Spring is in the Air

Hi there. This is a surprise...an early blog. I've been at my sister's for the weekend so that I could attend a meeting in her vicinity. My DH goes on the golf course so he is hardly ever seen. Guess what he went with 'shorts' on. Hard frost and 'shorts'. He enjoyed himself so that is what it's all about. Thought I'd give you a shock!!!! I've got TWO finishes, yes Two. The first one is Munokoreria (The Dance Leader). I am turning her into a bell pull but am going to wait until I have finished all three so that I can hopefully get them all to looking similar. The next one of those I'm going to start has been put onto the frame by my DH but I have yet to put a thread in to it. It is called Kuihugura ( Looking Back). I'll possibly be starting it shortly.
My second finish my version of the Victorian Christmas Tree.
I've got another two to do of those yet but I may doodle along with something different for a while. I have to finish all of the ones done do far and put the hangers on. (I'm not too good at finishing anything off after I've done the stitching they just end up in a pile OOOOPs!!)

I've made a start on Waxing Moons 'Warm Wishes'. I took everything with me to my sister's. I had made doubly sure that all the threads were there and by some mysterious happenings my 'oatmeal' had decided it didn't want to come and had hidden itself away again with my other Gentle Arts threads . I turned my sisters lounge upside down looking for it as I was convinced I had it, this is the colour used for the snowman. All this to no avail it was still at home. Anyhow I worked round it and stuck to hats and scarf for a starter. I haven't used the Jobelan 'antique blue' as I had bought some 'Shaker' Grey-blue linen I decided to use this instead and am happy with the result. I think this could be a relatively quick stitch as well. I'll then have to find a frame. I was hoping that a Mill Hill frame would sort it but I think that they are just a little too small, I'll have to do some measuring.

Castles in the Air is coming along as well. I've finished 'The Folly' - even down to all the back stitching- and made a start on the 'Country Cottage'. I don't think there's really that much left of it to do, mainly the garden part and the white parts of the cottage. Fortunately there is still no fresh download from Papillon Designs so I may even manage a full catch up.( Now I've said that there will probably be a huge download in the next couple of days or so.)

The TLC Santas that I showed pics of last time I have yet to do any more with But for those of you who have never seen them before I bought mine at 'The Nimble Thimble' which I believe is the only UK Stockist. Chris from the TN will be at the NEC, Birmingham from the 24th-27th March. Apparently there are 25 of these little Santas as the designer does a new one every year, I'll put a link on that shows you the pictures again ofTLC Santas . The Nimble Thimble doesn't have a web site but I'll put the phone number the bottom of my post should you wish to contact them.

While at my sister's I went down to collect 'My Family is like Fudge' now fully framed by once again the Nimble Thimble. I'm pleased with it and am glad I bought the hand made frame from 'Poppy Creations for it, I've just got to make up my mind on where I'm going to hang it.

I promised last time that I'd show you some pics of 'Spring' appearing in our garden. Unfortunately I'm not good enough with the camera to catch the pair of Blackbirds or the Robins but honestly they are there.



We had been hoping to go to our eldest granddaughter's presentation of her Guide Baden-Powell Award today but sadly it was for parents only. Regardless of that her granddad and I are immensely proud of her.
Well that's it for now, thanks for popping in again many thanks for your kind comments. See you all next time . Until them 'May the Stitching stay with you'.



Nimble Thimble Details:[ Nimble Thimble, LLangedwyn Mills, Llangedwyn, POWYS 01691780088

Busy ,Busy, Busy.

Not had a great deal of stitching time this last couple of weeks despite not having to go midweek grandchildren minding. Instead my DH and I went out tropical fish searching. We keep saying we're only looking and keep coming back with something else. Also we've been garden tidying !!! Our small garden has looked pretty awful for weeks but finally daffodils and crocus have decided to pop their heads up to cheer us up. I'll take a pic next time only today it's pouring down.
Although not mid week minding I was there instead at the weekend. This was while my son and his wife went to see the 'Blues Brother Show' followed by a 40th birthday. This meant they stayed at my home whilst I stayed at theirs. Did I draw the short straw?? Early Saturday evening my grandson was making biscuits for the Scout troop AGM and his twin sister then made some buns, chocolate of course, she likes to experiment and puts half a 'Rolo' in the bun, They turn out well, she always calls them her 'Surprise Buns' because you never can be sure what she has tried in the middle.
I was up with the larks on the Sunday to deliver my two granddaughters to the dress rehearsal of the show that they were that day in the City theatre (Dress rehearsal 9.30am first performance 14.00, 2nd performance 19.00) Then it was a return journey to the village to take and watch my grandson at his away football match for 10.00. The match didn't start until 11.00 and we were at the pitch before the home team were out of bed!!(Well seemed like it!) I don't usually watch football but being the 'stand in' supporter I watched. It was a lovely sunny day but with a cold wind (I'd forgotten my coat I usually do my sport supporting in) so I got more than a bit on the chilly side. The youngsters scored a few goals and were extremely pleased with themselves when I looked up to see my son and his wife walking round the pitch. They'd left my house earlier than I thought they would and traveled to watch. The final score was 15 - 3. my grandsons team had won in style and he had scored one of the goals. He was delighted as his normal place is a defender but as their score rose they let him have a go 'up front'. He was even more thrilled yesterday to see his name in the paper in the 'results section' for the junior leagues. So yet another exciting sporting week ended. This weekend I think I've got the watch junior hockey straw!! By the way the Dance Show was very good, on the long side though, but the girls had thoroughly enjoyed themselves and their brother managed to sleep through the finale. Don't know how. Must be a 'Boy thing'.

The stitching hasn't been totally ignored. I have made some good progress on my WIPS. I thought you may like to see these Christmas ornaments there are a little different to ones I have seen before. They are by TLC Designs. Vancouver,BC Canada. I haven't seen all the range but there are about 22/23 of them.


The first one is Santa V11, I did this one a while ago and had totally forgotten about him, he still needs his mustache making and putting on then finishing off.

I have Santa 11 in my bag and have started to take it out when waiting places such as the doctors the other day and today the dentist. It gives you something else to concentrate on in the waiting rooms!!

Depending on how they look when I finally get round to finishing them off completely will determine whether or not I get anymore of them. They are about 3" in height and simply padded with a couple of cotton wool balls, so simple to make up.
I have just found this site that shows all
TLC Designs Santas It's called Buttoned Up. Now I can have a good look at the different patterns and decide if I will do any more of them.

Still with Christmas in mind another of the Festival of Trees that I am adapting slightly to suit what I have available in the bead box. This is the fourth one, the Victorian Tree, two completed, the one I started second is on hold at the moment, can't quite remember why though. It'll come back to me, probably something to do with bead shades.

My Dance Leader I am enjoying doing. It's my feet up in the evening stitching. The colours are lovely and it grows quite quickly. There is all the outline on the dress to back-stitch and it's colour changes as the skirt changes shade. The back-ground shading is quite subtle as it is done in a combination of two thread half stitch and one thread half stitch along side the actual colour variations.


I keep looking on Papillon Designs with trepidation in case there's another download while I am still on my catch up stint. Although I have altered it here and there to suit me, download 16 is now complete. I'm holding back on D.17 as I'm not too sure that I like it so I've jumped to D.19 which I think is rather like a 'Folly' that was often constructed in the grounds of some of the grand homes of the 'Landed Gentry' of the UK. I'm don't know haw many more downloads there will be as this started somewhere about April/May in 2009. I shall be continuing my efforts to get it up to date before starting any other larger pieces. I know some of you out there have put it on one side and it may never come out again but for me I feel as though too much time and effort has been put into it not to get it all finished and as I have 'personalised' parts it does make it more special.
Here is D 16

This how far I've got on D 19

This pic is just to show how it all appears on it as a whole.

Wish me luck with my catching up I'm almost there.
Now it's off for an early meal as I am back grand children minding as there parents are off to an evening Wedding Do and I have 4 of my grandchildren to keep an eye on. 2 girls from one son and 2 boys from my other son. The other 2 are out at Scouts. All I can say is thank goodness for Wii Machines!!!!!

Thanks for calling in and spending a while. Your comments as usual are much appreciated. Until next time Enjoy your stitching and ' May your MOJO be with you'

A Great Time

I've had a busy couple of weeks, here, there and every where looking after grandchildren, must admit I always enjoy myself whether it's at my house our theirs. Usually if at my house they bake cakes, biscuits etc. not that my DH and I ever get to try them because they always want to take them home for their own Mums and Dads. Still the pleasure is in the baking and being Weight conscious (Ho.Ho.Ho.) perhaps it's a good job they don't stay at our house!!

Today my DH and I went to watch our younger son in his field hockey cup final. This is rather like watching the FA Cup final as it has been being played for several months on a knockout basis. It was a glorious day as we set out to travel to the venue at Preston, Lancashire. Summer had evidently arrived as my DH was wearing a pair of SHORTS. I can tell you it looked warm but as the pitch is not far from a river and very open there was a pretty cool breeze blowing. To give a better picture I had two coats on to fend off the wind. There was a good turn out of supporters for both teams, which was good to see, and the nervous tension was obvious. The first goal was scored by Blackpool, my son's team, and then the second. Next goal went to the opposing team. It went along on this vein for a while and then after half time with the score at 4 - 3 the goalie was sent off for 10 minutes. Horror of horrors. The substitute goalie let in a goal, not all his fault I hasten to add, so now on a draw. That ten minutes must have seemed like an hour to the Blackpool team playing one man down. Excitement and nerves tingling the final whistle was blown, 5 all, now what???? extra time, penalty flicks. No, it was decided to play extra time until first goal scored. Fans on edge for both teams off we go again. Then I heard a great whoop of delight and cheers all round the ball was in back of the net. Blackpool had scored......or had they? No it had come off a foot and that doesn't count. By this time everyone was shouting and cheering their team on like mad when there was a foul against Blackpool. A penalty flick shot was awarded, fingers crossed and everyone holding their breath the shot was taken and Yippees of Yippees it went to back of the net with a resounding crack. BLACKPOOL HAD WON.



My son accepting the trophy.

Many congratulations to the both teams for such a great match.


The winners

Well after the excitement here's some more positive progress. I have finished the Old Fashioned Tree from the Festival of Trees range. As I said before these have been stitched previously so I am adapting them as I go along. Not huge differences but just a little here and there. I think the next one I'll do will be the Victorian Tree, but that's not a definite yet.


Surprise here is another finish, at this point I must say this is the most I have ever finished in the first two months of a year, Yes, it's the Waxing Moons 'Our Family....' I have to get it framed yet so I'm possibly going to post it to The Nimble Thimble where the frame is already waiting and then collect it when I go to visit my sister.



This is where I now go into a rambling story to explain my reason for starting this next piece.

It's called 'Munokoreria' (The Dance Leader) by Anchor. The original artwork for this is a Kenyon artist named Gakonga and it's based on the tribal living of the Masai, Kikuyu and Swahili people of Kenya. This is where my husbands family moved to after WW2. They packed up their belongings and with their three children left for new adventures. At first in South Africa and then ending up in and around Kenya and Tanganyika. It is his childhood memories of playing with the children of the tribes local to the part of Kenya where they lived that prompted me to buy three pieces. The colours are lovely and I will probably finish them as bell pulls. I bought them a while ago and gave my DH the task of picking which one I would stitch first, between you and me I think he probably just passed me the first one he came too (but that's men for you!!). I have stitched it on four evenings so am pleased with the progress. There is quite a lot of back stitching to do on it and so far I haven't done any!!



Last but certainly not least here comes 'Castle in the Air'. I really have put some effort in on this one to try and catch up the 5 months I seem somehow to be behind ( can't imagine how that happened)

There I was thinking how well I was doing when another download has appeared so that's up to 6 months behind. Talk about 2 steps forward and one step back that's just how I felt. For those of you who aren't familiar with 'Castle' there were in the first instance 2 versions Cross stitch and Specialty Stitch , I have done a combination of the two as the whim took me. But great fanfare after had work I have caught up 2 months and ..............


part way through the first 'Fantasy' section. The 'Fantasy' has now had four sections downloaded and these are the parts that are causing me to hold back on the stitching as I can't quite follow the gist of it so I guess I'll be doing some of my own interpretations again at some point... that'll be a 'Watch this Space' moment.

Guess what it's cup of tea time. So once again thanks for popping and reading my ramblings. For all your friendly comments that have been left THANKS it's so good of you. Until next time keep up with the great stitching.

Ups, Downs, Finishes Yippee.

Hi there again. I've had 'One of the Weeks'... except it was a fortnight... My eldest granddaughter has been on her work experience at a leisure centre several miles away from where she lives. So on my grand children minding days I was asked if I'd mind collecting her there. 'Course not' says I. All I can say is I'm so glad I don't have to do this run again. The only time I didn't get my self confused ( posh word for lost) was when I went on my way from my home directly to the centre. This was because it was a straight change from one motorway to another. You know the sort I mean 'Bear left at next slip road' type of thing. Getting to collect her brother and sister from school was another matter altogether as I followed the signs to my allotted designation totally forgetting that there was a 'South' as well as centre turnoff. Are you following me????? I quite happily followed the wrong sign and if I had carried on would have been on another motorway in the wrong direction.. Fortunately I realised before to much mileage was done and recognising where I was left the motorway and got to the other grand children by going through the city centre. This was only the first time of collecting.. I can tell you it went from bad to worse. The next morning my granddaughter asked me to take her, instead of having to go with the lark (her dad).
OK said I being 'upbeat' thinking I can't get it wrong again. You can you know. This time I had to go through a junction that had a 3 motorway joining as well as them going east, west, north and south, I only managed to go north instead of south on a totally unfamiliar motorway but my trusty car having its own homing instinct got me to a junction I recognised. So I had to go round the roundabout and back onto the motorway. Strange isn't it I can find my way in one direction but the other was a total nightmare. To cut a long story short. I gave up on the motorways from their home and went on the normal roads, with precise instructions from my son. No panic now.....except......I evidently didn't hear him properly and took a turning at the wrong junction. and guess what I ended up on a motorway!!!!!!!! ARRRRRRGH. I am now safely at home I don't think I'll step foot out of my house again.... Well until next week....

Here's a little bit now on some of the other things I've been up to since I last posted.
After having had several down days health wise my hubby and I went to visit my sister and her DH for a couple of days and while there I started Waxing Moons 'Our family is like Fudge' this is from my Christmas stash. After taking approximately an hour to get the first nine, yes NINE stitches in the right place I actually got on quite well with it. Mind you I did have to listen to quite a few comments about frogs (I really can't imagine why!). I have done more since being home, I've been doing it in the evenings when I've got my feet up I have enjoyed doing this and am hoping to have it finished shortly. I already have the purpose made frame for it at the 'Nimble Thimble' so I'll just have let Chris have it and she'll frame it up for me. I may have to post it to her that's another thing I'll have to decide on. Still onward and upward so to speak.

My fabrics arrived from The Silver Needle for 'Counting Bats'. I gave up trying to find it in the UK. I had also ordered another fabric, which did not arrive, but not to worry my sister had, by chance, some of it, she had bought a half metre from Sew and So when she only needed a small amount so now I have fabric for two more of my Christmas gift charts. I'm unsure whether to start one of those at the moment or not.

I have been taking some small things with me when I go grandchildren minding in the middle of each week. Sometimes a get a little done and another I never get the chance to get it out of my bag. Here are two things I've been doing. They are from the Festival of Trees. They have already been done once so I am adapting them to suit whatever I have available, must admit I think they are working out pretty well.



I have put in my last cross-stitch on 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS I now have to take it off the super frame my hubby made, press it and then stitch on the buttons.

Here are the last two days.



After that I have to decide the best way of finishing it. I'm definitely leaning towards hemming the sides and possibly using wooden poles top and bottom to keep it taut for when it's hung on the wall (the jury is still out on that though). This had been a pleasure to stitch. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every minute of it. I still wish that I could get a picture that shows the true colours and sparkle from the beads. A small part of me feels at a loss without thinking I have a little more of it to do.
This next pic is just to show you the last 3 day width all done.

Can you really miss a piece of cross-stitch?
Anyhow it is now going to be back to 'Castle in the Air'. I am months behind on this. I thought I'd just refresh your memory

This is going back on the stand. I remember I was enjoying doing the Blackwork fencing but put it away to get on with the Christmas pieces I was doing. Since then I have downloaded monthly and have become a little confused with some of the designs that have been added. I think part of me has been watching the new sections and wondering what would be the best way to go with it. I'm still undecided. I may have a look at how it looks on the Papillon Gallery. I'll finish the fencing and gates and then give it a big re-think.

I'm off now to get a cuppa Hope you all make good progress with your WIPs. Happy stitching to you all. If you have time to leave a comment it's much appreciated they are all a boost.

Until next time keeeeeeeep stitching.

It'll be ready for Christmas!!!!!!

Back again. I hadn't realised that January had flown by so quickly and there was I thinking I was plodding along quite nicely with my stitching.
I have had one or two or so detractions. Such as a new game for my DS which I almost became glued to until I had managed to complete it, I also had to make arrangements for going to see the village 'Pantomine', This is put on in the Village Hall and several of the local children take part. This is the village where one of my sons live and this year I had just one of my grand-daughters in it as the older one was busy doing studying for some of her exams which she took about two weeks ago. The commitment that is required by these youngsters is quite demanding and they are now all very tired. The 'Panto ' was very good and is always quite hilarious. The gentleman who plays 'The Dame' really enjoys himself although I must admit I don't know that he ever sticks to the script. This is him in a couple of his several outfits playing the part of 'Granny Verruca Gubbins'. I can tell you he must have got the art of quick changing off very well as his costumes and hair wig change maybe seven times throughout the show.

But now to the serious stuff...... I have been stitching along on my 12 Day of Christmas (this is where I can here you thinking CHRISTMAS) and am pleased with my progress..... I have been thinking about how to finish it off and my niece has sent me some instructions on some sort of hemming. I understand that it takes a while to do but it's top of my list at the moment.

Firstly here is the completed 9 Ladies Dancing. I'm not to sure about the colour used to give facial definition so any input from yourselves would be useful. Must admit I enjoyed doing that one as it had a totally different border.

Here is how the row for the days 7,8,9 looks


Now on to the '10 Lords a Leaping'. There are are quite a number of beads on the jacket and it is quite eye-catching. Again the border is made up of the floral garlands and there are stacks of beads in them. Really sparkly.


Lastly the '11 Pipers Piping'. I'm getting along quite well with this one. There doesn't seem to be the number of beads on this day, mind you maybe I just haven't seen them on the chart properly as I have been busy concentrating on the main cross stitch.


I'm hoping to have the cross stitching on this finished before too long and then I think it may be catch up time on the 'Castle in the Air' which I haven't looked at for months. I check the downloads every month and keep think I really must get on with it and then I look at something else. Oh! to be a quicker cross stitcher but never mind I get there in the end. I think I may just do the 'My Family's like Fudge' by Waxing Moons as they are fun to do and don't take that long.
Last but not least here's one I've squeezed in.......

.
It's been done before so I've used a perforated paper from a Jim Shore one that I changed to fabric and have put on a 'bead bow' instead of the little treasure that should be there. I think the effect is OK I have some more of them that have already been done but this time they can go on my tree.

As usual many thanks for dropping in and spending a few minutes with my musings. If you've time leave a comment they so much appreciated. Until next time Happy stitching to you all

Byeeeeeeeee

Thanks Santa!!!!!

It's all over for another year. Was it all worth it? YES of course it was. I spent Christmas Eve Lunch with my older son and his family, where some winter health blues had struck a few days earlier but all were much better. Followed by a visit to my niece, then back to watch my grandchildren in the Nativity Play at their Church. Unfortunately I missed the play, due to a time change that I received too late, but I did get to the rest of the service. I took with me a grand daughter from my other son and she was fascinated as at her church, in a different village, they don't have the service where they turn out all the lights and you walk round the church, passed the Crib, with lit candles. It's very twinkly and a lovely feeling of peace and calm.
After being delivered back to the her family my DH and I went back home to finish sorting out gifts ready for Christmas Day, which we spent with my younger son and his family. we returned to home base on Boxing day where, having forgotten to take out our chosen food from the freezer, we ended up having the good old English favourite 'Fish and Chips'.

Santa was very kind, I have some great stash enhancement and have spent some time since tracking down fabric that I can't find in the UK.


I could not resist this Hob Nobs Button they are fun to do and pretty quick too!!!

I have about another 6 charts but as they are on download and as I have yet to do that they will be popping up in the future. I also had some material and some Northern Lights Silks as gifts. Lucky me.
Here's my Christmas Surprise for you. A little late I know but as just before Christmas I was not too good and had little concentration powers. I went to visit my sister for a lovely weekend and while there I took 'The Three Kings' to the 'Nimble Thimble' to get it framed. While I was out the next day my picture was delivered to my sisters all done. Many Thanks Chris. Here it is .......
I have made a little more progress on my Jim Shore Santa which I started on my sister visit. Not that much though!

Since Christmas I have put some more stitches into 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. The 9 Ladies Dancing is now coming along quite well.

I haven't done much stitching at all between Christmas and New Year as I had a family lunch on New Year's Eve and on New Year's Day family until the following day. I really enjoyed the houseful of family, it made me feel good inside although vaguely shattered after the mince pie making and all the cooking. I'll only take until the end of January to recover!!!

I'm trying to decide what to do next. I have to catch up on Castles in the Air. which has been put on one side for such a long time I am now back to about three months or so behind... I daren't look in case it's more!! BUT then there's all the new charts and kits to choose from Oh decisions, decisions. I think I'll try and get the Twelve Days finished and then I'll do a much smaller piece to give myself a boost.

Oh Yes I must show you the Place settings that I bought for my daughter-in-laws. Again made by 'Maisie Moonshine'. I think they are great and they went down a treat. Must admit I did give them early for Christmas so that they could be used.



The 'Robin' and the 'Toy Soldier' are the ones that I had made for my DH and myself so they travel with us. Great aren't they???

Well I'm off now to order some threads so that I don't forget and then get annoyed with myself, even though I probably will not be stitching with them for a while. I've also got to try and find some SQUARE frames so that I can get some of my finished pieces sorted.

Until next time thanks for calling in and if you have the time to leave a comment.. much appreciated.. May the New Year have revitalised your stitching hand and given a new shine to your needle....