IHSW - January 2015

Hello!

I am a little late with this check in but after a day sat on the computer at work I just needed to relax a little before I updated tonight. I hope you are all doing ok and Monday has been kind to you.

I am glad to say I did manage to do some stitching this weekend for IHSW, although it was more just a couple of hours rather than the whole weekend but progress was made :)

Here is how Tribal Orca was looking before the weekend;

Before...

And here is it now, it is really starting to take shape and I am still very much enjoying this project so I am going to continue on with it for now.

...Now!

I hope your weekend of hermitting and stitching was a good one!

I will be back tomorrow with the first TUSAL check in of the year.

Emma xx

IHSW Round up!

Good evening!

This weekend has been pretty productive, however I can't actually show you much of what I have been working on, not yet anyway!

First up I added the finish finish to my small for the monthly Small Sal hosted by Stitching Lotus, so now that is all ready and waiting for the check in post on Wednesday.

After that I finished stitching and added the finish to an exchange piece, and as I know the recipient reads this blog I can't show you that either!

Finally, something I can show you (hooray!) I continued to work on Row of Cats, I am really enjoying working on this project, and the current cat I am stitching is stitched with Lana thread so once she is finished she will look all fluffy :)

I also added two balls of wool, which at the moment don't look like much as they need the back stitch adding.

In other news I lost another 1lb this week making my total 13lbs since joining Slimming World and 26lbs overall, so I just need to shift two more lbs to get my 1 and 2 stone!

I will be back this week for my Small Sal post, Stitch from Stash and then Saturday is 1st of March (can you believe it?!) So that means both YOTA and TUSAL time again.

Also on Saturday I am going to see Michael Bublé with some friends, so I am looking forward to that too :)

Finally, if you haven't already don't forget to enter my Giveaway which you can find here, or click the logo below.

Until next time!

Emma xo

IHSW Sunday round up

Good evening my lovelies!

I hope you have all had a pleasant weekend and made the most of the fact its International Hermit and Stitch Weekend!

Mine has been pretty good! On Friday evening I made a start on my small for the Small SAL hosted by Stitching Lotus, and then on Saturday I finished it!

Your expecting a picture now, right? Well sorry, your just going to have to wait until the 29th for the check in post - I don't want to ruin the surprise now do I?!

Today I pulled out one of my big WIPs, I'd been looking forward to getting stuck back in again after the Crazy January Challenge!

I decided upon Mini the Black, this is what it looked like the last time you saw it (almost a year ago!)...

And today, after stitching yet even more 310, almost 1600 stitches later here it is now!

Thrilling pictures huh? ;)

Well that's all for today I think, just a quick note to say hello to my new followers! As well as thank you for all the comments from followers new and old, they really spur me on sometimes :)

Emma xo

#89 April IHSW Report

Well, for a change I can say this months IHSW was quite a success! A first time for everything!

Once again I worked on the wedding sampler, I hope you are all not getting too bored of this project as it is all I have shown you really for the past few weeks, other than the one YOTA report!

Here is how it looked in my last post...

Before

And here it is now!

21-04-13

Not bad eh? :D As you can see the bike now has a basket on the front full of presents and cards and the grooms arm has appeared clutching a champagne bottle!

I have to say I am really enjoying this one at the moment, and if I keep this pace up then I should get this finished with plenty of time to spare before the wedding.

I hope everyone else has enjoyed their stitching weekends and I look forward to seeing how you have all got on.

Have a great week everyone!

Emma xo

#81 IHSW Round Up!

Well once again the weekend has flown by, and as ever there just never seems to be enough hours in the day.

Not so much hermitting or stitching happening today - it was my Grandad's 70th Birthday today so we all met up at his local to have a drink.

However yesterday was a bit more productive. This time I worked on the HAED BB SAL Mystic Garden. This is slow going for me but when I compared pictures I've done better than I thought I had so I suppose I can't complain too much.

This is how it looked before:

Before IHSW

Here it is now!

17-03-13

I really don't know how some of the stitchers have already completed the two released  pages - they are speed daemons with the needle clearly!

Fingers crossed this coming week should be a good one for me, we both have a week off work (yippee!) with only plans for Monday and Thursday, so fingers crossed I will have lots of stitching news for you!

Have a great week everyone!

Emma/Itzy

xo

#65 What a day! Plus IHSW

Phew! Finally made it home in one piece, as predicted the snow came and made the commute to work eventful! But luckily we were prepared, I didn't sleep well last night so in the early hours of the morning I watched it come down so when I woke up this morning it was no surprise.

Luckily work let us leave an hour early today to get home before the rush hour :)

Now, on to IHSW! This weekend I worked on Mystic Garden, I didn't really feel like I had done much but comparing it to last weeks photo then I am pretty happy - especially now I can see the beginnings of a tiger paw at the bottom :)

Before

After! 20-01-13

Other than that I did a little more on Mini The Black, but that is just even more 310 so would make a rather boring photo for you all!

I hope everyone has a great week and I look forward to seeing how everyone else got on!

Emma xo

p.s. I haven't forgotten about the giveaway - it will be launched very soon!

#63 And So The Hermit Begins...

Ahhh...I wish I could have every Friday off work, two days at the weekend just isn't enough - especially when it is IHSW :D

This week I have worked on Mini The Black and my YOTA project, but for now I can only show Mini The Black.

Before

I managed to get another 800 or so stitches in meaning I have now finished the first two columns of the first page wahoo! The next two columns are yet again more 310 so I am not sure if I am going to keep stitching away at that or instead move horizontally along the page and get to the bottom corner where there is a few more colours added to the mix...watch this space...

17-01-13

Today I think I will work on the HAED SAL first and see how that goes, for the rest of the weekend it will be Mini The Black or Mystic Garden, whichever takes my fancy :)

Some more snow fell over night but nothing too major. It is due to start again at 3 this afternoon and carry on right through the weekend.

Here is a view of the back garden so far...

Have a great IHSW everyone and if you are here thanks to the Grow Your Blog event then welcome and I hope you enjoy my blog :)

Happy Stitchy Weekend Everyone!

Emma xo

p.s. If you have time I think you should take a look at The Cross Stitching Librarian she works on some lovely projects (many of which are on my to do list!) and I feel rather lonely over there as her one and only follower!

#62 - Welcome, IHSW and a Party!

Oh my! My followers have certainly jumped up in numbers this past week or so :D

Hello and welcome to you all - I hope you enjoy your stay in my little corner of the world.

I guess I will have to start thinking of a giveaway when I hit 100! ;)

Just a gentle reminder folks that this weekend is IHSW - hurrah! As I mentioned in my previous post I also have Friday off work so even more time to stitch, stitch, stitch away, and even more reason to make sure I get plenty done this time!

If you have no idea what I am talking about or would like to join in then visit Ramdom Ramblings or click the picture below :)


Also on the 19th is 2 Bags Full's event - Grow Your Blog, the idea been you get your blog out there to a wider audience and in return you will hopefully find some new reading! But hurry the sign up date is today (15th)! Or click HERE to take you direct to the sign up post.

Well I hope you are all having a good week, for some reason I keep thinking it is Wednesday (wishful thinking?) So far this week I have worked some more on Mini The Black, but I will save that for Friday before I start the IHSW.

Happy Stitching!

Emma xo

#53 I Spy With My Little Eye...

Good evening everyone!

I hope you are all well and in the full swing of everything festive! Welcome to my two new followers Emily and Spices of Your Life, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog :)

Now, it was IHSW this weekend. Hermitting - check! Stitch...not so much... But it has been a productive weekend none the less. First up, remember all those threads I received in the mail? Well I bobbinated my bum off and they are all now neat and tidy, only problem is my box is full so I will be asking Santa to send me another for Christmas ;)

As well as this a little work was done on Lily, here is it the last time you saw it;

and here she is now! Her eye is almost complete, just a few more lashes to add and I will be then on to her hair and eyebrow.

16-12-12

Other than this I have mainly spent the weekend wrapping presents and writing cards, I think I am almost there now to just be able to put my feet up and enjoy...plus only 5 more days at work - yay!

I hope everyone else has had a more successful IHSW than I did, but I can't complain really!

I will be back on Wednesday as I am door number 19 in Jo's Advent Blog Hop!

Have a great week! xo

#48 - IHSW part 2

Yes, thats right, part TWO!!

For once I can say I am please with my stitching this month, I feel I have made good progress. The other half may not be quite so happy as it did mean not much housework got done - oops! There is always tomorrow, right?

So, today I worked on Twilight Magic, it has been a while since I last posted about here so here is what she looked like last time...

And here she is now!

Yes, yet more background. I will probably fall asleep tonight and have nightmares about light peach and pink. BUT! the bottom right corner you can see where I haven't stitched, that is the start of her hair, yippee! However I still have a long way to go before I move to the next page. Even so I am happy.

I hope you all had a great weekend, and a good week ahead too.

Emma xo

#47 IHSW part 1

I have so much to share, so this months updates will be in two parts over the weekend! I really am spoiling you all :) hehe

 

First, I won a prize! Dear Lee over at Notes from under the Mountain informed me I was the 150th follower and as a small token of appreciation wanted to send me a little something, how fun :D So in a couple of weeks I will be postman stalking - always nice to have something to look forward to!

Secondly, I want to invite you all to join in the 2013 YOTA over at Pull The Other Thread. Basically the first Saturday of each month we will show work on a long neglected WIP in the hope it will help us get it finished. I think it sounds like a great idea and will definitely make me get some long overdue progress on some of my WIPS/UFOs! 

Now, stitching. Today I started and finished a little something, hooray! This cute garland came free with Cross Stitcher issue 257. It was my first time stitching on card and I think it has turned out quite nice and I know just the place it will be hung in December.

As suspected I did eventually join the HEAD BB SAL. It took me a while to decide but in the end I settled on QS Mystic Garden. The rules this year are slightly different in that for each half page you finish you get one of the other charts! I like the sound of that!

Something tells me this will be confetti hell heaven, but I like a challenge!

Lastly, Mr Postman was ever so kind to me this morning and delivered my thread pack for Mini Transcendence! YAY! I was to start right this second sooo much but I am going to be good and wait for the new year.

Mini Transcendence Goodies! 

Sadly this photo does not show the beautiful hand dyed fabric at its best, but click Here to see it in all its glory!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Emma xo

#46 Back in the Classroom

I am so tired this week, the last three days I have been on a first aid course, it's amazing how tiring it can be learning all day again. Every night I have come home and then fallen in to bed about 8pm!

But, today I passed! Yay! I was thinking of treating myself to some new stash to celebrate, but as yet I am trying to refrain, but we will see how long that lasts!

Just dropping by with a couple reminders, this weekend is IHSW. Click below to join in the fun! I am looking forward to this one, it feels like today should be Friday already but I still have two days at work - URGH!


Also, for you HAED lovers out there, the 2013 BB Sal sneak peeks are up showing which charts its going to be. Part of my wants to join in but none immediately jumped out at me so at the moment I have not decided. Perhaps once the sign ups are open I might turn in to the green eyed monster and want to join the fun, hehe :D
I will update at the weekend with new photos. 
Have a great week everyone!
Emma xo

#39 IHSW and Giveaway Reminder!

I must admit this weekend was rather dismal when it came to hermitting and stitching...although some did get done, which is still an improvement than the last few weeks.

I think my major problem was I couldn't decide on what to work so I ended up starting THREE new projects - like I need more!

First up was both my SALS. Sweet treats was fine, and I can see this coming along quickly once I get back in to my stitching mind. 

Dressmakers Daughter proved more of a challenge. This is my first project I have ever done on Linen so I am plodding along slowly. Fingers crossed once I get the hang of it I'll be fine. The first section is supposed to be done by the end of the month - not very likely!

Finally I worked on something different. A group of stitchers on Facebook seem to also be having trouble locating their stitching bug so have decided to do a HAL (Hook a long) in the form of some latch hook rugs (insert smutty joke about been hookers here).

I have never done this before but I must say so far I am enjoying it, its really easy and good for those days when  your head just can't get in to stitching.

But in the grand scheme of things I still have a long way to go...

Remember!

Less than a week now until my giveaway, so get your entries in fast! Click below to jump straight to the post.

Thank you to my followers old and new alike for your kind comments.

Now to read how much better everyone else has done at the IHSW!

Emma xo

#38 Remember...

This weekend is IHSW - basically an excuse to sit and stitch all weekend - click below to join in the fun!

Also don't forget its under two weeks until my giveaway closes - click below to join in, and why wouldn't you?! Everyone loves free stuff!



Updates to come soon - promise!
Emma xo

#29 IHKW more like...

Another weekend has gone by in a blur but I must admit I am happy as I have not one, but two finishes this weekend!

Ok I admit, I did no stitching but focused on my knitting instead. With the colder/darker mornings drawing in already I have gone a little scarf crazy and finished two this weekend!

Butterfly

Daffy

As someone who isn't exactly a good knitter (I didn't even know how to cast off until yesterday) I am quite proud of these. They knitted up so fast and I like the finished effect.

Close Up

New Downton Abbey starts this evening so I may just make a start on the red yarn I have in my stash - sounds like a plan!

Look forward to seeing everyone elses IHSW, which hopefully will be more stitch and not knit, and maybe get my bug back!

Emma xo

#28 Ahhhh Friday :)

As predicted since the arrival of the kitten NO stitching has got done. Oh dear.

After my last post we took the kitten to the vets and he was indeed a little boy, weighing a mighty 2lbs! So, he is now called Sheldon. Since then he has been a complete distraction to anything, my house looks like a bomb has hit it with things all over place/hidden to keep out of little kittys reach. 

But!

This weekend is IHSW and I WILL get something done, probably not much, but something at least.

Oooh! I almost forgot! If you a member of any of the HEAD groups on Facebook you will be aware that it has been HAED Appreciation Week and so, thanks to a discount code from the lovely Michelle I "invested" in more charts (Sssh...don't tell the other half :D hehe).

Mini Transendence

QS The Christmas Star

Lily Kuik

Well I hope you all have a great weekend and happy stitching!

Also, any new members if I am not already following your own blog please get in touch so I can have a nosey look. :D

Emma xo

#19 IHSW After...

Well another weekend flew by and as ever I didn't get quite as much stitching done as I would have like but none the less some progress was made.

I am really enjoying all these different shades of gold and brown, making me excited for Autumn and all the beautiful shades the trees turn.

Its strange how close up it doesn't look much but when you take a step back you can really see it coming together. Hoping once the next column is done the tree will really start to take shape.

After tomorrow I have no work until next Tuesday, most of the weekend is taken up by plans of a local festival which I am going to but I will at least be able to get some stitching done on Wednesday and Thursday.

Now going to look at all the other IHSW'ers posts.

Once again thank you for following and thank you so much for your comments they always make me smile :)

Until next time.

Emma xo

#18 IHSW Before....

Well, carried on working on Stepping Stone Cottage, about 900 stitches in now. Well, it still looks like...a grey/green/gold square. But the gold tones to the left are the start of a tree!

This weekend is IHSW (see my links bar) so fingers crossed I will get plenty more done and it will start to come together (maybe).

Have a happy IHSW!

Emma

xo

#12 IHSW after...

Well Sunday night is drawing to a close and with that another IHSW is over.

You may remember I was working on "Mr Pinchy" as I had named him and here he is now!

Mr Pinchy - What big claws you have!

A fair amount of progress I guess, considering I did no stitching at all on Saturday (bad, bad Emma!).

One or two more nights and it should be complete then I have to get all four back stitched and sent off.

Look forward to reading how everyone else got on this weekend!

Happy Stitching

xo

#11 IHSW before...

Three posts in less than a week?! I really am spoiling you all...

Firstly though I want to say hello and welcome to my new followers - now in to double figures! *Happy Dance*

Decided to upload a before shot of my current stitch before IHSW begins (because I actually remembered to take one)

Mr Pinchy!

The crab (or Mr Pinchy as I have named him) is coming along nicely and fingers crossed plenty will get done this weekend.

You may have also noticed a new Wips section has appeared down the side of my blog. Yes, I have bit the bullet and order threads for my first ever HEAD. Also the Thomas Kinkade chart was a gift from the in laws at Christmas. At the time I was slightly overwhelmed by it but I am feeling brave and going to do some sort of rotation between the two once my charity squares are complete.

Yesterday I also found out a friend is 13 weeks pregnant - that means another reason to buy more stash and get stitching!! (Like I ever really need a reason...)

Have a happy IHSW!

xo