No Rest For The Wicked?

Things have got marginally quieter here but not by much!

Sunday we did have a little lay-in but still had a few things to accomplish: DS cleared off first thing for his swimming trip with Alex and her kids saying something about "dinner at Alex's, Guild Room, mumble, mumble" on the way out the door, so we knew we'd probably not see him until tea time. We headed off to the Silica Lodge garden centre for our dinner and a look round: saw lots of nice pots from new ranges (didn't buy - no room to put any more yet) and was disappointed to realise they didn't have any lavender plants at all, let alone the new cotton wotsit ones.

As the weather was looking uncertain we decided to head for Homebase to have a look at the kitchens. That was a bit of a disappointment too: hardly any ranges and what was there was pretty basic, so we didn't hang around and headed off for a kitchen and bathroom showroom attached to Jackson & Shipley (a builders merchant). They were shut! So we shot off to B&Q to see what they had. Better! Nice Shaker style fronts in different wood effects and a better range of cupboard sizes, sinks, taps, worktops & electrical goods to go with - and they had catalogues we could take away with us. DH took pics of the beech fronts, worktops I liked, sink, hob and ovens available so we could upload them to the computer and play around with layouts and the like. Not sure I'm so keen on the build quality but at least we've got a better idea of what we do/don't like and what we'd like to fit into our kitchen.

After that we were thirsty, so we popped across to Stephen H Smith's garden centre across the road for a sit down, a warm drink and a shared scone from DH's cream tea - he was being a bad lad but I selflessly volunteered to help save him from some of those sugars and calories. ;0) LMAO. There was a new camping shop within the garden centre so we went for a nosey after and ended up buying two lightweight fold-up chairs which are ideal for both the back garden, taking on holiday or day trips out and in the caravan. DH got a slightly laid-back one with a head rest, for getting comfy in, and mine is more of a director's style so I can sit up comfortably and stitch. Of course I couldn't leave there without visiting the craft shop and I came away with this little haul:

Those small coloured squares bottom left are envelopes for some of the recent cards I made. No stitching done - too shattered! We sat and watched the Stardust DVD - lots of laughs in that and it was especially fascinating seeing Robert De Nero play a gay, cross-dressing pirate! LOL Here are pics of a couple more cards I made during my recent cardmaking session instead:

Monday DH was back to work for a rest LOL. I got on with my regular jobs, ready for Alex coming round in the afternoon, getting quite a bit done. Didn't find time for blogging, though I did manage to use the digicam, upload some pics to the computer and learnt how to crop them and the like. One of the pics is of Ink Circles Blackstone Fantasy Garden that I completed last July - I'm not sure how good the pic is, as I'm learning as I go along here, but thought I'd try posting and see how it goes. So, Helen, just for you:

Must say this was an absolute joy to stitch - hope you're doing well with yours. I'd love to see a WIP pic at some stage, as I'm curious to see the CC threads you subbed instead. :0)

Last night I did a little stitching on Night Watchman, so may post a pic next time as it's looking more like it's grown now.

Today I'm having a quiet day: the past few days busyness have taken their toll somewhat and I've got a few aches and pains and a niggling headache. Gave me a good excuse to sit and watch Dawn Bibby's session on QVC this afternoon - not that I needed much of one! LOL.

Received Part 4 of the Memories SAL last night and I've printed that out today but I think the printer must need a new ink cartridge because it's got some weird and wonderful colours on it! Won't start that just yet though: it's UFO Tuesday today (is it just me, or has that come round flippin' quick?) so ET and that ruddy metallic thread are coming out to play tonight........ for as long as I can stand it. DH and DS will be out, so at least they won't have to listen to me muttering away to myself and there's a Most Haunted on to keep me company. Yay!

Hope you all had a good weekend - hopefully I'll catch up with all your news in the next few days. Lynn: sorry but my computer still isn't keen on your blog and I don't know why. I can read it via Bloglines but am unable to leave comments. :0( Just wanted you to know I've been thinking of you (((((((((hugs))))))))).

Thank you to all for visiting and for the kind comments - hope my wafflings don't bore you too much. ;0)

A Day Off Too Many?

DH booked the day off yesterday. If he has another morning like yesterday morning it'll be a while before he books another one off! LOL

The central heating developed a bit of a problem last week, cutting off after a minute or so, so things had started to get a might chilly. He checked the downstairs thermostat and the new tank he'd fitted and they were OK, so he needed to investigate further. As The Tank (our Isuzu 4x4) developed a noisy brake disk last week, and needed looking at as well, he booked Friday off to get a flying start on these jobs.

Friday morning he started looking at the piping and a valve on the heating system: the newspaper delivery chap rolled up for paying before I made it downstairs, so DH broke off to go pay him, then carried on with the job. Then he decided to boot up my computer for me (not sure why) and it wouldn't play, so he took it apart for a look at it and spotted a problem on the motherboard. As it then chose to boot up he put it all back together again and went back to taking the boiler valve apart. Next a chap from Anglian Water arrived to re-do the finishing around the stop tap cover (no prior warning!) with concrete (it'd been temporarily botched with tarmac). As it's situated right in the gateway and we wanted to go out in the car before it would have set DH parked it round the corner, before they started. He now stated that if anything else happened to distract him he was off into work for the rest of the day because he was fed-up, had had enough and needed a rest! Bless!
Back to the boiler valve and he discovered the motor in it is overheating, causing it to keep tripping out which turned the boiler off......... and he's now getting pretty hungry. A diabetic gets very grumpy when hungry!

Just as we were about to set off for the car, to go to the Pink Pig for dinner, the heavens opened, so we grabbed our brollies and legged it. Only, when we got to the Pink Pig we realised it was half term and, as it was raining, all those who would've normally been out on the Farm Walk were now inside the cafe having a warm drink and getting dry - not a single empty table in the place. We turned round, grabbed our bit of shopping, paid and set off for a local garden centre instead. We ordered our food and drinks but they'd been busy, so it took a while and the grumpy diabetic was getting grumpier by the minute. We finally started eating some time after two - the grumpy diabetic was all sweetness and light again after that. ;0)

Next up was a trip to Screwfix for the new valve motor and some more light fittings for my DSis. It was busy, so he went in and I sat in the car watching the black clouds and listening to the hailstones drumming on the roof and occasionally Classic FM on the radio. Boy, was there a lot of weather about! Next we popped to Poundstretcher so I could stock up on cleaning stuff and get another four-drawer storage unit for my cardmaking stuff - the first one went for my fabric stash, the second for my quilting fabric stash, so it's about time the cardmaking things had their turn! We never did make it into town to the bank, as was originally planned, but as there was all that weather plus a bit of thunder and lightning about I can't say either of us was unhappy about that! LOL

He fitted the new motor in the valve (after he'd had a sit down and a cup of tea) and we're all warm again. Yay!

I'd planned on getting all the hearts stitched on For Amanda: I managed to complete the outer two but realised I hadn't got the perle thread needed to complete the central one, so have had to put it away for now. I hadn't yet decided what fabric and threads to use for the Monthly Challenge piece so I couldn't start that, and I didn't want to start another stitching project, so opted for a cardmaking session instead, grabbing one of my Let's Make Card! packs and set to making some of the cards shown in the magazine:
I added a PaperMania butterfly dome sticker to this but think it may have been a mistake - a peel-off one may have looked better. This one is exactly as shown in the magazine:
As is this one:
I like this magazine and its packs because they get me to use brighter colours and try more retro/contemporary designs and slightly trendier goodies than I would normally go for. I'll post pics of the others I made another time.

Today has been a little less hectic than yesterday (much to DH's relief). A steady morning, then we walked down the local High Street to the Il Sorriso cafe for dinner: leek and potato soup with a hunk of bread, all home made, and a cup of Fair Trade coffee - yum! Into the sewing shop next for some wadding (batting) and various trims, a box of glass headed pins, a pack of printed papers (for male cards) and a pack of racing car embellishments that will be ideal for DH's birthday card. Not a bad haul for a little craft shop. :0)

We called in at the computer shop on the way home to get a price list for the computer systems they do because my poor baby isn't going to last much longer. :0( We won't be opting for the bright pink tower they had in their front window....... now if they had a lavender one....... LMAO!

Luckily the weather held off later this afternoon, so DH was able to have the wheel off The Tank and sort out the brake disk. Another job crossed off the list and he's a much happier bunny now.

Not sure what tomorrow's plans are yet...... guess that all depends on the weather. If it's wet it might be a trip to Homebase to look at kitchens, if it's dry (and not too cold!) it might be back to the new car hunt. Hopefully there'll be a chance to do a little stitching somewhere along the line....... there's a Challenge piece to complete! LOL

Hope you're all having a good weekend. Thanks for stopping by. :0)

Good Start - So-So Ending

Well yesterday got off to a good start with a pinkie from Jayne, containing my Lizzie*Kate pre-ordered chart Peace, Love and a Cure. I had my SIL Helen in mind when I spotted this and knew I had to stitch it and, when it's completed, if my MIL likes it I shall give it to her. I'm now looking for some pink fabric with the breast cancer ribbon on it, ready for finishing this into a little banner or wall hanging. Does anyone know where I can buy this online, please?

I'm not quite sure where most of the rest of the day went - between house jobs and the computer it just seemed to disappear on me, without having much to show for it. I had intended looking out some fabric and threads for the Monthly Challenge piece but even that didn't happen.

I stitched on Egyptian Tablet for two nights this week, thinking I was in line for a Happy Dance of mega proportions at the end of it, and here's the result of that:

Unfortunately this is where the so-so ending to the day came in. When I completed the collar I opened up the chart and spotted some backstitching markings on the body area of the vulture headdress, then unrolled ET to check. That's when the penny dropped with an almighty clang: I haven't yet stitched that bit........ there's at least another two Tuesday UFO Night's of work there......... and it's more backstitch in that damned DMC metallic thread.

I shan't repeat what I said because it would singe your ears and make your hair curl. >:0I

Those Egyptian belly dancing CD's will be staying put for a bit longer yet, so I guess there's a plus side to everything. ;0) LOL

After a good night's sleep I'm feeling more chilled now. ;0) It's still cold out but at least there's some sunshine and it's already tempted me outside: all the bird feeders are filled with seeds and peanuts and the sparrows are busy chirruping out the news and ram-raiding the sudden glut. Things got off to a good start when the fabric and fancy buttons I ordered from Creative Fabrics arrived first thing - they are lovely and the service was so quick. I think it was Diana who posted the link on JA/S&S, so thanks Diana! I shall have a play with the digi-cam in a bit and see if I can take some pics of them and the Ink Circles BFG (no, I haven't forgotten Helen! LOL), with a view to getting DH to show me how to do a transfer from there to the computer tonight, so I can share them tomorrow.

Julie: unfortunately I didn't take any pics of Alex's panels while they were here but I will certainly ask her if I can take pics and post them on here when she's completed the piece. Unfortunately I'm not sure how long that will be because she works full time as a teacher, as well as being Mum to three children and a writer - you should hear what she has to fit into most days! Oh, and the lavender plants my DSis bought are called cotton something or other (sorry, she did tell me but my memory is lousy at the minute) - they are only small, so I won't be taking any cuttings off them for a while yet.

Nicola: the fabric I'm using on the For Amanda piece is Pol's Georgian (as suggested by Jayne, as an alternative to the recommended one, which I wasn't so keen on) and the threads are Dinky Dyes silks: Eungella, Bush Christmas and Pearl (a thread pack, with beads and buttons, that I bought from Carol at Heirloom Embroideries). The SAL is currently running on a separate Yahoo forum to Carol's regular one. It's certainly a lovely piece to stitch.

Well I'd better head off and get a few things done - I'm determined not to let the day get away from me and to have a bit more to show for my efforts, than I did yesterday! LOL

A big Hello to the new folks who have visited )wave( and a big thank you to all who take time to visit and leave comments. You make my day. :0)

An Update - Stitching and General

Bit of a busy few days, so I'm glad to be able to take a breath and start a catch up in Blogland again.

Saturday we had a long afternoon out: dinner out at Brigg Garden Centre, where DH and I had a nice meal, two drinks and a long chat then went shopping. Bought some gorgeous lemon coloured pansies (six plugs for a pound!) which will look stunning in my Arthur and Guinevere terracotta pots and against the red brick of the house wall and a pot of narcissi (also a pound), then found a great book on handmade cards that will be a useful ideas book and also some wording peel-offs and a bride and groom brass stencil for dry embossing. DH treated himself to a book on the London Blitz (WWII) and a diabetic quick cook book which has some Italian style food recipes in it - the food was one of the things he enjoyed over there....... the other being the local Grappa! LOL We then picked up a part for DS's Mini from a fellow Freecycler in one of the villages and followed it up with a bit of a drive round some of the other villages, ending up at the turf maze at Alkborough. We didn't hang around: the wind was blowing straight off the rivers, up at us and it was flipping freezing. Home for a take-out curry and I finally made a start on Part 3 of For Amanda.

Sunday we went to my DSis's for the day. I took the Alphabet Tree Challenge piece to show my DSis and she loved it, so it is now in her china display cabinet in front of a lovely photo of our Mum and Dad. :0) I also took some surplus 8x8 and 12x12 scrapbooking papers for her to add to her collection, ready for when she starts her new hobby. DH did a couple of small DIY jobs for her and (hopefully) sorted out the burglar alarm problem. As it began to snow on and off in the afternoon we didn't go out, so I did a little stitching on Night Watchman - again there's not really enough progress made to make an update pic worthwhile. By the time we were travelling back much of the snow had disappeared - until we came to the Thorne turn-off, where there was quite a good layer on the verges and in the fields. When we got home it was pretty obvious there'd been more snow there than over at DSis's. Glad to say it's now long gone but it's still bitterly cold out and the rain has taken over where it left off. Yuk!

Monday I got on with my usual jobs and fully intended finding the time to update my Blog and visit everyone else's but my DBro popped in for a surprise visit then, just as he was preparing to leave, Alex arrived for her visit - when she left it was time for DH to come home so I never really got the chance to. It was a good afternoon though: I don't get to see my DBro as often as I see my DSis, so it's good to have a catch-up and then Alex had brought some of her stitching to show me. Wow! She is very much in to freestyle embroidery and has made up about sixteen small "patches" of roughly the same size but of differing shapes: each of these has a base fabric to which she attaches various oddments of material (silks, sari fragments, kimono scraps, whatever) with stitching (feather stitch, I think) then proceeds to decorate each scrap however she fancies. Each patch is different, although they often incorporate the same stitches: some have beads added; others have a roll of fancy yarn that has been attached with metallic thread; one has a sisha mirror attached under embroidery; some she's added tiny flower embellishments to; others the flowers were on the fabric and she's developed them as a theme; gardens of lazy daisy daisies etc etc etc. Each piece is a little work of art with memories stitched into them (she could tell me exactly where and when each piece was stitched) and she intends to make up a quilted wall hanging with them all, using black dupion silk bands to join the patches. It is going to be stunning when completed and I am so looking forward to seeing it - am hoping she will let me take some pics to post and share on here. :0)

After tea last night I carried on with For Amanda and here's a pic of progress so far:


I love the script on this, as it just flows so beautifully. It's UFO Night tonight, so ET will be getting my attention, but I shall be back to this as soon as I can.

Will I finish ET and get a HD tonight? Well, that all depends on how much of a pain the metallic thread decides to be and how long my patience holds out with it! There's a Most Haunted (new series) on later tonight, so that will keep me sat in front of the TV while it's on. Watch this space......... LOL

Christine: don't worry and no rush, I was only joking - I still need to do a floss toss for Papillon. I'd also like to put at least one project "to bed" before making a start on a new one - I need to free up a scroll frame! :0)

Many thanks for visiting - hope you've had a good weekend and are all coping OK with the rather iffy weather. :0)

Plans Gone Awry.

I still haven't managed to start Part 3 of the For Amanda SAL and it's starting to get on my wick now. I was all set for a chill out with my DVD and stitching but DH didn't go to the school governor meeting, so was in at his usual time and gravitated towards watching Fred Dibnah and Porridge repeats. I was so captivated by these programmes I fell asleep in my armchair after tea. When I eventually woke up I felt all out-of-sorts and in no mood for anything, let alone stitching - falling asleep straight after a meal whilst sitting scrunched up in an armchair is definitely not recommended! Bleugh! When the indigestion finally went I cleared off to bed.

DH isn't sure yet whether the night out is going ahead or not (the words: booze-up, brewery, organisation and lack of spring to mind!), so the chill out may not happen tonight either. :0( Mind you, I don't plan on being made comatose by repeats of any programmes tonight if he stays in - that remote control was promised to me and I'm having it. Mmmmwaaaahhhaaahaa! ;0)

As there are no stitching pics (again) here's what I made during yesterday's cardmaking session:

The tag toppers were bought ready-made, from a seller on that well-known auction site, I just added the base card and some lovely printed vellums.
This one I've made for DH's DBro. Another ready-made topper, I just added a card and the extra paper layers.

Sally: I've vaguely thought about selling my cards but I have no outlet for them and there's also a lot of competition out there. I've also had previous dealings with the craft fair circuit, years ago: it's difficult to get in to and takes up valuable weekends, so I don't fancy that again. I also usually tend to only make cards for people I know, as that way I know their likes/dislikes, so each card is quite personal and made specifically for them. It's only this last couple of weeks that the urge to pre-make cards has started - I thought it would be nice to be organised, for a change. :0)

Well DS got to the appointment OK yesterday......... his boss took him and brought him back. Good job he did, as the docks there are huge and a rabbit warren and he wouldn't have found the place on his own. DS duly peed in the cup (on time Karen LOL) and all is fine: nothing illegal, nothing nasty going on and blood pressure/heart rate is fine - the only thing that was a bit off was his exhaling into one of those breathing thingies, it's not as high as it should be but that is due to his asthma. I reckon that means he's still got a job. :0)

Not sure what the plans are for tomorrow but Sunday we are off to my DSis's again, so DH can have a look at her burglar alarm for her: it's gone off a couple of times in the wee small hours and given her a bad fright. Not the nicest ways of waking up, as we know from experience. I also want a nosey at the new pots, herbs and plants she's bought for her garden, especially as there's a new variety of lavender among them that I've not heard of before - might have to beg some cuttings from it if it's really nice. ;0)

Well I'd best go as I'm determined to finally make a start on Part 3 of For Amanda, even if it's just a few stitches.

Hope you all have a good weekend, whatever your plans are. :0)

Not More Charts!

Said DH when he saw my latest acquisitions yesterday. Don't worry 'cos it's my money I'm spending, said I in reply. LOL So what were they? Charts from Carriage House Samplings I'd pre-ordered from Jayne earlier in the year and here they are:

I love mermaid pieces so this was a must-have when I saw it. Am not so keen on the beaded swags at the top - much prefer the cross stitch band that is given on the chart as an alternative and think I will complete my piece with that instead.
There was just something about this one that made me think of the Tree of Life, making a flower offering to the Lady and, strangely enough, taking flowers to the Crem for my Mum and Dad - but that's not a depressing thought, as I find doing that soothing, especially as the place where their ashes are is quite beautiful.
This one made me think of the Lord as a stag, running through a verdant landscape at the height of his power. I no longer find it strange that this type of imagery consistently pops up in the oddest of places - since realising that I am a Pagan, back in early 2004 (it took 40 or so years for me to finally realise and give a name to what I felt/believed), I see them as a sign that I am, at last, on what is the right path for me at this point in time. I shall enjoy stitching all of these but the last two will be that little bit more special. :0)

No stitching updates today I'm afraid because the planned start on Part 3 of For Amanda didn't happen last night but I did manage to finally catch up with all my blog reading and commenting instead. That was no mean feat, I can tell you - I thought I was pretty chatty but there are folks out there who could give me a run for the money (naming no names!) ;0) LOL
As I was up early this morning and got a flying start on my jobs I'm hoping to do a little stitching this afternoon, barring any more distractions. As I've already made a couple of cards today that's where the main distraction will come from! Will post some pics next time I blog.

DS seems to be enjoying the new job, although he's somewhat tired from the earlier starts - give him another week or so and he'll be in the swing of the new routine. He is definitely much happier with the earlier finishes that the early start gives him, as he now has time to chill and eat his meals, rather than gulp them down, before going to rehearsals and the like (it was always such a rush before). Today he has to travel over to a medical centre over in Immingham so he can go and "pee in a cup": as he is working in an environment where there are cranes and humongous fork lift trucks around it's a requirement that he's tested for illegal substances and alcohol (there's a regime of regular testing for all staff there, as in most industrial settings these days). He's hoping someone else from the firm is going so he can cadge a lift - he doesn't know Immimgham at all and doesn't want to risk getting lost and being late for the appointment. Fingers crossed he made it over there in time!

DH is at a School Governor's meeting tonight, then a night out with work colleagues tomorrow night (goodbye session with some of the Italians he's been working with), plus DS will be out at rehearsals and D&D those nights, so guess who will be in charge of the TV remote? Yay!! I may just finally get to watch the Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) and The Tudors series DVD's. Anyone want to join me for a historical DVD and stitching fest at mine tonight and tomorrow night? Just bring some nibbles and your latest project - there are enough bottles of wine to tackle, from DH's stash in the cupboard under the stairs. LOL

BTW, Christine: nag, nag! LOL ;0)

A big hello to new folks stopping by and a big thank you to everyone for taking the time to visit and comment. :0)

Here We Are Again....

another Tuesday UFO Night been and gone and another ET update to share. All of the backstitch on the right hand side of the collar in cotton thread is now completed: No HD yet but one is definitely looming on the horizon. :0) Next week it's back to using the horrible DMC metallic thread again. Mr Stick: your services may well be needed then. ;0) LOL

No further stitching was done on Night Watchman, despite best intentions, and there isn't likely to be any for a while now, as I've just downloaded Part 3 of the For Amanda SAL and want to tackle that next - so no update pic yet.

It's also Monthly Club time at Jayne's Attic and lookee at what the postie brought me yesterday morning:There's another glorious rainbow of Carries threads, with Sassy's French Vanilla fabric at the bottom and Jayne's Count On Me Sweet Peas fabric at the top. Oh, how I love the start of every month. :0) The COM so reminds me of my maternal Grandad's garden: when I was little he used to grow a beautiful swathe of sweet peas every year and would sometimes take the best of them to be exhibited at the local show. Such pretty, delicate blooms with a gentle scent - if I was really lucky he would sometimes let me pick a few to take home to put in a vase. I love those flowers and they always bring back lots of happy memories. I'll have to choose a special project for this fabric. :0)

I also received the special cut of Jonquil fabric that Jayne dyed, which is for the Papillon mixed stitch SAL. I'm hoping to have a play with thread colours soon but am not very confident, so I may shout for help with this. If I can stay focused and finish the For Amanda SAL promptly and get ET finished next week the Papillon piece is looking like the main candidate for my new start. Oh dear, Rosemarkie and Tanglewood get pushed down the To Do list once again! Please don't say start them all: I'm already in danger of becoming a serial starter and don't need any encouragement in that department at all, thank you. LOL

The Monthly Challenge piece for April has been revealed and the one with the most votes is the Caron Keeper freebie by Cynthia Zittel of The Drawn Thread. Not the piece I voted for, which was a blackwork design, but it was my second choice and is another one I haven't stitched before and will enjoy doing. Not sure what to do with this yet, as I don't have any 40ct or 36ct fabric - need to think about it and see if I get another Eureka! moment (maybe that's asking for a bit much - one a year seems plenty with the state of my brain at the minute. LOL).

So, stitching plans for this month are:

1. Complete Part 3 of the Amanda SAL;
2. Complete Part 4 of the Ozark Mystery SAL (not yet out);
3. Complete Part 4 of the Memories SAL (not yet out);
4. Choose fabric, threads and a finishing technique for the Monthly Challenge piece and complete it;
5. Complete ET on UFO Tuesday Night (fingers crossed!);
6. Do a floss toss for, then start, the Papillon SAL;
7. Oh yes, nearly forgot - have a Happy Dance for finishing ET. LMAO

Finally, a big thank you for the recent lovely comments on my Challenge finish. They are much appreciated and help alot by giving me the confidence to keep trying these new finishing techniques. It's also been a pleasure to see everyone else's pieces and I'm looking forward to the next Reveal Day on the 27th.

Thanks again for stopping by - hope you are all enjoying the week. :0)