Two….yes two finishes on a Friday!

I have finished two pieces this week, I am pleased with both…firstly a neutral version of “Bless the Baby” for a friend who gave birth to her third little boy last week….she did not know the sex before little one was born so I stitched a neutral version and then added the name and date once he had arrived.

Lizzie*Kate “Bless the Baby”

32c White Jobelan – DMC threads

Finished as a long pillow

My second finish was `Tis the Gift…I loved stitching this design

La-D-Da “`Tis the Gift”

32c Murano “Light Taupe”

GAST threads, some charted, some my choice

Started – 4th December 2011

Finished – 20th December 2011

I took the children to see Father Christmas today at a local department store….Martha was a little unsure at first but then was happy to chat and have her photo taken with him…

My received a lovely surprise gift today from one of my penpals…who knows that I love the Juicy Lucy Fairies…

…isn’t it a cutie….I can’t wait to fill it it…

Yesterday was the mammoth Christmas food shop….my trolley was overflowing…why do we do it….lol, anyhow I needed a treat to reward the hard work and these were in the reduced section at only £2.50…well they had my name on them…

…they are ceramic cupcake shakers, they came with vermicelli and hundreds and thousands to go inside them…aren’t they divine!

It’s veg prep and baking day tomorrow….(so I can have a half relaxed Christmas Day)…I am going to sit with my stitching tonight and watch the Young Victoria which I recorded last night.

Thank you to those ladies who expressed an interest in a private exchange with me next year…I will be emailing you soon, I still have one spot left for the end of next year if anyone is still interested in exchanging with me…please leave a comment and your email address and I will get in touch with you.

I am going to spend some time planning my 2012 stitching next week, I have a new journal to start on 1st January…I have been saving up a bit of stash pennies so hopefully I can buy any necessaries required…lol! I will post my plans for you soon!

Well all that remains is to wish all my blogging friends old and new a very peaceful Christmas, enjoy this special time with those you love xx

Hugs & Stitches

2 Finishes and SAL Progress

I have managed to do some stitching this week, not as much as I would have liked to..but alas life interrupted as always…here is my first little finish…I loved stitching this…

Des Fille et une Aigulles “Amitie” Freebie

28c Ivory evenweave

GAST “Cherry Wine” & CC “Cherry Tomato”

Started 20th September 2011 – Finished 24th September 2011

I have finished number four of my L*K 12 Blessings…”Charity”

Carol sent out part 5 of the iStitch SAL last night, I sat and stitched that earlier today, as I am stitching over 1 on 32c, I have to stitch during the daytime WITH my daylight lamp on too…it’s a lovely design, I’m so enjoying it.

Wednesday night was TSG SAL over at Needlecraft Haven, I made a little more progress on “Just Married, The Jane Austen Way”…

I received my tutor information yesterday and my first tutorial which is next Saturday…also a welcome email from my tutor arrived today too…it all seems so real now.

My stitching and blogging will be taking a back seat as I get used to fitting in 16 hours of study each week…but I am really looking forward to getting “stuck” in now!

Keep checking back for a birthday giveaway very soon….

Thanks for visiting my blog today

Hugs & Stitches

Hope & Friends Finished!

I managed to finish “Hope” last night for the Lizzie Kate SAL…whilst glued to the Great British Bake Off…lol

I also completed “Friends” on Monday evening…

These are the 3 I have finished so far….9 more to go!

I’m hoping to complete at least one a week….

Thanks for all your good wishes to Isaac, he has gone back to school today for his first full day…he was looking forward to it!

Tonight is TSG SAL night and a new start…looking forward to it.

Hugs & Stitches

Finally a Start

I have finally made a start on my Lizzie*Kate Lover SAL “12 Blessings”, I am stitching it as 12 separate pieces to make up as ornaments…I chose “Love” first…I’m stitching them all on 32c Murano “Taupe” with the recommended DMC threads.

I sent a little RAK to my lovely treasured friend Michelle this week….for for her being her…lol

Threadworks Primitive freebie “Pins Wreath”

28c Brittney “Lilac” DMC threads of own choice

Finished as a pinkeep

I joined Carol’s iStitch mystery SAL….here is my progress

I’m stitching it on 40c natural linen with Dinky Dyes Silk “Peter Pan”…and oh wow how tricky to stitch on this 40c…lol

Well managed to do some study reading this past few evenings, childfree today so I have caught up with household and garden chores and this afternoon I have watched the first half of Cleopatra with Liz Taylor whilst stitching…studying and stitching together…perfect multitasking if I do say so myself.

I have also booked myself a ticket at the theatre to see a production of Dr Faustus which is one of the subjects in my module, I haven;t been to the theatre for years and last time was to see Grease the musical!!

Tonight is Chinese takeaway, stitching and…yes it’s back X FACTOR!!!!!!…yeehaaa!

Have fun whatever you do….thank you as always for visiting and commenting on my blog, it is really appreciated.

Hugs & Stitches

This, That and the Other!!

Lots to show this post…firstly Lynn has received the exchange piece I sent to here for the Lizzie*Kate round on the Hooked on Exchanging blog…

Lizzie*Kate – Winter Crazy “Brrrr”

28c blue checked evenweave with charted DMC threads

Finished as a beaded edged hanging ornament

It was TSG SAL last night over at NCH…I managed quite a bit of stitching on it…I love the colours on this piece so subdued..

I found my new project and quite easily…it is in the new edition of GOSM, it’s the mystery sampler by Marie Suarez, it’s in 6 parts…I ordered the Valdani threads as required and I am going to attempt to stitch on 40 count for my first time ever…wish me luck!

We had a fun time yesterday at the park…a local church runs free holiday fun days in and around York…it included bouncy castles, games, crafts and face painting…

We received a date for Isaac’s little man’s operation today…3 weeks from today….he initially complained but once he found I could stay at the hospital he was quite happy…

Nasty rain here today so an indoors DVD and play day…hope you have fun whatever you!

Hugs & Stitches

It’s Back (with a vengeance)!

My stitching mojo that is….I was getting worried it had gone….never to be seen again!! I have completed 2 smalls for exchanges in the past week (I can’t share as yet), I have also done some work on my TSG SAL peice..

and my Lizzie*Kate peice….

Laura has received my Summer Exchange piece I sent to her for the Seasonal Exchange blog…

Danybrod Freebie “Printemps” changed to Summer

28c miscellaneous cream linen – DMCs own choice

Finished as a pinkeep with a ruched ribbon border

The weather has been beautiful today, so we spent the day in the garden, grass cutting and tidying this morning when it was cooler and then the children played in the paddling pool this afternoon whilst I sat and relaxed with a book….

Thanks for visiting my blog today

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

My Pins & Needle In Hand!

Yes I am back….my stitching mojo did a little hiding trick on me whilst I was feeling under the weather, but I’m now fighting fit and back with a needle in hand!

I wanted a small finish to get me back into the stitching groove…so I chose this little beauty…

Shepherd’s Bush “My Pins”

28c Jayne’s Attic Hand-dyed fabric “Rose” – DMC threads

Finished as a pin pillow with ruched ribbon edging

I received this cute pillow from Ruth today for the third round of the Lizzie*Kate Exchange…isn’t it just great…I love the saying and it’s pink so it’s perfect for me!!

I have a couple of new starts…firstly for the weekly L*K stitching night being held at the L*K Lovers blog…I have chosen “Housework” because the saying is so fun…especially for a cleaning obsessive like me!!

Secondly is the weekly TSG SAL over at NCH, I have chosen a non Miss Austen piece this time…it’s called “Pleasant Hill”, I didn’t get too much stitched but at least made a start!

Finally no Elisa posting would be complete without a touch of Ms Kidston….I needed to cheer myself up after my ill fortnight…so with a sale taking place at my favourite store…I just couldn’t resist….

A quiet weekend planned…with some stitching to take place. I hope you all enjoy yours no matter what you do!

Hugs & Stitches

What A Week!

Not in a good way either….I have been horribly ill with a severe bladder infection and all the nasty side effects that go alongside it…I am 50% better than I was at the beginning of the week but not quite fighting fit yet!

I have had a childfree day today (thanks to Grandma & Grandpa) so have managed to make up a few pieces…two I can show, one is for an exchange so that is a secret until it arrives at its new owner’s home.

Firstly is the ring pillow for a wedding….I absolutely loved stitching this design, it was supposed to be stitched on 28c fabric but I only had 32c, therefore I added a few rows of beads, cross-stitches and Algerian eyelets….

JBW Designs “Sweet Nothings” Ring Pillow

32c Murano White, White DMC and white glass beads

Finished as a ring pillow, with vintage Mother of Pearl buttons and embroidered net lace

Secondly I finished up also the end of school year gift for Isaac’s teacher..

Lizzie*Kate “My Teacher”

32c Murano Ivory with own choice DMC threads

Finished as a pillow with red gingham backing, ric-rac edging and a red bow!

I am now all up to date with my exchanges…due to this and illness my WIP’s and SALs have taken a back seat, but hopefully I will now be able to bring them back out and carry on….

I purchased my copy of WOXS yesterday and yes there I am on page 32…how blooming exciting eh!! I also bought a copy of Mollie Makes…OMG I love it, I have now ordered a subscription of it too….lol

Well have a good weekend all, I have a few hours childfree tomorrow too as the children are going strawberry picking with their Daddy…better remember to bring some back for their ole Mummy!

Have a good weekend whatever you chose to do!

Hugs & Stitches

Miserable Monday :0(

…not me…just the weather, where is the heat wave they promised us, it’s like winter with the gales and rain!

I had a childfree weekend so I managed to finish a few little projects..I can show 2 but one is a secret stitch so can reveal that once it has been received.

Lizzie*Kate “Friendship Grows” freebie

32c Murano Ivory - DMC threads of my choice

Finished as a Brodiere Anglais lace trimmed pillow

Teachers gift

My third finish from the “Stitcher’s Journey” book…

BBD “Summer Stars” Pin Pillow

32c Belfast Linen “Raw Flax” – GAST threads as charted

Finished as a tasselled pillow

I have decided to mount my “Prairie House” finish on a wooden box, I have just placed an order for 2 lacquered cigar style boxes, so fingers crossed they won’t take too long to arrive. It will be my first box finish so I am hoping I don’t mess it up!!

I finished knitting Christmas Scarf #3, just the tassels to make and attach, then I will take pictures of them all for you to see.

I need to take a trip to town to Boyes for some more wool…may wait til next week as it’s the half-term school holidays..

A lasagne is in the oven for dinner…the kids and my favourite…and a homemade chocolate cake for pudding…yummy!

Hope to do some stitching on my CHS Gingham Dog & Calico Cat this evening…it’s fallen a bit by the wayside, have some catching up on it to do!

Have a good evening all

Hugs & Stitches