Bits n Bobs

Here's some bits and pieces that I've been working on this week. Before I do that I just want to show you this gorgeous exchange I got through today from Becky K. It is for the BBD exchange that got cancelled. I sent my exchange off to Su (thanks for all your lovely comments on that one) and I wasn't sure I was going to get anything back. But look at this lovely....





The design is from Thank You Sarah Tobias and I just love the backing fabric! Thank you so much Becky this really cheered me up. I am home alone at the moment with DH away so this brightened up my wintery day! I love the extras too. I have already used the cream (my hands are getting dry, esp my fingers) and I gave my own needleminder away so it is lovely to get one as a gift. Great pins too.

A while ago, Angela sent me a recipe for a yummy looking cake she had made and shown on her blog so this weekend I finally got round to making it and it was a huge HUGE success! Thank you Angela for this lovely recipe. Get ready to drool.

Malteser and chocolate cake courtesy of Nigella Lawson. I'm going to go and get the book now...





My dd decorated the top! Hasn't she done a great job?

I have stitched up my first christmas ornament fromthe PS Book Cranberry Christmas:



I am using 4210 and 319 on Brittany evenweave fabric 28 count which is lovely to stitch on. I am going to wait to make these up as I want them all to be the same shape/size etc. I have soem holly green felt but as yet I am waiting on some pinking shears.

Barbara - I said it was six sides - it is indeed eight sides - doh!

And lastly here is Teresa Wentzler's beginners whitework ornament which is hard to see in the picture but it really is beautiful. The stitches are all speciality stitches and so so easy to do. Don't be put off by it. It is a free design and can be found on her website. I used weeks dye works in Cherry Vanilla and used antique glass beads:



Happy stitching everyone,

xx

Exchanges received and bp update

Here is my Beatrix Potter January progress. I am using Victorian Mottos threads in Antique Wine set on Sassy's Tan Marble Jobelan. It is so nice to work on. I am loving the blends of the colour and they go so well together. Some people have asked if I have a plan for doing the colours but I don't really. I am just ad-libbing and seeing how it comes out. I am not going to get over stressed with this piece.

My two recent exchanges have arrived I have been told by the recipients. Mamajoan was my recipient for the Winter House sbebb exchange and this is what I made her:



It is taken from the Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornie mag from last year and the design is a PS one. It was a joy to stitch and finish into this miniature pinkeep.

I have also heard from Su that she has got my Blackbird Design sbebb exchange. This exchange was cancelled but I had already started it and was prepared to send it anyway and Su really likes it I believe. I stitched it on some special fabric that Stephanie gave me from Silkweaver and used Cresent Colour threads and antique glass beads to edge it.



Speaking of Christmas ornies... I got this through today and intend to use it for the Christmas ornament challenge blog. I have bought some Holly green coloured felt and am awaiting some Fiskars pinking Shears so I can finish them just like the picture:



So guess what I'll be working on this weekend?

Have a good weekend to all my readers and commenters. I love hearing from you and finding new blogs to visit. xx

Elijah's First Birthday!

Yesterday was Elijah's first birthday! I can't believe how fast this year has gone and that my baby boy is a year old already. We had a very quiet one - no family came round or anything. We went to Frankie and Bennies for our tea and they turned out all the lights and played Happy Birthday to him when they brought him his cake. We all ate some fab food. I had Penne Aribbiata and Lily had the biggest Hot Dog you've ever seen. Rick had Spag Bol and Elijah really loved that tomato and pesto garlic bread. It was very lovely and a good time was had by all.

ABC exhange and do I really want to do this???

Another successfull exchange has been completed. Becky got her Biscornu that I made.





Mary's Pin pillow
Indigo Rose

I love the over one alphabet around the edge! I beleive Becky liked this.

And I got this spectacular piece in the post today from Mama Joan. Thanks Joan, I absolutely love it and it is finished so perfectly too. It is a little round box with the alphabet on top and she has lined the inside with some gorgeous abc fabric too. Joan says she cannot remember who the designer is which is a shame as it is so pretty.





And now onto the "Do I really want to do this?" question. I have decided that I am going to give this UFO to my dad to work on. It has about 50 pages in total and as much as I love it, I just know that I am not going to get round to completing it. I am going to suggest to my dad that we could even work on it a page each and pass it back and forth. My Dad stitches. He is super quick and although he has never done anything like the size of this, I know he will be up for the challenge. So I discussed it with my dad and he agreed to have a go at it but when it came to pulling it out of the cupboard, my heart just sank at the thought of giving this away. But I know I have to let it go. Here was the last pic taken in May 2007!!!! I have not touched it since. It is a beautiful picture - quite stunning.



I will let you know the outcome, but right now I need to go to the post office and get a mighty big envelope to put it all in.

Happy stitching everyone. xx

A wonderful surprise....

Today I got the best surprise ever through the post! Sue aka Redwitch had recently finished A Quaker Study and it was a chart on my wishlist. Sue not only sent me the chart but also three Vicki Clayton silks that she used with it! I love her colour choice fot this design and think I will use the same ones. Thank you so much Sue! It was a wonderful gift and I will treasure it!



xx