Although I didn't seem to have much spare time this weekend, I managed to get some stitching time and nearly finished the above. I did order some silk chenille from Vikki Clayton for the sheep but, being the impatient person that I am, I couldn't wait for it to arrive so I used the recommended DMC floss instead. And, anyway, maybe the silk chenille would be too thick to stitch on 40ct fabric? I guess those sheep need some tails too! I am sure all you LHN addicts out there will recognise the above but what is it? No prizes for guessing correctly though! It was a quick and fun stitch and I can't wait to start the finishing of it. Today I'm back to stitching Christmas ornaments although I do have a few to 'finish' so it looks like another marathon finishing day is on the cards shortly. 

And now, for all you button and scissor fob addicts, here are the latest button scissor fobs that Cathy at Golden Needle has to offer. Aren't they just delightful? They cost $10 plus postage and packing so go visit Cathy now whilst these are still available. 

It's another dull and dreary day here in the UK but at least it's not raining! I am not sure I will survive the winter if this carries on; I really need some sunshine.

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Take care 

Upon unwrapping the tissue wrapped packages, I discovered all of this:

Sharon has once again totally spoiled me.  I will firstly start with the extras; With My Needle's Quaker Turtles pattern (Sharon has been reading about Tommy my tortoise), a pair of Kelmscott Love Scissors, two packs of different types of tea. a beautifully stitched scissor fob which has a Oklahamona State Quarter attached to the back and then there was this:

Isn't this just stunning? Using DMC floss on 28ct cream Jobelan fabric, Sharon has stitched a tea caddy using two different LHN designs - Coffee Menu and Herbal Tea. Inside she tied a souvenir spoon with cream ribbon and tiny charms and inside the little pockets were more tea, some creamer and even some sugar! 

This shows the back where Sharon has stitched our names, the year and 'Hooked on Exchanging'.

No stitching today. This morning I have been to the Library, to the Post Office to mail off my Christmas in July package and to a couple of stores. I called in at my LNS where I got the black ribbon for the bow inside my tin and, of course, I could not just buy that so I ended up buying some more braiding. This afternoon I am spending with my close friend Sue and we are having a girly afternoon at the hairdressers. I am having mine cut and she is having a colour and a cut. This evening Ken and I are having dinner at our daughter's house. All this excitement in one day!

Thanks for all your lovely comments and for visiting too

Take care

No stitching photos to show today although I have been working on both the HOE freebie chart and the LHN projects. Both are stitched and are ready for finishing although I still need to stitch my partner's initials on the LHN piece. Once this is done I will 'finish' off both pieces and put together my gift packages. Then I have a couple of gifts to stitch, one is already started and I also want to stitch and finish a biscornu for the Monthly Finishing Challenge. 

In the meantime, I have been catching up with some reading and have just finished The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver. A well-written, fast pace book which I could not put down. This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last as I am already checking out further titles on ebay.

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Take care

Thank you all for the kind comments on my last post. I think I have just about recovered but although I have been stitching I have no photos to show. After my disaster with my HOE freebie chart exchange I decided not to re-stitch the piece but to start something completely different but I had problems with the new piece too! I stitched part of a faggot stitch border and then filled in the inside but when I went back to finish the border I could not get it to line up! Arrgghh - I think my heart wasn't really in it - so I threw it to one side - took a fresh piece of fabric and started yet again but this time I finished the faggot stitch border first. Hurrah it lined up so I have now started to re-stitch the inside and, so far, everything is fine. I have been put off signing up for the next exchange for this and other reasons but, saying that, if I can finish this one without any further problems and then do the LHN exchange piece, I may sign up later.

We are having wonderful weather here in our little corner of the UK and I have been spending a lot of time in the garden. The potatoes that I planted in patio bags are coming up and my tomato plants are doing well too. These are first time projects for me so it's great to see them thrive. I do, of course, have to be careful because Tommy thinks that anything in the garden is either his breakfast, lunch or dinner! I love to sit in the garden and read and have just finished Jacquot and the Waterman by Martin O'Brien and A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly - both really good books. Today I am going to make a  start on Hunter Killer by Patrick Robinson. When I left work one of the girls handed me a huge pile of books and I am now working my way through them.

As there are no stitching photos to show you I thought, for those of you watching my eggling, you would like an updated photo. OK it's not 2ft tall (yet) but it has grown some and I am keeping watch for any buds.

   

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Take care

I heard from Wendy Jo (no blog) that she received the pinkeep that I made for her in the HOE pinkeep exchange. It is, of course, a Little House Needleworks freebie stitched on 32ct lambswool linen with DMC threads. The backing fabric was kindly donated by Lynn, a member of my Stitch-n-Bitch group (thanks Lynn). It was exactly the right shade and almost looks like brickwork!

I enjoyed my 'stitch day' yesterday although it was more of a stitch afternoon as I didn't settle until gone mid-day. I did manage to finish off the stitching on my gifts - the one over one on the backs took ages and I now need to finish them but I need some help making some twisted cording - any volunteers?

My tortoise, Tommy, awoke from his hibernation yesterday. He is quite late this year as he usually sleeps until mid-March so obviously the bad weather made him snuggle down for a lie-in! When I checked his box he didn't appear to be awake but all of a sudden he popped his head up so I lifted him out onto the grass in the warm sunshine. He spent the rest of the day checking out his territory. He does go back in his box overnight until the weather is really warm and then he stays out 24-7. I will post a photo later. Tortoises make ideal pets - they don't mess up indoors and sleep for 6 months of the year - if only husbands/kids were as ideal! 

Thanks for visiting

Take care