Its Giveaway time!!

Right, I have delved into my stash and come up with a giveaway.

Seeing as its the last day of July I decided to do a Christmas themed giveaway seeing as many of us are thinking about it already!

In the prize:

5 x laminated cards DMC Christmas bead and cross stitch designs

A piece of 14 count Aida 12 x 18" in white

12 c6 cards: 6 gold and 6 silver with envelopes

3 skeins of Madeira Metallics in christmassy colours (red, blue, silver)

An assortment of embellishments - charms, skeleton leaves, angels, holly, bows.

3 x size 28 gold needles


Rules:

1) follow my blog

2) comment on this or any subsequent post between now and 15 August

3)I will post worldwide

4) ensure I have your email address so I can send your prize out!

Giveaway now closed!


I will draw names out on 18th August and post asap afterwards.

Good luck!

xx

Thinking about a giveaway!

I reckon seeing as I have almost 40 followers now I should have a followers giveaway!

I will have a look in my mountainous stash over the weekend and sort out a prize..

Watch this space!

xx

Page one finished!

Took me another couple of days but page one is finally done. I could have finished it last night. I had 10 stitches left and I was so tired I couldn't find the floss colour I wanted so I took the decision to stop and finish this morning.
Page 2 will take longer for 3 reasons. I am helping a friend grid some fabric, I have a biscornu to make and page 2 has a lot of confetti.

Victoria put in the final stitch for me!

Ps I know the pic is lousy but hubs slr camera has run out of charge and I have no clue how to charge it.
xx

Avarice Update

9 days in. I think I am probably about 3/4 of the way through the first page. I was hoping to do a page a week but seeing as I was so ill last week I haven't achieved that target this week!

School's out... almost!

One of the bigger girls finished school today, the other finishes tomorrow. Hannah, my eldest (9) brought this home today xx

Everything has ground to a halt!

I have been struck with Tonsilitis :(

Last weekend - ISHW, I started with a cold. Got a sore throat then progressively worse then better. I thought by Monday I was coming through the other side of it and was on the mend.

Tuesday I was just incredibly tired and sleepy. My toddler went for her nap and I was planning to stitch but - you guessed it - I slept.

On Wednesday I got up feeling as horrendous as I did on Saturday. My throat felt like razor blades and I was wooly headed and had the chills etc etc. I looked in my throat and discovered that both my tonsils were the size of golf balls. It was then I knew I needed to get to a doctor. 10 1/2 years ago I had a bout of tonsilitis which almost killed me so I am very wary of it now and I ensure that I get treated.

So. upshot is I have 7 days of antibiotics - 4 doses of 2 tablets a day. Paracetamol for my temperature and I have to keep up with fluids.

No stitching to speak of has been done. I maybe have done 100 stitches over the last couple of days. As I get on the mend I plan to get my head down and get a cracking on it as I am now behind the schedule I have set myself

xx

Fruits of my labour!

I had an awful cold this weekend and I am still not great now. But I started Avarice! I am (I reckon) just over 1600 stitches in and it looks great. I am loving the way it feels under my hands too if that makes sense.
There are about 20 different colours in just this small section. So intricately charted. I have to say though I am enjoying every stitch so far even though the cold has made me feel cruddy!

If you are reading and aren't following - Follow! It only takes a second!

xx

IHSW

Ready for a new start! Its International Hermit and Stitch weekend this weekend. If you don't know about it, then pop over to Joysze's blog and discover more!

I am finally starting Avarice. Excuse the terrible photo but I wanted to post this today even though I had poor light and a toddler trying to steal elements of my pic!

On my pic: Pattern file, scroll frame, fabric, threads and scissors all ready.

I got some good news today - someone saw Sayuri and wants me to stitch for them. Pattern undecided yet, but its exciting to have a commission!

xx

Meet Sayuri

The protagonist from the film Memoirs of a Geisha

Ok so its actually Zhang Ziyi in character!

19,530 whole stitches, 19 colours on the palette, approx 4 weeks of stitching.She has been freshly washed and steamed flat.

For my Sister's birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Sis xx

Hermiting myself away!

I have till Wednesday to complete this. I reckon there's about 1400 stitches. Some confetti and a lot of black to do. My sisters birthday is looming!
Hoping to have the bulk finished today then a bit tomorrow. A wash and press and voila!

Xx

Free pattern for breast cancer ribbon

Anyone stitch for charity? I found this while looking for a pattern for a forum buddy

free pattern breast cancer ribbon

There are 2 sizes to choose from, great if you want to raise a bit of money for Breast Cancer research

xx

The internet is a big place but its a small world!

I follow a few blogs over there ------->

When I checked for new blog posts imagine my surprise! 2 stitching ladies posting the same finish within a couple of hours of each other!

ComeStitchWithMe

Random Ramblings

Beautiful work from both ladies. Never stitched a Mandala myself but these are lovely

xx

Weekend progress

Page 2 of the Geisha is finished and I have made a start on page 3.

Been hard going as I temporarily lost my stitching bug but I really need this finished now. I want to get on with other things.

xx

Had to share this!!

Ten Reasons for Adding to your Stash...

(I can claim no credit for the cleverness of this list.  It was posted on Freddysmama's blog)

1.It  insulates the cupboard where it is kept.

2. It keeps the economy moving.  It is my duty to support cross stitch shops.

3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.

4. I'm participating in a contest - the one who dies with the most cross stitch wins.

5. It keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy it, you never have to feed it, change it, wipe it's nose or walk it.

6. Beacuse I'm worth it.

7. Like dust, it's good for protecting previously unprotected spaces in the house; like the dining room table.

8. It not immoral, illegal or fattening.  It calms the nerves, soothes the soul and makes me feel good.

9. Because it is on sale... Because that is such a beautiful design...I've never seen it before...I must have it.

10. Buy it now, before your husband  retires and goes with you on all your shopping expeditions.