Yum, Gingerbread!

Well, I made up for my slow start on CCN's Gingerbread Garden by stitching like a mad woman the past few days, and finished it last night! The colours seem lighter than on the model, but I'm really pleased with it all the same, it's just so cheerful. I think this will be made into a flatfold before next Christmas, but that is subject to change depending on my mood.
I was very lucky that santa brought me lots of wonderful christmas pressies this year, the main one being a new sewing machine! I have had a basic sewing machine for a few years that is very temperamental and lately I just can't get the tension right on it. It got to the point where I didn't even attempt to use it and was scared of it, so on Boxing Day I attempted to set up my new machine with much nervousness. But it works perfectly! The tension wasn't right to start with, but I tweaked and sorted that out, and it's got loads of little extras that my old one didn't have. Once it was all ready to go I couldn't resist finishing something small off, a hardanger sal finish I had in my finishing drawer, which I made into a pincushion. It's not perfect but I'm really happy with it and I will be playing more with my new toy soon.

I also received some of the new DMC Variations, some linen banding, some dmc gingham scissors, a stash pack containing fabric and threads from Karen, a cute little box with a skein of Dragon Floss in from Julie and some gorgeous Thorntons Truffle Xmas Trees (yes, they didn't last long lol).

So I have one stitching day left of 2007 and I think Tomboy deserves some attention. I am determined to finish her as soon as possible in 2008, so any extra stitches I can get in on her in 2007 will be good.

All that leaves left to say is Happy New Year to each and every one of my blog readers and commenters who are very special to me, hope to see more of you in 2008!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, things have been crazy here with the run up to Christmas and although I've been checking some blogs I haven't been able to keep up let alone post. I hope to catch up after Christmas.

I haven't any stitching to show I'm afraid. I did start CCN's Gingerbread Cottage but haven't made great progress on it due to not much stitch time. I am enjoying it though and the bit I've stitched tonight seems to have brought it all together and looks really nice. I'll take a pic after the Christmas craziness is over I promise.

If you look at my sidebar you'll see my stitching plans for 2008 are quite different to 2007. I've signed up for a few different stitchalongs etc in the hope of making progress on some of my older wip's, plus I'm starting the quaker RR, and I will finish Tomboy in 2008! lol I've also decided to start saving for Chatelaine's Egypt Garden chart, fabric and kit in 2008. I've spent 2 years trying to convince myself I don't really want it, but have finally given in and realised I really do. DH's nan has given us each some money for Christmas so that will start my savings off, so watch this space! Other than that I am thinking of going on the wagon for a time in 2008 to try to get some of my stash used up, but I'll give that more thought before 2007 actually finishes.

I haven't had any large finishes in 2007 but I'm very pleased with what I have achieved. I've had more finishes this year than ever before and have tried lots of new techniques, and I'm sure it's thanks to my wonderful stitching friends who I've done stitchalongs with and who've given me such inspiration with their gorgeous stitching.

So to everyone who reads my blog and those kind enough to leave comments, I hope you have the best Christmas ever, and all your hopes and dreams come true. Look after eachother (hugs).

Slow But Steady

I have made more progress on Tomboy, like a snail, but they do say slow and steady wins the race, and at least this way I'm not hating working on her.
I have put her away now for a while as I'm about to kit up Country Cottage Needleworks Gingerbread Garden which has been screaming at me since it was released. The two Crescent Colours needed arrived last week, so just need to pull the dmc and decide on fabbie then I can make a start. I'm really hoping that this has the desired effect of making me feel a bit brighter, because the last couple of days I just feel like taking to my bed. I know a lot of us are feeling the same, with xmas coming up and so much to do etc but hopefully a bit of fun and cheery seasonal stitching may lift my mood.