Thank you to all my friends

I've had a lovely Christmas with friends and family - thank you everyone x x 

Here's all our festive fun in pictures :)

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

I hope you've all had a good Christmas

with your loved ones - Merry Christmas x x x

 

Wishing you and your families a very Happy New Year !!



Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and I think we're done. I have a few things to finish off in the kitchen but all the gifts are wrapped and have been delivered or are waiting under the tree for tomorrow.

I have no photos to share in this post - I just want to wish you all a wonderful time with loved ones present, and cherished memories of loved ones passed, so here's something from us to you (click for link)

Merry Christmas  

Stitch from Stash 2014 - December.... the final !!

I cannot believe it's the final posting for Stitch from Stash 2014 - a HUGE thank you to Mel for all her hard work in organising and running this fun online challenge ..... and for doing it all again next year !!

I have managed to have a zero spend for half the year - I didn't spend anything until May but seemed to spend more in the following months, although most things were for gifts, exchanges or meet up goody bags.

So here is my final month of 2014's report:

Charts

• Jardin Prive - Friendship
• Monthly Challenge - Ancsanaplo - Winter
• Monthly Challenge - Pigna di Natale - Christmas Pine Cone
• CCN - Santa's Sleighworks

Fabric

• 32ct white evenweave
• 14ct sage green aida

Thread

• DMC as chart requires

Finishing

• Green Merry Christmas Ribbon
• Red Season's Greeting Ribbon
• Christmas bells backing fabric
• stuffing

Additions to Stash

• Two Lizzie Kate charts (gifts to be stitched in 2015 so cannot say which)
• 32ct Permin Linen Lambswool

Total spend £20.66

 

I am so looking forward to 2015, although I need to re-read the rules as a few things have changed. My stash boxes are no longer in the attic so I will be able to get finishing items, threads and fabrics much easier. I think my stitching has increased since I brought them down too as I know I put off finishing before because of having to go up the ladder.

 

I have finished November and December's monthly challenge on Needlecraft Haven but I can only share November's and I have started work on my Santa's Village table cloth again which I stitch every Wednesday in The Parlour on Needlecraft Haven.

 

November Monthly Challenge

Santa's Sleighworks

I have three exciting projects for 2015 - all special gifts so I cannot share on my blog until they are received. I have already bought the charts (that's my spending this month) and am going to start one today because I'm so excited about it)

My total spend in 2014 was .........  £105.40 which is less than £10 a month - I'm quite proud of my small spending amount and I'm sure Hubby is pleased too :)

10 days until Christmas

We've had The Round Table (charity collection) round tonight with Santa on his sleigh all lit up, music playing. His visit every year makes the start of Christmas for me - I just love to see him on his sleigh.

Our decorations have been up a while - earlier than ever before. I have finished shopping and wrapping - earlier than ever before too hee hee. Our tree this year is in the lounge ad we can again safely put gifts underneath it. I have my usual snowmen on the mantle and mistletoe in our hall, visitors you have been warned.

Our tree filled with ornaments 

Our Christmas mantle

'I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus'

I have some cooking to do but nothing much until nearer Christmas Day - we will be 8 for Christmas Dinner but we're out on Boxing Day so I don't need to do party stuff.

I have finished my monthly challenge from Needlecraft Haven ... for November !! A little late but I have also finished the one for December but I can't share that one just yet.

November Christmas Ornament

and I have finally been stitching on my Santa Village table cloth - I knew it had been a while but when I check it was early September when I last did any work on it. My rotation has completely stopped and consequently my stitching has been very slow. I definitely stitch more when using a rotation plan. Here's my progress on CCN Santa's Sleighworks.

Sleigh progress

I hope all your festive plans are going well - remember though it is just one day and gifts are given for love/friendship not value or cost. Take time to enjoy getting everything ready, there's nothing better than a coffee break surrounded by wrapping, ribbon and tinsel.

Merry Christmas everyone x x

Christmas is coming !!

It's December 1st so Christmas is coming and I have started to put a few things around the house; namely our advent lights, count down board, Santa's Workshop and Gingerbread House candle holders, advent calendar and advent candle.

Scandinavian advent candle 

December mantle with advent calendar & candle

Count down

We've also received our first few Christmas cards so I have put up one of our Santa card holders - by Christmas we have usually filled the two we have.

Santa card holder

Needlecraft Haven has turned festive with a whole section just for Christmas and today is Opening Day for the Ornament Exchange. I received a lovely ornament and card signed by my ' secret stitcher' as Christine will reveal who sent to who once all the ornaments have been received. I have no idea who sent mine but it's gorgeous - thank you secret stitcher.

Christmas Ornament Exchange

I'm sure mine has arrived but I'm not saying with who or where and I can't share a photo just yet.

Saturday was the Grande Finale in our 100 Wine Challenge for scouts - I will be blogging on Aimetu's later this week but I wanted to share a photo of the gorgeous gifts we received as a 'thank you' - a real surprised which really touched me.

A beautiful bouquet

Great wine man

I hope you are all beginning to be in the festive mood and not just weighed down with shopping, wrapping and baking. It's a time to be enjoyed not exhausted.

Thanks for calling by and reading my Advent news :)

Finally ....... (and Stitch from Stash November)

..... I have finished the October Christmas Ornament Challenge on Needlecraft Haven - I am so behind with this, I haven't even started November's yet. I seem to have fired off at great guns at the start of the year but slowed down to an almost stop at the end of the year. I do hope 2015 spurts me on again.

Anyway Christine chose Little House Needleworks freebie Seven Pines - you can find it here http://littlehouseneedleworks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-special-little-something.html

October Challenge

I have also finished another Christmas ornament but I cannot share that with you just yet as it's for the Needlecraft Haven Ornament Exchange.

Do you remember my travel sewing box I made out of an old watch box? Well inspired by Julie at the latest meet up I have added an item and I think now finished my box - and I love it :)

Here is the box all packed with scissors, threads, measure tape and my new orts pin cushion. I have covered the inner lid of the box too.

Travel sewing box

I used an old jam jar from Saints and used it to make a pin cushion orts jar - somewhere to stick my needle and pins and collect my orts when on holiday.

My pin cushion orts jar

With the lid off

 I'm quite pleased with my evening's finishing work - hopefully a little of stitching tomorrow.

I have just realised it's nearly the end of the month so I best add my Stitch from Stash report. I have loved doing this, it's amazing what you find when you look. I have had a bit of a spend this month though.

Charts

• LHN - Christmas Exchange
• Tudor Rose - Craftville freebie - gift
• Monthly Challenge October - LHN Seven Pines

Fabric

• 28ct ecru
• 28ct white
• 28ct light green

Thread

• DMC as chart requires

Finishing

• Christmas backing fabric
• Sewing fabric
• Red & green cording
• Stuffing

Additions to Stash

• plastic coaster for gift
• magnifier
• small stitching frame
• John James easy threading needles
• Anchor kit - Valentines
• Bag of stuffing 
• 4 rolls of cording

Total spend £39.81

Thank you for reading my news and for leaving your lovely comments.

A quick catch up

I don't have any news really but have a few spare minutes (I'm taking it easy this week) so I thought I'd just add a little to my blog.

After chatting to my stitching friends on Saturday I decided to treat myself to two new stitching accessories - a mini magnifier and a small R & R stitching frame. They've arrived today along with some John James easy threading needles and an Anchor kit I fancied.

November treats

I'll have to practice with the magnifier as it does make my head a bit dizzy - I guess it's like getting used to new glasses.

I bought a chart from Jardin Prive for when Dusty came - I saw it an thought how appropriate so kitted it up for each of us to stitch. Unfortunately Dusty couldn't start hers here as she needs her magnifier but I stitched the two ladies  - it will be a lovely SAL to do, a reminder of the great memories of our time together.

Jardin Prive - friendship is made



My start whilst Dusty was here

I'm busy working on the Needlecraft Haven Christmas Ornament exchange - hopefully I will be finished tonight. I can then finish it and finish October's Monthly Challenge. It will be time to stitch November's Challenge then and see if I can get my December Drawn Thread done too.

My stitching was going great guns at the start of the year but definitely slowed down. Next year I am not doing as many exchanges, either stitching or organising, nor am I doing a Round Robin. I'll still be doing the monthly challenge but I'd like to have a year of finishing as I have quite a few stitched pieces that I have yet to finish up.

Thanks for popping by and reading my little catch up, your comments are always appreciated, thank you :)  

London, a Meet Up and the Cotswolds (photo heavy)

What a week and we still have a day together - it's been lovely having Dusty here - we've been very busy. Thursday we took the train to London. We saw Buckingham Palace, shopped in Harrods, had afternoon tea at the Knightsbridge Green Hotel, saw Big Ben, saw the Tower of London with the poppies .... and collapsed exhausted on the train home !!

Buckingham Palace

Outside Harrods

Inside Harrods

Champagne with afternoon tea

Afternoon tea

Cheers Dusty

Big Ben

We did manage to capture a few London photo without the smiling faces getting in the way. We were so lucky in that at Buckingham Palace the mounted police were escorting visiting Diplomats back to their Embassies. The state carriages looked splendid - a real treat to see.

Carriages leaving Buckingham Palace

London Eye all lit up

Harrods at dusk

 After an amazing Thursday we had an amazing Saturday as it was Needlecraft Haven's autumn meet up at Saints in Nuneaton. I do enjoy the meet up days - it was a little busy on Friday baking cakes and sorting exchange bags but Saturday was superb, meeting up with 11 other stitchers,

from left to right at the back - Rachael, Clare & Julie
at the front - Angie, Gill, Angi, Jan, Dusty, Maggie, Lindsay, Kate & Ursh 

Dusty's surprise coasters

The stitching and beading that everyone brought to show was stunning - I'm not sure who stitched what but it was all so beautiful.

As always we had a book exchange, a raffle (the money goes to keep Needlecraft Haven advert free) and a Goody Bag exchange. The theme this time was Saints (as a tribute to the pub' new name) I made lemon muffins and chocolate and orange cupcakes for the  exchange (St Clements in the nursery rhyme).

Goody Bag Exchange

Exchange cup cakes
 

Angi was my Goody Bag partner and my Book Exchange partner - her bag was themed on St George and was full of items to do with England. My bag was themed on St Ambrose the saint of Bee Keepers and Angi won mine so a good swap. Angi was also my Book Exchange partner.

My St George goody bag from Angi

A bottle of beer fro Hubby
in my Goody Bag

My Book Exchange from Angi

Everyone was busy stitching

Today we've had a drive round the Cotswolds - just to see England's green and pleasant land, all be it a bit dull and drizzly.

We found a lovely tea room in Moreton-in-the-Marsh called Mrs T Potts - super cheese scones with onion chutney and cream cheese. As the photos show it's been an amazing week with Dusty here - I will be very, very sad when she goes home but we have already made plans for her return !!!


Dusty and Me outside Mrs T Potts !!