A Gift for Lizzy

I recently sent Lizzy the La D Da Rose freebie chart that I had got in an order from JJ's as she liked it and wanted to stitch it. I decided that I wanted to send her a little gift along with it and now that she has received it and I know she loves it I can show what I stitched.

The Prairie Schooler A Friend

28 count Polstitches Love & Kisses

DMC

Finished as a pillow/ pinkeep with a beaded edge for Lizzy.

I loved stitching this up and am pleased with the way it turned out. I love the effect of the beaded edge:)

Last night I did my second night on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas and almost finished the motif I was stitching on. This is just so nice to stitch on and I will really miss it when I've finished it. I am so pleased with the progress I am making. As you can see I have changed the word Noel for Love so have had a bit of a swap round with the letters!

There is so much I want to get stitched before Christmas and now that my JCS ornament magazine has arrived I have the urge to stitch some ornaments. I need to get the Bent Creek stocking finished and I would like to stitch mine up too but time is going so fast and Christmas will be on us before we know it! I mean where has October gone??? I am thinking about joining a Christmas ornament exchange but am just not sure what to do. I have enjoyed the few exchanges I've been in this year but feel a little snowed under with stuff I want to stitch for myself plus I would have liked to get at least PIF out before the end of the year!

I still need to get my MM&I piece finalised but keep looking at what I have done so far and thinking I could do better! I've just printed some graph paper out and will have another play around. I need to get my fabby ordered soon as I know it's dyed to order so takes a couple of weeks and I don't want to leave it too much longer or it might not arrive in time. I am still unsure which colour to choose but it'll either be Snow Storm ( which is now Sudden Storm on the new site) or Dusk.

It's getting near to lunchtime and Jess has just risen from her pit bed so I'd better go make some sandwiches for lunch. She had a great time out with her friends last night.

Take care everyone and thank you for reading and for all your lovely comments. I love reading them all and appreciate them very much.

Hugs

Hallow's Eve

Just in time I have finished Stacy Nash Primitives Hallow's Eve. I finished the stitching last night whilst watching Heroes and made it up into a hanging pillow this morning. I wouldn't normally choose a design like this but I am liking these primitive designs more and more.

Stacy Nash Primitives Hallow's Eve

32 count unknown fabric

DMC

Finished as a pillow.

Started 25th October 2008

Finished 29th October 2008.

I think I shall stitch on A Quaker Christmas tonight. Have you seen Carol's stunning finish?? Tomorrow night I'll do a bit on BBD Blessings and Kind Wishes then not sure about Saturday. Maybe start a PIF gift or a Christmas ornament!

Last night I found I was lucky enough to win Stephanie's contest for the JCS Halloween issue. I feel so lucky to have won this as I didn't buy it when Jayne got it in then wished I had. Thank you so much Stephanie! I am looking forward to receiving it and having a read of it:)

Jess went to one of her friends 18th birthday party yesterday. He had a bouncy castle and a magician! A good time was had by all! This evening she's going to another friends 18th and she's having a meal so she's looking forward to that especially as it's at a TexMex place. Next week she's at another 18th then another in a couple of weeks!

I am still way behind on blogs so apologies if I have not got around to yours. I will try and catch up as soon as I can.

Hugs

Tea With Jane For Julie!

Just a quick post today as I want to try and catch up on some blogs while I get the chance:) We were out all day yesterday having a wee bit of retail therapy!

A few weeks agi Julie told me about Twinings Lady Grey teabags and kindly sent a few to try rather than me buy a box then discover that I maybe didn't like them. As it was I did and now Jess and I try and have a cup every day. As a little thank you I decided to stitch Julie The Sampler Girl's complimentary design Tea With Jane and finished it as a little pillow. Now that Julie has received it I can show it:)

The Sampler Girl Tea With Jane

36 count Lakeside Linens Maple Sugar

GAST

Thank You for Julie.

My JCS ornament magazine has finally arrived today! Yay! I don't know what Royal Mail do with mail but I am just happy to have it last! I haven't had chance to have a good look at it yet but I have already seen several that I would love to stitch.

Not a lot of stitching this week as I've had a headache ( get a feeling it's hormonal) so didn't stitch at all last night. My rotation is going to be to pot this week but never mind. I think I'll try and finish Stacey Nash Primitives Hallow's Eve tonight so that I can make it up tomorrow then stitch on A Quaker Christmas tomorrow night.

Hope everyone is keeping warm now the weather has turned rather cold here!

Take care

Hugs

Sally

Reveal Day!

Today is reveal day for the Stitch and Stash SAL challenge. Now I must say that I didn't expect to have this finished to show but I finished the stitching up last night and made it up this morning. I love the design I chose and found it purely by chance.

By The Bay Needleart Courage

28 count pink fabric

GAST and DMC

Started 24th October

Finished 25th October

Finished as a bookmark

I loved stitching this piece even though I decided to stitch it over one and huge thanks to Donna of By The Bay Needleart for this design. It is so pretty and I have lost it to Abi! You can find the design here if you've not already seen it. I dedicate my finish to all the women who are fighting breast cancer ( including Susan's Mum Sheelagh) , to all those who are survivors ( my auntie and Lynn )and in memory of all those who lost their brave fight.

I decided I wanted to stitch something for Halloween. I don't really do Halloween but Chris gave me a link to Pattern Mart where there are a few freebie designs. You can fill in a survery and this chart is a free download at the moment for filling in the survey. It is Stacey Nash Primitives Hallow's Eve which I love so I made a start on it last night once I'd finished Courage. I'm not sure I'll actually get it finished in time but I am planning on maybe stitching a bit more this afternoon. Tonight is BBD Loose Feathers night so I won't be stitching on it then.

Have a wonderful Sunday! Not sure the weather is going to be good so stay warm, safe and dry.

Hugs

Beautiful PIF From Monique

I have no stitching of my own to share today but I just had to do a blog post and show this gorgeous PIF gift I received yesterday:)

I signed up for Monique's PIF not that long ago and yesterday I received the most gorgeous project bag from her. I absolutely LOVE it, will treasure it and use it ever so gently. Monique stitched a Quaker design and stitched the initials of me, my DH and my two daughers on it:) It is so beautifully stitched and finished. Thank you so much Monique.{{{{hugs}}}} It was a pleasure being one of your PIF victims recipients. I hope you received the email I sent yesterday.

I started a breast cancer awareness freebie for the S&S Otober SAL challenge yesterday then found out I have until tomorrow to finish it and make it up! I thought I had another week! Duh! Oh well I might get it finished today then make it up in the morning maybe. I'm not going to tell you what I'm stitching but it's a lovely design:)

I finished up a little The Sampler Girl freebie but I can't show it yet. I need to finish it off and send it to it's new home before then. It was a fun stitch.

My JCS ornament magazine was posted to me yesterday and I'm so miffed to find that postie hasn't brought it today. Some of the ladies have got theirs today so I am saying " Stupid Royal Mail" in my best Homer Simpson sulky voice! I was so looking forward to relaxing with a cuppa and reading it. Something to look forward to in the post maybe on Monday but I won't hold my breath. I guess that's what you get for living in a rural area although sone finishing fabric I bought on Ebay yesterday has arrived!

Thank you for all your good wishes for Abi. She still isn't 100% and looks so washed out and tired. We are hoping she'll be feeling a lot better in a few days as it's half term here next week. We got some work for her from school and she was disgusted to see the amount of Maths she had. She got Maths, Chemistry and English. She did the chemistry and Maths on Thursday morning then at lunchtime Jess came home with more Maths for her as the stuff she'd been sent the day before was the wrong one! As you can imagine she was not very happy!

I am going to go see if I can finish my BCA freebie now! It's cold and miserable here so a good time to stitch!

Take care everyone!


Hugs

Some Stitching At Last!

As promised I am back with some stitchy progress pics! No more fabby colours for you to look at! Lol!

First up for today is last Wednesday's progress on HAED Letter J. I did finish page 2 but didn't stitch anymore on it as I had to grid the next page then couldn't be bothered to add anymore stitches to it so I'll make a start on that page tonight:)

SAL Symphony was the next piece I worked on after the PS design I've finished but can't show yet. Unfortunately this photo doesn't do it justice at all. Isa gave us parts 8 and 9 on Monday so once I've got those stitched I'll be ready to show you the whole piece finished!

Sunday I was back to Blackbird Designs Blessings and Wishes. I decided to make a start on the verse this time and got about half of it done. Next Sunday I may go back to the house and get more of that stitched.

Finally Monday and last night I stitched on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas which I am still loving so much. I am getting on quite well with this. You never know I might have it finished by 1st December! Lol!

I picked Ink Circles Sea Stars up from the framers yesterday. It should have been ready a while ago but John didn't have the framing in stock so I had to wait a little while longer. I don't mind as it was well worth the wait. I'm afraid the photo isn't that good.

I have Abi off school ill at the moment. School rang me last Thursday lunchtime to say she was unwell and she hasn't been back since. She's had headaches, been dizzy, felt sick, hot and cold. Anyway yesterday I took her to the doctors. She saw a 5th year medical student ( he was really nice) and then one of the doctors from the surgery. Her glands are up, her tonsils are slightly swollen and she has a temperature so they came to the conclusion that she's fighting a viral infection. I can't see her being back at school before half term so I rang school today to ask for some work for her as we were both concerned about her getting behind. Poor girl has felt so ill and has been so worried about how she was feeling she's been in tears. Finger's crossed she's feeling well enough to enjoy half term.

Thank you for all your input on the fabrics for my MM&I SAL. I am either going to go for Snow Storm or Dusk in an opalescent. I think I'm going to email Tracey at Silkweaver just to ask her advice as I'm worried that white won't show up on Snow Storm. Then I need to work out how much I need as I want to make sure I have enough for tweaks etc!

I'm impatiently waiting the arrival of the Just Cross Stitch ornaments magazine at the ONS I've pre-ordered it from. I was being patient before but now I just want it here!! LOL! Looking back at my blog last year it arrived at the end of October so still a while to go yet:(

That's me for today! Hope you are all having a wonderful week. I'm going to catch up on blog reading for a while now and see what you've all been up to!

Hugs

More Fabrics

Change of plan on the fabrics for my MM&I neighbourhood! I have been looking at Silkweaver and came across more lovely fabbies. They have so much choice and most are available in opalescent. I love their opalescent fabbies and have used quite a few in the past. I don't know if they still do snowstorm as I can't find it on the new site and it may be too pale and the starquest may have too many white bits in it. Your input would be greatly appreciated again please:) I promise I'll be back with some stitchy WIPs another day!

Fabric Dilemma!

I think I am just about decided on my MM&I Neighbourhood SAL apart from a little tweaking here and there. I would, however, like to ask your advice about fabric! I am thinking about using Polstitches 32 count evenweave for this but I'm going to need quite a large piece and don't want to end up wishing I hadn't picked a particular colour. These are the two I have in mind.

Nature's Grace ( I stitched LHN Winter Wonderland on this)

Stormy Skies

Or should I go with a plain fabric rather than hand dyed? Baring in mind that my neighbourhood is going to be a Winter theme. I'd really appreciate your input ( I've also posted this to the MM&I 2 blog:)

Thanks you:) {{{{hugs}}}}

Stitchy Updates and Good News!

I have no finishes to share today just some WIPS so I hope I don't bore you with these. Maybe one day I won't have so many biggies on the go so will have more finishes to share!

I made a good bit of progress on Blackbird Designs Blessings and Kind wishes on Sunday evening. I finished off all the greenery around the storks then started the green border at the top. Mmm I was a bit greened out by the time I'd done I must admit! Lol!

Mondays and Tuesdays are Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas evenings and I am so pleased with how I'm getting on with this. Having two evenings a week on it now means I am sure I can have it finished and on the wall in time for Christmas. I am near enough to having just one page left to stitch now.

I almost forgot part 6 of the Symphony SAL! I stitched this part up in one evening and now have part 7 downloaded and printed ready to make a start on later in the week. Unfortunately with it being dull now I haven't been able to get a true picture of the lovely colours in this.

I had a small new start last week but can't show it as it's for a little giftie for someone. Once I've finished it, made it up and it's arrived at it's destination I will share it then.

Now for the good news! Our new neighbours, after just about 6 weeks, did a moonlight flit on Monday night/ Tuesday morning! I cannot tell you how relieved we are and yesterday morning when I got up was the first time in weeks that I haven't felt like crying. We'd heard some noise in the garden around 7.30pm but thought nothing of it other than me hoping they were taking stuff to bits and leaving! Lol! Later on Abi was in her bedroom doing homework and came rushing downstairs to tell us that they were loading stuff up into a van! This went on until about 4am and they were even vaccuuming at 12am and 2am! Still the sleepless night was worth it this time with them gone! The landlord of the house came round last night and said I've got good news!! Lol! Of course we already knew they'd gone and were thinking about ringing him but he hadn't known until he'd gone to collect his rent. He said he didn't know whether to cry or be happy as she owed him some rent but he did admit it was a relief. When they'd had the party and other stuff he'd had people ringing him late at night complaining and he had warned her about it. Anyway please keep your finger's crossed that we get better neighbours this time as he's got several people in line for it. He said he'd guarantee the next ones would be better so I hope so! I've been talking to him again today as he's there cleaning up etc ( they left the garden a complete tip) so I took him a cuppa earlier.

Well that's it from me for today. Thank you to you all for your lovely comments on my stitcher's wallet. I have been using it as I have my threads and thread holder in it for A Quaker Christmas:)

Hugs

From a very relieved

Rites of Spring Revisited!

At long last I have made BBD Rites of Spring into a stitcher's wallet! I've had my fabric, ribbon and braid cut for week and my felt dyed for longer ( couldn't get the colour I wanted here so I tea-dyed it!) but it wasn't until these past couple of afternoons that I finally plucked up the courage to sew it all together. Thanks go to Mary Kathryn for inspiring me to finish it this way and also for allowing me to as she did hers like this. You can see my scissors already in place and I now have some threads in there too!

Blackbird Designs Rites of Spring

Finished as a stitcher's wallet using Moda Oak Leaves 15490 for lining.

Last night I finished the Just Nan freebie Butterly Heart and I've made it up into a card for DH's auntie for her birthday. This is a very pretty little design. I chose to leave the beads off.

Just Nan Butterfly Heart freebie

Unknown Fabric

DMC

Finished as a card

Started 5th October 2008

Finished 9th October 2008

I almost forgot this weeks progress on HAED TT Letter J ( artwork by Selina Fenech. So close to finishing the second page!

And last but by no means least here's the gorgeous Christmassy fabric that Karan RAK'd me with. Isn't it beautiful? Thank you again Karan!

Right now I'm going to try and catch up on a few blogs as I'm way behind! Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are and thank you for visiting me:)

Hugs

Wednesday Update and Ramblings!

Well it's Wednesday already and we are all still very tired. More about that later!

First it's time to show a little bit of stitching. I completed part 5 of the Symphony SAL last week but forgot to post pictures. Part 6 is out and I'll be stitching on that later in the week. I did notice when I printed this part out that there were some French Knots on it that I hadn't seen on part 5 and when I looked I'd missed them! I might not add them on as I can't do French Knots very well!

Sunday I stitched on Blackbird Designs Blessings and Kind Wishes but did not get as much done as I would have liked because I was too busy sorting out buying a chart after seeing this on Yuko's blog for my MM&I neighbourhood. Yes it's another Little House Needleworks Winter chart and one which is being sold for a very good cause. I know when I contacted Gigi she did not have many left so I was very lucky to be able to buy one and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival so I can finalise my neighbourhood. Anyway I'm gone off track here so here's my little bit of progress on Blessings and Kind Wishes.

Monday and last night I stitched on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas and would have made more progress than I did had the frog not visited last night! Thankfully I did manage to frog and restitch and do a bit more too. I suppose I shouldn't stitch when this tired but it helps me relax. My aim was to get this page finished but it didn't happen!

I have had some lovely post over the last few days. Monday I received an RAK from Karan. She sent me some lovely green Christmassy fabric that I had been admiring on her blog. I know exactly what I am going to do with it ( well some of it) so watch this space ( it'll be a while yet though!). Thank you so much Karan {{{{hugs}}}}. Today I received the new LHN, Holly and Berries, that I bought from Mary Kathryn for my neighbourhood as well as some lovely scissors ( you'll have seen these on Staci's and Carol's blogs) which I bought off Ebay. These are to go in my stitcher's wallet when I get it made up. I've got all the fabby cut etc but just need to stitch it all up. The seller is rosa0537 if anyone is interested. Lastly Andrea was offering some things up for trade so I traded for Just Nan When Barnabee Met Bella biscornu chart and embellishments and fabric for stitching it on and that also arrived today. Thanks for a great trade Andrea. This will be one of my projects for 2009. I don't feel so bad trading instead of buying!

I now need to get myself sorted with fabric for my neighbourhood and for the BP SAL but I have to get my neighbourhood planned properly first. Once I get the UNICEF LHN chart from Gigi I can get that done properly then decide on fabric. I wasn't going to buy it just yet but I have decided to do so before the credit crunch bites our butts badly then no more buying for me unless it's really needed for something I'm stitching. I will use fabric I have rather than buy after that. I was going to get the tiny pack for the Victoria Sampler design in The Gift of Stitching as I'd love to stitch it one day but decided to sub it all instead. It's getting incredibly scary now with the situation worldwide but we just need to get on and not worry too much and hope there's an upturn soon.

After the neighbour's party on Friday evening we went to bed on Saturday night and all was quiet so we thought we were in for a good night's sleep. Talk about being lulled into a fasle sense of security. I woke up at 3am and there was quite a lot of noise then the loud music started! Yes I did say 3am! Thankfully it wasn't as loud as it was on Friday night but even so it's not on. We did drop off to sleep so I don't think it can have gone on long. I did hear someone shouting of the dogs ( the dogs are another story!) so they must have got out and been wandering the street ( two rottweilers). It's been quiet since so finger's crossed that's it until the next time there's a birthday or something. So I have been really tearful again these past few days and I seem to be listening for the slightest noise. I often think I can hear music but there's nothing! They do sometimes play it loud during the day. I think I am seriously losing it.

I'm way behind on blogs again so my apologies but I will get around to them eventually. Thank you for continuing to visit me and for all your lovely comments.

Hugs

Biscornu Exchange From Amanda

As promised I'm back with pictures of the gorgeous Autumn colours biscornu exchange I received from Amanda. This was Amanda's first exchange and it was all so beautifully presented and the biscornu so beautifully stitched with a beaded edge. I will treasure this piece. The colours depict Autumn perfectly and it certainly brightened my day. So without further ado here are the piccies.
I just love everything in here and I have been truly spoilt. Thank you so much Amanda and thank you Hazel for organising this mini exchange.

We are all rather tired today so will make this post short. Next door had a party last night ( our new neighbours) and the music was loud and the kids were loud ( in the garden). Abi sleeps in the front bedroom so she got a good night's sleep, Jess said she still slept but DH and I had ear plugs in which made it more bearable so we did get some sleep. We both woke up several times as we could still hear the beat of the music. I think it stopped at about 4am so we were not too happy and I doubt a lot of people round here would be. Finger's crossed it was just a one off.

It's freezing up here today. We've been to the open day at Hull University with Jess and what a cold campus it is! Lol! The wind really blows around it! We listened to a talk about chemistry courses etc and had a tour of the chemistry department and were quite impressed with it. Jess wants to do a 4 year MChem course in Chemistry with Nanotechnology.

Well I'm going to try and get warm and maybe play on my DS for a bit before tea.

Hugs

Biscornu Exchange and A New Start!

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my Sea Stars finish:) It's now at the framers and I should get it back in a week. I am planning on hanging it in my dining room above some shelves but that could change yet!

Now that Hazel has received the biscornu that I stitched for her in the private autumn colours biscornu exchange she organised I can show it here:) I am very happy that Hazel liked it as it's always a bit of a worry when you're stitching for someone else:) I also sent some fabric and threads in autumny colours.

Alchemy Stitchcraft Tumbling Leaves

28 count Brittney Natural

Carrie's Creation Autumn

Stitched for Hazel

I'm looking forward to seeing who is stitching for me:) ETA: I have just received the most gorgeous package from Amanda. It's her first exchange and all I can say is wow!!! I am going to give it a post of it's own another day as it thoroughly deserves one. Thank you so much Amanda; you have truly spoilt me and your stitching is gorgeous.

Wednesday I had a good evening on HAED TT Letter J ( Artwork by Selina Fenech). I am hoping to get the second page finished very soon then I can get onto the smaller pages!

Last night I had a new start and that was Bent Creek Christmas Eve. The chart calls for 18 count linen but I don't have any and decided not to buy any but use 28 count natural linen from my stash instead. I am using DMC as opposed to WDW and GAST as I didn't have any of the WDW in my stash. This will be DH's Christmas stocking!

I have chosen a design for DH's auntie's birthday card so must make a start on that soon as her birthday is 16th October.

It's certainly very autumnal here now and rather chilly. I am waiting for my groceries to be delivered from Asda feeling rather cold! I don't often do grocery shopping online but needs must this week I'm afraid as DH is working late two evenings and working on Sunday and tomorrow Jess has an open day at university.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs