Skidding in over the Finish Line - 19.5 hours late

I finished my October Ornament today on November 1 so I haven't made the deadline but it's done and I'm going to have 12 stitched and finished ornaments this year as I've already started on #11 tonight. I think that is something to be proud of and 2008 will certainly be a record year for finishes as I've never completed so many small projects in the space of 12 months.
And as I did in late September I'm having issues with photo uploading. I think the Internet knows when I want to upload something but I'll keep trying over the next few days in between celebrating E's 8th birthday.

September Ornament

Sliding in just under the deadline again! And once again I think this is my favourite.

August Ornament

The biggest worry was whether or not I would have Internet access again in time to post my picture to the group but fortunately I did.

I'm Knitting!

It's probably hard to tell from the photo but I knitted two rectangles, cast off and then started knitting into the side of them. I really enjoyed the class and all in all it has been a very satisfying experience!

My first Crazy Exchange

This couldn't have come at a better time! I'm contemplating pulling the knitting apart and starting over or shelving it until Saturday and today after a very busy weekend I woke up at 4:00am with a terrible migraine and I've been feeling seedy all day. I dragged myself out of bed to collect the boys from school and only checked the letterbox as an afterthought. I was delighted to find this parcel from Carol in New Hampshire USA (I hope that's what the NH stands for!) I have some cute pink fabric which I can use for finishing, a pair of scissors and beautiful stiched fob. I've never made a fob or owned one so this is another first.

Here's What I'm going to knit!

So just imagine this rug with the colours from the previous post!

Goodies

I've had a voucher for my local craft shop Threads & More burning a hole in my pocket since November last year so I decided to redeem it today. And the redeeming of it meant that I'm now branching out into something entirely different - KNITTING!

I learnt to knit as a child and I could remember how to do plain in my head but that was it. Now I'm signed up for a two hour class next Saturday morning, I've got a bag full of wool in delicious colours (I can't think of a better adjective for them!), bamboo knitting needles and a pattern for a gorgeous blanket which is knitted and has a crocheted edge. I have never crocheted!

However part of the Mission statement for Threads & More is something about a "nurturing environment" for people to learn new things and I certainly experienced that today. I was helped with choosing my pattern then we chose some beautiful variegated wool and then matched it with plain colours. They laid it all out on the table for me so we could see how it would all go with the pattern and then a lovely lady started me off. She cast on even though I think I can do it still and knitted a couple of rows before I took over and did few more rows getting the edge right so that now I can continue on my own until next Saturday. She even showed me how to change colours even though I assured her I wouldn't possibly get that far! I'm very excited by it all - it feels different to cross stitch and a is a bit scary - because I don't have control over it yet.

From there I went to Mary Ryan's bookshop to spend $30 and bought a beautiful embroidery book because that is something else I want to delve into and it had the pattern for a bag that I have admired from afar back when I used to be able to go to craft on a Tuesday.

Should be interesting to see what dh says when I bring the knitting needles out.

July Ornament done

Thank-God for holidays that's all I can say. I was able to do this one in several sessions that were much longer than usual.

Tropical Vacation Window

This poor project has been much neglected in between the demands of school and the Christmas Ornament Challenge but I have almost made it to the end of the cross stitching. It will be really exciting to see this one "pop" once I get to the backstitching.

June Ornament Finished

I've made it across the line in time with this one and it's my first "flat finish".

May Ornament

I missed the deadline with this one. It was stitched in time but not assembled in time. It has been assembled in the last few days along with June's ornament which could be my favourite so far.

A Nice Haul of Stash

I've had a trip to the Stitches and Craft Show at the Convention Centre today and picked up some lovely bits and pieces as usual. I've bought some linen fabric which can be used for ornaments etc, a cross stitch kit - Iris and Blackwork, another kit for needlework accessories, a kit to make a candlewicking cushion and a kit to make a dilly bag.

I've got Mum's sewing machine here while she is overseas so I must make an effort to get the dilly bag made while she's gone.

April Ornament - It Was A Close Shave

But I made it by the April 30 deadline. It's another pillow finish but I'm contemplating the purchase of a hot glue gun so I can attempt some pinkeep finishes with the other ones.

March Ornament Finished

And I've been flat out just doing that. Haven't been stitching much at all till this Easter weekend and I'm looking forward to doing more when we have a week's holiday in two week's time. A few more observations about this one: I hate stitching with metallic threads, I love Mill Hill beads and it is very tricky to take photographs of a three sided ornament.

February Ornament Done and Dusted

I have adored this one from start to finish. It's the most beads I have ever used for a project and my first little bit of stitching one over one for the "noel". I've got it finished now so the Tropical vacation window can have some attention before its time for March. I've voted for the March Ornament - now just have to wait and see what gets picked.

January Ornament for 2008 Ornament Challenge

And this one was really a challenge. I miscounted somewhere and ended up being one stitch out all down the middle but some how it has turned out ok. It is the Sweetheart Tree Noel Christmas Bellpull done on 18ct ivory aida. I started on linen but threw the towel in as I was having too much trouble counting.

However I've started February's Ornament which is "Noel in the Tree" from M Designs on beige 32ct linen and I'm loving it. The beads look wonderful and are much easier to do now that I've bought beading needles (duh!)

Some More Progress on the Tropical Vacation Window

In between several Christmas Ornaments

Christmas Stitching 2007

The pink ornament above was received from SueK in the "Xers" group Christmas Ornament exchange. It is absolutely stunning work with beading and metallic threads. I will certainly treasure it.

This angel was stitched by me for D's Kindy Teacher on plastic canvas and backed with sticky-back felt,

This is the ornament I stitched for E's Year 1 teacher - also on plastic canvas

And this was the ornament I stitched for Lucie as part of the Xsers Christmas Ornament Exchange.