Last Ornie of 2012

Hello friends

This little ornie was my absolute last ornament finish for 2012 - even though we don't have snow at Christmas time, or anytime of the year, lol, I thought this design was too cute not to stitch :)

Season of Love by Little House Needleworks

2012 Ornament series

stitched with recommended threads, 32ct linen

Have a great weekend!

until next time,

Katrina xx

Some Good Cheer

Hi friends

Only a few hours to go now and then my holidays officially start! Yippee!  

This week I decided that perhaps I might stitch something new to hang on our tree.  I recently ordered some Shepherd's Bush kits that I'd liked for ages including this one:

Good Cheer Pincushion by Shepherds Bush

threads and fabric included in kit

Love the little sheepie!

My lovely friend Janet gave these cute ornaments to Hannah earlier in the week, aren't they sweet?

Hannah and I went to Napier at the end of last week for some Christmas shopping - what a beautiful day it was there.

Napier is one of my favourite places in New Zealand to visit and we're so looking forward to spending a few days there after New Year's.

 Hannah is counting down until she finishes daycare for the year and this morning she decided she wanted to go as a Ho Ho Ho Santa girl, lol.

Have a happy day xx

Little Gifties

Hello friends

Oh my goodness, the past week has flown by in one great big whirlwind!  But it's all part of the fun of the Christmas season, which I just love, and this time next week I'll be starting a three and half week holiday break too, yippee! Glenn also starts his break on the 21st and we're both so looking forward to being at home with Hannah, enjoying summer, spending time with family and friends, having barbeques and swimming in our pool, and having a little trip away for a few days after New Year's.

As always, thanks so much taking the time to leave a comment or send me an email. I'm so far behind in replying as I'm still having limited internet time - my computer had to go back to the techie for the second time earlier this week. But it should be home later today and hopefully the problems have been all fixed! 

Today I can reveal a bit of secret stitching I worked on last month, firstly, a gift for my dear friend Kath's birthday last week.

After having stitched Basket of Memories by Blackbird Designs earlier in the year, I knew I was going to stitch it again sometime for Kath.  It took me ages to decide on just the right thread, I must have pulled out a dozen or so "green" threads from my collection - in the end I went with a DMC, 372 I think it was.

Basket of Memories by Blackbird Designs

stitched on 32ct cream belfast, DMC Thread

For many years now, Kath and I have exchanged an ornament at Christmas time and  I always give my one to Kath along with her other birthday pressies.

Peace by Blackbird Designs JCS 2012

stitched on 30 ct Abecedarian linen by R & R Reproductions with mostly recommended threads

For this year's choice I went with Peace by Blackbird Designs from the 2012 Just Cross Stitch ornaments magazine.  I loved stitching this design.

I have several other finishes to share soon - I'm very pleased to say that the last of my 2012 ornaments and gift stitching are all finished.  I've already started thinking about next years!! There's been some great freebies come out in the last month and I've kitted a few up to make a start on in late January. 

A couple of parcels of new stash have arrived from the US this week, a early Christmas treat to myself, lol, so I'm looking forward to working on some new projects over the Christmas holidays. I also signed up for the Country Cottage Needleworks Santa's Village stitchalong,  can't wait to get this underway very soon!

See you soon x

A Selection of 2012 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments

Hello friends

One of my favourite stitching magazines to buy every year is the Just Cross Stitch annual ornaments magazine. I always order a copy from Amy at Down Sunshine Lane to be sent as soon as it's released in the US as it usually doesn't turn up in my local bookshop until early December. I think I've got issues back to 1999 in my collection and every now and then I get them all out and have a good browse through. 

Anyways, when the issue first arrives I slowly read through the magazine and write a list of all the ornaments I wish to stitch, it's usually over half of the magazine!  Then I go through my list picking out designs for Hannah's, Mum's, my niece Zoe's and several others annual ornaments. Then I get busy stitching!

So here's a few of this year's picks:

Christmas Morning by the Stitcherhood

Santa's Hat Sampler by Knotted Tree NeedleArt

Christmas Love by Lizzie Kate

(stitched for my Mum)

Christmas Gift Sock Hop by Fresh Threads Studio

(stitched for Zoe)

I have a couple more waiting to be finished. Hope to share pics of these soon!

Happy stitching xx

A Trio of Ornaments

Hello everyone

well the last week has just flown by in one big blur! Starting last Friday with family arriving to stay for the long weekend to a family dinner last night its been pretty full on.  I share some pics of our wonderful week soon but today's post is about the latest ornaments that I found time to make up recently.

Three more ornaments to add to this year's tally:

Santa and the Elf

design by the Floss Box 

stitched with recommended threads, 32 ct mocha belfast

Feelin' Festive

design by Lizzie Kate, Tiny Tidings XV

stitched with recommended threads, 32 ct mocha belfast

French Freebie

unsure of designer?

stitched with 321 DMC, 32 ct natural belfast

As always, thanks for the lovely comments. See you soon xx

ABC Noel

Hi everyone,

another little ornament to share today - I stitched this a few months ago and made it up recently.

ABC Noel by L'R de rein

freebie pattern found here

321 dmc thread, 32ct natural belfast

See you soon x

Peace & Love

Hello friends,

this little ornament I stitched and made up during September. I had the chart and supplies sitting in my stitching basket for such a long time, and I don't know why I hadn't chosen to stitch it sooner.

The pattern came with very simple instructions for the finishing.

Peace & Joy Ornament by the Drawn Thread 

stitched with mostly recommended threads, 32ct natural belfast linen

Thanks for your visit :)

Catching Up

Hello friends, 

I don't know why but this little ornie seemed to take me ages to stitch - it looks a bit washed out in this photo, the fabric is quite a lot darker, quite mocha in colour.

Floral Gift by Blackbird Designs

JSC Christmas issue 2010

stitched with recommended DMC threads, mocha 32ct belfast

Yippee, I was so happy last week when my Christmas Garden chart finally arrived from Broomfields in Christchurch.  The fabric I've chosen is on order so now I just need to purchase the threads and I can get it underway.  I don't think I'll have this stitched in time for Christmas this year now, maybe a 2013 project.

It's been awhile since I shared a progress report on my Mystery sampler - this corner is all that I have left to stitch now.  I've so enjoyed working on this design,  I'll actually be quite sad when it's all finished.

Lastly for today, I was recently contacted by the Editor of Cross Stitch & Needlework to ask whether I would be interested in having my blog mentioned in the September issue. Of course, I'd be happy to, I said, lol. My copy arrived the other day from the US, and I was so excited to see my name in print :)

That's all for today, I'll be back tomorrow with a few pics from what we got up to over the recent weekend.

See you soon xx

Visions of Sugar Plums

Good morning friends, 

here's another ornament I stitched during June: 

Visions of Sugar Plums by Country Cottage Needleworks

JCS Christmas Issue 2009

stitched on 32ct mocha Belfast with the recommended threads

I've stitched this to give to one of my friends, who has two little blondies, a girl and a boy :)

We are now into our third day in a row of sunshine, there's not a cloud in the sky today. What a difference it makes to how you feel at this time of the year to have the sun shining.  Its still pretty chilly though, and the ranges south of here are thick with snow, such a pretty view.

Thanks for stopping by xx

Hannah's 2012 Christmas Ornament

Hi friends, 

have you seen the cute patterns available from the Floss Box? I purchased several of the Christmas charts earlier in the year, including this adorable one, to stitch for Hannah's 2012 ornament :

Ho Ho Ho by the Floss Box

stitched on 32ct mocha belfast linen, using the recommended threads

As always, thanks for the lovely comments you leave me, I always enjoy hearing from you. See you soon x

Silver & Blue

Rain, rain go away - yes, its still raining here, another typical winter's day.  Its not as cold as yesterday though. 

Today's finish is a Christmas ornament by Country Cottage Needleworks:

Silver & Blue by Country Cottage Needleworks, JCS Ornaments Preview 2008

stitched on 32ct opalescent natural belfast with the recommended threads

This brings my tally for this year's ornaments to 9 so far. I have several patterns kitted and ready to go, just need to get my needle moving!

See you soon x

This and That

Hi everyone

Hannah and I have both been out of sorts for the past week or so with the winter cold that seems to be doing the rounds - sore throat, runny nose and a general feeling of yuckiness.  But we're both on the mend now.  

Recently we took advantage of the nice day we were having and headed into town for a girls' lunch and some shopping.  On our way home Hannah couldn't resist having a play in this big pile of leaves, lol.

We have had our raised vegetable garden in for a few years now and this year for the first time I decided to have a go at growing carrots. Yesterday afternoon Hannah and I discovered that some of our little crop were ready and we had some with our dinner last night.  They were the sweetest, tastiest carrots I've eaten in a long time!  Lucky for us, DH is currently in the middle of building us another raised vege garden ( you can see our other ones on this post) and I'm tempted to plant the whole thing with carrots, especially if they are going to taste that good!

Talking of DH, here's another of his little projects he finished recently - a new desk for Hannah, which will eventually go into her new bedroom.

We're in the process of redecorating our spare room to turn into Hannah's bedroom. We've stripped off the old wallpaper, and the ceiling has been replastered so now it needs a coat of paint. Then my Dad, who is painter/wallpaperer by trade, will finish off the decorating for us.  Watch this space for an update!

As for my stitching, I've been getting in a good few hours most evenings - now that winter is truly here there's nothing better than stitching in front of the fire :)  I've had a couple of small finishes lately including another Little House Needleworks ornament:

The Merry Skater by Little House Needleworks

stitched on 32ct olive green belfast with recommended threads

This photo looks a bit washed out - its been a bit tricky to get decent photos of my stitching lately due to the winter light.

Another new project I've just started this week is a Wool Eater crochet blanket, to try and use up some my wool odds and ends.  I've picked out a pink-blue-purple colour theme. I'll be back with a progress pic soon.

Until next time, take care xx

Christmas stitching from April & a new start

Good morning everyone,

The weekend is almost here, yay! I'm looking forward to just being at home with DH and Hannah as we've got no plans.  It's quite a miserable day out there today, raining and cold, so if it stays like this, it will be the perfect weekend for some baking and crafting, and probably some Littlest Pet Shop playing with Hannah :)

Today's finish to share has been a work in progress for quite some time!  The little pattern, threads and fabric had been in my stitching basket for absolutely ages, and every now and then I've put a stitch in here and there. I decided to go with another wall hanging type finish.

Three Blox Kit by Lizzie Kate

stitched on 27ct fabric  with recommended threads

Last weekend I started on this Little House Needleworks design, another project that has been on the "to do" list for quite some time.

Enjoy your weekend, happy stitching!  see you soon xx

Starry Night Ornament

Hello everyone

can I just say how lovely it was to read your comments on my last post - they sure do brighten my day, and I appreciate them so much :)

This little pattern has been in my "to stitch one day soon" ornaments folder for absolutely ages, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out.

Starry Night Ornament

by Helga Mandl

from the Gift of Stitching Issue 47, December 2009

This is my lovely snowball tree, covered in its autumn leaves, so pretty :)

Have a wonderful day :)

Some Ornament Finishes

Hello stitching friends, happy Monday to you and its a short week too, yippee, with  Easter break starting on Friday.

I'd gotten a little behind with my 2012 ornament plans so this is the result of a week's stitching and then finishing. 

Angels Sent by Still Stitching With Susan, JCS 2010 

Welcome Santa from Prairie Schooler's A Christmas Visit

Jolly by Crescent Colors/Miss Crescents Crowne, 2012 JCS

Believe freebie by Miss Daffycat

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon xx

Joy of the Snowflake

Hello friends, here's my first Christmas ornament for 2012, another of my favourites from last years JCS ornaments magazine.

Joy of the Snowflake - Little by Little Design Co, 2011 JSC Ornaments magazine

stitched on 32ct mocha belfast with DMC 799 & 3371

I chose a black and gold fabric for the back and then found a lovely trim at the local scrapbooking shop.

I hope you're enjoying the weekend whatever you might be up to. Its late Sunday afternoon here and I've just finished the last of my usual Sunday afternoon chores, the ironing, lol.  I actually don't mind ironing, as long as there's not too much of it to do!

See you soon x