The Travelling Pattern and Other Stories

Good morning from a sunny York….YES…..SUNNY…no wind or rain…it’s breezy but that’s ideal for drying the washing on the line…the bedsheets are blowing well in the breeze…happy news!

I was lucky enough to be chosen by Margaret to stitch on the "Count Your Blessings travelling pattern.
This pattern originated with Daffy Cat in Februrary 2011 and three years later it’s still travelling,I’m the 37th person to stitch it.
If you would like to be the next stitcher please leave a comment on this post only.
You do need to have an active blog and be known in the blogging community as a reliable exchanger. I will leave the post open until Sunday 2nd march, I’ll then let you know who the next stitcher will be….

Here is my version of the pattern…I stitched it on gingham linen which I had in my stash drawer and used hand dyed Carries Creations threads…I’m pleased with how it has turned out!

It’s been half-term here this week, we’ve had a quiet week at home, baking, crafting, DVD watching, bedroom gutting and kitchen spring cleaning…little miss baked buns and young man baked brownies…I did take pictures but unfortunately my daft phone decided to crash the other evening and I lost all my pictures…grrrr…annoying or what!

I did get this picture of the little miss modelling one of her new masquerade masks she made….she’s a real girlie girl, she’s always dressed up in some costume or other from her dressing up chest…they are often a strange combination and mix, but she has fun…

I did a little embroidery as well as stitching on my travelling pattern….this is a free design from Jenny at Elefantz, she designs some gorgeous embroidery, worth a visit to her blog, she also has an craftsy shop and offers some free designs and tutorials…so are delicious…

I also finished up my cowl and wrist warmers using that gorgeous Folksong yarn….here they are…

They are so soft and snuggly warm….perfect for those cold mornings on the jaunt to work…I hooked the cowl in half treble and the wristies in double crochet, both this a scalloped edge top and bottom (UK terms).

Back to work tomorrow…*groan*…today is a final lazy day, the goulash is simmering in the slowcooker, the washing and tidying is all done, so the rest of the day is mainly mine for doing what a fancy.

Have a great week…

Hugs & Stitches

A Long Month…..

Wow it’s been a long month since I last posted, it’s been a busy one with tackling the garden and organising my new degree modules for later in the year and organising the First Holy Communion Mass with the other Catechists, it went really well and the sun shined for all the children, the girls looked beautiful in their pretty white dresses and veils and the boys very smart in their crisp white shirts with red ties and red satin sashes (made by me!).

I have kept myself busy crafting too….I finished stitching my LHN Sheep Virtue ‘Peace’ this a few weeks ago, but have only got around to making it up…

I’ve made a few colour changes but have used DMC threads and stitched it on 32c Murano fabric and added a ruche ribbon trim….

I also managed to make up this embroidered wall hanging for little Miss’ bedroom…it was a free embroidery design, but unfortunately I can’t remember where I got if from…..

I also found a few hours to make the end of year gifts for the teachers….I decided on tissue pouches which I popped some Cath Kidston tissues inside…

I’ve also been doing some hooking too….I made up this bag following the tutorial on Lucy’s blog

I hooked this uses Rico Cotton Aran….I still need to line this but I will use it for a yarn project bag….

I have a few other projects going on too….a huge king size bed throw for my bed for when my bedroom is decorated later in the summer, some cushion covers, a stitched sampler for my parents who celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in November and the rest of my Sheep Virtues too….

I have booked myself on my next degree modules, I will be studying 2 modules together to catch up from my module withdrawal earlier this year, I will be studying Voices and Texts and Introducing Religions….it will be a busy winter but both the children will be at school full-time which should give me more study time…in theory!

I did have some shocking news last week, the past 6 months I haven’t felt right, sleepy, lethargic, emotional and snappy (you get what I mean), anyway I also seemed to be catching every bug which was going around…anyway I had to see my GP early last week for one of these reasons and I mentioned to her how I had been feeling anyway to cut a long story short I went to the hospital to give blood for testing on Thursday and on Friday morning the doctors called me in urgently….you can imagine my panic…every conceivable illness went through my brain…anyway I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, even though I had gestational diabetes during both my pregnancies, it came as a huge shock….I have to completely change my lifestyle, it’s not like a diet as many of the foods you can ‘fill up’ with on a diet they are a no no or very limited with a diabetic eating plan….but it is something I have to contend with and now live with….

Well I must go and get cracking….things to do…..thanks for visiting my blog today!

Hugs & Stitches

Tweet Tweet!

No not a post about twitter or tweeting…lol….the title just seemed apt for this little finish, I actually finished the embroidery before Christmas but just made it up today….

The design is by Hatched and Patched and I used WDW threads and some fabric and trims from my stash…I am pleased how it has turned out…I will use this as my new pincushion as it's a good size.

The other news I have is that I have made a decision in regards to my studies, I have now dropped out from the OU as the direction I wished to follow were not offered and it seemed ridiculous to do a degree in something I really wasn’t enjoying. But the good news is that I begin a new 2 year course in September studying for the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies, the workload for this course will be more manageable and there are 10 hours of classroom time for each of the 8 modules and an assignment, plus following on from this course and also using my credits gained from my two OU courses I will be able to carry on to study for a Degree in Religious Studies, therefore it is good news and smiles all around!!

Snow again here today, but a quiet weekend in with tasty home cooked food and a few treats!

Enjoy your weekend and keep warm!

Hugs & Stitches

Hello Folks….

Brrrrr autumn is well and truly here….but I must admit it is my favourite season, darker nights, cooler weather and lots of cosiness in the house :) I am back to normal amounts of studying now that my exam is over and my first assignment has been submitted….therefore I have been able to do crafting…

Firstly I finished up the crochet Aran scarf for my mum for Christmas…

I have started one for my dad now, his is a darker chocolate brown Aran…

I have started this for Martha too, the first of two, this one will be for her bedroom and I will be hooking a pram blanket too for her new gift which Santa will bring :), her favourite colour is yellow so it is the main colour…this picture was taken a few days ago, I’ve done about 10 more rows since then so it’s growing very quickly.

I spent Sunday afternoon and evening doing this little beauty….

It’s from a company called Hatched and Patched, this is for a project SAL I have joined for 2013…more of that to follow, I used WDW threads, it’s ages since I did some embroidery and I so enjoyed it…I will be doing more very soon!

I have done some cross-stitch too but it’s secret exchange and gift stitching so alas no pictures this time.

I have been getting organised for Christmas, lots of gifts bought and made, more still to do….we also had a toy clear-out on Monday from the kiddiewinks bedrooms, some have gone to the charity shops and some have been sold on….I had a clothes clear-out too…feels good to have a good sort twice a year…I hate clutter, I love seeing it in others homes, but I can’ live with it…I wish I could!

My friends and I are taking the kiddies out trick or treating this evening, lets hope the rain stays away otherwise I will have a soggy ghoul and pumpkin to entertain..lol!

Finally….after 28 years I have finally done this….I started at 13 years old…

I gave up smoking on the 1st October, I did it cold turkey too, no patches, gum, electronic substitutes, it’s Day 31 now….I have put on a stone in weight but I am going back to diet class to deal with that….I am not going to beat myself up about that fact…..

I also have started to do some voluntary teaching, but not at school, I have become a Catechist at church, I am currently leading the First Holy Communion course for parents of the children taking their First Holy Communion next year, it is great as it has helped me to strengthen my faith and look at things differently too….

Well wishing everyone Happy Halloween….

Hugs & Stitches

Party time….and nearly a HD!!

The children had been invited to a joint birthday party yesterday…which they both really enjoyed…here are the gifts I made for the two birthday girls…I embroidered the initials, hearts and flowers freehand…the bags contain a selection of glittery nail polishes and groovy eye colours…perfect for young ladies!!

I have been working on two of my WIP’s this week along with secret stitching which I cannot show yet…my Lizzie*Kate Double Flips was a UFO but as you can see it’s almost a HD now…just the last word and the border to complete…it’s my aim to complete this piece during the week…this has been an on and off WIP/UFO for 2 years so it will be a relief to finish it…!

My other WIP progress this week is my LHN “Home of a Needleworker” which I am SO loving stitching…I have just started on the house…which is a great stitch when wanting to watch something “good” on the TV as I don’t need to do lots of counting and thread changes…

Martha is back to full health now…and is eating everything in sight…making up for the 5 day's without food! She wanted to pose this morning whilst I had my camera out to take my progress pictures…she loves this new top I bought her…it says “Mummy says I’ve got the X-Factor!”

 

Not much going on today, the wind has died down but it’s wet, dark and miserable here, but at least the temperature has increased…it certainly makes a big difference. The washing and ironing is all done..just the Sunday dinner to prepare…turkey dinner today with all the trimmings…yummy…:0)

Have a great Sunday!

Hugs & Stitches