How Exciting!!

At last, that wonderful week has arrived where I finally had enough money in my bank for my sewing machine! A real bonus was that when I went to reserve it online, it had a third off so it was only £39.99 ($64). It feels a bit like I was rewarded for saving up for it so carefully :)

Anyway, I headed into town after script writing class and paid for it, then lugged it back up to my house - it was quite a trek, I can tell you.

So I finally have a sewing machine of my very own. Those that have been long term readers of my blog know that I have wanted one for awhile. Now I can do all the finishing I want, whenever I want.

Although it is an Argos own brand machine and nothing swanky, it's very sturdy and had very good reviews. I'm sure it will be perfect for a beginner like me.

One snag, I don't have anything to sew! All of my finished cross stitched pieces are at home, tucked away in a drawer. So I'm afraid my lovely new machine will have to wait until I finish something here at Uni before it can be used. Ah well, at least I've got one - at last!

I'm heading off to the Winchester Fireworks Parade tomorrow evening, then me and my housemates are having hotdogs and cider afters. Lawrence is coming down too! I hope you all have a  wonderful weekend too,

Hello Christmas!

Don't you just hate it when life cuts into your stitching time? Just as I was getting ready to start my Christmas stitching, a hefty Drama essay comes flying my way. It's not too bad really, it's only 1,500 words. And I've got plenty of time to stitch during relaxing evenings.

I've finally decided on my first ornament for the Christmas Ornament Challenge; it's Lizzie Kate's Merry Friends. Here's my small progress so far . . .

Whilst stitching on this, I plan to continue on my other Lizzie Kate piece as well as complete smaller Christmas designs, like the redwork snowflakes I have my eye on. November is going to be full of stitching for me!

I enjoyed a wonderful trip out shopping today with one of my housemates. We had lunch in Cafe Monde, one of my favourite places in Winchester and the most perfect place to go to lunch if you ever happen to visit. I had a chicken and BBQ sauce panini and it was the best. Didn't buy much, but my mum is coming to visit next week for a shopping trip.

I had a wonderful time at home, thanks to those who asked. I was well and truly spoilt with a big chicken and salad dinner, and then chocolate cake for pudding - yum yum! It felt very strange being back in my own bed actually, and I was actually a novelty to have cereal in front of the TV on a sofa. How surreal.

I would very much like to get back into my cooking soon. I absolutely love proper home cooked food, like stews and pies, but often a quick stir fry is just so much more practical. I'll have to mix it up a bit. Do you have any recipes that I should try? I would love to hear your suggestions.

I hope you're all enjoying a wonderful week,

So Close

Hello everyone, happy Friday! How are we all? The weather seems to have turned much colder in Winchester recently, time to find the big woolen scarves and mittens I think.
I've found some time this week to put a few stitches in All Things Bright and it's coming along a treat.

I'm on the home stretch on this design now and I can't wait to finish it into a long pillow, I've picked the fabric out and everything. I'm taking this one with me when I go home today so I should have some relaxing time with my stitching.
I'm so looking forward to visiting home. My mum says she's already prepared a slap up tea with all my favourites - isn't she the best? And my sister is going to be at home too, so it will be very lovely to catch up with her.
After I return from my weekend at home, it will be time to start the Christmas Ornament Challenge! Who else is really quite excited about this? I've already started collecting patterns that I know I want to stitch. Needles will be poised and ready on November the first I think. This is a great way to practice on my new sewing machine too. I haven't got it quite yet, but I'm thinking I'll have it either this week or next, very excited about that too.
What are you up to at the weekend? I hope you have fun whatever you do :)
Best wishes,

A Christmas Finish

Good morning everyone, I hope you've all had a wonderful week. I'm very happy that it's Friday for two reasons. Firstly, that's means I've got my Scriptwriting lesson today which I thoroughly enjoy and secondly, one of my best friends is coming to visit me tomorrow for a shopping trip and I'm very much looking forward to it :) Do you have any lovely plans for the weekend? Apart from stitching of course!

I finished my Heart in Hand bird! I'm so very pleased with it. I changed most of the colours to fit with what I had in my stash, but I still think it looks pretty good. It is a bit of a squeeze on the fabric, but I think I'll still be able to finish it how I want. It will definitely be ready for Christmas.



Who else is joining BeckySC's Christmas Ornament Challenge? I for one am very excited about it. I wanted to stitch lots of ornaments this year anyway, so this is a perfect excuse to finish lots of them and gain a chance to win a Gift Certificate! I've already been through the freebie patterns I've got to see if I can find designs to stitch. Might have to pick up some patterns next time I visit home, my room at Uni is just too small to fit all my cross stitching stuff!
Since the challenge doesn't begin until November 1st, I'm spending my stitchy hours till then trying to finish All Things Bright. I managed to get in a few stitches last night and I might squeeze in a few more before class. I really do love this design and I would love to get it on my to-be-finished pile very soon. My plan is to do mostly stitching whilst I'm away at Uni and then do the actual finishing at home where I have the majority of my supplies.

In other news, I'm saving up for a sewing machine! I've wanted one for so long so I'm saving a bit each week so I can get my very own, brand new sewing machine :) And then they'll be no stopping me making ornaments!
Have a wonderful weekend,

A Milestone!

Good morning everyone, I hope you're all enjoying a brilliant start to the week so far.
I thought it was apt that I started my 100th post (I know, 100! How great is that?) with a stitchy picture. I've been speeding through my Heart in Hand ornament, it should definitely be finished for this year . . .



In other news, I have decided that November is going to be my month for giving back to the blogging community. I'm thinking giveaways, random prize draws and lots and lots of stitching! Plus, I am so very close to reaching 100 followers and surely that deserves a big giveaway? I'm keeping up with my Uni work no problem, so I've got plenty of extra time to plan lots of stitching goodies for you all. Check back often for more details :) I know we're only half way through October, but it's good to be prepared don't you think?
No baking to show this time, I've got my very first assignment due in this week so I'm really concentrating on that. Might be time to sneak in some quick cupcakes by the end of the week though, we'll have to see.
So, it's off to Fictional Writing class for me, how are you spending your Monday? Something fun I hope :)
Best wishes,

Autumn Has Begun

Hello everyone! First and foremost, I must tell you that I have a new email address. I'm having problems with my Outlook Express, so all stitchy-related emails will now be sent to this one: stitchinglion@hotmail.co.uk It should be on my profile too. If you have any questions or comments about my blog, or just want to say hello, feel free to send an email :)
After some serious stitching time, I finally finished my first exchange piece. Hurrah! I really hope my partner likes it. But now that leaves me free from obligation stitching to work on whatever I fancy. Now, Sarah over at Kiwi Gets Crafty had the genius idea of stitching up a Christmas ornament for each year her and her partner are together. After asking Sarah's permission to see if it was ok to be a copycat, I'm also doing the project. For mine and Lawrence's first ornament, I've chosen Heart in Hand's Christmas Bird . . .



I love this series of birds, I'm currently collecting the others. I can definitely get this piece done in time for Christmas. I'm still working on All Things Bright too, but haven't got any progress to show I'm afraid.
In other news, I've been elected "Baker of the Block" by my housemates :) They're all making a donation each week and I'm baking something for everyone to share. This week, I had a go at making my very own cookies! They were very yummy, although perhaps more like biscuits than cookies. I might try a different recipe next time as this one used so much chocolate, it seemed like more chocolate than cookies. At least they went down well with my housemates.

I just love seeing all the autumnal photos on other blogs out there, I do so love this season. I took my camera out with me in hope of snapping some of my own, but it seems autumn hasn't quite arrived fully yet. Most of the leaves are still fairly green, but I did get a couple of pictures.

On my walk home from town, I stopped at a signpost that directed another route to Uni that I hadn't used before. I took a chance and look where I ended up!

It's the old army barracks in Peninsula Square that have now been converted into museums and housing. I sat for awhile, just admiring the view of the large fountain and all the pruned shrubs. It really was a lovely place to sit and relax, I'm sure I will return. Isn't it funny the places you discover when you're not really looking for them? It really makes sense of the phrase "Those who wander aren't always lost."
I hope you're all having a lovely week,

Pictures!

Hello everyone! I thought it was high time I put the effort in for a proper post, my first for October I think, or at least my first half-decent one. I have been stitching lots, but it's for my exchange piece and I can't show that. I do have one stitchy picture to share, here's my LK piece . . .



Not much done since last time I'm afraid, but as soon as this exchange is over, I can concentrate on this fully and get it done. I've already got my eye on a couple of new products I want to start. Christmas stitching is calling my name!
In other news, I've been baking! No cookies I'm afraid (sorry Peggy-Lee :)) Last week, I made banana bread, all of the housemates put in some ingredients and I was the one chosen to do the actual making, seeing as I seem to be the only one who hung around at my mum's knee whenever she was baking when I was younger. You wouldn't believe how unprepared some of my housemates are. One girl had never done any washing up before - EVER! And another girl didn't know she had to add water to the pan to make pasta. I find it quite scary how anyone could get this far in life without even knowing how to make pasta. What do you think about this? Should parents prepare their kids a little more before packing them off to Uni?
Anyway, back to the banana cake, it was a success! It got compliments from all my housemates and I hope I don't seem too big headed when I say it was very yummy. Here's pictures to prove it.

I'd like to do more baking if time and money allows it, it's so much fun :)
Lawrence is coming down this weekend and we're going for cream tea in one of the cute tearooms in town. I'm so looking forward to it. I've got a bit of time now to do some blog reading before heading to my screenwriting lecture, my favourite lesson of them all. Hope you have a wonderful weekend,