Stitchy Loveliness

I recieved a most wonderful package from Aniko the other week, she sent me a Thankyou gift for doing her a favour and I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the parcel, inside I found this stunning thread holder/pin-cushion, scissors and fob, its ll stitched and finished absolutely perfectly. The fabric is 50ct - YES 50ct, and each stitch is a perfect cross stitch its so awesome in real life to see. The design is by one of my favourites - LA D-DA. Isn't it just wonderful! Its teeny tiny and just perfect. Thankyou again Aniko for the wonderful gift - I so love it.


Its my turn to say thankyou to you all for the lovely comments you have left me welcoming me back and about my lounge, I was very proud of my lounge finish and I loveed doing it. I will let mum know the praise you have given her regarding all my cushions that we made together.

A surprise gift from Annemarie

Truely Spoiled - yep thats what I am, I received a wee parcel from Annemarie (http://ortsandends.blogspot.com/) as I had won the lovely Goode Huswife chart giveaway she held last week, I expected an envelope to drop through the door. Imagine my total and utter surprise when its was a box that was being delivered, and inside the box was the chart and this wonderful wee pincushion made by Annemarie, its so wonderfully stitched and put together and the backing fabric is perfect for it too its vintage browns and lovely.  Plus there were some threads and the most wonderful pink stripy pair of socks which I love and will wear tonight when I go for my driving lesson....... (that is if its still on its been snowing on and off since 11am this morning - great big flakes - fed up with snow, I want some sun and brightness and warmth!!)

I am sooooooooo lucky - Thankyou An again - hope you got my email.

Til later this weekend with more pics of mystery project (s) from posting below

Gift from Mum

When Mum and Dad visited last weekend, Mum came bearing gifts, she had made me this pretty and delicate little rose scented sachet bag, its really lovely, the design she said came from an old 1950's pattern she had found in amongst her stash, and she just changed the colours which she thought I would like and added beads, and made it into this lovely sachet, it smells divine of soft roses and looks wonderful next to my bed.

Thankyou again Mum and really love it and was the perfect choice for me.

From Dawn for her Mum

My SIL Dawn as you might recall, wanted me to teach her to stitch and finish, well she has been absolutley amazing, and for her mums (Mu) special birthday today she has made her a wonderful box. Above is a close up of part of the box top, can you see all the pretty beading.

Here is a glimpse of the inside and more of the top, she has used fabric to line both the outside and the the inside - all I must add with no help from me, its all Dawns work.

Here is the inside which she has edged with her own twisted cord and added a wee charm and tassle and used her own inspiration for adding the beads to the design to match the front.

This is the box top in its entirity - I am so proud of her finish and I know that her mum will adore it when she receives it. She has stitched it on antique white evenweave and used DMC threads.

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.

Coffin Buzz freebie

Today is my Dear SIL Dawns birthday and when I saw this gorgeous freebie from
Plum Street Samplers, I knew it had to be done for her.

She is an absolute coffee addict and she also likes to have a lie in and wake up to a good cup of coffee when she can, so this was just perfect.

I've stitched it 1/1 on 28ct linen (unknown colour) and used Carries Creations overdye thread called Cajun Coffee, . I thought that the linen colour reminded me of the top part of a latte coffee (her favourite type of coffee drink) colour and that was why I picked it. The backing fabric is a dark chocolate brown MODA fabric and I finished the edges using blanket stitch (its becoming a favourite type of finish for me I think), the hanger is some old twine string that Mark had and I thought it was reminiscent of Coffee sacks.

Happy Birthday Dawn - Love you loads!

Angelas birthday gift

It was my dear friend Angelas birthday this week, and so I made her this little fob the design is taken from Brightneedles - Eastertide sampler. I stitched it on some hand dyed 28ct fabric I got from Jaynes attic at Christmas - the fabric was quite odd to work on as it felt like it had a rubbery feel to it! but I was pleased with how its come out, the backing I used a piece of the same fabric but covered it with a bright lemon hand dyed piece of lace and then edged it with cord. Ang tells me she loves it so I am happy she is happy - Happy Birthday my friend!!


What else to tell, well I have finally been convinced it would be a good idea to sign up for a patchwork quilt course being run at Fobbles, in April, I have been wanting to make my very own quilt for years and now hopefully this will be my opportunity to make one - I hope I don't get bitten by the quilting bug too much as I have enough with my stitching LOL!! and it will be taking me away from my normal 'comfort' zone LOL! But nevertheless I will give it a go and hopefully produce something beautiful that could be an heirloom!!

I have finished Part 3 of my Sail Away SAL but have yet to take some pics, and I have finished Carols exchange piece after a previous disaster with the first thing I made, so this weekend I will do some finishing work I think as I must send next week.

Hope you all have a great weekend, at the moment its not raining here, just bright and cold which I like, better go and help Nephew 2 sort out my little pond.

Blogoversary Gift from Carol

I consider myself very lucky, as I was the lucky winner of Carols blogoversary draw, and this wonderful pinkeep came through my door earlier this week isn't it just so charming!!

Also included was all the lovely stitching stash below, I felt really spoiled and can't thank Carol enough for it all.



I'm getting a little worried now as my other PIF hasn't seemed to have arrived as I have not heard from my recipient and I sent it over 2 weeks ago now, I hope that it hasn't got lost somewhere.
My cold has improved, but as with all colds I'm left a little breathless and I still feel quite heavy headed, I have had quite a bad headache all day today, but its began to improve now. At the weekend I didn't do any finishing just more stitching but I must concentrate on some finishing this weekend as I have some gifts and exchanges to go out really soon.

Holly and Berries

Apologies to everyone who visited yesterday and expected to see what I had received in the post, it was such a hectic day I just didn't get the time to do a posting, I was busy taking down the decorations and tree and cleaning up the house, as unfortunately I am back to work on Monday ;-((
So without much further ado, here is what I received - ta da!!!

Jes so spoiled me, not only did she stitched me this wonderful picture - which had been on my "think I just might do this pile", she also included some wonderful extras, some fabric and crochet ribbon, chocolates and wonderful little carry purse to name but a few, this is such a lovely RAK, and it was so nice to get something when you least expect it, Jes had emailed me a week earlier to tell me that there was a surprise coming, this little parcel has been all over the world as it had been mistakenly addressed to the USA not the UK by Jes's hubbie, and had been returned to Jes so she re-addressed it and sent it to the UK herself, she hadn't wanted to let me know about it, but due to the wrong country the first time she thught she had better.

Its really lovely and feel very lucky to have received such a wonderfu RAK, - Thankyou again Jes I really really appreciate your wonderful stitching and thoughtfulness.

Well I hope everyone has had a good weekend, and for those of you who are back to work next week you have my sympathy (thats of course if you aren't looking forward to going)less stitching done again ...sigh!

Winter Heart

As always my final stitch or finish for the Year is for Mark, and this year is no exception. I have stitched and finished Winter Heart by La De Da on 35ct linen, using silk thread by Dinky Dyes, the thread colour is called Shiraz.

The backing fabric is a deep reddy plum colour (very similar to the thread), and I trimmed it with a shop bought ready made tassle that I had, which again is very similar to the thread colour. I was happy with the result and Mark loved it which is the main thing.


Also I would like to take this opportunity to wish Everyone a very Happy New Year, and again THANK YOU ALL for visiting my blog.

Slipped halo's LOL!!

My SIL Dawn stitched me this delightful and very amusing pillow for Christmas and as it says 'My halo slipped again' which I'm afraid is always so apt for me - is it for you too?? LOL!

Christmas gift

Here is part of my Christmas gift to my SIL Dawn, I usually stitch her something for Christmas but this year my time seems to have been a bit limited, so I just did her one, its very similar to the one I stitched for Nancy, the same finishing and fabric and it also by Brightneedle and again I changed the colours to a much warmer richer shades, I feel quite confident that 1. She's gonna like it and 2. She won't see it before Christmas as her computer time is extremely limited at the moment.

Hope everyone is almost ready for Christmas, I still have to go the Post Office but its the number one thing to do tomorrow otherwise my brother and his fanily will be getting gifts late and that just wouldn't do now would it.

Thought I would share

a couple of little beauties that mum made for me in redwork, I know she spelt my name with an 'E' on the end, but as the finished ornies is really tiny, mum said it was too small to not put an 'e' on the end - Only mum can get away with it LOL!! They are so lovely, and I was really touched that she stitched them for me. Mum gave me the little tin plaque too.

Last night Mark and I went on a good old fashioned date - we went to the cinema and saw the new Bond film - Quantum of Solace - OOOoo Daniel Craig to my mind is the BEST James Bond ever and this Bond film was brilliant, full of action and brilliant effects DC is real eye candy. After that we went to a little restaurant and had chicken parmesan, what a great evening we had and the 'date' was long overdue we had some real together time which we have been sadly lacking of late due to all our other commitments.

On the stitchy front I am busy stitching Christmas ornaments, I did do La de da's 'Smell my feet' and had intended to finish it for Halloween, but missed the time and I also still have to finish my little thing I was doing for 'Think Pink' month last month, hopefully I'll have them done in the next couple of weeks.

Bev at Fobbles has told me that my Jill Rensel mount and kit have arrived for our SAL for Shepherds Bush 'Sail Away', I can't wait to get it started. We are meeting together Bev and I and a few of her friends next weekend to start this - I'm all excited LOL!!

Hope everyone has a good weekend.....

A new starter...

........is in our midst. My SIL Dawn has decided that she just might like to have a go at making things, so she borrowed my TILDA books and had a try, when she appeared this weekend she came bearing gifts for me, she made me a pear, a strawberry and a heart with a beaded edged trim and the free style embroidery she had done herself.

I thought they were lovely and was very proud of her. NOW she says she wants me to teach her to x-stitch too and so we are going to look through my patterns this weekend and she has already been into the fabrics to raid but I had to re-direct her away from ther linens and towards the aida, just for a start, then we will progress after that, I was so happy when she asked me to teach her, its been a while since I've done that, so before long we may have another cross stitcher, I knew my constant chittering would pay off in the end,and dragging her around anything to do with stitching in the shops LOL!

.... Now to persuade her that blogging is great fun too!


Last night I went to see Mama Mia at the cinema it was BRILLIANT and really enjoyed it, it really is a feel good film, I might see if Mum would like to go next week when they are here as I know she will love it.

As promised

Here is what I have stitched for my SIL Dawn for her forthcoming birthday next month - its still to frame yet, but I haven't found the perfect frame for it, but at least I have a few weeks to go until its the day.

The design is by Mary Beale from an OOP Chart from the Pocket Needlework No.2 (August 1989)and its called 'Remember Me'.

I have stitched it on 40ct cream linen using all the stated DMC colours, I was so pleased with how this has turned out and I really enjoyed stitching it, I personalised it with our initials and the year 2008.

I have been busy doing some finishing as I have stitched myself a wee MB piece which when I've finished it completely I'll have it too show, I've also finished a Brightneedle piece that I have had in my drawer forever it seems.

Mums Birthday Gift

For mums birthday I stitched EEF 's 'Sweet Rememberence' but I just couldn't think on how to finish it for her, solution solved mum and I were shopping last Saturday and mum wernt into the cancer research charity shop and there on a shelve was this tray which was perfect for finishing Sweet Rememberence.



I have stitched it on 32ct evenweave which was a subtle hand dyed by Polstitches, I used DMC and GAST for the stitching.



More stitchy news I received a lovely tea time exchange from Carol which I will take pictures of tomorrow all being well I had hoped to get them done today but I was so busy I never got chance. I have also finished Katrinas PIF (I hope that you are sitting down Katrina if you are reading this, and I have also done a couple of presents too whilst I was at my parents

I had a great time over at my parents I stayed an extra day due to the weather. I had a wonderful evening with Helen we nattered and stitched and drank wine LOL! - well I drank wine, it was lovely and we had a few great shopping trips out too. I didn't get home until yesterday and today I took as leave from work and started Spring Cleaning - Upstairs is done - tomorrow will be downstairs.
Hope you all have a great weekend whatever you are doing - we are off to another 50th party tomnight so I had better get into the shower!

Mothers Day Gift

Last Sunday in the UK it was Mothers Day, and as always I'm late in giving my gift..... but I thought seeing as I was visiting mum and dad over this coming weekend I would take my gift with me when I went rather than post it.



As you can see I stitched mum a box top and accessories, the design on the lid is by LHN and is stitched on 28ct linen using DMC 815. Each accessory is also stitched with the same 28ct linen and the same DMC 815. The pinkeep is by miniatures d'alphabets and is called 'mon jardin'. The initial I found in my box of all sorts I think its french but haven't a clue by whom, both the pinkeep and the fob are stitched over one with one strand.



This is a view of the inside of the box which I padded and lined both the lid top and the base of the box. Also you can see the pinkeep and fob a little better. The tassel on the fob I made myself and added the beads. As I had the thread holder in my stash and I knew that mum liked them so I thought I would include it in the box for her.

So this is what I have been a busy with the past week or more, plus of course I have been doing some secret exchange things too which I can't show yet.


Mark has been busy decorating the bathroom over the last weekend and its looking good. No more nagging from me now for a while, I just need to find some flooring for there that I like now.
Last night we had a great fall of snow, now I know it won't be new and novel to most of you, but in the village its quite rare to get a good fall (well about a couple of inches) and especially to last all night and it did I was quite excited about it all Tash loves the snow and rolls about in it - crazy cat. Any how the snow has now gone, and hopefully we won't have anymore this week - yes I know I like it and get like a big child and excited but I have to travel over to mums on Friday with my gift.

A Trio of pretties

Whilst I've been ill, my dear friend Barbie sent me a wonderful surprise through the post, Barbie had started stitching this for me last year as a surprise but had an injury to her back and had to have an operation so never got them finished, well now that she is up and about again, she finished them and sent them to me, it was a total surprise and real pick me up that I needed.



Barbie told me that the design is called "Georgia's Hearts" by Anne Winslow with Butterfly Ranch Designs and that she changed the colours to what she thought was perfect for me - I love this wonderful surprise and not only did I get this, I found the wee scissors inside the tin and I also got some altoid tins too which is really brilliant.



We are both feeling much much better now and I went back to work last week, but was straight back to bed by 8pm as I was so tired, but this week I am feeling much like my normal self.

I'm off today as we had to take delivery of a new washing machine, my old one just didn't want to work for me anymore! So, I thought I would get a bit of cleaning done in the house and post on my blog, I'm now sick of cleaning the house and have started to look for distractions LOL!!

I owe Bithday wishes and belated cards and gifts to friends I will get them out some time I promise, I have finished my mums pressie but not the finishing, what I was going to do with it is no good it won't fit !!!! I am 3/4 way through my sheep exchange and have decided finally what I want to do for the tea exchange. I haven't really picked a needle up much I have not had any energy for it, but now I'm feeling better hopefully this week I will get lots done.