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

Pottering….

It’s been a pottering few days, catching up on chores, cleaning windows and washing curtains and all the boring things like that that have to be done. My living room is looking lovely and clean and tidy now, the paintwork and decor is a little tired but that will have to wait, but by changing some of my trinkets and treasures around it makes it feel almost new again….also another pretty bouquet of flowers always cheers me and the room up…

I dressed my other hottie this week….another bright and cheery jacket…

The Little Miss started Rainbows this week and was very excited….

I have been doing a little stitching, I started this quite a while ago but it fell by the wayside with Christmas gift stitching…it’s Ewe & Eye & Friends ‘Love Letters’, I’m using Six Strand Sweet threads of my own choice, I should hopefully complete it over the weekend.

Finally…Andrea messaged me to say my Blogaversary giveaway package had arrived to her…I loved putting it together…enjoy it Andrea!

A quiet weekend at home for us…it’s bright and sunny here but it’s biting cold…brrrrrr!

Hugs & Stitches

YooHoo……

Hello folks, by ‘eck it’s been a bit fresh here the weekend, but it’s now chucking it down like stair rods….let’s hope it stops by the morning, I  hate having soggy trouser bottoms when I get to work.

Well a few happenings here…first one is that I made the decision to defer my studies for a few years, i was a mad crazy lady to think I could manage working 18 hours, study 28 hours alongside caring for 2 kiddiewinks, managing my diabetes and keeping house….I have 16 years to complete my degree and my credits from my completed modules stand until then, which is fantastic…..I feel really relieved now, my stress levels have already dropped I’m going to enjoy my family time.

I treated myself to this lovely cheery bunch of mixed flowers….in my lovely flower jug which was my birthday gift from my grandparents…

I have felt the need for a little extra warmth these past few evenings, so i dug out one of the old hot water bottles….it was looking very sad and naked….but now look…..it’s all snuggly now…

I remembered I hadn’t showed you my stitched Christmas gifts I sent out….

For Michelle….

For Kath…

For Melanie…

Now I have a little more free time I hope to blog a little more often….until next time

Hugs & Stitches

Poetry and Plans…

The holidays are over, back to school tomorrow for the kiddiewinks, it’s flown by, probably because I’ve had to work over the Christmas break and we’ve been busy fitting in appointments to the dentist and the doctors etc around this.

I’ve also been fitting in my studies every evening, a few evenings of reading for my religion module, Islam is the religion I’m currently studying, plus I’ve had an assignment to write for my other module, creative writing; a short story, play extract or poem, I opted for the poem, which was on the subject of Borstal (a young offenders institution for my non UK readers). it’s been a challenge, I’m not naturally a creative writer, but I’ve battled through and have my final draft ready to tweak tomorrow, I’ve also drafted my reflective commentary to go alongside it. It’ll be submitted Tuesday, then back to Islam and I’ve also Dickens' Hard Times to read….

I’ve managed a little stitching….I’ve got my first finish for 2014…LHN Sheep Virtues ‘Simplicity’

I’ve got a few stitching plans for this year, I want to finish up the Sheep Virtues series, I’m half way through the 12, I’ve a few larger projects I want to work on, but apart from that I’m not pressurising myself. I have made a start on a crochet blanket for my bed, its king size so it’s a big project, I’m hooking granny circles to go into square…lovely bright pops of colour.

Anything else that takes my fancy will just fit in around my larger projects…

Well m’dears, it’s time for sleep….an early start tomorrow…

Thanks for popping by…

Hugs and Stitches

UFO’s and a little moan..….

I’m back again for a fleeting visit…..I’m now back in the workforce 17 hours each week, also fitting in 25 hours of study each week, as well as all the other stuff that us lone parents have to do….some days I do struggle as I don’t have anyone else to help me with all the tasks around the house and garden…I will be honest I have been thinking of stopping blogging as I don’t really have much to show, but I will continue just to pop in every so often to say hello….I’ve also stopped reading a lot of blogs, for several reasons…firstly time…or lack of it….secondly these sickly sweet blogs that everyone seems to arse lick…oh sorry swoons over….being honest they make me more fed up and somewhat envious…some of these bloggers live in a bubble of easiness….anyway that’s it…

The little Miss turned 5 last week and celebrated with a Princess party….she has a fabulous time with her friends…

I made cupcakes and a daisy cake…

I’ve made a conscious effort to complete my numerous UFOs over the next year…I had two which were almost complete….well now they are…

Milady’s Needle ‘A Gift From A Friend’, this was gifted to me 2 Christmases ago by Michelle, I started it straight away and stopped as you do….anyway it’s now complete…..

 

Shepherds Bush ‘Sophie’s Roses’ was gifted to me by Barb ages ago I started it and almost completed it…but it’s now done too.

Both these charts I would like to pass along…if you would be interested in either of these charts please post a comment, I’ll leave it open until end of December and then draw 2 names out of a ‘hat’ ….

Finally…my young man and his classmates proudly sang in York Minster last week alongside two other schools and the Minster Choristers …

not a great picture, we weren’t given much opportunity….but the cathedral is HUGE…

Catch you soon…

Hugs and Stitches

Phew…..

What a hot month we are having here in the UK, yes I shouldn't complain, but I will, the sunshine is fabulous but the humidity is just so bad, it makes me feel ill, sickly and drained, we are in need of a major thunder storm to freshen the air slightly. Every task seems to take twice as long and a nap is required after each one.

Anyway…I have been crafting, enjoying my final 2 months study free time…come October it will be all hands to the pump again!

I’m slowly but surely getting through my LHN Sheep Virtues, I’ve just completed Courage and made it up…

I stitched it on 32 Murano Beige using the recommended DMC threads, I finished it as a hanging pillow edged with iridescent cream ric rac.

I’ve also been busy with fabric and thread…I made this little treasure this morning for the little Miss, it’s for her PE kit, she starts full time school in September, she chose the fabric…yellow is her favourite colour…

2 of my sofa cushions needed a renovate so armed with Stylecraft DK and a hook, I have produced these….

the above cover is the same front and back….the one below has 2 different sides, so I have 2 different looks which i can swap and change..

Finally….I was the lucky winner of Michelle’s blog giveaway last month, she very kindly sent me a monetary gift so I could shop wherever I wanted….I had a great time purchasing my goodies which included…

..this fab book from Amazon full of new crochet stitches for me to master, a bespoke crochet hook, made by a lady on the Open University Craft Group I belong to, she also sent me the handmade buttons too…as well as the above goodies I bought some wool to make scarf and hat sets for the kiddiewinks for the winter and some lovely Cotton On yarn with which I made this…

I saw the idea on Lucy’s blog Attic24 and adapted it to my own taste, this will be for my new bedroom…once decorated…

Well folks that’s all for this time…take care and stay cool!!

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

A Quick FlyBy….

It’s been a busy month alongside this I have had the worst cold and cough which developed to a chest infection….luckily the antibiotics have cleared it and I am back to 75% full health…..

I’ve had some stitching and crochet on the go…some I can show, some I can’t until they have been received…my first finish is the second of the LHN Sheep Virtues ‘Love’ I enjoyed stitching this and finished it up as a hanging ornament…

 

I completed my second blooming flower cushion, this one was for my Mum in her kind of colours…the pattern for this is on Lucy’s blog Attic24

I’ve also been working on a large Granny Stripe throw this will be a long ongoing project….it is king size bed width…..

My final finish I can show you is my Miss Mary Mac Pin Pillow which I stitched using Six Strand Sweet threads and finished as a pillow as you can see!

 

The last few days i have been working on a crochet bag, I just need to sew it all together so I will show that to you very soon…

Thanks for visiting my blog today

Hugs & Stitches