It's Nearly December!

First of all I must apologise for my double post last time. I have no idea what happened and by the time I realised there were two the same I had comments on both so didn't want to delete one! I know I edited my post but it shouldn't have duplicated it so I can only assume it was a Blogger hitch! I will check if I edit a post in future! 

I have been trying to get more done on the pieces I have started rather than having more new starts in the last couple of weeks so I've stitched a bit more on HAED Mini Jolly Old Fellow. I just love how he is looking.

My November ornament is finished but oh do I wish I'd chosen different fabric as the snowflakes don't show up very well.

Swallick Stitchery

Waiting for Santa

36 count lakeside Linens Vintage Buttercream

GAST & DMC

I have finished two ornaments for private exchanges but will show those once they have been received in December.

The end is in sight on my BBD AotH! The bonus is just about finished then I have the personalisation to do on 3 blocks! I'll be getting the disco ball out and having a huge happy dance when it is finished I can tell you!

I am also fairly close to a page finish on my HAED SK Dragons History. There are a fair few colour changes on this so it might still take me a few weeks!

Finally my progress on Sotto La Neve. This is just so pretty. Lots of snow to stitch on this!

A while ago lovely Gaynor of Stitchers Anon was having a giveaway on her Facebook page and I was one of the 20 ( yes 20!) lucky winners. Here is what I received. Aren't they brilliant?! I was so tempted to start Marley Was Dead as I've just started reading A Christmas Carol but I think it'll be one on the list for next year now. Thank you so much Gaynor.

It's not long now until December and I will have a few SALs going then. I will be stitching my final Christmas ornament for 2016 with Barb and Chris as well as keeping going with my HAED SAL with Lisa. Then I will have December SALs with Chris and Barb so a nice, busy stitchy December!  My HAED  SAL with Lisa will carry on into 2017 and beyond. I am planning on keeping up with my ornaments and am wondering if Chris and Barb will join me again. Another stitching friend who I have known many years is SALing with me too on the ornaments.

I have joined a Stitch from Stash group on Facebook for the first half of 2017. It works very much like the one Mel ran the other year with a monthly budget which we choose ourselves up to the equivalent of $25 so I have gone for £20 which is what xe.com converts $25 to. We also get credit for finishes and each month's balance is carried forward to the next month. I am hoping to do well with it  but decided on £20 just in case I see something I can't live without. I am still toying with signing up for the Country Cottage Needleworks Snow Place Like Home series  but I'll see! That might be a birthday or Christmas to myself!

There weren't many takers for the Frightful Halloween chart with leftover threads but I have chosen a winner and it is Mary! Congratulations Mary! Please email me your address and I'll get it in the post to you :).

That's all my news for now. Next month is going to be a stitch filled month as well as my birthday, my sister's wedding and of course Christmas! I have finally managed to get a dress for the wedding  but also need something to wear over it as it'll be chilly!

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

May Already?

Hmmmm we are already a week into May and I am just doing my first blog post of month.  It must be 2 weeks since I last posted but I just couldn't be bothered to do one.  That is bad isn't it?!

I've had a few finishes since I last posted. One I can't show until it has been received as it's a birthday gift. So here's my first one. I did mention in my last post that this would be finished and, indeed, it was. Look I have even got it all made up!

Country Cottage Needleworks Christmas  Cookies

32 count Patina linen

DMC and  Classic Colorworks

SAL with Barb.

Chart is now for sale.

Of course finishing this meant starting Christmas Cheer:)

I ran out of the green so had to work round that.

I had several extra evenings stitching on this to get it finished ready for May.

Country Cottage Needleworks May Cottage

32 count natural opalescent linen

DMC.

I also finished a couple of ornaments that had been stitched up a while ago as well as my finally finished SB All Seasons Fob which Barb bought me. I started it when she sent me it and got it out again recently to finish stitching. Snow Love is almost made up. I just have to  make some white cording.

I have had a few new starts but can only show one as one is a birthday gift and one is for the Four Seasons SAL at  Needlecraft Haven. That one is Snowflower Diaries Summer Witch and I am also stitching it as part of the Halloween SAL I am doing with Barb. So June Cottage is the only one I can show!

I have been  making a bit of progress on my WIPs. In my bid to get the May Cottage finished my robin and October's Marigold took a back seat but I was back to them last weekend.  Lots still to stitch on the marigolds!

Final WIP is My Mom's Garden which is another SAL with Barb. We thoroughly enjoy our SALs even though they are only  virtual. Maybe one day we will get to stitch together for real.

I was so excited to see I had won Mii's giveaway for the beautiful Little House Needleworks chart Comfort along with the leftover threads and it arrived yesterday.  I am looking forward to stitching it and will be passing it along when it is done. I have been very lucky lately as this is my second win. I do only enter for something if it's something that I really love.

So I am having a wee giveaway for the following  charts:

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl ( was sent by mistake last year and Annie told me to keep it rather than return it. So I'm giving it away. Thank you Annie ).

Shepherd's Bush Happy Birthday with leftover threads.

JBW Designs To The Beach.

Please say in your comments which one you would like or if you'd like 2 or all 3 lol! If there's more than one person I'll pick a winner for each chart. It is open to everyone providing you are a regular commenter :).

My DH and I went for a walk so far around the mere and look what we spotted. She's a bit far away but she's a beauty!

That's all from me for now. Hopefully I'll be back sooner next time!

With much love.

Sally xx

Our Family & Another Wee Giveaway

Hello again everyone! It's supposedly a little cooler today and, even though the wind is blowing and it's cloudy, it doesn't feel like it is.  Phew it has been way too hot for me but these last few evenings I've been sitting out on the patio stitching and it has been lovely. Much cooler than sitting indoors.

First of all I have a finish. This lovely chart was passed on to me by dear Julie I don't remember when. I started it and for some reason it became a UFO. I picked it up and still have no idea why it got put away as I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching it. So here it is!

JBW Designs Our Family

Unknown fabric

DMC

I did not have a bird charm so used a bee instead. My plain heart charms did not fit in the box so I used a made with love charm.

Now Julie has said I can pass this chart on so if you would like to stitch this please tell me in your comment. I would prefer it if you have a blog so that when you have finished with it you can pass it on or if you are a member of Needlecraft Haven and can pass it on there.

Typing of Julie it is her birthday today so Happy Birthday Julie! I saw a lovely design that Gaynor of Stitchers Anon  had designed for her retreat both virtual and real but as I couldn't stitch it straight away I asked if it was OK if I stitched later! So this is what I stitched for Julie and I am happy to say she loved it. I also sent her a needleminder but forgot to take a photo of that!

Stitchers Anon From The Heart

40 count sand Newcastle Linen

DMC

Just want to say thank you for all your lovely comments on my Lo finish.  It will be going to the framers soon I think. Sue asked which Better Homes and Gardens book the design was in.  I can't contact you directly as you're a no reply blogger and you have no blog either so I hope you will read this :). It is from the Better Homes and Gardens A Cross Stitch Christmas book which you can find on Amazon UK or USA  here and here. I do hope that helps.

I do have another finish and this time it's the 9th Day of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I can't believe that Barb and I only have 3 more to do!

The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas Day 9

32 count vintage country mocha linen

DMC

I had a new start on Saturday to replace Lo. Oh how I like a new start! I have felt a little stale with some of my stitching lately so it's been nice to finish some things and have  new starts. Helps keep the ole creative juices flowing! Just wish I could get more creative with the finishing!  So this is my new start. It's from a Just Cross Stitch magazine from a few years ago and is Carriage House Samplings 1823 Emma Elizabeth Blackwood Sampler. I'm stitching it in DMC on 40 count cream Gander linen.

Sitting outside stitching has kept me away from my tablet so has meant no interruptions playing games etc so more progress. Here's June's Honeysuckle from Sunday evening.

Snowman's Cottage from Monday evening. Hoping to finish this next Monday and start the next one.

I managed to stitch on LHN Needleworker with no frogging this time. I'll be stitching on this tonight with the ladies in the parlour at Needlecraft Haven.

Finally some progress on Just Nan Winter's Eve.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my final auto of Frosty Forest will be here soon as that will mean that Garden Bliss will arrive too. My long time online friend Fiona asked me to order her one too which I was happy to do. It should still be within what customs will allow but now I'm worrying a little as if they include postage it won't be. I think if they take postage into consideration it's a con! However I will see what happens. I'll have to be patient but waiting for new stash is not a patient matter! Lol. ETA IT'S HERE! Will show it next post :)

I am hoping to try and blog and comment on blogs more regularly than I have been doing of late. I start off with good intentions but it never seems to last. I need a good kick up the butt and a good talking to lol!

Take care everyone and thank you for visiting :) Please leave me a comment if you have time as I love reading them.

With much love

Sally xxx

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

 

February Stitch From Stash & A Wee Giveawy

Here I am with my February Stitch from Stash update.  My January report was done on the 23rd so I will go from there.

I have spent  a grand total of £6.10 since then. £1.60 on 2 DMC threads that I had run out of then on Saturday I spent £4.50 in Dunhelm on half a metre of fabric to finish my sheep with.

From my stash I started The Little Stitcher 12 Days of  Christmas 1, 2, 3 and 4 and I finished all but 4. I also started Cottage Garden Samplings My Garden Journal March's Daffodil,  Little House Needleworks The North Wind, Little House Needleworks Little Sheep Virtues Gratitude and Joyfulness and something else that I can't show.

WIPs stitched on were Lone Elm Lane Snow Angel and The Snowflower Diaries Angela. Angela is almost finished. Just a few more stitches to add :)

I am very proud of myself for sticking to this not only because it's saving money but also because it means I get to stitch charts that have been wallowing in my stash!

I had my sewing machine out yesterday to sew up my first 3 12 Days and have a go with a sheep too. I have to stuff them yet and finish them off so will show those next time.

I have been meaning to post that I have the chart of Country Cottage Needleworks Silent Night to give away. Barb passed it on to me when she'd stitched it and now I'd like to pass it on to someone else. I would prefer it if you are a regular commenter.  I'll pick a winner next week.

Finally thank you for visiting me and for all the lovely comments you leave. They brighten my days just knowing that there are friends out there who are interested in what I do and care. Bless you all. 

With much love

Sally xxxx

Another Sheepie!

Wahoo I have another sheepie finish to add my growing flock :). This time it's the sweet Patience. I just love this one but then again I love them all!

Little House Needleworks Little Sheep Virtues Patience

32  count vintage country mocha linen

DMC.

So next week Barb and I will be starting Wisdom :). I can hardly wait to see what the last 2 series are like.I will have to get myself sorted to get some supplies to finish these off. I still haven't quite made up my mind just how I want to finish them but I know how I want to display them.

I have almost finished part 2 of the Holly & Hearts Christmas Mystery Sampler :) So pretty! Part 3 is just as beautiful. No I don't have it yet but I have seen it!

I don't have any other stitching to show right now as I've been stitching on my ornament for my annual exchange with Chris. Almost have it finished!

I was looking through my email from Bloglovin the other day and came across  a  Christmas challenge here and as the photo showed a rather sweet snowman I thought I'm having a go at that! So I sent off an email and the next day I had the two charts you can stitch from in my inbox. You can stitch either chart or combine elements but it think I will just do the snowman. I won't be able to show any of my progress until Christmas Day as that is one of the rules. It shouldn't take too long to stitch but will have to get it made up as well!

Anyway today is my blogoversary so today is the day to pick a winner for my little LK Love-ly Pincushion. The finishing is far from good but I do hope the winner will like it :). The entries were popped into my lovely Jenny B tin.

The winner is....................

 Congratulations my dear friend! I will get this in the post to you in the next few days :)

Yesterday I was very impressed when  postie delivered my GC order from 123 Stitch which I won in Shirlee's birthday, not blogoversary, giveaway. Brain was not in gear. Sorry Shirlee. I'm sure you're all itching to know what I  bought so........

The Scarlet House A Sampler Grows and Lizzie Kate My To Do List. These two have been on my wish list for a while now, in fact A Sampler Grows has been on it since it was shown as a retreat piece on Tanya's blog over a year ago, so I had to have these two! Thank you again Shirlee.  Love how 123 Stitch are so quick at shipping out and they were so helpful when I couldn't find the box to redeem the GC!

I have been thinking about my stitching plans for next year and planning to try and not get snowed under like I have a few times this year plus if I'm  not really feeling something I'm stitching on to put it away sooner rather than later. My HAEDs will be kept to a minimum with QS Spirit of Winter Robin being my HAED focus and will possibly be stitching Sundays only on Mini Jolly Old Fellow as a SAL with the Dona Gelsinger group on Facebook  but if it doesn't work for me I will stop. Once the sheep are finished Barb and I are going to carry on with our Monday SAL, Barb with the Calendar Girls and me with Frosty Forest. I aim to get back to and finish my Anniversaries of the Heart, once I have  borrowed the charts, as that has been wallowing waiting for me to pick it up again.  Going on the chart stash wagon next year will be good for me as I  will get some of the lovely charts I have had in my stash for a while stitched!  Fingers crossed.  I haven't actually made stitching plans these last few years but I think I may make a list from my stash and see how I go. I'm determined to do this stash wagon, even though I'm getting the Frosty Forest series, as I'm not proud of myself for not doing this year other than the sheep. I feel like a complete failure.

Christine asked if I would show some of my sunrise photos so here are just a few of the ones I took along with others I have taken. I'm still trying to get to grips with my camera  but I think I'm getting there!

The weather has certainly turned chilly here now and we've had the odd frosty morning. I love frost! We may get our first icy  blast in about a week so wondering if that will mean snow!

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xx