Slow progress!

I'm not sure how this post is going to go with all these changes to blogger, but here is an attempt anyway, to see if I can master it! We have been blessed with the most beautiful weather today, which just called for lines of washing to be hung out! yes, sadly I had multiple washes to do, to my shame, but I honestly believe the family members of this house land down their entire wardrobes when I call for dirty laundry! Again, another busy month has just flown by and again as a result my poor stitching only gets fits and starts here and there, so I will share with you what I am working on, as there doesn@t seem to be many finishes around here anymore. So blogger puts photo's on in the order we download them now???? Well, I will know for again-maybe you should start at my last pic for that was how they were intended! I am still slowly plodding with 'Home Sweet Home' in fact I am behind as I have only one stitched of this grouping and the next set have arrived. I so wanted to keep up with this one. I suppose if I stopped starting other projects, that might be the answer......

Like this one.....just had to have a little cross stitch on hand and loved this from 'With thy needle and Thread'

What it will hopefully look like....

I haven't ever done much piecing and some time back I bought a layer cake by French General, so thought I would give it a go-a bit less prim than I am used with but I so loved the fabric and so enjoyed making something bright and 'summery'!

Don't be looking too close but I am trying to hand quilt it after googling techniques-I think the secret to even sized stitches might me a special thimble which I don't have......that's my excuse!

I have loved seeing/drooling over all the new patterns/fsbrics from quilt market; so much to be tempted by, but sure not enough hours in my day to accomplish many, but it doesn't stop me wishing. Thanks again for stopping by-I hope this publishes ok as the preview thing is scaring me-looks like it has already published and I haven't finished. We shall see how it presents, O no, where is spell check gone???? Happy stitching, Shazy

I can't believe I am sitting posting-it's been so long I have to think about everything I try to do to upload photo's!lol!

Life has just been a gallop this last while, not all pleasant but thankfully there are blessings not to be overlooked either!
With the busy-ness etc blogging has had a back seat and I apologise for not commenting on blogs-I'm afraid when the choice of a few spare mins presented themselves, my therapy got preference; namely, my stitching! I do find that it helps me relax, which in turn helps me get the jobs on hand dealt with!

Today finds us off for the Easter break and I have my niece staying over and to lift her mind (her mum is having an op today)we got to stitching, so we are having a relaxing day. Here is my daughter and niece learning stitchery!



Then below are some things I have been working on during my 3 months absence from blogging.
First up is 'Home Sweet Home' by 'Heart to Hand' I have the first 3 blocks finished.
Now before you say, what about your other Autumn quilt........I have the top all sewed together, just have to do the vines etc and I haven't taken a recent picture.



This next is a different colour palette than usual for me but I am enjoying working on it- a Sandy G pattern.



Then something handy for the Easter break-some stitchery blocks by Primitive Stitches that Karen from Farmhouse Woolens had in her shop a while ago.
I am loving doing it especially since I have realised the joy of 'Transfer eze'
I LOVE this stuff. The last pic shows it in action-just print out pattern, it self-adheres to your fabric, you stitch, put it in water and it dissolves away-brilliant!





Ok, my time seems to be up on here, they now want chocolate cake!

I appreciate if you have taken time to visit me> Maybe I will get back again before 3 months!!!

Shazy x

Did I tell you I love trees this year?

Thought I would share some random shots of decorating and a few trees!

This first one I think I showed before but when I was going through some bags (goodies I bought in Lancaster over the summer) I found this picket fencing and these little decorations. This tree is standing proudly on my dining room table.





A little display of ginger goodness I have in the kitchen window behind the sink.



I know this next one is familiar since it graced my header for so long, but see the little trees in the crocks? I sprayed some temporary adhesive and rolled them in snow!



Next up, my weekends work-my new wool feather tree, strung with 2 sets of brown lights also in my goodie bag from Lancaster. Hubby wasn't able to convert these lights for me this time so he ordered voltage transformers and now my lights are working!! He knows me well, not just one transformer arrived, but 5!!! Woohoo, I won't need to hide my other lights then, Ha, but does he know me well or what???





What I would have loved was a crock to put my tree in, but not being able to find them here and not being able to get a wood block cut on Saturday evening, I just had to get this tree finished before bed or I wouldn't sleep! Another hunt around produced a large candle surrounded with cinnamon sticks. Armed with a hot fire and a good poker, my candle became the base and my tree was finished and I got to sleep (or hubby???)













I think thats enough to upload for now but hopefully I shall return soon with some or random shots of decorating.
Thanks again for stopping by, I am sooo enjoying all the inspiration in blogland for Christmas,keep it coming!lol!

Shazy

A little bit of Christmas!

I can't quite believe that the month of December is here and moving so fast!! Yikes...how am I going to get everything done in time and still have time to sit back and enjoy???

As I was tidying round this morning, I thought I should share a few Christmas decorating pics. Some of my sewing machine table displays and a little of my mantles.

I have been enjoying beautiful decorating out there in blogland and I sooo wish I had the 'know how' and the ability to make my photo's better! You are going to have to excuse leads and walls that shouldn't be in the pics, but I don't know how to crop them (leads are the being of my life at Christmas!!)Also, the lighting, if I turn a lamp on it is too bright, if I turn it off, it's too dark......!!!





















Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you are not too busy to enjoy this very special time of year,

Shazy x

WIP's - this and that!

I was sitting in the sun stuffing (pillows-not myself!lol!) and stitching a few seams, when it came to me, I better pop on here today as the rest of the week is hotting up to be very busy!

Again the colours are showing a little brighter than they really are, but I have used a Christmas red instead of my normal barn red.
Just some little pillow tucks, stenciled,



Larger pillows, stenciled on prairie type cloth-excuse the pins but the bottoms are being sewn this afternoon!



I have put out a few little bits of decor for Christmas, simply because we were changing the fireplace in the living room and it just seemed easier when it came to cleaning and dusting the room rather than the everyday stuff.
I got son out with the glue and snowflakes on Saturday and this is what he produced for me. I will try and get some red berry holly nearer to the holidays, but in the meantime this will have to do.



And a closer pic of the fire.....We took out the fireplace and gas fire and put in this wood burning stove and I LOVE it-soooo cosy. This room seldom got used as I never felt comfortable with the gas and we always seemed to migrate to the other room with the wood burning stove in it.
We put a 17th century beam above as you know I needed something to decorate!lol!
These bits are only set up meantime until I get my Christmas lights out.



As I was putting a few Christmas bits out on Saturday, the postman came with a parcel for me! My purchase arrived from Christine (Preferably Prim). Christine does such lovely handwork and x stitched these lovely little pinkeeps on linen and beautifully backed in ticking. Love them Christine and thank you so much for the 'partener'-you are far too good to me! Don't they look fab?





Do you remember these wooden items? I think I got them last Christmas....well, this is the project I have been working at, on my bathroom floor! Excuse the mess but I though I would share. I need a man now to put them up, then the fun part of decorating them:)







Whoops, I better get off this computer before my cherubs come in from the bus, or they will think I do nothing else!lol!
Have a great and safe week,

Shazy

A few small finishes!

I couldn't let my week of hols go past without sharing a little of my crafting/stitching.
To think that I honestly thought I would get 2 days to 'play'.....who was I kidding??

Maybe not 2 days, but a morning here and a snatched 1/2 hour here and there and I did not too bad at all, in fact, I am really pleased with what I achieved this week, between Christmas shopping, cleaning, out a few evenings and some stitching, oh and a little bit of painting, yes, it was a great week all in all.

I really enjoyed doing the little x stitch I showed last time and while doing a little tidying in my sewing room, I came across another little Christmas one I must have downloaded last year from Debbie-Woolensails blog.

I know...I liked the wool finish, that I did it again!lol!


You can catch a glimpse of one of the little trees made last week-son got me my wood blocks:)
And below,just a close up-I love the colour of the green wool!



Again while tidying my sewing room, I came on this little punch needle by Country Stitches, I started last year. I have him temporarily attached to the little board, so I can change with the seasons!



My obsession with trees continues.....I appliqued a little snowman to this wool crazy tree and gave him a light to carry!





And to finish with? Another tree of course.... Hubs thought I had taken leave of my senses when he saw the state of the kitchen while making this one-it got a grand haircut!



Hope you are all getting time to enjoy some stitching??? thanks for visiting again. I have a few other little projects in the making, just need another free morning or 2??
Have a great weekend,
Shazy

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Tanya is having a fantastic giveaway- you get to choose!!

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Shazy