A Friday First

I completed the stitching on my Little Roses piece on Tuesday evening and decided on a new finish for me….a cube finish, I bought all the supplies on Wednesday, I used sponge as I couldn’t get polystyrene blocks anywhere and it has come out great…

Windy Willows `Little Roses’ Freebie here

28c Belfast Linen – Antique Ivory with DMC threads

Finished as a cube

Started 10th February 2012 – Completed 17th February 2012

I stitched a little on my TSG `Witch School Sampler’ on Wednesday evening, it’s growing slowly…

and last night stitched on Milady’s `Gift from a Friend’

I couple more washcloths were also knitted, these are for the children for bath and shower time….I used a different pattern this time to make it striped, I get all my patterns from Ravelry, bet you can’t guess which one is for which….lol!

I received a lovely envelope in the post yesterday from Chris, I commented on how lovely one of her finishes was and where I could find the chart….she very kindly said I could have the chart as she would not stitch it again…not only did she send the chart but also the remaining threads and a pretty card. Stitchers are so thoughtful and kind, it has amazed me through my last 5 years of blogging how many wonderful stitching friends I have “met” and met!

A quiet relaxing weekend is on the cards, I have caught up with the household chores these past two days. Hope your weekend is all that you want it to be!

Thanks for visiting my blog today

Hugs & Stitches

Frosty Friday!

Its cold and frosty here this morning, but lovely and sunny and bright….I have the time to update my blog this morning as my kitchen is currently out of bounds due to the decorator being in there…wallpapering as I type!

I have managed some progress on two of my WIPs and my current UFO, plus I have knitted up another dishcloth.

Firstly my progress on my Witch School Sampler, which I am stitching as my SAL piece for the Sampler Girl SAL over at Needlecraft Haven, I have had quite a slow start on this one….but completed most of the dress on Wednesday evening so I am finally off and running!

Secondly Milady’s Needle “A Gift From A Friend” this chart was gifted to me at Christmas by my wonderful friend Michelle, I stitched this Sunday evening whilst enjoying Call the Midwife and Birdsong.

Tuesday Evening is my UFO stitching evening, I re-started LHN Prairie Moon Sampler, I had forgotten what a lovely stitch it is, I have swapped some of the thread colours around slightly…

I knitted up another dishcloth, I used Lily’s Sugar & Cream cotton yarn…the colours are divine….I will have lots of lovely new dishcloths for my lovely new kitchen :0)

I spend some time researching for my next Uni assignment, it’s a bigger essay this time on one particular subject, something to get my teeth stuck into…as they say. I am struggling where to start on it to be honest but this evening I think I will just start writing and see how I get on, often that’s my trouble it’s just the getting started, once I’m off then it does flow…finger’s crossed anyhow!

I hope to be back sometime early next week, if I don;t get lost under all my notes…lol

Have a great weekend!

Hugs & Stitches

Monday’s Musings

Not too much to report this week, a little stitching took place but not as much as I would have liked, I kept getting disturbed or distracted…grrrrr!

Wednesday evening is the Sampler Girl SAL over at Needlecraft Haven and I managed a few stitches on this…but not too many!

I made a new start on Thursday evening…I completed the centre emblem last night whilst watching The Reader…in between the tears..lol, it’s tricky stitching whilst weeping at a film!

I had a childfree weekend, so I caught up with some chores, reading, hair dying etc, my friend Gail and I went out into town on Saturday night and had a great time, too many drinks were consumed and lots of dancing took place, but blimey I felt my age yesterday morning lol!

So Sunday was a quiet day, I organised all my WIP’s into a lovely basket which I found at the back of a cupboard, I’d forgotten I had it, but it is perfect for my current projects. I did have the all in plastic envelope folders in a big box but it wasn’t very accessible, so I have now put that to use with all my charts, kits etc in there. I organised all my WIPs into plastic ziplock bags and labelled them..

It’s very frosty and cold here today, I have spent the morning washing and tidying upstairs, this afternoon I shall do the grocery shopping before collecting little chap from school.

Hope to be back later in the week with some more progress..don’t hold your breath though…lol!

Hugs & Stitches

SAL HD & Scissors

I finished my 7th Sampler Girl design of the year, I just love stitching Tanya’s designs…this is my fourth piece in the TSG SAL over at Needlecraft Haven…

The Sampler Girl “Just Married, The Jane Austen Way”

28c Polstitches Hand-dyed evenweave (not sure what colour)

DMC threads as charted, but adapted slightly

Started 7th September 2011 – Finished 8th October 2011

Carol emailed out part 6 of her lovely SAL yesterday, I stitched it straight away….this weeks part was a lovely scissors motif..

Thanks for visiting my blog today…

Hugs & Stitches

Just A Quickie

To show you an exchange piece which I sent to Bernadette for the Fall Pyn Keepe Exchange over at the HOE blog…

Waxing Moon freebie “Autumn Blackbird”

28c Brittney “Olive” with DMC threads

Finished as a pinkeep

Also a picture of my TSG “Just Married” SAL progress from last Wednesday…just a couple more evenings on this should complete it.

A BIG thank you for all your comments on my previous post…I would really miss blogging and sharing my stitching and ramblings with you all!

I have cut all my exchange stitching out and will just be stitching for myself for the time being…just one exchange piece to complete in the next few days.

My University Induction Day last Saturday was great, I met lots of great people, my tutor and most of my tutor group and a few of us (in real student style) went to the pub afterwards! My first tutorial is next Tuesday evening followed by a day school on 22nd October with a field trip to the Art Gallery!

You still have time to enter my 40th Birthday giveaway here

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

SAL Progress!

I have managed some stitching this week, not as much as I would have liked….but life gets in the way sometimes!

Firstly I have just stitched the fourth part for the iStitch SAL, I am stitching this over 1 on 32 count, you can see how small it is by the needle!

I also managed some stitching on my TSG SAL piece too..

I ordered a new chart from Tanya yesterday…as soon as I saw it I just had to have it…”The Witch School Sampler 1821”…I ordered the CC & GAST required and a few other bits too…rude not to…don’t you think!

Isaac had his cast taken off his foot on Thursday, he is tentatively walking around, he had a bath this morning which removed a lot of the dry blood etc. which made it look a lot better, but I am still being bandage nurse as he won’t put socks and shoes on without a bandage, so we have compromised…bandage during the day….fresh air to it on an evening and overnight to aid the healing!

We took a walk around to the local shops, usually a 25 minute round trip….55 minutes today, but at least he is up and moving around!

I booked my ticket to go to the Stitching Show at Harrogate in November, I am going with my lovely friends Michelle & Kath…should be a fantastic day out :0)

Another X Factor double bill weekend, plus Downton Abbey is back tomorrow evening and Spooks…I love the autumn, lots of great TV and more time to get snuggly & cosy and do lots of stitching!

Watch out for a giveaway coming soon to celebrate my 40th Birthday in 3 weeks time!

Have a great weekend!

Hugs & Stitches

A Little Progress

Firstly here is my progress on my iStitch SAL piece, I am loving stitching this design, I’m using 32c Murano “Vanilla” and GAST “Rhubarb” and stitching 1 over 1, it is so tiny & delicate…

Secondly a small amount of progress on my next TSG SAL piece..”Just Married, The Jane Austen Way” I am using hand dyed fabric and the recommended DMC threads!

Isaac is back at the hospital tomorrow to have his bandages & stitches removed, it will be exciting to see how his “new toe” will look!

The wind has finally died down here, but it is very cold but sunny and bright, I have hung some washing out on the line, but it doesn't;t seem to be moving at all…lol!

Thank you for all your lovely comments in regard to my pillows I finished up over the weekend…I really appreciate them!

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

All By Myself!

Well that is what I have been this weekend….do you hear complaining?…no…it’s been just me and my stuff since Saturday morning, the kids have spent the weekend at their Dad’s and are due back at 11am today, yes I miss them, but I know they are fine and having fun and it gives me some time to just kick back and relax! I spend Saturday catching up on household chores, washing, ironing, housework etc., it didn't take half the time it usually does, probably as I didn’t have two little kiddiewinkles chasing around after me!

I spent some time stitching…of course…would be a crime not to don’t you think…I spend Saturday afternoon watching Columbo and making my little Sampler Girl finish into a hanging pillow to pop over the bedknob on my bed…

 

Saturday and Sunday evening I made a start on my next TSG SAL piece, which I couldn’t stitch on last Wednesday as I was in the hospital…it’s stitching up a lot faster than I thought it would, so I better start deciding on my next one….at least it gives me an excuse to but some stash…excuse the creases…I didn’t press it before photographing it! I like the colours on this one…

I have been in touch with Isaac’s head teacher, who is now aware of the situation with Isaac’s foot and lack of mobility at the moment, the main problem is Isaac is getting around with a frame and he can only go up and downstairs on his bottom…and he also needs to elevate his foot as often as he can to aid the healing and to stop swelling. His new classroom is up 2 flights of stairs, but the toilet facilities are downstairs…(he also needs help to visit the toilet) which obviously makes it slightly tricky. Therefore, he will probably start school a few days later than his fellow classmates and then when he does will only go into school for a few hours on a morning and I will home school him the rest of the time until he is mobile enough to go up and downstairs himself. His Dad’s girlfriend’s son has a wheelchair and shower seat which they are kindly lending us so we can get around, as with no transport we would have been stranded in the house. I have some good friends who live close by too who can aid with the getting out and about as I have Martha in a buggy and Isaac in a wheelchair and only one pair of hands, so they are lending the other pair of pushing hands!

A lovely bright and sunny albeit breezy day here, but I have washing to do (when the kids return) so that should dry nicely. Just awaiting my grocery delivery…thank goodness for that too…a supermarket visit would be nigh on impossible too at the moment!

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday Monday!

Hugs & Stitches

Let It Snow & 3 Fat Birds & A Squirrel

I received this cutie ornament from Janet B in the mail this morning…for the Lizzie*Kate Exchange on the Hooked on Exchanging Blog…isn’t he just perfect, I love him thank you so much Janet!

I saw this little freebie on Tanya’s blog and just had to stitch it straight away…such a little cutie design, I stitched it whilst watching 3 hours of Wuthering Heights on TV last night…pure bliss!

The Sampler Girl “3 Birds & A Fat Squirrel” can be found here

Stitched on 28c Jayne’s Attic hand-dyed “Jonquil”

Crescent Colour threads

I’m going to make this into a little hanging ornament for my bedpost!

I had a childfree weekend so got lots done, household chores and I sorted a lot of stitching stash, I have bought a load of GAST & WDW threads from Michelle, so I catalogued them all and organised them all in little drawer organisers.

I also updated my stitching journal and decided on my next TSG design for the SAL over at Needlecraft Haven…I have chosen “A Little Bird’s Tea”, I’m  stitching it on hand-dyed linen I found in my stash unit and the recommended GAST & DMC threads.

Spending the next few days getting organised before Isaac goes into hospital on Wednesday, washing, ironing, housework, school uniform alterations etc…Going to also kit up a little project to take in with me as I feel the evenings will be long and very boring on the ward.

Hugs & Stitches

“From Pleasant Hill” HD

I have just put the final stitches into this piece which I stitched as part of the Sampler Girl SAL over at Needlecraft Haven…I loved every stitch.

The Sampler Girl “From Pleasant Hill”

28c Flax Linen – DMC threads

Started 6th July 2011 – Completed 17th August 2011

I almost completed the first part of my iStitch mystery SAL piece last night…wow 40c is hard on the eyes…I may get the final bit done this evening before bedtime.

Hugs & Stitches