Gifted Gorgeousness SAL 2015 - Update #8

Goodness me where is the time going..... here we are again - it's the middle of the month and it's time for my Gifted Gorgeousness post for the month.

This month I have one of my original GG designs that I have slowly been stitching on and I also have 2 gifts to show you.  First up is:

Lizzie Kate - Joyeux Noel 
Giveaway win from Kay's Random World - link to Kay's original giveaway post here and link to my post about the giveaway win is here

Tiny Tidings XV - Lizzie Kate

The last time that you saw 'Joyeux Noel" was in the June update when it looked like this:

After a couple of hours of stitching the other night it now looks like this:

Almost finished.....

Gift Number 1
The first stitching gift that I have to show you is a Margaret Sherry design that I stitched for the "Send a Smile" Exchange on the MS Lovers Blog.

Mouse... designed by Margaret Sherry

This gorgeous little mouse was a freebie gift from Cross Stitch Crazy.  I painted and stamped the frame and then coloured in the stamped image.  The little cutie then went off to the Netherlands.  Angel's post is up on the MS Lovers Blog if you would like to see what else I sent to her.

Gift Number 2
A couple of months ago the lovely Anne, from Doll's Musings, became a Mum!  Her delightful bundle of joy arrived safe and sound and I finally got my act into gear and sent her the little Koala that I started as part of the Crazy January stitching I was doing.

This little Koala was designed by Carrol Nielsen and came from a larger design of delightful Koala's and gum leaves.  I just love Carrol's designs... they are so cute!

Koala - designed by Carrol Nielsen

So that's it for another GG post.... goodness it feels good to be able show a couple of finishes!!

Don't forget to visit Jo's blog for the link ups to everyone's GG post for the month!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx 

If you're not sure what this particular SAL is all about.... Jo from Serendipitous Stitching hosts this SAL - the link to my post late last year about the SAL is here.... but essentially this SAL is about stitching charts/kits or using fabrics & threads that we have received as gifts, won in giveaways or anything that is intended be a gift or giveaway prize... or anything else that you can loosely use the word "gift" for!!  If you wish to sign up for this SAL, click on the button below or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.

Day 20 & 21 - More Crazy Stitching and ORT's!

I know, I promised you an update a couple of days ago.... but unfortunately the forces have been against me the last few days and I just haven't found an hour spare to jump on and post.... But today I got into work a bit early so I thought I would at least start my post and see how far I got before everyone else gets into the office!

So where was I up to when I last sat down to post?  Oh yes.... Day 20 and 21 were also WIP stitching, and last night I started something new... but no photo of that one today as I forgot to take a photo last night before I went to bed - will post that one tomorrow with tonight's new start.

Day 20 - I stitched on my long neglected Margaret Sherry "Spring Bouquet" SAL.  This sweet design is a SAL that I started with some of the girls on the MS Lovers Blog last year.  I started stitching this one last year in April / May and that was about as far as I got!  So this is what kitty looked like when I posted on 4th May 2014.

Margaret Sherry "Spring Bouquet"
progress as at 2 May 2014

After and hour or so of stitching on Tuesday night, this what kitty looks like now:

Margaret Sherry "Spring Bouquet"
progress as at 20 January 2015

It is bit hard to see in the photo but I managed to add some white into his belly.... not a lot of progress but every little bit counts!  And it is nice for kitty to come out and see the light of day again!

Day 21 - Buddha and Bonsai (Dimensions kit) - started yonks ago (at least 4-5 years ago).  Now I don't think that I have ever posted a picture of this WIP on my blog.  I have gone back to the beginning of all my posts, and while I have mentioned it (in 2010!) there is no picture!  Just as well that I took a photo before I started stitching the other night.

"Bonsai and Buddha" - Dimensions Kit
Starting point for January 2015

This is quite a nice design to stitch and I really don't know why I haven't pulled it out of the basket long before now.  Fingers crossed that now it is out of hiding I will continue to stitch on on it

"Bonsai and Buddha" - Dimensions Kit
Progress as at 21/1/15

I managed to start on the base of the tree the other night as well as fill in a couple of other missing stitches in the leaves.  You may notice that I have a little fairy in the picture.... this is one of the needle minders that I bought from Gina's Fobs and Froggers and I decided to put her to good use holding the chart to the fabric as this particular WIP is on a scroll frame and I have the space to do this!!  Plus she is pretty...

So that's it for the stitching update.... now onto the next reason we are here!

ORT Report - TUSAL 2015

As you have all been seeing lots of photos of my stitching for January you can probably guess that I do have some ORT's to show....

TUSAL - January 2015

Sorry, this month's photo is probably not very inspiring is it?  But I wanted to show you the gorgeous fabric that I recently ordered from Tammy at Colour Cascade Fabrics.... and well the ORT's jar just fell into the pile of colours!! These fabrics are just beautiful... and do you know what - I discovered after seeing Tammy's fabric all over the Mira Facebook groups that she just lives down the road from me (well about a 15 mins drive - but in Australia anything less than an hour's drive is just down the road!)

If you don't know (or haven't heard) about the 2015 TUSAL, Daffycat is again hosting the fun Totally Useless SAL (TUSAL).  Essentially we stitch and save our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's jar, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics.  Please head over to her sign up page and join in the fun!

Well that is it for this marathon post... not only is it a long one... but it has taken me all day to type!!

We have a long weekend in Australia this weekend so I am hoping to get lots of stitching in and maybe even have time to poke around on some of the 100's of blogs that are in my blog reader and catch up with everyone new's.

Til then, if you want to have a look at any of my previous updates for the FB CrosstitchCrazy Event and Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015) the links are below:

Day 1 - Winter Witch  Day 2 - "Eek!"  Day 3 - "Prancer"
Day 4 - "Autumn Fab Fob"  Day 5 - "Comet"  Day 6 - "Koala"
Day 7 - "Sneak Peek - Halloween"  Day 8 - "Printemps"  Day 9 - "été"
Day 10 - "Joyeux Noel"  Day 11 - "Feeling Festive"  Day 12 - "New Year's Magic"
Day 13 - "Grumpy Kitty"  Day 14 - "Happy Howloween"  Day 15 - "Happy Owl O Ween"
Day 16 - WIP "Faces of JE Mystery SAL"  Day 17 - WIP "Lizzie Kate's Jingles"
Day 18 - "Witch & Friends"  Day 19 - "Mini Mandala II - C"

Til next time, Happy Stitching!

"May the Fourth Be With You!"

Google Image

Hello again!  It is the 4th May... and today it would have been Audrey Hepburn's 85th Birthday.  She is one of my favourite all-time actresses, so when I saw that Google was mentioning her birthday day I decided to also mention it!

In our little humble home, the 4th May is a very special day as well.  Today would have been the 100th birthday of Hubby's late father.  Can you imagine what changes he would have experienced if he was still alive today?  Today is also the anniversary of Hubby's parent's wedding... and it is our Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday... so with three such special events all so close together we thought we might just go out to lunch today!

Oh, and of course it is also Star Wars day - "May the fourth be with you"!!!

So this is a very quick post to show you where I am at with "Jingles" and "Spring Bouquet."

Spring Bouquet - MS Blog Lovers SAL #5

Margaret Sherry - Spring Bouquet as at 2/5/2014

After a week of stitching this is where I am currently at with "Spring Bouquet".  I am absolutely loving this design.  The purple and pink hues are so pretty.  And I am sure you have noticed, if you know the design, that I am stitching all around the white at this stage!!!

This one is now off the q-snaps for the weekend and "Jingles" is back on them and feeling the love of my needle!

Lizzie Kate's Jingles - SAL with Rita, Annette, Nia

Lizzie Kate - Jingles as at 3/5/2014

I started stitching "Ho Ho Ho Holiday" yesterday afternoon and I am about half way through already! What a quick stitch this one is looking like being!   Will be doing a wee bit more on this tonight and I will finish the design before going back to Spring Bouquet.

So that's it for a very quick update on this week's stitching.  Hopefully there will be some more pretty colours to show next week!

Til next time, happy stitching and "may the fourth be with you"!

Hugs, Stitching Noni xx

Stitching Update....

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books

~Walt Whitman ~

Hi there!  How about a bit of a stitching update?  It surely must be past time that I showed you what I have been stitching over the last couple of weeks.

Now when I last posted I had just started my Lizzie Kate "Jingles" SAL - but more on that in my next post....

This month I have also been stitching on my April design for the Halloween Ornie SAL 2014 blog.  The April theme was Owls and I chose to stitch a rather cute Diane Arthurs design.  Surprisingly this month I have actually managed to get my Owl stitched and posted before the end of the month!!

Say hello to "Owliver and Punky"!

"Owliver & Punky" - designed by Diane Arthurs
Stitched April 2014

This design was published in the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2013 Special Edition magazine.  I stitched this lovely design on plastic canvas which I will back with some felt at some stage before turning it into a hanging ornament.

Next month's theme is "Monsters" - but I am yet to find a design that I like.... so let the hunt begin!

Hallowe'en Ornie SAL
2014 Themes
May -Monsters
June -any freebie chart
July -Pumpkins
August -Ghosts
September -Black cats
October - Trick or Treaters
November -Bugs, insects or spiders
December -Free choice

**********************

So that was Halloween.... now onto the MS Lovers Blog SAL's.

Remember I said at the beginning of the year that I had signed up for three MS SAL's this year.... well finally four months into the year I have managed to start stitching my first one!

SAL #5 - Spring Bouquet
started 26/4/14

The fabric that I am using to stitch "Spring Bouquet" is a 14ct white Aida with pink spots that Heather sent me for the MS Christmas Exchange.  Now that I have started stitching on this lovely design I think it is going to be hard to stop... except that I will very soon be hitting the white on kitty.... not looking forward to that!!

Before I leave you, let me show you the secret stitching that I mentioned last month in my TUSAL report. For those of you that follow Nia's blog you will know that little Lourenço was born on 7 March 2014.  I decided to stitch a little piece of Australia to send to Nia and her little man.  But as always happens with me, time went by and I didn't get it sent off before he was born. But maybe I should say I planned it that way so that I could add his birth date to the final stitching.

I stitched part of a birth sampler design from Carrol Nielsen.  I love Carrol's designs especially her Koala's.

This was my first flat fold finish....  The fabric that I used was another one from Stitches and Spice.

I also sent some little Aussie friends for Lourenço - just a little piece of Australia for a little Portuguese baby!

My next couple of posts will be my TUSAL post and an update on "Jingles".  See you then!

Til then, happy stitching
Stitching Noni xx

All Loved Up!!

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole

~ Roger Caras ~

They're finished!!

I have, at long last, finished the "Puppy Love" SAL that was the SAL over on the MS Lovers Blog for 2013. I did hope to finish this before the end of 2013... but I missed by 2 days!!  So instead of a final finish for 2013 I have a first finish for 2014 instead!

Margaret Sherry's Puppy Love

Over the next couple of weeks I will hopefully "finish" the puppies into a lovely hanging for the craft room.

My latest stitching is a very secret stitch... which I hope to be able to show you sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Til next time happy stitching!

Be Happy

Hugs,

Noni xx

Lovely Gifts from Lovely People

Why do two colours, put one next to the other, sing?  
Can one really explain this?  No. 

~ Pablo Picasso ~

Christmas is gone, New Year is on it's way... and I am back again as I promised to show you some pretty gifts that I received in the mail over the last week or so.

The first gift I received was from Anne from Doll's Musings.  Anne had a giveaway back in November to celebrate 3 years of blogging  The prizes that she was giving away were a choice of 3 designs that Anne would stitch, make up and then send to the lucky winners... of which I was one of the very lucky winners. The design that Anne stitched for me was a Blue Ribbon Designs pretty - "Redbird's Rejoice".  It is beautiful and went straight up on the Christmas tree as soon as I had taken a photo of it!

Giveaway prize from Anne

Blue Ribbon Designs "Redbird's Rejoice" stitched by Anne

Anne also included in the package some thread tied up with green ribbon, lovely buttons and charms, a packet of yummy tea, gold ric rac edging, notebook, some gorgeous red fabric and a Christmas ornament kit.

Thank you Anne, and Titus, for choosing me as a winner of your lovely giveaway.  I feel very lucky to have been the recipient of such a gorgeous gift and your lovely ornament is sitting on the tree for everyone to admire!

The second gift I received arrived in our mailbox on Christmas Eve and was from Heather (Heather's Stitching Story) in Ireland.  Heather was my Secret Santa for the MS Lovers Blog Christmas Exchange.

Gift from Heather - Santa ornament (Margaret Sherry design)
MS Lovers Blog Christmas Exchange 2013

Exchange gift from Heather
MS Lovers Blog Christmas Exchange 2013

I was truly spoilt by Heather as she also included in the package some lovely Dragon Floss hand dyed threads from Polstitches, gorgeous Santa ribbon, gold ribbon, bell pull hangers and a pack of pink spotted aida as well as a.... Margaret Sherry kitty cross stitch kit - "Purr-turbed".  This is my first Margaret Sherry kit... I know it seems strange given how much I love her designs, but all the designs I have in my stash are from the UK cross stitch magazines.  Thank you Heather, I absolutely love the exchange gift you sent me and Santa will be on our Christmas tree every year from now on!

Now for a stitching update.... I am currently madly stitching "Puppy Love" so that I get this finished by the end of the year and I am happy to say that I am almost there.  But no photo yet - I will show him off once I have finished the final puppy!

So my friends, until next time happy stitching!

Hugs

The secret is revealed....

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

~ Clement Clarke Moore ~

Remember this sneak peak...

The secret stitching that I was working on last month was for the MS Lovers Blog Christmas Exchange, and I can now reveal the finished piece that was sent to Olga (Olli) in The Netherlands.

The Margaret Sherry design that I stitched was a brand new one to me.... the magazine that it came with literally arrived just as I was about to start stitching something else for this exchange - but as soon as I saw the booklet I just had to see which one I could stitch quickly for the exchange.

Mice in Holly Wreath
"Christmas Cuties" - Margaret Sherry
Free Gift - Issue 184 Cross Stitch Crazy

When I was stitching this rather cute design I decided to "bling" it up a little bit so instead of stitching the berries as red cross stitches I used little red beads in their place, but I didn't finish there.... I used gold beads instead of where the silver cross stitches were supposed to be.  The gold was a much better match for the fabric I wanted to use to "finish" the piece than the silver would have been.

So the final finish.... a Christmas hanger!

Christmas Hanger for Olli
MS Lovers Blog Christmas Exchange

I also added a few little Christmas inspired pieces in the package for Olli.... lots of little crafting bits and pieces and a Christmas blackboard and chart.

Package of goodies for Olli

My package in the exchange has arrived today... just in time for Christmas.  I will do another post shortly to show you the lovely package I received from Heather.  I also have some more lovely things to show you that Anne sent me as a winner of her giveaway - so lots of pretty pics coming up in the next couple of days!

TUSAL Update

For those of you that have been following my blog, and other blogs in the blogosphere over the last couple of years you will know all about the monthly ORT reports and you will have noticed that we are all very diligent bloggers and upload our ORT reports when the new moon comes around... (most of the time anyway).  You may now be wondering if there will be any more ORT reports for 2014.... well, I am happy to announce that Daffycat will again be hosting the Totally Useless Stitch A Long (TUSAL) throughout 2014.  If you would like to sign up and join in the fun during the year, then pop on over to Daffycat's blog and leave a comment saying that you're in!  The first 2014 report will be on or around 1st January 2014 - see you then!

Til next time, happy stitching!

Last TUSAL of the year!

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.”

~ Mulan (Walt Disney Company) ~

Here we are again.... TUSAL time (actually it's past TUSAL time... but that is normal for me these days!)

Over the last month I have been a bit slow in filling the ORT's jar, but there are definitely some new ones in there!  As you can see green is probably the most predominant colour on top this time, with a touch of black and white.

TUSAL December 2013
Celebrating Christmas

The ORT's on top are from my Secret Santa stitching for the MS Lovers Blog Christmas 2013 Exchange.  My package is now on it's way to it's destination but I can't tell you where as it's a secret!!

Sneak Peak....  Fabric Scrap preview

Seeing as how I can't actually show you what I stitched and made for the exchange... how about a sneak peak at the fabric I used!  Very pretty isn't it?  Love the name of the fabric - "Christmas at Home"!

Unfortunately this is the last TUSAL post for the year... another year almost over!  I know we always say that time flies these days, but I have to say this year seems to have absolutely flown by quicker than most.... Christmas is just around the corner and a new year is about to begin.  Next year is a big year for our family.. but more on that as we come closer to the big events!

Now that you have seen my last little ORT report for the year, are you interested in checking out what is going on with all the other final ORT reports of the year?  If so, pop on over to Daffycat's blog and join in the fun. I did read that Daffycat is going to host the TUSAL again in 2014, so if you're up for a bit of fun make sure you sign up for 2014.  This is such a fun thing to be part of and it's a good excuse for a blog post and a blog hop!

How about a bit of stitching update!  I haven't done a lot of other stitching other than my Secret Santa stitching, but I have put one or two stitches into my Chatelaine and I even managed to pick up Puppy Love again.

Mini Mandala B - 12 December 2013

Mini Mandala B has now got some backstitch happening around the gazebo and pond.  With a bit of luck it won't long before I get this one all stitched up and I'll be starting on "C".

Puppy Love - 12 December 2013

Puppy Love (MS Lovers Blog SAL) is back on the Qsnaps!  I have three little puppies to stitch between now and the end of year.... oops behind again!! My plan for the next couple of weeks is to get this one finished before New Year's Eve.  From the 1st January 2014 my stitching has a new path to travel... no hints or sneak peeks on this one, you will just need to wait and see when the big reveal happens!

Well, I guess that's about it for this flyby update....

Til next time, happy stitching everyone, see you again soon!

New Moons - 2013

There are no more new moons for 2013!

New Moons - 2014
1st January
30th January
1st March
30th March
28th April
28th May
27th June
26th July
25th August
23rd September
23rd October
22nd November
21st December

TUSAL Update & Pretty Gifts

Don't get your knickers in a knot.

Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.

~ Kathryn Carpenter ~

My goodness, it's November!  What happened to October, September, August... for that matter what happened to 2013? I feel as if I have blinked and the year has disappeared in the flash of a eyelid!  Does anyone else feel that way?

Onwards with the news...  It's TUSAL time again!

TUSAL November 2013
One very English Bear and some pretty ORT's

This is the second last TUSAL for the year and unfortunately I really don't have a lot of ORT's to show for the month!  A few silvery threads on top of the jar and that is it!  I haven't stitched very much at all over the last month, which is not good!  But I have managed to stitch a little bit here and there....

Mini Chatelaine B - November 2013
Almost there now!

I have now finished all the silver stitches on my Chatelaine and started on the half stitches.  But I need to find the time to do a lot more stitches otherwise it will never be finished!

If you are interested in keeping in touch with what is going on with the 2013 TUSAL pop on over to Daffycat's blog and join in the fun. The next new moon is on 3 December, so let's see if I can get some serious stitching in over the next few weeks and get some more ORT's into the jar between now and then. A bit of last minute flourish for the end of year!

I might not have a lot of stitching to show you but I do have some pretty pressies to show off instead!

My postie has had to deliver 3 lovely packages to me over the last few weeks.

The first one was a giveaway win from Kym (A Stitch in Thyme) who is running a Year Long Giveaway - Kym does a monthly winners draw and I won her August draw.

Gift from Kym - Year Long Giveaway August Winner Prize

The second package to arrive was a lovely birthday gift from Valerie (Fee le point).

Valerie stitched this gorgeous design and turned it into a lovely needle case.  She also sent me these gorgeous linen threads and buttons and charms.  I first saw these linen threads on Valerie's blog and I had commented on how I hadn't seen them before... and now the lovely Valerie has sent some to me.  Can't wait to stitch with them.

Third pressie....
Over on the MS Lovers Blog we have just participated in our third exchange for 2013 - a Halloween Exchange!  I received my exchange package from **Ysa** (Detallitos de Ysabel).  Ysa lives in the Dominican Republic and she sent me a fantastic exchange package.

Halloween Exchange Package from **Ysa**
MS Lovers Blog Exchanges

Halloween Kitty

Ysa sent me the most delightful Halloween kitty and a package of goodies including threads and beads, charms, ribbons, pegs, a lovely orange tea towel that has a great border just right for stitching, a lovely post card as well as a souvenir key ring.  I think that the tea towel will look rather good all stitched up for Halloween next year!

My exchange package went to Judith in Germany and now that it has safely arrived at it's destination I can show you what I sent to Judith.
 

Halloween Exchange - MS Lovers Blog
Sent to Judith

Exchange package for Judith

Along with the pumpkin kitty, I also stitched the Halloween bookmark and made the scissor fob using orange, purple and black beads - perfect Halloween colours!  The fabric in the background is the fabric that I used to make up the pillow - of course I had to add a black border for that little bit extra Halloween oomph!

For those that are wondering where the designs came from that I stitched for the exchange....

The pumpkin kitty is a Margaret Sherry design, of course... after all that is the main point of the exchanges - to stitch Margaret's gorgeous designs!  "Pumpkin Pie" Kitty came the UK Cross Stitcher magazine, issue 232 (November 2010) and the bookmark images also came from a Cross Stitcher magazine - Issue 204 (October 2008) Joanne Sanderson's Halloween Alphabet.  I only stitched the images not the letters, but I stitch Judith's initials at the bottom of the bookmark.  One very spooky bookmark!

Thank you Kym, Valerie and Ysa for the lovely packages you sent... I am really happy and very lucky to receive such great gifts.

Well, I guess that's about it for this update.... Hopefully the next update will be full of lots of lovely stitching for you to look at and ooh and aah over!

Til next time, happy stitching everyone, see you again soon!

New Moons - 2013

3 December