Ready, steady, go

As I said in my first 2016 post I have joined Mabel Figworthy's Round In Circles SAL. I can do hardanger but am self taught so I want to have a go at doing it properly. That being said I have treated myself to new needles - a packet of each size needed.

I was such a lucky lady at Christmas to receive a beautiful beaded needlecase made by Lindsay and from herself, Julie, Angi and Gill. It's now the keeper of my old but much loved needles which I'll still be using in my other projects. Quite a few years ago Moll, a lovely lady from Norway, stitched me a beautiful needlecase and I am using this for my new needles. I am using a side per needle number so I know which size is which.

My new needles, beautiful beaded case for my old
favourites and needlecase for my new ones

Size 22 on the first page

Size 24 on the left and size 26 on the right

Size 28 on the last page

Quite organised aren't I - I hope it lasts. Although I bought new needles and the lovely Mel is no longer doing Stitch from Stash, I do want to use up more of my thread and fabric again this year. I have plenty of white perle but did struggle to find matching light and dark in sizes 5 and 8. I have chosen a dark pink (part used skein) and a light pink in perle 5 and a varigated pink in perle 8 - hopefully it will look ok. I'm working on 22 count hardanger in white.

Fabric and thread ready to go 

I have another finish too - that's three this month already. A while ago I was luckily chosen by Gillie for her giveaway - Earth Sampler by The Primitive Needle. I started it then paused a while as other stuff needed doing. Anyway I picked it up this weekend to stitch along with the members of Needlework Haven to do some UFO work and I've finished it :) I'm just waiting for the frame to arrive now to finish it completely.

Chart from Gillie's giveaway

My finished stitching (it's on white although looks blue)

I'm going to return the gesture and offer the chart as a giveaway - please put a 'smiley face' (just the symbols will be fine if you can't do the little image) along with your comment and I'll include you in the draw which will take place on Friday 22nd January - if you are new to my blog through hearing about the giveaway I hope you've enjoyed reading and that you'll visit again soon.

Finally something special - I'm (and my blog) the feature in February's Cross Stitch Collection magazine - you'll see me on page five :) I'm not sharing a photo of the page as it's unfair on the magazine publishers and with many online sources magazines have a difficult selling job - I will say they are getting expensive though. Anyway I will be sharing the page sometime soon - I was very honoured to be chosen, it certainly made me smile.

It is with sadness that as I write this blog the news has broken that Alan Rickman has passed away, aged 69, from cancer. Sad news just a few days ago as well that David Bowie had also passed away. Both people who have been part of my life in different ways and who's talent will be missed but who have left great memories behind for us all to share. I have a particular soft spot for Professor Snape.

Thank you for calling by, I hope your 2016 stitching and crafting has begun with a flourish, happy stitching.