Two BBD Finishes and IHSW

Hello everyone!

I actually have some stitching to show all of you.  Last week, my hubby and I went for a 3 day camping trip to Porpoise Bay.  It was wonderful there.  So warm and not too busy.  I brought one of my BBD WIP's with me to stitch and I had to buy an internet pass to look up how to do a buttonhole and chain stitch! Buttonhole stitches are actually quite easy once you get the hang of it.  I finished the design a couple of days ago and am rather pleased with the result.  

Here is Buttons and Pins, stitched on 40 ct. Light Examplar with the recommended GAST threads.

My hubby suggested I try doing a twisted ribboned edge.  I will see how that works out once I get it sewed together.  I also finished a very sweet little BBD last week.  I started it in Prince George and it's for a very dear friend.  I will be making it into a box for her as well.  It's from the Flowers of the Field booklet, stitched on 36 ct. Vintage Buttercream with the recommended threads.

 love that dark bluey grey in this.  Such a pretty design.

For IHSW weekend, I stitched only on Hannah and just for two nights.  I really tried staying up late stitching but my  eyes got very wiggly and I was making mistakes.  Must not stitch at night!

I'm feeling so close to the end I just want to press on. 

 

 The box for Life's a Stitch needs a few more shiny coats on it before I can add the design.  I hope to finish the box and the pillow tomorrow if all goes well.  

That's all for stitching.  What I'm really excited about is that I started from scratch my very own curry!! I followed a Masterchef Australia recipe, called Desi Murgh Chicken Curry.  It was delicious but took me about 1 and 1/2 hours to make! I've always wanted to cook a proper curry and now I understand the process a bit more than I had.  

Yum!!

Here are some photos from our little bike trip.  Enjoy!

I'm obsessed with close ups as you can see.  I would love to save up for a really good camera with a micro lens, but that's 1000's of dollars....sigh.

Last but not least, a shot of my favourite summer bush flowers: hydrangeas.

I hope everyone is staying cool as I've read quite a few people's blogs that there are heatwaves going around.  We have been so fortunate with our weather.  So please take care! Sending you my thoughts and hugs!!


Anne

Quaker Biscornu

A glass of wine 

A kite 

A riverside view 

I finished my Quaker biscornu.

Stacy Nash Primitives design 1802 Biscornu PinkeepStitched on 32 Natural Linen
DMC threads

Carolyn from Just one more Stitch RAk'd me this lovely design.  Now I would like to pass it on to someone who would like to stitch it.  Leave a comment stating you would like to be entered in a draw to receive this lovely pattern on this post.  I will do the drawing in a week.

I have had a splendid week of cycling, kite flying and stitching.  One more week and it's back to the grind.

A Prairie School finish.  Stitched on 32 Limestone Belfast with DMC threads.  I have an idea of a nice finish for this which I hope to get done this week. Stay tuned!

My little basket of smalls is growing.  I hope to replace the St. Patrick's finishes with some Spring finishes. 

That's all from me for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Hugs

Anne

IHSW, TUSAL and Hail!!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post.  I had a wonderful time eating blini and drinking tea with my Nana.  Great way to spend a Sunday.  Today is the first day of Lent and I am going to prepare a big batch of borscht this evening.  It will be yummy!!

I have to make this post in a hurry...hubby is antsy to get down to the beach to fly his kite in this glorious sunshine and wind.  The other night, we attempted yet another bike ride and we got caught in a torrential hail storm!! Just our luck!

This weekend was not so successful in the stitching department, but that's okay.  I did manage to throw in some stitches onto Hannah and Knotgarden.  I plan to stitch up a storm this week along with more finishing. 

I finished the basket but forgot to take a photo of it.  It's such a pleasure to stitch Hannah and all her little motifs.

Knotgarden so far.  I'm hoping to fill in the knot this week.

I've also worked a lot on the little BBD I was gifted from Carolyn.  I'm enjoying the satin stitching part and looking forward to trying out the buttonhole stitches for the flowers.  

Pretty isn't it?!

My Tusal threads hanging out with my little Irish figurines my Nana brought back from Ireland when I was a girl.  

Some gorgeous daffodils I bought at the Winter Farmer's Market.  They are all abloom!

I've also been blessed with more generous gifts from fellow bloggers.  I received quite the selection of buttons from Mouse, two issues of SANQ magazines from Nicola, and some lovely charts from Maggee.  I can't wait to start some of those charts and I've used one of the buttons already.  The magazines are so wonderful to read! Thank you all for your kindness.  I cherish everyone of my gifts!

Oooh, hubby just said "You better not be blogging! I hope you're ready to go!"


Okay, so I am blogging...I lied and said I wasn't...heheeeee.  I will add the links to the blogs later.


PS....half way done through commenting!!

Much love and hugs to you ALL!!!!!

Happy New Year!!

Here's to hoping 2011 will be a good year.  I look forward to working on more projects, and more importantly, finishing them.  I have a couple of finished pieces to show that I have wrapped and about to send off to my mom and my friend.  The pillows were fiddly to finish and took many hours to do.  I had to hand stitch the lace onto "The Rose Garden" by Blackbird Designs because the trim is crocheted. I think it worked out well but wished that I had made some sort of pocket on the back for my mom to put her glasses into.  I'm learning slowly but surely and I feel that this year I will be much better with my finishing touches. 

Rose Garden by Blackbird Designs

 

 And for my friend, I chose my own threads and fabric and monogram from Sajou alphabet.

 

Another "A" for a friend from Sajou Alphabet (I'm a bit obsessed if you can tell)

This photo was taken by my cell phone so it is very grainy.

Take care and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!!

Ornament Finished!!

Woot woot!! I'm pretty happy with the way the ornament turned out.  I did take awhile to get to it, but alas, life is busy and we have had a sick kitty.  Well she is not so much a kitty, but an ol' gal, much loved by all.  Luckily, she has done a turn around and is more like the Lucy we love and know. Once the kitty crisis passed, I set my self upon the three projects I promised to complete before Christmas. I'm amazed that I am ahead of schedule and can actually fit in 3-4 more projects for more friends and family.  Two of the pieces I have not "finished" but I did prep the pieces for what I have in mind, so I am on the way. I've been itching to buy some more linens and threads to make some cute Christmas ornaments, however I stopped myself from pressing the "buy" button! Anyways, here are some photos of the ornament, and the two pieces.The ornament is the last photo.

  "L" from Sajou Alphabet Stitched on Raw 28ct linen

                                              Rose Garden by Blackbird Designs

                     Stitched with R & R Reproduction linen 30 ct Valentine Blend

                                    Threads Crescent Colours in Jakey Brown

Rose Garden Update

So it has been awhile since my last update.  I have been busy with work, family and stitching of course!  I've been enjoying stitching "Rose Garden" by Blackbird Designs immensely and can't believe that I am almost finished!  Here are two pictures of my progress.  Most likely I will finish it today, although I am still unsure as to whether I want to make a lavender filled pillow or a pinkeep for my mother.  I'm now leaning more towards a pinkeep because I found a gorgeous little iron picture holder in Prince George.  It has a little bird and some leaves on it and it would work perfectly for a pinkeep.

Here are the photos, although they are not the best photos because I took them with my cell phone.  

See how beautifully it is coming along! I added my mother's initials on the right and the year that I will be giving her the gift for Christmas.  Some of you may wonder why it says 2011, well that's because we celebrate Christmas on January 7th.  We are Orthodox Christians and use the old calendar for our feastdays.

Enjoy the pictures!!