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

Catching Up! ( Picture Heavy)

Hello! I'm hoping you'll still be with me seen as I've disappeared again. I decided I'm going to catch up today and then, hopefully, blog more regularly. I think what has been putting me off has been I'm so far behind showing my finishes so this post is going to be picture heavy I'm afraid with those and my WIPs!

So let's get started with my WIPs. As you know I am doing a few SALs so first of all this is my sheep SAL with Barb. It is Plum Street Samplers Kringle and Woolard which I'm stitching on 40 count vintage country mocha. 

Another SAL is a Lizzie Kate with Barb and Sue. I have just finished Snow Belles ( see photo further down post!) so I have just started Home is the Nicest Word There Is. I am going to have to frog the E in The and the word Nicest as it's all too high up. 

Barb, Sue and I are also stitching on LHN Farmhouse Christmas still but we are on the last one now. I have enjoyed stitching these but I think I am ready for something different. 

Sue and I are stitching Silver Creek Samplers My Christmas List. I am loving stitching this and hoping to finish it for Christmas and on the wall. Fingers crossed!

I am still stitching on the Dessine Par Elke Christmas SAL but I forgot to take a photo! I can't show my last WIP as it for an ornament exchange so no peeking at that one until it is finished and received.

As you all know we commemorated 100 years since the end of WW1 on Sunday. I made a wreath to put in my window but I don't know what I did with my photo so I'll show that next time! However I do have to show a beautiful glass plaque that was a gift from my dearest friend Barb made by her DH Martin. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw it and I will treasure it always. It is in memory of my paternal grandad's cousin who DOW at the Battle of Arras in May 1917. 

Here are a few photos from our town to commemorate 100 years. 

On Instagram there has been a stitchy wish list tag going round for a while and I popped my wish list up. A few weeks ago I received a lovely message from Jen @spooneriestitcher saying she could grant one of my wishes and it arrived recently. Not only did she send me the chart she also sent some DMC to stitch it with. This is going to be my New Year's Day start! Thank you Jen :)

So onto my finishes now and I actually think I will just let the photos do the talking! 

Thank you for reading and looking at my photos. I know there are a lot but now I am caught up!

Until next time. With much love.

Sally xxxx

July Stitch From Stash

Here we are again at that time of the month where we declare how good we've been or not as the case may well be! You may remember that Mel had allowed us to carry over any earnings from part A as long we had not already declared them and as I didn't declare any in June I am going to have a good bit. I sort of feel like I'm cheating but Mel did say we could do it. So here's my report.

July Report.

Amount spent : £34.25 ( Lizzie Kate Littles Mystery part one, paid for but not yet received, Just Cross Stitch Halloween Magazine, Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Fold part 3)

Earnings : £40( 2 CCN cottages, SB My Mom's Garden, LHN Comfort and CGS October's Marigold.

Balance carried fwd: £30.80

I have been trying to get more bits finished off since I posted last and CCN Frosty Forest went into see my trusty framer and here it is on my wall.

Do you remember Barb and I stitching Tralala Tricotine last year? Well I wanted to make a knitting bag and it has taken me a long time to actually pluck up the courage to get some fabric let alone make the bag! Mistakes were most definitely made. The stitched piece is a little too low but I can't get it off as I machine stitched it on. I have tried but fear I will ruin both the fabric of the bag and my stitched piece. The handles are on wrong too! Oh dear I clearly wasn't thinking when I did those lol! However this is my first attempt and I am quite happy with it. It is just a plain tote bag with no pockets, zips, fasteners etc.

Ages ago I bought a frame in the sale at Matalan. I didn't have anything in mind for it but I liked it. I am not quite sure when I stitched this piece but it is LHN Curly Q Ewe which Lainey, Mouse and I SAL'd on and I just love how it looks in this frame.

I have a couple more pieces half finished so look out for those hopefully soon!

So what I have been up to stitching wise? Well Ghoul Tidings is going rather well and I think I might just get it finished on Monday. Not sure what I will stitch next but it may just be something from this year's JCS Halloween mag which I received last week. I wasn't going to get it but I saw the gorgeous basket by Mani Di Donna and changed my mind!  Of course if I stitch that it means I have to buy the handle and button!

Barb and I have still been SALing on our ornaments and our SB pieces. I had hoped to get By The Chimney finished but I am somehow not feeling this one. Fingers crossed for a finish this week.

The first part of the SB Fold is looking so good even though I say so myself!  I just love the threads and the colours and the fabric is just so lovely and soft.

Again I seem to be so behind with my cottage. Not much longer to go to August so I am hoping I will get this finished just in time!

November's Chrysanthemum is looking so pretty. Still a fair bit to do yet but I hope to have it done soon so that I can start the December one!

Last but by no means least my lovely Robin! 

I have started a new knitting project! No my afghan is not finished yet but I need a little break from it! Can you guess what it is lol?

It was carnival weekend here last weekend and imagine my delight when I found out my surrogate sis Lisa was coming over with her DH and DD for the weekend. We arranged to meet at some point on Saturday afternoon and spent a lovely maybe an hour and a half chatting in the beer garden at one of the local bars.  It was so lovely to see her and we always get on so well.  I'm looking forward to the next time :).

I am finally hoping I am on the mend  but I am not  getting too excited yet! Sometimes I feel OK then other times I don't and I get so frustrated. Our central heating boiler sprung a leak ( lovely wet carpet in Jess' bedroom but thankfully it is just a drip ) and trying to get under the boiler to see where it was coming from was not pleasant!

So we called an engineer out to have a look at the boiler ( we have insurance on it thankfully ). He was here an hour on Monday afternoon as once he had worked out where it was leaking from he ran a diagnostic on it only to find it was dangerous as the emissions were too high! Arghhhh! It was decided that it could be to do with the part that needs replacing  but it is still not fixed. He turned up at just before 8 pm last night. He could only get one part which didn't fix it so he's now ordering more to see if that works and coming tomorrow to fit them. This boiling a kettle lark to wash pots is no good. He has recommended we get another boiler before Winter.

I am so sorry that I still haven't visited and commented on your blogs. I will get it done soon I promise but I have to be in the right frame of mind to do it. Even doing a blog post seems to take so much effort these days but I do still love it.

Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments. They really do make my day.

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

My Birthday and 3, Yes 3, Finishes!

Last Friday was my birthday and I was rather spoilt by my family and friends. I had a lovely day but will admit to feeling a little down as well as I was missing my Dad. I had been rather silly and decided not to make myself a cake then wished I had but I ended up buying a small cake from Tesco on Saturday!  I had a lovely visit from Gill in the morning then later on in the afternoon Chris and her DH Andy came for a cuppa and a chat.

Speaking of Chris we have now completed our private ornament exchange. I think this is a case of great minds think alike as even though the pieces we stitched were different we used the same finishing technique!

This is mine to Chris.

Little House Needleworks Snowy Days ( JCS ornament issue 2014)

32 count  Nougat linen

DMC

Private ornament exchange with Chris.

This is what Chris stitched for me and I LOVE it! Some of you may remember this was in my top 5 from this year's ornament issue! Thank you so much Chris.

Onto my lovely birthday cards and gifts now. I shall let the pictures do the talking so here we go.

From my DH. He also gave me a Nominations Claddagh charm which means my bracelet in now full :)

From Jess

From Abi.

From Barb and her DH. I need to get a better photo of the beautiful snowflake that Barb's DH made.

From Chris.

From Julie.

From Michelle.

From Lisa.

From Karan.

From Christine.

From Gill.

From Lesleyanne.

I received gift vouchers for Sew and So for my birthday and Christmas from Lainey so I treated myself to these.

I also received some money from my sister and her partner,  my brother in law and his wife and my DH's auntie to I have treated myself to Mani Di Dona Winter Days Sewing Basket with some of it and that is on the way from Italy. That will be my last chart purchase other than my autos until at least June!

Thank you so much to my family and friends for the lovely cards and gifts.  You are all so kind for thinking of me.

The magazine I ordered through Crafty Kitten back in October arrived along with the two chart I'd asked to be added to it. That will come off my December Stitch from Stash.

Finishes and WIPs now. Sorry for the picture heavy post.

I finished this ornament a couple of weeks ago but have waited until I posted it and it had been received and opened by my lovely friend Michelle. I am happy to say that she loves it.

Blue Ribbon Designs A Woodland Wish

36 count fabric

DMC

Gift for Michelle.

First finish was this one which was my Friday evening SAL with my dear friend Barb.

Tralala Tricotine

32 count white fabric

DMC and Atalie threads

SAL with Barb

Second finish is my Monday evening SAL with Barb.

Barbara Ana Designs Wicked Since

32 count Colour Cascade Fabrics Silver Springs

DMC and DMC Variations

SAL with Barb

Third finish is one which is only available on Candy Cane Stitchers on Facebook.

Barbara Ana Designs Silent Night

40 count sand linen

DMC

So those are my finishes and now I'll quickly show you my WIPs.

A little progress on CCN Frosy Forest. The Foxes are still blind I'm afraid!

I've been stitching quite a bit on the SAL I'm doing with Chris and I love how it's looking.

Finally progress on CCN February Cottage.  Love the colours in this one!

A few weeks ago I had my eyes tested and have finally had to give in to having distance glasses as well as reading. I couldn't stand the thought of having to swap and change glasses so I went for varifocals. My reading prescription hasn't changed.  I picked them up on from the opticians on Sunday and am now trying to get used to them. I'm finding it a bit difficult just having a small area to read through when I'm used to having the full lens but I'll keep trying as I have a 30 day trial with them. I have found them great for stitching and watching TV as I can easily find the bits I need to look through! They're useless for my PC though and I have to use my old readers from 2011! Last time my reading prescription changed the optician told me I'd need to use my old ones!

I will be back with one last post before Christmas as I need to do my final Stitch from Stash post then I'll be gearing up to try and do even better in 2015!

Until next time take care everyone and my heart goes out to the families of those killed and injured in Australia in that terrible hostage situation. 

With much love.

Sally xxxxx