Blog birthday celebration giveaway

A couple of weeks ago my blog was two years old and last week my followers topped the 200 mark. Wow! (does this mean I now qualify as a cult?!)
So I would be most honoured if you would come and celebrate these milestones with me.
There will be balloons.
Cake.

And a special surprise giveaway!

If you would like to be entered into the giveaway please leave a comment on this post only. I will draw a winner on Friday 8th October.

Thank you friends, I have enjoyed my two years immensely. So let's raise a glass to many more years, and friendships, to come

Sadie x

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

It's beginning to look a lot like.......

...HALLOWEEN

I have been stitching away in my spare time this week and I have some more autumn/halloween finishes to share with you all today.

First up is the tiny little pumpkin freebie from Elizabeths Designs. I chose not to stitch the word 'pumpkin' underneath. I think it will make a lovely scissor fob.

'Pumpkin' by Elizabeths Designs

25ct white evenweave

DMC floss

My next finish seems to be a very popular design, I've seen this popping up on loads of blogs. I can see why, it's such fun and a quick stitch too :-) I think this will be a little pin pillow, and I might distress the fabric a little too.

'Boo Tyme' freebie from Plain and Fancy Merchant

28ct light mocha evenweave

WDW and DMC floss

I stitched part of the banner from the top of Prairie Schoolers 'When Witches Go Riding' for my next spooky finish. I think this would look great as a little flat ornament with some ribbon or cording or both!

'When Witches Go Riding' by Prairie Schooler

28ct white evenweave

WDW & DMC floss

Lastly is a Lizzie*Kate freebie I had lurking in my patterns folder.

'Spooky Patch' by Lizzie*Kate

28ct white evenweave

DMC floss

I am not sure if I will buy the suggested spider charm for the web block on the top right. I'm not sure if it looks okay without it. This will be made into a pinkeep, I'm going to used black ribbon for the edging and then multicoloured pins to match the colours in the design, maybe some beads too.

So, that's what I've been up to stitchy wise for the past few days. I bought a lovely little oblong basket from the charity shop last week for 25p and I want to fill it with all my halloween stitches and have it on display in the living room. Looks like I am going to have to have a finishing day next week to get some of these finished fully and into the basket. I promise to take pics :-)

Next up on the stitchy front is some exchange stitching, so that will have to remain a mystery for now :-) After that I have 'Spooky Row' by Bent Creek all kitted up and ready to stitch :-)

I'm looking forward to that one!

Next week is going to be a busy one, I'm helping out at the kids school on Monday and then I have a friends kids (3yr old and 7 month old) three times during the week while my friend has driving lessons. I also have my weekly Brownies where I am a trainee leader. And just to top it all off my son Cameron will be celebrating his 7th birthday a week on Sunday! So there will be presents to shop for and wrap (and hide!), birthday cake to make and plans for a secret, extra special day out to arrange.

I think that by the time Sunday night rolls around I will be needing a glass of wine! And possibly some chocolate too :-)

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone for the lovely comments about the glass pieces I made last weekend which I showed in my last post. I think that it is wonderful that people take the time to comment on the posts I write, I love to read what you have to say and I'm always excited when I see that there are new comments. Is that just me? Barbara, I will try to remember to bring them with me on Tuesday so you can see them in the flesh :-)

Oh well, I have spent much longer on this post than I had intended. Oops! I'd better clear the decks before the kids arrive home from school.

Happy stitching,

Sadie x

Old dog new tricks

Thank you all for the anniversay wishes on my last post, they were lovely!
I have two cross stitch finishes to share today :-)
First up is this eye searingly colourful little thing.

'Tricks or Treats' by Val's Stuff (2010 JCS Halloween Issue)

32ct Thalia linen from Sparklies

My own conversion of WDW, SSS and CC floss

I am really thinking about making this into a floss tag, it is roughly 2" square so would be the ideal size. I have all the supplies and tools to add an eyelet but I am not sure if I have the nerve to make a hole in it! What if it goes wrong! Maybe I will try some practice pieces first. And then still go with the easier and less risky ribbon option :-)

My second finish is this cute freebie from The Stitcherhood.

'Autumn' by The Stitcherhood

32ct creme brulee linen from HDF

Called for DMC floss

I'm not sure about the finish on this one, maybe a long pin pillow, maybe an ornament. You'll have to wait and see.

On Saturday I went to a full day, kiln formed glass workshop run by local glass artist Amanda Simmons. I had a blast! I really enjoyed working with the glass, only cut myself once! Amanda was a wonderful teacher, always explaining things clearly and on hand when things didn't go as planned or when I had questions.
During the course of the day I made two coasters,

and seven pendants. I only have five pictured as the other two didn't work out as planned.

I was thinking about using some of the things I have made as Christmas presents but, honestly, I think I will be keeping all of them :-) I will definatly be trying this again in the future.

I have a couple of super busy weeks coming up here (how is it that I manage to say yes to everything!) so I might be a bit quiet, but rest assured I will be stitching away when I can!

Have a great week,

Sadie x

Brown Owl!

This post's for you :-) :-) :-) (some pics of 'Lo would be nice!)
So, the kids are back at school and I am beginning to get back into my routine. Kinda!
I've taken on a couple of new things this year which will mean a little less time for stitching but that's okay. I'm now a Brownie Guide leader in training, and I will be helping out at the kids school too.
Now onto the stitching, yes I have done some! Apologies first for the less than stellar pictures, my camera is on the fritz :-(
It was our wedding anniversary on Monday, eight years. I stitched this little pillow, and personalised it with our names. I thought about changing the colours to be more like our wedding but I like it the way it is. At our wedding, I wore a red dress and Stuart, being a Scotsman, wore a kilt.

Little House Needleworks 'Trustworthy and True'

26ct Forget Me Not Blue evenweave

Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk

Next up is my first Halloween stitch of the year.

Lizzie*Kate 'Halloween Flip It'

28ct tobacco evenweave

DMC & Gast floss

Lastly here is my newest start, another halloween design, from this years JCS halloween ornament issue. The fabric I am using is from Sparklies and this colour is called Thalia.

Well, that's all I have for now. I am hoping to get a few more designs kitted up today, with less stitching time I don't want to be wasting it by having to go hunting for stuff.

I hope you all have a great week and it is so nice to be blogging again, I've missed you all.

Sadie x