Happy New Year! ~ 2010 In Review

I hope you all had a wonderful Xmas filled with special moments of family and dear friends near by. Mine was with family, catching up, spent mostly outdoors since it was a lovely mild day.

The New Year has arrived in Australia and I shared the occasion with my sister, celebrating. We were both going to be on our own (which doesn't bother me) but decided to share the festivities together. A little bubbly and nibbles to help us enjoy the lead up to the New Year. We were going to watch When Harry Met Sally on dvd but it wasn't working properly, so watched the tv instead. I love watching this movie around New Year so it was a little disappointing we couldn't.

I thought I'd show you a collage of my year's work for 2010. Unfortunately I didn't get as much done during this year. My stitching mojo just seemed to vanish. Don't know how 2011 will go since I have other things going on at the moment (which I may tell you about at a later date). In all, I managed to get five projects completed.

EWE EYE & FRIENDS - Angel In Your Heart

SHEPHERD'S BUSH - Buzz Buzz Bee

WITH THY NEEDLE & THREAD - Be Kind & Be True

BLACKBIRD DESIGNS - Summer Iris

NOTFORGOTTEN FARM - Ah, 'Tis Spring

My favourite for the year would have to have been Be Kind & Be True. I did this one as a SAL with Melissa earlier in the year. I loved working on it and it was fun knowing Melissa was sharing the enjoyment of stitching this along with me.

Thank you all for stopping by during the past year, I know I've been a bit quiet over the months. Be assured I'm still thinking of you all and enjoy seeing what everyone's creating. You're all so very talented out there:)

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2011!!!

A Quick Finish ~ Buzz Buzz Bee

Instant satisfaction with this one! Only a day's stitching involved and already a finish is created. I stitched this small kit on Saturday and here's the end result.

For me to stitch this in a day, it has to be small. The design size measures 1" x 3 1/2" approx. which makes it very tiny. Done in silk threads with a gorgeous bee charm to add.

As mentioned in my last post, this little kit is a Shepherd's Bush exclusive and can be purchased via them direct only. The kit comes with the surrounding mat and all that it needs is the frame.

DESIGNER ~ Shepherd's Bush

PATTERN ~ Buzz Buzz Bee (shop exclusive kit)

FABRIC ~ Shepherd's Tan 32ct hand-dyed linen

THREADS ~ Au Ver A Soie & Silk Moire (1 over 2)

EMBELLISHMENT ~ Bee charm

STARTED/FINISHED ~ 22 May 2010

I knew I wasn't going to get through a bigger design very quickly and I wanted something that would be quick to do, so I knew I could count on a SB piece to suit. Unlike me, I haven't done any of their designs this year so I needed to rectify that. Now I'm happy, and I have another finish under my belt (albeit a small one) and I can do a little happy dance!

So small was this one that I could even use my mini hoop to stitch it up. So cute!

I hope you've had fun drooling over my pictures, and as always, thanks so much for dropping by. Until my next little adventure... happy stitching!

I Had To Add The Words

I had planned on posting a lot sooner than now, so I'm sorry if you've been waiting for the surprise I mentioned in my last update. I said you'd probably see Ah, 'Tis Spring pop up again and here she is. All finished with the words added. I know I could have left it as it was but I felt that the words complimented the folksy feel of the piece. I also added the bunny's nose and mouth.


I actually got this finished at the start of the month. Then for the past week I've had an eye infection and have hardly been on the computer at all. I'm still needing to take drops for my eye but it's a lot more comfortable than what it was, though still a little sore. So I thought I'd update my blog before more time passed.

Now onto my finish. This was such a fun pattern to work on and I've loved the colour changes to the original pattern. I can't take credit for coming up with the different thread choices though. They have been worked out by the lovely ladies at Shepherd's Bush. Lots of variegated colours in cotton threads, using assorted brands, but still in keeping with the original colour scheme. This is my version of Ah, 'Tis Spring...

DESIGNER ~ Notforgotten Farm

PATTERN ~ Ah, 'Tis Spring

FABRIC ~ 35ct Sand Linen

THREADS ~ Sampler Threads, Crescent Colours, and Weeks Dye Works (1 over 2 - except for the pocket and carrot sticking out, which I did with 2 over 2)

STARTED ~ 17 March 2010

FINISHED ~ 1 May 2010

So I promised I'd list the threads once I finished this one and here they are.

DMC ~ SUBSTITUTE

310 ~ Wood Trail (Sampler Threads)
434~ Onion Skin (Crescent Colours)
610 ~ Dublin Bay (Crescent Colours)
611 ~ Bunny Honey (Crescent Colours)
612 ~ Stepping Stones (Crescent Colours)
644 ~ Linen (Weeks Dye Works)
730 ~ Pea Pod (Crescent Colours)
732 ~ Bean Sprout (Crescent Colours)
733 ~ Guacamole (Weeks Dye Works)
758 ~ Sand (Weeks Dye Works)
783 ~ Copper Penny (Crescent Colours)
921 ~ Clay Pot (Crescent Colours)
3013 ~ Bean Sprout (Crescent Colours)
3021 ~ Picnic Basket (Sampler Threads)
3848 ~ Dove (Weeks Dye Works)
Ecru ~ Linen Weeks Dye Works)


The changes to these that I made was the carrot tops in the grass at the bottom, which I did in Guacamole. I thought they stood out more using this than the darker green would have. I got the symbols mixed up and did the basket pattern in Bean Sprout rather than Onion Skin. I quite liked it so I decided to leave it that way. The last change was with the wording. SB had chosen Dublin Bay which is a darker blue. I wasn't going to be comfortable with that and chose Onion Skin instead. The original chart had called for a 'drab brown' colour and thought Onion Skin fitted nicely. I'm so pleased with the result. I also wanted to take the opportunity to say a big thanks to Loraine for helping me with the threads too. She was my angel in need with this project. Please take the time to drop by her blog if you haven't lately, as she's just been on a short trip which is so interesting to read about, and is also working on Ah, 'Tis Spring (with a different colour palette).

A few more photos for your pleasure.


I haven't started on anything new as I haven't felt like stitching with my sore eye. I'm seriously considering working on the latest Stacy Nash Group project I received in the mail recently (see last post). I really like it! Whatever I do, it will be something small. I'm just not stitching a lot lately to get through a bigger piece.

Thanks for your dear comments and kindness, my stitching friends. Have a lovely week and I do hope those mothers out there who celebrated Mother's Day this past Sunday, had a wonderful day.

Another Finish ~ Angel In Your Heart

I finished Angel In Your Heart today and have been a bit creative with my completed piece. See what you think.

After placing French Knots throughout the Angel's dress, it began to look like she had chicken pox! So I had a thought and came up with the idea of adding some Lazy Daisy stitches to some of the French Knots to make flowers. I may pull out some of the French Knots as I still think it looks a bit busy.

I also put a Seed Bead in the centre of the flower at the top of her dress. This was left blank on the chart so you could do whichever you wanted.

Then I stitched the year and my initials down the bottom right of the design. There was a bit of a blank area which made room for this. In the same area I added a Mother of Pearl button in the shape of a heart.

So with these changes and different threads I used, I've made a few modifications compared to the original design. I've still tried to keep with the original colour tones though.

DESIGNER ~ Ewe & Eye & Friends (Twisted Threads)

PATTERN ~ Angel In Your Heart

FABRIC ~ 35ct Weeks Dye Works Linen

THREADS ~

Gentle Art - Cidermill Brown, Avocado

Crescent Colours - Prickly Pear, Little Pink Peony

Weeks Dye Works - Snowflake, Whitewash

DMC - 677, 3348

EMBELLISHMENTS ~ Mill Hill white seed bead, and Mother Of Pearl button

STARTED ~ 26 January 2010

FINISHED ~ 13 March 2010 (SAL with Melissa on BK&BT in between)

The only original thread I kept was Avocado for the border. The rest I substituted mainly because I looked at what was in my stash rather than buying the called for threads. The Cidermill Brown was for the words and eyes, Prickly Pear was the darker pink, Little Pink Peony was the lighter pink, Snowflake was for the Angel's wings, Whitewash was for her face, 677 was for the stars, and 3348 was for the French Knots.

My favourite part of the design has to be the Angel's wings. They're done in Smyrna Crosses and give a great effect.

I've loved stitching this piece and I hope you've enjoyed my progress on it just as much.

My next project will be Ah, 'Tis Spring. Although it's Autumn where I am, I love the bunny on it and with Easter coming up, it's a perfect time to stitch it.

Three finishes for the year so far, so I'm on track for a finish a month. Not that I'm aiming at that, I just like to stitch at an unregulated pace most of the time. Enjoyment is the key.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my latest finish!

Be Kind & Be True ~ Finished!

I've now come to the end of my SAL with Melissa. We worked together on this project with much delight and both enjoyed it immensely. A lovely design, great company, and a wonderful ending. Thanks Melissa, for joining me on this journey and encouraging me to work on it quicker than I would have on my own. Here's the final result...

DESIGNER ~ With Thy Needle & Thread (Country Stitches)

PATTERN ~ Be Kind & Be True

FABRIC ~ WDW 35ct Linen

THREADS ~ recommended DMC (1 over 2)

STARTED ~ 20 February 2010

FINISHED ~ 8 March 2010

SAL ~ with Melissa of Words And Blooms

Linen choices and thread thickness were the main decisions for me at the start. I decided on WDW 35ct Linen because I had it in my stash, and it looked similar to what was used on the original design. Being 35ct I normally use one thread so I went with this theory on BK&BT. Looking back I think two threads would have been suitable for this design, but I'm still happy with the result that's been achieved. I stayed with the recommended DMC threads because I liked the colours of them, which was part of the appeal of this pattern.

My least favourite part (if there is one) were the leaves. I just didn't enjoy stitching them as much as other things. Maybe it was the quantity - you know, novelty wore off after a few. My favourite was the woman with her pantaloons. They're only peeking out from under her dress but I love the look of them! Simple but effective.

Can't forget the man with his big pants.

Now to how I'll finish this stitched project. I'm still tempted to stain it with Walnut Crystals and if I do I will show you the end result. I will also get this one framed in the future. I've been buying too much stash lately to get anything framed just now though.

Thanks for coming up with a great design, Brenda. I love your patterns and will stitch many of them in the future. Thanks also to those who have followed Melissa and I on our SAL. We've enjoyed your company.

First Finish for 2010 ~ Summer Iris

My first finish for 2010 has come slowly but here it finally is.

I've enjoyed stitching Summer Iris. The thread colours went well with the fabric and with the personalising of the year and my initial, I'm pleased with the end result. There's no graph if you want to change these two features from what's on the original design so I've had to create my own 'J' and work out which way I wanted to do the '1' in 2010. It took me about five attempts for each before I was happy with them.

One day I'll complete this little piece and turn it into a pincushion or the like.

DESIGNER ~ Blackbird Designs

PATTERN ~ Summer Iris

FABRIC ~ 30ct WDW Baby's Breath

THREADS ~ WDW Dove, Fawn, Cappuccino, & Rum Raisin - GA Grecian Gold (2 over 2)

STARTED ~ 3 January 2010

FINISHED ~ 22 January 2010

I'd like to try to do the wool strawberry for which instructions also come with this pattern, one day.

Photo courtesy of Blackbird Designs, One Stitch At A Time blog

In the meantime I will show you some more pictures of my stitched Summer Iris.

Thank you for taking the time to look and comment.