Easter bunnies and birdies ........

Isn't this wee guy the cutest?  I was lucky enough to be a winner in Carol's Spring Giveaway a couple of weeks ago, and this Just Nan bunny has come all the way from Pennsylvania to live at my house.  Carol's finishing is beautiful and she has a whole lot more gorgeous bunnies she's been stitching up for Easter.  I feel SO lucky to be a winner in your lovely giveaway Carol, this is the first giveaway I've ever won, so thanks!  I don't enter many giveaways, unless it's a blog I already visit, so I feel very blessed.    It may not be spring here in NZ, but it is definitely bunny time with Easter only a day away!

My stitching from last weeks FNSI is now finished.  This is the April block for the Birdie Stitches BOM, with a cute Easter egg tree.  The tree is a little hard to pick out, maybe I should have chosen a darker green.  Sadly the cross stitch I had planned for Easter has not eventuated ...... yet!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, we are heading away tomorrow for a few days to my in-laws, so I'll catch up again next week.

Till then.............happy stitching...................Nicky

PS:  Miss Moe - if you could email me    nickyw76 at yahoo dot com    as you are no-reply, and I will get back to you about the SB stockings.  Thanks.

Friday Night Sew-In Progress

I didn't achieve a lot on Friday night for FNSI - but anything is better that nothing I suppose. This is April's Birdie Stitches block, featuring for now, half a tree and half a birdie.  You can find the designs released so far over at Little Miss Shabby's blog, along with lots of other beautiful quilts and cushions.

If all goes well I'll get this one finished up tonight, then I have plans for a little cross stitching.  Watch this space!  I failed in my OPAM goal for March, so I really don't want a repeat in April. LOL

Have a wonderful weekend for what's left of it, thanks for visiting me today.......Nicky

April???

I don't know where the first few, 10, 14 days of April have disappeared to.  I've had several attempts now at an update and am finally there now.  Life has been hectic round here, lambs and cattle off to the works, new weaner calves arriving from sales, and ewes being drenched and dipped in preparation for the mating season. We are tired of working in the woolshed and sheepyards, that is for sure!  My off-farm job has been busy too, with the end of the financial year meaning extra days at work lately too.

These are some of the steers ready to go to the paddock in the sky soon!  It pays not to get too attached to animals around here.  These boys are so quiet and friendly, but have been a bit naughty lately trying to get out of their paddocks, and lifting gates off hinges when they get the chance.

This is Miss 10 helping round up stock on her wee motorbike.  She's been a great help lately on the farm, and is desperate to get a pony.  The jury is still out on that one for now!

Anyway enough of all that, this is a stitchy kind of blog after all - not that there has been much of that happening either.  What a response to my last post on stitching tips and hints.  Thank you so much for adding lots of ideas and comments about the way you stitch too.  I learnt a lot, and realised there were lots of things I didn't mention too.  The main one is which method you use - the 'stab' method* or the 'running stitch' way of stitching.  I usually use the 'stab' method, it may be slower, but I find it difficult to get the stitch sitting right using the running stitch way and it is physically hard to do with the small hoop I use.

* By 'stab' method, I mean the needle going through to the back in one motion, then reaching behind and pushing through to the front in another movement, as opposed to going from front to back, and returning to the front all in one motion.  

Ultimately, everyone has their own way of doing things and if it works for you - go with it!

These are my April blocks from the Tis the Season Stitch-Along.  Why not head on over and check out the gorgeous blocks at the SAL blog.  Who could believe that one design could look so many different ways?!

Last night I traced off this months Little Birdie Stitches block and I'm planning a nice stitchy Friday evening tomorrow for FNSI.  You can sign up here if you'd like to join the fun. 

I'll try not to leave it so long next time, but till then, happy stitching .....................Nicky