A Bit of This & a Bit of That!

I've taken part in a couple of exchanges during January. The first was with my Facebook Group and was for an ATC (Artists Trading Card).  This is what I sent to my partner Sue

This is what I received from my partner Pauline

The second was with my Yahoo stitching group Friendly Stitchers and was for a Spring Biscornu. This is what I sent my partner Sheila

Chart for the Speciality stitch version found here

Chart for the Cross stitch version found here

I had a bit of an ornament thing going in December and this is what I made just before Christmas....

Chart for the Noel dangly can be found here

During January I've had to re-dye my son Peter's karate Gi as the red was completely faded. As I'd got some 28ct white evenweave just hanging around doing nothing I took a couple of teaspoons of the dye before tipping the rest into the washing machine with Peter's Gi. This is the result of me having a morning with no kids and some dye .......

A January Start and Finish

Well January got off to a good start with a finish...this is a coffee design I did for my husband.

by Plum Street Samplers

I've also been working on my Great Escape SAL, here it is with part 7 done...

The Great Escape

designed by Abi Gurden

The Stitch Specialists

Part 4 has finally been started on my Castles in the Air, here's what I managed to do whilst watching the first episode of series 2 of Sherlock....

Castles In The Air

Papillion Creations

I've also been working a bit on Mary Wigham, here she is...

An update on my Noah's Ark, still on page 1 but getting there...

Noah's Ark Cut Thru

Bothy Threads

It was a full moon earlier in the week so here's my 1st TUSAL vase....lots of room for my orts to go into :-)

2011 TUSAL

Here's what my TUSAL jar for 2011 looked like -

If you would join in with the TUSAL it is hosted by Daffycat and to get to her blog click on the post title.

My vase is now emptied and all cleaned out ready for 2012 :-)  I managed to finish 21 projects last year including 2 big UFO projects, a photostitch and DS2s dragon so I'm pleased with my year.

Present Time

DS2 takes dance lessons at Drapers Dance Centre every Saturday morning and for his first medal he had to learn a freestyle dance and he also had to dance a Samba.

Obviously as his mum I knew he'd pass as we (yes you read that right LOL!) practised every week inbetween his classes. I found a lovely design of two dancers doing the Samba and secretly stitched it for him. He duly passed his medal and got awarded his bannerette with the rosette and certificate. To celebrate his first dance exam he's now got his own Samba on his bedroom wall...here he is holding it.

I also stitched up a small ornament for my Mother and Father-in-law. The kids are still disgusted that we can't go and spend Christmas in Kent again this year, they loved it last year...just a pity they all came home ill with flu!

designed by Abi Gurden

The Stitch Specialists

After going through 2 balls of white #8 perle thread and our local Hobbycraft not having any a lovely stitcher called Frances who is part of my yahoo group Friendly Stitchers put some on her stash order. As a small thank you for sending them to me I designed and stitched this small humbug, couldn't resist the Christmas theme :-)

I took the boys to Sheffield's Weston Park Museum on Thursday as they were having a Christmas activity day, this is what the boys made. Luke's is the Father Christmas and Peter's is the Stocking.

I've not had as much stitching time as normal thanks to the pre-Christmas round of parties, nativities and the usual present hunting but here's where I'm up to on my normal stitching...

Castles In The Air

Papillion Creations 

parts 1-3 completed

Noah's Ark Cut Thru

Bothy Threads


A Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. See you next year xx

Stitching Time

As some of you know at the end of July I developed frozen shoulder in my right shoulder..not the best time just before the kids school summer holidays but there it was. I did seem to recover in September and October but in the last few weeks it's bad again. I've had to drop my Tai Chi class as the pain was just too much for me but it has meant that I get more stitching time :-)

I've had to put every project on my Lowery so I don't strain my shoulder but here's my progress on my WIPs

Hardanger Pincushion

designed by Val Blench

Friendly Stitchers

The Great Escape

designed by Abi Gurden

The Stitch Specialists

A few months ago I took part in the Summer Biscornu Exchange with Friendly Stitchers. My partner fell through sending me a biscornu so Gillie from FS kindly stitched me this lovely summer biscornu. My DD has fallen in love with it as it's got her absolute favourite colours pink & purple in it and flower buttons (what more could a little girl ask for ?!). It's so beautiful and thank you sooo much Gillie.

Then on Friday a surprise parcel arrived for DD...here's what it contained..

Stitched by Gillie so our DD had her very own biscornu. It's a big hit and she showed it to everyone in the pub that lunchtime whilst we were having lunch!  Thank you so much Gillie you made a little girl very happy x

Castles In The Air

Papillion Creations

Mary Wigham SAL

Bothy Threads Cut Thru Noah's Ark

Finally it's TUSAL time again. For those who want to sign up for the 2012 Tusal please visit http://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/   I totally forgot to sign up last year due to going away for Christmas and the subsequent flu that all the family came down with but this year I remembered. There are no prizes but it's fun!

SAL & Exchange Time

I've been working hard on my SAL's the last few weeks....

Mary Wigham SAL

Snow Buddies

designed by Carla Rizzie

The Great Escape

designed by Abi Gurden

The Stitch Specialists

I also took part in the Christmas Ornament Exchange with Friendly Stitchers. My partner was Frances who also lives in Yorkshire...a change for me as I'm usually sending abroad.  This is what Frances sent to me:

And this is what I sent to Frances - 

The Time is Flying By..

I can't believe August is over and we're nearly at the end of October already, it doesn't seem like 2 minutes ago since the kids went back to school and they're already half way through the term.

I took part in an Autumn Exchange with my Facebook group, Carla sent to me (in previous post) and this is what I sent to Kim. The scissor fob design is from the 2009 A Stitch A Week SAL from Friendly Stitchers.

And here a few other projects I've been working on in the last month...

Snow Buddy

Designed by Carla Rizzie
there are 12 of these little guys.

On Tuesday mornings I go to our local library where they have a cross stitch club. I've started taking my Mary Wigham sampler so that at least once a week she gets some work done on her. This is the progress so far...

Mary Wigham SAL

The Great Escape

designed by Abi Gurden
(The Stitch Specialists)

Purple Belt Dragon

small present for DS1 after passing his grading for his purple karate belt

Last but definitely no means least...don't faint but I finished another UFO!  This is the latest one finished, an All Our Yesterdays.  My yahoo group Friendly Stitchers had a poll on the 2011 UFO finishes and I came in 3rd behind DJ and Meg who were well deserved winners.  This is what I was sent by the Mods of Friendly Stitchers...

All Our Yesterdays UFO

2011 Wet Noodle Award - 3rd Place

(Friendly Stitchers)