Christmas Stocking Update

The family for whom I stitched 3 stockings earlier this year have hung them up on display in their home and they look great! I just hope they get filled with lots of goodies for each of them...

It's nice to see my work being used all the way over in England!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #41 - Finished!

I am finally finished - at least a month overdue on my normal stitching time frames (I usually can get a stocking done in about 4 months but my shoulder issues have delayed me this year) - but it is done now and I'm very pleased with it. Now I just have to make a trip to the fabric store and find the perfect backing fabric. I have an idea of what I want, I just hope they have something that matches!

 

On to the next one...
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 
 

Christmas Sled Stocking #40

I've had a bit of a break on the sunny Gold Coast in Queensland for the weekend catching up with my sister and her family. It was a lovely 27 degrees C when we left, and a chilly and wet 7 degrees C when we landed back in Melbourne - not great! Anyway, I have made a good start on the back-stitching with just the gold work around the bow and name to do now.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #39

Cross-stitching is done - only the back-stitching to do! I will double check I haven't missed anything when doing the back-stitching (and I usually always find a few missing stitches) but generally, the hard work is done and the fun begins with making it come alive in the back-stitching. Super exciting - that means a trip to the fabric store for some backing fabric!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie  

Christmas Sled Stocking #38

The cross-stitching is almost completed - mostly just back-stitching to do now!

I have my first shoulder physio post-op today so hopefully that will help to increase my range of movement. At least I can put a ponytail in my hair in the middle of my head, and not skewed off to the right side! Small things are so great when you couldn't do them before!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie  

Christmas Sled Stocking #37

I've got the all clear from the surgeon to be able to cross-stitch so I am very pleased with my efforts last night (Note: I didn't do all this last night, but most of it).

I can feel the end is in sight! A trip to the fabric store will be next for the backing fabric.

My surgeon follow-up gave me the  all clear to be able to drive and stitch! I have to do physio for a little while, but I am already super pleased with the movement I have compared to what it was like before the operation. I even slept flat in my bed for the first time last night in months.
Thanks to  everyone for your thoughts and prayers during my shoulder issues!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #36

Very happy with my progress last night - the toe is getting filled in now too! Thankfully, there is a fair bit of empty space in this area so it 'should' come together fairly quickly. I'm going to do my best to get as much as possible done over the weekend before my surgery.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #35

The first little birdy is making an appearance now.
Great news on the shoulder front - I didn't get in for surgery this morning (not that I really expected to), but I do have a booking for surgery on Monday - only 5 days away instead of the normal 3 week wait so I am super pleased about that. An end to the pain and discomfort is in sight! A week off work then light duties for about 6 weeks. I forgot to ask how quickly I can start stitching again but that will be my first question when I see the surgeon again!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #34

I've started on the heel which is exciting. There are just 2 birds and a small building in this foot part, with some snow, so hopefully, it won't take too long to finish off.
I have an appointment with the shoulder surgeon this afternoon and I'm hoping (but not realistically expecting) for him to say "we have a vacancy for surgery tomorrow morning" - wouldn't that be nice! I hope to at least get a date in the near future so the end is in sight. 
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #33

 The top bit is all done (except for the name and gold back-stitching which I will do last). Very pleased with my progress over the weekend. I didn't do any of this last week when I was in Perth for my library conference, I didn't do any stitching at all! Now it's on to the bottom third and the end is in sight!

I've got the appointment with the shoulder surgeon tomorrow night, so finger's crossed for a good report and a quick solution (ie shoulder surgery). Below is a slightly closer up view of the top section

 Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #32

Made a start on filling in the top bit of the sled. I hope to get some more done tonight... then
On Saturday I'm helping my friend Judith in a sort of pop-up stall at a "sit'n'sew" day which should be interesting and fun. On Sunday, my husband and I are off the Perth for 5 days. I'm going to the Australian and New Zealand Theological Library Association conference, and he'll be tagging along for a holiday! I'll be taking some stitching with me, but not the stocking as I don't think I'll get a lot of spare time and just wanted to take something small I can pick up if I get the chance.
Hope everyone has a great weekend, 
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie
 

Christmas Sled Stocking #31

Filling in the top of the sled last night went well - most of it was only 2 colours! I'm trying my best to get this done as soon as possible because if I need shoulder surgery, I don't think I'll be allowed to stitch for some time 😞. I've got until 18th July until I find out... so I'm trying to do as much as I can (which isn't as much as I'd like given the pain and discomfort).
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #30

A close up of the top bit of the stocking with the stitching completed on the tree trunk and birds (back-stitching still to go).
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #29

Made some good progress over the weekend...
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #28

A line of black and some more blue above the name banner and then some gold bits in the blanks and the name banner will be done, except for the name of course which I will do at then end as it is in the gold metallic thread and I don't want to stretch it if it gets in and out of the hoop.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #27

Only got a little stitching time last night as we had dinner at my parent's place and got home late.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #26

One side of the name banner done... I would have loved to get the other side done as well, but my shoulder didn't agree.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #25

Central bit of the name banner is done - yay.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie  

Christmas Sled Stocking #24

The name banner is getting there, slowly, slowly... I've found if I tuck my right elbow in and barley move my shoulder, it doesn't hurt as much, but it does make for slower stitching. I'm calling the surgeon today so hopefully I can get in to see them asap.
UPDATE - I can't get in until 18th July which is a bit of a bummer! That is the earliest availability. I hope that means he is good at what he does so he is in high demand! Hopefully there will be a cancellation well before then so I can go in earlier.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers re:  my shoulder issues - they are much appreciated!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie  

Christmas Sled Stocking #23

Made a start on the name banner last night - love doing this bit!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie