December News

Hello everyone,

It's been some time since I've updated the ol' blog.  I'm finally on a two week vacation and am so happy! I haven't been overly productive in the crafting department but I hope to make that up these next few weeks.  I'm sure everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas in a few days.  I have some time before I need to get gifts and whatnot for my Christmas on the 7th of January.  I tried going out to a mall last weekend and it was packed...making me feel closed in and sweaty.  

On the stitching/crafting front, I managed to mail away my snowflakes yesterday, although they will be received quite late.  I also have finished a few little things and can only show 2 since one is a surprise for a friend.  

One of the crocheted snowflakes

LHN's JCS ornament finished with Annette's fabric

An old quaker stitch finally finished for a friend

 I've made some progress on Sarah Chapple, the granny stripe and the Sarah Emery sampler but I won't bore anyone with teeny tiny progress photos.  

On the Little Bean front, I am growing a wee bit more.  Waking up still in the night to go to the bathroom multiple times but I'm getting into a groove with less sleep. 

I received a lovely surprise in the mail from Shirlee the other day.  She made me the most loveliest ornament that is now hanging in our tree. Thank you dear Shirlee!!

I hope to visit some blogs this time around.  I do peep by often but haven't been very good at leaving comments.  It seems that facebook and IG are easier for me when I'm busy.  Speaking of FB, I'm a part of the Scarlett Letter group and there have been amazing giveaways on there lately.  One from Kelmscott designs where you post a chart you want to stitch from the Scarlett Letter.  It's been fun looking at all the samplers I want to stitch at some point in my life.  I've saved the photos so I can refer back to them to purchase.  Here's just a few of my favourites:

Sarah Dutnell

Sarah Singleton

Dorothy Walpole

Aren't they gorgeous?!! Oh to dream of stitching them one day!!

Off to church now.  Take care everyone! Have a very Merry Christmas from me, Titus, Lee and Little Bean!!

Playing with Red

It's a rainy day out today although there was a sprinkle of snow last night.  Having a bit of rain is good for the flowers and it means it has warmed up a bit! I hope it continues to get warmer. Last night, I had a finishing frenzy and finished three pillows! Two are Christmas pillows and the other a BBD design. It all started with me reorganizing my sewing box and finding my fabrics.  I noticed I had a lot of great red fabrics, so I began to play.  It took me over 4 hours to complete but I am happy with the results.  

First up is Jingle Jingle, by Plum Street Samplers.  I won the chart from Pat, the Southpaw Stitcher last year and finally got it completed.  The jingle bells took an age to attach. Not sure why it takes me so long as I'm sure there's an easier way than the way I did it!

Stitched on fabric that came in kit with GAST threads

I used some cute striped ribbon that my dear friend used to wrap up some Christmas gifts she sent to me.  I think it works perfectly with the bells.  I used the pretty red with with star fabric on the right for the back.  It'll be a great door hanger for Christmas!

Next, I finally put together LHN's Baked Goods.  It has been over a year since I stitched it.  About time it was finished.  Unfortunately, when turning out the pillow and using a dull pencil end to poke out the corners, one of the corners actually poked out! So I used some ribbon and buttons to cover the hole...sigh.

Stitched on 40 ct. Creme Brulee with GAST and DMC

This will be a sweet ornament for our tree!

Continuing with my red obsession, I pulled out the "Bluebird" turned into a Redbird by BBD I stitched awhile back.  Originally, I bought a box to put it on, forgot about that plan and sewed on a black ribbon. I didn't like the black ribbon so I ripped it out last night.  I'm liking this finish much better than what I had.

Stitched on 32 ct. Platinum with CC's Cupid finished with little buttons from Mouse

I finished a little RAK for someone too on Friday night but can't show it yet.  I like the design so much I might just stitch one for myself too...hehee!!

Wonderful red finishes aren't they?! Funny how none of them are Valentine themed when it's Valentine's this Friday!! 

....wonder if my hubby will get me anything....hmm.

Friday night SAL with Maggee I spent frogging, yet again.  I was gabbing away to my hubby plus watching Treme when I started stitching Magic Garden's little bird with two threads instead of one thread.  I felt the stitches becoming harder to do and I couldn't figure out why until I was about halfway done! Out it came and there went an hour wasted.  So I stitched the bird and the little snail. I'll forgive the bird since he's so cute!

No other progress to report.  My granny afghan is getting larger but I think showing it will be boring.  I'll wait until it gets significantly larger and more interesting!

Hubby news.  He's on prednisone which is helping the inflammation although giving him a terrible tummy ache.  We are hoping this will help get rid of the pain for good.  We both want to say good bye to the pain for good!  Speaking of tummy aches, I ate some eggs this morning and spent the better part of the day feeling like I was punched in the stomach.  Too bad I'm allergic to eggs...I love them so much!

We took a walk last week by the river in an industrial area and found some interesting things along the river bank. Then I took another walk on Saturday and kicked myself for not bringing my camera since my cell phone is horrible for zooming in.  The heron was by the river and looking beautiful in the sunlight.  I got some grainy photos that aren't worth sharing.  But I got a few great shots of the ice blocks in the river that appeared to be moving backwards! It was very trippy to watch the river flowing backwards...strange I tell you!

1930's warehouse

old rope on a tree

Heart!!

Old Cola can my hubby found and was SOOO excited about!

That's all for now. 

Thank you all for taking the time to visit and comment.  I appreciate all the support and encouragement from you all!!

Hugs

Anne...and snoring Titus

2013 Stitching Finishes and WIP's

Back again! Thank you all for your lovely comments on the deer box and dear Meari's mailart.  

After looking through my finishes of 2013, I noticed I have not done as many as the year before.  However, it seems that 2013 was the year of box finishes for me.  I completed a total of 5 box finishes! Thanks to Angela and Terri who inspired me in the first place, I tackled my first box and got hooked!! You will only see 4 though since 1 hasn't been received yet.

Top left to right: Deer Box, LHN's Blackbird Bottom Left to Right: Ink Circles, Life's a Stitch

Pillow finishes won by majority this year with a new mailart finish.  Next year I hope to do a few more pinkeeps and perhaps try some new ways of finishing.  I always like to experiment, even though the outcome may not be how I imagined it! 

Two other finishes did not make it into the collage as they too have yet to be received!! 

I only finished one BAP...Hannah.  Here she is again.

She is still waiting to be framed.  We found this really cool copper frame in the basement of my hubby's shelter that had been abandoned and we thought it would work for her.  Unfortunately, the frame is too small and would cut off the pretty border.  Too bad since it is the coolest frame.  Now I have to stitch something to fit in the frame!!

Here are my current WIP's going forward. 

Knotgarden

Magic Garden by Shakespeare's Peddlar

Good Morning Rooster

And last but not least, poor old Tea Bath Fairy.  I think the last time I worked on her was in March.  I would like to have her finished in 2014.  I realized I stopped because all of that white space needs to be filled with metallic thread....something I'm not a big fan of stitching with. 

2013 has also been the year of crocheting.  I got hooked, literally, into making mug cozies, snowflakes and putting rounds into my afghan.  I made a total of 6 mug cozies and about a dozen snowflakes.  I forgot to take photos but you get the idea!!

Quilts....I started the jelly roll quilt and have yet to finish it.  I am a big chicken...like Titus!! I have been thinking about cutting the panels to make the borders but don't want to make an error so there it sits...staring at me...taunting me.  Then I look around at people's blogs and see beautiful quilts people whip up...well, perhaps not that fast, but they have no fear!! I so wish I had someone who could guide me and encourage me to take up the shears and snip! I'm enlisting my dear hubby to help me with the cutting.  He thinks he can't help, but I know he can since I can't sew or cut straight, but I believe he can.

There she is...unfinished.  Give me courage!!!

Wishes for 2014: Two only.  One, for my husband to get better.  Two, for a child.  Please pray for us on both accounts.


I think I can't complete a post without some Titus photos. His favourite things to do...roll around on mom's stuff and sniff.

My favourite photo of Titus of all time....Titus, the Vampire Prince

A big thanks to all of you for your constant support, well wishes, prayers, good thoughts, and well just being the best stitchy friends ever.  I have made so many wonderful new friendships since I started blogging and I have been blessed to "meet" you all.  I wish all of the best in 2014 for all of you!! 

Hugs,

Anne