Merry Stitchmas!!!

 

Firstly I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!!

 

I've been full of festive busy so haven't had chance to update, so I have plenty to share stitchy wise too.

 

We have been getting into the spirit of the season. Especially yesterday we saw Santa's reindeer in the park and a Nativity carol service with a real donkey at a local church.

 

The boys both loved seeing the animals!

 

I received my order from Willow Fabrics for which I had a voucher from having my comment published in Cross stitch collection magazine.

 

 

This means I now have the threads I needed for a couple of projects that were on hold for the supplies.

 

So here is the Noel sachet finished:

 

Love the rich colours. I just need to find a minute to back it and stuff it. Then it can go with the Christmas Angel I had made.

 

I have finally put the finishings to the Madonna and Child.

They are now displayed together for the first time. I think they will become a treasured part of our decorations for years to come.

 

I've done quite a bit of Christmas crafting with the my boys.

 

Nanna and Grandpa visited and left a gingerbread house kit, which the boys loved making up.

Warning: may contain pre licked sweets lol

 

 I have completed a rotation on Tapestry Cat.
Here it is before:

And Now:

 You don't know how happy I am to have that border finally finished. In this rotation I have stitched and frogged it twice. I couldn't tell you how many times it has been frogged now. I knew from last time there was a mistake to compensate for. Fixing the mistake completely would involved taking out the whole of the outer border and the flowers at the bottom too. I think with it having been there for so many years that it would risk wrecking the fabric completely and not mention soul destroying to take it out. However once I finally got it worked out it is a minimal bodge to fix it. So next time I get this out it should be onwards and upwards towards no longer being my longest WIP lying around.

I finished this little project I have been working on.

 

 

 

 

I charted this myself. I saw the quote on a plaque in a card shop a while ago and loved it, totally sums my house up. While I was charting it my son lined his foot up with the footprint...says it all really. I'm so pleased with how it has turned out.

 

Hope Santa brings everyone plenty of stitchy goodies and that you all have a lovely holiday season.

Peace and Goodwill to everyone!

Keep stitching...

Mother of all finishes

I've done it!!!!!!

 

Joan Elliot Madonna and child are finished. It took an absolute mile of backstitch and tons of French knots and plenty of beading to finish. So just in need of a bit of a wash from the coffee staining which I'm so glad and lucky that it has come up a treat.

 

 

I can't wait to see her hung next to Father Christmas. I'll post when I get them together, but he's with the Christmas decs so won't be coming for a little while.

 

It was my father's birthday recently, the boys and I had fun making our own wrapping paper. It's turned out great. I think they will be on gift wrapping duty for Christmas.

 

 One of his gifts was this book mark.

 

I had finished it a little while ago but I have had to wait for posting the picture until now.

 

I finally got the finishing touches to the first two memory angels, made with Grandma's clothes and stashed bots and bobs.

They have now flown off to their new homes. I just need a few finishing touches to mine and I can start all over again as I have orders coming in for more.

 

So with all these finishes I have tidied my work box up and I'm sorting out my stash for new pieces to come into rotation.

 

 

 

Keep stitching...

Lost in miles of back stitch

Hi I haven't got lost. It's been a while since I posted but I have got derailed off my rotation by back stitch.

I've got plenty to share but seen as it's been a little while I'll do the pics in date order.

I did get round to carving a pumpkin for the boys. Vincent is mad on angry birds and it was an easy one to achieve. I got plenty of pumpkin out as well with it being nice and ripe, so leaving it until last minute was worth it. Freezer full of pumpkin pies...mmmmm

The 3rd of November I achieved this...

All cross stitch completed...hooray! I had decided before I'd stick with any project to finish the back stitch hence the going missing this one has a ton. 

I finished this cute freebie kit. And this little Easter bunny

Yes I know it's nearly Christmas. But I let the boys pick as they were hanging about when I was getting a new mini. They seem to like looking at the pictures and thought this bunny was cute.

So here is a sneak peek of where I'm getting to on the back stitch but like I say there's miles and then French knots and beading so it'll be a while longer.

I also got a mention in cross stitch collection for the disaster that this very project suffered, if you all remember. 

I'm enjoying getting some big finishes going this year and I seem to be not doing shabby in the mini kit department either.

Keep stitching...

Double update Motherly Devotion and Thimble Fairy

Firstly I thought I'd ask you all if you have any recommendations of online stores for supplies. I normally use Sew and so but I'm wondering if I'm missing any better places for stashing?

I was saddened to hear the news of Cathey's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with her family especially little Junior.

Double update on Motherly Devotion and Thimble Fairy:

Motherly Devotion as it was:

And Now:

So close to being finished all the cross stitch...it's giving me goosebumps. Don't you just love that feeling of nearing the finish of a massive project. It's certainly a thrill for me. I think that the back stitch will take a bit of time too. Looking good for being finished before Christmas. She'll look great with my Joan Elliot Father Christmas. There's only the dove on the right to finish and another dove at the top and the halos.

I have also finished as far as I can on thimble fairy until I sort out getting some more Kreinik thread to finish the thimble and add the needles on.

Here it was before:


And now:

It's hard at the moment to concentrate on keeping to the rotations at the moment with all these looking so close to finishing. But it is such a thrill at the same time to get back round to them wondering if this will be the time it comes together.

 Hubby has been organising the loft, mainly because its his man cave. However it means I now have an area for my stash that I don't have space for under the bed etc. He's even cleared a bookcase for me so I now have all my magazines and books organised. Hopefully should make finding things a bit easier.

 

I have made some more progress on the memory angels and they are now dressed tidied and have wings. Next job faces and hair and then they will just need a few embellishments to finish them off.

 

My folks came to visit and dropped of some more from Grandma's stash as they get through sorting things.

A lovely tin full of fabric. I can't wait to think of some lovely things to stitch. Probably some more cards and mini's they were grandma's favourite things to stitch and I've been enjoying getting some cards and little finishes sneaked in little spaces of time.

Keep stitching...

Finishing Frenzy

It's a bit of a stitch extravaganza this week. The nights are drawing in and the autumn chill has arrived, perfect for snuggling up with some sewing. WIth the start of the new school term, all the playgroups start back as well so we've been back on our routine which is nice.

I did another ten hours on motherly devotion as it's certainly coming near to completion. I'veI'd got goosebumps just thinking about it!

last week:

And now:

Only two more doves to add and then metallic areas like the dress trim and halos to complete the cross stitch. Then a mountain of back stitch outlining to finish it off.

Since moving the cot out of our room, I can now get into my stash boxes properly. My stash is mostly stored under the bed. How do you store yours?

I loved going through all the kits and charts, can't wait to get round to stitching them all. 

I've got a couple of little finishes to show. I finished this tulips mini kit. And had the perfect aperture card from the stuff I got from grandma's stash to finish it off. I will just have to remember it's there for when I need a card along with a ton of Christmas tags that I'll have to remember for this year.

I also finished the red gate stitchery leather bracelet.

It looks great and now I have some stitching to wear. 

I'm planning on carrying on with thimble fairy rotation next so hopefully I can have as good a stitching week next.

Keep stitching...

Progress and parties

What a week!!!

 

My youngest turned one....can't believe that's been a year already. I know everyone says that but really it feels crazy fast.

 

He's going to cake rehab this week, as Henry has managed to have 5 cakes with a candle in. But being a sweet tooth this was right up his street.

 

We gave him a cupcake the night before his birthday, as I was wanting some pictures with him covered in icing and he didn't disappoint. He then had an amazing cake from my sister on his actual birthday day, she works in a bakery, its the white one with the photo. We then had a little party again the next day with the in laws and then the playgroup I set up got him a cake and cake again at his party with his friends.

 

 

We went along to a carboot sale today and I found this.

 

 

 

Its been started but looks like there is still most of the stuff there and the frame came with it. All for only £2.

 

Motherly devotion is coming along a treat too.

 

Before:

 

After:

I think I'm going to keep this one on for another rotation as I feel like its getting tantalisingly close to finishing.

My sister has been recently starting to make cards. When we were younger she didn't have the patience to sit and do crafts, she was more of the bouncy tigger type. I've been mighty impressed with her recent efforts and not least Henrys birthday card.

She'd made this from bits from Grandma's stash. Speaking of Grandma's stash Gramps dropped off another box of Cross stitch stuff for me

Mostly charts from magazines and booklets, but all amazing to be able to add to my stash.

And inspired by the home made banners Grandma used to have for us all for our birthday parties. Me and the boys made Henry one.

Henry actually did some of the scribbling himself which is probably the first time I have got him to do that rather than just trying to eat the crayons!

 

Keep stitching....

Sun and stitching

I've been loving this weather and I've been flying along with stitching time. We've been out at the park and beach nearby. It was glorious yesterday. And my eldest loved collecting rocks and piling them up. I couldn't manage to drag the double buggy very far onto the sand lol so had to make best of the tide line of rocks and drift wood.

I've finished my rotation on motherly devotion.

Before:

And now:

I feel like this has flown round. It's starting to get more finished than not. It's an amazing stitch looking forward to getting back round to it again.

Keep stitching...

motherly devotion update

I seem to be in the zone lately. Another rotation finished on motherly devotion.

Before

And now

Really starting to get there with it. It's a pleasure to stitch loving the shading of the folding the fabric you really notice when you step back.

The state of the chart is not great though. I've got suggestions for photocopying charts or covering them either sticky back plastic, laminate or or plastic wallets. I think I'll be getting some plastic wallets worth a try.

I've finally managed to dig out my thimble collection I've got more than I remember.

And I'm quite excited to start collecting again although looking there's so many it's where to start. I'm gonna make a start on the thimble fairy. I'm not sure whether to add a 5th thing into rotation or not, maybe some small projects.

Keep stitching...

Motherly Devotion progress

Another ten hours rotation completed!! I'm doing good at getting the stitches in. I've been back onto Motherly Devotion for the first time since it got a staining (see link blog posts for the story)...hangs head.

Here it is as before:

 

 

 

And now after this rotation.

 

 

Looking good. I always find Joan Elliot charts are a lovely stitch. I think its because they are so easy to break into sections to work on at a time.

 

I have decided to go back round to In the arms of an angel next. I did have 4 things in my rotation before baby number 2 arrived but I think I'll work my way back up. I also need to make sure that the Baby hearts gets done in time for my nephews arrival. I'm looking at seeing how many of my WIPs/UFOs I can complete this year. Although having said that I have 2 new starts in rotation ha ha.

But I have to at least aim to be good!

 

I got over excited when I got this months copy of Crossstitcher magazine.....so I've been drooling mega big time over red gate stitchery check her stuff out on Etsy.

The cross stitch jewellery stuff that she has are just so different I'm in love and I've been raving to hubby who is just yes dear about. But I'm sure you all will understand better!

Totally getting added to my birthday list (I'm big 30 in April :-O)

 

Keep Stitching.....