My first star block

I had a super saturday although to a certain extent it was 'brain aching!!' LOL I went to a patchwork/ quilting class. I did go to a few last year and then with moving and settling in etc I couldn't fit it in. But yesterday  I made the effort.'Brain aching???' You may ask why? Because I have made cushions covers, two throws for our little consevatory settee and a bed quilt with squares, rectangles and simple triangles, in the last two years, but now I feel  I am ready to do something more difficult.. and here it is. This is done as a sample and I need I practise some more.

If  you are not a quilter you might think this looks good, but I haven't left enough fabric at the points, so if I was to sew  more around I would lose the points. But it was a try, which took me 3 hours plus!! The class was only 2 hours so I came home and finished it. The pointy bits are called 'Flying Geese' and I am confident that with practice I will improve, I will, I will!! LOL
Whatever,  I did enjoy the class and the woman who teaches it was very helpful. I am looking forward to next week.
Happy days!

Chris xx

A win!!

Isn't  it just so pretty I am thrilled to have won this. Thank you Nancy

Do have  a peep at her blog she is always having givaways.. but as well as that her HDF is beautiful.

What I love about her threads is, that you can have a range of all one colour, so pale colours through to a darker shades. They are amazing.

I can't wait to start this, hurray up Mr Postie!

And this is our cutie Nell fast asleep on her blanket with her head on the little pillow we gave her for Christmas.

She is such a sweetie and a lovely dog, three years old this coming year in March but still loves to play.

This morning as I was in the garden pegging out our washing and checking my bulbs. as I walked back and fro, she was following me with her ball. Each time I stopped she dropped the ball at my feet for me to throw it. She loves playing 'fetch!'

Happy Stitching all

Chris xx

WIPocalyse and BAP progress

This is The Arbour by Shepherds Bush. A small that should have taken no time at all.. I say should have but I didn't like the rows between each section so I chose to stitch different stitches.

I had a few tries on some scap linen to see the effect, hence why it took longer. But I am pleased with the results. Its very pretty and delicate looking and should be finished this coming week.

And this is my BAP Rosewood Manor Quakers and Quilts. This is going to be my year long project but I have several bigger designs to stitch as well.....

So the sooner I have posted this, the sooner I can get back to my stitching!!

Happy Stitching all
Chris xx

BAP Challenge

Becky is hosting  a BAP...Whats that you may say? Well to be honest I don't actually know what the initials stand for but what you must do is start a design which must be at least 12x 10 inches and finish it by 31st December 2012... here's the link As I am already stitching designs for my WIPocalyse I have chosed Rosewood Manor's 'Quakers and Quilts' for this challenge.

There is even a $100 prize draw for finished pieces!

Happy Stitching all

Chris xx

WIPocalyse!

I always feel quite virtuous when I see some stitchers have more than 10 WIPs as I really only have these three! Celtic Lady Summer... still to finish stitching and loads of beads!

  Chatelaine Convent's Herbal Garden.. only just started and I made a mistake and cast it to one side..

Fortunately having enlarged this photo I can see the mistake and it is easily rectafied so this will be back in my rota.

This Bothy Threads was an impluse buy and why?? I don't know.. I only need to do the back stitching and some beads so this is going to be my January finish!

However I think this year will put me in the ranks of more than 10 wips.. hey ho.. what else is life about except to do the things you love..

~~~~~~~~~~~~

And these are the charts I really want to stitch.

This first one was a swap with Gaynor.

I so love it so must do this one this year!

A little one in between bigger designs. Shepherd Bush's 'The Arbour'

And as I stitched Rosewood Manor's Spring Quaker last year.. this is a must for 2012.

Its called 'Quakers and Quilts'

And I love it. I have it all kitted up ready to go.

With 32C Cream Belfast linen and the recommended Valdani floss.

Ohhh can't wait to start this!

This is so pretty gifted to me by Elisa.

I hope I can stitch it as well as she did..It's Down Sunshine Lane

'Pastel Hearts' Needle Roll

And these are so cute. I have wanted to stitch these so an age..

Valarie Pfeiffer's 'Sitting Pretty'

These would perfect as a birthday present for someone I know who is a 'twitcher!!'

And I thought each one of these motifs could be stitched between bigger designs. It's

Just Nan's Floral Fifteen biscornu.

Gifted to me by Julie.

Hers was wonderful

As well as these I have kitted up and which costed a lot more than I am willing to admit to,

BB's Anniversaries Of The Heart.

This is just the first one, there are 12!!

I think all these are going to keep me busy right up till 2015!!

Happy Stitching all in 2012..

   

                                                  Chris xx

Find out about the WIPocalyse here

Today I wish you.........

Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles- A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.   An unexpected phone call from an old friend. Green stoplights on your way to work or shop. I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in... The fastest line at the grocery store.   A good sing along song on the radio.   Your keys right where you look. I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this phrase to the people you'll never forget. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. Wishing you a very Blessed Holiday Season and the best in 2012 and....

Nell loved her christmas pressie!

Isn't it lovely to see a present you bought someone being appreciated!

Here's our Nell with her little pillow we bought her and she loved it right away... how did we know?? Well she started to chew a corner but did stop with a firm NO!"

Then she did the thing that all dogs do... she tried to 'hump' it!!!  If you don't have a  dog or never have you wouldn't know they did that but they do...LOL

We do love her and she too will be having a turkey dinner... which is where I am off to now as I am in charge of the cooking this year!
Hope every one has a wonderful christmas time

Chris xx

A Very Happy Dance...

I put the last few stitches in this last week, but Christmas preparations prevented me from posting pictures of it.. Rosewood Manor's Spring Quaker has been a delight to stitch.

Each motif is different and the colours are beautiful. I have loved watching this grow.

I put in my own initial rather than that of Karen Kluba the designer.

In 2012, I have all ready kitted up... Anniversaries of the Heart, a Blackbird design, all 12!!  plus another Rosewood Manor called Quakers and Quilts.. as well as these I have several charts all ready to stitch so watch this space!  I am thinking of joining in a challenge, where you declare what you have to stitch and then stitch like mad all year to get them completed! Anyone know of any or I may start one myself?

                        Chris

Givaway...

If you're a regular blog reader then you'll have come across Gaynor's blog.. she is one young woman..

Having been diagosed with cancer a month or so ago, she is fighting with all her might but also always thinking of others.. She is starting up a help group where she lives in Ireland.

A very courageous young Mum..sorting out her Wips to take when she will be away from her family for radio therapy as it seems it is a 2 hour journey so she will have to stay there. But not to be down about that she is taking her stitching and also doing a givaway.

Do pop to her blog to take part ot just to read her story of her journey with this dreadful illness.
I am praying for you Gaynor every day.

Chris xx

Christmas ornies for pressies

Here are the Christmas ornies I stitched for friends.. all arrived except for a couple of over seas friends, but they don't blog so quite safe to show these now.
I loved stitching them all and doing different ones for each friend.
Stitching progress is good because I am determined to finish my Rosewood Spring Quaker before Christmas or at least before 31st Dec as I have a new large stitching project for 2012.
I also have some socks to finish for Dh and he has said he'd like a scarf.. so I will crochet his in just double crochet, navy and wine colours with a cream stripe.. so keeping busy all the time.
Hope everyone like us has been caught up in the Christmas spirit, we have an Advent Candle which nearly did all 25 numbers when we forgot we had lit it on the very first night, even though it was there right in front of us!! And a  lovely little Musical Tree with little numbered drawers, each one having a little decoration to hang on the tree. We take turns to open the drawers, so there is no fighting over whose turn it is, after all we are adults. We have also bought a very red sequined table runner with matching napkins for the table on Christmas day?!!! Oooo it is getting exciting!
Happy days and happy stitching.
Chris xx