A Box of Chocolates

not 3, not 4, but 5 SAL updates, haha. I did complete this month's charts for all my SAL and only got the time to post it today. I'm really really busy. We might move to a new flat so I will be MIA for quite some time. Hope to still see everyone around.

Anyhoo, here are my updates.

First off is MSAL- Old Italian Sampler. This month's part is the final chart. The mystery unfolded. It turned out so lovely as expected. I will surely miss the excitement and the wait each month to see each part coming along. I'm still debating whether to frame it or finish into something else, uggh, no clue yet.




My SALexandre Stitcher's Wallet is so far going well. I've completed the first inside chart. It took me three nights to finish it up. Oh boy, 3 long nights, did I have a tough time stitching it? you bet! This chart is more intricate than the previous ones. Besides that, Mr frog visited me so many times that I wanted to just throw the whole piece away and start all over again. You know how hard it is to rip on over 1. But I didn't do that as I don't have enough fabric, so I cannot just put that piece to waste. I was like rip-stitch, rip-stitch robot, arrrghhh! It really tested my patience. I wanted to complete it as scheduled as I know next chart will be out this week. So I was right, new chart's posted and ready for download. Alright, vent over, hehe, here's the pic,

The lower part was originally blank so you can put whatever pleases you, mine was "Stitcher's TREASURES".

June Zooms it is for the BCSAL-2003 Snappers. I like this block, perhaps because I like travelling a lot. As you can see we are halfway through, wow, I'm excited. A real fun to stitch.


So how does your garden grow? Mine is looking great. I like this Papillon-MSAL so much, up to the point that I just want to stitch it first before my other SAL. It actually serves as a boost, and when it's done, carry on with the others. My favorite, if I may say so.


Lastly, my EMS Rose Sampler SAL is so far looking great. This is really lovely. I've been happily stitching it. Can't wait for the next chart.


That's all for now. Hope you don't get tired reading my post. Got to email/post some of my progress photos to the SAL's sites. Thanks everyone. Have a nice and safe week.

Remember the PIF gift I told you about on my last post that I sent out last Thursday to a friend in The Netherlands? It just reached its new home. Sonnja told me she received it yesterday. I'm happy to know that not only it got there but it arrived sooner than I thought.

Sonnja does noble deeds through Beertje Zonn. They make teddy bears and give them to the children in orphanages. When I came across her blog, I instantly admire the wonderful job they do and told myself one of these days I'll contribute. Although I'm not into quilt or doll or bear making I know in my own little way I can participate in the good deeds. So came my PIF, Sonnja is one of my chosen recipients and as I keep my promise, now is the time to contribute to their noble act of showing love and care to less fortunate kids.



The fabrics were for Beertje Zonn, they will then make it into teddy bears. I think it's enough to make 5 teddies. I know, I know not that much teddies, but knowing that it can make 5 kids happy is I thought not bad at all.

Here's what's inside the box for Sonnja.


I made a Blackwork Tuffet from The Gift of Stitching Issue 24, designed by Nancy Pederson called Elizabethan Biscornu. I missed blackwork a lot and so when I saw this design, thought what a great way to refresh. I stitched it right there and then and completed it after a few hours in January. I used two colors of Aida, white and pink, both 16ct. Was glad that I haven't forgotten blackwork at all. Blackwork is reversible and was glad that I did just that but sorry I have to no photo to show it off, too bad I forgot to take a pic. Since it's just a refresher and no intention of giving it to someone at that time I kept it and didn't finish it as a biscornu.


Just this month, thinking of what to give Sonnja, I decided to pull it out from my stitched-but-no-finishing-yet box, and made it into a tuffet. No particular reason why that finishing but just for a change. I added small black tassels in each corner. I like how it turned out. Like what hubby said when he saw it on my craft table waiting to be packed, "Wow, it's lovely!" Oh yes, I thought so too.

I also made a matching scissorfob. I stitched the center design on the same fabrics. Added small black buttons at the center, a tassel and silver beads. I think it's very nice too, I like it!

Sonnja, I salute you and the people behind Beertje Zonn (I stand corrected, thanks to Debbie for the info. Sonnja makes the teddy bears all by herself, wow, she's such a lovely, wonderful and bighearted person). Keep up the good work and continue being a Godsent angel to the children. May God bless you and your family. My pleasure to make something for you, hope you like it.

TFL. I wish everyone lotsa lotsa stash. May you all have a blessings-filled day! Hugs.

A very happy birthday to you Sis Noreen. Enjoy! My pressie for you is ready to be sent out but still awaiting your go signal. Hugs!

Coffee or tea? I like both. A mug of coffee in the morning is what I need to start the day right and at least 2 mugs of green tea for afternoon tea and after dinner complete my day. Yes, like a lot of stitchers, I too indulged and got myself the LHN Coffee and Tea Threadpacks, all 6. I thought it was made just for me as I am certainly a coffee and tea drinker.

I started the 1st chart in the series, "Cappuccino", 2 weeks ago and have not gotten around to stitching it until the other night when I suddenly had the eagerness to see it done. And so I did finish it that night, TEEHEE!! thought I could show it off yesterday but failed, I went out to buy some fabrics which I'm going to send to a friend in The Netherlands. She's one of my PIF-gift recipients and I had promised her that I'll include some fabrics, to sort of contribute to her good deeds. I had sent it out this morning, hopefully it will get to her after a week (got to email her after this).

Going back to my latest HD, drumroll please, here it is...




Isn't it lovely?!! What a delight to stitch!! I just love the color of this fabric, the design pops.

Look at this picture. I put the chart and the floss back in the plastic bag where it's originally packed. See the floss, it looks new to me. I mean, those are left over floss but looks like I have not yet used any of it. Seems to me, it's enough to complete another one (just maybe).

That's all for now. TFL! Have a nice day my friends and TC.

Thanks to the movie "Kung Fu Panda" we've watched last night. Hubby and I had a good chuckle, just what we needed. If we're at home watching it we would probably be ROFL, hehehe. I just like these lines "The past is history, the future is mystery. Today is a gift, that's why it's called present." I like Po, he's so cute. The movie is a good watch with a whole load of fun for the family.

It seems we will be having a lot of movie-dinner dates as we have quite a long list of to-watch movies each week like The Happening, Get Smart,You Don't Mess with the Zohan and Hancock to name a few.

On stitching note, I was on my Lanarte WIP this last weekend and happy to tell you that I've finished the Roses Triptych Panel 3 on Saturday. Here it is, drumroll please...

I did personalize it, have you noticed? I placed my signature near to what looks like an envelope. A closer look,


Since 1's done and 2 more to go, I've dyed 2 small cuts of the same fabric. Each fabric is unique and nice, isn't it? I like this one a lot (first photo, for panel 1). It turned out very lovely. See that part at the upper left corner, doesn't it look like a rose?


I'm excited to start with Panel 2 this weekend. Why Panel 2 you ask, dunno, lol!

I've also worked on my Lan Mediterranean Terrace on Sunday and here's what I've stitched so far.
I can now see the back of the chair. This part I guess is much easier, not much color changes but instead the colors are in blocks. I'll see if I can complete the chair and get to the table part this coming Sunday.

I have been happily making my secret project, a birthday present for a very good friend. I can't tell you what it is, not just yet.



What a tease huh, lol!! At least you can see the colors in it. The unveiling will be shared with you of course but that will only be when she got it. I'm still working on it and would probably finish it this week.



Oh no, my SAL are so neglected, my bad?!! Or am I suffering from SAL stitching slump? Hope not. I'll try to make up next week and hopefully post pics.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your wonderful words and for the constant visits.
Have a nice day!!!

I was so worried that the gift I sent to France for my friend Cathy will get lost ("oh no please not again!" my mind said everyday). She emailed yesterday to inform me that she got the parcel. Thank goodness!!! I'm so relieved. Though it took 2 weeks or so to reach her (too late for her birthday, arrggh!) enough to make me happy, better late than it never reached her.



Remember the Cartonnage challenge I'm currently having? I gave her my 3rd. It's a needleboook (not my usual finish so it's my first of this kind). She collects needlebooks so making one for her would be nice.
She likes red and angels a lot so I made something of this motif. I stitched Casa Mia Rose And Angel Alphabets (letter C) over 1 on 25ct Ivory Lugana. I added a small thread bobbin which I made (my very first) and covered with the same fabric as that at back of the needlebook and wound a red floss on it. I attached a lace fixed in place at the ends with pearl buttons to hold the small bobbin in place. I also added 2 pearl headed pins which I think gave an interesting touch to it.


Look at this close-up photo of the bobbin, I like it a lot! The inside has pockets and the same lace at the front cover to hold spare needlepack. I also cut heartshaped felt of 2 diferent sizes to serve as needle or pin pages. The deep red fern printed cotton fabric I think is just perfect.


With it is a mattress pincushion. I stitched Isabelle Vautier Bouquet d'Amitie (just part of it) on the same 25ct Lugana over 1. I also stitched our initials C and J in place of I V. This time I used two organza ribbons, white & red, and wove it (red ribbon on top of white ribbon) in the drawn thread and tied a bow on center top.

She also loves collecting scissors so I added a pair of everyday use maroon scissor. I couldn't just gave her that, looks plain and boring to me, so I made a scissorfob. It's a super duper small biscornu (about half the length of the scissor) with white and red seed beads all around the sides. This scissorfob has the same look on both sides, stitched four roses on the same 25ct fabric over 1 and teeny weeny pink buttons at the center.

I'm so happy, everything's now in its new home. I'm even happier when she said she liked everything. But now I know, next time when I mail something to her, I'll give 2 or 3 weeks allowance, just to make sure it gets there on time.

Thanks a lot my friends for dropping by and for the very nice comments. It means a lot to me. Have a lovely weekend. God bless.

Life gets in the way for the past few days and so I've been MIA for some time, sorry about that.

I've been happily stitching on my Lanarte pieces for the last two weekends and have done quite a lot.

I know that my Lanarte Mediterranean Terrace was so neglected that I felt so guilty about and so I decided to spend 2 weekends just for my Lanarte WIP only (claimed it as my "Lanarte Weekends").


The photo doesn't show the whole thing, 'em so lazy to take it off the frame before a snapshot, lol! Anyways it doesn't matter as you've already seen that part in my previous post, right? I still have a long way to go before reaching the finishline but I know I'll have my HD this year (I'm positive, lol!). Well, it's such a pleasure to stitch, I enjoy it each time.

My second Lanarte piece is the Roses Triptych. As you all know I've started with Panel 3 and will have each panel in separate fabric cuts. I'm happy to tell you that I have finished the cross stitches and so without further ado, here it is...
Albeit not done yet, I already feel like celebrating, lol! Just not yet, still a lot to be done, back stitching that is. Almost there, YES!!.

Have not yet touched any of my SAL, very busy this month and so I will be a little behind I think. Thank you so much for dropping by and for the nice comments. God bless.