A new bracelet

Today I went to a beading workshop, and this is what we made, a peyote stitch bracelet with a picot edge and a beaded toggle fastening.

I've not been around the pc much this week, as I was struck down with a cold middle of the week, it started on Tuesday night with a sore throat and painful ear, and now I just need to take a box of tissues everywhere with me - such fun. I thought I'd been doing well to avoid this as ds had it the other week, and ended up with antibiotics, and then dd has had it for two weeks. Anyway I'll catch up eventually, and I'm hoping that this cold had something to do with why I felt so down for a couple of weeks before it landed. So fingers crossed, and now I'm off to collapse in the chair by the fire. Hope everyone else is well.

Another new start

Memories by Just Nan

Well, it was Sunday yesterday so I had to start a new JN piece, and this is what I started, mainly because it used a lot of the same colours I already had out for Queen. I'm not sure I can wait until Sunday to stitch on this again.

I have stitched another 3 pieces for Flowers for Jo, and just have another 2 to do, and I think the finishing kit will arrive this week.

I'm not feeling very chatty at the moment, so if I owe you an email, please be patient with me. And thank you all for continuing to visit, and leaving me wonderful comments, they really make my day.

A new start

This is Flowers for Jo, by Judy Odell, I'm looking forward to making this one up, the finishing instructions are amazing. I need to chart my initials to fill that gap.

Queen of the Needle

Finished on Sunday, I just need to stitch the charm on, but this will be done when I've backed it , I intend to finish this as bell pull when I've bought the ends. A very poor pic, but I might be able to get a better one when it's hung on the wall.

Nearly there

Queen of the Needle update pic

A wish granted

Kathy asked for a tin finish on the Make A Wish board, and I jumped in. I love these tin finishes. I used the Victoria Sampler pattern from Christmas Poinsettia pattern, and changed the colours. Kathy didn't like pink, and gave me a list of colours she liked, one of them being red, so I went with this as it matched the tin. I still need to make myself a tin finish - one day.

Make A Wish

Just look at this beautiful biscornu I received from Gaby. I wished for something with a JN design, and Gaby excelled, she stitched two JN freebie designs and made them into a biscornu, which is trimmed with a beautiful beaded edge. There's a cute little dragonfly charm on one side, and a little bee on the other. I'm drooling over this one. Thank You Gaby.

I also heard that a Make a Wish I sent has arrived, however you'll have to wait to see that one, as the photo's must still be on my camera somewhere. sorry.

Thank you again!

Look I just received this in the post from Vonna. I was lucky enough to win it in Vonna's recent giveaways. Just perfect for me - being a JN fan. It's Just Nan's Summer Spell. And not only is this the chart, but the fabric and frame too. It's so cute. Thank you Vonna.



And this poor specimen of a photograph is a progress pic of Just Nan's Queen of the Needle. This was my Sunday stitch, but I hadn't stitched on it for a few Sundays, so I picked it up again - on Saturday I think, and I have decided to make it my focus piece. So now I'm off to stitch on it. I've just bribed dd into doing the family washing for me for this week, so hopefully I'll get caught up on emails and blogs soon.

For Denise- you asked about the size of Sealed with a Kiss - as it was stitched on 40ct fabric it's not as big as you might think - it only measures just over 8 inches square.

Thank you again

Thank you to my friend Sally for this award, you know I appreciate it. And thank you for being my stitchy friend. Time for another meet up?

This award means -

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I am to choose eight friends to share this with.

This is always the difficult bit, and please don't feel let down if you're not on the list, it doesn't mean I think less of you.

SALLY - back at you.

PATTI

VONNA

BARBARA

CAROL

CLARE

NICKI

BECKY

Thank You

Thank you to Patti for this award. I hope you don't mind, but I'm not going to nominate anyone, as I was also given this award here. But thank you for nominating me, it means so much. - Hugs to you.



And Thank you to Sally for this next award. - see new post - I'm having trouble with this one.

It's a wrap

Sealed with a Kiss
Blue Ribbon Designs

Just finished and I can't wait to get this framed. It's many years since I last had anything framed, but I just have to frame this. I was so pleased with the border, it just sets the design off.

Sealed with a Kiss

Progress pic as of last night. I now plan on stitching on this until it's finished, so looks like JN Sunday will be taking a back seat again. There are 7 squares to complete and the border to stitch. Now you're going to count the empty ones aren't you? Well I have stitched another couple of squares since this photo was taken - so I can count really!. I am way behind on emails and blogs - again. We have had this week off work and have been out and about, and then dh goes on the pc when I want to be on it. Hopefully back to normal next week, back at work, and then will have to play catch up. Hope you're all enjoying the weekend, and if you're in the UK - the much warmer weather. Not that I'd call it warm, but you know what I mean.

Another Valentine exchange arrives

Planted Hearts
by Lavender Wings

I heard from Karen that the HOE Valentine exchange package has arrived. I was getting worried, as it seemed to take forever. I stitched a scissor fob from the Lavender Wings chart - Planted Hearts, and added Karen's name to the back. I also included this box, which I couldn't resist when I found it in a local shop. I originally intended adding some stitching to the top, but then decided it was too pretty, the box itself is in a very pale silver grey, and then topped with cream lace, and gorgeous tassel.


I also included some heart shaped post it notes, a heart shaped emery keyring, and pink threads. (I meant to put some fabric in, but realised a few days later I'd forgotten it - sorry Karen)

Valentine from Su

Just look at this gorgeous Valentine pillow from Su. This was a private exchange with just the two of us. This mini pillow is truly stunning, and I'm sure that Su will have some better photo's on her blog, I'm not the best photographer in the world. I just loved everything about this when I opened it, the colours are just me, and it's so pretty. Don't you agree?

Happy Valentines Day

Spots Of Valentines
by Pine Mountain Designs

This was a kit I had, and a quick stitch. I made this for DD, for her room. The top picture represents the colours of this cute cushion. Now does anyone know what the spot on the bottom left is? A candle? I have no idea.

Patti-sorry it's on Aida. LOL

Today I went to the embroidery society meet up, and the speaker was Sandra Wallace, who had some wonderful beaded items on display.

Edited - to add. I am reliably informed that the bottom left spot is a Chocolate Kiss (Hershey's) - something we don't have in the UK. Thanks for letting me know.

Valentine Exchange for Su

The Vintage Look
Design by Brenda Keyes

This the Valentine Exchange I made for Su. I just had to stitch this for Su, but then got a bit scared that the heart shape would go wrong, so changed my mind and started Plan B. Now Plan B was something that I'd seen in Su's photo album, and she had made it for her sister, however I then stitched something in the wrong place, and it could not be frogged. This meant I could not completed the stitching as on the pattern. I then made something up to fill another space, and couldn't think of anything else for the last space - notice I'm being a bit cagey here. I'll reveal when I eventually decide what to do. Anyways, after that disaster, I went back to Plan A. I really liked the colours in this design, and was pleased how the heart pillow turned out. I then stitched and gathered the ribbon around the edge-another first for me, but I'll be doing more of this finishing method. Su says she likes it, so that was a relief. I sometimes wonder why I join exchanges, as I give myself so much stress and grief over choosing the design, and the making up.

Today we have snow. It snowed non stop for over 6 hours, at first it didn't lay, but after a couple of hours it started to, and we probably have a couple of inches on the ground. I just popped my head out of the door, and it's thawing now, I can hear it dripping from the trees. I hope it doesn't freeze overnight, or the roads will be treacherous tomorrow.

Thank you

Just a quick blog entry - just to say I am still in the land of the living - just in case anyone is missing me.

I've been pretty busy with life - and therefore not much stitching has been happening here. And the first thing to go when I get busy is UFO stitching, and JN Sunday's, so I have no updates to show you either.

My first finish for 2009 was posted some time ago, and I expect it will have arrived at it's destination by now. If I don't hear anything by the weekend then I'll post a picture anyway, as I'm sure the recipient doesn't read my blog.

And the Thank you goes to all of you who have entered my competition. I can't believe how many things you expect me to finish this year. All I can say is I'll do my best, and you are giving me encouragement. And I know I need to get out many things that need making up into something - is it a FUFO? If so, then I've go a lot of FUFO's. LOL

I was going to post a photo on Friday, but my camera decided to freeze! and I couldn't get it to work, I was going to show you a picture of my car. On Friday I said good-bye to my car - with some sadness, as I've had her a long time, so I thought it would be fitting to say goodbye publicly, and as I drove her out of my garage, I got the camera out, but it was not meant to be. I hope somebody nice becomes her new owner. I did exchange her for another car, but I'm not attached to this one yet!

Competiton closing

Just a quick post, to say my competition will close at the end of today, so if you want to enter please leave a message on that post. Or if you want to change your guess, just leave a message on that post.

Can you believe it's February tomorrow! There's not been much stitching happening here in the last few days, I've just been so tired.

Valentine Exchange received

This morning the postman delivered a package. And here's the photo, a lovely Valentine exchange from Gwen. Thank you Gwen I love it. It's a scissor fob with Four Little Hearts design by Indigo Rose, and in my favourite pink and green too. And Gwen included Mill Hill beads, fabric and DMC thread. I'm going to hang this fob in my bedroom.