I heard from Chris that she received the ornament I sent to her for the HOE Christmas exchange. This is my adaptation of Milady's Needle Quaker Christmas Smalls; I stitched all three sides from each pattern but removed the outside 'boxes' to make one 3-sided ornament. It is stitched on 40ct antique white linen using DMC threads. The three tiny bells at the bottom are actually twisted into the hand made cord and inside is a much larger jingle bell! I did, of course, send her a goody package too but I did not take a picture of what I sent. Maybe Chris will post a picture of the whole exchange on her blog.

For the past few days I have not put a needle to fabric! I had visitors over the weekend and yesterday I went to Canterbury with my daughter, Nicola, to get some Christmas gifts. The stores were packed with people and it's only November; I hate to think what they will be like as Christmas gets closer! Luckily the rest of what I need to buy I can either get online or at my local shops so it will be a while before I go shopping there again. 

Today it's cold and damp - brrrr - but who cares? I am going to have a stitch day!

Thanks for visiting and thanks too for all the lovely comments being left - they are very much appreciated.

Take care

I cannot, of course, show you the HOE exchange piece but I have taken pictures, albeit not spectacular ones as the light here is awful today. If it brightens up later I will retake them but here is Tom's Reindeer. The pattern is JBWs French Country Reindeer and is stitched on 35ct white Brussels linen and the floss is Glorianna's Poinsettia. I placed a jingle bell inside so you can definitely hear sleigh bells!

As I said earlier I made a start on Alex's ornament. A couple of days ago I stitched Jingle Sparkle Joy (here) for her but I think it's too large even though I stitched it on 36ct so I put it aside and I chose another pattern - a Victoria Sampler freebie (here) for Alex which is actually called Baby's First Christmas but I will alter the wording to suit. 

My Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly magazine arrived in the mail this morning. I haven't had chance for a good look but I did flick through (as you do) and a full page advertisement for Christmas in Williamsburg did jump out at me. Four fabulous teachers, Jackie du Plessis, Rae Iverson, Barbara Jackson and Joanne Harvey will be there with four even more fabulous projects! Anyone going?

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend

Take care  

Yesterday I got out my pieces that I thought were ready for finishing and realised that none of them had the date on and that I still needed to put Georgia's name on the back of hers. So I finished the stitching and then put Georgia's ornament together. Just look at those cute little silver ice skates! I have resorted to taking photos under my Ottlite now so I apologise for the poor quality.

After putting the year on the back of Tom's ornament, this is also ready for finishing today and, hopefully, I will be able to show you a picture tomorrow. I part finished the HOE Christmas exchange piece but what light there was yesterday rapidly disappeared and as I had to prepare for dinner, I gave up and will have another go today but, suffice it to say, I want to keep it! Even Ken said to stitch another for the exchange as he liked it too. Of course you will have to wait to see this until my partner receives it but it shouldn't be too long as I will be mailing this out very soon and it does not have too far to travel.

I feel much better today as the sun has made an appearance. OK it's not a hot summer's day but at least it's much lighter! 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I really enjoyed stitching on Valerie's Quaker Friendship RR yesterday and I cannot believe how quickly this is stitching up. I only have one more motif to go before my section is finished and although I could finish it today, I have instead decided to 'finish' my ornament for the HOE Christmas exchange as the deadline is fast approaching. I may even finish the two reindeer ones I stitched earlier so, hopefully, I will have some 'finish' pictures to show you shortly. 

I heard the postman knock and could not wait to get to the door, as I had heard from Su yesterday that she had mailed an exchange package to me. Now I am usually most careful when I open bubble envelopes as I like to recycle them but, with no thoughts of re-cycling, I tore open the envelope. Inside there was a beautiful package of red tissue with tiny silver spots and inside that was this plethora of goodies. Look at the beautifully stitched and perfectly finished pinkeep! The pattern is a Ewe & Eye and Friends design stitched on 40ct alabaster linen - isn't it gorgeous - check out the close-up photo to show Su's perfect stitching. And not only this lovely pinkeep, also enclosed were 4 cuts of finishing fabric, 2 cuts of linen in pink and peach, a box of multi coloured pins and card of pretty leaf pins. Oh I am so spoiled - thank you so much Su - I love it all. I am sure Su will post much better pictures than these so do go and take a look at her blog.

After this excitement, I have now climbed down from ceiling and can tell you that last night I finished stitching my ornament for the HOE Ornament exchange so I will be busy over the weekend with finishing both this and the two Reindeer ones that I did for Tom and for Georgia so, hopefully, there will be new photos of these on Monday (the reindeers not the HOE one). 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Yesterday I realised that the deadline for the HOE Christmas ornament exchange is all but 2 weeks away so I made a start on my ornament. It will be three-sided and I have already stitched one side completely and nearly finished the second. I hope to be able to finish the stitching today and then I think I should have a 'finishing' day as I still have other ornaments to make up too. So no stitching photos today.

If are wondering where the 'bows' are, there aren't any - just a catchy title!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

As you can see I finished stitching Quaker Blackbird. As I thought, it came up much bigger than I intended (note to self: don't rely on labels on fabric). I squared off the border and I just need to add my initials in the top right hand corner and then it will go into my finishing box. I now need to stitch an ornament for the HOE ornament exchange so I will chose a pattern, fabric and floss and make a start today. The exchange deadline for this has crept up on me but I was waiting for the JCS 2008 ornament magazine to arrive before I decided what to stitch. 

I have had numerous enquiries about the button fob that appeared in a picture I posted a few days ago (here). I purchased this at the Golden Needle in Port Charlotte in Florida last year so I contacted the lovely Cathy and she still has them if anyone is interested. They are hand-made and cost $12 plus postage and packing and come with either white or coloured buttons. You can contact Cathy at cathy@goldeneedlecom 

Thanks for the lovely comments on the pinkeep I made for Su - they are much appreciated. 

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Today I received a wonderful package from Karen K in Australia for the HOE Halloween exchange. It was beautifully wrapped in orange and brown tissue paper and inside were ric rac braid and threads in different shades of orange and brown all tied up with ribbon, some orange finishing fabric and some BOO buttons. Her Just Nan piece is so pretty - 3 little ghosts and finished in a sweet little frame with a scary spider in the corner. A lovely Halloween package - thank you Karen.

As you can see from the above picture I have been playing around with Photoshop Elements! It's fun but very time consuming. On Fridays I like to clean the house from top to bottom so I can relax over the weekend so this morning, so I would not be tempted to sit at the computer and 'play', I turned the computer off and would not allow myself to turn it on again until my jobs were finished. How sad is that?

I didn't get any stitching at all done yesterday as I watched a movie in the afternoon and we went to Nicola's house for dinner last night. I have decided on the fabric and floss to use for my private SAL with Yuko - 36ct flax Edinburgh linen with Au Ver a Soie silks in 1424 (deep blue), 4624 (burgandy red) and creme. We are stitching Midnight Stitching's Quaker Faith Hope Love and I will post a photo as soon as I make a start. I am looking forward to stitching this beautiful piece with a beautiful lady!

Have a great weekend

Take care

I finished stitching the JBW Designs French Country Reindeer but I am undecided whether to finish this as a pillow or a flat finish and I will not make a final decision until my 'finishing' day. Once this ornament is done, I have one to do for Alex (grand-daughter number 5), one for the HOE Ornament Exchange, a couple more for gifts, some floss tags and then that's it - I am ready for something different. I would like to go back to Miss Hannah as she must be feeling rather neglected but until I have finished all things 'Christmasy', she is on the back burner! 

I have so many new projects I want to start: a private SAL with Yuko (Midnight Stitching's Quaker Faith, Hope, Love); Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler; Little by Little's Quaker Blackbird; a re-start of the Merry Cox Diminutive Sewing Set (do you remember I started this way back on New Year's Day (here) but I didn't like the fabric and floss I was using?) and... the list just gets longer day by day! I also want to stitch something for my new header picture. I have something in mind but I need to chart it up and, as I no longer have design software (well I have the software for a pc but not a Mac), I will have to go back to graph paper and a pencil.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I heard from Marjean that she received the HOE Halloween exchange that I did for her. I stitched a pinkeep called "Witches Welcome" by Helga Mandl Designs on 36ct lambswool linen using DMC threads. I do not normally stitch Halloween patterns but I did enjoy this one - I just love the boots with their curled-up toes! Marjean has a photo on her blog of the extras that I sent her. 

I have been playing around with my new Photoshop Elements program as you can see from the above picture! Today I received a book that I ordered through Amazon called "Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: The Missing Manual" so hopefully I will now be able to do more with it in the future! 

It's extremely dull and dismal here today - I think that Summer has past and there's only the long Winter ahead. Will the sun ever shine again? Will I ever be able to sit in the garden again? I'm SAD.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

My HOE Halloween exchange is completely finished and I now need to make up a goodies package ready to mail out to my partner next weekend.

No more stitches into Hannah Beeby since my last update but I hope to get back to her very soon. I must also make a start on some Christmas ornaments for the children and for friends plus one for the HOE ornament exchange.

I am very tempted by Vonna's Me, Myself and I Neighbourhood RR as I have been watching Carol's construction for a while now and also by the Beatrix Potter SAL but as I ended up stitching Hannah by myself I am not sure I will bother with another SAL. Both of these start on January 1 2009 so if you are interested go take a look at their respective blogs.  

Now there's a strange golden orb in the sky today and I need a 'fix' so I am going out in the garden with my book so ...

... have a great weekend and thanks for visiting

Take care

Today is reveal day for Jayne's Attic Stitching Challenge for August which is a freebie from AMAP (chart here). I originally decided to stitch it in one colour but halfway through I decided that the corner would look nice in colour. I also wanted to 'finish' it as a tiny flatfold needlebook but as I was working last week I knew I wouldn't have time to do this so I fell back on a pinkeep and I am pleased with the result. It is stitched on 40ct ivory linen with the alphabet and borders in Vicki Clayton's Raisin Wine and the corner piece in AVAS silk flosses. The tiny pins are Clover Applique pins and the backing fabric is just a plain co-ordinating colour.  

I have also been working on Hannah Beeby for a short while each evening and I will take a photo shortly. She's looking good!

I thought yesterday was my last day at work but the lady that had surgery is not recovering as quickly as she had hoped so they have asked me to come in for three days next week starting on Tuesday which does mean that I get a three day weekend. Another good thing about working is that I was able to take some mat board in and use the guillotine to cut pieces for my HOE Halloween exchange and a Christmas ornament both of which are ready for finishing now. 

Thank you to all my visitors who leave such lovely comments and to those who lurk - don't be shy leave a comment so I can make a return visit to you!

Have a good weekend 

Take care

Still no news on the Quaker Friendship Round Robin. It appears that there are 3 pieces missing and we are assuming they are with the one person who has moved house. Maybe they are travelling the globe and will eventually make their way back to the sender. We can but hope.

I have also stitched my piece for HOE Halloween exchange. We don't celebrate Halloween here in the UK (or at least we don't) so this is not something I would have normally chosen to stitch but I enjoyed it and it's kind of cute. I have no idea how I am going to finish it yet but I am sure I will come up with something. 

And now it's back to Hannah Beeby.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

The mailman delivered to me this lovely package from Joan who was my partner (unbeknown to me of course) for the HOE Summer Quaker exchange. Joan stitched for me this wonderful pinkeep with Dinkey Dyes Mango Tango silk floss. Now regular readers will know how much I adore anything Quaker so you can imagine how pleased I am to receive this. It's beautifully stitched and finished and just look at that pretty fabric that Joan chose for the back. Not only did she make this gorgeous pinkeep she also made a pretty project bag and a cute chicken pincushion. Also in the package was a piece of 40ct cream linen, a packet of needles, a matching magnetic notepad and notecards and Milady's Needle Quaker Christmas Smalls chart - Joan obviously read my Wish List. Thank you so much Joan - this is a memorable exchange.

    

Yesterday was Ken's birthday so we had a family lunch out at a local pub. My son-in-law Ian arrived with my daughter Nicola and my grandson Jack in his US Army truck. This is the original truck from the movie Evita and Ian has restored it to it's former glory. My son's children were highly delighted to be allowed to sit up front to have their photo taken although Jack looks pretty bored by the whole thing. I'll let you guess which one is Jack! 

So a pretty busy weekend but no stitching. 

A few questions answered: 

Donna: The glue I used for the pins is Loctite Superglue, Easy Brush which looks rather like a bottle of nail varnish so the brush gives some control over the glue. I think you can also get a superglue in gel form which should give the same control.

AnneMarie: The thread I am using for Hannah Beeby is Needlepoint Inc Silk shade number 407 which is a very dark green. The fabric is 40ct linen.

Patti: Of course you can add me to your sidebar - I am honoured that you wish to do so.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I received a lovely e-card from Jill today saying she had receive the HOE Summer Quaker exchange that I sent to her. The Post Office excelled itself as it only took 4 days to travel from the UK to the US! I stitched a CA Wells' pincushion for Jill although I did not strictly adhere to HOE rules. I pondered what colour/s to use and found the Thread Gatherers Wild Violets in my stash and as a frequent visitor to Jill's blog I knew what a 'purple' lady she is so rather than stitch in a colour that she 'might' like, I decided to use the colour I knew she 'would' like! I also made some pins from Swaroski crystal and silver Delica beads. 

I have been working on Hannah Beeby for these past couple of days and I will take a photo to show you later - she is looking good even if I do say so myself :o) And I actually think that this is the right week for the SAL too!

Thanks for visiting

Take care and have a great weekend