AS THE YEAR CLOSES

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. -

Oprah Winfrey

There are some things I want to share before the year closes , firstly from Ann I received this lovely Christmas ornament stitched in colours that she knew would be perfect for my Christmas tree. the tree is still up I am enjoying it and keeping to tradition, leaving it there till the 12th night.

Also to share with you, the Toblerone needle case set I made, and all credit for this must be given to Lynn B of Happiness is cross-stitch blog not only did she show the beautiful set she made but she has a three part tutorial on how to make it.  I love needlework accessories and always looking for new ideas, making this was sheer pleasure and I have plans to make at least one more, it makes a lovely gift or even something special for yourself. Check it out for your self here

Following a request to share how I make the covered retractable tape measures I have opened again my other blog..... other side of the mountain and shortly will post a here's how for the tape measures there. here is the link for the blog.  I need some better weather with good light to take my photos. Our weather at present is quite miserable, and certainly not suitable for the much needed  gardening however that means it is good stitching weather and I have been stitching the four little witches free designs from The Snowflower Diaries I am now on the last one so will be able to show them in the new year. I think Spring Witch is my favourite.

 

I have not made a list of things to stitch in the new year but have given myself a theme.....Because I can.... which means anything that takes my fancy! And for that I am waiting the arrival in the post of my first chart, I plan to stitch  Little house Needlework's Calendar Girls. But now it's back to finishing Winter Witch.

READY FOR CHRISTMAS

 

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world,

and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. 

~Norman Vincent Peale 

 

 

There is always something magic about a Christmas tree, decorating the tree sets the scene for the holiday time. My tree had many white birds sitting on its branches and with a new cat this year I wondered how safe they would be! During the time we had our previous cat Tippy, it was impossible to put up a tree, he thought it was provided for him to climb and those decoration made to be taken off and used as play things. Once the tree appear this week Tabitha took one look at it and has decided to avoid the living room and thus not have to look at the tree. Her new spot to curl up on is my computer chair.

  

 

And now the first parcels have appeared under the tree, thank you Annette of California Stitcher for all these parcels and I promise I will wait till Christmas to open them 

 

 

 

 

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.
~Ada V. Hendricks

 

 

SHARING A SECRET

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories

and love of kindred, and we are better

 throughout the year for having, in spirit,

become a child again at Christmas-time. 

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

This cheerful little owl was my messenger to reveal all to my secret friend, knowing Lyn likes Owls I thought he was a perfect messenger and fun to stitch. ( he is a free design found here you need to scroll down the page a wee way.)  I can now share with you what I stitched for an earlier secret friends challenge 'the theme was Pansies and it was a real challenge to stitch something that would not be a give away to who I was, so I kept to cross stitch which all our group do, My tiny pansy decorated a pin keep, and of course I could not show it on my blog till now as that would give the secret away.

 

The last stitching friends challenge was to stitch a tiny Christmas stocking for your exchange partner, I showed the one I stitched in an earlier posting, here is the one I received from Lyn hanging on my Christmas tree, the colours are just prefect to go with my tree theme thank you Lyn.

 

 

 

 I am designing a new Christmas bird this year but it will take a while till I have something to show, I found the disadvantage of living in a small town and limited craft shopping to be had, my sister is arriving from Napier today to visit but unfortunately I was not organised enough to have her shop for me before she left. I have a trip across there next year and with two very good Needlework shops think I need to start making my list now. meanwhile I found  Snowflower Diaries new design Winter Witch and just has to stitch it. Its a free design and really cute having started I know I will now have to stitch all four witches if you have not seen it yet,  you will find it here

 

 My tree is up and I will post photos of it later

NEEDLEWORK MASTERS MONTHLY STITCH A LONG

Computer  as we all can find have minds of their own and mine is certainly not taking orders when it comes to sending my last pages in to Barbara for the Needlework Masters Monthly Stitch A Long all o0f a sudden it will not recognise  Barbara's email address so I am posting my last two pages now as proof that I have completed the year.

My November page has a  Needle painting of a bird of paradise flower we did grow these spectacular flowers when we lived in Cormandel with the warmer climate, the bright colour of the flower rather over shadows the small bronze beetle.

To finish the year, my December Page has a piece of Drawn Thread work  and a lovely silver metal thread beetle.
This has been a very enjoyable project, thank you Barbara for the Challenge, my journal is a really treasure and not something I would have thought of doing. I now wait to see what challenges may come up to stitch in 2014. meanwhile if you want to see everyone's journal pages visit .here

GOOD FRIENDS

Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our  wings have trouble remembering how to fly  

Author: unknown

 

 

 

I have nearly completed my first year flying solo, and life is only as good as you make it, but certainly friends help with this. Thank you all.

 

I can now share some of what I have been stitching, this is Stitching Friends challenge ... stitch a small Christmas stocking in the Christmas colours of your partner's choice and add a tiny gift inside.

 Heather's colours were blue, silver and glass. I found the chart on google so do not know the source, a lovely pattern to stitch and I have used 40 count permin linen, so it is quite small. the silver has been added as the holy and berries on the front and small silver stars hanging on the ribbons at the back, and there are glass beads on the points of the cuff, and there was just enough room inside to put a skein of silk thread.

 

 

 

I have also been busy covering some tape measures these had been requested by a friend and I was pleased to have something I could do for her in return for all those moments when she remembered me  with a phone call to ask how my day was going. The Robin is a new design I found, the rest are ones I have stitched before. Will have more to share once the postman has made some deliveries, meanwhile weather permitting its gardening in the morning and stitching in the afternoon....... so I am off to stitch now.