I'm back! And some stitching to show.

It's some time since I last posted anything.  I have no excuses to give.  But I would like to share with you all what I have stitched.

First of all, it was a special birthday for my daughter, so I stitched her one of the freebie Hardanger designs from Nordic Needle, called Hardanger with Crystals #4 (just scroll down to find it).  I found her favourite colour in my collection of threads and used beads instead of crystals.  I also decided to put a different filling stitch in the middle of of Kloster blocks.  (I do like to changing things sometimes.)  After looking through my stash I finally found a card to put it in.

You might see the detail better in this photo.

And finally here is the baby card I stitched for my hairdresser.  Its a Sam Hawkins design.  I just used up some of my odd threads, and I'm pleased how it turned out.  As you can see, she had a little girl.

FREEBIES

There are some great freebies to be found on the webb.  Here are a few that I have found.

Passione Ricamo.

Brookes Books Publishing has started a new series of Advent Animals, and the charts can be found here (just scroll down the page).  Please note that I have not stitched these designs yet.

I just love Christmas designs.

Well, thats all for now.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

Happy Dance

Hi Everyone

I've finally finished the wedding pillow!  I know you can't believe it!  I gave it to my daughter just before there first wedding anniversary.  I also managed to make a card for them.  As you can imagine she was delighted with it.  This is my largest Hardanger project I have ever done.  I could not find a design with hearts and butterflies for a wedding, so I found some old patterns that I had and merged them together.  I've changed some of the filling stitches to the butterfly and I am quite pleased with the outcome.  There are also lots of little pearl beads that give the pillow a nice sparkle.  Here are some photos for you to see.

-ooOoo-

Here are some Easter Freebie designs that you might like to stitch.

This free design can be found at Kreinik - click here.

Another free Kreinik design - click here.

A Colourful Band Sampler Easter Bunny can be found here.

From Tom Pudding Designs - Happy Easter.  Just scroll down to find the design.

Happy Stitching Everyone and have a very Happy Easter.


Mary Joan

Giveaway Winners!

Drum roll ....... and the winners are:

Mary Grace  from Mary-Grace's Cross Stitch wins the Owl.

Rona from Tangled Threads wins the magazine.

Congratulations girls.  Do send me your postal address and I will send them on to you.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

2 GIVEAWAYS - LAST DAY TODAY!

It's the last day for my Giveaways!  Come and join in the fun.
Just click here to enter the draw.

Good Luck and Happy Stitching Everyone.

Giveaway!! New draw date!!

Hi Everyone

I thought I would let you know that I have extended the draw date for the Giveaways as only 4 people have responded so far.   It looks like I have not given everyone enough time.  The new closing date is Saturday 8 March 2014.  Hopefully, this will give more people a chance to enter.

Good Luck and Happy Stitching Everyone.

It's Giveaway Time!

Hi Everyone

Welcome to my new followers and thanks for all the lovely comments on my felt owls.

I've decided to do something different and have 2 Giveaways.  1st -  A felt owl that I have stitched myself.

2nd - It's a copy of the 250th Issue of New Stitches Magazine, which has some lovely designs inside.  Here are some pictures to wet your appertite.

250th Issue of 'New Stitches'.

Clarice Cliff Crocuses

Heartfelt Greetings 

Pedigree Chums

Northern Lights 

Enhanced Canvaswork

Motoring Classics

Square Pastels 

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.   
3. Let me know which giveaway you want to enter.  (a) Owl  (b) Magazine or (c) Both.
4. For an extra entry, post a link to my giveaway on your own blog, and come back and tell me you have done so.
5. Closes on Saturday 1 March 2014 8 March 2014.  I will do a draw over the week-end.

Good Luck and Happy Stitching Everyone.

I'm Back!!

Finally, the New Year is here - and so am I!!   I know, at long last!!

I can't believe that its February!  Where has the time gone!

I've finally got some stitching going, but no photos yet.  There is a baby boom at the moment, with lots of my daughters friends having babies.  So I've started stitching, and I hope I can keep up!

I've done something new.  Here are some felt owls I have stitched.  Something I have always wanted to do.   The larger one has stick on eyes with eyelashes!

Hand Stitched Felt Owls.

There are some lovely Giveaways going on - do have a look at my side bar for them.  I'm also having a Giveaway to celebrate 3 years of blogging.  I'm slowly getting somethings together, so please be patient with me.  I will give you a date later on, so watch this space.

IHSW 21-23 February 2014.

Remember it's the IHSW stitching weekend starting on 21-23 February 2014.  So join in the fun and see what you can stitch over the weekend.  Remember to share what you have done.

[Sorry, I got the wrong dates.  I originally put 14-16 February 2014, but it should be 21-23 February 2014.]

-ooOoo-

Valentine's Day is on Friday and I have spotted some lovely freebie charts that you might like.

Loving Postman is a DMC freebie chart which can be found here.

Be My Valentine by Lucie Heaton can be found on Cyberstitchers here.

Happy Valentine Bees by Lesley Teare can be found here.

Bunny Valentine heart can be found here.

DMC Hearts and Flowers Cushion can be found here.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a very good Christmas.  Apart from the wind and rain, we have really enjoyed our Christmas together.  I just wanted to share the Christmas Card that I stitched for my daughter and her husband.  It's a Margaret Sherry design of two hedgehogs kissing under the mistletoe.

Kissing hedgehogs under the mistletoe.

Close up.

Looking forward to stitching more in 2014, and wishing you all a Happy New Year.
 

Happy Stitching Everyone.

Giveaways and Freebies!

Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having several Giveaways. Visit her HERE.

Quaker Chart with floss Giveaway - Draw will be on 15 December 2013.

2nd Day of Christmas Giveaway - A chart of your choice. Draw will be on 15 December 2013.

3rd Day of Christmas Giveaway - More Floss. Draw will be on 16 December 2013.

4th Day of Christmas Giveaway - Lots of Floss. Draw will be on Christmas Day 2013.

5th Day of Christmas Giveaway - Nancy gave to us ... some trims. Draw will be on 17 December 2013.

6th Day of Christmas Giveaway - A Surprise Present! Draw will be on 18 December 2013.

7th Day of Christmas Giveaway - Pick your choice of a present! Draw will be on 19 December 2013.

8th Day of Christmas Giveaway - A $25 Gift Certificate! Draw will be on 20 December 2013.

9th Day of Christmas Giveaway - A present for you and a friend! Draw will be on 21 December 2013.

10th Day of Christmas Giveaway - Pick your present day! Draw will be on 22 December 2013.

11th Day of Christmas Giveaway - Fabric! Draw will be on 23 December 2013.

12th Day of Christmas Giveaway - A $50 Gift Certificate! Draw will be on 24 December 2013.

-ooOoo-

Freebies 

December freebie from Permin.

Permin has a new freebie which can be found here.

Grumpy Kitty by Brooke Noland.

Brooke Noland of Brooke's Books Publishing has a new cute "Grumpy Kitty" freebie.  You will have to scroll down the page to find him.

The Cross-Eyed Cricket have a new freebie snowman mitten called "Mustache-y Snowman".

Freebie from Le Chalet des Perelles.

Le Chalet des Perelles has a lovely little winter scene of a house and snowman.  Just click here.

Happy Stitching Everyone.

It's almost Christmas!!!

First of all I want to say Welcome to all my new followers.

Yes, I can say that I have been busy stitching!!  I know, it's about time!

While my husband was away, I got out my sewing machine.  I can now show you the OakHaven Owl cushion I've been planning to make for some time.  And here it is.

 

I'm so pleased with how it's turned out.  

I've also finally made up "The Prairie Schooler" Christmas designs I have been stitching for a few years.  I'm looking forward to seeing them on the Christmas Tree this year.  Here are a few photos of them.

I've also made some Christmas bell shaped ornaments with two Margaret Sherry designs in them.

Two bell shaped Christmas Tree decorations.

Hanging up the Christmas Stocking.

A present for you.

And lastly here is a WIP from one of the new Christmas cuties designs by Margaret Sherry from Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.  I just need to do the out lining and make up the card.

-ooOoo-

Christmas Freebies

A complimentary design  called "Seven Pines" can be found at the Little House Needleworks Blog, chart here and key here.

Here is a lovely little Christmas Owl I found at Holly's Hobbies.  The pdf can be found here.  For other freebies at Holly's Hobbies you can find them here.

Here is another design I thought you might like of Elk, which can be found here.

 And here again is Elk, which can be found here.

All the parts of "Positive Thinking" - can be found here.  Just scroll down for earlier parts.

 

Mary's Sampler II by Plum Street Samplers.

Mary's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers is now complete.

Here are all the links:-

Details can be found here, and here.

Mary's Sampler Part 1.

Mary's Sampler Part 2.

Mary's Sampler Part 3.

Mary's Sampler Part 4.

Mary's Sampler Part 5.

Mary's Sampler Part 6.

Mary's Sampler Part 7.

Mary's Sampler Part 8.

Mary's Sampler Part 9 (last).

Happy Stitching Everyone.