Last Week's Stitchmaynia

For my second week of Stitchmaynia, I worked on several new projects as well as adding a few stitches to my Wips.  Over a couple of nights I also made some progress on the Cosy Stripe crochet blanket, Hannah's socks and the baby blanket I started a few months ago.

So first up, newly started Merry & Bright by Country Cottage Needleworks :

A few more stitches on Birds and the Bees:

Working on the border of Merrily Merrily We Welcome Spring:

New start for #merrymondayxs, Be Merry snippet by Lizzie Kate

O Tannebaum by Pineberry Lane for #santasundayxs

I had a quiet Sunday afternoon at home in front of the fire catching up on some of my fav TV shows from during the week so I decided to start The Stitching Bee by Little House Needleworks.

This is the latest club kit from the Silver Needle's Friends Stitching circle. Isn't the needle minder gorgeous?

See you soon xx

Prairie Point Star Ornaments

Something a bit different to share today - over the recent weeks I have been making these Prairie Star ornaments at my weekly sewing session with my craft buddies.  

They are made from 5" squares of fabric, which you fold into points and then attach to a small stuffed round circle.

I followed a tutorial I came across on Pinterest which can be found here.

See you soon xx

Books - April 2019

Where did last month go? With almost two weeks off work on sick leave followed by Easter then ANZAC Day it certainly felt like the weeks whizzed on by.

I've been reading a lot lately and here's a round up of April's choices.

Blood and Bone is the 2nd in the Chronicles of One series by Nora Roberts and continues the classic tale of good versus evil.

Dead if you Don't is the 14th book in the Dectective Roy Grace series, and once more, this story is  filled with lots of thrilling action and a few twists. I'll be eagerly waiting for the 15th book which I think is being released this August.

Last month it was also the annual Book charity sale and we always go along to support this.  Both Glenn and I added quite a few books to our winter reading piles.

The last book I finished in April was Lethal White by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling, the 4th book in the Cormoran Strike Detective series. I actually bought this on holiday last September so I'm pleased to have finally read all the 650 + pages!  This book pretty much picks up straight after the end of the 3rd book, quite a complicated plot with lots of characters but an enjoyable read.

What have you been reading lately?

See you soon xx

Stitchmaynia 2019 Week One

Last week I got my Stitchmaynia plans underway. This is my first year participating and I've chosen to work on a mixture of new starts and some of my neglected, but barely started Wips. 

I've picked out quite a few Christmas charts to start, Christmas ornaments too, as now is the perfect opportunity to get a jump start on these. There's also several others that I've been wanting to stitch so they've joined the list too. Next week I'm heading to Sydney, Australia, for a few days so I'm planning to only take one project with me, more about that another time!

So first up, for #santasundayxs, Country Cottage Needlework's Santa's List, a new start:

#merrymondayxs was Little House Needlework's Joy and Peace ornament, also a new start:

A few more stitches on Plum Pudding (wip):

Heart in Hand's Birds and the Bees, a new start:

Some stitching done on Merrily Merrily (wip):

Merry One - Plum Street Samplers (new start)

It was a lot of fun getting organised for Stitch Maynia, sorting out fabrics, threads and project bags!
I only needed to buy one DMC thread, the hand dyed threads and other DMCs needed were in my stash.

It's been great watching on Instagram and You Tube the many projects that Stitchers from around the world have already started this month, very enabling lol.

See you soon xx

Blackbird Designs Easter Parade

This design is by Blackbird Designs, Easter Parade, and it had been on my Easter stitching list for several years, so I decided this year to actually get it done.

I did start this back in late March but with Hannah getting sick, then myself, plans to have done by this Easter went out the window! 

I really enjoyed stitching this bunny - the thread colours and the little eyelets make it a lovely stitch.
I used all the recommended threads and cream 32 count Belfast linen.

See you soon xx

I belong to the Cross Stitch Nation

Started way back in May 2018, over the recent weekend I finished the last bit of stitching on the Cross Stitch Nation. I actually started this when Hannah and I stayed up very late watching Harry and Megan's Royal wedding.

This chart is by the Heartstring Samplery and I used my favourite fabric, 32 count vintage mocha Belfast linen and most of the recommended threads. I did use more than one skein of the Week's Dye Works Red Rocks thread.

I'm thinking I might turn this into, wait for it...... another project bag! 

See you soon xx

Birthday Wishes

Today is Hannah's 11th birthday - how time flies! 

We had an early birthday dinner out on the weekend and after school today, we are meeting friends for afternoon tea at one of our favourite local cafes.

Tonight Hannah has picked to have her favourite dinner, which will be followed by birthday cake, of course lol.

Happy birthday to our sweet Hannah May - a clever, funny, kind girl who loves her family and friends, loves to read, dance and swim, loves make up, face masks and doing her hair in all sorts of crazy ways xx

See you soon x

Easter Stitching Finishes

Every year I like to stitch a few Easter designs to add to my collection and I also stitch something for my friend Kath as well.

This year I gave Kath this sweet little Prairie Schooler bunny pillow. The chart for this bunny is from the April chart.

The trim is by Lady Dot Creates and is Ballerina, so pretty.

I also sent Kath a few extras:

Another cute little design I finished is this one:

Egg Hunt by Lizzie Kate, I used my own choice of colours for this design

I have one more Easter wip to finish and then only a few hours of stitching left on the Cross Stitch Nation, both of which I'm planning to get done this weekend as then I'd really like to get my Stitch Maynia 2019 underway!  This will be my first year participating and I have a mixture of new starts and some wips planned.  Watch this space!

See you soon xxx

Some Finishing Done

Over the recent weekend I spent a bit of time catching up on some finishing and sewing of some of my recent projects.

Here a Peep There a Peep, by Brenda Gervais was stitched with a selection of DMCs and the recommended threads on 32 count belfast linen.

Lady Dot Creates trim in the Rainy colourway

Some dotty fabric for the back

Next up Candy Cane Wishes, also by Brenda Gervais.

I used 32 count Waterlily Jobelan fabric with the recommended threads:

Finished into a flat hanging ornament.

See you soon xx

Cha Cha Chevron Socks & more Socks

I recently finished my Cha Cha Chevron socks. These were started on our Fiji holiday last September and I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to knit them as the pattern and lovely yarn were a pleasure to use.

All the details:

Pattern: Cha Cha Chevron by Sandra of Cherry Heart Designs
Yarn: Fig Bird 4ply by Circus Tonic Handmade
Needle Size: 2.25mm
Size: Medium

Then it was straight onto the next sock project, this time for Hannah :

See you soon x