It's Autumn Already?!?! (VERY Picture Heavy!)

Where did the summer go?  I remember July was HOT!!  And August, well it was nice, so I was enjoying the nice weather!  September was beautiful, but we've been having a lot of rain here in SW Ontario!  So that is why I haven't been blogging!  That is the story I'll be sticking to!  But I have been stitching!

I have started a new BAP!  Mirabilia's Cinderella was screaming at me, so I started it!  This is my progress so far!  I just love fairy tales, and Cinderella is one of my favs!

This is July's ornament of the month!

And this one is August's!  I felt like a change from Christmas ornaments, so decided to stitch a Halloween one instead!

I am a little behind in the ornament SAL, as I still have to do September's and start October's.  But as I have two exchanges coming up that call for some ornament-type stitching, I will use the exchange pieces as ornaments as well!  Killing two birds with one stone!

Hubby picked up a new camera for me in the middle of July!  My old camera is still a good one, but it took really bad close-up shots!  My new Nikon 3100 is SPECTACULAR!!  This camera is a digital SLR with manual and automatic functions!  It takes amazing close-ups!  So here are some new close-ups of my Victoria Sampler Gingerbread Stitching House!

I also finished my LHN Gingerbread Trio over the summer!  This one was so much fun to stitch!  And you know I love my gingerbread men!  LOL!

Now on to my SAL's!

First up is my Tree of Stitches!  I finally finished Part 7, Jerusalem stitch!  Oh crap!  I forgot to take a picture of Part 8, Flower stitch, which I also finished, plus the beading up to that point!  Oh well, next time!

I started a new SAL! (you know I can't help myself!)  This one is The Great Escape by Abi Gurden from The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group!

I used some pink linen I had in my stash, but then I splurged and bought Hand-Dyed silk floss!  It is so yummy to stitch with!  I just love fondling silks!!  LOL!

Part One-The Montenegrin Stitch!

Just this morning Abi released Part Two, which includes two new stitches, the Feather Stitch and Basque Stitch!  I have never done the second so this will be a real learning experience!

And just this week I started  another SAL!!  And finished it!!  This is called The Little Lace Hardanger SAL, an older one from The Stitch Specialist group!  Again designed by the wonderful and talented Abi Gurden!!  Sorry folks, it is no longer available!  I used 22 count Hardanger fabric from my stash, Caron Watercolours and Wildflowers in Flame and Mill Hill Petite gold beads!

I can't believe that I actually did it!  I have to admit that I was scared to death to make that first cut!  But I am so proud of myself for doing it!  And I am so pleased with how it turned out!  I am going to make into a needle roll!

I also started a Chatelaine, as I joined the sister group TSSChatelaine SAL group!  This is my progress so far!  Mini Rose Mandala freebie!

I only have a couple of animal pictures this time!  Here is our sweet little bebe, Chloe!  Doesn't she look innocent?  Not so demon-like here!

That is what we thought!  Until one early evening, when I sent out DD to see if she could coax Chloe in the house!  DD followed Chloe into the bean field to discover this poor baby rabbit she was mauling!  Now as far as I know, no rabbit was harmed during this adventure!  The rabbit was playing possum!  I ran out with my camera to take a photo, then DD and I went in to eat supper. By the time we had finished eating, the rabbit had disappeared!  I hope the rabbit made a clean getaway!  LOL!

It has been busy here at the Joyes house!  We have had a new roof put on, my washing machine broke and has had a new switch put in, so it's back working!  And just this week, my vehicle broke down!  

Wednesday, this week, after school, I took DD to rowing.  And when I went to run some errands, it wouldn't start!  Thank heavens Hubby was home!  Although he was out cutting the grass, and I couldn't get him on the phone,  I called my neighbour who ran over to tell Hubby!  Hubby showed up and checked the fuses and looked around under the hood!  Then we called CAA and had it towed to the dealership!  It was the starter!  So they fixed that!  Then as I was driving it home yesterday, from the dealership, it started making a horrible clanking noise!  So Hubby checked underneath and discovered a universal joint is bad!  So in it goes to the dealership again this afternoon!  Sigh!  Hopefully it will be fixed later this afternoon!

Tomorrow I am heading to my LNS for an open house to sit and stitch!  I hope to pick up my silk floss and the new JCS Halloween book, plus whatever else takes my fancy!  Will let you all know what I pick up there!

Thanks for sticking with me for the update!  I know I've been long-winded!  Hope all are having a wonderful fall or spring in the southern hemisphere!  Chat soon!