I finally did it!!

Ha ha love anything sheepy...

Yes, Christmas Eve was our anniversary..... The years are flying by.  For some it may not seem long, but this year is our 7th year of marriage. I actually met jon in 2007 and that is shocking too as next year it's 10 years ago!! Wow! We had a lovely evening, we went out for a meal with my parents, Han and Kevin too.  I was really nice to go out, I did manage to eat some things as the kitchen where we are we're really accommodating with my allergies.

Jon bought me the most amazingly useful present ever!! Go jon!! Something I never thought I would ever be able to do! Crotchet!! Yes, jon bout me a set of crotchet hooks... But let me tell you they are great! See they have a flat bit in the middle of the hook where you hold it..makes things so much easier for me! I had the all round ones and was struggling with them.  I took 2 days off stitching, so Christmas Day and Boxing Day I tried out my new crotchet hooks! If you look closely you will see my favoured hook.. The size has been rubbed off! Ha ha 

Han suggested I looked on YouTube as no one in our family knows how to crotchet... I found a really lovely person sharing her love of crotchet.

HERE is the link to Bella Coco YouTube I have been using to learn how to crochet.... I have looked at quite a few on YouTube previously but never found one I could follow easily.  I came across Bella Coco and watched a few posts and then tried to crotchet along with her...it was like a light bulb going off! Finally everything looked like I could actually do this!!!

Here is what I have been trying out.... I started with cirlcles.

Got a little more adventurous... They are by no means perfect in any way, but omg!  Compared to my last attempt these are amazing!! 

Then this!! It's actually easier than I thought! 

I got really adventurous now.... ❤️

Then I decided I should add some colours...

Here is where I am now! I am getting the hag of these squares! For so long wanting to crotchet them but never could.....I can't stop now! Ha ha 

Han, Kevin and jon think it's brilliant...I keep showing them with a massive grin and they keep encouraging me to make more!! 

I have to show you all the other rather adorable anniversary present jon gave me.... Of course it's Radley! It's all he ever buys me! Ha ha I love the saying on it...

I must be his little ray of sunshine....you think? 

Must show you all this rather special package that arrived...all the way from Australia...from my dear friend Sue (kiwi kid).  Thank you so much Sue!! Just what we needed for our tree!! The Christmas card made us all smile here too! Your very kind, thank you again. 😊

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and I hope 🎅🏻 Santa 🎅🏻 brought you everything you wanted with lots of surprises? We all spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day round my parents house.  They were two fun happy filled days.

My parents home turned into a bit of a mess with all of us around there... Naturally I took a photo...as evidence! 

Haha the flash went off! Poor jon! 

Han and I messing about with the snapchat app.. It's so funny...

This is my favourite one....

A few other silly ones....

We all had a fantabulous Christmas full of lots of laughter and smiles....I hope you all had a happy one too 😊

I will go now but will pop in again before or on new year....

Until then....keep smiling 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

Not long now.....

Hello!!! 

It's not long now..... What for? Not long until Santa comes!!! Eeeeeeeek!!!!! Who's excited?? Ha ha me!!

                                                

It's almost Christmas Day...shocking!! The days have just flown by... Have you done all your shopping? I think we have literally just finished, so many lovely things to buy out there! 

Have to share some silly photos with you all.... I was stitching in the early hours a few days ago, as I do! And jon sneakily took this photo!! 

Why not?? I was getting into the festive mood!! Ha ha 

I have had no time to do any dedicated Christmas stitching this year so I want to share with you all a lovely design i made back in 2014!!   It's a Blue Ribbon design from Just Cross Stitch magazine 2014 Christmas ornament issue. It's called "Wonderland Wish" with a few little changes by me :) 

Front...

Back...

I loved making this, it was if I remember the first time making a hard hanging ornament.  Also a first making the twisted trim, I used the same threads I used in the design. Lots of firsts!! I love all of Belindas Christmas ornaments, I think for next Christmas I am going to make more of an effort and make more of these!! 

Oh yes! And seeing as we are taking a little trip down memory lane....here is something else I created for Christmas, I think last year. It's from a Rico book called Feliz Navidad.

Do you remember this one? I made all the cute little buttons too :) and yes!! Another first!! First time of making a wall hanging to display my stitching! 

I have been really busy with stitching, yes another HATS design!! So not a lot of 'other ' things going on really.

Remember jon gave me my Christmas present early....the wonderful amazing new iPhone 7.... I have been getting used to it and I love it!! My previous phone was an iPhone 3GS and I thought that was good! Ha ha no going back now! So knowing how accident prone I am! Jon also ordered me an otter box! I have one on my iPad now, yes it's protected too now! One smashed iPad is quite enough! Ha ha  My iPhone 7 is actually really slim and I find slippy in my hands so a case for it seemed a good idea! Here it is...

I think it's wonderful, much nicer than just black! I have it on my phone now and it looks and feels really nice.  I feel better knowing its protected too! 

Whilst out with Han...I think going to hobby craft....week! Something to share with you all from their! Anyway....out and about, Han took this! Made me chuckle!! Ha ha

Oooooooh yes!! Hobby craft..... Han and I, erm....who else! Ha ha well we got a great deal..... On anchor tapestry wools.  What do we want those for? Good question....all will become clear in another post, maybe early next year! 

Han took this photo of me next to our car after shopping in hobby craft...and yes! That is the till receipt! Ha ha the poor lady on the till had to put each one through separately. In case your wondering no I am not walking about, wish I was.... Han had just moved the wheelchair so I can get into the car when she thought it would be a great time for a photo! Ha ha 

Inside the bag....

Oh we are going to have so much fun with these!! 

I have been opening my lovely Haribo advent calendar daily, it's been wonderful....mmmmm!! This was so cute I had to show you all :) 

Do you have an advent calendar? Love mine!! 

Oooooh I have something else exciting to share with you all.... 2017 I AM going to start an amazing project, yes the book!! Enchanted Garden, the one I mentioned a few blogs ago! It's going to be possible now as I have gathered all the fabrics and wools I need!! Eeeekkk!! 

This....

The wools are from Moda and I love them! Yes! Another find by jon! Go jon!!! It's going to be my 2017 year long project...ha ha I think I need all year to make it! I want it to be a lovely heirloom to pass down to Han and for her to cherish it.  I will make the panels, I have to ask a rather lovely designer... One who loves to quilt and sew too! If she would kindly quilt it for me!? I hope she will, I will ask nearer the time as at this stage I have no idea how long it's going to take me to make! It's an amazing design and going to be a massive challenge for me....I can do this, right?! 

A little message to you all.....

Until I next pop in, take care, smile and ......

 

Xxxxxxxxx

Eeeeeeeek!!!!

OMG!! It been officially launched now so I can show you the beautiful sampler I have just finished for Hands Across The Sea Samplers.  Yes!!! That's it at the top!!

This design is called Mary Brown 1765

Here are some photos of my journey....

I loved stitching this design, it's so colourful..... I feel so privileged to be able to stitch such beautiful designs.  Stitching as a model stitcher for Hands Across The Sea Samplers is a dream for me and I feel so lucky to be on this amazing stitching journey.

I would like to share the back of my work as I am very proud of my stitching...

I hope you like this design, if you would like to stitch it then the link to HATS is in my margin..... Feel free to take a peek! :)

Back soon! Ta ta for now! :) 

Keep smiling :)