Where did February go??

I don't know where the month of February disappeared to but I do know that I can't get any of that time back. I have enjoyed the cooler nights - it seems so much more productive for. My Christmas ornament for February was another from my Mill Hill collection and was again on perforated paper - black - and quick to stitch.

The wedding sampler for Meagan was well received however I forgot to take a photo when it was all complete. The wedding was a very happy occasion and all went well. 150 guests at a great venue on Docklands. The couple are now on their honeymoon in South Africa on a safari. Talk about world travellers!

My partner for the current Fair and Square Exchange was Stephanie from U.K. I am still amazed at the wonderful package she sent. Stitchers can be so generous but Stephanie is the tops. The square she sent was so beautiful and the gifts were greatly appreciated.


The pattern Stephanie worked was part of the design An Open Heart by The Drawn Thread. This pattern was in my stash and has now moved up the 'must do' list. I usually put off finishing and making up but was so excited about this beautiful piece I have already make it up into a box pin cushion - very similar to a mattress pin cushion. I just love it!!!

My major finish for this month was Golden Gate Bridge - a design by John Clayton of Heritage Stitchcraft. It was started so long ago - put away for various reasons - but at last it is finished and I just need to get it to the framers sometime. I think the solid cross stitch using a lot of the same colour became rather boring. It will certainly be a good reminder of a trip to U.S.A. a few years ago when we did travel both under and over this wonderful bridge.


There is nothing like starting a new project and I am making that a reward for finishing off a UFO. Little House Needleworks has become one of my favorites and last year I enjoyed stitching The Bookshelf so I have now started Needlework School which is such a pleasure to stitch and should be quite quick. Progress so far...


And just to finish off a couple of photos taken during my early morning walk. We live 23 km from the city and just a 5 minute walk to 'Shepherds Bush'. I often think when I am getting dressed to go walking that I would rather stitch than walk but just know I have to do it. Maybe just seeing the sign then walking through Shepherds Bush helps. After crossing a creek my walk then takes me to a walking and bike track which runs along open paddocks with horses and cows so I really feel I am out in the country.

January Finishes

It seems only yesterday when I bravely achieved my first post and I had thought I would be posting much sooner than this but for several reasons this just did not happen. At least the weather has been a little cooler which means I have at last done some stitching at night.


Managed to finish two Mill Hill Christmas santas which were worked on perforated paper with beads and thread. Seems every year I managed to finish off some Christmas ornaments in January which I had thought would be completed in December. This year I will try and at least finish one per month. If I only do Mill Hill kits which are in the stash that will take care of 12 ornaments.



The Hardanger Needle Roll by Lorri Birmingham has been in the 'to do' pile for too long but has now been completed along with the Friends Needle Roll - this one I really enjoyed. The make up was so quick as it was worked on Linen Banding so no hemming of the ends! Also completed a small pin cushion from The Victoria Sampler Beyond Cross Stitch series - a quick project but I did make some alterations. The project that has taken more time than I expected was a small wedding sampler for one of our adopted daughters Meagan whose wedding is on the 16th Feb. I had offered to make a ring pillow as I had made one for the wedding of her older sister. Meagan decided on a small wedding sampler instead and left the choice of design up to me. It would have been much quicker if I had just stitched one from a pattern in my collection but for some reason I decided to design one but this did prove to take a lot more time as I kept changing my mind over colours and elements of the design. (Oh well my star sign is Libra so that says it all). I'm still not sure about a couple of things but will have to decide quickly and have it complete in the next day or so. Here is the progress - 98% finished, I think !!


I must finish off my squares for Stephanie, my partner in this round of Fair and Square swap. I had almost finished a square for her when I came across a design in my folders and thought it was nicer. Need to try and get it in the post this week to allow a couple of weeks for it to travel to England. I can't show these until I know they have arrived safely.

I did receive a wonderful package for Margie from the U.S. I selected some patterns from her For Sale List and they arrived in a week and I was so thrilled. They are in mint condition and patterns that we rarely see for sale here. Two of the design are Garden of Life and Awake the Dawning Day which I had seen on other stitchers' blogs. They are my Blackbird Designs. There is nothing like putting the first stitches in a new project but I must not be tempted until I finish off a couple more UFOs.
Well I guess if nothing else I have managed to add some photos to this post but I am still working my way through other features. This is one time when it might help if we had children - they always seem to know more about these things. My nephew who is a computer wiz is still working in Boston and he phoned last to say that he probably won't be home for another 2 years. It was so good to see him when he was home for a couple of weeks last year.