2013 in stitches

Once again I've had an erratic year in terms of blogging, but I have made steady progress with my stitching. These were my 2013 happy dances (I THINK this is all of them, but my blogging / photography means I might not have recorded/remembered all of them):

Cross Stitch Projects:
Fruit bell pull - Teresa Wentzler
Eeyore's problem - Designer stitches
Summer / autumn / winter - Blackbird Designs
Conchiti Drummer - NP Designs
Wool Needlebook - Little House Needleworks
Tatty Teddy 'A New Baby' - Anchor
My Heart is True pincushion - Nicoletta Farraruto and Blackbird Designs

Quilts Projects:
9-patch quilt
Strip the willow

Lace Projects:
Bedfordshire Rose Leaves

Knitting Projects:
'Leafy' headband by Happy Living
Green cardigan

At the start of 2013 I had the following WIPS:

*Eeyore's problem
*Gaelic banner
*Fruit Bell Pull
*Night
*Peacock Majesty
*A New Baby (Tatty Teddy)

*Green cardigan
*Crochet scarf

*Milanese lace
*Bedfordshire rose leaves


So how did I do with my goals? Last year I wanted to:
1) Finish A New Baby YES
2) Finish Gaelic Banner NOT QUITE!
3) Finish Night NO
4) Work on all of my other xs WIPs YES
5) Finish the green cardigan YES, APART FROM BLOCKING IT
6) Finish the crochet scarf NOPE
7) Finish Bedfordshire rose leaves YES
8) Start Wisteria lace edging YES
9) Make a quilt YES
~ and, as always ~
10) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!! OF COURSE :)


This year I am starting with the following WIPS:
*Gaelic Banner
*Peacock Majesty
*Night

*Grey Cardigan

*Wisteria Lace
*Milanese Lace

*Jigsaw Quilt

I THINK that's it....

In 2014 I'd like to:

1) Finish Gaelic Banner
2) Finish Night
3) Finish Peacock Majesty
4) Start a big Blackbird Designs
5) Finish the grey cardigan
6) Finish the crochet scarf
7) Work on Wisteria lace edging
9) Finish Jigsaw Quilt top
~ and, as always ~
10) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!! OF COURSE :)

2012 in Stitches

Having survived the food, family and booze and settled into the New Year, it's time for that yearly recap again!

This year my bloging was rather erratic (hope to improve on that this year), and as I sorted through my photos and stitching stash I even found finished projects I'd not shared. Tut tut! I've had a bit of a tidy up of this blog, moving the links of finished projects (which connected to webshots) to a newly created page. Amazingly I only had 3 listed finished projects where I couldn't find a photograph, one of which I'll photograph shortly; one of which I'm not sure where it is (bookmark...); the third was a gift. Oh well...It's not bad for 5 years worth of happy dances though!

Looking back I realised I accomplished much more than I thought I had. Only one enormous cross stitch, but 11 small and 6 medium projects, 2 lace projects, and (for the first time ever) I finished quilt-sized quilting projects - THREE of them! So here we go:

Cross stitch:
Unicorn ornament (TW)
Partridge in a Pear Tree ornament
Two Grey Hills (NP Designs)
Let's Get Fancy Scissor Fob (Sweetheart Tree)
Heartstruck Friends I (Midnight Stitching)
Summer Iris (Blackbird Designs)
Heartstruck Friends II (Midnight Stitching)
Quaker Pin cushions (Milady's Needle) - all six of them
Heartstruck Quakers I (Midnight Stitching)
Heartstruck Quakers II (Midnight Stitching)
E scissor fob
Lincoln Cathedral from Castle Grounds (Needlecraft Centre)

Art Nouveau Peacock (Barbara Thompson)

Christmas Mandolin (Mill Hill)

Lace Projects:

Bedfordshire Lace motif (Christine Springett)

Bedfordshire lace butterfly (Christine Springett)

Quilting projects:
Purple sampler quilt (my design)
Amish star (Oakshott)
Teacher's Pet

At the start of 2012 I had the following WIPS:

*Eeyore's problem
*Peacock firescreen
*Gaelic banner
*Fruit Bell Pull
*Lincoln Cathedral from Castle Grounds


*Green cardigan
*Crochet scarf

*Bedfordshire lace butterfly
*Milanese lace

*Amish star quilt
*Sampler quilt
*Teacher's pet quilt


So how did I do with my goals? Last year I wanted to:
1) Finish my Bedfordshire lace butterfly YES
2) Complete another lace project YES (but only a little one)
3) Finish Peacock firescreen YES. I also finished Lincoln Cathedral
4) Work on all three of my other xs WIPS YES - although I counted 4 others, not three.
5) Finish Teacher's pet quilt YES
6) Finish another quilt YES - I finished another TWO (but only just!)
7) Finish my green cardigan Almost, I'm in the process of stitching it up
8) Finish the crochet scarf Almost - all of the flowers are done, I just need to join them together
~ and, as always ~
9) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!! Of course, but this was an easy goal!

This year I am starting with the following WIPS:

*Eeyore's problem
*Gaelic banner
*Fruit Bell Pull
*Night
*Peacock Majesty
*A New Baby (Tatty Teddy)


*Green cardigan
*Crochet scarf

*Milanese lace

*Bedfordshire rose leaves

I THINK that's it....

In 2013 I'd like to:

1) Finish A New Baby

2) Finish Gaelic Banner

3) Finish Night

4) Work on all of my other xs WIPs

5) Finish the green cardigan

6) Finish the crochet scarf

7) Finish Bedfordshire rose leaves

8) Start Wisteria lace edging

9) Make a quilt

~ and, as always ~
10) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!! 

Yearly re-cap

I've been meaning to post this for weeks, but I never seen to find the time. So 2 weeks into January, here I am recapping 2011...

Last year I did a whole variety of crafting - I finished 4 medium to large cross stitches, 6 smaller cross stitches, 5 knitted projects, 1 crochet piece, 3 lace projects, 1 needle felting project and 1 small quilted project:

Cross stitch:
A New Beginning
Classic Pooh Birth sampler
Bird in Hand
Time for Harvest
Holiday holly biscornu
Hedgerow Birds
Celtic bookmark
Christmas pinkeep
Wild Thyme Fairy
Christmas joy needlebook

Knitting:
Lace scarf
Stripy socks
Zig zag scarf
Chenille cable scarf
Blue cardigan
Pink cable scarf

Lace projects:
Bedfordshire lace sampler
Bedfordshire lace flower
Christmas bangle ornament

Other crafts:
Crochet corsage
Needle felted mushroom
Pink heart quilted cushion

Much more variety and lots more knitting than last year, but my cross stitch productivity dropped off as a consequence!

At the start of the year I had the following WIPS:

* Eeyore's problem - some progress
* Peacock firescreen - lots of progress
* Gaelic banner - didn't touch it
* Wild Thyme fairy - FINISHED
* A new beginning - FINISHED

* Sampler quilt - some progress
* Amish star quilt - some progress
* Milanese lace - didn't touch it
* Bedfordshire lace flower - FINISHED
* Bedfordshire lace butterfly- FINISHED
* Lace ornament- FINISHED

This year I am starting with the following WIPs:
*Eeyore's problem
*Peacock firescreen
*Gaelic banner
*Fruit Bell Pull
*Lincoln Cathedral from Castle Grounds

*Green cardigan
*Crochet scarf

*Bedfordshire lace butterfly
*Milanese lace

*Amish star quilt
*Sampler quilt
*Teacher's pet quilt

So how did I do with my goals for 2011?

1) Finish Wild Thyme Fairy YES
2) Finish Peacock Firescreen NO
3) Work on the other 3 cross stitch WIPs I didn't touch Gaelic Banner, but I worked on the other two
4) Finish the lace ornament and 1 more lace project YES
5) Finish a quilt NO, but I am close with one
6) Start a large TW YES
7) Start Hedgerow Birds (Blackbird Designs)YES - and finished it!
8) Do the finishing on some of the many ornaments I stitched in 2010 NOT ONE :(
9) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!!(my favourite goal from 2010!!) ALWAYS :)

For 2012 I am going to attempt the following goals:

1) Finish my Bedfordshire lace butterfly
2) Complete another lace project
3) Finish Peacock firescreen
4) Work on all three of my other xs WIPS
5) Finish Teacher's pet quilt
6) Finish another quilt
7) Finish my green cardigan
8) Finish the crochet scarf
~ and, as always ~

9) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!!

Happy stitching everyone :)

Still here, still stitching...

Wow, it's been pretty busy round here lately. I have had time to stitch (a little), but no time to blog - how I miss reading about everyone's crafts, and life in general! Anyway, before I left work at Silly O'Clock (AGAIN) today, I promised myself I'd blog tonight. Of course it didn't occur to me to get my camera out of my lab coat pocket before I left... So there won't be photos. Not even of my TUSAL from 1 June - hey, at least I remembered to TAKE the photo :(

Well, it's nearly 3 weeks since I last blogged, so I ought to at least review my May goals!!! I said I wanted to:

1) Work on at least two xs WIPs YES, worked on lots of different projects - Peacock Firescreen, Pooh birth sampler, Bird in Hand (another new start), Lindsay's giveaway gift, fruit bellpull... I think that's it!
2) Finish knitting my scarf YES - I just need to sew in the loose ends and it's done
3) Start Helene's birth sampler YES
4) Start to stitch something with the lovely goodies Karin sent me from her giveawayNope... really must do this, I am waaaaay overdue (Sorry Karin)
5) Add the borders to my quilt top Nope, not had time to do anything other than admire it!
6) Make some lace YES - I've spent a couple of evenings working on the Bedfordshire Butterfly
7) Start my giveaway prize stitching, now I have the necessary supplies YES, just need to find a suitable backing fabric (I see a trip to the Skep in my near future)

So, what would I like to achieve in the rest of June???

1) stitch on my WIPs
2) resist more new starts, apart from...
3) something from the lovely things Karin sent me!

Happy stitching!

Spring florals

Well I've been off work for 13 days, and over that time I've met up with my mum, aunt cousin and cousin's son for the day, visited Margaret in Birmingham, bought some lovely new clothes and some lovely new stash, had good friends over for dinner, and then a very old friend and her son over for lunch, and done lots and lots of gardening, stitching, knitting and quilting! The glorious spring weather has helped make this a fabulous break, and I've really enjoyed watching our plants grow, flowers start to bloom, and the lovely floral fabrics that is 'Rural Jardin'

So over the last few days of this fantatsic break I've been watching lots of snooker and other TV while quilting and knitting. My scarf is now 2/3 done - I've just started with the 3rd and final ball of yarn. Thankfully no frogging of late :) As it hasn't changed in any way other than length I won't share another photo!!

I've also been racing ahead with the Teacher's Pet quilt top. Yesterday I laid out all of the blocks to finalise the arrangement. The suggested one from the pattern didn't quite work:



So I switched the top left block with one left over (there are 2 spare blocks, which will be cushions - both are identical with lots of cream, so I am pondering an applique something in the middle of the large cream square, with either the pink or red fabric, as that is what I'll have left over! Last night I stitched the rows together, and today I stitched the rows to each other. This photo is of the main part of the quilt top all stitched together (taken with a flash - the photo I took yesterday is much more accurate in terms of colour):



I'm really pleased how it has turned out - not too bad for my first quilt top! With hindsight I would have picked another fabric from the Rural Jardin range, and used the plain cream/beige for the setting triangles and another patterned fabric for the squares in the blocks, but it's far too late now!! Next I need to cut out and add the three borders - pink, then cream, then pale blue. But not for a couple of weeks - it's back to work tomorrow (boo!) and next weekend we are away on a lacemaking/bobbin turning course. I spent some time today pricking out my pattern (a sampler of advanced Bedfordshire Lace techniques) and finding (almost) everything I need to take.

As it is now May it's time to review and set some goals... In April I wanted to:

1) Get A New Beginning past the half way mark Yes!
2) Work on another WIP Yes! - Eeyore's Problem
3) Start fruit bell pull YES!!
4) Select and buy a chart for Helene's birth sampler Yes - it's a Classic Pooh birth sampler, which was her first choice!
5) Make some lace Nope, not a single bobbin was touched (apart from winding some this morning, which doesn't count as it's a) not making lace and b) May...)
6) Do some knitting YES!!
7) Do some quilting YES!!

And I am pretty happy with that!

In May I'd like to:

1) Work on at least two xs WIPs
2) Finish knitting my scarf
3) Start Helene's birth sampler
4) Start to stitch something with the lovely goodies Karin sent me from her giveaway
5) Add the borders to my quilt top
6) Make some lace
7) Start my giveaway prize stitching, now I have the necessary supplies

Not much, eh?

Happy Stitching x

April goals and TUSAL

It's time for another TUSAL! This month I added orts from Hedgerow Birds, A New Beginning and Holiday Holly Biscornu:



It's also a new month, so time to review those goals:

1) Finish Hedgerow Birds YES
2) work on another WIP YES - A New Beginning got a bit of work
3) knit the rest of the cardigan YES, and I finished sewing it up yesterday (admittedly in April, but I'm happy!)
4) make some lace (anything would do) On Friday (again in April) I finished the Christmas decoration
5) do some quilting YES, made a lovely quilt cover at the class I went to
6) start TW's Fruit Bell Pull, now I have all of the supplies Nope
7) I would also really like to get more of the biscornu done YES - another early April Happy Dance

Amazingly, in March and the first few days of April I had FIVE happy dances!!! I am amazed! I didn't get fruit bellpull started, but I can live with that.

in April I'd like to:

1) Get A New Beginning past the half way mark
2) Work on another WIP
3) Start fruit bell pull
4) Select and buy a chart for Helene's birth sampler
5) Make some lace
6) Do some knitting
7) Do some quilting

We'll see how that goes - on the plus side I do have nearly 2 weeks off over Easter!

Happy Stitching

March goals

It's that time of the month again....

February in review:
1) Finish sewing in the threads on the Bedfordshire flower, and also complete a lace ornament I have almost done yes to the flower, no to the ornamant. Disgracefully really, as it is so close!
2) Work on another lace project nope
3) Work on Hedgerow Birds yes, lots!
4) Work on another WIP no, but did start and finish a bookmark, and started a biscornu
5) Do some quilting yes, 2 more blocks done
6) Maybe start some knitting and this is where I did a lot - knitted 1 scarf, started another scarf, and knitted about 1/2 a cardigan!

So what would I like to achieve in March?
1) Finish Hedgerow Birds
2) work on another WIP
3) knit the rest of the cardigan
4) make some lace (anything would do)
5) do some quilting
6) start TW's Fruit Bell Pull, now I have all of the supplies
7) I would also really like to get more of the biscornu done, but I've found the 32ct fabric hard on my eyes (which is unusual for me), so we'll see

And if I do achieve all that it will be a miracle!

Progress and Goals

I have a confession to make - I've been off work for a couple of weeks with anxiety/stress... so I've made WAY more progress on everything than normal. I'm feeling much better now, and hope to get back to work soon. But on the plus side it's been a great opportunity for some real progress - with all of my crafts!

On Sunday I felt like quilting - and pulled out Amish star. I completed 3 more blocks, making that 4 in total, and therefore 1/4 of the blocks are done. Here are some photos:

This one is my favourite so far... it's the colours...





And all 4 blocks together

I've also been stitching Hedgerow Birds, and I'm really happy with the progress so far:

Hedgerow Birds, Blackbird Designs

Thanks to Gio for answering my question about the floss - I had a feeling you'd know ;)

Also, I completely forgot to answer a question Gina had about Wild Thyme Fairy - in actual fact the amount of back stitching wasn't too bad at all. I did most of it in one evening, and for the most part is wasn't fiddly - long stitches, and only one colour. The face detail was a little more complicated, as it's essentially over one, but there was so little of it, that armed with a sharp needle, it was not too bad at all. The BS on this was much better than on Pooh and Eeyore, let alone a TW or Dracolair!!

Right, time for February goals... I was quite pleased with my progress in January:

1) stitch an ornament did two
2) finish Wild Thyme Fairy yes
3) start Hedgerow Birds yes
4) work on another WIP yes - A New Beggining got quite a bit of attention
5) lace, hopefully... yes - the flower motif is almost finished

February goals:

1) Finish sewing in the threads on the Bedfordshire flower, and also complete a lace ornament I have almost done
2) Work on another lace project
3) Work on Hedgerow Birds
4) Work on another WIP
5) Do some quilting
6) Maybe start some knitting

That should keep me busy :)

I'll try and post about my lace tomorrow... hopefully I'll have finished it by then.

Happy Stitching!

Fancied a change...

I know, I know, there was a happy dance sooooo close, but I just couldn't resist. I didn't have much time for stitching in the week. On Friday the fairy definitely WASN'T calling to me... I fancied some hand dyed fabric and fibres... so I looked at what supplies I'd bought in for ornament stitching and started Christmas Joy Needlebook by Cherished Stitches from the 2009 JCS ornament issue. I finished it earlier today - what a beauty:


Christmas Joy Needlebook, by Cherished Stitches
Stitched ob Sparklies 32ct Parchment in Weeks and GAST.

Hmm, the finishing into a needlebook looks a bit more advanced than anything I've ever done before, but hey, time to learn somehting new :) But not just yet ;)

Anyway, I also realised that I never reviewed my December goals... so here we go:

In December I wanted to:

1) work on my lace project hmmm, maybe for 1/2 hour
2) finish another WIP yes, Pooh and Eeyore
3) start something new started and finished stitching Holiday Peacock
4) do the finishing for some ornaments erm, no, didn't find the time :( - the only ones I did this year were for the TWCOE
5) do some quilting did the first square of Amish Star

Not bad, all in all.

So what for January:

1) stitch an ornament (yes, I've done that, but I'd planned to do one this month)
2) finish Wild Thyme Fairy
3) start Hedgerow Birds
4) work on another WIP
5) lace, hopefully...

Finally, Avivah asked what an ORT is - it's an old ratty thread. I had to ask that a couple of years ago, but it's a great phrase.

Yearly re-cap

2011 is already rushing past at an alarming rate (how can I be back at work already????). I really need to sum up my 2010 stitching!

Medium-sized and larger cross stitch happy dances (7):

*Pooh and Eeyore
*Fantasy Triptych
*Sunflower charms
*Mini Greek Island
*Laugharne Castle
*Postman Pat birth sampler
*Pomegranate and Pear Stitches

Ornaments and other small cross stitch (13):

*Joy, Love & Peace
*Storyteller ornament
*Holiday Peacock
*French Country Star
*Peace
*Snowdon
*Oh Christmas Tree
*Winter sampler
*Santa's buddies
*Dragonfly pincushion
*Holly ornament
*Peacock heart
*Winter song

Knitting and other crafts (6):

*Cable knit scarf
*Stripy scarf
*Lacy scarf
*Tulip Scissor Keep
*Quilted mat
*Torchon lace garter

I stitched slightly fewer medium-large projects than last year (9), but more smalls (up from 6) and did lots more non-cross stitch crafting compared with last year, when I completed 2 lace projects. I was also pleased that I managed to blog more often in 2010.

At the start of 2010 I had the following WIPs:
* Eeyore's problem didn't touch it
* Peacock firescreen made good progress
* Fantasy triptych FINISHED!!!
* Gaelic banner didn't touch this one either
* Wild Thyme fairy getting close...
* Postman Pat FINISHED!!

This year I am starting with the following WIPs:
* Eeyore's problem
* Peacock firescreen
* Gaelic banner
* Wild Thyme fairy
* A new beginning

* Sampler quilt
* Amish star quilt
* Milanese lace
* Bedfordshire lace flower
* Bedfordshire lace butterfly
* Lace ornament

Hmm, that's quite a bit on the go :)

So how did I do with my goals for 2010?

1) finish Postman Pat YES
2) finish Fantasy Triptych YES
3a) finish at least one more WIP NO but I finished my Jan 1st start - Pomegranate and Pear Stitches
3b) and make good progress on all of the rest partially met - I didn't stitch on two WIPs
4) start another large TW NO, still not decided which one!
5) stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!! HELL YES :) )

So what for 2011:

1) Finish Wild Thyme Fairy
2) Finish Peacock Firescreen
3) Work on the other 3 cross stitch WIPs
4) Finish the lace ornament and 1 more lace project
5) Finish a quilt
6) Start a large TW
7) Start Hedgerow Birds (Blackbird Designs)
8) Do the finishing on some of the many ornaments I stitched in 2010
9) Stitch lots, on what I want, and enjoy it!!(my favourite goal from 2010!!)

I think that will keep me going ;)

December goals

I'm trying to to think about the fact it's December, that Christmas is on the way, and I've not really done any Christmas shopping to speak of... but it is time to review those goals ;)

In November I wanted to:
1) Make good progress on Peacock Firescreen yes
2) Finish Pooh and Eeyore no, there's not much to do, but I didn't touch it!!
3) Finish Tulip scissor fob by Sue Hawkins yes
4) Stitch two ornaments I stitched 4, including 2 for the TWCOE
5) Work on my lace project a little bit
6) Work on another WIP yes - Wild Thyme Fairy

Not bad, all in all.

I seem to have forgotten to post the ornament HD that I completed earlier this month... French Country Star by JBW Designs from the 2010 JCS ornie magazine:


It was a fun piece to stitch.

So, what do I want to do in December?

1) work on my lace project
2) finish another WIP
3) start something new
4) do the finishing for some ornaments
5) do some quilting

Yes, I'm going for 'quite vague' this month!!!

I didn't really participate in NaBloPoMo month, but I did try and post more often - something I did achieve - 12 posts in all.

November goals

It's time to recap those goals and set some more. So how did I do in November?

1) Finish FT YES
2) Finish my scarf YES
3) Knit 2 chunky scraves for a charity event YES
4) Stitch an ornie YES - Snowdon by Jemini Designs
5) Work on another WIP - YES - Peacock Firescreen
6) Buy my 3 stone lost stitching treat - YES - not what I'd intended (A BBD Loose Feathers chart, fabbie and threads), but some lovely speciality threads for Christmas ornament stitching!!

I also made the lovely quilted mat at the weekend.

I don't think I've ever met all of my goals before :)

So, what do I want to achieve in November???

1) Make good progress on Peacock Firescreen
2) Finish Pooh and Eeyore
3) Finish Tulip scissor fob by Sue Hawkins
4) Stitch two ornaments
5) Work on my lace project
6) Work on another WIP.

Should be a busy month!!!

October goals

well I knew finishing the xs on Fantasy Triptych was a long shot. I might have managed it, but Thursday night I helped a friend move house, rather than coming home and stitching, which completely kyboshed any attempt to get it done! Last night I did the maiden's hair and dress, and now just need to do the over 1 (I'm going to convert her hand to over one) and the speciality stitches - which technically means I've now completed the xs!!!! Woooooo!!!

Anyway, it's time to recap September's goals:

1) Finish the xs on Fantasy Triptych - close, but no banana...
2) Work on Pooh and Eeyore - yes
3) Stitch an ornament - nope
4) Make good progress with my lace - I made progress, but I wouldn't call it good!!
5) Finish my scarf - nope
6) work on another WIP - not that I remember...

Now term has started, life gets hectic again, so I need to be a bit more realistic... yeah right!!! So here are October's optomistic goals:

1) Finish FT
2) Finish my scarf
3) Knit 2 chunky scraves for a charity event - for Cancer UK a group of knitters are trying to knit enough scarves to fit around the walls of York... more on this to come!!!
4) Stitch an ornie
5) Work on another WIP
6) Buy my 3 stone lost stitching treat

Lets see how I get on!!

September goals

Well as usual as soon as the schools start to go back, the sun remembers it's actually not Autumn/Winter, and comes out to play. Which I'm happy about as I'm still off work :)

Not done a huge amount of stitching today - I went to weight watchers with Louise, unsurprisingly I put on 1/2 lb - not bad after all the food I ate over my weekend away. Lou came over for tea - Eddy cooked us two lovely veggie curries, with rice and naan bread. Afterwards we made a little lace. And I mean a LITTLE... too much giggling and chatting for serious progress!

Anyway, I popped on here to review my August goals, and set new ones. In August I aimed to:
1) finish Krista's garter - yes, and it arrived in time to get to the wedding!
2) work on Fantasy triptych - yes
3) finish Sunflower charms - yes
4) work on another WIP - did a little on Peacock Firescreen
5) stitch an ornament - yes, LHN's Winter Sampler

I also did a little quilting, knitted half a scarf and started Pooh and Eeyore.

In September I would like to:
1) Finish the xs on Fantasy Triptych
2) Work on Pooh and Eeyore
3) Stitch an ornament
4) Make good progress with my lace
5) Finish my scarf
6) work on another WIP

I'm starting to look towards the end of the year, and what I'd like to have finished... we'll see how that goes. I'm going to focus on one piece for the most part, with other stitching in there for a break. I'd like to finish FT and another WIP, maybe Wild Thyme Fairy, by the end of the year if I can.

Happy stitching everyone :)

August goals

I've not got any photos to share - I've been focusing on the garter this week, and as it's a repetitive pattern, the photo would look the same as in the last post about it!

Because of the need to focus on the lace garter, I kept my July goals simple:

1) work on at least 2 WIPS - yes - Fantasy Triptych and Sunflower Charms
2) complete 25 inches of lace - I've done just over 24 inches, but my lace goal has changed, which I'll explain in a bit...
3) stitch an ornament - yes, I stitched Santa's Buddies
I also worked on Tulip Scissor Keeper by Sue Hawkins

August goals:
1) finish Krista's garter
2) work on Fantasy triptych
3) finish Sunflower charms
4) work on another WIP
5) stitch an ornament

I'm going to finish the garter this week. When I started it, I asked Krista to measure her thigh. She emailed back 19 inches. About 10 days ago I got thinking, and decided that sounded quite big for Krista (who is about a UK size 6-8/US size 2-4). So I measured my thigh, and got 21 inches. After stewing about this for a few days I asked Krista to double check the measurement - which is now 17 inches (as she said herself - either she can't use a tape measure or she's lost a ton of weight very quickly!!). So 1.5 x 17 is 25.5 inches of lace. As the pattern repeat is close to an inch I decided to make a little more than 25.5 inches - so 26... which is 2 inches and ONLY 2 PATTERN REPEATS from where I am now... the end is in sight!!!!!

I'm hoping to finish making the lace on Wednesday, ready to join the ends, sew the threads into the lace and add some elastic and ribbon. I'm trying to use 'magic threads' to make all of this easier - basically I have coloured loops of thread worked into my lace, so at the end I just pass a bobbin through a loop to pull the bobbin thread through the start of the lace, tie the pair off, then use more magic threads to loop each thread again and pull it back through the worked lace. Simple. In theory. I've never tried it on something of this scale before though... wish me luck!!!!

July goals

I've had a busy week at work, and I've been so tired it's really affected my stitching mojo - not good when you have a deadline to meet...

So how did I do with my goals? In June I wanted to:

1) Start A New Beginning (Abbey Lane Designs) - yes
2) Complete 15 inches of lace (I have a deadline after all) - done about 12 inches, so not bad
3) Stitch an ornament - no
4) Work on a WIP - yes picked up Fantasy Triptych again
5) Start one of the Blackbird Design that I bought on holiday - yes, I've started one - will share a photo tomorrow!

In July I'd like to:

1) work on at least 2 WIPS
2) complete 25 inches of lace
3) stitch an ornament

I'm keeping it simple as I really need to get Krista's garter done before her wedding!!!

Last weekend was Krista's hen weekend - and it was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with my school friends, Leanne, Julie, Anne, Michaela and Krista. On the Friday night Leanne, Julie, Michaela and I went to a barn dance in Anne's village, partly organised by her husband. The wine flowed and we were all really giggly all night - it was wonderful fun. The highlight was eating THE BEST LASAGNE we'd ever tasted (from the deli Anne works at) at about 1 in the morning in Anne's garden!! Julie, Leanne and I crashed at Michaela's, but didn't go to bed until the sun was beginning to creep over the horizon!!

The next day we'd organised a little surprise for Krista - she'd split her hen do into 2 halves - Julie and I had decided to join her for a spa day on the Sunday, the others were going to see a show at the local theatre. Krista's mum and sister organised surprise drinks for her before the show - the first time all 6 of us have got together since Anne's wedding 7 years ago!! Krista's mum managed to get her out of the house unawares we were waiting for her in the pub with balloons, presents and kir royale. It was a really fun evening:


Me, Michaela, Julie, Krista, Leanne, Anne

The next day at the spa was wonderful too. I had an amazing hot stones massage, then chilled out in the pool and hot tub til lunchtime - a wonderful 3 course extravaganza - in the afternoon we sat in the sun with a cuppa, enjoyed the saunas and steam rooms, swam again and sunbathed. Bliss!!!

June goals

With that long holiday in America and then work getting in the way, I've not set any goals since March... so, have I acheived my March goals? Let's have a quick recap:

In March I'd like to:
1) finish the ornie I started - yes (I think I meant the swwetheart tree one)
2) stitch another ornie - no, don't think so
3) work on FT - a little bit
4) pick up another WIP - yes, I've worked on Mini Greek Island and Wild Thyme Fairy, at least
5) MAKE SOME LACE (I mean it this time!!) - yes - I've done a lace course where I started a new Bedfordshire piece, I've worked on the Beds a little more since, and I started the garter.

In June I'd like to:

1) Start A New Beginning (Abbey Lane Designs) - I'm cheting here, I started it last night - perhaps stitch 2 motifs?
2) Complete 15 inches of lace (I have a deadline after all)
3) Stitch an ornament
4) Work on a WIP
5) Start one of the Blackbird Design that I bought on holiday

March goals

Wow, another month has flown by... time for some more goals!

In Feb I wanted to:
1) Finish Knight panel of FT yes
2) start the maiden panel on FT yes - only 2 lengths so far but it counts!
3) finish Postman Pat sampler yes
4) stitch an ornie almost - just need to add a few beads
5) work on a different WIP I did a tiny bit on Wild Thyme Fairy
6) make some lace (not done any for AGES!!) nope
I also stitched Laugharne Castle - so that's 2 HDs this month!!

In March I'd like to:
1) finish the ornie I started
2) stitch another ornie
3) work on FT
4) pick up another WIP
5) MAKE SOME LACE (I mean it this time!!)

February goals

At the start of January I was very engrossed with Pommegramates and Pears, hoping to make great progress, but also to actually pick something else up (which took up goals 1-3). I did start P&P (goal 1), make good progress (goal 2) and I did work on somehting else (goal 3)... I also finished it!

My other goals were:
4) finish the knight panel on FT - not quite. I did all of the cross stitch, but none of the half stitch, over 1 or back stitch
5) stitch an ornie - yes, a sticking by Blackbird designs
6) make significant progress on Postman Pat - yes, getting close to finishing him now
7) stitch on another WIP, if I find the time - no. I didn't find time, but more importantly didn't have the inclination!

So, what do I want to achieve in February?
1) Finish Knight panel of FT
2) start the maiden panel on FT
3) finish Postman Pat sampler
4) stitch an ornie
5) work on a different WIP
6) make some lace (not done any for AGES!!)

January goals

Hmmm, I didn't have time to set any goals at the beginning of the month - too busy recapping the last year! I also didn't set any in December, so I'll take my November goals as November/December goals:

1) Finish waiting for ships yes
2) stitch an ornie yes, two for the TWCOE
3) work on Fantasy tripych yes, finished the knight, apart from his face
4) work on Gaelic banner yes
5) a new start, yet to be determined! yes, two - Postman Pat and Wild Thyme Fairy

January goals:
1) start new project on Jan 1st yes, Pomegranate and Pears Stitches :)
2) get 1/2 of Pomegranate and Pears done almost there already...
3) Pick up SOMETHING other than P&P for stitching this week...
seriously...
I'd also like to
4) finish the knight panel on FT
5) stitch an ornie
6) make significant progress on Postman Pat
7) stitch on another WIP, if I find the time

So, guess what I was unable to put down yesterday:


I had a long first day back at work today, but after I've posted I'll pick up some stitching. It's Monday so it should be FT, but I suspect it will be P&P...

While most of my WIPs haven't changed since I last photographed them, I did make some progress with Wild Thyme Fairy over Christmas, mostly with the left foreground...



Thanks for popping by :)