Two little finishes

Realising it is the last day of November today has made me get myself organised and post twice in one day - wonders will never cease!!  After I finished the ornament for my SSCS exchange, I picked out one of Little House Needleworks ornaments to stitch up for myself.  Snow in Love is a cute design, and only took a couple of evenings to stitch up, and I finished it into a little pillow this afternoon.

Snow in Love by Little House Needleworks

Stitched on 30ct WDW Cocoa Linen with DMC and Crescent Colours 

After seeing all of the fabulous zipper pouches Susan over at Thimblestitch had been making, I got brave and had a go with some cute bicycle fabric.  Susan had used and recommended a tutorial at Noodlehead, and I found it very simple, not at all as scary as I thought putting in a zip would be!  Thanks Susan for the inspiration and to Anna/Noodlehead for the fantastic tutorial.

Can you believe it?  Four OPAM finishes this month for me, almost a record!!  Well then, it is the 1st of December tomorrow, and the silly season will be well and truly upon us.......

Until next time....... thanks so much for visiting with me today ............ Nicky

Not so much breaking news anymore .........

Do you remember this, and this, and finally this last July............... wouldn't blame you if you don't, cos' that is more than a year ago.  Oh dear, I hate losing, but I was very happy to stitch something for Chookyblue as a result of me losing our little wager on the Diamonds v Silver Ferns netball match.  The main part of the stitching was completed last year, but as ever with me, the finishing is what takes me so long. SHAME on me!

Well, finally I got a little something on it's way to Chookyblue a couple of months ago, then I waited and waited to hear it had arrived................ and eventually it landed right back in my mail box.  (A true Aussie boomerang.....lol)  Thankfully it was none the worse for its travels, so I checked address details and had another go.........well I am happy to know that it reached it's destination all the way in the land of Oz.  I was lucky enough to have Chooky herself stitch for me in her Secret Santa Christmas Swap last year, so it was nice to finally return the favour.......

I stitched this little piece by Little House Needleworks called Necessities Sampler, added both Chookyblues and my initial, and finished it up as a little pillow.  You can see some other bits I sent for Chooky and her Fairy Girl over at this post........ can you believe that she called it 'Australia beats New Zealand'...... she may as well have added 'again' at the end of that title.........LOL

Thanks for all the 'encouraging' comments about those little hexagons on my last post, I have left them sitting out where I can see them, hoping they will inspire me again........... yeah right!

Till next time ......... Happy Stitching ................ Nicky

PS:  On Saturday all these little ones were born to this lucky ewe.......... doesn't she look a bit panicky about the prospect of dealing with 4 all at once....... I had to smile when hubby sent me the photo from his phone and titled it 'Busy Mum'.....

One block left now ....

 After some *gentle encouragement*  from Chookyblue, I have now pieced my second to last A Gardeners Journal block and here it is.................Block F............. but that very last block is still quite a way off finished.

 Over the weekend I also finished up Virtues Sampler by Little House Needleworks.  This is now in my rather large pile of finished cross stitch to be framed.

 And while I was busy on the machine I pieced the first block of my Butterfly Garden, I'm pretty pleased with how it's looking, and I've finished a couple more miniblocks during the last few days.

So now I need to catch up on this months Tis the Season and Birdie Stitches blocks...................I don't want to fall behind ............. again!

I hope you're having a great week, thanks for visiting me today, it's lovely to *see* you ................ till next time ................Nicky

Missing in action

It's been a very unproductive week here for me.  I've had a nasty tummy bug which kept me away from work both on- and off-farm and feeling very sorry for myself.  So far the rest of the family have not succumbed, so for that I am grateful.   

I started to feel a little better yesterday, so finished these Butterfly Garden miniblocks.  The plan for the weekend is to piece Block 1 of this quilt together and also piece my next A Gardeners Journal block.

Grethe is also working on her Butterfly Garden quilt again, her blocks are beautiful - do take a look, and Fiona has some wonderful fabrics ready to go here too.  Cardygirl says she's got one to finish too ...........as does Peg ................ no pressure ladies .........lol ..............and then there's the little challenge with Josie .......if anyone else has one lurking or ready to go feel free to out yourself ..........................

I've also dragged Virtues Sampler from the bottom of the stitching basket and got some more done. It's been quite some months since I did any cross stitch and I'm enjoying it. Both of these projects were on my WIP list from the start of the year, so I'm easing the guilts a little. lol   Sorry about all those wrinkles in these pics!

I am so behind on blog reading and returning emails so will try and catch up over the weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend.......till next time Happy Stitching...................Nicky

Stitching my heart out

Hello -  How are things in your neck of the woods?   What a wonderful couple of days I've had - I'm making the most of all the rain we've been having and have been stitching my heart out.  Finally - it has been such a long time - the last stitches went into Leanne's Stitching Round the Block piece, here is a little sneak peek.  This is going back to Leanne and she is going to stitch her own Round Three.  Don't you love her colours? (Hi Leanne, it will go in post probably Friday when I go into town)  Now Raewyn, it's on to your gorgeous piece.............

And another long neglected project, A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs.  I have completed some more stitcheries, but in my usual haphazard way, none of the blocks have all the stitcheries needed done, so no more piecing yet!  I believe the SAL deadline is March, when the girls are starting the next project, so better get my butt moving on this one too.  The new SAL project Chookyblue is organising looks tempting too .......

There have also been a few stitches into Virtues Sampler by LHN, below is a headless girl and a tree missing a branch, but progress all the same. Last time I photographed this, I think she had a head, but there was a very sad case of unpicking and restitching of the dress required. I hate it when that happens.

Believe it or not, there has even been a little stitching on some Butterfly Garden miniblocks, no pics yet though.   I think all this WIP stitching is to ease my guilt over signing up to stitch Vignette, the lovely new Mystery Block Quilt by Leanne Beasley. But really, how could I turn down starting a gorgeous new quilt of Leanne's when I already have two others of hers started??  Thankfully, I'm still waiting on the fabrics and threads ordered before Christmas, so that'll give me some time to work on a few other long suffering WIP's!

There's a brand new blog, Vignette in Stitches, for all those keen on stitching projects from Leanne's gorgeous new mag 'Vignette'.  Pop on over there and see what some of the girls have done already!  Thanks Perri for starting the blog and also to Ms Farmyard Crafts for tempting me into starting *another* project!  Didn't need much persuading though, did I?  Maree from Farmyard Crafts and I have something in common -  a very long list of WIP's - at least mine would be long if I finally finish making it.  AWIP list of WIP's! lol 

I think I really do need help - when I told her that she suggested I start something else! LOL

Can't thank you enough for the lovely comments about my SSCS and 6 Things swap goodies, I really appreciate you stopping by and reading and/or sharing your thoughts with me.  

Till next time, happy stitching to you ...........  Nicky

Time for a catch up.......

Hi folks, it's been a crazy week or two around here, lots happening on the farm, and busy times for me at work as well.  We have just had a holiday weekend here, the Saturday and Sunday of which we spent getting our lambs tailed.  As we expected it was a pretty disastrous lambing for us, however the lambs and ewes we have are all pretty healthy, so we will do our best with what we have.  On Labour Day Monday we made a daytrip to Roxburgh and jetboated up the Clutha River to Alexandra and then onto the Clyde Dam.  It was a lovely day out, only problem was I left my camera behind, so I haven't got any photos of beautiful Central Otago with the wild thyme in flower, smells heavenly and the countryside looks amazing.  Photos next time!!

In stitching news, some long awaited stash arrived..........some lovely new LHN charts and gorgeous overdyed threads, sitting on some Weeks Dye Works 32ct Linen in 'Straw'

and LHN's Virtue Sampler which I couldn't resist making a start on. Oops - Fallen off the wagon again!

Some cute pins - 'Pink Lemonade' from Just Another Button Co

And because I need another project start like I need a hole in the head, here is the beginnings of my Stitching Around The Block, from Helen Stubbings - Hugs and Kisses.  I am thrilled to be in a little Kiwi stitching group with these lovely ladies Raewyn, Janis, and Leanne.   Raewyn and I 'met' thru our blogs a few months back, our blog address names are very similar, and we are both(obviously) farm girls!  I have my fabrics pretty much finalised for this little quilt, and this centre block needs to be finished by the end of the week and sent on its way North for the beginning of November. 

And just so you know I haven't forgotten my committment to stitch one of these 'Butterfly Garden'  miniblocks each week, here is an update.  These three are finished mini blocks from Block 2.........

..............and these four are prepped ready for applique and stitchery. 

I must confess I am a little behind my one a week target though, likewise I am very behind in the Gardener's Journal SAL.  Thankfully most the others aren't, so you can check out some lovely blocks and quilts over here.  Secret stitching for my SSCS is still happening, and  I am gathering things for my 6 Items Christmas Swap too. All in all, it's going to be a busy countdown to the end of the year - thanks for calling by here today to visit, I appreciate that you have persevered this far. LOL 

Till next time, take care ............. Nicky

Pin Pillow for Rowyn

I heard from Rowyn that she received her Pin Pillow for the exchange organised recently by Becky.  I saw that Rowyn had stitched a few LHN designs, so thought this one might suit her.  It is Small House Sampler from the Something Old, Something New pattern.  I changed the original ABC under the house to Rowyn's initials. I think the design was originally a freebie, but has been re-released in this collection of patterns.  Most of the other Pin Pillows I have seen in this exchange have some cute little details, buttons, ribbons or trims.  Unfortunately, mine is very much a plain finish, with a bit of practice, one day I will be brave enough to add a bit more bling.This is the first exchange I have participated in, and I have really enjoyed the experience. Rowyn has a wonderful blog, which I can now follow officially, instead of stalking her while I tried to keep my stitching secret from her. lol. So pop on over and check it out.   

 

 

Small House Sampler by Little House Needleworks - Stitched for Rowyn for Pin Pillow Exchange

Stiched on Driftwood 32ct Belfast Linen with DMC

 I've been working on my Lizzie Kate Christmas series, and it's coming along pretty quickly.  Very dull day here today, so haven't got any pics to share yet.

Thanks for stopping by, will be back again soon...............

Some recent finishes........and a new start

I have managed to get a few photos of some recent finishes. Unfortunately they all look very wrinkly. First up is Summer Garden by Country Cottage Needleworks. I started this about eighteen months ago and finally got back to it late last year. It was a pleasure to stitch and I really loved the colours.

Summer Garden

Country Cottage Needleworks

Stitched on 32ct Waterlily Linen with DMC threads

Next up is Counting House by Little House Needleworks. This is to be framed as a gift for my cousins little boy, Ben, who will turn two this year. The fabric I used had been folded in the cupboard for a long time and it has a faint stripe running through it under the moon. I thought it would come out with a good pressing, but I think it may actually be more of a mark than a wrinkle. This piece has overdyed threads in it so I really don't want to wash the whole piece. If anyone out there has any suggestions as to what I could do, I would be most grateful to hear your ideas.

Counting House

Little House Needleworks

Stitched on Pale Blue 25ct?(not sure, as it is quite old), with DMC, Crescent Colours and Weeks Dye Works threads

Finally, here is Winter's Eve, by Country Cottage Needleworks. The plan is to make this up into an ornament for this years Christmas tree.

Winter's Eve

Country Cottage Needleworks

from JCS 2006 Christmas Ornament Issue

Stitched on Driftwood Belfast 32ct linen with DMC, Weeks Dye Works and Crescent Colours threads

I have signed up for a Pin Pillow Exchange recently. It is the first time I have ever participated in an exchange, and I am really excited about taking part. So, tonight I will be making a start on my stitching for this.

Till next time.... happy stitching