My newest Cross Stitch project.

I have actually have had this kit for a while, but just haven't got around to doing it.  I got it from Bothy Threads and they do ship world wide. It incorporates two things I love.  British Robin's, they are better looking than North American Robins, who I think are tall and skinny and not as red.  Also Wrendale Designs, I just love Wrendale Designs and that whole design aesthetic.

I will say thought I am finding it hard going for some strange reason.  I am thinking the more I get done the easier it will become.  It's a whole lot of colour changes in a small area and a whole lot of red tones.

I am hoping to have this completed by Christmas........I think I will have to stop the reading for a while, to get this done!!

Finally I am back............

Was away longer than I intended but, have enjoyed the break.  It has been a busy couple of months, and It's hard to believe it's been probably 10 or 11 weeks?

I have done a lot of reading, which I will post about soon.  Read some really good books; one of the latest being Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, what a book that was!!  I have three more sitting here waiting to be started on:

I think it will be the one by Paul Feist.  Mind you if I read the Lyra Parish one, maybe to cooler weather will appear.  I am over Summer now!!

Then I have started doing another cross stitch:

As you can see, I have just done a few stitches in red.  I found my owl scissor holder, it's so cute and my Bothy Threads, needle minder.  I will talk more about this project soon.  I have had this kit for ages so decided to get it done.

We had my mother over for a visit so those three weeks just flew by.  We haven't been away yet, but have booked a few days away in September, so looking forward to that.  

Well, that's it for the moment.  Will get back into regular posting this coming week, and will spend the weekend, getting some posts written, ready for posting.........

Hope everyone is well, and look forward to catching up with you all.😊

Sew Along.....

I managed to get a bit done this week.  Loved sewing the robins, but the red squares were fiddly, but look great.

I hope to get the rest of the border done this week along with the last square.

This is the design for the last section, a Christmas stocking, pretty simple and straight forward.

I hope to have it all completed by a week today.

Durene has some patterns featured in the The World of Cross Stitching magazine  January 2026 edition.  Its the three Home Sweet Home banners on the front cover.

Sew Along and problem solved.....

 I completed last week's section and it looks lovely.

Now as you can see I have completed a lot of the right hand side border.  I had struggled with the left hand side to the point where I didn't want to do it.  I have been doing cross stitch for over 40 years, but could not wrap my head around that border pattern on the left hand side.  I finally figured out what the problem was.  My brain reads from left to right, so I turned my work around so the present box and the decoration box were at the bottom.  I then sewed up the border from left to right in no time flat.  There is still some parts to do on that border.  For the top border, I will turn my work upside down so the Santa is upside down and on the left hand side and work the border left to right again.

Very happy with this weeks section, which is the bottom middle section and includes British Robins.

Very, very pleased with how it's all looking.

Update:

I worked away on it on Friday afternoon, loving the Robin. 💖

Sew Along Cross Stitch....

 Busy day yesterday with a heavy snowfall and being at son's house, so didn't get a chance to post my weekly update.

I say this every week, but I am loving how this is coming along.  The colours she chose are perfect.

As you can see I got very little done on the border.  I have a quieter week this coming week, so hoping to finish the left hand side.

This week's pattern is on the top right square.  Looks like it will be easy enough to do.

She is having a 50% off sale on her Etsy Store at the moment.

Christmas SAL

 Another week done with the Cross Stitch Sew Along.

Isn't he cute?  I am just loving the colours.

I didn't get much done on the border this week, and next week will be super busy.

This week's section, which will go to the right of the Santa.  Looks pretty simple and straight forward.

I know I have said this before, but I am loving how simple this is and the colours she chose.  This would be perfect for a beginner as there are no half stitches and no outlining.  Also each section could be used on it's own for ornaments, bookmarks etc.

Sew Along

So another week has has gone by and this is the progress I made.  I finished the centre panel and the bottom border, so very pleased with my progress.

This week's section if the for top left side space, and look very easy.

I am getting into the groove with this sew along.  I am recognizing how this designer thinks now.  It's a very straight forward pattern with good repeats.  I am loving the colours she is using also.

This week I am hoping to complete the above section and a good chunk of a side border.

Sew-along

 I mentioned in an earlier post I was going to participate in my first ever Christmas Cross Stitch sew-along.

Last week the designer released the first part of the puzzle and it was the border pattern of the finished piece.  I actually thought that was odd,  but what do I know?

I had a busy week with other things, so I only managed to get what I did below done.  However, I did manage to get the sections done which will be helpful.

So this week she released the first section, which is the middle section.  I have high hopes I will have time to get this completely done in the week.

Here is a link to the Facebook page of the designer Durene Jones Cross Stitch

Fun Project for Cross Stitchers.........

 I saw this SAL (stitch along) on Facebook and I think I will join it....

I haven't heard of this person before, but it should be simple enough even for complete novice's if you want to follow along.  You can see more here.

Let me know if you plan on doing this?

Another finished project........

I finally finished the second piece of cross stitch that I am putting together for a project at the end of the year.  I have been putting it off as I find the back stitch fiddly.  I am liking how they are looking though.

I also finished the latest paint by numbers.  I don't like it.  Believe me when I say I followed all the colour numbers.  It looks as though the background with the light mountains is wrong.  I may go over it again with other colours to deepen the colour there.  It may look better then?  I sound as though what I am talking about????  I don't!! 😁

I posted another book review here.  I borrowed this book from the library.  It was as good as the first in the series.

Cross stitch and paint by numbers

 This week's cross stitch update, also involves the start of another month.  When you think about it, January and February went by quite fast; or at least I thought so?

We have had some warm weather, but it was interspersed with some cold days. which has resulted in hubby being as sick as a dog and me not feeling great either. I wish the weather would make up it's mind what it's doing.  We have actually had temperatures into the double digits.

As I finished that puzzle I hunted out another paint by numbers I had picked up at Dollarama.  This one doesn't need a magnifying glass to see the numbers I am pleased to say.  For under $4 this provides hours of entertainment.

I managed to get another book finished and you can read the review here and start another one.  "Daughter's of War," by Dinah Jefferies, again set in France during World War II.

Have you had a productive week with your leisure time?

Cross Stitch and Puzzle update.........

Another week and nearly another month over with.  Again another mixed bag of weather this past week, and this week won't be much better.

This is how much I have done on the puzzle:

It's as hard as it looks.  However I am not giving up!!!  

I also managed to read a couple of books, one which I reviewed here.

How was your week?

Cross stitch and paint by numbers

Another week done on the temperature cross stitch.  As you can see, we have some more blue this past week.  It has been colder and we have had a bit of snow, probably 6 + inches.  Have had to get the snow blower out.  This upcoming week's weather is going to be all over the place.

I finally finished my paint by numbers picture on Sunday.  From a distance it looks really good, and I am very pleased with it.  For a dollar store product I think it was well worth it.  I would do another one.  I found it very therapeutic and this one didn't require you mixing the paints to get the correct shade; some do.

I would do another one, as the more I look at it the more I like it.

What have you been doing craft wise this past week?

Temperature cross stitch update.

Well as you can see by the colours we had a mild week this past week.  We even broke a record last Friday for how warm it was.  I was out and about with just my cardy on.  Friday is the darker yellow day.

For this coming week, we will see more blue and green days. no yellow for this week.  We have a tiny bit of snow still hanging around, but nothing to talk about.

I managed to get a bit more done on the paint by numbers.  It's starting to take shape.  You'll notice I found a use for the magnifying glass.  The numbers are that small, so it's coming in handy for that.  Although painting isn't my thing I find this very relaxing.

I haven't done any reading this week.  Must start another book.

What have you been up too?

Cross stitch and paint by number

This weeks update on the temperature cross stitch.  It's coming along nicely.  Still surprised at how much green there is in it.  We may even see yellow in there this coming week, as it's going to be warm all week.

I totally finished January, outlining the month and adding in the month of April.

I made a start on another cross stitch, again Christmas themed; part of something for the end of the year.

When dd came up last weekend she brought me a paint by numbers kit she bought from Dollarama.  These are really good value for money at under $5 for the kit.

I am treating this like a puzzle.  It is set out on the table, and I do bits here and there.  The sections are very small, so it's hard on the eyes.  I must say though I am enjoying doing this.  Lot of browns and greens though.

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy this past week?

Cross stitch update and painting craft.

I had dd and the girls up for a visit, so I bought these bee houses from Dollar Tree.  I had leftover craft paint from a couple of paint by number projects.  So we painted one each.

From left to right, daughter, me, then the girls.  I have said this before, I have a small amount of talent in some things, but when it comes to painting I have NONE!! 😂  

Here is the latest update with the temperature cross stitch.  We have had a mild week.  January should be all blue colours, not green and blue.  This coming week's forecast is a mixed bag, with no deep freeze in sight.  Which is good and was reflected in our gas bill.  It was $20 cheaper than last year.  I have a spreadsheet set up to track all the bills, so I can make a budget for us; for when hubby retires.

I also finally finished another little cross stitch project.  Well part one of it.  You won't see the finished project until the end of the year.  The photo below was taken before I did the back stitch.

This is the after.  I haven't pressed it or anything yet.  I am looking forward to sharing the finished project at the end of the year.  If you get the World of Cross Stitching magazine, this will be familiar to you.

What has the weather been like in your neck of the woods?  What have you been working on this past week?

I also must thank you all for your lovely comments.  I do try to visit everyone's blogs and answer your questions.  Feel free to remind me though if I forget!!

Another week down with the temperature chart

 

It was a colder week this past week.  There is even a purple in there as last Friday our high was -13oC.  Honestly though it was in the minus 20's with the windchill, it was nippy cold.  This week will be hot for this time of the year with temperatures on the plus side a couple of days.

We can't complain here in Southern Ontario as this year has been so mild, which in turn makes the winter feel shorter.  January has been a fast month for me.  It's February I detest as that's when we get some nasty weather.

On the flip side I love September and October as those are perfect temperatures to my mind and the air feels so much fresher.

What's your favourite month of the year?

A surprise hit at Christmas....

I bought the older five grandkids, XL cross stitch kits for Christmas, as they looked simple and easy to make.  They are from Anchor and called Big & Easy Cross Stitch XL.  Here is a link to them on their site.  Now I bought them at Fabricland close to where I live and I got them on sale.

Here is the one that Jeina made, and she will be 8 at the end of May.  Hers was two cats kissing and she did a super job.

She was so proud of how neat and tidy her back was, as was I.  For the first time doing it she made an excellent job.

The two older girls got the London one on the site.  Sam got an "&" sign one in black to do and the two younger girls got the cats one.

I helped the Brampton crew start theirs off when they were up for a visit.  Nora did hers, as I had taught her how to cross stitch.  Not sure if Paige got hers finished or not.  

I would say for children aged 7+ they are a perfect way to introduce cross stitch.  Also it is a finished project, as it's already on a canvas so ready to hang.  Depending on what the canvas is of, these can be done in a weekend no problem.

One week down

 and here is the progress.  It is going to be blue's and greens this month.  We are actually having hotter than normal temperatures for this time of year.  I am just doing the daily high without the windchills.  In the summer it will be the same without the humidity.

I can't do the back stitch around each month until the month has finished.  However, I did a little so you can see it will pop when finished.

I don't have it in a hoop or frame as I am doing a little at a time.

Pulled out some more fabric and threads to start on another project for Christmas 2024.

I am also in the middle of a puzzle I got from Christmas.  It's proving harder than it looks!!

Happy New Year's Eve

I have had a busy week with one thing and another.  I am glad it's New Year's Eve, as I am hoping to have a couple of restful days.  It's not even 10am, but I have supper all prepared/cooking.  Got some chicken breasts on clearance yesterday, so have them in the slow cooker covered in Oregano and Feta salad dressing, they smell yummy.  There is enough for a couple of days, plus I chopped off some "bits" from the chicken breasts and will cook them and put them in hubby lunch.  Made a garden salad, again will last us a couple of days, so easy meals sorted.

I have a couple of cross stitch projects on the go at the moment.  Now I don't normally like to start one without finishing another, but I am making a weather temperature chart cross stitch for 2024, so it will be an ongoing project.

 I purchased a pattern for the Weather temperature cross stitch chart from Little Side Stitches on Etsy.  I have made a start, and as I said before I cannot do it all at once, as I need to check the weather temperature every day.  Though there are a few things I can get done before hand.

I am also stitching a Wrendale Robin from the calendar that was included in the December issue of "The World of Cross Stitching."

I haven't got too much done yet, as despite how little it looks that I have done, there are so many colour changes just in that little bit. It looks as though I have only used 4 colours at the most, but there are many more in that little bit, all very slight colour variations.  It will be lovely when done, but I am finding it hard going.

So a Happy New Years Eve, from our house to yours and I will talk to you in 2024!