Blessed to Have Friends

I am always saying how blessed I am to have such wonderful stitching friends. They are always there for you to give good advice, tips etc and will go the extra mile for you. In my last post over on my other blog I was feeling very low and sorry for myself and I had some lovely emails. I said I just wanted a hug so Lesleyanne stitched this for me:)

She said because she couldn't give me a hug in person she sent me this :) Isn't it lovely? I felt so blessed when I opened it and will treasure it always. Thank you so much Lesleyanne {{{hugs}}} I just love thought that has gone into it :)

Yesterday afternoon I was just popping to get my Dad some milk when my mobile rang and it was Chris :) I was so happy that she'd rang as haven't seen each other for ages with petrol and bus fares getting so expensive and we had a quick chat while she was waiting for her washing to finish at the launderette!

Before I show my progress pictures I am very excited to have won one on Jeanne's gorgeous giveaways on her blog:) Her DH picked my name out of the "hat" for the Whitman's tin, project pouch and scissors:) Thank you Jeanne I'm so looking forward to receiving them {{{hugs}}}

I was on cloud 9 yesterday with my gorgeous gift from Lesleyanne, my phone call from Chris and my giveaway win :)

Right I had better show my stitching now :) I get a bit confused as to what I showed you last time so I have to go back to my last post and check! Duh! Sunday was SAL night on the Shepherd's Bush ornaments with Chris. I started As Bethlehem Slept. I've subbed the GAST and WDW for DMC and am hoping that they look OK!

Monday was SAL night with Barb and Colleen. Barb was feeling a little better this week so stitched on French Heart and I'm not sure if Colleen did any on her piece or not. I stitched on Family Sampler and I'm not sure if you can see it or not but I have the beginnings of a sheep! Love it!

On Tuesday morning I popped my stitching stuff in my bag not sure if I was going to go to craft club or not but I ended up going! I was just in one of those moods where I wasn't sure what to do but I'm glad I did. I met some more ladies this week who were knitting some lovely things. Anyway I've remembered to take a pic of my SH Christmas Candy Roll this week. I made good progress and as far as I know I didn't make any mistakes this time. We were in a different room this week and the lighting seemed much better plus I was sat near a window this time!

Tuesday evening I picked up Drawn Thread The Sanctuary. I forgot to ask Chris if she'd done any on hers lately and I wonder how Kajsa is doing. I finished the top left block and made a start on the top right. I love how this is looking.

Finally ( are you breathing a sigh of relief??!!) last night was MBT A New Day SAL with Lisa. Now I'm afraid I have been quite bad as I'm feeling rather low so the PC is my evil thing and I was on it for a while after tea last night so I didn't get as much done on this as I'd hoped. However it's progress:) I am hoping for a July finish on this.

Tonight I'm hoping to start something new. I've tea dyed a piece of fabric ( how I wish I'd bought more 32 count when Wimble Bees were closing down as I prefer it to 28 count now and I'm getting down on it) and am hoping it'll be dry so I can make a start tonight.

Family stuff now. Abi is enjoying her extended time off school although she has been let down by a friend who she was supposed to be seeing today so she was upset. Yesterday she went to see new Transformers film with another friend and thoroughly enjoyed it. She's in school two days next week for 6th form induction and some photography bridging work to do before then. I keep telling her not to leave it until the last minute! 

Jess rang yesterday to ask me if I'd make an appointment for her to see a doctor. She never registered with a Hull GP with her not being too far from home but it's a bit of a nuisance with bus times etc. However I managed to get her an afternoon appointment. She was in a lot of pain and it turns out she has a urine infection so she's now on antibiotics ( medicine as she struggles terribly with pills). She's also having blood tests on Monday to see if there's a reason for her irregular, painful, heavy cycle. She was in so much pain she was pacing the room, bless her. I wanted her to stay home but she insisted on going back to her student house but she's coming back tomorrow until Monday when she gets her blood done, then she'll be home for the summer anyway the week after.

I almost forget ( well actually I did and am editing my post!). I have been awarded the Stylish Blogger award by Rebecca:) Thank you so much Rebecca! I cannot think straight at the moment so will list the 7 things about myself etc in another post:)

Well I've waffled enough so I'd better end it here:) Hope everyone is having a good week so far.

Love and hugs

Sally

xxx

Farm House Finished :)

As we were up late on Friday waiting for Abi to arrive back at school from her prom so we could pick her up I kept on stitching until I'd finished BBD Farm House. Every time I finish one of these AotHs I say it's my favourite so far then I stitch the next one and that becomes my favourite! I really love this one. The colours are gorgeous. The initials are those of my Grandad's cousin, the year is the year he died in the first world war and the initial above the house is for Arras which is the battle he died in. Happy Birthday will be next :)

Blackbird Designs Aoth #5 Farm House

36 count Rosewood linen

GAST & DMC

Started 10th June 2011

Finished 1st July 2011

The only things I have to show are WIPs for now :) Monday evening was SAL night with Barb and Colleen but I know Barb did not stitch as she has not been well :( Hope you are feeling much better my dear friend. I was stitching away on Family Sampler and thoroughly enjoying it. I fear I could spend a fortune on SB kits if I had the money! How lovely it would be to have a good lottery win, visit the shop and have a spending spree! 

Tuesday was DT The Sanctuary with Chris and Kajsa and I made more good progress. This piece is looking so pretty. 

Wednesday was SAL night with Lisa on A New Day but I had a visit from the frog:) I very stupidly stitched some of it with two strands of thread instead on the one I'd been using throughout the design and didn't realise until I'd stitched quite a bit so had to rip it all out! As you can imagine I was not happy! So I didn't get quite as much stitched as I might have done but it's still progress!

And that is all I can show:) I am hoping to get my sewing machine out this week and finish my PIFs so that I can get them in the post. I've been so slow with these and feel bad even though I'm within the time I have to do them.

Not sure what I'm stitching tonight. I will probably start the next SB ornament and get a move on with that :)

I plucked up the courage and went to a craft club at the local museum on Tuesday. There were only two us cross stitching, one lady doing tapestry and the rest knitting. I kind of wish there were more stitchers but never mind. I quite enjoyed it and think I will go again this week. I took my Shepherd's Bush Christmas Candy Roll kit as I thought it was easy to carry rather than having to take a thread box etc. I forgot to take a picture of my start so will show that another time. The only thing I found was the lighting was not very good so I struggled considerably:( 

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my photos of Abi:) I cannot tell you how proud we are of the beautiful young lady she has grown into. She had a fantastic evening! She said that people had probably seen a different side to her that night!

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. Belated Canada Day greetings to my Canadian friends and Happy July 4th to all my American friends! Hope you all had/ have a fantastic day:)

Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx

My Baby's Prom ( Picture Heavy Post)

This evening I have a non stitching post with lots of photos:) It's Abi's prom and she should just have arrived at Willerby Manor:) We took several photos so I'm showing a few here. We are so proud of our youngest girl. She looks fantastic in her dress and I did have tears in my eyes as I watched her walk away to get on the coach with her friends. Anyway I shall let the photos do the talking. She is getting a photo taken there but we won't get that until GSCE results day in August.

Emmanuel's Song Framed

At last I have got my DH to take a decent photo of Shepherd's Bush Emmanuel's Song for me. It was a glorious day here yesterday ( too damned hot for me though I'm afraid) so he set his camera up outside and here's the picture. It's not close up but you can see the mats and frame quite well. I have this hung on my bedroom wall.

No finishes to share just some progress on WIPs from last week. First it's my progress on Drawn Thread Sanctuary my SAL with Chris and Kajsa. I really enjoyed stitching on this last Tuesday. Unfortunately the white flowers don't show up very well so I may have to back stitch around those but I'll wait and see once I get that bit finished. 

Wednesday was SAL night with Lisa and I made a start on the top bit of A New Day. I am hoping to get lots more done this week so that I can finish the top bit and move onto the bit underneath. I love stitching this one and will miss it once it's finished.

I can't show what I stitched on Thursday and last night but I can show my BBD AotH Farm House. It's not finished but I feel that I made really progress. I did, however, realise that I'd started this one in the wrong place and it's one stitch to far to the left so I need to make sure that I start the next one along with four stitches in between instead of three and the one underneath Farm House one in from it if that makes sense! I'd got too much done to frog when I realised what I'd done so it can stay!

I've been a very bad girl and gone on autoship for the new BBD Loose Feathers charts. I think they are going to be too pretty to pass on so I'd better be good for the rest of the year!

Guess I better go and maybe update my other blog although I might wait until tomorrow as it'll take too long the way I'm feeling! Lol! I am also way behind on blogs so will try and catch up tomorrow:)

Have a lovely week:)

Take care.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx

A Little Finish

All I can show in the finishes today is a teeny ornament finish! Just in time for this month is my Shepherd's Bush ornament. I'm stitching one a month with Chris but I've got bit behind. I was in one of those moods on Sunday evening, feeling very restless, and I didn't want to stitch on this but I told myself I had to so that I could finish it!

Shepherd's Bush Mary & Joseph

36 count Sand linen

DMC

Started 11th June 2011

Finished 18th June 2011

I think I shall start the next one next Sunday providing I have some fabric left. If not I may have to order some ( darn it!). 

Friday and Saturday I stitched a little on BBD AotH Farm House. I didn't get much done on Saturday as we went to the cinema to see Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides ( fantastic film!) but I'm happy with the progress I made. It was nice to get out for a change. 

Finally last night was one of favourite stitchy nights of the week as it was SB SAL night with Barb and Colleen. I love Family Sampler so much. The colours are just so pretty and it is a pure joy to stitch. Sorry if I'm repeating myself but I can't get enough of this sampler. I'd stitch on it every night if I could :)

It's SAL night with Chris and Kajsa on DT The Sanctuary tonight. Really looking forward to getting more done.

I picked up SB Emmanuel's Song from the framers on Friday but I haven't managed to get a decent photo of it so I'll see if DH can get one so that I can show it next time. My framer has done a fantastic job as usual.

Well I had better get off here and get some exercises done! I did a new one on the Wii Fit Plus yesterday and I certainly about it!

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Take care.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxx

Progress, Progress, Progress!

Lots of progress to show this week although, again, I've been spending too much time on the PC after tea. I really must learn to say no when my DH asks me if I want it when he's finished! However I have made some good progress so I'm a semi-happy bunny! Anyway I'm just waiting for Miss Abi to get her butt out of bed then we're popping out as she needs some pencil crayons for her textiles exam. It's not until next week but I don't think we'll get chance to go another day.

I started my next BBD AotH last Friday. I decided on Farm House. When I was sorting threads I was a little disappointed as I'm rapidly running out of GAST for these but will have to wait to buy more so this one is more DMC as I use that instead of CC anyway. I have just had a thought! I could have used the called for Lexington Green for the house as I'm sure I have another skein! Darn it! Oh well I rather like the sub so I'm fine with it!

I also started my next Shepherd's Bush ornament which is Mary and Joseph. One of them is headless right now so I hope they don't try wandering or they'll walk into something :) Again I have subbed the overdyes for DMC.

Monday was my usual SB SAL with Barb and Colleen. Family Sampler is proving an absolute joy to stitch but I would not expect any less from an SB design. The colours are so beautiful. I have always been a "buy a chart, threads and fabric rather than a kit kind of girl" but I do love these SB kits.

I finally plucked up the courage to do the reversed cushion stitch on Drawn Thread The Sanctuary on Tuesday evening. I had left it as it looked as though it would take forever ( OK maybe that's an exaggeration!) but it didn't and I had it done in no time. So I then had the pick of the four "blocks" and plumped for the top left one. Love how this looking so far. I wonder how Chris and Kajsa are getting on:)

My final picture is of MBT A New Day my SAL with Lisa. I tried to get the border finished last night but didn't quite manage it. Of course I was rather relieved that it met up too as I had visions of it not doing ( I really need to get glass half full, not half empty!). Next week I hope to get the border done and start filling in the flowers and wording at the top. I just hope I don't run out of the GAST I'm using for the border as it's also used for some flowers.

Not sure what I'm stitching on tonight. I finished one gift so may start another or may get the stitching finished on my PIFs. Before I know where I am it'll be September which is when I need to have them done by! I hate letting people down ( I have been let down before with a PIF) so I want to get them done in decent time.

Well I think I'll go see if Miss Abi is awake. The weather is a bit changeable here so I'd like to go before it chucks it down although the sun is shining brightly at the moment.

Thank you for visiting and for all your lovely comments. Also thank you to those of you who have been so supportive on my other blog either through comments or emails. {{{{hugs}}}}

That's all for now. I'm hopefully picking up Emmanuel's Song from the framers tomorrow so will be back with that soon:)

Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx

PS If anyone has problems leaving a comment do let me know please. 

A Bit of Making Up

The two Shepherd's Bush fobs I finished stitching are all made up now. I have been going to make "friends" with my sewing machine for several days now but I just didn't seem to have the motivation for it so yesterday I made the effort to drag my sewing machine ( along with everything on top of it!) out of the cupboard and sew them up. How I wish I had a sewing room so that I could leave it all set up. I had planned to make the LHN ornament I showed in my last post up as well but I'd forgotten to cut some backing fabric and couldn't be bothered to find any ( bad me!) At least my fobs got done lol! I did not have the correct buttons in my stash and I bought the ribbon in Hobbycraft while we out last week.

I really like these fobs and seen as I have the 2008, 2009 and 2010 ones now I think I need to buy the 2011 one so look out the next sales as I think I'll be buying providing my Ebay stuff sells! I have some stuff I'd finished and had on display up at the moment or that I'd finished and not made up. My ID is angelwings1963 if you're interested:)

I had a bit of a change this week as I have some things that I really need to get stitched so my Prairie Schooler piece is on hold for the time being as it's the piece that I'm enjoying the least ( if that makes sense!). I can't show what I've stitched instead as it's a gift but I can show my progress from Tuesday night on Drawn Thread Sanctuary which is my SAL with Chris and Kajsa. I've had this one in my stash for such a long time now and am looking forward to to the challenge of the speciality stitches.

Wedneday night was AND SAL with Lisa and I just love this so much. I know I keep saying how much I love it but this piece speaks volumes to me at the moment.

Last night I started BBD AotH Farm House but I'll show that another time as I'll be stitching on it tonight as well. I have decided that I'm going to personalise this one for my Grandad's cousin who fought in WW1 and died of wounds during the Battle of Arras in May 1917.

Tomorrow evening is SB ornament SAL night. I can't remember the name of the one I'm starting lol but I've sorted threads and just need to cut some fabric.

Time is moving on rapidly and I can't believe we are already through the first full week of June. Abi has all but finished school and just has to go in for her textiles lessons and revision blocks. She just had that exam to do on 22nd June and that is it until 6th from in September. It seems strange having her home as this last week she's only been in school for 3 lessons!

That's all for now:) Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx



Moonlight Visitor................

Is finished! I wasn't sure it was going to get done as I was unsure of how to do the personalisation. I even stitched a bit over one and had to frog it as I realised it wouldn't work so in the end I just stitched my parents first initials, the date they were married and mine and my sister's first initial. I'm really pleased with this one. Farm House will be next. * I forgot to say that my Mum's initial on this one is actually the initial of her middle name because both her and her Mum had the same Christian name she was known by her middle name*

Blackbird Designs AotH #9 Moonlight Visitor

36 count Rosewood Linen

GAST & DMC

Started 7th May 2011

Finished 4th June 2011

I had another small finish on Sunday evening. I desperately wanted to get Red House in Winter finished so I can start another SB ornament this next Sunday and I did it! I plan on getting my sewing machine out this week to finish it and those fobs up:)

Little House Needleworks Red House in Winter

36 count sand linen

DMC and Carrie's Creations

Started 22nd May 2011

5th June 2011

Finally my new start ( yes another one!) from last night. I really enjoy my SB SAL night with Barb and Colleen so decided on Family Sampler for last night and I LOVE it! I don't seem to have been enjoying my stitching as much of late and I've really had to push myself some nights to pick it up ( unless it's AND night with Lisa) so this was a refreshing change as I didn't want to put it away!

I am soon going to have to say to hell with the rotation for a bit as I have a few birthdays coming up plus I have just become a member of the sisterhood as I won the travelling pattern from Michele so will start that as soon I can ( probably when I've finished AND) so that I can get it on it's way again. This one is Waxing Moon My Needle and Floss They Comfort Me which is oh so true a saying for me right now!

Well that's me done for today. I'll be back later in the week hopefully with my fobs and ornament all finished :)

Take care everyone and thank you for continuing to visit me and for all your wonderful comments. I know I'm not at my chattiest but it's hard to see the wood for the trees just lately.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxxx

Is It really.......

Nearly a week since my last post. It's been a busy week what with one thing and another so I thought it was time I made the effort and updated my blog with my progress from the past week. So wihout further ado here's my progress from Friday and Saturday on BBD AotH Moonlight Visitor which is my SAL with Valerie, Jane and Lisa B. I had hoped to get this finished but it wasn't to be so I'll try this time :) I wasn't sure about the colour of the house on this one but now I've got the windows in I rather like it. I can't make up my mind which one to stitch when I've finished it. Either the bonus or Farm House. I still need to work out how to personalise this as September is the month my parents were married so I may try and squeeze their initials in.

Monday was SB SAL night with Barb and Colleen. I decided I wanted to try and finish both the Glad Tidings and 2009 Fobs and I did! Not made up yet but nevertheless finished. I have to find a couple of buttons and keep meaning to look. Note to self- look through your box! Now these are finished I'm going to start Family Sampler this coming Monday.

Tuesday should have been my evening on Drawn Thread The Sanctuary with Chris and Kajsa but we'd been out all day and due to my not sleeping properly of late my eyes felt really tired and I just felt that I needed to stitch on something a bit simpler. In fact I didn't actually pick up any stitching until 9pm as on top of feeling tired, I was feeling so fed-up. Anyway I picked up LHN Red House in Winter and here is where I'm at. Fingers crossed for a finish on this this Sunday.

Wednesday night was SAL night with Lisa and MBT A New Day. I've got all the wording in the main part done now and just need to do the flowers but I couldn't resist a little bit of the border. Love this so much.

Last night I was late settling down to stitch but I did manage a few stitches on Prairie Schooler Daffodils Sampler. I love how the letters are showing up in the grass now.

Phew! back to the beginning now as tonight I'll be picking up Moonlight Visitor again.

I know I seem to get a lot of stitching done but this is just what I stitch in an evening. Some evenings I do get three hours in others not so much. I rarely stitch during the day and when I plan to have an afternoon it usually goes to pot! I must admit that I am feeling a little snowed under with the SALs I'm doing so I plan on having a break other than my SB ones and BBD one once I've finished the others. Perhaps it's my  mood I don't know.

I was very good last weekend and managed not to buy anything in the Memorial Day sales. I was very tempted but I kept telling myself that it was silly to buy more when I have loads to stitch. I almost bought the With Thy Needle and Threads Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler but also talked myself out of that! I'm holding out on buying anything else now unless I actually need fabric or threads until the next lot of sales come round!

I managed to get caught up on my blog reading and commenting today so I'm happy. I haven't had much chance this week with it being half term. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my box finish for Barb:)

Well it's almost time for me to go and cook some food so I guess I better get off here. My other blog needs updating but I think I'd better leave that until another day now.

Take care everyone.

Love & hugs

Sally

xxxx