Almost There……

Wow what a quick year 2013 has been, it’s been a whirlwind….I hope 2014 slows down slightly….I’m getting no younger!

I hope everyone has enjoyed their festive season, it’s been quiet here, a nice relaxing couple of days, but now it’s back to the grindstone with study and work….the kiddiewinks had a great Christmas and were spoilt rotten as usual….

I also received some lovely gifts….in no particular order…

Thank you Mum :)

Thank you Mum and Dad :)

Thank you Michelle :)

Thank you Karen (My OU Craft Group Christmas Exchange)

Thanks you Kath :)

and last but my no means least….a cupcake timer from the little Miss and a travelling sewing kit from the little man, both chosen by themselves :) :)

…I was spoilt too :)

I cooked this year, the traditional turkey with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding….it was yummy if I do say so myself.

I had a childfree wander around the shops yesterday and treated myself to some new make up, a new hair colour (Frosted Chestnut), some new sparkly glittery nail paints and a new lunchbox and tea mugs from Cath Kidston :)

In my last post I offered two charts that had been gifted to me….Lynda I have emailed you for your details…well done :)

I also noticed that it was my blogaversary on Christmas Eve….6 years I’ve been blogging…460 posts, 1 pregnancy and birth, 3 relationship break ups…lol, 3 house moves, 2 jobs, a degree enrolment, a diabetes diagnosis, hundreds of craft finishes….a 40th birthday..*gulp*….anyway in the time I have made many lovely blogging friends and special friends and have loyal followers and commenter's, therefore my blogaversary giveaway this year will be chosen at random from one of my loyal commenter's from the past year…so if you are one of those…maybe an email will be with you very soon…I will make the drawing on New Years Eve.

Well I must now get out my study books…..Islam is the book of choice at the moment…..

I will be back with New Year plans…very soon

Hugs & Stitches

Happy 2013

Wow it seems ages since I last posted, I have had some time away from my pc and my study books….although I am now finding it difficult to get back into it and with a 2000 word essay due in next week I really must ‘get my finger out’!

We spent our Christmas very quietly, Christmas Day was spent at my parents house….the kiddiewinks had a fabulous time playing with new toys….

They spent Boxing Day with their dad so I had a relaxing day at home….and did some crochet….I have quite a few projects now nearing completion…..My stripey blanket needs an edging on it as this was my first big project and the edges are slightly wonky so I have hemmed them and have some apple green felt which matches perfectly with the green stripe which I am going to trim the blanket with….

Plus 2 cushion fronts, they both need a few extra rows to make them the correct size, I am using the same green felt to make the backings for these too…

I decided that the living room needed a bit of a change around and sort out…..I took a trip to Dunelm Mill and Matalan last weekend and bought a few bits and bobs….and spent the past 2 days shifting furniture, dismantling and changing everything around……here is the result…I made the crochet garland last night….very simple with cream chunky yarn and natural twine….I think it fits perfectly…

I have committed to one stitchy SAL this year, which is the LHN Sheep Virtues, I have decided to not over commit myself on projects this year…..once my exam is over with in June I will have a long break as my next module will not start until November so I can enjoy a crafty summer this year! I am also going to choose a couple of larger projects which I can pick up and do during the year, once I have decided on these I will share them.

Just a few other little things which have made me smile this week….my new basket for my hooky projects, the picture is deceiving it is as big as a bucket….a steal at £2.50….also another £2.50 steal is this floral watering can which fits perfectly on my kitchen window sill…Issue 1 one of the new Simply Crochet magazine which dropped through my letterbox yesterday….

and finally these little monkeys who drive me to distraction most days…but are also so loving and caring too…

Thank you to everyone who continues to read my wafflings….I look forward to waffling to you a whole lot more through 2013!

Hugs & Stitches

Making Plans (Photo Heavy)

I have a childfree day today so have spent some time deciding some of my stitching plans for 2012. I have decided to stitch at least one Christmas ornament a month…a personal SAL! I have listed them all in my sidebar to keep a track of them.

I have also pulled out quite a few charts to stitch for me, ones I have been wanting to stitch for a while but not quite got around to stitching them. The four Sampler Girl designs will be stitched for the weekly TSG SAL at Needlecraft Haven, the others I will work through throughout the year, once I have completed them I will pull out some more to stitch.

I have now emailed my 4 private exchange partners and have chosen the designs I am going to stitch for each of them, I cannot reveal these until they have been exchanged of course.

Here are the designs I have decided to stitch for myself…so far…

CCN – Sheep in the Meadow

Shepherd’s Bush – Dancing Lambs

CCN – Summer Strawberries

CCN – Ladybugs & Bumblebees

TSG – Coasting Day

TSG – Witch School Sampler

TSG – Jane Austen Love Letter

iStitch – Sew Lavender

Milady’s Needle – A Gift From A Friend

The above design was a Christmas gift from my treasured friend Michelle, along with a beautiful Cath Kidston mug in a tin and some pretty thread.

I received some lovely gifts including a Friends charm chart from Kath, Downton Abbey Series 1 DVD from the children, Sister Act 1 & 2 double DVD pack and lovely Ice Musk smellies from Wes, Noa perfume, a beautiful beaded necklace and a rose scented candle from my parents, stationery, calendar etc from my penpals..well and truly spoilt.

I have started stitching on “Mother Hens”…I managed this stitching on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day nights (whilst watching Downton!)

The children had a fabulous day and were spoilt rotten of course…here are a few pictures of them opening their gifts…

Modelling their Christmas scarves!

That’s all for now folks…..enjoy the rest of your Christmas

Hugs & Stitches