Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year !!!

A belated Merry Christmas to all and wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year. We're almost ready to leave to our Aunt's house to spend New Years Eve together there.

It's ages ago since I last blogged. But things were pretty busy here and not everything was nice. Let's hope the upcoming year will be less stressful and sad. My husband and I decided that we will take a huge step back from what we were doing and concentrate more on us and our well being. We will taking up our hiking and will go more often away. We love to do short trips for hiking and abandoned that way too long. Time to take it up again....time to bring happiness back into our life. I still feel quite down, but things will be better. It can only go up from here.

Let's talk about nicer things....Christmas Day was a success. We had a group of 20 here and it was much fun. Thank god it wasn't as hot that day, which made it even more enjoyable. I uploaded a bunch of pictures to my webshots album and whoever wants to have a look in my house and under my pergola....just  click here

And may I proudly present my self made place mats and napkins , which I made because I SLIGHTLY miscalculated the time this would take. On the bright side....lol....I learned quite a lot.






I also did some stitching, although it wasn't that much. 





Little House Needleworks "Snowflakes" stitched with the recommended fibers on 32ct linen in the color natural. No clue what linen. It's not Belfast though.  I had ordered BELFAST ages ago ...and put it to my stash after arrival. The plastic bag said Belfast and I didn't doubt it. I have no clue what linen it is, but it is NOT Belfast. Which is kinda annoying because I like to work on soft fabrics and this one is not soft at all.






The Prairie Schooler
Taken from "Winter Wind"
Stitched on 28ct Jobalan - self dyed


Oh...that reminds me. I had a go at dyeing too. Which was easier then I thought it would be. First try was coffee dyed, and was't too bad but somehow I thought I would like to try out other techniques....like hand painting...and hand dyeing with "real" dye. I liked that too. One of the pieces turned out a bit "Halloweenisch" while I'm not really a fan of anything Halloween....lol. For the rest I'm quite happy with it.



17 comments:

Becky K in OK said...

Love your PS ornament! Happy New Year.

Annie Bee said...

Happy New Year. Glad that you are going to take time out to do things you want to do. Love the ornaments they are just lovely.

JessB said...

Love snowflakes! And you finished it so nice. The ornaments are sweet too. Happy new year to you, and I hope your 2010 is better.

Nic said...

Happy New Year! Your finishes look great, and very festive!

Terry said...

Love all your finishes; they turned out so beautiful. So what technique did you use to dye those fabric in the pictures? I think I've seen at least two different "how to" directions for coffee alone. lol

I'm glad things are slowly getting back to normal. Great idea to take time for you and hubby to do the things you love to do together.

Condolences for your Father-in-laws loss. May 2010 be a much happier, healthier and prosperous year for you all.

staci said...

Congrats on finishing your placemats and napkins! Love your Snowflakes flatfold and your ornies...your stitching and finishing are beautiful as always.

Wishing you a Wonderful New Year!!!

Justflo said...

Snowflake is lovely. I like you little ornaments.

Congrates on you tableware it looks good.

Hope you have a Happy New Year.

Good to take 'timeout' for yourselves.

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Love your linen dyeing there! It is fun. I got a very small snip of R and R Old Town Blend for the stocking I'm working on and it literally looks like a piece I dyed with coffee once.
Love it. I'm going to try wine one day for pink material.

Your finished pieces are sooooo pretty. So neat and finished nicely.

Happy New year, Gabbi!!

Jennifer

Donna said...

Happy New Year! Love all your stitching, both machine and hand.

Siobhán said...

I'm glad that you had a good Christmas. I know how hard that first Christmas is after losing someone. Very bittersweet. Your stitching and the placemats are lovely. Happy 2010!

Giovanna said...

Lovely finishes, congrats! A Happy New Year to you all!

Carolyn NC said...

Hope this next year is better for you, Gabi. Glad you and DH are going to take more time to enjoy short trips. Sounds like a great plan. Your stitching is always just lovely - wonderful finishes and progress on everything!

anna s. said...

All the best for 2010, Gabi!! It can only get better. You're so right about reclaiming time for yourselves...
I LOOOOOVE your napkings especially!! The fabric and the idea is awesome. I don't sew yet and I so admire your finishes!

Nancy M said...

So glad you have decided to take some time for yourselves. Very well deserved!!! Love the flatfold (maybe you'll let me borrow the pattern?) and the PS. I just bought some PS ornament patterns and a pattern from Blue Ribbon that remind me of both those things. We think alike!! Email me and fill me in on the details of what's going on. Would love to hear from you again. My nephew is in Brisbane until April, is that anywhere near you? I have no idea where things are in your country!

diamondc said...

Happy New year.
Your work lokks so lovely I was wondering what you used to make your Prairie Schooler Ornaments look so thick and lovely.
I have not tried fabric dying yet after reading your blog I think I shall try it.
Stay safe Happy New Year.
Catherine

Brigitte said...

Your stitched pieces look so great, and they are all perfectly finished. I love them. Also the napkins and place mats - great.
Wishing you and your family a happier 2010. Good plan to do things with your husband that both of you love doing.

Littlebit said...

Your ornaments and placemats are absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comment. To answer your question, YKW stands for You Know Who. Sometimes I think everyone knows my daughter (Paulette), so I just put YKW. Happy New Year to you and yours, and I wish you all good things this coming year. Enjoy your hiking!