Cross Stitch Pumpkins, the more the better.!

Hi Sweeties,

Back again this time with a cross stitch finish. Anyone who knows me, knows that I just looooove Pumpkins.! I love collecting them and displaying them for Autumn and Halloween and I especially love to stitch them.!

Have been meaning to stitch this one for ages now. It is a Sanman Original Design called 4x Pumpkins, and I have stitched it using my own hand dyed fabric and flosses.

I will either finish this one up as a no sew cube or make it into a small pillow. If only I could find some fabrics with Pumpkins to go with it, it would be perfect but sadly I havent been able to find any here in Australia.

Oh well, off to finish up some other Halloween Stitching.!

Hugs and Stitches,

Susi xoxo

Cookie Jar for Pink Saturday

Hi Sweeties,

Hoping you are enjoying this lovely Pink Saturday this week. Here in Frankston, Victoria, we are having some lovely showers. My favourite kind of weather to sit in my comfy armchair and stitch to my hearts content.!

For my post for this weeks Pink Saturday, h0sted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, I want to share with you this adorable Pink House Cookie Jar..!

I was lucky to have found this sweetie at my local Oppotunity Shop a few months ago. Now this is the kind of house I would dearly love to live in one day. Not sure if its a School house or a Tea room as it has both St Columbia School on the front and then Tea above the door.?

Side view of the Cookie Jar.And the back view.

Now I just have to bake some yummy pink cookies to fill it up with. lol.!

Actually had some other pink goodies to share with you but Blogger isnt letting me up load photos tonight. Oh well, will just have to keep.

Hugs and Stitches,

Susi xoxo

My First Pink Saturday Post & Embroidered Heart Ornament..!

Happy Pink Saturday..!

Well after a year of oogling over the Pink Saturday posts, hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, I have finally decided to join in the fun.

So for my very first Pink Saturday post I want to share with you the little treasure that not only started me off on my seriously Pink Collection, but also my love and collection of Porcelain Roses.

I bought this little vase when I was 9 years old. I saw it when my Mum and I went antiquing and just had to have it.! I remember I spend an entire year of my pocket money, birthday and christmas money to buy this but didnt care.

It measures about 6" in height and is perfect condition. Sadly it doesnt have any markings on, so I do not know who its made by

Dont you just loooove those beautiful pink roses..? Ahhhhh....

I also would like to share with you my recent Embroidery finish. And since it is also Pink, what a great day to show it off.!

Its a dear little Heart Ornament with Pink Bullion Roses on it. I did the Tatting edge around it and thought a row of pretty cream pearls would complete it.

Used some pretty pink fabric with tiny rose buds for the backing.

Am really happy how this turned out and think I will be making some more soon.

Hope you all have a perfectly pink saturday..!

Hugs and Stitches,

Susi xoxo

Happy 10th Birthday Dougie...!!

Yesterday, 13th September, was my beautiful, sweet American Cocker Spaniel, Dougie's, 10th Birthday.! I honestly thought he would not make this special birthday as the sweet dear is suffering badly from infected glands which is causing his ears to become swollen and full of waxy debri, which then sadly causes skin abrasions.

My old vet kept telling me that it was a hopeless case and that I had to put him to sleep, but I just could not bring myself to do it. Took Dougie to a new vets and in the first visit she diagnoised what was wrong with him and gave me the proper medications. Goes to show that even with pets, you should always get a second opinion..!!

My sweet boy is slowly recovering and I couldnt be more greatful. If ever it was possible to love a pet as much as I do with Dougie. He is like my contant joy and my little protector. And I am so happy be able to share his 10th birthday with you all.

I love you sweet little boy. Happy Birthday and may you have many, many more..!

Hugs and Stitching,
Susi xoxo

2x Embroidered Ornaments

Oh my goodness, I didnt realize just how many months have passed since I last blogged. Life and stress has a habit of getting in the way as usual.

On the stitching front, I did manage to embroider and finish the following 2x ornaments a couple of weeks ago.

The first is a round one that is looking slightly wonky in the photos. lol. This is my own design using Cast On Stitch Roses, and Bullion Stitch Daisies. I crocheted the edgeing myself.

The second is a square ornament, again my own design, with Cast On Roses, and Lazy Daisy stitch flowers. Little white seed pearls decorate the edge. Lace is hand crocheted by me also.

They measure at about 4" in diameter, and I have them hanging on my dressing table.

Hope you enjoy,

Hugs and Stitches,

Susi xox

Colin Firth in 'The King's Speech'

Hi Sweeties,

I must admit that I am a Colin Firth fan. First film I ever saw him in was the 2x Bridget Jones Diary movies and I just fell, hook, line and sinker.! lol.

Then I saw him in Pride and Prejudice and yes girls, he will always be Mr. Darcy to me..

Aaahhhhhh..........Those dimples.....!!!!

Was so happy to see Colin Firth in 'The King's Speech' , this week, and I've got to say it was a great movie in everyway. Actors were supurb, heart breaking moments when you just want to rush up and give Colin (as King George VI) a hug for trying so hard. Enough light humor to keep it entertaining and great to learn a more intimate side to the Royal family and how they were brought up as children.

Colin Firth and Gefforey Rush were excellent and I'm really hoping Colin will get an oscar for his role. Besides who can resist a handsome man in uniform..!!

Hugs, Susi xoxo

3x Sanman Valentine Finishes

Hi Sweeties,

Yes I know I've been a very bad blogger and not made a post in a long while. Thing is have been going through some health problems both myself and older sister, and not been doing much stitching lately.

Have made a New Year's Resolution though to try and finish as many WIP's this year as I can. Sad to say I have more than I thought I did.? Whoops :)

Anyway here are 3x finishes for Valentine's. All are stitched with my own hand dyed flosses, and on linen.

Be True - Sanman Originals Design

Bee Mine - Sanman Original Designs.

Valentine Love - Sanman Original Designs.

This one is my favourite as I love the roses. Have some lovely pink fabric that matches this design and am seriously thinking of making it up as a pretty pillow with white lace.

Hugs to all,
Susi xoxo

Happy Halloween 2010...!!

Happy Halloween Sweeties...!!!

Had such a nice Halloween this year. Had 5x adorable Trick or Treaters come knocking on my door. Last year had some more, but the weather here was raining and windy, so only a few kids came out for a few hours before the weather got bad again. Doesnt matter at least I had some which made me happy.!

Here are some photos of my Halloween Decorations in my Living Room. Was so happy to find the paper Pumpkin ornie. (accordian style one). You can see my Couldron is filled with goodie bags for my Trick or Treaters.



Was a little sad that none of the shops here had anything with Pumpkins. As most of you know I just ADORE Pumpkins and love adding them to my collection. Went online and saw some gorgeous Soup Tourines, and Cookie Jars, that I so fell in love with. Am pounting now as I so badly want them. lol maybe if I'm a very good girl next year, I'll save up and send away for them.!

Also managed to stitch up 2x new Halloween Ornaments for my Tree this year. Both are from Brook's Book's Publishing. This was my first time stitching on Perferated Paper. Have stitched on the plastic before but was worried about the paper. Wasnt as bad or as fragile as I thought it would be.!

This adorable little Witchy is called 'Hannah the Happy' and has to be my favourite of the Stitch a little Witch series. Probably because she is in my favourite color. PINK..! lol.

The second Witch is called, 'Gwendolyn the Great '. I had to improvise a little and used DMC Metalics instead of the called for Krenik Braids. Also used silver paper for the accessories as I didnt have any in gold. But she is still a cutie and proudly sitting on my tree.

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween this year. Am going to try and finish all the WIP's I started earlier this year so that they will be ready in time for next Halloween.!

Hugs and Happy Stitching,

Susi xoxo

Halloween Present from Loriana

Hi Sweeties,



Well it has been a very long time since I've posted on my blog. Life has been very trying lately, so have been keeping to myself mostly. Was offically Divorced in August, and am happily getting on with my life, meeting new people, making new friends and enjoying the simple things again.



Havent been stitching much these past few months either, but am slowly getting back into it again.


Today I came home to find a wonderfullest surprise in the mail.!! My dear, sweet friend Lorianna from Italy, sent me a lovely little package.

Inside was this darling Halloween Ornament that Loriana stitched just for me. Isnt it the most precious ornie..?

Just love this and it is proudly displayed on my Halloween table. Loriana even used Pumpkin material to frame it, which I love. Lol she knows how much I just adore pumpkins. I am so blessed to have such a caring friend.

Thank you so much sweet pea. You are the best friend ever..!!

Can not wait until Halloween on Sunday. Will show you some photos of my decorations tomorrow.

Hugs and Happy Stitching,

Susi xoxo

Still Tatting my little heart out.!

Hi Sweeties,



Yes I know bad girl have not blogged for a whole month. Those who know me, know I've been going through some hard times personally this past month and trying my best to deal with it.



On the crafting front, I am still Tatting away like a mad woman.! lol I have finished 3x Bookmarks so far. All of these are Tatting using my own Overdyed Flosses.




This Bookmark was Tatted using the Justrite Metal Shuttle that a wonderful lady on the Sanman Board sent to me along with the Celuloid Shuttle as a Wish. Had to put a piece of Bandaging on the Justrite as the darn thing is so slippery, the point of it went right into the palm of my hand.! So wonderful to Tat with though.! lol
This Bookmark is again using my own Hand Dyed Flosses, the pattern is a Freebie called "Friendship Bookmark".
These cute little flowers are practice pieces for me to learn how to join motifs. I'm thinking of using them in a crazy patchwork project I'm wanting to do soon.

I am just having so much fun Tatting. Hope to make something really special soon.

Hugs and Happy Stitching,
Susi xoxo

Happy International Tatting Day..!

Hello Sweeties,

Well I have been kindly informed from another Tatter, that it is the day to celebrate Tatting.! YES...! A whole special day to celebrate my new love.

Here is my first motif. It uses Josephine Knot and I still have to block it, but I was doing a major happy dance when completing it.!

Ahhh, I wonder why I took so many years to master the confidence to learn to Tat..? Its such a wonderful craft and the beautiful results are endless.!

I started and finished this cute little pink Snowflake on 17th March which is my Mother's 1st anniversary since she passed away.

This cute lacey boarder is going to edge a pretty white hanky when finished. (No not the badly creased and needs to be ironed hanky that its lying on. lol.) I love this boarder as its so easy and quick to tat up.

Can you tell I'm head over heels in love with Tatting..? hehe. Now if only I can increase my Tatting Shuttles I can start more then one project at a time.

Today on Tatting Day, I have actually finished a sweet bookmark and have been busy dying some Tatting floss and trying my hands at making my own fimo shuttles. Shall show you pics of them later on.

In the meantime, happy Tatting everyone..!

Hugs and happy stitching,

Susi

xoxo

Valentine Exchange

Hi Sweeties,

Well I have just realised that I havent shown you the lovely Valentine Exchange I received from Loriana from the Sanman Board.

It arrived just after Valentine's Day, and Loriana stitched me this ornament which is a Lizzie Kate design.


As you can my dear friend sent me a lot of wonderful goodies in the exchange.

Sadly though our Post Office is very disrespectful of precious packages, and the parcel arrived torn open and most of the goodies had dissappeared. They also tore the cardboard frame around the ornament that Loriana made. So I received the ornie and the Valentine's Day Ribbon only. Bad, bad post office.

And here are the ornaments I made for Loriana. This Rose Heart ornie was from an old CS&CC magazine. I really loved making the cording adding beads between it.

And this little cutie is my own Hardanger and Bullion Rose design that I made into a little padded ornie.

This was also my first time edging an ornie in rouching. Its a finish I will be using again soon.

Enjoy and I hope everyone has had a wonderful week.!

Hugs and Happy Stitching,

Susi

xoxox

Happy Birthday to Me..!

Happy Birthday to me..! lol Well it was my birthday on 1st March, and I've got to say that even though I am another year older I had a pretty good birthday.!

My ----- spoilt me by getting me some of my favourite things. Some yummy chocolates....drool, drool, yummy yum.!

Four of my favourite Cross Stitch Magazines, and 3x new DVD's, 'Night at the Museum 2', 'Hotel for Dogs', and our new favourite comedy show, 'The Big Bang Theory'

----also got me a delicious White Chocolate Mud Cake and musical candles.! lol. He also got pink hair spray since I love the color pink so much and sprayed my blonde/brown hair, PINK....! hehee. I look like the Pink Stitching Candy Flosser.! lmao.

-----also invited one of his coworkers over on my birthday, a very lovely lady named Corrine, who came to teach me how to Tat..! I was so happy, as I've been wanting to learn how to Tat for years but never got around to it.

Corrine was so sweet and helpful, she taught me the Modern Stitch and now I'm Tatting my little heart out, practicing my stitches and techniques so I can move on to Motifs, and Edgings. Corrine also gave me this pretty pink Flower bouquet for my birthday. It has Orchids on the bottom which are just coming into bloom.

Hopefully I'll have an update on my Tatting in the next week.!

Hugs to all,

Susi

xoxox

Sanman Yuletide Ornament Exchange

Hi Sweeties,

Excuse me for being offline for abit. Have been majorly under the weather with Bronchitis. Silly isnt it, its summer here in OZ and I catch Bronchitis. lol.!

Also have been having a wonky left eye. It has been twitching continuiously for the past week and is really driving me crazy. Strangers are thinking I'm winking at them which has resulted in some very queer looks hehehe.!

Last Tuesday I received in the mail my Yuletide Ornament Exchange from the Sanman Board. My exchange partner was Sarah - sunnysarah. She made me the most adorablest Snowmen ornament ever.! I just love him and his cute little felt friend. Thank you so much Sarah for the beautiful stitching you did on this guy.

I can also show you the ornament I made for Sarah since she has also received it. The Snowman pattern was taken from a Waxing Moon design. I stitched him on natural 28ct Linen using Gingerbread House of Floss.

He was so much fun to stitch and I enjoyed making the cording adding metalic floss inbetween it.

I also made this Candy Cane Stitchers Set for Sarah as well. She told me that she liked red, and I thought this material was just perfect.! Murder to sew with though but the finished item is great.! I made the little Needlecase with it and when you open the flap up you put in your scissors, needlebook, spare needles and/or flosses.

A friend of mine made me one of these some years ago and I must admit that I use it on a daily basis, so I couldnt resist making one for Sarah.

Am now working on a Valentine's Ornament for another Exchange I am in on the Sanman Board. Its turned out so pretty, I have to mail it off this week.

On a sadder note my dear little Budgie, Jasmine, passed away on Sunday. She was only 2 years old. My husband, ---- bought her for me as an Easter present back in 2007. She was so beautiful a gorgeous warm lilac with the chubbiest cheeks. Her partner Edward a cobolt blue Budgie looks so sad without his mate by his side. Dont know whether or not we will be getting another girl for him yet or not.?

Hugs always and Happy Stitching,

Susi

xoxox

Here are my Christmas Ornaments.!

Hi Sweeties,

I know I am so behind in updating my blog for this month, just have been so very busy stitching, looking after doggies, and with life in general. But better late then never I say.! lol

Not only have I finished my Ornament for the Christmas Exchange on the Sanman Board, which I can not post yet until my partner has received it, but I've been busy till all hours trying to finish all the ornaments below.

It is a German Tradition that a newly married woman should have 12 ornaments on her tree the first year she celebrates Christmas with her new Husband. Since ---- and I will be celebrating our 1st Christmas together as a Married couple, I have been having a delightful time putting together these ornaments.

I have tried to enclude Designer and Pattern Name where available for you. Also flosses and Fabrics used.

#NB: GBHFloss is short for Gingerbread House of Floss - Hand dyed flosses.

Dont forget to check out the GBHFloss website on Christmas Eve for there will be 5x new flosses released and a contest to win the entire range of Hand Dyed Flosses..!!!

The first 4x Ornaments are ones that I have stitched and assembled this year. The others were stitched during the last few years but had not been assembled into ornaments yet which I finally finished this year. The last 3x ornies were already completed I just encluded them so you can see all the ones that are now happily hanging on my Pink, yes girls, PINK Christmas Tree.!



Pattern: Christmas Stocking & Christmas Baubles
Designer: ? I know it was in a Cross Stitch Mag I think Collections.?
Stitched: Using DMC on 22ct Hardanger

Pattern: Christmas Joy

Designer: Angel Stitching

Stitched: Using GBHFloss,

& DMC Metalics on 22ct Hardanger

Pattern: Christmas Tree

Designer: Elizabeth Design's

Stitched: With GBHFloss on 32ct Fawn

Linda Evenweave

Pattern: By Golly Be Jolly
Designer: Lizzie*Kate

Stitched: 1 over 1 on 28ct Golden Sands
Evenweave, using Sampler Thread Floss

Pattern: O Christmas Tree

Designer: Angel Stitching - 2005 JCS Mag

Stitched: 1 over 1 on 28ct Lugana

using Dinky Dye Silks
(Assembled this one in 2006. Thankfully I am much

better at finishing Ornaments these days lol)

Pattern: Sweet Treats
Designer: Lizzie*Kate - 2005 JCS Mag

Stitched: 1 over 1 on 32 ct Monoco Linen

using DMC

Buttons: Hand made by Me.

Pattern: Stars are Brightly Shining

Designer: SamSarah Designs. 2004 JCS Mag
Stitched: 1 over 1 on 28ct Linda Evenweave

using Dinky Dye Silks

Buttons: Hand made by me

Pattern: We Wreath You a Merry Christmas

Designer: Water's Edge - 2006 JCS Mag
Stitched: Using Dinky Dye Silks

on 28ct Lugana

Pattern: Pear Tree

Designer: Little House Needleworks - 2006 JCS Mag

Stitched: Using Dinky Dye Silks on 32ct Sherbert Moss
Evenweave

Pattern: It's a Wonderful Life

Designer: Val's Stuff - 2005 JCS Mag
Stitched: 1 over 1 on 28ct Linda Evenweave,

Using Sampler Threads & WDW

Buttons: Handmade by Me

Pattern: Snoel

Designer: Janlynn Whimzies
Stitched: on 14 Brown Plastic Canvas using kit floss

Pattern: Christmas Penguin

Designer: Think it was a Janlynn kit?

Stitched: on 14ct Plastic Canvas with DMC

Hope you enjoyed them,

Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching,

Hugs,

Susi

xoxo