Today is my 3rd blogaversary! So let's take a wander back through 2010 ...

I decided to concentrate on iStitch Designs and designed, stitched and finished 22 small samplers and although I find it difficult to say which is my favourite design, I do like Sew French Blue a lot!

January: I finished stitching the Travelling Sisterhood and sent it off to Nic - I wonder where she is now? The Travelling Sisterhood not Nic! I finished Beatrix Potter in plenty of time to get it framed for my sister's birthday in March. My regular readers will know how much I disliked stitching this one so it was quite an achievement to actually finish it. I joined the BP SAL which spurred me along to get at least one motif stitch a month. I also made a new start on Alphabets à ...

February: I stitched my section on Edgar's Emblem of Love RR and I attempted to do miniature knitting. I finished Alphabets à ...

March: Small (as in miniature) finishes of ABC aux oiseaux and Coeurs d'oiseaux - both pieces from the François Prax Miniatures au point de croix book. Beatrix Potter was framed and duly presented to my sister who was really pleased with her gift. I completed my section of Wendy Jo's Emblem of Love RR and I made a start on Petit jours.

April: Mostly spent on stitching up model for iStitch Designs although I did made scissor fobs for a giveaway and I stitched and finished yet another miniature red into a pinkeep for Valie.

May: I completed my section of Margaret's Emblem of Love RR and with this ended my commitment to the RR. There were three colours versions and three monochromes (2 blue and 1 red) and I enjoyed stitching on each and every one of these.

June: I decided to start Jane Rees and stitched a few 'test' pieces to help me decide what fabric and thread to use. I also stitched another teeny red sampler.

July: I attempted a little crochet. My own Emblem of Love sampler returned home. It's so beautiful in blue and this helped me chose the colour for Sew French Blue.

August: After much procrastination as to fabric and threads, Jane Rees made her first appearance. The Dutch Band Sampler made a reappearance and a finish.

September: An update of Jane Rees

October: I spent the whole of October and the beginning of November in Florida and stitched on an SAL of Travelling Stitcher with Valerie and I also went to a beading class where I made a peyote bracelet. I tried to post a daily vacation picture despite my intermittent internet connection.

November: I attempted to knit some dishcloths using Staci's very simple pattern. I had an iStitch Designs first birthday giveaway of two charts which were won by Lili. My stitching of both parts of the Travelling Stitcher was completed - I have yet to decide on a finish! A stitch and finish of M Thomas 1916 sampler.

December: A birthday/Christmas giveaway of a beaded scissor fob won by Lisa. A stitch and finish of three tiny red Noel ornaments. A stitch and finish of six ornaments for the children and a teeny red and white one for me! A start (and finish) of yet another little French red sampler, Thérésa Laparoux 1928 (such finish yet to be photographed and posted).

During 2010 I also read 34 books and listed to 10 audio books - I like to listen while I stitch.

Quite an eventful year and I hope that 2011 will prove to be as good.

A big thank you to all my regular readers/commentators for sticking with me and I hope you will continue to come back in 2011. So ... a Happy New Year to you all and if you are just 'passing by' please come again as I will be holding a giveaway shortly.

And for those wondering what on earth the picture is to do with this post - it's a picture of Celebration in Florida!

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to all my readers and visitors!

As forecast we have snow and I love it!

I was hoping to take pictures of my finished ornaments today but earlier today it was much too dark and now the snow. If it stops I'll try and take some outside otherwise I may have to attempt some under my Ottlite. I also found a tiny stitched alphabet that I finished as an ornament.

And now back to Jane ...

Thanks for visiting

Take care and, if you have snow, keep warm and safe!

Although my birthday is not until Sunday, our Stitch-n-Bitch group celebrated both my birthday and Christmas with a dinner. Lynn was our hostess and her house was beautifully decorated for the season. After an enjoyable take-out Chinese meal followed by a calorie-laden gateau, we exchanged Christmas gifts (which we do not open until the actual day) but I also received some great birthday gifts which I was allowed to open! Not only charts, scissors, a sampler book, toiletries but this gorgeous glass frog complete with three pairs of scissors and intricately beaded fobs from Lynn! The middle fob is made from beads and tiny tiny antique buttons. Isn't this gorgeous? I was so spoiled! I love all my presents and a big thank you to you all.

No stitching pictures to show although, hopefully, the children's ornaments will be finished soon.

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The new iStitch design released today is Sew Golden. A pretty alphabet, two pairs of tiny golden scissors, two little keys, a pair of birds and an ornate crown adorns this little sampler. It is stitched on 55ct blanc cassé Gander linen with Soir Surfine 679 with the DMC equivalent being quoted on the chart.

You can find this chart *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar. You can also have this chart and any other charts you wish to purchase on a cd-rom for a small fee. I can also add any previously purchased charts on the same cd at no extra charge. Please email me for details - my emails address can be found on my profile. This would be the perfect gift for yourself or your stitching friends.

This will be the last chart for 2010 although there will be some new ones in 2011!

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... of the Christmas beaded scissor fob. Lisa of Lisa's Stitching Addiction name was drawn out and the fob will be on it's way to her shortly. I hope she enjoys it. My blogoversary is coming up on New Year's Eve so I have be having another giveaway really soon so don't forget to keep visiting.

Sew Golden is stitched but I am deciding on how best to finish it. Shall I just frame it or make it into a needle roll? Decisions, decisions. It might be a little fiddly to do as a needleroll as it's stitched on 55ct Gander linen so I will think about this a little more.

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Just look at this wonderful giveway over at Beautiful Things! You have until December 26 to enter. Isn't he sweet?

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*Edited* Coco has told me that this design is by Gwen and can be found *here*

As I have a birthday coming up and, of course, Christmas is fast approaching, I thought I would have a little giveaway so here it is - a Christmas scissor fob hand-made by me! You have three chances of entering:

1. Leave a comment (together with your email address) = 1 entry

2. Be (or become a follower) of my blog = 1 entry

3. Advertise this giveaway on your own blog = 1 entry

You have until Sunday, December 12 in which to enter. Good luck.

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Happy 21st Birthday Kirby - love you lots! xx

It snowed for most of yesterday. The plant pots look like ice cream cones and the Yucca plants are overladen with snow.

Andrea of The Craft Room has stitched and finished Christmas Greetings as part of her annual RAK. Andrea's stitching and finishing are amazing so please visit her blog for more pictures of this and her beautiful work. Christmas Greetings is stitched on 36ct antique white Edinburgh linen with WDW Holly and DMC 115. Thank you Andrea for allowing me to post this picture.

Christmas Greetings is still available as a freebie from iStitch Designs *here* .

And now for the gold as mentioned in the title to this post. Here is a sneak preview of Sew Golden WIP stitched on 55ct blanc cassé Gander linen with Soie Surfine 679. I'm not too sure it shows up too well though so I thought I would post this picture and get some opinions - do I carry on with this or re-think fabric and thread?

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend

Take care

As forecast we have snow which started around 6pm last night and I don't think it's stopped yet! All trains are cancelled so it looks very much like Kirby will not be able to make it home for her 21st birthday on Sunday. We will be very disappointed if this is the case but I am sure her friends will make the day a good one for her and we can celebrate when she eventually makes it home.

Yesterday I made a long overdue visit to the hairdresser who lopped 5-6" from my hair. It now rests my shoulders rather than half way down my back - I purposely let it grow longer so it would be easier to manage on my recent trip.

Not much else to report - Christmas ornaments still need to be finished and I need to make a start on Sew Golden.

Thanks for visiting and have a good weekend

Take care