A new year, some new goals

Hi everyone and Happy New Year.

So last year was quite a slack year with my stitching, very little done and only a couple of small projects finished.  I love stitching and I miss working on lovely pieces.  So this year is going to be my year to stitch.  I have found this WIP challenge and I am all signed up.  Let me introduce you to my 3 WIPs that I want to complete this year.

Firstly is Joan Elliotts ladybird fairy that I have been working on for nearly a year and a half, although I must admit that about a year of that it has been sitting as a UFO.  When I looked at it this morning I realised that there is only a few days work left to do on it, all the backstitch and stitching are done, it just needs a few beads added on.  So, my goal is to have this one finished by the end of January, my son is home on summer break from Kindergarten so wont get much done till he goes back on the 20th January.  Here she is in all her glory.

Second on the list is my sons Christmas Stocking.  I have been working on this for 2 years, it is going to be finished this Christmas for him.  He will be 5 this Christmas and it will be lovely to give to him with little treats inside it.  I love the design of this stocking, I wanted one that represented the true spirit of Christmas and this is perfect.

Finally is a design from one of my favourite artists, Greg Olsen.  The design is called "Lost no more".  I have had this one tucked away as a UFO for YEARS!!!!  I have made it my goal to get this one finished this year and get it framed, it is too beautiful to not complete.

And this is what the finished design looks like

 So, that is my plan for the year.  I am going to push through the ladybird one, then when she is done start a new one to replace her and rotate the 3 through the year.  Wish me luck :)  What are your stitching plans for the year???

I'm still alive!!!

Hi everyone.  Yes it has been months I know.  I have been so bad at keeping this blog updated, but in all honesty life has been crazy!  Sadly my stitching has taken a back seat this year, with very little being done.  I thought I would give you an update of my little mans Christmas Stocking though, I am loving it.  I don't think I will get it finished for him this year but I am still plodding along with it. 

He is at Kindergarten this morning so I plan to spend the morning working on it. 

I hope everyone elses stitching is coming along well.  I have been following your blogs still and loving all the beautiful designs :)

Take Care

Shock...Horror!!!

Yes, I know, shocking...I am back.  It has been MONTHS since I have updated this blog, but then it has been MONTHS since I have done any serious stitching.  Life with a 3 year old got so busy and by the end of the day I am falling into bed exhausted.  My boy is just starting his third week of Kindergarten this week and goes for 2 hours every weekday afternoon.  I am loving my quiet time, get a little bit of housework done and then about an hour of stitching a day done.  My little guy also lets me do an hour or so at night as well so it is really nice to be back into my stitching.  Here's what I have been up to since my last post...not much but hopefully this should increase.

Firstly I finished the Dream SAL that I was doing, a Joan Elliott design.  It was my first attempt at beading and I am really happy with it.  I would love to do the other 3 as well and hang them in our room, they are a nice small quick stitch but very pretty.

The other project I have been working on is a Joan Elliott design as well, the Ladybird Fairy that I started last year.  I have completed all the backstitching now and just need to do the beading for it, which I plan to have finished in the next week.  I think she is gorgeous, I just love her colours.

The other 2 WIPS I have are Jacobs stocking (still not done!!) and Lost no More, both of which are at exactly the same spot as they were in my previous post!  My aim is to get Ladybird finished as I have fabric on the way to start Dressmakers Daughter for my mother for her 70th birthday this year.  I have told myself I am not allow to start it till I finish this one :)

So, that is all my stitchy news, I have been keeping up with everyones blogs, there is some lovely work going on.  I promise to be better with my blog :)

A special homecoming

Well it has been a busy couple of weeks but I have managed to do some kitting up and planning my christmas stitching is underway.  Today I kitted up Joan Elliotts Home is where the heart is to do for 2 family members for their homes for christmas.

I also ordered this little kit from 123stitch this week to do for another family member for christmas as well to hang in their home.

Jacobs Christmas stocking is going to get a workout this week as well as I havent touched it for a while.  Actually I havent touched any stitching for about a week so dont have any updates sorry.  I did have a special homecoming today, dads dogs that I have done for him for his 70th birthday next month, dont they look devine (just ignore my arms at the bottom of the picture)

He is going to love it so much, it almost hurts to let it go, but it is going to look perfect in his home.

So finally, I mentioned a couple of months ago that I was on a weight loss mission, well it is going really well.  I have lost 8.4kgs in 8 weeks and feel so much happier and healthier already.  For those who want to follow my progress I have a facebook page sharing my journey here.  You are welcome to join me here if you have facebook, I would love to see you there

Have a lovely weekend everyone, picks to follow in a few days of Jacobs stocking

She's looking good

Well, the weather here is freezing, the only thing I love about winter is getting into my PJ's at the end of the day and lounging in front of the fire stitching or watching trashy tv.  This week and next week are school holidays here in New Zealand which means no work for me and no playcentre for Jacob and I.  I quite like holidays, we dont have to rush around in the morning trying to get out the door, we can lounge around at home and just hang out watching dvds or playing together.  Jacob is still touch and go with his day sleeps but I have managed to get some stitching done recently which I am happy about.  My ladybird fairy is now all stitched, all that is left to do on her now is the backstitching and beading. 

I think she is quite lovely.  I love the firey colours of her skirt.  The backstitching wont take long but I have never done beading on a cross stitch design before so I am a bit nervous about it. 

A short blog this time, as I only updated it a few days ago.  Once ladybird is finished I am going to start my christmas stitching, working on Jacobs stocking and also doing a design for my brother and his wife and kids for their home.  I will post a pic of the pattern next blog

Have a lovely stitchy week :)

Stash, stash and more stash

Dont you just love technology....when it works.  I have tried about 4 times in the last 2 weeks to update my blog and my poor computer decided not to play the game.  Finally we bit the bullet and got a new wireless modem, so things are all up and running again :)

The last few weeks have been a little crazy but I have managed to get some stitching in.  My little man has decided that he only needs to have day sleeps about 3 days a week now so I am missing my stitchy time during the day.  I have done some progress on Ladybird, she only has a little bit left on the flowers and leaves on the bottom of the design and then she is ready to backstitch and bead. 

I have had some lovely stitchy stuff arrive lately though which is so exciting.  First off was the lovely DMC thread that I won off Melanies blog when she had her giveaway.  I have never bought any colour variation thread and was so taken with how pretty it was when I received it.  Thank you so much Melanie for your lovely giveaway and for including me.

For those of you who have been following my blog for the last few months you would have seen my Dogs that I recently did for my dads 70th birthday coming up in August.  Last week I found the cats version as a chart and had to get it for me, I love cats :)  So it is in my WIP pile but further down the pile as I have others I need to do first.

Next one that I bought was a double pattern that I have loved for ages called Butterfly Fairies. This has been on my wish list for so long and last week I finally got around to buying it! My love for cats is only superceeded by my love for butterflies!  My goal is to do both of these and hang them in my bedroom, but right now they will have to wait as well for more important projects that need to be completed.  Here they are, aren't they gorgeous

So, there is all my stitchy news.  Sadly I broke my glasses last week (cant even blame it on the 2 year old either, it was all me!!!) and so stitching is having to wait till my new pair arrives this week.  Thankfully my lovely optometrist has given me a pair of contacts to use so that I am not completely blind :)

I hope all my stitchy friends are well and happily stitching.  Once I get the beading and backstitching done on ladybird I will be starting my christmas stitching for my family, including putting more work into Jacobs christmas stocking.  Oh, and there is the new Mira design which is called Dressmakers Daughter which I am going to be stitching for my mum for her 70th birthday next year, yes, she was a dressmaker!!

Ok, big verbal blurb is over, I will leave you all with a couple of photos taken last weekend at our yearly photo shoot that we have done as a family.

Our little man

Hubby and I

Bye lovlies :)

Yes people...I am alive!!!!

Hi everyone, yes I know it has been ages since I updated this, I am still around and have been quietly lurking in the background.  Truth be known May was a hard month and my blogging just kind of fell by the wayside.  But here I am, back up to speed, lighter, happier and ready to go!!!!  So let's catch up with what I have been up to.  Be prepared for a long, detailed post!!!!!!

Health wise I had a pretty scary month.  I have had a tiny sore on the inside of my nose for about 2 years now which has never healed (sounds gross I know but we are all friends here so let's share!!!).  I have never done anything about it as it was so tiny and never bothered me.  Anyway last month it grew, very fast and very serverly, to the point that it was tracking up my face.  I went to the doctors and he put me on an antibiotic and cream to try and heal it, but it continued to spread.  I went back and was given a second lot of cream and pills...still spreading.  Another visit to the doctor and a third lot of medication tried.  I was given 4 days with this medication and was told if there was no improvment that I would be admitted to hospital and a biopsy taken to analyse it.  Needless to say, the next 4 days were incredibly stressfull!!!  For the first 2 days nothing changed, day 3 I could breath through my nostril, day 4 I woke up and it was practically gone.  All that is left of it now a week later is a scar that I dont think is going to heal but hey, that's what makeup is for huh :) 

I also in the last month decided to take control of my health and weight and joined Weight Watchers.  I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I have a 2 year old son that I want to enjoy spending time with and running with and it is hard to do right now with the size I am.  So I bit the bullet and joined and I am LOVING it so much.  I am happy, full of energy, and have lost 3.8 kilos in the first 2 weeks.  Onward and downward, that's my moto now.  My husband actually told me the other day that he is really proud of me for how determined I am and how well I am doing, which is huge for him.  He has also lost half a kilo since I started too so my healthy dinners must be rubbing off on him.  He came home the other day with Mayonaise on his chin so I asked him where he had been....he confessed he had snuck off to Burger King for a feed.....hahahaha.  At least he had it there and didnt bring it home!!!

So anyway, onto stitching over the last month.  I havent done a lot, it has been so busy and stressfull but I am happy to say that the skirt on ladybird is finished. 

My aim is to get the legs and scarf finished over the weekend, will see how we go.  It depends if my 2 boys play the game and give me some quiet mummy time :)

I hope everyones stitching is going well.  I have been checking your blogs off and on but have not had a chance to really catch up on them for ages, so that is my mission this afternoon while the little man has a sleep. 

Happy stitching :)