April challenge reveal and monthly collages

Another month whizzed by, and today being the last Sunday of the month it's time for the reveal of this months challenge. 

A free online design chosen by Christine to stitch and finish as you like, no rules at all, use any fabric or thread you wish.  You are just asked not to share your finish till the gallery is up on the forum.

April's chart came from here.

Previously I had received a gift from Gill (no blog) - a hexagonal coaster

 

This months challenge design fitted into it perfectly.

 

 

I had planned to show you progress on latest sock knitting using the English Rose colourway from the florist collection at West Yorkshire Spinners (shown in an earlier post). 

 

A sock competed ....

 

But what's this I can show you instead.  After a week with a few hospital visits and waiting around, I now have a completed pair of lovely cosy socks.

 

I do have a new start on the stitching front.  A Just Nan (yes Jo, I actually started it)  

 

From my JN collection I chose High Hopes, this is the design

 

 

and my efforts so far ......

 

As it's the last day of April tomorrow, its also time to show the collage of this months crafting finishes - 3 knitting and 3 stitching.

 

 

The collage for this months book reading shows 3 books.  The childrens re-visited book for April was Black Beauty.  I'm not really a horse fan, but did enjoy reading this one again.   The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley is the first in a series of 7 books, one about each sister, this one I really enjoyed and so did others at my Book Borrowers group.

 

 

Friday I came back from the hospital to find an envelope on the doormat.  I wasn't expecting anything so it was a lovely surprise when I found a beautiful handmade card inside. 

 

 

The lovely June at Butterfly Wings had sent me a 'thinking of you' present.

 

Attached to the inside was a 'wish strings' bracelet.  You attach it to your wrist, make a wish, then when the string snaps and the bracelet falls off in time, your wish will come true.  There was also this sweet little chart inside.

 

 

Thank you so much June for your kindness.

 

Love and blessings to you all

 

Julie  x

 

Gifted Gorgeousness ~ April

I'm sure you all know about Gifted Gorgeousness.

Created by Jo for crafters to share absolutely anything they have received as a gift of sent out as a gift.  Some bloggers are very creative getting things shoehorned into their monthly post.  If you haven't heard of it pop along to Jo's blog for the link up post for April to see what others have been sharing this month.

I sent out another RAK bunny to a lady who has become a friend who has corresponded with me and her thoughtfulness has lifted my spirits so much in the past few months.   I had to smile as I received an email from this lady on exactly the same day as I had posted my surprise parcel to her after asking another blogger if they would kindly share her address with me.  Her email to me was to ask for my address so she could send something to me.

In my parcel Ann received was this little lady -

A couple of days later, the parcel I received from Ann contained this lovely wool that she thought I would be able to use.  Also, she had included some beautiful scissors and thread cutter set -

 

Thank you Ann, the wool is so soft and I think a pair of socks for me are going to be on the needles very soon.

Very serendipitious Jo eh? What do you think?

A Friend Indeed was a gift from Clare in the Friendship Exchange earlier this year.  I decided to add the date and a small motif each side to complete this one. 

 

Do you remember me stitching this Silver Wedding sampler for a family member earlier this year? The chart is now looking for a new home so if you would like to receive it please leave a note in your comment, if more than one person wants it i'll do a drawing in a weeks time.

 

 

Love and blessings to all

Julie x

Edited *** As Mary was the only one who wanted the Silver Wedding chart it has been posted on to her. ***

March challenge finished late

A little sunshine last week, my camellia enjoyed it and is now blooming nicely - this ones for you June to show how far we are behind you all down in the south. 

 

 

Unfortunately, we are back to rain, rain and more rain this week and the skies look like this, dull and dreary.  My poor camellia likes the rain but the blooms are dropping off rapidly due to it.

 

 

What is a girl to do when you can't be in the garden?

 

Firstly, finish off last months challenge design from the Needlecraft Haven forum.

 

This one chosen by Christine for March came from here.   Too big for an ornament so I made it into a card finish, perfect for one of my elderly aunts when the festive season is upon us.

 

 

Finish knitting and kitchener stitch the toe on the second sock and complete another pair - a matched pair as well.

 

 
A Friend Indeed from Blue Ribbon Designs has had some attention as well.  The space at the bottom shows initials/date charted, but i'm not sure I want to put that on.   Will give it some thought, what do you think?
 

 

New stash  - DH had to collect something from John Lewis the department store.  As we passed the crafting department my eyes were drawn to a sock knitting display.   A closer look was needed, and I spied this great chart from Christine at Winwick Mum blog in collaboration with West Yorkshire Spinners for her simple rib socks.  I couldn't resist this pretty ball of wool from the florist collection called English rose to go with the pattern. 

 

 

Three finishes and new stash, that's what I call a good week, shame the weather isn't listening to make it a hat trick!

 

Love and blessings to all

 

Julie x

 

 

 

Happy Easter

Easter holidays started lovely here for us.  DD and our granddaughter took us to see the new Peter Rabbit movie on Good Friday.  It was their treat and afterwards they gave us a lovely box of Lindt mini bunnies as I reminder of our outing.

We enjoyed the movie, but I have to say, I prefer the original Peter Rabbit, he's just so cute and this Peter was a bit of a naughty rabbit in more ways than one!

Today, Easter Sunday, April 1st (my late dads birthday) and it means opening day for the Needlecraft Haven Easter exchange.

I sent to Justine, here's what was in my parcel :-

I found the little tuck hanger in my stash when looking for something and thought Justine might like to stitch something to go into it for next Easter.  The chocolate treat was doubled so she was able to share with her two boys.  

The stitching design I chose came from this The Prairie Schooler booklet

 

Here's a close up of my finish

 

 

The parcel I received came from Christine.  Such a different finish and I had only commented on her blog yesterday that I loved a similar one she had made for the Easter blog hop over at Jo's.

 

 

Here's close up of the lovely sheep

 

 

Thank you Christine, I love my Easter parcel x

 

 

Time also for my 'What did i do last month?' post as we have entered another month, the fourth of the year.

 

I had 5 finishes - 3 different bunny ones, the westies bookmark and a lovely knitted scarf. 

 

I've got  2 stitching WIP's to carry forward -  1. Needlecraft Haven monthly challenge from March, stitching is completed I just need to make it up and 2. Blue Ribbon designs 'A Friend Indeed and there is a pair of socks on the knitting needles.



March's re-visited children's books was Justine's choice and she went for Heidi.  I read this such a long time ago, it was lovely to re-read it again.  I also read three other titles in March.

 

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter, I hope you are spending time with those you love.

 

Love and blessings to you all

 

Julie x