Still Around

Sorry I haven’t been around much recently, things have been getting a little on top of me, both Martha and I suffered from a viral infection for almost 10 days which generally made you feel listless, rotten and our entire bodies were covered in a lumpy itchy rash, everything got behind, finances, household chores etc., I am now getting back to normal..or as normal as possible.

The only good side is due to not being able to do anything strenuous, some stitching took place…firstly I completed my part of Lesleyanne’s Round Robin, it was a delight to stitch..I stitched the ‘Snowed In’ square….I finished this up very early it is not due to travel on until August, but I have lots of study to do the next few month so thought I would take the opportunity when I had it!

I also completed 5 items for a Facebook PIF I took part in….I used 4 free designs from Alexandrina’s blog and stitched them in pretty spring colours…I finishes them by adding a satin stitched heart or spider web stitch rose in the centre, I trimmed them with co-coordinating ric rac and a button.

I completed my first ever patchwork over the weekend…I used the patchwork pincushion template from Cath Kidston’s ‘Patch’ book….it has come out huge….Martha has decided she would like it for her dolly’s cot, which I have said she can, I will make another one with a smaller template…I used Provence Rose fabric in both green and blue and the blue and pink spots.

Once I had completed my bunting for the kitchen…which is still waiting to be hung….as I said everything has fallen behind, I had a little fabric left and I remembered I had bought these bright plant pots a while ago…so after a evening of a little had sewing and the use of double sided tape….this is what appeared…I now need to find 2 nice flowering plants to pop in them to brighten up my kitchen windowsill!

I had a little walk into York last week to blow away the cobwebs and found myself inside my favourite shop…lol…it’s didn’t take much arm twisting though I can assure you! I picked up the Provence rose fabric and this lovely mug which is a new design for this season….I love it so much and holds a sturdy sized cuppa!

Just before the half-term break, the school held a Jubilee party for all the children, they all had a great time, unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures which didn’t include other children so cannot post them, but I did get this one of little Miss tucking into nibbles….

Well enough of my waffling, it’s almost time to go to collect the kiddiewinks from school and nursery…we have a busy weekend, my little man is making his First Holy Communion on Sunday, so I will be back with photos early next week!

Take care….Hugs & Stitches

The Sun Has Got His Hat On…. (Photo Heavy)

…..hip hip hip hooray! Finally we see the sun after months of cold and rain, we are finally basking in glorious weather…it does make you feel so much better…..apart from the humidity but we can;t have it all can we…lol!

It was school sports activity day Monday last and it was Martha's first one…she had a fabulous time joining in with all the other children, they were both in the same team…

I received little Miss’ school yesterday…I’ve taken a snapshot of it to share with you all…

still not a lot of stitching done, there are so many other chores to do at the moment, especially the garden with this warmer weather, but I did finish up my May Christmas Ornament for the SAL, the theme was Gingerbread person…(apologies it’s not been pressed yet), I added some mini buttons and used black beads for the eyes…

Little House Needleworks – Gingerbread Village

28c Quaker Cloth Light Mocha – DMC threads

The crochet hook has had an outing though….I finished up this little gift for my gran, it’s a little tissue pouch…with Cath Kidston tissues inside too…!

I managed a few more stripes on my throw….it’s going to be big when it’s all done…

These beauties came home with me this week…Cath Kidston of course!

this is a perfect addiction for my ever growing yarn stash…

as you can see……

and I couldn’t resist these…they smell divine too!

A little study update for those of you who are interested, I have submitted my End of Module Assignment and my course officially ends tomorrow….I am now into weeks 3 of my newest module and it’s fascinating, I will keep you updated.

A little life update…I have now lost 27lbs in weight and have started swimming, I went for the first time yesterday and bearing in mind it was my first exercise in 25 years, I managed 9 lengths of an Olympic sized pool….I am aching today though I tell you…lol

I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine….thanks for visiting!

Hugs & Stitches

Packed Post

Lots of things to show you…so I will keep the wording on the light side….firstly I can reveal my exchange received and sent for the Summer Holiday Exchange on the “Stitched With Love Exchange” blog…this is what I received from April…

and this is what I sent to Shannon…

I stitched Tanya’s freebie “To The Beach” using hand-dyed linen and Crescent Colour threads and edged it in ruched ribbon.

I finally got around to making up some pillows today..

I did have a little spurge at my favourite shop yesterday….a mug in a tin, sewing scissors in a case, vintage buttons (used on the pillows), a fat quarter bundle and some green/rosebud fabric (used for the garden pillow)

No more writing…it’s getting late…have a good Monday

Hugs & Stitches

My Pins & Needle In Hand!

Yes I am back….my stitching mojo did a little hiding trick on me whilst I was feeling under the weather, but I’m now fighting fit and back with a needle in hand!

I wanted a small finish to get me back into the stitching groove…so I chose this little beauty…

Shepherd’s Bush “My Pins”

28c Jayne’s Attic Hand-dyed fabric “Rose” – DMC threads

Finished as a pin pillow with ruched ribbon edging

I received this cute pillow from Ruth today for the third round of the Lizzie*Kate Exchange…isn’t it just great…I love the saying and it’s pink so it’s perfect for me!!

I have a couple of new starts…firstly for the weekly L*K stitching night being held at the L*K Lovers blog…I have chosen “Housework” because the saying is so fun…especially for a cleaning obsessive like me!!

Secondly is the weekly TSG SAL over at NCH, I have chosen a non Miss Austen piece this time…it’s called “Pleasant Hill”, I didn’t get too much stitched but at least made a start!

Finally no Elisa posting would be complete without a touch of Ms Kidston….I needed to cheer myself up after my ill fortnight…so with a sale taking place at my favourite store…I just couldn’t resist….

A quiet weekend planned…with some stitching to take place. I hope you all enjoy yours no matter what you do!

Hugs & Stitches

Treats, Gifts, Progress & Finishes

Firstly as promised here is the gorgeous Valentine’s Giveaway gift I received from Lynn at Happiness Is Cross Stitching…isn’t it gorgeous, it’s so delicately and perfectly made…I will treasure it!

I had a childfree weekend as the children were staying with their Dad, so I managed to root out the sewing machine from the cubby hole under the stairs..I finished 3 exchange pieces and my next PIF (which I cannot share at the moment).

I also finished up the 2 tissue cases which I have made for Mark’s Mum and my Mum for Mother’s day gifts.

Polstitches “Pearl Tissue Case”

Left: 28c Brittney “Olive” using Six Strand Sweet threads and pastel coral seed beads, lined in apple coloured shot silk fabric.

Right: 28c Brittney Lilac using Six Strand Sweet threads and lilac seed beads, lined in aubergine coloured shot silk fabric.

Both are filled with Cath Kidston decorated tissues!

I finally got around to making up my Lizzie*Kate “Living with Charm” wall hanging, I backed it with iron on Vilene and a lovely contrasting fabric and used wooden bell pull ends and a cappuccino coloured ribbon to hang it from…not a brilliant picture as the sun kept shining…lol…shouldn’t complain I suppose!!

Finally here is my progress on TSG “In the Garden with Jane Austen” SAL…I hope to have a HD this week on the flower motif top right to complete and the picket fence to run along the bottom on the design…then all done…I have loved stitching this design.

I have done a small amount of stitching on my “Home of A Needleworker” WIP (no photo at moment), I have almost built the house, just the roof to complete and the windows to fit!!

I have updated my for sale/trade page…please let me know if anything takes your fancy!!

School Governor’s meeting tonight, so I won’t manage any stitching, I may have time to do some knitting when I get home…

Hugs & Stitches

PIF for Fiona and a Treat for Me!!

Fiona let me know that my PIF piece to her had finally arrived…it had only taken almost 3 weeks to go about 200 miles…grrrr! Anyway she loves it and it’s the first biscornu she has ever received so I am delighted to be the first.

“French Biscornu” by Yvonne Horn of Papillion Creations from the April 2008 issue of GOSM.

28ct Hand-Dyed Fabric in ‘Jonquil’ using Steff Francis hand-dyed cotton and mother of pearl vintage buttons

I have been busy stitching, I have done some more work on my Lizzie*Kate Double Flips and my LHN Home of a Needleworker and did start one of my Shepherd’s Bush designs…I chose “Blueberry Tea”, it is from the Bramble Hearth booklet it’s a delight to stitch and is growing very quickly….I will post pictures of my WIP progress later this week.

On Sunday I got a MASSIVE treat…I had a nice refund of money last week and I have been after this for ages…..isn’t it divine :0)

I have also completed my third PIF piece and that will be going in the post in the next day or so…who will it be going to…be patient!

Hugs & Stitches

*Edited to say: The Cath Kidston house is a Sewing Box!

Just Perfect & Adorable PIF Gift…

That’s really all I can say about the pillow that arrived for me this morning from Gaynor…it’s in my favourite colours…from one of my most favourite books “Little Women” and from one of my favourite designers too….and along with this Gaynor also sent me Cath Kidston’s Label & Sticker Book too…what a treat….do you want to see the Perfect & Adorable PIF Gift…well here it is…

Been very busy decorating here…the lounge is just about done…my dad (who is a decorator) is coming tomorrow to paper the chimney breast which is having a feature wallpaper on it, Mark is busy doing the trim around the laminate flooring and then we can start making look like a room again!! I will be busy framing some pieces of my stitching to put up in one of the alcoves….photo’s will follow once it’s all complete.

I have been busy stitching for exchanges, giveaway’s and PIF’s so no stitching to show at the moment I am saddened to say.

Talking of giveaway’s mine is open until 23rd December…you can enter here

Until next time…in the words of Jerry Springer…”take care of yourselves and each other”

Hugs & Stitches

A Long But Productive Week…

Well it has been a long busy week…the decorating in Martha’s room is all complete…then we’ve moved onto the lounge, so as you can imagine it’s tricky trying to live normally as we don’t have a dining room. But here is a look at Martha’s complete bedroom, the camera ran out of battery half way through so these are the only ones I managed to get…will try to take some of the other side at a later date.

 

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Martha and I have had to spend a lot of the time out of the house due to all the filling and sanding etc going on. On Tuesday we spent a lovely day in York with my Mum…we looked in all our favourite shops and as I have sold a huge number of my DVDs and CDs, I decided to treat myself to a few things. A gorgeous Cath Kidston teacup and saucer…and then I bought these lovely teas too, my favourite is Lady Grey, but I also bought these limited edition teas, Blossom Earl Grey and Rose Garden :0)

 

I also got a lovely present for Miss Martha in CK too :0)…but can’t reveal that yet.

I can reveal my latest finish to you all though…when I saw this advertised in issue 233 of Crosstitcher I knew I had to stitch it…

 

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It’s stitched on 28c Brittany Mushroom using DMC threads and glass beads. The very lovely lady in Cath Kidston gave me a sample of the CK red and white dotty fabric which is what I used to back it and I found the little wooden toadstool in a gorgeous gift shop in town. The red dotty tape measure was my other purchase from CK…:0)

It’s Martha’s 2nd birthday on Sunday so I will be spending most of tomorrow cake making and decorating…I am going to attempt a princess castle cake…we will see how I get on…photos to follow.

The little princess decided to do some posing today…

 

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I hope you all have a fantastic weekend…photo’s will follow early next week…

Hugs & Stitches