A few finishes

 

Thanks so much for the lovely messages and birthday wishes for Hannah - she had a wonderful birthday and keeps saying, I can't believe I'm 15, me too, where did those years go! 

I have a few completed Christmas stitched pieces to share today.

First up, Rudolph and Friends by Brenda Gervais, stitched on 36 count vintage mocha linen using the recommended threads.

Hope by Liz Mathews, which is a freebie you can find here, scroll down the page. 

Stitched with DMC 221 on 32 count linen.

Christmastime Mystery stitch along, which was a free pdf pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop last year. 

So happy that my finishing pile is starting to dwindle, still a few things to go though.

See you soon xx

Advent Swap, a new start and new goodies

My friend Clare and I continued our annual Christmas advent swap in 2022. We don't have a set plan so we can pick any gifts for each other to include in the swap.  I always start collecting things at the start of the year as I also do a swap with a work friend, and then add throughout the year.

Once again I forgot to get a photo of Clare's gifts but here is the stitched ornament I made for her, design is by Heart in Hand.

These are all the lovely treats I received from Clare.

I was also received this gorgeous Santa as part of our stitching group secret Santa exchange.

The beautifully stitched and finished ornament I received from Clare.

Art & Frame in Christchurch had a new shipment of needle minders arrive a few weeks before Christmas so I couldn't resist this cutie:

 

I've had this Birdhouse design ready to go for ages so decided to get it started prior to going on my summer holidays. I'm using Cosmo thread and the design came pre printed in the kit.

I picked up this cute little tin at one of our local shops, thought it would be the perfect size for storing threads, my handcream, etc in.

This year I decided to purchase the Book of Days, a journal by Needlework Press for stitchers to record all my stitching progress and plans.

Of course, it couldn't travel alone from Stitch Witches, all the way down south in Dunedin, so I added a few other goodies - fabric for an up and coming project when the pattern arrives, a Lori Holt needle minder and a tiny pair of Kelmscott scissors.

Lastly for today, the dahlias in the gardens at my work are all out right now and look just gorgeous right now:

See you soon x

Stitching Time

 Hi friends,

I have so many stitching projects on the go right now but several are close to being finished so that's what I'll be trying to concentrate on over the coming weeks.  I had a couple of new charts arrive that are tempting me to start including this year's Heart in Hand Santa, it's so cute!

This has been a fun stitch, Joy & Good Cheer by Brenda Gervais - I'm stitching on 36 count vintage mocha and using most of the recommended threads.

I also have a small pile of Christmas ornaments to "ornamentify" - these were all stitched over our winter months.

Stitching with the Housewives various tiered tray tidbits.

One of Teresa Kogut's monthly ornament charts.

Hope is freebie chart from Liz Matthews.

Heart in Hand

Little Stitcher - this chart can be found in an earlier Just Cross Stitch ornaments magazine

See you soon xx

So far this month

Stitching for Jolly July is underway and I've made start on these super cute designs by Misty from Luminous Fibre Arts. 

I've also been sticking to my plan of trying to get some works in progress finished and over the recent weeks, I've been able to tick off two projects.

First up, the Red Bird Sampler by Brenda Gervais. I stitched this on 36 count Up in the Attic fabric by Fox & Rabbit Designs using most of the recommended threads.

Another project I was very happy to have finished is the Stockings were Hung by the Tiny Modernist. This was a stitch along that started back in September 2021. A lot of stitching in this design!

Here's the pile of books I returned back to the library recently - all new authors to me.

Our renovations continue and this week our new fire is being installed and the old one being taken out. All going well, we'll be able to start using the new one this weekend.  While Hannah and I are away, Glenn is taking a few days off work too so he can work on our bathroom and have the new toilet installed. 

Today is the last day of term two for all school students here in New Zealand but lucky Hannah has already started her holidays as it's a teachers only day at her high school.  In a week's time, we are flying to Christchurch for Hannah to attend Dance school  - a week of workshops for ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dancing. Like previous years, we are travelling with other students from Hannah's dance studio, their parents and Miss Deb, Hannah's wonderful dance teacher.  We are both excited for our trip, and of course, I have a list of places to check out while Hannah is dancing all day, including a visit to the wonderful Art & Frame shop. Can't wait!

See you soon xx

A Merry Pair and Bathroom Update

This was such a fun stitch - such bright, happy colours, and sparkly beads and sequins.  This kit by Satsuma Street was from the Silver Needle's Stitching Circle Club and after quite a delay, finally arrived in the letter box a few weeks ago.  

I think I'll have to buy a few of the other ornaments designs, they all look so cute!

Next time I get a chance to sit at my sewing machine I'll make it into a small pillow using the supplies included in the kit by Lois from Lady Dot Creates - so pretty.

 

As I mentioned last time, we have quite a few renovation projects happening in our house.  We received news last week that our permit has been granted for the new fire place to be installed, not sure when this will be happening.

The other big job on the go is the redo of our shower/toilet and this is major - new ceiling, new shower, new toilet, new hand basin and vanity, and new wall paneling all to go in.  Glenn is carrying out most of this work himself, with help from his Dad, and work to be done by our plumber and electrician.

So here's Week 1's progress:

Several years ago we had two major water leaks happen, one in the ceiling and one in the wall behind the toilet.

Here's Week 2's: some of the paneling in (what a job lifting it in!)

Our new shower was installed Saturday so it's either been showers in the camper van or across the road at my parents. Glenn gets to try it out tonight!

Hannah, my Mum and I went along to see the new Top Gun Maverick movie and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Have a good week, see you soon x

April Ornaments & Creative Whimsy

Hello friends, this is turning out to be a regular thing, blogging on a Friday! 

We had a fab time in Napier last weekend, dinner out with friends - it was wonderful to catch up with them. and not only did we celebrate our friend's birthday but also my dear friend had recently received news her New Zealand Citizenship had been approved, which she'd applied for well over twelve months ago. Wonderful news to celebrate.

I've had several people ask me about Art & Frame and if they have a website? Art & Frame are based in Christchurch, and they have a Facebook page where regular updates of cross stitch charts, threads and fabrics are posted. If you are interested in any of the items, you can send a message to the Facebook page. Details are here:

Art & Frame

or you can visit their website listing for the phone number, etc.

I can't wait to visit there again in July when Hannah is at this year's Dance School.

This is the selection of ornaments I stitched back in March: Gingham Greetings 2 and Merry Mrs Claus by Priscilla & Chelsea, Stitching with the Housewives, and 2021 Wee One Santa by Heart in Hand.

I recently decided to sign up to Teresa Kogut's Creative Whimsy Patreon. There are different Tiers, 1-4, and depending on what Tier you decide to join, you then receive monthly charts, access to purchase older Patreon charts and lots of other great things.  I had a lot of fun browsing through and purchasing these lovely charts, which were pdfs.

Do you have any Stitchmaynia plans for May? I've decided not to participate in Stitchmaynia this year. Instead I'm going to chose a few of my wips to stitch and try have a few finished over the new few weeks, especially since I have the lovely pile of new charts tempting me!! 

Tomorrow is Hannah's 14th birthday - how times flies! We are taking Hannah with her two best friends to Napier for a day out on Sunday since she has dancing classes most of the day tomorrow. 

See you soon xx