Jolly July Stitching

Hello friends, 

this month I've been Jolly July stitching, a Christmas design stitch along that has been running each July for a few years now.  

I took two projects kitted up with me to Australia, and I was able to enjoy a few hours stitching on the balcony at our apartment.

This design made me smile, so cute, the 2024 Wee Santa by Heart in Hand.

I used 32 count vintage mocha and the recommended threads. 

Jingle all the Way by Crafty Bluebonnet Designs, same fabric as above.

Three Stitching with the Housewives designs, stitched on 32 count charcoal Belfast linen

These next two designs are by Cathy from Hands On Designs, stitched on 32 count Weeks Dye Works Liberty fabric. 

More finishes to add to the rather large pile that's been building up this year!  Maybe I'll attempt to get my sewing machine out over the weekend? We'll see as we've got some more DIY happening - our second lounge is having a makeover and we need to arrange some new furniture purchases over the weekend, sort out our bookcase and find places for pot plants, photo frames, etc. 

have a happy weekend, see you soon xx

Several finishes, catching up and twenty years of blogging!

Hi friends, lots of stitching happening here lately and I'm so pleased to have finished two samplers during Sampler September.

First up, is the Light of Winter by Brenda Gervais, I started this in late November 2023, using Fox & Rabbit's Ballet Slippers 36 count linen, and all the recommended threads. 

                                       

Next up is Winter Rose Manor by Brenda Gervais, stitched on 36 count Wren by Picture this Plus, using the recommended colours. This was started way back in January 2021.

                                         

A couple more ornaments finished for this year - both designs are by Stitching with the Housewives.

We've been out in the evenings walking Diesel along the lime stone tracks we have beside the river. Diesel just loves getting out, especially when he can have a dip in the cold river!

Hannah and I went along to a local production recently, When you wish upon a star.  Several of the younger girls from Hannah's dance school were in the cast so it was wonderful to see them perform. The show had lots of great songs, we really enjoyed it.

So proud of Miss H, she recently received her results from her dancing exams, Distinction Stars all round again, well done to Hannah!

We also had a trip over to Palmerston North last weekend to watch one of Hannah's friends in a nation wide dance competition. It was held at the Regent on Broadway, a beautiful old theatre, which I hadn't been to in many years.

The girls also had some time for shopping at the mall and a late lunch of sushi before the drive back to CHB. 

This coming weekend we get a four day break thanks to two public holidays, Hawkes Bay anniversary on Friday, and then Labour Day on Monday. The weather is looking pretty good so we've decided to head out in the campervan for our first trip of the season to Pourere Beach.  Friends will also be there with their campervans and caravans so it should be a fun weekend catching up with everyone, fishing and lots of walks along the beach with Diesel. 

Can it really be twenty years ago that I started this blog? I don't believe it!  Just seems like yesterday.

You can read my first introduction post here. 

See you soon xx

Stitching in July and more

Hello friends, 

this month I've been Jolly July stitching, a Christmas design stitch along that has been running each July for a few years now.  

My first choice is Claus Christmas by Stitching with the Housewives, this design has been in my stitching basket since it first came out. I'm using the recommended DMC threads on 32 count black linen.

 

The second design I chose to start is the Green Coat Santa by Teresa Kogut, a Patreon chart released back in July 2022. My fabric is 32 count natural linen and I'm using the recommended threads.

Priscilla and Chelsea's latest little series is so cute - I had to add these to my July stitching bag. 

We are very excited as a family friend and her husband are expecting their first baby, a daughter, in a few weeks time.  I started knitting a few little hats a few months ago and also two little cardigans.  If you ever need a baby knitting pattern, do check out Mariana Lazy Daisy's blog. I have knit so many of her lovely patterns over the years. 

We recently travelled to Wellington for the weekend to catch up with our friends and to go along to their baby shower. It was a lovely afternoon, lots of delicious snacks and drinks, and fun baby shower games.  Hannah and Glenn did very well at one of the games and won me a bottle of wine ha ha.

The rest of the weekend was spent mostly at the mall shopping, and we enjoyed a lovely meal out with our friends.  A trip to Wellington is so much quicker now you drive through Transmission Gully, it was just under three hours from home to our motel.

It's school holidays right now here in NZ so Diesel has been enjoying hanging out with Hannah, lots of snuggles together as its been quite cold some days.  Here he is, waiting patiently and watching out for either Glenn or I to get home from work, so cute.

Diesel will be two years old this coming Friday, he's just such a joy, he brings us so much fun and laughter.

Have a fun week, see you soon xx

Three Finishes - all Christmasy

 Hello friends

at the start of my summer holidays, I picked out a couple of designs to kit up with the fabric and threads and get underway.  

Three of these are now finished:

Primrose Cottage - Christmas Trees and Stitching Please, stitched in 32 count unknown colour linen and recommended threads

Brenda Gervais - Cup of Christmas Cheer stitched on 36 ct Flax belfast linen with mostly recommended threads.

Stitching with the Housewives - December 25, stitched on 28 count Ash Rose Jobelan fabric with the recommended threads.

For now they'll be going into the box for finishing another day.

See you soon x

All the Stitching

 Lots of stitching happening here lately - as well as my own projects, I've been stitching away on ornaments and a few gifts for Christmas and birthday presents.  I'd really like to get a few things finished as I have several new charts on the way from the US, the 2023 Jingle Ball is coming up and there's bound to be lots of lovely patterns released for it, and I have several other projects waiting to get started.

During the recent long weekend I pulled this lovely chart out and made a start.  It's the first time I've stitched a Silver Creek Samplers design. I'm using some cream linen from my stash and the recommended threads. 

Over the winter months here, I stitched a lot on this cute design and now only have the last part to go, Welcome to the North Pole by Primrose Cottage Stitches.

For the past two years I've participated in the Tiny Modernist's Mystery Christmas stitchalong and decided to join this year's - The Night Before Christmas. 

Part 1 is done - I'm using the recommended threads and the linen is Elephant Run by Fox & Rabbit.

Several Stitching with the Housewives ornaments have been stitched and finished. 

Have a fun weekend - see you soon xx

Ornament Finishes x 4

Lately I've been working on getting a pile of stitched ornaments from earlier this year fully finished. Even if it's just a half hour at a time at my sewing machine, I'm slowly making good progress.

Yuletide Angel by the Humble Stitcher

Santa's Tree Farm, from the roundabout series by Stitching with the Housewives

Merry & Bright, another cute design from Stitching with the Housewives

The 2023 Santa by Prairie Schooler

Have a fun weekend, see you soon xx