A bit of love...

One of my stitching goals for January was that I wanted to try out some stitchery, as I like those patterns very much and thought it would be very nice to do. And it was, I took it up one morning and had it finished in not too much time at all. Here's the result:

The free pattern can be found here, among a lot of other nice patterns.

Stoney Creeks Quilted Hearts Afghan

Here's my progress on the new Stoney Creek Quilted Hearts Afghan so far:

It's not much yet but I find it a challenging project. In this block there's a lot of confetti stitching, hope that will be less in other blocks.
I am not using the original fabric (Fireside afghan) for this, neither am I using the recommended fabric (28 count Lugana) to make the whole design. I decided to use 28 count ivory white jobelan and make my own blocks on it, as I like the afghan idea of the design divided into blocks. It is quite different from working on 18 count afghan fabric in such a big project. But, like all Stoney Creek afghans, I think it will be stunning once finished (which will take at least about two years as the patterns come over that period of time, but I think that is a too positive estimation from my side...). But, any progress, however slow, is a step forward, so I'll happily work on it!

I also have a finish, on the round #4 blocks of the Fair and Square Exchange, but I cannot show them yet as they are still on their way to Joan in the USA. I hope she likes them.

Also another new start, but that cannot be showed as it is a surprise present too... lots of mystery stitching going on here!

Noah's Ark afghan

As promised I am going to show you some pics of my Noah's Ark afghan. I decided to rotate it with the snowbuddies as after a while I get tired of one piece so then I take the other. Here's how it looked when I started it again after quite some time:





The boat in the middle was the result of one sunday afternoon and evening during Christmas vacation. I liked stitching it so much that already it has grown beyond this:

When I got home after work today there was a note in my mailbox that the mailman was there with a package that had to be signed for, I am going to pick it up at the post office tomorrow after work. If it is what I think it is (the fabric for my new afghan), then I'll know what to do tomorrow night... make a start! I already have the thread sorted out for the first 7 blocks:

Well I have done my chores for tonight (ironing, blegh, that is not one of my favorites) so I'm of to making a pot of rooibos tea, and on to my stitching!

Happy New Year!

A bit late, but I want to wish each and every one of you a happy New Year! Hope you all had good holidays, as I did!

Last night I received a package from Joan in Minnesota, and boy did she spoil me. She sent me two beautiful Fair and Square blocks:

But also, she spoilt me with some great gifts, among which patterns from my wish list, the seasonal fobs of Heart in Hand:

Thank you Joan for this lovely package!

As for stitching, I have been working hard on the Noah's Ark afghan by Sue Hillis Designs in vacation, but since my computer isn't working with me at the moment I cannot show you the latest pics now, so you have to take my word for that! I will show you pics next time, I promise!

Almost Christmas

... and I still have no clue about how many guests to expect and what to make for Christmas dinner... so I guess today's my job to surf some recipes websites and make shopping lists!
This was my view from the living room window this morning:

Only the thinnest layer of snow, but just enough to give you that special feeling of a white and serene world while walking the kids to school...

And last but not least I want to show you our Christmas tree. All unbreakable decoration since dog and kids like to jump around...


Not much to mention on the stitch front nowadays. I am working on two small pieces but cannot show you yet, I hope to finish one of them tonight.

Update on the snowbuddies

Here's a very recent (took it about an hour ago) picture of my Snowbuddies afghan (it already has grown a little bit again since then):

It is such a joy to work on, seeing it grow under my hands!
To compare, here's the picture I took last June:

Yeah!

I finished "A Quaker Sampler" by Carriage House Samplers last Friday. It is stitched in GAST 0312 Currant on 28 ct Zweigart beige vintage Cashel linen. I am very happy with the result! Now comes the second challenge: to find a fitting frame for it...

In the meantime I picked up my snowbuddies afghan again... I want to have it finished quite soon since my friend told me she is going to stitch Stoney Creeks new afghan series: the "Quilted Hearts Garden" afghan", and I want to stitch along with her... The first patterns will be in the February 2008 issue of the magazine, and the project will take over 2 years to be published. I already ordered some threads for it... So I hope to show you some real progress on the snowbuddies real soon!