Christmas ornament exchange

It's been all quiet on the blogging front here. I have been busier than usual and things have had to be put on the back burner. I do have a few things to post about but I'll start with just one for now - the famous ornament exchange organised by "Elsue" I signed up for a while back on the 123stitch message board. My partner said she liked reindeer so I found what I thought was a cute one and adapted it a little to suit some frilly lacy stuff I wanted to use to finish it. In my mind I pictured a cute stuffed ornament but in reality that was too hard - I couldn't work out how to keep the frilly edging straight. I finally decided to finish it off as a flat ornament. I can't say I'm especially happy with the result but my partner Sharona seemed to like it. Here it is, with some wooden ornaments featuring reindeer and some tim tam biscuits I sent:

• Name of the design is "Dancing reindeer"
• Chart is a freebie from JB Cross Stitch. I changed the hat and bow tie to black and white (from red and white) to suit the frilly stuff
• Fabric is an off cut of white evenweave fabric
• Thread is the called for DMC threads
• Stitch count is
• Started in early October 2013
• Completed in mid October 2013 some time

Here's the cute mouse Sharona sent to me:

Blogoversary prizes - year long and September

Here' what I *think* sent Carissa, the year long winner:

2 x fabric, assorted charts, "family" stamp, backing fabric, mini kit & mini frame

Here's what I sent *K*, the September winner:

fabric, 2 Carrie's threads, 2 heart patches, a magnet & gingerbread house pattern

I must learn to keep better records and be more efficient. I seem to have perhaps lost a prize pic along the way, Carissa's July one. Oh well, it may show up later.

A Christmas ornament finish

This is what I have been working on since I ran out of thread on my final exchange piece. I've ordered more from overseas so it will take some time to arrive. This will become an ornament to be gifted to someone this year. It also fits the October theme of words on the Christmas All Year Round blog. Two birds with one stone and all that jazz!

• Name of the design is "Joy"
• Chart is a freebie from San Man Originals, it was day 11 of the 12 days of Christmas series done a while back. I did leave off a few parts though
• Fabric is an off cut of lightly mottled pink and white evenweave
• Thread is the called for DMC
• Stitch count is 86 x 51
• Started on October 31st 2013
• Completed on November 4th 2013

My first no-sew cube

I'm really happy with how this turned out. I took my time and spent the entire afternoon making sure I put it together right, so I'm glad that my time wasn't wasted. I used a finished design from way back in February. I had it earmarked for a cube for ages, in fact I'd put all the supplies together in one bag awaiting the nerve to do it. Turns out I didn't have the right size piece of foam, and didn't like my chances of cutting it down accurately so went searching for something else to use. I found an old box that used to hold earrings that I had put aside thinking it would come in handy for packaging up a small gift. Here's the supplies I chose, although I didn't end up using the bottom ribbon:

Here's what I turned it into:

You can read all the info on the original design here. This is the tutorial I used, very comprehensive.

Whew - That was easy!

Terri P - You were first to comment so you are the new July winner, AND you even left an email address, bonus!! If only every month were this easy! LOL. Terri, I will be in touch shortly.

October blogoversary winner - and a July redraw.

OK, I have given up on Meggie and Tabby so it has to be a case of 3rd time's the charm right? I have decided to give the July prize to the first person who adds a comment to this post, but please leave an email address or something so I can contact you.
As for the October winner, it is Rita. I will attempt to contact you through your blog Rita, but feel free to email me if you want. Fingers crossed it isn't so difficult this time :-)

Sigh - Tabby, where are you?

Once again I can't seem to contact Tabby, and she isn't contacting me. Do you know her, or how to contact her? If so, please get in touch and let her know I want to send her stuff. Thank God I only have a few months left, this giving stuff away is hard work! LOL

Another craft show haul

I heard the original "Stitches & Craft Show" was back at Caulfield racecourse so decided I'd go, but with low expectations as I had seen the list of vendors and they were mainly patchwork/quilting ones. I was still disappointed with the number of stalls - they only took up one level and even then it seemed a smaller area than past years. I didn't bother to look at any of the quilt displays or check out the "make it and take it" area or any seminars - I went purely to shop. Even though there was only one cross stitch shop, I still managed to get some bits and pieces. Oh, and at said cross stitch shop, the very first chart I saw was for the hibiscus flowers I'd just finished! I didn't even know a hard copy existed. Anyway, here's my haul:

I really should learn to take good pics, but it would eat into my stitching time! I got a 3D card kit, 4 pieces of fabric - including 2 Batman ones for my Batman mad 16 year old son, a karate scrapbook cutout, black & white beads by the roll, 3 rolls of ribbon, black and red ruched edging for ornament finishing & 8 rolls of fancy sticker edges for scrapbooking/card making/to go into my stash and never been seen again ;-)

My hibiscus is finished!

Now on to some Christmas stitching I think. This looks a little scrappy as it's straight from the q-snaps, but I'm sure it will polish up well. I'm thinking a simple white frame, no mat, will do the trick for this one. Here it is:

• Name of the design is Hibiscus
• Chart is one I bought from etsy - The designer is Liz Pasqualini and she designs under the name Hannes Needlecraft
• Fabric is 28 count monaco in "strawberry orange sorbet" by Sunny Dyes Fabrics
• Thread is the called for DMC cotton
• Stitch count is 87 x 199
• Started on June 12th 2013
• Completed on October 19th 2013

Blogoversary prize pics - year long and August

I still haven't sent the July prize as I couldn't contact the winner and have just redrawn a new name - Tabby. Therefore I've skipped ahead to show you what I sent Carissa, the year long winner, and Noni, the August winner. Here's Carissa's prize:

Stitcher's World mag, 2 x Six Strand Sweets cotton thread, 2 x mini frames, sage green hand towel

Here's Noni's prize:

Quick & Easy mag, greeting card, 2 x Six Strand Sweets cotton thread, patterned fabric , thread sorter

I still can't find Meggie - so we have a new winner for July

And the new winner appears to be uncontactable from my end :-(. I can only hope she reads this and contacts me or we will be back to the drawing board. The new winner is Tabby - please email me your mailing address and maybe some likes/dislikes. Thanks!

Fabric for sale!

I have cross stitch fabric for sale if anyone is interested. Aida, evenweave, linen, small, large, white, cream, colours & hand dyed. Actual postage costs are extra. I accept cash from Aussies, paypal or gift voucher to my choice of online store. Take a look if you like. Thanks.

My quilt square is done

I almost finished it by the original deadline of October 1st! Now to wash, dry, iron and mail it to the USA. Here it is, I can't say I'm happy with how it turned out, but it's often the way when you picture something in your head and then try and create it:

• Name of the design - it doesn't have one as I designed it
• Chart is one of mine!
• Fabric is 28 count white monaco
• Thread is DMC cotton - 103(a variegated blue), 156, 3807 & 817
• Stitch count is 84 x 84
• Started sometime in July 2013
• Completed on September 29th, 2013

September blogoversary winner

is...... *_* or "K". One very mysterious blogger! LOL. Can you please email me with your mailing details? Thanks

Meggie - where are you?

I have still not been able to get back in touch with Meggie and I'm running out of ideas. I may be mistaken but I could have sworn she did contact me with her mailing details as I recall she was in the UK. For the life of me I can not find that email - it must have been deleted from my trash as it just can't be found. I will try all the avenues I have already tried again but if she doesn't get in contact soon I will have to redraw another winner.