Wednesday 12 January 2011

Late arrivals/A start & a finish!

Thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments and get well wishes on my last post. I wish I could tell you that we are all better now but sadly no. Ian and myself still have a chesty cough, headache, sore throat, runny nose. Craig is still coughing too and Heathers asthma has flared up. We can;t even get an appointment with our GP so I guess we will just have to put up and shut-up..lol.

Due to all the postal delays with the Snow in December a number of my gift packages/exchanges I sent out have only arrived at their destinations recently. I;m so lucky to have such wonderful friends old and new. I had such fun and enjoyment putting everything together and it makes my heart smile that they were loved by all.




The Snowman cube I made for Cath for our Christmas exchange. I also included a lot of other goodies in the package but I somehow forgot to take a photograph of the completed package.

I also have to send a big apology to Pirjo as I have no photographs off the wonderful exchange package she sent me. It included a beautiful Angel from Brookesbookspublishing she had stitched which I hung on my holly wreath. DH had put it into the loft with the decorations before I realised I hadn;t taken a picture. This is the Christmas exchange package I sent to Pirjo.

I have to confess I fell in love with this little pillow after I put it together and wasn;t sure about parting with it but I just knew my dear friend Catherine would love it. I;m not known for stitching many designs twice but I will definately be doing this one again for myself.



Like myself Sally is a bit of a Snowman lover so I just had to put this one together for her. I;m so glad she liked it and look forward to enabling her to collect more Snowmen.


This gift for sweet Maggie is my favourite Ornament finish off 2010 (even though I was rather embarassed when I saw it on Maggies blog and a button had fell off). Mental note must buy some stronger glue..lol).


Oh dear this flu is really affecting what little brain I have. I also received a really cute stitched card and gifts from Nia and once again I forgot to take a picture. This is the little sparkly penguin Ornie I made for her.

This little package was for another sweet friend Staci whose stitching, knitting and crafty talents just inspire me to want to do better. I just couldn;t resist sending the "sock queen" some socks..lol.


Now onto this years stitching. This is my SAL piece that I mentioned in my last post but forgot (yeah I know again) to post a picture.

These are the thread colours and fabric I have chosen. The colour of the fabric shows up quite well in this picture as you will see in the next one it looks as if I;ve changed the colour.

Not many stitches done but this is my start. It will take a little while to get used to the 32count but I am enjoying this one. The plan at the moment is to work on this two days a week, off course this is not set in stone.


My second finish off 2011 but oh dear it was nearly in the bin. I tried to stitch it too a backing piece off fabric and it was a disaster. Hopefully I've rescued it okay. I thought I might attach it to a pillow or a notebook.
I am really enjoying all the wonderful new starts people are doing in the crazy challenge. It;s introducing me to so many beautiful charts I haven;t seen before. Happy stitching everyone!

25 comments:

Annie said...

What a great bunch of exchange pieces. Such a set of cuties!

Love your new SAL design with those soft colors.

Hope you start feeling better soon. It's no fun to be sick.

Lois said...

Lots of lovely stitchy gifts that you made. I do like your new start, looking forward to watching your progress on that one! Cute finish! Feel better soon.

Anonymous said...

I love all the little snowman, but the owl has captured my heart. What a cutie!

Sue said...

My.....you make gorgeous ornaments. You're making me want to stitch up a bunch, lol.

Belinda said...

Gorgeous presents and finishes there Elaine. :-) Your snowmen are so sweet.

Your sal is looking great, such pretty threads. Can't wait to see more of that one.
And that owl is adorable!! I'm into owls at the moment. I have a few in the baby's nursery.

I hope you feel better soon.

Ann at Beadlework. said...

My first visit to your blog. I love your snowmen collection and your header photo. What kind of bird is it - I've seen one on the odd occasion but not this winter so far.

Chris said...

The exchanges all look wonderful. What nice gifts!
I love the piece that you are stitching on now.
I hope that everyone feels well soon!

Fiona said...

I love your SAL design, who is it by if you don't mind me asking? I'd love to stitch it myself (one day!)

Meadows08 said...

Great exchanges! You sure were busy before Christmas!

I hope you and your family recover soon.

For the owl, next time you might try ironing on fusible interfacing onto the back first. It'll stop the linen from fraying.

Catherine said...

So sorry to hear that you and yours aren't feeling better yet!

Your gift will be treasured always - I love it! Your were certainly busy being an elf!!

Thanks for sharing pics of all your lovely stitches!

Lesleyanne said...

Wow what a lot of gorgeous finishes. Great new start - look forward to seeing your progress.

Erna said...

Goodmorning sweetie, lovely stitching, I can see you love snowmen..Hope you're all feeling a little better now.And I did what you told me to...I stayed at home and I'm having a good rest...Thanks for your advise....
Hugs
Er

Kathy A. said...

What a lovely collection of ornaments you have sent off this past year. Your finishing work is so beautiful and inventive. Nice work!

Sally said...

Wow Elaine all your stitched gifts are gorgeous. I absolutely love my snowman and my scissors :) He is proudly displayed on my mantle piece at the moment :)I doubt I will need much enabling to collect more snowmen!

Sorry to hear you're not feeling much better. I do hope you all improve soon. {{{{hugs}}}}

Carol said...

You sure were one busy elf stitching such cute ornaments and pillows and such for your friends, Elaine! All of them are so wonderful...

Hope your family feels 100% very soon--I'm battling the flu, too, so I know how you all feel--ugh!

Julianne said...

Wonderful gifts! I really love the owl. I am so glad you were able to save it. It will be great on a notebook or pillow.

Your new project is going to be absolutely lovely. The colors are a breath of springtime.

I hope you, and your family, are soon back to good Heath.

Annette said...

Sorry to hear your still not better!! Hope it will be soon!
Wow what a lovely package you made and recevied. Beautifull.
I so love the cubs!!
My I ask the next time you make one to make pictures of how you make them, I can't find a tutorial on the web, and would love to make one, but don't have any inspriration of how to do....
Great finish and new start, lovely design.
happy Stitching!!

Siobhán said...

I'm sorry to hear that you're all still sick!! My daughter and I are still coughing but thankfully that's it. It's terrible that you can't get in to see your GP!!

I love all the exchanges and goodies you've sent out. Love the WIPs, too!

♥ Nia said...

I love my penguin ornament!! :D Thank you dear!!
Oh! the chocolate.. ops.. it was 'yummy' ;) it didn't make my photo :p LOL

I love your snowman showing all the gifts! So funny :D

I hope you all feel better soon =/

Barb said...

Some wonderful stitching there Elaine and I love the Noel one could you leave a comment on my blog to say who it was by?
Hope you start to feel better soon, I have seen the dr twice in the last fortnight this wretched bug certainly seems to become attached when you get it. I should set up camp on the drs step .
Take care and look forward to seeing more of your wip.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Sorry to hear you've not been well, nor can you get in at the GP. How frustrating!

All of those gifts are GORGEOUS!

Pumpkin said...

I'm sorry to hear that you're still not feeling well :o( Hopefully it will get better soon.

I can't believe all the ornaments you stitched! Wow! I LOVE all the snowmen, stuffed and stitched :o) Good thing you don't live nearby! LOL!

the striped rose said...

I love the wildflower piece! Such beautiful colors and a nice saying!

Patty C. said...

Lovely gifts -
I hope you feel better soon

tangerinedream73 said...

I love the Noel ornament! Would you please tell me the name of the designer ane where you found the pattern?


Amy