Stitchyangel's Treasures

Hello from a rather chilly England! No snow where I live unfortunately but other parts of the country have it. I'm still hoping that we'll get some soon. It's going to be very cold over the next few days so you never know what might happen. This time two years ago we had lots of snow. I remember it well as two years ago on 14th my Dad passed away. I still miss him so much. Life has not been the same since.

Anyway let's talk about stitching as that is what you're here for. Barb and I started our second SAL and have now had 2 Fridays stitching on Country cottage Needleworks Angels from the Classic Ornament Collection. I noticed last night that I'd made a mistake on the vine under the angels which means that my middle angel is higher than it should be but I'm not frogging anything! It will stay as it is as it's not too bad! This is stitched using the recommended fabric and threads as when I signed up for the auto I chose to get the fabric and hand dyes needed. Mainly because I liked the red used on this one! I plan on finishing it the way Vonna did so I bought the ribbons in Harrogate.

My robin has been getting a little more attention so it's growing slowly but surely. Lisa is stitching up a storm on the piece she's stitching with me and it looks amazing!

Speaking of Lisa it was her birthday yesterday and this is what I stitched for her.

Shakespeare' s Peddler Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet

40 count Sand linen

DMC

Birthday gift for Lisa.

I am very happy to say that Lisa loves it . I am disappointed in my finishing as there is still red showing on the tin lid . I didn't get the top glued in the right place. One day I will get this right.

After several weeks on hold while I tried to get other stitching out of the way I have finally picked up August's Poppy again. I have loved getting back to this as it's so pretty. Hopefully I'll get another good evening on it tomorrow but Abi has got me addicted to Dragons Rise of Berk game and I have to keep checking my progress!

A little more progress on Spell of the Moon with Barb now. I ran out of CC Black Coffee so asked Karla at The Patchwork Rabbit to add one to my next ornament auto and guess what?! I had a skein in my stash! I didn't like to ask her not to bother and I'm sure, when it arrives, that it'll get used at some point!

As I'd finished the February cottage last week I started the March one on Tuesday. This is another one that has such pretty colours in it.

Frosty Forest is going quite well.

Finally a little more progress on my SAL with Chris. She has finished hers and I'm excited to see how she finishes it off. I am slow on it now as Barb and I have started our SALs and I've gone back to August's Poppy so I just stitch on it on a Thursday evening now but I've had a birthday gift to stitch as well.

Speaking of birthdays it is with great regret that I'm going to have to cut down on the amount of birthday gifts I send out. I have thought long and hard about it and have realised that I can no longer do so many due to postage costs etc. I will still be sending some but just not as many.

Oooh I almost forgot! CCN Needlework Shop is ready for display! Just have to do The Tearoom next. I think they will hang on my landing.

Apologies for so many photos. I may have a change of the way I work my rotation once Frosty Forest and the Garden Journal are finished so that I'm not stitching on so many. I will see how I feel :).

Great news for Jess this week as on Wednesday she received a phone call from The Card Factory to go for an interview on Thursday. She must have made a good impression during her time there as a temp as she starts next week on a permanent contract. It's a minimum of 8 hours a week. She is really pleased and so are we.

That's all my news for now. I've been steadily catching up on blogs but still have a few I haven't visited yet but rest assured I'll be there eventually!

Take care everyone and stay warm.

With much love

Sally xxxx

Here I am with my very first Stitch from Stash post of 2015. This year, after reading blogs from other SFS participants, I have decided that I'm using £25 for my monthly budget. Stash is quite pricey over here and we don't get much for our money. However this does not mean I am going to allow myself to spend £25 but it's there if I happen to need fabric and threads during one month as it would soon go! My goal this year though is to do even better than I did last year, use as much fabric etc from my stash and get my chart collection down.

So here is my report then I'll get onto my stitching!

Month: January

Spent : £8.91 ( fabric for Classic Collection ornament, hand dyed threads. Not yet received. Possibly lost in post :( )

Earned: £4 ( For finishing Jenny Bean's Pin Tuffet )

Total to carry over: £20.09

I have started a grand total of 4 charts from my stash and finished 3 of those but only one counts towards my earnings ( a new feature for SFS this year ) as I've had the chart in my stash over 6 months.

Wednesday was Chris' birthday and I had been stitching away on a gift for her and here it is.

With Thy Needle and Thread Blue Bunting

32 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen

DMC, GAST, WDW.

Birthday Gift for Chris.

This is my first watch fob finish and it certainly won't be my last. Chris loves it too :)

WIPs now and everything is coming along quite nicely even though I say so myself.

My robin is getting a little progress every Saturday evening. It may not be growing very quickly but these things are time consuming! I kept looking down the page thinking oh my God such a lot of confetti where the tree is! It made me want to give up there and then but I know I can do it!

Barb and I have been carrying on our Halloween SAL so here's my progress on BBD Spell of the Moon. Unfortunately the skein of CC Black Coffee that I found in my stash is not the same shade as the one I'd already been stitching with but hopefully it won't be too noticeable.

My March Cottage should be finished in good time! These lovely little charts are such a joy to stitch :)

No snow here but it's snowing plenty over in the Frosty Forest and Snowgirl's Cottage is growing quite nicely.

I've managed a teeny bit of progress Beerenherz im Winter. I just love this piece. It looks so pretty so far.

Silly me I totally forgot my progress on August's Poppy. Some frogging needed to be done unfortunately!

Finally Angels with Barb is finished! I did have to frog some as it turned out not only was the centre angel too high she was also too far to the left! Duh! She is still too high but I had to restitch her that way or everything would have been wrong! How can something so simple cause problems! We'll be starting our next one in February.

Country Cottage Needleworks Angels

32 count Lambswool Linen

DMC and Classic Colorworks

Thank you for all your lovely comments and for your congratulations for Jess. She's had a bit of a shaky start this week after the rota got changed and no one let her know or someone ( not Jess! ) got things mixed up but everything is good now!

I really must apologise as I still haven't visited all your blogs yet. I will get there as I love to see what you are all working on and I love getting inspiration.

Take care everyone.

With much love.

Sally xxx

Where did January go? The weeks are just flying by and how I wish we could just wave a magic wand and stop time from going so quickly. January was quite a productive month for stitching and I hope February will be the same.

I have had my first finish for February although it was started * hangs head in shame * back in early November! To be fair it did get put away for a while.

Cottage Garden Samplings August's Poppy

40 count pearl grey linen

DMC

So that's 8 down and 4 to go! September's Morning Glory has been started so I'm hoping I might just get them all finished by mid year. Please! Lol.

In my last post I showed my finished CCN ornament Angels and here it is all made up ready to hang on my tree next December. I finished it the same as the model and I love it! Barb and I will start Dear Santa, the next ornament, on Friday. Typing of ornaments the Christmas Cookies chart, threads, button and fabric remains missing in Royal Mail's clutches so Karla is very kindly sending me another package out this week so here's hoping that one arrives!

For a couple of evenings last week I tried to get as much as I could done on Beerenherz im Winter which was my SAL with Chris. She finished hers a while ago and I can see the end of mine now. Well sort of! I don't seem to be able to get into a good flow with it as you have to change colours quite often but is it well worth it as it is so pretty. So just a little more of the wreath to do and the final tree. Hopefully not too much longer.

I still have quite a bit to do on Spell of the Moon which is my other SAL with Barb. I have picked out my next Halloween stitch in readiness for finishing this though!

I ran out of one of the greens on the March Cottage but thankfully the local DMC stockist had it in. I do hate having to pay 80 p a skein when I know I can get it cheaper online but when I only want the odd one it's not worth putting an order in. I know it should be dearer than 80 p as the lady in the shop has told me that it should be about 90 p.

Frosty Forest got a little more attention than usual as I stitched on it Wednesday evening then again at Gill's on Thursday morning. Hopefully Snowgirl's Cottage will be finished this week and I can start on the next one.

Finally my lovely robin! I started this nearly 2 years ago as it was started on 10th February which was my Dad's first birthday after he passed away. It should really have been finished by now but it did get put away for a long time. It won't be going away again as I'm determined to get it finished. This page is hard going where the tree is but, hopefully, once that is done I can get a move on.

Many of you both in the UK and in the USA have been seeing lots of snow. The forecast keeps saying we'll get some here on the coast and it doesn't come. Just rain and more rain :(. Last Thursday afternoon it started to snow but within minutes it had stopped and there wasn't even a covering. I was so disappointed! I envy those of you who have had plenty although I'm sure many of you are wishing you didn't have it! I miss a good snowfall. It is forecast to remain very cold and there is still snow forecast but it seems to change several times a day! I will just have to keep stitching it instead! Not the same though lol!

Take care everyone and stay warm and safe.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxxx

Well a part finish at least! So it's 7 down and 2 to go :). Yay the end is in sight!

Country Cottage Needleworks Frosty Forest Snowgirl's Cottage

32 count pearl grey linen

DMC & GAST

I'll be starting the next one next Wednesday. Hopefully I'll get it stitched faster than Snowgirl's Cottage!

Barb has finished Spell of the Moon this week but I am not quite there yet. I just love how the moon changes the look of the owl! He looks quite evil now but in a cute way! I think I should have it finished Monday then I'll be starting a Blue Ribbon Designs one from the JCS mag.

The March cottage is coming along nicely. As February is a short month I need to get a move on with March so that it's ready in time.

I am happy to say that it looks like the wreath on Beerenherz im Winter meets up! I got a little worried as I was stitching along on Thursday but it looks OK so fingers crossed!

Barb and I have started our next ornament which is Dear Santa. As with all of these I am using the recommended fabric and threads. I had a good start on mine last night and I don't think it will take too long to stitch. Karla very kindly resent the missing Christmas Cookies chart etc this week along with the next chart Christmas Cheer and the final part of the Lizzie Kate Things Unseen Mystery which I had signed up for last year so that was some nice post. Then Barb kindly passed on Lilli Violette With You chart which she had stitched. Such a sweet design and one which I hope to stitch sometime this year.

Lesleyanne has kindly lent me LHN Blessed so I made a start on that when Gill came for a crafting morning on Thursday.

Last but not least is my progress on my robin. I finished the 10 rows I have been stitching on and started the next 10. Lisa has finished Frosty and he looks stunning! We'll be carrying on SAling though which I am very happy about :)

I have also been doing some knitting. Abi asked me if I would knit her a shawl she had seen. Well I've been taking it to craft group with me until I reached the lace pattern and that pattern has been causing me grief! Lol. I think I must lose concentration or something as I've had to take it back three times! Fingers crossed it's right now and I can get on with it! I'll take a photo when I get more done.

Well our forecast of snow didn't come to much unfortunately although we did get a very nice flurry on Monday afternoon. It was lovely to watch it falling. There is just something so magical about it. There was only a slight covering so it was rather disappointing. No more forecast for now as the jet stream has moved and the more time moves on I can't see us getting a decent fall. I know we have had snow into March and April in the past but we shall see. God willing there is always next winter! I think because we didn't get anything last Winter it just gets more disappointing!

We went to the cemetery this morning to put some flowers on my parents and parent - in-law's graves. Tuesday would have been my Dad's 86th birthday. I took my camera with me and took just a few photos. I can't take claim for the robin I'm afraid as I couldn't get my camera to focus to Abi took it for me with my camera.

This angel is beautiful.

Sweet robin

This squirrel looks like he's been in the wars!

Sparrow in my garden this morning.

That's all for now. I might have a couple more finishes next week if I'm lucky! Lol.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

Yet so far on some of my WIPs this week! Just a few more stitches on them and they'll be finished. It's always the same though when you want to finish but your eyes are saying no go to bed!

First almost finish is Spell of the Moon. Barb has started her next one and I'm itching to start mine but just need a few more stitches in. I'll get my next one ready to start as I'm sure it won't take me long when I pick it up on Monday evening.

Next almost finished is Beerenherz im Winter. Yes nearly there and it all meets nicely . I say almost finished but now I look at it there is the tree to do yet so maybe it'll take a couple more stitching sessions yet. *sigh* lol!

Almost finished no. 3 is Dear Santa. I thought this would be a fairly quick stitch and I was right. Just the red bit of the border to finish, the star on the tree and the dreaded French Knots! I hate them!

Progress was made on the March Cottage which is just as well as I only have two more Tuesdays to finish it. I have to keep up with these so there will be no slacking!

The next Frosty Forest was duly started. I am getting quite excited that I only have this block and the middle one to do now. It seems to have taken forever ( yes I know that's a bit of an exaggeration! ) but it has been well worth it.

I stitched a bit more on September's Morning Glory. Lots of lovely colours in this one too just like all the others in the series.

I have so much I want to stitch and it's rather silly. Too many lovely charts in my stash that I want to start right now but too many other things on the go so it is definitely a good job I'm doing SFS again this year. I think I have just gone overboard buying charts in the past and let's face it you can only stitch so many at a time. If I never bought another chart for 10 years I'd have plenty to keep me going I think! Why oh why do we do it! Lol!

Thursday saw me going for my first appointment with a balance physio. I've been waiting since last June to be seen and am glad I've finally been seen as I see the consultant again in just over a week when I will, hopefully, find out the results of the scan I had. Obviously nothing serious as that was done in November. I had over an hour with the physio being assessed etc and I came away with some slightly different exercises to do which I find a bit more difficult but they are to push me. She noticed whilst assessing me that my hips are not in alignment. Although she said she shouldn't move away from the balance thing she couldn't leave it incase it's anything to do with my dizzy spells etc so has given me an exercise to try and free my hips off then next time she wants to look at the line of my back. All I want to do is feel 100% again but I'm not confident although she did think there was some improvement since I first saw the consultant.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post. I have finally got caught up on blog reading and commenting. I really should learn not to leave it so long before I do it!

That's all for now. I really need to get some more finishing done to get the pile down. I seem to have got myself in a rutt of late but I'll get there one day!

Take care everyone and stay warm and safe if you're still having snow storms. None here and it looks Spring might be on the way. I'm so not ready as I don't feel we've had a decent winter yet!

With much love.

Sally xxxx

It's that time of the month again where we report whether we've been good or bad lol! I did have a bit of an extra spend this month on top of the thread and fabric for my ornament auto so that is not good! I will explain later!

So here is my report.

Month: February.

Amount spent: £16.36 ( fabric and thread for CCN ornament, 3 charts )

Earned: £2 for teeny finish

Balance carried forward: £30.73

I am happy with that. Lol.

Last month I saw the new Lizzie*Kate flip its and they just called to me with the frame of mind I have been in so I had a work out and knew I could manage them ( the first release is 3 charts ) and stay within my budget. I paid for them on Friday and will have them when they arrive with my ONS. They won't be getting started any time soon though!

So I am sure you are wondering if I actually managed any of those near to finishes this week. Well yes I did! 3 of them but before I show those I have to show you something else! Last Sunday was my very dear friend Barb's birthday. I stitched a sheep and a flower from Little House Needleworks Soft and Sweet and mounted it into a Tim Holtz pocket watch and here it is :).

Sheep from Little House Needleworks Soft and Sweet.

32 count vintage country mocha linen

DMC

Birthday gift for Barb.

I am so happy to say that she loves it! I must admit that I loved it too!

So my other finishes now.

Blackbird Designs Spell of the Moon

32 count Weeks Dye Works Tin Roof

Classic Colorworks, GAST and DMC.

I love this! Just love the owl! Not sure how I will finish it. I will have to have a root around in my finishing stash to see if I can find anything that will do!

Tomorrow I'll be starting a Blue Ribbon Designs ornament which has owls! I'm a little behind Barb now but we will be doing different Halloween pieces so it doesn't matter.

I was worrying a little that I wasn't going to get my March cottage finished in time but I don't know why as I didn't have that much to stitch so here it is. I just need to get it ready to hang.

Country Cottage Needleworks March Cottage

32 count natural opalescent linen

DMC.

All ready to start April on Tuesday! I just need to cut my fabric.

Final finish is, of course, this one.

Country Cottage Needleworks Dear Santa

32 count Light Exemplar linen

DMC & GAST

This was such fun stitch!

So I now have the charts for Dear Santa, Angels and Spell of the Moon for sale so do email me if you are interested :).

I did not quite manage to get Beerenherz im Winter finished but I am not far off now. I just love this design so much.

Snowy Reindeer on Frosty Forest is coming along quite nicely. I think realising I am so close has spurred me on to try and get more stitched on it. I think I could finish it for Easter.

A little progress on September's Morning Glory next.

I almost forgot about a little more stitching on LHN Blessed :)

Finally my lovely robin. I was chatting to my surrogate sis Lisa, who I am SALing with, and I decided that my aim is to try and finish him by my late Dad's birthday next February so I have just under a year to get him done.

I do have another piece started. I'm taking part on the Four Seasons SAL on Needlecraft Haven but can only show my stitching on there until reveal day which for the Spring one will be 31 st March :).

Do you remember the SAL I did with the lovely Shirlee last year? We stitched Lone Elm Lane Snow Angel. Well it has been languishing in my finishing pile since and my plan was some sort of a box finish . When my DH and I were Christmas shopping we popped into Hobbycraft so I could buy a paper mache box but I changed my mind and bought a wooden stitching hoop instead and this is how I have finished it.

I am not 100% happy with it but then again I doubt myself constantly!

I have also, finally, finished CCN The Tea Room so that I can hang it.

Again not 100% happy with it!

I still have several pieces to finish off. I get some done then add more to the pile lol!

Thank you for reading and for all your wonderful comments. Knowing you are all interested in what I do and your lovely comments keep me blogging.

Until next time.

With much love,

Sally xxxx

Yay! I have a finish! Yes it's my December SAL with Chris at long last. I was determined to get it finished last Thursday so I stayed up until it was all done. I found some bits that I'd missed so couldn't go to bed until I was sure I had filled them all in!

UB Designs Beerenherz im Winter

32 count nougat linen

DMC

SAL with Chris.

I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it off yet. Maybe framing, maybe a wall hanging or maybe a cushion! I really love how it turned out.

I've also been doing a little bit of making up so here's Dear Santa and Spell of the Moon.

Both charts are still for sale along with Angels if anyone is interested. Just email me :).

I thought I might have a new start now the SAL is finished but I remembered I have my NH four seasons SAL to finish and the Blessed ornament as well as an SB fob I started ages ago so I think I'll concentrate on those for now.

I've been busy stitching away in the virtual parlour on Wednesday evenings with Barb and the other ladies and here is where I am at with Frosty Forest :). I finished Snowy Reindeer last night so that will be some pennies earned for Stitch from Stash this month! It's going so well and I'm getting quite excited as it's almost done! This has been so fun to stitch.

My sweet robin is growing slowly but surely. There is a fair bit of confetti in that tree which drives me a bit mad so I shall be pleased to see the back of this page!

More progress on September's Morning Glory. These flowers are rather pretty and big!

Barb and I are still stitching away on our Halloween pieces. Barb will be starting another one on Monday as she has finished her witch but I am still on Owls in Moonlight. As you can see I just have the border to do. Loving this one!

I made a start on the April Cottage last week and stitched a little more this week. I really like these cottages and the colours in them. March is up and on display :).

This Friday Barb and I will be starting our next ornament Snow Love which is snow cute!! I've been looking forward to this one ever since I first saw it! Love the fabric it is stitched on. It's a shame these ornaments are put away in a box for much of the year.

That's all from me for now. I have another finish but as it is a gift I can't show it until it has been received.

Until next time take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

Hello Fellow Bloggers. I hope this post finds you all well and warm where you are still having lots of snow. Last Saturday we had some Spring temps but now it's a bit chilly again.

I have been stitching up a storm since I last posted and have had three finishes but I can only show two of them. The third one is my piece for the Four Seasons SAL over on Needlecraft Haven and I can only show it on the forum before reveal day which is 31st March.

First though I want to show you the little gift I sent to Lesleyanne for her birthday last Saturday. I'm very happy to say that Lesleyanne loves it :)

Lizzie Kate Things Unseen Pin Pillow

32 count Vintage Country Mocha linen

DMC

Birthday gift for Lesleyanne.

This was so lovely to stitch so I'm looking forward to stitching the sampler and the smaller design as well as this one again for me!

I finished my Halloween ornament for mine and Barb's SAL so I'll be starting another one on Monday. It'll be another Blue Ribbon Designs one.

Blue Ribbon Designs Owls in Moonlight ( October 2014 JCS magazine )

40 count Sand linen

DMC

I also decided to get on and finish this one.

Little House Needleworks Blessed

32 count Vintage Country Mocha linen

DMC

Thank you so much Lesleyanne for the loan of that chart. Hopefully postie should have delivered it back to you this week :)

Of course these now need making up! I'll be delving into my fabric and trims stash to see what I can find!

Everything else is getting some progress made on them. I'm getting more and more determined to finish both the Frosty Series and the My Garden Journal series so I have can some new starts! Lol! Plus I earn extra pennies for Stitch From Stash when I finish things from my stash I've had more than 6 months!

So here's Frosty Forest. The final block is started and shouldn't take too long to stitch.

September's Morning Glory is almost done. I've had an extra few hours on this when I finished my Halloween ornament on Monday.

Barb and I started our next Christmas ornament last Friday. We started Snow Love which is just so cute! I managed to get quite a bit done and am looking forward to doing more on it tonight :)

Last night I picked up my Shepherd's Bush Four Seasons fob which I started God knows how long ago but I decided to get it out again and finish it this time before I start anything new on Thursdays! I forgot to take a photo though but the back is now finished and the front is started! Thursdays, I think, are going to be another SAL night for Barb and I. This SAL will be for Shepherd's Bush pieces :) I will tell you why later in the year!

The April Cottage is looking rather lovely in lilac :)

Last, but by no means least, progress on my lovely robin :)

I updated my for sale page with a couple more bits. Please take a look and see if there's anything you might like. My email is in my profile.

That's all for now. Take care everyone. Thank you for visiting and for all your lovely comments :)

With much love

Sally xx

Stitch from Stash reporting has soon come round again and this month has been a good one. So here's my report then I'll show my finishes and WIPs :).

March Report

Balance carried forward from February : £30.73.

Spent in March : £8.64 ( fabric and hand dyed threads for ornament auto )

Earned: £32. Yes you did read that right! ( for finishing April Cottage, September's Morning Glory, Snowy Reindeer and Spring Witch )

Balance to carry forward £79.09

Wow! I am really pleased with that.

Onto my finishes now. I can't show Spring Witch as yet. We are only able to show our finishes on the Needlecraft Haven Four Seasons SAL section until after reveal day so I'll be able to show it next week. This counts towards to my pennies earned as it's a freebie.

Next finish is this one. This also counts towards pennies earned. Love how this one has turned out.

Cottage Garden Samplings September's Morning Glory

40 count pearl grey linen

DMC

The next one in the series, October's Marigold, was started :)

I've already shown Snowy Reindeer, which counts to my pennies earned, so this one is my final finish which also counts. I can now count these as I've had them in my stash over six months.

Country Cottage Needleworks April Cottage

32 count natural opalescent linen

DMC

Must get this ready to hang over the next week seen as it's the 1st April a week today! Where is the time going?

I do have another finish which is one of my SALs with my dear friend Barb. I have to say I am enjoying these.

Country Cottage Needleworks Snow Love

32 count Petit Point Linen

Classic Colorworks and GAST

I don't think next month will be as good with finishes although you never know!

Frosty Forest has been a bit of a disaster as I had a visit from the frog. Please tell him to stay away from me in future! Just about every stitch I put in last Wednesday had to be taken out so I was not happy! So Thursday instead of picking up my SB fob I unpicked it all and started to restitch it. I almost got it all restitched. Fingers crossed I can stitch on it this evening without messing up! Once this is finished I'll be moving my cottages to Wednesdays and doing something different on Tuesdays. I haven't decided what I'm picking up next.

I added a few more stitches to Perched on a Pumpkin. Barb is stitching Halloween Cubes by The Primitive Hare.

Final WIP is, of course,my lovely robin. Just 10 more months to finish it! I think I might be pushing it a little!

I have done something very naughty. Yes again! Ever since Shepherd's Bush released the Shepherd's Fold last year I've been debating whether to sign up for it or not. I love each piece that has been released but when I saw the needle case that swung it for me. I contacted Fobbles asking if I signed up wou, d it be possible to have one a month until I catch up rather than have all 4 at once and they said yes! So I've gone and done it. I won't, however, be buying the wooden Shaker box as it's way too much for me. It is lovely but I'm afraid I'm going to have to find a cheaper alternative. Beverley at Fobbles has put the order in so I don't know when I'll get my first one. So it's a good job I have a good balance on Stitch from Stash! I had better keep it that way!

I am also still knitting away and thought it was time I showed my progress on my Arsenic and Old Lace afghan. All the strips are finished and I'm steadily getting the first insert done. Two more inserts and then the border! Help!

It has been a sad time for our family of late. My Auntie Joan (my Mum's brothers wife ) passed away on 20th February and my Auntie Mary ( my Dad's sister ) passed away on 21st March. She was my Dad's last remaining sibling and I feel as though I have lost part of him. She was a lovely lady as was my Auntie Joan and I spent a lot of time with them when I was a child. I hope that this is not going to carry on through the year.

That's it from me for now. I am so sorry that I haven't visited your blogs yet again. I'm getting very bad at this but I will be there soon.

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

Get those disco balls out and your dancing shoes on folks as a major happy dance is coming up!

Country Cottage Needleworks Frosty Forest

32 count pearl grey linen

DMC, GAST, WDW and Classic Colorworks

Started 17th March 2014

Finished 2nd April 2015

I LOVE how this turned out! I have counted each block as a finish over the last year and I think that helped me keep going with it. I don't know how I'm going to finish it yet but I'm thinking cushion. It won't be washable though so I may have to rethink. So that's one more to the ever growing finishing pile.

So new start for me next week :) Well two new starts actually! I'm moving my CCN cottage stitching to Wednesdays in the parlour over on Needlecraft Haven so new start no. one will be on Tuesday. I haven't decided what it will yet but maybe a Lizzie Kate. Second new start will be a new SAL for Barb and I on Thursdays. We're going back to our Shepherd's Bush SAL. I will be starting My Mom's Garden ( unless the fold arrives before then! ) and Barb will be starting Earth Gatherer. I'm really looking forward to some SB stitching again. Oooh typing of SB stitching I finished the All Seasons fob and I have forgotten to take a photo again. Sigh! I'm going to see if I can get it made up over the Easter weekend.

I forgot to say that the UB Designs Beerenherz im Winter is now for sale. Please email me if you are interested :)

WIPs now. Not so many to show until I get those new starts lol! I had a new start on Tuesday and that was the CCN May Cottage. I didn't get a good start on this as I messed up ( I told that silly frog to stay away! I need to yell frogs legs before each stitching session I think! ) and had to unpick most of what I'd stitched but, thankfully, it wasn't a massive amount when I realised I'd made a mistake. Love these colours.

A little more progress was made on Ocotober's Marigold. These colours are gorgeous and it really pops!

And a little more Halloween stitching on Perched on a Pumpkin. The owl is so cute. I'm going to look through the Halloween mags to see if I have anymore Blue Ribbon Designs ones. I know there is a big one so what I might do is take a bit from that so I can stick to ornament sized pieces. I'm in a BRD mood!

I haven't taken a photo of my lovely robin as there wasn't a great deal to show to look out for that next post.

Do you remember the shawl I was knitting for Abi and what a pain it was? Well I did finish it a while ago and have kept forgetting to take a photo. Anyway a friend from the craft group I go to lent me her blocking wires this week and I tried using them but couldn't get on with them at all. I ended up bending a couple of them and was so upset with myself. So my ironing board came out and I steam blocked it but Abi has decided she wants it bigger. This is it after steam blocking and as you can see the top edge is not straight. I've set about blocking it again this morning by just pinning it out and realised that the top edge is meant to be curved round at the ends! Duh! So we'll see how it turns out this time!

I have left THE best until last. When I arrived home from my Auntie Mary's funeral on Wednesday there was a package waiting for me from my dear friend and SALing partner Barb. Look at what was inside.

Isn't it amazing! It was made by Barb's very talented DH Martin and the gorgeous card was made by the equally talented Barb. I could not believe my eyes when I opened the package. I have told my girls that when anything happens to me they must keep all the Martin made beauties as well as all the Barb and other friends made beauties!

Thank you for all your lovely comments and all your hugs on my two aunties passing. My Auntie Mary's funeral went well and me, my sister and our cousin ( my Dad's brothers son ) found out something we never knew. Her name was actually Constance and Mary was her middle name! We saw 2 of my Dad's cousins as well as one of my Mum's cousins who I had never met before. Well not that I remember! It seems strange now that that my Dad and his two siblings are gone but they are reunited now and will no doubt be getting into all sorts of mischief together with their spouses and parents! This is a photo of my Dad, Auntie Mary, Uncle Bill and their parents from way back when :) My Dad is in between my Grandma and Auntie Mary.

That is all from me for this time. Hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend and don't eat too many eggs! Lol!

Take care everyone.

With much love,

Sally xxxx

It's been a busy week this week as my DH and Abi have been on holiday so we've been out and about a bit. So stitching has been not so productive as by the time we've got home time has been getting on. However I didn't miss an evening's stitching so that is good lol! I had planned on getting to the little fabric shop in Cottingham that Chris introduced me to but we didn't make it. Bummer!

Before I forget I have added a couple more charts to my for sale page above. Please email me if you are interested :)

So without further ado time to show what I have been stitching! Oooh I forgot that I could show you my Four Seasons SAL finish last post so here it is. Not finished up as I wanted some small pom pom trim in different colours so that I could finish it the same as the Winter Witch that Julie stitched me for my birthday but I haven't managed to get any as yet.

The Snowflower Diaries Spring Witch

Unknown fabric

DMC

I'll be stitching the Summer one soon :)

I had another finish on Monday. It only ended up as a finish because I messed up so I didn't stitch the outer border!

Blue Ribbon Designs Perched on a Pumpkin

40 count Sand linen

DMC

I need to get my next Halloween start chosen ready for tomorrow and my continuing SAL with Barb :).

No new start on Tuesday as I hadn't got anything kitted up. I know what I'm starting but won't be able to show it for a while. The cottages have now moved to parlour stitching with Barb and the ladies over at Needlecraft Haven so here's a little progress on May. Loving these colours!

Barb and I have started a new SAL :) This time it's Shepherd's Bush themed. Barb started Earth Gatherer I think and I started My Mom's Garden. Barb very kindly passed the chart onto me when she had finished with it a few years ago. I have subbed the threads for DMC best I could and I'm stitching it on 32 count vintage country peach linen. Just a small start :)

A little more progress was made on October's Marigold. I really, really want to get this series finished so that I can have another evening to work on my robin.

And here is my robin, my SAL with my surrogate sis Lisa!

Finally mine and Barb's final SAL is, of course, the CCN ornaments. Here's how Christmas Cookies is looking :)

I was so excited to see that I had won a chart in Chris' giveaway. Look what I entered for and won!

Yes I know it's so me! I think I'll be stitching this chart a few times :). Thank you so much Chris :)

Last post I showed a photo of the shawl I knitted for Abi after it been blocked once. Well here it is again after the second blocking modeled by Abi :)

Before I go I'll show you a few photos from last week. Well one from York ( the minster ) and a few from Honeysuckle Farm :)

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

Oh dear I have been a bad girl this month! Hanging head in utter shame!

April Report

Carried Fwd from March : £79.09

Amount Spent : £25.25

Earned : £8.00 ( for CCN Frosty Forest )

Balance to carry over to May : £86.84

At least I am still doing OK and hopefully April will have just been a wee glitch although I still have the Shepherd's Fold to come yet and the first part of that is the most expensive. Oh well I should be OK! Lol.

So what have you buying I hear you ask?! Well I really really wanted the Little House Needleworks Welcome Spring chart that comes with the 3 new Classic Colorworks threads. Of course I couldn't find anywhere in the UK that had it so I decided to do an order from the USA. I haven't ordered for a while due to increased postage costs and one place I was happy with once who did good postage costs seemed to have lots of bad reviews over the last 6 months or so so that was a no no for me. I ordered from Down Sunshine Lane in the end and these arrived last week. I also had my auto from Patchwork Rabbit and even though the chart does not count the threads and fabric do and I have also paid an invoice for the next 2 Lizzie Kate 3 Little Words charts. Certify me now please!

I have had another little finish this week. As you know Barb and I do a Halloween SAL on a Monday evening and last week I started Val's Stuff Scaredy Cats and here it is now finished! I haven't counted this towards my earnings as I'm not sure if magazine designs count.

Val's Stuff Scaredy Cats

Unknown fabric

DMC

Onto my progress now. I am hoping for a page finish on my robin by the end of May. I can see I am making progress but I can't see it being finished when I would like it to be. Once my garden journal pieces are finished I am planning on stitching 2 evenings on my robin just to try and make it happen. There have been a lot of colour changes on this page so it has slowed me up a lot so fingers crossed the next page will go quicker!

My second SAL of the week with Barb is the Shepherd's Bush one and I have to say I am loving being back to stitching their lovely designs . This is where I am at on My Mom's Garden.

Our third SAL is, of course, the classic Christmas ornaments and Christmas Cookies. We are both going to be finished on this one this week so look out for new starts on the next one next week :).

Good progress was made on October's Marigold. I just love the orange and black combination on this one.

Final one I can show is the May cottage . I seem to going so slow on this one and it needs to be finished very soon! April is going by too quickly!

Abi came home from work one day last week feeling a little down and after tea wanted to go for a walk so off we went. I had my camera with me and guess what I took photos of lol!

These little sweeties were looking for their mamas.

This sparrow was hiding in the hedge but making lots of noise!

That's it from me for this time. Thank you for continuing to visit me :)

Until next time.

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

Hmmmm we are already a week into May and I am just doing my first blog post of month. It must be 2 weeks since I last posted but I just couldn't be bothered to do one. That is bad isn't it?!

I've had a few finishes since I last posted. One I can't show until it has been received as it's a birthday gift. So here's my first one. I did mention in my last post that this would be finished and, indeed, it was. Look I have even got it all made up!

Country Cottage Needleworks Christmas Cookies

32 count Patina linen

DMC and Classic Colorworks

SAL with Barb.

Chart is now for sale.

Of course finishing this meant starting Christmas Cheer:)

I ran out of the green so had to work round that.

I had several extra evenings stitching on this to get it finished ready for May.

Country Cottage Needleworks May Cottage

32 count natural opalescent linen

DMC.

I also finished a couple of ornaments that had been stitched up a while ago as well as my finally finished SB All Seasons Fob which Barb bought me. I started it when she sent me it and got it out again recently to finish stitching. Snow Love is almost made up. I just have to make some white cording.

I have had a few new starts but can only show one as one is a birthday gift and one is for the Four Seasons SAL at Needlecraft Haven. That one is Snowflower Diaries Summer Witch and I am also stitching it as part of the Halloween SAL I am doing with Barb. So June Cottage is the only one I can show!

I have been making a bit of progress on my WIPs. In my bid to get the May Cottage finished my robin and October's Marigold took a back seat but I was back to them last weekend. Lots still to stitch on the marigolds!

Final WIP is My Mom's Garden which is another SAL with Barb. We thoroughly enjoy our SALs even though they are only virtual. Maybe one day we will get to stitch together for real.

I was so excited to see I had won Mii's giveaway for the beautiful Little House Needleworks chart Comfort along with the leftover threads and it arrived yesterday. I am looking forward to stitching it and will be passing it along when it is done. I have been very lucky lately as this is my second win. I do only enter for something if it's something that I really love.

So I am having a wee giveaway for the following charts:

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl ( was sent by mistake last year and Annie told me to keep it rather than return it. So I'm giving it away. Thank you Annie ).

Shepherd's Bush Happy Birthday with leftover threads.

JBW Designs To The Beach.

Please say in your comments which one you would like or if you'd like 2 or all 3 lol! If there's more than one person I'll pick a winner for each chart. It is open to everyone providing you are a regular commenter :).

My DH and I went for a walk so far around the mere and look what we spotted. She's a bit far away but she's a beauty!

That's all from me for now. Hopefully I'll be back sooner next time!

With much love.

Sally xx

It's that time of the month yet again! So here's my SFS report then I'll show my birthday gift for Michelle.

May Report.

Carried fwd from April : £86.84

Amount Spent : £16.38 ( more than I'd hoped but I needed more fabric for my cottages )

Earned : £24.00 ( for 3 finishes, Summer Witch which I can't show yet, May Calendar Girl and another I can't show yet!)

Balance to carry over : £119.46.

I must say this month has been difficult. I don't know why. Maybe it's my mood as I always crave new stash when my mood is low but I have managed to stop myself by looking at what I already have and giving myself a damned good talking to ( and calling myself some not so nice names ) plus reminding myself that I do have the Shepherd's Bush Fold to look forward to for the next 6 months or so. Of course I am getting rather impatient now for it to arrive but, fingers crossed, it should be soon. I hope so as if it doesn't arrive before July I will be well and truly screwed on SFS! Lol!

Onto my actual stitching now! The lovely Michelle had a birthday at the beginning of May but I was late with her gift as I didn't even finish the stitching until the day of her birthday. I was so pleased that she loved what I stitched for her and here it is.

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl

32 count Colour Cascade Fabrics Silver Springs

DMC

Birthday Gift for Michelle.

Another finish is this cute one. Makes me smile.

Country Cottage Needleworks Christmas Cheer

32 count Lambswool linen

DMC & WDW

SAL with Barb

After weeks of waiting my LHN Song of the Seasons was ready to pick up from my framer. He had problems with his oval mount cutter and ended up having to order a new one. I have to say it was well worth the wait and this photo really does not do it justice.

I have been busy trying to get plenty done on my June Cottage seen as June will soon be here! Love this one.

Barb and I are also SALing on Shepherd's Bush pieces. This is my progress on My Mom's Garden. I should get all the cross stitching done this evening then move onto the speciality stitches.

My robin is getting there on page 4. Hopefully not much longer! I say that every time don't I?! Lol!

Finally October's Marigold is almost done! Just a little more on the flowers and some bits to fill in here and there and it'll be done!

I almost forgot about the charts I was giving away. There were not many takers for them but here are the winners.

Shepherd's Bush Happy Birthday : June

JBW Designs To The Beach : Heather

Little House Needleworks May Calendar Girl: Kay

Heather and June I have your addresses so Kay can you please email me yours :)

That's all from me for now. I got caught up on visiting and commenting but I am probably a long way behind again now! Thank you all for continuing to visit me and for your lovely comments :)

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xx

This week has been a time for a new start and some finishes plus a page finish!

Yes, at long last, page 4 of my lovely robin is done! Talk about being determined to get it done! I didn't manage it on Saturday evening so, as my DH was out on Sunday, I sat down on Sunday afternoon and did not move until it was done! I also gridded the next page ready to start tomorrow :) Let's hope the next page goes a bit quicker although I won't have that tree to contend with!

Sunday evening saw the final stitches being put into October's Marigold. I just love this one! The colours just pop! I'll be starting November's Chrysanthemum on Sunday evening. I keep thinking this is my least favourite one but the more I look at it the more I like it! Almost done with the series yay! Then I can get them all mounted into my book. I must remember to stitch the journal cover!

Cottage Garden Samplings October's Marigold

40 count pearl grey linen

DMC

I had some frantic stitching to do to get June Cottage finished as it suddenly dawned me that it's the 1st June on Monday. Please can we slow things down a little to give me more time to get these cottages stitched each month?! Lol. I was doing so well and am not sure what happened!

Country Cottage Needleworks June Cottage

32 count Natural Opalescent Linen

DMC

Barb and I are continuing with our Halloween SAL and this week I had a new start :). I decided to do something a little bigger rather than an ornament and chose Plum Street Samplers Ghoul Tidings from one of the JCS Halloweem specials. I'm stitching it using a mixture of the suggested GAST and DMC as I didn't have all the GAST colours in my stash. I can't remember what the fabric is but is 36 count :)

My second new start this week is Little House Needlworks Comfort which I won in Mii's giveaway along with the leftover threads. I am stitching it on 40 count Gander linen.

Just a little progress on My Mom's Garden as I didn't stitch on it last night. I need to get this finished though!

The reason I need to get it finished?! This arrived today!

I was so excited when I read in the Fobbles newsletter that they had received their Shepherd's Bush shipment as I knew I'd be getting the first part of the Shepherd's Fold :). I don't think I've felt this excited about new stash since I went to Harrogate last year. I love the new stash I've had but this is something rather special in my honest opinion. I do feel considerably guilty as this is the most expensive kit I have ever bought and it nowhere near as expensive as some SB kits! I will now have one a month to look forward to as well until I get caught up :). I am on the look out for a nice wooden box that is not as expensive as the Lone Elm Lane one used. They are very beautiful but way out of my league. So if you see any online in the UK please let me know. Failing that I'll have to dress up a paper mache one.

ETA please excuse my photos! I didn't think they looked right and I have just looked at my camera and I had it on a vivid setting from when I was messing about with it yesterday!

I have been knitting a bit this week as well. I have made a start on the leaf edging for my afghan. It is going to take ages to do but the worst bit is I don't understand the part for easing it around the corners! I am hoping one of the ladies at craft group can help me out so I'm knitting it as fast as I can so that I'm at the right part by Tuesday!

That's all my news for now. I look forward to catching up with you all over the next few days :)

Take care everyone.

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

Here we are in June. Did I really say June? Hard to believe we are almost half way through the year. During this week you'd have thought it was Autumn rather than Summer but it looks like better weather is here although please don't let it get too hot!

I have been getting a few bits finished up this week. Some were already half way done and just needed trim on.I'll show those first then get onto my new starts and WIPs!

Country Cottage Needleworks Snow Love was finished up the same as the model as I loved Vonna's finishing.

As you can see Christmas Cheer was waiting to be done and here's how it looks now. Not bad for a first attempt with a rotary cutter and wave blade! I still have all my fingers intact!

Do you remember The Snowflower Diaries Angela from last year? ( I know it's shameful that she's had to wait this long to be done! ). Well here she is.

Finally Blue Ribbon Designs Owls in Moonlight which I stitched a few months ago. I'm not happy with my cording on this one.

I have a few more to finish. Well a lot more to finish lol!

I have been trying to stay away from my tab in an evening this week and get plenty of stitching done instead. I have had three new starts two of which are Country Cottage Needleworks. The first one is July Cottage.

I will make some changes to this but not sure what just yet. I think I'll just leave the flag off and maybe add a flying bird or something. I'll leave the fireworks as we have a carnival here in July and there is always a firework display.

My other CCN start is Let Us Adore Him. Barb and I moved our Christmas ornament SAL to Thursday just for this week. I really like this fabric. It is so soft.

My third new start was Cottage Garden Samplings November's Chrysanthemum. I can't believe I am almost done with this series! At one point I thought I'd never finish them lol!

I have been making good progress on my ongoing WIPs except for Shepherd's Bush My Mom's Garden as I started with a flashing in my eye so had to put it away. That was the second episode in a week which was a shock as I haven't had it for a long, long time. I am planning to get this finished this evening if I can then I can start the first part of the fold next week.

I would like to pass the chart on when I've finished as Barb passed it on to me. So if you'd like to stitch this please just say so in your comment :)

Comfort is coming along nicely. I hope I have enough thread but I should do with me stitching it on 40 count.

Page 5 of my robin was started on Saturday evening and I have to say I really did not want to put it down! My DH was out at some trials riding on Sunday afternoon and the girls were doing their own stuff playing Lego Lord of the Rings ( hilarious! ) so I got it out again and did a little more.

Finally my other SAL with Barb which is our Halloween SAL and a little more stitched on Ghoul Tidings :)

I signed up this week for part B of Stitch from Stash but I get a feeling I won't last long on it! Have you seen the new Lizzie Kate mystery that is being released starting next month? I truly believe I am a lost cause when it comes to stitching stash and I should just give up trying to be good right now lol. I am very tempted by the new mystery ( there are sheep in the sneak preview! ) but then I think I really don't need anything else and I have so much to stitch it's silly. However when has that ever stopped a stitcher?! Lol. I think I'll sleep on it a bit!

I got sorted with the leaf edging on my afghan at craft group. One of my oldest online friends helped me but I still couldn't work out just how but 2 of the lovely ladies at group helped and I was sorted! Fingers crossed I can actually remember when it comes to the next corner! I'll take a photo next time I blog.

That's it from me today. Until next time take care everyone.

With much love.

Sally xx

Good afternoon from a sunny east coast of England. For all I don't like very hot weather I am enjoying the sun today and the slightly warmer temperatures. As long as it doesn't get too hot I will be happy.

I have a couple of birthday gifts that I stitched to show you. First of all my friend, Gill, had a birthday at the beginning of June. I wanted something seaside themed for her as she loves the beach/ sea and I suddenly remembered that there is a perfect design in the Blackbird Designs A Stitcher's Journey book. I adapted it as you will see!

Blackbird Designs Seaside Retreat ( from A Stitcher's Journey )

40 count Sand linen

GAST Black Crow

Birthday gift for Gill.

I changed the word stitch to knit, left off the border and added the name of Gill's wool shop to the top. I am very happy to say that she loved it :)

June also had a birthday this month and I couldn't resist stitching her a happy little sheep!

Shepherd's Bush Sheep Freebee ( can be found here on page 3 of the newsletter )

32 count Colour Cascade Fabrics Silver Springs

DMC

Birthday gift for June.

June loved her wee gift :)

Since my last post I have finished stitching this one and got it made up! I added mine and my sister's first initial and my Mum's initials inside the heart

Shepherd's Bush My Mom's Garden

32 count Vintage Country Peach linen

DMC

See the cute bee button? I've had that in my stash for a long time waiting for a special piece to put it on! It was made for me by a lovely Italian lady called Barbara :)

I offered the chart in my last post and the winner is Vickie! Vickie the chart is on the way to you. Enjoy!

I have also been finishing up some other bits that have been waiting in my finishing pile. It is going down a little now although I have some bigger pieces that I'm not sure what to do with.

This one was stitched last year and it is JBW Designs Our Family.

The following were stitched this year and will be coming out for Halloween!

Not a lot of stitching was done last week so I only have a bit to show as July Cottage, Ghoul Tidings and Let Us Adore Him aren't worth showing. Well Let Us Adore Him would have been but I have to frog as I got carried away and stitched white where I shouldn't have! I had a new start on Thursday with Barb as we SAL on Shepherd's Bush pieces on Thursdays. I made a start on A Full Heart which is the first in the Shepherd's Fold series.

LHN Comfort is looking very pretty with the pink stitches now :)

My Robin is coming along really well. Isn't he adorable?!

Finally a bit of progress on November's Chrystanthemum.

So last week my DH and Abi were on holiday from work. Jess didn't get the week off but she only worked Tuesday afternoon and Sunday so she managed some days out with us. She didn't want to go to RSBP Bempton so we went there while she was at work. We had a lovely day and saw lots of beautiful puffins as well as many other seabirds. At this time of year the cliffs are covered in various birds. I took lots of photos but I haven't sorted through them as yet. We also had our annual day out to Yorkshire Wildlife Park which is a fantastic day out. Again I took lots of photos and have sorted some so I'll post a few here. We were very honoured to see Tschuna the Amur tiger's sweet little cubs. Since we went last year they have 2 polar bears named Victor and Pixel. Pixel is Victor's grandson!

That's all from me this time. I'm hoping for a more productive stitching week although I didn't mind not getting as much done last week :)

Until next time.

With much love.

Sally xxx

Here we are again at that time of the month. The final report for part A of SFS. Next month is a whole new start on it.

Balance carried fwd : £119.46

Amount spent : £58.16 ( fabric and hand dyed threads for CCN ornament auto, parts 1 & 2 of the Shepherd's Fold )

Amount earned 0

Balance: £86.30

So I have done well which is thanks to the "earnings" I've had. I haven't declared any earnings for this month as we are allowed to carry them over if they've not been declared. I did check that with Mel.

I have not been well since last Thursday but thankfully I have still managed to stitch. I started with a mild vertigo attack ( not had one for over a year ) which I think may have been caused by the fact that I appear to be getting a cold. My DH has one so I think he's kindly shared it with me. I must admit that I felt rotten from tea time last night and I've hardly been out of the house since last Thursday. I did get to craft group yesterday as it's only a minute or so's walk from me now and I thought it would do me good to get amongst some different company. I'm hoping that I will feel much better soon.

So I am sure you are all here for the the stitching and not my pity party lol so here's my finish!

Little House Needleworks Comfort

40 count Gander linen

Crecent Colours

This was such a lovely stitch. I'm not sure how I'll finish it yet but I think it might be a pinkeep. I won this from Mii so am now ready to pass the chart along with the left over threads. So if you'd like to be the next stitcher please say so in your comment and I'll pick a winner next week.

So it'll be a new start next week maybe! I really need to get on with my July Cottage as I am way behind again! I actually stitched twice on this last week to try and get further on with it and I'm hoping I can maybe get it finished tonight as it's parlour stitching with Barb and the ladies at Needlecraft Haven ( virtually of course! ).

Speaking of Barb we are SALing away on our Halloween, Shepherd's Bush and Country Cottage Needleworks pieces! I have added a different colour to Ghoul Tidings at last! This is such a fun stitch but that top took a lot of concentration lol!

I completed the house on A Full Heart and stitched a bit of the heart above the house. Part 2, My Home Fob, arrived today and it is so sweet! It'll be a few weeks before I start on that though!

After having to frog where I should have stitched a door on the church on Let Us Adore Him I started stitching white again! Duh! Thankfully I had only done about 4 stitches when I realised so out they came and I now have a door! I think this might be a finish this week providing the frog stays away.

I have also stitched a couple of times on my lovely robin. I can't quite believe now much quicker ( even though there is really nothing quick about it ) this page is going compared to the last one. I am planning on 2 evenings stitching on this once the garden journal pieces are finished.

So that leads me to my progress on November's Chrysanthemum which is coming along very well :). Just one more to go after this!

I have started reading again. I was always a very keen reader and would get through a book at least every week but the cross stitch took over! Not long ago I read The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Ablom which is a wonderful book. It got me hooked again. Whilst we out and about I bought a few books which I am looking forward to reading. I still have books to read from a few years ago as well . I decided to start Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities which Jess bought me for Christmas a few years ago along with Great Expectations. I just read for half an hour or so before I go to bed. I must say I am finding this one hard going! Anyway I have joined Goodreads so if you're on there look me up if you'd like to!

Thank you for continuing to visit me and leave such lovely comments. I truly love reading them all. I will get around to visiting you all again soon. I did start but still have to get caught up fully.

Until next time.

With much love

Sally xxx

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted as I haven't really had much enthusiasm but I have a couple of finishes to show as well as my WIPs and of course to tell you who is going to be the next stitcher of LHN Comfort :).

So last Wednesday was my long time online crafting friend Karan's birthday and this is what I stitched for her.

Cosmic Handmade Friends ( freebie design )

28 count Vintage Country Mocha Linen

DMC

Birthday gift for Karan.

I have to say that I am thoroughly delighted with how this turned out! I have been very down on my finishing of late but I think that is partly to do with the frame of mind I have been in ( I can be very cruel to myself ) and still am to a certain extent. Karen loves it too so I am very happy :). The trim, button and spools came from The Works where Abi works.

I have made up Country Cottage Needleworks Let Us Adore Him which I am also very happy with! Just a simple finish with ruched ribbon but I love it!

Barb and I made a start on the next ornament which is By The Chimney. I have not really got very far with this considering I've had two Friday evenings stitching on it but all progress is good progress! I have loved stitching these and will be sorry to see them come to an end. We still have a few to go as we are behind getting these.

We are also continuing our Halloween SAL. Barb is getting on well with her cubes and Ghoul Tidings is going well for me! I was a little bored with this one last week but I'm back to liking it now! I think we all get a little bored with things we are stitching from time to time!

I actually managed to get my July Cottage finished and hung in time for the 1st! I did not think I was going to do it but I stitched extra time on it to make sure it was ready. I left off the American flag and just added a flying bird.

August was duly started and, fingers crossed, I might get this stitched a little quicker so I can get back well on track.

I have to say that I am just loving the SB fold. I am still stitching the first one, A Full Heart, and it is so pretty. I forgot to show my progress in my last post, duh, so here's a few weeks progress! Isn't it pretty?

I know a lot of you love to see progress on my lovely robin so here it is!

I'm getting down this page pretty well seen as there's no trees to stitch lol!

Last, but by no means least, my progress on November's Chrysanthemum. Such a pretty little design and so lovely to stitch :).

I am sure you are all itching to know who will be the next stitcher of Comfort so without further ado it is........ Justine! Justine I have your address so will pop it in the post ASAP.

A massive thank you to everyone who left get well wishes on my last post. I ended up going to the doctors and she thought it might be a virus that had set my vertigo off as my glands were slightly up and to keep taking the betahistine for another 2 weeks. I am still not feeling quite right but am hoping it will go soon. I dropped one of my knitting needles at craft group last week, bent over to see where it had gone and went dizzy! I am quite fed up but managing to get out and trying to carry on as normal now. I will not let it beat me!

We have had a new craft shop open at the shopping outlet here and it's the lady who has the shop in Cottingham that Chris introduced me to. It is nice to have somewhere to go for fat quarters etc so I have now some to make the bag to mount Tralala Tricotine onto. Yay! I just have to pluck up the courage to make it! I don't know how long this shop will stay but I hope it will be a while although it might not be good for my bank balance lol! I do tend to try and use what I already have first but sometimes it just doesn't work!

So sorry for the long post. Thank you for reading if you have got this far and, hopefully, I'll be back much sooner! Need to try and get caught up on reading your blogs again!

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

Here we are again at that time of the month where we declare how good we've been or not as the case may well be! You may remember that Mel had allowed us to carry over any earnings from part A as long we had not already declared them and as I didn't declare any in June I am going to have a good bit. I sort of feel like I'm cheating but Mel did say we could do it. So here's my report.

July Report.

Amount spent : £34.25 ( Lizzie Kate Littles Mystery part one, paid for but not yet received, Just Cross Stitch Halloween Magazine, Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Fold part 3)

Earnings : £40( 2 CCN cottages, SB My Mom's Garden, LHN Comfort and CGS October's Marigold.

Balance carried fwd: £30.80

I have been trying to get more bits finished off since I posted last and CCN Frosty Forest went into see my trusty framer and here it is on my wall.

Do you remember Barb and I stitching Tralala Tricotine last year? Well I wanted to make a knitting bag and it has taken me a long time to actually pluck up the courage to get some fabric let alone make the bag! Mistakes were most definitely made. The stitched piece is a little too low but I can't get it off as I machine stitched it on. I have tried but fear I will ruin both the fabric of the bag and my stitched piece. The handles are on wrong too! Oh dear I clearly wasn't thinking when I did those lol! However this is my first attempt and I am quite happy with it. It is just a plain tote bag with no pockets, zips, fasteners etc.

Ages ago I bought a frame in the sale at Matalan. I didn't have anything in mind for it but I liked it. I am not quite sure when I stitched this piece but it is LHN Curly Q Ewe which Lainey, Mouse and I SAL'd on and I just love how it looks in this frame.

I have a couple more pieces half finished so look out for those hopefully soon!

So what I have been up to stitching wise? Well Ghoul Tidings is going rather well and I think I might just get it finished on Monday. Not sure what I will stitch next but it may just be something from this year's JCS Halloween mag which I received last week. I wasn't going to get it but I saw the gorgeous basket by Mani Di Donna and changed my mind! Of course if I stitch that it means I have to buy the handle and button!

Barb and I have still been SALing on our ornaments and our SB pieces. I had hoped to get By The Chimney finished but I am somehow not feeling this one. Fingers crossed for a finish this week.

The first part of the SB Fold is looking so good even though I say so myself! I just love the threads and the colours and the fabric is just so lovely and soft.

Again I seem to be so behind with my cottage. Not much longer to go to August so I am hoping I will get this finished just in time!

November's Chrysanthemum is looking so pretty. Still a fair bit to do yet but I hope to have it done soon so that I can start the December one!

Last but by no means least my lovely Robin!

I have started a new knitting project! No my afghan is not finished yet but I need a little break from it! Can you guess what it is lol?

It was carnival weekend here last weekend and imagine my delight when I found out my surrogate sis Lisa was coming over with her DH and DD for the weekend. We arranged to meet at some point on Saturday afternoon and spent a lovely maybe an hour and a half chatting in the beer garden at one of the local bars. It was so lovely to see her and we always get on so well. I'm looking forward to the next time :).

I am finally hoping I am on the mend but I am not getting too excited yet! Sometimes I feel OK then other times I don't and I get so frustrated. Our central heating boiler sprung a leak ( lovely wet carpet in Jess' bedroom but thankfully it is just a drip ) and trying to get under the boiler to see where it was coming from was not pleasant!

So we called an engineer out to have a look at the boiler ( we have insurance on it thankfully ). He was here an hour on Monday afternoon as once he had worked out where it was leaking from he ran a diagnostic on it only to find it was dangerous as the emissions were too high! Arghhhh! It was decided that it could be to do with the part that needs replacing but it is still not fixed. He turned up at just before 8 pm last night. He could only get one part which didn't fix it so he's now ordering more to see if that works and coming tomorrow to fit them. This boiling a kettle lark to wash pots is no good. He has recommended we get another boiler before Winter.

I am so sorry that I still haven't visited and commented on your blogs. I will get it done soon I promise but I have to be in the right frame of mind to do it. Even doing a blog post seems to take so much effort these days but I do still love it.

Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments. They really do make my day.

Take care everyone.

With much love

Sally xxx

Where's My Snow! Lol!

January Stitch From Stash

February Already?!

A Frosty Finish!

So Near......

February Stitch From Stash & Barb's Birthday.

December SAL is Finished!

A Little Birthday Gift

March Stitch From Stash

Major Happy Dance!

Just A Little Stitching Lol!

April Stitch From Stash

May Already?

May Stitch From Stash & Birthday Gift for Michelle

Some Finishes and New Stash!

Some Finishing Up

Some Making Up and A Day Out! ( Picture heavy ).

June Stitch From Stash, A Finish and A Giveaway!

Birthday Gift for Karan

July Stitch From Stash