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 !!

An overseas guest

It's all very exciting here this month as Dusty has come to visit from USA. We've been online friends for many years but this is the first time we've actually meet.

Since our son moved out we've been meaning to decorate the front room back as a guest a room and with Dusty coming over we finally decorated it. Not sure our son likes the wallpaper but it is a lovely room.

I finally framed a LHN design that Julie lent me to do when Barb opened The Parlour on Needlecraft Haven - it fits perfectly.

A Place We Call Home

I also put up a picture I stitched for Dad and was in his lounge for many years. The poem by  W H Davies was one of his favourites.

What is this life...

We've had a lovely first day, chatting and a bit of shopping - it will be a lovely week especially as Saturday is Needlecraft Haven Meet Up here in Nuneaton.

Dusty and me at home

 Dusty has made us a superb gift - it's a superb hardanger table topper, it's beautiful.

Fantastic gift from Dusty

Happy Halloween

Trick or treat time !! I hope you are all ready for the spooky fun. Our friends are coming round for dinner so I have made a Halloween themed dinner. Here's our feast:

Mummy Sausages with bloody guts (salsa) and
fly bread (olives) for starters

Ghoul-lash with jacket spuds for main

Ghostly pears

Death by Chocolate mousse

 I have decorated the lounge a little and carved a pumpkin too. It's been a fun day, I loved creating all the foodie bits.

Boo !!

Halloween table

My Pumpkin (not the best photo)

Halloween Mantle

 Have a great night everyone - Happy Halloween :)