Eccentric Dress Sense

I'm progressing well with Santa on Orlaith's stocking - his dress sense isn't improving any though LOL! His navy and pink/plum check trousers are completed, and now I'm on to his green jumper. The jumper is large (well, it would be given the size of Santa's belly!) so I may need to get some more green before I reach the end of it :)

Other than Santa's attire, I managed to finish a Crazy Exchange, so that will be out in the post in the next few days, and hopefully photos soon! I also finished my return Crazy Exchange for Marne, so I'll post photos when she gets that.

And we've had good news: Royal Mail and its union(s?) have reached an agreement, so no more strikes, hurrah! Post as normal from here on in, what a treat!

Hope you all had wonderful weekends, and thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching!

Santa's Growing

Another rainy, cold, dreary evening in the UK equals more progress on Santa! His stripe-y socks are now done, and I'm on to his check trousers - although the pink is a bit difficult to see in the photo. It will soon be joined by navy checks and plum dots (Santa has a very loud dress sense it seems LOL), so will soon show up better.

I also managed to do a little bit of secret stitching last night, so I'm just about on track with my goals for this month :) Only one more day to go before the very irritating Royal Mail strike is finished with (although only temporarily, I gather), so I should be not only receiving post on Thursday, but also will be able to post off a couple of exchanges which are sitting in my stitching room (aka H's office) waiting to go!

Happy stitching all and thanks for dropping by!

Helllooooo

I feel like the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland - I'm very late. And not only for an important date, but for all sorts of things; maybe even for everything. And if I could even remember half of what I'm late for, I'd probably faint dead away. Why has life suddenly gotten so busy??

But enough panic; I'll put rhetorical questions aside for the moment, and instead tell you that I've finished my Fair and Square squares! I haven't posted them yet as there's still a postal strike here in the UK - yes, again, still - so I want to wait until the backlog has cleared a bit before posting these just in case they get lost. So no photos yet, but imminently. I also finished my return Crazy Exchange gift for Marne, but again waiting for the strike to finish before posting. Postal strikes aren't fun. I really dislike them. Just for the record.

But I do have a photo I can show you of Orlaith's stocking! I finished the bottom third last month, so this month's task is to finish the central motif - Santa! I know I had a little blast earlier about Christmas being in the shops already, but surely Christmas stitching is allowed??? I feel it's a very different thing LOL :)



So here is my progress with the stocking so far: Santa's skate and part of his stripe-y socks. I'm not particularly looking forward to finishing this - my sewing skills are nascent at best, but I'm pinning my hopes on my wonderful mother to help me, despite the fact that she is more than 4,000 miles away...

Happy stitching and thanks for dropping by!

Even More Secret Stitching Revealed!

Willeke let me know that she safely received the second of my PIF Promises last week. Leena inspired me to try a heart-shaped pinkeep, so with the help of her instructions here, I was able to finish this Tournicoton freebie called 'Coeur Printemps' as a heart pinkeep - my very first heart-shaped one! Leena's instructions were excellent, and her tip about the tracing paper was inspired. I painted the pins to match with nail varnish to match the threads, and Willeke tells me she is delighted with it, so I think that can be chalked up as a success! I also stitched Willeke a small biscornu scissor fob, this one a freebie design from Periphaeria Designs. Can you tell that Willeke likes hearts??!

Front view and back view of Willeke's PIF: Tournicoton freebie 'Coeur Printemps' stitched on 36-count Lakeside Vintage Exemplar using Carrie's Creations, DMC and Crescent Colours threads, finished as heart-shaped pinkeep. Periphaeria Designs freebie 'Ring o' Hearts' stitched on 36-count Lakeside Linens Vintage Exemplar using Carrie's Creation thread and finished as a small scissor fob biscornu. Please ignore dusty windowsill!!

Phew - that's now most of my recent secret stitching revealed, only a little more to go...

I also had some time this weekend to devote to Orlaith's stocking, and have even managed to stitch the first 1/3 of it as I had tasked myself to do - hurrah! Next month's 1/3 is the Santa which covers the main part of the sock - I'm looking forward to stitching it, as it means that Christmas is not far off! That said, I was horrified to find selection boxes (translation for non-Europeans - large boxes of chocolate put together by the major chocolate manufacturers and featuring their best selling chocolate bars, only available at Christmas and often decorated (the boxes, not the chocolate) with santas, mistletoe, holly, reindeer, etc) in the shops 10 days ago. The kids have barely gone back to school, and already there is Christmas gear coming into the shops??? At least in Canada (and I presume in America too) you get Hallowe'en and Thanksgiving before you really get stuck into Christmas!

Happy stitching all and thanks for stopping by!

Secret Stitching 1 Revealed

Leena received the small birthday present I sent to her earlier this week - her birthday isn't until tomorrow, but who would have guessed that Royal Mail would get the parcel there in only one day?? So here is the secret photo - Leena has some lovely photos on her blog as well, so have a look there if you're interested.

And - wonderful news about the tube strike: it's been called off! I would have made it home on time yesterday, if only I didn't have to work late, and if only an earlier train to Reading hadn't broken down, causing half-hour delays in its wake...the joys of commuting. Are there any? Oh yes, I remember why I do it when I walk outside my door and see the big field there :)

And further wonderful news - I think all your hopeful thoughts for our weekend away have borne fruit - not only have I found somewhere coastal and secluded for us this weekend, but I've also found somewhere completely unique: we're staying in a lighthouse for two nights right on the coast in Wales!! I'm SO looking forward to this :) I may not have time for stitching, and I don't think we'll have any internet access, so I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will post some photos of our lighthouse next week.

Happy stitching and thanks for dropping by!