October Smalls SAL

 

The Smalls SAL 2020 is all about small stitching, any little project you have stitched, it doesn't have to be fully finished. Here's the full details about Small SAL 2020 - I have really enjoyed this SAL, thank you Mary.

My first finish is Block 10 from Stitching the Night Away SAL with Needlecraft Haven members. I've loved doing these blocks, it's been interesting to stitch with variegated thread. I have used up some Anchor thread from my stash, I don't like this brand and I now remember why. I find the Anchor thread constantly knots up; I do separate each strand and ensure it is straight before using but the knots keep appearing. 

It is with great excitement I can share my other small, it's my first flower for the church tree. I made this up to practice the finish and was really pleased with it so I have been doing all the others. I have to say they take ages, I didn't realise how long mounting each flower then sewing on the zigzag would take. I am gluing the backing on as I am using foam felt.

I have some exciting news about the Bouquet of Flowers but I can't share until early November, thank you all for sending such beautiful flowers. 

Health wise it hasn't been a great few weeks. As I said last time my chemotherapy has finished because my blood count was out and the Oncologist decided I had had enough. As my tumour was removed in April the radiotherapy and this recent chemotherapy was all prevention so I was very happy to say enough is enough. 

However I have really struggled with breathlessness and tiredness. It's been quite worrying with Covid on everyone's mind but my breathlessness is whenever I do anything, even walking to the kitchen, I'm fine when sitting. I know it's because of my bloods but it's taking a long time to recover. I did manage a trip to Hobbycraft yesterday to get more zig zag and foam felt but I didn't browse the store and was exhausted when we got back to the car. I have bloods next week and see the doctor the following week, I'm hoping to have more energy by then. 

Thank you again for all the beautiful flowers - you've made me smile many times, which has been a huge help over this difficult year. 

October Gifted Gorgeousness

 

Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching - on the 15th of every month we post about any item we have either gifted or had gifted or have used that was once gifted. Our posts are linked to Jo's blog so we can see each other's Gifted Gorgeousnesses.

My first GG is a gift I made for our son's friend who is a teacher and has just had Textiles added to her timetable. I have a sewing box that I made from an old watch box, in fact this is my second box as I use it everyday and it does wear. You can see how I made it in my Upcycling post. 

Anyway I decided to upcycle another box for her and raided my stash to put together a sewing box. I covered an old pot to make a pin cushion lid, the pot being for orts, and covered a tape measure with a cross stitched J. I changed the ribbon and used some craft paper to recover part of the inside, I was so pleased with how it turned out. 

Thank you to everyone who has sent flowers. I am busy making them up, I need them all finished by early November. Over the last few weeks I have received theses beautiful flowers from April, Leonore, Mini and Barbara, huge thank you, you are all so kind. 

Today I've had the best gift ...... my Oncologist has said I don't need any more chemotherapy 🤗 My red bloods are very low at the minute and I am breathless just walking to the kitchen. The treatment has been ended as I have had nine sessions and as the tumour was removed in April this chemotherapy was prevention. I now have to build my strength back up, still be extra careful with catching infections but life finally feels like it is returning to normality. 

Thank you to everyone who has sent messages and cards, it's still a road but it certainly isn't as long and there is now an end in sight 🙂

September Smalls SAL

 

I'm late, I'm late .... apologises Mary and all my fellow Smalls SAL bloggers. My days are all mixed up with my change of appointments, early week feels like the weekend and vica versa. 

You can see everyone's small stitching over on Mary's blog and the September check in. 

I have managed to complete my Lizzie Kate September Flip It, just three to go and I can start making up the set. 

I have also completed Block 9 of the Stitching the Night Away SAL with Needlecraft Haven. Again just three to go and I can start making those up too. 

I think October will be a mass finishing month as I have all my beautiful flowers to do too. I have stitched a yellow rose this month, this is my favourite not just because of the design and colour but because it makes me think of my Dad, he loved roses especially yellow ones. 

Thanks for popping by, I'll be catching up with everyone's news later today or tomorrow, happy stitching. 

Gifted Gorgeousness- September

It's Gifted Gorgeousness time - on the 15th of each month we share our latest gifts. Any gift given or received and any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted is also allowed in our GG posts. 

This great idea is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching,  if you visit her blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts

My gifts this month are some more beautiful flowers I have received from friends - thank you Jane, DJ, Nadine, Carol, Jo and Christine. Everyone is so kind to stitch and send to me, I am hoping to practice how to finish them soon. I have an idea and if it looks ok I can order enough material to do them all. 

My family and friends made my birthday a super time, despite how life is just now. We are still caked out, as you can see in my Birthday Thank You post we had quite a variety of goodies at our Afternoon Tea. 

I also received these beautiful stitched cards and brooch for my birthday, thank you Christine, Mary and Gill. I am already thinking what to do with the cards. 

I have a gift I have given this month, I did share it on my Fully Finished Gallery post but here it is again. It's a Durene Jones design I made into a card for my friend's birthday. 

Thank you for all the beautiful flowers you have been sending, I am quite overwhelmed and really appreciate every one. Happy stitching and stay safe x 

Birthday thank you

Thursday was a day I was not really looking forward to ... I was very pleased to turn another year as it's been quite a challenge getting here but having chemo is not the nicest birthday treat.  However ignoring the time at the hospital my birthday has been lovely thanks to my super family and caring friends. 

Earlier in the week I received these beautiful gladioli from Julie, she sent them early so they bloomed for my birthday .... and they did - thank you Julie.

I received so many lovely cards and gifts including a beautiful scarf from my friend Brenda in Canada and a gorgeous new rose gold bracelet from Hubby. Our son gave me a wine book that I have been wanting - Oz Clarke English Wine. 

I was a bit confused when I opened the book as the inside page was upside down and I did wonder if it was a PR trick but soon realised the book was bound upside down by mistake. He has had it replaced but I do get to keep the original which is nice as it's so quirky.

Two of my stitching friends  sent me a stitched card, both are absolutely gorgeous and I am already thinking what I can do with them - thank you Gill, thank you Mary.

Jo and Christine included flowers for my church tree with their cards, I'll be including them in my GG post in a few days. Here's a clue to Christine's flower as she made me a matching brooch - thank you Christine. 

I was resting on the sofa when back home when I could hear singing .... my super Hubby and son came into the lounge with a chocolate birthday cake complete with lit candles singing 'happy birthday' - it really made me smile, what a lovely treat! 

Our daughter who lives in Cardiff had video called earlier in the day and said to watch for Postie. The day was getting on and nothing had arrived, I was getting so concerned as we were video calling again late evening and I was worried about saying nothing had come and her being upset. 

Our friends popped round for a coffee in the garden, it was quite mild even if getting dark. A delivery came, more flowers, this time from my SIL. I was getting more and more worried when I heard the back gate open and there was our daughter and her partner .... no Postie delivery they came themselves, what a surprise!

Because of the restrictions we all have at the moment and my extra precautions they stayed at a nearby hotel instead of here with us. Yesterday my lovely family laid on a delicious Afternoon Tea in the garden, I really didn't expect us to all be together for my birthday this year, what a lovely few days - thank you Nick, Michael, Philippa and Michael. 

These are the important things in life; family times, friendships and kindness. I am so very lucky to have such a lovely family and such caring friends - thank you everyone, for help over the last difficult months and for making my birthday another special day! 

Fully Finished in September

Fully Finished Gallery hosted by Rachel and is a chance for us to share our completed projects. I haven't had any for the last few months but I do have something to share for September. 

As you know I host Needlecraft Haven, an online forum where members share their crafting. It's such a lovely group of members, there is some superb work too. Each season Christine sets a challenge for us all to stitch, one for Christmas and one for any occasion. 

The Winter Challenge was a cat design by Durene Jones  I stitched it for my friend who loves cats. It's her birthday tomorrow, the day after mine, so I'll wait a day until I post on social media but she won't see it here. 

My other finishes are not stitching but are crafting. It's hard to do anything just now but I am trying to use bits and bobs up. Hubby kindly fetched my card making boxes out of the attic and over the last few weeks I have recycled a few bits. 

The Christmas cards are old ones I have chopped about and the birthday cards are some press out decoupage pages I had. I have used up old cards and envelopes too. It's something I can sit at the table to do or do watching tv when my strength isn't good. 

Yes it is my birthday today, I'm actually very happy to have reached another year although this year celebrations will be a little quiet. I will be at the hospital most of the day having my sixth chemotherapy treatment. 

I love September and I love celebrating, we've had some great times in the past, you can read about some of the recent highlights in my other blog Aimetu's - wine, food and travel. I'm sure I'll be celebrating again soon, in the meantime I'll enjoy my coffee and biscuits. 

Let the People Choose - September

 

The first Saturday of the month is Jo's of Serendipitous Stitching  blog sharing time for Let the People Choose . I'm really enjoying looking at past projects to find related work, this month is Geometric.  

I am currently working on a Geometric project with the members of Needlecraft Haven. We are doing Stitching the Night Away's SAL from 2019, stitching a block per month. This is my work so far, I have nearly finished Block 9 (I haven't pressed it yet) 

A couple of my blocks were stitched left handed at the time my right arm was mending, it is nice to stitch normally again. I have stitched them on one piece of fabric and have decided what to do with the finished piece but for now that's a secret. 

My other Geometric project for this post is Mabel Figworthy's Mystery SAL I did a few years ago. I enjoy doing hardanger and it was great fun to learn a few more stitches. There are 12 designs but I can only find photos of 9, I think I'm missing a few early ones. 

I loved seeing them all on the line drying. They are now in my stash as a wip to be finished, I need to use the sewing machine but just now that's a little bit adventurous. I am hoping to use it by the end of the year and this SAL can be finally completed. 

Thanks Jo for another great blog theme, thank you everyone for calling by.