A winter finish and a spring start

A winter finish and a spring start was the title I chose for my post last Monday. What post last Monday? Last Monday was half term week and I spent it away from home, so I decided to post from the iPad. Having downloaded the app, composed the post, I then tried to add the photos and that is where it all went wrong, so after a couple of attempts I gave up!

My winter finish was the Winter Arbor from the Drawn Thread.

This project came as a kit and was stitched on 32ct 'Smokey Pearl' Belfast Linen and was stitched with  NPI silk.

My spring start, which became a finish, was Just Nan's Lady Scarlet's Scissor Roll.

Here are a few close ups.

This was stitched with the recommended floss (DMC) on 32ct 'Limestone' Belfast Linen. I'm hoping to  make it into the scissor roll at the weekend.

As we did a lot of travelling over half term I was able to make more progress on Hand Wash Only.

This week it's back to the tree skirt, back stitching, beading and couching!

Happy stitching!

Two more finished!

Before I start can I just say a big thank you for all your comments on my last post.  The Santa Tree Skirt did become a UFO last year, it's not finished ye,t but not far to go, so keep watching this space!

One project that isn't destined for UFO status is Halloween Rules from Lizzie*Kate.  Last week I finished two more sections, Brew Some Fun and Sit for a Spell.  The cat's eyes look a bit mad in this photo.

At the weekend we made our first visit to 'The Railway' of 2013. It was very wet but everyone seemed to enjoy 'A Day Out With Thomas'.

On the way there and back I was able to do some stitching in the car so Hand Wash Only moved on a little.

This week it's back to the Winter Arbor.

Happy stitching!

A couple of finishes

We got back from our honeymoon on Friday and have spent the weekend at 'The Railway'.  As I will explain later our holiday involved quite a lot of train travel!

Before we went away I was able to make up the Wedding Quadrielle from The Sweetheart Tree.

I also finished the Black Snowman from Shepherd's Bush.

I made more progress on Charmed Hearts also by Shepherd's Bush.

As I said before our Honeymoon involved a lot of train travel.  We went from London to Venice on the Orient Express staying at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel the night before we caught the train.  The former Midland Hotel had be derelict for many years and after a massive refurbishment re opened last year.  This is a link to pictures on Google images

Here are some of our pictures. Firstly, the main reception.

One of the restored corridors in the old part of the hotel

The Orient Express waiting at Calais

Two of the dining cars

The bar car and yes, that is a baby grand piano!

This was our hotel in Venice, on the Grand Canal.

We spent three nights in Venice before starting to make our way home, by train, stopping for a night in Milan and three nights in Paris. This is the fountain in the square where our Paris hotel was.

The train journey from Milan to Paris was quite long so I was able to do some stitching.  This is called 'Hand wash only' and comes as a kit from The Whimsical World of Thomas Joseph.  There are four in the series.

It's back to work tomorrow I get the feeling that this year I'm going to be bringing even more work home than usual but I am determined to do some stitching every day so it's White Nights until it's finished!

Happy stitching!