Last finish of 2010

My last finish of 2010, is Shepherds Bush - Holly and Ivy Sampler, I loved stitching this one, it was such a pretty one to do - Now to find the perfect frame in time for 2011 Christmas.

 

Shepherds Bush - Safe Keeping

This delightful, little pretty is my latest SB finish - its a small kit and I have used all the recommended threads and fabric that was included in the kit, its such a pretty trifle and I do so love the gorgeous silk ribbon that was included the colours are so lovely. I found I had the perfect pair of scissors too within my scissor collection, the pinks match perfectly.

Hope that you are all keeping warm with this snowy weather it seems we are having a lot here in the UK and its predicted to carry on til Christmas, yet again work as deemed that we can't go in, I wouldn't mind if I got paid like the staff do when its adverse weather or that it is impossible to get to work, but as Agency personnel I don't get paid and I could get into work, if they would let me, I really don't need this, this close to Christmas, what with them already cutting our hours down every week, my poor bank balance is really suffering - at least I have the consolation that the rest of the Agency staff don't get paid either so we are all suffering the same problems - Sorry small vent, quite annoyed as you can tell.

I will fill my day with Harry, cleaning upstairs and wrapping some gifts I think, then hopefully a little more finishing work to be done. Do you like my new blog background? I thought I would go a little more Wintery.

Enjoy your day wherever you may be

Til Later - Hugs

 

2010 Fob - Shepherds Bush

What to do on a Rainy Sunday? Stumped for something to do? Well I thought I would do a little stitching and finishing and here are my results.

As you might see I made some changes, I didn't like the straw coloured fabric that came in the kit - now don't get me wrong I love straw fabric but this cutey seemed to me to cry out for a gentler, softer fabric and so I had a good ratch in my stash and came up with 'Mountain Rose' by silkweavers, this is 32ct linen.

The back of the design shows the fabric colours a little better I think, as you can see its a kind of bluey/grey/pink and I do like the stitched finish on this fabric better - I used all the recommended threads that came in the kit and I also used the wonderful over-dyed silk ribbon and the tiny little amethyst beads, it says in the kit that they are teal coloured  beads, but to my eyes they are definitley amethyst not a greeny colour at all (which is what I think teal is - my car is teal blue and its not purple LOL). As you can see I have also treated myself to the ginghers, though not engraved ones, they are such lovely colours on the handles - reminded me a little of Renoir colour choices in his paintings.

SweetHeart - Shepherds Bush

I couldn't remember if I showed you all this, and I don't think I did, I finished it earlier this year, in fact just before Valentines Day.
I've stitched it on 40ct fabric - colour was alabaster and I played around slightly with the colours and finished it with a tiny green button and some antique french lace I had in my stash, which my sister had given me a while ago from her trip to France. I also added a small MoP heart button at the top where the ribbon  starts.

I hope that you all have a really great weekend, its supposed to be hot and sunny here this weekend and I have plans to go out into the garden and do some weeding, cos after the rain we have had this week and the warm sun, the weeds have taken off, as has my grass so that needs cutting too, so a little work to do there Plus I want to finish painting my fence - one side of the garden is done and not the other so it looks a little odd.  I also want to get up to the allotment and weed my onions, if I remember to take my camera with me I'll take some pics of their early progress, I was talking to the club chairman the other day and he reckons that I really stand a really really good chance this year to win as they are really lovely onions, but I won't hold my breathe yet - just in case something disastrous happens LOL! Its a long time til the show in September.

Progress

Two posts in one day LOL!

Thought I would share some progress with you on both my Shepherds Bush 'Finch Song' and my other new start which is EEF 'Remember Me'

First up is 'Finch Song' I do really like the colours used in this design and the silk threads give it such lustre.

Of course I had to get that wee sheep finished , but as you can see overall I haven't made loads of progress.

Next up is 'Remember Me' by Ewe & Eye & Frieds (EEF), as those who know me know, EEF are one of my favourite designers of all time, and this is such a pretty design as always with EEF it hasn't disappointed me.

I just love the variety of different stitches used on most of these designs and this one has lots - satin stitch, Eyelet stitch, Rhodes, smyrnas and some 1/1 as well.

I'm stitching this on 36ct Antique white linen, using 1 strand of DMC, and I am using the recommended colours, as I just loved them.

Hope you are all having a great Sunday

Snowy Night - CEC

Due to the weather conditions we are having over here, I thought I would stitch myself one of the lovely strawberries (lateral thinking of summer LOL), from Cross Eyed Cricket and as 'Snowy' Night is very apt for most of us, thats the one I chose to stitch.

I did of course change the linen - mine is stitched on 32count Raw Linen and is stitched using 1 strand of thread. All threads are the recommended DMC. Instead of just stitching little x-stitched snowflakes I opted to use sparkly white petite beads, just to give it a bit of snowy sparkle effect.

The top is finishes with ribbon ruffles and a very large snowflake I found in my stash, though you can't see it here....

.......Also............

I thought I would show you my progress on Finch Song. This is a lovely design to stitch, and the silk threads are as always lovely colours and feel so nice to use.

Hope you are having a great weekend, mine has been filled with stitching and stitching and stitching... all my visitors cancelled coming this weekend due to the poor weather conditions and forecasts, so I ended up with no visitors but plenty of stitching!!

My Pins

Another sweet design from Shepherds Bush, this was one of the kits I got from Fobbles last week, its a really rapid stitch and very easy finish - I did the lot yesterday, everything was included, the pin is delightful and finishes it off perfectly.

My Mum, Dad and brother Ian are arriving here with me later today and stopping for a night which will be lovely, I'm really looking forward to seeing them. I've put all my decorations away this morning and had a clean up, doesn't it always look bare when you take them down - even though I didn't have a lot up in the first place LOL!

Glad Tidings - Shepherds Bush Part 2

I mentioned in my earlier post that I had also completed 'Glad Tidings' the Picture as well as the little fob, and so without further ado - Here it is.......

......again this was a wonderful small sampler to do, I really enjoyed every stitch and the rich warm colours of the silk thread was a joy to use. This was of course a kit and I haven't changed anything about it - Yep you heard me right I haven't changed a thing, I loved the fabric and the design and the colours -- OO I could go on and on LOL!!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas, I did, I was expecting it to be quiet for me as this was my first Christmas on my own, but it turned out not to be so. The 2 eldest nephews turned up on my doorstep this was after I had had lots of phone calls from my mum, dad, sister and smallest nephew and neice. (Mum and I opened presents over the phone together, which was great fun and quite a giggle).

They stopped by me before they went to their grandmothers (Marks mum), I was so delighted to see them, then after their Christmas dinner they turned up again and we spent the whole evening together, it was a wonderful surprise and I really enjoyed their company.

Glad Tidings - Shepherds Bush

Todays little ornament is Glad Tidings fob, by Shepherds Bush. this was a little kit and I used everything that was included and finished it how it was suggested. Isn't the little sheep a cutey. I have also stitched Glad Tidings large design which is a gorgeous one to do, I really recommend it if you are a Shepherds Bush fan, but I haven't taken any pictures of it yet, but I will soon.


I loved this little treasure when I was stitching it, the colours are so pretty.

Thankyou all for your very very nice comments about my Christmas decoration pictures, I didn't do an awful lot this year, but sometimes less is more as they say, I still have a couple more to show if you aren't getting tired of them by now.

Heres hoping that you don't all have to hectic a Christmas Eve, and if you have that last minute rush, that it goes smoothly. I received a box from Mum and Dad yesterday with some parcels inside, they are sitting there tempting me, but I will resist until tomorrow LOL!!

Fear Not - Shepherds Bush

I loved this little Christmas Design by Shepherds Bush as soon as I saw it, just look at that little button and so I decided once I had finished stitching it that it was perfect for a little ornament.

Hope that you like it too!!

The snow is still lying around here in the Lake District, and its very cold, I'm glad to say I have now finished work until the 4th Jan, and have lots of plans of things I want to do over this festive time. Mostly, I want to get some of my framing done of all the pieces I stitched earlier this year, and I want to do some work on my patchwork quilts - Bev from Fobbles and I are going to have a day just quilt stitching together some time next week which will be fun.

On Christmas Eve I am going up to my friends Karen and Graham for a chilli and a few drinks - weather permitting of course, though they say we are going to have rain by Thursday, so it should be OK to walk UP the 'big' hill up to their home.

The rest of the time I will be spending it quietly and most likely getting phone calls from my family.

Well for all I don't have to be up for work Tasha hasn't seemed to realise that - so hence the early posting as she woke me up telling me it was past her breakfast time and that she wanted to go out to see what the weather was doing - Stupid Cat - I've made myself a nice cup of tea and I think I will go back to bed for an hour LOL!!

Hope that you have a great day and aren't running around too much.

My Mums Garden

Don't be fooled by the title, I'm not showing pictures of my mums garden on this post - even though my mum has one of those beautiful big, elegant gardens I can only dream of, this my mums garden is by Shepherds Bush.

This was another quick stitch really, and I loved doing it, I have a plan in my head to do this again, but with different fabric and colour changes, for mum for Christmas (now I can say this here as mum hasn't a computer and doesn't get to see my blog very often)

Again this is destined for the bedroom, I really better get a move on and get some frames and finish them, then I can take pics and show you all how it looks!!

Well may your day be filled with lots of the above, and you may well be wondering why on earth I am at home instead of work, well its all to do with the incompatance of DHL delivering my new computer, which was supposed to arrive with a Saturday delivery (which I paid extra for), then I left a note on the door yesterday and my neighbour (no not the dishy one), who was going to sign for it actually came over and spoke to the delivery guy who wouldn't let her sign for it, so took it away again and apparantly its coming today, after I rang their automated service, now I want to talk to someone from DHL and 'vent my spleen' as they say, as I have had to lose a days wages because they can't do things right, but can I find a number to talk to someone - No sireeee, but I'll keep trying. Mesh who I got the damn computer from have refunded by saturday delivery payment and were very nice, so maybe just maybe later today I'll have a brand spanking new pc, and I can play Sims on it and Sim Society and Sim city - oh bliss, finally!!!

Cherry Heart

Another from Shepherds Bush and again destined for my bedroom, when I frame it, I have found the prettiest Mother of Pearl frame which I intend to use for this pretty.

I was really pleased with this pretty design, and I loved the ribbon which I think really finished it off, it really didn't look anything special without it, but it really lifted it all. The silk thread, fabric and silk ribbon and the small buttons are all part of the kit, the only additions I made was the use of the small beads within the buttons.

Hope that you are all having a great weekend - or at least whats left of it.Thanks so much for your continued visits and wonderful comments I really appreciate them.

Oh and before I forget I have changed my email address and hopefully let most know, but you can email me from blogger its in my profile and that goes to my new address.

My Hearts Garden

Another of my latest finishes - yet to be framed!! This one will go on my bedroom wall above or to the side of my bed as all my pictures in there are SB ones. I see this in a creamy white distressed frame, all delicate and pretty.

Its such a sweet little design and it is of course instantly recognisable as a Shepherds Bush, this one is called 'My Hearts Garden' I used all the silk colours and the fabric that was included in the kit, and it only took a couple of evenings to do, a real quicky!

PIF for Jessie

Jes emailed me today to say that she received my PIF that I sent to her.

I was starting to get a little nervous that it wasn't going to get there as I sent it at the same time as Edgards, but I am happy to say that it has arrived and that Jes really likes it.

The design is Shepherds Bush - 'A Rosey Fob' and I do believe it is now Out of Print.
Its stitched on 32ct linen and I used DMC threads. I made the tassle myself and added crystal beads to the top and the bottom. The little button in the centre is a MoP I bought from York lasat year at Duttons for Buttons (I just love that shop name LOL!)

Sail Away finished

I actually finished this a few weeks ago, but with everything thats been happening, I hadn't photographed it or anything, so now I have and here it is.

So here it is in its entirity, This was my 50th birthday gift from my friends, plus the mount to go with it - This one I think will be going to the framers - I seem to have a lot to frame lately LOL!

Happy Birthday Mu

Tomorrow is my MIL Mu's Birthday and she will be 60+10ys (must have been a very good year, as both mums are 70 this year, mine and Marks)

I chose to stitch just a quick token gift for her and its Shepherds Bush 'Happy Day'. The linen and threads are all my own choosing as I wanted to stitch it in colours that I knew she would like, hopefully she will like this little token - I think she will. I have feather stitched the sides for added interest and the back is the same linen fabric with her name and a small flower on it.

Tomorrow I will show you what Dawn stitched and finished for her its a real treat I can tell you.

A small progress

Here is my SAL part 4 for Sail Away by Shepherds Bush, I've been so busy I fell behind with it slightly, if you look carefully you can see where I started on the little house last night, which is Part 5 and part 6, I am just going to stitch it now until its finished I think as most of the opthers are almost finished that are doing this.

Also here is my progress with AMAP Quaker Cherub, I seem to have more done than I thought when I compare it to my last progress update, I am almost 1/2 way through this and its such an enjoyable stitch. The lovely fob you can see was a gift from my friend Barb (no blog) and the scissors were frrom Carol.


What fun the Blackbird Designs competition was and wasn't there some amazing finishes and stitching. My mums is up on the BBD blog now along with Carols, it was lovely to see them there and I look forward to next month when they will be posting the entries. Congratulations to Brenda the winner of the draw and to the runners up.

Saturday is another Fobbles stitching day and I am off there again probably taking my Sail Away with me, I am taking an elderly lady who lives around the corner with me this time, she has never been and loves to cross stitch and is keen to go, so Saturday is the perfect day for her and she can meet other like minded stitchers when she's there. She had a fire in her home about 6 months ago, I found out and she lost a lot of her stitching supplies, so wants to stock up and she will have fun there I think.