THE COUNTRY FEEL . . .

Happy Sunday afternoon everyone ~ hope your weekend is going well?

I can now show you what I was 'itching to finish' in my last post.

Lurking back in the depths of my craft cupboard was my first unfinished attempt at a patchwork wall hanging and this is the sorry state it had been left in . . .

I'm embarrassed to say I bought this to do back in 2005 and progressed with it really well so why it got hidden away I'm not sure?  I just had to finish making the binding strips for the edging, hand-sew them on and then add buttons to each heart SO two afternoons of stitching last week gave me my first patchwork Happy Dance!
(Am I allowed to add it to my Happy Dance list even though it's not Christmas or cross-stitch? ~ I think Yes, as it is a finish and was from my stash ~ oh please!!!)


DH is, at this very moment, staining some wooden dowelling for me so that I can add some tabs to the top and have it on display next to the fireplace ~ I love the country feel it gives!

'Country Heart' Wall Hanging made with homespun fabrics and finished with buttons

As I was in the mood for 'finishing' I let the sewing machine out for its monthly outing and got 'Such Delight' sewn up and finished . . .

Keeping with the country feel, I added gingham fabric, ric rac and added a cream star button ~ I'm pleased with this one and think it might have to stay out on display for the foreseeable future!

So full steam ahead ~ what's the next choice from the stash list?

'Snowy Morn' kit by Shepherds Bush

My stitching needle was smoking on this until last night!  The design is stitched 1 over 2 on 32-count~ fine except the star in the top left hand corner is stitched over ONE and boy did that cause chaos to my eyes with the added visit of the odd frog or two!

Midnight saw me complete that first star BUT there's one more to do in each corner yet so I'm thinking that my 'smoking needle' will be more like a wet firework tonight!

There's some other interesting stitches to this design too but I'm not brave enough to think ahead to those at the moment ~ one step, hurdle, mountain at a time!

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

FRIDAY THE 13TH ...

Friday the 13th ~ good or bad?

** GOOD **

 Mr. Postie rang the doorbell just before lunchtime and delivered some packages ~ a chart and some threads from the SewandSo sale, a couple of craft books from Amazon which were not due to arrive until middle of next week YIPEE!, 3 gorgeous charts I just couldn't resist buying from Sally but ... hold on ... another package? ... an unexpected one!

Ummmm?  Fragile? Glass?

Ahhh! I recognise that name on the back ..... Barb  ~ I know this is going to be ** GOOD **

Just look at this . . .

a handcrafted glass and lead bunny

 Barb said she had asked her better half to make me a lop-ear bunny to remind me of Buttons and this he successfully did just before Christmas but then ..... wait for it ...... he dropped it ~ ahhhhhh :(  so this is his second bunny and isn't it just gorgeous?  I have it hanging from my study window where the sun shines most of the day and the colour and light reflection is just beautiful.
I've given Barb strict instructions to spoil her DH rotten on my behalf so I'm hoping that as you read this he is sitting comfy and warm in his favourite chair in his favourite slippers with relentless cups of tea and coffee regularly coming his way!!!

Barb also included this cute chart by The Victoria Sampler of a bunny with a bunch of mistletoe carrots above his head, it did make me giggle, I've never seen it before and I love it!

Thank you to both of you for making Friday 13th a very ** GOOD ** and lucky day for me ~ your kindness means everything to me and your gifts will be treasured always xxx

Now, talking of Bunnies!  Remember a couple of posts ago my photo of Tilly and Oscar's new wicker house?  At that time they had already started their refurbishing project

BUT

this is really taking it a bit too far!!!

By the end of this week I reckon I will have 2 homeless bundles of furry fun!

And finally .... shoes on, I have my first Happy Dance of 2012 to celebrate with you . . .

'Such Delight' by Homespun Elegance stitched on 30-ct 'Irish Creme' R&R Linen with Gentle Art and Weeks threads

I'm so pleased to have at least one completion under my belt and I can transfer this design from the 'Stash to Stitch' list to the '2012 Happy Dance' list but as I transfer one, this week has seen another 5 added on ~ OUCH!
I'm stitching a little 'can't reveal yet' design this weekend and then it's back to the Winter/Christmas list ~ trouble is there are so many on the list, I can't decide which to do next!

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx