Chris Cross Corner

Having Fun

2011-07-03T07:24:00.001+01:00

be

Flat beading with Eliza McClelland

Weekend workshop

Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media

Weekend workshop

2011-07-02T06:41:00.001+01:00

What a beautiful day

Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media

wimeme

2011-07-02T06:35:00.001+01:00

Weekend workshop

Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media

What am I doing now?

2011-06-14T20:17:00.001+01:00

75 flowers

It's not a quiz :)

Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media

The weekly SAL

2011-06-04T10:19:00.001+01:00

Testing

Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media

And the winner is.....................................

2011-05-08T16:11:00.004+01:00

.........................Kathy Ellen.

Congratulations, and thank you to everyone of you who entered. I wish I could have a gift for everyone. I got my daughter to draw a name out, and she closed her eyes to do it. LOL

Another Souvenir

2011-05-02T12:18:00.004+01:00

I decided to stitch another souvenir, this one is for me, but I've made a mistake. What do you think? Shall I leave it? I'm tempted to leave it? This one was stitched on 45 count linen, so is smaller than the previous one, and therefore not as easy to frog. I'm not going to tell you what the mistake is but I'm sure you can spot it if you look hard enough.

Royal Wedding Giveaway

2011-04-29T18:59:00.004+01:00

A Royal Wedding Souvenir
by The Sampler Girl

I have decided to have a giveaway. The gift being this pin pillow which I have stitched and finished, together with a Union Jack Keyring, and a commemorative box of Clotted Cream Fudge.

To enter - all you need to do is a leave a comment on this post.

If you want an extra entry then you should advertise this giveaway on your blog or website and leave another comment with the link to the post.

This giveaway is open to anyone in the world, but if it is doubtful that your country will let the confectionery through, then I can just send you the commemorative card off the front of the box with the other items.

I need to give you a closing date/time, so this will be 8am (UK time) on Friday 6th May.

A special day

2011-04-29T08:41:00.003+01:00

Morning all, well it's morning in the UK. I don't think there can be many people in the world who have escaped knowing about the Royal Wedding. So I have decide to have a giveaway. Come back later to see my Royal Wedding Giveaway and join in the fun.

Thank you

2011-03-17T19:54:00.002Z

I just want to say a Big Thank You to everyone who took the time to leave me a comment. I have received lots of lovely comments from lots of people I have never 'met in blogland' before, and it's nice to visit blogs I've never seen before. If you left me a comment and it includes your email address, then I am getting around to thanking you personally, and if you don't receive an email from me, then I have deleted yours by mistake, but there are quite a few that I have no way of contacting, and I am truly grateful. I also wanted to say that I am still stitching, it's blogging I am having the problem with. However, something has happened this week to give me a little bit of a cheer up, I won't go into detail but this could finally be the end of something which started a long time ago.

And now I'm sure everyone here is thinking about Japan, it is on the news all of the time. My heart goes out to everyone there, I cannot comprehend what they are going through. Their emotions must be all over the place with what is going on. I only know of two stitching sisters from there - I know there will be lots more. It's nice to know that Yuko is safe, and today I have heard from Satomi (who was one of my first exchange partners), but how will their country recover from this.

This is THE END

2011-03-12T09:55:00.002Z

I've been wanting to post this for the last two weeks. So here it is

THIS IS THE END.

I don't want it to be the end, but that's how I feel. I'm in a real slump at the moment, please send me some encouragement, and some PMA, I really need it.

What do you want to see here?

What do you want me to post about?

What do you like to see best on a blog post?

XX

PS - PMA = Positive Mental Attitude

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T16:47:00.004Z

Just popped in to say hope you all have a nice Valentines Day. I have lots of stitching to share, but I need to get it on the camera and then uploaded. My mother in law was rushed into hospital late Wednesday night, and with work and hospital visiting on an evening, and a couple of other things I had to do at the weekend I am way behind on HW and subsequently blog reading. I've just had a quick look at what photo's are uploaded and decided to let you seem some random ones.

The birds, there were 8 when I went for the camera,
but by the time I had the camera and got to take a pic,
most had flown away. LOL

The view from the front of my house, looking to the left.
Thankfully the snow has gone, and we don't want it back!

The view to the right from my front garden fence.

The fountain in the city centre is flood lit,
and looked very nice when it was frozen in the bad weather.

More Christmas stitching

2011-02-04T17:26:00.000Z

Season of Love
by Country Cottage Needleworks

Gingerbread Tree
by Little House Needleworks

Elements taken from
French Country Star
by JBW Designs

Angels Sent
by Still Stitching with Susan

All stitched last year, and not one made up!

Another old finish

2011-02-03T17:53:00.003Z

Tiny Things
by Victoria Sampler

Another finish from last year - still needs to be made up - no surprise there! LOL When I started Tiny Things, I did not realise that it was for a tiny Altoids tin as I had no idea that such things existed, so I added some extra borders to make it fit the bigger Altoid tin. I guess I must have finished this in February last year, as it was seen as WIP here.

A new project

2011-01-30T21:40:00.004Z

This is my new project, a crocheted scarf. It's coming together really quick. I only started it today, and I've reached the half way point. The colour is not too good here, but hopefully will be better when I next take a pic.

S is for Spring
by Prairie Schooler

And another finish from last year. I was dyeing some 40 ct linen last year, when I had the urge to stitch something on white. I had a quick look through some freebies I have and found this one, it was perfect for the white background. It was to be finished as a pinkeep, and it's still waiting to be made into one.

Socks for me

2011-01-29T20:16:00.005Z

I was going to post this last year, and took all the photo's then. So, I would like to present to you socks all made by my friend Carol (no blog).

Carol buys the fleece and spins and dyes (might be the other way around) the wool herself - I am so jealous. So with the exception of the top socks these are all knitted from wool that Carol has produced. For the top ones Carol used bought wool, and even knitted a little bag for them. I love them all. They have all been Christmas presents and this last Christmas Carol gave me wool so I can knit my own. :)

I have to confess that the purple ones somehow made their way into the washing machine over the Christmas period and have been felted :``( I'm so sorry Carol, but I'm going to turn them into a flower brooch at some point as I can't throw them away can I? At least I got the photo before that happened.

More ornament stitching

2011-01-28T22:08:00.003Z

Stitcher's Joy
by Prairie Moon

This is another ornament I stitched last month, and never made up. It's from the 2010 JCS ornament magazine. Stitched on 28ct Vintage beige cashel with Carrie's Creations thread in Poppy. I intend making it into a circular ornament, using the fabric in the picture as the backing. I also will use this to finish Caroline too.

My finishing service! (Edited)

2011-01-27T19:45:00.005Z

The title of this blog post makes me laugh - and I hope a few of you out there are laughing at it too. If only............................

I have an awful lot of 'making up/finishing into something' to do, I think I've seen it called FUFO (finishing up finished objects), but please tell me if I'm wrong or you know of another name for it. There'll be more on this subject in a future blog post!

Anyway, these two finishes were made up by me, but they are not mine, and I did not stitch them. They were both stitched by Irene (stand up and take a bow Irene, if you're reading this). Irene goes to my stitching club, and these are a couple of the things she stitched last year, and I offered to finish them up for her. I finished them up before Christmas, but I haven't yet seen Irene to give her them. And these two pieces will be going on my 2010 finishes list.

For everyone who loves the envelope design, it appeared in a set of 6 designs by Debra Page, in issue 158 of The World of Cross Stitching. I have trawled my magazines and found it, think I will have to stitch it now, and some of the others in the set, although I only have 5 patterns as I was given the magazine and some patterns have been cut out. Available as a back issue here, or Ebay.

Mini Christmas Stockings

2011-01-26T10:32:00.000Z

More stitchings from 2010. I loved these little stockings, shame I didn't get them made up. Stitched on 32ct Antique White linen, with DMC.

It's Christmas again!

2011-01-25T10:34:00.001Z

Caroline

by Miss Crescent's Crowne

Joy to the World
by LHN

I seem to still have the Christmas spirit.! I have stitched both of these this month. Now which Christmas ornament shall I stitch next?

I intend giving Joy to the World away once I've made it up, so will have to stitch it again for myself.

SB scissor keep

2011-01-24T10:39:00.000Z

Shepherd's Scissor Fob
by Shepherds Bush

Stitched on 28 ct Flax cashel
with DMC threads

Another of last years finishes. I didn't have the charm so stitched a little sheep from another SB chart.

I am now selling this chart so let me know if you're interested in buying it. I am about to have a huge clear out of my charts/stash and will be putting up a list. However, if you've seen anything on my blog in the past and are interested in buying the chart let me know, and I'll check if I still have it.

A birthday gift for me

2011-01-23T10:33:00.004Z

Birthday Gift from Sally

The beautiful inside

Friday was my birthday, and just look at what a wonderful gift I received from Sally. I bet you're all jealous. I am now using this stitcher's caddy for my current valentines piece that I am stitching.

Thank you Sally, I love it.

And wouldn't you know it, I plugged the camera in today and no problems, isn't that typical.

A little treat

2011-01-22T22:44:00.004Z

Stitchmarkers

The new with the old

I came on here to show you some stitching, however the pc has decided not to recognise the camera? I'm sure I have no idea why, so hopefully tomorrow I can persuade my son to have a look, he's been messing around on here with my MP3 player and it recognised that. Coincidence that now it doesn't like dh's camera?

I did find these pics already on the pc. If you're a regular reader you will have seen that I have recently been knitting. Well I decided to treat myself to some new stitchmarkers. Those plastic yellow and green ones that I've had years are not anywhere near as exciting as what you can buy nowadays. So I had a little browse at Etsy, and fell in love with these. What do you think? And the new ones were packaged so much nicer too!

The 2011 year long SAL

2011-01-20T16:00:00.002Z

Another SAL with Sally!

The last two years we have done Shepherds Bush needlerolls, well I should say Sally has done a lot of it on her own, I am way behind, but one day, hopefully I'll catch up. So what is it this year I hear you ask? Well, we are doing more Shepherds Bush, this times its the ornaments from the JCS Christmas ornament mags. We've started with 2010, and are going to work our way back in years, stitching one a month.

I've already finished this months, so I've kept up so far. LOL

Absolutely loved this one and couldn't put it down, I can't wait for the 1st of Feb now to start on the next - or can I wait that long.

I've stitched it on 29 count raw linen, and used two strands, the pattern called for one, but I like the look on mine, and I have used DMC. I won't be adding the charm.

The January SAL

2011-01-19T16:00:00.002Z

Winter Wonderland
by LHN

Another SAL - I can hear you shouting - Can't this girl stitch on her own?

Sometimes, SAL's just kinda happen don't they, you're chatting away and then you're SALing. This one is with Nicola, and we are stitching on Winter Wonderland by LHN. Nicola was going to join in with our December SAL and stitch on Winter Wonderland, then I said I also had the pattern so we agreed that we'd stitch it in January. How are you getting on Nicola?

And if you're wondering how come I'm blogging every day - well I've scheduled some posts. I have a lot to catch up on, so this way I've been able to write and add pics when I can, or add writing to the pics at a later stage, this way I'm hoping I don't forget to show you anything.

Thanks to everyone who left me a comment, I love to get comments, and thoroughly understand that not everyone has time to comment (this includes me).

The December SAL

2011-01-18T15:45:00.001Z

Poinsettia House by LHN

Stitched on 28 ct beige cashel linen
using recommended threads

Sally and I do a SAL every December, another one of our annual things. Sally is a great friend, she always makes sure I have to keep stitching by planning and plotting way in advance. :) Thank you Sally for keeping me going. And Sally doesn't seem to mind when I fail to keep up, or rather she doesn't tell me off, not sure what she says behind my back though. LOL

Anyways, December 2010 was time for LHN Poinsettia House, and I loved this one, so couldn't put it down. I ran out of one of the Crescent Color threads, but decided against buying another skein. The flowers should have had one petal each stitched in another colour, but I ended up doing them all in the same thread. I finished it a week or so before Christmas I think.

I thought I'd make it into a cushion, but who knows what it will end up as, but it's made it to the forever growing making up pile. How would you like to see it finished?

Snow Man
by Tralala

And here is what we will be stitching this December, as you can see we plan well in advance, I think we decided on this one before we even put a stitch in the last one!

A birthday gift

2011-01-17T17:03:00.002Z

Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet
by Shakespeare's Peddler
40 ct hand dyed (by me)
with DMC threads

Finished as a tin topper
I lined the inside of the tin

I used ribbon, velvet ribbon and black felt
to cover the tin sides and bottom

It was Sally's birthday back in December, I had it in my head it was 14th, but I was wrong, I think it was 12th. Anyway, I didn't want to be late so I took a gamble with what I was going to stitch, and I started in October (I think or was it September), and finished in November I think, and then come December - I can't find what I had stitched - so Sally had to wait, and this is what she ended up with. I wonder if she's found a use for it? I love this design so will be stitching it again for me, I just need to dye some more linen.

I will had a birthday gift as a finish in my 2010 finishes as I will hopefully find it again, and be able to use it this year!

December gifts

2011-01-16T15:27:00.005Z

Stitching, We want Stitching - I heard you all shouting, stop rabbiting just show us some pics of stitching. So here we go -

A Partridge in a Pear Tree
by Glory Bee
for my friend Carol.
Stitched on Raw linen with DMC

Peace on Earth
by Blue Ribbon Designs

The back, as it was a gift for Sally

Stitched on 32ct Antique White
with DMC threads

Here's the two ornaments I managed to get stitched and finished for friends. The first was made for my friend Carol.

The second was from JCS ornament issue 2010, and was for Sally, we do an annual ornament exchange between the two of us. I don't seem to have a picture of the one Sally made me, but you can see it here. I am wondering if it's on another camera, I'll have to check it out.

Thanks for all your blog visits, love you all. You cheer me up.

2010 Competition

2011-01-16T02:00:00.001Z

Well, I am sad to say that I cannot announce the winner yet!

Last year did not go too well blogging wise, so now I have lots of updating to do. I did not stitch as much as I have done in the previous - I don't think. But there were quite a few finishes, and now I need to round them all up and photograph them, so that I can announce a winner. The rounding up may take a little while, as the stitching is dotted around. I also need to add that I have lost a couple of finishes too, but they will turn up some time. This year needs to be sort, de-clutter and stash bust. And I will update the 2010 finish list in my sidebar, but as I cannot reveal two or three, I will have to put them down as gifts, and you'll just have to trust me on that one, until I find them, and the recipient has them.

Things did not go well in the finishing front, something I would like to address this year. I am sorry for Christine and Kathy, who are both Still waiting for their stitched gifts from me, Christine was the 2009 competition winner, and Kathy was my birthday giveaway winner, they have not been forgotten about but I need to stop procrastinating and get my act into gear. I actually finished stitching Christine's gift over a year ago, and I'm ashamed to say it has sat there all this time waiting for me to finish it up.

I gave up the exchanges, but did join in the HOE Halloween exchange when I thought I was going to catch up. So this year I have to catch up and therefore I will not be doing a 2011 competition. I would like to offer some giveaways, but I'm not making any promises there, as I know life sometimes gets in the way. Last year I thought I would have a giveaway when my followers reached 100, it's now over the 100 mark, so thank you for not giving up on me. I also had the idea of a giveaway at 50000 visits, and last time I looked it was now over 60000 so another Big thank you to everyone. And now having looked several times today - my blog counter at the bottom of my page has disappeared!!! So come on, own up, who stole it?

First finishes 2011

2011-01-15T12:43:00.003Z

Black and white intarsia jumper

Aran jumper

Hi folks, hope you're all well.

I have been trying to catch up on emailing and blog reading but not doing too well on this. I was going to chat to you all here and now, but dh is driving me nuts, he has gone to clear the garage, but he's back in every couple of minutes to ask for my help, so I'm going out there to join him, or kill him!

Anyway just a quickie, my dd came home for 4 weeks over the Christmas and New Year holidays, and she wanted jumpers. I use to be a knitter, well I've always been a crafter so have done an awful lot of crafts in my time. I have, I think, 6 knitting machines, and a very large wool mountain (you just don't want to know LOL). On her first day I went in the loft and rummaged for my Aran patterns (I had an Aran passion at some time in the past), and down came my Aran books, and she picked a pattern she liked, and off we went to buy green wool. In my rummage I found the black and white jumper - which needed sewing up and lots of ends sewing in, and dd liked it, so that came out of the loft too. I think I finally stitched it up on 3.1.11, and so it became my first finish. This jumper was hand-tooled on the knitting machine, probably 15-20 years ago! Yikes, it was originally for me, anyway it finally got finished. Yesterday, in another rummage in the loft I found another jumper partly sewn together, from many years ago - not sure what I'm doing with that one.
Anyways back to the green wool purchase, I set about hand-knitting this, and of course had to have it finished before dd went back last Sunday, I did have some time off knitting it in the time she came home, as that Aran takes a bit of concentration, and I did want to do a bit of chilling over the holiday. By the last week she was home I still had two sleeves to knit, and I was back at work, so it became a slog to get it done. I was on the last sleeve on the Friday night, and spotted a mistake 4 inches lower, so lots of pulling out, and then lots of arm ache knitting it back up. I really wanted it finished by the Friday night, so that I had the Saturday night to sew it together because I was out during the day. Although I didn't finish the knitting on the Friday night, I was up early Saturday morning, so able to get the neckband knitted, and finally sew it up on the night, ready for dd to go back to Uni on the Sunday. Phew. This jumper is bottle green, but is showing up more Emerald on my monitor-don't know about yours. Sorry the pics a bit blurry too, I didn't realise until now, and as I don't have the jumper here, I can't take a better pic.

Hope to see you all soon. X

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T22:39:00.001Z

Wishing everyone
A
Happy
New Year

Christmas is over

2010-12-27T11:27:00.002Z

It's sad, but that's it for another year.

So, please tell me.................

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?

What was your favourite gift that you received?

Did you get anything stitching related?

And what did you most want and didn't receive?

Thanks to all of those that wished me a Merry Christmas.

And hope to be back later.

Merry Christmas to you

2010-12-24T20:37:00.002Z

More christmas

2010-12-14T10:26:00.003Z

Felt decorations
made by my daughter

I just thought I'd show you these that my daughter made a couple of months back. Whilst st University she got job at Hobbycraft on a weekend, and they like to know that you can craft. So she was asked to make something, and took home a mini sewing machine and some felt and a Hobbycraft leaflet, and she produced these. I'm not sure how she managed to find time to make them , as Uni was really hectic, and then she came down with a terrible cold which lasted 3 weeks, and also meant she missed work the weekend she should have taken these back. We have no idea what happened to these decorations and no one ever commented about her makes after she took back the left over felt and the sewing machine - which seems a shame. On a visit to the store they did have a Christmas display with various made items but not these, so who has them and where did they go?

Anyway, if any of you should visit Hobbycraft in Leeds and you see these on display I'd love to know. The job ended on Sunday as it was only a temporary job.

And if you want to make some the instructions are here.

My first Christmas decoration

2010-12-12T07:59:00.001Z

A gift from Sally

I received this wonderful ornament from Sally. Sally and I do an ornament swap each Christmas, and knowing how Sally likes Robins, I nearly stitched her this one - but I didn't!. Thank You Sally, I love it.

Intertwined Mittens

My daughter wanted mittens. The brief was mittens that were chunky, and with twisty bits on the front. I found this pattern on Ravelry, and set about knitting them. They were quick to knit, but I would change them slightly if I were to knit them again. I would move the thumbs around a bit. When you wear them the pattern is not all at the front because of where the thumb is. You might be seeing another pair of these soon, if I get some more wool. These were just knitted in some wool I already had from a sock kit, and they are 75% wool, so hand wash only. I just hope she likes them. I will be giving them to her today, when I go and collect her from University, she has now finished for Christmas and is coming home. I am not looking forward to the washing!

Poinsettia House

I am loving this one, but sadly I have now run out of the thread used to stitch the house, although there are only some leaves to still stitch with it. So if you're planning to stitch this one, please note that you will need 2 skeins of Clay Pot, if you stitch on 28ct.

The December SAL

2010-12-04T13:18:00.003Z

Poinsettia House
by LHN

It has become a tradition for Sally and I to do a Christmas SAL in December, and we chose Poinsettia House for this year. This is our third year and we have already decided on next years! So this is my progress pic. We also have Lesleyanne, Lisa, Hazel and Claire joining in with us this year, although only Lesleyanne is doing the same design.

I'm sure you all know by now that the UK has been hit with snow, so I will leave you with a few photo's taken yesterday morning.

The view from my stitching chair, as I look up.

The garden table and chairs

And the third picture seems to have disappeared!

Halloween Exchange from me

2010-11-29T17:18:00.003Z

By The Full Moon
by Ink Circles

I finally located the photographs of what I sent to Margaret. I just love this design, and may one day get around to stitching it for me. Of course, I made a pinkeep, and the backing fabric is the one in the background.

Now to find the rest of the Halloween stitching that I did.

Hoping everyone in the UK is managing to stay warm, and if you have to go out, be careful. The road I live on is just like it's been coated in glass. I chose to leave the car at home today and hop on bus, which was very, very late.

Halloween Exchange 2010

2010-11-28T15:58:00.002Z

Sweeping Cobwebs
by Prairie Schooler

Halloween Exchange from Marie

Here is the wonderful exchange that I received from Marie. As soon as I received a package with Marie's name on it I knew I was in for a treat. Marie's stitching and finishing is wonderful. Marie made me this wonderful pinkeep, which I love. I hate spiders, but thankfully the toy one on here didn't freak me out. Apologies to Marie for taking so long to post to my blog. I took a last minute holiday, and then totally forgot about posting.

At the moment I cannot find the photographs of the exchange package that I sent, but I'm going to have another good look around, and check out my old camera. I bought a new compact digital camera at the end of August as it was better for carrying around. I took 5 photographs with it and then my daughter borrowed it and took it to University has her camera was broken. Last weekend she had it stolen from her bag. I have learned my lesson - do not loan your new camera out!

Spring Biscornu

2010-11-22T17:10:00.003Z

Spring Biscornu
Victoria Sampler

Top

Bottom

More stitching photo's for you. I found these tucked away in a folder labelled Arpil, so I guess that's how old they are. The photo's below give a better idea of the colours. This was stitched with DMC and on Polstitches fabric - I can't remember what count. The pattern is now available from Victoria Sampler as a freebie. When I stitched this it was available to the Yahoo group members only, and I entered it into Thea's competition. The finished biscornu was also on display in a local art gallery fro a while as part of the Yorkshire Embroidery Society exhibition.

Merry and Bright

2010-11-21T15:24:00.003Z

Merry and Bright
Country Cottage Needleworks

Another quick stitch. I stitched this up last night, using DMC and 32ct natural linen. I have to say although I love the design, the colours are not me. I prefer something more traditional, so why didn't I change them - well I have no idea! I was just in a hurry to grab fabric and thread and get stitching! I will probably stitch this again in colours to suit me. This pattern is in the JCS ornament issue this year, just in case anyone was wondering.

Be Merry - Belle Pepper

2010-11-20T16:31:00.002Z

Be Merry - Belle Pepper
by Little House Needleworks

This was a really quick stitch, I couldn't put it down. I love all things Christmassy. I used the alternative Christmas instead of Belle Pepper, and I changed the cardinal into a Robin.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed me back on my previous post, and then I never made it back. Sorry. Life seems to keep getting in the way. I've decided I will at least try to post some photo's, and if I don't feel like talking at least you will have something to look at.

I do appreciate you all taking the time to visit me.

Anyone still out there?

2010-10-25T21:11:00.003+01:00

Where does the time go? It will be next year before I know it!

Well my daughter went off to the University of Leeds, and I just saw her on Friday for the first time in 5 weeks. She was able to come home for a few hours and to sleep in her own bed, before I took her back. If anyone knows any craft shops in Leeds - I'd love to hear from you, and maybe on my next trip I'll be able to craft shop.

I hope to get back into blogging, and catch up on the 1000 posts I have yet to read- well that will be looking at the photo's. Thanks Sally for introducing me to Face book, and an addictive game!

I've just taken part in my first exchange this year - HOE - Halloween Exchange, and I was late posting. Sorry to my partner, but hopefully it should pop through her door shortly as it left here last Monday, 18th October - two weeks past the deadline. it would seem that I am no better.

I still need to get a couple of gifts in the post - it's the finishing off that somehow seems to get postponed. Forever the procrastinator!

Mary Wigham Wardrobe

2010-09-01T19:53:00.003+01:00

It's been so long since I was here, I'd forgotten my blog address and how to get in, and then it all looks a bit different. I'm posting these pics they are not too clear but you can see what I've been up to. I will get better photo's and post again, this is just a practice. ;)

hello

2010-08-03T16:59:00.001+01:00

Hope you are all well, I miss you all, but hope to be back soon.

Friday 4th June

2010-06-06T19:37:00.004+01:00

On Friday we celebrated, wow - now where did those last 18 years go? The photo shows my daughter just before she turned 8years, and was taken in DisneyWorld, Florida. We had this printed onto the cake.

Gift of Stitching

2010-05-13T23:19:00.003+01:00

I only have red thread
By Gift of Stitching

Gift of Stitching Challenge #6. Just had to be made into a thread holder. This is the first time I have attempted this finish, but I am really pleased with the result.........maybe there'll be more of these to come.

The next JN is finished

2010-04-08T10:00:00.001+01:00

Hummingbead Heaven
by Just Nan

I really enjoyed stitching this one, and it never made it into any progress pics! I did start it the Sunday after I finished 4 Wishes, but then stitched on it a couple of nights too. Then Sunday and Monday, and just added the beads last night. I now have to decide on the next JN, looking forward to Sunday.

Awards

2010-04-07T18:25:00.003+01:00

During my recent blogging break, I was awarded these wonderful awards.

So a big thank you to Belinda for the Sunshine award, it's nice to see the sunshine.

To accept this award I have to pass the award on to another 12 bloggers, and this is where I have a problem, I just read far too many blogs, and I'm so far behind with my reading, and whilst trying to do a bit of blog hopping I see that this has done the rounds and lots of people already have it. So I'm going to pass, I hope you all don't mind.

And another - thank you to Sally, and Patti for this one.

Now this one I need to pass on to 7 or 10 bloggers - as it says on their blogs, but once again I'm going to pass - for the same reason as in the Sunshine award.
For this award I also need to post 7 or 10 things about myself. (Sally says 10, Patti says 7). Maybe I'll go for an inbetween number. These should be things you might not know about me.

1. When I was at school one of my nicknames was 'gingernut' - I was a redhead, will find an old photo one day to scan and post here.

2. I need to lose weight.

3. I left school at 16 years (my mum and dad could not afford to keep me).

5. I went to night classes for 10 years after that.

4. It took me 4 attempts to pass my driving test, and the pass was obtained following a drink in the pub! - Eh - it was a long time ago, nowadays I won't even have a sip if I am driving.

5. I've only ever lived in 5 houses.

6. I'm always late, but was actually early for my wedding and we had to drive around to kill time.

7. I have too much stash (but maybe you knew that?)

8. My first real hobby was crochet, when I was about 12, and I used to make those granny square waistcoats to order, and made poncho's (early 70's). Although I did lots of other crafts before that. When you're 12 you just want some money, people bought the wool, and I crocheted. I think I used to get about 50p a garment - I was never going to get rich! LOL

4 Wishes

2010-04-05T09:04:00.003+01:00

Happy Easter everyone, hope everyone has found some stitching time. I love having the lighter nights for stitching after work, although I've not managed to stitch before it's got dark yet!

For those who have been awaiting 4 Wishes, I apologise that it took me so long to get a picture posted, but here it is. It's very difficult to get a picture of such a long piece.

New starts

2010-03-20T16:40:00.004Z

I finished up 4 Wishes the other night, but need to press it and get a good pic. these are my new starts for this week, and there may be more to come!

Well I actually started this post over 2 weeks ago, but needed to add photo's. Since this post I have had more starts, and even a couple of finishes, so I hope to be back again very soon. I can't believe I have been away so long - I have had things going on which I needed to sort out.

HAED

2010-03-17T19:53:00.003Z

Last week I worked on the fairy by HAED, and made quite a lot of progress before I got bored - actually I only got bored when I had to stitch lots in one colour! I really love working on things with lots of colour changes. I still need to fill in the gaps that show in the top portion - these represent the threads I cannot find! They must be out with another project somewhere!

It's Sunday - part 2

2010-03-16T19:47:00.004Z

Well finally I am posting for last Sunday! - Will catch up eventually.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone, hope you all had a great day.

Here is the progress on 4 Wishes from Sunday 7th March!

I have worked on this on Friday night, Sat night and Sunday since that pic, and here's one of the mistakes I found, so there was a little frogging here, but the night before there was a lot of frogging on the border on the right hand side.
Sun 14th March - I finished the stitching - picture to follow, I hoped to add the beads last night, but didn't - maybe tonight or am I too tired?

I have my next JN planned - it's another band sampler - any ideas? (Clue-it's not a recent release)

It's Sunday

2010-03-14T17:21:00.002Z

...and you know what that means -it's time for Just Nan. Actually I was going to post an update but the dd has stolen the camera cable again, so hopefully I can get my hands on it when she comes home from work.

I have been working on the HAED this week, and picked up 4 Wishes on Friday night, and did a little but had to put it down to watch the programme on Weaving, I really enjoyed it. I do have a loom upstairs (thank you Carol). Has anyone else been watching Mastercrafts on BBC2?

I picked up 4Wishes again last night, and did some frogging and then some stitching, and today I have spotted another mistake in the border - that's what happens when you're tired. I am on track to finish it tonight, but we'll see I think I might save the beads for daylight tomorrow night. It's so nice that it's getting dark later in the evening, although the longer days have had me up earlier in the morning this weekend because we have had sun!

I have already planned my next JN start for next Sunday - if I can wait that long. And I am thinking the HAED will be going away again. I am also thinking of picking up Inspiration next week, but we'll see.

Hope to be back later.

Just Nan Sunday

2010-03-07T22:30:00.003Z

4 Wishes
by Just Nan

This is my progress picture from last weekend. Actually I didn't stitch very much on the Sunday night, so I added a little more on the Monday night too, but it still wasn't as much as I would normally stitch, and I didn't even finish the line of words! I usually can't put it down with at least finishing the line.

Are you bored of seeing this yet, I have stitched on this again tonight, so I'll be sharing another progress picture soon, but as I am now on to the final season (Autumn), I am wondering whether to just carry on with it in the week. I'm eager to get to the end to add the beads and charms. I think those little bees between the ladybirds look lost without their bodies, which are made up of beads.

My liftetime project....

2010-03-06T17:37:00.003Z

or is it a UFO?

This is how it was left last time I stitched on it

I cannot remember when I started this, but this is a HAED pattern my daughter chose. When I purchased the pattern I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. LOL.

There are 36 pages of chart! And I have to blow these up to make them clear enough for me to not get muddled. Each page of chart I am printing on to 4 A4 pages, and my progress you can see below - this is only 2 of my pages! A long way to go yet!

I suppose I could have called it a UFO, but it is something I said I would stitch on and then put down when I'd had enough of it. Having picked it up a couple of weeks ago, I am pleased with my progress as this was what I have achieved in only 2 or 3 nights. And I enjoyed stitching on it. To see a picture of what it will be like when it's finished - click here. And in case you don't want to click, I'll tell you it's a fairy.

Another finish

2010-02-26T17:49:00.003Z

Socks in Exotic Zany by Kaffe Fassett
from Regia Yarns

Well I was so pleased to get these done. I pulled out and unpicked and finished, and started again to finally have a pair of socks that fit and are the same size, and I matched the colour of the wool at the start too, so that the self striping matched on each sock. I am now looking for a sock pattern that does not use a heel flap, and uses less than 5 needles, so if anyone know of an online pattern, I'd love to have the link. - thanks.

Now where have I been, well to be honest I've not done a lot of stitching this week, although I did have a new start this week, and that involves hardanger, and I'm doing wrapped bars, which always takes time. I'll show a picture soon. I knitted on the socks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last weekend to get them done, although it took until Thursday night for me to get around to sewing the ends in. I procrastinate too much. As I wanted to get the socks done, I did not participate in the Friday night SAT, and I did not work on JN on Sunday either. Now before the socks I did work on a UFO, and I took a 'before' picture, and when I take an 'after' picture I will show you. Although, I don't really think of this as a UFO, it's my 'lifelong' project - I don't see it being finished for many years yet!

As you know I was off work the week before last. I want to thank you for all the 'good luck' you sent for dd, who has now been offered a place at the Uni following her interview, although I'm not sure if she will be choosing it as her second choice. On the Friday we went to Leeds, where I drove around for one hour (lost) until we finally found our way to the car park we needed to be at. I was taking dd to the University of Leeds for a department 'open day'. This is to be her fist choice Uni, so she just needs to work hard to get the grades needed to get her place. When we left Leeds, I got lost once again on the roads, now I should have known that I needed to follow the signs for London - even though I wanted to be in the opposite direction. Next time I will try and get it right! Anyway having got stuck in a traffic jam, we travelled 5 miles in 50 minutes we ended up near Ikea. So, we just had to call in, and we had our tea there, and I know my way back home from there, and it was much easier when we left as the 'rush hour' was over.

Thank you all for your visits, and for leaving me comments too, I just love them.

Corrinne - I am one hours drive from York, and about 1 hour 40 mins to Robin Hoods Bay (my dd's favourite place).

Another finish

2010-02-17T07:32:00.004Z

Pearl Angel
by Just Nan

Another JN finish, and a quick stitch. It was difficult to get a really good photo of this one, I ended up having to hold it in my hand, and that is why it looks a bit wavy. I didn't have the fabric called for so I used the same pink linen that I used for Queen's Heart. I need to get my finishing head on to get some of these finishes made up.

Today I'm taking dd for an interview at Teesside Uni, so fingers crossed that they like her, and offer her a place.

The frogs have arrived

2010-02-15T19:06:00.003Z

4 Wishes
by Just Nan

Not the best photo, but maybe you can just make out the frogs, they are those green pointy things, with curly legs underneath. I think this is getting a bit big now to photograph the whole thing. Next time I'll just take a pic of summer. I got a lot more done than I thought I would.

Something has been puzzling me. Last night I went into the city centre to pick dd up. It was about 11pm, and having just collected her we were driving down the dual carriageway, when suddenly I spotted all these birds. At first I thought they were seagulls, then I realised you just don't see birds flying around at that time of night. As we got nearer, the traffic lights changed to red, and we had to stop, the birds were trying to settle down on the other side of the carriageway, outside the railway station. These birds - quite a number - were white doves! Then I thought - well it's Valentines Day, maybe someone is being romantic and proposing, the traffic lights turn to green, and we drive home. I just need to know what happened, was it a romantic proposal - did she say yes?

A flock of Doves - more than 10, probably nearer 20, is not something you usually see at that time of night in the city centre - is it? Maybe it is, maybe I just need to get out more!

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-13T18:54:00.003Z

Queens Heart
by Just Nan

This was a quick stitch, I started and finished it last night. any suggestions for making it up? I'm thinking a stuffed heart shaped hanging pillow - what do you think? It's sparkly with beads, pink paillettes and some blending filament in there.

This week has not been good for me, I got a headache on Tuesday, and it did not go until today. Wednesday I was in bed by 7.30, and I should not have gone in to work on Thursday - but I did, but I knew I'd done the wrong thing once I got there, but I'm never off ill, so I stuck it out. Again I was in bed by 9pm. Yesterday I was supposed to drive to Suffolk for a funeral, dh's Uncle died last week, but unfortunately I knew I would not be able to concentrate on driving all that way (4-4.5 hours). Anyway, all was not lost with dh having taken the day off, we switched to Plan B, a meeting at the care home where mil is. There was a man coming at 11am to measure her up for a specialised chair, which we will pay for, so we went there. But - the man cancelled - what do you know, is that not typical, so it was a bit of a wasted day.

By last night I was starting to feel a bit better, my head did not ache as much if I sat still, but get up and try and do something and it came back (good excuse to sit and stitch). By this morning the pain was in my face and sinuses, but thankfully at 11am it just disappeared. So I was able to go here, and listen to a talk by Janice Gunner, and see and touch lots of her quilts.

Spring has sprung

2010-02-09T21:59:00.002Z

4 wishes by Just Nan

I have now finished all of Spring, and the two rows below are part of Summer.

Travelling Stitcher finished

2010-02-07T22:14:00.002Z

Travelling Stitcher
by LHN
32ct Platinum Murano
Crescent Colour threads

I found this pink fabric in my stash, and it seems to be appropriate for the finishing of this. I plan to make a zippered bag.

Just Nan Sunday

2010-02-06T20:25:00.003Z

4 Wishes by Just Nan

My progress picture from last Sunday, not much added as I didn't stitch for long, I was really tired. I have been suffering lately from a lack of sleep, thanks to teenagers, and their late bedtimes. It's Sunday again tomorrow - just in case you didn't know. :-) - maybe more progress then. For my followers who do not know the pattern - there are 4 seasons to the pattern, Winter stopped just below the snowmen, and now I am working on Spring. The line for Winter reads 'May winter flakes be fleeting'. And talking of winter we have had snow twice this week, and there may be more to come.

And for those who fancy the canal boat holiday, maybe we can organise a stitchers trip!

Dreaming of Summer

2010-02-05T18:08:00.004Z

I don't feel much like talking right now, but I was just looking at some files from an old pc, and I found these holiday pics, so I thought I'd share. These are from a few years ago-2006 I think. A narrow boat holiday that nobody enjoyed - except for me. This holiday included calling out the AA - for the car! And a trip to A&E, we were taken by some kind passers by who had gone out for an evening stroll, and then walked home to get their car to take us. We got a taxi back from the hospital to the boat, and the taxi driver didn't know the way and asked us, who had never even been there in car before! Anyway besides all of that, I loved the boating holiday, so if anyone needs a ships mate - locks are my speciality, I just love opening and closing them.

And I said I didn't want to talk!

This weeks stitching.

2010-01-31T18:57:00.004Z

This was another new start this week, but you're only getting a little peak. Any guesses what it is?

And here's my progress as of last night on Travelling stitcher, I'm really loving this one, the colours are so warming.

It's the last day to....................

2010-01-31T18:03:00.002Z

..........................enter my competition. All the details are here.

If you want to enter, please leave a comment on that post before midnight. As I have comment moderation on, if you pick a number that someone has already chosen before I published their comment, then I will contact you and ask you to change it.

If you're one of my friends, without a blog, then you can email me your guess before midnight tonight please.

If you have already entered then please check you are on my sidebar.

I hope to be back later with some stitching to share, but it seems that dd has run off with that camera cable again!

My new start

2010-01-26T21:03:00.003Z

Travelling stitcher
by Little House Needleworks

I couldn't resist this new start, I bought the chart pack back in November from the NEC. I've seen it around a lot on blogs, with the SAL going on, and it seems to be on a lot of peoples wishlists. I applied to join the SAL, but I've not heard back, so I think I may be too later, but I'm going to stitch it anyway. I'm loving the colours.

JN Sunday update

2010-01-25T19:19:00.003Z

4 Wishes
by Just Nan

My progress after stitching last night, I stitched with 17 different colours last night, and as you can see I have now located the colour I needed to add the text.

I forgot to say that I finished Garden Girl last Thursday, so a new start was in order, which I will show you tomorrow. The battery needs charging in the camera. And not only was there a new start, there was another finish, but that's a gift, so you'll have to wait for that one. And then there was another new start! I think I have startitis, as I feel another start coming on tomorrow night too.

See you all soon.

Birthday gifts

2010-01-23T22:20:00.002Z

A birthday gift from a friend. Thank you Sally. Sally sent me this lovely scissor case, it's in shades of peach/purples, and look at the sentiment on the back, isn't that a nice saying. Sally and I live about 17 miles apart, so we have travelled that road a few times.

The front

The back of the scissor case.

This was my gift from my ds.........................

And one of my gifts from my dd, was a pair of slippers. These slippers are unique - my dd bought plain slippers, and decorated them with buttons from the button tin - isn't that a great idea.

My slipper

Thank you

2010-01-22T11:10:00.002Z

Thank you for all your wonderful Birthday Wishes, I think that's the most comments I've ever received. I put you all in a giveaway draw, and dh chose a number, so Kathy A, congratulations you have won a gift. I have no idea what it is yet, but please email me. I think you have my email address.

Now for my cake, I thought I'd show you a picture. On Monday I was at work, went to lunch, and discovered these little eyes looking at me. I couldn't resist that little face, so he came home with me, and so this was my birthday cake. How old am I? LOL. Could you resist a face like that, he just looked so sad. Although not sure how he feels now he has had his bottom cut off!

Happy Birthday to me

2010-01-21T07:53:00.004Z

Today is my birthday, so I have taken the day off work. It's a day for me, so I may spend some time stitching. As you can see from the cards, I am now 50! Yikes. How did I get to be that age. Actually age is only a number, in my head I'm 26, and today is just another birthday, except people keep reminding me it's a 'special' day. Now come on, what is so 'special' about 50? Does it not just say you're getting old? Who wants to be reminded of that?

I think a bit of online shopping might be called for, a few stitchy treats for me, what do you think? I need to do a 'stock take' of my threads, I am starting to run out of some, so I shall find time for that, and get my order of DMC in. If you're in the UK, where do you buy yours? I don't think there is anywhere cheaper in the UK than where I get my DMC from, but I'd love to know where you shop for yours, and how much you pay.

Have a nice day everyone, I wish you could all come and share my cake.

Garden Girl is growing.

2010-01-18T22:21:00.003Z

Garden Girl
by Country Cottage Needleworks

These designs just seem to grow so quick. The design called for DMC, and Little House brown, but I substituted it for DMC. At first I stole the Little House brown from another chart I have kitted, but then changed my mind and subbed the DMC. The other project has a few dyed threads in, so I decided to keep them all together. I know how I'm going to finish this one up, as long as I can find the right fabric.

4 Wishes progress

2010-01-18T18:06:00.002Z

This is the latest progress picture of 4 Wishes. Not a lot of progress last night, and the frog came to stay awhile. And then there's a colour that is needed for the verse, but I have been unable to find it, it must be in a project somewhere? I can't wait for next Sunday to get this Winter section finished, then it's on to Spring.

A new start

2010-01-17T18:02:00.003Z

I have been trying to control my need for new stitchy starts, but on Friday night I gave in again, and decided to start on this one. I'm hoping it will be a quick stitch, I would like to finish this up within the week. Today I'll be stitching on 4 Wishes, as it's JN Sunday.

Thank you all for visiting my blog, yesterday I think I had the most visits ever! I love it when you leave comments too, but I understand if you don't have time to leave a comment, with all the blogs I follow, I'd never have time to go to work or to stitch if I always left a comment. But be sure I am out there looking at your blogs.

Winter Biscornu

2010-01-16T14:30:00.003Z

Winter Biscornu
by The Victoria Sampler

The underside

The top

I decided to stitch this on Monday night, it's a freebie pattern available on the VS Yahoo group. Actually, it's a pattern for a competition on the group, which ended last night. The pattern will eventually be added as a freebie to the VS website. I stitched mine using DMC threads, on 28 vintage beige cashel.

There were snowflakes on the pattern, and also red cardinals, but I chose not to stitch them. I did start on a snowflake but it just did not show up well on the fabric. I had these small red Jade hearts in my stash, so I stitched those on where the snowflakes were meant to be. I wanted to add a red button to the centre but couldn't find anything suitable, so I added these gems, I can't remember the name of them, but they were something I had in my stash. I added bright red satin fabric under the hardanger hearts, and then it was finished. I did not add beads around the edges, as nothing I had seemed suitable. I love the design around the edge with it's little pine cones.

4 Wishes

2010-01-15T08:15:00.004Z

4 Wishes
by Just Nan

This is my progress picture. I started this on Sunday, and have not stitched on it since. I was lucky enough to get some stitching in during the day as well as the evening. It was so nice to sit by the fire, and look out at the snow. The snow has just about disappeared now. I changed the bunnies tails on this pattern, I added an extra stitch because I thought they looked a bit square.

This week I have had a new start, and hoping I will finish it today, well actually I have finished the stitching, and started on the making up, so hopefully it will be finished today, I just need to get some fabric and stuffing.

Just wanted to thank you for all the comments and ideas for Snow Fall. And can you believe that one of my blog readers -Elena- has Lavender Hearts, and had my bead in their pack! and has offered to send me it, how wonderful is that.

Wishing you all a good day, I am off to the hairdressers.

Did this kit include a frog?

2010-01-13T15:07:00.002Z

Before Friday night stitching

Lavender Hearts biscornu
The Sweetheart Tree

Friday night SAT (stitchathon)

I picked this up on Friday night with the aim of finishing it (not all in one night). But there were lots of visits from the frog, each threaded needle seemed to have to be unpicked. And from what I could see I had already unpicked some in the past, so my guess is that's why it got put away last time. And there is one of the beads missing in the packet, so I think I will miss off the beads from the bottom side. Do you ever find projects like this?

Now can I face this again on Friday, or shall I pick something else?

Where did it go wrong??

2010-01-12T17:33:00.003Z

Snow Fall Roll
by Shepherds Bush

I decided to stitch a little more on this, but look at it. Below what I've stitched so far, I need to add a row of mittens (just started), followed by another row of stitching - well that makes it off centre, and I won't have as much fabric left at each end of the roll as I'd like, so I'm thinking I may pull the start of the mitten row out, and just leave it at that, apart from adding the lace, and a few finishing details - what do you think?

Could this be the reason it is off centre? I think I can only partly blame this, the pattern has two centre marks printed on it, I'm not sure which I used, but then this alone wouldn't account for how much the design is off centre, unless of course both of these markers are wrong?

Shall I start again?

Snow

2010-01-11T17:10:00.005Z

The front gate

Trees in the street

The back garden

I'm sure most of you are aware that we have had a lot of snow in the UK, it seems to have made headline news around the world. Well, we have had snow since Jan 1st, it started snowing just after midnight, and snowed every day up to Friday and never melted, but Friday it came down heavy. Our garden on these pics has about 8-10 inches. The city became gridlocked at rush hour, and it took everyone hours to get home. Dh was on the bus, and the 10-15 minute journey took over one hour. Yesterday it started to rain, and it didn't stop, not heavy rain, but steady rain, and this has nearly washed all the snow away, but we are supposed to get more snow. We are now sweltering in the 2C temperature, is it nearly summer?

Tonight, I have finally got the camera cable back off dd, but did she put it back by the pc where I keep it - no, away in the camera box on top of a cupboard! - even though I was waiting for it! I'm sure if you have teenagers you know what it's like, you have to wait, and wait, and be patient, and wait, and then it's usually your fault - not theirs.

I made great progress on JN Sunday, so now need to get a pic of that for you.

Grrrrr, oh and there's a finish too.

2010-01-10T14:57:00.005Z

Peppermint Twist
by The Sweetheart Tree
Teadyed 40ct linen
DMC threads

I've finished the December SAL, yay. Well I actually finished it on Thursday night, but only just got around to photographing it. I hope you like it. I know Sally is not far behind me. I really enjoyed this, although that wasn't what I thought when I first started it. I'm going to finish this as a large pinkeep, unless I change my mind.

And Grrr..............
If you're reading this and thinking where is the pic, well it will be here later. I used dh's camera, and it uses the same cable as dd's. I always leave this cable connected to my pc, but it's not there. Now dd lost her cable earlier last year (left it in a pc at college-and won't go and ask to have a look in lost property), so my guess is she has borrowed the one from here. I've been and searched her room, but not found it, and she is at work until tonight, wo we'll have to wait.

I have some other pictures to share too, but I'll post them another day.

Today is JN Sunday, and I've made a start already, and will look forward to stitching on this later tonight.

Thank you for all the guesses on my little competition - you sure have faith in me. If you've not entered yet, there's still time.

The 2010 Competition

2010-01-06T19:39:00.002Z

Following the 2009 competition, we now have the 2010 competition.

The winner will be announced in 2011, and the winner will receive something I stitch just for them. (who knows what-it's a long way off)

So what do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, well it's just the same as last year. Answer the following question -

How many finishes will I have in 2010?

If you want to enter, please leave me a comment on this post, and I will list you in my side bar, you cannot be anonymous, or I will have no way to contact you if you win.

If more than one person gives the same number, I will contact you to ask you if you want to guess again.

A finish will be something I finish stitching this year, something I make up this year, another craft finish this year e.g. knitted socks, beaded necklace. If I complete the stitching and make it into something this year that will only count as one finish, if I stitched it in an earlier year and finish it this year that will count as one finish. If I frame it that will only count as a finish if I make the frame myself.

Competition closes on 31 January 2010.

Any questions please ask, and I hope you will all enter just so I know you are out there, and to encourage me in my stitching and blogging.

Good luck.

Just Nan Sunday

2010-01-04T20:34:00.002Z

I decided to give in to Just Nan Sunday, and got the fabric down for cutting. The pattern recommends 28ct Raw linen, and I decided on 32ct, the beads are small enough to fit . Then (no idea why) I decided to look for 28ct, but didn't find any, but I did find 28ct Raw Quaker cloth, so I got that down for cutting. But, by the time I settled to start it was gone 8pm, so decided it was a bit too late in the night for a new start, I had to be up before 6am this morning for work, so - JN Sunday didn't happen............ now next week - definitely.

So I did a little more on Peppermint Twist, and I realised that I'd posted up a progress pic from Friday night, and I was a little further on really, I'd nearly finished the house, and planted a tree.

Peppermint Twist
poor quality photo due to
electric light and no flash!

So this is where I got up to last night, I planted two more trees, and lit the fires (see the smoke out of the chimneys). I don't think much more will happen tonight, I'm dead on my fit, and early night is called for.

Bye for now.

The Christmas SAL

2010-01-03T13:35:00.003Z

Here's my update pic for the December SAL, now I have noticed it's January, but I really want to finish this, or it will end up not finished. So this is what I am working on, until it is done.

I have a Just Nan SAL to start, and I have my pattern and threads pulled, I just need to cut the fabric, but I'm trying to resist or I will end up starting that. Although thinking on..... I used to have Just Nan Sundays, where I stitched every Sunday on a JN pattern - I think I should bring that back! Maybe my new start is closer than I want! LOL Stay tuned.

2009 Competition result

2010-01-02T12:05:00.007Z

Here's the rest of my 2009 finishes.

Plaid Greetings
by Ladybuy Lane Designs

Holly Ornaments
by The Sweetheart Tree

Winter Sampler
by Little House Needleworks

Noel Ornament
by The Sweetheart Tree

Holly Stocking
by Alice Okon

Christmas Tree Stocking
by Alice Okon

Heart Stocking
by Alice Okon

Candle Stocking
by Alice Okon

Full of Hope pinkeep-Hope
by MaryKathryn

Full of Hope pinkeep-Support
by Mary Kathryn

Design by Blackbird Designs

2009 competition details found here.

So here's the list of my 2009 finishes, taken from my sidebar.

57. Pinkeep-Blackbird Designs
56. Support
55. Hope
54. Candle Stocking
53. Heart Stocking
52. Christmas Tree Stocking
51. Holly Stocking
50. Winter Sampler
49. Plaid Greetings ornamnent
48. Noel ornament
47. Holly ornament
46. Stitcher's Scissor Fob
45. Millenium Roll
44. Stitcher's Roll
43. English Christmas Roll
42. Pine Pin Roll
41. Folk Heart Roll
40. Tudor Roll
39. Americana Roll
38. Garden Roll
37. Thanksgiving Roll
36. Tree ornament by VS
35. Garden check needle roll
34. Tin finish
33. Santa fob
32. Peace ornament by CCN
31. Peace ornament by Rosewood Manor
30. Bird ornament
29. Snowman ornament
28. GOS challenge-heart ornament
27. Fortune cookie pillow
26. Moon Riders
25. Jinx
24. Jasper
23. Scream Girls
22. Blog giveaway
21. BeCAUSE it's Pink exchange
20. Halloween Exchange
19. By the Sea exchange
18. Summer House exchange
17. August birthday NR
16. Hardanger ring pillow
15. Christmas in July exchange
14. Bianca scissor pocket
13. Just Nan exchange
12. 15 sided Blackwork biscornu
11. The Sampler Lady (LHN)
10. Blackberry Fob
9. Blackberries on Gingham - biscornu
8. Memories (JN)
7. Peyote stitch bracelet
6. Queen of the Needle (JN)
5. Sealed with a Kiss
4. Valentine tuck - Spots of Valentine
3. Tin finish
2. Valentine Exchange - The Vintage Look hear pillow
1. Valentines Exchange - Planted Hearts scissor fob

Here's the list of entries I received in January last year, and I would like to thank you all for joining in with my bit of fun. I can't believe that I actually finished this many, had you asked me last January I think I would have expected around the 20 mark. So I am very surprised and I am thinking I spend too much time stitching/crafting!!

25 - GoldenAngelsWorks
27 - Carla
31 - Stitchingranny
34 - Danielle
36 - Lisa
37 - Carol R
40 - Ginnie
43 - Carol
44 - Clare
45 - Sally
47 - Jackie
48 - Pam
49 - Sam
50 - Nima
51 - Becky K
52 - Julie
53 - Daffycat
54 - Sadie
56 - Christine
59 - Brokenfairy
61 - |Lindsay
62 - Sherry
65 - Moll
72 - Maddy Moo

No one got the exact number but Christine guessed at 56, so was only one out. Christine please send me your details, and let me know if there is anything in particular you would like me to stitch just for you. I know you're a regular visitor to my blog, and leave me lots of comments, so hopefully you will read this.

The Drop Outs

2010-01-01T19:08:00.007Z

I've been looking over the past year, and here's some pics of the starts that never made the finishing line. Some you may have seen before, and others you won't have seen at all.

One sock from a sock kit, this is to be pulled out,
and will probably end up as a scarf.
Just too chunky.

Regia yarn socks - Kaffe Fasset wool
The first one the foot was too long, the second the foot is too short.
The first one is to be pulled out and restarted,
the second will have the toe pulled out, and the foot lengthened.

Knitted bag, needs to be stitched together,
and handles to be knitted.

Hardanger hearts, I just did not like the colours,
now I think I may finish them.

The first start of the ring pillow-I didn't like the colours.
I may finish this by frogging some.

Flowers for Jo, bag and accessories.
I must get on with this, not much stitching left,
and I dated it 2009.

Lavender hearts.
Sweetheart tree biscornu kit.

Rosewood Manor sampler.

I suppose that's not too many that got started and not finished, and by showing them here, they'll remind me too. (Hopefully I won't come across any more).

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T00:34:00.004Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all a fantastic 2010.

Well I didn't get back to show the rest of my 2009 finishes, so I'll show them tomorrow. I've just been out for my New Year walk, and now I'm off to bed. I've been back 5 minutes when dd looked out of the window, and it's white over! We have hail, but not the hard icy hailstones, these are soft white one's.

The Needle Roll SAL

2009-12-31T16:06:00.004Z

My basket of Shepherds Bush needle rolls

I have been in a year long SAL with Sally, we agreed to stitch a needle roll every month, the designs are by Shepherds Bush. I did not keep up well - sorry Sally, however we are continuing with this SAL next year - so I'll try to do better. In theory I should now have 12 made up needle rolls, and I have 9 and 2 in progress, so here they are. The pictures are dark as they were taken with a flash, maybe in the summer it might be brighter.

Snow Fall Roll

Antique Heart Roll
(I made an error in this - having left a gap for the lace,
I then stitched a band in the gap! oops, so I have added a band
of my own design, and need to decide what else to put in the gap)
I will then stitch this again as per the chart.

Garden Roll

Thanksgiving Roll

Pine Pin Roll

Folk Heart Roll

Millenium Roll

Tudor Roll

Stitcher's Roll

English Christmas Roll

Americana Roll

If anyone has any charts/kits in the rest of this collection that I can beg, borrow, steal, buy or trade - please email me or leave me a comment. I do already have some more charts/kits to stitch but wish to complete the set.

I just couldn't resist adding this mini roll to the collection.

Stitcher's Scissor Fob
by Lorri Birmingham

I hope to be back later with a further update, as I have more stitching finishes to add to complete my year.

The December SAL

2009-12-31T09:50:00.002Z

Here's my progress on the December SAL. I didn't enjoy stitching this when I started, but it's grown on me. There's only a couple of pictures left to stitch, and I am thinking I may work on this tonight. I usually have a new start on New Years Eve, but I'm wanting to carry on with this, so I'll have to see how I feel tonight.

This is the first of my postings for today. If anyone remembers my competition - see here. I need to put up photo's of everything I've stitched on so we can see who the winner is. We are going out, and when I come back I think I will need to fight dh for the pc. See you all later.

More gifts I've made

2009-12-30T17:50:00.007Z

I finally made a visit to Sally today, and delivered by hand the Christmas ornament I made for her in our private ornament exchange. I hope Sally likes it, and I'm sorry it's late, but hopefully the bottle I delivered with it makes up for the lateness! I do not seem to have taken a very good photograph of it, but maybe Sally will show you a better picture. I also just made it into a hanging ornament, with a ribbon hanger, I chose not to make the scissor keep.

Gingerbread scissors keep ornament
by The Victoria Sampler

...........................

This was the birthday gift I made for Sally, we have been in a year long SAL, stitching a needle roll a month - although I stitch I do not regularly post on my blog - so you have all this to see soon. Anyway back to Sally's birthday, this is why I chose to stitch her a needle roll. I took the photograph with scissors in the background to try and show you the size of the needle roll, as it is huge in comparison with the Shepherds Bush ones we have been stitching. Unfortunately I did not get it finished in time for her birthday, and Sally didn't actually receive this until today, when I delivered it in person - hope Sally has opened it by now! and she doesn't think it's for her next birthday. LOL

Garden Check Needle Roll by M Designs
stitched on Polstitches hand dyed fabric
and recommended threads

A close up of the Spiders Web Roses
these were stitched in Thread Gatherer Silken Pearl

.................................................

Here's the photo's of the birthday gift I sent to my partner who had a birthday in November. This birthday exchange was organised by Edgar on the Stitching Bloggers Birthday Club blog. I sent these gifts out in November, but I have no idea if they were received, but then neither have I heard that they didn't arrive. The stitcher I sent to no longer updates her blog, and I'm sure she doesn't read mine, but I hope she is well, and nothing has happened to her. As you can see I did my favourite tin finish, and included gifts from her wishlist. The scissors I sent don't show up on the photo, but they were two tone in dark green and red.

Exchanges

2009-12-29T20:29:00.003Z

Here's a picture of the Tin exchange I took part in on the Just a Thought message board. The idea being - you fill a tin with Christmas gifts, and you don't have to stitch anything, this non stitchy exchange always proves very popular. I struggled to find a Christmas tin, but you might know I found plenty once I had sent one in the post. The tin I sent was just plain navy, but I thought it would make a great base to attached a stitched topper. I found these great Santa scissors, and couldn't resist making a little Santa fob for them. I also sent gifts as in the photographs and included a homemade Christmas card (cardmaking was once a hobby of mine).

AND ANOTHER EXCHANGE

Here's the hanging pillow I made for Gaby in the 'Gifts to friends' Christmas exchange. Gaby had this on her wish list, and I thought it was cute, so I made it into a hanging pillow. This is from the JCS ornament issue, but I don't really think it's very Christmassy, more an all year round ornament. I hope Gaby liked it. The following photo's are of the gifts I included - scissors, fabric, threads, finishing ribbon, chart with charm, diary, mini notebook and candy canes.

Gifts from friends

2009-12-28T13:39:00.002Z

This is the wonderful ornament that Sally stitched for my for our exchange. It looks wonderful sitting in my tree, don't you just loved the twisted ribbon edge, and the pins. Sally hasn't got hers from me yet (blushing) - although it was finished and wrapped well before Christmas, I am hoping to deliver it by hand before the new year.

And look at this gorgeous needle book I received from my friend Carol, isn't it stunning, it's so fine and delicate. Thank you Carol (no blog). I'm using it already.

Gifts

2009-12-28T13:33:00.002Z

Here's a selection of gifts I received from my family. As you can see I think they got the message that I like crafts. There was chocolate too, and the Wii Fit will help to get rid of that!

This was supposed to be a post about the stitchy gifts I received, but they seemed to have disappeared into the hard drive, so I will make another post about them

It's Christmas

2009-12-25T22:35:00.002Z

Merry Christmas

I hope you've all had a great day, we have had snow for over a week now, although it's not snowed for days, it was very slippery outside yesterday, and now thankfully it seems to thawing, it's been warmer today, and it's now 2C. I hope that not too many of you are snowed in. I hope to be back tomorrow with some photo's. Hope you got lots of crafty gifts.

Christmas ornaments.

2009-12-21T21:48:00.004Z

Snowman
Free design from Prairie Schooler

An ornament design from
JCS ornament issue
(I just need to track the issue down to give you full details)

Peace by Rosewood Manor
JCS 2008 ornament issue

Just a few of the ornaments I have made recently, these have all now reached their recipients. The snowman was sent to Maddy, the cute little birdie went to my friend Carol (who wasn't going to open it until Christmas-until I persuaded her otherwise). And Peace ornament to Becky.

A big thank you to Sally, who sent me a wonderful ornament for our exchange, and now I can't find the pic on the camera so now I need to take another. And an even bigger apology to Sally, who still hasn't received mine, even though it was wrapped up over 2 weeks ago.

The December SAL

2009-12-13T17:27:00.003Z

Here is my December SAL with Sally, we decided on this last year when the design was published, and we have looked forward to it all year.

Peppermint Twist by Blue Ribbon Designs.

First was the decision about what to stitch it on. Here's the choice, this is 36ct Belfast linen in Raw.

Then there was 40ct linen, hand dyed by me with tea leaves.

I decided to go with my own hand dyed linen, as I didn't really think the darker colours showed up too well on the Raw linen.

And here's the progress pic, I think the linen is a bit too light to show the snowflakes, maybe they would have shown up better if I'd done them in two strands, but this is not possible on 40ct, so I'll just have to live with it.

This piece has had a few visits from the frogs, I just hope they've gone now.

Whitmans Sampler Tin

2009-12-12T07:47:00.003Z

Yesterday, the postie called, with a huge box. And just look what it contained. I was stunned, and words cannot say how much I liked the contents.

This was a tin exchange, at the JAT message board. The idea was to fill a tin with gifts, and you didn't have to stitch anything. As you can see, my partner decided to stitch for me, isn't it beautiful. And there was a tin still sealed, containing chocolates, which is going under my tree, and I will open that on Christmas day. I hope you can see the scissor fob and scissors, which were in the tin, and the other gifts. I've never seen a 2 year diary before, and then there's a Christmas decoration, a notebook and a highlighter. All these came from Lauren (no blog). Thank you Lauren.

This parcel was posted on 8th in the US, and arrived here in the UK on 11th. I sent my package out nearly 2 weeks ago, so where is it?

I also sent a package to the US about a month ago, and I have not heard from the recipient that it has been received, and this blogger has not updated their blog for some months, so I'm hoping they have received it. I'm going to share pics anyway, in the next few days, I'm sure they don't read my blog, so it should be OK. I have also posted off some Christmas ornaments, so I'm hoping to show those soon, and then there's the December SAL that I am doing with Sally, although I've not stitched on that this week. I have been really busy on an evening. On Monday night, I went shopping with DD, and by Wednesday night I was exhausted again, and was nodding off in the chair. This bug I have really takes it out of you. Thursday night, I was out with a group of friends from work for a Christmas meal. And last night I chilled out.

Gifts between friends

2009-12-08T19:01:00.002Z

This is the wonderful exchange package that I received from Barbara. Don't you love it all, are you jealous. There's fabrics, thread, scissors, ribbon, thread drops, Sweetheart Tree chart and charm, a detailor (never seen one of these before, but looks like a nifty gadget) and chocolate, which dd can't wait for me to open, but I'm saving it for Christmas. Hope I didn't forget anything - oh such a cute little ornie in there too. I was going to save the package, but felt it would be rude not to post a pic before then.

Thank you Barbara.

And - once again I have been struck with illness, and still recovering. A flu type thing sending me to my bed, and leaving me exhausted by an evening. And if anyone would like this persistent cough, you're welcome to it.

The Creative Cross Stitch Challenge #1

2009-11-22T18:54:00.003Z

Over at The Gift of Stitching blog, there's a challenge.

As soon as I saw the chart an idea popped into my head, and here is what I came up with. I stitched the design three times and back-stitched it.

And then I joined them all together, stuffed it with lavender - it smells wonderful. Then I added a beaded hanger, and tassel, and here is the finish, hung from my stitching lamp.

Dyeing linen

2009-11-21T12:32:00.004Z

Today I decided to have a go at dyeing some 40ct linen. I only have white in 40ct, and I really wanted it to be darker, so with the help of tea leaves from the bottom of this mornings pot, here's the colour of my new fabric. It's laid on top of the original white just so you can see the difference. I'm really pleased with the result, and it was so quick and easy to do, I'll certainly be giving it another go. This linen is likely to be used in a Christmas project I have planned. More about that another time.

Cake anyone?

2009-11-08T14:51:00.003Z

I've just realised that I never shared this pincushion with you. My dd was inspired by the pincushions I'd found on the Internet, and kept sharing with her. So this is what she made me, my own little cake, complete with a cherry on the top.

Yesterday, we had a great day at the show, but I only came home with a small bag of purchases - I did really well! The traveling there was not as bad as anticipated, so we got there in good time, just a little bit of slow moving traffic, mostly due to roadworks. We normally stop at a service station where they have a watch stand, with all watches for £5, and I usually buy a fashion watch, however we stopped at a different service station - so saved £5 - more to spend there. LOL. On the way home we made great progress - thankfully - as I was not well, and was in bed within 5 minutes of stepping in the door. I'm still ropey today, so taking things easy, and hence I'm here blogging AND dh hasn't got his trip out.

It's the weekend

2009-11-06T07:32:00.004Z

I'm so glad it's the weekend, and today we have a beautiful sunrise. I don't think the photo's do it justice, I just stuck the camera outside the door to take them. I just love it when there's a mist on the field, it's so pretty.

I have a busy three days, I will be out to the hairdressers soon, and then I need to do some food shopping, this afternoon I will be visiting Sally. It's so long since we saw each other, and to be honest we've not been very good at keeping in touch via email either, so looking forward to a good chat. See you later Sally.

I took this photo this morning too. This fuchsia used to flower in the summer, but as gradually got later and later, sometimes flowering at Christmas, but this is what it looks like today. This has been in the ground for years, and often gets a good prune back, I'm surprised it's still living, as there are not too many things that will grow well in my front garden, they usually get eaten by something.

As I have a really hectic weekend, I thought I'd chill last night, and just look at my bath! I used the bath bomb that I got off Maddison, and the bath water turned the deepest pink you have ever seen. If you look really closely you might just see all the little pink and white hearts that were in the water too.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Crafts for Christmas, I really love this show, but the coach journey is horrendous. We usually end up in a traffic jam when we get nearer the NEC. The final few miles take about 1.5 to 2 hours! And then we rush around, as we never have long enough there!

And then on Sunday, dh wants to go to Harrogate for this show. We actually went to this show earlier in the year, when it was at the NEC, and I was just so bored, it really is not my cup of tea.