Catching Up…

Finally I am back on track with my Stitcher’s Showcase “Cheryl” SAL…it had fallen by the wayside, but following a week of stitching on it…I am now back on track for completion by the end of the year…(please excuse the crumpled fabric)

32c Murano fabric in “Vanilla”

Polstitches Dragon Floss in “Precious”

I have almost completed another LHN Ornie “Merry Skater” I will put the final stitches into that after lunch, I then have two to make up into ornies :0)

I have made a start on making my Christmas gifts….I can’t say what so you will have to wait…lol!!

Isaac’s last day of the school year today so he went with arms full of gifts for this teacher and assistants…I think they are watching a DVD after lunch today so no schoolwork…he is sure to come home with lots of pictures etc which he has made throughout the year for me to display!!

Hopefully the weather will be good this weekend as I have some gardening to do..I am still waiting for the trees to be removed so it limits what I can do, but as long as I manage to keep the grass cut and the weeds down then that is a good job done.

Hope everyone has a great weekend

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

Birthdays,Walking,Decorating & Some Stitching

It seems like an age since I last blogged but this have been hectic here as always and I just haven’t had the time to get on the pc much apart from emailing checking!! Plus I have been a bit under the weather..unfortunately one of the wounds on my back where I had a mole removed developed a nasty infection and I have been on the hugest strongest penicillin..they made me feel quite rotten. But it’s all cleared up now so I am back to fighting fit!

Isaac celebrated his 6th Birthday at the end of April and had a good day and received lots of presents: a scooter, DVDs, Ds Games, books, a globe, clothes and a special day out at the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway, as he wasn’t having a party I decided this would be a nice day out for him and 2 of his friends. He is going to wait until the weather improves so we can spend a lovely day out having a picnic on the moors…it’s just too darn cold at the moment…I am sat here with a big wooly cardi on to try to keep warm.

Walking…..well finally Miss Martha is up and off she started walking 2 weekends ago and there is now no stopping her…along with the walking came the non stop talking she is such a chatty little girl, she is 18 months old on 21st May..where does the time go…unbelievable really.

Mark and I have been busy each weekend wallpaper stripping and preparing the bathroom, this weekend as the kids were at their Dad’s we really cracked on with the tongue and groove cladding for the bathroom walls, I have to say I was a dab hand with the power tools this weekend, I mastered the art of a jigsaw and palm sander quite well…lol!!

Next weekend as we are not child free we aim to (weather permitting) tackle the wilderness that tries to pass as a garden!!

I have done quite a bit of stitching this past month…firstly for my lovely friend Michelle’s birthday I stitched her this needleroll..I used Carol’s Sew Blue design stitched on 28c cream Jobelan using Japanese Marblethread.

Other stitching progress includes a small amount on my “Cheryl” SAL piece I am using 32c Murano Vanilla fabric and Dragon Floss “Precious”, it is coming along slowly.

Again a small amount of progress on my LHN SAL piece…I am currently 2 ornies behind where I should be so I need to get the old needle smokin’ on these too. 

I have naughtily started a new piece which I just couldn’t resist it any longer…it is Tanya’s Jane Austen “The Emma Project”, I am stitching it on Belfast Linen in Antique White using the recommended DMC threads…

A small stitching finish to share too…this is for Isaac’s teacher for the end of the year, I need to finish it into a little hanger, this is stitched on 28c French Country Linen in Cashmere using Vikki Clayton silks. Notice the lovely gingham heart…my special friend Michelle kindly brought that back from her stitching weekend in France, which I was originally booked to go on but sadly could not attend, isn’t it delightful!!

Oh and finally…no Elisa blog post would be complete without a bit of CK…lol. I have had my eye on this piece for months and months…so I finally treated myself to it…it is the perfect size to put all my stitching essentials in to keep in my corner of the lounge where my stitching lamp and WIPs are housed…

    Thanks for reading my wafflings…lol and many thanks as always for all your kind comments.

Happy Stitching

 

Elisa x

Packing, Spring Chick and a Pharaoh!!

Well I am still around after  mammoth week or so of packing, clearing, sorting and several visits to the local tip…but as my Mum would say I’m “breaking eggs with big sticks”!! The keys for our new house are due back from the workmen to the Estate Manager tomorrow so if all that goes to plan I should be able to go and do all the signing etc on Wednesday and then get the keys and the house is mine :)…if this is the case then the big move is on Saturday. The new house has not telephone line so I have to pay and wait for an engineers to connect me so I may be offline for a good week to 10 days, but being honest i don’t think I am going have a lot of time for the computer really with all the unpacking, cleaning and decorating that will need doing!

I did manage to complete my Spring Exchange piece for the Stitchers Showcase group, this is the piece I sent to Shirley, its Waxing Moon’s “Spring Chick” stitched on some hand dyed pale lemon even weave with the recommended DMC threads, backed it with pretty lemon springy fabric and edged with this green glisten gloss braid…!

The last day before the half term break was Famous People day at Isaac’s school and here he is as King Tutankhamen, I would love to say I made the costume but alas time restraints did not allow it and plus by the time you added everything up it was just as cheap to head off to Ebay and buy a ready made one….doesn’t he look fab!!

Well no more news really here….I hope to make another post before I go offline to show my WIP and SALs progresses…until then have a great week…

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

A PIF, An Exchange & A Happy Dance

Good morning on this drizzly damp Saturday, a good post day here, firstly the postman arrived with a parcel for me this morning from Chris, I had forgotten that I was one of her PIF recipients and I opened the parcel to reveal this gorgeous scissor pouch, scissors and beaded fob all in my favourite girly colour “PINK”

One side of the pouch has my initial and the other side a gorgeous Quaker motif, it’s finished beautifully and the scissor fob has a gorgeous bee charm. Thank you so much Chris I just love it.

 

Conny has messaged me to let me know that the replacement exchange has arrived for the Lizzie*Kate Exchange Blog.

This design is L*K “Spring-ily Boxer” which I stitched on “Count on Me” “Perfect Pastels Green” 28c Jubilee using the recommended DMC threads, I used my own mini heart buttons to personalise it and finished it as a long cushion with a matching green ribbon.

Finally my Happy Dance, I mentioned in a previous post that I had started stitching The Sweetheart Tree’s “Opalescent Heart” for my Mum as a Mother’s day gift, I finished finishing it up last night…or actually at 12.34am this morning…my eyes were boggling with the beaded edging but I wanted to complete this so I can then get on with completing my LHN “Pear Tree”

I stitched this piece on 28c jobelan in “Mushroom” with the recommended DMC threads using Mill Hill beads in frosted pink, metallic pink and miscellaneous pearl beads from my stash.

I backed it with the same fabric and used the metallic beads to edge it too…The design appeared in the GOSM June 2007.

I have stuck to my rotation again this week, my JN and CB SALs are coming along well, I want to complete my LHN ornie and make a start on the next one.

I have also made a start on knitting my scarf…it’s looking great, I like knitting as you can just pick it up and do a few rows when you have a spare few moments and before long you are making good progress.

A quiet weekend here…not really sure one what I am going to do really, as long as I fit in some stitching then I will be happy.

Hope you all have a great one whatever you do.

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

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

More Progress Pictures

Not a very exciting title…but I couldn’t think of anything better…lol!

I have been following my rotation really well and am really enjoying stitching on a different piece each day…

Monday night is my Just Nan SAL night and I stitched another 2 small bands last night, there is only 14 in total so I will probably not stitch on this now until next month and carry on with my WIPs and UFOs on a Monday instead.

I have made a little progress with the second LHN ornament and hope to make some more on it this week.

I am just loving stitching this Smalls piece it’s “Sew Pink” by Carol at “iStitch”, I am stitching it on Count on Me hand-dyed 28c evenweave in “Rose” using Dinky Dyes silk in “Tinkerbell”.

My final picture is my WIP progress of BBD “Their Song”, which I am stitching on my own tea-dyed Jubilee fabric using the recommended threads.

My other SAL piece is “Bouquet for Cheryl” but progress reveal is not until 5th February so I won’t reveal that until then, tonight is my stitching evening for this piece, but I have a School Governors meeting so I hope to get an hours stitching on it this afternoon whilst Martha has her nap and maybe an hour when I get home after the meeting…depending on how long it goes on for.

Martha now has 7 teeth fully through and more trying to get through…she is standing unaided and walking now with help…so almost on the move…lord help me!!

Well the washing machine beckons so I must keep it happy and the sooner the chores are done then the sooner I can sit and stitch…

Have a good day!!

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

Progress…

I am taking part in the Just Nan SAL on the Stitch & Stash board and have set aside Monday evenings to stitch on this piece, it’s my first ever JN piece and I am loving it…here is my progress on Needlestory so far…

I have been working on my “Bouquet for Cheryl” SAL piece and am also loving this too, I can’t show you progress pictures on this until 5th February…

I have completed a PIF gift and that will be on its way across the ocean to Carol tomorrow, once I know she has received it I will share it with you.

The snow is finally melting here but it’s still a big struggle pushing a pram through it to school and back twice a day…I will have great arm muscles…lol!!

Well no more news here so I will sign off for the night…

Hugs & Stitches

Elisa x

Happy 2010 (lots of photos)

Gosh it doesn’t seem long since we were celebrating the millennium and here we are 10 years later…where do the years go :0(

Well like the rest of the UK we are blessed or unblessed (your choice) with snow…here are a few photos I took this morning I went out in my crocs and my feet disappeared that is how deep it is here…

My poor bird bath is looking a bit worse for wear, but I have been putting bird food out over the past few weeks to ensure our little feathered friends have their lunch!

We had a quiet new year, like many I think…here are a couple of photos of the kids for you to see..

   

I went shopping over the weekend and bought a few little treats for me in the sales..

This box was a bargain at £8 from Dunelm Mill and is perfect for all my current WIP’s and SALs…. This one I just had to have…it is on my stitching cabinet but haven’t decided what is going in it yet…another bargain £5 from the Range..   

Stitching wise…I have completed my exchange piece for the Lizzie*Kate blog but cannot show a picture of that yet. I have made a start on my Just Nan SAL piece and my “Cheryl’s Bouquet” SAL piece and am enjoying them. My second LHN ornie chart arrived from DSL this morning so I will kit that up ready to make a start. I intend to work to a rota during the week, leaving weekends to stitch on what I fancy, I don’t get alot of stitching done on a weekend as Mark is usually here and we are out and about doing stuff.

Well it is snowing again here…so wrap up and stay warm…

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

SAL’s & Treats

Well it seems ages since I posted an update, this is mainly due to the fact I have no stitching to show…not because I have not been doing any, quite the opposite, I have been doing lots of exchanges, gifts and secret stitching, my Christmas Mailart Exchange is now complete and made up, just a handmade card to make up now to go with it. I have stitched my October Christmas Ornie for the S&S SAL and the 2 Christmas Ornies for the Stitchers Showcase and Stitching Exchanging exchanges, they are just to all make up, I may make that my task for today.

Talking about SALs, I have joined 3 for next year, firstly the LHN Ornies SAL, the first design is pictured below, Vonna is running the blog and has also arranged the we can get auto shipment each month of the new design from Down Sunshine Lane, if you would like to join this year long SAL please visit the blog here.

The second SAL I have signed up for is at the Stitch & Stash board and it is a Just Nan SAL, I am ashamed to admit I have never stitched one of her designs, so this was the perfect opportunity to do so, I have decided on NeedleStory, which funnily enough I already had the chart and embellishment pack for, so I just had to make a little trip to Sew and So to purchase the thread requirements, I have some fabric which I have decided on too (not pictured)

The third SAL is on the Stitcher’s Showcase Cross-Stitch Group and is the “Bouquet for Cheryl” design, I am actually running this SAL so if you would like to join it please email me at the address at the top and I will invite you to join the group, I am also setting up a blog for this so that all the progress pictures can be seen in one place.

I thought you may like to see this photo of Miss Martha, taken this morning, with a lovely toothy grin, she is a year old in 3 weeks, can you believe how quickly this year has gone, I certainly can’t. She is crawling everywhere now (thank goodness for playpens), and getting very fussy with her food, she hates mashed and lumpy food and is not too keen on finger food….lol, so it’s trial and error every mealtime, but it is lots of fun :0)

I still had some birthday money left and had decided to buy the Cath Kidston “Sew” book, which had a RRP of £15, but my treasured friend Michelle messaged me to let me know that she had found it on Amazon for only £8.99…fantastic…so I went straight on and found it…I also wanted the “Make” book too, which was at the same cost…as most of my regular readers know I am a bit of a CK devotee and visit the shop at least once a week (we are lucky enough to have one here in York) and I have always wanted the sticker book too, which is full of stick on labels and stickers for gifts, jam pots etc, but I have always thought it was a little too pricey…BUT good old Amazon had a deal for the 2 books “sew” & “make” and the label book all for £22…WOW…they were just meant to be all mine…lol…and here is a picture of the beauties for you to see :0)

Last Monday we had to head to Leeds as Isaac had a check up at the hospital, nothing to worry about he just has an annual check up with his consultant in regard to the operations he had as a baby. We went with my parents and did a bit of shopping before the appointment and headed to Primark where I bought some lovely clothes for Miss Martha and some little Christmas gifts too. I also bought my bi-monthly magazine indulgence…this is the ONLY magazine I regularly buy now and I just adore it….it’s so pretty and all the projects in it are so pretty too.

 

Finally if you haven’t fallen asleep by now…these baskets below have arrived in my house a lot sooner than I ever imagined, my Mum bought these from Ikea….donkey’s years ago and I have always admired (wanted) them….every time my Mum has gone to Ikea she has searched for them…but no luck, it therefore became a family joke that I would get them in her “will”….but my Mum was having a sort out last week and decided it was time for the baskets to come to their new mum….so they are now taking pride of place on the stitching cabinet…I haven’t filled them as yet….but once I do I will let you know what treasures have the honour of going in them :0)

Well my stitching friends…it is a very wet and miserable Sunday here…definitely a sit and stitch day with DVD’s, comfort food and fluffy slippers.

Thank you as always for taking the time to read and comment on my posts I really do appreciate your time….

Happy Stitching

Elisa x