Latest Crafty Happenings

Hello dear friends, welcome to August. I'm so happy as we're having some perfect winter days right now, a bit frosty to start - it was 0 c when I left for work this morning, and then a day of sunshine follows. It almost feels like spring is in the air, but August can get very chilly and cold. I have noticed that the mornings are getting lighter now too, when Glenn leaves for work around 7am it was pitch dark last week but this week it's noticeably lighter.

So what's on the go here over the past few weeks? My friend is due to have her baby later this month and just loved the knitting I gave her at the baby shower so I've got a couple of other little baby projects to make for her. I started this simple little blanket last week. The wool looks a bit pink in this photo but the colour is more like the second photo. 

I also started some more socks for my sister in law. This ball of Opal sock yarn was some of the first sock yarn I bought, can you see the sparkly thread running through the colours? I'm knitting Christine from Winwick Mum's basic sock pattern. 

I pulled out this stocking project on the weekend to stitch on, so enjoyable. 

Next up are three ornaments I stitched earlier in the year but only recently completely finished. All finished as flat ornaments with DMC thread handmade cording for the trims.

Mistletoe Kisses by Erica Michaels, this is Hannah's 2024 ornament.

The Prairie Schooler's 2024 Santa, I loved stitching the green stitching in this design.

From the 2023 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments magazine, a design by Karen Kirk from Fox & Rabbit.

What else do I have for today? My current reading pile, including some new books I purchased last week.  Looking forward to getting into all of these. 

See you soon xx

World Knit in Public Day and more

Last Saturday morning I went to our local library for Worldwide Knit in Public day.

My friends Clare and Sonia came along too and we had a lovely morning chatting and knitting away, and meeting some new friends.

Our library is a wonderful space, it's way more than a library with lots of other services operating from there and activities happening. The staff that work there are amazing, always so chatty and friendly and they go out of their way to be helpful.  We do have two libraries in our small district, the other one ten minutes away is just as amazing, I love going there too.  

And the great thing about Saturday? I've joined a new knitting group, how fun! We're going to meet up monthly on a Saturday morning.

Now for some recent finishing and stitching.

Cup of Cheer by Brenda Gervais was stitched earlier in the year, it was started during my summer holidays. 

I used the recommended threads and 32 count Flax linen, natural ric rac for the trim.

Next up are some recent ornament finishes.

Mistletoe Kisses by Erica Michaels, this design has been kitted and in my stitching bag for quite some time. Stitched on 32 count vintage mocha linen with the recommended threads.

From Country Cottage Needleworks Pastel Ornaments Collection, Christmas Bird. I used the recommended threads and 32 count cream linen.

This year's Prairie Schooler Santa  - I loved stitching this, recommended threads and 36 count vintage mocha linen.

Have a happy week, see you soon x

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

February Ornaments

Hello friends, I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend, we certainly enjoyed our four day break. The weather was pretty good so we got lots of jobs ticked off our list, caught up with family and friends, and we had a day out shopping with Hannah and her two besties, which was lots of fun, giggling girls. We didn't get to have our usual Jamieson Easter catch up with our nieces as they were in isolation for the week but we're planning a catch up as soon as possible.

I also spent a bit of time at my sewing machine finishing my March Christmas ornaments and I've been making a new project bag from a recently finished cross stitch. Photos to come.

In the meantime, here are the three designs I stitched during February:

Christmas Birdhouse by Country Cottage Needleworks 

Prairie Schooler Santa 1986

Jolly Claus by the Real Housewives of Cross Stitch

See you soon x

Lots of Stitching to Share

For the past few months, I've set myself a goal of spending time at my sewing machine at least once a week, even if its just for 30 minutes. I certainly did that a few weeks ago, with face mask production in full steam - making them for us, my parents, Glenn's dad, my sister in law, Hannah's friends, my friends, I think I made about 60 in total - all different styles and fabrics! 

I've been finishing up some of my Christmas stitching projects, some stitched recently and others earlier in the year.

First up, is All the Trimmings, a free pattern offered by the Fast Quarter Shop during September.  I stitched this pretty design on chalkboard linen using the recommended DMC threads. Made into a small pillow with Lady Dot Creates trim.

A few ornaments, pattern from Spirit of Christmas by Lila's Studio for some dear friends.

This is the ornament I stitched for my friend Carol in the US. I was so happy that Carol has now received this safely since mail has been a bit hit and miss to and from New Zealand. (At the moment, we can't receive any mail from the US - so sad I can't make any pre Christmas stash purchases). 

Anyways, this is Snow Joyful by Homespun Elegance

This is the ornament I stitched for another dear stitching friend, Andrea from the UK, which has also now arrived safely.  This is Dazzlin Deer by Heart in Hand.

This is Hannah's 2021 Christmas ornament, Mouse Decorates for Christmas by the Tiny Modernist. So cute!

Merry, a free pattern offered by Heart in Hand, stitched for a work friend.

2020 Prairie Schooler Santa ready to be added to the basket

Ho Ho Ho by Trellis and Thyme, stitched for a friend's grandaughter.

Lastly for today, a new start from earlier in the month, Little Deeds Sampler by the Scarlett House.
 

I'm using most of the recommended threads and 32 count Limestone belfast linen. This is going to be a gift for one of my younger cousins, who was meant to be having her graduation ceremony from Medical School at the end of November but it has now been postponed until May 2022. We're all very proud of her. She is now working as a Junior Doctor.

Have a fun weekend, and see you soon xx

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