Books, a birthday and cake

I had got The Bookshelf framed recently and posted the framed picture here a few weeks ago. I got just the right spot for it, right above our study area 

V turned 14 recently and we had a small celebration when my cousins were all in town. This year I decided to bake a cake for her birthday

This is a simple eggless caramel cake with caramel buttercream topped with Hershey's caramel syrup. The link to the original recipe is here. The only change I made to this recipe was to replace plain flour with whole wheat flour. I could not have even a single piece of the cake, but everybody just loved it

I have had quite a few things happening, will post each individually soon. Till then folks.. take care.. be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir

Framed up and A new start

I got 3 of my most recent finishes framed last week

It took me about a year to finish stitching this!! I remember starting this in the first week of Jan 2017 and put in the last few stitches on 2018 New Year's eve (31 Dec 2017)!!!

The BookShelf by Little House Needleworks

Being a coffee lover that I am, I have been wanting to stitch a coffee pattern for ages and was hunting for a good pattern. I found this pattern on Pinterest and fell in love with it. Here's the pattern - https://pin.it/3tcd4dlwrjw2l3

This is a gift for a very dear friend. She loves coffee as much as (if not more than) I do and our friendship grew over cups of coffee. We met in June 1998 and this year, as we celebrate 2 decades of friendship, what's a better gift than a perfect cup of coffee!!

 This was a no count long stitch kit from anchor. I worked on it for more than a year definitely and I have absolutely no clue when I finished this

I found this finished piece hidden in my crafts chest while searching through my stash for threads!! I had to get it framed. I gave this as a gift to my parents

Isn't it an absolute pleasure making things for others and what happiness we feel when we see the happiness on the receiver's face. 

I have started working on Rose, which is also a pattern from Pinterest. Here's the link to the pattern - https://pin.it/g2g7fwp6b2psjr

I am stitching this on perforated paper and using all threads from my stash. This year I am trying to use up as much material from my stash as possible and put them to good use
The original pattern was a blue rose. But as I did not have any of the called for shades of blue, I swapped to a Red Rose. I think the shades are really working out well together, and I am very happy with the change. I was really scared how this would turn out as this is the first time I am ever changing the shades so drastically
This is going to be a gift to one of my cousins, who has been asking me to stitch something for her

That's all from me today friends. Signing off on a happy, high, satisfied note. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir

A finish to finish the year..

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas dear friends. Wishing you and your near and dear ones a brilliant 2018 bringing in loads of cheer, happiness, peace, health and wealth

Yes, that's right.. I have finished 'The BookShelf'.. YAY!! 

I started this at the beginning of the year, but progress was very slow. I could not stitch for quite a few months and picked it up yet again around August. Ever since I was able to make slow yet steady progress and here we are!!

My next project is going to be a Lizzie Kate

This was a limited edition from 2015, which I seem to have bought.

Having worked only on one project all through the year, there's not much from the ORTS

Signing off on that note.. wishing you a brilliant year again. See you soon in an all new year with all new stories

Till then, it's me signing off.. Take Care.. Be Happy.. Keep Stitching.. Au Revoir

Crafting About

About 2 years ago I bought V a long stitch kit for her summer vacations. But she did not show much interest and I did not want to force her into something that she's not really interested in.
But on seeing sea shells completed and all framed up, she is very motivated to try her hand at a stitchy project again. So we went shopping for long stitch kits again (my mother threw away the old one thinking V would never get back to it). To our utter disappointment, there was not stock in any of the craft stores and we learnt that they had stopped supplying to the stores. Finally amazon to the rescue and we found a beautiful kit there called 'Returning'

Here's a picture of her progress.

She has been going steady at it every day. School starts in a week.. wonder how she is going to manage

Here's a picture of my progress on 'The Bookshelf'

This is coming up very quickly.. but I am not able to stitch as often as I'd like to

Pictures of some beading we did last weekend

That's about it from me today friends. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Craft Away.. Au Revoir!!

The BookShelf

The days are getting warmer and very humid, and summer is just beginning. The temperature is already nearing mid-30's!! Though I am looking forward to the holidays to spend time with V, I am dreading the heat.. sigh..

I started working on The BookShelf by LHN

I am loving the way it's shaping up. I feel this is going to be a quick stitch, atleast by my standards :)

That's about it today friends. Till next time.. Take care.. Be Happy.. Keep Stitching.. Au Revoir

Finishing 2016 with a finish!!

Here's wishing everybody a very happy, crafty, fulfilling 2017!!

Yesss.. finally seashells is finished. I literally stitched my way into the new year. I was putting in the last few stitches in seashells when the clock struck 00:00 on 1st January 2017!! Isn't that a grand way to finish a year and start a new one

Isn't she a beauty. I started this in December 2011 and finished in December 2016. It has taken me exactly 5 years to finish this - phew!! V was beginning to ask me if I would manage to finish this by the time she reached college :)

So now I am totally excited to start working on my next project. It's going be a pattern from LHN - The Bookshelf.

I have kitted it up and all set to start. I also have accumulated quite a few strands of beads from all the travel this year. Hoping that 2017 is going to be a year dedicated to fulfill all my crafty dreams

Signing off with this today friends. Wishing you all a brilliant year again.

Take care.. Be Happy.. Keep crafting.. Au Revoir

Stashy Update

I was very curious to know how much stash I was hoarding. Two reasons for doing this - one to get an idea of how much I have pending. Second to see if I am allowed to buy more ;)

 Here are a few kits.

Below are a few patterns only

Threads and fabrics

A complete picture

I also kitted up my next project. It's going to be 'The Bookshelf' by LHN!!

Now I am all excited to see the end of seashells, which is not far off. Though there is no picture at this point, I have made good progress. Have just a few more rows of half-cross stitch and the back stitches left

That, my dear friends, is all from me today. Till next time.. Take care..Be happy..Keep Stitching.. Au Revoir!!