Eventually....

...... I have discovered that:

• I am not alone in experiencing difficulties posting pictures to Blogger
• my version of IE is not compatible with Blogger
• Chrome is compatible with Blogger

Wouldn't it be nice if they told you what the issue was instead of just not working!  Rant over.

I can now share with you what I made and received in our Tuesday Stitching Group's Secret Santa.
Firstly

 I received this gorgeous project bag from Sylvia ~ it's made with beautiful linen and lined with a pale green linen check fabric.  It has an inside pocket that had a tape measure in it and it also has a lobster key clasp that I can attach my scissors to.  I love it!

I made this cushion for Norma ~ it's from a design by Kelly Fletcher called Christmas Tree that I discovered on Craftsy.  Stitched on Moda dot fabric with good old DMC ~ to ensure that it's washable, just in case.  Finished as an envelope back cushion with some fabric from my stash that originally came from Just Quilting.
Unfortunately, Norma was not able to be with us for our Secret Santa night so was given her gift a few days later when one of our ladies paid her a visit.






Finally I thought I would share my New Year's Day new start

Doesn't look like much does it?  And it looks upside down, however, it is meant to be.
This is Summer House Pincushion from Blackbird Designs ~ originally I was meant to start this as a SAL with Carol many, many moons ago ~ Carol's has been finished for quite some time now!  I'm using the recommended fabric & thread but have to say that I'm not loving the fabric ~ it's really stiff & harsh ~ so currently it remains as you see it as I have not picked it up again since NYD.





Until next time.



Kate

Happy New Year

I'd like to wish all my followers & readers a very Happy, Healthy & Peaceful New Year.


Thank you for sticking with me when I have been an intermittent blogger ~ I am hoping that I will manage to keep the blog updated more frequently throughout this year.  To those of you that leave me comments I'd like you to know that they are very much appreciated.


Today I am struggling with my technology!  Blogger does not want to allow my to upload photographs currently ~ it may be my version of IE that is causing the issue, but who knows.


Hopefully I can resolve this soon and then show you my NYD new start and the Secret Santa gifts from Tuesday Stitching Group.


Until next time




Kate

Picture Post

Pictures as promised in my last post:

Valentine's Exchange

This exchange was on the Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group ~ on the left my gifts from Mary, a beautifully stitched heart, a box of tea and a gorgeous smelling soap.  Thank you so much Mary.
On the right the stocking I stitched for Mary ~ A Valentine's Stocking which was a freebie from Plum Street Samplers.  I forgot to take a picture including the other items I sent, they were chocolates, tea and a candle in a tin.




Tuesday Stitching Group Birthday Gifts

The first is Hope Angel from Nikys Creations ~ stitched for Sonia, who loves angels, and finished as a small pillow.

And this is Flowers for my Friend by Kirsi Huttunen ~ the stitching was completed in 2011 ~ finished as a hanging for Liz.
These were the last two gifts in the series that I had planned to do in 2011 but were unfortunately put on hold with family circumstances back then.
Finally, they are now completed and have gone to their new homes.

Back in 2012 I stitched a Secret Santa gift for Liz and when I was making up the box I couldn't find this little piece which I had intended to put inside.  Now found, finished and passed on to Liz.  It's from La Boite a Tresors from C'mon Monde.

Finally, as I mentioned in my last post here is my start on Love by Bent Creek.  It is being stitched to give to my Niece and her intended as a gift to celebrate their wedding in May.  It's a lovely stitch.






See you soon.


Kate

Secret Santa & Christmas Ornament Exchanges

We're almost at the end of January and it's only 334 days till Christmas ~ just thought I'd get that over with and I promise not to mention it again ~ if I remember!

Our Tuesday Stitching Group have had a Secret Santa exchange for quite a few years now ~ 3 years ago we changed the format and rather than buying a gift for our partner we now each make our gifts.  So for Christmas 2013 I was to make something for Doreen ~ I was organised early and gathered a pattern and supplies however project # 1 and I didn't get on so I abandoned the idea.  A new project search was started and I found something that I thought would be perfect ~ I had a great time working on it and was quite pleased with myself.  Then disaster struck when I somehow managed to scorch it with the iron!!!!!!   I have been ironing since I was 10, ironing was my chore at home from that age and I have NEVER scorched anything (other than myself on a few occasions) in my entire ironing career ~I was completely devastated and disheartened and running out of time too.

Despite the setback I managed not to either fall out with or destroy project # 3 and was really quite pleased with how it turned out ~ and Doreen was delighted with it which is the most important thing.

Eliza's Pyn Pillow by With My Needle mounted on a hand painted and lined box.

This is the gorgeous gift I received from Carol.  I love it  ~ there are a number of reasons:
It's gorgeous
It's a heart ~ well 5 hearts if you count the individual ones
It's made from remnants of the fabric that the group used to make a quilt as a wedding gift for myself and the LM
It includes pieces of the fabric from my wedding dress ~ Carol had a sneaky word with my Sis2 at our wedding party and DH was involved at some stage too
Did I tell you it was a heart?  What's not to love?  Oh, and it as lights too!

I should remember to take my camera to our Christmas dinner next time and photograph all the gorgeous gifts that were exchanged.

I joined two ornament exchanges in 2013 ~ one on the Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group and one on the Needlecraft Haven Yuku Group.

These are the gorgeous ornaments I received ~ on the left hand side from Mary in the FS Group and on the right hand side from Clare in the NH Group.  I really enjoy participating in these exchanges and now have quite a haul of beautifully stitched pieces from stitchers from around the world ~ I omitted to take a picture of my bowl displaying them all.

My ornament to Mary on the Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group ~ Noel 2013, a free design from Mamilou Creations.
This was stitched on 35ct Barely Bronzed from Sparklies with DMC threads - I made one substitution as I didn't have one of the called for colours.  The bottom of the design had some wording which I omitted and added a strip of lacy trim in it's place.  For the back I used some lovely green spotty fabric from my stash and the hanger is made from a couple of ribbons, one stitched onto the other.

This is Christmas Morning by The Stitcherhood, a design from the 2012 Just Stitches Ornament Edition.  Stitched on 32ct fabric ~ colour unknown, I must get better at keeping my fabric with better detail.  Just two colours of DMC were used for this design which I stitched for Becs on the Needlecraft Haven Yuku Group.  I used a fabric which had a wreath design in red/green for the reverse with a hanger made from the same DMC used for the stitching.

I'm looking forward to this year's ornament exchanges already!

Kate

The Dog Ate My Homework

We don't have a dog.
It's just my way of explaining my prolonged absence from this place.
An alternative phrase is - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Good
The LM's business has been tremendously busy since launching a software update at a trade show back in September.  There was much work to do leading up to the exhibition, however since then he has been working silly hours to keep on top of the additional business that has been generated.  Leading to

The Bad
10 - 12 hour days in the office, starting again at home after dinner, working weekends and many trips away from home.  Not much time to spend keeping up with household stuff, with the GB's or each other.  Yes it is frustrating, bordering on annoying at times, however it's business, it's paying off and it brings additional stability - in these dark economic times.....  Unfortunately anxiety and stress lead to

The Ugly
My usual LM - the one with the sunny disposition, heaps of patience and lots of time for everybody has temporarily disappeared - I understand why and I'll just wait for his return.  A couple of weeks ago his lower back went into spasm ~ now that was very ugly ~ it's slowly returning to normal however it added to the frustration.  There have been other health issues in the house too, the usual coughs, sniffles and sneezes as well as a trip to A&E for GB1 ~ it wasn't good, he is recovering but may have future issues.  Don't you just hate your babies having pain?

So although the dog didn't eat my homework we have had a few things on our plate that have eroded the time I had for doing lovely things ~ like stitching & posting & blog reading, & painting etc
I have managed some stitching as I joined a couple of ornament exchanges ~ one has been received (pictures next time as camera battery has expired) and the other is on it's way over the pond.  There has been a disaster with an Autumn exchange ~ which disappeared into some kind of black hole ~ a second piece has now been sent and I'm waiting for news of it's arrival.  The Winter exchange is due to be mailed this week and I'm on track for that, then I just have a secret Santa piece to finish for next Tuesday.  So, there should be lots of pictures to show you, and hopefully soon.
I'm of to hide my homework from the imaginary dog........

Kate