I'm so excited

and I just can't hide it. Sorry that song is in my head. The reason for my excitedness - I have been adopted by Angela at http://hookedonstitches.blogspot.com/. Pop over and have a look at the gorgeous stitching and finishing she does and I am going to be a lucky receipient throughout the year. How lucky am I. There is already something winging it away across the pond and I can't wait to see it lol.

I am also very pleased to show my first finish of 2011 - yes my first! Let me introudce you to Belle Pepper.

Stitched on 14ct Beige Marble Aida

Using Crescent Colours and DMC Threads

I worked on Belle last week to finish her off after I had done some spring cleaning so poor old Temptation has been left again although I did stitch on her last night and will today as part of the IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend) pop over to http://joysze.blogspot.com/ to see what its all about and who's in it as there is some lovely stitching going on.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Firstly, thank you all so much that left birthday wishes for me. I really do appreciate them.

I want to send a special thank you to Sally of http://stitchingplace.blogspot.com/ for the lovely L*K chart and embellishments she sent me for my birthday. I am taking this to mean that I can join her and Chris on 1st December SAL. Thank you Sally I was so thrilled when I opened this up.



Sally also received the chart below as part of a giveaway and she has passed it onto me to stitch and then I will then pass it onto Hazel when I have stitched it. Thank you again Sally I am looking forward to stitching this, my first ever Blackbird design.



I was also lucky enough to win a giveaway from Vicky at http://nswvml.blogspot.com/. This week I received the package below. Thank you Vicky. The picture does not do the fabric justice, it is gorgeous. I am looking forward to stitching this.



I think my postman may have earned his wages just coming to my house this week lol.

And finally, the only thing I have stitched on this week is LHN Belle Pepper. I don't know what happened this week but I haven't touched Temptation and my only excuse is that life got in the way as I have had the week off work and have been visiting family, shopping with my mum and sister and clearing out my wardrobe! Who knew I had sooooo many clothes lol.

I had planned to stitch "Christmas" instead of Belle Pepper right up until the minute I started when I realised I would only be able to have it on the wall at Christmas time so left it as Belle Pepper now it can be on the wall all year round.



Thank you again to everyone who visits and leaves comments it really does make my day.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

House Built!

My LHN House that is. I have stitched on this an hour on Wednesday as part of my SAL with Sally and Lisa. A bit on Thursday, a bit on Friday, a bit on Saturdya and finally finished the brickwork today on Sunday. On Wednesday I shall work on the window frames lol and perhaps even the door. It's got to be a bit drafty at the moment.



I did get slightly sidetracked this week as a new magazine came out and I decided I wanted to have a go. It is called the Art of Knitting. I haven't knitted in about twenty years so needed a bit of a refresher. I didn't get far enough to show anything. I really need to practice my casting on lol.

I did stitch on Temptation's Vervaco this week and have nearly finished her back and will be soon stitching the shawl. My clever mum managed to take a piece of thread to a shop that sells DMC thread that I am nearly out of and managed to match it up for me. Little does she know I have another one lol. I daren't carry on in case I do run out although I might not it's a bit 50/50.

Heres my progress picture.



Thank you for all your answers to my questions. I decided to carry on with the hoops for now and hope that my stitches go back to normal after I washed and ironed it when it is finished. I have also decided to keep my threads on bobbins as I really don't feel like unwinding them as much as I detest winding them on lol.

I can't believe that I have got 103 followers. I am going to have a another giveaway later in the year to celebrate my blogaversary and my followers. I would like to thank you all for following my ramblings and a special thanks to those who leave comments they really do make day.

Until next time, happy stitching.

Lesleyanne xxx

Thank You / Questions / Progress!

There's a lot to get in this week.

Firstly, thank you to KarenV and Jennifer for their tutorials on a couple of finishing ideas I hope to try out sometime this year. Both emailed me with notes which I really really appreciate. Thank you ladies.

I would also like to thank Nia for my lovely stitching buddy below. Nia sent me this gorgeous doll who now resides next to my daylight lamp watching over me while I stitch and some ribbon which I forgot to take a photo of. Thank you Nia, you really shouldn't have but it was very much appreciated.



I wondered how fellow stitchers held their stitching. Do you use hoops, frames or q-snaps. I have noticed on my Vervaco piece that some of my stitches look flat I am thinking probably because they have been held between the two hoops. I am wondering if it would be better to use q-snaps - any advice you could give would be very much appreciated. I sit at the end of my sofa so couldn't use a floor standing frame. I also wondered how you stored your thread. I have been using bobbins but have quite a lot to still wind on and am really not that keen so again any ideas would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Talking of my Vervaco - here she is as of today. I couldn't put her down yesterday, hence the reason my post is later than normal lol. My excuse is that it was International Hermit and Stitch day and I wanted as much progress as possible while I was in the zone.



Wednesday it was SAL time again with Sally and Lisa. It was hard to put Belle away again although I am not sure about the colour of her dress - it looks mucky to me lol even though I am using the colours called for.



I have also picked up my At Home with Jane Austen stitching from the framers but will show that next week.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Finally!

I have finished the curtain. This seemed to take forever to finish and my mojo took a bit of a dip whilst stitching it - not sure why but at least now I can get back to the main part of stitching lol.



I had a new start this week - it certainly saved my sanity lol. My SAL with Sally and Lisa, LHN Be Merry Belle Pepper. I enjoyed every moment of stitching this and found it really hard to put away on Wednesday evening.



A shorter post from me this week lol. Thank you to everyone who visits and takes the time to comment I really do appreciate it.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx