Some progress..

Alas my meet up with Tracy didn't end up happening last week as she got some very bad news on the morning of the day she was all set to travel. Hopefully she can re-arrange and we'll have a meet up before Christmas.

I have been working on some wips over on the Let's Stitch blog and have made a bit of progress. Here is my Wiehenburg Mystery quaker:



I love working on this! It is such an easy stitch and I just love this colour.

Also I worked on Polar Santa. I realise now why I hide this one away in the cupboard for moths on end:
1. It is on aida.
2. It is on NAVY aida.
3. There are loads of fractionals on it.
4. After I finish the stitching, I will have a truck load of french knots to do on it.
However, after plodding away on the Friday, here is what he looks like now:



Just working on his big sack of toys on his back.

Yesterday I got some post through that I'd ordered. It was some stuff for advent. Every year I have been saying to my dh that we need a more Christ centered Christmas as I hate it when it all gets so materialistic esp when I have a young dd who gets saturated by it all. Anyway I ended up with this book:


It is great! It is filled with so many heartwarming ideas. Things like decorating your home with images associated with the birth of Jesus and holding christmas brunches where family and friends can share in a time of fellowship and prayer over the advent season. There are several things I'd like to put into place and as I thought about it, I began hunting for a pattern of the name of Jesus that I could stitch and place in a central area. I came across this freebie:

His Name is Jesus

which I thought was amazing! So I am intending to stitch this in probably reds or greens for advent. I have also been rummaging through old magazines for a nice nativity scene that won't take too long to do.

I have signed up for another exchange; winter house and I am very tempted to sign up for the ABC one and the Blackbird Designs one too. So I may be very very busy over the next few months!! I also have dd's birthday end November to think about and ds' birthday is early Jan so a very busy time all round.

Hope you're having a good week,

xx

Elijah update 9 months

Wow Elijah turned 9 months yesterday so I thought I'd better take some footage and snap some pics before I forget. Here he is. He has just started to crawl and yes I think he is going to take after his dad (guitar man).



elijah movie 9months

And a couple of snaps...





xx

More biscornu pics

Here is the biscornu I made for Tracy in the mini exchange we did with Amanda and Sally. The theme was Autum Colours biscornu. I stitched this (Peripheria Nita's Lace) on 28 count black jobelan and used Dinky Dyes silk in Desert Sand. The colours reminded me of Bonfire Night here in the UK.





Some exciting news is that Tracy is coming to visit!! Yay! It's the first time we will meet together and I can't wait. She has been a really special internet chum and has blessed me in all sorts of ways. She has been having a bit of a rough time of things lately so feel free to go give her a cyber hug! Hopefully the visit will cheer her up.

Thanks for all the offers of wool! Any old wool, acrylic mix etc will do. I keep going back to the blanket and doing a bit more and I'm on my 4th square at the moment but need to do a lot more. I have been very busy working on the harvest time exchange for the sbebb and I have decided to do the pattern over 1 on 28 count fabric so it feels like it is taking a long time and not accomplishing much but I know I'll get there in the end. I also need to think about the Christmas ornie exchange too. Still waiting for the Just Cross stitch ornie mag to come through from Jayne's attic so I can choose a design. Still waiting.....

On another note, I am considering becoming a Slimming World consultant. I have been doing the plan for a long time on and off and the group I go to have been having a rough deal with a lack of a permanent consultant. Temp after temp after temp and it is such a shame as they are such a dedicated group. So I am thinking of training but I have to think of the logistics of it and how I can fit it in with family life. It may be the start of a new career!

Welcome to all new commentators on my blog! I am trying hard to keep up with blog reading and leave a message in most cases. The inspiration never ends and think I need to do a little giveaway soon to say Thank You to y'all so look out for it. Just let me get these exchanges over with esp the over 1 one!!

Right, off to stitch some more ... Have a good week everyone. xx

Biscornu exchange received and a request

I got the most gorgeous biscornu from Sally and the lovliest extras. It was a mini exchange with just four of us involved. The theme was "Autumn colours Biscornu" and this certainly sums up the lovely colours we see this time of year. Sally, you have done a superb job and I just love it!!! The fabric and threads are scrummy too and can't wait to put these to good use.





I sent mine off yesterday so hope to be able to show you what I stitched soon.

Okay now I am going to be really cheeky here and make a request. If you don't ask you don't get right???? So you know I am working on making a crochet granny blanket for my dd's bed and I am doing it in all sorts of weird colours (very seventies). Well, what I'd like to request is if anyone has any old, odd balls of wool that they are unlikely to use could you kindly pass them my way???? It is taking up a lot more wool than I thought and I am running low quite quickly. Like I said I will take any colour of any ball, any size etc. If you have any that you'd like to lovingly donate please email me for my address if you don't already have it.

Right, cheekiness over. Hope you all have a good weekend. I have enjoyed catching up on some blogs and esp some newbies too. Thanks for all your happy thoughts and comments. They are so appreciated as I am having a bit of a tough time of things at the moment. But that is another post for another day.

Hugsxx

Prairie Schooler exchange

My partner finally recieved her Prairie Schooler exchange I made her for the HOE blog. My partner was Sharon from Cross Stitch Happy. Here is what I made her:



I made her a matching scissor fob and holder and needlecase. It is from the book Needles and Pins and I enjoyed every stitch. I think Sharon liked it too to I can breathe a huge sigh of relief now.

Today I got my PS exchange through also. It is from Ulla. Thank you Ulla, it is very nice.



Here's a snap of my Mira Christmas Angel that I started this week. I have just ordered the beads and kreinik for it so they should come tomorrow. I am stitching this on 36 count and I am loving how it is turning out.



And just for fun, I thought I'd post some bath lights that I bought the other week! They change colour and float and are just the most relaxing thing!!



So, I have a mini biscornu exchange due out next week and I also need to make a start on the Harvest Time exchange and think about the Christmas ornie one. I have also been looking at fabrics for the Beatrix Potter SAL and Rachel from Willing Hands has kindly directed me to Sassy's Fabrics which look really stunning. I'll be thinking about that one over the weekend.

Have a happy stitching weekend,

xx

A bit of this and that

Oh I have been a terrible blogger of late not updating with pics! I really need to as it's the only organised system in my life for keeping memories together. I am really bad at that which reminds me I desperately need to get my dd and ds a big pair of boxes to keep all their achievements in as they are laying around all over the house. See I told you I was disorganised.

So first up, some holiday snaps - only a couple as my dh hasn't emailed me the ones he has taken with his camera but you can get the general idea. It was a lovely beach, weather was mixed, but lots of fun had by all.





Now, after reading in Artystitch's blog about them learning to do crochet and after wanting for years on end to be able to make my very own granny square like the ones my mum used to make, I decided to have a go. There are some fantastic links on You Tube and from this one I learned it in no time at all and look what I have made already:


I know the colours are horrid but the point is to use up all those gory balls of wool you have that you will never make anything with and turn it into a blanket. So this will be for my dd's bed hopefully if I can make it big enough. Or, I might do several of these squares and sew them together. The gorier the better.

Here's an update on my Wiehenburg sampler. It is coming along rather nicely and I am still loving this colour 4210:



And just for fun, here's the little Christmas design I thought I might do this year. It's a Mirabilia one from an old copy of The World of Cross Stitching.



I think she is so beautiful and would look lovely as a pinkeep.

I have just sent off my HOE Prairie Schooler exchange and I must say I am mighty proud of this one!! I can't wait for them to recieve it so I can show it off hehe!! I have also signed up for two more exchanges - even though I said I wouldn't - I just couldn't resist. The Harvest time one (if I'm not too late) as it is a stitched gift only one (no extras) and the Christmas ornie one. So that will keep me busy for a while as well.

I am slowly working my way through my blog list and also any newbies who have crossed my path but it is a mighty dangerous thing this blog reading. I always see another new pattern or another new finishing technique which goes on my to do list.

Happy stitching, xx

I'm back!

We have just spent a lovely week away on the South Coast of Wales right on the beach and it was lovely despite the weather not being the warmest! Will post a proper update soon with pics. If anyone is still interested in joining the Beatrix Potter stitchalong then please email me and I will send you an invite. I have had an email from Jaqueline Holdsworth the designer. If you can't get a copy of the chart then email me for details on how to get it.
Thanks,
xx

Biscornu recieved

Here is my biscornu that I made for Vonna for the SBEBB. It is the Victorian blackwork biscornu from the Gift of Stitching a few months ago. She has now got it through the post and so I am happy to reveal it. I enjoyed making it although I usually tend to have an aversion to backstitch. Somehow, this was different. I stitched black glass seed beads round the edges which I thought was a nice touch. These were the extras I sent along with it. Vonna said she was pleased with what I sent her.

I am currently working on another biscornu for a mini exchange I am running so no peeks. I have also finished the stitching on my prairie schooler exchange but need to do the finishing on it. I desperately want to get some of my projects finished and I am intending to work on them one by one if I have to in order to get some out of the way.

Thanks to everyone who has joined the BP SAL blog. I never thought it would be so popular. I think we will see some lovely examples of this design.

Just to let you know I will be offline at the end of the week for about a week so if you do want an invite for the blog then please be patient and know I haven't forgotton. I will get back to you.

Happy stitching in blogland. xx

Three things..

Just a quick one to show three things that may interest you.

I was on someone's blog (might have been Lisa's) and found this link to a 15 sided biscornu. How cool is this. If you're not into biscornu and whipstitching then don't bother to look but I think I will definitely try one of these sometime. It's in Russian with a translation which is a bit strange in parts but it has extremely good photos.

Secondly, take a look at Sharon's blog Cross Stitch Happy. She designs lots of freebies and this new one is amazing. In fact when I first saw it I thought "Just Nan" but it's not - it's her design and free for all. It is an amazing hummingbird scissor case and fob set. Go on - it's free.

Thirdly, I have set up a blog for the Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker SAL due to start January 09. Sadly, this pattern is now out of print. A short time ago Jaqueline Holdsworth from Needleprint decided to sell some of the patterns as PDF files which is how I was able to get a copy of it. I don't know if she is still selling them or not. You could always pop over to the Yahoo group and ask. If anyone wishes to join this blog just email me hazelhenry @ hotmail . com (omit spaces) and I will send you an invite. Please note: I have only just set up this blog and it is in it's early stages. Everyone welcome who is intending or has already started this wonderful piece.

I don't know why I don't read blogs more. Well I do know - it's time sadly, but everytime I do I get so inspired. I have a Mirabilia Christmas angel in a magazine somewhere which is very blue and sparkly and I have decided I want to stitch this one and make it into a pinkeep. Just need to rummage through my hundreds upon hundreds of mags to find it.

Happy stitching everyone.

Ps Barbara (Sanguine Stitcher) I can't seem to leave a message on your blog or contact you so please email me. xx

Knitting anyone??

I haven't blogged in ages. I have loads going on at the moment. Summer hols, exchanges, and other stuff going on in my head.

So, a couple of years ago I took up knitting. I decided that I wanted to learn how to follow a pattern and actually make something. So I did. Now, don't get me wrong, I am no serious knitter and some things just don't seem to turn out right but I'm happy to have a go. I found this pattern and thought I could make a sweet one for my dd.





We'll see what this turns out like....

Yesterday I got a lovely biscornu from Terry through the post with some lovely extras. She sent some threads and some pretty Mary Engelbright notelets. So sweet, Thanks Terry:



I am so resisting joining any more exchanges for a while as i want to get some baps finished and also want to think about starting on Christmas stitching. I was thinking of making some nice stitchy gifts for friends. It is sooo tempting though. There are two exchanges I want to join now - the mattress pincushion and the floss tag one. Oooh I have one day left to decide on the mattress pincushion.

I have sent my biscornu on to my partner so hope they get it soon.

If anyone is interested, Sally and I are going to be starting the Beatrix Potter in the new year and are going to do it as an SAL. I am thinking about setting up a blog for it if there are enough peeps interested. I am thinking about using the Victorian Motto threads that are shown on various people's blogs including Sally's and Vonna's. Here's a linkie to her ebay auctions if anyone wants to take a peek. I just adore the colours and think they would look perfect on the BP sampler.

Shop

So with that I will love and leave you all. Have a lovely restful rest of summer. xx

Pif and summer house exchange

Finally I can show you the pictures of the pif I made for Stephanie. It is a lavender filled heart from Tournicoton called Le Temps dun The.








And here are the extras I sent her as well. The pink wrapped things are candles and candle holders. And the red wrapped gift is a box of Thorntons chocs mmm.





I beleive she likes everything I sent. Phew!

And I got in the mail today, my Summer House from Maria (Lolo). It is very sweet and I love the rouched edging she has done. Does anyone know her blog or email so I can thank her personally? I can't seem to find it. She has sent me some lovely extra too including a pretty chart and buttons.




Joan has also recieved the extra charts I sent her too:



These were on her wishlist and took ages to get here.

So I am all spent up this month and I am resisting signing up for any more exchanges for a bit. Although I'd really like to do the mattress pincushion exchange :-( No I really need to save some money. It looks like my dh is going to have to go on the road again touring as the business just hasn't been performing recently. I am so not looking forward to living like a single mum to two kids!! I don't cope too well on my own with one let alone two. It looks like he could be starting this month and it may be running right into next year!

No more moaning. Here is an update of my wiehenburg sal. Part 1 and 2:



I am really enjoying this one. It's working up very quickly and a joy to do. I'm off to my friend Amanda's for a stitchy sess this evening so I'll take it along with me and also my biscornu for the biscornu exchange to finish up. I want to put some beads around it.

Desperately trying to keep up with blog reading but my list just keeps getting longer and longer!! I'm making it my aim to go through my list at least once a week and post comments.

Happy stitching.

xx

A new start

Here's my new start. It's the Wiehenburg mystery sal Suzanne which I am so enjoying!! I'm stitching it on 32 count natural belfast linen with dmc variegated 4210. I love that colour and still not getting bored with it. This is a free design which you can get from the yahoo group but you have to join it.
Wiehenburg group

Thanks for all your comments on the cdc. I think I have to agree with the majority. I'm not game enough to just keep going in case it does actually turn out all right so I think I'll cut my losses now and unpick the beads and just do the same thread. I have seen some people make bookmarks with this design using just a part of the design. I think this would be an excellent way to experiment with it and use beads, metallics etc.. This is the second time I will have unpicked this as the first time was with a metallic that didnt look too good either.

I have just purchased some emery designs from Anita's Little stitches and some Threadworx threads and accessories packs. They should be fun to do.

Still waiting to hear from Stephanie to see if she has got my pif. Hmmmmm very anxiously waiting.

Have a good week. xx

Edited to add that I have heard from Stephanie and she has rec'd her pif and loves it so I'll do another blog post tomorrow.

Circue de Cirque dilemma

Oooh I got another award given to me by Olenka and Charlene!! I am very surprised but happy and it means a lot to me. Does this mean I have to nominate 14 blogs??? Well if you are reading this then I nominate YOU because it is so hard to choose. All the blogs are great in different ways.

Okay onto my CDC dilemma. I am stitching this on 32 count mulberry linen using Thread Gatherer's Spring Frocks. I really like the colour and it has been my intention of stitching the actual circles in delica beads. So I finally finished the first page and began to do the delica beads. Small circles in pink and the medium circles in purple. I am really not sure what I think of this and whether it looks right or not. It is quite hard to do the beading on the linen so if it's not going to work, I'd rather cut my losses and frog them now!! What do you think. I can handle honest opinions although I know I'll probably get differing opinions on this. Should I do the actual circles in delica beads or should I do it all in the same thread??



So onto goals seeing as it's the first of the month tomorrow. Here are this months goals and how I have done (fairly well I think):

1. Finish Steph's Pif - done and sent!
2. Finish and send off Summer House Exchange - done, sent and rec'd!
3. Make Biscornu for SBEBB Biscornu exchange - done the stitching just need to make up
4. Make scissor keeper for the MFC - done!
5. Join in the UFO nights on Tuesdays with Polar Santa - did one night!
6. Order some Prairie Schooler charts for the PS exchange - done!
7. Work on "A Most Noble Pursuit" - NOOOOOO but there is always tonight hehe
8. Work on "Patchwork" - no
9. Work on "Cirque de Cirque" - yes!!
10.Start and finish DD design Love for JA MFC - yes made my first floss tag!
11. Work on Loopy Lou "Ruby" design - yes!

As well as this I also made the three teachers' lavender bags and I also started my autumn colours biscornu.

So for August here are my goals:

1. Finish and send off biscornu exchange
2. Work on A Most Noble Pursuit
3. Complete at least one motif on Patchwork
4. Do at least one UFO night on Polar Santa
5. Start Prairie Schooler exchange
6. Do a freebie
7. Start the GoS wallet with the rajmahal art silks I bought

So that is all for this month. Happy stitching. xx

Summer House

Here's what I stitched for MamaJoan for the Summer House exchange. It is a freebie from Les Grilles de Maryse and stitched on vintage country belfast linen 32 count using dmc threads. I really love how this turned out and glad I can finally post a pic. I sent her some extras from her wishlist and have a couple extra things to send too which I have been waiting ages for. You can see pics on her blog.

I will be sending out Steph's PIF this week so hopefully I will be able to post up more pics of my long awaited secret stitiching! I have been working hard on CDC too and think I may do a little blog feature on what I plan to do with it to get some opinions and encouragement as it seem sto be going really slowly.

Have just seen a lovely get together for Christmas over at Jayne's Attic which I really would like to go on. I have asked my best friend Amanda if she is interested in going so that may be something to look forward to.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Thanks for all the lovely comments. I appreciate each and every one of them and always try to return them. xx

Some finishes.

Yesterday was a good post day. I received an order I placed at sew and so which included some prairie schooler charts for the upcoming exchange and also some cream belfast linen and some rajmahal art silks. I am planning on stitching the stitchers wallet in the gift of stitching mag with them. I think it was one that Kirsten herself designed but I could be wrong. Anyway, the colours are just gorgeous. I can't wait to get a bit more time to make a start on it. Secondly, Rachel's PIF landed through the door! This is what she sent me. It is so gorgeous. Thank you so much Rachel. The little scissor fob is stitched over one and is so sweet!





I also managed to get two challenge pieces finished last night too. It is the first time I have made either a floss tag or a scissor case so I ma pleased how they have turned out.
This was a free DD Design and was the JA Monthly challenge. I used some thread that Edgar sent me. I have to admit I wasn't too confident about hammering in the eyelet so I got my dh to do it for me. I didn't use interfacing as I didn't have any but I think I will get some and use it next time just to keep it from fraying.


The next finish is the Monthly Finishing Challenge blog scissor peep case. I have never done one of these before either and wasn't entirely sure the best way of doing it. I used another Lizzie kate freebie I have had lying around for years and finished it in the same backing fabric and trim as the other Lizzie Kate freebie I had.



Again I am quite pleased with my first attempts. I will definitely be doing more of these in the future.

And, I am not the only one who has done some finishing. Look at this...



Yay! My dd has finially finished her butterfly!! It has only taken her over a year but for a five and a half year old, I don't htink that's too bad really!! I have ordered her some more little designs that can keep her busy over the summer holidays!

Okay, I have 6? days left of this month inc today to get my goals met and I am well on my way. I have been working on biscornu for exchanges but I will return to the three projects I have not touched in a while, namely: Patchwork, CDC and A Most Noble Pursuit and see if I can make any progress befor ethe end of the month.

My dh is ministering in Prison today (he plays in the worship) so I may get some guilt free stitching time in!! Have a great weekend everybody.
xx

An award and some stitching.

Wow I was doubly blessed yesterday as Not only did I win an Emily Dickinson bag from Tanya, I received a kreativ blogger award too from Sally. I never really think of myself as being particularly creative so this means a lot.

Now I need to pick my 5 nominees with the following rules:)
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I nominate the following which is very hard to do as all your blogs are wonderfully inspiring:

Harmien Xstitch.nl
Staci Snippets and Stash
Andrea The Craft Room
Stephanie In Stitches
Su Contemplating my Needle and Thread

And finally some stitching to show:
These are what I made for Lily's teachers as end of year gifts. It is the freebie from Les Grilles de Maryse Naturally I filled them with lavender. Each is stitched on different bits of fabric I found in my stash and I sttiched the whole design and just stitched them up one of the sides. The teachers liked them anyway. I think they look quite sweet.





And speaking of last days...



Here's my dd this morning. Her last day in reception!! How fast has time flown??? My little girl is growing up.

Happy stitching everyone. xx

Christmas in July

Yesterday I decided to pull out a UFO that I have not worked on for a year, maybe even two. It is quite shameful really as I only have a corner to do, plus a whack load of french nots which run all over the design. It is Polar Santa and is now a discontinued chart I think but not sure. Jayne's Attic runs a UFO night every Tuesday night so I decided to join in. Plus it is one of my July goals to join in so I have accomplished another goal yay! Here are my before and after pics:






It feels strange working on aida again after so long on linen, but it makes for a nice easy project, even on that navy! Hopefully I will get this one finished in time for Christmas.

Thanks for looking and for all your postive comments re the parking ticket. It looks like we are going to have to pay the £100. Like we really need that right now! :-(

xx

Quick update and pics of Elijah

Goodness, it's been a while since I posted. I can't believe how fast the time is going. I have been making lots of progress on my goals and have finished my pif and the summer house exchange. However, both partners are going to have to remain a little patient while I await the mailman bringing extra goodies to send with them both. So for obvious reasons, I cannot post pics as yet. I have made a start on the biscornu exchange too and am half way though the challenges. So much secret stitching.

I am trying to remain calm at the moment as we are havign a tough old time of things lately. One such incident that is "testing" us at the moment is to do with a car park ticket. Yes you heard right. We bought a ticket and put it in the car and during our time around the shops Elijah started getting a little niggly so dh went back to the car to try and settle him. Unbeknown to him, the wind blew the ticket over under his tomtom so it couldn't be seen. When we went back to the car a man was writing out a ticket for us. When he realised we did have a valid ticket he said he still had to write it out as he would be done for "taking a bribe". He did write on it though that we did have a valid ticket and assured us that we would not get a fine. We did get a fine. My husband refused to pay it. They sent a bigger fine. Now my dh is prepared to go to court. The company in question is called "Excel" parking. Yes I will name and shame them! They do this to people all the time and are making a packet! My dh is standing his ground as he still has the ticket in question. I hate it when unrighteous companies try to steal from good, honest people. It makes me so mad!! Anyway, rant over.

And now for some pics of Elijah taken at six months last week:

It is really difficult getting good pictures of him as he stops smiling as soon as the camera flashes. I think he is camera shy.

Have a good week everyone. xx

July goals

I haven't made any goals for a while as I can't stand to watch myself failing miserably at them month after month. However, I do see the benefits of having them as they do motivate you to achieve more so even if I don't actually meet them surely some progress is better than none at all.

1. Finish Steph's Pif
2. Finish and send off Summer House Exchange
3. Make Biscornu for SBEBB Biscornu exchange
4. Make scissor keeper for the MFC
5. Join in the UFO nights on Tuesdays with Polar Santa
6. Order some Prairie Schooler charts for the PS exchange
7. Work on "A Most Noble Pursuit"
8. Work on "Patchwork"
9. Work on "Cirque de Cirque"
10.Start and finish DD design Love for JA MFC
11. Work on Loopy Lou "Ruby" design

There! How many do you think I'll actually achieve???

I have also just found out about this upcoming show in Bakewell. Anyone planning to go??? It's about 40 mins from me so I think I will try and make arrangements to go. Would be nice to have a meetup with some of you. :)

Got my friend Amanda coming over tonight for a stitch night and we are going to work on the Loopy Lou design we started at the weekend workshop.

So that's all from me for a bit. Time to get some serious stitching done. Have a good week everyone and thanks for reading. xx