A Birthday Gift and an Award

Today is my birthday, so Happy Birthday to me. And just look at the wonderful gift I received from Sally. I just love it. This design was on my wishlist, and it was only Friday that Sally was asking me when my birthday was. I usually keep quiet about it. Little did I know she was already stitcing away! Not only did Sally stitch the pinkeep/scissor keep, she also included the scissors, and they are beautiful. It's funny, but it was only Friday we had a conversation about scissors, I think I'm becoming a collector. I'm just in the middle of ordering some Gingher's. I'm orderin my self stash - a present to me. I won't say how old I am, but I am now starting the countdown to the big one - five oh, oh no. I'm not sure how I became this age, I'm only 20 in my head! Apologies for the poor quality pictures, and I have no idea why the photo of the back (below) appears pink. Taken within a minute of each other, same place, same lighting - who knows?.




And now for an award. I was given this by Dawn, and I was thrilled, so as part of this I need to list my top 5 addictions, and also give the award to 5 bloggers-which is always the hardest part. I just love so many blogs, but I will choose 5, but please don't be disappointed if you're not on there, it doesn't mean that I don't love your blog any less.



My 5 addictions are:

1. My children - I love them to pieces
2. Chocolate - I could live on it
3. Stitching - I could stitch all day
4. The Internet - I could browse all day
5. Shopping - for stash - is there any other shopping?

5 awards to

Carol R
Sally
Su
Carol S
Nicole

Just Nan Sunday - update

This is my progress pic for tonight's stitching, this means Band 1 is now completed, not sure how many there are altogether.

I've also stitched an exchange piece this weekend, so hope to get that made up tomorrow night, and ready for mailing.

And for those that wondered - I made it to Sally's on Friday afternoon, and we had a nice stitching chat.

Oh, and nearly forgot, there's still time to enter my blog competition, and have something made for you, by me, see my post on 11th of this month - you need to leave a comment on that post to enter, or if you have my email address you can email me your guess.

UFO stitching and a Christmas Exchange

Last night was my UFO stitch night, and I got another pair of animals done - the pigs. This is the second time I'd stitched these, the first time had to be frogged, and after that this piece became a UFO. Here's the before pic, for those who wanted to see the full thing.


And here is the after pic, I also back stitched the horns on the Big Horn Sheep.




And here is an exchange I received before Christmas. I took part in the Christmas bag exchange on Judy O'dell's board. As it was organised late, it was decided to not do an ornament exchange as there wasn't a lot of time for stitching if people were already tied in to other exchanges. And Judy gave us an incentive to join in, there would be a $75 drawing for the completed exchanges. The idea was to give a bag and gifts. There were some really lovely bags, but look what I got. I received a Nantucket basket, complete with kit to stitch the top with my initials, and there was a Charles craft mini stocking, some Sky blue linen, Waterlillies thread, 2 skeins of Ecru DMC, a cute Mill Hill reindeer magnet, a couple of tuck pillows, a mini Christmas ornament kit, and a Mill Hill Silk angel kit. I just love the basket, and have already stitched the top. I'll show you it when it's finished and stuck on the basket. The instructions also include how to make a bag lining, so I'm hoping to do that too.



Here's a pic of the goodies I sent to Becky, I originally planned to make a bag, but time was not on my side, so I bought a green velvet one, with bells on it, silver lace, and a silver rope with tassels. I was late posting too, but it made it there on Christmas Eve - phew. I made a scissor fob using some beads I bought from the NEC, or was it the Knitting and Stitching Show. I did do some beading last month, and made some ear-rings. I'll have to get you some pics.

JN Sunday and WIP's

Here's my progress pic from Sunday. I've only worked on this one once before, back in October, and then I completed the white on the right. I was not keen on this, I think it was the stitching of DMC#8 on the linen, it makes it fluff, and not so neat, but now I'm passed that I love the colours. I can't wait for Sunday to work on it again.


And here's my progress on SWAK, I've stitched lots more squares, and now need to fill them in. The last square I filled in needs to be frogged, and that's why I went back to the outline. Easy stitching when you're watching the telly.



And here's SB Garden Roll, I've nearly finished this one, just need to stitch the lace on, and some more beads, and the sun charm of course.


It's 7.40 am, and it's time to head off to the supermarket for the weekly shop. This afternoon I'm going to visit Sally. The last time we planned this, my car wouldn't start, and once before I didn't get there due to car problems, so fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone who's entered my competition, and if you haven't please join in, there's plenty of time left - see post below.

Blog competition and New WIP's

Here's my blog competition, and I hope you will all join in. This maybe a little different to other blog competitions, and it will be a long time before you receive you prize, but it is just for fun, and I really do hope you will all join in. So, what do you have to do, well all you have to do is guess - How many things I will finish this year? That is right up to midnight on 31.12.09.
I have no idea, but I hope your guesses will give me some encouragement. A finish will be something I stitched in previous years, and make into something (just framing it won't count-unless I make the frame myself), it could be something I complete the stitching on this year, and may have started this year or previously. Or something else I make and complete (not stitched). I hope that makes it clear. All you have to do is leave a comment on this posting. Entry closes on 31 January 2009. I will list entries on the side of this blog. The prize will be - something I stitch just for you. Any questions - just shout. (Carol, Pam, Jackie - you can all join in too - you know who you are!)


Now, here's some stitching to show, my New Years Eve start - as I don't go out on New Years Eve, I like to have a new stitchy start, although it nearly didn't happen this time, as I'd been at work in the day, and had a headache, but I forced myself to get some material out and cut it, and that was after 9pm, so a bit of a late start, but I'm loving it. It's called Sealed with a Kiss, and is by Blue Ribbon Designs, I bought the pattern in 2006, and have been wanting to start it for a while. I'm using 40ct white linen, and loving stitching on this fabric, and I'm using the recommended threads. When I started I was thinking I'd do 10 squares a week, but I couldn't put it down. There's 100 squares altogether.


Next up, is Shepherds Bush Garden Roll. Sally and I have decided to do a needle roll a month, so this is my first one. I was going to do the Millenium Roll this month, but when I went to get it out the stash, this one shouted the loudest. I suppose I'm dreaming of Summer. As the temperature soared upwards to -2 yesterday! Although today we now have 9 degrees, and expect some rain, which will be a change. Anyway, I started this one last night.



Friday night was Becky's SAT, I joined the Let's Stitch blog when Becky set it up, with the idea of digging out some old UFO's. I don't think I've blogged my progress on them on my blog, but I will try from now on. I did give the last few Fridays a miss though. So this UFO is Teresa Wentzler's Noah's Ark, and was started many years ago, but I have made good progress by joining in the SAT. As you can see, I completed another square, although I need to back stitch it yet. If you're not familiar with this, there are 22 squares surrounding the ark, and they all contain pairs of animal's stitched over 1.

Before

After

I'm also hoping to return to my Just Nan Sunday's, maybe I'm turning into a rotation stitcher? That's it for now, but I still have some Christmas stuff to share, so hope to be back with those soon. I'm off to get the JN out.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Just a quick post to wish you all a Happy New Year. I've not really been on the PC much, and I have loads of photo's to share, but just need to get them organised, uploaded etc. Hope you all had a nice relaxing Christmas.

I going to hold a little blog competition, and the prize will be something made by me. So please come back soon to check out what it is.

Chris

More finishes to share

Here's the pinkeep I made for Becky on the MAW board. At first I couldn't make my mind up about the design I was going to do, and then The Gift of Stitching appeared, and this design 'Birds of a Feather' by The Victoria Sampler seemed appropriate. I just stitched this part of the design, and replaced the heart between the stitchers with a bee, as that seemed appropriate. I also changed the colours and used only DMC. I was late posting this to Becky, but she was very patient with me, and then the package took an age to get there.




Then I've seen on the HOE blog that this package arrived with Georgie, and this one took over 3 weeks to get to it's destination, and I was late in posting this one too. I hope Georgie likes it and the gifts too.



This month has just flown by, and this week has whistled so fast I didn't notice it. I've not had time for the pc, and spent a couple of days shopping for something to wear for a night out, anyway that's been and gone now, and I finally got my cards posted. I just need to tidy up a few loose ends, and buy some vouchers and I'm done with Christmas. I need to plan a bit better next year.

I also need to get a picture of my SAL with Sally, I've just seen on her blog that she's finished - eek, I need to catch up.

Christmas Ornament exchange

On Wednesday I had hoped to visit Sally, unfortunately my car had other ideas, and it wouldn't start, so my visit was cancelled. We then hoped I would get there on Friday (Sally's birthday) as dh was off work, and could have a look at it, but no, my car still wouldn't start.

Anyway, Sally and I had agreed to do a Christmas ornament exchange between us, and exchange on our meet up, so on Friday afternoon, I walked to the PO and sent Sallys ornaments, as I couldn't guarantee that I could get there next week. Sally, also went to the post office and sent mine, together with some thread she had got me, and I had fabric for her also. Anyway, thankfully, we got what we paid for - a first class postal service, and we both received the packages the next day. Well done Royal Mail.

Here's the wonderful ornament Sally made for me, with a lovely velvet ribbon, and this is my not so wonderful pic, I just couldn't seem to get a clear shot. I love it, and hung it on my tree straight away.


Here are the ornaments I sent Sally, they are both from Christmas Keepsakes II by JBW Designs. This was the first time I've finished an ornament with a felt backing, but it won't be the last.



Now, as I said it was Sally's birthday on Friday, so I sent her this Whitmans tin, I also made the matching accessories using Jane Timmers pattern (Fancy Work). I stitched Sallys name on the back of the pin cushion. Now the little tassel is for a fob for a small pair of scissors to fit in the tin, but I've not been able to find any scissors small enough. So, we are on the look out. I didn't know if Sally would have any, but I don't think she does.






And, just in case you are wondering, my car finally worked on Saturday, after being left on charge all day Friday.

DH gets crafty

Last Friday dh had the day off work. I went out early to the hairdressers, and told him I'd be gone most of the morning. When I came home he was making this. DH has never made a wreath before, but I think he did a great job. It's huge, I asked him if he thought we lived in a big house with a huge door. LOL. Anyway, so far my visitors have all loved the wreath, and loved it even more when I've told them dh made it. It's all natural, he made the circle by stripping some willow, he cut off a tree, it then has some lovely non prickly holly, with red berries, and then some very prickly green holly, which has attacked me twice so far. I had trouble getting a good photo of it, partly because of it's size, and it's pretty dull here, so I've used a photo editor to lighten the pic a little, but I hope you can get the idea of it's size and you like it too. Wish you all lived nearer, and then I'd get him to make you one too.

Spots of Winter

I can now share a picture of this little tuck pillow I stitched for my DD. My dd and I have given each other advent gifts, and this was one of hers. I stitched it a while back when she was out of the way. It's a kit by Pine Mountain Designs, and is called Spots of Winter, I just thought it was so cute, and she really likes it too.




And here is a picture of more spots of winter, which I took last week. This was the scene when I left my local cross stitch club meeting last Tuesday evening. Thankfully the snow has gone now. Although at the weekend we went to the Christmas Craft Fair at Sledmere House, and they still had lots of snow, in fact where they made us park the car, the car was wheel deep in snow, and we had to get help to be pushed off, along with other cars that were stuck.

And talking of cars, yesterday I was going to visit Sally, and when I went to get my car out of the garage it wouldn't start. (I've not used it since Saturday). So now I feel like I am a prisoner, and I'm not happy, dh says he'll look at the weekend, thankfully his weekend will start tomorrow, as he has the day off work. At the moment I am only working two days a week, as I was due lots of time off - I could get used to two days.

SBEBB ornament exchange

I've now heard from Ulla that she received the SBEBB ornament exchange package last week, so now I can share the pictures. I made this hanging pillow from the 2008 JCS ornament issue. I really love this design, and tried to keep to the snow theme, so included some snowflake candles, and also some threads and fabric. I've just realised that I also had some snowflake napkins, and I forgot to put them in the package. Sorry Ulla. Ulla is in Finland, so I'm sure she has plenty of snow, I hope she didn't mind getting a snowman!

Chardonnay - Finished

This was a really quick stitch. I started it on the Saturday night, and finished it on the Sunday night. Just a bit too quick for my liking. I don't think I'll be doing another. It will be back to cross stitch for me.

I have some exchanges on their travels, and one in particular seems to be taking an age to get there. I get so impatient once I've posted an exchange. LOL Hopefully I'll be able to share them soon.

Gifts galore

Just look what the post man brought me. A RAK from Andrea at The Craft Room, I am totally lost for words. Isn't this cute pillow stunning. Thank you Andrea, I love it.


Then another gift, this was a Christmas ornament from Carol at Garden of Stitches, this was the gorgeous ornament for the SBEBB Christmas ornament exchange, isn't it wonderful? I have been lucky enough to have Carol receive my name several times this year, and you just know you're in for a treat when you see Carol's name on the package.




And there was loads of extras too, some lovely scissors, beads, fabric and threads. Those beads go so well with the scissors, I feel a beaded scissor fob coming on. Thank you very much Carol.




And on top of all that, I received a floss tag from Carol's PIF which I joined in January, I told her she didn't need to send anything as I had trouble getting takers, but Carol didn't want me to go without, and made me this cute little floss tag with my initial on it.

Chardonnay - A new start

This is my new start, I started this last night. It's a canvas work project from West End Embroidery, which I bought at Harrogate last weekend. I have admired and resisted their projects for a long time, but I fell in love with this one, as it's nice and Christmassy. it's stitched with DMC#8, Kreinik braid, Threadworx in Candy Cane, and Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays. It's stitching up pretty fast too, but I'm not sure on what I will do with it when it's finished. Any ideas apart from framing, or a cushion? It won't be made into a cushion, as there are lots of long stitches, and a cushion would not be practical for this. So, please share your ideas with me. Thanks for reading.

I'm planning on a few new starts, so keep watching. My next one will be tomorrow, when I start a SAL with Sally.

Beading

If you've been one of my regular readers for a long time, you'll know I love beads. I just love beads, although I've not added beads to so many things this year. Now last week at the NEC I saw this bracelet kit, and couldn't resist buying it. It's basically knitted using very fine wire and the beads are incorporated. I thought knitting with wire would be a little tricky, but found it really easy, and this was whizzed up in about an hour. I don't think that I'll wear it very much, but that's not the point is it?

I had a great time at the Knitting and Stitching show on Saturday. I met up with Colette, and then met up with Lisa, it's so nice to put a face to a blog. LOL

And what did I buy, well that would be telling, you'll have to wait.

A needleroll finish

I made this needleroll last month for Hannah in the HOE needleroll exchange. I didn't actually join in the exchange, but Hannah's partner disappeared, so I offered to send her an exchange. This needleroll is partly from Carol Tinson's needleroll, which appeared in the Gift of Stitching in the summer. I missed a couple of the bands off, and then in the centre I used part of a JN design. I used DMC variations and B5200. The variations were chosen by my DD, and I was really pleased with the result.

Well, I hope everyone is doing well, in our cold snap. I've just come home in snow! My PC tells me it's 4C outside. Brrr!

Last Saturday whilst I was at the NEC, it turns out there were other bloggers there, namely Clare, Lindsay, Andrea and I can't remember who else! How about we all meet up,if we go again next year? Although I did hope to meet up with Clare, but I just didn't have enough time because of the delay in getting there.

Tomorrow, I will be going to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Harrogate, so I'm looking forward to that. I already have plans to buy fabric and scissors, and who knows what else. I've arranged to meet the lovely Colette from Col's Creations

Christmas Ornament received

Look at the wonderful exchange package I received from Carol. I love all of it, and the ornament is exquisite, so delicate, which is what I like. Carol put a bell inside so that it jingles-wasn't that a great idea. Carol included a wonderful handmade beaded scissor keep, and marker pens. And look I've got some of those thread drops with my name on, I've drooled over those when I've seen them on blogs. There was also finishing fabric, stitching fabric and thread, and also a reel of red velvet ribbon, which somehow escaped being photographed. Please visit Carol's blog to see better photographs. Unfortunately I'm only home when it's dark.

Thank you Carol.

And a big sorry to my secret partner, as I haven't posted mine yet, but the organiser is aware.

I've got a Bourse

I made a wish on the Make A Wish board (where else) for a bourse, and Amy granted my wish. I received this lovely bourse, but I don't think my photo's do it justice, it's a pretty lilac colour, and the outside fabric has little hearts on it. When I saw the inside it put a big smile on my face. I love it.

On the stitching front, nothing to show, and no stitching done! I went to the Crafts for Christmas show yesterday at the NEC and really enjoyed it, even though it took 4 hours to get there on the coach, due to the heavy traffic. There was a raffle on the coach and I was lucky enough to be a winner. I won a great big bag full of card making stuff, I do make cards occasionally so I'm sure we'll (dd and I) will be making some soon. I didn't buy a real lot there, one stitching chart, some magazines, 6 strings of beads for beadmaking, but I may be adding some to ornaments if I get the chance. I also bought a bracelet kit, a pork pie, some nuts, and some danish pastries.

Next weekend I'll be going the Knitting & Stitching show at Harrogate, so another day out, I plan on buying some fabric.

Christmas Ornament received.

I made a wish for a Christmas Ornament on the 'Make A Wish' board, and Shelleen chose to grant me my wish. Shelleen discovered I liked snowmen, and stitched this cute ornament from this years Just Cross Stitch Ornament magazine. It's so cute. This was the ornament my dd chose out of the magazine for me to stitch, and Shelleen has saved me a job. Thank you very much. I love it.

For a long time I have been unable to upload my stitching photo's to Webshots, it was just not compatible with Linux, it was also difficult to view other peoples photo's, I could usually see the album, but when you click on a photo to look in more detail, the photo was blank. Recently I noticed this problem seemed to have gone away. Anyway, yesterday I thought I'd try to upload photo's, and low and behold it works now. Yay. So now, I need to get all my pics found and added, not that I really have time for this, but it is nice to have all your photo's in one place. I've now added the link back to my sidebar. And when I get organised I hope to add a wish/trade/sell page too.

Thank you all for your comments on My treasure workstation, I've never had so many comments. I really appreciate your comments, and if you visit without leaving a comment, I appreciate you too. I don't leave comments much myself due to time restraints-I'd never get any stitching done, but I do look at all your wonderful pictures.

Biscornu gift

I made a small biscornu as a gift for Carol and it arrived the other day. The fabric was some left over from a recent exchange that I made Carol, and the thread is Dragon Floss. I found two large pearls which I stitched on either side. The Pattern is a free one, and is different on the other side. I forgot to take photo's, so I stole this from Carol's blog, I hope she doesn't mind.

It's finished

My Treasure Workstation
by Judy Odell
Stitched on 32ct Cameo Rose Linen
with DMC threads

This is the result of my online finishing class. I really enjoyed putting this together. Unfortunately I had to take the photo's under electric light. On my pictures the colours do not look right, but as I can't see what it looks like to you, I can't really say if they look right for you. LOL This project was over 7 months, 6 monthly installments of stitching, and then the final finishing class. I did not start stitching mine at the beginning, as I couldn't make my mind up on colours. My original colour choices, were nothing like this. Think pinks and lilacs, these were my original choices, with baby blue linen, or baby pink linen, but this was what I ended up with. I am pleased with my final colour choice, and although it looks Christmassy, it is not red, but deep rust in colour.

I now must think about finishing my Garden casket and accessories. And I can't wait for the next Designing Ladies. I'm sure I'll be joining in.

Weekend plans

This is the plan for the weekend, to make this up. It's the online finishing class today and tomorrow. Wish me luck, and no mess.