Stitch from Stash April

I haven't stitched quite so much this month - I have been a little unwell and missed a while but I am much better now and my needle is once again stitching !!

My spend this month is again ZERO - I am really enjoying the challenge of using all my bits and bobs.

Charts

• The Drawn Thread September - previously purchased
• Monthly challenge - free chart from Mausimom
• Gift - The Drawn Thread forget me not scissor keep (for Gill) free chart
• Santa's House (already purchased)
• Easter Egg - design from cross stitch book '2001 cross stich designs'
• Easter Rabbit for card - chart in old magazine

Fabric

• 28 count ecru
• 28 count cream
• perforated paper

Thread

• DMC colours as required for charts
• Variegated DMC 69

 

Finishing

• Green ribbon
• Card
• Felt red and cream
• Sewing backing fabric
• Cream cording

 

Additions to Stash 

Little House Needleworks Sheep Virtue series - gifted by my very generous friend Barb

• Patience
• Wisdom
• Simplicity
• Kindness
• Friendship
• Joyfulness
• Gratitude

Here are my finishes for April:

Easter card and Egg ornament for Alison
Needlecraft Haven Easter Exchange

The Drawn Thread Forget Me Not scissor keep for Gill
the scissor were also in my stash

My own design - a thank you for Barb for the charts
Barb looks after The Parlour at Needlecraft Haven

I have finished the stitching on my UFO
Angel Blessings - 2012 Round Robin

I started September - The Drawn Thread

A little more on Santa's House

I have also completed the April Monthly Challenge - Needlecraft Haven - but I can't share the photo just yet, that will be in my next blog.

Looking at the photos I still did a fair bit of stitching - hopefully a fair bit more in May.

Easter Blessings & Blog Hop

Happy Easter to you and all your family :)

I am taking part in Jo's Treasure Hunt Blog Hop this Easter - pop along to her blog to start hunting and hopping.

My Easter photo is April in the Drawn Thread calendar series

My letter is .......   O

Hop hop to now visit http://refreshedintent.blogspot.co.uk/ 

So my Easter news - it's a mixed day today as it's two years since Dad passed away - I've had a difficult two weeks both with my health and losing a close friend, but hopefully Easter weekend will be a turning point. We always took Dad away at Easter, when the children were younger to various parts of the UK and in later years to the caravan.



Easter Sunday outside the pub inn Wales
with a glass of whisky



I have been stitching but not much - I made a small ornament for Barb who looks after the Parlour at Needlecraft Haven. She kindly forwarded some charts to me so this was a little thank you gift by return (and yes I did keep to Stitch from Stash)

The parlour for Barb

And I have a HD - it's been a while but my Round Robin from 2012 is finally finished - thanks to Julie and Mr Stick for the weekend encouragement and to Dusty, Lynn, Tina, Jaclyn and Julie for your stitching on my RR.

Angle blessings
(a quick photo - it needs an iron and maybe a wash)

I have put together our Easter mantle, although I know there will be more to add. The branch from my Nan's tree is still ok from a year in the shed and we've already had three lovely cards.

Easter Mantle

The garden is also starting to bloom - the pixie clematis always flowers for Easter no matter when it falls. My herb pot is coming back to life so long a Ruby stops pinching the herbs :)

Pixie clematis

Herbs

I used some rosemary in our lamb dinner last night -  lamb for Passover and to accompany it the lovely Trivento Malbec as yesterday was World Malbec Day

Lamb dinner with Trivento Wine

I have started a new forum for wine lovers - similar to Needlecraft Haven but it's all about wine :) Cuvée Reserve is free to join - you just need a Yuku account :)

Have a great Easter - don't overdo the chocolate - thank you for hopping by !!


Two gifts

I can final share a couple of gifts I recently stitched. The first was for Marsha as a small thank you for John Foster.

I used a free online chart and all items were in my stash so still no spend on Stitch from Stash !!

Thank You gift for Marsha

My other gift was for a friend who I see regularly for coffee - last time she said 'you know you forgot my birthday' - I was mortified but as it wasn't in my diary I couldn't really be accused of forgetting, just not knowing.

To  make amends I quickly stitched this scissor keep - another freebie from The Drawn Thread and yes all the items were from my stash. The design was just perfect :)

Birthday gift for Gill

So far this month I have done very little stitching as my time has been organising and then blogging about our weekend in Oxford - you can read all about it in my other blog Aimetu's

Unfortunately my MS symptoms have reappeared. I did hope the double visit to my chiropractor would be the answer and although they really helped the numbness has not improved so Monday I started a short strong course of steroids. I really dislike taking them as they confuse my head, disrupt my sleep and general make me feel unwell; however they do work on my arms and legs. Hopefully by Easter I will be back to being me.

I picked this bunch up from our local Coop on Monday - reduced to £2.50 - what a bargain. They will last at least until the weekend if not longer as the lilies have plenty of buds still.

Just a short blog from me - thanks for reading my news :)

An exchange, a reveal, a treat and a WINNER !!

The weather here at the moment is beautiful - sunny days with the occasional shower (usually when I'm walking Ruby) but the garden is springing into life.

It was Opening Day yesterday for the first part of the Four Season's Exchange on Needlecraft Haven. This exchange happens for each season and members can sign up for as many as they like; all seasons, just one, or any two. There is no set finish but the design must be based on spring.

Alison was my partner, my parcel had arrived a few days ago so I had it hidden out of temptation until yesterday. Had I known the beautiful gift inside I would have had it open days ago - Alison stitched a beautiful blackwork pin cushion with beading - it's so intricate.

Blackwork pin cushion from Alison

My partner was Ursh who lives next door so my postie was Hubby early one morning on his way to work. I stitched a needleroll based on a Sweetheart Tree design. I changed the rose colours to yellow for spring.

Needleroll for Ursh

I like doing season themes; the summer exchange is now open for sign ups so that will be my next exchange - after the Easter one of course, but that is stitched ready to post.

The March Christmas Ornament Challenge has been revealed - this month Christine chose a snowman by Jura Point de Croix. It was a larger design and some stitchers chose to do it over one but I used 28 count. It is large but I didn't intend it to hang on the tree. The snowman gave me a little trouble for no reason but now he's done I love him.

March Christmas Challenge

Sunday was Mother's Day and we had quite a weekend. Philly came home from Uni on Friday night and Saturday we took both my Mum and stepdad and Hubby's Mum and partner out for lunch. Luckily Michael was off shift for the afternoon so we were a table of 8 - all the family together.

Sunday I was spoilt with Hubby buying me some beautiful tulips and a bottle of my favourite wine 'Sancerre'. Michael also bought me wine - a bottle of Wishbone sauvignon blanc - a new wine to me so that will be a great experience. Philippa bought me a beautiful engraved mirror for my handbag - it reads

When we're apart you're still in my heart. I love you always Mum x x x x

 

We popped into town and of course called into The Abbey as Michael was working - I insisted on a few selfies:

My gorgeous girl

Best bartender ever !!

 

My lovely Hubby Nick

My tulips from Hubby

 Back home Hubby made a lovely buffet which although it was a sunny day we decided to eat indoors. But not before we enjoyed the sun to taste and review a bottle of champagne I was sent by Tesco. I often get chosen to be one of their tasters - I must be getting it right, and it's quite an enjoyable task.

Michel Gonet Champagne

Stitching wise I am back on track with my rotation although I do have a small gift to get finished by Friday and another one to do as soon as possible. I have started September (The Drawn Thread) and tomorrow night is Santa's village. We are away this weekend but I will take my UFO Angel Blessings as there is not much to do - I might not do any as we're going to a wine tasting (bit of a recurring theme going on) but I'll be very annoyed if I get time and have not taken anything.

AND so to my Blogoversary giveaway - thank you to everyone who asked to be included - 14 bloggers in total, some well known acquaintances, some new friends who I hope will visit again.

All 14 went into the hat and the lucky lady is ...........

Bev C of Kainga Happenings out in Australia

I have yet to chose the items as they will be from my stash so I keep my no spend on Stitch from Stash but I'll be drawer, box and cupboard hunting in the next few days and sending a parcel to the other side of the world.

Thank you for calling by and sharing my news - happy stitching x x x