A Card

Many thanks for all the kind comments regarding Guen. Thanks for the two week pass Mr Stick - will come back ready to tackle that whip stitch. :0)

Well, as I haven't any stitching to show - had planned on trying to do some last night but it didn't happen - thought I would show a pic of the card I made and sent to Julie for her recent birthday.

I used one of the new brass stencils and threads I bought from QVC a while back. It's a mix of paper pricking, embroidery and dry embossing with peel-off images coloured with chalks and

I enjoyed making it - paper pricking is quite soothing to do and chalking is my favourite form of colouring. :0)

Well, it looks like the overall view is to take as many projects on holiday as I think are needed to keep me occupied. Fair enough..... I can do that. :0) When sharing this info with DH he gave me a real beady look and grunted something about will they all fit in the one bag? (real emphasis on one). Course they will: it's a big bag and I know how to pack the optimum amount into it, don't I! ;0) So, the goodies going for a holiday with me (so far) are: Night Watchman; Moorish Woman (small version); a plastic canvas Santa ornie; Copper Beech hardanger piece and LHN Always and Forever, with fabric and choice of three threads (will choose one when I want to start it), plus all the necessary tools needed. HAED Mother Earth is still calling, so I may just have to squeeze her in as well. Reckon that little lot should keep me out of mischief, don't you? LMAO

The rest of the packing is going slowly. DH decided he needed to have a play with the empty cases, cool box, plus the fishing gear and fold-up seats etc to see how things will fit in the back of the Honda. It's got a bit smaller boot than The Tank (we could take everything and the kitchen sink in that) so fitting everything in needs some planning, apparently. That lost us about 45 minutes. He then decided to take the new Mini part out to the workshop to get it out of the way........ then promptly decided while he was down there he may as well check it out and grease up all of the moving parts. That lost another 30 minutes or so, by the time he'd cleaned himself up afterwards. He's now cleaning out the washing machine's filter. It's not getting the ruddy packing done........ and he's in the way, so I can't finish the job I was doing in the kitchen......... so I've come on here for a moan and a de-stress. Men!

DS disappeared off to Meadowhall his morning. We got a phone call about an hour after he'd gone: it seems they took the wrong turning and ended up on their way to Wakefield. As they didn't have a map or sat nav between them they rang up for directions to get back to Meadowhall - instructions were duly given. We got a phone call a while later to say they'd finally arrived. So it seems it's not just DH who has the knack of going places via the scenic route! LOL Let's hope they find their way home OK - DS still has all his packing to do.

Well DH has finally finished tinkering with the washing machine so I'd best go and carry on with the packing. This will be my last post before our holiday and I won't be able to post again until I get back....... unless I can manage to find an internet cafe. ;0)

Be good while I'm away - will catch up with you all again in a fortnight's time. Thank you for visiting. :0)

A Goal Reached

I set myself a goal earlier in the month: to have the dress pattern on Guenevere fully done before going off on our holiday. I managed to stitch all of the remaining black work pattern and all bar about seven of the metallic infill bits during Tuesday UFO Night and was determined to achieve the goal, so I sat and did those last few infills on Wednesday night. Here's a now fully clothed Guenevere:

I am hoping that Julie and Mr Stick will grant me permission for two weeks leave of abscence from UFO Night. :0) I promise to come back refreshed and ready to tackle the whip stitch that edges the dress and defines the folds in it. LOL

Actually, I had planned on doing the stitching on Guen in the afternoon but a combination of a walk with DH down our local High Street in the morning, when it was that sticky, breathing treacle kind of muggy, and the bright sun we had in the afternoon did for me: not long after sitting down in my armchair I fell asleep and didn't properly wake up until after DS got in from work. How bad is that?

The High Street visit was the result of the optician phoning the day before to let me know that my glasses broke as they were attempting to take out the old lenses, so could I come in to choose a new pair (at a discount) and have them fitted. As these are having much-needed transitional lenses in them and I want them back in time for my holiday doing this was pretty urgent, so DH took the morning off to take me there. I was really boring and chose my usual beigey coloured frames in a similar shape to what I've had countless times before, although these ones have a bit of gold fancywork where the ear post hinge meets the frame. I just don't like anything too flamboyant - the glasses are there to help correct my vision so I can see OK to stitch etc, not take over my face. LOL They've said the glasses should be back Friday afternoon, so fingers crossed! After that it was a trip down to the Building Society, then back up to Tesco Express to get some shopping on the way home. DH left me to put the shopping away so he could get to work.

The Mini is still off the road. Finding a replacement arm thingy has been difficult, thanks to the old style "real" Mini's parts being classed as obsolete by most parts stockists and getting what we need from the place we bought the Mini from is too much hassle this late in the day. Luckily a chance chat DS had with one of the drivers where he works turned up trumps: the drivers DS runs a small garage and he has the part we need, so it's being delivered to DS at work today. DH was hoping to get it fitted tonight but the weather has now broken and it's raining. DS and DH are both off work tomorrow but DS is having a trip to Meadowhall with his friends, to do some clothes shopping, and DH will be helping me pack and doing the thousand and one things that have to be done before we go away.......... so it's doubtful it's now going to get done this side of our holiday. Talk about carp timing!

Yes, I did say the weather has finally broken today. It's still somewhat muggy but is getting gradually cooler as another lot of rain falls. I can almost see the flowers doing a Happy Dance and the lawn seems to get greener each time I look at it! LOL I also feel like doing things again, so have made a start on the non-clothes packing and putting bits we need to take in the hall, ready to go in the back of the car. Plus I am going to finally sort out the stitching projects to take with me: Night Watchman is definitely going and I shall take Alchemy's Copper Beech, in case I fancy a change from cross stitch, but fancy taking a small new start as well. Mother Earth keeps calling too........ do you think taking four projects is a bit O.T.T? Bear in mind that, as well as keeping busy with some evening stitching, DS has said he'd like to go fishing at least once, so I'll need something to do while he and DH are doing that, plus DH and DS plan on doing a couple of bigger walks that not even in my wildest imaginings could I tackle these days, so I shall be spending those times on my tod - no computer access (*sob*), so it's got to be stitching. I don't want to get bored by just stitching on a single project for the fortnight............ hhhmm, maybe I should take a fifth project, just to be on the safe side? LMAO

Many thanks for the kind comments re: the Ozark mystery piece. There seems to be a mixed response to my question about mysteries. I guess it's all down to a case of either not doing them at all, or making a judgement call going by a designers previous pieces - I only decided to do this piece once I knew who the designer was. I've mostly enjoyed this mystery, have been happy that the thread colours have been some of my favourite colours and the patterns have been interesting to stitch and pretty to look at but I think it was a lucky choice, so will still remain cautious about signing up for any more. Call me boring but I definitely prefer seeing the whole design before choosing to stitch it. :0)

Many thanks for taking the time to visit (*wave* to newbies) - hope you're all having a good day, whatever the weather and whatever you're doing. :0)

The Mystery

The Ozark mystery SAL, that is. Thought it was about time, after all the previous mentions, that I finally posted the promised pic:

This section consisted of the top two bands in the central panel. I decided to stitch the two bands that were on the main chart, rather than the alternatives supplied, as I liked the look of them the most. As I wasn't too sure about the Emerald Green thread, thinking it would dominate the piece a bit much, I stitched the little flowers in the same colour thread as the scrolls in the border to break it up a bit. Am still quite taken with this and glad I overcame my usual "What if I hate it when it's finished?" reluctance to sign up for paid mystery pieces.......... but it's doubtful I would rush into another one when this is finished.

Why? Well I've come to the conclusion that my stitching gratification has to be more instantaneous than a drawn out monthly drip feed. Whilst receiving the section and pretty threads each month on a mystery is OK (who doesn't like getting a stash surprise every month? LOL), there's nothing that beats seeing a design in its entirety and getting that immediate "Wow - I've just got to stitch that" itchy fingers reaction..... with the extra satisfaction of adding it to your stash. I don't know, maybe it's just me being weird again - my DH and DS certainly think I am at times! LOL I'd be interested to know what you folks think about paid mysteries.

I am currently in hot weather stitching slump mode: keep picking bits up with the intention of stitching but putting them down again because I just can't be bothered after all. It has got worse since I completed the Ozark section....... even the thought of a new start seems like too much bother right now and I really can't decide which, if any, projects to take on holiday with me. How bad is that?
Am hoping that tonight's UFO Night stitching will break the slump and get my mojo going again. There's absolutely no way I'm not taking part in UFO Night: apparently the hot weather has made Mr Stick cranky and I do not want a run in with a cranky Mr Stick! LOL

The Mini is still poorly, sick and balanced on the jacks: the arm thingy lost a bolt and DH bought a replacement for it yesterday but he's now decided it'll be best to replace the whole arm thingy (around £12, so not expensive - just means DS will have £12 less to spend on holiday). DH is currently having to run the lad into work for an 8.30am start....... and it's in the opposite direction to the steelworks....... and involves negotiating rush hour traffic on a main route into our town. DH was a mite cranky this morning so I don't think the earlier starts and extra running around are much to his liking. Roll on Saturday and the start of our holiday! :0)

Many thanks for the kind comments about my Challenge piece, they are very much appreciated. I've found they help as a very good motivator and encourage me to keep on trying new finishing techniques, so am especially grateful to you all for that.

Thank you for taking the time to visit - hope you are all having a happy, stitching-filled day. :0)

July Monthly Challenge Reveal

It was the Jayne's Attic/Stitch&Stasher Monthly Challenge Reveal Day yesterday (Sunday) and the album was open to view. What a visual feast again: another rainbow of different thread and fabric colours and lots of different finishes. There were a couple of finishes I hadn't seen before: a "pencil case" style bag for one and another member stitched other pieces and finished the whole as a cube-shaped hanging. It's always a fantastic source of inspiration and I love taking part. Many thanks to Karen and Julie.

So what was my finish this time around? Would you believe, yet another first - a tin finish:

Debbie Draper Designs: Love freebie;

Fabric: 28ct cream evenweave;

Thread: Carrie's Creations Grape Medley.

I used Mill Hill beads instead of the individual cross stitches in the border. I didn't have a suitable piece of fabric to cover the whole tin, so compromised by using ribbons and some funky fibre round the edges (yes, there's a bit of glittery stuff in the fibre):

To the right you can just see the ribbon that goes round the lid. I used some Kates Kloths hand dyed felt to line the inside of the lid, base inner and outside base:

Once again my digicam pics have come out a bit blurry but they give you a reasonable view of everything. It's far from perfect but it was another invaluable learning curve, so I hope to do better next time. Thanks again for the tins Julie. :0) Now looking forward to seeing what the choices for August will be - am hoping to take part, despite having our fortnight's holiday. How's that for keen? LOL

I got the Ozark SAL section completed, despite the frog visit, but shall save the pic of that until another time - got to save something to show you because the stitching has slowed right down, thanks to the hot weather. Yes, we are having something of a heat wave at the moment as the sun is still shining down on the UK and looks set to stay for another few days. The electric bill is going to be a horror this time around, thanks to rising prices and the extra used by the electric fans we have to keep running. So glad we're not on water meters: with all the extra cool showers we've all been taking that bill would have been a bad one as well. As we are off on holiday next Saturday what's the odds on that the weather breaks before then? LOL

We didn't do a great deal over the weekend, thanks to the hot weather. DH took the opportunity to paint sealant on the concrete that butts up to the sun lounge roof, in an effort to stop the rain leaching through every time it rains. DShad a trip to Brigg Farmers Market - although he was under strict instructions to only bring back as much as we can finish up this week. So it's our favourite cold smoked salmon and salad for tea tonight. :0)

Sunday we went to my DSis's, had dinner at The Servery then back to hers. Later in the afternoon, when it was marginally cooler, he helped sort out the wooden base struts under DSis's new shed so it sits flatter and is better supported. After our holiday we'll go back so he can make sure it's all screwed down properly and put some more wood round the windows to make sure the windows can't be popped out - then DSis can start transferring things over from the old shed.

Sunday DS had been to Castleton (Blue John Caves area in Derbyshire) for a walk with some of the more energetic LTC members. Good job he took the sun block....... and went in someone else's car! When he got back he was going to drive to a friends house but, when he started to reverse out of the drive, one of the something-or-other arms (real technical! LOL) broke on the front passenger side wheel - it wasn't going anywhere with the wheel at that angle, so he abandoned it and walked. When we got home DH had to get the car jack out to put it under the Mini to support the weight, to stop any further damage to it. He's had a trip to DC Cook's today to get a part for it. Guess what those two will be doing tonight? LOL

Today I got as many of my regular Monday jobs out of the way as I could before it got too hot - the hoovering can wait until it gets cooler. Alex will be here shortly and, as it's the school holidays, she's bringing Grace with her this time, so I'd better be off.

BTW, Dani: I love your blender approach to the flippin' frog. LMAO.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and a quiet start to the week - will catch up with all your news later. Thank you for visiting. :0)

That Flippin' Frog........

is definitely doing the rounds at the moment and the little so-and-so landed at my house last night! :0(

I started the next part of the Ozark SAL on Wednesday night and got about half of the first band done, no problem. Last night I started merrily stitching away, determined to get the other half of the band completed, and was on the final couple of stitches when I realised it wasn't going to fit because I was one flaming stitch out. Let's just say that what left my mouth next definitely wasn't "Oops, oh dear, never mind" and let's leave it there! Every stitch done that night was promptly frogged, then a certain level of bloody-mindedness set in - I was not going to go to bed without having any real achievement to show, so promptly set about re-stitching it all.

I eventually got to bed around 2am.

An accurate description of the state of me today would be: eyes like yellow snow holes......... if you get my drift. LOL

Am now hoping to get on with the second band today and, sorry folks, I am sooooo hoping that the little green peril has decided to hop off and wreak havoc elsewhere. I shall show a pic of progress when it's all completed. It'll certainly be interesting to see everyone's versions of it this month as there is a choice of six different band patterns and two thread colours and it is up to the individual stitcher what they do. What a good idea. :0)

Wednesday night was a productive night really (waaay better than Thursday night for sure!) as, before starting the Ozark SAL, I finished embellishing the Berries and Leaves ornie. Here's the completed item:

The tassle was one of those ready-made ones that are such a blessing for folks like me who don't know how to make them. :0)

This is how the back looks:

It's nowhere near perfect - that slightly bowed edge attests to that - but I'm pleased with it, especially as it's not that long ago that I was too scared to even try these things. So that's three items from the finished items drawer finally completed and only another ??????? to go. Definitely keeping that info to myself as it's much too shaming to fess up. LOL

A BIG thank you Karen and Julie for starting the JA/S&S Monthly Challenge - without it I wouldn't ever have got up the courage to try these things. :0)

Many thanks, too, for all the kind comments on Guen and to those who mentioned books and their authors: I've made a note of those and will be looking out for them next time I go to the library. I especially like the sound of Labryinth by Kate Moss - I love Bonekickers (reckon it's one of only a very few good offerings on TV at the moment), so if it's like that it's a must read. In the meantime I've started reading Big Chief Elizabeth, which is written by the same chap who wrote Nathaniel's Nutmeg, and it's proving to be another good one - although I do have a bit of a "thing" for the Tudor era (second place to all things Egyptian though) so am probably biased to start with. ;0)

Today I'm currently melting in a third day of hot and sunny weather. Is this our summer at last? LOL Great drying day, so there's two machine loads of washing out there at the moment and that means I've finally bottomed the laundry basket. Yay! Bet you my two manage to fill it by the middle of next week though! My ankles and feet are a size or two larger than usual now - par for the course in hot weather these days - which was certainly not helped by having to walk down the High Street with DH yesterday for a 4pm appointment. At least we got to stop off at Il Sorriso on the way back, where his tea and my apple juice were a life saver. I shan't be repeating the experience in a hurry though: feet up, with a cold drink to hand, electric fan blowing and stitching in hand is about as energetic as it's going to get this afternoon. Feel free to join me.

Helen: sounds like you're going to be very busy over the school holidays. Give me a shout if Ozzie starts to wear you out - there's an emergency can of Red Bull here that I can send you. LOL. Seriously, I hope you all have a wonderful time. :0)

Well that cold drink etc are calling, so I'm off.........

Thank you to all those, regular and newbies (Hi Clare *wave*), for taking time to visit - hope you are having a good day and that you also have a lovely weekend, whatever your plans. :0)

Another Royal Visit

As yesterday was that time of the week again - Tuesday UFO Night - Queen Guenevere had another outing. I got into the flow of the pattern quite nicely, so that meant I had a good stitching session on her. Here's how she looks now:

This time I also stitched the metallic thread infill, rather than leaving it for next time, which makes it feel like I achieved more. Another couple of sessions and she'll be fully dressed. LOL

My plans to finish the third Christmas ornie on Monday night didn't quite work out, not even getting as far as sorting the right colour beads for it, because after I'd had my tea I promptly fell asleep. When I eventually woke up I just wasn't in the mood for much more than watching a bit of TV before going to bed. Sheesh, sometimes I am more like a geriatric then a woman in her 40's! Am hoping to make up for it tonight.......... that's if the warm day and hanging out and bringing in two loads of laundry hasn't totally wiped me out, so I end up falling asleep after my tea again. LOL

To be honest, when I've had the chance, I've sat with my feet up today (in an effort to stop my ankles from ballooning in the heat) reading my latest book: The Ambassador by Edwina Currie. First one of hers I've read and it was an enjoyable one - although the concept of genetic manipulation being used to that extent and it being considered not only the norm but highly desirable, within a consolidated Europe of the future, was pretty unnerving. Will definitely be keeping an eye open for her other books now. I shall have to choose another read for bedtime tonight...... hmmm, wonder what to go for? :0)

Ooo, nearly forgot: after we saw Alex off on Monday night my neighbour called to us. He's now a proud Dad for the third time, this time to a bouncing baby boy......... and I say bouncing because he was a whopping 9lbs 13oz at birth! (Makes me wince!) Must admit I'd suspected baby had arrived: I knew she was due this month, had heard a baby crying last weekend and we'd spotted there were a lot more visitors than usual. Not that I'm seriously nosey or anything - it was a no brainer. ;0) In true Blue Peter tradition I sent round a Congratulations card that I'd made earlier. LOL Hoping we'll get to see the little one soon - he's no name yet, as they are still trying to decide.

I am now off to get myself yet another cold drink and look for something to make for tea.

Hope those in the UK are enjoying the change from rain to good weather. Thanks to all for visiting. :0)

Wow - A Brace of Awards

I am still reeling from the surprise and honour of being given not one but two awards. Wow! It's really made my day....... well, the year actually. :0)

Thank you to Elisa who gave me this award:

The rules of the award are:

Now I need to pick my 5 nominees with the following rules:)
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

The second award is from Christine:

These are the rules:
1. The winner can display this award on their blog.
2. Display a link to the person you have got the award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs you like.
4. Set the links to the blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a comment on the blogs you have chosen

This is where I am seriously struggling: I enjoy reading lots of blogs (way more than are in the Blog Roll) and for many different reasons, so it's really difficult to choose a limited number - how do I choose? How can I leave anybody out when they all give me such a lot of enjoyment? Then there's the fact that many of the blogs I read have been nominated for the awards already: is it OK to nominate them again or will it get annoying? Will they have trouble choosing too?

I really can't decide soo, like the big chicken that I am (squawk!), I've decided to give the award to all those whose blogs I read and comment. So: please consider yourself awarded my friends and help yourself to the logos. :0)