GIVEAWAY WINNER...

Thank everyone for your lovely comments. I was a bit late on doing the draw for the giveaway, but we now have a winner....


DONNA, can you please e-mail me your address and I will get a package to you next week.

Fiona

Exchanges, Gift and Giveaway...

I have been trying to keep up to date with all the blogs and my own, but sometimes life just gets in the way.  Firstly, I was part of Stitched with Love Exchanges Winter Exchange.  Here is a photograph of the package I sent to my partner Heather.

Can you guess what Heather's favourite colour is?

I received a lovely package from Jessica in Indiana.  It was jammed packed full of goodies and a beautiful flat fold of a lovely winter scene.

Not only was there lots of goodies from Jessica, but some lovely Indiana stitchers that I had met in Myrtle Beach in October sent gifts to me.  So I was doubly gifted one package two gifts.  I was really touched by their kindness and generosity, thank you Greta, Nancy and Dianna.

I have been stitching, but again can't show it all as some of my finishes have been for exchanges.  But I can give a quick up date on my Scarlet Letter sampler, Janet Burnet, I have completed the first page I am enjoying stitching her but she is away for a while to allow me to work on some exchange stitching.

To finish this post I am going to have a GIVEAWAY.  Like Nicola this is my Scarlet Letter Year and to celebrate my birthday I thought I would host a giveaway here.  Included will be an item stitched by me, threads, linen, needles, trims and some other goodies.  To enter all you have to do is leave a post here, if you  post it on your blog and pass it along to your friends I will give you 5 extra chances of winning.  GOOD LUCK everyone.  I will do the drawing on the 18th April.

Fiona

A busy week...

Welcome to everyone old and new.  I love reading all your lovely comments and hope that you enjoy reading what I have been up to.

I have been at home now for the last 3 weekends, this is a rare as I am usually driving my youngest DS around for basketball.  It has been great catching up with my stitching and finishing.  Last week in particular I managed to get some finishing done and got started on my SL sampler. 

Firstly, a huge thank you to June.  She sent me a lovely Parisienne themed RAK I love it and having it sitting in readiness with my scissors next to my stitching chair. 

 

I also managed to finish an ornament for an exchange, but can't show it yet, as it is a secret exchange.  My other finish was a pin pillow that I had finished the stitching on way back in November.  It is a design that Tanya from Scarlet House designed specially for the Cross Stitch Pals Retreat in Myrtle Beach in October.  It is stitched on 25 ct over 1 and it is a great reminder of a fantastic time spent with friends.  It is sitting on the fabric I backed it with and has the trim I used sitting in front.  After I stitched it together and went to turn it to the right side I realised I stitched the wrong side to my stitching.  Rather than unpick it, as it was just for me,  I left it, so my spots are not as vibrant as they should be, but I think it still looks ok, who looks at the back anyway!!

 

Stitched on 25ct over 1 using DMC threads

 



SL Janet Burnet using AVAS silks on 40ct Sandstone Linen

I had a new start this week too.  I decided to start my Scarlet Letter sampler, Janet Burnet, this month.  Initially, I was going to use the DMC threads, as I am trying to stitch from my stash this year, but my heart wanted to stitch her using the AVAS silks.  Needless to say my heart won.  I managed to buy some of the silks and only have 6 colours to buy.  So there are some gaps in the stitching, but I wanted to get her started and I am loving stitching her, apart from I now know I don't like Queen Stitch.

 









Lastly, and thank you if you are still with me.  I have a small update on my HAED WIP.  I haven't a lot of progress on it but there is some more sky and clouds added.


Heaven and Earth Designs, Footprints on 25ct over 1 using DMC



Have a great week. 

 

 

A Finish, A Start and A Lady in Waiting…

Happy New Year to all my followers old and new, I hope that 2013 is a good year for everyone and all your wishes come true. First a finish. I bought Sue Hillis's Christmas Biscornu, Limited Edition Kit, when I visited Myrtle Beach in October. It was a pleasure to stitch and I think it turned out lovely. I have still to attach the lace to the wooden bobbin to display it the same as the photograph on the chart, but not sure if I ever will.

  
While in Myrtle Beach I had the chance to see some finished HAED. Seeing these designs and Sally's wonderful WIPs. I took the plunge and decided to try one. I searched the online catalogue and eventually settled on a Quick Stitch called Footprints. I spent a day gathering together all the threads, a day gridding the fabric and then got started. I have probably completed about 1/3 of the first page. I am really enjoying it and looking forward to working on it over the coming year.

Waiting in the wings is Scarlett Letter's Janet Burnet sampler. SL's samplers are all stunning and I took a leaf out of Nicola's book and decided to join in her celebration year, as it is a significant year for me too. I would love to stitch this using the silks, but unfortunately, at this time of year, ££ are in short supply. So I will be stitching it using the DMC threads and probably on 40ct fabric as I already have some. I plan on starting it at the start of February. I am planning alternating month about with my large projects. I am in no hurry to get them done, this year is all about the stitching experience.


I am also taking part in the Stitched with Love Exchange, SAL Christmas Ornaments and Angela's RAK blog. I will add links to these, once I figure out how. Thanks for reading.

Fiona

HAPPY NEW YEAR....

To all my followers, old and new.  I hope all your dreams and wishes come true in 2013.

I was going to post about my stitching, with photographs, but blogger isn't working for me tonight.

Fiona

Long Time No Post...

Hello to all my followers, sorry for the huge gap between posts, life just got in the way, thanks for hanging in there with me.

I have been stitching, mainly for exchanges at the Stitched with Love Exchange Group and then more exchanges at the Cross Stitch Pals Retreat in Myrtle Beach in October.  I had a great time there and met some fantastic new friends and reconnected with some old friends.

Last night I started on one of the designs I bought while at the Retreat.  Sue Hillis was there and I bought her Limited Edition Christmas Biscornu Kit.  It is such a pretty design with lots of lovely Christmas reds and greens.  Here is last nights achievement.

Sue Hillis - Limited Edition Christmas Biscornu

I also stitched the outline for the back of the Biscornu.  After being at the Retreat I was inspired by Katie and Shelleen to try a Heaven and Earth Design.  Well I am just waiting on the fabric to arrive and that will be my next big project to get started.  I am really looking forward to getting started on it, but am realistic, in that, it may take me a loooong time to complete it.  But after seeing completed ones I know it will be worth it.

 

Now that I am back I plan on doing a GIVEAWAY in lieu of my blogiversary and also as a thank you to you all for sticking around.

Fiona

Some finishes...

Hi everyone,

It has been a busy week this week, I have been on holiday from work and trying to catch up with lots of housework, studying, stitching and finishing.

I started stitching some Alphabet ornaments for Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  She is a very talented lady who not only designs, dyes her own trims and threads, she also creates handcarved frames for her motto samplers.  You can find Nancy's beautiful goodies on ebay and also check out her blog as she has always got fantastic giveaways.  Here is the first letter I stitched, which was 'F' of course.  I made a needlebook, pin pillow and fob.  Everything was stitched using Nancy's flosses, which are with the stitched pieces in the first photograph and finished using her trims, except for the lace on the pin pillow.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Letter 'F' Ornament Collection

Letter 'F' fob/ornament

Needlebook

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Forget Me Not pin pillow

All three designs were a pleasure to stitch and finish.  I am working on the letter 'E' at the moment and am just now trying to figure out how to finish them.

Yesterday I was sitting at my sewing machine and this is what I managed to produce.  I used an oddment of Harris Tweed in a Black Watch design and some Moda sampler fabric from the Maderia collection from a few years back for the lining.  It has 3 internal pockets and I think it turned out pretty well, even if I do say so myself.  I was thinking of trying to sell it on Esty, what do you all think?  I asked DH and the boys how much I should charge, well that was successful.  I should have known better than to ask a bunch of men about how much a bag costs.

Harris Tweed shoulder bag

Close up of the Harris Tweed, Black Watch design

The lining, Moda Maderia Sampler Fabric in Green

If you have made it this far in my post, I hope you have enjoyed the photographs of my finishes.  I love reading your comments and would really love reading your feedback on my shoulder bag.

Fiona

I won an award...

Leibster is a German word meaning favorite, dearest or beloved. The Leibster is awarded by bloggers to other new (and not so new) bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers., to help spread the word and help the new talented bloggers gain wider recognition.

The Leibster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy:

1. Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

Thank you Chris (http://www.alwayssmiling24.blogspot.com/) and June (http://www.butterfly-butterflywings.blogsport.com/)  for presenting me with this award, I feel so honoured.



It took a while for me to find 5 other bloggers to pass this award on to, but I did it.  Firstly, I will pass on the 5 random facts about myself.

1.   I work part time and study part time.

2.   I enjoy walking.

3.   I am teaching myself how to quilt.

4.   I adore my job, which involves working with children.

5.   I like handbags and have quite a number of Vera Bradley.

The 5 bloggers I would like to pass this award on to are:

Yvonne (http://www.escapeandcreate.blogspot.com/)
Louise (http://www.raggedystitcher.blogspot.com/)
Julie (http://www.juliesandyesdearsravings.blogspot.com/)
Andrea (http://www.finishfridays.blogspot.com/)
Kath (http://www.kathstitchingheaven.blogspot.com/)


Hugs

Fiona

A sunny morning...

I had a lovely morning at work today.  We spent the morning in the Gardens looking for different characters from stories, like Jack's Beanstalk and the Bear from Going on a Bear Hunt. 

This part of the Gardens is known as Clive's Pond.  The Magnolia tree was in bloom, but all the full blooms were too high up for taking photographs, but I did manage to get a reasonable photo of one of the buds.

I did take some photographs of the children, but for obvious reasons I can't show them here, so hope you have enjoyed seeing a little snippit of the area I live in.  This is a view from the cove at the Gardens looking across the Loch.

I also have been busy stitching, but everything is either for a gift or an exchange, so no photographs yet, but soon.

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments, they are all greatly appreciated and when I figure out how to do it I will reply to everyone who leaves a comment.

Hugs

Fiona

Exchanges and Giveaway...

Over the past year I have taken part in all the exchanges that Elaine at Stitched with Love Exchanges has organised.  I have received lots of wonderful stitched pieces, stitching related goodies and just goodies in general.  Thank you to everyone who has sent me something.  As mentioned in an earlier post I did lose the memory card with some of the exchange packages I had received over the year on it, but here is a picture of the the latest one I received from  Jennifer.

She included in the package a beautiful basket with a lovely brown and cream liner, I adore baskets and was so surprised to receive it, I totally forgot that I had mentioned my love of baskets in my exchange questionnaire, duh!

Here is the package I sent to Marjorie.  I had stitched a Lizzize Kate design and just as I went to finish it thought to check Marjorie's questionnaire to find that LK was not one of her favourite designers.  Luckily I had a sampler design stitched just waiting to finish, it was Spring Tuck Pillow by Primitive Bettys, and it was surely fate that meant that I had this already done. 

I also had a birthday giveaway a while back and Toni was the lucky winner, well it took me a while to stitch something and put the package together, but here is a photograph of what I sent her.

I stitched BBD's Remember Me pincushion of merit and made some buttefly pins.  I also made a pincushion and ORT container.  I didn't have buttons to suit the Remember Me but found a little heart charm that said 'Made with Love' on it and I thought it looked really pretty stitched on.  Here is a photograph of the finished piece on the fabric I used to back it with.

I have been busy in the last few weeks with DS#3 basketball.  We spent 5 days in Ireland, I was a parent chaperone.  There was 4 adults and 15 teenage boys, it was great fun, they played 6 games in total against the best teams at U14 in both North and South Ireland.  It was challenging for the boys, but the did really well, and we all returned home exhausted, but it was a fantastic experience for the boys.

At the moment I am stitching a birthday gift for a very dear friend, so I can't let you see it until it is finished and she has received it, so that will be next month.  I am surely going to try and post more regularly, I thank everyone who posts a comment and takes the time to read my mammoth posts.  Hope you all have had a great weekend.

Hugs and Happy Stitching.

Fiona

I have a tree...

I have been stitching on and off, between exchange pieces, on With thy Needle and Thread Birds of a Feather sampler and now have a tree.

The first part of this sampler, the border seemed to take me a real long time, but I stitched the tree up in just a few nights and it was a real pleasure to stitch and gave me my stitching mojo back.  I plan on stitching the 2 bluebirds next, but have to put it away for a bit to stitch on another exchange piece.  Unfortunately, because it is an exchange piece I can't show anyone until the exchange is finished and the gallery is posted.  Hopefully, I won't lose the memory card with the photographs on it again!

I spent today shopping for groceries, I could have put the money spent to better use on prettier things, but sadly my family have to eat.  I did have some girlie fun though.  My DD works for a cosmetic company in one of the department stores and she prettied me up.  I also got some samples from some of the other cosmetic houses.  I received a beautiful Thomas Sabo bracelet and charm from DD and her boyfriend at Christmas and hadn't worn it as I was unsure about the size and whether I would prefer different beads or not.  Well after playing with different combinations in the jewellery store, I stuck with what they had picked.  I love it and the charm has all the different words for Mum on it.  What do you guys think?  Excuse the photographs, but as I've said before photography is not my strong point, maybe I will look for a course on it to try and improve my skills.

I'm also making plans to use the lovely round box that the bracelet came in for something, maybe a pincushion or something.  Thanks everyone for stopping by and I really appreciate all your comments.

Fiona

BOYS IN KILTS...

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  It was very quiet here with just my DH, the 3 boys and myself.  Unfortunately, DD couldn't make it home due to work commitments, but we did get to chat to her on her new ipad.

As mentioned in the title, here is a photograph of my 3 boys in their kilts ready to go to the school dance.  They are all wearing the same tartan, the Brown tartan.  They have all worn the kilt the youngest is now wearing and they will be carefully stored to pass on to any grandsons that may come along in the distant future.

As you can see they really wanted to have their photograph taken...LOL.  I also just noticed that you can't really see their kilts, but they are all wearing them honest.

Here are the youngest and my middle son you can see their kilts a bit better. 

Sorry about the fact that my youngest DS looks like he has an angel coming out of his head.  Can you tell photography is not one of my strengths.

The next photograph is of my eldest DS getting tucked into his Christmas dinner, the tie was one of his presents and he had to get dressed up for dinner.  Sometimes even though they are getting older they still do the cutest things.

Just in case you think it is really dark outside, it was only 4pm, you can tell we live in the north.

As far stitching goes, I haven't done very much just been really busy with Christmas.  I did have some photographs of stitching to show you, but misplaced the memory card from my camera with all my exchange stitching on it.  If you would like to see what I have been stitching over the last few months check out the Stitched with Love Exchange blog.  The various exchanges have been fantastic and a huge thank you goes to Lainey and Colleen for organising them.

Will be back in the New Year, see you then.

Fiona

AND THE WINNER IS....

I had my DH choose a name from the bucket tonight and the lucky stitcher is Toni.  I have been busy putting together a package and will get it out to you in the next few days.  I'm also hoping to post some more photographs in the next few days.  Thanks to everyone who entered and helped me to celebrate my blog birthday.

Hugs

Fiona

Blogaversary Give Away...

I just went on to check when I started my blog and guess what it is one year old tomorrow.  To celebrate I will be giving away some goodies to one lucky person.  To win all you have to do is be a follower and comment on this post and I will add you to a draw and have one of my boys pick a name from the hat.

Good Luck everyone and now I will have to source lots of goodies for this fantastic giveaway, and don't forget your e-mail address.

Fiona

A Post at Last...

I suddenly realised that I hadn't posted in a long time.  I always say that I'm going to post regularly and then think that there is nothing happening so decide to wait till there is and then I have lots to tell.  Here goes, I think I will spread everything over a few posts.

This first post will be dedicated to an exchange I took part in over the summer.  This was organised by Elaine at Stitched with Love Exchanges and was the 2nd exchange I took part in.  I really love doing these exchanges and have taken part in more since this one.  This is a photograph of my exchange package that I sent.

This was all the goodies that I included in the package.  The stitched piece was a Blackbird Design from their book A Stitcher's Journery.  I used a piece of Lakeside Linen and a custom dyed Victorian Motto Sampler Thread called Oceans Waves that I had received at a Cross Stitch Pals Retreat a year ago, I love Nancy's threads.  I finished the design as a flatfold, which I think turned out stunning, even I do say so myself.  I used Vonna from a Twisted Stitcher's instructions, which were very easy to follow, this was the first time I had made a flatfold, but it surely will not be my last.  The finished piece is sitting on the fabric that I used for the finishing and the final touch was a piece of ric rac braid hand dyed by Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing this the first of my exchange pieces and my stitching.

Hugs

Fiona

Summer is almost over...

Well it has been a pretty busy 6 weeks off from work.  Firstly, on the stitching front.  I had taken part in an exchabge on the The Stitched with Love Exchange blog and sent to Catherine here is a photo of what I sent her.

I stitched the Summer Sachet from Blackbird Design's book A Stitcher's Journey.  I made it into a little pin pillow.  I also added some little pins that I had made.  This was the first time I had made any decorative pins, and I think they turned out pretty cute.  I received from Pam in the US, she  had stitched a really cute needlebook with her house and my house on it.  There were lots of really cute and fun things included in my package from Pam, thank you. 

We had decided not to go away on holiday as a family this year as my eldest son didn't want to come with us in our caravan.  He was away on a camp for a week, so the rest of us sneaked off for some time away from home.  We visited Rothiemurchus and did some cycling, there are some fantastic off road trails around this area.  This is a picture of Loch an Eilean Castle, which we passed on one of our cycle trips.

When we got home DS #2 and I headed off to Northern Ireland.  We left at 4am on a wet Saturday morning to travel to the ferry terminal.  We eventually arrived at where we were staying by 5pm, we live really far north and it always takes us a long time to get anywhere.  We had a busy week and on one of the days we took an open top bus tour around Belfast, it is really interesting to hear the history behind the troubles in Northern Ireland and also to see the Peace Wall and the murals that are painted on the walls and the gable ends of buildings.

 

After my week in Northern Ireland it was home again for a few days.  Then my youngest DS travelled to Glasgow for a basketball clinic with Gannon Baker.  He had a fantastic time and learned a lot of new skills.  I didn't travel with him, but his coach and the team manager were there and they both said it all the players involved had a fantastic time. Here he is doing one of the skills that he learned and Gannon Baker doing the same.



 While on holiday I also decoupaged and

painted this handy little set of drawers.

I have also spent some time stitching and sewing.  I made a start on getting my Etui finished.  It has been sitting for months waiting on me having the time to put it together, well it is almost there, I just have to put the back piece of fabric on and sew the binding on to that.  Once I get started on the hand sewing of the binding it should go pretty quickly.  Hopefully, I will get it finished by the weekend.  I also made myself a new handbag.  I had picked the fabric, clasp and pattern up in Myrtle Beach last October and only now got around to making it.  I love how it looks and hope to make some more.

I can't share anymore of my stitching and sewing at the moment as they are for exchanges.  As soon as I am able I will post a photograph.  Hope everyone has a good summer and enjoyed reading and seeing some of the things I have done during my time off work.

Playing Catch Up...

I have been really busy with DS#3's basketball, so haven't been around to post much.  I stitched this Egg for Michele, Just Another Stitching Blog and made a little frog ORT bag for her too as part of an exchange that we shared.

The next photograph was what I received in the exchange, Michele had made me some very pretty pins.  Just last week, I thought I would give making pins a try, I made 3 that I think are pretty, but they are for an exchange so I can't let you see them just yet.

I also made a pillow for Faye, Carolina Stitcher's, pink basket.  This was from a freebie chart that I received at last year's Pals Fall Fling in Myrtle Beach in October.  I used Victorian Motto Sampler threads and some

pretty hand dyed trim to finish it off. 

I signed up for a Summer Exchange at Lainey's Stitching Hoose and now have my package ready to mail out, but can't let anyone see it just yet.

I will be finished work for our 6 week summer holiday in 2 weeks time and I can hardly wait, it has been a long term and life should slow down a bit for those 6 weeks.  I plan on reorganising my house and clearing some stuff out too.  Then I am going to get my sewing maching out and make lots of things that I have been planning for a long time.  I owe 3 people a PIF from my previous post and as ther wee only 4 comments to the PIF post I have decided that all 4 will receive something hand made by me.  So watch your mail boxes in around 3 weeks time for a surprise from Scotland. 

As far as stitching goes I am patiently waiting the first 2 parts of Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler, I was a bit slow in signing up for this, and when it arrives, that will be one of my summer projects.  I also have some Christmas ornaments to finish and some exchange pieces all in time for my trip to the 2011 Pals Fall Fling.  I think I have caught up as best I can and will endeavour to keep things more up  to date.

Pay It Forward....

I was lucky enough to be picked for Amy's PAY IT FORWARD.  So here is mine, If you would like to be considered, please post a comment to this thread and I will pick 3 people to PIF.  If you are picked, I will send you something handmade by the summer.  You in turn have to PIF to 3 people.  Hope this makes sense.
I was busy yesterday finishing.  At the moment the only things completely finished are gifts, so no pictures yet.  I finished a couple of Christmas ornaments for exchanging at the Cross Stitch Pals Fall Fling in October, but they still need hangers.  Plan on doing these tonight or tomorrow, so will post pictures once they are finished.  It has been another busy day at basketball, I'm really looking forward to the end of season in May when I get a whole weekend at home to do all the housework, stitching and finishing that I want.