Been Doing Some Finishing!

Well I was intent on blogging sooner but I was kind of putting off mounting my With My Needle Quaker Hornbook onto the hornbook incase I made a mess of it but now it's done and dry and I've also finished up something I stitched in 2007 I am here!

So, without further ado, here is my Quaker Hornbook!

With My Needle Quaker Hornbook

36 count flax linen

DMC Variations 4120

This was a lovely, quick stitch with my absolute favourite DMC Variation ( well who doesn't love red?!!! Lol! ).

Back in 2007 I stitched La D La Love is Patient and it's been in my stitching drawer ever since as I didn't really know what to do with it ( yes shame on me!). Anyway the other day I came across it and decided I really must do something with it. I didn't want to frame it so I decided on a hanging pinkeep type finish with a gathered ribbon edge. I used two colours of ribbon. I have to say I am delighted with the way this turned out.

Now onto my WIPs. Shores came out to play again Friday/ Saturday and block two was duely finished and block three started. Guess what??? I made the same mistake on block three that I did on blocks one and two. One stitch short on the border!!! I seriously need to learn to count! Anyway I had to frog all the white on the right hand side and the chimney on the house at the same side but thankfully I did get it all resitched!

Sunday I decided on Blue Ribbon Designs Peppermint Twist and made a little progress. I do love this piece even though I have made a boo boo on it and did not realise until I was stitching the cardinal's legs and realised I should have stitched the border of two of the snowflake borders the same colour! Anyway they are staying as they are!! I'm being a rebel! Lol!

Last night was JN SAL night and you may or may not notice on the piccie that I've missed the last band on the Summer bit and that is because I did not have enough DMC 932 to even start it! So I really need to remember that I have to go back to that! I have loads of DMC but none of that colour spare! How typical is that? Lol!

Last week I had another new start. Now that I've stitched Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Purse I couldn't resist starting the fob to go with it. This piccie is pre today's stitching so I've finished this bit of it barring the beads and made a start on the other side but ended up frogging what I'd stitched on there because I did it in the wrong colour!! Lol! I sometimes actually wonder why I bother stitching!!!! But I enjoy it and I have some beautiful pieces at the end of it so I think that's good enough reason!!!

I've also had some new stash this week. I really shouldn't have but I've been good for quite some time and the stuff I ordered from Fobbles ( not arrived yet as they were out of stock but should be arriving any time soon) I had the money for. Anyway in the piccies are Little House Needleworks Needle and Thread with CC threads and Impie, Hattie and Bea Scissor Bed and Pin Pillow and Blackbird Designs Love in the Air stockings chart with GAST and CC threads needed for those and the JN humbug Lisa and I are going to be stitching. One of the stockings will be stitched for a gift.

Well that's all my news for now. A huge thank you for all the lovely comments you left on my BRD Winter Wingding finish. I had some new commentors which is always so lovely as I love finding new blogs to visit. Thank you for your continued visits and comments. I treasure each and every one of you xxx

Hugs

Sally

xx

Oh Happy Day!

No I am not singing!!! Lol! That is the title of my latest Shepherd's Bush roll finish! The weather has been rubbish here, dull, rainy, high winds, and now it's misty :( I long for some frosty, sunny days but at least this roll is bright and cheerful.

Shepherd's Bush Happy Day Roll

28 count vintage country cream linen

DMC & GAST

Started 23th February 2010

Finished 24th February 2010

At least while the weather has not been good I have been productive with my needle and thread. I wasn't looking forward to making my Shepherd's Purse up as I was worried that it wouldn't come out as it should. It's not perfect but nevertheless I am very happy with it. I did have a picture of the back of it but for some reason I can't get it to upload!

Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Purse Kit

Started February 9th 2010

Finished February 19th 2010

The chart, leftover silks and beads ( may well be plenty to stitch this) are now for sale. Please email me if you are interested.

When I'd finished the SB roll I shamelessly ( yes that word again!) had a new start. Strange how I no longer feel guilty starting something new ( thanks Lisa!). This one has been sitting in my stash for a while now so I sorted some 36 count fabby and chose a DMC Variation thread and set about it! It is With My Needle Quaker Hornbook which was a class piece and I was lucky enough to be in time to get it from The Sampler Guild. I absolutely love this colour!

Finally I received a package from Mylene last Saturday containing these lovely finishing fabrics, braids and a necklace kit. Just before Christmas I had sent her some Victorian Motto threads to try ( the ones I used on Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler) and these are what she kindly sent me for doing that. Thank you Mylene.

I am going to be naughty and have a lazy afternoon stitching on Shores. Unfortunately the stitches I put in last night all had to come out because I was one stitch short in the border and didn't realise until the red seaweed wouldn't go right so out that came as well as one side of the border! I wouldn't mind but I counted the border three times!!! Maybe I need to go back to school and learn how to count again!

Lisa and I have been chatting about maybe doing a few SALs together over the year including Just Nan Winter Heart Humbug possibly starting on 1st April and then she mentioned SALexandre which we were going to stitch last year but never got around it. Of course that got me looking at the charts and got us both thinking about what to stitch it on and what threads to use! So now we're thinking about a SAL for that too!!!

Have a wonderful, stitchy filled weeked!

Hugs

Sally

xx

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

Christmas Eve

No I haven't gone off in a time machine to the near future; that is the title of my latest finish! I finished ( or thought I had) Bent Creek Christmas Eve and it will be DH's Christmas stocking. Unforutunately I did not read the instructions correctly until I'd finished and it's supposed to be stitched over two threads on 18 coutn fabric. I did know it should be 18 count but didn't have any so chose some 28 count in raw linen. Of course it is smaller than it should be so DH will have to have small pressies this year ( awwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!). Also when I was editing the piccie I noticed I have some missed some stitches so I'll have to rectify that before I make it up. Anyway here it is!

Bent Creek Christmas Eve

28 count raw linen

DMC

Started 2nd October 2008

Finished 3rd November 2008.

On Saturday I received my prize for winning Stephanie's blog drawing. I won the JCS Halloween issue which is a wonderful issue and next year I want to stitch the ornaments in it and buy a small black tree to display them on at Halloween. Stephanie also made me the cute Halloweeny floss tag you can see in the piccie. Thank you so much Stephanie!

I did not stitch on BBD Blessings and Kind Wishes again this Sunday this time due to flashing in my eyes. It had started earlier in the afternoon then when I thought it had gone it came on again. After tea I settled down to watch the F1 Grand Prix and it started again so I was not too happy. I sat there with an eye mask on listening to the race rather than watching the action but my eye mask came off when it got the final few laps!

I have, however, managed two good evenings stitching on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas and I only have three more motifs and my initials to stitch and it will be done! For such a big piece I am amazed it has grown so quickly but I think it's because I am enjoying it so much.

I thought it was about time I showed the With My Needle Ackworth Friendship Book that Jane, Lisa, Chris, Tracy and I stitched as an RR earlier in the year. Just to prove I am in the process of making it up I took some piccies of it as it is now. With mine being stitched on 36 count the backstitches are quite tiny and I can't sew it up for long before my eyes are suffering!

I must apologise for my piccies today. I had starting using Photoshop a bit to edit my piccies to try and make them look better but I don't know what has happened today as I can't get the crop tool to work properly so I've had to edit them using the software that came with the scanner which isn't anywhere near as good as Photoshop. I must get somebody in the know to help me as I had the same problem the other day and DH sorted it but I can't remember how he did it! Lol!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I have not been feeling too well and my doctor thinks it's all to do with migraine and hormones. I have felt so ill at times over the past week or so that I felt quite scared but thankfully it seems to be subsiding now and I don't feel too bad. I shall just be happy when it's all over and done in; whenever that will be! Anyway I was just wondering if any of you who read my blog and suffer from migraines/ headaches have been prescribed beta blockers to try and prevent them and, if so, how you got on with them. My doctor has given me a presciption for them but I'm not sure I want to take them.

Hugs

It's Reveal Day!

It's finally reveal day for the S&S/JA monthly SAL challenge and the photo album is up on the MB so I can show my finish! The design chosen for January was With My Needle Eliza's Pyn Pillow. I chose to stitch mine on 32 count linen ( can't remember the colour) but over two instead of over one. I used GAST and Ozark Sampler threads. I decided to make this up into a bourse and I am pleased with the way it turned out:) It was lovely to see all the different fabrics and threads the other girls had chosen and how they'd finished them off. We are now voting on February's challenge.

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting up with Chris again. We spent a few hours chatting and showing each other some stitching and Chris handed over her Quaker RR to me for me to stitch on:) I don't think she could quite believe the amount of stitched pieces I have on my walls!!! Looking forward to seeing you again, Chris, in a few weeks:)

I'm not doing bad with HAED quick stitch Girly Gothic this week. I'm hoping to get the first page finished but it very much depends upon how soon I get stitching this evening and tomorrow evening! I must admit I was feeling a little despondant again with my HAEDs as they just don't grow fast enough. The first few I stitched I got a lot of satisfaction from but now I just feel I can't get on fast enough with them. Anyway I went through the charts I have and have a few more for sale. I've still got more than I will ever stitch though!

Still in two minds about this year's Loose Feathers Club but I know I will cave eventually. There's no way I want to miss out but I'm unsure of where the best place to buy from would be.