I received the above gift from the lovely Brenda of Time to XStitch

The fabric is the most gorgeous stitching pouch in which my Blue Band Sampler is residing at present. The sled is at the moment is displayed on my desk and I cannot wait until next Christmas to display it properly! I tried to get some on these little sleds on my last trip to the states but Michaels or Hobby Lobby didn't stock them and neither did the only needlework shop I visited. I am wondering how much the postage would be to get them sent to me?? Thank you Brenda for the most beautiful gifts.

iStitch Designs Blue Band Sampler SAL is well under way. The model is almost finished; the weekly charts are done but I need to print them out and check them. There are still a a few spaces left if anyone is interested. Just email with your email address and PayPal address if different. The cost is US$15. There is a new Facebook page for the SAL *here* 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Carol

Much to my surprise, and my great delight, my daughter Nicola and her husband Ian gave me this wonderful sampler for Christmas. It is dated 1872 and has the initials EJK stitched at the bottom. They found this sampler in an antique shop in Rye, East Sussex a couple of months ago. Am I spoiled or what?

From my son Justin and his wife AnnMarie I received the above French stitching book by Isabelle Vautier and Catherine Arguela. There are some lovely charts inside and I look forward to stitching that pretty ABC, making some lace holders and the heart shaped needle book shown on the front cover.

The two pairs of scissors shown are two new pairs that were added to my collection and gifted by my friend Sylvie.

I will be showing more gifts later. A big thank you to all for my great gifts.

And here is the ornament that I stitched for Kirby - a delightful British robin. This was the 'stamp' from a mail art pattern called A Robin's Christmas by Lynne Nicoletti. It is worked on 40ct white Newcastle linen and I converted the threads from DMC to HDF silk threads. The holly berries and the robin's eye are teeny beads and I added tiny silver bells to the bottom of the ornament and made a hand-twisted cord for the hanger.

I received not one, but two, lovely gifts from dear Angela. Firstly, this absolutely beautiful monogram ornament, stitched over 1 with two shades of red floss which matches perfectly both the red velvet backing and the ribbon hanger.

Secondly, one of Angela's pin books also in red. The above is the front and inside ...

... a delightful red felting with a pretty bow and red pins. Now you too can be the owner of one or more of these little pin books. There are many different ones available and more pictures are shown on Margaret's blog *here* scroll down, but not too quickly as Margaret has some lovely stitching on show, and you will see the Eiffel Tower, Keep Calm and Carry On and even a mermaid or two! Each pin book is printed onto quality card stock which is then gently distressed for an aged look look and measures approximately 3" x 1½". Each one has a matching wool felt interior and three pearl headed pins. These will make ideal gifts for stitching friends although I think you will find these very difficult to give away! If you are interested , email me (my email address can be found on my profile) and I will put you in touch with Angela who does not have a blog but if you click on *here* it will take you to her 'picture trail' and you can see her amazing work. Thank you Angela for these very thoughtful gifts.

Thank you for all the lovely comments.

Shay and Clare: The pattern used for these biscornus is my adaption of Indigo Rose's 'Pretty in Pink' 2006 Breast Cancer pattern.

Berit: I used CA Wells' exclusive binding stitch 'Sam & Bertha' to finish these biscornus.

A few days ago I felt like beading so out came my beading box and charms and I made these fobs which are now either with their new owners or on their way. The bottom one has rose quartz beads and a fleur-de-lys charm, the next one up is made from purple Swaroski crystals and has an Eiffel Tower charm. Next is turquoise beads and a heart charm which will be going across the ocean to live with the daughter of a friend and last, but by no means least, pink and clear Swaroski crystal beads form a diamond. I hope the recipients enjoy their fobs.

I have also been stitching a couple of gift for two dear ladies. The stitching is completed so only the 'finishing' remains to be done. Once this is done I will get back to Anna Millet.

Something exciting is happening on my blog. Can you see what it is? I think it will call for a celebration!

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Take a moment to think of the people in Japan whose country has been devastated by the earthquake/tsunami. I am happy that my sweet friend Yuko, her mother and her darling little Sweetie are all safe and that Noriko, another friend who is visiting her family in Japan, is also unharmed. These disasters are far too common in this day and age - is this the result of man's misuse of our fragile world? Let us keep these people in our thoughts and be thankful for those who are safe.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Before I went to Paris I stitched up some gifts. This biscornu was for Valie and you may have already seen this picture on her blog as I blatantly stole it from there - there is a second picture on her blog if you want a closer look! I actually made two of these biscornus, exactly the same except that one pair of buttons were slightly darker than the other. The second biscornu I gave to Angela, who does not have a blog but certainly should as her work in amazing! They were both stitched on 35ct white Brussel linen with white no 12 perle cotton and HDF Baneberry.

And here is another picture shamelessly stolen from Valie's blog and this time of the beautiful Valentine gift she stitched for me. Isn't it gorgeous? Thank you Valie!

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.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Last month I received a surprise package in the mail from Paula of Kelmscott Designs. Inside I discovered a mother of pearl Strawberry Thread Keeper, a Hummingbird Needle Minder, mother of pearl Heart Buckles and Daisy Thread rings plus 2 notepads. All these are new releases so I promised Paula I would not post a picture until after the Nashville Market but I guess it's ok to post now. Thank you Paula for your most generous gift. Check out Paula's website for a list of shops that carry these beautiful pieces plus much much more.

There are two new iStitch charts in the pipeline - Sew Quaker and Sew Peacock. I hope to stitch up these model shortly but in the meantime please visit the Charts blog *here* or click on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

My miniature knitting is growing slowly; Alphabets à... is almost finished. I enjoying working on both of these projects.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I have acquired four new pairs of scissors in recent times. Three pairs were gifts; the other a pair I could not resist! Firstly some classic Lion's Tails, then some Dinky Dyes Titamium coated, a pair of Gingher 'Sarah' and lastly a tiny pair of Elizabeth 1 by Kelmscott Designs. Can you guess which pair I succumbed to and purchased myself?

My Christmas cactus hasn't fared too well this year as I've only had a total number of six flowers. I am open to suggestions of what I should or should not be doing!

The mailman fought his way through the ice and snow to deliver a package from across the English Channel. Inside a Dove to represent peace and friendship; exquisitely stitched on 40ct Gander linen with Soie Surfine from the AVAS warehouse in Paris.

Also inside the package was the wonderful neck warmer of golden hue to ward off the winter blues. It fastens by means of a co-ordinating pin. And see the golden beads peaking from the fur? Thank you Valie! All photos by Valie - it is much too dark to take my own!

I have also been unable to photograph Beatrix Potter but as soon as I can I will show her off.

The animal sampler now has a name; the model is both stitched and hem-stitched but needs to be photographed. I will announce the name chosen and the winner of the competition in the next day or so when I release the chart. There were so many suggestions that I put those I liked into my Nantucket basket and drew out the winning name. Thank you to all who put time and effort into thinking up names.

I am working on a hem-stitch tutorial so please be patient.

Yesterday I made a small start on Travelling Sisterhood - again pictures to follow. I feel bad that it has taken me such a long time to get to this one but, now I've made a start, I will try to get it done as quickly as possible so that I can send her on her way. I am stitching 1*1 on 30ct cream linen with recommended DMC threads.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Just before Christmas I received a package from Yuko in Japan which contained a tin and, inside the tin, I discovered a bundle of Japanese Cosmo threads and some wool threads too (not in the picture). I have been wanting to try Cosmo threads since reading about them on other blogs. They have a very soft feel to them; more like silk than cotton. I already have plans for both the tin and the threads - thank you Yuko for your generosity!

Last year when Valie came to visit, she carried across the English channel a bag of walnuts (black walnuts?) that she had harvested from her uncle's orchard. She told me that she makes 'walnut ink' from them and uses the ink to dye fabric. Yesterday, I boiled the walnuts, and left them in the liquid overnight. Today, I strained the liquid into an old coffee jar, complete with a snazzy label so that Ken does not attempt to drink it! I then took a piece of white 36ct linen and placed this in a tray containing the ink and left for 25/30 minutes. This is the result:

I now have a beautiful shade of walnut-dyed linen. Isn't it a gorgeous colour? I am definitely going to use this dye again. I am going to stitch the 'yet to be named' animal chart on this fabric with a brown Cosmo thread, probably the darker of the two shown and I can't wait to start but ... I must finish Beatrix - only the large motif to go now - if I put her aside now I will find it difficult to pick up again.

Thank you for the suggestions for a name for the animal chart. It is not yet decided!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

These are two books which I received over the holiday period. The first one, a birthday gift from my fellow Stitch-n-Bitcher Caroline (no blog), is Isabelle Vautier's 'Les Samplers en Rouge et Blanc'. Caroline went on a trip to Paris a couple of months ago and she knows how much I admire Isabelle's work. Thank you Caroline.

The second book, a gift from my daughter Nicola, is also from France - 'Cross Stitch Letters Bible/Des Lettres au Point de Croix' by Valérie Lejeune. This fantastic book has 844 alphabets ranging from 1 point (stitch) to 55 points and also has numbers and letters on the bias. Just the book I need for iStitch Charts designing. Thank you Nicola.

This birthday card and three HDF mystery threads came from Valerie in San Francisco. Thank you Valerie - much appreciated.

I have more stitching gifts to share with you and will post them sporadically over a few days.

I received two wonderful gifts from WendyJo. One was this beautifully stitched and finished BBD stocking from last year's JCS ornament issue. WendyJo tells me this is her first 'stocking finish' - can you believe it? It's absolutely gorgeous - I love it so much I don't want to put it away but leave it out all year! There was also enclosed a Quaker drinks coaster in my favourite colour blue. This I can leave on display and it's sitting on my desk complete with a hot drink as I type this.

Not only did WendyJo send me the beautiful stocking, she also remembered my birthday and sent this pretty Isabel Bloom ornament called 'Hugs'. I had not heard of Isabel, I understand she passed away in 2001, but her name lives on in her wonderful ornaments and sculptures.

Thank you WendyJo for these lovely gifts and for being such a kind and generous friend!

The draw for the Sew Peaceful chart closes tomorrow at the stroke of midnight (GMT) and will be drawn on New Years Day so there is still time to enter. All you need to do is leave a comment on the original post *here* saying why you would like to win this chart. Please do not forget to leave an email address if your blog is private or locked - there are a few comments already without any means of me contacting the person who left them. I blatantly stole the above picture from Andrea's blog (sorry and thank you Andrea) as her finish of Sew Peaceful is amazing! DRAW NOW CLOSED

I have been stitching these past few days on the Emblem of Love RR which belongs to Deb who chose a bright pink linen with multi-coloured threads. As you know I tend to use more neutral colour fabrics so it is making a change for me to stitch on such a bright colour. Maybe I need more colour in my life! I will continue to stitch on this one until my section is completed and then it's back to Beatrix.

Thank you for visiting

Take care

In my red box, amongst other things red, were these charming lavender pillows and this stunning stitchers companion case, all beautifully sewn by Valie. Click on the picture and you will see how exquisite these are. Inside the companion is a skein of red silk, some pretty pins, a length of red lace and red scissors with a fob of red beads and a tiny tortoise charm. My friend spoils me - thank you Valie for your generosity!

Valie and I exchanged gifts - for me - one box was blue; one box was red. Amid other 'blue' gifts were these beautiful Eiffel Tower scissors and a trio of lavender cushions - their scent is just heavenly. Thank you so much Valie. Would you like to see some red gifts?

Today I will start the model for Sew Winter. I have linen and thread so I will print off the chart and I'm ready to go.

The sun is shining and I feel good.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

First up Tommy the tortoise. The weather has changed here and already he has become lethargic. I cannot believe that nearly six months has past and that it's not long now until he beds down for his long winter sleep!

And here's the Hare! I have coveted these scissors since Valie showed them on her blog with Brown Bunny and in this morning's mail arrives a pair of my very own (together with other goodies). Thank you my dear friend ... I shall have to be careful what I admire in future ... you spoil me too much!

This morning I received a package in the mail from Edgar - he knows I love dark chocolate; he knows that I cannot buy Midnight Milky Ways here in the UK; he also spoils me! Thank you Edgar.

I'm sorry for the poor photographs. Although the sun is making a fleeting appearance today, it's also very windy so I have had to take the picture indoors in bad light conditions.

I have to decide what to stitch on next. It should be a Christmas ornament although I have another design just waiting to be charted. No - a Christmas ornament it will be ..

Thanks for visiting

Take care