Memories old and new

I've been having one of those days where you get to playgroup and realise you've left the house without putting shoes on the toddler lol

I've finished my ten hours on the World of Sarah Kay. I have to say for some reason I'm just not in love with this one. I don't know why its not a hard stitch, I'm just missing that certain connection with it.

Here it is from before:

And now:

Now looking at the photos its made more progress than I thought but I can't find another picture in between so must be right. Feel a bit happier now!!!

I've also put the finishing touches to Baby Hearts as my Nephew arrived last Friday. I mounted it on a canvas. I just find a home decor one in the shop the right size and remove the canvas picture from the frame. Cover with card and then stretch the fabric over using double sided tape for easy repositioning and staple in place. This one was a tiny bit shorter on excess fabric for stretching round the canvas than I would have liked so I covered the edges with some ribbon I had stashed. For a bit of a cover up job its worked out as a really neat way of finishing.

I also ordered a chart and threads for a stitch that reminded me of my grandma. The thimble Fairy

 

Isn't she so cute, grandma used to buy me thimbles and the fairy which she adored fairies makes it a perfect reminder for me to stitch. I'll have to dig out my thimble collection to show. The threads with this are gorgeous hand dyed threads with names like lettuce leaf, I looking forward to trying them out. And I know I said I was going to be good and no more new starts but this is going into the rotation rightaway (sheepish grin)

I've already made a start on the next rotation for In the Arms of an Angel so I should have updated sooner but was too keen to stitch not type lol

Oh and I also had to do a work box tidy it had got so full of bits from finished projects, ORT, rubbish, random stitching finishing bits etc etc I couldn't get the lid on. Its now tidy and in order so I can settle down to some nice calm stitching.

Keep stitching...



A finish woop woop

I've been flying this week. I thought after having a mishap with some carpet fitting, the piece they brought was too small...grrr... that I haven't had much time for stitching. But I've finished baby hearts sampler.... Yippee

 

Here it is as of last update:

And now:

Super happy to be finished on time too. I've just got the details to fill in at the bottom. I did do the 13 thought as I'm pretty sure he'll arrive this year lol!

 

Here's a few close ups for you

 

Love the colours nice and bold unlike a lot of baby stuff. I was a fun and straight forward stitch no fractionals etc. I liked that I could stitch it in sections makes the stitching go faster I think. I'm thinking maybe stretching it onto a canvas to finish but I'll have to have a look at that after I've finished the details for the new arrival.

I also got my order from Sew and so with my birthday money. I know its just going in the stash but why not.

These are nature study and olde world map. Not best pics due to packets but you get the idea.

Now I've finished baby hearts I'll be back on my rotation which I'm dying to get back to. So I'll have In the Arms of and Angel and Motherly Devotion back out and 2 other projects to have 4 in my rotation but I've yet to have a sort out. So I'm not sure which two yet and which I'm going to put in my box to start on now.

 

Keep stitching...

Progress, Pad and Parcel!!!



It's been a while but I've got a good amount of progress and some swag to show you too.

 

Firstly I was rather excited to see this notepad

It's from Sainsbury's they have a whole range of vintage stitchy inspired stationery in stock at the moment. It's a little bit on the pricey side for what it is but its so pretty and this notepad is fabric covered that I couldn't resist.

 

I've been making strides on the baby hearts sampler and I nearly completed on the X stitch now!!!

Before:

 

And et voila:

 Super happy!!

I even got to do some stitching in the daylight last Sunday as hubby watched the munchkins for a little bit so I snook off to the bedroom to get some stitches in. I forgot how lovely the real light is for stitching...its been a while.

 

I've also finally got some stuff from Red gate stitchery on Esty for my (~ahem 30th~) birthday which was last week. They've been on my wish list since I saw them in Cross stitcher magazine in February. I just collected it today as coming from America it was subject to a Royal Mail ransom note (customs and handling boo) but they had warned me of this before sending which was good of them. I couldn't wait to open it so here it is out in the coffee shop. So very happy and can't wait to get stitching.

 I have got other stuff I fancy spending my birthday money on but have yet to finalise the stash enhancements lol. The kids are in bed asleep for now so I've got my stuff spread out and going to settle down to some more stitches.

 Keep stitching.....



There and back again

Happy Easter everyone!

Here's the boys Easter hats for the competition at playgroup. We had great fun making them. Sticking all the things in the flower arranging foam was huge fun to my 2 year old. We made the pinwheels from paper the boys painted and the flowers from tissue and straws, I bought the eggs on sticks from the pound shop and got some Easter stickers. Loved the moment I said to my eldest will you stick this sticker on your brother's pot for him....followed by my eldest nearly sticking the sticker on his younger brother's head!! That's kinda what I said lol too cute.

And yes boys it's the taking part that counts....but yippee we won we won lol!! We got a prize for the larger one which was my eldest's.
Wow the weeks are just flying by. We all got rid of our rotten colds only to replace them now with an even more rotten cold. Oh well we solider on. And what is with this weather, I'd expect Easter to be starting to warm up but instead we have snow and freezing conditions. All the kids Easter activities have been planned with this thing called Spring in mind. Sigh. Last Monday decided to wrap up warm and venture out only to find the event had been cancelled due to the weather. Hoping it warms soon and we can get out to the parks and seaside and the likes.

I've still been working on baby hearts as my new nephew is due in may and seen as my sis in law was in hospital with a false alarm the other day so I'd best get a wriggle on!!!!

Today we sent the boys to grandma's and settled down to finally watch the Hobbit. Being a childhood favourite and probably the source of my love of fantasy novels I was really excited to see it but having not had the chance with the little ones so we watched it at home and this meant a couple of uninterrupted hours of stitching....in the daylight! I'd forgotten how lovely it is to stitch in sunshine seen as I have to wait till little fingers are in bed nowadays.

Here was last time:

And now:

I've got the top heart done and just need to finish the bow and background. The stripes meant there was a lot of white on white stitching to do. Which was slow going as white on white is soooooo boring lol.

I got really excited to get to stitch this months free kit from cross stitcher magazine

but I'm staying focused on what I'm doing as like I say I need this to be in the bag finished ready just to add the name etc. I have to say though having been a one at a timer before I started this blog. I am finding the staying focused on this project a bit hard and I really crave the swapping over.

So I guess I'm officially no longer a one at a time stitcher.

Keep stitching and eating chocolate :)

Busy, Baby Hearts and Buttons

I've been full of busy recently you wouldn't believe but I've still got plenty to show. Stash additions, side project and a rotation finish!!

Amongst other things we've had my son's 2nd birthday to sort for, he had a little party on Saturday which took plenty of prep and my friend's little girl got baptised and i was godmother which was lovely but still a lot of sorting for. And to top it all off the week leading up to this we all came down with a flu, both little fellas loaded feeling sorry for themselves and sticky eyes and up to the elbows in snot safe to say its not been pretty.

However on the stitching front I've still managed to achieve a lot!


Firstly hubby found another Cross stitch book in the charity shop at first I thought it was one I had but it just looks similar I think.

 

It has loads great designs but I do love this one from the Wizard of Oz. Always loved the Wizard of Oz. And this is such a cute design....add it to the stitch list lol

 

I've also completed another 10 hours on Cinnamon Cat Baby Hearts.

 

Here it is from before:

And now:

Liking the contrasts of colours on this one. I'm going to crack on with another 10 hours on this one. I need to make sure its ready for the arrival in May. And also with all the goings on and the fact that I'm now starting to loose my voice and feel sorry for myself too I haven't had chance to change my box over to the next project.

I did also have an attempt at a necklace with all those lovely buttons I got from my husband's Grandmother. I was rather pleased with myself.

It took a bit of rearranging once on and was quite heavy due to the size of some of the buttons.

However....I wore this then to the Christening I mentioned and my youngest took a shine to it straight away... he's 6 months now and at that grab at anything stage. So a few swings and yanks off him and a boatload of buttons spilled onto the church floor. I did manage to scoop them all up, I think, and found one later in baby Henry's vest...how he got it in there I'll never know. I need to have a good look but I think it will have been my fastening of the filament onto the fastener not being strong enough. But first go and I hadn't factored in the childproofing....doh!

Keep stitching...

Baby Hearts

I've done another rotation! Feels so good to be back on track, fingers crossed this is the way forward :)

I've done my 10 hours on Baby Hearts Sampler. It'll be a gift for my in laws who are expecting their second baby. My nephew is due in May, so should be plenty of time to get it done.
I'm so pleased it's stitching up pretty quick this is the middle heart completed

Here's the full design from the packet.

 

 I also got round to ordering the scissors I wanted for Christmas and a smaller plastic snap frame so that I can tailor the frame to better fit something like this baby hearts and for smaller designs. I'm so glad I came over to these type of frames they are so much nicer to use.

 I'm also on the look out for a few charts....firstly if any of you can help. I have this elephant and I love him a lot, he was a gift from a stall owner who my mother was buying painted leaves from. He's supposed to keep evil from your home if you keep him facing the door as elephant's won't let anything past they don't want to. Whether it works or not is one thing but I have to say the notion always captivated me as a young girl. I've looked a lot but not been able to find anything similar to stitch. I've always thought it would be a nice stitch.

The other chart I'm thinking of looking for is a nice old world map one with a kind of here be dragons kind of feel ....I've yet to have a look about but if anyone has seen anything like these and can point me in the direction I would be very grateful.

I'm off now to pick up the next rotation piece and off we go again. Loving the new routine :) Happy Happy Stitcher!

Keep stitching....