December TUSAL – The Last of the Year!

16^th December  2012

Although I’m a little late this month, I couldn’t miss the very last TUSAL of the year, so here I am.

Since finishing the cross stitched part of the Advent calendar,  I’ve been working on one of my Great Unfinished pieces. 

Now, I’m ashamed to say this has been a work in progress.....….ok, not so much progress, Lol, since 1993, when it was purchased from the Stitch show at Olympia. 

I had always wanted to stitch a sampler and immediately fell in love the vintage look and muted shades that were in this Moira Blackburn sampler kit called Time and Season..

I started to stitch almost as soon as I got it home but roughness of the ‘Rustico’ Aida was making my finger sore and in the end it was thrown into a cupboard and didn’t see the light of day until last week when I pulled it out and started stitching again. 

It’s coming along nicely now and no sore fingers so far so I’m guessing that I’ve toughened up over the last 19 years!

In between, I’ve also stitched a few more squares for the  SOLAK  quilts.

My next big project is in the process of being sorted too.

I’ve decided to stitch Celtic Autumn in her original colours after a lot of soul searching. 

I was torn between the original and the altered Russet shades that people are stitching in but at the end of the day the original colours will look better in the room where it’s destined to hang, so I’m going with it. 
I know that Santa is going to bring me the threads and beads I need, so all I have to do is sort the fabric……….can’t wait to get started!

Well that’s it for another month.

There will be a new TUSAL starting over at  It’s Daffy Cat,  so if you want to join in next year, keep an eye open for the new sign up.

Oh, and before I go, can I take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits my blog. 
It’s always great to have visitors and I love and appreciate all your comments.

I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy Christmas and New Year.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

Advent Calendar – Cross Stitching finished.

3rd December 2012

I finally finished all the cross stitching and making up of all the little pillows for the Advent Calendar but sadly not in time to do the quilt backing and get it to its new owners before the start of the month.

Never mind, no one’s going to be disappointed because I’ve not decided where it’s going to go yet anyway, so I can now take my time with the machining part of it and have it all completely finished before next Advent.

Here’s all the little pillows, complete with beading.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

November TUSAL – Need a Bigger Jar!

14^th October  2012

Yesterday was a New Moon and that can only mean one thing in the stitching fraternity………….It’s time for a TUSAL!

Visit   It’s Daffy Cat’s   blog to join in with the ‘Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long’ and see what everyone has been up to in the last month.

My ratty old threads have continued to grow over the last month and the pillows for the advent calendar are all finished now.  I just need to get the backing finished, but time is ticking on and I need to get my finger out if it’s to  be completed for the 1st of December.

So,  now the cross stitch part of that is finished I need to sort out my next large project but in the mean time I’ve been working on a few squares for   Stitches of Love and Kindness.  

I signed up to work on squares for two of the quilts, one for a lady who likes Handbags
   

 and the other has a colour theme of bright shades of Pink, Mauve and Yellow.

These last two squares I stitched before I realised that specific bright colours had been requested, so I’m not sure that these will be used on the lady’s quilt.  At least I know they can go into stock for someone else if they are no good for this one, so they won’t go to waste.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

October TUSAL – Filling Up Nicely

16^th October  2012

As you can see, it’s TUSAL time again over at  It’s Daffy Cat’s  which  means it’s time to show off my  Old RattyThreads.

I’m still ploughing my way through the little pillows for the Advent Wall Hanging so there’s still lots of Christmassy colours in the pot again this month.

I’m pleased to report that I’m nearing the end though.

I just have the two sides of one small pillow to stitch, both sides of the larger one for the twenty-fifth, and then it’s a case of making the remainder up, I’ve done about half already.

The final job will be to make the backing for them to hang against and I already have the material and wadding for that, so all that’s left to source is the star shaped buttons. 

You’d think with Christmas just around the corner there wouldn’t be a problem with that but you’ve no idea how difficult it’s proving to find 25 small and 3 larger Yellow ones, in fact I’m on the verge of giving up all together and going for round Gold coloured ones instead.

Anyway, as I’m nearing the end of the wall hanging I’ve begun to consider my next project, which is likely to be another of the Celtic Ladies.

Celtic Winter is top of the list at the moment but I think I may change the colours. 

The original is worked in White and Gold but I’m of the opinion that she would look far better in Pale Blue’s and Silver, so my first step will be to purchase the chart and then get to work with my colour charts, so wish me luck.

Thanks for stopping by and…….

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

Advent Calendar started and TUSAL time again

16^th September  2012

I’m convinced that as we get closer to the end of the year the months are getting shorter because it’s TUSAL time again and it doesn’t seem like five minutes ago I was showing you mine from last month.

But it is the New Moon  and there's no denighing it any longer, so it means I have to reveal my Ratty Old Threads collected over my last month of stitching.

  

It’s filling up nicely with Christmassy shades of Red’s and Greens and a small amount of Gold threads too but I’m seriously wondering if my jar is going to big enough to see me through to the end of the year.

The project I’m working on at the moment is this Advent Calendar.

The chart was in a very old copy of Cross Stitcher and in actual fact I started to stitch it about three years ago but then had problems with my eyes and it was put in a cupboard and forgotten about.

So this month I’ve resurrected it and finished off the first little cushion that I had already stitched and managed to completely finished three more.

I’m also well on the way with the next five which just need stitching together so hopefully I’m on track to have it ready for one of the schools that work with  Kids Company by the start of December.

If you want to join in and show us your TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch A-Long) then  It’s Daffy Cat’s   is the place you need to go.  There, Sharon has everything you need to know to take part, so come along and join in the fun.

Here’s a closer look at the finished cushions.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x