Jolly Happy Soul - progress so far!

So here I am lying in my sickbed after my knee op …….. Well okay, I’m not in a sickbed! I am, in fact, becoming quite the master of these here crutches – getting around (so far) pretty well on them.

And while I’m fairly well being waited on hand, foot and finger by my lovely sister-in-law, Ruth, I’ve been keeping myself entertained with my Frosty cross-stitch – actually the pattern is called ‘Jolly Happy Soul’ and it’s by Brenda Gervais. Seeing that I have little else to do (apart that is from all the exercises I MUST do each day) I’ve gotten on quite well.

I’m leaving the trickier parts until last – that being those tiny little cardinal birds, which are stitched with one strand of floss over one thread – can you just about see them on the pattern? Don’t know how I shall mange those. I have considered popping them in the post to the lovely Wendy, who is so clever, she works on 40-count linen (mine is 28-count), but she must have 20/20 vision I’ve decided. Wendy would sort those cardinals in no time! Don’t worry Wendy, I wouldn’t do that really, because then it wouldn’t be ‘all my own work’ ……….. such pride LOL    I shall have to make sure I do them in nice bright daylight and then I might stand a chance. I won’t worry about them though for a couple of days!

I do love the holly leaves; and when the red berries are added, it'll really 'pop'! Maybe I’ll have it done by the weekend!

Frosty

I'm going to have to mention the 'C' word ...... so sorry!!

Having been inspired by Wendy, who does one or two cross-stitches now and again - LOL, she is a prolific cross-stitcher! I've just bought myself this little Brenda Gervais cross-stitch kit called 'Frosty' with such lovely prim kind of colour threads. It doesn't look to have a massive amount of stitches, so I hope to achieve a finish!

In a couple of months, I shall be having knee replacement surgery on my left knee, which 'sadly' (LOL) then will be followed by about six weeks off work ............ however will I cope! Anyway, with any luck, I might just manage to complete this in time for Christmas while I recover! Check up on me though please, because I know what I'm like and the promises I make to myself !!

Merry Christmas!

To my 'bloggy' friends everywhere - I hope you all have a fun-filled, family time this Christmas

and an extra picture of my Christmas lights decked Singer sewing machine!! LOL - I needed to cut back a bit this year, so didn't bother to buy a tree, but instead decorated my Singer with lights and the Christmas fairy - seems quite appropriate for a sewer really don't you think :0)

Christmas bear

This is Casper (as in one of the Three Kings), my Christmas bear. Well, what else could he be made from such lovely red mohair fabric? He’s made from the same pattern as my last bear below (Sammy): a pattern I can’t even give credit for, as it was a free pattern found on Pinterest – thanks anyway to whoever is the designer!!

Casper looks as though he’s going carol singing doesn’t? He’s carrying his rusty primitive style lantern trimmed with greenery and pip berries; and has his Christmas carol singing sheet at the ready – I’ve tried to photograph the inside of the carol sheet to show the detail, but it's rather blurred - sorry!! I made it from vintage carol sheet images I found: I shrunk them down, printed them, glued them together and added an antique style eyelet

He has glass eyes; slightly smaller than Sammy’s, firm fibre filling and steel shot in his tummy and feet, faux repair stitching and distressing here and there to give an aged appearance.

For his nose, I’ve tried the felting technique just to see how that works – it’s ok I guess! And finally, Casper is trimmed with white chiffon ribbon, a holly sprig and two random buttons for a bit more colour.

I do hope you like Casper

Sleigh Bells

Another cross-stitch finish and just in time for the festive season! This is from Country Rustic Primitives - Jenny has loads of lovely primitive patterns available on Etsy, really worth a look if you've not come across her before

I've made mine up a bit differently by adding red homespun fabric top and bottom and a run of tiny rusty bells across the bottom

Mind you I have to admit to swearing at it more than once while I was stitching it!! The pattern suggests stitching on Osnaburg and as I had some I thought I may as well use it ....... what I didn't know was that stitching on Osnaburg is like using 32-count linen - bear in mind, the smallest I use is 28-count, so I found it pretty tough on the old eyes and practically impossible under electric light. Still, I got there in the end, added a bit of coffee staining, and voila .......... and I love it!

I bought this pattern too at the same time, but didn't get around to making it .......

maybe in time for next Christmas!!!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

More lovely Christmas pressies!!

Just look at this beautiful redwork embroidery Christmas picture I received from Deb (The Angel and the Pukeko blog). Isn't it beautiful, so much detail and hard work has gone into it - I love it. I plan on getting a nice frame for it eventually, as it deserves to be displayed properly, so that's a task for me in the New Year!

Deb also sent me these rag doll patterns, which I shall keep for another day - I do like them and would love to tackle them one of the days

............ and I also had this cute little 'Dolly Bird' fridge magnet. There was also a very appropriate (for Deb) 'Pukeko' shopping bag, but I forgot to photograph that and it's in the car now as I used it today when I went shopping.

Thanks Deb, I love them all and really appreciate the work you've put into the lovely embroidery.

Anyway folks, this may well be my penultimate blog post, as I shall soon be signing off from blogging - certainly for the time being anyway (Wendy, I will email you soon!) ......... priority's change and life just simply gets in the way at times, but I will explain more in another post. So for now I shall simply say a great big
'HAPPY NEW YEAR' to all my bloggy friends.

Christmas time!

If only you could get a whiff of this picture ........... you would smell the most wonderful smell – Caramel Apple to be precise!!

This is just part of my Christmas package from my lovely, lovely friend Wendy (Quiet Room blog). The little lady above is described as a ‘Prim Wax Dipped Angel’ and she smells just gorgeous. And that’s exactly what she is – a little rag doll angel who has been dipped in wax (the whole thing)! I’ve never seen one before – quite amazing!! She has a lovely little red dress on and curled wire for her hair. As yet, she is still in the plastic bag – the smell is that strong, I don’t need to take her out of it yet.

And as well as my little angel, Wendy has made these beautiful wool cones – they’re so sweet look at the little Christmas mouse, and the Ginger.

Then there’s one with one of those grubby candles that light up (as demonstrated) .......... and then there’s some candy canes and a bundle of cinnamon sticks. They’re really lovely aren’t they?

And as if that lot isn’t enough, Wendy has also been cross-stitching and look at this beautiful Christmas pillow – I feel another "Gorgeous" coming on here!! But I can’t think of another adjective to describe it, so here goes – it’s blooming GORGEOUS!!

Thank you so much Wendy – they’re wonderful and I love them all.

I suppose while I’m at it I may as well show you what I sent to Wendy a couple of weeks ago. I stuck with wool, as that is Wendy’s favourite. First of all, I made a woolly Christmas pudding pin cushion, perched on an old wooden bobbin (made myself one too actually). I used red glass beads for the berries and added a couple of ceramic Christmas buttons, which can either stay attached, or could be snipped off for use if wanted.

Secondly I made this snowman wall hanging – Wendy loves snowmen, and I really enjoyed making it and was pleased with the outcome, as was Wendy I believe.

Anyway, that’s it for now this side of Christmas, so I wish everyone a

VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

A Giveaway!!

Sue from ‘Quilt Times’ is having a super giveaway in order to get us all started early on our Christmas stitching. The prize is this lovely book called ‘Christmas Quilts from Hopscotch’




So ‘hop’ (get it!!!) on over to ‘Quilt Times’ to be in with a chance of winning it!!