Monday ( Yes Very Original!)

First of all I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented on my finish of Midnight Stitching Quaker Faith Hope Love! I don't think I've ever had as many comments and they are very much appreciated:)

Last Thursday I picked BBD Beyond My Heart up from the framers. I have to say it looks so much better framed. For all I love this piece I didn't feel that the verse showed up very well but now it's framed it's much clearer.
HAED QS Girly Gothic is coming along rather nicely, even though I say so myself, and I may well continue to stitch two evenings on it so that I can get it finished in reasonable time! I'm itching to start QS Holly Fairy ( Jasmine Becket- Griffith) but not until GG is finished.
Of course with April comes another needleroll, Christmas ornament and biscornu. I've decided on my needleroll and biscornu but not the ornament as yet and I have made a start on the biscornu. I have been trying to talk Chris into starting it with me but I'm afraid I failed! LOL! So here's my small start on Just Nan When Barnabee Met Bella biscornu which I received in a trade with Andrea last year:) I am using the suggested fabric ( I think!) which Andrea also sent me.

I am still stitching away on a PIF and actually sat out in the garden yesterday for a while and stitched on it. It was such a lovely day but today is so dull and horrible and rain is forecast.

Last night I stitched on Drawn Thread My Favourite Things and I'm really enjoying it. So far the speciality stitches haven't been too complicated!

I am desperately trying to get caught up on blog reading and commenting and hope to do so today as DH finishes work today for a week so, hopefully, we'll be going out the odd day or so so I won't get much computer time. The girls finished on Friday lunchtime and Jess has revising to do as she'll start her A level exams in May.

Last Friday Chris and I had arranged to meet up at my house but DH took the day off so I went to Chris' house for a change:) We had a lovely afternoon chatting and I had a look at what Chris was stitching and saw a small amount of her stash!! I'm looking forward to meeting up again soon. I saw her Just Nan Memories ( before she added the beads) and it is beautiful.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and a wonderful Easter weekend:)

Hugs

That Monday Morning Feeling on Tuesday!

Sally's mood is not good today! Sally does not like losing an hour when the clocks are altered. Sally is annoyed by a certain man in her life too. LOL! This particular man did not wish me good luck for my scan then failed to ask me how I got on! Anyway nuff said! Results should be back midweek next week so I can make an appointment with my GP and see what's what.

So without further ado here's some stitching. I spent Sunday afternoon making up Midnight Stitching Quaker Faith Hope Love then put the finishing touches to it yesterday so here it is. This is just about how I envisaged it so I am one very happy bunny with this piece.

Saturday I had my planned new start a day early! I was in the mood for something new so when the urge strikes why not?! This is The Drawn Thread My Favourite Things stitched on 36 count Flax linen using DMC. This is two evenings stitching and I love it although it's hard going on the old eyes!

Finally last night's measly progress on Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker. I wasn't really in the mood for this so I finished off the motif I started last week, stitched another small one then added my initials to one of the other motifs. I want to stitch the initials of my family on this rather than the charted ones.

I was blogwalking a little yesterday and found I'd won the Victoria Sampler December Needleroll on Deb's blog so that cheered me up a little! Thank you Deb! I can't wait to stitch it:)

Oh! I have finally succuumbed to Facebook! If any of you are on there and you'd like to find me you can me email me ( email in my profile) and I'll give you the email addy you can find me with ( if you already know it that's fine!) providing you make it clear who you are:)

Take care everyone!

Hugs

PIF FOR Ruth & An RAK FROM Barb

At long last I can show what I stitched for Ruth for her PIF. I was getting worried as I posted it three weeks ago but she had been off work sick so only actually got it Monday when she went back. I have to say I was not very happy with my finishing on this piece but Ruth assures me that she loves it so I am happy:)

Dragon Dreams Time Well Spent ( freebie- no longer available I don't think)

Unknown fabric

DMC threads

Stitched for Ruth ( PIF)

I am a very lucky girl today as I received the most gorgeous RAK from Barb ( no blog). Barb makes the most beautiful beaded fobs and she sent me one along with a gorgeous pair of scissors, some ribbon and a Caron Wildflowers thread. Thank you so much Barb {{{{hugs}}}} I feel honoured to own one of your fobs and I will treasure it along with the scissors. ( I love scissors and a girl can never have too many).

The only other stitching I can show today is my progress on HAED QS Girly Gothic. Again I chose to stitch on her two evenings this week so that I could make even more progress:) I am now almost halfway through page 2 so if I am lucky I will have her finished well before I had hoped to; finger's crossed! Of course there is a fair bit of confetti stitching on this bit so it may take me a bit longer plus some metallic stitches and metallic and I are not the best of friends anymore!

That's it for now! Have a great weekend everyone and stay safe in the high winds we're having here in the UK.

Hugs

A Winner & Another Finish!

As promised I have drawn a winner for the LHN Hen Party chart today using a randomiser:) So without further ado out of the 13 people who entered here's the list

List Randomizer

There were 13 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Dianemi
2. Ranae
3. Cindy F
4. Redwitch
5. Karan
6. Lisa
7. Rachael
8. Icelandmom
9. Susan
10. Sherry
11. Claire
12. Veronica
13. Lynda

Timestamp: 2009-03-24 13:12:48 UTC

The winner, as you can see, is Dianemi!!! Congratulations Di! Please email your address ( my email is in my profile) and I will get the chart in the post to you ASAP:)

A huge thank you to everyone who commented on my finishes in my last post. Beyond My Heart is now at the framers and I should have it back midweek next week.

Onto my stitchy progress for the last few days:) As usual Wednesday is my night for stitching on my HAEDs with Lisa and Claire and last week I also stitched on Thursday afternoon and evening with the Friends HAED SAL on QS Girly Gothic and have completed the first 30 rows on page 2 so I am very happy. I think I may slow down a bit now as I'm onto lots of confetti stitching. I have promised Abi that I will stitch QS Holly Fairy when Girly Gothic is finished!

I have had another finish! Yoyo asked where I find the time! I only stitch mostly on an evening and very occasionally in an afternoon. On an evening I do mostly get about 3 hours stitching done and it's amazing how much you can fit in in 3 hours:) Anyway back to my finish! It is Midnight Stitching Quaker Faith Hope Love and it was amazingly quick to stitch and I enjoyed stitching it so much. I chose to stitch it each one on separate pieces of fabric.

Midnight Stitching Quaker Faith Hope Love

Carrie's Creations Cherry Popsicle & Eggplant

Unnamed Victorian Motto

40 count white

Started 17th March 2009

Finished 22nd March 2009

The chart is now for sale ( or trade) ( SOLD) in my For Sale/ Wish List blog along with the last BBD I finished and the Homespun Elegance ornament chart.

Last night I picked up Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler after not stitching on it last Monday. I finished the last motif I was stitching on and almost finished another one. It was nice to pick this one up again.

So I'm going to start my random PIF this evening. This one has been in the works for a while and I think my random recipient might just like it! LOL! Also planning on a new start on Sunday seen as Beyond My Heart and Quaker Faith Hope Love are finished. I'm going to be starting Drawn Thread My Favourite Things so that should keep me well occupied on a Sunday evening for a while!

Sunday was Mother's Day here in the UK and I hope you were all looked after and spoilt rotten:) My girls brought me breakfast in bed ( minus a spoon!) and I received lovely cards from them both and one from my DH. Jess bought me a Danielle Steel book ( she's my favourite author) and a box of Cadbury's Flake Moments ( yum!) and Abi bought me a primula in a basket and a lovely fat blue tit ornament which is really for the garden but I've got it on the dining room window sill with the robin DH's auntie bought me. I had a lovely quiet day with my girls and DH.

Finally I received this award from Marianne. Thank you so much Marianne. I am not going to pick out any blogs to pass it on to as I want this to go to every one of the blogs I read:)

Have a wonderful week! Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xx

Three Finishes and A New Start!

As promised here I am with not only my finish of LHN Hen Party but also BBD Beyond My Heart plus my Christmas ornament for March!

So first up is my Hen Party finish (don’t forget to enter my draw to win the chart in my previous post!).

Little House Needleworks Hen Party

32 count vintage mocha

DMC and Crescent Colours

Started 28^th February 2009

Finished 14^th March 2009

I’m not sure how I’m going to finish this up as yet but it’ll either be as it is on the chart or a pinkeep. Thank you so much Lizzy for sending me the chart and threads in my prize package. I loved stitching this.

Sunday evening I was determined to get BBD Beyond My Heart finished but as I was stitching the border on the right hand side I discovered I’d made a mistake on one of the flower stems and had no choice but to rip it out as the border would not go right! So Monday I unpicked what I had to, re-stitched it and finished the border! So no BP stitching for me Monday this week! There are a few mistakes on it plus I shamelessly stole Christine's idea if stitching big cross stitches instead of eyelets on the baskets! I can never get a good picture of this but I think if you click on it it should be clearer.

Blackbird Designs LF 32 Beyond My Heart

30 count R&R Iced Cappuccino

DMC Threads

Started 11^th January 2009

Finished 16^th March 2009

Here are some close-up pics of the top and bottom.

Last of the finishes for now is my Christmas ornament for March which I love. I bought this over a year ago and hadn’t got it stitched so I thought it was time I did it!

Homespun Elegance 2007 Snowman Ornament All is Calm

Unknown fabric from grab bag

DMC Threads

Started 10^th March 2009

Finished 13^th March 2009

I forgot to show my progress on HAED QS Girly Gothic and here we are it’s Wednesday again and I shall be stitching on this again tonight! If you have not had a look yet pop on over to the Our Friends HAED SAL blog where there are many wonderful HAED designs being stitched on. I joined the blog a few weeks ago and it’s a fantastic place to whip up some extra enthusiasm to keep on stitching on HAEDs! Believe it or not one afternoon last week I actually got Guardian (my HAED BAP) out of the draw to see if I could sort something for the metallic stitches. I know that if I carry on using metallic thread I will never stitch on it, as there is loads, so I am subbing it for DMC 3865 and as the metallic I have already stitched can’t be unpicked without making an awful mess I am stitching over it and it looks OK. It may be a while before I actually get back to it properly but I will one day!

Last night I decided to have a new start. I wasn’t actually planning on starting it until Sunday but I wasn’t in the mood for picking up Bea or the Halloween ornament I’d made a small start on so I sorted some threads and fabby for Midnight Stitching Quaker Faith Hope Love and made a small start on that. I am stitching it on 40 count white fabric (I have never used it before but it’s lovely to stitch on). I couldn’t decide whether to stitch it monochrome or using three colours so with Abi’s help we came up with three colours, two Carrie’s Creations and one Victorian Motto! The one you see in the photo is Carrie’s Creations Cherry Popsicle!

Time for me to go now and try and caught up on blogs. Thank you to everyone that left good wishes for my blood tests and scan. They are much appreciated. Blood tests are over with now so just waiting for the results which should be back at the end of the week or beginning of next week then I just have to wait for the scan.

Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xx

PS Hmmm my blog does not seem to be showing as updated in Google Reader. I hope you'll all still manage to find me! ETA It seems to be fixed now. Must have been a bit of a glitch.

LHN Hen Party

I finished LHN Hen Party on Saturday evening ( no pics yet but I promise to be back with some, hopefully, tomorrow). Anyway I thought it would be a nice idea to pass this chart on on my blog and all I ask is that whoever wins it pass it on on their blog when they've stitched it; a bit like the travelling Waxing Moon chart. If you are a regular commenter/ reader of my blog and would like to be in with a chance of winning this fun to stitch chart then please add a comment to this post only and I'll draw a winner in a week's time.

Hugs

Sally

A PIF FOR Angela

Just a quick post for today to show the PIF I sent to Angela. I wasn't sure what to stitch for her then read in a comment on my blog that she'd taken a liking to Shepherd's Bush designs so I chose a design called Woolwork Sheep from the leaflet Pillow Flock and I made it into a biscornu. Angela let me know that she received this morning and likes it so I am happy:)

Shepherd's Bush Woolwork Lambs ( from the leaflet Pillow Flock)

Stitched on Silkweaver Solo 14 count aida

DMC Thread and Rainbow Gallery Metallic

PIF for Angela

I am hoping to be able to show the PIF I sent to Ruth soon as I sent it over a week ago so hopefully it will arrive soon.

I have also finished my Christmas ornament for the SAL but I haven't taken a picture so will save that for another day.

Thank you for all your well wishes after my last blog post. I have now got my appointment for my scan and it's the 30th March. I can't believe I've got an appointment so soon but I'm pleased I have so that it'll set the ball rolling quicker ( depending on what they find) plus I don't have to go to hospital in Hull as they come to the surgery here a few times a week. I can't wait to get it over and done with.

HAED have just started a reward program and if you send in photos of any HAED finishes you have with full details they will send you a chart of your choice to the same or lesser value. I sent 5 photos in and received 5 charts back then I found another photo of one I stitched as a gift. Lisa and Claire are planning on a new HAED start in April and Lisa asked me if I'd like to join them. I wasn't sure as I did say no new HAED starts until QS Girly Gothic is finished but the free charts I received are relatively small and as I really wanted to start something by Jasmine Becket Griffith I decided upon Tiny Treasures Purple Dragon. Providing I have finished BBD Beyond My Heart by then I will allow myself this new start. It's only going to be an informal SAL of stitching on it when we want, if we want to which sounds good to me. I've got my chart printed out and am either going to stitch it over one on 25 count or over two on 40 count.

Better dash and get some lunch as we're at the hairdressers in a bit.

Have a wonderful weekend and take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xxx

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

Awards and Another Roll!

It has been the week for awards this week as I received this award from Christine , Andrea and Michele B. Thank you so much ladies. As I have already has this one I am not going to choose any blogs this time but it goes without saying that it goes back to Christine and Michele B and on to everyone who reads my blog!

I have also received the Makes My Heart Smile award from Elisa, Rachael and Karan! Thank you so much for thinking of me. I am very honoured. Now I have to pass this on to ten blogs so here goes. Please don't be offended if your blog isn't here. I have lots of blogs in my Google Reader and I love them all.

Elisa (back at ya!)

Rachael (back at ya!)

Karan (back at ya!)

Michele

Deb

Vonna

Annemarie

Chiloe

Su

Chris

Onto some stitching now. First up is lovely little Beatrix Potter! I am really enjoying stitching this but I have to concentrate really hard as I don't want a visit from that slimy green thing! This week I finished up the motif with the bird then moved onto the motif at the bottom. I am very happy with my progress on this for this week.

On Tuesday I decided to start my needleroll for this month for the SAL with Chris and chose Easter Egg Roll. This was so nice and quick to stitch and it's all finished up and on display. Unfortunately it wasn't until I was so far through stitching it that I realised there was something missing from my kit so the ribbon isn't the colour it should be as I had to use some I had in my stash. Needless to say I went to look at my other needleroll kits to make sure they had ribbon in them ( which they did) and I emailed JJ's to let them know that it was missing.

Shepherd's Bush Easter Egg Roll

Started 3^rd March 2009

Finished 5^th March 2009

Wednesday evening is my HAED SAL night with Lisa and I have also joined the fantastic HAED SAL blog which Cindy F and Wendy have set up so that I plenty of motivation from the ladies there to keep on stitching on QS Girly Gothic and, hopefully, finish her this year! Wednesday evening I just didn't want to put her down so I decided to stitch on her last night as well and I am so pleased I did! Next Wednesday should see that page finished then I only have two more to stitch! Before I forget I have a few charts for sale over in my Wish List and Stuff for Sale blog if anyone would like to have a look. I am trying to save up for a Shepherd's Bush kit (Family Sampler) so will keep adding to the list as and when I finish with charts. Charts are either gently used or new and postage will be extra.

Well I think that's it from me for now.

Take care everyone.

Hugs

Sally

xx

More Goodies and A New Start!

Well here we are into March and the weather forecast says there's a chance of snow tomorrow. It was certainly chilly when I went to the post office earlier and it had been a frost. I do like frosty mornings as we nearly always get a sunny day afterwards.

I have had some lovely things in the mail this past week. Of course you have already seen what I won in Lizzy's blogoversary contest then Barb (no blog) kindly sent me another SB roll chart which was the Folk Heart one which is so pretty. Thank you so much Barb. Then on Saturday when I arrived back home from shopping there was a package from Lesley (You may remember I won her birthday contest) which contained a gorgeous crocheted brooch beautifully made by Lesley herself. The colours are absolutely perfect for me and I don't know if you can see in this picture but there are tiny crystals on the flower petals. I am wearing it on a black jumper at the moment and it looks so pretty. She also sent me some lovely charts including two from Shepherd's Bush and a Sweetheart Tree one. I already have plans for these! Thank you so much Lesley. I feel honoured to have one of your gorgeous brooches and I will treasure it. Hope you have received the email I sent you.

Last Wednesday I managed to stitch a little bit more on my HAED Quick Stitch Girly Gothic. I am not quite as enthusiastic about this piece as I was Sampler Letter J but I'll keep plugging away best I can with her and hope to finish her by the end of the year.

I have finally stitched another PIF and just need to get it made up and in the post. This one is for Ruth and I do hope she likes it. One more to go for this round then I can start on the next ones!

Saturday evening I had a new start! Yes I know this is bad but Susan was having a small SAL for LHN Hen Party and asked when I was planning on starting it so I thought what better time than now and join in her SAL. Lizzy then mentioned it would be nice for us to stitch together too so I asked if she was ready to start and she is so she's joining in too! I do rather like SALs as it's so nice to know that others are stitching with you. I decided on 32 count vintage mocha linen and away I went. Now I have to say that my enthusiasm for the pieces I've been stitching on has been disappearing a little of late and for all I've stitched quite a bit on those pieces it's been a push and shove to get myself going with them. This new start really made stitching a pleasure as it is so much fun and I sat and stitched all evening with just a quick break for a cup of tea! LOL! So here's a picture of my progress. This will be my Saturday evening project!

Last night I stitched on BBD Beyond My Heart. I must say that for all I have enjoyed stitching on these 2008 Loose Feathers designs I am going to take a break once I've finished this one. I think 4 in a row is enough for all I only have one more that I want to stitch. I was planning on trying to get the flowers finished but I ran out of one of the greens for the stems so had to move back to the border again.

So once BBD Beyond My Heart is finished I plan on starting Midnight Stitching Quaker Faith Hope Love. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to stitch it monochrome or in the colours as charted. It all depends on the fabric I decide on as one choice is white 40 count and the other is 36 count flax! After that I plan on making Sunday evenings Drawn Thread stitching as I have a few of those charts in my stash!

Now it's March I have another SB roll ready to go, I have decided on the Christmas ornament and the biscornu and I'm hoping to get another PIF done too.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Hugs

Sally

xx