Pinkeep and Fuschia

I have been busy stitching these two gifts for Isaac's teaching assistants as an end of year gift...

Blackbird Design's Freebie "Now I Know My ABC's"

Stitched on 32c Murano "Vanilla" using DMC threads

Finished as Pinkeeps

As promised in a previous post....my fuschia has flowered and here is a picture of it...it's got a really unusual centre...not like other fuschias I have seen.

Not alot been happening here this past week, just the usual chores around the house and garden. Martha and I did go shopping into York on Thursday for my Dad's birthday gift and some other bits and bobs...it was very warm and busy so we didn't stay out too long.

My stash arrived from Wimble Bees..(I forgot to take picture before I put it all away).

Mark arrived home from his holiday last night so will be here by lunchtime today...we haven't planned anything...as yet.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and don't get burnt!!

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

A Small Finish

I have managed a small finish so far this month, it is a small scissor pocket which I have completed for the Challenge Blog, it is a design by Casa Mia stitched on 28c Jobelan in Moss, threads used are Ozark Tide Pool, Crescent Colours  Fennel & WDW Seaweed. The fabric shown in the picture is the one I have used in the making up of the pocket, I also trimmed it with a fine green cord.I have been stitching on my Stitch & Stash Monthly Challenge, this month is a Workbasket freebie, I think I must have chosen the biggest design as it is taking forever…lol…I should have finished it by the weekend though, finger’s crossed!! I then intend to work on my Beatrix Potter SAL & make a good start on the new LHN SAL. I still have not started the Huswif, but I am not going to panic myself about this, I can start this later once I have completed some of my UFOs, which seem to be piling up!

Anyhow I hope to have an update soon, things are non stop here at the moment, I am behind with my blog reading and hope to have a catch up over the weekend…

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

Finishes, a PIF Gift, Edwood & a Cheeky Monkey!! (Lots of Pictures)

I have been doing some finishing today, these pieces were stitched in February, but I have only just got around to making them up.

This piece is a freebie design by Casa Mia and is stitched on 28c Ivory Jobelan with Carrie’s Thread in Plymouth Red. This is part of my Mum’s Mother’s Day gift alongside some Cath Kidston goodies!!

This piece was a freebie design I had in my stash, by Les Chroniques de Frimousse. It is stitched on 28c Jayne’s Attic COM hand dyed fabbie “Enchanted”, with DMC threads, I finished it as a pinkeep with a scissor pocket at the back, this is a gift for me for my workbox!

Isn’t this gorgeous, this is the PIG gift I received from Rachael this morning, I just love it, the picture does not do the colours and stitching justice, it is perfect. Thank you so much Rachael, for the goodies too, I have hidden the choccies until after lent, how good am I!!

My very special stitching friend Michelle has recently returned from a holiday in South Africa and this little chap came all the way with her to live with me, Michelle knows I love all things African and wooden carvings are just my favourite, so this little elephant is perfect, his name is Edwood!!

And now from an elephant to a cheeky monkey…here is my daughter aged 15 weeks on Friday and what a funny little lass she is, she is always chuckling and chatting away, she even sings in her cot, unfortunately at 5am which is not that much fun!!

I have also made a start on the Stitch & Stash Monthly Challenge piece, which is a Workbasket freebie design, I am about a third through that. I have also stitched and completed my March Christmas Ornament this evening, ready for making up tomorrow.

Little man is off colour, so I should imagine there will be no school tomorrow, so a DVD & Stitching afternoon will be on the cards I feel.

Hugs & Stitches

Thanks Christine for the link!!

Progress, Finishes & More....

Well firstly here is my progress on the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler SAL, there are now 100 of us stitching along with this, I am really enjoying this design, I am stitching it on 32c Belfst Linen in Antique Ivory with DMC threads 3041, 3042 & 3865. I had hoped to get a little more of this done but I have ended up as usual signing up to too much lol!!

Here is the Christmas Ornament I have completed for January as part of the SAL on the S&S board, it is a design by Elizabeth C. Gorski of Primrose Needleworks, which featured in the GOSM December 2008. I have stitched it on 32 White Jobelan with Vikki Clayton Silk in Turkey Red, I finished it as a hanging pillow...1 down 11 more to go!!

A little late is my finish for the Monthly Challenege on the S&S board, this month we could chose a freebie design from Papillion, I decided on this design called Comedy & Tragedy, which I stitched on 28c Qukaer Cloth in Mocha, in WDW and DMC. It is finished as a needleroll/cushion as silly me didn't leave enough fabbie for the needleroll finish so I stitched fabbie at top and bottom then stitched together, it still looks good!!

Here is a picture of myself and the monkey's on a day out to Harrogate & Knaresborough, Shaun came over for a couple of days so we decided to have a day out yesterday. We lunched at Pizza Hut...yummy and walked around the town and the castle ruins. It was a cold day though, so definitely a return visit required once the weather is warmer.

and here is another one of the little miss, 10 weeks old tomorrow, I think she is already teething as she is constantly chewing her hand, thank goodness for Dentinox Teething gel, the only one you can use from birth!!

I am going to try and make a start on my OWS Huswif this weekend as the little man is with Daddy this weekend, so I should get some done when the babe is sleeping!!

Hugs & Stitches

Bless the Baby & PIFs

Well two Bless the Babies is more like it, the first one is this little miss asleep in her chair this afternoon, she has another cough and cold they just seem to be going round and around at the moment, pooor little lamb, Isaac also has it too, he is being a usual man and being very grumpy with it...lol!!The second Bless the Baby is this one, it is for my boyfriend's new baby neice who was born last Saturday. It is a Lizzie*Kate design which I stitched on 28c Pink Jobelan with Dragon Floss in Congratulations, Love & Laughter & Pansy Pink, I finished it with 2 heart buttons and made it into a wall hanger, backed with baby fabric I had in my stash.

I did manage to make up quite alot of things yesterday, the baby hanger, an exchange item, 3 PIF's which are all ready and parcelled up to go to the post office on Tuesday, 2 are heading to Donna & Theresa in Texas and one to Clare in the UK, watch out for the postie ladies :0)

Today I have made up my peice for the S&S Monthly Challenge, I wanted to make a needleroll but not sure what happened but I diddn't leave enough fabric to do this, so I have finished it like a needleroll. I was unable to take pictures tonight because of bad light, I will therefore take one tomorrow and post it for you.

I started my Christmas Ornie for the S&S SAL, I have chosen a design from the November edition of GOSM and am stitching it in Victoria Clayton Turkey Red Silk on white jobelan, it is looking good, even if I do say so myself.

Well enough of my waffling, bedtime here for me, I am bushed....thanks for stopping by and reading and commenting on my ramblings!!

Hugs & Stitches

Blogoversary Giveaway

I received an email from Nina today to let me know that she has received the package from my blogoversary draw. I included my first finish from 2008, which was the "Tea with Jane" design from Tanya at the Sampler Girl, which I completed on 1st January 2008. I also included a few other goodies which I hope Nina likes.


This week has been a busy one as I have been back and forth to the doctors and hospital. Martha had her 6 week check on Monday and all is well, the doctor says she is very alert and forward...to which I replied "of course she is, she is my daughter"...lol.


I also had my follow up diabetes test and postnatal check, my diabetes test came back clear which I was delighted about, I still am at risk of developing it again later in life so I have to have an annual test to check. My postnatal was fine too, I am all back to normal now...well as normal as can be!!


Martha has had a bad cold and cough this week and has gone off her milk the past couple of days, so it has been little and often feeding so I haven't had time for alot of other things, I have managed to keep up with the washing and do some ironing (my least favourite job) and I managed a quick dust and hoover today so the place looks half decent for any visitors. The upstairs in a tip but never mind no-one sees that...lol!


The other news on the life from is that I have a new man in my life (yes I have kept it quiet for a while), we have been seeing each other for 3 weeks today in fact, he lives a distance away 86 miles in fact so I suppose we are classed as having a long distance relationship. We did manage to spend quite alot of time together over the holiday period, but now normal life has begun again, it will be a bit more tricky. So I am hoping that 2009 will be a good year for us, it has had a damn good start so far!!


On the stitching front, I am half way through my Monthly Challenge peice for the S&S board, which was a Papillion freebie design, I have also finally started my Beatrix Potter Sampler for the SAL, I managed to get half of the centre motif stitched tonight, I would have probably completed it, but the dreaded frogs came to visit twice, I miscounted twice....too busy watching Trial & Retribution!! I have decided on my first 3 PIF peices and hope to make a start on those sometime this month too & also the design for the Friendship Ornament for the Exchange Heaven blog. I am not going to over commit this year, due to lack of time and a determination to complete my UFO's from 2008 and keep up with my 2009 SAL's.


I intend to spend some time on BP tomorrow too as I have a son free day, so if Martha is a good girl my needles should be smoking!!


Hope everyone else has a great weekend...whatever you do!!
Hugs & Happy Stitching

Halloween Exchanges Reveal

I took part in the Halloween Exchange on the Stitch & Stash Forum and this is the gorgeous peice I received from Tracy, the picture does not do it justice, so much work has gone into it...I also have to say that I have never seen such neatness on the back of a peice of stitching too...it is as neat as the front of the peice.


Tracy also sent me a Pumpkin Carving Set...which was put to good use today whilst making a Jack-o-Lantern, a Pumpkin Tealight, I little Pumpkin Pot and a skein of DMC Glow-in-the-dark thread...a great exchange to receive...Thanks so much Tracy.

My partner to send to for the exchange was Kay (no blog), I decided on part of the Sampler Girl Freebie Quaker Boo, which I stitched on 28c Moss Jobelan with DMC threads and finished as a pinkeep. I also added some spooky stickers, some Halloween Buttons and some orange and black DMC threads to complete the Halloween theme. I do hope that Kay liked the package I sent her...I really enjoyed putting it together.

Look out tomorrow for a long post with all my October goals and my November ones too along with some pictures of my own little Pumpkin, who enjoyed his "Trick or Treating" tonight!!


Night Night Sleep Tight....
Hugs

Think Pink SAL Reveal

Here is my reveal for the S&S Breast Cancer Freebie SAL, I decided to stitch two peices, (mainly as I loved them both) the first I revealed earlier in the month which was the Butterfly Wings PINKeep and this is the second finish.

Freebie designby Painted Giraffe Stitchery

Stitched on Jayne's hand dyed Count on Me fabbie in Nude,

with the recommended DMC threads

Finished as a pillow, with gorgeous pink ribbon fabbie backing and frilly pink lace

I have lots of other stitchy bits and non stitchy bits to waffle about but I am so tired tonight...I will take piccies tomorrow and post them when my fingers can type a little easier.

Night night all

Hugs

Exchanges Sent and Received

Yesterday was the opening day for the private Personal Themed Bookmark Exchange organised by Clare, my package arrived yesterday and was from Clare, she has designed and stitched me the most gorgeous bookmark, complete with my 3 traits of being a stitchaholic, stashaholic and chocoholic..LOL...absolutely perfect!!

Also in the package was a lovely kit of 3 Born Free Animal cards, some hand dyed fabbie "Chocolate Box", a skein of Dragon Floss, some invisble thread and blue seed beads, I love it all Clare and a big thank you for the time and thought you have put in designing such a personal stitched gift. It will be put to good use for my new Jane Austen collection of books.

As with any exchange I also sent a package, my package was for Angie, who loves anything autumnal, which was a great thing as so do I. This Prairie Schooler Autumnal design from the GOSM seemed a perfect choice to make into a page keeper, I stitched it on 32c Witchelt Linen in Lambswool, with the recommended DMC threads and backed it with cream felt and used some rich chocolate brown and rust ribbons to make the page maker part of the page keeper.

I also chose a Shepherd's Bush chart of an Autumn Sampler and some Dragon Floss in autumnal colours. Angie has messaged me to say she loves the package, so I am delighted.

I completed my peice for the Sitch and Stash Halloween Exchange last night, so that just needs packaging up and it can head off to it's new "mum". I also started my first Breast Cancer Freebie, which is a really pretty peice. I haven't decided how to finish it as yet...I do fancy trying a flatfold, but I will see what time I have, with all my house packing for moving etc.

Thanks you all for your comments and good wishes for my move, it is really appreciated and if you feel like coming and filling a few boxes, please feel free...LOL

Hugs

Noel Reveal

Today is the reveal day for the Stitch and Stash Monthly Challenge peice, it is a free design from Windy Willows, aptly named "Noel". As I am a traditional person where Christmas is concerned, I always prefer my Christmas decorations and ornaments in red, green, gold etc, I stuck with a traditional holly berry red DMC thread on a cream 28c Murano fabric and finished as a tuck cushion and then added a little brass charm of Santa :). This peice is going to be given as a gift to my Mum, to put in her Christmas basket.

Myself and the little man went to the National Railway Museum this morning...his idea of bliss...not mine I hasten to add, but I did promise he could do what he wanted to do today and that was his choice. He spent his pocket money in the Thomas shop on some trains, so was very happy.

The weather is beautiful today, it seems we are having an Indian summer....just as I hit my 8th month of pregnancy...bloody typical!! The city centre was heaving as the is the annual food and drink festival on, so we didn't stay very long. Just long enough for some lunch, a quick buy of a magazine for the young man, a lipstick for me and a pizza and some melon from M&S for dinner. As it is X Factor bootcamp weekend so 2 good nights in front of the TV.

Hope everyone else has a great weekend
Hugs

Miserable Monday

This is what I wish I was looking at this morning...but instead it was raining, dark and miserable...oh well at least I have come straight back home from dropping the little man off and cleaned the downstairs...so that is all clean and tidy...I can sit and stitch and make up now, without feeling guilty...lol!!

I managed to do some stitching over the weekend, I had quite a few hours to myself on Saturday as it was DS's Saturday out with Daddy, so I managed to get half way through Part 3 of the PAP sampler...so I will do somemore of that today..I would like to get Part 3 finished this month.

My cousin is over from Oz at the moment and was in York for the weekend so we all went over to my parent's on Saturday evening to see her, which was lovely. We do keep in touch over Facebook, but it was lovely to see her in the "flesh". Just a shame she could only do a few days here.

Yesterday was a "proper Sunday...a full day of rest", I managed to make up my Monthly Challenge peice for the Stitch & Stash forum...the reveal date is 27th September...so I cannot post a picture until then for you to see. I also started and completed the stitching for the Autumn Exchange peice on the Stitch & Stash Forum too, which I was really delighted to do...even though I am having troubles with my thumb on my right hand, it is very stiff and sore sometimes in the knuckle joint and feels sometimes as though it is "stuck" I just massage it and it seems to ease it....unfortunately I can't take an anti-inflamatories being pregnant so I am having to suffer at the moment. I have got lots of dry skin and cracks on the tips of the same thumb and the first 2 fingers of the same hand....not sure what is causing it...I use decent hand moisturiser all the time..it is annoying as sometimes my thread snags on it...ouch!!

I also signed up for the Halloween Exchange too on the S&S forum...so I have plenty to keep me busy....lol. I need to stitch another Christmas Ornament this week too...I am going to do one of the L*K Double Flips Christmas 2008 ones I think.

I hope my fabbie order will arrive today so I can make a start on my little handmade Christmas Gifts too.

Ah well best go and sort some washing out and put some more in the tumble drier....

Happy Monday to all
Hugs & Happy Stitching

A Christmas Cheer.....

That is what I am doing...cheering lol, why you may ask? Well mainly beacuse I have stitched my first official Christmas ornament peice, I say official as I have also completed the JA Stitch & Stash Monthly Challenge peice, which is also a Christmas design, which has also turned out rather nice if I must say so myself. This a picture of my official first peice, in it's un-made-up state.

Design: Jeanette Douglas Designs from the JCS Christmas Ornament Preview Edition Fabric: Witchelt 32c linen in Lambswool Threads: Carries Creation in Emerald & Kreinik Gold Metallic

I must admit I slightly adapted the design as I was only using the 2 colours, but am pleased how it has turned out.

I have started on Christmas Ornament number 2 today and that is a Prairie Schooler Freebie, that should hopefully be finished tonight, then I can have a mammoth make up of the 3 things tomorrow.

I usually stitch my family little gifts, like scented bags, cushions etc, this year I am stitching everyone a dated Christmas Ornament, which they can hang on their tree, so I am going to amend the goals for the month to 4 Christmas Ornaments and remove the presents.

Well almost time to pop the little man in the bath...I may be back tomoorw with some made up peices to show

Have a great evening

Hugs

Autumnal Finish

Here are a few pictures of my latest finish, it is for the Autumn Exchange on the X-Stitch Monthly Group, it is now on it's way to Gaynor in Ireland, I know that she does not read my blog so I am safe to pop the pictures up for you to see.

The design is a SanMan Originals Freebie called Autumn Spendor, it is stitched on 28c Annabelle in cream and stitched with the recommended Six Strand Sweet threads in Green Tea Ice-Cream, Spiced Orange Cider, Toffee, Sandy's Autumn Splendor & Spice Drop.

I backed the design with some pretty checked fabric in greens and oranges which I purchased from the little stitching shop in Gavray, France back in May, when on my stitching weekend and edged it with orange and green satin ribbon and gold and green pearl topped pins. I do hope Gaynor enjoys the pinkeep as much as I did stitching and finishing it for her.

I have managed to stick quite well to my rotation this past week, I did start doing some of my Papillion Sampler but I was so tired I only managed to complete a few flowers and I was away at Dave's on Saturday night so did not manage to get any stitching in then. I have been very tired this past week though, I think it was to do with getting back into the routine of getting up early for school and doing lots of housework as being honest I hadn't done hardly anything during the holidays, but I managed to crack on and get everything up to date, so now all I need to do is a little each day to keep on top of it.

I am about 2/3 through the stitching on the Stitch & Stash Monthly Challenge, I hopefully should complete that and finish it this week, then onto another small exchange peice.

I am excited as I have joined the Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker SAL Blog, I have been looking to start a traditional sampler for the past couple of years and when I saw this on Julie's blog, I went all giddy as it is just "up my street", so I contacted Hazel who has set up the blog and she has very kindly allowed me to join, I have emailed Jacqueline to purchase the chart, so finger's crossed I will receive an email back. I have an idea on the colours I will use for this, but I will keep that under wraps until I have made a firm decision.

Well enough of my waffles, time to carry on with some stitching before collecting the little master from school. Wishing everyone a great week.

Hugs & Happy Stitching