicoton Pere Noel Charmant. You may remember I finished this in early January so it's taken me a while to get it finished completely. I decided to make it into a pinkeep and I love how it looks. The pins are some that Chris bought me and I think they suit this piece perfectly. The bow on the top came off a box of Thornton's Continental Chocolates! LOL!

Stitching wise I've been busy with my usual pieces including Little House Needleworks Hen Party. I managed to stitch a good chunk of it and I may just have another finish this Saturday! I have enjoyed stitching this so much and it's helped to take my mind of things.

Another Sunday has gone by on Blackbird Designs Beyond My Heart. For all I love this piece and I have enjoyed stitching it I have to admit that I'm getting a bit tired of it now and can't wait for it to be finished. I'm not going to take a break from it because I don't want it to end up a UFO so I'll carry on it with it until it's done. I've just about finished the flowers then I can start on the basket.

More progress on Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler too this week. I didn't quite get the motif finished but it's close enough! I'll just add the last few stitches next Monday.

Other stitching is a PIF for Angela. I have finished the stitching but now need to make it up but I should have it in the post by the end of the week.

I have done a bit of chart stash enhancement this week. As I said in my last post I was saving up for Shepherd's Bush Family Sampler. I was thinking about ordering it from the USA but I actually found it at Fobbles and it worked out cheaper so I ordered it from there on Sunday evening and it arrived yesterday. Then I saw on Andrea's blog that Sew and So had got the Just Nan Floral Fifteen chart in so I emailed then to see how much it was then rang yesterday to order it. It hasn't arrived yet but I should get it tomorrow. So now I am on a self imposed chart stash diet until at least November! Please please if you read that I am tempted by something remind me of my chart stash diet and shout NO!!! LOL! Hopefully I should not need any fabric either!

I also received some charts from Marianne of Midnight Stitching on Saturday. She asked me a while ago if I'd trade my Merry Noel chart with her for some of her designs so I said yes and please could I have Heartstruck Quakers. She also sent me her lovely new design Quaker 's Winter Slumber which is gorgeous. I have the perfect fabric for it in my stash! Thank you Marianne for a wonderful trade.

I am going for blood tests again next week. I won't go into huge detail here but I have not been well for several weeks but kept soldiering on but it has got to the stage where I am really struggling and hardly dare go out on my own for fear I pass out or something. I've been forcing myself but it has been rather scary. I decided yesterday to get an appointment and I saw a different doctor. I was getting upset telling her how I felt but she was lovely. Straight away she said she wanted blood tests and that I needed an MOT! She's given me iron tablets as she's sure I'm anaemic but she's upped the dose that I've been given before. She's also sending me for an ultrasound on my pelvic area. One of the last things she said to me was you're not going to carry on like this as there are things we can do to help. I was so relieved as some days I feel so ill I don't know what to do with myself. I just wish someone had done this before things got like they are. Stitching has been my sanity as it's helped take my mind off how I've been feeling to some extent.

Well time for me to leave in you in peace and have a bit of a catch up on blogs I think.

Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xx

First Finishes of 2009 & First New Start!

Happy New Year Everyone! I have had two finishes already; granted one was almost finished in 2008 but it's still a 2009 finish! Lol! First of all, in good time for Christmas 2009, is this one:)

Tournicoton Pere Noel Charmant

32 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen

Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Started 18th December 2008

Finished 2nd January 2009

On New Year's Eve I started The Sampler Girl New Year's Birds freebie and I finished it on New Year's Day.

The Sampler Girl New Year's Birds

Unknown fabric

Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Started 31st December 2008

Finished 1st January 2009

On New Year's Day I had my first new start of 2009. I joined Hazel's Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler SAL when she first set it up and have been itching to get started on it:) I didn't stitch much on it but did get one motif done and I love how it looks. I'm stitching it on 25 count cream lugana using Victorian Motto threads in Antique Rose.

Finally my framed Blackbird Designs Blessings and Kind Wishes. I had it framed in the same moulding as Where My Heart Blooms as I wanted to hang them together.

I have had another small new start but can't show it yet:)

We took all the Christmas decorations down today and it looks so bare and horrible now! It always does until I get used to it again. Now I need a good tidy and clean up. DH is back at work on Monday and the girls are back at school Tuesday so I'll be all on my lonesome feeling sorry for myself until I get used to that again. LOL!

Take care everyone!

Hugs

Gifts, Looking Back & A Finish

I can't believe that Christmas is over and it's been just over a week since I last did a blog post! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas as we did. I have looked at blogs but I'm so sorry to say that I have not commented as I just haven't had time to sit at the PC and do that. We've been busy just about every day of the past week and have been having some fun:) We all received some lovely gifts and DH and I surprised the girls with a gift that is for all of us and Abi cried and Jess was totally speechless which is amazing for her! We had always said that we'd never be able to update our Playstation 2 console and get a PS3 but we had managed to save a fair bit of money for Christmas and we got a good deal on the console and two games and for once they were games that we knew we could all enjoy.

I received some lovely gifts from Julie, Karan, Karen and Lisa which you can see in the above picture. Thank you so much ladies; I love them all. There are thank you notes on the way via Royal Mail.

From Jess I got a CD and a diary and from Abi I got some very warm sheep slippers and some body spray!

DH bought me some charts and fabric from my wish list as well as some CDs and DVDs. The charts are Isabelle Vautier Cub 'O Love and Grilles De Maryse My Stitching Room Case. He also ordered Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Purse from Wyndham Needleworks but heard absolutely nothing about the order ( I have had this problem before) so he emailed them. They did reply quickly but what annoyed us was the fact that they knew they didn't have it in stock and knew it was on back order with Shepherd's Bush but didn't bother to email him to let him know when he'd done the order. Anyway they are going to send it as soon as it comes in but it was disappointing not to get it for Christmas especially when DH had ordered it towards the end of November.

I also received lots of lovely gifts from family including a Sony Walkman MP3, clothes, candles, chocolates, a Crop-o-dile is that right?!) with lots of bits with it and books.

Looking back over my last 12 months of stitching I think I have done rather well with what I have achieved even if I do say so myself! I had set myself some goals but took them off my side bar so far through the year as most of them were just not happening. So for 2009 I've decided not to set myself any goals at all other than things I am involved in which are The Beatrix Potter SAL ( starting tomorrow!), Christmas Ornament SAL and Basket of Biscornu. Also Chris and I are hoping to stitch a Shepherd's Bush needleroll a month which I am really looking forward to. I may decide to join in exchanges from time to time but that will depend upon what I am stitching at the time. I had joined Vonna's Me, Myself and I SAL but decided yesterday not to take part. I just can't see my way to taking part and feel much happier knowing that I'm not going to now; if that makes any sense! I want to try and get back to the other two HAEDs I have on the go and make good progress on both of them and maybe even finish Quick Stitch Girly Gothic. Other than that 2009 is going to be a stitch what you feel like year! My stitching for tonight is going to be Tanya's lovely new freebie New Years Birds which you can find on her blog. So here's my list of finishes for 2008.

• 59 Twisted Oaks Merry Noel Needle Nanny
• 58 Twisted Oaks Designs Merry Noel Stitching Smalls ( no.10 project challenge)
• 57 Mary Gary's Sewing Cabin Christmas Heart Pincushion ( no.2! For Juls)
• 56 Bent Creek Christmas Carols ( no.9 project challenge)
• 55 Blackbird Designs Blessings and Kind Wishes ( no.8 project challenge)
• 54 Paw Printings Penguin Hungs ( for Karen)
• 53 JBW Designs Gingerbread Christmas ( for Lisa)
• 52 Prairie Schooler Christmas Tree ( for Julie)
• 51 Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin Christmas Heart Pincushion ( For Christine)
  
• 50 The Workbasket Quaker Christmas Tree
• 49 Carriage House Samplings Merry Christmas ( no. 7 Project Challenge) ( for Chris)
• 48 Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas ( no. 6 Project Challenge)
• 47 Midsummer Night Designs Christmas Angel ( For Clare)
  
• 46 My Mark Designs Be Merry
• 45 Bent Creek Christmas Eve ( No. 5 Project challenge)
• 44 Stacy Nash Primitives Hallow's Eve
• 43 By The Bay Needleart Courage
• 42 The Sampler Girl Tea With Jane ( For Julie)
  
• 41 Prairie Schooler A Friend ( For Lizzy)
  
• 40 Just Nan Butterfly Heart ( For DH's auntie)
  
• 39 Ink Circles Sea Stars ( no.4 Project Challenge)
• 38 Windy Willows Noel
• 37 Alchemy Stitchcraft Tumbling Leaves( no. 3 Project Challenge For Hazel biscornu exchange))
• 36 Blackbird Designs Rites of Spring (LF# 30) (no.2 Project Challenge
• 35 SB Shepherd's Roll ( no. 1 Project Challenge)
• 34 Blackbird Designs My Pink House
• 33 IsaV Scissor Pocket Freebie ( Redwork Exchange for Jane)
• 32 Lavender Wings Planted Hearts Needleroll and Fob ( Birthday gift for Julie)
  
• 31 Debbie Draper Designs Love ( For Lisa)
  
• 30 Grilles De Maryse I Love Cross Stitch ( For KarenV)
  
• 29 WDC Design WDC in Blue Biscornu ( secret exchange for Angi))
• 28 With My Needle Ackworth Friendship Book (RR)
• 27 Twisted Oaks M'Lady's Needle Nanny ( For Chris)
  
• 26 Twisted Oaks M'Lady's Needle Nanny ( For Lisa)
  
• 25 Just Nan Morning Song
• 24 Blue Ribbon Designs Acorns and Owls ( For Andrea)
  
• 23 Twisted Oaks M'Lady's Needle Nanny ( For Jane)
  
• 22 Twisted Oaks M'Lady's Needle Nanny ( For Tracy)
  
• 21 Little House Needleworks Faith Hope Love ( needleroll exchange for Dusty)
  
• 20 Angelsan Snowman Fob ( For June)
  
• 19 The Cat's Whiskers Christmas Candles
• 18 Little House Needleworks Winter Wonderland
• 17 Indigo Rose Bee Charmer
• 16 The Drawn Thread The Caron Keeper ( For Paula)
  
• 15 Blackbird Designs Where My Heart Blooms ( LF#29)
• 14 Just Nan Queen of the Needle
• 13 Blue Ribbon Designs Alphabet Tree ( For Sammy Jo)
  
• 12 Prairie Schooler Winter Pinkeep
• 11 Prairie Schooler Spring Pinkeep
• 10 Blackbird Designs Bluebird's Needles and Pins ( For Julie)
  
• 9 Victoria Sampler International Hearts England
• 8 Victoria Sampler Tiny Things
• 7 Shepherd's Bush Lamb
• 6 Prairie Schooler Welcome ( Christmas Ornament)
• 5 Dragonfly Stitches Valentine Heart
• 4 The Drawn Thread Forget Me Not Scissor Keeper ( For Kyrie)
  
• 3 With My Needle Eliza's Pyn Pillow ( For Michele)
  
• 2 Blue Ribbon Designs A Christmas Wish ( For Sandy)
  
• 1 Blue Ribbon Designs Alphabet Tree ( For Lisa)
  

I have steadily been stitching away on Tournicoton Pere Noel and this is where I'm at. Not much more to go now so it'll be ready well in time for Christmas 2009! LOL! This has been lovely to stitch with lots of speciality stitches:)

Finally a little finish of Twisted Oaks Designs Merry Noel Needle Nanny to go with the other Merry Noel stitching smalls. I stitched this last week but only got it made up today!

Of course I cannot end my final post of 2008 without wishing everyone who reads my blogs a very Happy, Healthy, Stitch and Stash filled 2009. Thank you to all of you for your friendship throughout 2008 and I hope you will all continue to visit with me in 2009. I treasure each and everyone of you.

Hugs

Merry Noel

Here is Merry Noel in all it's glory! Finally finished making it up today when I got the waddle and comb done on the chicken:) I must say he does look good!

Twisted Oaks Designs Merry Noel ( A Set of Stitching Smalls)

28 count cashel vintage green linen

Dinky Dyes Silks

Started 1st December 2008 ( SAL with Chris)

Finished and Made Up 23rd December 2008

I loved stitching this and have the matching needleminder to stitch yet but I'm stitching Tournicoton Pere Noel Charmant at the moment ( Carol and Christine you were quite correct!) and it's a bit slow going as there's quite a lot of speciality stitches in it. It does looks good though! It's not going to get finished for Christmas but never mind:)
My SB needlerolls from JJ's arrived today so I am one happy bunny! It's taken them 3 weeks but at least they've arrived safely and not lost as I was beginning to think! Yesterday I received Blue Ribbon Designs Peppermint Twist which I had added to a small order for some interfacing with Thread Bear. I wasn't expecting to receive it until the end of January as they didn't have it stock but it had arrived early so it was a lovely surprise. This will be a SAL for Chris and I for next November/ December! Yes we're planning early! LOL!

Thank you for your good wishes for my scan. The lady who did it said she couldn't see anything to indicate any problems but is going to pass it on and I will hear from the specialist in due course.

That's all from me until after Christmas now so all that remains is for me to wish everyone who reads my blog A Very Happy Christmas! Thank you for your friendship and for keeping me company throughout the year:)


Hugs