A belated winter exchange

Due to pressures on the Christmas postal system, it was only a couple of days ago that I received my winter ornament in the Needlecraft Haven Four Seasons exchange for 2014. It was due to arrive before the end of December. Thank you Ursh, I think it is lovely. It will hang in our sitting room until Spring. Those blues are perfect for winter.

Received from Ursh in Needlecraft Haven Winter Exchange

A bit of this and a bit of that

During this past week, I found it difficult to settle to one thing for any length of time. That also includes my housework - well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
I made some progress on my Alpine Seasons Garden by completing what is currently an outer border and I've just started to fill it. I can already see that my progress on this is going to vary quite alot, week on week. I think there will be times when I have to remind myself that some progress is better than none.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
stitched on 32ct Summer Khaki Belfast linen
as at 11 January 2015

It's ages since I've done any knitting and having seen some jumpers that my sister-in-law knitted recently, I got the knitting bug again. Here is my limited progress on a cable knit sweater. If it's not finished for this winter, at least I'll have it for next.

A goal for 2015

I'm not into making New Year's resolutions but I have decided to set myself a stitching goal for 2015. It is to complete the stitching on Chatelaine's Alpine Seasons Garden. For those of you familiar with Martina Rosenburg's designs, you will have spotted that I only said stitching. From what I've read, attaching the beads is almost like doing a separate project - so whatever I manage to do in adding beads will be an additional bonus.
Here is where I currently am on this project. Sadly the photo doesn't do the colours justice as the light has been so poor these past few days.

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
stitched on 32ct  Summer Khaki Belfast at 3 January 2015

Happy New Year and my final finish of 2014

Happy New Year; I hope that 2015 will be the year that you hope for.

I finished the Mojo Sampler during the evening of 31 December 2014. I was determined to add all the beads on Wednesday as I had already stitched the year on the piece and I had no wish to change it.
I have decided to put this on the front of a photo album which will contain photographs of most of my stitching over the past 25 years. I say 'most' as there are a few things I've given away where I forgot to take photographs first.

Mojo Sampler - Bee's Needleworks
stitched on 32ct White Belfast

Just Nan December update

Here is my final Just Nan finish (stitching only) for 2014. It's Mitten Men. This took me much longer to complete than I expected, but at the rate I stitch, I should have learned by now that I don't do 'quick stitches'. Given how poor the light has been during the past couple of days, I'm pleased to see that the four blue sequins show up in the picture. I should manage to complete this as an ornament for Christmas 2015; Ha! Ha!

Mitten Men - Just Nan
stitched on 32ct natural Permin linen

I'm glad that I joined the Just Nan SAL in 2014. Without it I probably wouldn't have completed five Just Nan finishes - Patience, Sunny Summer Happy Garden, Beach Roses, True Blue heart and Mitten Men.

It's the most wonderful time ... Day 3

Last but not least there was the Christmas ornament exchange at The Stitch Specialists. When I arrived home this weekend, this lovely package of items were waiting for me from Ruth. In addition to my ornament, Ruth had included two silk threads and a snowman scissor fob. Ruth also signed the back of her ornament.

From Ruth at The Stitch Specialists
front of ornament
Christmas ornament exchange

From Ruth at The Stitch Specialists
signed back of ornament
Christmas ornament exchange

I stitched a hardanger humbug ornament for Abi. 

Hardanger Christmas ornament - Yvette Stanton
For Abi at The Stitch Specialists

It's the most wonderful time ... Day 2

 

Front of holly ornament from Frances
Friendly Stitchers Christmas ornament exchange

 

Back of holly ornament from Frances
Friendly Stitchers Christmas ornament exchange

I haven't been very active on the Friendly Stitchers forum this year but I couldn't miss their Christmas ornament exchange. Frances was my stitching partner and she sent me the lovely holly ornament (shown above) with matching Christmas threads and holly napkins.

I love the way that Frances signed the back. I must do something similar in my future exchanges, where appropriate.

Partridge in a pear tree - Needlecraft magazine
Sent to Frances, Friendly Stitchers
Christmas ornament exchange

The ornament I sent Frances was of a partridge in a pear tree. I know the design comes from an old issue of Needlecraft magazine but I can't find it at the moment in order to say which edition.

This also highlights an issue I have right now. My stitching stash has got disorganised, so in the New Year I will need to reorder it so I can more easily find what I'm looking for.

It's the most wonderful time ... Day 1

Due to work commitments, until now I've been unable to update my blog with the lovely Christmas exchanges I've received. To do each one justice, I'll do a daily post over the next three days to show what I've received and what I made.
My first Christmas ornament came from Gill at Needlecraft Haven. She made this beautiful Santa/St Nicholas ornament with a rocking horse charm. Unbeknown to Gill, she fulfilled a childhood dream. I always wanted Santa to take me a rocking horse and now he has :)

Santa ornament from Gill
Needlecraft Haven Christmas ornament exchange

I stitched a Santa ornament for Clare in this exchange. This was a Prairie Schooler 'freebie' pattern. I liked this design, so I plan to stitch it again.

Santa - Prairie Schooler sent to Clare
Needlecraft Haven Christmas ornament exchange

Just Nan November update and other stitching

It's hard to believe that we are so far through the year. With the exception of one month, I've stitched on a Just Nan piece every month. I'm still working on Mitten Men. It's not quite finished but it's getting there.

Just Nan - Mitten Men
stitched on 32ct natural Permin linen

 I wanted something that would stitch quickly and this freebie from The Little Stitcher fulfilled that need perfectly.

The Little Stitcher - Winter Sheep design
Stitched on 28ct Sandstone Permin linen

 I've been stitching for a couple of exchanges and I'll share those when I know the exchange items have been received.

Just Nan 2014 SAL October update

I didn't do any stitching in September but I returned to my Just Nan designs in October. I finally finished stitching 'True Blue Heart' but I have no idea yet what it will be made into. I didn't have the original embellishments for the design so I had to find alternatives. I'm happy with the Sapphire flowers that I bought but less so for the Amethyst Opal heart. It blends into the surrounding threads too much for my liking. I might change it later if I find something that I think is more suitable.

True Blue Heart - Just Nan
Stitched on 28ct White Cashel linen

I've made a start on Mitten Men as I wanted something small and quick. It's small but I'll need to come back to you as to whether I found it quick. All being well, this design will be finished by the end of November.

Mitten Men - Just Nan
Stitched on 32ct Natural Permin linen

Stitching time

I've started to stitch my Christmas ornaments and here is the first one. When I saw this 'Santa's cat and dog' design from Madame Chantilly earlier in the year I just had to get it as I have so many cat and dog lover friends. Here is the dog design which has still to be finished into a hanging ornament.

Santa's Dog - Madame Chantilly
Stitched on 36ct hand-dyed linen (hand-dyed by Madame Chantilly)

I met Madame Chantilly at a needlework show in Pexiora, Aude. She was delightful to speak to and I hope to buy more of her designs in the future.

I finally filled the pillow I made for Little Blue Bungalow, our birthday thread exchange at Needlecraft Haven. It's only been waiting since May. Why I kept putting it off, goodness knows, because it didn't take that long to do.
This free design can be found on the Weeks Dye Works website, here.

Little Blue Bungalow - Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched on Goldrush 32ct Murano by Crafty Kitten

If all goes to plan, I'll get some stitching time today and I'll start another Christmas ornament.

Season of mists and

Autumn exchanges! I haven't been stitching much lately but I just had to find time for Needlecraft Haven's Autumn exchange.

I received this lovely acorn wall hanging from Deb which as you can tell from this photo is hanging from the mantle of my fireplace. The close-up of the stitched acorn gives you an idea of the detail.

Acorns were obviously the 'in' thing as I sent this free acorn ornament from The Workbasket to my exchange partner, Ursh.

Quaker Acorn - The Workbasket
Stitched on 32ct Permin raw linen

Needless to say that having taken part in each of the seasonal exchanges at Needlecraft Haven this year, I have already signed up to the winter exchange. I have an idea of what I'd like to stitch but that might change when I find out who my stitching partner is.