More Stitching To Show

I read on Klaudia's blog that she had received the PIF I sent her. This is another design I enjoyed stitching. I made some colour changes as I had used DMC thread and the conversion saw the flowers a not so nice orange colour. I found the cutest little chicken fabric that I just couldn't resist using as the backing.

Design: Life's A Stitch
Designer: Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 32ct Belfast Linen - Dirty Linen
Thread: DMC
Finish: Pinkeep

I also heard from Ellen (no blog) that she had received the ornament I stitched for her for the Year Long Prairie Schooler Exchange. I decided to go the traditional Prairie Schooler finish on the ornament and I really like how it turned out.

Design: Prairie Schooler Santa

Designer: The Prairie Schooler

(Gift Of Stitching Magazine, Issue 34 November 2008)

Fabric: 32ct Jobelan - Sage

Thread: DMC

Finish: Christmas Ornament

At Long Last Some Secret Stitching

I would like to say thank you to all the people who left words of encouragement and advise about my chore planner it was just what I needed. It has been four weeks now and I think everything seems to have settled into a great routine. The children can make as much mess as they like where their toys are as long as they don't drag toys over the rest of the house. This leaves them with the entire lounge room and entryway for their mess. I have more quality time to spend with the girls and more stitching time (except when DH is home and then everything seems to get out of hand!). I feel much happier about my home and I don't get into a panic when visitors arrive unannounced.

The year is coming to a close and I have finished all my stitching commitments. This means a little more me stitching, I have done very little of it this year. To celebrate, this is the first item I stitched. It's a little needlebook, which has been completely hand finished. I feel so good about it. Not only did I make something useful, but I followed the instructions and found they were quite easy to understand. I tried some new skills (nun's stitch and buttonhole stitch) and they were not as scary as I thought. I used a handmade antique bead for the closure.

Design: Acorn Sampler Sewing Case - Needlebook

Designer: With My Needle

Fabric: 32ct Belfast linen- Ecru

Threads: DMC

Finish: Needlebook

Next is the ornament I stitched for Marie for the Friends Through Thread ornament exchange. This was a new finish for me, as I have never made anything that wasn't square of rectangular. By lacing it by hand, I found that it wasn't as hard as I first thought.

Design: Christmas Poinsettia Topiary

Designer: Praiseworthy Stitches (Gift of Stitching Magazine, Issue 34 November 2008)

Fabric: 36ct Edinburgh linen - Cream

Threads: Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Finish: Christmas Ornament

This is the PIF I stitched for Kathy. I haven't heard from her yet, but she should have received it by now as it only takes two days at the most by post from my location to hers. I finished this little ornament with a beaded trim on the bottom, it just seemed to need a little something else.

Design: Red Winged Blackbird

Designer: Bent Creek

Fabric: 28ct Belfast linen - Putty

Threads: DMC

Finish: Ornament

Finally, I would like to say that I have one more place available for a PIF. If you would like to participate and receive one of my hand stitched items, please leave a comment indicating your interest. If you would like to know more about the PIF check out this post.

Ornaments Received

Yesterday, the most gorgeous little ornament arrived from Cathy for the Friends Through Thread ornament exchange. Cathy has stitched a little Santa by Homespun Elegance and I think it is a very appropriate design for a stitcher. Now who doesn't want linen, floss and time to stitch. I only wish Santa would bring all those things for me. OK, OK just the linen and the floss!

Thank you Cathy, your stitching and finishing is impeccable as always. I really love the tiny little braid you used around the edge of the design.

Today I received this cute ornament from Kathy for the Year Long Prairie Schooler Exchange. I love the Prairie Schooler Santa and so I am really pleased to have received this one. I love how Kathy has finished this one off. Thank you Kathy for this wonderful ornament.

Thank You!

I would like to extend my thanks to each and everyone of the kind and loving people who left so many wonderful messages of comfort and support. I have made so many exceptional friends through blogging and I treasure every one. So thank you one and all from the bottom of my heart.

The Winner Is...

Aurelia drew a name out of the Altoid tin for The Earth Sampler chart

Congratulations Kajsa!

Kajsa if you could please send me your postal address via the email button on my sidebar, I will get the Earth Sampler chart into the mail for you this week.

Giveaway

Don't forget, tomorrow I will be drawing a name to receive the chart Earth Sampler by The Primitive Needle. Make sure that you leave a comment on this post only saying that you would like to be entered into the draw.

Earth Sampler

First I would like to say thank you to all the lovely people who sent me emails of condolences for the passing of my grandmother. I think I have sent all of you an email of thanks. My family and myself appreciate all the sentiments and that your thoughts and prayers were with us during this time.

Well, well, well! My missing threads finally came in and I was able to finish the last few numbers of Earth Sampler. I was on such a role and then I ran out of WDW Charcoal. It took several weeks for my order to come in and then I somehow lost my enthusiasm to finish. The other night I decided enough was enough and I pulled that baby out of the basket and finished it, yeah!!

Design: Earth Sampler

Designer: The Primitive Needle

Fabric: 40ct Natural linen by SewItAll

Thread: Gentle Arts and Weeks Dye Works

I received this chart from Karen when she had a giveaway on her blog. Now I would like to do the same here. If you would like to go into the draw for the chart "Earth Sampler" by The Primitive Needle, just leave a comment indicating that you would like to be entered in the draw. I will be drawing a name on the 21st November.


A few weeks ago I had read on Cheryl's blog that she was trying the Motivated Mums, chore planner. Now, I am terrible at getting my chores done and sometimes the house is quite disgraceful. So I downloaded the last few months of the year planner and I am giving it a trial to see how I go. I started on Sunday, and so far it seems to be working. The house is cleaner than ever before, but I have two whinging, whining children who seem to know when I need to get work done and are on a mission to make the house as messy as possible. The two follow me around wanting to be picked up and carried about, they pull things from the shelves and cupboards and spread them throughout the house. I love my kids to bits, but they can be so trying at times. Some chores take a long time, especially with three bathrooms in the house and with two kids, some chores need to be done a little more often than the planner suggests, but so far so good. The only things I can't seem to get done are the Sunday "Pamper Yourself" and the daily "Quiet Time". Oh well, can't win them all!

Lizzie Kate Exchange

I received my Lizzie Kate Exchange piece from Susan the other day. She stitched two cute Christmas pillows. Aurelia took one look at them, cuddled them and said "one for Amelie and one for me". These two pillows now reside in their respective rooms. Thank you Susan, both of these pillows are great and so well made, we all love them.

Now my exchange person should have received her Lizzie Kate piece by now, but I haven't heard anything from her. I don't think she reads my blog, so I think it's safe to show what I stitched.

Design: Summer ABC's

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fabric: 28ct Lugana - Mushroom

Thread: DMC

Finish: Hanging Pillow