Exchanges and gifts.

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great Christmas. I can now share pictures of the needleroll exchange I took part in. This one was wrapped and couldn't be opened until Christmas day, and I was good. The first picture is the needleroll I stitched for Angie (no blog), and the second picture is the one I received from Kathy (I can't find her blog address at the minute). I love needlerolls, and love the one Kathy stitched for me, as I have admired that chart for a while.



Below we have a couple of Christmas ornaments, both for me. The first was stitched by Edera from my stitching club, she had stitched Tatty Ted in the summer, and I admired it, and jokingly I said she could stitch another for me - so she did. I then made it into a Christmas ornament. The second picture is the wonderful ornament I received in an exchange, again it was wrapped, and opened on Christmas day, it came with a cute little Christmas frame, and a gorgeous Dinky Dye silk. Thank you very much to my partner, I love it all (and I still don't know who you are).


Next we have Just Nan's Christmas Biscornu. You know I'm a JN fan, so obviously I couldn't resist this one could I? It was a lovely stitch, and it's so sparkly. I definitely recommend it. And speaking of Biscornu's, I've still not received mine from the exchange I did, but maybe it's lost-just like the ornament in my last post-I still do not know if my partner received it.


And here is a picture of an ornament that I made for a friend of mine. My friend Carol, is a spinner, and often buys sheep's fleece to dye and spin, so I couldn't resist making this for her. Hope you liked it Carol.


And lastly we have Shepherds Bush Chill bag, which I filled with Chocolate Snowmen, and gave it to DD with her Christmas gifts. It was very fiddly to stitch, as the bag was premade. This meant you had to stitch from the front only, and hold the bag with one hand inside, although thankfully it didn't take too long. Afterwards I suffered with contact dermatitis on the hand that I held the bag in, so I think it must be an allergy to the dye, it's cleared up now, but my hand just peeled for a couple of days, and left a large red sore patch. I had to stitch this in secret, so it was done whilst dd was away in Berlin, the week before Christmas.


I think that is all my Christmas stitching shown, but if I think of anything else, I'll be back.

Thanks to all my exchange partners, and many thanks to the organisers, and the group owners. Without you all we would not be able to take part in such great communities.

Christmas Tuffet Exchange

I took part in a Christmas tuffet exchange, and this is the one I stitched. I sent to Selina, but I haven't received anything yet, maybe mine will turn up today. Now I have no idea why this is underlined, and I cannot seem to get rid of the underlining. Blogger Fun.


This is an ornament that I stitched for another exchange, although this may be lost in transit, there is a little confusion about whether my partner has received it. My partner says she has received her parcel from the exchange, however this is not the picture she has shown, so I'll keep my partner a secret for now. The fabric on the reverse is the one shown next to my stitching. The ornament is stitched on 28 ct vintage cashel linen. I have used this a lot recently, and I have also stitched some things on the reverse, as that side is plain.

I hope to be back later today, but just in case. I wish you all........

A Merry Christmas

SBEBB Exchange Received

Well, here's the gorgeous ornaments I received from Satomi. As you can see, not one but two, and they are so cute. And they are stitched on both sides too. the one with the tree is stitched over one, and the other is stitched over two. I really must have a go at making these. If you look on Satomi's blog, she has put instructions, OK it's in Japanese, but there's step by step photo's. This is the second time I've received from Satomi, so when I saw the package from Japan, I knew I was in for a treat. Don't you just love them.

Well, I've been decorating the house up for Christmas-still not finished, and I'm loving having all this time off work before Christmas, so I may think about doing it again another year. I cleared away that much, I couldn't find the lead to get the photo's off my camera, but I've finally tracked it down today. We saw DD off on her trip to Germany on Sunday, and then ended up going on unplanned Christmas shopping until the shops closed. Today, I plan on wrapping some presents - not something I enjoy!

SBEBB ornament exchange

Here's the pics of the ornament I stitched for Simone, and the gifts I sent her. This is an ornament which is in this years JCS ornament mag, and I really enjoyed stitching it, so hope to make more. Sorry about the lighting, but it's not easy to get nice pics in artificial light.
Hopefully if this works, I've finally worked out how to get the photo's onto this OS. Please let me know if it doesn't display right for you, as since changing from windows, and using a different web browser, I am finding that not all blogs display correctly, often what's meant to be at the sides is on top of the middle of the blog, if that makes sense, and prevents me from seeing and reading the post.
Heres hoping to be back tomorrow with more pics.

Home for the Holidays.

It's Friday, and yesterday was my last day at work until the New Year. I have lots of things I want to do, but nothing is set in stone. I really must get some sorting out done around the home. There's still no tree up, and I haven't even written my Christmas cards-oh dear. I've been really tired on a night after work, and yesterday I put in more than a 10 hour day. Last night I just about fell asleep on the sofa after my meal! But I'm up bright and early this morning, I'm on the second load of washing. This morning I have a pedicure booked for 10am, so that will be a nice start to my Christmas break. DH also finished work yesterday, but all he has planned for today is a trip to the doctors, but I'm sure he'll be persuaded into shopping, but then again maybe not, I might be better going on my own.

Well, I've not managed to upload photo's on this PC set up, so I'm going to have to try something else. So hopefully you'll get pics soon.

Hi everyone

I can't believe it's been so long since I was here. Well, once again I've been ill. Just recently I've had one thing after another, and it's really getting me down, although it has been said that I was already run down, and that's why I keep getting one thing after another. My latest thing is a really bad cold, and I just can't shake it off, had it two weeks now, and just wishing to see the back of it. At first I was suffering with really bad sinuses, and felt like I had a hangover for several days, feeling really sick all the time, now I have really bad catarrh.
Anyway, enough of that. I got my new PC up and running, and I'm learning my way around Ubuntu, I've not tried to upload any photo's yet, but I'll be giving that a whirl tonight. I've been awake since 4 am, and hence that's why I'm on here this early, I'm not sleeping, so I just knew I had to get up.
I've got out all my exchanges. I've received a needle roll from Kathy, thank you, well it's still wrapped up, we have to save them for Christmas Day, so it'll be awhile before I can show pictures of the one I've received, and the one I've stitched. I have another stitched gift, that's still wrapped, and that's another we have to save until Christmas Day. I received two beautiful ornaments from Satomi, I'll show you the pics later, they are stunning, and really something I have to try. I've sent my Christmas orni out, but getting worried that it's not arrived yet, and I posted it at the same time as my stitched gift, and that's not arrived yet either, so hoping they turn up soon. I've also stitched a Christmas tuffet for an exchange, but that's another you'll have to wait for. I'm hoping to upload a picture of an ornament I stitched for my friend Carol, now I know that's arrived as I delivered it personally on Saturday.
What else have I been up to, well, I went to the NEC on 9th November to the Crafts for Christmas show, and had a great day, well afternoon, unfortunately due to the traffic it took over 4 hours to get there. This show also includes entry to two other shows - Hobbycrafts and Art Materials Live, but I hardly spent anything. In fact I can't remember what I bought now! Then on 24th November, I went to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Harrogate and had a great day there, now I did spend there, but can't remember what on. I did buy some back issues of New Stitches, I used to subscribe to this magazine when it first came out, up to about issue 100, and then stopped, and now just buy them now and again, but a good buy at the show at 10 issues for £10. I also bought a book on Kumihimo, and DD and I have had a go at making some braids. I've been looking at this for a long time, and I think I'll definitely be doing more. Maybe I'll take some pictures to show you.
I better go and get ready for work now. Hope to be back soon.

Sunday SAL

Apologies for the poor quality picture, but as you can see I got a lot more done on Lady Scarlet, I can't wait for next Sunday. I still don't have my new pc up and running, but hopefully by next weekend. This weekend was a disaster with the washing machine yesterday which meant a trip to the launderette, and no electric on Saturday whilst some repairs were done to the lights.

Anyway, is anyone going to the NEC next Saturday, I'm really looking forward to it, but if you fancy meeting for a cuppa, just let me know.

Just Nan Sunday SAL

Here's Lady Scarlett again, she's really moving now. I'm really enjoying this, and she grew really fast on Sunday, and then when it was time for bed, I just had to stitch that squirrel before I turned the lights out. You know how it is.

I've not added the sheep and rabbit, but the Caron Impressions arrived this week from Rene. Thank you Rene. So you can be sure they'll be added this Sunday. I've been thinking that I might keep Sunday as my Just Nan day, as I have lots of her charts to do, and I thoroughly enjoy them. Maybe I'll do 4wishes next, or could it be Barnabee, or another, I can't remember how many JN charts I have but I know it was around the 70 mark. Now where would I put them all if I finished them, who knows. Maybe I should think carefully about this.

There's not been any stitching on MoP this week, in fact there's not been any stitching this week, but last week was secret stitching, I made a needleroll for an exchange, and this week I have more exchange stitching to do, so you won't be seeing that for a while.

And the good news is the new parts for my pc arrived yesterday, so hoping to get that set up today. Well it will be a complete new pc apart from the case, the CD and the DVD drive. And I decided to push the boat out and get a super silent PSU, as sometimes that noise of that fan going around really gets on my nerves. I can't wait to get back to blog reading. Oh and I'm hoping to get my favourite links and blogs off that old hard drive, as we discovered we can see them by using a Linux boot CD, so we just need to try and get them off that way. Wish me luck. And thanks to Nicola for the link. I new someone would come good.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween to everyone. I'm sorry that I've not been around for a few days, but my pc died at the end of last week. I have lost the contents of the hard drive, and this includes all my favourite blogs, websites and email address book. So please leave me a message, so that I can visit your blog again, and tell me of any websites I need to know about. I have new pc parts on order so hope to be back soon. For now, I am struggling with an old hard drive, which is on it's last legs. Surfing is not a pleasure with this thing, but I can just about manage to get my emails. Anyway the above is stitched from a free chart, to be found on a French blog-unfortunately I no longer have the link, but it you can let me have it - please do.

Grateful Hearts exchanged received

Look at the gorgeous exchange piece I received from Julianne. I'm not sure of her blog address, I'll have to find it. Isn't this design pretty, and in a lovely thread too, and I love the fabby, and then look at the picture below to see what wonderful gifts Julianne sent me. I love them all, and she even sent me a Just Nan chart, I don't know how she knew that I didn't have that one. I'm thinking the design would be great as needleroll.



And here we have Week 5 of the JN SAL, you may have noticed there was no Week 4, well that's because my weekends have been taken up, and there's been not stitching happening here. See below if you want to know what I've been doing. I've not yet stitched the rabbit, if you wonder about the space at either side of the verse. That's because it's done in a Caron thread, which I don't have and Rene has kindly offered to send me enough to stitch it with. Aren't stitchers the kindest people.

And here is MOP from the last post, when blogger wouldn't accept her.

Now then, I'll just tell you what I've been up to. About 3 weeks ago we received a letter from ds17 college regarding University admissions for 2008, and it stated that he had to have his application in by 19th October 2007. This was also news to ds, so I had him sign up for some Uni Open Days. And this has kept me busy. I had to do the driving, and each trip was 2-3 hours driving each way. So in the last 3 weekends we've been to Hull University, Teesside University, Staffordshire University and Nottingham Trent University. All this driving made me tired, and my eyes sore, so that meant I didn't stitch. I've also been busy at work, and done a couple of nearly 10 hour days, and even went to work on Friday, which is normally my day off. Although I did have the Monday off, but that was spent doing Housework, washing, ironing etc. Now I have a week off, and took dd to get her haircut today, and then she has to go to the dentist on Wednesday for a couple of fillings. Which reminds me, I need to find myself a NHS dentist if I can.

Day 25

Of what?

Well, Blogger currently has problems, and it will not publish my photo. So just to say, I've done more on Mermaid of the Pearls. I've added yet more beads, and some stitches too. I think it's safe to say that I will definitely not have enough of the green beads, and will have to buy another pack. I'm surprised at this as the pattern clearly does not state more than one, as it does for the others. I'll have to order these online, as I'm sure I won't have the right colour, and I'm sure my LNS won't have any in stock. My LNS would be willing to order them in for me, but the last time they ordered some Kreinik for me, I had to go in many times, and it took over 6 months.

If you're wondering where I am, well I'm really busy with home/family at the moment, so not much stitching time. I last stitched on Friday night, which is when this photo (which you can't see) is from, although it was too dark to take when I was home on Saturday and Sunday. (Yes, I was out both days during daylight hours. So there was no Sunday SAL from me either, and I'm not sure that anyone else did any either. LOL

Just Nan SAL - Week 3 and More beads

Well, Sunday was Week 3 of the SAL, can't believe it's week 3 already. And for those who wanted to know what it is, it's Lady Scarlet's Journey. I had to frog the band above the robin and flowers, as I'd stitched it with two strands. Now it didn't look right when I stitched it, and no matter how many times I read the pattern it said to stitch with two strands. This week, I still wasn't happy, and this week the pattern said stitch it with one strand. Now, which one of you people out there sneaked in my house and changed the instructions?
Last night, saw me stitching on more beads, I apologise for the poor picture, but I didn't realise how bad it was until I uploaded, and now daylight has nearly gone, I won't take another, but you should still be able to see the difference in this pic and the last one.
At the moment the little time I had for the PC has been drastically cut, as I'm having to share the Internet connection, so if you know me from any groups and there's anything going on that I need to know about, please email me. Thanks for reading, and hope you're all well.

Grateful Hearts

Well, I heard from Sandra, yesterday, that she received my Grateful Hearts exchange on SBEBB. I made a flanged cushion, and was really pleased with how it turned out. I made it as a cushion cover, and made a separate cushion pad for the inside. I then just attached the cross stitch to it, using covered buttons. I'd not done this type of finish before, but definitely have more planned. Sandra has asked me to send her the finishing instructions, so I'm going to have to write them down.
I used a design from The Gift of Stitching, and used some hand dyed thread. Then I found this fat quarter, which was just the right colours. As you can see I included some other goodies.
I'm having trouble with my photo's on blogger today, but at least they're here.

Sunday SAL - Week 2

Here's my progress after Week 2 of the SAL. Now I'm not sure about the snowflakes on this fabric, although they seem to show up a little on the photo, I don't feel that they show at all in real life. I have used Flax cashel linen, and the white stitches in one strand just don't really show. So, I shall have a think about these, and may change the thread.

There's no progress pic on the beading yet, as I didn't stitch last night, as I was too tired. Tonight, was my stitch club meeting, so I decided on a new start. I have joined several Christmas exchanges, and I would like to get them stitched asap, I don't really want to leave them until the last minute. So tonight I started on a Christmas tuffet, obviously I can't show it for a long time. I'm hoping to get back to the beading tomorrow night.

And, still more beads

Another 2 hours spent beading, and this time was the colours, so that made a change. Really struggling to fit a lot in, so I just stitch on what will fit. All this beading is really making me want to get back to Mystery IX, which I think can probably now be called a UFO, as there has only been a few stitches added this year, and we're nearly into October. Chat soon.

And................

............you guessed it, yet more beads. This is Day 22, and I think it was a couple of hours beading. Today is Day 23, but not sure how much I'll get done tonight. I've still not put any coloured beads on yet, just pearl and silver, but I am now well through packet no.3 of the pearls, and wondering if there will be enough. Anyway, I'll only find out if I keep going.

And.....more beads!

Well, I managed to get another 3 hours of beading in last night, with a few cross stitches included too. I've now used two full packets of the pearls except for 5 beads, but still have another packet to go at. I hope to get some more beads on tonight, and I think that will include some other colours for a change. I'm really enjoying this. I've not added any of the large beads yet, as I don't want to get my thread caught on them, so they'll be added at the end, but I am itching to see what they look like.

Flowers in her hair

Well, OK it's beads in her hair, but this is the result of a little beading on Day 20, I hope to add more tonight.

A new start

This is my new start, as you can see I didn't get very far. I didn't stitch for very long, but look forward to next week. I am doing this as a SAL on Monday nights with Rene, Kelly and some others. Although Rene and Kelly had already started before I joined them.

There was no stitching done last night either, as I went out, but hope to get some done tonight. I think it will be more beading.

Day 19

Beads at last. I thoroughly enjoyed adding some beads, this is 4 hours worth of beading, and lots more to add yet. There is more than 1 packet of Mill Hill beads on here at the moment, but many more to go. I think I've missed off 3 beads, as they just wouldn't fit on, just not enough space. I found the same problem when I stitched Shimmering Mermaid.
Just wondering if there is anyone who still doesn't know who she is yet? As I've not revealed her name, as a couple of people said they were just enjoying not knowing.
I'd love to stitch more on her, but tonight I'm starting a SAL, so I'll be starting on Just Nan's Lady Scarlet's Journey. Looking forward to a new start, but it's to be stitched on Sunday's only.
Today I've made up my Grateful Heart exchange piece, I was doing it last weekend but dd claimed the sewing machine. Anyway I'm pleased how it turned out, so hope it gets to its destination quickly, and the recipient likes it.

Another Finish

I've always liked this ornament, but don't really think it's christmassy, do you? I thought I'd finish it as an ornament with a pocket on the bag, maybe for lavender and hang it in the wardrobe. What do you think?

New finish

I've not stitched for 3 days, as I've been too ill, so I still haven't added any beads to my main wip, however I did stitch my Grateful hearts exchange piece at the end of last week. But I can't show it yet, you'll have to wait until it reaches the recipient. In my search for a pattern I came across this, so I just had to stitch it for me. It's 'Where the heart is' by The Drawn Thread. The recommende fabric is 40ct but I stitched it on 28ct, I didn't have any 40ct, and I liked the colour of this fabric with the threads. The fabric is cream blush Juliana. I don't know what this looks like on your monitor, but it's nothing like the real thing on mine. I'm going to try and make a tuck pillow, with a heart shaped aperture for it, so wish me luck. That's all for now, tomorrow I'll be returning to work, so hopefully I may get some beads on the wip at the weekend.

She's back

Day 16 update pic
Day 17 update pic
Day 18 update pic

I will definitely be putting beads on this week before I have to change to a bigger frame. As you can tell I've not stitched on her everyday, and will probably be taking another short break from her in the next few days.

What's the Buzz exchange from me

Well, I saw that Chris had received the exchange last week, so I thought I'd share some pictures. As usual, it took me a long time to decide on which pattern to use, and then I came across this one. I've had this for a while, and always intended stitching it for myself. It's by Jo Verso, and I found it in an old magazine. I enjoyed stitching it so much, I stitched it a second time for myself. I hope Chris liked it. As you can see I made them in to pinkeeps. I used Caron Watercolour threads to make the cord around the edge, and mine has a slightly darker shade of green for the cord, as that went better with the colour of the pins I used on mine. The fabric is by Polstitches.

I know I've been quite in the last week, but I have been stitching, I stitched and made up a Christmas ornament for a friend. I've not decided whether to put it on my blog yet, as I'm not sure whether my friend reads it, and I don't want to spoil the surprise. It's by Elizabeth's Designs, and was in 2001 JCS Christmas ornament mag.

New York here I come

You Belong in New York City

You're the energetic, ambitious type.And only NYC is fast enough for you.Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer careerOr simply take in all the city has to offer.

What City Do You Belong In?

What's the Buzz exchange

Here's some pictures of the wonderful exchange I received from Marie in the SBEBB 'What's the Buzz' exchange. The design had to include a Bee. This design is The Beehive by First Love Designs. Marie made this wonderful Floss Caddy, which is made up beautifully, if you look carefully, you can see how she embroidered along the top edge of the inside pocket with the sewing machine. Marie obviously has a wonderful sewing machine. Marie also included some wonderful gifts. I received a chart/charm - Beehive Welcome, some fabric the same as she used for finishing, hand painted Bee buttons, two skeins of WDW, a spool of ribbon, a tube of Honees (sweets), and The Vermont Beekeepers Cookbook, which has some wonderful recipes in it for everything including Honey Hand Cream, which I can't wait to try. Thank you Marie.

For those of you who are awaiting a further update pic on you know who, I apologise, I have not been stitching, although did put 6 stitches in her last night, but didn't think that warranted an update pic, but please keep watching, there'll be more soon.