Reveal day - January challenge

The last Sunday of the month means reveal day for the monthly challenge chosen by Christine over at Needlecraft Haven.  January's design came from Aliolka.

The original design was for 2016, some ladies added this years date but as mine was late being stitched up and the finishing only happened on reveal day (naughty, naughty) i went for next years 2018 and made mine into a little goody bag that I will give away with a treat inside.  Not sure if it will be a sweetie treat or a gift for a stitcher and contain some stash....will have to see who it goes to next year.  Just hope I can remember the safe place where I've hidden it next year!

 

 

The other finishes in this months gallery can be seen here.

 

My little parcel arrived that DH ordered for me. I'd been browsing them online and they popped up when DH was online (as they do to tempt you) so he ordered one as a surprise.  It's a row counter for my knitting.  He thought it might be better than the notepad and pencil I have. 

 

 

I've been using it this weekend, it works very well.  I'll show you next time what I've been knitting.

 

Blessings to you all

 

Julie

 

It's not my parcel

The thud of a parcel on the doormat announced a delivery.  DH had ordered me something that he thought I would like and I was quite excited thinking what a quick delivery it had been.

A surprise awaited me when I opened the front door and found a little box in the porch .....

Our cat, Midge, had received a parcel - it was from one of the supermarkets.

He certainly likes the taste of his new trial treats and by his snoring they live up to their name.

I'll be stalking the postman this week for my little parcel.

Shouts of hip hip hooray as i put the final stitching into last years Joyful World SAL during the week.  The full set is now living with my daughter for her to enjoy.  I do like this final design.

 

A close up and hopefully you can see the sparkly bits on the Polstitches hand dyed fabric for this festive month.

 

A knitted finish this weekend, my socks will be keeping my feet cosy and warm.

 

 

A visit by my granddaughter and she was asking about old toys as she has some homework to do for school.  She has to write about one of her oldest toys and has a lovely bunny that she loves.  I showed her my teddy, he was given to me the day after i was born so is a mere 53 years old.  Wow she said, that is old!

 

I thought you might like to see him.  DH's late mum knitted him some clothes not long after i met her as he is a little threadbare in places.  His name is Cyril.   Happy memories of long ago times.

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed happy times this weekend.

Love and blessings

Julie

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - January

 

The 15th of the month is time for a Gifted Gorgeousness post.   Here's mine for January.

A chance for us bloggers to show off gifts we have received.  It could be yarn, a thread, a piece of fabric or something that's not for crafting but was sent/given to brighten your day.  Have you made or given a gift, that counts too as does a free chart you have found and have used, given by the designer.  Did you previously receive stash that you have finally got round to using? 

You can read more about 'GG' here.  It's the brainchild of Jo at Serendipitous Stitching and you can also snag the 2017 logo for you own blog if you would like to take part.

My January entry is a knitted bunny.  She was an RAK gift and went in the post to Gill (no blog).  Gill is a member at Needlecraft Haven and comes along to the twice yearly meet ups and I thought she might like a bunny of her own.

 

I've also been knitting with the wool gifted to me at Christmas by DH.  One sock is completed.

 

 

What's in your GG post this month?  I'll pop along and have a read.  

 

The link post for January can be found here so you can see what other GG bloggers have been doing.

 

Blessings to you all

 

Julie

 

First stitching finish in 2017

The start of a new year.  Time to think about what we want from our lives and how we go about achieving it.

As I travel my own journey, I find there are different things I would like to do and enjoy.  Reading has become a big part of my life in recent years with volunteering at our little library.  DH bought me this book for Christmas.

 

A poem to read each bedtime for the coming year.  Last nights poem was about St Distaff's Day, I wrote about that last year on my blog here.

 

 

There are lots of different poets works inside the book, some I have heard of and some that are new to me.  It's going to be interesting reading the differing types of poetry as I end each day this year.

 

Today, DH and I headed out in the car to try and blow away the cobwebs.  We are still not 100% after the recent bugs and germs but it was nice to take a slow walk at a local reservoir.

 

 

We managed a short stroll and then had to sit for a while enjoying the view before we turned back

 

 

The sky was very cloudy and there was a mist hovering that reminded me of episodes I've been watching of Outlander, the reflection of the clouds on the water was beautiful.

 

A farmers field was full of geese making quite a noise as we walked

 

 

Closer inspection showed they were Canada geese, we wondered if they were on migration.  The poor farmers field did look like they had eaten a lot of his new crop.

 

Back home and I put my first stitching finish of this year into it's frame.   Joyful World SAL from Snowflower Diaries and I have now completed November.  I chose a piece of hand dyed fabric from a grab bag by Polstitches Designs.  

 

 

I've also made a start on the wool that DH bought me for Christmas. A pair of socks for me in the West Yorkshire spinners colourway pigeon.

 

 

Yesterday I had a blog reading catch up and saw some fabulous new things that have been started, a few designs that I had not seen before.  Lots of new SAL on forums and friends who are working on things together.  There are some who are experiencing sadness and worrying times in their families - {{hugs}} to you and one blog I read a lady had been away to warmer climates for a short break.  Furry friends featured in a few which made me smile.  It's lovely to connect with so many people who enjoy crafting hobbies like I do.

 

I've put my name down again for Jo's Gifted Gorgeousness in 2017 and i'll continue with the free Christmas challenge designs chosen each month by Christine over at Needlecraft Haven.  It means I should have 12 nice ornaments ready in time for next years festive season.  I'll also be doing a Seasons SAL - I've chosen a design that incorporates all four seasons into one piece of work and I've just signed up for a valentine exchange so a few things to keep me busy to start off this year. The meet up exchange from last year has a deadline coming up next month too.  I also have those intricate mittens that I bought at the NEC last year to start knitting some time ......

 

Wishing you a year filled with good health and happy and fun times, and plenty of relaxing crafting moments too.

 

Blessings to you all

 

Julie