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.

Been busy...

I have been busy stitching, but no pictures yet, as they are gifts.  As soon as they are  received, in a couple of weeks, I will post pictures.  Life has been really hectic, with driving kids around, especially DS #3 to and from his basketball training and games, it is a 150 mile round trip each time.  Have just pulled the fabric and threads for a new start.  The photo is all I can give away at the moment, as again this piece is a gift. The fabric is a hand dyed evenweave, that is pale blue (the photo doesn't show the colour great).  The threads are Weeks, but not exactly what the design calls for and the ribbon is for the trim around the outside of the finished piece.

 I plan on spending some time next week finishing some of my recent finishes, so watch this space.

Stitching Update...



Count Your Blessings Etui

 I finished stitching The Victoria Sampler, Count Your Blessings Etui a last week, but just now got round to taking a photograph.  I still have the beads to put on and then the finishing.

I have also finished stitching the Scissor Pocket from the this set and am almost finished the Pin Keep, that just leaves the Scissor Fob.  There is a hardanger heart to put on the front that still needs stitched.  I think that I've left it till the end to pluck of the courage to attempt it.  I've only done hardanger a couple of times and find the chart/instructions a bit daunting.  Probably will get to it eventually. 

Once all the stitching is finished it will be finishing.  Will have to set a whole weekend aside to finish all the pieces.  I'm looking forward to the completely finished piece.

Count Your Blessings Scissor Pocket and Pin Keep

I will have to practice taking photographs, these ones aren't very clear, but hopefully you will have some idea of what they look like.  All the pieces have lots of different stitches and it has been a fun stitch.



My Boys...

The boys Christmas dance that was postponed is happening tonight.  I managed to get a photograph of my two eldest sons on their way to the dance.  Unfortunately, my youngest son is missing his first High School dance as he has gone skiing instead.  He won a weekend ski trip and decided he would rather go skiing than dancing.  The tartan on the boys' kilts is Modern Brown, it is a family name and entitles the boys to wear it. 

If you have a look at an earlier post you will see my youngest son in his kilt too.  Someday I will manage to get them all together and smiling.  I think they are at that age where Mum with a camera is just a pain



First week over...

Well, that's was a tough week at work.  After being on holiday from work for almost 3 weeks, what with the usual Christmas holidays and weather, it was hard getting up early and getting back into the routine.  DS#1 was sick this week with flu like symptoms, but luckily it doesn't appear to have been flu.  Was so tired in the evening after work that I got no stitching done, I am hoping to get some done tonight.  My target is to get my Victoria Sampler Etui finished before the end of January, here's hoping that I make it as I really want to start something new that doesn't take a lot of thought or time.  I really enjoyed stitching ornaments over the Christmas break, so may do some more when the Etui is finished.  Will post more later, happy stitching to all my friends.

Fiona

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

Better late than never.  We had visitors staying for over the holidays and they left yesterday.  It was great to see them and spend time together.  On New Year's Eve we went to the Ceilidh in the Village Hall, it was great fun and we had a lot of fun dancing and enjoying ourselves in the company of our neighbours.  Here is a photo of my youngest son in his kilt, he was the only one of the 3 boys that I managed to persuade to wear their kilt.

With having company over the last few days I didn't get any stitching done, but I did manage to finish two ornaments that I had stitched last week.  The first designed by JBW Designs and is called French Country Star, I stitched it over two and missed out the word 'Star' at the bottom.

The second ornament is from La-D-Da called 'Tis Red.  Both the ornaments are stitched on a Lakeside Linen and stitched using Victorian Motto Sampler Threads.  They were also from the 2010 JCS ornament issue.  I have spent a lot of my vacation stitching read and relaxing, it will be quite a thought going back to work on the 10th.

Looking Forward...

Well Christmas as very quiet here as we had lots of snow and the roads weren't driveable.  Everyone loved their presents.  We are now looking forward to 2011.  I have been stitching ornaments for the ornament exchange next October at the Pals Fall Fling.  I don't usually stitch any, but I have a head start this year and have one completed and two that are almost done too.

This is Lizzie Kate's design from JCS Ornament issue 2002.  I didn't have the silver heart charm, so I used a little bell button that I found in my stash, I think it turned out pretty cute.

Will add photos of the other two when they are finished.  I've had really good fun stitching these ornaments this year.  I used Victorian Motto sampler threads and fabric from Lakeside Linen, I won a prize at the Cross Stitch Pals Fall Fling, that consisted of ornament cuts of linen and a huge selection of threads in greens, reds and golds from the Victorian Motto.

Hope everyone has a good 2011.