Some starts and finishes

This is always a really busy time of the year - I know that and I try to plan ahead as much as possible but I still run out of time to do everything.  A familiar refrain for many.

Anyway I have managed to do some stitching.

I finally finished my square for LoveQuiltsUK - just ahead of the deadline.

It's a very simple design taken from an alphabet of Superheroes by weelittlestitches (purchased from their Etsy shop) but the "frog"  loved it and I kept getting distracted.

I also finished the cross stitching on Peace Scissors by Sue Hillis which now needs to be mounted in a card.

The fabric is actually more mulberry than the red shown here plus I have re-stitched the bobbins as I wasn't happy with them.    I might do the red on white version as shown in the pattern "sometime" but this was a perfect size piece of linen in my stash and I think will look effective in a white card.

I made a start on Merry & Bright by Lizzie Kate - the design that was in Cross Stitch Crazy magazine

I'm using some "vintage beige" aida - again from my stash and rather like the effect of it.  Instead of the DMC I am using a selection of Gentle Arts Sampler Threads - a limited edition pack of Winter themed colours plus one Weeks Dye Works (the light green as there wasn't anything suitable in the pack).  As always I am loving stitching this.  Lizzie Kate has always been one of my favourite designers.

Another new start was the last thing I needed but I just couldn't resist this design by Ursula Michaels - "Let's Find Rudolph"   I'm a huge fan of her words designs and this one only has 4 shades which I picked from stash together with a piece of sparkly evenweave.

This is the pattern 

And this is my first update photo (although I have stitched a bit more since).  I'm pleased with the way the sparkle shows in the photo

My final start - which is nearing completion - is this month's Smalls project,  It's a small lavender sachet stitched on white Cashel linen which was a kit from Itching to Stitch which I bought at a craft show.    The centre will have an initial.  Sorry for the rubbish photo.   I don't see any natural daylight at home during the week at this time of the year.

Finally - for this post anyway - I have signed up for the Christmas Advent Calendar Blog Hop organised by the lovely Jo who also organised the Halloween blog hop and then for her Gifted Gorgeousness SAL for 2015.  How scary to write that date and realise it is only a month away!

A finish and considering a new start

I finished the Hearts and Kittens Wedding Sampler just ahead of the deadline so pleased about that.  I had started to stitch a different design on navy sparkly evenweave and my eyes just couldn't cope, even in the summer sunlight so I had to look for something else suitable that would stitch up quickly.  This design from an Etsy store seemed to fit the bill as both bride and groom are cat lovers.   If wasn't designed as a wedding sampler but there was plenty of room to add the names and date.

I am now itching to make another start.   On my principle of trying to stitch from stash as much as possible I looked through my threads and found this pack of Gentle Arts Sampler Threads which I think will work for the Lizzie Kate Christmas design in the current issue of Cross Stitch Crazy.    They are limited edition threads but all the names are Christmas related.    Just need to choose some fabric next.

Cross Stitch Crazy magazine 195 Nov 2014

Saturday's post brought the latest issue of Cross Stich Crazy magazine.  One of the reasons I continue to subscribe is that I love to see stitchy mail and most issues have something I would like to stitch

The free gifts this month include a Christmas chart booklet by Joan Elliott, a separate chart and an accessory pack with some ribbons and a heart

I like a lot of Joan Elliott's designs and there are some cute charts in here for cards or ornaments. My particular favourites are the word ones.   I like these booklets because they include backing papers which are useful. 

Most of the designs in the magazine either don't appeal or are too similar to others I have with one notable exception.  There is a lovely Christmas design by one my favourite designers, Lizzie Kate.  There is also an interview with the designer 

I like to add to my Christmas stitching every year and this is going on the MUST STITCH pile.   Unlike most LK designs this is only charted for standard DMC, Anchor and Madeira.   I plan to use my stash of hand dyed threads instead and will probably also use some buttons or charms. Love it and my needle is twitching in anticipation already 

Cross Stitch Crazy 194 October 2014

Subscription copy of Cross Stutch Crazy was delivered yesterday.   Can't believe it is dated October!

Just had a look through it and picked out 2 designs that I might stitch.

First of all a lovely Japanese geisha designed by Lesley Teare.   Really like the choice of colours

Forest Friends is a very different style of design which would be perfect for a nursery or toddler's room, even for a birth sampler.  It is designed by Jayne Schofield.

The preview of next month looks great with a fabulous Christmas design by Lizzie Kate which is already on my must stitch list.

Let them be small made into cushion

On Monday evening I made the Lizzie Kate design Let Them be Small into a cushion.   Just a simple envelope back with plain borders on the front using some brown with cream circles fabric from my stash.   And it looks so much better pressed.   I had to be very careful with the iron.  The linen needed steam but as the threads are hand dyed I know from bitter experience that they can bleed.

The wording is particularly poignant as I spent a lovely day with my grandchildren and now won't see them for 5 weeks while they spend their summer holiday in Spain.

Let them be Small finished

Yesterday I finished the cross stitch on Let them be Small by Lizzie Kate.   Here it is before pressing

   I changed "children"to "grandchildren" and used a mix of the called for threads and some from my stash where needed.   My plan is to make a cushion which I did with another Lizzie Kate piece

Then in the evening I started a lovely free design by Jardin Prive called The Way to Happiness.   I already had it kitted with some white linen and overdyed threads by Nina which I bought from Jardin Prive.   

Beautiful colours with subtle colour variation 

The sampler comes in different languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese.  My A level French from many moons ago allows me to cope with the French version and it would be great to stitch the English and French versions and frame them side by side

So where did the weekend go?

So where did the weekend go?

On Saturday I called into our local hospice charity shop with some items I had de-cluttered and was leaving when I spotted a cute white wooden photo box which I just couldn't leave behind. I am thinking that instead of photos I may use it to store small charts like Lizzie Kate snippets. I also found a nice frame for the photo we bought last week of my GD's dance class.

Sunday was a lovely day with my parents, brother and sister in law coming over for a traditional Sunday roast lunch - roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, 5 different veg and 4 different puddings. All washed down with lots of chat and "putting the world to rights". So not much time for stitching.

I did manage some more work on my Jane Austen piece - I only have 2 sides of the border to do and it's finished. I have loved stitching this piece as it combines 2 of my passions - stitching and reading. I have in mind that I would like to stitch some other Jane Austen themed pieces and then make them into a quilt. Just an idea at the moment.... I do have some other patterns including some I bought from an Etsy store called WestWindCrossStitch. I think this may be the next one I stitch

The Business of Her Life

Designer: WestWindCrossStitch

Coaster finished

Last night I finished stitching a small design to make into a coaster for a friend

I used some 32 count linen which I tea dyed plus Gentle Arts threads from my stash.  The pumpkin design is from a Lizzie Kate Flip It chart and the lettering is also inspired by her typography

Front of coaster

Reverse of coaster with label

I also added a Just Nan needle slide and a Count Your Blessings scissor (also a Lizzie Kate design - a freebie)

I'll be looking for some scissors to add and I'm done.  I think she will like them.  Hope so.

If anyone is reading this -  Hello and welcome. 

I am a complete novice at actively blogging although I have been reading other blogs for years as well as being an active Pinner.

I have decided now is a good time to join in and collect my thoughts, pictures and links about my passion for all things needlework related into one place.

I've made a start by adding some lists and link lists.  Perhaps one day I will be brave enough to add a list of my UFOs.

In spite of the fact that I am and have been for many years a fully paid up member of SABLE (Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy), I add to my stash most months and would like to share what I've acquired this month.

Lizzie Kate is one of my all time favourite designers - I have stitched many of her designs both large and small and am currently stitching "Let them be Small".

I have just purchased Busy Bees which is 3 designs, all of which I love.  I bought some honeycomb design evenweave from www.sewitall.co.uk and have already stitched one bee related piece on it.  I plan to use it for at least one of these LK designs.



Another favourite designer, though one I have only discovered recently is Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks (AAN).   Beautiful designs which are crying out to be stitched on hand dyed fabric (which is one my great loves).   This stunning design has been added to my stash this month - stitching a dress like this is the nearest I will get to such gorgeousness these days.



And speaking of hand dyed fabric........one of my favourite fabric sites has a sale offer this week of a grab bag of 3 pieces of hand dyed fabric for a great price.  I just couldn't resist and here they are