Merry Christmas

I have been stitching like a women possessed since my last post. I stitched on IHSW the border for the baby sampler I am stitching for Robert. It took all weekend because even though I followed the pattern I discovered one side was eleven high and the other was ten high. I have very nearly finished the sampler and will post a picture next week when I have framed it.

I have received my exchange from Edit for the Stitched with Love Exchange exchange. Thank you Edit - I love it. I have taken a photo of the gorgeous cushion I received but unfortunately have already put the rest away. In her package Edit included a Duo Noel chart, Christmas Tree ornaments, Scented Thread, Finishing Ribbon, Bells and Christmas Napkins. She also included two Real Madrid pencil rubbers for my two boys who were thrilled.



My exchange went to Sarah at Craftymoo.



A close up of the Lizzie Kate I stitched.


I also received the giveaway I won from Lesli at Fabulous Frogger. Thank you Lesli - I love everything and will take a photo next week to show you all the gorgeous things I received.

It is also Tusal time again. I have already signed up for next year and have a new pot to put my orts in.



Lastly just a couple of picture of my decorations and my tree.





I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I hope you get lots of stitchy pressies and enjoy your time with your families. I would also like to thank everyone who visits and leaves comments. I love to come down in the morning and see what you have to say about my stitching it makes my day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Ornaments Finished!

I have finished the two ornaments for my new Great Niece and Great Nephew. Both were stitched on 14ct Aida using DMC threads. It is a design by Lizzie Kate although not quite as charted, I missed the stitches off around the edge. Sorry for the bad photo. I took this quickly to show my sister and then posted them off before taking a better one.



Yesterday was Sally's birthday and I wanted to stitch her a little something. It is a design by Lizzie Kate from one of the Tiny Tidings, I can't remember which one. It is stitched on 28ct Mushroom Jobelan using DMC threads. I have had an email from Sally to say she loved it. Thank you Sally for letting me use your photo.



Lastly, but by no means least, I received this lovely card and everlasting mistletoe from Nia. Thank you Nia. I have waved it around my boys but haven't managed to get a kiss yet lol.



I have managed to get all my Christmas shopping done, cards are wrote but have wrapping still to do. Hopefully it won't take much longer and then I can get back to stitching as I have a baby sampler to get done ready for my New Year's Eve get together.

I hope you like my new blog layout, I won't tell you how long it took to change it. I have also managed to delete my finishes page for 2011 whilst trying to update it.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

I love my Postman!

I was very lucky last week, my postman was very good to me and brought me two parcels. One I can't show yet.

The one I can show is from Michelle. I was reading Michelle's blog and she had said she was sending out some gifts, not for one second did I think I would received one. Thank you Michelle for my gift and your friendship. Both of which I treasure. I feel very lucky in having some fantastic on line friends.



I have managed to get my three ornaments finished, I just need to make them up. I will show them next week. I am spending this week getting ready for christmas, gift wrapping, card writing and putting the decorations up, before my kids sack me as I am late putting them up this year.

I had a new start last week but my progress was so minimal that I will wait until I get some more done before showing. It is L*K Snowman 10 that I am stitching in an SAL with Sally and Chris. Thank you both for letting me join your SAL again this year.

I am getting a bit twitchy as I now have SIX works in progress lol so really need to get a wriggle on. I do have to have another new start though as I have one more baby sampler to stitch for my great nephew, Robert. I am hoping to get this finished ready for New Years Eve when the family are coming round to my house for a get together.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

TUSAL NOVEMBER / FRAMING HAPPY DANCE

This is my TUSAL for the month of November. Mostly orts from my christmas gift stitching and Lizzie Kate Baby Sampler. I have signed up for the 2012 TUSAL and if you want to do so just click the link and it will take you to the sign up page.



Here is the Lizzie Kate Bably Sampler all framed and ready to go to my cousin who had baby Sophia on Friday 25th November. I am really pleased with how this looks and hope the new parents will be too. Sorry for the mark on the picture it appears to be on my camera!



I have stitched one christmas gift ornament and started another one and will show what I can next week when they are completed.

I got on quite well with my Christmas shopping, I only a few gifts to get but am waiting for them to be released so hopefully it wont be too long. Then its the wrapping and christmas card writing.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

IHSW Weekend!

It was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend this weekend I decided that was what I was going to do. Luckily since I managed to catch a lovely cold my family agreed lol. Unfortunately since my brain was obviously not working at full pelt I spent the weekend stitching my Stitched with Love Exchange
exchange piece and obvously I can't show you doh!

At Stitched with Love Exchange we are showing our favourite christmas pieces so I thought I would share mine here too. It is Lizzie Kate's 12 Blessings of Christmas stitched in 2009. I love this piece although I have still to frame it, maybe this year lol.



I have started the first of my four ornaments I want to stitch as gifts, two of which I can show, two of which I can't.

I have three days off this week to get some Christmas shopping done, wish me luck.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

House Built!

Sorry I didn't post last week but there was so little progress on my stitching it didn't seem worth it. I have managed to get a bit more stitching done this week so I can show you my progress on LHN Winter Band Sampler. I have managed to get the house built! I am loving stitching it.

Sorry for the terrible photo the weather is terrible today and I have had to take it inside.

I have made some progress on my Stitched With Love Exchange but obviously can't show that but am hoping to get it finished this week, fingers crossed.

I can show something that I have been secretly stitching and that is LHN Strawberries that I stitched for Jane as it was her birthday last week.

This was stitched on 28ct Mushroom Lugana using Crescent Colours and backed with the red gingham in the background.

I am pleased to say that Jane loved it as it has three of her favourite things, Bunnies, Strawberries and Gingham. This was another lovely stitch.

Thank you to everyone that takes the time to leave a comment, they really make my day.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Stitching Progress/Exchange!

I have stitched some more this week on my SAL with Sally and Angela. LHN's Winter Band Sampler. I am still loving this one. Really pleased to hear that Diane from LHN is going to do another year of ornaments, not that I have stitched any of this years yet lol.



When I wasn't stitching on my LHN I started a Lizzie Kate Baby Sampler for my cousin whose baby is due middle of November. I just need to stitch the name and date of birth when I know and I will then frame it.



I can, I hope, reveal what I received in the Stitched with Love exchange, from Lainey. Thank you Lainey. I love it all.



This is what I sent to Loretta, who I am pleased to say loved what I sent her.



Thank you for Lainey and Colleen for organising this exchange.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xx

Tusal / Last Week's Stitching!

First up today is my Tusal since the last month. Orts are mainly from L*K ABC Halloween and my secret stitching.


Next up is my progress on L*K ABC Halloween. I have been really enjoying this one and quite sad that I have to put it away to concentrate on gift stitching. I am not sure if it will come out again this year or whether I will leave it until next Halloween lol.


Finally for today I had a new start, Little House Needleworks Winter Band Sampler. I am stitching this along with Sallyand Angela. I am really enjoying stitching this. We are stitching this on a Tuesday and Sunday. Luckily I remembered to take a photo before I started stitching last night.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne

Winner of the Travelling Pattern!

I forgot to post this yesterday. The travelling pattern is on it's way to Michelle. Congratulations and welcome to the stitcherhood, Michelle. Don't forget to follow the travelling pattern to Michelle's blog for your chance to become part of it next time.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne

Yiotas Review / Travelling Pattern!

I recently received an email asking me if I would be interested in reviewing of cross stitch kit of my choice. Not one to turn down an offer as good as this I spent an enjoyable couple of hours on Yiotas' website looking at all the counted cross stitch kits available. I found the website very easy to use with different categories such as Angels, Animals - split into individual categories, fantasy, fairies, cottages and lots more besides.

I eventually, after much deliberation, chose Daisies and it arrived a couple of days ago in a very sturdy evenlope marked do not bend. When I opened the chart I found the threads all wound onto bobbins which to me is heaven itself as I hate winding threads on to bobbins. The chart looks very easy to read and is A3 in size so the symbols are very clear to read. The kit came with Aida and a needle. I know some stitchers prefer to use their own fabric and you can also order just the chart either by email or post. Here are some pictures:-

Heres the design I choose.



The contents of the package which includes the thread on bobbins, aida and needle.



The chart itself is over two A3 pages and is very clear.



I am really looking forward to stitching this design and will definitely be ordering from Yiotas' website again. Thank you for the opportunity to review your products.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne

Exchanges / Finishes / IHSW

Hello All

I can now show you my exchange received from Becka in the Rotating Designer Exchange.
Becka stitched me this lovely Prarie Schooler Santa - thank you so much Becka I can't wait to put it on my tree this year.



I sent a couple of my finishes to Karen's Finishing Service. First up my Tralala Due Noel. Karen finished this as a hanging pinkeep for me. I think it is gorgeous I am really pleased.



Next up is LHN Holly and Berries. Another stunning finish. Thank you Karen.



This is the back view.



Last up it was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend this weekend. Now I managed to take advantage of this as from Thursday as I was a very silly girl and twisted my ankle leaving my mum's house on Wednesday night. So I stitched all day Thursday, all day Friday and on Sunday and finished up the Travelling Pattern, Count your Blessings. I am going to leave this open until Wednesday 20th October as I have not been inundated with names. So if you do want enter please leave a comment on the post below. I think I will probably frame this one to go on my bedroom wall.



Thank you to all those that take the time to leave a comment, I really do appreciate it. Hello to all my new followers.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne

The Travelling Pattern has arrived!

I was lucky enough to have been chosen to continue the journey of the Travelling Pattern started by Sharon of It's Daffycat by Sally. It arrived yesterday and I have made a very small start. If you would like to join the sisterhood please comment on this post only and I will chose a winner on 24 October.



The rules of the TP are as follows:

1. Comment on this post, saying you would like to be part of the Stitcherhood.

2. By leaving this comment, you agree (if you are chosen) to stitch the design and send it along to the next person in a timely manner. If this means dropping everything in your rotation to concentrate on this project...so be it. If you can't bring yourself to do this ~ don't sign up.

3. You must have an active blog to participate. If you have a blog but never post to it ~ you won't be chosen to be the next stitcher.

4. This is a giveaway-type Traveling Pattern. That means you must follow it from blogger to blogger to enter each time it is ready to send along. Commenting on this post doesn't make you a guaranteed part of the Stitcherhood.

The Traveling Pattern has been stitched by:
1. Sharon of It's Daffycat, Oklahoma, USA
2. Karen of Karen's Handiwork, South Carolina, USA
3. Patty of Hanging On By A Thread, Florida, USA
4. Terri of Chocolates for Breakfast, Stitching for Lunch, USA
5. Lynda of A Cozy Little Place for Stitching, Oregon, USA
6. Nataly of Nataly's Needle Creations, Massachusetts, USA
7. Erin of Fairy Tales & French Knots, NY, USA
8. Jo of Serendipititous Stitching, Suffolk, UK
9. Mouse of talesofastitchingmouse South Yorkshire uk
10. Sally of Stitchyangel's Treasures, East Yorkshire UK
11. Lesleyanne of Lesleyanne's Life of Stitches, Northamptonshire, UK
12. ?????? Could it be you?

Now if you look closely you will see a little parcel that Sally also sent me. It was this gorgeous ornament by L*K. Apparently, Sally was having a look at my stitchy plans and saw this on the list and decided to stitch it for me, just because. Thank you so much Sally it is gorgeous.



I'm off now to do some stitching before school run time.

Until next time, happy stitching

Love Lesleyanne

Gifts / Exchanges

It was my stitching sister's, Angela,birthday at the end of September. I wanted to stitch a little something and knew she loved snowmen and so stitched her a little cushion using stitched on 28ct mushroom evenweave using crescent colours, Blue Moon or Blue Jeans, not sure which. The design is by Midnight Stitching called Snowman's Quaker Christmas. It was a lovely stitch and I am pleased to say Angela liked it.

Here is a picture of it plus a couple of other bits I sent as well. I borrowed the picture from Angela, hope you don't mind.



I was lucky to win Andie's giveaway and my prize arrived this week. I was totally blown away as everything is gorgeous. Thank you again Andie.



Lastly, I heard that my exhange partner in the Rotation Designer Exchange, has received my exchange. I am pleased to say she liked it.



Prarie Schooler Snowman from Holly Days chart booklet, I think. I backed it with the green gingham shown in the background.

I have nearly finished another gift that I am stitching and hoping to spend sometime this week with L*K ABC Halloween that hasn't been touched for a few weeks. I don't want to leave it although I am not sure I am going to get it finished in time for this Halloween but I have realised I have a few unfinished projects that I want to finish, probably next year now as I have a few things I need to stitch that will probably take up the rest of the year.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne

Holly & Berries Finished!

I started and finished LHN's Holly and Berries this week. I have wanted to stitch this for years and am so pleased to have finally stitched. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Stiched on 14ct Beige Aida

using DMC Threads

I have made a very small start on a gift and will carry on with that this evening and then probably start a couple of little halloween stitches I would like to stitch. Until next time, happy stitching Lesleyanne xxx

September Tusal

Here is my tusal for September. Not sure if it looks any different from last month or not. I had to empty it all out as my mum put my scissors in it. I really can't believe how quick this has come around again this month. It doesn't feel like five minutes since the last one.



Sorry my bin is in the picture - just look at the pretty flowers and orts instead lol.

I may have a finish to show at the weekend, fingers crossed, only a small one though.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

RAK!

Hello all

I am sorry I haven't been around for a while life has been busy and I haven't been getting a lot of stitching time in. The little I have been stitching is for exchanges but I have now finished them and they are ready to post so hopefully normal service will be resumed, fingers crossed.

I received a surprise in the post on Friday. I had won Chris's Random Act of Kindness and this is what arrived. A gorgeous pinkeep and the cutest pair of scissor. Aren't a lucky girl. Thank you Chris - I love them! The colours are so me!

The parcel arrived in the lovely backing paper.

A close up of the pin keep.

The back of the pin keep.

I am off now to do some stitching while it is quiet. It was my youngest son's birthday this week and he has gone off with his Dad to spend his game cards and money so I have some quality time with my stitching.

Until next time, happy stitching.

Lesleyanne xxx

Two Finishes!

My first finish is for my great niece, Chloe Ann, who was born on Tuesday 30 August at 9.35 am weighing 6lb 8oz. It is the baby sampler from Cross Stitcher magazine made into a cushion by a work friend. I think it is beautiful, hopefully Mum and Dad will too. It will go over to Ireland with my Mum, Dad and my sister (Chloe's nan) who are going to visit next Friday and meet Chloe in the flesh so to speak.



My next finish is one part of the Noel Duo by Tra la la. I loved every minute of this and even though there are a couple of mistakes, I am really pleased with it. There should be green lines between each line of the alphabet but I didn't leave enough space so adapted slightly. I haven't quite decided how I am going to finish it yet but when I do I will show you. Favourite is a pinkeep but if you look at my effort below I am a bit nervous.



Next up is my progress for the L*K Lovers SAL Monday and Friday night. Again, I am loving this piece. Not sure it will be ready for this halloween though lol. Sorry for not ironing it first.



Next up is something I stitched a while ago and have now attempted to finish it into a pinkeep. There are no pins yet and I have still to work out how to do a bow for the top so if anybody knows where there is a tutorial I would be really grateful. I definitely need more practice as there is too much material either side even though I measured it.



If you have made it this far you have done really well. I just want to show off my new stitching shelf. My mum found this in the recycling centre and thought it was perfect for showing off my stitching. I have to say I am really pleased with it and for £3 I think it was a bargain to boot. It is showing off the stitching I have received as gifts from my stitching sister, Angela, and Sally. I need to get some stands for Life's a Beach and Pins and Needles but you get the idea.



Until next time, thank you for looking and commenting

Lesleyanne xxx

Tusal / New Start

This is my Tusal for this month.



Monday and Friday I stitched on my Lizzie*Kate Lovers SAL ABC Halloween. I am loving this one and the little ghost is just too cute.



I started stitching my exchange for the Rotating Designer Exchange
which obviously I can't show you. I have also signed up for the Fall into Halloween Exchange so not bad for a girl that has never done an exchange in her life lol. I also have plans to stitch a couple of gifts so will get onto that after these two are stitched up.

I have been wanting to stitch Christmas ornaments for the last little while so this weekend I gave in to my desire and stitched this design by Tra la la that I saw on Butterfly Wings blog and immediately fell in love. I would have finished this but I haven't got the green thread needed so will have to wait until I can get my husband to go to the chemist next to where he works. The next ornament will probably be a Little House Needleworks design, either Holly and Berries or Silent Night, haven't quite decided so please feel free to vote when you comment.



A special thank you to Joyze who told me how to insert a link, which you may have noticed in this post.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Building Fences!

On CCN A Bee C Sampler. I am not sure if you can see the white fences stitched on the cream aida or not but for International Hermit and Stitch Weekend
thats what I stitched and a tree.



I had the week off last week and spent it taking the boys out and about. We went to Chapel St Leonards for the day, visited friends and family, lunched out at lot and saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 which according to my boys, and me, it was AWESOME.

Here is my progress for Friday's L*K SAL which was the first time I had any chance to stitch.



I did, in between outings etc, managed to finish my L*K Santa wants to know into a cube. I used Vonna's tutorial, http://tts-tutorials.blogspot.com/2008/04/cube-finish.html. I am quite pleased with the finish and one I may do again. As is normal with me there is room for improvement but have managed to hide the flaws at the back.



I am also stating for the record, I am going on a STASH DIET, on the wagon, whatever you want to call it lol. I have just placed an order with Down Sunshine Lane, for the JCS ornament magazines and the Lizzie Kate Snowman and the Santa and that is it until at least Christmas if not longer. I have ordered the JCS ornament magazines and haven't stitched the ones I want to stitch from last years so really need to crack on.

I would really like to know how to insert a link too. I click on the icon type in the url address but nothing seems to happen, not sure why, anybody know?

I also wondered if anybody else was having trouble getting into the Needlecraft Haven on Yuku. It keeps asking for my log in details and then won't log me in.

I think that's enough waffle from me for one day.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx