Happy Christmas everyone! A couple of gifts and finishes...

At last I finished my card for DH - actually earlier than last year, when I was stitching away on Christmas Eve - must remember to start earlier next year (as I said last year, and the year before that, and....). It's a design by Cinnamon Cat, and actually the colours are much brighter 'in real life' - almost neon in fact. Oh yes, and the fabric is actually white!

I was absolutely delighted to receive this in the post this morning from CJ - my partner in the CSE Yahoo group Ornament Exchange - it's lovely, and again, the photo doesn't really do it justice - thank you CJ!

And this was a lovely surprise - Mylene in Texel sent me this wonderful floss tag - I know exactly which project this will be used for next year - I'm doing a SAL with the Ozark Sampler ladies - the challenge is to use up some of the Ozark Sampler threads that we have in our stash, and post once a month. I intend to make up a set of ornies that I've been saving up to do - and that way I get my personal Ornie a Month challenge completed too! Here's a photo - showing the front and the back in the same shot!

And finally - here's a little Mill Hill angel that I just had to finish - originally she was going to be made into a card for my SIL, but she was too late! I did SIL a robin card instead - and forgot to get a photo. Maybe I'll get a chance to take one after she's opened it! Here's the angel - all photos can be clicked on to enlarge if you like.

Happy Christmas to everyone that celebrates it!

Hootzi finished!

Click on images to make bigger!

Here are a couple of photos of my first ever humbug! I wasn't 100% certain if I really liked Hootzi when he was first done - somehow I didn't like that all the lovely colours of the leaves can't be seen when he's viewed from the front, but he's growing on me! I've put him into the big basket that I have for all the hundreds of biscornu that I was going to stitch (two so far, stitched by others, lol!).

One good thing is that I actually managed to use substitutes - a couple of the sampler threads I didn't have, and didn't want to buy - so substituted some that I had here. I also used an ornament cut from Silkweavers, that I've also had for some time, as again, I didn't want to spend money on the 'correct' fabric - there was such a small piece required, I couldn't buy anything nearly small enough! I'm normally completely unable to use substitutes, although I know that's mad, so I'm quite proud of myself, lol!

PIF posted to Debra H!

Sent off my PIF as promised to Debra - she was the only one who applied, so I've sent just a couple of items above the five promised! Hope it gets there for Christmas!!

December ornie finished

Here's a quick finish - though it took me ages!! It's my December ornament for the ILCS Christmas ornament challenge - I managed one each month! I'm happy - even though I haven't 'won' any single month, it's been fun, and I've got more ornaments for our tree this year. Actually, this one is a pin, and I'm planning on wearing it all season.

You can click on the image to see it magnified.

Ornament received from Karen :o)

Click on the photo to get a bigger image!

Here's a picture of the lovely ornaments that I've received from Karen - thank you so much, they're lovely, and TWO of them! AND a bookmark too! I've not been taking part in swaps this year, due to lack of time, and it's lovely to receive something in the post. Our Christmas tree will look wonderful this year - I think at last I have enough ornaments, either stitched by me or by friends, to make the tree look 'full'!

At last a finish!

At last I've got something stitched and finished, lol. I've just heard that Aleyna received her ornie in the ILCS group swap, so can post this picture - it's a Mill Hill Tiny Treasured Diamond, and was lovely to stitch up, as they always are!

I'm in a swap on another group, and when I read my partner's likes/dislikes I decided that the one that I'd started wasn't really right for her, so I'm doing another ornie right now - different to my normal style, perhaps that's a good thing. That's one good thing about exchanging - it does make me try something different.

Giveaway on Mare's blog...

Mare has a wonderful giveaway here on her blog. You can also see her wonderful work at her new Etsy shop - these sort of pins are practically impossible to find in the UK, and I know Mare well enough to know that she wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than perfect!!

PIF 'winner'....

...is Debra Hall! Why only one? Because she's the only one who left a comment, lol. So Debra - I'll be sending something out to you some time in the next few months - and it will be an extra special parcel as it's the only one I'll be sending!!!

Bridie's First Design!

Here is Bridie's first design! She did this completely to her own design - it's supposed to be the sun setting over Epsom Downs!!

Here's a quick finish - I just fancied doing this Lizzie Kate - from their Coffee Crazy leaflet - it's done on Zweigart linen in 'Flax', with the DMC conversion listed in the leaflet. Just HAD to get a finish, lol, and I've been wanting to do this one for ages!

Here's another quick finish - not sure yet if I'll make it into an ornament or a card. For now it will be my November finish in the ILCS Ornament challenge. It's from New Stitches magazine and is one of a set of three - I'm about half way through the next one already :o)

PIF announced! Please participate!!

I had some great news yesterday - I've been picked by Sarah on her PIF (Pay it forward) from her blog!

So she sends me a treat of five stitching related items. Now I'm doing the same thing for three other people!

The rules are as follows:

1. Send no less than five stitching related items per person within the next 365 days.
2. Items can be DMC, other threads, stitching needles, straight pins, buttons, scissors, ribbons, etc - a combination of items such as three threads, one pack of straight needles or just five threads.
3. The items must be new and not used. (Send things you'd be happy to receive.)
4. If you win, you must be willing to post this PIF on your blog and do the same for at least two people.

So I'm going to be drawing for three people to do this for. So please comment if you want to be a part of this. But remember you have to be willing to be reciprocate on your blog! ;)

I will be drawing names for this in fourteen days time - 23rd November - day after my Eoin's eighth birthday!

Another wonderful giveaway

Nina is having a wonderful Christmas giveaway on her blog! Click here to read/enter!

Moo give away!

My local friend Sarah has a wonderful give-away on her blog! It is at...

Sarah's Amazing Give-away

and is very much worth entering!

Update on two BAPs

After a bit of prompting, I'm posting an update on my two BAPs - the first is my Ocean Lights, by Chatelaine Designs - I'm just doing the cross stitch, then will do the beads and speciality stitches. I think it will take me years!!

And here's the second - I was making good progress, then sort of ran out of steam, and went back to Boo! Maybe I ought to try a rotation method like other people, but there's so little time, it's not worth rotating, lolol!

Boo - progress report!

I haven't done so much stitching lately - just not really had much time :o( Anyway - I've done a bit more of my Chatelaine, and also a bit more on Boo! This is progress to date on Boo! The fabric isn't quite as washed out as it seems in the photo, but on the other hand, it isn't actually as purple as I'd thought when I bought it - but I'm more or less happy with the effect.

October ornie done!

I decided to go for a Hallowe'en theme this month - this is a Mill Hill ornament, and was great fun to stitch!

Christmas ornie

Here's my ornament for September - I finished it some time ago, but am still re-learning how to use the new computer, lol. I have lost the software that I had to give it nice 'soft' edges, and can't remember what it was called!!

Still haven't even downloaded the photos from holiday - hope to get some time to do it 'soon'!

A fairy stitched and a towel received!

Here's the fairy that I stitched on Bren's RR - it was a very quick stitch, but I had to order the floss for the outlining, then when it arrived I didn't get around to stitching it for ages - now it is in the post to the next stitcher. It was lovely to stitch, and the finished piece is going to look wonderful! Finally - here is the lovely towel that Janaina stitched for me for the PIF that I signed up for. I did stitch the little dog pincushion for her as a little return present, but it got lost in the post :o( I shall have to think of something else for her...

Three stitchers and an ornament

Well, the weather here has been awful, and it seems to have driven three of my children into stitching, lol! Bridie is doing her first ever stitching - a small Daisy Designs kit - I'm trying to ignore the topsy turvy stitching and stitches through fabric not holes! She's having fun. Teresa (14) has also gone back to stitching, after about five years not interested - she's doing a bookmark by Travellers Tales that I was looking forward to stitching! Will post a photo when she's happy with progress. And the most surprising - Ruairi (11) has asked for a kit - so I got him a bookmark on plastic canvas - and he seems the most addicted of the three of them. It's lovely to stitch with them - I never ever push them into stitching - it's my hobby after all, not necessarily theirs, but I'm so happy to help them along the path :o)

Here is my August ornament - another Mill Hill, surprise, surprise - this one took a little more assembly than most, but I'm happy with the finished ornie! As always the photo really doesn't do justice to the beads and colours.

And finally - a couple of family photos - the first is of Tom - ready for his Leaving Prom. Actually, he's not leaving, he's going into sixth form, but they have a big 'do' at the end of Year 11. Somehow he managed to get himself into a stretch limo group with eleven of his friends - three boys and eight girls, lol. He's always been so quiet too! He had a lovely time - they went back to one of the bigger houses of his friends for a sleep-over, and had a wonderful evening. A couple of his friends are leaving to go elsewhere, hopefully they will all stay in touch.

The second photo is CRAZY - it is of my eleven year old, Ruairi - they had a 60's day at school, and he went as a hippy! What's sad is that I can just about remember people who dressed this way for real (though in the 70's rather than the 60's, honest!). Happy Days.

Four recent finishes

I've got way way behind with my blog - so this is a relatively 'mega' update! This first piece is my ornie for July - somehow I've managed to keep up with this again this year! This is a kit from Anchor - normally I don't like their thread, but this seemed OK. There are gold stars around the gift, but they don't show up in the photo. As with all photos in this post, you can click on it for a magnified view!

This is part of a set that I've been wanting to do for ages! It's Celtic Beasities by Tracy Horner of Ink Circles - and it's on a piece of fabric from Jo at Polstitches - the shade is Pearl, and it is just lovely to work with! I don't know what to do with this - I could make it into a needlebook, or an ornament, or.... There is another version of this in bright - and I mean bright - threads, that is hopefully going to be stitched up soon.

This is the biscornu that I did for Jerry in the US for a biscornu exchange - I've received a lovely one in return, which I promise I will publish soon. This was a kit from The Sweetheart Tree, and luckily he received it before July 4th.

Finally, this is a Just Nan limited edition Whimzi design - it was stitched for Patty in Canada for a Summer exchange - it was lovely to stitch, with the ladybird being done over one, lots of beads, and lots of smyrna stitches. Shame the weather over here is far from summer at the moment. Trying to think of indoor activities - off to take the children swimming later this morning. My middle one is at Scout camp this week - hope the weather is slightly drier where they are - though as they're not too far away, it's unlikely.

The one that got away...

Just sometimes things go missing in the post :o( This is one such item. I was lucky to be picked out for a PIF on Janaina's blog, and I have sent off to the two people that applied to the PIF on my blog. Then I got to thinking that Janaina was stitching for two or three people and receiving from one - and thought I'd stitch her a little 'surprise' - I thought that this design was just right for her, as I know that she has a little dog. Unfortunately, it went off in March, and has never got there - so I wonder where this little pincushion has got to? Very, very annoying!

Oxford by John Clayton

I just love John Clayton designs - have only done Tuscany so far though. I've had this one for some time, and love it, as I lived in Oxford for three and a half very happy years! These are designs that it's impossible to put down - I'm supposed to stitch on a round robin, so I really have to some time SOON!

Happy Birthday Bridie!

Bridie was six on June 19th - and here's a picture of her before she went off to school - proudly wearing the Mill Hill pin that I made for her! It survived the day - leaving me thinking that these little Mill Hill pins really can take some rough treatment.

Update on BoINK

It's such a long time since my last update, lol - last October I believe. I have been making slow progress on this, mostly taking it to Ruairi's chess tournaments, that involve several hours sitting around with nothing to do and nowhere to go! I think I have about one tournament left on this - though it may be more. I've done all the major squares, apart from one corner blue one - I'm not too keen on how it's turning out, and am not sure about re-thinking the colours. Then there is just some outlining/filling in to do.

However, I'm a complete coward on using 'different' colours, so will probably end up finishing it off as it is, then deciding. Apart from that one square, it's been lovely to stitch - I love stitching celtic patterns. I hope to stitch some of Tracy's celtic christmas/hallowe'en ornament designs at chess tournaments next year!

Margaret Sherry's cat - finished!

Here's a picture of the finished article! It's amazing what a difference the backstitch makes! I had my last exam this term yesterday, so can at last catch up with things. Hopefully Intermediate stage is now over, and I have to think about doing Technician next year.

Margaret Sherry's cat!

I just love these designs, so I was so pleased when Toni asked me if I'd like to fill in a square on her RR - in fact I've been stitching this when I should be revising! Anyway, I thought that I'd post a picture of it before I do the backstitch, as these designs are amazing - they just come to life after the backstitch is in place! Watch this space for the finished thing 'soon'.

Two ornaments finished!

Here are two ornaments that I've finished recently - the first is Carol Singers by Mouseloft - I will probably finish this one as a card, and the other a Mill Hill magnet kit - it was such fun to do!

I have my last exam next Wednesday, and maybe will get a little more time to stitch after that, or at least, I will until the children finish school!

Gorgeous needlebook received from Patty!

Thank you Patty for the lovely needlebook! Inside are some beading needles, and the most gorgeous pair of scissors. Apparently this is Patty's first needlebook, but I can hardly believe it, as it is so beautifully finished.

BOO Club started

OK, so I know that I really shouldn't be starting something new, but I've seen other people stitching this (you know who you are....), and just couldn't resist - I'm stitching it on a lovely piece of handdyed fabric by Picture This Plus, and it stitches up really quickly. I just love those tiny buttons that are on each separate design.

Long time no post

Patty's needlebook (front)

(back)

Awful to see that I've posted nothing at all in April! It's all down to the fact that I've actually got a job - and initially was doing about thirty hours a week, mostly evenings and weekends. I'm working on the accounts of a small day nursery, about ten minutes from my children's school - it's really convenient, and great to be using the things that I've just learnt at college :o) However, now my on-line ID is even more appropriate :o( In April, just about all that I've done is my April ornament, and this needlebook for Patty - part of an exchange. I will post about the ornie another day, makes it look like I'm keeping up with my blog, lolol. I've got a few more exams to do, the last one being in June, then I'll have more time again hopefully.

Chatelaine Mini Mandala Mystery 2 finished!

I'm so pleased to have this finished - yes, it's just a 'mini', but it's fairly big for me, lol! It took me ages to get this photo, and the colours are fairly true at last, but you really just don't see the sparkle to it - there are just so many beads it twinkles all over! I've loved stitching this, and although it took me such a long time, I have to do more - I'd like to do the new one, based on the German Ostsee region, even if it takes me years!

Happy St Patrick's Day - a visit from a leprechaun...

I can hardly believe that this arrived this morning - what wonderful timing by the postal services! I was so lucky to be picked out to receive this wonderful leprechaun by Susan - and what a perfect day for him to arrive! This photo shows the front AND the back - and the lovely green hand-dyed that Susan included.

Susan - thank you SO much - the O'Leary leprechaun has come home!

A Special Friend Award - an apology

I was nominated for this award by my friend Kathy - I am very pleased, and at this point would like to apologise/explain to people where I have NOT passed on these awards. It isn't that I don't appreciate being nominated (I do!), but often I spot the nomination very late, as I am often behind in my blog watching. Also, I find it hard to find people to nominate - not that I don't have good friends here, but often they have already been nominated by others. So I really am sorry - but can't promise to pass these things on!

So - if you are reading this, and you've not been nominated before, please take this as your nomination!

Progress on my Chatelaine

I'm making slow progress on this - and enjoying it so much! I discovered that my joanna's weren't done correctly, so decided to unpick the ones that I'd done around the edge and restitch - the ones in the middle section will stay as they are - my very own speciality stitch, lol! I do prefer the ones done 'properly', but not enough to unpick the whole lot!

Blackwork ornament finished

And yet another non-cross stitch finish! This is for the two ornament challenge groups that I belong to - I chose it as a quick finish project, as I really do have a lot of preparation for my AAT skills test next month - in just about three weeks time... This will be a FIVE HOUR simulated accounts paper, and I will probably need every minute.

Heron Bookmark #2

Here's my latest finish (back to cross stitch! Thanks for the lovely comments about the crochet - love the idea of framing a doily for wall art especially!). We have a village pond nearby where the children have always loved to go and feed the ducks - along with the ducks, swans, fish etc, there is normally a heron around - and Ruairi used to love to see it. When he was about three I made him one of these heron bookmarks, and he has always loved it - he always used it, and at night used to take it to bed, lol! Anyway, over the years, he's chewed it and pulled it, etc, and the tassel has long been broken. He actually asked me if he could have another one (he's eleven now), so, what could I say?

A new crafting addiction?

After a comment on one of my Yahoo groups, I decided that I wanted to have another go at crochet - I learnt the basics when I was about twelve, and made a small circle, mostly double crochet I think, of bright variegated pink! Well, I didn't really know what a 'pineapple' doily was, but got the pattern off ebay anyway - and some bright cotton and a crochet hook. Then it nearly drove me mad - undid completely about five times, and several more minor mistakes - one at least of which is still there, and annoys me, but I'm not undoing the whole thing! I regret the variegated cotton, and wouldn't use it again - I think white/ecru is boring, but can see that the pattern in the doily is then more obvious.

I don't think I'll do any more though - mainly because I think the finished products are beautiful, and I did really enjoy it when it got the hang of it, but to be honest I don't think we have much of a use for doilies in our house! I think I'd rather spend the relatively small amount of time that I have for crafting on my stitching. It was fun to do though.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's a picture of the card that I've just finished for DH - lol, I'm lucky if he remembers to get something from the shop on the way home from work the day before! It was made using a Mill Hill kit, and for the first time ever, the kit really wasn't great - all the treasures were missing, and there were no champagne petite beads in the pack, which should have formed a large part of the design. Anyway, there's no time now to get anything else, so I adapted it, and I'm quite happy with how it looks anyway. I'm surprised though - normally Mill Hill include more than you need, not less!

Snow!

At last - as promised, some pictures from the recent snow - at least I get round to doing it before it disappears (and before the next lot, forecast for the day after tomorrow!). We woke up to the garden looking like this...

The house opposite us was pulled down a couple of years back to build three houses across the back - well, luckily, they can't sell them (who's shocked, they've got NO garden at all, and are horribly over-priced) - leaving a great big empty front drive - perfect for tobogganing :o) All the kids in our road, and a few more, came along, and all had a wonderful time out in the street for the two days that the state schools in Surrey were closed. The littles ones got an extra day off because I couldn't get out of the road. The oldest two got a lift with a neighbour in their four wheel drive - lol, they weren't too happy about it!
Here's a picture of four of our children, Tom, Bridie, Ruairi and Eoin (with a friend)!

And here's our other child - Teresa, as she didn't get in on the other one - with the slope behind her that we used for tobogganing!

The rest of the photos are here.. Snow 2009