Round up of July stitching

Thank you for all your kind comments on Shores, it was the focus piece for July and I was determined to finish it.

It made me smile when some of you said you would miss the updates, I very often feel like that when I watch something progress on your blogs too.

There were a few questions :-

Tina (no blog) asked how big the finished piece is.  It measures 24 1/2" x 17 1/2" stitched on 32 count Belfast linen, its going to cost a fortune to be framed, but will be well worth it.

Kate asked what was the next big project - no plans for a biggie for the rest of the year at the moment, but that doesn't mean something wont come along and just have to be started! I'm thinking maybe a big new start Jan 1st to set the year off but haven't decided what as yet.

Mouse wanted to know what was next -  It's only a few weeks away till the Horticultural show in September and I always stitch a piece with the wording 'Best in Show' for the whole show winner to be able to keep forever as they have to hand back the trophy after the year is up.

I was lucky to be given a different flower alphabet by Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching earlier in the year in one of her competitions and have made a start on this years piece. Unfortunately, with the heavy rain we've had these past couple of days the frogs have made a visit and its not worth showing a pic now I've found and undone the mistake.  So i'll remind you of last years ....

and 2011 ....

and 2010 ....

I'm always on the lookout for different flower alphabets to use for these so if you come across one i'd be happy to give it a good home. Thanks.

Wednesdays during July has still been parlour stitching on CCN Santas Village houses.  This week I did more that one evening and completed Mrs Claus Cookie Shop, that's 4 finished now, only 8 to go before Christmas!

Stocking-a-long is Friday evening stitching and a few more x's added during July.  The red flower at the bottom right is the heel part, so only the foot part to go. 

There has been no Christmas ornament stitched in July, i'll pull an extra couple of those in later in the year to catch up with the dozen to make one a month and luckily the monthly challenge at NH is running for July and August due to people taking their summer holidays, so I have a few more weeks before I have to make excuses apologise to Christine and explain why I didn't get that done lol

Did you all complete your stitching goals for July? or like me have you been waylaid with the recent hot weather and let things slide and now need to panic and play catch up during August to get things done for deadlines?

I'm celebrating a 'big' birthday this week, i'll tell you all about that next time.... in the meantime, have fun with your crafting projects.

Shores - a finish!

Time to grab a partner and polka around the deck of the ship.....

break out the rum midshipman, Shores has finally had the last stitch added..... what was that you said ... about time too lol

Shores of Hawk Run Hollow
by Carriage House Samplings

First stitch - 1st Feb 2011
Last stitch - 21st July 2013

Fabric - 32ct Belfast linen

Threads - opted for good old DMC

 

The pictures can speak for themselves :-

 

Block 1

 

Block 2 

 

Block 3 

 

Block 4 

 

Block 5 

 

Blocks 6 & 7 

 

Block 8

wording altered in memory of my late dad, he was a sailor 

 

Block 9 

 

Block 10 

added the date and my name to the ships sails,

it seemed the perfect place to include that without it spoiling the design in the other squares

 

Block 11 

 

Block 12 

 

It's been a wonderful project to stitch.

 

I shall miss it but am really pleased that its finally finished and can be framed.

 

And just because, here's another one!

 

Thank you for all your encouragement and support whilst I've been plodding along with this over the past 2+ years.

 

All quiet on the home front

It's been a glorious weekend, lots of time spent lazing and not doing a lot really, a lovely quiet and peaceful weekend.

Hubbys been pottering in the garden...

and I've been reading a book sitting under the umbrella on the patio ....

 

listening to the sound of running water from my lionhead fountain on the side of the garage in the ivy leaves ...

 

Wednesday is Parlour evening with the ladies at NH and Mrs Claus has been really busy putting in her new windows and hanging a new front door.

 

Friday is stocking-a-long with the SAL ladies and Nativity Stocking has grown a little more.

 

 

Shores has also had some attention in the evenings last week and Block 12 is halfway there. 

 

I was reading this non fiction book that was lent to me by a very well travelled lady at my tai chi class. The author Sheila Paine is an intrepid needlewoman who went on a guest in 1990 starting in the high valleys of the Hindu Kush in Pakistan looking to find the origins of the embroidered  patterns relevant to her work as a textile expert.  Her quest ended in Razgrad, Bulgaria and took many turns and she had lots of scarey moments along the way.  Enjoyable and very interesting.

 

 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Well done to Andy Murray on his win at Wimbledon!

Especially for readers in the USA

 

I hope you are having wonderful celebrations with your family and friends

love and {hugs}

 

Reveal date for a couple of things

At the last NH get together in April, there was a book exchange and we were asked if we would like to take part in a bookmark exchange as a reminder of our time together.

We were all given a little card to write your favourite colour, flower and sweet/chocolate inside. You added your name and address and sealed the envelope.

Clare held onto the envelopes and we each had to pick one making sure you didn't pick your own! The envelope i opened had Diane's (no blog) details inside. Her favourite flower was the carnation and the colours she liked were pink and blue. Her chocolate treat was Kit Kat.

A search of old magazines and i came up with a lovely chart for the perfect carnation - World of Cross Stitching Oct 2004 Issue 89.  It was charted in blues but with a fondle in the thread box i came up with these bright pinks.  Fabric was just a piece of 14ct sky blue aida which after stitching on, i then sandwiched inbetween the aida and the backing fabric some vilene interfacing and sewed the running stitch border to hold them together.  Ironing the interfacing stiffened he whole thing and i could then cut around the edge with the pinking shears. Careful forethought and planning beforehand i cut the bottom edge and tucked in the ribbon before i sewed the bottom border).  I was really pleased with how it turned out but forgot to take a pic of the choccie and ribbons i added to the envelope.

Ours truly was an exchange as Diane had chosen my card and here's the lovely parcel she sent to me. Such a delicate and pretty bookmark.  Thank you Diane.  Turkish delight in chocolate is my weakness in the chocolate variety.

As the others are revealed it will be interesting to see if any of the others ladies actually had an exchange or if they all had differing partners.

Last Sunday in the month and that means its time to reveal this months challenge design chosen by Christine. La-d-da Rose free chart was the choice for June.

The saying is from the poem written by Gertrude Stein in 1913 called Sacred Emily and appreared in the 1922 book Geography and Plays.  It has also had reference in other books too.  In 'Thinks' by David Lodgee and also in Stephen Kings fantasy series The Dark Tower.

Perfect timing for this design for the month of June as i was looking for something to stitch as a little 'pass the gift' for the Book Borrowers birthday party game and this beauty fit the bill.  It was won by a crafting lady who was thrilled with it's simplicity.

The start of July today and i have big plans to definately get the last block of Shores stitched this month. It needs to be done if its to get to the framers ready for the horticultural show in September and talking of that, i really need to get started on the annual 'Best in Show' piece that i stitch and frame for the overall show winner to keep each year.

I need more stitching time in my day..... i can see you all nodding at that statement lol