Happy New Year

I'd love to wish all my blogging friends a very Happy New Year!

I haven't completely disappeared, I've just been taking my time to recover.  I experienced what is known as a Functional Stroke (basically the same neurological damage, but no identifiable cause), so I'm having lots of therapy to try and regain proper use of my left side, including lots of physiotherapy and also speech therapy to help with that too.

I'm still only able to use a computer screen for a limited amount at a time, but I'm really hoping to be able to keep up with reading everyone's blog posts!  I figured, New Year would be a good time to start, there is no way I could have caught up with 6 month's worth of posts!  I might not be able to comment on all posts, but I'll try :)

I have been stitching a little too, it's much slower than before, but anything is better than nothing and I even managed a finish!

It's Candy Cane Christmas by Ursula Michael,  stitched on 14 ct DMC Marbled Blue Aida.  

Anyway, that's enough from me for now, I hope to be able to blog much more this year, but it's enough to just become part of a community that I have truly missed.

IHSW - April

Thank you for all your kind messages about my health after my last post, I was on the mend but sadly had a bit of a setback last week and ended up stuck in bed for a few days.  I am recovering, I'm just having to take it very easy and go slowly....something I tend to struggle with!

Also, poor little Charlie, our American Cocker Spaniel has been under the weather too, He's getting old now and every time a Vet visit is required I always worry, thankfully it's not anything too serious, just rest and time, so we are chilling out together!

As a lot of you may know, it was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend this weekend and I actually managed to get a bit of stitching done, thanks to my forced "taking it easy"!

On Saturday, I dug out Candy Cane Christmas by Ursula Michael that I've been stitching along with Linda and Sasha (check the Saturday SAL tab out for more info).

March

April

I know Linda has been taking part in various challenges so I've not stitched on it every week as I don't want to get too far ahead, it's hard as it's such a fun stitch!

Then Sunday I carried on with stitching The Three Fates - Jasmine Becket-Griffith (HAED).

Friday

Monday

Not masses done, but at least enough to see a little difference :)  I'm going to take it off the QSnaps later so I'll take a full photo then.

Overall I'm really thrilled with the progress and it's been a good weekend!

Thank you to the new followers, I hope that enjoy reading and looking at the pictures.  Please feel free to leave comments, it's always great to hear from people!  I'm sneaking ever closer to the 100 mark, once I hit it, I think it might be time for another give-away!

Saturday SAL & YOTA - March

I hope everyone is doing well and managing to get some stitchy time in!  I figured I'd squish 2 SAL updates into 1 post and hopefully save you a little time :)

We'll go with Saturday SAL first, this is the one that is organised by Linda (details on the tab at the top of the page)

February

7th March 

This is such a fun stitch and I love working on it.  I missed last week as I'm still concerned about getting too far ahead of Linda, who is continuing the challenge for Debbie but it's really hard when I love it so much!

Now for the YOTA SAL organised by Pull The Other Thread:















It's very slow going and if you look REALLY hard, you might spot the bit of stitching I did! I've decided to add another couple of my WIP's that have been unloved for a while to the YOTA SAL so that it gives me a bit of variety.  There's nothing worse than trying to force yourself to work on something you really don't feel like stitching so a little flexibility is not a bad thing.

As some of you may know, very sadly, Neil from Eclectic Bloke Designs passed away after losing his battle with cancer.  I didn't know him personally, however I know that some of you guys did and my thoughts are with his partner, family and friends.

Neil's passing has reminded me that life is too short to worry and stress over my stitching.  I had got myself workd up about the number of WIP;s I had and pushing myself into a rotation to make sure certain projects got stitched.  As stated above, I'm allowing myself much more flexibility, it's a hobby, enjoy it.  Life is precious and the time and energy I spend stressing could be better spent.  I'm aiming to have much more of a "go with the flow" approach and see how I feel!

Back at it.....

First off...I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to the new followers!  If I reach 100 I think it may be time for another giveaway to celebrate!

I've finally gotten back to stitching and I've a few updates to share!  I picked up Mini Starlight - Linda Ravenscroft (HAED).  It's been a long while and she's been a bit neglected but this year she's going to get a bit of love!

September 2014

February 2015

Not loads done, but a little progress and anything is a step towards that finishing line.

The Three Fates - Jasmine Becket-Griffith has also been out to play:

October 2014

February 2015

Last up, I've not been stitching on the Saturday SAL as there have been the "Crazy Challenges" in tribute to Debbie, who very sadly passed away last year.  However, I caved last weekend and pulled out Candy Cane Christmas!

December 2014

February 2015

I've dropped off Pyramid 4 with the framer so hopefully I should have it back in the next couple of weeks.  I really love the frame we've gone with and I really hope it work well.  To say I'm nervous leaving my stitching with a framer I've not used before would be an understatement, however we chatted and I'm confident that he will do a good job!  I can't wait to be able to share it with you!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Well it's that time of year again and like most other people, I've been crazy busy buying gifts, wrapping them and cleaning and tidying like mad getting ready for guests!

I've done some stitching, although not a lot, but I will share my Saturday SAL progress!

It's coming along slowly, but I'm going to be naughty and hopefully stitch a little on it today as I'm feeling a bit festive!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays for those that celebrate.

I've been naughty......

I've not posted my progress on the Saturday SAL for a couple of weeks....I know, I'm soooo naughty.  I may also have splashed out on a few charts from Love Thy Thread, as sadly as of tonight they are no longer in business :(  I had to get them before they disappeared!  There were so many I wanted but felt that being this close to Christmas I had to be brutal.

 

Mermaid

Bumblebee

  

Snails

Autumn Leaves

Rose

Alley by the Lake

These are my "catch-up" Saturday SAL pictures!  I have been stitching each week, just slacked and didn't write a post!

I've also stitched a bit more of my Pyramid too!

I do have a general "hope", rather than a plan, to finish it next year but the main thing is that I'm enjoying stitching it and I'll stick with it for now until I feel like a change! I may switch back to some kind of loose rotation next year but I'm still trying to figure out how it will work.

Oh, if you do manage to read this post today, you still have time to enter my giveaway, click here! There is also a HAED 50% off sale and a last chance to grab any of those Love They Thread charts you may be wanting!

Saturday SAL, Sales and Giveaways!

It's coming up to the Holiday season and I love Christmas.  It's funny, I never used to be that fond of it once I got past around the age of 8, but for the last 10 years or so it's become my favourite time of year, I love shopping for gifts, the bright lights, the Christmas Markets, the dark nights and the songs.  I have a number of overseas friends and a Secret Santa to shop for, which means that I have to have a number of gifts ready to posted by the beginning of December, although it may seem like ages away, it really comes up so quickly!

I'm loving stitching on the Candy Cane Christmas design and although I didn't get a lot stitched, it really was enjoyable!

I had planned to stitch a bit of colour rather than more red, but it just seemed right to carry on with those colours for now!

Love Thy Thread have got a sale on at present, a whopping 40% off!  Go on, have a look....I dare you!

Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is running her annual 25 days of Christmas event, please drop by and have a look, you never know, you might even be lucky enough to win!

To finish off, the photo I took last time of Pyramid 4 was terrible, the colours looked really washed out, well I've taken a slightly better one that shows the vibrant bright colours!

Also, just a reminder.....if you haven't entered my blogversary giveaway please do so!  For all the details click here!

I'm Late....I'm Late.....

Anyone who knows me in the slightest knows that I am often late!  I've been away for a while visiting family and I got back then had a cold!

I did manage to stitch a little on the Saturday SAL piece, although not as much as I wanted.

As you can see, I finished the "M" and I moved on down to the "C"!  I'm hoping next time that I might get to play with some colour!

Since I got back, I've switched to stitching on Pyramid 4 - Marchetti (HAED).  This is where I'm up to now:

It's not a great photo as the light has been terrible due to the weather, but at least it gives you an idea of where I am.

If you've ever noticed the little widget thingy on the sidebar, you'll see that I missed my Blogversary!  Well I've decided to have a slightly belated giveaway.  I'll make a post after this one with all the details in so it's easy to keep separate!

Saturday SAL & Other stuff.....

I'm a little late with my Saturday SAL post but I'm sure you'll all forgive me!

This is the latest update:

I'm not going to post the previous picture, just scroll down a bit or check out the Saturday SAL tab! Also, we have a lovely lady called Sasha who's joined us too!  It's ticking along nicely and I'm happy with it so far!  I'm going to have to miss next week's as I'm away but I'll enjoy catching up when I return.  

I was lucky enough to have been gifted a beautiful chart from a lovely friend of mine called Kim (from Sense and Stitchability).  It's Key to Life by Denise Garbis from Tilton Crafts.  Thank you so much, she's lovely!

Which leads on nicely to final piece of news, I was dragged into a StartALong for Tilton Crafts charts and as I had one pretty much kitted up and ready I decided to make a start on Awakening - Denise Garbis.  this is what she'll look like when complete, along with the tiny start I made!

Annoyingly, I had a colour missing and there was loads of it on the first page.  It's a measly start but I will continue once the thread arrives hopefully when I'm back from the family visit.

Saturday SAL

I know, yet another SAL....I am so weak!  Although I'm doing this to support the lovely Linda, who took part in a Saturday SAL with Debbie, who sadly passed away.  I thought it would be a lovely idea if I joined in too.  She completed the last project and was due to start Candy Cane Christmas by Ursula Michael so I grabbed the pattern and ordered the threads, rifled through my fabric and I was all set!

I chose some DMC 14ct Blue Marble Aida that I've had for ages and it just happened to be the exact size I needed!  

I've set up an extra tab at the top to keep the WIP pictures of this separate from my other projects.  I'm sure that a lot of you probably follow Linda's blog - Stitchin' With My Furbabies already, but please stop over there and check out her beautiful stitching!