1st Gifted Gorgeousness of 2019

Hello Dear Reader,

Here is my first post for Gifted Gorgeousness in 2019. Find out more about who is joining in with Gifted Gorgeousness over on Jo’s blog - Serendipidous Stitching - HERE.

 Here is the logo Jo stitched for our 2019 banner:

Yay! Lookie here! 
I've finally worked out how to upload/download photos from other blogs!  Tee hee!
Always with permission from the owner, of course!

I'm taking part in a Pin Cushion Swap over at Beaquilter, and you can see other pincushions that have been made and posted HERE. It's the first ever swap I've joined, and I have been really nervous about taking part, here is this first pinny I've received. It came all the way from America from Meloney who blogs at ..... Mel’s Quilting Blog

WIPocolypse - edited 18.01.18

Happy New Year All

[Hiya,
Well ..... now I've worked out how to add photos from other people's blogs, I can join Measi's link up (if it is still open) which needed a photo before it would accept my post (updated 18.01.18).]

Well, I realise I absolutely must join in with Measi's WIPocolypse if I am ever to finish all the WIP's that have accumulated on my Shelf of Shame. Or maybe I'm too late to link up, but anyway ..... you can read all about it and maybe link up too HERE.

So, if you don't already know, this is a fun SAL where we link up to try to encourage ourselves to finish those lurking WIPs that have become UFO's.......



Measi has asked us to introduce ourselves, soooo here goes  ......



Hi, I'm Barbara, blogging from South East England.

I live with my long suffering DH (Darling Hubbie) and two little monsters (cats).

DH and I are both retired and, when the monsters allow us time off from caring for them we scan the interweb searching for veggie/vegan restaurants to inspect/approve. We both enjoy reading, and strangely enough we like the same type of books, mainly historical fiction.

This year I am going to try to FFO (fully finish off) a few of my unfinished stitching projects (all previously blogged about).

I am definitely not a OAAT (one at a time) stitcher and so my list is endless!!  These are a few I'd really like to finish, and this year would be good:

Cross Stitch:

1. Camper Van - started last year - just needs handles.
2. Bee needle case - started last year - just needs FFO.
3. Etoilé thread sampler - needs framing.
4. Easter cross stitch piece - framing.
5. Polka Dot Lady quilt - finishing.
6. "Stitches" - unfinished.
7. Night time - finishing.
8. Tatty Teddy 

Quilting:

1. Polka Dot lady
2. Dormouse
3. Laundry day
4. Name badge
5. Plus two others

Assorted Embroidery:

1. Goldwork picture
2. Stitch sampler bag

I just know there are others I've overlooked but I'll add them later.


Pin cushion swap

I've recently joined a Pin Cushion Swap over at "Beaquilter" and I really must press on, unfortunately though ....... my sewing machine died last week, and this week DH and I have been searching the Internet trying to decide what new machine to get. Some friends have made suggestions and I've been investigating those machines but its so hard to decide, so for now all my stitching is by hand.

I've finished January's pin cushion and just need to post it to its recipient. Then I hope to be back to show the pin cushion I have already received.


Hand Stitch QAL

There is a Hand Stitching QAL over at Patty Dudek's blog - Elm Street Quilts, and, as I am already hand stitching by necessity I will see how I go at joining in!




Hugs
Barbara xxx

Gifted Gorgeousness - December 2018

Hi there blogging friends!

Christmas is almost here! Hope everyone is ready!

Just popping in with a quick post for Jo’s Gifted Gorgeousness (you can see everyone else's posts over at Jo's HERE).

As it’s almost Christmas there is one more Christmas tune I really love ...... Wizzard! I was especially pleased to find it doesn’t have an advert before the music starts!

Yay I have a finish!

This is quite appropriate for Christmas, in one way ..... because I think this little gift was something I received for Christmas at least 20 years ago!

Do you remember me saying recently that I thought I'd destroyed this piece! 

..... when I cut the fabric too close to the stitching .....

But look, I got lucky! The stitching went well and, surprisingly, the edges didn't fray! Phew!

Now I just don't want anyone to touch ..... the fabric
was just beginning to fray as I finished stitching

And, its almost "Squirrel time"! Tee hee!

As it happens we have a white squirrel visiting us these days:

He's quite elusive and hard to capture on "film"!

Some days he looks better than others! 

So this little piece of stitching falls under the categories of Gifted Gorgeousness because it will be a gift for one of my friends from my handicraft group, it is also one of those squirrel projects ..... one of those projects that makes you drop everything else  until its finished. (I'll be linking this post to Menopausal Melon's DReaMi squirrel party shortly)

This was meant to be a pincushion ..... but I'm not sure I can stop myself  turning it into a teeny tiny bag to hold a pincushion!

The skinny pinnie is just posing here,
there will be a specially made pincushion
for this little bag

This little bag (or pincushion) is probably smaller than you would think looking at my photos! It finishes at 9 cms tall, 13 cms if you include the handles and 7 cms wide (3 1/2", 5" and 3" approx).

Shame my sewing machine has just died ..... all further sewing will have to be by hand!


I seem to be in Pincushion making mode just lately, which is probably why I'm joining in with Bea's pincushion swap over at "Beaquilter".

Perhaps you'd like to join in? Not sure when the closing date is but you can read all about it Here.


Must go, duties to do!


Have a Super Christmas all, and I hope to "see" you again in the New Year.

Thank you for popping by, and thank you so much if you are leaving a comment too!




Many Hugs,
Barbara xxx