Making Plans (Photo Heavy)

I have a childfree day today so have spent some time deciding some of my stitching plans for 2012. I have decided to stitch at least one Christmas ornament a month…a personal SAL! I have listed them all in my sidebar to keep a track of them.

I have also pulled out quite a few charts to stitch for me, ones I have been wanting to stitch for a while but not quite got around to stitching them. The four Sampler Girl designs will be stitched for the weekly TSG SAL at Needlecraft Haven, the others I will work through throughout the year, once I have completed them I will pull out some more to stitch.

I have now emailed my 4 private exchange partners and have chosen the designs I am going to stitch for each of them, I cannot reveal these until they have been exchanged of course.

Here are the designs I have decided to stitch for myself…so far…

CCN – Sheep in the Meadow

Shepherd’s Bush – Dancing Lambs

CCN – Summer Strawberries

CCN – Ladybugs & Bumblebees

TSG – Coasting Day

TSG – Witch School Sampler

TSG – Jane Austen Love Letter

iStitch – Sew Lavender

Milady’s Needle – A Gift From A Friend

The above design was a Christmas gift from my treasured friend Michelle, along with a beautiful Cath Kidston mug in a tin and some pretty thread.

I received some lovely gifts including a Friends charm chart from Kath, Downton Abbey Series 1 DVD from the children, Sister Act 1 & 2 double DVD pack and lovely Ice Musk smellies from Wes, Noa perfume, a beautiful beaded necklace and a rose scented candle from my parents, stationery, calendar etc from my penpals..well and truly spoilt.

I have started stitching on “Mother Hens”…I managed this stitching on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day nights (whilst watching Downton!)

The children had a fabulous day and were spoilt rotten of course…here are a few pictures of them opening their gifts…

Modelling their Christmas scarves!

That’s all for now folks…..enjoy the rest of your Christmas

Hugs & Stitches

Stitching Progress, Essay Marks, A Gift & Exchanges!

I managed a load of stitching over the weekend on "`Tis the Gift”, I have really enjoyed stitching this piece so far, not sure I will get much more done this week on it though as it’s a busy one, but more of that later on…

Today is Sally’s birthday and I wanted to stitch her a little gift…

Bent Creek “Red Winged Blackbird”

28c Jobelan “Olive” – DMC threads own choice

Sally has emailed me to say she loves it, I am so pleased, hope you have a wonderful day Sally, you deserve it!

I received my mark back for my second assignment and it was a re-write of one part of my first essay plus a reflective commentary, I received a total mark for my first assignment of 60 out of 100 (28 of those for the essay I had to re-write) I was pleased with this score as it was more first academic written piece for 22 years…but I have to say I am cock-a-hoop at my second assignment score of 82! so all the work and hours I am putting in are paying off. It’s poetry week this week, I have a tutorial tomorrow evening followed by Christmas drinkies with my fellow students…so looking forward to that!

You can see why my week is busy, studying this evening, Martha’s trial morning at nursery school & tutorial tomorrow evening, baking Wednesday for Isaac’s Christmas party on Thursday and the school Christmas Nativity performance in the evening, Isaac is a villager and has a speaking part too…Friday is the last day of school until January 4th so I want to get all the wrapping done so that little eyes cannot peek!

Finally exchanges….I have stopped all the big exchange groups now, but I do miss exchanging with fellow stitchers, so in 2012 I would like to do some private exchanges with stitching friends old and new. I would like to do 4 of these throughout the year (March, June, September & December)…this would be just a stitched piece exchange not lots of extras as I am aware of the postal costs rising up and up. If you would be interested in exchanging with me in private please leave a comment on this post stating which month would interest you and also leave your email address so I can contact you. I will do a draw if I have a number of exchangers for one particular month, I may even exchange with 2 people each round. I will do the draw  in a weeks time on 19th December.

I do hope that you would like to join me on this…

Oh and just one more picture of little Miss Poser…

Thanks for visiting today…

Hugs & Stitches

Back and Forth…

That’s what I will be doing to school the next few days, little soldier has gone back this morning, just for half days…my the time I’ve got to school and back it’s time to turn around and go and collect him…lol…it’s even slower as little miss is walking dawdling….so it takes twice as long! But he was happy to be back today…and so was I, his teacher is sending the afternoon work home with him so he can do that later with me…last thing I want is him falling behind with his schoolwork. I have managed to do the polishing, vacuuming & mopping downstairs, make the beds and the washing…in the past 90 minutes…so good going I think!

On to stitching…..firstly my iStitch mystery SAL piece, which I re-started as the 40c linen I was using didn’t have an “even weave” so it looked distorted…very tall and narrow….not square as it should do. I am now using 32c Murano Vanilla, with GAST “Rhubarb” and stitching 1 over 1, it’s tiny but I love it….

I have tried in vain to upload the special unclickable picture which Carol sent to me…but with no success…but you can see all the SAL pieces over at Carol’s blog…here

I finished my next TSG SAL piece, it was a really quick stitch and only took 3 evenings…

The Sampler Girl “A Little Bird’s Tea”

Sugar Maple Hand dyed linen (unsure of the count)

GAST & DMC threads

I am finishing this as a bedpost hanging pillow, I post a picture once completed….talking of completing…I have about 10 finished pieces to frame, make up into cushions, hangings etc., so hopefully I will be able to have a making up day very soon.

My next SAL peice for the TSG SAL is…

I will make a start on Wednesday evening…so will be able to post progress soon….

I have completed an exchange piece too, but cannot share this with you…tonight is Lizzie*Kate SAL night so some more work on 12 Blessings will be done.

A wonderful spell is floating in from the kitchen of a roasting chicken crown with a garlic and rosemary marinade…mmmm will be having that for dinner this evening with all the trimmings, roasties, veggies, gravy and Yorkshire Puddings of course!

I made a good start on some studies over the weekend, the module doesn’t officially start until 1st October, but I’m trying to get ahead with some reading, I read the chapter on Cleopatra which is part of my first assignment, made some notes and watched the DVD material too, along with the 1963 Elizabeth Taylor epic! I try to do at least 30 minutes to and hour of reading each evening…

Have a great week!

Hugs & Stitches

PIF Gift & A Little Stitching

I’m still struggling to fully regain my stitching mojo, it’s coming back slowly…I have finished a small exchange piece for the “Stitched with Love Exchanges”, I just need to make up the piece and then it’s ready to be mailed. I enjoyed doing it as it was a simple pretty design.

I also managed a small amount of progress on my TSG SAL piece last Wednesday..I hope to get some more on this done this evening..

I started a new Lizzie*Kate design…this is for my Mum’s birthday and she is an avid gardener, so I hope to get it done and finished as a cushion in time for her birthday early September.

A lovely PIF gift arrived from Sally yesterday, it’s a cute little pin pillow with my initial on with matching pin and button…so pretty…thank you Sally.

My place on my degree course is all confirmed, my set books arrived from Amazon today and I headed to town this morning to get a copy of the BBC History magazine as there is an article in there which will be useful for my course (thanks to my study buddy for that head’s up!!), I also got some notebooks, hi-lighting pens and post it page markers…so ready to rock and roll. My textbooks arrive early August even though the course doesn’t officially start until 1st October, I hope to get ahead of my reading during the summer break. The first module is Cleopatra, Christopher Marlowe (Doctor Faustus) and Cezanne…so quite a diverse range straight away to study and write about! The Globe theatre is currently staging a production of Doctor Faustus….I would love to go…so I feel my November trip to the Stitching show at Harrogate will have to be put off another year as this is something I really should go and see!

Well time for school run…again in the his horrible rain, I am so sick of getting wet through everyday :0(

Thanks as always for your visits and comments on my blog!!

Hugs & Stitches

Treats, Gifts, Progress & Finishes

Firstly as promised here is the gorgeous Valentine’s Giveaway gift I received from Lynn at Happiness Is Cross Stitching…isn’t it gorgeous, it’s so delicately and perfectly made…I will treasure it!

I had a childfree weekend as the children were staying with their Dad, so I managed to root out the sewing machine from the cubby hole under the stairs..I finished 3 exchange pieces and my next PIF (which I cannot share at the moment).

I also finished up the 2 tissue cases which I have made for Mark’s Mum and my Mum for Mother’s day gifts.

Polstitches “Pearl Tissue Case”

Left: 28c Brittney “Olive” using Six Strand Sweet threads and pastel coral seed beads, lined in apple coloured shot silk fabric.

Right: 28c Brittney Lilac using Six Strand Sweet threads and lilac seed beads, lined in aubergine coloured shot silk fabric.

Both are filled with Cath Kidston decorated tissues!

I finally got around to making up my Lizzie*Kate “Living with Charm” wall hanging, I backed it with iron on Vilene and a lovely contrasting fabric and used wooden bell pull ends and a cappuccino coloured ribbon to hang it from…not a brilliant picture as the sun kept shining…lol…shouldn’t complain I suppose!!

Finally here is my progress on TSG “In the Garden with Jane Austen” SAL…I hope to have a HD this week on the flower motif top right to complete and the picket fence to run along the bottom on the design…then all done…I have loved stitching this design.

I have done a small amount of stitching on my “Home of A Needleworker” WIP (no photo at moment), I have almost built the house, just the roof to complete and the windows to fit!!

I have updated my for sale/trade page…please let me know if anything takes your fancy!!

School Governor’s meeting tonight, so I won’t manage any stitching, I may have time to do some knitting when I get home…

Hugs & Stitches

January Progress & Other Offerings

Well that was a quick month, but I am delighted in how much stitching I managed to achieve.

Here is where I am on my WIP’s

First my “Bouquet for Cheryl” piece, for the Stitchers Showcase SAL, I am so loving stitching this design and I love the thread I have chosen. I am stitching it on 32c Murano in Vanilla using Dragon Floss in Precious.

Secondly my Just Nan SAL piece which I am stitching with the girls over at the Stitch & Stash board, again I am loving this, it’s my first ever JN piece and certainly will not be my last, highly addictive.

My third SAL this year is the LHN Monthly Ornament SAL organised by Vonna, this month is “Pear Tree” and here is my progress on the second ornament.

I haven’t made a lot more progress on BBD “Their Song” as I have only stitched on this for one evening this month…but I have added about 3 small motifs..

I have been doing some smalls stitching too, firstly a re-stitch for an exchange piece which I posted on the 9th January which has disappeared in the postal Bermuda triangle, so I cannot show this. Secondly I am also doing another repeat stitch on the “Sweetheart Tree’s Opalescent Heart” which I stitched for myself about a year ago, my Mum has always admired it, so I have decided to stitch this for her for Mothering Sunday.

I have started knitting again, I started with dishcloths to get myself back into practice and when I went to Helmsley last Saturday I found a little wool shop so couldn’t resist in a little purchase…these bargains were only 50p a ball…perfect for a scarf I thought. :)

Then I found these lovely colours in Boyes on Friday…something for Martha I think will be made from these…

I didn’t have a bag for my knitting, so I decided to put one of my Cath Kidston bags to use…

Almost done folks….lol

Thought you may like to see this picture of my monkeys…cuties eh!!

Well that’s all folks….as always a huge thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my waffles..much appreciated.

Have a great week

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

As Another Year….

draws to a close….and we plan our New Year’s Resolutions…it’s time to plan another year of stitching..woohoo!!

But before this…here is a picture of a piece I finished stitching a few months ago but had not got around to making it up..

I finished this piece as a cushion with ribbon trim and vintage mother of pearl buttons using a delicate pale green, cream and pink paisley fabric which I had in my stash.

We had a quiet family Christmas this year and my parents joined us for Christmas Lunch, the children had a great time unwrapping and playing with their gifts

  

I also received some lovely gifts from family and friends, perfume, smellies, Take That DVD, stitching goodies, Cath Kidston passport case, lots and lots of chocolate…heartfelt thanks to you all xxx

My 2010 stitching includes 3 SALs

LHN Monthly Ornament SAL

Stitchers Showcase “Bouquet for Cheryl” SAL

Stitch & Stash “Just Nan” SAL

alongside these I will be partaking in a minimum number of exchanges..

I also have 1 WIP I need to complete

BBD “Their Song”

and 4 UFO’s to complete

Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler

L*K Double Flips

Papillion Garden Sampler

Debbie Draper “Little Book of Stitches”

and finally 3 PIF’s to complete…

so all in all a busy stitching year!!

Well on a final note a BIG THANK YOU to all my readers and followers over the past 2 years and I look forward to spending another year with you…stitching, stashing and waffling!!

Wishing you all a Happy Healthy 2010

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

That Friday Feelin’….

Isn’t it just wonderful when the postman brings you treats and this morning I received 2 treats :0) the first being a beautiful PIF gift from Sally, it is a delightful “Forget me Not” needleroll, I had admired this on Andrea’s blog as Sally stitched one for her, so Sally decided it would be perfect for me…and it is…thank you so much Sally I will treasure it :)

The second treat was a parcel from my wonderful stitching friend Michelle and she has stitched me a gorgeous hanger which I absolutely adore…I have even already put a hook in the wall above my stitching cabinet to hang it under my Tailor Of Gloucester picture. Thank you so much Michelle, you are such a special friend to me xxxx

Now onto an exchange piece which I sent to Marian for the Stitchers Showcase Christmas Ornament Exchange, it’s a Lizzie*Kate Tiny Tidings design “Feliz Navidad” which Marian tells me is perfect for her as her second language is Spanish…it is stitched with DMC threads and finished with beads on the tree and one the corners of the ornament.  

I received my new sewing unit last Saturday and promptly put it together and it looks fantastic…as promised here is a picture for you to see, I am really pleased with it, it’s looking rather tidy at the moment as I haven’t done any sewing on it as yet…lol.

Whilst I am showing you this I thought I would show you the rest of my sewing and stitching bits and bobs…here is my stitching cabinet…filled with my fabbies, charts, threads and WIPs etc….

here is a close up of the 2 baskets which are on the top which contain a lot of my stitched smalls, both stitched by myself and my friends :)

and finally my 4 boxes of speciality threads containing my collections of Dragon Floss, Six Strand Sweets and Carries Creations, I think I will need to get some more of these soon as I am running out of space in my cabinet for all my “other” speciality threads…lol.

 

I am really looking forward to the weekend, it’s Miss Martha’s first birthday tomorrow and we are having a little family tea party… the kids are then going to their daddy’s for the night and Sunday and my boyfriend is coming over for the weekend…yes you read right boyfriend, I have kept it quiet for a while but it’s now “public” lol…I’ll keep you all in suspense for a bit longer for all the details…lol  

Right off to do some more party baking…photos of the weekend will follow Monday…promise…hope you all have a great one too.

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x