Just Carol

A Happy, Happy Day!

2012-01-17T22:14:00.000Z

Or I should say, a happy, happy two days! If you're a regular visitor to my blog, then you may remember me mentioning in this earlier post, that our eldest son Jason was marrying his beautiful fiancée Nicola on the 3rd December. Well there were actually two weddings. On the Friday we had the legal ceremony at the registry office in Hay-on-Wye, which was before the big day on the 3rd, a Humanist ceremony held at Nic's family home in Herefordshire. A couple of weeks ago Jase sent me two DVDs full of beautiful photos, and I've chosen just a few of the happy day to share with you.

Mr and Mrs (Jason and Nic)

Jason and Nic with Colin and myself

The room where the ceremony took place

End of the ceremony

Jason with his brother Matthew

Wedding cake with Jason, Nic and Chota topper

The end of a fantastic day

This will probably be the last time for a while that I will find time to blog. Colin's arriving home on Friday to help with the final preparations for our move to Dubai, so it's going to be a very busy time for us in the coming weeks, with the move and setting up a new home! I've sorted all my stash ready for the removers to come and safely pack, and long to get back into some serious stitching when I'm finally settled in Dubai. Until I'm back blogging again, take care and thank you for popping by. :o)

Friends Count

2012-01-05T16:31:00.000Z

A little gift for my friend (and hairdresser) Sue for her birthday, which is in a couple of weeks. She doesn't use a computer so I know I won't spoil the surprise by posting this now. Sue has been my hairdresser for 30 years, so when I move to Dubai in a few weeks time I'm going to really miss our monthly girlie chats while she does my hair!

The design is 'Friends Count', a freebie from The Victoria Sampler which can be found on the website. I've used the listed DMC threads and 28ct cream Cashel linen and finished it as a bookmark, but the design can also be finished framed by omitting the Nun's Stitch edging.

This is the second time now that I've stitched this for a friend and I expect it won't be the last - I think it's a lovely gift to give, and as well as being enjoyable to stitch, it stitches up nice and quickly too! :o)

A Stitch In Time

2012-01-03T10:58:00.000Z

I love my Radley umbrella! I've had it for a while now, but thought I'd show it off today anyway. Isn't it just the perfect brollie for a stitcher! I don't think I'll be having a lot of use for it when I'm in Dubai - I wouldn't even be able to use it here today in Plymouth either, with this wind and driving rain we're having! :o)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-28T13:24:00.000Z

Just a little late, but Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

This is a picture of the newest addition to my collection of Momiji's - one of my Christmas pressies from my Mum. Isn't she cute! :o)

Remember Me!

2011-11-22T21:36:00.000Z

It's been a while again hasn't it - I can't believe how fast the time is flying! My eldest Jason is marrying his lovely fiancee Nicola on the 3rd of December, so I finally have a finish I can blog about! I wanted to stitch something for them both, for their special day, and decided I would let them choose the design as I wanted it to be something that they both would be really happy with. They chose 'Wedding Row' by Bent Creek, which was so lovely to stitch. The majority of it was stitched last month, while I was away in Sharjah for three weeks visiting Colin. I had to kit it up quickly before leaving, so kept to the recommended 32ct Belfast Summer Khaki Linen and The Gentle Art Sampler and Weeks Dye Works threads. I'm really pleased with how it all came together with the framing, and hope that Jase and Nic will be too!

Not only am I getting excited about the wedding, but that Colin will also be home to spend some time with us for a few days - it's been a very long time since Colin, myself and the boys have spent some time together! He travels home this time next week on the 29th, but will be off again on the following Monday.

Hope to be back soon with wedding photos to share. Until then, take care and thanks for stopping by! :o)

Hexagon Pincushion

2011-09-22T16:46:00.003+01:00

Another crochet pincushion! I love this one! I came across it on Rivalry last month where I saw it finished in red and beige. I thought it looked so lovely that I had to make one just like it for myself! I used DMC Petra No 5 for this one - the original uses 6 colours and I will definitely be making more of these so that I can use some of the lovely colours I have in DMC No 5 perle cotton. The pattern is by One Loop Short. A link to purchase the pattern can be found HERE.

I really should get on with some of my stitching again, and I'd love to crochet lots more pincushions too, but I don't think I shall be having a lot of time for either as I'm flying off to Dubai again soon, to stay with Colin in Sharjah. I didn't mention in my last post that Colin had started his new job in Sharjah, and that I'd been away there with him for a couple of weeks at the beginning of August. Although Colin had to work we still had a lovely time. At the weekends (which are Fridays and Saturdays in the middle east) we hired a car and drove into Dubai to do some sightseeing and to visit the many enormous shopping malls they have there. We also spent time looking around an expat community in Dubai, where we will eventually be moving to.

I'm looking forward to a lovely weekend and hoping to spend lots of pennies at the Creative Stitches & Hobbycraft show at Westpoint, Exeter. I usually go every year with my Mum, but last year we didn't make it. We're both very excited and sure to encourage each other to spend lots more then we should…lol!

Hope your weekend will be as fun as mine! Thanks again for visiting. :o)

More Pincushions!

2011-09-10T17:22:00.000+01:00

I'm still here! I've no stitchy finishes to show as I haven't done any stitching for weeks, but I have had my crochet hooks out! It's been a while since I last did any crochet, but I've been itching to do a little for a while now, and because I love pincushions I thought I would crochet a couple to add to my pincushion collection. The first just came about last week when I was flicking through a book I bought a couple of years ago - A Compendium of Crochet Techniques by Jan Eaton. There's a section in the book about jacquard and intarsia patterns, with a picture of a checkered swatch. I loved how neat the colours joined together, so thought I would have a go and in no time at all I finished up with a new pincushion - I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

This second pincushion is a lovely free pattern by Liselotte. The original pattern is in Danish here, but has also been translated into English here.

Hope you're enjoying a lovely weekend and thank you for popping by!

A Little Finish

2011-07-20T15:58:00.000+01:00

I've at last got around to stitching and finishing this pretty little freebie from Reflets de Soie. The design is called Coeur Romantique. It's been in my stash for five, maybe six years, and recently I decided that I thought it would look lovely finished as a heart shaped pinkeep, with a little pocket on the back to hold a pair of small scissors.

I've stitched it on 32ct Platinum Belfast Linen, 1 over 1 with The Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Antique Rose. The twisted cord was made using DMC 712 and I've trimmed the pocket with some pretty lace I bought online from France.

I've had a busy couple of days cleaning through. Colin arrives home tomorrow morning around 6ish - WOO HOO, I can't wait! I don't blog that regular I know, but you definitely won't be hearing from me now for several weeks!!! :o)

I Love Pincushions!

2011-07-12T12:48:00.000+01:00

I bet you've guessed that already, with my last few posts having all been pincushions of one sort or another...lol! This is a cute little quickie I made at the weekend. The free tutorial can be found here, on the Very Berry Handmade blog.

I also have some big news to share! Colin has had a promotion within the company he works for. His new position is as Group Diving Manager, at Head Office, Sharjah, in the Middle East. The new position means that I can also accompany him, so we will get to see each other every day and won't be separated for long periods of 6 weeks at a time any more! It's more then likely that by the end of the year I will have gone out to be with him, living in Dubai for several years. In the meantime he's due home next week for hopefully about 10 days (not long since he's been away for 2 months). I can't wait to see him, but as you can imagine we have lots to plan, organise etc, etc!

I'm hoping to be back blogging again soon with a little freebie I stitched a few months ago, and should have finished by now!

Thank you for visiting. :o)

Parfait Needle Pillow

2011-06-15T18:00:00.000+01:00

A stitchy finish, the first for a while! This is Parfait Needle Pillow from Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose. The chart took a bit of finding after seeing it finished on another blog (that long ago that I can't remember where now). I eventually came across an article on The Caron Collection website with details that it was once a workshop piece at Annemiek's shop De Handwerk Boetiek in the Netherlands. So I must say a big thank you to Annemiek for finding the chart for me, she was so helpful and spent a lot of time searching her shop and home for it, and had almost given up hope before it eventually turned up several months later!

It's only a little pillow, measuring approx 2¼" by 2¼". I've placed a pair of Kelmscott Little Gem scissors beside it so that you can get an idea of the size. I've stitched it on 28ct White Jobelan with the listed Caron Collection Waterlilies Parfait and Soie Cristale 7001. The chart uses several speciality stitches, Jack in the Pulpit, Rhodes Diamond, Triple Rice Stitch and Eyelet Stitch.

Catherine Strickler is one of my favourite designers. I've only stitched a few of her designs but have several others in my stash I'm looking forward to stitching. Mary's Pin Pillow is next on my list, I bought it back in 2006 and have had it kitted up ready for a few years.

Thank you for popping by again, and for all the lovely comments left on my previous post for my Pincushion Organiser. :o)

Pincushion Organiser/Scrap Bag

2011-06-01T20:25:00.000+01:00

This is a little project I did over the bank holiday weekend. It's been on my to do list for a couple of years and I absolutely love it, especially as the colours go so well with my lounge too! The red isn't quite true in the photos - it's a nicer red in real life.

The pattern is free from the Sew Mama Sew website HERE. The instructions are brilliant - nice and easy to follow and with plenty of pictures. The fabric I've used is Wiscasset by Polly Minick & Lauri Simpson for Moda.

Thanks for popping by - I hope to be back soon! :o)

A Couple of Pincushions

2011-04-21T16:25:00.000+01:00

I've been having a little fun with my Bernina, and it's about time too!

For my 50th birthday the year before last, Colin bought me my new sewing machine, a Bernina Aurora 440! I absolutely love it, but I'm ashamed to have to admit that I've not played with it very much! At the moment I don't have anywhere where I can keep it out permanently, so that whenever I have a few spare moments I can have a play and learn new things. A lot of the time it's just not worth setting it up and pulling out all the other paraphernalia just to have to pack it all up and put away again!

I'm not very experienced with machine sewing, only ever using one for taking up hems, and for finishing the little pillows and drawstring bags/pouches which I have pictures of here on my blog. This is the first time I've followed patterns for sewing with a machine and I'm so happy I didn't have any disasters, because it's now given me the incentive to try some of the patterns I've been collecting. I know they're only a little something, but I'm so pleased with how these two little pincushions have turned out.

The first is 'Petite Gateau' a pattern by Fig Tree Threads. I used four different prints from At Water's Edge by Blackbird Designs. The second is called 'Square Deal Pincushion", a free pattern by Heather Bailey which you can download from her blog here.

Thank you for visiting and have a lovely Easter weekend. Colin is still away working but should hopefully be home next weekend for a few weeks...YIPPEE!! :o)

For My Pinkeep Collection

2011-04-03T16:25:00.000+01:00

Bet you didn't expect to see me back again so soon...lol!

This is a little angel I stitched a couple of years ago for my Mum, and have been wanting to stitch it again for myself. I've used Orchid Belle Soie Silk, 1 over 2 on 48ct cream Gander Linen, so she's turned out a lot smaller this time. I'd thought of a few different ways I would like to finish her, but eventually decided on a quick pinkeep for my pinkeep collection. I attached the pretty ivory ribbon down the side, with tiny pearls that I found while rummaging through my stash! The pink ribbon trim is some gorgeous taffeta ribbon which I've recently started collecting from Stampin' Up. It won't be long now before I have all the colours they do in the ⅛" width.

When I last stitched this angel I thought it was a freebie, but I'm not so sure it is now, as I know it can also be found in the book Rouge published by Marabout. If anyone out there has any other information about this little angel I would love to know.

Thanks for visiting again, I love to read your comments. :o)

A Couple of Finishes!

2011-03-26T21:17:00.001Z

It's been a while again, but at last I have a couple of finishes I can blog about! I'm trying hard to get myself motivated and back stitching regularly again, and hopefully posting a couple of quick finishes will help, along with purchasing a couple of new additions to my stash...lol! I just couldn't resist the new A Stitcher's Journey and the Basket of Memories, Reward of Merit Pincushion from Blackbird Designs!

First to show is Peek a Boo, a freebie from Wal D'Champs. Unfortunately the Wal D'Champs website has changed since I downloaded the chart a few years or so ago and I can't find the link to it any more! I've finished it as a little lined pocket, a finish I've seen a couple of times and have wanted to do. I've stitched it 1 over 2 on 40ct Newcastle Pearl Grey with DMC 3865.

Below is Miss Mary Mac's Pins and Needles Pincushion by M Designs. I've used the listed Picture This Plus 40ct Legacy Linen and Crescent Colours Threads, and the fabric you can see in the picture is what I've used for backing the pincushion.

I hope to be back again soon with more to show, until then thank you for popping by. :o)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T15:55:00.001Z

Happy New Year everyone! I'm a little late, but still wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year for 2011! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too! Mine was more then a little different this year and very quiet with just myself and my youngest Matthew. This was the first year that my eldest Jason wasn't home for Christmas. At the beginning of December Jase and his lovely girlfriend Nic became engaged and spent Christmas on Holiday in India. This was also the first time in nine years that Colin had to work away for Christmas too. He had a flight booked to leave for work on the 20th, but due to snow and flight cancellations at Heathrow he didn't get away until the 23rd. He was on standby for a seat on one of the next flights out and secretly I hoped he wouldn't get one, but sadly it wasn't to be! :o( Matthew arrived home late that night on the 23rd and we did have 3 lovely days of Mum and Matthew time together!

I can't believe how long I've let it go again since my last post, I think my New Year's resolution should be to post more regularly don't you, as well as getting a lot more stitching and finishing done! I've not done a stitch since October, when I started but didn't manage to finish a little something for Halloween. Although it's not stitchy I do have something I can show, which was a beaded fob I made for Halloween. It's pictured below with the Halloween stitching I didn't quite finish, a design by C Mon Monde.

Thank you for popping by! :o)

Fabric Giveaway Winner!

2010-11-10T16:59:00.002Z

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner for my fabric giveaway! My niece Charlotte helped me pick a winner for my last giveaway, and I had promised my nephew Ben that it would be his turn to help this time! Yesterday was the first chance we had for Ben to draw the winner!

Ben drew number 39!

CONGRATULATIONS JANE P! Yours was the 39th comment left for my fabric giveaway. I will be emailing you soon for your mailing address, so that I can send your fabric to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway, and a BIG thank you to Ben for helping to pick the winner! :o)

C is for Cure and a Fabric Giveaway

2010-10-30T15:43:00.000+01:00

My pink stitching for this year is C is for Cure, a Lizzie Kate design from the Sept/Oct 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch. It's also free to download from the Just Cross Stitch website here. This is my first flanged pillow - I've wanted to make one for ages and I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. I've used the listed Crescent Colour threads, except for the flower. My Ripe Melon and Carrie Berry looked so similar so instead I used DMC 761. The fabric is 28ct evenweave which has been in my stash for a few years, the colour is Nude and is from the Dye Pots of Jayne's Attic. The fabric for the pillow is by designer Karen Neuburger, which I eventually found after a long Google search! It's the same fabric that was used for the banner, for the model pictured on the chart. I was so excited when I managed to track it down because everything about it is just perfect for the design! I've also been able to find the same print in pink, which I will put away to use another year.

After making my pillow I still have plenty of the fabric left over, so I thought I would hold a draw to give a FQ (18" x 22") of it away. If you would like to be entered for a piece of this lovely awareness fabric please let me know in a comment to this post. The giveaway is open to anyone and will close next Thursday, 4th November. If you don't have a blog, or if your email address isn't with your blog profile then please leave it with your comment so that I can contact you if your name is drawn.

Thank you for visiting! :o)

Pink Beaded Scissors Fob

2010-10-19T17:23:00.002+01:00

This time last year I had a blog giveaway with my first try at making a beaded scissors fob. I was going to make another for myself last year too, but never did, so this one is for me! It's delicate with a little bit of bling and I think it's just perfect for these gorgeous Wasa Scroll Embroidery Scissors that my sister Sarah bought me for my birthday last year!

It's very similar to the one I made last year, using Swarovski crystal, silver plated and Spiral Rose Murano Glass Beads. I've threaded it a little different this time using bicone Swarovski beads and Swarovski spacers. The breast cancer awareness ribbon charm is different too. I didn't use the tutorial I used last year either, this time I threaded the beads on to 49 stranded Beadalon silver plated beading wire and used crimp beads, which I attached with my Magical Crimp Tool which you can see in the picture below. I was really pleased with the result using the beading wire and will definitely use it again for any future beaded fobs I make.

Thank you for visiting my blog! :o)

Sew Blue

2010-10-03T21:38:00.000+01:00

This is Sew Blue one of Carol R's (iStitch) lovely complimentary designs, which I requested with a purchase some time ago. Like the pincushion in my last post this was also finished a couple of months or so ago, all except for making up the floss tag that is!

I've stitched it 1 over 2 on 40ct Flax Belfast Linen with Babbling Brook Belle Soie Silk. The design has a border which I have left off so that the finished mattress pincushion wouldn't turn out too big and also because I was stitching a little bit of a border around the edge too. I didn't have any ribbon/trim in my stash that I thought went well enough to use for attaching the hoop to the floss tag, so I decided I would make my own, finishing the edges with Nun's Stitch. I was really pleased with how it turned out.

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. Earlier today Colin and I video Skyped, which we do most days when he's away. My brother also Skyped this afternoon, which was a lovely surprise, so I've had a little company, so to speak!.

Thank you for popping by and commenting on my stitching, as always I really do appreciate it and enjoy reading each and every one of them! :o)

I'm Still Here!

2010-09-27T16:16:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,

It's been such a long time since my last blog entry! Colin has been home for six weeks and I've not done a stitch! He left this morning for work again and will be away now for six weeks - hopefully the time will pass quickly because I'm missing him already! :o(

We had a lovely time while he was home. Matthew our youngest came home for a visit for a few days and we also had a brilliant time in London visiting our eldest Jason and his girlfriend Nic. We did a lot of sightseeing - went on the London Eye, saw the Houses of Parliament, did a tour round St. Paul's Cathedral, visited the Natural History Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum and much more! We still have plenty more to do for when we go back again. Matthew is studying at Brighton University, so after our trip to London we spent a couple of days in Brighton with Matthew. It was so lovely spending some time with my boys because I haven't seen much of them this year. They do ring me regularly though, especially when Colin is away.

Although I haven't been stitching I do have a little something to show which I finished a couple of months or so ago. I love this little pincushion and have wanted to stitch it for ages! It's by Theron Traditions from the chart Stray Pins & Mom's Scissors. I've stitched it 1 over 2 on 38ct Natural Gander Linen so is a little smaller then charted. Threads are the listed Gentle Art Sampler Threads and the twisted cord trim was made using DMC 221 and 3721. The fabric for backing is one of Blackbird Designs Madeira prints.

I'm looking forward to getting some stitching and finishing done so hopefully it won't be too long before my next post, until then thank you so much for taking the time to visit. :o)

Two Little Angels

2010-07-17T17:33:00.000+01:00

These two lovely little angels are from the book 'Anges: Motifs de broderie traditionnelle et au point de croix'. I've stitched them on 32ct Raw Belfast Linen with DMC 712. The fabric I've used for finishing is Rouenneries by French General for Moda which I was very excited about purchasing a while ago and mentioned in an early post.

I must say a big thank you to Dany for letting me know which book the charts for these little angels came from. I've loved them both since I saw Dany's gorgeous finish of them on her blog! Thank you Dany!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend and thanks again for popping by! :o)

Espérance

2010-07-07T15:38:00.000+01:00

A quickie post with a quickie finish! This is one of Dany's lovely designs that I bought and stitched earlier in the year. It was destined to end up in that box I have of finishes to be done if I didn't get to it soon! Isn't it such a lovely feeling when you actually get something finish finished that's been waiting a while! I'm now happy dancing as I have several other of Dany's designs I'm itching to get around to stitching!

I've stitched mine on 40ct Antique White Linen, 1 over 2 using Dany's choice of threads, DMC 610 and 926.

As always thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog. I really appreciate it and can't tell you how much I enjoy reading all the lovely comments that are left! :o)

Sisters Are Special

2010-06-22T14:30:00.045+01:00

For my sister Sarah who recently celebrated a special birthday! It was to be an extra little something for her on the day, but with Colin only being home for 9 days before having to leave again for another couple of months to work overseas, I didn't quite get to finish it in time!

The design is Wee Sister by Heart In Hand. I've stitched it 1 over 2 on 40ct Lakeside Lentil using the recommended Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Art Sampler Threads and finished it again as one of my favourite finishes - another little tasseled pillow! The tassels were made using DMC 3041. You can't really tell from the photo but it's not very big so turned out quite cute!

Thank you for stopping by again! :o)

Lizzie Kate - Strawberry

2010-05-26T17:13:00.003+01:00

Another little drawstring bag - but not quite as little as the one in my previous post. This is Strawberry, a Lizzie Kate freebie which can be found in the files of the Lizzie Kate Yahoo Group. I stitched this one back in 2006 and had always planned to finish it as a lined treat bag the same way that I had finished another of Lizzie Kate's designs some years ago - piccie here. I hadn't planned the fabric border along the top though, until I came across this tutorial from The Floss Box. Julie has recently finished a couple of these lined drawstring bags with the border, which I thought looked really lovely, so I thought it was time to give it a go.

Strawberry is stitched on 28ct Star Sapphire Jobelan using the listed Gentle Arts Sampler Threads. Both fabrics for finishing are from Blackbird Designs Garden Party. I've lined it with the same print that I've used for the back. The strawberries tied to the ends of the drawstring ribbon came from Sayila and have been in my stash all this time, waiting for when I would eventually get round to the finishing!

Not a lot of stitching being done at the moment as I'm busy with housework, ironing etc., so that everything is up to date for when Colin gets home on Friday - WOO HOO I'm soooo excited!!

Thanks again for visiting. :o)

For Mum

2010-05-21T14:30:00.006+01:00

Today is Mum's birthday and I like to try to stitch her a little something extra, especially when I'm at a loss to know what to buy for her! I gave her cash this year and thought stitching a little monogrammed drawstring pouch would be perfect to put it in, along with a Kelmscott Strawberry Thread Keep - another little extra which I'm hoping she hasn't already bought for herself!

The alphabet is a Sajou free alphabet, from album no. 107. Stitched 1 over 2 on 40ct Fawn Lakeside Linen with Crescent Colours Vanilla Pudding Belle Soie Silk. The twisted cord was made with DMC 712, Perle Cotton No. 12. What I thought would be a quick little project actually took me a lot longer to put together then I thought! Apart from the two long seams for the lining it was all stitched together by hand - even the opening was too small for me to machine stitch the casing for the cord drawstrings, so that also had to be done by hand! I love the Vanilla Pudding on the Fawn Linen and will be using them both together again for something for me...lol!

I hope to be back again soon with another finish I have from my finishing box! It will probably be the last one for a little while as Colin is due home on the 28th. He will have been away for a couple of months so I'm getting very excited and can't wait for him to be home! He will only be home for nine days though, before he's off again for what may be another couple of months! We video Skype most days, which is brilliant - it's free and I get to see him too!

Have a lovely weekend and as always thank you so much for visiting! :o)

Bee Hive Scissor Companion

2010-05-04T13:06:00.007+01:00

Another finish which I stitched last year and have been meaning to make up for a while. It feels so good to be getting a few of my pieces finally completed!

This is Bee Hive Scissor Companion by Ewe & Eye & Friends. The fabric I've used is 40ct cream Newcastle linen. I've stitched it one over two with the recommended DMC threads and for the cord trim I used DMC Ecru.

I think it's really sweet, and as you can see from it pictured here with my Elizabeth I miniature scissors by Kelmscott Designs, it's just a little fob too! :o)

Another Finish - Laura's Embroideries

2010-04-24T15:36:00.006+01:00

I have a little box where I safely keep my finished pieces until I eventually get around to making them up. This one (along with many others) has been waiting in my little box since last summer! As soon as I bought the chart I had to stitch it up immediately - I really don't know why I've left it this long to properly finish!

The design is Laura's Embroideries by Marie Suarez/Coeur de Lin. The fabric and threads are my own choice. The fabric is 40ct Creme Brulee R & R linen, stitched 1 over 2 with DMC 451, 779, 3041 and 3042. I've finished it as a little pillow with tassels - one of my favourite finishes!

Hope to be back again soon with another little something to show from my box of stitching that I MUST get finished! Have a lovely weekend everyone and thanks again for popping by! :o)

New Stash

2010-04-22T22:23:00.006+01:00

Every now and then I like to pick up either a charm pack or layer cake to add to my stash of fabrics for finishing. I think these layer cakes are absolutely gorgeous and couldn't resist! Both are by designer Kaari Meng - French General for Moda. I've had Rouenneries for quite a while now - Rural Jardin has only recently become available here in the UK. As you can see in the photos I also had to buy a few FQ of some of my favourites of the prints.

Rouenneries - French General for Moda

Rural Jardin- French General for Moda

I have a new finish, so hope to be back again soon once I've taken some photos. Thanks for popping by again! :o)

Petit Lapin

2010-04-10T16:50:00.007+01:00

I thought this was so sweet with the little bunny that I had to stitch it!

It's a freebie you can download from Windy Willows. I've stitched mine one over two on 40ct Newcastle Raw Linen with the recommended DMC 816 and Blanc. The linen trim was from my stash, which I had bought some time ago from Violarium. I was really pleased with how well it matched.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend, the weather has been absolutely beautiful here in Plymouth.

Bless the Baby

2010-04-01T16:54:00.003+01:00

It's been a while since I've stitched a Lizzie Kate - I've stitched Bless the Baby once before and have always loved it. As I type this one is in the air with Colin on it's way to Georgia off the Black Sea, for the doctor at the BP Supsa Oil Terminal (where Colin works), and his wife who have recently had their first baby. I've never met them so I do hope that they like it. I've stitched it on 28ct Cashel Flax linen using the listed Gentle Art Sampler Threads.

Colin left to go back overseas for work again this morning and will be away now for at least six weeks. I hope to busy myself passing the time away catching up on some finishing, as I still have pieces from two years ago that I really, really would like to get completed!

Thanks again for passing by and I hope you all have a very Happy Easter! :o)

Another Blog Award

2010-03-30T09:12:00.003+01:00

Thank you so much Claire for passing on this Sunshine Award to me - I can't believe I've received another award so soon! The rules are to pass this award on to 12 bloggers. It seems that so many of the blogs I love to visit have already received this award, so I hope it's ok if I change the rules a little by passing this one on to all those wonderful bloggers that take the time to visit me. I really do appreciate it and so much enjoy reading all the lovely comments that you leave. :o)

The Bookshelf - Little House Needleworks

2010-03-22T15:36:00.006Z

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had finished The Bookshelf by Little House Needleworks but wasn't able to take photos as the battery on my camera had just gone down. I'm so happy to have this finished at last, as I had started it way back in 2006. I was just past half way done with the stitching before we got so busy with the finish of our self build, and then having to pack for our move early 2007. I recently took it out one evening thinking I would just put a few stitches in while deciding what next to do on my long to do list, but found I was enjoying working on it so much that I couldn't bring myself to put it away again until it was finished! I've stitched it as charted on 28ct Light Mocha Cashel with DMC threads.

Thanks for popping by. :o)

Blog Award

2010-03-16T11:37:00.005Z

How exciting, it's been a while since I have received an award! Thank you so much Su for nominating me!

Here's how the award works. The rules are simple:

1. One must accept the award
2. Thank the person who gave you the award
3. Add a link to the person who gave you the award
4. Paste the award on your blog
5. Write 10 things about yourself that others might not know
6. Pass the award on to 10 others

Now let me think, 10 things you might not know about me.

1. I was born in Malta.
2. My name is Melita Carol. The meaning of Melita is Sweet Honey which could be why I love anything stitched with bees!
3. I'm a little shorty - only 5'1".
4. I LOVE chocolate, but since the big binge last Christmas I'm just allowing myself the occasional treat - we'll see how long that lasts!
5. I have two grown up sons that no longer live at home. My eldest Jason lives in London and Matthew is living in Brighton while studying at Brighton University.
6. I don't see my Dad very often as he emigrated to South Africa 30 years ago.
7. DH Colin works overseas so I spend a lot of time at home alone.
8. I'm a real home bird. I love being at home and enjoy my own company.
9. I'm very house proud and would probably get a lot more stitching done if I spent less time pottering around the house looking for jobs that could be left for another time!
10. As well as stitching I can also knit and crochet. At the age of 8 (maybe even younger) I would knit clothes for my Sindy.

Here we go, this is the hard bit, having to pass the award on to just 10 beautiful blogs when there are so many more that I think also deserve it!

Mum
Sarah
Sally
Julie
Andrea
Lynn B
Margaret
Valie
Olenka
Mary Kathryn

I'm still here!!

2010-02-27T01:11:00.006Z

It's been such a long time again since my last post, but at last I have a finish I can blog about. This was on my 'to do list' years ago, it's Love by Betsy Foster of Elizabeth's Designs, and can be found in the February 2001 issue of The Cross Stitcher. It was also once a complimentary design. I've used 32ct Country French Chantilly fabric and instead of the listed Kreinik Silk Mori and Silk Serica I chose similar shades of DMC. It's just a little pillow finish - I love little pillows - with a beaded edge and with mine and Colin's initials on the back. I've also recently finished The Bookshelf by Little House Needleworks but I can't show you that one just yet because the battery ran out on my camera before I had chance to take any photos.

I hope to be back blogging a little more regular, although saying that Colin is due back home from work next Friday, after being away for 7 weeks - Woo Hoo! He's only going to be home for a few weeks though, so I expect my next post won't be until he's off back to work again!

Thank you for popping by. :o)

Edited to say thank you to Annick for the link to the Love freebie which can be found here. I'd lost my link to it and searched and searched but couldn't find where it was again, so thought it had been removed. Thanks again Annick. :o)

Giveaway Winner!

2009-11-01T08:18:00.009Z

I was going to use a random number generator to choose the winner for my beaded fob giveaway, but while I spent a lovely evening on Friday with my sister Sarah, watching a DVD with a Chinese takeaway, I had my gorgeous little niece Charlotte pick a number for the winner from a hat instead.

Here is Charlotte picking a number from her hat.

And the number Charlotte picked was NUMBER 30!

CONGRATULATIONS ANGI, YOU ARE THE WINNER!!! Yours was the 30th comment left on my giveaway post. I will be in touch with you soon for your mailing address so that I can send your beaded fob to you.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part in my first giveaway and to Charlotte for helping me pick a winner.

Giveaway Update

2009-10-30T08:30:00.002Z

The draw from my beaded fob giveaway is now closed.

I'm a little busy at the moment as DH Colin is due home tomorrow after being away for 7 weeks, so I will draw a name and post the winner sometime over the next couple of days.

My First Blog Giveaway

2009-10-22T15:57:00.009+01:00

My very first blog giveaway! It's only a little something, but I hope you will like it enough to want to join in! It's another first! My first try at making a beaded scissors fob, following the tutorial on the Focus on Finishing blog. I am really happy with how it turned out and will definitely be making more!

As October is breast cancer awareness month, and also with me earlier this month attending my first breast cancer screening, I have made a breast cancer awareness fob. The beads are silver plated and Swarovski crystal, and Spiral Rose Silver Murano Glass Beads. The awareness ribbon is sterling silver with the words breast cancer stamped on the back. Anyone, anywhere is welcome to join in, whether you are a regular visitor or new to my blog. If you would like to be entered into the draw please leave a comment to this post only. I will also need an email address so that I can contact you if you should win. If it is on your blog, that's fine I will be able to find it, or you could leave a note of it with your post. I will draw a winner one week from today, on Thursday, 29th October and will annouce the winner soon after.

Thank you for taking part and good luck! :o)

Peace, Love, Joy

2009-10-07T15:11:00.009+01:00

I've now finished making up all three of the Peace, Love, Joy ornaments by Renato Parolin. I stitched them all back in April but had only finished Joy (more pictures of Joy can be seen here). It's lovely to see them now all finished together.

I've changed the listed fabric and thread and have stitched them on 40ct R & R Light Espresso Linen, 1 over 2 with DMC 347. I've added the date to the back and finished them off with silk ribbon for the bow and hanger.

Look What My Mum Made Me!

2009-09-26T12:52:00.006+01:00

It's been a while since I've had a finish to show, although I do have quite a few small pieces still waiting to be made up, so I really must crack on with them sometime soon! I even have a little Christmas stitching from last year that still needs putting together! I've only done a little stitching recently as Colin has been home on his time off and I never get a lot done then as we make the most of enjoying our time together doing other things. My sister Debra has also been over from South Africa and staying close by, so of course I've wanted to enjoy time with her when I could too! Anyway, as I have no stitchy pics I thought I would show you this gorgeous beaded scissors fob that my Mum made for me. She has actually made four of these, one for both of my sisters Debra and Sarah, and of course one for herself! The beads are all swarovski crystal and silver and the lobster claw and fairy charm are silver too. Thank you for making this for me Mum, I absolutely love it!

Thank you so much to those who commented on my previous post, for help choosing a new sewing machine. Still undecided but I did find it really interesting and enjoyed reading what you all had to say, so thank you again! Once I have my new sewing machine I will post a picture so that you can see which one I eventually decided on!

I'm looking forward to an exciting day out tomorrow with my Mum and sister Sarah. We are off to the Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts Show at Westpoint, Exeter. It's only about an hours drive for us and we go every year. We've been looking forward to it for a long time - I can't wait to go and will hopefully get to spend lots of pennies there too! :o)

I Need Help!

2009-09-22T15:36:00.002+01:00

I really need some help with choosing my new sewing machine! I thought I had made my decision a few months ago but I'm undecided yet again! I have a big birthday coming up in December (my 50th, but shhhh, don't tell anyone) and have told DH Colin that he is going to be buying me a shiny new sewing machine to replace my 30 year old Singer that gave up on me well over a year ago! I'm not that experienced with a sewing machine, up to now only really using it for straight stitch and zigzag for taking up hems (DH and I are both shorties) and making a few little pillows and wall hangings. I would really like to have one that I can learn to do lots of exciting new things on.

My problem is that I can't decide between a Bernina or a Janome and searching the web have read great reviews on both. I would really appreciate any help and advice as I have now totally confused myself and need to make a final decision before Colin arrives back home at the end of October, as I will probably have to buy it before he is next due to go away again.

Thanks ever so much in advance for any help. :o)

Bird & Flower Floss Ring Tag

2009-08-19T16:56:00.010+01:00

It's not my first floss ring tag but it is my first with an eyelet following Staci's wonderful tutorial! I was going to use my Crop-A-Dile but instead used my Prym Vario Pliers for piercing both the hole and setting the eyelet and I have to say I think they did both jobs brilliantly. The pliers come with the attachments for piercing holes which can be removed to attach the appropriate fittings for setting eyelets, etc. The fittings are included in the Prym eyelet packs.

The design is Bird & Flower, a complimentary design from Chessie & Me currently in the May 2009 Stitchville USA newsletter. The May newsletter is still up on the Stitchville USA website but may not be for much longer. I've changed the fabric to 40ct Flax Newcastle Linen stitching 1 over 2 using the listed Gentle Art Sampler Threads. I added the tiny date with 1 over 1 backstitch.

Thanks again for popping by. :o)

Happy Dancing!

2009-08-06T16:05:00.009+01:00

I've actually finished another of the many pieces I have stitched that are waiting to be made up. This is 'I Love Stitching' pinkeep by Maryse Dupont, from The Gift of Stitching, issue 30, July 2008. I stitched this last year so it's been hanging around for a while. The wording on the chart was different to the picture of the finished pinkeep but I have stitched mine like the picture as I liked it that way.

I've used 32ct Country French Chantilly linen with the listed Gentle Art Sampler Threads and have added a little pleated pocket to the back for stitchy bits and bobs. This is the first time I have added a pocket to a pinkeep and was really pleased with how it turned out, especially with the pleats. I have wanted to do one for ages and saw a pocket finished this way with the pleats, for a sewing case in an older issue I have of SANQ. After finishing the pinkeep I decided it needed a little matching scissors fob too!

Yippee! A Finish At Last!

2009-07-20T11:16:00.008+01:00

It's taken me so long to get round to finishing this little gift that I'd almost forgotten whether it was a little extra something for my Mum for her birthday in May, or for Mother's Day back in March...lol!

This is the first time I have stitched anything from Mary Beale and must confess that I had never heard of her until I had seen Su's beautiful Mary Beale finishes that she has posted on her blog. This design is from Pocketbook No. 3, October 1989. I've used 40ct cream Newcastle linen with the listed DMC threads and finished it as a mattress pincushion.

Thank you for popping by! :o)

A Mon Ami Pierre Needlebook

2009-06-07T14:53:00.005+01:00

There's not been a lot of stitching or finishing going on here since Colin arrived home. I've not spent a lot of time on the computer either, wanting to make the most of having him home, before he is off again for another 6 weeks towards the end of the month. I have managed at last though to finish putting together this needlebook. I had started making it up a month or so ago so it feels like it's been hanging around forever!

The design is another A Mon Ami Pierre freebie which can be downloaded from here. I've stitched it 1 over 2 on 40ct Light Espresso R & R Linen with DMC 779 and made a matching tasseled scissor fob. The fabric for finishing is from Blackbird Designs Harvest Home.

Another Christmas Ornament!

2009-05-04T14:37:00.010+01:00

I've had this one on my 'to do list' for ages! It's one of five designs called A Touch of Holly by Teresa Wentzler from the December 1996 issue of Just Cross Stitch. The chart also includes a bell, heart, star and fan and gives instructions so that they can all be finished together as a bellpull. I think I shall probably one day just stitch a couple more of the ornaments though.

I've stitched it as the chart recommends using DMC threads on 28ct Dove Grey Monaco from Charles Craft. The border and background pattern are stitched over 2 and the tree was done 1 over 1. For the back I used the same background pattern as the front and also added the date.

It's good to see a few of my finishes actually getting completed at last! I still have a few more to do though!

Hope everyone has been enjoying their Bank Holiday weekend. I'm having a nice quiet day here. Youngest DS Matthew who is studying at Brighton University came home for a visit on Friday but left to go back again yesterday. It was lovely to have him home even though it was only for a short time. I'm getting very excited - only 11 days left before DH Colin is back home again for another 6 weeks!!

Joy Ornament

2009-04-29T17:05:00.011+01:00

Today I finished putting together the first of the Peace, Love and Joy ornaments by Renato Parolin an Italian designer, that I mentioned I had stitched in an earlier post. I changed the listed DMC to 347 and as I want the ornaments to be finished a little smaller then the models on the chart I have stitched them 1 over 2 on 40ct Light Espresso R & R Linen. The front and back are joined together with whip stitch and I have also added the date to the back.

I'm looking forward to having all three completed but will probably finish Peace and Love between other finishes that I still have left to do from last year! Hope to have more to show soon!

Thank you for visiting! :o)

A Mon Ami Pierre Pinkeep and Fob

2009-04-16T15:33:00.008+01:00

This week I decided it was about time I put together this pinkeep. I finished stitching it last summer and made a little scissor fob to go with it too using the centre motif of the design. I have also added my initials to the back.

The design is an A Mon Ami Pierre Quaker freebie which was given to me by a dear friend. I've stitched it 1 over 1 on 32ct Belfast Antique White Linen, using DMC 3750.

Thank you to everyone for all your well wishes. I'm still feeling so much better most days and I can't tell you how wonderful that is! :o)

Where has the time gone!!

2009-04-04T14:59:00.009+01:00

I can not believe how long it's been since my last post! Both me and my computer have been very poorly. I started to become unwell some weeks before Christmas and became worse at the start of the New Year. Then just into the New Year and only two days after DH Colin left to go back to work overseas for another 6 weeks, my lovely Sony Vaio went down with hardware failure. It was only 6 months out of warranty and Sony were quoting an arm and a leg to take it in for repair, almost as much as it would be to buy a new computer, which is what we ended up doing. I'm now on a new 24" iMac. I'm loving it and having fun finding my way around the new OS as I have only ever used Microsoft before.

I'm not fully 100% yet and still having to pop back to see the doctor from time to time, but I am now having more days where I feel so much more like myself. Colin has been back home for his time off and last Monday left to go back to work again for another 6 weeks. I am getting excited about my stitching again which I've not felt much like doing while I've been unwell. Recently I finished 3 ornaments from the chart Peace, Love, Joy by Renato Parolin an Italian designer. They still need making up but you can see a picture of the chart here. I've also noticed since finishing them that Amy (DSL) now stocks them. I have quite a few pieces I finished last year which I never got around to making up, which I'm looking forward to doing and hope to show soon. I have one small finish that I can share for now though, which I made for my Mum. She should have had it along with her present for Mother's Day but I never even managed that in time and only made it up a couple of days ago.

The design is a freebie by Ariane Jean Pierre which I have stitched on 32ct Antique White Belfast Linen with Polstitches Romance Dragon Floss. For the tassels I used DMC 3836.

Thank you for popping by and I hope to be back again soon. :o)

I've been tagged...

2008-11-17T19:44:00.006Z

...by Julie to share 6 things all about me! The rules are...

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your Blog.
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

...but rules are there to be broken...heehee, so I'm breaking rule #4 and #5!

1. I was born in Malta.
2. My name is Melita, but everyone calls me Carol.
3. My Father emigrated to South Africa 30 years ago, so I don't get to see him very often.
4. Many moons ago, I was an audio typist etc for an estate agents.
5. I love anything stitched with bees, and have a nice collection of bee themed charts on my 'to do pile'.
6. I love cosy winter evenings, when the curtains are drawn, flames are flickering in the fire, it's raining outside and I can snuggle up on the sofa and stitch. :o)

Halloween Finish!!

2008-11-14T23:35:00.007Z

I know that Halloween has been and gone, but I still wanted to share what I had stitched now that I've managed to get it finished, and especially as I really wanted to do this one last year! I did also make a start on the The Prairie Schooler's Night Owl, and I really, really wanted to do Smell My Feet from La-D-Da, both from the Halloween issue of Just Cross Stitch. Never mind, I shall look forward to getting them both done next year.

The design is from a Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin OOP leaflet. I've used one of my favourite fabrics again - 40ct Newcastle Flax Linen, 1 over 2 with the listed DMC threads. The fabric I've used for backing the pinkeep is a Thimbleberries print that I have had for a few years. I've also used the same fabric to make the cute pincushion. I've wanted to make one of these pincushions since seeing Mary Kathryn's on her blog. I think it's so cute made from the little bee print fabric she has used. I have the exact same fabric, and will have to make one just like Mary Kathryn's one day!

Edited to add link to pincushion instructions here.

Late Again!!

2008-11-07T16:44:00.006Z

This is my finish for the monthly challenge for October on the Jayne's Attic forum. As it was breast cancer awareness month we were able to choose from several breast cancer awareness complimentary designs. I chose this design from the Painted Giraffe Stitchery to finish as a little pillow with tassels.

The pretty fabric I used to back the pillow is from the Moda Quilt Pink II collection. Stitched 1 over 2 on 40ct Newcastle cream linen using the listed DMC threads. The little gold heart attached to the ribbon is a Mill Hill glass treasure.

Now to finish making up what I had stitched for Halloween! I WILL catch up eventually! :o)

September's Monthly Challenge

2008-10-08T17:45:00.011+01:00

Design: Windy Willows complimentary found here
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Flax Linen
Threads: DMC 347

Better late then never! Last night I finally got around to adding the trim to my finish for the Jayne's Attic September challenge. The design is Noel a complimentary design from Windy Willows which can be find here. I've not been very adventurous with the finish, just a simple little ornament with a ruched ribbon trim. The fabric is 32ct Belfast Flax Linen and was stitched 1 over 1 with DMC 347.

Yet again I've not had many finishes to share. I mentioned in a previous post that DH Colin would be returning to work overseas, so the last few weeks have been a little busy for me. Colin started his new job last month as a marine offshore terminal manager, for export oil operations stationed in the Black Sea. He was away for just over 4 weeks and has been back home again now for just over a week. It's a very short trip home this time, as he's off again next Monday. This will mean that he is able to slot into his regular work schedule of 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off (travelling in his own time of course!), which works out brilliant, as it means he's going to be home for Christmas! It's been several years since Colin last worked overseas and I surprised myself at how quickly I settled back into my old routine, perhaps because it was all I had ever known since before we were married, and we've been married now for 26 years!

Due to bad weather delaying the start of a dive which Colin also had to supervise while he was away, he wasn't able to make it home in time to see our youngest Matthew off to Brighton University, missing it by just a few days! That was one hectic week for me, having to get everything organised and seeing Matthew off on my own, not to mention really, really sad too! I thought this time it would be easier as I'd already gone through it with Jase. It wasn't though, I bawled my eyes out just as much and couldn't walk into his room without bursting into tears for days after, just the same as it was with Jase! Last weekend we went to Brighton and dropped off the last of his things he wanted with him. It was so upsetting again leaving him but I'm a lot happier now, after seeing how well he is settling in.

I know I don't post too often, but thank you so much for continuing to drop by. I really do appreciate it! :o)

Proud Mum Moment!

2008-09-17T15:08:00.006+01:00

This is not stitching related, but I am just bursting at the seams to share, with anyone who will listen...lol!! My eldest son Jason has just had his fourth book published. This one's about Prince and it's his biggest one yet - a big photo book with a velvet cover which at the moment is only being sold as an exclusive deluxe edition through Barnes & Noble in America and through their website. You can see it here with additional pictures. I have my very own copy, signed by the author himself of course...lol!!

A Mon Ami Pierre Pinkeep

2008-09-13T16:28:00.008+01:00

I've finally got around to making up this pinkeep for myself! It's the pinkeep design from the A Mon Ami Pierre chart Alphabet Brodeuse. I had finished stitching it a few months ago, when I made the Miniatures D' Alphabets' pinkeeps for my Mum and sister Sarah. It is stitched 1/1 on the same 32ct Vintage Antique White Linen and again using DMC 815. I've also used the same fabric for backing the pinkeep but this time instead of the ruched ribbon trim I have finished it with a twisted cord. Is it just me...my reds never look right in my photos? This red looks so much nicer IRL then it does on my screen!

Designer: A Mon Ami Pierre
Design: Alphabet Brodeuse
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Vintage Antique White Linen
Thread: DMC 815

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments left for my needlebook...I have enjoyed reading them all! A few of you have asked how I had put my needlebook together. It really was very easy and if you have made a pinkeep before you should definitely be able to finish a needlebook this way. I have tried to explain a little of how I finished mine, which you can find HERE. It is not a tutorial with pictures I'm afraid, but it should help if you wanted to have a try at finishing your own.

A finish at last!

2008-09-01T15:26:00.012+01:00

The reveal for the August challenge on Jayne's Attic Stitch and Stash forum was on Saturday. The chart chosen was an A Mon Ami Pierre complimentary design which I have finished as a needlebook and made a little fob to go with it too. This is my first EVER needlebook...can you believe that! You would have thought I would have got around to making one before now! Sometime ago I had seen one made up this way on another blog. I can't remember where now but because I couldn't find a tutorial for it at the time I saved a picture to remind of how it looked. I don't suppose I've got it quite right but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The chart listed Vicky Clayton silks which I substituted for DMC, choosing similar colours as I thought they would go well with the fabric I had already decided to use for the needlebook cover. The scissor fob and needlebook were both stitched 1 over 2 on cream 40ct Newcastle Linen. I stitched Nun's Stitch around the edge of the needle page.

Design: A Mon Ami Pierre (complimentary found here)

Fabric: 40ct Cream Newcastle Linen

Threads: DMC 926, 924, 640, 3721, 223, 632, 3064, 902, 3052

I have a couple of A Mon Ami Pierre pinkeeps to make up which I had finished stitching some time ago, so will hopefully have more finishes to share soon!

I must edit this post to say that I have received a lovely comment from Nataliejo with a link to a picture of her needlebook that she had finished some time ago. Nataliejo thought perhaps it could have been her picture I had seen! I'm so thrilled that she left me a link, because it was definitely Nataliejo's needlebook that inspired me to try the same finish! Please visit Nataliejo's blog and take a look at her needlebook. It's absolutely beautiful, and you will see why I just had to have one too! :o)

It's Me, I'm Back!!

2008-08-26T14:18:00.003+01:00

I can't believe it's been over two months since I last blogged! I'm afraid I have no finishes to share just yet! I have done a little stitching while I've been gone but haven't finished making anything up! :o(

I really must say a very big thank you to Elisa, Jessie, Jurga, Jeanne and Sherry for the blog awards they've given me while I've been away. I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to get around to thanking you all, I really do appreciate them though! I hope it's ok but I shall be passing these awards on to all the blogs I visit, as I think you all deserve them and I would find it so hard to choose just a few of you!

Due to the slump in the property market DH Colin and I have had to make some big decisions regarding our self-build at Spire Hill. Still nothing definite decided on yet as we do have a few options still to think about, but for the time being we have decided to stop the build. For the last few years Colin has been working locally, part-time for just two days a week so that he could project manage and contribute as much of his own time with both our self-builds. With the build also being at a stage now where he doesn't need to be spending so many hours there, he's now ready to go back offshore, overseas to work, which looks as though it could be as early as next Saturday! My youngest Matthew is also off at the end of September to study English at Brighton University, so there's going to be lots of big changes! It's going to be soooo quiet here on my own - what will I do with all my extra spare time...lol!

Before I go I must just share this photo I took recently of my two boys outside the O2 Arena. Jason my eldest is on the right and Matthew is on the left. Even when Jase comes home to visit it's not often I get them both together long enough to take a decent photo. Matthew and I caught the train to London earlier in the month to spend the day with Jase. I had a wonderful time - just me with my boys looking after me! We had a lovely lunch before going on to the Tutankhamun Exhibition at the O2.

Will hopefully be back again soon with a finish or two to share. :o)

Acorns and Owls

2008-06-23T19:07:00.005+01:00

Yesterday was reveal day for the monthly challenge on Jayne's Attic. We had a choice of several complimentary designs this month and I chose 'Acorns and Owls' by Blue Ribbons Designs. This one has been on my 'to do pile' for a while and I already had the perfect fabric for finishing - you can't see much of it from the photo but it has a little acorn print on it. I used 40ct Light Espresso R & R Linen with the listed Gentle Art Sampler Threads. The little trinket tray/bon bon dish finish is another first for me that I've been wanting to try. I really enjoy these monthly challenges and can't wait to find out what we'll be up to next month!

This morning I received my JCS Christmas Ornaments preview issue. I've been really looking forward to this one arriving and was going to start on the Country Cottage Needleworks 'Silver and Blue' ornament first but now that I've seen 'Joyful Blessings' from Blue Ribbon Designs I just can't make up my mind which to start first! Will definitely be doing them both though!

Look what came in the mail today...

2008-06-09T15:21:00.005+01:00

...I absolutely love it! If you've seen my Madeira jelly roll tin I think you'll know why, because it's made from the same blue Blackbird Designs Madeira Sampler print! I must thank Jeanne for my new Scrap/ORT bag. I contacted Jeanne after seeing a picture she had posted on her blog and Jeanne kindly sent me the details I needed so that I could get my own. Thank you Jeanne! :o)

Another Tiny Pinkeep

2008-06-04T19:34:00.007+01:00

This one is for my sister Sarah...a extra little something to give her with her pressie for her birthday today. With Mum and Sarah's birthdays being just two weeks apart, I decided that this year I would make them both a little pinkeep. This is 'Corbeilles', another French design by Miniatures D' Alphabets. I've finished it just like Mum's (see previous post), same fabric, thread and ruched ribbon trim. The only difference is the fabric for backing, the print is the same but with a different background colour.

A Tiny Pinkeep for Mum

2008-05-22T12:59:00.008+01:00

Yesterday was my Mum's birthday and if I have time I always like to try to stitch a little something I can give her with either her present or money. This year I've made her a tiny pinkeep. This is a little French design, 'Coeur D'Ange' by Miniatures D' Alphabets. The fabric is 32ct Belfast Vintage Antique White Linen and was stitched 1 over 1 with DMC 815. I thought I would have a try at doing a ruched ribbon trim around the pinkeep and was really pleased with how it turned out. Mum really loved it too!

A Friend Is A Gift...

2008-05-01T14:15:00.006+01:00

...and this little gift was stitched for a dear friend who has safely received it today so I can now share a picture. I really should have finished it and sent it on it's way well before now. I had completed the stitching in January, finished it into a little pillow and made the cord trim in March, which I finally got around to attaching in April...JUST...lol! The design is The Prairie Schooler's complimentary design, A Friend Is a Gift. Stitched on 32ct Bay Rum Jobelan using the listed DMC.

Today is reveal day...

2008-04-27T14:32:00.004+01:00

...on the Jayne's Attic forum and my finish for this month is a floss ring tag. I've been wanting to make one of these since seeing them on other blogs...finished with either an eyelet or ribbon to hold the floss ring. I was going to use the eyelet finish following Staci's tutorial but then last minute when I came to make it up I decided to use ribbon instead of the eyelet to hold the floss ring. I must make one with an eyelet soon though, because I really like these too!

The design chosen this month is The Caron Keeper a complimentary design by The Drawn Thread which you can find here. I used the same 40ct Light Espresso R & R Linen that I used for the March challenge, stitching 1 over 2 with GAST Highland Heather, Mountain Mist, Ohio Lemon Pie, Tin Bucket and a WDW in Whiskey (not using the DMC you see in the photos).

After my previous post on the Madeira Jelly Roll tin, I thought I would contact Jane Timmer's to ask if she would one day be releasing the designs for the Madeira Tin Project. It's going to be a while but yes she is...WOO HOO! She has a couple more classes to teach, the last one being September next year so it's not going to be until after that! Looking at the photos Jane has on her blog there were a couple of the Madeira fabrics I still needed for finishing the accessories. I've at last managed to track them down here in the UK and have received confirmation that they are in the mail. Will have to wait patiently now for the release date! :o)

I have another finish but can't show you that just yet. It's a little gift for a friend but I still need to get to a post office to mail it. Hopefully I'll pass by one this week and will post a picture once I know she has received it.

Blackbird Designs - Madeira Jelly Roll Tin

2008-04-21T17:08:00.006+01:00

Look what came in the post this morning...the Blackbird Designs Madeira Jelly Roll Tin! As you can see from the photos I already have some of the Madeira fabrics, so when I found the empty tin on Ebay for 'Buy It Now' I just had to snap it up immediately...lol! Have you seen the pictures of Jane Timmer's (Fancy Work) Madeira Tin Project that she has on her Blog? Isn't it lovely! I would love to be able to make these accessories for my tin too! :o)

Tin top

Tin bottom

Today is reveal day...

2008-03-29T12:43:00.007Z

...for the Jayne's Attic monthly challenge. Yippee, I managed to get the finishing done in time this month, I just had the tassels to make and attach yesterday! The design is Alphabet Tree, a retired complimentary design by Blue Ribbon Designs. Fabric is 40ct Light Espresso R & R linen with GAST Gingersnap, stitched 1 over 2. Tassels were made with DMC 3858. Just a quick finish, a pillow/pincushion finished the same way I finished the Indigo Rose pincushion I made last year. The front and back were whipstitched together. Not wanting to miss the reveal date again this month I didn't have time to wait until I could find a patterned fabric for the back so I quickly did a little stitching instead.

House For Sale

2008-03-25T15:43:00.003Z

The time has come for us to put our little home on the market for sale, hopefully in time for moving into our new build! I always get a little emotional when we move home, even though I'm happy to be moving and I'm really excited about our next move but for some reason as soon the removers turn up I just burst into tears, I just don't know why and I'm sure it will happen again this time! I think I shall feel a little more sad at leaving this time though, as this was our first self-build. DH Colin isn't at all bothered but then I suppose he does spend most of his time at our new home already!

I never did get round to adding internal photos of this build after it had been finished and we had moved in. Full details are up on the internet at the moment with the estate agents who are marketing the property for us. So if you would like to take a peek at how it was all finished inside you'll find them here.

Sharon had a couple of questions about our new build at Spire Hill. Spire Hill isn't going to be a second home for us Sharon, we will be moving in, hopefully to stay a little longer then we have here which will probably be approximately 18 months by the time Spire Hill is finished. The size is 1900 sq. ft.

Sadly I won't be getting my needlecraft room just yet! For ages I've been wanting the computer and DH with all his paper work out of the dining room and the smallest bedroom is where it's all going to go! I'm hoping one day we'll build a house with an office downstairs for him and then I'll be able to have my needlecraft room. :o)

Spire Hill Self-Build

2008-03-15T17:22:00.003Z

No new finishes to share but I wanted to post a progress photo of our new self-build at Spire Hill in Cornwall. The windows and doors are now in and the roof is on, which means the house is now water tight and we can start the fun bit on the inside. I'm so excited - Woo Hoo!!

More progress pics can be seen here if you would like to take a peek. :o)

Just a little late...

2008-02-23T18:16:00.006Z

...for the reveal date which was yesterday but here it is, the little pillow I made for Februarys challenge on Jayne's forum. The design for this month was Valentine Heart, a complimentary design from Kristine (Dragonfly Stitches). For the fabric I chose 32ct Belfast cream with Six Strand Sweets Plum Parfait. The ribbon trim is another first for me which I've wanted to try for some time and thought it would be just perfect for this finish. I followed Judy Odell's Ribbon Gathering instructions which were included with a chart I have. I was very pleased with how it turned out.

I really wanted to use a pretty blue fabric for the backing but couldn't find anything suitable locally. I did find a couple of pieces online but I decided against buying anything as the chances were it would be the wrong shade of blue when it turned up so instead I played safe and backed it with the cream Belfast adding my initials and date.

Next months challenge will be one of three complimentary designs by Blue Ribbon Designs. I've wanted to do all three so don't really mind which one will be voted for in the poll, they are all lovely! :o)

The Busy Needle - Little House Needleworks

2008-02-15T20:05:00.009Z

HOORAY!! DH left my camera home with me today so I can at last share my latest finish! I'm a huge Little House Needleworks fan but somehow missed this one! I only became aware of it while browsing a message board towards the end of last year. Someone had posted a picture of the stash they had received from a very generous stitcher and I spotted it peeking out from beneath the pile. I recognized it at once as one of Diane's designs, but how come I had never seen it before, especially as I just adore anything bees! Well like Barnabee off I went on my quest...lol! I didn't have to Google too long though before finding it at The Busy Needle in Tuscon. It turns out that it is a shop exclusive chart thread pack that Diane had designed especially for The Busy Needle. This was such fun to stitch and I thought it would be the perfect design to try out my very first flat fold following Judy Odell's wonderful instructions from her Flat-fold Book. I used the Crescent Colours threads that came with the thread pack on 32ct Belfast Raw Linen and for the cord and tassels I used DMC 3051.

I have a couple of thank yous too. First to Yuko for the lovely comment she recently left me on my birthday post, which reminded me that I still hadn't taken a picture of my new Momiji Dolls that I had for Christmas. My Mum spoilt both my sister Sarah and I. As well as our main Christmas present she also bought us both two Momiji Dolls, the Limited Edition Angel which comes in it's own little tin and Missy Flake. My youngest DS also surprised me with a little extra pressie too. He bought me Snowflake wearing her bobble hat and scarf. My new collection is now off to a very good start!

I hope you get to see this post Yuko and thank you so much for your very kind offer of help if I should ever need it. I have found a few UK websites where I will be able to buy the Momiji Dolls, so hopefully it won't be too difficult for me to get hold of the ones I would like.

I was so thrilled in the week also to find that Mel had nominated me with the you Make My Day award! Thank you so much for this Mel it really made my day! :o) Now the rules are that I should nominate 10 other blogs that make my day too, which shouldn't be too difficult really because there are so many wonderful blogs that I love to regularly visit! What would be impossible though is having to narrow it down to just the 10! So I would like to nominate this award to all of you whose blogs I visit and to let you know how much I enjoy looking at all the beautiful stitching and wonderful things you create. :o)

Christmas Ornament

2008-02-02T21:20:00.001Z

Too late for Christmas but I thought I would get this little ornament finished anyway so that I could put it away. The stitching was actually completed at least a couple of weeks before Christmas but I just never got around to making it up! It's Christmas Heart, a Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin design from the 2000 issue of JCS Ornaments. I wanted it tiny so I've stitched it 1 over 1 on 32ct Wichelt Lambswool Linen using the listed Gentle Art Sampler Threads. For the cording I used DMC 221, which matched up well. I think it turned out really cute done 1 over 1!

I'm now looking forward to making a start on the monthly challenge for February on the Jayne's Attic forum. The design chosen is Valentine Heart a complimentary design by Kristine Herber (Dragonfly Stitches). My fabric and thread is ready and I think I've already decided on how I would like to finish it!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! :o)

Eliza's Pyn Pillow

2008-01-26T13:26:00.001Z

I can at last share a finish I've had for a couple of weeks, as today is the reveal day for the Monthly SAL Challenge on Jayne's forum. The challenge this month was to stitch Eliza's Pyn Pillow, a complimentary design from Ellen Chester (With My Needle), using our own choice of fabric, threads and finishing. I was really excited about this one as it's been on my 'to do' list forever! The chart for Eliza's Pyn Pillow can be found on the With My Needle website.

I chose to finish mine as a mattress pincushion using 32ct Belfast cream linen and substituting the listed silks for GAST Dungerees, Harvest Moon and Sable, for the letters, carnations vase and motifs and WDW Scuppermong for the stems. The date on the back was taken from Ellen Chester's Quaker Hornbook. I've also added the same little diamond motifs that are on the front of the pincushion to the back and again stitched the same motif around the edge of the pincushion.

The challenge was fun to do and all the ladies have done some wonderful finishes. I hope to be able to join the challenge again for next month. :o)

Christmas at our house

2007-12-31T15:10:00.001Z

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Our eldest Jason was home from the 18th to the 29th so our's was perfect! The day before Christmas Eve we had a lovely time over at my Mum's house with a little family get-together and the day after Boxing Day we had a lovely evening with my sister Sarah and Mark. As always far too much to eat, with some of us also having a little too much to drink! Not me of course I just quietly sip away at my Baileys...lol!

This was our first Christmas in our new home. We won't be here for next year though because hopefully we should be all settled into our new self-build at Spire Hill. Christmas 2008 will be our fourth Christmas in a row in a different house!

Before it's too late and this year comes to a close I just wanted to share a few pictures of our Christmas.

This beautiful handanger ornament was sent to me by my dear stitching friend Hilary.

Every year we have a new Christmas puzzle to do. I had a lot of trouble trying to get hold of this one this year! It's Thomas Kinkade's Village Christmas. I had seen it for sale with an Amazon market place seller, used for £25 but got lucky on Ebay and won this one, brand new and the box still sealed for £13.50 including p & p. Not a very good picture I'm afraid!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and I would like to wish you
all A Very Happy New year for 2008!

post signature

My Birthday

2007-12-15T13:58:00.001Z

Last Thursday was my birthday and I had just the best day! First thing my eldest Jason who lives away from home in London rang to wish me a happy birthday and to have just a quick chat because he was at work! It made my day to know he was thinking about his Mum! The rest of the day I spent with my Mum and sister Sarah. We met up in town for lunch and then went birthday shopping for me!! After our girlie shopping spree we went back to Mum's until DH Colin could pick me up on his way home from work.

I had a really lovely handbag from Colin which obviously was chosen by myself, and to hang from my new handbag my Mum bought me the gorgeous Yves Saint Laurent bag accessory you can see in the picture below. The little compacts contain the new Elle in a solid perfume and a lip gloss. I really, really love this...thank you again Mum! The little Momiji Doll came from Sarah wrapped up with some money which I still have to spend with more money! Sarah has just started to collect these herself and I shall have to start collecting them too...they are just too cute! Hidden inside is a tiny card where you can write your own special message. Sarah bought me Sister from the celebrations range. Thank you, thank you Sarah! :o) I also had a few charts I'd been wanting from Carriage House Samplings...couldn't let my birthday go by without something a little stitchy related too! :o)

A few of my pressies:

Just Nan - Tie One On

2007-12-12T22:47:00.002Z

Colin remembered to bring the camera home last night so I can now share my Tie One On, Limited Edition Whimzi from Just Nan. I don't know why but it took ages to get a half decent picture of this one, it's still got a slight blur to it even now! This was nice and quick to stitch and finish in the little whimzi frame!

I'm still around...

2007-12-11T13:52:00.000Z

...but there's not a lot of stitching going on here! As you can see though I've found a little time to make my blog just a little bit festive!

I do have a couple of little finishes, one I've already made up and will hopefully get to post a picture of tomorrow, that's if Colin remembers to bring the digi camera home! He's been forgetting it for about a week now but has promised faithfully he'll remember it tonight...we shall see! I had so many little Christmas projects I wanted to do which sadly won't get done now before Christmas. I'm sure I'll get a couple more finished this year though and I've promised myself I shall start a lot earlier next year. I've not really been feeling 100% for a few weeks which is why I've not been picking my stitching up in the evenings like I would do normally but I do feel more like doing a little now.

I would like to thank you all for visiting my blog and for all the wonderful comments that have been left, I appreciate them all. :o)

Another Just Nan Finish

2007-11-07T16:08:00.002Z

'C' for me, from Just Nan's Ornamental Letters. I picked this up quickly to take with me to stitch when I popped round to see my Mum a few months ago and it's been hanging around since waiting to be made up. Last weekend I decided to get it done and have finished it as an ornament. Stitched on 32ct Flax Belfast Linen using DMC threads. Can you tell that the Flax is one of my favourites! I've used it quite a bit recently and have it also in 28ct and 40ct. I've added Antique MH beads to the whipstitched edges. I've always liked this finish and after seeing Su's gorgeous ornament she had recently finished and trimmed with beaded pink trim, I just had to add beads to this too! It took a little longer to do then I had expected but I'm really pleased with how it's turned out...the beads add just that little bit of sparkle under the lights! I've also added a little of the silk ribbon to the tassel that I had left over from making the hanger.

A simple backstitched date done 1 over 1.

Halloween Fobs

2007-10-31T22:48:00.001Z

Phew!!! Only just got these finished in time for Halloween. I thought I was doing so well when I had finished stitching them last week but time caught up on me and I only got round to making them up into fobs yesterday! They are Jinx and Jasper from the Just Nan chart Moon Riders. Stitched on 32ct Flax Belfast Linen using DMC threads. I found the little Halloween charms online from Jewellery Enchantments. They are just so cute that I had to add one to each fob.

This is Jasper with the little ghost charm

and this is Jinx with the little pumpkin charm.

This week I have also managed to find a little time to start putting together a web page with photos of our self-build at Spire Hill. I'm hoping to update weekly so if you would like to pop by from time to time to see how we are progressing I have added a link to the side bar which links directly to the page. The weather here has been very kind to us with the build so far and I'm really excited to actually be able to see where the rooms downstairs are going to be.

A Little Stashing!!

2007-10-22T16:26:00.001+01:00

I've been stashing and I am really excited to have the Quaker Hornbook by Ellen Chester (With My Needle). I really love this but as it is only available to groups of 10 or more stitchers I never thought I would be lucky enough to have it but thought I would make enquiries with Ellen anyway, who suggested that I contact Linda at The Sampler Guild as she may be able to sell me a single kit and WOOHOO!!! she did and I'm so, so HAPPY!!! I haven't stitched a quaker piece yet but have a nice little collection growing which I'm really looking forward to making a start on!

My other new additions are A Quaker Pattern Book also by With My Needle and Ma Boîte à Trésors (My Treasures' box) by C Mon Monde...these I bought from Amy (Down Sunshine Lane). The Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks Frappuccino and Rose thread packs are my October auto shipment from Mary Kathryn (Handcrafts Online). I've been collecting all the LHN and CCN thread packs but so far have only finished the first three fruit packs and I am now half way through Berries...I have a lot of catching up to do!!

No new finishes to share yet but hope to have a couple of small Halloween finishes to post soon! :o)

Prairie Schooler Autumn Pinkeep

2007-10-11T13:29:00.001+01:00

I have a finish at last!!! It's just a little one but I couldn't resist this cute little pinkeep from the September 2007 issue of The Gift of Stitching! I've used the listed DMC threads on 32ct Permin Wichelt Lambswool. The pumpkin fabric is what I've used to back the pinkeep. I have to confess that this is my first ever Prairie Schooler finish...I don't know why and it won't be my last because I enjoyed every stitch of it! Thanks so much for looking! :o)

Indigo Rose Pincushion

2007-09-17T15:58:00.002+01:00

A new finish to share at last! This has been on my to do pile for quite some time so I'm really pleased to have it done. The design is by Indigo Rose from the Classic Stitches magazine, issue no. 54. I've used the listed DMC threads on 32ct Antique White Belfast linen and have finished it exactly as the model on the chart.

There are a couple of speciality stitches, the Triple Rice Stitch and Ribbed Spider's Web. This was my first time with the Spider's Webs and I was really pleased with how they turned out.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to visit my blog. I really do appreciate it and enjoy reading any comments left! :o)

Another big day!

2007-09-12T13:23:00.001+01:00

It's another big day for Colin and I as we have at last exchanged and completed on the purchase of a plot of land for our next self-build. It's taken us so much longer then we had expected, what with legal issues with access onto the land and then getting our planning application for a 4-bedroomed house passed through planning. There were no problems with the plans, it's just the time that it's taken with the planning department...there's just no hurrying them along...lol!!

Obviously nothing much to see yet but here are a couple of photos of the jungle.

This last one is the view I will have from all the rooms to the rear, or so Colin tells me (trees to the left and right of the photo will be gone tomorrow). He laughs at me when he brings the photos home...I just can't find my bearings with the plot being so overgrown! We'll be making the most of this view with French doors with glass panels down each side. These will be in both the lounge and dining room which lead out onto a veranda. I've already got my name on the seat nearest the french doors in the lounge where I will sit and stitch...lol!

Once we've started getting on a bit with the build I shall regularly post progress pics on my website like I did before with our last build. I know family will be interested in seeing these but please feel free to pop along if you would like see how we are getting on!

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary!

2007-09-11T15:03:00.001+01:00

This was Colin and I 25 years ago on our wedding day! Looking back now it only seems like yesterday! It was a wonderful day and the sun was shining then just as it is again for us today!

I just couldn't resist editing this post...lol!

Sarah Jayne, why ever would this photo embarass you! I think you made a pretty little bridesmaid beside the beautiful Mother of the Bride! :o)

Blackbird Designs quilting fabric

2007-09-10T11:46:00.001+01:00

Remember the lovely quilting fabric I bought a few months ago by Blackbird Designs for Moda. I loved it so much that a couple of months ago I just couldn't resist pre-ordering 6 of the new designs! They arrived this morning...aren't they gorgeous...I absolutely love the dark colours!

This time I ordered overseas from Colonial Crafts (scroll to the bottom of the page for the prints I bought). The total for the six ½ yds came to $24.78 (£12.20), shipping was $11 (£5.40). I thought the total of £17.60 was really good, especially with them being ½ yds and from overseas!

No new finishes to share...

2007-09-06T15:17:00.000+01:00

...because I've been having so much fun playing with my new computer!

Isn't it gorgeous...lol! We've always had the computer set up in the dining room so this time I wanted to go for looks! It's the new Sony Vaio LA3 with Vista...that's the bubbles screensaver you can see on the screen! I'm so excited I just love it! Was a bit worried about compatibility with all my favourite software but so far everything has setup fine. Printer, camera and scanner are all installed too, although the scanner did prove to be a bit of a pain! I thought I was going to have to replace it with a Vista compatible but I persevered and managed to get a driver installed eventually, much to the delight of DH, who's always watching the budget these days with our next new build about to start soon...lol!

I have recently finished a pincushion that just needs making up, so hope to post a picture soon!

Surprise Package

2007-08-15T15:53:00.001+01:00

Look what came in the mail yesterday...the most wonderful package from my dear stitching friend Katrina! We have both been collecting the Whitman's tins for the Fancy Work sewing sets. The Sampler and Bronze Griffin you can see in the picture were the last I needed to complete my collection and dear Katrina has found them for me! It was such a wonderful surprise...thank you so much for thinking of me Katrina and helping me to complete my collection...you know how much I appreciate it! :o)

I haven't been stitching much so no finishes to share this time! I could have got a good bit done last night but had settled down for a quiet evening with DH Colin to watch The Prestige on DVD. I'm stitching my first spider stitches so thought perhaps it wasn't a good idea to tackle these while trying to follow the film! It was Colin's birthday and we were home alone...lol! Our youngest Matthew had caught the train to London earlier in the day for an overnight stay with our eldest Jason...they both went to see Prince at the Millennium Dome in the evening.

Had a wonderful girls night out on Monday with my Mum, sister Sarah and my sister Debra who has been over from Cape Town staying with my Mum for two weeks. We went to the cinema to see Hairspray and then for something to eat after. We really enjoyed the film, it was so funny!

Another pinkeep and scissors fob!

2007-08-01T22:58:00.001+01:00

The little fob has been finished for ages but I didn't want to post a picture until I had got around to making up the pinkeep so that I could show them together!

Both are from Brightneedle. The scissors fob is 'Bunny Hop' the complimentary companion piece to 'Tall Trees' which I have finished as an oval shaped pinkeep. I wanted it to look like the model finished on the chart, which has been mounted into a Sudberry House oval shaker pincushion. Stitched 1 over 2 on the listed 40ct Light Espresso R & R linen, also using the listed Olde Willow Stitchery and DMC threads. This was the first time I had stitched 1 over 2 on 40ct and have to say I really enjoyed stitching on such a small count. The fabric in the background is what I have used to cover the back of the pinkeep.

A little surprise for my Mum!

2007-07-26T22:01:00.002+01:00

She's not seen it yet so I wonder if she'll spot her little surprise here first, before I next pop round with it for her!

The little stitching cherub is a Casa Mia complimentary design which you can find here. I've seen it finished as a scissors fob a couple of times now and knew I had to make one for my Mum who loves cherubs and angels. I've used DMC 115 on 36ct Antique White Edinburgh Linen, stitched 2 over 2. I usually stitch 1 over 2 on 36ct but wasn't at all happy with the coverage of the red on the light fabric but was a lot happier with the results of my second attempt. Bet Mum will recognise the ribbon. I didn't have the right shade of red (it's not quite so bright IRL as it is in the picture) and knew I wouldn't find any locally before finishing, so while I was visiting Mum last week I scrounged some she had which I thought would be a better match. Of course I didn't let on what it was for...lol!

It's been ages since I last blogged...

2007-07-25T10:36:00.000+01:00

Partly because our computer decided to suddenly shut down one day and wouldn't restart. Turned out it was just the power supply within the computer that had failed so an easy fix really and not too expensive, although it still took the best part of two weeks to get it back from the repairers! We were already planning on replacing it in the next few weeks so we wouldn't have been too disappointed if it had been a major problem and not worth repairing! I can't bear being without my computer, so in desperation I dragged out the old laptop that our eldest had used for university. It's getting on a bit now and hadn't been powered up for almost two years. I eventually got it up and running after formatting the hard drive and re-installing the operating system. Took a bit of fiddling to get the broadband connection going but I got there in the end. Not quite the same as having my old computer but at least I could check my emails and still do a little stash shopping..lol!

I also woke up one morning almost totally deaf. It was the weirdest thing, I couldn't even hear my own footsteps! I thought at first that it was due to the bit of a cold I had because it had come on so suddenly but after well over a week and just my right ear clearing a bit it's still no better. On Monday I went to the doctors and as suspected my ears need syringing. I can't wait until next week for my appointment, this is driving me nuts, my head just feels like it wants to explode at times!

You would think that having limited computer use with the old laptop I would have got plenty of stitching done, but no! My stupid ears have made me feel a little out of sorts and I've been getting quite a few headaches too which is probably due to my ears, so although I've been wanting to stitch I haven't really felt up to doing much recently. I do have a couple of smalls stitched though that just need finishing, so I'm hoping to be able to post pictures soon!

New Stash

2007-06-28T17:37:00.001+01:00

This past week I've received some lovely new additions to my stash. My favourite though has got to be A Mon Ami Pierre's 'Victoria's Quaker'. I haven't got the Victoria Clayton silks I need for it yet but once I do I can't see it being too long before I'll want to make a start on it. The pinkeep is just gorgeous so I think I shall have to start this first! Little House Needleworks' 'Summer Silk Sampler' isn't in the picture because it's still in the post but it shouldn't be too long before I'll be adding this to my stash too!

Yes, that is another Whitman's tin you can see...lol! I really have Katrina to thank that I have this one! I haven't recently been checking Hanging By A Thread's 'What's New' page and could have missed this one if Katrina hadn't let me know they were there. Thank you so much Katrina! :o) I now only have the Sampler and Bronze Griffin tins to find to complete my collection for the sewing set charts by Fancy Work. I think these two are going take a little longer to find, especially the Griffin which I've never even seen yet!

Before I forget I must let Nicole know (hope you get to see this Nicole) that the fabric I used for 'A Place We Call Home' was the listed 28ct Country French Latte.

A Place We Call Home

2007-06-24T17:01:00.002+01:00

I started on this a couple of months ago and finished it last night. I've only been doing a little on it every now and then, but have still thoroughly enjoyed working on it. This is my first Country Cottage Needleworks design. I just loved the verse and thought it would be the perfect piece for our new home we moved into last February as our new home is also our first self-build!

I don’t think I shall be having quite as much stitching and computer time this week as usual, which doesn’t bother me at all. It will be because my eldest Jason came home yesterday to stay for the week, so I’m very excited…I just love having him home with us! Although we chat on the phone and email regularly I’ve not seen him since Christmas and I probably won’t again until next Christmas, so I shall be making the most of our time together!

Two new finishes...

2007-06-17T14:44:00.002+01:00

...just for me!!! :o)

I love anything from the designer Mary Garry, so as my old faithful scissor fob that I stitched some time ago was beginning to look a bit worn, this little design 'Sit & Sew' was the perfect replacement. It's been a while since I've finished a fob and I'm so excited about this one - I love it!

I'm so pleased with how my first mattress pincushion turned out too. I couldn't believe my luck in finding two designs by Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin in an older Just Cross Stitch magazine. It was only a couple of days after spotting it listed on a website I hadn't visited for a long time that it came up on Ebay for 'Buy It Now'. The seller kindly agreed to mail to the UK and it arrived just a week later. I didn't have a clue what the designs were like either, just that they were called Spring Duo. Can you imagine how excited I was when I saw 'Raining Pins & Needles' (the smaller of the two). I couldn't wait to stitch it!

Both were stitched on 32ct Belfast Flax using the listed DMC and Gentle Art Sampler Threads for 'Raining Pins & Needles', but changing the DMC 926 listed for the fob to the Blueberry GAST so that they would be the same.

Another first for me!

2007-06-04T18:49:00.001+01:00

Guess who this one is for? Well she did drop a big enough hint when I did my post on pins and as it's her birthday today I thought I'd do my first practice pinkeep for my little sis...LOL!

The design is by Diane Williams (LHN) from the Leisure Arts book Tokens of Affection. I've stitched this 1 over 1 on 25ct so that it would make a nice little size for a pinkeep. Would you believe I didn't even get to use any of those boxed pins I got off Ebay recently as I felt the pinks and greens on the rosette I already had suited better! I'm so thrilled with how it's turned out and can't wait to do another!

In reply to...

2007-06-03T22:39:00.000+01:00

...the requests I've received over the weekend asking me where in the UK I bought the gorgeous fabrics in my previous post.

The green, rose and plum/eggplant sampler prints were from Antique Angel. The multi coloured sampler print was from Cross Patch along with the plain coloured fabrics. You can't actually order online from Cross Patch but their contact no. is on the homepage.

HTH! :o)

Got a little carried away again!

2007-06-01T13:02:00.001+01:00

I just had to have a piece of this sampler print fabric after seeing how Anne (Tempus Fugit) had used it to finish her pinkeep. As you can see though, while searching for the multi coloured print I also found another sampler print in other colours by the same designer, which of course I just had to have too. You know what it's like...I just couldn't decide on which other colour to have so thought it would be best to play safe and have all three...LOL! Won't they be perfect for lining some of those little tins with their sewing accessories! I had to order from a couple of different sites but they were in the UK with next day delivery which was great because I just couldn't wait to get my grubby little hands on them!

The plain fabrics are also from the same collection, described as an evenweave fabric equivalent to 28ct and apparently lovely to stitch on. The four FQs were bundled together and with discount came to £7.16...how could I resist!

Pins, pins and more pins!

2007-05-22T14:21:00.001+01:00

Look what arrived in the post today!

I think I may have got just a little carried away recently after visiting another stitchers blog I like to read. Not only did she post a picture of all her pins but she also mentioned the Ebay seller's ID and shop. I have a few pins already but you don't get that many of each colour on the rosettes you can get here in the UK.

I think I had better now make a start at some of those pinkeeps that I keep promising myself I'll have a go at...just hope I'm going to enjoy making them now that I have all these pins...LOL!

Oh btw, the seller's Ebay ID is Work4Pnuts and her Ebay shop is The Crafty Elephant. :o)

My first bourse!

2007-05-21T20:07:00.001+01:00

This is my first stitchy finish since starting my blog and I'm so excited because I've at last made a bourse which I've been wanting to try for ages. I stitched this little gift for my Mum for her birthday today.

The design is 'Heartstrings' from The Cat's Whiskers. Stitched using the listed 32ct Antique White Belfast Linen and DMC threads. I also chose to use the four little Mill Hill pink heart treasures (instructions are given to back stitch the little heart shapes if you prefer). Full instructions for finishing are also included. Below is a picture of the bourse opened out flat. You can just make out the little heart treasures - there's one down each side.

It's here at last!

2007-05-16T12:47:00.001+01:00

My 'Milkpaint Sampler' by Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin. It's taken 6 weeks to the day for it to arrive from Kreinik. I was afraid it had gone astray in the post so had to e-mail Kreinik with my concerns, who informed me that their estimated delivery time to the UK was 4 to 6 weeks...can you believe that! I'm so relieved it's here safely now! I just love the way it's packaged in it's little box!

Another tin came this morning!

2007-05-14T12:48:00.002+01:00

This is the last one I'm expecting...it's another Whitman's Cloisonné tin. I actually found this one on Ebay for 'Buy It Now' before I was fortunate enough to find my other one here in the UK (see previous post). I did wonder if in my desperation to have one of these tins and not knowing what to expect, whether I may have been a little bit hasty buying it. Now it's here though it really is quite pretty and I'm more then happy with it. It's a little bit different to the other...the tin is identical but has also been embellished with coloured crystals.

Happy Dancing!

2007-05-12T15:26:00.003+01:00

A few weeks ago I received my Whitman's tins with the sewing set charts from Fancy Work. There were a couple of tins I couldn't get which I believe are now unavailable...the Cloisonné and the Sampler Heart! I've been searching the internet, checking out EBay and e-mailing my favourite overseas ONS to ask for help, but was sadly not getting anywhere. During my search though I ended up on a UK website I hadn't visited for a while. Some of the charts and tins were still listed but suggested e-mailing to check stock. Well after all that hunting overseas can you believe it...she still had the Cloisonné tin I needed...YIPPEE!!! The Cloisonné tin arrived safely yesterday and today I'm happy dancing because the Heart tin I found at last just over a week ago arrived safely this morning too!

Look at all my lovely tins...think I'm going to be a little bit busy stitching up sewing sets don't you...LOLOL!!

Well here I am...

2007-05-11T18:17:00.001+01:00

...a Blogger!

Never thought I would be and don't know how successful I'll be at it, but hopefully I'll manage to post at least once a week and not make too many mistakes while I'm learning! It's looking a little boring here now but I hope to pretty it up soon! :o)

Just a little about myself. I'm Carol from Plymouth in the UK, married to Colin. We will be celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary this September...gosh doesn't time fly when you're having fun!! I do have two other men in my life, our sons Jason and Matthew. It's Jason's 24th birthday in two weeks. Since finishing his Degree and Post Grad at Cardiff University he now lives and works as a review editor on a music magazine in London. Matthew is 19 and is still at home which I think he will be for a little while longer yet, although he has recently decided that he would like to go on to University after all, so watch this space!

I love to Cross Stitch so this is what you will mostly find me sharing and chatting about on my blog! I also have a little website...well it's gallery for my stitching really. Hope you will find time to pop by! My Website