New Goodies & a Jolly July update

Back to reality this week after my annual leave break and trip to Christchurch with Hannah for her week at dancing school. I'll pop some photos of our trip in a separate post - we had a wonderful time away with the other dancers and their Mum's.

One of the places on my list to visit was Art & Frame in Riccarton. They are predominately an art and framing shop but have a fantastic selection of stitching charts, fabrics and threads, which they are slowly building up. Of course I had to get a couple of new goodies to take home!

It was really great to see some of the colours of Zweigart fabrics I hadn't seen before, and this piece of Limestone is a gorgeous colour, I think I'll have to track some more down. I was so happy to see the Flamingo Toe needle minders, I could have spent all my money on these, so cute!

Art and Frame also had several Drawn Threads patterns stitched and on display, and my friend with me, Sonia, was able to purchase several of the patterns from her wish list.

I'm not sure why but my stitching in July has slowed right down and even though I've had the time, I've had the "can't be bothereds" and have been heading to bed earlier in the evenings, when usually I'd get some good stitching done. Oh well, it is winter I guess.  I think I'll continue with my Jolly July plans into August, trying to get a few projects ticked off the list.

I've been purchasing these cute Dapper Doodads charts each week from Stitching with the Housewives (Priscilla and Chelsea) and I'll be stitching these too.

More progress on the Lois stocking, so enjoying these stocking projects.

See you soon xx

Jolly July 2021 - Two new starts

All my stitching supplies for Jolly July this year are in this leftover shopper bag from last Christmas, it's the perfect size for everything.  I've got all my charts in the bag I made from last year's Mistletoe Lane stitched piece.

 

So far I've had two new starts for Jolly July. Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Priscilla and Chelsea from Stitching with the Housewives. I've had this kitted since Jolly July 2020!

I''m using 32 count black belfast linen and the recommended DMCs.

Another project I've had kitted since it first came out is Holly Jolly Christmas by Sub Rosa:

Both of these can be purchased as PDF charts, instant gratification!

See you soon x

Jolly July is on it's way

For a few years now I've participated in Jolly July, a stitch along on Instagram organised by Kimberly from the Fat Quarter Shop, and Priscilla and Chelsea of Stitching with the Housewives. As I stitch Christmas designs all year round, I usually spend all of July working on these.  This year I've decided to have a mixture of new starts and also get some stitching done on some older projects including one or two started last year during Jolly July.

I spent a couple of happy hours on the weekend getting fabric, charts and threads organised for this month and also, checking out what ornaments I've already stitched during 2021.

I haven't shared any of these so here we go, all stitched - just to be finished some time.

Jolly St Nick and Rudolph, by Stitching with the Housewives

Berries in Bloom, a freebie by Hands on Designs

Mouse's Christmas Decorating by Tiny Modernist

Ho Ho Ho by Trellis & Thyme

2020 Santa by the Prairie Schooler

Joy - Lila's Studio

Peace - Lila's Studio

Noel - Lila's Studio

Gingerbread Cookies by Little House Needleworks

Snow Joyful by Homespun Elegance

Dazzlin' Deer by Heart in Hand

Are you going to be participating in Jolly July? 

See you soon xxx

Shepherd's Bush Stockings and a Work Surprise

Hello again, well it's been a few weeks since my last post and what a busy few weeks it's been! Between helping my in laws move into their brand new home and down size, and then getting their old house ready to sell, Hannah being unwell, feeling a bit unwell myself, and then Hannah having round two of being unwell at the end last week, lots on at my work, the end of the month has certainly arrived quickly! 

There's now only two weeks left of this school term and then during the school holidays, Hannah and I are heading to Christchurch in the South Island for Hannah to attend Dance School. She's participating in a week of workshops for ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary dance. We are travelling with other dancers from the local dance studio, their Mums and of course, Hannah's lovely dance teacher Miss Deb.  After our fab trip there last year, both Hannah and I are very excited to have the opportunity to go again. As well as dance school, we hope to be able to get out and about and take in some sights. You can read about last year's trip here.

The finish I'm sharing today is the Thomas Stocking, a pattern by Shepherd's Bush. I think I started this way back in early 2019?  Stitched on natural coloured floba linen with DMC pearl threads, I also substituted the suggested hand dyed threads to DMC as I didn't have any on hand.

I just need to sew on the charms and stitch the name of the recipient!

I've also started another stocking design, this one is the Lois stocking and I'm using different fabric for this, natural coloured 20 count Cork linen.

I just love stitching these stockings designs.

Now for the surprise, earlier in the month marked 25 years since I started my role as the Manager of the community service I work for.  The lovely people I work with surprised me one morning with a lovely morning tea, cake, flowers, gifts and special visitors including my parents, some dear friends and the Deputy Mayor (another friend) presented me with some flowers of behalf our District Council. 

You can also check out a news article here that was put together by the staff.

I was very touched and we all had a few happy tears after the speeches! 

See you soon x

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

Friends Stitching Circle

Several years ago I signed up for the Silver Needle's A Little Help From Our Stitching Friends Stitching Circle and received lots of lovely club kits and extra goodies over a couple of years.  Last year I decided not to participate and then this year I thought why not, ha ha.  

The first club kit arrived a few weeks ago and the designer is Erica Michaels.  There were also some lovely accessories included, a small clear project bag, a needleminder and all the items needed to finish the project.

The other designers for this year's club include Hands on Designs, Satsuma Street, Heart in Hand, the Scarlett House, and Samplers Not Forgotten. The next kit is on it's way, and as I've no idea of the designer this time, it will be a lovely surprise to get in the mail.

See you soon x

Flea Market Flowers

A parcel arrived recently from the Fat Quarter Shop, containing a few goodies I'd ordered with some birthday money back in early April.

I bought the newly released Flea Market Flowers chart designed by Lori Holt and some pretty fabrics to make, you guessed it, more project bags!

I had all the recommended DMC threads in my stash and I'm going to use 36 count Vintage Mocha fabric.

The colours are so pretty.  I'm aiming to stitch a couple of the boxes each week so will see how it goes!

These fabrics are so pretty and great value, the cost to get it here to New Zealand is pretty high though.

See you soon xx