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

Holiday Shopping

Hello friends, 

how's the weekend been for you? It's been a good one around here. I took Hannah and Zoe to our local Church spring fair yesterday then Hannah had a friend come to play for the afternoon, and today I've been tackling some spring cleaning jobs - almost getting to the end of my list, yay!

Anyways, I promised some photos of my holiday shopping - how could I not take the opportunity of being in Rotorua to stop by Cottage Flair, found in the small village of Ngongotaha, only ten minutes from Rotorua. 

This little patchwork, knitting and embroidery shop has always been a favourite of mine - I think I bought my first Shepherds Bush design from here many years ago: )

I only had a small amount of time here, while DH and Hannah wandered up the street, and before I knew it, they were back looking out for me. I could have happily browsed away in there at the gorgeous fabrics all morning.

So my purchases, the latest Australia Homespun, the Pink Issue:

And Red Home by Natalie Bird, which I'd been admiring on lots of Aussie patchwork blogs over recent weeks. This book is wonderful, I'd happily make every project out of it.  So now I'm going to have to start collecting red fabrics, lol.

There was lots of other shopping done during our holiday too. Our motel was situated right by the main shopping centre, how handy, lol.  Lucky for me, Hannah loves to look at the shops too. 

As I've probably mentioned before I have a little addiction to OPI nail polishes, and like to buy one, or two!,  if I'm travelling away from home.  These two are my latest additions - Your web or Mine from the Spiderman Collection, and I'm all Ears from the Minnie Mouse Collection.

Some great new colours for the summer months.

And yay, waiting for me at home, was the 2012 JCS Magazine, which had arrived from the US.

I love lots of the designs in this issue - the Primitive Hare, the Sisterhood, Lizzie Kate, Country Cottage Needleworks just to name a few. Trouble is, which one to do first!

Thanks for stopping by x