1000th POST - Yep, i got there!

 I can't quite believe that I have actually written and published ONE THOUSAND POSTS!!!!!!!  Woo Hoo!  So, I have quite an agenda for you today:

1. January Smalls SAL post (one week late - so sorry!)

2. Announce the winner of my Kitten Stitching and the Friday Frolics Giveaway

3. 2021 January Reading Challenge Update

4. 100th Post Giveaway!

So, here we go.....

1. Smalls SAL_January 2021 Update:

Mary at Mary's Thread hosts the wonderful Smalls SAL. On the last Friday of each month (I know, I know, I am a week late and have only just squeaked into the deadline for linking on her blog) we share our small stitching items that we have completed but not necessarily fully finished. Mary has a link up post on her blog so we can pop over to see everyone's work. If you click on the image below you can see the check in post on Mary's blog.

Thank you Mary for hosting this again. 

. 

First, I have this sweet little Christmas Ornie, which I stitched for the January JCS Christmas Ornie 2021 FB SAL which is run by dear Jo.  

It is called Poinsettia by Pinochka from the JCS Christmas Ornie Mag 2020. It is stitched on unknown white linen, I did change the design up a bit by using silver floss instead of white for the snowflakes. I hope to get myself organised and fully finish it very soon.

My second Smalls finish is this gorgeous Winter Saltbox, a freebie from Pinker n Punkin Quilting and Stitching.  If you haven't checked out Melisa's blog yet, you should - she is very talented and generous with her freebies.

Just a reminder, please click on the Smalls SAL logo below if you would like to see what everyone else stitched this month.

2. WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

The Winner of my first giveaway of 2021 (and my first giveaway for a long time now) is ......

LCP

Congratulations LCP, however, you are a no-reply-commenter, so I hope that you see this post as I cannot email you and when I checked out your blog, you had not posted since 2012!

Please email me on kayedep@gmail.com with your snailmail address.

[Note:  If I don't hear from LCP within a week, I will redraw a winner]

3. 2021 Reading Challenge...

Well, after the excitement of beating my 2019 Reading Challenge by two books ...

I went for broke in 2020 and aimed for 175 books, which surprisingly, despite Covid and a loooong Lockdown in Melbourne, I did not achieve - I blame it on Netflix - lol!

So, this year, I am being a bit more modest in my ambitions and I am going for 165 books.  I am currently two books behind but it is early days yet and I am blaming it on my reread of The Stand by Stephen King - such a huge novel - lol!

So, this is what I have read so far this year .....

A number of the novels in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn - very lighthearted but lots of fun!

More novels in the Joe Pickett series, these are about a Game Warden in Wyoming - a bit violent but I really like the character and reading about Wyoming.

"Crumbling world" is the first novel in a dystopian series but so badly written that I am not sure how I managed to read the whole thing so I certainly will NOT be reading anymore in the series.

A couple of books in the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch - these I love - Magic is alive and well in London and Detective Constable Peter Grant is going to make sure that it behaves itself!

The Stand by Stephen King, a beast of a novel sizewise but so good!

I really enjoyed the Arsene Lupin novel - dated in style but fun!

Lastly, for a bit of light entertainment, I am rereading the Alex Rider series of YA novels - about a teenage "James Bond". Such fun!

What are you all reading?  I would love to know.

4. 1000TH POST GIVEAWAY

To celebrate my 1000th post on this blog, I have three designs to giveaway - you can enter for one, two or three of the - just be clear which one/s you would like.

#1. Counting Bats by Just Nan

#2 Troubled Water by Ink Circles

#3 Water Hazard by Ink Circles

Giveaway "Rules"

1. Comment on this post on Kitten Stitching to enter - please be clear that you wish to enter the giveaway and which design/s you are interested in.

2.  I will post ANYWHERE IN THE WOLRD, although I cannot guarantee how long it will take for you to get it in this Time of Covid - lol!

3. Giveaway closes at midnight, February 28 AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

4. Good Luck!🍀

Thanks for visiting and please don't forget to leave a comment as I do love a good chat,

hugs, 

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Hello Lovely Cross Stitchers, 

I wish you all well during these extraordinary times - I have never quite seen anything like it, although as a historian I can see parallels with the Spanish Flu and the Black Death pandemics. The human race got through those times and so I have faith that we will get through this time, too.

Anyway, onto the purpose of this blog post, with Victoria about to go into Lockdown within the next 48 hours, I am about to announce the winner of my 

Now, not wanting to make life easy for anyone I had a pop quiz first - the details are all below....

Pop Quiz and Giveaway

The Giveaway prize is this cute design by Les Grille de Maryse.

The Rules of the Giveaway

1. Open worldwide.

2. Read each of the three February Miscellanea posts and answer the three questions given below.

3. Give your answers in the Comments Section of Part Three of the February Miscellanea posts. (Comment moderation has been turned on to avoid anyone inadvertantly giving the answers away).

4. If more than one person gives the correct three answers - the winner will be chosen randomly.

5. The Giveaway ends at midnight on the 15th March, wherever you are in the world.

6. Best of luck!


The Pop Quiz

1. Which of my relatives grew up at Montsalvat?

2. On what date was Gold discovered in Victoria?

3. Which native bird visited me on my deck one evening?

The answers are:

                                                              1. My aunt (by marriage)

                                                          2. 2nd July, 1851

                                                          3. a Tawny Frogmouth

... and the winner is....

                                  KAY  (not me - lol!)

Kay doesn't have a blog but I have sent her an email.

Please email me your snail mail address, Kay, and I will send you your prize (if Australia Post is still running after we go into Lockdown).

Anyway, I am stitching like mad (although all my planned stitching seems to be all over the place as I am stitching whatever takes my fancy atm), cooking, working from home the next two days, reading, listening to books and trying to stay in touch with friends and relatives via email, sms, What's App and Facetime, I have planted daffodil bulbs in the hopes of a happier Spring (in six months time) and I may even clean out a cupboard or two!

Stay safe and well everyone, 

hugs, 

Winners, Winners, Lots of Chicken Dinners.....

Well, it is long past time to announce the winners of The Sort of/Sorting Girl's Nest Giveaway #5!  I am sorry that it has taken me a few days longer than I intended but I have been ill all of this week with some sort of gastric flu and I am still not feeling 100%.  Needless to say, I have been spending my days either huddled in bed or in my stitching chair, cuddling the cat and moaning "Why me?".  The only upside has been lots of Netflix and lots of stitching happening but not much else.

Anyway, enough moaning from me - this illness, too, will pass - I will be back on the merry go round soon enough, let me announce the winners.

Drumroll, please.....

The winners are...

Giveaway 1: (Australia only) Storybook Cross-Stitch - 25 designs based on various fairy tales and fables.

The Winner is NO ONE!

As NO ONE expressed any interest in this book, it will be making its way to the Op Shop, where hopefully it will find a new owner (unless someone wants to make a quick grab at it now).

Giveaway 2: (Australia only) Mini Cushions in Cross Stitch, 30 original designs by Sheena Rogers

This one was easy, only one person made a "bid' for this one...

Deb H from Stitched and Stashed

Congratulations, Deb, I hope that you enjoy the book.  I will email you shortly.

Giveaway 3: (Worldwide) 20 Mini Cross Stitch designs by Michael Powell

Ooooh, this one was sooooo popular, with fifteen interested parties, so out came the Random Generator and the winner is ....

SHELLY from An Arizona Stitcher

Congratulations, Shelly, as you are a no-reply-commenter, I rely on you to email me and let me know your snail mail address.  I will leave a comment on your blog to let you know that you have won. 

 Giveaway 4: (Worldwide)  A slightly-used "Patience" by Tempting Tangle Designs plus the left over Dinky Dyes silk floss.

Five Stitchers were interested in this gorgeous pattern (I am actually quite surprised it wasn't more), so out came the random generator again with this name.....

LYNDA from A cozy little place for stitching

Congratulations, dear Lynda, I will send you an email very shortly.

Giveaway 5: (Worldwide) A slightly-used Proverbi 3 and 4 by Paola Gattiblu

Again, five Stitchers were interested in this gorgeous pattern (and again, I am surprised it wasn't more), so out came the random generator for the last time and the winner is.....

NONI from Fireflies and Cats in the Garden

Congratulations, my very dear friend, I will send you an email, too, very shortly.

So, that is it - all done and dusted... Congratulations to all four of my winners - your prizes will wing their way to you as soon as you send me your snail mail details.

BUT..... there will be another GIVEAWAY happening SOON, so look out for 

A Sort of/Sorting Girl's Nest Giveaway #6, coming to Kitten Stitching very soon!!!!!

Girl's Nest Giveway #4...

I am about to announce the winner of my Fourth giveaway for 2017 but first, an explanation....

"Why is it called a Girl's Nest Giveaway?  A very good question, my dear friends. Luckily, the answer is fairly simple.  The Girl's Nest is what my sewing room is affectionately referred to by TraderVic and my family and as I am on an eternal quest to tidy up,organise and streamline my what-seems-to-be-a-very VAST collection of sewing, quilting, stitching and knitting stuff goodies, I have decided that sharing the stuff love is one good way of doing this."

So, up for grabs this time was:

A just started "Amish Quilts II" Kit.  There were four friendly bloggers who expressed interest, so, with the help of the online random generator, #4 to comment was chosen.

There were four friendly bloggers who expressed interest, so, with the help of the online random generator, #4 to comment was chosen ....

And the winner is...

CARM 

(NO BLOG)

Congratulations, dear Carm, can you please email me with your snail mail address and I will send you the kit in the next week or so.

hugs, 

Girl's Nest Giveaway #2 Winners....

I am about to announce the two winners of my second giveaway for 2017 but first, an explanation....

"Why is it called a Girl's Nest Giveaway?  A very good question, my dear friends. Luckily, the answer is fairly simple.  The Girl's Nest is what my sewing room is affectionately referred to by TraderVic and my family and as I am on an eternal quest to tidy up,organise and streamline my what-seems-to-be-a-very VAST collection of sewing, quilting, stitching and knitting stuff goodies, I have decided that sharing the stuff love is one good way of doing this."

So, up for grabs this time were:

#1
"A Perpetually Engaging Diary from the Collection of Michael & Elizabeth Feller"

#2 
"Ackworth Memory Book"

If you want to see more pics of these two great prizes, just check out this post.

Anyway, I digress, let me announce the winners!

The Winner of #1 is

Barb from Wicked Stitcher

and the Winner of #2 is

Bea from Thoughts and Musings

Congratulations, Ladies, 

Please email me on kayedep@gmail.com to let me know your snail mail details.

hugs, 

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner....

I am happy to announce the winner of my first giveaway of the year.....

"A Margaret Sherry Card Set (a freebie from a Cross Stitch Crazy Mag) plus some other little goodies (but they are a surprise!)"

.... and the winner is.....

Vickie from A Stitcher's Story

Congratulations, dear Vickie, if you could please send me your snail mail address, I will send you your Margaret Sherry kit and your surprise goodies as soon as possible.

Now, I am about to dash off to visit The Rose Street Artist's Market with a friend  (to buy a gift for a mutual friend's birthday) but please tune in either later today or tomorrow to see what my next giveaway will be.

hugs, 

Postal goodies, a winner, FNSI and IHSW?

Look what the postie brought me last night!

Elizabeth Lamb plus all the gorgeous NPI silks.  This is going to be stitched in honour of our dear SoCal Debbie who passed away suddenly recently.  It will be one of my 59 starts with Linda for the Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January/February 2015 challenge - Linda, how do I let you talk me into these things?  59 starts?

The postie also brought Something wicked mystery sampler - with fabbie and threads.  Now, I just have to remember to order Parts 2 and 3. This may be added to the challenge as, obviously, I cannot get it finished by this Halloween.

Now, for some fun, the winner of my My Favourite Film Giveaway is

Jo 

from   Serendiptous Stitching

Jo,  I will search out a selection of patterns for you to choose one  from over the weekend and email you.

Congratulations, my dear.

Now, tonight is Friday Night Sew In (FNSI), you can join in the fun here.

And, according to my calculations, it is also International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW), normally you can sign up at Joysze's blog but the sign up doesn't seem to be up yet.  I do know that her Dad has been ill, so she has most likely been very busy looking after her dear Dad.

Anyway, we can all still stitch like mad over the weekend.  

So, what are you going to be doing?

Me, I have lots of plans - I just hope that I am not too tired when I get home from work tonight.

hugs,  

P.S. Still no sign of my "stolen" stitchery from last post.

Help please....

You may all remember that a few posts ago I announced that Debra Butler had won my Liberty Lane pattern?

Well, Debra is a no reply commenter and even though I tracked her to Google + (which I hate, by the way - just confuses me!) and became a follower she does not seem to have a blog and she has not emailed me since I announced that she won (obviously she missed the post).

I am hoping that someone knows Debra and could let her know to get in touch with me as soon as possible. Otherwise, I will have to redraw the giveaway for the pattern.

If you need some further context, the two relevant posts are here and here.

.... on a stitchy note, last night was Tudor Tuesday SAL night, so for some strange reason I decided to pick up a BAP and stitch HAED's Ophelia (one of several HAED Ophelia's I own).

Now, I have drawn a long bow here with stitching her for the Tudor Tuesday SAL - this is my reasoning:

Ophelia is a Shakespearean character (from Hamlet), Shakespeare was an Elizabethan playwright, Elizabeth I was a TUDOR monarch!

Works for me!  lol!

Now, the first pic is what I stitched when I started this piece on 13 JANUARY, 2011!!!!!!

This next pic is last night's progress: (sorry for some reason it is rotated 90 degrees to the left)

So, wish me luck with this - if I only stitch on it once every 3 and a half years, I wonder how long will it take to finish it?  lol!


I have a big presentation at work this afternoon to Senior Management - so wish me luck!

hugs,

Libery Lane Pattern winner is.....

...... Drum Roll please....

..... and the winner is......

Debra

Congratulations, Debra, I did not seem to be able to find your blog but please email me with your snail mail address and I will post the pattern to you.

Enjoy!

hugs, 

May 28th - time for a TUSAL update and a Smalls SAL update.. and my "E" giveaway winner.....

Two of my regular updates happen to fall on the same day - May 28th (shh! don't tell anyone I am posting this on May 29th) - TUSAL and Smalls SAL.

What are these, I hear you ask, well, a TUSAL is a Totally Useless Stitch A Long, where we collect our ORTs (Old Raggedy Threads) each month - it is sort of like a record of how much ( or little) we have stitched.  It is run by the wonderful Daffycat and you can check out all of the other TUSALers on her blog It's Daffycat.

Also each month I participate in the Smalls SAL run by Stitching Lotus.  On the last Wednesday of each month we post about the Small/s we have stitched for that month.  (A Small being whatever you like but just not a big project).

So, here we go:

TUSAL update.....  the red kitten tin is my home ORTs and the little pink tin is my train ORTs.

These are my Smalls finishes for this month:

A FINAL FINISH on Spring Witch, Haunted House and an exchange piece so I cannot show you all of it:

Now for the winner of my "E" Giveaway.....

... and the winner is....

the lovely Jo from Serendipitous Stitching

Congratulations, Jo, 

Jo will be stitching the "E"  "for my friend's daughter Emily. All four of my friend's children have an ASD and the older girl always said she wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up. The teachers laughed but this girl now swims for her country in the youth team. I wanted to stich her the K mermaid (when it gets released) so I would stitch this one for Emily so she doesn't feel left out. I don't think the boys are bothered..."

How lovely, Jo, so many people had wonderful reasons for wanting to stitch the "E" but luckily I didn't have to choose - Mr Random Organiser did it for me!

Have a great day everyone, 

hugs,