I have now finished stitching the 'Needles' piece on my Travelling Stitcher SAL with Valerie (The Fog City Dweller). I really enjoyed stitching this project and love the HDF thread conversion (see earlier post *here*) - thank you Vikki. I have an idea of how I might 'finish' this but ... firstly I need to complete my ornament stitching and finishing as Christmas is fast approaching and I am nowhere near ready!

Last week Prince William announced his engagement to Kate Middleton. At the time I heard I was working on a new design - Sew Golden - how strange that the centre of this design is an ornate crown! Maybe I should incorporate a W and K into this design?

I purchased a new frame for 'M Thomas', a small French red sampler which I stitched recently. I thought I could distress the frame and maybe tea or coffee dye the sampler so that the whole project would look old but the stain I used for the frame proved unsuccessful so I now need to sand it down and start again. I am also worried about dyeing the sampler in case the red thread runs. It's an HDF (which I think are pretty colour fast) silk thread OMG Red 1149 which is a beautiful deep red. I will think some more about this project before I go any further!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Whilst I was in Florida I called into Michael's and purchased a couple of balls of Sugar & Cream by Lily as recommended by the lovely Staci for knitting dishclothes. Using her pattern *here* I knitted up two in yellow and one in white - they really are as simple as says. Thank you Staci for sharing your pattern. I only wish I had brought a few more balls of Sugar & Cream as I can see more of these being knitted up in the future! 

I have stitched a little more on my Travelling Stitcher SAL with Valerie, the Fog City Dweller. Valerie has put me to shame as she has already finished hers but there's not too much of mine to go now. I am thinking  of hem-stitching this once it's done but haven't really decided as yet.

Since returning to the UK the weather here is atrocious - it's dark and gloomy and raining heavily and I am missing the Florida sunshine. Maybe I should seriously think of re-locating permanently?

iStitch Designs celebrated it's First Birthday in October so to celebrate I am having a giveaway for my loyal customers, regular commentators and followers. If you think you fall into this category, please let leave a comment on this post only. The winner will have their choice of any two iStitch (excluding Sew Seasons) charts. I will make the draw on Friday, November 12.

I have been working sporadically on my Travelling Stitcher - my SAL with Valerie (Fog City Dweller). After an exhausting day in the sunshine, I don't always feel like stitching but I am plodding away slowly but surely. 

To make our vacation a little more exciting today a rather large shark was spotted in the water about 5 feet from where my friend Diana and I were stood and needless to say we got out of the water as fast as we could!

Thanks for visiting and please call in again tomorrow for another holiday picture!

Take care