Tusal - September

I am late, again, with my Tusal picture.  It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have the dates on my blog.  But here is my Tusal for September.  Mainly the orts added are from Ariadne who has seen a bit more progress this week but not enough to share a picture.  My stitching has been a bit intermittent this week and I haven't done much.  I couldn't stitch my ornament as I didn't have any suitable fabric but have now received that from Sew and So so will stitch that this week and my hubby's CFC logo will probably see some action too.   That's the plan but we will see.

I have attempted another finish and have attached a picture.  It is CCN's Merry and Bright finished as a flat ornament again using Angela's tutorial.  I do not like finishing particularly and it is not helped by the fact that I don't think I am much good at it either.

I had to give in and put the heating on this week as it has definitely turned colder in my neck of the woods.

I hope the pictures are okay as I had had to use my phone as my camera seems to have died.

Until next time, happy stitching xxx

Lesleyanne

August Ornie

I have spent the last week on and off stitching my August ornament SAL with Angela.  I decided to stitch Country Cottage Needleworks Merry and Bright.  Another piece I have really enjoyed especially since I loved the colours in this one.

I stitched this on a mystery 28ct light pink fabric, not that you can tell from my picture, using DMC threads.  I will finish this as a flat ornament when I have a f f f f finishing frenzy which needs to be soon as I have about five ornies to make up.

I am gong to work on Lisa's RR this week so will post a picture when I have done my block.

I don't know whether you have seen the new Lizzie Kate releases and the Little House Needleworks Ornament of the Month but I can tell you know they will be mine when they are available in the UK.

I also need to tell you that Sarah at Craftymoo is having a great giveaway so pop over and have a look.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Tea Room Finished!

First of all I would like to wish you all a Happy Easter. I have to say it is typical bank holiday weather here at the moment. It has been raining all morning and it doesn't look like its going to stop anytime soon lol. It has to be said in my neck of the woods we need the rain as we are in the middle of a drought and a hosepipe ban.

I finished CCN's Tea Room yesterday. This was part of a stitchalong with Angela. Anyone who has stitched this will notice that I have stitched the outer border. This is due to the fact that I haven't left enough fabric either side to allow enough room for the border and to allow me to frame it. I am hoping to get a white frame so think it will look great, I hope so anyway.



I have decided to stitch Lizzie Kate's Feelin Festive ornament for my ornament SAL with Angela.

I am going to order my threads this week for the HAED Ariadne SAL which starts in May and I have seen a couple of stitchers on Facebook who have already started it and I have to say I can't wait as she looks gorgeous.

Until next week, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

All is Jolly!

I started the week stitching All is Calm, my monthly ornament SAL with Angela. Unfortunately it met with a spillage, not quite sure how as it was in a plastic folder, but I couldn't get the stain out so over the weekend, in the garden out in the sunshine, which was lovely, I stitched Miss Crescent's Jolly which was in the JCS magazine. I have to admit I thought it said Joy and so changed to the 'l' slightly. I loved the colours in this one, I used the recommended DMC, and stitched it on 14ct white aida. I will make it up sometime soon, not quite sure how yet though!

Next up is my progress on the Tea Room SAL again with Angela. I have finished the tree. I will be working on the bench and the wording this week and hopefully some of the border.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Lots to Share!

First up today I want to show you the gorgeous giveaway I won from Denise. The box arrived on Saturday and I was stunned to find all these lovely gifts. Thank you very Denise, I will enjoy it all.

I have been stitching away last week on my SAL with Angela and am really pleased with my progress. Still quite a bit to stitch on it but I am enjoying it. Sorry for the hoop marks.


This is my Tusal for March. Lots of orts from my Easter projects, SAL and my new start.


It was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend this past weekend and having signed up for SAL on Facebook to stitch a new Heaven and Earth Design I thought I would get a little practice in by stitching on one I have had for quite a while and had never plucked up the courage before.

It is a mini called Be Good for Goodness Sake by Dona Gelsinger. Below is a picture of what it will look like when its finished, hopefully and also my progress picture.

I have joined Kathy's SAL on Facebook to stitch this gorgeous design called Ariadne by Rachel Anderson starting in May. I am really looking forward to stitching this in rotation with my other stitching.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

WOW! WOW! WOW!

That is the only way I can think of to describe the absolutely stunning gift I received from my stitching sister, Angela. Angela had emailed me to let me know that my birthday gift was on it's way. I certainly wasn't expecting it to arrive so quickly. I emailed Angela to let her know it had arrived and I was being a good girl and had put it to one side until my birthday. Angela emailed me and told me to open it. Yay! This is the beauty I found inside. Angela stitched this design for me as we both share a love of reading and already knew I loved the design, especially since she had previously asked if I wanted to stitch it along with her later in the year, sneaky do you not think?

CCN The Book Store

32ct Mushroom Lugana

using DMC threads

Finished as a Stitcher's Box

This is the inside of the box together with the lovely book mark she also sent along with a couple of books that have already been taken upstairs ready to be read.



Thank you Angela. I will treasure it and your friendship forever.

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

Progress & New Start!

My stitching week didn't go quite as planned last week. Unfortunately my diabetes seemed to knock me for six and left my absolutely shattered most evenings so I only stitched a little most nights, forcing myself to at least put a few stitches in.

Monday and Friday night is L*K Lovers SAL night. I carried on working on ABC Halloween.



Tuesday and Thursday evening I stitched on CCN A Bee C Sampler. I hate the material I am stitching this on. It is good old 16 ct aida but it is really rough.



Saturday morning after sitting at the computer for a small time I got up from the chair and hurt my back. Nothing too serious but I decided the best thing to do was to rest it as it was quite painful. So for all of Saturday and all of Sunday I stitched on my new start, Vervaco Pink Flapper with Red Rose. The frogs paid a little visit and I have done some unpicking but am really pleased with my progress but it is not something that will happen often. I have somelovely aida for this, I am not sure if you can see but it is has pink roses printed on it.



This is what it will hopefully look like when I finished it.



On Wednesday, as I had my partner's name in the Rotating Designer Exchange, I was looking through Prarie Schooler patterns trying to decide what to stitch. I think I have decided and will probably start stitching it sooner rather than later.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

New Rotation!

I always said I would never stitch different designs on different days. I couldn't understand how stitchers ever made any progress. That was until I wanted to stitch everything and Lizzie Kate Lovers blog had an SAL. So I now have a new rotation. I couldn't stick to being a one at a time girl although I tried lol. I get bored easily and there are soooo many things I want to stitch. So Monday and Friday nights it is Lizzie Kate night. Here is my progress for last week. This is ABC Halloween that I received as part of my giveaway from Danielle. Danielle started it but didn't enjoy it. She stitched upto the moon and I have stitched from "b". I have to say I am really enjoying this.



Tuesday and Thursday nights are LHN/CCN designs. I started CCN A Bee C Sampler and this is how I have got on with this.



Saturday and Sundays are reserved for Vervaco or Lanarte. I did start a Vervaco I brought off the bay of evil. After stitching on it for two weekends and it bearing no resembleance to the chart I gave up. Lesson learnt! I will start a new one this weekend. I have a freebie chart from http://pauchok.ucoz.ru/ that I am thinking of doing next. I won't be stitching the black or using black aida. I am thinking of using sparkly fabric but haven't actually decided yet. Let me know what you think!



Wednesday night is exercise night so don't tend to get a lot of time to stitch especially when the boys are at school. So Wednesday is going to be my finishing day or putting threads on to bobbins day - you get the picture. While the boys are off school I am going to stitch on the baby samplers so will show a picture next week as the girl one is nearly finished except for the vital information which I will have once she is born.

I am quite excited as I have joined the Rotating Designer Exchange, http://rotatingdesignerexchange.blogspot.com/, that Angela, http://hookedonstitches.blogspot.com/, has organised. The first designer is Prarie Schooler and if you want to join you will have to sign up today as Angela is closing them later on today. I have never done an exchange before, it is a stitched piece only, so any hints and tips you have would be greatly received.

I am very late in saying thank you to Becs, Cath and Sarah for the stylist blogger award they have each given me. It is very much appreciated. I am taking the easy way out and giving it to all those that leave me a comment and I will try to think of seven things about me ready for my next post.

Thank you for reading my waffle and for those that leave comments know that I really appreciate them. If you have got to the end you've done well.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Home Sweet Home Back!

I picked up CCN's Home Sweet Home from the framers today. I have to say I'm really pleased with the job they did on it.



This is my progress on Dimensions Row of Love. I must apologise for the state it's in - its needs a wash and an iron. I can't believe the fabric looks as mucky as it does. I wouldn't mind but I keep it in a zipped clear wallet so not quite sure how its come to be in this state.



I also had a new start this week. It's LHN Ornie SAL "Snowy Pines". I started this as I took my sons swimming lessons and then carried it on on Sunday when my eldest son went for his grading in Karate. It was not how I planned my Mother's Day but he achieved his orange belt so am very pleased. I have to say I have really loved stitching this week especially since I didn't get any visits from the frogs and on Row of Love I have passed the part where I had to fudge it because of the previous mistake.



This week in my rotation it is the turn of the Lanarte Poppy and I can't wait to work on it some more.

Until next time, happy stitching.

Lesleyanne xx

Home Sweet Home Finished!

I've just finished CCN's Home Sweet Home whilst watching Dancing on Ice. This was a lovely piece to stitch, I really enjoyed it. I'm going to take this to the Framers so that it can get put up in the hall as quickly as possible.

It leaves a blank slot on week four and I may do a poll because at the moment I just can't decide what to stitch next so many things are screaming at me to be stitched. I think I want to do a smaller design so that I leave myself a slot to stitch any birthday cards I may want (won't be many this year, just a few special people) or if I don't finish my monthly LHN Ornie then I will have a space to fit it in to ensure I keep on track.

It's time to go back to week one on my rotation, Christmas Design SAL, Lizzie Kate's Special Edition Ho, Ho, Ho. I'm loving this and if I do as well as I did last time on this piece I may have another finish this time next week but we will wait and see.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend.

Happy Stitching Lesleyanne x

Wohoo First Finish of 2010!

I have finished the second ornament in the LHN Ornie series for my SAL. I carried on after the weekend thinking I could finish it on Monday but it has took until today to finally get it done. It is stitched on 32 ct Antique White Jobelan using DMC threads. I enjoyed this one and I have had an email to say the next one will soon be on its way. I am now going to carry on with CCN Home Sweet Home as per my rotation.

Happy Stitching until next time.

Lesleyanne

New Start!

This is where I am tonight on my new start for the New Year. It is CCN's Home Sweet Home and I started it on New Year's Day. It is stitching up nice and quickly and is very enjoyable. It will have to go away for now as tomorrow it is the Christmas Design SAL and I will be stitching on my Lizzie Kate's Ho Ho Ho.

I have jigged my rotation slightly. Firstly because the Christmas Design SAL is the first week of the month and then I noticed I hadn't worked on my Lanarte Poppy since July and so decided that needed to be brought forward in the month. You can see my new rotation on the right hand sidebar.

I hope you have had a good start to the New Year. We have put all our decorations away and are ready for school and work to start tomorrow.

Happy Stitching.

Fa La La Finished!

I finally finished my first LHN Ornie tonight, Fa La La. It seemed to take FOREVER. It was a nice stitch though. I used 32 ct Antique White Jobelan and the recommended DMC threads.

On New Years Day I empty my Orts Jar. This is it as of tonight. I can't see me doing any stitching tomorrow so thought I would post this picture. It is filled with a year's worth of threads.



I have got all my threads and fabric ready to make a new start on New Year's Day. I will be stitching CCN Home Sweet Home. I will probably continue with this until next Friday when hopefully my next LHN Ornie will have arrived.

My stitching plan for 2010 is going to be pretty much as it was this year, Monday to Friday will be as below:-

Week 1 - CCN Home Sweet Home
Week 2 - Christmas Design SAL - Lizzie Kate Special Edition 2008 Ho Ho Ho
Week 3 - Dimensions Row of Love
Week 4 - Lanarte Poppy

Week 1 and 2 may be swopped as I think the Christmas Design SAL is supposed to be the first week of the month but am just waiting for confirmation.

On the weekends I will be working on my LHN Ornie SAL and if I should finish these then any other small designs I want that could be birthday cards or christmas cards.

If you have got to the end of this, well done.

I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

Birth Sampler Finished!

I finished the birth sampler for Callum this afternoon. It still needs a wash and iron before I take it to the framers though. I didn't expect to have it finished quite so quickly but I have been off work since Wednesday as I have stretched the ligaments in my knee which has involved lots of rest and you know what that means! Yeah lots of cross stitching. As I have finished the birth sampler I will have a new start and I think it will be CCN Home Sweet Home as we have just decorated the hall and I think this will look lovely on the wall.

I am now going to go back to my rotation now that I have finished all my obligation stitching. I did briefly think about stitching Christmas cards but I brought quite a few cards in the January sales so have decided not to stitch Christmas cards this year but perhaps stitch one a month throughout next year. So it is the turn of my Dimensions Row of Love I will be stitching on this week (Friday to Friday).

The next picture is two charts I brought from Michelle (http://stitchcraftplace.blogspot.com/) when she was having a stash clear out. Thanks Michelle. The LHN Poinsettia House fell into my basket when I was ordering some threads I needed for the LHN Ornie SAL. I think I am going to have to ban myself from buying any more charts in the New Year lol.

And A Little More Stash

Firstly, I would like to thank you for all your nice comments regarding "Whatever". I have stitched it for my niece who is 21 in November and it is a favourite saying of hers so when I saw it on the Lizzie Kate site I just had to stitch it.

Secondly, Lisa was having a stash sale and I purchased some CCN & LHN charts, pictured above, which includes Princess Parade, Reading, Gentle and Kind and Geranium House and another cart by Pine Mountain Designs called Be Scarey. Thank you so much Lisa.