So pleased...

... with my completed Spanish sampler. This no longer available freebie from Lady Periphaeria - http://periphaeria.com/tales/ - was a pleasure to stitch and I'm so glad that I stuck to one colour. I'd love it if I had the time to stitch it three more times in complementary colours but I know that's not going to happen!

So, back to the duck in rain now to try and get that finished as well. I've also got Jackie's Mum's design to start but think I'll concentrate on Mr Duck first. This is the last photo I have of him but I have done quite a bit more since:

March WiPocalypse

Yay, another section finished and the next already a third done:

Quick update

A little bit more stitched on part 8 of the Spanish Sampler. I've enjoyed this section the least - other sections flowed easily when being stitched but this one seems to be all stops and starts. Not much more to go, though...

Happy 2012!

Well, didn't 2011 go quickly?! Christmas flew as well (as usual) and it's back to work tomorrow so no more late nights, late mornings, afternoon stitching or chocolate. I've been very bad with the choccies the last few weeks so my one and only resolution is to not eat any more...

I'll start with an end - this is the culmination of my 2011 TUSAL.

I didn't keep up with posting every full moon but I'm going to try my best this year.

I also did quite a lot of stitching on the Spanish Sampler and finished part 7 on New Year's Eve, so quite pleased with that:

Finally, my stitching list for the WiPocalypse. Not much different to last year and doesn't include any knitting but it'll keep me busy for a while!

1. Spanish Sampler (Periphaeria free 2008 project) (large)
2. Cards/bookmarks to sell for Many Tears Animal Rescue
3. Juggy Bug 2008 Year Sampler (medium)
4. Brushstroke butterfly (http://www.cyberstitchers.com/) (smallish)
5. Duck in rain (medium)
6. Cameo Silk hardanger by Judy Dixon (medium)
7. A Garden in Blue by The Design Connection (medium)
8. Spots of Fun by Debbie Draper (11 stitches in - a long way to go!) (medium)
9. Spanish Rouge by Sampler Cove (1 line stitched!) (extra large!!)
10. Un-named freebie hardanger piece, cutting to be done (small)
11. A Walk on the Beach by Dimensions (smallish)
12. Cottage by Janlynn (small)
13. Blue Waters by Heritage Stitchcraft (medium, but it's got those stupid side-ways half stitches)
14. Hardanger Diamond by Suzanne Parnell (small)
15. Musical Comfort by Janlynn (medium)
16. "B" design for friend's Mum (medium)

I'm going to finish the Spanish Sampler, work on the duck in the rain then start on the B design for Jackie's Mum... that's the plan, anyway :-)

Some Spanish Sampler Seven

Ok, that's it for the aliteration... Anyway, I've started part seven of the Spanish Sampler. I doubt very much whether I'll get it all done before 2012 but I'm planning to do a lot of stitching over Christmas so, who knows?!

I've also joined the WiPocalypse - http://measi.net/measiblog/2012-wipocalypse/wipocalypse-faq/ - to give myself another boost to try and stitch more in 2012. Between that and the huge number of UFOs, WiPs, stuff that I want to make for Many Tears and all the knitting I'm planning I need something to gee me up!

Quick Update

Part 6 of the Spanish Sampler is finished! Only four more parts to go...

Well, it's about time!

So... only about three months since my last post! Things have been pretty busy, especially with fundraising for Many Tears. Jayne and I raised £210 from a table top sale in Pontyberem - lots of work but well worth it in the end. I've been doing a bit of stitching for the rescue as well:

The heart card sold for £1.20 on eBay

but this one hasn't sold yet and may go to a Christmas fete in a couple of weeks time. I've finished another one and with yet another card and a square for Granny's Quilts part-done I've actually been pretty busy stitch-wise.

Beatrix was framed as well, by the framers in Darkgate, Carmarthen who did an absolutely fantastic job:

Finally, on the stitching side, I've picked up the Spanish Sampler again, thanks to the UFO night at Stitch Clubs:

There are four parts left to stitch after this block is finished and though I'd love to get it done by the New Year I don't see it happening somehow :-)

Right, off to watch a repeat of Marple which I recorded last night and perhaps do some more cross stitching... although my knitting is falling behind too...

I really need to get into the habit

of posting more often! I always start the year full of good intentions but they fade within a few months... At least I have something to post - a finish and a restart!

Beatrix is done - I thoroughly enjoyed stitching this design and very proud of the finished piece:

Now to get it framed...

Next on the list is another UFO - the Spanish Sampler. Here's where I left it last year (or was it 2009?!) and I've already finished the part-done block and about half of the next section. I'd love to finish this by Christmas - not a major problem if not, but it's a deadline to aim for:



I've also started three little designs for bookmarks/cards to sell for MT. I'm aiming to get a few things done for a craft fayre in October - let's hope they sell!

Just finished an absolutely brilliant book - The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It's written as a series of letters from a writer to people who had lived under the German Occupation - it's funny, sad and hopeful and one of the best books I've ever read.

First progress of 2011!

I very rarely make new year's resolutions (and if I do, I never stick to them) but this year I do hope to update this blog more often. So, hoping to start as I go on... here's my latest photo of Beatrix, taken at the end of December and I have stitched a bit more on her.

I also took a photo of the Spanish Sampler which I haven't worked on for a while but hope to finish this year:

My last finish of 2010 was a square for Love Quilts UK, for a little girl called Laura.

I really enjoyed stitching this, even though there are large blocks of one colour. It was a good one to stitch while watching TV.

Stitching again!

It's so nice to have three new photos to show. One thing about not having internet access is that I did stitch more over the last few weeks. I just have to keep that up now!

First is the brushstrokes butterfly that I'm doing in Anchor 1345 for the Breast cancer quilting group. I think that this will be a fun stitch even though I'm not a huge fan of variegated threads.



Next up is a card I'm stitching for the Many Tears animal rescue. It'll be a cute little dog once it's done :-)



And finally, something for me. The Spanish Sampler is now at part 5 (of 11) I need to concentrate on this so that I can get to another of my larger WIPs or UFOs but the smaller designs are so tempting...



I'm going to try and get into the habit of taking photos every Saturday so that'll be incentive to stitch during the week. That's the plan, anyway!

I always preferred Fozzy Bear!

Well, the frogging went well and I stitched quite a lot on the SS last night and a bit today. I've now almost got to the end of 3b and I'm really enjoying this piece. I probably won't get much of a chance to stitch this week but will definitely start on part 4 next week.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!

I decided to stitch on the Spanish Sampler last night only to find - about an hour in - that I was following the wrong part of the chart!! I hadn't marked where I'd left off last time and as it's been so long since I worked on it I'd forgotten.

Ah well, a little time to frog and then I'll start stitching on it again - properly this time!!