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

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