BSQ 30th November

Today's SBQ is:

How do you secure your thread when you begin a new one? Specifically do you or have you ever used a waste knot?

It depends on how many threads I am using. If I'm using one strand of thread I try and get it underneath my stitch at the back as I go along. If I'm using two strands I use the loop method of starting off. Obviously if the thread is variegated I can't use that method.

I am Surviving!

I am surviving the Christmas shopping and ( shush I'm saying this quietly!) I think we are just about done! YAY! Just waiting for the stuff to arrive that we've ordered online and that'll be it. I can't believe it as last year we were still shopping on the Friday! We're going to do some wrapping tomorrow and that get out of the way, then we just have to get my sister's partner some garden centre vouchers so he can go buy some fish for his new pond. I am so relieved to have got finished as I hate it when it takes all week and we end up flying about like idiots before DH goes back to work!

I've done a little bit of stitching but not much. I have been quite tired by the time I've sat down after tea so just been stitching on Little House Needleworks The Counting House and have made quite a bit of progress. Problem is I ran out of one of the threads so when I pick up Blossom from the framers ( maybe tomorrow) I'll have to remember to get some. Tonight I'm going to stitch on HAED Quick Stitch Dragonette as it's a while since I picked it up. No more new HAED starts until I finish either Dragonette or Summer! LOL! ( Lisa help me out on this and don't let me start another HAED!!!).

I think I'm going to have to rethink my Goals for 2007 list as I definitely want to do the Chatelaine Christmas Mystery which starts 25th December. I have decided to use DMCs and just buy the Delica beads and Rainbow Gallery Petite Braids and that way it'll be much cheaper and they look just as nice. I haven't signed up for it yet as I just want to get all the Christmas pressies out of the way first.

I received a surprise through the post today. It came from Jayne's Attic and I could not for the life of me think of what it could be. I knew I'd ordered a Christmas Attic Stash pack but knew it wasn't that! When I opened it there was lovely little silver gift bag inside with a Carrie's Creation thread and an Ozark thread inside it. The card read "Just a little gift to say thank you for being a a special friend. Merry Xtmas Love and hugs Lisa" I was very touched by my gift so thank you Lisa. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

End of General SAL

I thought I'd come and share my end of SAL picture of HAED Winter by Sara Butcher. I am pleased with the progress I've made and, if I can stay awake long enough, I'm going to stitch on her again tonight.

Christmas shopping wasn't quite as successful as we'd hoped today but we did manage to come home with a few bits. Need to do some more online I think as some stuff is a lot cheaper. It's been a long day on our feet so I think tonight it'll be time to relax in front of the TV!

Christmas Shopping!

I have just been Christmas shopping and bought my present from my Dad and something for me from DH's auntie! LOL! Well my Dad has given us money to buy stuff with and DH's auntie has told us to get something too. It's a shame in a way as we don't get as many surprises ( I am like a child and love not knowing what I'm getting!). Anyway I've just ordered the full kit and chart of Chatelaine Spring Morning for my Dad to wrap up for me. I'll still have a bit of money left so will leave it up to DH to find something for me with what is left! I ordered The Ultimate Book of Finishing for DH's auntie to buy me. It has been recommended by several stitching friends and I am always looking out for different ways to finish off my stitching. Besides that DH and I have just been shopping on Grand Prix Legends and bought his Dad and his brother a top each and a top from my Dad for DH and a top from DH's auntie for me! I am now just about done with presents for everybody else except for the girls and DH. I have done quite a bit online this year.

It'll be all go this next week as DH and I are going Christmas shopping! DH usually takes the last week off in November and we try and get all our Christmas shopping done then. The girls have been writing their lists as we shop for them for my Dad and DH's Dad too. It makes Christmas shopping a bit of a nightmare but I think this year it might be a bit easier ( finger's crossed!). I am hoping we can have it all done and wrapped by the end of the week as well as some non-perishable food shopping done too! We will be exhausted by the end of the week! LOL!

I have been merrily stitching on HAED Winter since Thursday evening. I didn't get quite as a much done last night as I had planned as I had a bit of a headache (still have today but this bangle with the magnets in I have seems to keep them at bay a bit) plus DH had taped the Stargate SG1 special with interviews with the cast and I knew I couldn't stitch and watch that at the same time! I should get the next 10 rows finished tonight though so I'll be happy with that. I'm going to carry on with it after the General SAL is done until Quick Stitch Wednesday on the HAED board and then I'll stitch on QS Dragonette.

Abi's review day was a bit of a waste of time really! We weren't there long but in a way I guess that is a good thing. Her group tutor was full of praise and her subject teachers were pleased with her start and progress. He mentioned the boy she'd had problems with and said he'd spoken to him and he seemed to understand. Finger's crossed that'll be the end of it now. He made me beam with pride when he said I had two very pleasant daughters ( he is Jessica's Italian teacher)!

Jessica's last day at work experience had gone well. She'd been out and about all over and has now decided that she might like to go into health and safety when she finishes her studies. Her supervisor had written a nice report in her booklet and said he hoped she'd join the profession which I thought was really nice. I said she should've asked what qualifications she needed so she had an idea! She will be able to find out somewhere I am sure.

Well guess that's all for today! If I disappear for a while it'll be because I'm too tired from Christmas shopping! LOL!

Friday!

Yesterday was the start of the General SAL over on the HAED ezboard so I am joining in with Sara Butcher's Winter. It's my first full size HAED and I dread to think how long it will actually take me to stitch! It's 36 pages of chart- about 7 of them are not full pages- so even if I could finish a page a month ( highly unlikely!) it'll take me three years! Problem is I'm impatient and want to see good progress on it NOW!! Anyway here is my start picture! I will add an update on Monday after the SAL has finished! I'm hoping to finish the 10 rows I'm working on now and make a good start on the next 10 rows, although I keep thinking I might change how I stitch on it!

Yesterday afternoon I stitched quite a bit of the border on Monsterbubbles Feliz Navidad. It's a hard going on the ole eyes as I'm stitching one over one on 28 count fabby but it's looking good so far. I think once the SAL is done I might have to start back up with my rotation on the smalls week and get this finished and some other small stuff. I still need to stitch an ornament for Jessica's group tutor but she needs to chose one for her.

Today is Jessica's last day of work experience. She has really enjoyed it, even though it's been a bit boring at times when she's had nothing to do! Yesterday she'd been on health and safety visits around some pubs! LOL! We're picking her up tonight and going on to KFC for tea as a belated treat for Abi's birthday.

Abi isn't at school today as it's the year 7 review day. This is new to me as they didn't do anything like this when Jessica was in year 7! We've got an appointment to see her group tutor at 3pm and she has to wear her uniform for a 10 minute appointment! Apparently we get to see a small report about how her teachers think she's doing. Should be rather interesting to see what they have to say about her! LOL! I finally heard from Abi's head of year yesterday afternoon after waiting in all day Wednesday and not hearing from her! As you can imagine I was not really impressed. As it was Abi had spoken to her group tutor on Wednesday and he'd moved her away from the boy and had a word with him. Anyway the head of year is going to get him moved in the other lessons she sits with him and we'll see what happens. I must admit that I felt that she thought I was making a mountain out of a mole hill but these things can escalate out of control and I want it nipping in the bud before that happens. Putting a stop to it now could save Abi a lot of heartache and it's as I said to the head of year she's had a good start at this school and I don't want that to change.

Oh yes I almost forgot! My sister rang me last night to tell she's broken her foot! She'd been leaving work, it was dark, and she'd been carefully going down the steps. Before she knew where she was she on the floor. She'd hobbled back in, knowing she wouldn't be able to drive home, and the first aider had had a look at it. Her partner had taken her to the hospital and she's broken it in an unusual place, according to the nurse! So she ended up in a heavy pot and had to go back today to have that one removed and a lighter one put on! It's the first time in her 55 years that she's broken anything! Bless her.

2007 Goals & Other Stuff

I have just added my 2007 goals list here on my blog! I took a few things off it to make it a little bit more realistic but I'm still not sure it's realistic enough! LOL! As you can see it doesn't include any HAEDs or ornaments I might want to stitch but I am playing it by ear with those for now.

This afternoon I am intent on stitching all afternoon! My fabby for the SAL arrived today but it's not the one I ordered originally. I emailed Jayne yesterday and she was hoping for it to be in, then she rang me to see if we could sort out a different fabby instead. She even took the DMC used in the chart off the stand and put it on the fabrics to see what it looked like so I am now going to use Dragon Shades Friendship! I have the afternoon all to myself as Abi is going to her friend's house straight from school, Jess is on work experience and doesn't finish until 5pm and, depending on what time DH finishes work, he is hanging around to pick her up! So I am going to stitch, stitch, stitch ( if I could get off this PC!).

I'm waiting for Abi's head of year from school to ring me. I rang her yesterday after school but she already gone so the receptionist left a message for her to ring me. I haven't left the house all day and she hasn't rang me yet so, finger's crossed, she's ring straight after school. Abi has been having problems with this boy and it's just unfortunate that she has to sit next him in nearly every lesson. Yesterday she had taken her blazer off in Tutorial and when she put it back on somebody had put chewing gum up the inside of one of sleeves. She had gone without her blazer for the rest of the day and was freezing when she got home. It took me ages to get the bulk of it off and then I had to wash her blazer and hope I got it dry for today. This boy has threatened to flick chewing gum at her and messes about with it so we think it's him but can't prove it. He tells her constantly that she's ugly, says he's going to make her life hell and miserable, makes noises while she's trying to work and flicks her pen, yet in front of the teachers he's all sweetness and light. Anyway I told Abi to see if she could speak to her group tutor today and tell him all about it and that it's making her unhappy. She wasn't crying when she came in but she was really wound up and has had enough. Why do kids have to be like this?

SAL Update!

Well the HAED restart/rediscover SAL was a bit of a disaster really! I didn't get anywhere hear as much done as I would have liked to due to being ill with the bug Abi had, then a headache on Sunday evening and last night I just couldn't be bothered! I do hope I'm not going into a HAED stitching slump or I'm in big trouble! I'm already putting off buying anymore ( although I do only have one more on my wish list at the moment) because at nearly 43 I can't see me getting all the ones I have stitched in my lifetime anyway! LOL! I think I might sit down in a bit and see if I can get some done! If I can keep on with it until the Thanksgiving SAL then move on I should ( finger's crossed but not while I'm stitching) get a good bit done. So here's what I have done. I think you can see some progress!

Anyway last night I just did a little bit on San Man Originals Dream a Little Dream. I am seriously going to have to sort out my rotation and get started on it again because I feel as though I never finish anything these days. With me wanting to get QS Blossom finished and then the SALS I've not had time for anything else really. Don't get me wrong I love the HAEDs but they can be so time consuming and rather addictive! LOL!

Jessica has ended up having to stay home today as she got out the door to go to work experience this morning and was sick on the drive! She was so disappointed at not being able to go in and is looking forward to getting back tomorrow. I am guessing that she has picked up the bug we've had but clearly not as bad as Abi had it as she's been OK since, although she felt queesy for most of the morning. Typical that it should be her work experience week and she had to ring her placement and the connections office at school. Gets her more used to communicating I guess!

Work Experience!

Today was my eldest daughter Jessica's first day of work experience. She's at the county council in the public protection department. Poor kid was so nervous this morning! Her grandad took her through and she couldn't find the entrance to begin with and ended up having to ask someone where it was! Anyway she has had a fantastic day and was full of it when she came in. That's Jess on the right all ready for her first day! I was worried all day in case she didn't like it or anything and was so relieved when I found out it had gone OK.

Stitching wise I haven't done much. Saturday evening I did do a bit on HAED Summer ACEO but last night I didn't do any as I had a headache. I am hoping to have another go tonight and get a bit done before the end of the SAL. I am intent on keeping on with her until the start of the Thanksgiving SAL over on the HAED ezboard.

I realised this afternoon that the Monsterbubbles Feliz Navidad ornament has a cactus on it decorated for Christmas! So I'm going to leave that out and find a chart for a Christmas Tree that'll fit in! I must be so dumb not to have realise beforeLOL!

This afternoon I went through my stash and made a list of things I want to stitch in 2007. I hadn't really thought about it until Lisa asked me last week! Anyway I now have a list of 17 things ( yeah right!) not including HAEDS or ornaments I might want to stitch! LOL! So watch this space and I'll put my list up and let's see how far I get! Still, if I get half of them I'll be happy!

SBQ

This week's SBQ is:

Do you stitch Christmas ornaments? If so, how many do you stitch each year and for whom? If not, why not?

I started stitching Christmas ornaments a few years ago when I first discovered the Just Cross Stitch ornament magazine. I try and stitch a few each year if I can. For two years I joined in an ornament SAL and now have two sets of ornaments packed away; one for each of my DDs. This year I'm not sure I'm going to get time but really want to stitch one each for my DDs group tutors at school. The Monsterbubbles Feliz Navidad is ideal for my youngest DD's group tutor as he was born in Spain!

She's Finished!

Wahooooo!!!! At last HAED Quick Stitch Blossom is finished!!! Can you tell I'm happy! She needs washing yet so that, hopefully, the lines of the pages will disappear.

STATS:

HAED QS Blossom ( artwork Elaine Cox)

25 count Dragon Shades Stormy Skies using DMC & Madeira Glissen Gloss.

Started 17th February 2006

Finished 17th November 2006.

Last night I went back to HAED Summer ACEO ( Sara Butcher) for the restart/ rediscover SAL on the HAED ezboard. I managed to get a bit done but started with the bug Abi has had, as did DH, then Jess wasn't feeling too good at bedtime.

Today DH was feeling better and, as it's our grocery shopping day, he was going to have to do the shopping on his own! We also do my Dad's as he can't get out at the moment ( severe arthritis in his right knee) but he couldn't do ours and his so I was going to do his online. As it was he had a bit of a prang before he'd even got off our estate ( entirely his own fault) so came home instead! So I ended up doing ours and my Dad's online! I have really decided that I HATE the car we have. I pranged it on the gate post about a month after we'd got it, then last year somebody cut across DH on a roundabout and a few weeks later some hotheaded idiot ran us off the road by pulling out to pass a car when we were already passing him! Oh well things can only get better can't they?!

SAL Time

Today is the start of the Restart/Rediscover SAL over on the HAED Ezboard. As I have nothing to restart I am on a mission to rediscover Quick Stitch Summer ACEO! I haven't stitched on her for at least 2 months so thought it would be ideal to join in the SAL and make a bit of progress on her. This is one page complete and a bit of a start on page two! I do hope I can get quite a bit done over the next four evenings.

Not quite sure whether to have a go at Summer this afternoon or try and finish Blossom. I am so close, but felt so tired last night I couldn't quite get her done. I knew DH had an early start this morning and I always wake up when he gets up ( this morning it was 5.15am but he'll be home by about 1pm) so took off to bed. I guess if I manage to get the last few stitches in this afternoon I can have a gentle happy dance ( nothing strenuous with my back! LOL!).

I really must get to my rotation once Blossom is done. I haven't used it for a while now as I wanted to get her finished and it'll be good to get back to it and make some progress on the other WIPs I have. In the New Year I might have to have a rethink about getting more smaller projects into it as the HAEDs are taking up a lot of time. The problem is I love stitching them and have way too many more to start on but I can't start anymore or I'm in danger of becoming a serial starter and would never finish anything! The dilemmas of stitching! Who would have guessed something so simple would cause so much grief! LOL!

I was thinking of maybe signing up for a Chatelaine mystery next year but am unsure as to what to do. I also want to buy the last two Enchanted Gardens charts ( formerly mysteries) to go with Winter's Eve, which I have stitched, Summer Afternoon, which I'm going to start when Just Nan Barnabee's Quest is finished. I would also love Evening in the Park when it is released but am a bit put off by it's size, plus there's been a post on the Chatelaine ezboard about one of the Delica beads used on it. Oh well I will have to see what the New Year brings I think before I make my mind up. I am very tempted, though, by the next Christmas Mystery.

Come January I am also going to sign back up for a Silkweaver Fabric of the Month Club. I was in one for while and really loved the fabrics I received ( I chose opalescents). I was never disappointed and have used every piece so need to start again! LOL!

Before I close I just wanted to say thank you to Irene, Jennie, Mary Ann, Lisa, Linda and Ryan, Kim, Annette and Heather for posting birthday wishes for Abi! She has read them all and says a very big thank you to all of you and sends hugs too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABIGAIL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY YOUNGEST DD ABIGAIL!!!

Today she is 12 years old! Wow it hardly seems like 5 minutes since she was a babe in arms. She and I did not have a very good start as I suffered from PND and didn't bond with her too well. Looking back on that I feel very sad but we have made up for it over the years and I love her to bits. She is my little princess ( and a moody one at that sometimes!).

Unfortunately the poor babe is not well for her birthday. She started with a stomach bug that is doing the rounds at school on Tuesday and is still feeling under the weather. GET WELL SOON ABI!

I was a little disappointed today as my Sassy's Fabby for an ornament arrived from Jayne's Attic but my Polstitches Dragon Shades Cloud for the mystery SAL didn't. It'll be with me within 7 days but I really wanted to start the SAL now! Oh well guess I'll be a bit behind on it! It's not as though I have absolutely nothing to stitch on right now or for the next week!

Thankfully my back is easier again today. I have been putting heat pads on it which seem to have helped a lot but I'm not venturing out and am being very careful!

Oops!

Yesterday was a bit of a disaster for me as I did my back in. I barely knew where to put myself and the most comfortable chair I could sit in was the computer chair! DH modified it a while back using an old car seat ( he bought some Ricarro seats for his mini when we were going out together and they've been up in his auntie's loft since we no longer needed them) and it is comfortable. I must have looked a right sorry sight when I ventured out to go to the shop around the corner! I reached the footpath outside our house and ended up going back inside as I was in so much discomfort. We needed some milk so I knew I was going to have to grit my teeth and just go! Took me a while but I got there and back with no mishaps. Last night I was determined I was going to stitch no matter what so I got myself as comfortable as I could on the sofa and managed about an hours stitching before I gave up. Went to bed and thought I was going to have to come back down and prop myself up to sleep. I finally got comfortable in bed and just daren't move! Thankfully it is easier today but I daren't go too far.

If I can get a good night stitching tonight I might just get HAED QS Blossom finished. I got page 5 finished last night and gridded page 6 then made a start. She will be my third HAED finish so I'm really pleased.

I looked in my fabby box today to find something suitable for the SAL I'm taking part in and I haven't got anything! So typical! I think I need to ring Jayne at Jayne's Attic and order some! I was hoping to make a start this afternoon but looks like it'll be tomorrow now!

Best Laid Plans!

Well we all know what they say about best laid plans! Last night I was intent on finishing page 5 of HAED QS Blossom and what happened?! Yes I was playing with my new blog! LOL! So instead of finishing page 5 and gridding page 6 I didn't even get page 5 finished! It shouldn't take me long tonight ( if I can stay away from here!) then I can grid and start page 6. I am intent on having her finished by the end of the week ( keep your finger's crossed for me but not while you're stitching!).

I am still playing a bit with this blog and was going to add pictures of my finishes for this year but as I've had 30 so far it's maybe not a good idea, so will be adding a list with links instead! Thank you to those of you who have left comments for me. It is lovely to have them and I hope this blog will be more successful and easier to use than MSN Spaces has been of late!

RAKs!

I had the most wonderful surprise when I checked my emails on Saturday. I had received two RAKs from Heaven and Earth Designs. I have no idea who they are from ( as yet as I'm hoping the people who RAK'd me with them will own up!) but after recent weeks of feeling very low and unwell they have given me a huge boost. Thank you so much to whoever these wonderful fairies are and lots of hugs too.The charts I received were both the same and were Quick Stitch Victorian Angel by Merdith Dillman but Bob ( Mr HAED!) has allowed me to replace one so I now also have the White Magic Storykeep. They are both so pretty and I just want to stitch both of them now. Infact I want to stitch all my HAEDs now! I don't think I have ever been so taken with a designer as I am with HAED and have never owned so many charts by one designer!

As for my stitching I have been doing really well and ( finger's crossed) hope to continue to do so. QS Blossom is coming along so well and it never ceases to amaze me when I see these designs coming to life. I am just about finished on page 5 and hope to get onto page 6 ( the final page) tomorrow evening. I have completed her face and she looks so lifelike. I am also doing well with Just Nan Barnabee's Quest and am onto the 3rd part. On Thursday I realised I didn't have the Kreinik braid I needed for it so on Friday I went into the local art and crafts shop and they didn't have it! Anyway I ended up ordering it from Sew and So and also ordered a Just Nan charm that I can use for Chatelaine Summer Afternoon when I stitch that. That'll be my next start when I finish Barnabee. God only knows where I'm going to hang all all this stuff but it keeps me quiet and out of mischief!

Tagged

I was tagged by Heather.

The rules; List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.
Here's mine

1 Bring Me to Life Evanescence
2 If Everyone Cared Nickleback
3 Run Snow Patrol
4 Infrared Placebo
5Faraway Nickleback
6 I Don't Feel Like Dancin' Scissor Sisters
7 Sin Sin Sin Robbie Williams

I'm tagging Claire, Harsha and Lisa.-

Welcome

Welcome to Sally's Stitching Place. At the moment this is a learning curve for me as I have been using MSN Live Spaces but it has become increasingly quiet and I feel I am wasting my time posting there. Please bear with me while I get used to blogging on here. I may make a complete mess of it to begin with but I'm hoping to get used to it fairly quickly.

I will chat about my stitching and family life so I do hope you won't get bored.

Bye for now!