20 Years Ago Today

It's a very special day today for two friends of mine who got married
20 years ago today.  

And I stitched them a sampler for the special occasion.

This was one of my very early samplers.
I also designed the border myself.

I just can't believe that it's March tomorrow.  Time just flies by.

Until next time, Happy Stitching Everyone

2 more OWLs done.

I've managed to do 2 more of my Owl SAL.  Just December to finish.  Then I think I will make it into a cushion, when all the stitching is done.

I've stitch these 3 in February.

OakHaven Owl SAL 2011.

Here is a link to the OakHaven Designs Blog if you want to have a look at how other's have stitched there owls.

- ooOoo -

It's been much milder here weather wise, and we are getting more birds in our garden.  Even a fox ventured through the garden, while I was washing up the breakfast things today. 

Great Tit

On Saturday evening we had a beautiful sunset, which I captured on camera.

Sunset

And here are some wonderful tall snowdrops.

Snowdrops

More Snowdrops

Until next time, Happy Stitching Everyone

And the winner is........IHSW and a finish!

Hi Everyone

You must all be wondering who has won my Giveaway.  So I won't keep you all waiting.  The winner is ....

      Stitching Noni of Fireflies & Cats in the Garden.

So my package will be winding  it's way to Western Australia.  Congratulations Stitching Noni.  

My daughter came by at the week-end and she picked out the lucky winner from the pot.

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend.

I've stitched a little bit more on my "Time and Season Sampler", just a couple of acorns.

What I have wanted to get on with was my OakHaven Owl SAL for 2011, that I have not done since August.  So I am very please that I have managed to finish September.  I just loved the autumn leaves.  The colours were wonderful.  Just three more to go, and it's finished completely.

September Owl

OakHaven Owl SAL 2011

- ooOoo -

Here is a Birthday Card I sent on to my friend.  It's a Mary Hickmott Design from New Stitches Magazine.

Mary Hickmott Design

My friend loved it so much she sent me a Thank You card.  I don't think she had seen Hardanger Embroidery before.  It's always nice to send friends a special hand stitched card for special occasions. 

Until next time, Happy Stitching Everyone

UFO Undate

It's sometime since I was last here.  But I have been stitching.  Here is an update on how I'm progressing on my "Time and Season Sampler" a Moria Blackburn design.

Half way there!  Just need to finish the pink lines in the boarders.

These show the tendrils on the vine leaves, slowly progressing across the top.  

You will  also notice that I've changed the year from 2011 to 2012.  

I've also stitched some more of the pink border lines.

Finally I've started the acorns and oak leaves.

- ooOoo -

I would like to share with you some wonderful crochet my friend Mary Grace has sent me over the years.

The designs get more intricate as they go along.  They are all so very beautiful.

- ooOoo - 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Here is the link.  Closes on 17 February 2012.

 Happy Stitching Everyone

Cat in a Tea Cup Finished

Yes, we have a finish.  Cat in a Tea Cup by Margaret Sherry, from Cross Stitch Card Shop issue 82.  

And here it is.

Card

Close up

- ooOoo -

We had a fox come and visit us in our garden today, and stayed for about an hour.  

He just loved the sunshine on our bank.  He cleaned himself up and then had a nap.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Here is the link.  Closes on 17 February 2012.

Until next time, Happy Stitching

IHSW & Week-End Stitching

The International Hermit and Stitch Weekend was on the 21-22 January, and I was determined to at least start on one of my UFOs.  The Time and Season sampler by Moria Blackburn was the one I chose to start on.  I had ago at one of the boarders at the bottom.  Filling in the leaves and flower heads.  It was further along the line that I spotted a mistake, and I had to do some 'frogging'.  So my TUSAL has lots of fluffy green bits in.  But I am glad that I have made another start on my sampler.

Here is a close up of what I have done.

Here is what it looks like now.

Here is what it looked like before I started.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Here is the link.  Closes on 17 February 2012.

Until next time, Happy Stitching

More Angels Finished.

Hi Everyone

I've been busy stitching more of my Blackwork Angels and have completed 6 altogether this year.   

The Prairie Schooler - Blackwork Angels.

I have also started to stitch a lovely little Margaret Sherry 'Cat in a Teacup', which is the free cover kit, just out in "Cross Stitch Card Shop" Issue No. 82.

Cat in a Teacup by Margaret Sherry

There are now 2 free downloads on "Margaret Sherry Kits".  Just click here to see the new design of the 'Super Speedy Snail'.

Now I must do some of my UFOs & WIPs.  Remember there is the Hermit and Stitch Weekend coming up on 21-22 January.  If you want to join in, just click here to sign up for this month.

-ooOoo-

It's been very cold and wet at the moment.  But we did have some lovely sun sets the other night and my camera came out to catch the moment.

Last Saturday I went out walking with my friends.  The sun was out and there was blue sky.  The ground was hard and crisp as we had a frost that morning.  Here are a few photo's I took of our walk at Whirlow.

Mallard Ducks on the Ice.

More Ducks on the Ice.

Blackbirds

Whirlow in Winter

Sheep in there thick winter coats

The contrast of the day was amazing.  Ice on the pond for the ducks, and then flowers still in bloom, like the gorse bush and rhododendron.  The temperature dropped suddenly as we entered a lower part of the valley and you could see the frost all around.  It was good to get out of the house and see it all.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Here is the link.  Closes on 17 February 2012.

Until next time, Happy Stitching

Another Finish and WIPs/UFOs

WOW!  I can't believe that it's now over a years since I've been blogging!  Welcome to my new followers.  I am amazed at having 142 followers!  

Today I wanted to show you my latest finish, another Blackwork Angel by The Prairie Schooler.  Yes, I know, you have seen it before, but this one I'm keeping for myself.  The last one was made into a tree decoration for my friend Janet.

Angel with Sheep.

WIPs and UFO's

I've got so many unfinished items plus works in progress (depending on how old they are) that I have joined a UFO/WIP Stitch-a-Long for members of the Margaret Sherry Cross Stitch Group (MSCSG).  So hopefully, I will get some more progress done on my stitching.  Here are the ones I want to start on first.

Time and Season Sampler by Moira Blackburn.

OakHaven Designs, Owl SAL 2011 by Tonia Pappan

Freebie design "First Snow" by The Drawn Thread

Blackwork Angle by The Prairie Schooler.

I have also got some UFOs from  "The Stitch Specialists" Group that I am still working on, but I will only share them on this blog.  The designs are by by Abi Gurden.

Tree of Stitches by Abi Gurden.

Little Lace Learning Hardanger SAL by Abi Gurden

 I'm looking forward to finishing these two especially, then I can start the next design Abi has started.

Well, I think that's all from me!   So, until next time Happy Stitching Everyone.

New Finish and A Giveaway!

Well, I said I would be stitching for Christmas, and here is my first finish for 2012.  The Prairie Schooler - Blackwork Angels.  I just love these designs and hope to do more of the set.  I'm already half way through the next one.

The Prairie Schooler - Blackwork Angels.

Giveaway!

Yes, this is a first for me.  It's my blogoversary in 4 days time, so I want to celebrate with a Giveaway. 

I've had a look at my collection of leaflets that I have collected over the years and found these.

Starting from the top left there is:-

• Ginger & Spice - The Tulip & The Rose
• DMC - Country Kitchen
• Artistic Needle - Musical Christmas
• Zweigart - Cork - Pulled and drawn threadwork
• National Park Needlework - Lower Falls, Yellowstone National Park
• American School of Needlework - Santas at Work & Play
• Lily Fire-Screen Chart (Magazine Freebie)

So here are the rules if you want to join in the fun.

1. Be a follower - old or new.
2. Post a comment on this post.  Please add your email address to your post please.
3. For an extra entry, post a link to my giveaway on your own blog, and come back and tell me you have done so.
4. Closes on Friday 17 February 2012.  I will do a draw over the week-end.

-ooOoo-

And finally, here is a cheeky squirrel at the fat balls, which we put out for the birds.

Grey Squirrel.

Happy Stitching Everyone