My to do list

This new project bag came together just like I'd planned, lol.  My To Do List, is a lovely pattern by one of my all time favourite designers, Lizzie Kate, and I'm still sad Linda retired from designing patterns. 

I've had this stitched for a few months and when I was recently looking through some fabrics spotted these two fat quarters of fabric given to me last year by a friend.  Who can resist cute bunnies and owls. This fabric range is by Lynette Anderson.

I followed the easy tutorial by Liz from Elizabethanncanstitch on You Tube, which I've used several times before.

This now contains my latest stitching project, The Rabbit & Rose by Brenda Gervais, which I'm thoroughly enjoying stitching.  

Some other happy stitching news, a parcel of charts arrived yesterday from Art & Frame, here in New Zealand. That just made my day, containing some new designs by Jeanette Douglas, Erica Michaels and some of the new Blackbird Designs, it will be hard decision to pick out what to stitch first! 

Enjoy your weekend, see you soon xx

A Stitching Round Up

This week you can tell winter is well and truly here in New Zealand. After some miserable bleak weather last weekend, the winter sun has been out and we've had a few mornings with good frosts and chilly starts but then a day of sunshine follows.

This coming weekend we get an extra day off work for the Queen's Birthday public holiday on Monday, and after having spent the past few weekends helping with my in law's move to their newly built house, an extra day at home will be great to catch up on some home jobs and maybe even some sewing time.

Lately I've been enjoying having the diffuser going in the living area. Earlier in the week I bought a new synergy blend from the local health shop. Called Stress Relief, it has bergamot, ylang ylang, patchouli, orange sweet and lavender, and smells so divine. Most of the oils I use are made locally by Lotus Oils. 

Onto a stitching update:

I'm so enjoying stitching the Flea Market Flowers design, the colours are so pretty.  

I pulled out a 2020 Stitchmaynia project last weekend to stitch and made some good progress on All Joys for Thine.

Sew by Row is coming along too:

Last week I finished the Last Ripe Berries by Blackbird Designs

Stitched using the recommended fabric and threads:

I've also stitched more on My To Do list:

I've also got a new knitting project on the go, having finally finished the pair of socks that have been on the go since January 2020! A friend from work has a new grand daughter so I've started a little baby cardigan and will match it with a hat and booties too.  

Have you started any new projects lately? 

See you soon xx

On the go

Today's post is a round up of other projects I've also had on the go during March.

My To Do List has been in my stitching basket for ages, and I just love this saying. When this is finished, I'm going to display it on a wall in my work office. The fabric I'm using is 32 count Smokey Pearl Belfast. 

A new start for #santasundayxs, Berries in Bloom, a free chart by Cathy from Hands on Design.

More dish cloth knitting, February's pattern from the Kitchen Shop. If you sign up to receive the newsletter, a dishcloth pattern will be emailed to you every month throughout 2021.

I'm still working on Merry Old Soul for #merrymondayxs.

The clips holding my extra fabric were given to me by a friend the other day, they are magnetic cable clips. Isn't this a great idea, I've ordered some more. 

Last night I started another new project, I've never had so many stitching projects on the go!  I'll share an update about this when I've done a decent amount of stitching on it lol.

See you soon x

 

Last of the Christmas Ornaments

Hello friends, thank you for the all the lovely messages on my last post.  I am extremely grateful that here in New Zealand, as we are at Level 1, we can continue our daily lives with minimal disruption - go to work, school when it returns, be with family and friends, go on holidays around our beautiful country if we wish, etc. I am aware however, how this virus can change things so quickly, and we've had reminder of this over the weekend with the first community case for over nearly two months.

I've decided to break up all the stitching things I want to share into a series of posts over the week so today it's all about some stitching finishes that were the last of my 2020 ornaments for family and friends. Many of these I worked on over our winter months.

These few are by Lizzie Kate, from various Tiny Tiding Charts. If you'd like to know the specific chart, leave a comment for me and I can let you know.

A small design by Heart in Hand:

Fabric stars using a free tutorial found here:

Some little stitchery hangings made up with embroideries found via Pinterest

My Christmas Song by MTV Designs, 2018 Just Cross Stitch Magazine

Joy by Rovaris, 2018 Just Cross Stitch ornaments magazine

A free design by Needlework Press, which I found via Pinterest:

Lastly for today, Sleigh by Lizzie Kate, a bonus chart on Part 2 of the Holly and Hearts mystery sampler. This was stitched and sent to my dear friend Andrea in the UK. 

As I mentioned, if you would like any further details about any of these ornaments, feel free to get in touch.  Until next time, stay safe and happy stitching xx

Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas to all! These are the last of my 2020 Christmas ornaments, given to family and friends.

This will be my last post for awhile, possibly until mid January, so I wanted to take the time to thank each and everyone of you - thank you so much for visiting my blog, sending me messages and emails, and always leaving positive comments here and on Instagram. It always makes my day to hear from you. Greatly appreciated xx

I know this Christmas for many around the world is not what a lot of you planned and you can't be with your loved ones, friends and family. I hope that whatever your situation, through distance, loss, separation or grief, I sincerely wish you peace and joy, and many happy blessings for the year ahead. And of course, lots of happy, happy stitching and crafting times.

Take care, stay safe and Merry Christmas!

Katrina xx

Catching up with the Girls

On Sunday my friend Val, Hannah and I popped up to Hastings to meet up with our stitching friends for a pre Christmas catch up and birthday celebrations, three of the ladies celebrate their birthdays this week!

We had a lovely lunch at the Serendipity Cafe, oh my, their custard slices are so divine! I so enjoy spending time with these wonderful friends, very blessed. Clare was unable to join us on Sunday so we're planning a catch up when the holidays start.

Afterwards there was time for a bit of Christmas shopping followed by a fresh berry ice cream on the way home.

I can now share a few of the stitched gifts I made for the ladies - these were all stitched over winter.

For Lisa, Naughty or Nice by Lizzie Kate

                                                    

Kath's 2020 ornament, Santa's Helper by Mosey n Me. Kath stitched this design for me many years ago and it's been on my To Stitch list for ages.

                                                 

For Wendy, I made a little ditty bag using a stitched piece by La D Da.

I also gave Kath a stitched pin/scissor cushion. This cute design is by Misty from Luminous Fibre Arts.

See you soon x

Christmas Ornament finishing

My little pile of stitched ornaments has finally received some attention. These have been stitched throughout the year, mostly over our winter months, Sundays (santasundayxs) and Mondays (merrymondayxs), which are stitch alongs on Instagram.

Cool Yule by Hands on Designs - I used the recommended DMC threads on black 32 count belfast linen.

Chicken Joy, a free design by Priscilla and Chelsea, Stitching with the Housewives, I also used black belfast linen with most of the recommended threads.

Warm Wishes is a design by Lizzie Kate from Tiny Tidings XVIII, stitched on cream linen using recommended threads.

Be Jolly is by Hands on Designs and is from the Chalkboard Ornaments - Christmas Collection Part 1, stitched on 32 count black belfast linen.

Be Jolly by Pine Mountain Designs I stitched on 32 count vintage mocha belfast linen using the recommended threads.

 There are still several more to finish, which I'm working on right now.  

See you soon x