BACK AGAIN . . .

Sorry, I've been AWOL again but too many horrible emotional things happened last year and I've just needed some more time to get back on track again!  It's funny when you've been on that so often quoted 'emotional rollercoaster', it leaves you not quite knowing who or what you are and priorities all change place on your Agenda!  I'm not the first, I won't be the last and I know things will fall back into place!

Enough of the doom ~ let me wish you all a somewhat belated HAPPY NEW YEAR and I hope you all had a great Christmas and enjoyed all your festivities.  I expect you're all fed up with looking at pictures of the fluffy white stuff  BUT you have to admit it was sooooo pretty . . . 

So many bad things happened last year that I never got round to showing you the work we had done in the back garden, our horrible black iron railings and uneven patio slabs were all removed and instead we now have wooden ones and matching decking with sunken in lights all round it . . .

The wooden pergoda matches too . . .

BUT this is the best part ~ my new sewing room . . .

There is a stone path that leads down to it and you just might be able to see the edge of more decking which again has pretty sunken lights.  We've put an enormous corner sofa in there with all my favourite cushions, a big fluffy rug and in the corner is a TV so I can watch all my craft programmes and listen to my favourite music in peace (visitors by appointment only)!!!

It has electricity and heating which can be set on a timer so lovely and toasty for first coffee break of the day, I can take the bunnies down there with me and we positioned it to give maximum light and be just perfect for sewing . . .

These are my recent finishes, one before Christmas, one during Christmas and 3 since ~ all need to be finished into wall hangings, flat folds, pillows and as and when they are I will show you the before and after and all the finer details!

This is my current project . . .

I would fall of my chair if any of you knew what it was and I shall keep you in suspense until there's a bit more to show!!!

Thank you to all of you that have stuck by me and been patient, many of you were not and it's so disheartening when the 'followers' number keeps going down.  I have not been actively reading posts so please don't take it to heart if I've not visited you, I'm back now and looking forward to a happier year ahead.

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

HAPPY DANCE AND SPECIAL FRIENDS . . .

Thank you everyone for all your kind comments on my Dobby finish in my last post, glad you liked him!

I was determined to squeeze in one Halloween finish this year, so sorry it's a bit late but please Happy Dance with me as I have just finished . . .

Little Witch ~ complete kit by Shepherd's Bush

Loved this one and it stitched up so quickly, the muted colours are gorgeous and as always the silks provided are a joy to work with.

The pumpkin face button comes with the kit.  Nice hair!!!

Anyone who knows this design will notice I have not stitched 2 horizontal rows of pattern at the bottom, one was a vine and flower and the other a zigzag but I wanted this design to match a couple of others I've already completed so . . .

Now they all match and have the same satin stitch triangular finish at the bottom.

Ssshhhhh!  I'm not shouting from the rooftops but another birthday has come and gone ~ like Christmases they just come around too quick!

My dear friend Lesleyanne remembered me though and I received a lovely parcel from her, she had not pre-warned me that anything was on its way, so it was a complete surprise and I was thrilled to bits with all that she had chosen to send me . . .

Three fat-quarters of pretty fabrics, co-ordinating ribbons and tassel, Bent Creek 'Smell the Flowers' chart and . . . OMG! deep breath . . . 7 skeins of Belle Soie ......... just the touch of them is good enough, let alone the colours she chose and the names ~ Butterscotch, Mudpie, Plush Plum, Old Crow, Attic Tea, Sister Scarlet and Vanilla Pudding ~ now which shall I eat stitch with first!

Thank you so much Lesleyanne, you have truly spoilt me and your kindness means the world xxx

The sun must have been shining down on me as I was also lucky enough to win Vickie's giveaway of the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament 2012 issue.  I told Vickie they are literally like golddust here in the UK so it was a lovely prize to win and when it arrived Vickie had also added the most gorgeous beaded pins ever ~ so pretty ~ between Lesleyanne and Vickie I am a very happy bunny and have lots of projects ahead of me ~ you are both very special blogging friends to have xxx

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

TOO CUTE FOR HALLOWEEN . . .

It's Halloween tomorrow night and due to my chaotic year so far, I've managed to stitch a BIG FAT NOTHING towards it!

In my last post I did mention that I was quite close to finishing a WIP but struggling rather .... well, being back in blogland again and hearing from so many of you must have spurred me on and

ABRACADABRA

(come on! it is nearly Halloween!)

let me show you . . .

DOBBY

I don't think there will be anyone out there who doesn't know who this little cheeky chap is but just in case (where have you been?) ~ he's the cute house-elf from Harry Potter and in our house we love him to bits!

He was stitched in just 10 shades of DMC on 18-count white Aida, I had thought about changing to a linen or evenweave but as the design was stitched edge to edge, it didn't seem worth it.  I started him back in September so I suppose not too long in completing but as you can see from the next picture, there is no definite parts of the design to stitch, it's just random patches of colour and quite often just 1 or 2 crosses of a shade in the middle of another colour!  It was only when I put it down each time at the end of 2 or 3 nights stitching that I could see any definition of the image!

Anyway, hope you like him ~ this is the only design I will have done in time for Halloween and although he's not the prettiest, he's just toooooooooooooooooo cute!

A little finishing to show too . . .

Christmas Patches ~ now a simple pillow and finished with the fabric shown in the background!

Have a fun Halloween everyone

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK!

Slightly longer than anticipated but

A BIG HELLO

 to everyone and it feels good to be back again!

I have to start with an update on my loved ones, you were all so kind with your support and prayers back in July and I'm so pleased to say both my dear dad and mother-in-law have come through their major ops and are making excellent progress, I can't tell you the relief we all feel, it's been an emotional roller-coaster ride for most of this year but at long last we can put these ordeals behind us and concentrate on brighter days!

So am I a happy bunny?

Well, as half of my heart now lies in Bournemouth, NO!

I've dreaded counting the days down on the calendar but the day finally came on 15th September and on that day we took DD to her new life at University ~ a horrible 104 miles and 2 hours drive away :(

I know, you've all done it, gone through it, felt it, BUT you have to admit it's the most emotional time ever and some 4 weeks later, I'm still struggling ~ thank goodness for SKYPE and without our video chats and all the gossip I don't know what I'd do?  But you have to stay strong don't you?  Keep smiling, keep encouraging them and remind them what a dreadful nag you are by asking if they're eating properly, cleaning their room and keeping the washing up to date!

If ever I needed a pick-me-up then Cath  http://stitchinchicken.blogspot.co.uk was the one to do it!

Look at this pretty little cushion that popped through the letterbox last week ~ a complete surprise and a lovely card with such kind words too.

Thank you Cath from the bottom of my heart ~ such perfect timing and as I've said to you I so appreciate your friendship and if you could move nearer that would be great!!!

I bet by now you're asking 'Well, what about some stitching progress?'

and I do actually have some, not a lot but will this do for now . . .

Christmas Patches finally completed ~ WOW! there's a whole lot of backstitching to this one but it's so worth it ~ it literally comes alive as you stitch.

  

I wondered if anyone would like the Leisure Arts booklet I stitched it from? 

It does have some smaller motifs too and are all so lovely and colourful.  The booklet is a bit shabby around the edges but perfectly fine for someone else to have the pleasure of using. I don't want anything for it and am happy to send worldwide. If you are interested, let me know in a comment below and should there be more than one person, I'll pick a name and let you know in my next post!

I did start another project straight after finishing Santa but have to admit I'm struggling a bit even though it's about 75% complete!  Other than that, I'm a bit of a failure this year and my 2012 Happy Dance list proves this!  I've also been completely out of touch with my blogging friends, I just haven't had the time to spare, but hopefully it's full steam ahead now and I look forward to catching up with you all soon ~ am I forgiven?

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx