Private Ornament Exchange With Barb.

My lovely friend Barb and I decided to do a private ornament exchange which we had planned to have in the post by 1st December. Unfortunately we both ended up being a little behind so mine arrived with Barb on Saturday as did hers to me :). 

This is what I chose to stitch for Barb although it wasn't my first choice or my second lol!  Anyone who knows Barb will know she loves sheep. A girl after my own heart!

Little House Needleworks This Is My Joy

32 count Nougat Linen

GAST & Rainbow Gallery Petite Braid 

Private Exchange for Barb.

I am so happy to say that Barb loves it :). You can't see it on the photo but I added a little bird peace charm to the gingham bow. 

And this is what Barb stitched for me and I absolutely adore it! It has my favourites on it, sheep and a snowman, and of course it's Shepherd's Bush. Thank you so much my dear friend. 

Barb has been a wonderful SAL partner and friend for many years and I hope it long continues. 

Speaking of our SALs I have almost finished both Tricotine and Wicked Since and once I've got some making up done on a birthday gift I am hoping to pop a few more stitches in and get them finished. 

It's that time of year again as it's my birthday on Friday! It feels a little flat after the excitement of my 50th last year but I'm just thankful I have my wonderful family and friends.

Be back later in the week with, hopefully, my finished ( proably not made up! ) Tricotine and Wicked Since.

Until next time.

Stay warm those of you getting cold weather right now and take care.

With much love.

Sally

xxx

It's December SAL Time Again!

Yes it's that time again! Time for Chris and I to start our annual December SAL. We always seem to decide well in advance what we are going to stitch and this year was no exception! I put up a poll earlier in the year as we had 3 designs and couldn't decide which but cheated a little and actually went with the one that had the least votes! So here is my small start on UB Designs Beerenherz im Winter.  We are just stitching the heart at the top of the chart rather than the whole thing. I think it's going to be very pretty.

I've had another new start :) I'm determined to keep on top of the Country Cottage Needleworks monthly cottages so that I can have them on display next year rather than having to wait another year so here is February started. 

I really need to get myself sorted and make a way to display them. I have seen one on Pinterest so have card, fabric and ribbon etc at the ready but it's just getting going with it!

Barb and I are continuing on our 2 SALS. Wicked Since is going well and I don't think I have too much more to do on this then we are putting our Halloween SAL on hold until January! 

I ran out of DMC 3011 on Tricotine but I have some now so I'll, hopefully, get the green on the border finished this evening. Once we have both finished we're starting the CCN Classic Ornaments! Yay!

Speaking of ornaments here is my ornament tree. It's not the best photo but oh I do love looking at this! So many pretty things stitched in exchanges, as gifts for me and stitched by me. I still have to get my The Little Stitcher 12 Days of Christmas ornaments up but I think I'm going to hang those like I did the LHN sheep. 

No robin or August's Poppy this week as they are both on hold. Time has got away from me and I had a couple of things I wanted to get stitched so one is done and half finished up and the other is half stitched! So, hopefully, I'll be back to both next weekend. Phew! I did manage a little progress on Frosty Forest Snowy Foxes though. Don't those foxes look cute! OK so they don't have eyes yet but they will!

Stitch from Stash will soon be over for 2014. We have to have our reports done in a couple of weeks I think. I am intent on joining again in 2015 but this time I am even more determined. I was very lucky to be able to go the knitting and stitching show in Harrogate last month and buy a few charts there then made the most of my free month and the spare pennies I brought home and bought a couple more and ordered a couple too but next year I am going to try extremely hard to not buy any charts at all except for a December SAL one lol. I was doing very well this year until Harrogate and when I put my charts away I just decided that I could not carry on like this! Yes I've stitched several from my stash this year but I still have a lot there and I need to get them down! We are still allowed exemptions next year which include magazine subscriptions and autos providing we have signed up before the second part is released. I have my ornament auto and also I have signed up for the Lizzie*Kate Things Unseen mystery so they are my exemptions. I am not renewing my sub for Just Cross Stitch when it runs out and will just buy the ornament issue when it comes out. I've been very ruthless and cut my wish list right down too.

I was thinking today though about the charts I've asked to be added to my magazine order which should be here this month but what with the time of year and customs it might not arrive until January then I'll be out of Stitch from Stash when it's only just started lol! If it happens I'll just have to do it on my own but report as usual!!! 

Before I go here's a photo of our main tree. Jess and Abi did this one while I did my ornament one. 

I'm so sorry I haven't visited your blogs lately but I am hoping to get caught up tomorrow. I really don't know where the time is going!

Hopefully, next time I'll be able to show the ornaments that I stitched for Chris and Barb from the private exchanges we did. Chris has hers but doesn't want to open it until she's given me the one she stitched for me :). Barb's is in the post so fingers crossed she'll receive it tomorrow!

That's all from me for now. Take care everyone.

Until next time.

With much love

Sally

xxxx

November Stitch From Stash & Christmas RAK from Andrea

I thought it was time I got my butt into gear and did my Stitch from Stash report for November. Of course, as I said last time I have chosen November as my free month so besides the spending I did at the knitting and stitching show in Harrogate I also bought a couple of charts and a piece of fabric I couldn't get there, which have arrived,  and ordered a couple of charts I wish that I'd got! They won't be paid for or arrive until next month as I've asked if they can be added to my magazine order when that comes into stock so they'll come off my December SFS! 

So I have a few WIPs to show you and a finish.

Well it's a finish all but the French knots for the eyes and buttons on the snowman!

Country Cottage Needleworks January Cottage

32 count opalascent natural linen

DMC.

I'll be starting the February one next week hopefully! Need to get January made up ready to go on display in the right month!

My robin got a little bit of attention on Saturday evening. Not as much as I'd hoped but every single stitch helps doesn't it? 

August's Poppy is coming along really well. Loving how this looks so far and I have to say it is one of my favourites so far. Living by the sea it is very me!

Monday saw me Wicked stitching with my lovely friend Barb. I hadn't done any last week so I was intent on catching up a bit this week but it didn't happen. I almost got the word Wicked finished :) Barb is almost finished with hers!

As you can see from my blog title I was very lucky to be chosen as a recipient of one of Andrea's Christmas RAKs. Many years ago before Andrea started offering these on her blog I was one of the chosen ones then and I have refrained from entering on her blog until this year. Anyway this lovely package was waiting for me when my DH and I arrived back from our shopping day in York.

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?! I just love the design and the beautiful way Andrea has finished it. Thank you so much Andrea. I can't wait to get my ornament tree up :) Hope you received my email.

As this month has been my free month on SFS I am guessing that I don't have to declare the amount I spent but I have £59.91 to carry over to next month from last month.  I definitely won't be spending it all but as I'm thinking about signing up for the new Lizzie* Kate mystery I may spend some of it! I will then be gearing up for SFS 2015 which Mel is kindly hosting again :)

Well I think that's all for now. I'm hoping to get settled down to some serious stitching again next week! I've been so tired since Harrogate and we've also been Christmas shopping. I think my DH is ready to go back to work for a rest lol! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends :). 

Until next time,

With much love

Sally xxx

Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show

It hardly seems like 5 minutes since I last posted and here we are back home and our visit to the show is over for this year. Yes I say this year as I think I might like to go again next year!

I had a brilliant time. It was rather overwhelming at first with it being my first time there but I thoroughly enjoyed it and spent some pennies. I bought a few charts, some fabric, threads and finishing fabrics, felt, buttons as well as a shawl pin for when I get my shawl knitted and a crochet hook for Abi. I got a little excited when I saw Jane Greenoff as I was thinking wow she is actually a designer and here she is! Lol! I did treat myself to a kit of hers. It wasn't on my list but Mouse showed me it and I couldn't resist! 

Mouse and I saw each other a few times so stopped for a natter and I also met the lovely Kate, Sandra and Ally. I also saw some ladies from where I live who were on coach trips there including my friend Gill. I don't think I have ever seen so many people in one place. I don't honestly know how many people must have gone through the doors on Thursday alone but it was packed! It was extremely tiring and I think I wore my DH out walking round and round! I went to Trudy Anne Designs 3 times and bought something all 3 times, The Nimble Thimble twice but only bought once and Sparklies twice but only bought once! I actually came home with money too! Shocking isn't it?!!!! However there's always a little internet shopping as, after all, I am using November as my free month for Stitch From Stash!

I took some stitching and some knitting with me but only got a bit of knitting done. After the show on Thursday DH and I went out for something to eat then went to visit Mouse, Sandra and Ally for a natter and a cuppa, as they had rented a house for the duration of the show, so I got to see what Mouse had bought that day! By the time we got back to our guest house I was too tired and ended up in bed at about 10 pm! 

Yesterday we packed up, had breakfast then left the guest house to have a wander around the shops. I found The Remnant House so in I went to see if I could get some fabric and ribbons that I couldn't find at the show and sure enough I got what I wanted! This shop was crammed full of fabric, ribbons, trims, buttons! It was amazing!

So we're now home after a lovely couple of days. Harrogate is a beautiful place to visit and I am so pleased we managed to get a wander round. The Christmas lights had been switched on on Thursday evening so it was lovely to get a look at those. I don't think I have ever seen such a beautifully lit place for Christmas. Unfortunately my camera stayed in our room! I was planning on taking photos in the show with my phone but it was just so busy then I never thought to take it out to take photos around Harrogate :(

Not a lot of stitching has been done since my last post. My robin has a few stitches added and I'm hoping to get more done tonight. 

August's Poppy now has all the wording and some poppies! This is so pretty.

No Wicked Since this week but I did get some done on Tricotine which is my other SAL with Barb. That border is straight even though it doesn't look it! Lol! I think mine should be finished in a few more weeks.

Finally the January Cottage :). Loving this and the colours.

So that's it for this post. I'll be back for Stitch From Stash sometime next week. I'm guessing we still have to do some sort of report even if we're taking our free month :).

Until next time.

With much love

Sally xxx

Excited!

This time next week my trip to the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show will be over and I will, hopefully, be home with some lovely new stash!  I have a list as I know if I go without one I won't remember what I want and will come home with stuff I don't really need lol! I've listed just about all the charts from my wish list with the hope I can find a couple and maybe kit them up too. Also planning on buying some fabrics, trims etc for finishing. I'm feeling quite excited but one thing putting a bit of a damper on it is my back. I hurt it again last Saturday, just over a month after I did last time, but it's not as bad thankfully. I've had the TENS machine on it four times today already and it'll be getting used several times more in the hope I can get rid of it before we go next week!

Grrrrr. I had loads typed out and Jess' hamster Bruce has just walked across my tab. I don't know what happened but it's all gone except my first paragraph! Hmmmmm he's in bad books now! Lol! Not that I'll stay mad at him long!

I have been stitching up quite a storm this week as I've been leaving my tab in another room so that I'm not tempted to play games or look on Facebook etc! It's been a good plan and one I really need to keep up! Tricotine is coming along rather nicely, even if I do say so myself, and the colours look so pretty.  I must add something to my list actually as I have plans for this when it's finished and I may be able to pick some bits up for it at Harrogate.  When we've finished Tricotine we're planning a new SAL of the CCN Classic Ornaments! Barb couldn't resist them either! Lol!

Barb and I are also SALing on Barbara Ana Designs Wicked Since.  This is just such a fun stitch and it makes me smile everytime I pick it up. Lots more to do yet on it but it's the first of our Halloween stitching over the next year.

Speaking of Barbara Ana Designs I had a new start last night. I was invited to join a Facebook group called Candy Cane Stitchers. Several designers have been very generous and designed a free Christmas design for us each month for 12 months starting last month. I am a little behind but I intend to try and stitch each one. So this is my start on Silent Night.  If you like the look of this then do join the group on Facebook. It's a lovely group of ladies and you won't find this design anywhere else.

I had a new start on Sunday. This time it was August's Poppy from the Garden Journal series. I have itching to get to this one as I just love it.

I'm still stitching away on the first of the CCN Monthly Cottages and am very pleased with my fabric choice. The opalescent doesn't show up very well on the photo though. I am looking forwrad to stitching all 12 cottages over the next year.

Finally Frosty Forest and a little more on Snowy Foxes. Not a fox in sight though just snow! Only 3 more to go after this one then I'll have to decide whether to frame it or finish it into a cushion although I think framing is probably going to be the better option seen as I've used some hand dyes.

You may remember that I was knitting a poncho for Jess. Well it's all finished and she's now wearing it! Unfortunately I did have a problem with the wool even though it was the same shade no., batch no. etc and had to get a replacement ball for one but there is still a difference between some as you can probably see from the photo. In fact now that I look at the photo it sticks out like a sore thumb. I am disappointed but Jess loves it and that's all that matters. Here she is modelling it.

It will soon be December so that can only mean Chris and I will be starting our annual SAL! I ordered the charts from UB Designs earlier in the week rather than us both paying postage and they arrived today.  

Looking forward to starting this one :)

I am hoping to get caught on blog commenting soon. May well have a go once I've published this as I haven't visited for a week I think. Keep telling myself to keep up a bit every day but it doesn't happen! 

Take care everyone. Don't think I'll get a post done next week but we'll see.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

July's Delphinium.....

Is finally finished! This one seems to have taken me ages but it was well worth it as it is just so pretty. I am enjoying stitching each and every one of these and can hardly wait to start stitching the next one!

Cottage Garden Samplings My Garden Journal July's Delphinium

40 count Pearl Grey Linen

DMC

No other finishes I'm afraid so just WIPs to show you. I do, however, have a page finish. Page 3 of QS Spirit of Winter Robin was duly finished on Saturday and a small start on page 4 was made. This page has lots of confetti in it so will take me ages to to! Lisa is making brilliant progress on the piece she's stitching along with me.

As you all know by now Barb and I are SALing several times  a week at the moment. Fridays are our Tralala Tricotine SAL and here's my progress.

Mondays is our Halloween SAL and at the moment we're stitching on Barbara Ana Designs Wicked Since.

Thursdays we're stitching ornaments for our private exchange but, of course, I can't show what I have been stitching but will say I want to stitch them both again for me! I have missed my Christmas ornament stitching this year so next year I am planning on one a month and guess what I have done?! After much deliberation I have signed up for auto on the Country Cottage Needleworks Classic Ornaments :) I really think I need my head testing as I have far too many charts to stitch from but I've done very well on Stitch From Stash this year and I still have leftover budget so I'm proud of myself. I don't know if I'll continue with the Stitch From Stash group next year or try and do it on my own. It depends on the rules etc! I am using this month as my free month.

I am still beavering away on CCN Frosty Forest. I am hoping to finish Bluebird Cabin this evening but I still have a lot of white stitching to do! I think I need to buy several more skeins of white! 

Finally a little more progress on CCN January Cottage

I really was hoping for a clean slate of projects by the end of the year but it is not going to happen so I will have to make the best of it and it may mean no new start on the 1st January like I usually have. I am enjoying my stitching though so I don't mind. There'll be plenty of time for new starts later in 2015 I hope!

Tomorrow is a big day for Jess as she starts her temporary job. Fingers crossed she likes it and they like her and will maybe keep her on. Abi is still enjoying her job but has been ill this past couple of weeks and struggling. She's got the nasty cold virus thing that has been going around. 

I went for an MRI scan on Monday and should get the results in a couple of weeks or so. This is to do with the vertigo etc that I have experienced in the past and I think my consultant is trying very hard to get to the bottom of it. Although I have read recently about some women having dizziness etc during menopause so I am now wondering if it's something to do with that. We shall see.

I really must try and get caught up with blogs this week. I am so far behind again but time seems to be getting away from me at the moment!

Take care everyone.

Until next time.

With much love

Sally xxx

Birthday Gift For Shirlee and Other Stories

Hmmmm, my blog post titles seem to be getting worse! Oh well never mind! Lol!

First of all a massive thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post. I am still looking for a suitable alphabet to use to personalise Garden Bliss but I am sure I will come across one soon.

Last week it was dear Shirlee's birthday and as she loves sheep, like me, I decided to stitch this for her.

Christy Schmitz Swirly Sheep

Unkown fabric

Victorian Motto Thread

Birthday Gift for Shirlee.

I am happy to say that Shirlee loves it. I also included a needleminder but didn't take a photo of that!

I've been attempting to get some stitching finished up and this week I've managed to get two pieces done.The first one is the travelling pattern Little House Needleworks Summer Garden. 

I used the ribbon that was on the flowers that DH sent me for my 50th birthday last year and the lovely little wooden button was in a pack I bought from The Works ( where Abi works! ). 

I had plans for Little House Needleworks Warm Winter Woolens after I saw it finished on Pinterest. Mine is a little different in that I used gingham ribbon for the handle. I'll be on a look out for some wintry foliage or something to display in it.

No finishes since my last post although I have had a new start. It nearly wasn't as I couldn't make my mind up which fabric I wanted to use. The big piece I bought from Sew and So on sale would have been fine had I not already cut a piece off to use and I knew I wouldn't have enough for all 12 cottages. It's discontinued so I may not have been able to get anymore so I ended up using 32 count raw opalescent linen! So here's my start on Country Cottage Needleworks January Cottage. 

More Country Cottage now and Frosty Forest! I actually can't wait to get all these done and have this up on my wall!

Oooh talking of on the wall here's my Needleworker! I took it in to get framed and remembered to go pick it up yesterday. It's hard to get a good photo but I'm really pleased with it. 

Barb and I are keeping up with our Spooky SAL! I now have a spider, a bird ( who does need a bit more to him!) and I have started the key. Loving stitching this as it's such a fun one!

I think I may need to have a finished page happy dance this Saturday ( fingers crossed) as I think I will finish page 3 of QS Spirit of Winter Robin. I'm aiming to make time before then to grid the next page just in case. I'm so excited to get more of this done. I definitely have my enthusiasm back for him.

I now have more delphiniums on July's Delphiniums. They are so pretty too. I have to admit I'm itching to get this one finished so I can start August's Poppy as it's one of my firm favourites. 

No progress on Tricotine as DH and I were at an evening wedding "do". I've been stitching away merrily on one of the ornaments for the private exchanges I'm doing and it should be finished tomorrow then I'll start another :). I've missed ornament stitching so thinking I should go back to one a month next year! 

That's all my stitching news for this time. You never know I might have done some more finishing by the time I blog again lol! 

Take care everyone.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

In Memory Of My Dad Finish & October Stitch From Stash

Well I did say I'd be back hopefully with a finish and I am! Of course I thought I might be jumping the gun a little as when you think you're close to a finish that last little bit seems to take forever! So without further ado here it is!

Silver Creek Samplers Garden  Bliss

32 count Crafty Kitten Vintage Petals

DMC

In Loving Memory of my Dad.

I just love how this has turned out and am just so grateful to Diane of Silver Creek Samplers for designing this. I know my Dad would have loved it. I am thinking of adding some personalisation but need to find a nice alphabet and work out where etc! I have loved every single stitch of this and think my Dad will have  been with me with each one.

I am planning on starting the Country Cottage Needleworks monthly cottages next but haven't decided on fabric yet! I am probably going to use 32 count raw opalescent linen for them. 

I didn't get on quite as well as I'd hoped with Tralala Tricotine last week as I had a visit from the frog but I'm back on track now. So I only stitched a bit of grass!

A little more progress was made on my lovely robin, another memory piece for my Dad, and I am quite close to finshing the page. So it'll be 3 down, 6 to go!

Before I show anymore WIPs I'll do my SFS report for October.  We have a bonus of $50 ( around £30 ) to spend before the end of the end of the year and I'm very embarrassed to say that I have spent it * hangs head in utter shame *.  Altogether I spent £34.84 on 3 charts, 2 lots of fabric and 1 thread that I needed which means I spent £4.84 of my £15 monthly budget.  I have a total leftover balance of £59.91. Phew! Thank God for that bonus although I would still have been OK! November is going to be my free month but then I will still have a little to spend in December should I want anything I can't get at Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show!  I've finally started my list but can't decide on finishing items!

Back to my WIPs! July's Delphinium is coming along rather nicely.  I still have the purple ones to stitch but I'll,  hopefully, get those done this Sunday or at least some of them!

Finally my 3rd SAL with Barb which is Barbara Ana Designs Wicked Since.  I needed a DMC Variations for this, hence the thread I needed and of course I couldn't just order one thread so  bought some linen that was on sale! A massive piece for half the price! Anyway here's my progress on Wicked Since!

Oooh almost forgot. My finished up Shepherd's Bush Rosy Egg ( I think ) which I stitched an age ago and finally attempted a finish a few weeks ago.  It's nowhere near perfect but I am fairly happy with it. I used a polystyrene egg to finish it.

I can't show my other WIP as it's for one of my private ornament exchanges but will say I'm stitching it on some of the half price linen:). Sew and So is well worth keeping an eye on for sale fabrics.

Thank you for continuing to visit me. It still seems quiet compared to how it used to be and I sincerely hope it picks up again as Instagram and Facebook are just not the same . I much prefer blogging!

Take care everyone.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx