Christmas Exchange Gifts From Edgar

I had the most wonderful surprise in the post yesterday. Edgar was my secret partner for the Christmas Gifts Between Friends Exchange and he sent me something I thought I would never receive. I had longed for a box but never dreamt I would be gifted one. It's also something that I probably would never do for myself as I've not seen any boxes like this in the UK. The stitched piece is by Primitive Needle, called Yule Sampler, stitched on a piece of 32ct Solo by Silkweavers and with the recommended thread. I had a box full of goodies too. I did tell Edgar when I emailed him yesterday that I hadn't touched the chocolates....well I have tonight. :) Yummy! Thank you so much Edgar, I think you know how happy I am. :))

Merry!

The last but one ornament has arrived. Kathy has let me know it has arrived safe and sound. I added handmade twisted cord around the piece and a little tassel at the bottom which is hidden in the shrubbery!

Merry - Glory Bee.
28ct Bone Jobelan.
DMC as recommended.
From JCS Ornament Issue 2008.

I have received the most gorgeous gift and extras in an exchange from Edgar. Come back tomorrow, you have to see it, it's something that I have really, really wanted. :)

Getting Into Little House Needleworks Again

While I have been waiting for the RAK ornaments to arrive (still waiting to hear on 2 - with fingers tightly crossed), I have been quietly stitching. This pillow was finished last weekend. I have been looking to have another finish as a pillow for quite a while so this was the perfect design. Stitched on 40ct 1 over 2 it is only 4" square. It could of been finish either way, landscape or portrait, but I decided or rather it just got stitched in an upright pillow.

Garden Pleasures - Little House Needleworks.
40ct Cream Newcastle Linen.

A mixture of DMC, Crescent Colours and GAST.

Stitched 1 over 2.

Finished as a pillow.

Pay It Forward Recipients

The following ladies will receive something from me in the next 365 days (only it won't be before Christmas!).

• Carol - Stitching Dreams.


• Jan - Stitching Cats.


• Lisa - Lisa V's Lounge.

Congratulations! Remember that as one of the winners then you must offer the same on your blog to keep the kindness going. :)

Please could you let me have your postal addresses over the next couple of weeks so that I have them to hand.

Spreading The Love At Christmas-time

Another bounty of ornaments have arrived at their destinations. I'm just so excited knowing they are all arriving. :)

M.Grazia has let me know that her ornament has landed. Not everything is square or oblong! I can do round. :)

The Santa In The Moon - Twisted Thread.
32ct antique white jobelan using DMC 304.
From JCS Ornament Issue 2007.

Lynda told me that she happens to collect snowmen so luck was certainly on her side when I chose this one for her.

Winter - Glory Bee.
32ct Ice Blue Belfast Linen.
DMC.
Freebie from Glory Bee.

Another one that no-one has seen as yet. Judy has received this one from this years ornament issue. This is more of a pinkeep type finish made into an ornament. I added a heart pin to the top as I'd run out of the little charms along with a stitched heart on the back - although I have a bag full of charms now, enough to last me quite a while, well at least get me through next year I hope.

Winter Sampler - Little House Needleworks.
32ct Lambswool Jobelan.
DMC alternatives.
From JCS Ornament Issue 2009.

I Don't Do Difficult!

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments, I appreciate them very much. I notice that a few of you were wondering about the beaded edges. Nothing complicated. Sew a backstitch border around your piece on the front and a back piece. Same size! Trim the edges and turn under.Oversew the edges together. If I'm stitching a beaded edge I usually space them every other stitch. So oversew stitch, oversew stitch with bead, oversew stitch, oversew stitch with bead and so on. As the title says 'I don't do difficult!'

Oh and the charms. I purchased mine at the craft shows at the NEC, Birmingham, although I have bought them before from Sewandso and I have seen them on Ebay (might be under the card-making section).

YLPS Round #4

I'm pleased to say the last exchange for the year has arrived at Edgar's door for the Year Long Prairie Schooler Exchange. I did have a slight panic when I saw this design on his blog and then read he had stitched it for someone. Phew! I chose to finish this as a mattress pincushion. Having finished one for myself last year, I think this is the first one I have sent to someone. I know Edgar likes his pinkeeps but hoped he wouldn't mind receiving something different, he didn't sound disappointed. :) Have a great Christmas Edgar!

December - Prairie Schooler.
Book No.91 Summer & Winter.
32ct Platinum Belfast Linen using DMC.
Finished as a mattress pincushion.

Ornaments Just Keep On Arriving

It's a bumper packed post today. The first ornament to show was one I sent to Margaret. Now if you don't know Margaret blog, please go over, she does some wonderful work. From reading her blog, I thought this ornament was so Margaret.

Christmas Stamp - Jeanette Douglas Designs.

28ct cream cashel linen using DMC.

From JCS Ornament Issue 2009.

Valerie is next in line. This is a sweet design from Scandinavian Stitches with the added extra of a little bow at the top. :)

Valerie just on a side note. I'm having trouble with your blog,and one or two others, as my computer keeps crashing for some reason when I try to view. It will be my computer, getting a bit long in the tooth, it's starting to do things that I don't want it to do all by itself, highly frustrating. Please know that I do read your posts through google reader just not comment. I don't want you to think I'm not reading and commenting. :) I can see a new computer next year!

Christmas tree - Scandinavian Stitches.
28ct antique ivory cashel linen.
DMC alternatives except used DMC 304 instead of DMC 321.
From JCS Ornament Issue 2007.

Last but not least Edit emailed me to say she has received hers safely. For this I added the two buttons as it looked a bit bare in the top corners.

Christmas Wish - Cross Eyed Cricket.
32ct Natural DMC Linen.
DMC.
Freebie from Cross Eyed Cricket.

I must apologise to Edit as I have not gotten around to mentioning that I received a blog award from her a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Edit

Christmas Gifts Between Friends Exchange

Another one I really wasn't expecting to hear from so soon. Cathy has let me know that the Christmas Gifts Between Friends Exchange has arrived. Now silly me has not photographed this one very good as you can't see the tails of the ribbon at all well, but FYI they are sticking out in the bottom right of shot below. I was quite adventureous with the finishing on this one, with the ruched edging! However Cathy nearly never received this one. I had stitched another one for her but it just didn't 'feel' right to send, so went back through the ornament issues and found this design. I just knew straight away it was the one. Oh and silly, silly me forgot to take a photo of the extras. I'm just not used to sending extras now with exchanges so it completely went out of my head. I'm sure Cathy will do the honours. :)

Christmas Blessings - Miladys Needle.

40ct Cream Newcastle Linen.

DMC.

From JCS Ornament Issue 2007.

Finished into an ornament.

Christmas Goodness

It was such a surprise to receive an email from Myra telling me she had received her RAK. Less than a week to go across the pond! I chose to send Myra one of the ornaments that I don't think were on my ornaments preview photo. The design was stitched with the DMC alternatives and I had to substitute the WDW Bethlehem completely with one of the colours I was already using.

Be Merry - Val's Stuff.

32ct Ice Blue Belfast Linen.

DMC Alternatives.

Christmas Ornaments Issue 2009.

Another One Bites The Dust

Lindsay has emailed me to let me know that her ornament has arrived.

Noel - Gazzette94.
32ct Natural DMC Linen using Crescent Colours 'Ruby Slippers'.
Freebie from Gazzette94.

Finished as an ornament.

One Down, Ten To Go

The first of the Christmas RAK ornaments have started to arrive. I chose to send this one to Karan.

A Christmas Song - Full Circle Designs.

32ct Clay Murano Evenweave.

Mixture of DMC, GAST, WDW and Petite Treasure Braid.

From JCS Ornament Issue 2008.

Finished as an ornament.

Pay It Forward

Having seen Anne's PIF offer I decided it was time for another go.

So, if you would like to receive a stitched gift within the next 12 months then please leave a comment on this post only. The closing date for entries is 20th November – if there are only three people wishing to sign up, then all three will be the confirmed winners – if more than three people want to sign up, then I will draw three names out.

If you are chosen as one of the winners then you must offer the same on your blog to keep the kindness going!

Some Stitching To Share

First off thank you to the winners for getting back to me with their postal addresses. I am still waiting on 2 though. I have a couple of days off from work so I am planning on packaging the gifts and sending them on their way. I will email you all to confirm when I do actually send.

So, on to some stitching. Having not shown you the last lot of ornaments it seems like ages ago that I had something to share. I have continued with the 40ct, I may as well use it up now as it is in my stitching bag. I would like to get through some more of my chart stash before the year ends, so I pulled out a Little House Needlework design. I do still like these charts even though I love the delicacy and speciality stitches of The Drawn Thread and Just Nan pieces. I think it must be the alphabets and sampler-type design I am drawn to. As there seemed a lot of blue in the design, I decided I would go with gold ribbon and pins to accessorise.

Necessities Sampler ~ Little House Needleworks .
40ct cream Newcastle Linen, stitched 1 over 2, using recommended DMC thread.
Finished as a pinkeep.

Prize Winners!

Thank you all for taking the time to enter the giveaway. I wish I could of done something for each and everyone of you but over a 100 is just pushing it a bit! There are a total of 11 ornaments now. You'll have to wait to see them when they are received, sorry I haven't taken a group shot. :) I have listed the names as per the I.D. comments. So without further ado the recipients are:

• Annette


• lynda


• crazee4books


• Edit


• M.Grazia


• Karan


• Kathy


• Lindsay


• valerie


• Myra


• Solstitches

Ladies, if you could all send me your full postal addresses, I will endeavour to get them packaged and send them on their way. Email is in my profile.

Christmas RAK Giveaway

For the past couple of years I have sent ornaments to some special people at Christmas-time. This year I would like to do things differently by having a Christmas RAK giveaway. There are 7 ornaments (unless I can squeeze some more in over the next week) in the lucky basket. Please leave a message on this post only stating that would would like to be included in the draw, assuming I have more than 7 comments. The only drawback is......that you won't know which one you are going to receive. The element of surprise is still there! The closing date will be October 31st. I will post a message on November 2nd with the list of recipients. If you are a chosen recipient, please let me have your postal address as soon as possible. I would like to get these in the post during the 1st/2nd weeks of November. At this moment in time there are postal strikes here in the UK and more are planned, so I would like you to receive your ornaments in time to hang on your tree.

Another First

Woah! I'm full of surprises lately! I've had my first taste of stitching on 40ct linen. It certainly won't be my last. I LOVE it!

I thought it was about time I stitched Sew Red, the first in a series of designs by CarolR. After seeing so many wonderful finishes of this design I decided I wanted to stick with the original colour scheme. I chose Gloriana Cranberry - it's nearly ran out now! - and a piece of cream 40ct Newcastle linen. I am so pleased with the results. My aim was to finish it as apinkeep and add it to my 'red' basket collection.

Sew Red (freebie) - CarolR.
40ct Cream Newcastle Linen using Gloriana Cranberry.
Finished as a pinkeep.

The Acorn Sampler

I have a finish!! All done and dusted. :) I have been challenged by this piece and I feel I have achieved something with the little bit of hardanger. I did add some hemstitching to the top border too. It gave instructions for the top to be turned over twice and then oversewn but I decided I would prefer it if the top was the same as the sides. It's ready for the bellpull ends now.

Just for the record here are the list of stitches used:

Band 1 = Double Back Stitch
Band 2 = Acorn Motif 1
Band 3 = Alternating Elongated Upright Cross
Band 4 = Alphabet in Double Running Stitch
Band 5 = Alternating Ray Stitch
Band 6 = Acorn Motif 2
Band 7 = Overlaid Oblong Cross
Band 8 = Double Running Stitch
Band 9 = Woven Stitch
Band 10 = Acorn Motif 3
Band 11 = Fancy Herringbone
Band 12, Step 1 = Double Four Sided Stitch
Band 12, Step 2 = Leaves and Acorns
Band 12, Step 3 = Interior Border
Band 12, Step 4 = Cut Threads
Band 12, Step 5 = Remove Threads
Band 12, Step 6 = Wrap Threads
Band 12, Step 7 = Weave Threads
Band 13 = Fancy Herringbone
Band 14 = Acorn Motif 4
Band 15 = Triple Rice Stitch
Band 16 = Alphabet in Double Running Stitch
Band 17 = Double Back Stitch
Band 18 = Acorn Motif 5
Band 19 = Double Back Stitch
Band 20 = Alphabet in Double Running Stitch
Band 21 = Cross Stitch, Double Faggoting Stitch, Backstitch

The Acorn Sampler (Little Learning Band)
The Drawn Thread.
32ct cream belfast linen.
NPI Silks and beads used as kitted.
Started 19/09/09.
Finished 28/09/09
Finished as a bellpull.

Phew!

The tense and stressful period is over, I am past the hardanger section! It was yesterday by the time I was ready to stitch that area and I was surprised it took me long to reach that point. I told you I was a slow stitcher!


You are able to get an idea of the scale of the piece with my 3 1/2 " scissors in the photo too.

Weekend Stitching

I had smokin' needles this past weekend. I have reached the area where the hardanger is going to be. I thought I had better put it away before my eyes were too tired and I went and did something wrong.

My copy of the JCS Christmas Ornaments issue has arrived today. On first glance, there are one or two that have taken my eye, but I may not get around to stitching them this year.

• Cherished Stitches - Christmas Joy Needlebook.
• Milady's Needle - A Spot of Christmas.
• Jeannette Douglas Designs - Christmas '09 Stamp Ornament.

Which ones are on your list?

Bands 1 - 3

I've made a start on The Acorn Sampler (Little Learning Band). Bands 1 to 3 are complete. It may only be 2" wide but this is 2 evenings work! Lots of Queen's stitches in those acorns. Another fact about this sampler is that there are only 4 colours; cream, gold, brown and green. I'm not sure about Band 1, it says to run your waste thread underneath the stitched you have created. It looks untidy to me so I think the ends will have to be finished off on the backside of the piece. Me and untidy do not go together.

What Is A Nosegay?

After finishing Porcelain Nosegay by Just Nan I was a little curious as to what the title of the piece meant. So I hopped on over to Wikipedia to find out. I thought it may of been an American term but it appears not. He's what Wikipedia said:

A nosegay, posey (or posie, posy), flower bouquet or tussie-mussie is a small bunch of flowers, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice to mask the unpleasant smells of the time - literally, to keep the nose gay (to keep the nose happy). In their current form, they rose to popularity during the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 onwards, at which time the tussie-mussie became a popular fashion accessory. Typically, tussie-mussies include floral symbolism from the Language of Flowers, and therefore may be used to send a message to the recipient.

Porcelain Nosegay ~ Just Nan.
32ct Lilac Belfast Linen using recommended DMC thread.
Substituted own button for porcelain nosegay button.
Substituted Mill Hill #03044 Crystal lilac beads for lavender beads as charted.

You may have noticed the mat that the pillow is sitting upon. Mum brought it from her parchment class on Monday. Knowing that Mum used to crochet and her bid to 'save the crocheted mat' the tutor bought it from a car boot sale for her. What is a disgrace is that it was only 30 pence. It is a beautiful piece of work. So I was a mat short for my bedroom, what could be better. :)



Final bit of news. In preparation of my next start The Acorn Sampler (Little Learning Band) by The Drawn Thread I thought I had better have a go at a bit of hardanger. Although I have been saying for years I would like a go I have never gotten around to actually trying. The hardanger on this piece is only half an inch square so it's not at all a complex area but still instructions had to be read a few times.

TGIF

At last I have some of my own stitching to blog about. I really haven't felt in the mood just lately for stitching at all. The remnants of 2 months working overtime I think. Everyone has had their holidays now, although I have 3 days leave next week and not before time!

Weekends are more productive for me, even if I'm too tired to stitch during the week. Woodland Sampling....Autumnal or Winter? Autumnal colours, winter snowflakes? I know....a house in the woods in the winter-time!! Yes!! I've finished it as a flat-fold with ties at the side instead of anything at the bottom, just for a change.

Woodland Sampling ~ Little House Needleworks.
32ct Flax Belfast Linen.
Recommended DMC threads.
Finished as a Flat-fold.

PIF from Sally

I had been lucky enough to be one of Sally's PIF recipients. Today I have received the most gorgeous needleroll. Sally hoped I didn't have this Shepherds Bush Forget-me-Not needleroll and I don't. I love everything about it, the sentiment, the colours, the stitches.....beautiful. It will add some colour to my SB rolls basket. :) Thank you Sally, you chose well my friend. :)

YLPS Round 3 Arrives

I had a parcel waiting for me when I arrived home this evening, my YLPS Exchange. Lillie was my partner, a new friend to add to my ever-growing bloglist. :) I received a gorgeous small pillow, something which I had wanted for...ever. The design is from the chart Spring Miniatures, a chart that I don't own so it is great that it has been stitched for me. I have tried to show you the pins too, handmade by Lillie herself. I adore them, they are so perfect. Thank you for everything Lillie.