OPAM finishes for August

Is it REALLY the end of the month already????

Where does the time go?  This year just seems to have raced past…….how on earth does that happen!

Oh well, so much to be grateful for….some don’t have the luxury of becoming older so I’m really not complaining.

Anyway….I have some finishes to share (believe it or not…..I surprised myself!)

Quilty Stitches….all framed and hanging in my ‘cave’.  I love this one.  Blocks are still available to download over on Little Miss Shabby’s blog…..the link is in my sidebar.

Last night I finished this …….It’s a gift so I can’t show you much more….yet!  Needless to say it’s done and ready to post.

Dont you just love the Riley Blake fabric?  So bright and cheery!

I also finished these 4 cuties….

and a stitchery/applique design that’s coming up in a future Patchwork & Stitching magazine.

that’s all I can show you but trust me, it’s done and dusted and in the hands of the editor!

Happy days!

Sugary hugs xox  :o)

Almost Finishes

Wow…..thank you to everyone for such a wonderful response to my new Christmas Stitch-a-long yesterday……I’m overwhelmed and, dare I say, relieved!? 

You never know when you ‘put something out there’ how it will be received….sometimes, when you love something you’ve created, that you’ve put your heart and soul into, you find no-one really has the same ‘love’ as you do…it’s a bit shattering…..but, I’m learning, that’s all part of designing, and I’m grateful for what I’m able to do, that’s for sure.  I wouldn’t change it for the world.

However, the response to the first block, “Noel”, has blown me out of the water….I’m so happy as I really like this one…and the rest are pretty good too (if I do say so myself *insert cheeky grin*).  We made it to number one on the Craftsy Top 20 list so you should see my puffed up chest now!  I’m really honoured and proud!

So it’s a hearty, THANK YOU to you all for supporting me in my quest to spread some Christmas cheer!  And if you haven’t got your block yet, you can do so HERE….and don’t forget to join our Facebook group to share your progress and share the button on your sidebar.

Now, apart from that…..I have been finishing some other stitcheries……

The final block……

my Quilty Stitches sampler is done (but not framed!)  I bought a frame yesterday that I thought would be ‘perfect’ but I didn’t realise the size meant from edge to edge, not the inside frame size so it was too small….off to look for another today!

Another finish (almost)….well, the stitching part….

terrible….not even pressed!  You can still see the hoop marks! *eek*  This is a Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse design.  An oldie, called “Old Friends”…..see?  I am getting through some of my K.A.R.T.S. and UFO’s, at last!

Off to visit the surgeon today….hubby has to have 7 teeth removed next Friday….they’re trying to discount abcesses causing a blood disorder he has developed!  Prayers and/or positive thoughts appreciated at all times gratefully. We’re really over doctors and hospitals this year!

Sugary hugs xox :o)

fun times and catch ups

It’s always fun to catch up with the girls and Wednesday was the day…..unfortunately I got home and felt sick as a dog……not because of the girls ….. or the food…….but a throat bug had bitten and my throat ached and ears ached and head ached and I felt so lethargic I couldn’t be bothered to do A N Y T H I N G let alone blog… I think i picked it up at the hospital as I had to visit afterwards to put in paperwork for Dad’s (FIL) operation next week…. ..but I’m feeling a touch better now so I’m excited to share…. ….our special birthday celebrations for Heather.   You might remember I showed some sneaky pics HERE…..well, the reason I couldn’t show it was because it was THE birthday girl’s gift……a sweet scalloped table topper made with Moda’s Collection for A Cause range in pretty pinks, mauves, sages and blues.  …..and as she’s always trying to tuck my chooky oil burner under her shirt as she leaves my house, I decided to get her a rooster of her own……isn’t he gorgeous!  He’s wearing the tag that Jen made for her round his neck.  Just too cute for words! There was lots of chatting and laughing and pensive thoughts….. ….and some constant flashing by an avid photographer….. and some gorgeous delights made by Jen…..lemon and blueberry muffins….mmmmmm…. We even got some stitching done……. the birthday girl was working on this cute Christmas stitchery, Barb continued on her Rosedaisy bunting for her neice, Michelle worked on her stitchery blocks for her sewing bag…

Jen worked on a new design which, I swore under oath I wouldn’t share, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t share her gorgeous cushion that she rests her stitching on as she stitches….isn’t it just perfect? I managed to complete my first block of Nikki Tervo’s (Brandy Gully)  “Plates” BOM stitchery and began working on the next one…I just love these, they’re sooooo pretty. Yesterday I even managed to catch up on my second last block of Quilty Stitches….. I’m thinking this is my favourite block…I love the way the coloured threads on the spools subtly change colour, don’t you??  This one was finished last night, a very quick block, so if you haven’t started these yet, they are really quick and easy and Corey has really good instructions, even if you’ve never cross-stitched before….. Can’t wait to frame this and hang it in my sewing room! Fun times, that’s for sure! Sugary hugs xox  :o)

fun times and catch ups

It’s always fun to catch up with the girls and Wednesday was the day…..unfortunately I got home and felt sick as a dog……not because of the girls ….. or the food…….but a throat bug had bitten and my throat ached and ears ached and head ached and I felt so lethargic I couldn’t be bothered to do A N Y T H I N G let alone blog… I think i picked it up at the hospital as I had to visit afterwards to put in paperwork for Dad’s (FIL) operation next week….

..but I’m feeling a touch better now so I’m excited to share….

….our special birthday celebrations for Heather.   You might remember I showed some sneaky pics HERE…..well, the reason I couldn’t show it was because it was THE birthday girl’s gift……a sweet scalloped table topper made with Moda’s Collection for A Cause range in pretty pinks, mauves, sages and blues.  …..and as she’s always trying to tuck my chooky oil burner under her shirt as she leaves my house, I decided to get her a rooster of her own……isn’t he gorgeous!  He’s wearing the tag that Jen made for her round his neck.  Just too cute for words!

There was lots of chatting and laughing and pensive thoughts…..

….and some constant flashing by an avid photographer…..

and some gorgeous delights made by Jen…..lemon and blueberry muffins….mmmmmm….

We even got some stitching done…….

the birthday girl was working on this cute Christmas stitchery,

Barb continued on her Rosedaisy bunting for her neice,

Michelle worked on her stitchery blocks for her sewing bag…

Jen worked on a new design which, I swore under oath I wouldn’t share, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t share her gorgeous cushion that she rests her stitching on as she stitches….isn’t it just perfect?

I managed to complete my first block of Nikki Tervo’s (Brandy Gully)  “Plates” BOM stitchery and began working on the next one…I just love these, they’re sooooo pretty.

Yesterday I even managed to catch up on my second last block of Quilty Stitches…..

I’m thinking this is my favourite block…I love the way the coloured threads on the spools subtly change colour, don’t you??  This one was finished last night, a very quick block, so if you haven’t started these yet, they are really quick and easy and Corey has really good instructions, even if you’ve never cross-stitched before…..

Can’t wait to frame this and hang it in my sewing room!

Fun times, that’s for sure!

Sugary hugs xox  :o)

Up to date

I managed to finish my Quilty stitches sampler block 14 last night and now I’m up to date. only two more to go and I can frame it and hang it proudly in my sewing room! It feels sooooo good when you catch up! Now, if only I could do that with all my other UFOs! Sugary hugs xox   :o)  

Up to date

I managed to finish my Quilty stitches sampler block 14 last night and now I’m up to date.

only two more to go and I can frame it and hang it proudly in my sewing room!

It feels sooooo good when you catch up! Now, if only I could do that with all my other UFOs!

Sugary hugs xox   :o)

 

A Finish in the wings…

Another block finished and one more block to catch up…. then only two more blocks to finish. I’m loving this Quilty Stitches Sampler-a-long generously hosted by Cory…..it’s still free on her blog if you want to go and download and start your own.  I’ve followed along with her colours but you could easily choose ones to suit your own decor.   However, being the ‘rebel’ (?) that I am,  I’m not going to fill in the background to each block because I like it the way it is….I might do a darker, maybe the charcoal (I used on the barn roof), border around the outside before I frame though. (talk about pushing the boundaries!)  And then I’ll have another finish for OPAM…at last! It always feels so good when there’s a finish in the wings, doesn’t it? Sugary hugs xox :o)  

A Finish in the wings…

Another block finished and one more block to catch up….

then only two more blocks to finish.

I’m loving this Quilty Stitches Sampler-a-long generously hosted by Cory…..it’s still free on her blog if you want to go and download and start your own.  I’ve followed along with her colours but you could easily choose ones to suit your own decor.  

However, being the ‘rebel’ (?) that I am,  I’m not going to fill in the background to each block because I like it the way it is….I might do a darker, maybe the charcoal (I used on the barn roof), border around the outside before I frame though. (talk about pushing the boundaries!)  And then I’ll have another finish for OPAM…at last!

It always feels so good when there’s a finish in the wings, doesn’t it?

Sugary hugs xox :o)