Thankyou all for your continued support, visits and comments I really appreciate it, even though I haven't been the best blogger this year.
I just would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas - I'm off tomorrow to the family for Christmas but should be back next week - weather permitting LOL This is the first Christmas with everyone for 15 years and I am so excited!!

Hearts for Christmas

Christmas Greetings

Here we go, another Christmas Ornament, this time its designed by the lovely Carol R http://istitchaholic.blogspot.com/ this was a pretty little freebie that she designed for us last year.

This is for the Fobbles Christmas tree ornament exchange.
I have stitched it on 36ct antique cream linen and used a green NPI silk thread and a red (poinsetta) Gloriana silk thread. I have finished it very simply as I felt it really didn't need any enhancement to take away the lovely simplicity of this design, all its got is a red velvet ribbon hanger. Thankyou Carol for designing this lovely little ornament, I loved stitching it.

Til Later - Hugs

 

La -D-Da - Merry Christmas

Yet another ornie!! This time its by one of my very very favourite designer - La-D-Da. This is from the 2009 JCS Ornie magazine.
I've stitched this on 30ct R&R linen - iced cappuccino and its 1/1 and I have totally changed the colours and picked my own, they are all Vicky Clayton silk threads, but I couldn't tell you their names as I lost all my labels. I've finished it with a pretty green/mauve moire shot silk and edged it with a varigated silk ribbon that I found amongst my ribbons - it was actually the ribbon shades that helped me choose the thread colours.
I'm not giving this one away, I'm keeping it, as I loved it so much.
Til Later - Hugs

 

Angels Sent

Another ornament from the 2010 JCS Ornament mag. This one is by 'Still stitching with Susan, LLC and is called Angels sent. I have stitched it on 32ct antique white linen and used a snippet of red silk thread I had in my stash - I've lost the label from the thread so I couldn't tell you what colour it is or make, but I was pleased with how the varigation turned out., I've trimmed it with some red pom pom braid.

Quiet weekend this weekend here, Harry and I have been out a couple of times for a little walk and we delivered cards and some pressies, he seemed to like that but there again he is a sociable little fella.
Til Later - Hugs

 

Christmas Magic

Just a little ornie which I'm giving as a gift to a friend, its from the 2010 JCS Ornament mag, and its by Charlottes Web Needlework.

I've stitched it on 36ct antique white linen and used DMC threads, I've added white beads instead of the recommended glass beads and its trimmed with white braid and I've added silver and clear bugle beads.

Hope you are having a good weekend and its not too hectic, all our snow has gone for the moment, I hope it doesn't return anytime soon!

Til Later - Hugs

 

Christmas decorating

Til Later - Hugs




 

La-D-Da - Merry Christmas (Edited)

Instantly recognisable I know, and I guess there are a lot of us stitchers out there that have done this pretty little Christmas ornie, but I do so love this one.

Edit: **I've been asked by some of you where the design is from - just to let you know its from 2005 edition of the JCS Christmas Ornament magazine.**

I have stitched it on 36ct white linen, using silk thread. The backing fabric is deep red slik moire and the trim is silk ribbon and silk roses.

I have been finishing a couple of other ornaments and also my knitting, I've made 2 pairs of socks and the most gorgeous bag, which I am just doing the final embellishment for, the socks and the bag are Christmas gifts, but I will show you them here first.
Hope that everyone is keeping warm and cosy, its really very cold, snowy and icy here in Cumbria, Harry doesn't like going out in it at all, so House training is much much slower than I wanted, but I can't let his little paws get too cold now can I!

He helped me put up the Decs yesterday - that was fun .... NOT!! LoL!!, I'll start sharing pics with you over the coming week, Have you got yours up yet??

Til Later - Hugs

 

Christmas is Coming

Finally as promised the start of my Christmas stitching for this year.

This lovely little kit which included the gorgeous wooden frame, was given to me by my friend Jen, as soon as I received it I knew I wanted to get it started, but I have Harry around now and of course stitching has yet again taken a back seat a little, but I got this all finished and wanted to share it with you.

The design is by Olde Colonial Designs and is of course called 'Peace on Earth' as said in the stitching. All the fabric and the threads were included in the kit as were the tiny silver angel charms, I didn't change a thing. The whole thing measures about 3" high.

Thankyou Jen for the lovely surprise gift, I really loved stitching this pretty.

Other news is I have finished quite a few ornaments so far, but as yet not put them all together, I have plans though LOL!
I'm off to Harrogate this weekend, with Mum and Lil' Sis Helen and SIL Dawn, I am so looking forward to it as I haven't been for a couple of years now and Dawn has never been before, so its gonna be fun, fun, fun for the 4 of us. Anyone else going this year? Maybe we can arrange a quick meet up, that would be lovely.

Til Later, Hugs

 

Merry Christmas

Candlelight

Reflections of Christmas

Glass reflections

My new cut glass bowl from Laura Ashley filled with some pretty glass ornaments and pearl strings

Exchange from mum

Mum and I like to do an exchange if we can at Christmas and here is what mum made for me - isn't it lovely, its the perfect colours and as always mums stitching and finishing is fantastic - Thankyou mum again - I love it..
I have no photo of what I made for her as I forgot to take one before I mailed it - oops.

Do you want to see a little more?

More Christmas exchanging

Here is the Christmas ornament I sent to Amy, its from the 2009 JCS Ornament magazine and I have stitched it on 32ct fabric using my own thread choices and finished it as a wee hanging pillow. Oh and its by Shepherds Bush.

....and here is the lovely ornament I received from Cathy, isn't it lovely and I also got lots of super goodies too and felt very spoiled, I was going to leave opening this exchange until Christmas but in the end I couldn't resist.

I would just like to say a BIG thankyou to you all for continuing to visit me, I really appreciate it as I have been so tardy with visiting and posting, I really will make a concerted effort in the new year to go back to normal.

A glimpse of tree

I actually haven't done much in the way of decorating for Christmas, but here is a glimpse of my tree......... more will follow.

Twinkling lights and glass baubles............

Surround my mantle mirror - it gives me a very atmospheric effect when I'm sitting with the cat on an evening.... much more to share later...

Do you have your decorations up for Christmas or are you late like me LOL!!?

Sent and received

This wonderful book is what I received from Vaida as we were part of the Swap exchange which Dear Nina has organised. I was truely awestruck when I received this beautifyl book as I have yearned for one for the longest time and Vaida is one of the most talented stitchers and finishers out in blogland - Thankyou so much for this wonderful treasure, its by one of my favourite designers of course which is Blackbird Designs and is stitchd on 32ct platinum linen.......... and also I received the scrummiest handmade biscuits from her daughter, they are perfect to have with my coffee, and I have almost ate them all now.

This is what I stitched and sent to Nina for the same 'swap' (we sent to different people, not to who was sending to us)its by Miss Cresents Crowne and is in the new JCS ornament magazine, I loved this as soon as I saw it and thought it would be perfect for her, I used my own choice of threads and finished it as a flat ornament, I added extras such as the beads on the garland (which don't show up to well) to give it a little sparkle. I have stitched it on 32ct white linen.

Christmas Magic

Maybe you might like to see a little of what I have been up to lately.......... More to follow