Happy Easter

 🐣🐰🐣 Happy Easter 🐣🐰🐣

I've put our Easter decorations out as our son, his girlfriend, our daughter and son-in-law are with us for dinner. Sadly my Mum and step-dad will not be able to come as my Mum is unwell, she has been ill for a couple of years and is now receiving palative care at home. 

They are still celebrating with all their Easter cards on display and my strp-dad has arranged a few chicks and chocolates too. 

My twisted hazelnut branch which was from my Grandmother's tree is on our mantle as always decorated with eggs. 

I've hung my ornaments on my metal tree along with a few more eggs. I do love this tree as I can display various ornaments at different times of the year. 

When visiting my husband's aunt recently she gave me a very quirky dog ornament. I had admired it on our previous visits and she gave it to me as I was the only person who had ever liked it. I love it as it is but Hubby managed to get some candles which we'll light later. What do you think, love it or not to your liking? 

My cactus are in flower which is very strange as they flowered early December so I thought they were Christmas ones but they look beautiful at the moment.

Today is opening day for the Needlecraft Haven Easter Exchange, this year we stitced an Easter card for our partners and included some Easter coloured threads. I'll be sharing photos later in April.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter 🐣

March Smalls

 

Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher is the host of Smalls SAL 2024, I love this SAL at the end of each month to see what little things everyone has stitched. 

This month I have stitched up two small kits, they should have been on mini hangers but I changed them into ornaments although it meant there wasn't much finishing room.

I have already shown my Wales keyring which was a birthday kit. It fits nicely for my scout HQ keys.

I have managed two Santas this month, one was larger than the others which took quite a while to do. Next month I'm going to repeat a few of the ones I did before as they are my favourites. 

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop

It's Blog Hop time - organised by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching the idea is to hop around everyone's blog following the links and discover the letters to reveal a hidden sayings. 

My letter is in the pink 🤔

My stitching to share is a mini cushion I stitched a few years ago. Back then I took a photo in our garden with our spring blooms in the spring sunshine. Very different to this year's weather - rain, rain and more rain.

I love hopping around everyone's blogs to find the letters ... and leave a message to wish everyone a Happy Easter 🐣 

Thank you for hopping by and leaving a comment, it's time now to hop over to 

http://guavagems.blogspot.com

🐣🐰🐣 Happy Easter 🐣🐰🐣

IHSW March 2024

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend is based on Facebook, hosted by Jo, Joyce, Ee Koon and Bonnie IHSW on Facebook. 

I'm enjoying being part of IHSW and seeing everyone's progress from stitchers around the world.

My tablecloth was originally a Round Robin in 2010 and was on the theme of the four seasons. It's been in my UFO bag for years. 

This is where I was at the end of February IHSW

I've been completing the kloster blocks for the edging and satin stitching the embellishing for each design. 

Although this weekend I didn't get much time to stitch I did stitch around another design and I turned a corner on the edging.

I'll be working on this when I can, I hope to take it on our cruise in April as it isn't much to pack. 

My Mum is quite unwell at the moment, she has been for the last 18 months. We're taking everything day by day so I can't really make firm stitching plans.

Gifted Gorgeousness March 2024

 

Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching. GG, on the 15th of each month, is when we share our latest gifts. These can be gifts given or received, or any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted. If you visit Jo's blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts, thanks Jo.

Our lovely daughter turned 30 last month. I always stitch something for her birthday and wanted to stitch something special for her special birthday. I found this dandelion chart on Etsy and added the wording. I love how it's turned out and very pleased with the frame I chose.

I've done a little more on my biscornu, the blues are so lovely.

I had fun stitching this little key ring that was a gift for my birthday last year. As usual with mini kits the fabric was a bit tight in size do I needed to get it placed just right but there was loads of spare thread. I've used it for my scout HQ keys.

My final gifts are from DJ, two beautiful Santas for my tree. Thank you so much DJ they are perfect.

If you would like to stitch a Santa for my tree at this year's Festival at St Laurence's Church, you can stitch on plastic canvas or perforated paper if you have any but if you'd prefer to stitch on fabric please use a design that is just Santa and is no more than 3" x 3" in size. 

If you send me your finished Santa on whatever you've used in a card it should be normal letter post. If sending from overseas please value your letter if asked for customs to £10 or equivalent. If a high value is put I may have to pay a custom charge, thanks.

I will add backing and hanging ribbon and make up any fabric ones. 

Let me know if you need anymore info, it would be so nice if you have time to stitch and send a Santa, it does make the tree special with ornaments from everyone, thank you.

This year I will be donating the Santas to charity, probably nearer the following Christmas and it will be to either a children's hospice, our local hospice or an old peoples' home. It seems a waste for the ornaments to sit in my attic in a tin so over the year I will be looking at where best they could be given.

March's Fully Finished Objects

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, is the super host of Fully Finished Objects. It's a great opportunity for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. It does make me feel like I've achieved something when I see my finishes.

This month I have three more Santas fully finished. You may have seen them in my Smalls post in February but they were not fully finished then and I appreciate not all my posts are seen and commented on. 

So here's my Santas.

I've received two gorgeous Santas from DJ, thank you. I'll be sharing them soon. Thank you to everyone who has pledged a Santa, the tree will look amazing.

I have now fully finished my Hen House which was for a challenge on Needlecraft Haven. I should have thought more where it was going before including the hanger, I may take it off and just have it free standing. 

This year I am trying to use up bits and pieces and recycling some items I have received, especially cards. 

Both these were cards from my good friend Mary, the egg was from a few years ago and I couldn't quite work out the finish shape. I bought an egg shaped tin this year which was the perfect template size. 

The robin was my Christmas card from Mary last year. Mary had already mounted it so I remived it from the card and remounted it as an ornament.

My final item for this month's FFO is a very special gift for our daughter's 30th birthday. I saw this design on Etsy and added the wording. It was a litte tricky to stitch with so many small sections but I love the effect.

Thank you again Rachel for hosting Fully Finished Objects and thank you to everyone who leaves a comment, I really do appreciate them all.

March plans

 This month I hope to: 

• work on my tablecloth 
• stitch on my biscornu 
• stitch two Santa ornaments
• stitch my Easter Exchange card
• stitch everyday on my embroidery

My main project is this month's WIPocalypse challenge to stitch on my embroidery every day.

This WIP is an online stitching course with Sarah at Hello Hooray. It's a circle of speciality stitches learning a new stitch each segment. I'm using my spare threads from old finished kits and I plan to make it into a circular table mat, that finish will be quite a challenge. I last worked on this in May 2022.

This is how far I am so far.

We don't have many plans at the start of the month, my Mum is unwell and is back in hospital. We are hoping to visit Cardiff later in the month to watch our son-in-law play rugby, his team is in the cup semifinal.

Hopefully I will have plenty of stitching time though as I have a few things that need doing.

Thank you for calling by, I do enjoy reading everyone's comments and messages