It's Christmas!

First of all I want to thank everyone for their wonderful supportive comments on my blog and emails after my last post. Although I still can't quite believe it is happening, I am slowly coming around to the idea that in the end my redundancy might be for the best. Two major things I have noticed in the last couple of weeks are that I am not comfort eating anything like as much as I was, and I'm not getting horrendous indigestion everyday, so I think that could be trying to tell me something. I am still going to be sad to leave my job in a way (I'm now leaving on the 19th, not the 23rd), but I am looking forward to having some time at home to get myself together and decide what I want to do next.

Anyway, onto what this blog is supposed to be about, stitching, and some pics to show!

Firstly Amy received the ornament I stitched for her in the private exchange we did, and I received the most gorgeous ornament in return which is taking pride of place on my tree already.

Next up I've been in a stitched stocking exchange on the Tranquil Stitches BB and I've received my stocking and my partner has hers!

I've just finished off the last of my gift stitching and that will be going in the mail tomorrow, and then I can hopefully get back to stitching the ornament for our tree.

We go to Lapland a week today and I'm like a little kid at christmas with excitement! I'm also panicking trying to make sure we don't forget anything important, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't worry about something lol.

So if I don't get chance to post again before we go, I hope you're all enjoying the build up to this special season, staying warm and cosy in this cold and snowy weather, and still fitting in lots of stitching. Hugs.

Shellshocked

Well after a lovely long weekend off I went back to work this morning and was only there for half an hour before being called to a meeting with my senior partner and the HR Manager.
I've been given my notice of redundancy and finish work officially on the 23rd December....
Although it isn't unexpected I'm in shock right now and can't quite believe it. I have had a few tears when speaking to DH and my mum on the phone, although Erin's reaction and happiness that she will see more of mummy did make me feel a little better.
I know we will be able to survive on DH's salary, but it is obviously going to mean big changes to our lives and spending habits from now on, I just hope we can rise to the challenge as a family and maybe even turn a bad situation into a better future for us.

Yummm, Gingerbread!

It's 16th November and I'm already in the christmas spirit for some strange reason lol. Maybe it's the fact I've been doing christmas stitching for the past week or so, not sure, but not complaining as it's definitely lifting my spirits which has been sorely needed lately.

First of all I stitched an ornament for Amy (no blog) for a private exchange we're doing. I finished it into an ornament the other night and Erin doesn't want me to send it off as she says she wants it for our tree lol. Can't show a pic just yet as Amy sometimes reads my blog, but promise to post one when she's received it.

Then I stitched a small piece for a stitchers stocking exchange on the Tranquil Stitches BB. I know a few of the members of the BB may read my blog now and again so that's another pic I can't show yet, but the clue is in my post title. I had thought of posting a pic as no-one would know if they were getting it, but seeing as I've added my partner's name to the piece I've had second thoughts. Erin then decided she wants to keep this as well as you can put sweets in the stocking lol.

And then today I got Erin set up in the conservatory this morning with lots of bits to make christmas cards. This led me to thinking, I should take the chance to finish finish something from my stitched drawer. And because my head was full of gingerbread I couldn't resist making this up into a large pinkeep. I used a green/red/gold fabric to back it, red ribbon and then pins in different colours as used in the design and I just love how it's turned out. The ornament and stocking will be packaged up and sent on their way in the next few days, but I'm not parting with this, and it's staying up til the rest of the decorations join it in early December!

Tonight I'm going to start an ornament for our tree. It's the Prairie Schooler "Snowy Night" design from this year's JCS Ornament mag, and makes me think immediately of Lapland where we're going in exactly 24 days!!!!! We have had this booked for SO long we thought it would never arrive and with everything going on at work etc it's going to be so wonderful to get away as a family and for DH and I to go back to being kids for a few days and forget about everything. Erin still doesn't know and we're trying to keep it that way until the day we leave, but it's getting harder by the day as DH and I are so excited we keep nearly letting the cat out of the bag!

And just to make me even happier, tomorrow is my first Monday off work (yay!). I have big plans of reorganising Erin's bedroom while she's at school, in plenty of time for santa to make his visit and deposit piles more toys than she already has lol.

Thanks to all my lovely visitors and commentors on my last post, hope you're having a wonderful weekend and are stitching up a storm.

Go Check Out Chiloe's Giveaway

Chiloe is running a great giveaway on her blog to celebrate her 600th post. Go check it out and say hello whilst you're there!

Finally I Have Pics!

I've been working on my HAED Cabin In The Woods for the last couple of weeks and finally today finished page 12 which is my 4th page! I think I'm approx 17-18% done with this now which doesn't sound too bad, but when I look at the huge piece of fabric it seems like I've hardly done any! But it is wonderful to finally be seeing the cabin appearing before my eyes.

And as promised here is a pic of part 5 of the Papillon mystery which I finished a couple of weeks ago.

Next up I want to try to finish off an xmas ornament I'm stitching for a private exchange I'm in, not sure how it will go because of the shape but will see. I also have a little stocking on the way to stitch up for another exchange I'm taking part in and I want to stitch an ornament for our tree, so it's going to be xmas stitching for a while to come for me, but I'm looking forward to it.

Now onto my PIF, I have to say I'm disappointed that no-one has signed up for it, just hoping everyone doesn't think that my stitching is that bad... I'm going to contact Hazel to see if she wants me to drop out of her PIF but if she does think it's ok for me to still take part I guess I will do some randon PIF's instead for people who I think might appreciate it.

That's it for today, happy stitching everyone!

PIF!!!

I've just found out I've been very lucky and have been chosen to participate in Hazel's PIF (pay it forward). This is my first PIF so I'm very excited, I just love the meaning behind it.
So now I am offering the same thing on my blog. If you would like to receive something handmade by me within the next 365 days, please comment on this post to say that you are interested. I will then ask Erin to draw 3 names on Sunday 9 November. If you are one of the chosen three then in return, please post the same offer on your blog. This is a simple and a lovely way of spreading joy in the stitching world and I hope that you will want to take part! This PIF is open for everyone!

Life & Stitching

Last week at work we were all waiting with baited breath to hear news as to whether the reduced hours would save our jobs for the time being or if some of us would be getting redunancy notices. This meant I wasn't exactly in the mood for stitching on a night, just couldn't concentrate, so after finishing part 5 of the Papillon mystery I put my stitching way (no pic I'm afraid yet).
One thing I did decide after sending Karan her prize from my contest was that I miss being in exchanges and sending my friends stitched items and gifts. I haven't taken part in any since early this year when I hit a slump and was scared I couldn't keep up with them, so I've joined a little xmas stocking exchange on the Tranquil Stitches BB and am also doing a private xmas ornament exchange with one of my stitching friends in the USA. I so love to see what people receive in exchanges on their blogs, and often wonder about the exchange boards they are on as I've never come across them myself. Does anyone know, are these sort of things invite only generally? I don't want to commit myself to lots of exchanges again just yet, but will see how the 2 I've signed up for go and take it from there. All I know right now is that I'm excited to be exchanging again.
And talking of the private xmas ornament exchange, I've finished the stitching for that today after only starting it yesterday! I decided I felt like some xmas stitching but it took me a few days to find the right ornament and kit it up as I always procrastinate that lol. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out, now I just need to decide how to finish it into an ornament. No pic of that either I'm afraid and it will be a good while before it can be revealed as my exchange partner reads my blog.
I've also been thinking more about joining in the UFO night on the Stitch & Stash BB again. Julie does a stirling job along with Mr Stick in beating people until they stitch on their UFO's, erm I mean encouraging them lol, and while I'm being a bit flaky about my stitching right now in general I think that if I can at least put in one evening a week on a UFO I might feel like I'm making progress on something. Going to give it more thought, but it's seeming like a good idea right now.
And back to work, finally late Friday afternoon we had an email saying that the reduced hours had been passed, and asking us to decide which day we want to take off each week, starting 17th Nov for approx 6 months. I've chosen Monday's as it will mean a longer weekend for me, and after the worry of thinking we were going to be out of a job altogether the reduced hours are a welcome alternative. I've decided to make the most of it while it lasts, the reduced money isn't ideal, but the extra time at home will be wonderful, especially in the run up to xmas, and hopefully overall it will mean more stitching time as well lol.
Well, enough of me waffling, seem to have got carried away there, guess that's what you get for having a couple of days off for half-term, going to the cinema and then a play barn with Erin, and xmas stitching and writing most of your xmas cards whilst there!!! I think I must be giddy with the shock of being organised!
Til next time, have a great week everyone (hugs).