Thank You / Finishes / Progress

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to Nia for the lovely gift she sent me following her 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. I made Nia laugh with a comment I made on taking photographs. Thank you Nia I look forward to using the trims and the snowmen.



Next up is my progress with Retro Lady. I came to an abrupt halt on Thursday when I ran out of 3865. Luckily my husband works next to a chemist that sells DMC threads so I can carry on with it on Monday as he has picked some up for me.



Since I needed something to stitch on Thursday and Friday night I started a new ornament. Midnight Stitching's Snowman's Quaker Christmas. I stitched it on 28ct Mushroom Lugana using Crescent Colours Blue Jeans and DMC threads as suggested. I loved stitching this for Angela, my stitching sister, so decided to stitch another. I even managed to finish it up on Saturday night. I am not very confident with my finishing skills and am not too sure I even like finishing lol but I will keep trying and hopefully my skills will get better.



Talking of finishing, I also finished Britty Kitty I stitched last weekend. I was hoping to make a flat ornament for this one but my stanley knife and I couldn't seem to cut a straight line, never mind two lol. I think I will ask my Dad to cut my mount board next time. Again my lack of finishing skills shows a bit on this one but just don't look too closely.



I am off to stitch another ornament from the JCS magazine.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xx

IHSW / FINISHES!

I decided to work on L*K Snowman 10 this week. I started it on 1 December as part of an SAL with Sally and Chris. It stitched up really quickly and was a lovely stitch and I managed to get it finished.



I stitched it on 14ct Blue Marble Aida using the recommended DMC threads apart from 712 I used 3865 instead.

I would like to thank Sally for buying this chart for my birthday last year and letting me join the stitch a long.

On Friday I started a Brittercup Designs pattern from JCS Magazine July/August 2010 called Mine! As it was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend I stitched all weekend and finished it as well.



I stitched it on 14ct Opalescent Aida using the recommended DMC threads.

I haven't decided how I am going to finish either of these yet.

Finally I will leave you a picture of my Tusal for January. I have a new ort jar. This is just the lid where I put my orts and I will tip them into the jar now. I couldn't put them straight in the jar as it is stripped and you wouldn't see the threads.



Until next time, happy stitching

Love Lesleyanne

Thank You!

Thank you Michelle for the gorgeous gift I received. It is a pin pillow designed by Danybrod called Pins and Needles.



The pretty backing fabric.



Michelle is stitching a few pieces this year which she will be offering to say thank you for following her blog and commenting. I was the lucky first. Thank you so much Michelle, I am thrilled with it.

Until next time, when I shall have a finish, happy stitching

Love Lesleyanne xxx

Week 2 Progress!

Firstly, I must thank Lisa for very kindly me sending me Lavender and Lace's Spirit of Christmas. Lisa saw that I wanted to stitch this design and sent me her chart as she is not going to stitch it. Thank you so much Lisa, I really appreciate your kindness.

I have spent the week working on Retro Lady again this week. I spent most of Wednesday unpicking what I had stitched Monday and Tuesday as it didn't meet up. So on Wednesday the whole lot came out and I started again so there is not a lot of progress. Despite all of this I am enjoying stitching it.



On Sunday I picked up Lizzie Kate Snowman 10 which I started as an SAL with Sally and Chris on 1 December 2011 and haven't touched it since. I am hoping to finish it this week and will post a picture when I do.

I am also hoping to stitch an ornament a month and have made a small start on January's which I will also show at a later date.

Congratulations to everyone taking part in the 15 Crazy Challenge. I have seen some gorgeous new starts and look forward to seeing your progress on them over the year.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

New Start / First Finish!

I have my first finish of 2012, Little House Needleworks' Winter Band Sampler. I really enjoyed stitching this. I stitched it on 14ct Beige Marble Aida and the recommended DMC threads.



My new start was started on New Year's Day. A little tradition I seem to have. I just can't help myself. It is a design by http://pauchok.okis.ru/. It is a free design. There is a lot of white on white at the moment.



This is my progress as of Friday. About three quarter of the first page of nine.




Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

Happy New Year!

Firstly, Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2012 is good to you.

I have been going to do this post for a few days but have only just got round to taking the pictures.

As promised here is the giveaway I received from Lesli. I am absolutely thrilled with it and hope to stitch it sometime soon. Thank you again Lesli for pulling my name.



Before Christmas I was stitching like a mad women finally got my great nephew's sampler finished. I am so pleased. I was hoping to find a frame and frame it myself but unfortunately I haven't been able to so when I go back to work I will take it to the framers near there and get it done.



I am going to work on some of my larger projects in 2012. I have six wips to finish:-

1. Winter Band Sampler
2. Snowman '10
3. Lanarte Poppy
4. CCN A Bee C Sampler
5. Vervaco Pink Lady with Red Rose
6. L*K Halloween ABCs

I would like to start the following designs at some stage during the year.

1. Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Snowmen
2. Historical Sampler Cupcakes
3. CCN Ice Cream Sundae
4. CCN Pie Menu
5. Vervaco Lilac Flapper
6. Lavender and Lace Spirit of Christmas

I would also like to stitch an ornament a month which will probably be a weekend project but I am not sure so will see how I feel as I am not very keen on finishing them lol.

All of the above, except Lavender & Lace Spirit of Christmas, I have in my stash and as I have jumped on Sally's band wagon I am hoping to stitch only from stash this year and only buy fabric and threads needed for each of the projects I start. My son was looking over my shoulder when I was on facebook and said how lovely the Spirit of Christmas was and I really should stitch something as good as this. So I will buy this for myself later in the year when I have finished my wips.

I have had a new start but will tell you more about that next week, I think this post is long enough as it is.

Again Happy New Year to you all and thank you to those who visit and leave comments I can't tell you how much I appreciate them.

Until next time, happy stitching

Lesleyanne xxx

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