First Finish of the Year

I have somewhat amazed myself and already completed my first piece of stitching for the year. Even more surprising it was less than one week from start to finish, an absolute record for me. Don't get too excited as I doubt things will carry on like this.

LHN January Sampler

28 ct Cashel Linen 'Vintage' Country Mocha

Threads: Crescent Colour

Backing Fabric: Frosted Snowflakes

As one of my Christmas presents my parents have signed me up for the auto-shipment of the LHN and Crescent Colours Sampler Monthlies and this is the first one, January, which I have finished as a pinkeep. I have backed it with a fabric called Frosted Snowflakes, which you can see in the picture below. I also had my first go at making a bow as instructed by the Twisted Stitcher and I'm pleased with how it worked out.

I plan on keeping this one and all of the others for myself and hope to find a small easel to display them on, changing them as the month changes.

It was a lovely stitch and I know I must have stitched it quite fast as even Husband commented on how fast it was coming along. If the rest are this delightful to stitch I am really going to enjoy doing these. Now I shall try to be good and not start on February until it is February.

My First PIF

I heard from Kath that she has received the PIF I stitched for her. As it was the first one I've ever done I relieved to hear it had arrived safely and that she likes it.

Lizzie Kate - Friendship Grows

Stitched on linen with DMC threads

It's a Lizzie Kate freebie called Friendship Grows. A quick search of Kath's blog had revealed that she liked Lizzie Kate designs and when I saw this design I thought of the lovely pictures of her garden that she has also posted on her blog. I stitched it on some unidentified linen that I had in my stash and backed it with the Pins and Needles fabric I bought a few weeks go.

You may well observe that there is no bow on the top of the pinkeep. This was only my second attempt at a pinkeep and after spending an hour trying to create a bow I gave up, I hope Kath doesn't mind. Something I will have to work on for any future pinkeeps.

A First

For the last few days I have been working on the Jayne's Attic Monthly Challenge, which was to do one of the freebies from the Papillion Creations and to finish it as anything. I opted to do The Duke's Maxim and finished it as a pinkeep. As Karen has already posted the pictures on the forum here's mine, not only finished but also finished on time.

Pappilli0n Creations

The Duke's Maxim

28 count Millennium Blue Cashel Linen

DMC threads

I finished the stitching last night whist listening to Jonathan Ross. As I'm sure you can imagine, I was holding my breath when it came to putting the last few back-stitches in. If I'd gone wrong, the border wouldn't have matched up, which it does. Even better I finished it in time to not only listen to but also to watch the telly whilst he was interviewing Tom Cruise, whom I have to admit I consider rather good-looking. If I was still at the university I'm sure a poster of him would be on my wall. Anyway I digress, so back to the stitching!

This is my first ever attempt at a pinkeep and whilst it's not perfect I have to say I'm feeling quite pleased with myself. I've also learnt a lot so hopefully the next one will be even better.