For my SAL partners

I've started 2 new pieces recently which i'm stitching alongside some stitching buddies. CCN's snowflake serenade with Kathy and CHS Alphabet Sampler with Suzanne. This is a picture for them to show that i am stitching along!

Kathy - i told you my progress has been slow. I will be stitching on it more today!

Suzanne - i made quite a good start this weekend. More than i thought i would manage anyway! Its fun to SAL with you ladies, i really need that kind of motivation!

CHS Alphabet Blocks is huge!! We are aiming for a block a month so that will make for a finish in May 2013 LOL I hope i keep up! I am stitching mine on one BIG piece of linen, because i have no imagination. Suzanne is making a book! So impressive!

No news on the job front. I felt my interview went well which is all i could hope for. Normally i am a disaster in interviews but this one was good (in my opinion). As i've previously written though, it may be the hours that'll be my downfall. Its a full-time job and i only want it part-time so that could lose me it. Then i will be made redundant. I will probably hear today......eeeeek!

Winter Quaker

I received word from Mindi that she received the pillow i made her for the SBEBB Winter Quaker. I was tempted to keep this for myself and my DH really liked it too but a deadline was approaching and it had to wing its way to Mindi!It is a chart from the Gift of Stitching magazine May 2007 issue. There is a quaker chart for all 4 seasons. I chose my own colours to make it more wintery. I sent her other goodies too but didn't photograph them. Mindi's blog post about my pillow made me laugh. She said that she wants to come and live at my house coz the pillow smelt so good! It wasn't a scented pillow so maybe my house does smell good....you can never really tell what your own house smells like but i notice what other peoples smells like.

I have managed to work on my SAL pieces this week. Here's some progress pics. Firstly of CdCand secondly of Dear DiaryI don't get much time to stitch so progress is always gonna be slow. But progress is progress!

The weather is pretty wild here at the moment. We have gale force winds and snow is forecast. blaa. Luckily i have today off and dont have to go outside until later tonight. Im hoping it will be more settled by then.

Have a good weekend!

SAL and (another) new start

I managed to work a bit on my SAL this week. Progress is quite slow but i only manage an hour, or two at the most, on this a week. Here's my progress picture, my little people now have hair I also have a new start to show. It is an ex-freebie from this site. Im stitching it with DMC 115.
*edit*if you want this chart, it is no longer a freebie but you can purchase it. I also finished and posted my squares for the Fair and Square Exchange. Ive since heard that my exchange partner has a new address though and so i don't know if she'll get my squares or not, because i had her old address. I'll be gutted if she doesn't receive them after all my stitching :(

After moaning about the rain on Sunday, we have had a lovely week. Not hot, but dry and bright. That's better than rain anyway. Because it has been nice we cancelled the swimming plans and have been biking 2 nights this week instead. My legs and bum are so sore after tonights ride. If the weather stays nice we're hoping to get away to one of the Lochs this weekend. We might camp over night on saturday, we havent decided yet, but we'll definitely go away for the day on saturday and take the bikes. Should be fun!

Stashing and SAL-ing again

I had a small pay increase at work so thought i'd treat myself to just one new chart. Seeing as we're doing LHN designs for the Heartfelt Friends RR i thought this chart would come in useful!

LHN's "The counting house." When i went to buy from my favourite online shop Thread Bear, minimum order was £5 and so i had to get something else. I could have just brought 1 skein DMC to bring it to the £5 mark but no, i bought this lovely book instead, bringing me way over the £5 mark! Kate at Thread Bear emailed to say that the package had been sent out 1st class yesterday. So i should have had it today. Unfortunately we have a series of postal strikes in the UK over the next 3 weeks and today was one of those days! I'll just have to be patient!

Here's a picture of the frame i got for the baby gift. The light is bad because it was taken late last night before i packaged it up for the mail. The frame has lovely sequins all over.I'm back to working on my RR again now as i'll be posting it off to Lesley soon. However, Jamie and i have started our Coffee Menu SAL again after quite a break. Here's the latest, rather wrinkled, progress picture

Looking forward to seeing where you're up to Jamie!

Last post before hols

We try to go to Canada at least once a year as that is where my DH is from and he obviously likes to go home and visit his family and friends. This trip is even more important as it's the first time we'll see our nephew who was born in February. However, i must admit that i don't really find these trips a "holiday" in the true sense of what a holiday should be (the two of us away from everyone/everything, in the sun, in a nice hotel...preferably in Greece)! Trips to Canada are filled with visiting and visiting and more visiting. DH loves it. Im not a fan...probably because i haven't grown up with these people and aren't as comfortable with them as he is. I won't even get started on how much my MIL annoys me aaah. When we first used to go over after we married we'd stay with the inlaws however, i just can't handle MIL for 2 weeks and the last time we went we used the excuse of them not having a comfortable bed, to stay with DH's brother and his wife - it's a lot more fun! At least this trip my parents will be there for some of the time too. They arrive in Canada the middle of next week. We're all there at the same time for my cousin's wedding you see. DH moved over here for a girl (me) and my cousin moved over there for a girl! Weird eh? So in the middle of our stay, DH is going camping with some friends for 2 days and im going to stay at the hotel that my mum and dad will be in. That is the part of my holiday i'm most looking forward to! Anyway, enough moaning. DH gave up his life in Canada, which he loved, to move over here for me and i feel pretty selfish moaning about having to go there for 2 weeks. But if i can't moan on my blog where can i moan though right? :)

I won't be completely absent for the next few weeks. We'll have internet access so i'll post now and again and catch up with all your blogs im sure.

Im hoping to get some stitching done whilst we're away. Im taking 2 PIF gifts with me to work on. It would have been good if i'd have had my partners name for the Fair and Square Exchange before we went so that i could work on that out there too but we don't get those 'til 1st June. Im looking forward to that exchange so much!

Here's my stitching updates before i go. We have weddings on the 9th and 16th June. The 16th one is back here in Scotland. I finished the stitching for that one in April but here's the other one finished now too for my cousin and his wife to beI enjoyed stitching it the first time but i hated starting it all over again. It was really boring. Im glad to have finished it. As you will see from the list in the sidebar, this is my first finish for May! I've had at least one finish per month so far so would like to keep that trend up! I bought pine frames for these pieces and then my mum came round last week and painted them for me. Thanks mum if you read this!They're not framed yet but here's a rough idea of how they will look. Im really pleased with the colour.Finally here's this weeks progress on my SAL with Jamie. Last weeks progress here. It's beginning to take shape at last! We're taking a break from it whilst im away.

I'm going to get a pedicure tomorrow during my lunch break! I've never had one before, im looking forward to it. Im also getting my haircut on Friday afternoon. It hasn't been cut for ages so im looking forward to that too!

I'm a winner!

I won this beautiful sewing box made by Judith! 84 people entered her draw to win it and my number was chosen. 62 is my new lucky number ;)Isn't is beautiful? The card is also from her. Here it is from the inside
I always admire everything Judith makes on her blog and now i am the proud owner of something and i love it! Once again, thank-you so so much Judith. It was so kind of you to offer this on your blog! Stitching bloggers are great!

Here's a progress picture on the SAL im doing with Jamie. Last weeks picture can be seen here. I stitched the leaves on the branches and the leaves on the plant pot at the top and a bit more on the side bar. I only manage a couple of hours at the very most on this each Tuesday night. Only one more day 'til the weekend!! In fact, i only have one week of work left before we go to Canada for 2 and a 1/2 weeks. Looking back at my blog it looks like i'm always on holiday ;) it just so happened this year that all our weekends away and holidays are all crammed together!

Holiday time!

Im off on holiday! Every year a group of my best friends go away for a long weekend. We're going to Exmouth in Devon which is at the very bottom of the UK. Far from Scotland! So my sister and i leave tonight. We are flying to Birmingham, staying with one of the "bezzas" who lives there and then she is driving us the rest of the way tomorrow. Will probably be about a 3 or 4 hour drive. There are 9 of us staying in something like this:

There was 8 of us last year and that was kinda cramped so 9 will be interesting especially seeing as 1 of those 9 is 7 months pregnant as well. It is always brilliant fun though. On Sunday we have booked to go to a spa. We did the same last year and it was wonderful.

Im going to try and add a photo of my SAL piece im doing with Jamie to this post later. My internet at home wasn't working this morning so if it doesn't appear, you'll know why!

*4pm Update* here's my progress on coffee menu this week (last weeks can be seen here).

Some progress

First of all an update on my weekly SAL (LHN's coffee menu) with Jamie. You can see last weeks progress here and here's this weeksand whilst im posting updates here is the lastest picture of Cirque des Cercles.
I've read quite of few blogs recently with stitchers thinking about starting/purchasing this and i would say....GO FOR IT!!! Although it's a huge piece, it is really nice to stitch and the chart (all 6 pages of it) is easy to follow. I love it and i love stitching with silks! Poor Dollhouse has been relegated to my stitching box for the time being.

I have also started Lizzie Kate's "Joined in Love" all over again for a different couple. I won't bother posting a WIP picture at the moment. I work on this during the day at work as it's a quick and easy piece to do.

Right, now to answer an SBQ. I have been signed up to these since January and have never answered one. Im going to now though!

Today's SBQ was suggested Kathryn and is: How many WIPs do you have? How many UFOs do you have? When does a WIP become a UFO?
Currently i have 5 WIPS. They are: Dollhouse (Brightneedle), Cerque des Cercles (Ink Circles), Joined in Love (Lizzie Kate), Coffee Menu (LHN), PIF Gift

I have 1 UFO. This was a DMC Kit called "summer fun" that i originally bought to stitch for a friend who is having a baby. However, it is a huge piece and i changed my mind after stitching some of it and decided just to do something simple instead. It is packed away in my stitching box indefinitely.

Generally my WIPS dont become UFOs but if they do it's either because i don't like the piece anymore or i'm not enjoying stitching it.

The previous SBQ was suggested Danielle and is: Are you on "The Wagon?" If so, how long have you been on and how"serious" are you about it? If not, have you considered it?

No i'm not on the Wagon and am not considering it LOL. I don't go crazy with stash, if i see something i really like i put it on my wish list. Sometimes i see a piece that i just have to have right away (like Cerque des Cercles) and i just get it. This doesn't happen too often though as im quite fussy!!

Sal and a Finish

First of all here's my weekly progress picture on coffee menu which is a SAL im doing with Jamie. You can see last weeks progress here and here's this weeksIts a really bad picture but after the 5th attempt at trying to get a good one i gave up! Its coming along slowly but steadily!

Now for a finish...

Lizzie Kate's "Joined in Love." I'm really pleased with how this turned out and i plan to frame it. I'm now starting it all over again for my cousin's wedding which is the week before this one!

So we're off to the Lake District in England tomorrow straight after work. My friend has organised a weekend in a cottage for about 16 of us. Should be good!

PIF Finish and wips

I finished a pay it forward gift recently, this one was for Jamie. It is a Lizzie Kate design called "life's a stitch." I am very proud of it as it's the first "finishing" i've done besides framing. As you can see i made it into a hanging ornament and used a green fabric for the backing. I really enjoyed making it.

As per usual, Tuesday was SAL day with Jamie. Unfortunately i was working from 10am - 8pm on Tuesday so i didn't get much done at all. You can see last weeks progress here and here's this weeks

I have made some good progress on my Lizzie Kate wedding piece this week. I should be finished this soon

This weeks progress

As you will know by now, tuesday is SAL day with Jamie. I've never done a SAL before, until now, and i'm really enjoying it. It's good motivation and it's fun to see what we've both stitched. We both started in different places and have stitched different bits of the menu so far, i find that interesting too! Anyway you can see last weeks progress by clicking here and here is this weeks progress

I thought i may as well post pictures of other progress i've made. Here is Dollhouse

And here is Lizzie Kate's "Joined in love." I'm 99% sure that the couple im stitching this for don't read this blog so it should be fine!

I have also recently finished a PIF gift and i'm looking forward to posting pictures of that as it's the first finishing i've done other than framing. I'll wait until the recipient receives it though. I must admit between coffee menu, this lizzie kate piece and my pif gift i'm fed up of stitching letters! I think that's why im not keen on anything with the alphabet in it!

Progress Pics

Firstly here is an update on my SAL piece that i am doing with Jamie every Tuesday. You can see what i did last week by clicking here and this is my progress this week

So i didn't get much done. We had plans with friends on Tuesday evening so i had a free hour after work to stitch and that was it.

Here's a progress picture of Dollhouse, i finished another room recently.

I'm getting cravings for new stash this week! I really want another big project to work on. I think im going to go for Cirque des Cercles by Ink Circles. This certainly will be a big project with nearly 20,000 stitches in it. Im not keen on the colour in the link but i've seen it done on a few blogs in beautiful colours and i want to buy this right now!! LOL. Im not sure what colours i would choose, i'm not very good at visualising how things would look so if you have any suggestions you can let me know! (**6.30pm update - i have no will power, i've ordered the chart - im so excited!!!)

I am so glad it's the easter weekend. Today my boss let us finish just after lunch and i'm now off until Tuesday. It is such a good feeling, especially seeing as the weather has been so beautiful recently. It's my friends wedding on Saturday so im excited about that and i hope it stays sunny for her. I'm also hoping DH and I will be able to go biking at some point over the weekend, the first time the bikes will have been aired all year.

Happy Easter to all my blogging friends!

SAL

Im excited to post that Jamie and I started our SAL on Tuesday. We are stitching "Coffee Menu" by Little House Needleworks. We will be stitching on it on a Tuesday evening as we both work full time. Here's what it will look like one day

and here's my start so far

I am stitching it on 28 Ct Raw Cashel Linen with the recommended floss. Looking forward to seeing Jamie's progress! I thought i would get more done but i needed to measure and cut my fabric which took time and then i went to bed early as well!

Tonight i am off to a big award ceremony in Glasgow with a young person i work with. I'm very excited about it as there will be a lot of famous people there!! So i have the morning off but will techinically be "working" until about 1am. It's formal wear so i have my dress looked out already. I hope my young person finds something to wear, if in doubt i told him just to wear his school uniform. I work with quite disadvantaged young people so things like this event are a BIG deal.

My Nephew

As promised the other day here's a picture of my gorgeous little nephew Luke. We won't see him until we go over to Canada in May but we're being kept up to date with lots of photos and videos of him. He's so small, just 6lb. His birth was pretty traumatic, the story, which i won't share here, is a great contraceptive for anyone feeling broody LOL.

As for a stitching update...ive finished the first room on Dollhouse. I'll post a picture later in the week. I'm now planning what to do for the Christmas Ornament SAL this weekend. I just joined that recently. It feels a bit weird thinking about Christmas ornaments in February but it'll be great at Christmas time when i have all these lovely ornaments. I'm going to do little, uncomplicated pieces as i dont have much free time. I'm also about to start a SAL with Jamie which im also excited about, i'll write more about that another time.