Progress at last........ 3rd crazy finish

Finally got myself into gear with my stitching and finished another crazy, so that makes three so far this year.  They still need framing but the stitching is finished.  Not sure about the frame for my French Hen, think I may just paint it white or use a crackle glaze on it.  It's not fixed in yet so will leave for a while to see if any inspiration comes my way.

My third finish is LHN Coffee Menu, which I love.  Might have to take this to be framed as it's an odd size, but I need to find a local framer.

I'm now well into my Pagoda, fingers crossed I should finish that this week.  I changed the thread from the one I started with as it was a little dull on the fabric.  Now using a Dinky Dyes silk,  it's lovely.  First time I have used silk thread and it is beautiful to stitch with,  ok, so it costs a lot more than good old DMC or Anchor but oh, it is worth it.  Just know I shall be shopping for more. 


Here is the lovely biscornu Tina sent me in our FS Spring exchange.  Thank you Tina, it's stitched beautifully and sits in my basket with my growing collection.

We have had a few days of great weather, lots of sunshine and birds chirping.  But now... its changing and getting colder, just when I thought Spring had arrived the weather presenter started talking of sleet and snow for the next couple of days brrrr. 
I'll leave you with some crocus I found enjoying the sunshine last week in my garden.

Happy stitching

I'm late..... I'm late....... for TUSAL

Oh dear......  I should have posted this yesterday, but I have been suffering with migraine attacks this week and spent most of yesterday in bed under the quilt.  No excuse I hear you cry.... ok so here is my ORT jar

Not a lot added this month, but do you see lots of brown?  I have been stitching LHN Coffee Menu and it has lots of lovely browns, hand-dyed ones too. It is nearly finished so if my head is up to it I may just get it done tomorrow.  

Here is the Spring biscornu I made for FS exchange, I know my partner has now received it so can show you.  I do enjoy making these and I'm sure I shall be starting another one soon.

I did manage to finish one of my crazy 15 this week,  it only needed a few buttons added.  It's filled with lavender from my garden and hangs from my bedroom door knob.  I also have  my French Hen stitched and waiting for framing, no pic yet sorry. 

Happy stitching

A date to remember ......

It is nearly the end of our special day,  yes......... our wedding anniversary.  I just can't believe it is 42 years ago DH and I signed that wedding register, and he's still the handsome, loveable, funny man I said yes to.  Where does the time go?   So on the theme of romance I've put together a collage of a few of the hearts I have made over the years, in time for next week and Valentines Day

On the stitching front, things have been very slow.  I seem to have lost my mojo, I did finish a spring biscornu for an exchange but otherwise nothing to show.  The crazy 15 challenge was hard work but I did manage to start a project each day ( have yet to add photos to the page to update).    Hopefully that mojo will be back with me this week.

Happy stitching

A Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long (TUSAL)

 I've joined in the TUSAL for 2012.  I had seen it on several blogs last year and wondered how it worked..... here is the link to explain 
http://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/2011/11/totally-useless-stitch-long.html

So here is my jar........

As a reminder, I have added a tag with all the new moon dates for 2012.  Wonder how long it will take to fill it?  I'm planning on using all the scrap threads in some machine made fabric,  cos it sounds like fun.


happy stitching

First post of 2012

Firstly, A Very Happy New Year to all who read this new post of 2012.

I started the Crazy 15 Challenge on January 1st, if you would like to see my progress and what I decided to stitch, please click on the tab above.  That page is to show my progress until January 15th when I should have all projects started.  Progress and finishes thru the year will be posted here.  
January is always a hard month for me, the cold and dull days make me want to hibernate, and I get the 'winter blues'..... roll on spring!  I'm going to try and keep myself busy and hopefully get at least two finishes before the end of the month. 

I'll leave you with a lovely orchid I have on my kitchen window sill, this is its second flower stalk.

and Petra if your reading this .... yes, it is the one you gave me in the summer when you were over here.  Thank you, it gives me much pleasure.

Happy stitching

One finished.... another to start

Yes.... so pleased with myself, I have finished one sock.  Now the hard part is to get another finished, but I will push myself to get it done by the end of the year.   That will be my knitting craze finished with for another year.  Actually they are fairly easy to do, it's just the first few rounds that are a bit fiddly but after that working with so many needles was no bother, even with all five needles in play for the heel.    Had a bit of a problem understanding how to graft the toe but after watching a Utube tutorial it became clear.  Take a look....

and it fits perfectly.

Now I can show the Christmas ornie I sent to my partner on FS group, as I know she has received it.  I am still waiting for mine, post is a little slow sometimes across the pond.  It's a LHN chart, Gingerbread Village.  I have already started stitching another for a little surprise for a family member.... not saying who, they may read this. 

I am still kitting up my Crazy 15 ready for January...... now need to find 4 more charts,  I have taken one out .. far too large for me, I stitch better with smallish items.  Going to cut and neater edges of all the fabric I have waiting.... make a list of floss needed and look thru my stash.  Hope I shall be ready for Jan 1st.  It is very hard not to start some of the ones I have already kitted. Patience is not one of my virtues, but I do work better under pressure, and the pressure will be on to be ready. 

Ok I'm  off to browse for charts and will leave you with a snap of what's in flower in my sun-room.... ugh! where's the sun?

Happy stitching

A new start and a near finish

My new start is ...... 'drum roll'.......  socks, yes I'm knitting again.  Don't do much of it but now and again I see something and I think 'I can knit that'..... well, I saw these socks when blog browsing and found a kit online.  The kit includes yarn, set of five needles, pattern and cute little stitch markers.  Wish I had picked a brighter colour now but I could always do a second pair.  I don't class myself as a knitter by any means, but I think I am doing ok so far.  What do you think?

 
My 'near' finish is a LHN Deck the Halls, it is a lovely little piece to stitch.  Will be adding it to my Crazy 15 Challenge for next year.  I must spend some time today looking at how much fabric and floss I need to buy ready for this challenge.   I also need to add 3 more to make up my 15.   I'm thinking Christmas, then I may be ready next year with a few ornies made. 

LHN Deck the Halls

I shall have it finished this week, so watch this space...... need to look for fabric to make up into a little pillow.  I did finished one Christmassy ornie this week but can't show as its on its way across the pond for our Friendly Stitchers swap, and I don't want to spoil a surprise.

The weather here is bright and sunny today, but a definite chill in the air.  I'll leave you with a few snaps of what's in my garden this week.

I love the colours of Autumn, Fall..... but feel sad as I know it means the cold of winter is on its way..brrrr...


Happy stitching

Not a lot happened this week!

I don't seem to have done much stitching this week, not a lot has happened but it seems to have flown by...... ... I did get my Christmas ornie swaps in the post for International Hand Stitchers group, will show photos when I know they have been received.  Two to USA and one to Australia, hope they fly as quick as my week has.   I have started a LHN 'Deck the Halls' christmas ornie, and it's  lovely, I'm sure I will be stitching this one again and again.

It is my DH's birthday today, so as he loves muffins and cupcakes I made him some Banana and Choc cupcakes, recipe from my favourite baking book (see last post).  ummmmm.....  must start on a healthier diet, think we both  got a few pounds to lose now...

Yummmy !!!

I will leave you with a few snaps from my garden, really looking autumnal now.......

the resident blackbird will enjoy the orange Firethorn and red Cotoneaster berries this winter. 

Happy stitching

Phew! nearly a disaster!

My DH loves choc muffins, so being the good wife that I am......   I decided I'd surprise him with some homemade ones instead of his normal shop bought ones.  Now, I have made this recipe before and it's easy.  Ok, so I whip up this batch of 12 and pop them in my new oven, set the timer and turn around to start cleaning up.  I spotted the microwave and thought *****!!! , opened it up and there inside was the melted butter that should have been added to the muffins.  Quick as a flash I got the tray out of the oven, it wasn't very hot!!!  then spooned the mixture out of the paper cases into my mixing bowl,  added the butter and blasted it with my mixer on full power.  Then arranged new paper cases in the muffin pan and spooned the mixture back in.  Into the oven once more they went..... timer set again.   Time to clear up the mess, and oh  it was a mess ... chocolate mix everywhere.   I hung around the oven with my fingers crossed............ after 20 mins I stuck a skewer in one and DONE, out the oven and onto a rack to cool.   They looked good! 

And they tasted GREAT!  The recipe is out of this book my son bought me for my birthday.  http://hummingbirdbakery.com/cookbooks/the-hummingbird-bakery-cookbook/



Being pleased with my success in the light of a disaster I decided to make my favourite cake, Lemon Drizzle.  I did concentrate more this time and didn't have any mishaps.  If  you would like my recipe for this cake just leave a comment and I'll get it to you.

Yummy.... it won't last long!        Now I'm back to stitching.....

Two finishes!!!

I am so thrilled ....... I have finished the stitching on my LHN Home of a Needleworker.  It is the first big project I have worked on in cross-stitch and am so pleased I finished.  Now to find a frame to fit, or should I take it to a framer?  A 'do it myself ' would be cheaper, but can I do it?   Only one way to find out...

Here it is,  not a good photo

I know there are a couple of stitches in the wrong place and I didn't get my name spaced out evenly, but it's a finish, so I'm happy.


Well my next finish this week was a small doll quilt, made for a challenge on 'smallquilttalk' yahoo group.  The challenge was to use a four-patch block and there was lots of talk about red and white quilts, so I had a go.  Here's my attempt,  it measures 9 1/2 by 14 inches, and the big stitch quilting was done by hand.  All the fabric I found in my stash, which surprised me as I don't use a lot of red in my patchwork.

 My little mohair bear I made last year seems to like it.

Now I'm starting on Christmas ornaments,  I've just ordered two LHN charts so hope I can get them finished before December.  I'll keep you posted on progress


Happy stitching!