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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

A Lovely Treat & A Break!

I received the most lovely gift in the mail today from Chris, this was the second parcel from her, the first sadly got lost in the black hole of the Royal Mail…..there must be a hole full of stitched gifts as it’s amazing how many seem to disappear into it! Anyway the second one arrived and here it is….a lovely sweetie/penny hanger with choccies in it too….isn’t it lovely! Thank you so much Chris I really do love it!

The break I am taking is not from my blog, I made a decision to take a study break, the module I was studying really wasn't for me, in fact I hated it and it was causing me stress, making me ill as I was worrying and not sleeping and worst of all it was making me to a very sad mummy and the kids were bearing the brunt of my stress….I therefore rang the university on Monday and spend a good time speaking to student support and I have left the module and am taking a break…how long yet I am not too sure…..I need to find me the happy mummy again!

I of course am going to have so much more crafty time now….I spent yesterday sorting through all my charts, I had 100’s of printed off freebies I had collected throughout the years and now my tastes have changed I went through everyone and recycled all the ones I wouldn't;t do….I now have a manageable number of charts to stitch…well they will be manageable if I live to 100!!

I started helping at the new knit& stitch class at school yesterday, my kiddiewinks were there too….I will be teaching crochet to them too! On the way home it was just beginning to get dark and this is the beautiful sunset which accompanied us home…

Got the plasterer in today as I started decorating little man’s bedroom and all the plaster kindly decided to come off the wall along with the old wallpaper….the joy!!

Will be back soon with some crafty pictures…I promise!

Thanks for visiting my blog today…Hugs & Stitches

Quick Round Up…and Result!!

A busy week here as always……firstly I wanted to share that I received my results back for my second degree module the one with the exam which I sat in October….I received 74% I was delighted and have passed my first two modules and my first year at University….I was cock-a-hoop!! I also have decided to change my degree path, I am now looking to specialise in Religious Studies which is the subject area I have enjoyed the most in the past year and also received the highest marks in assignments for too….I will complete the Classical Studies module I am currently studying and then change the modules I was currently planning to do.

As way of a celebration and after feeling so down the past month or so I decided to have my hair re-styled…I have had 6 inches cut off and the back as an inverted bob and a fringe which I last sported in my twenties…lol…here is the straightened version which the hairdresser did…..

and the naturally curly…very red (after just dying it) version by me….

It has certainly cheered me up and made me feel much better about myself….

It has been very cold here this week with frosty mornings and even a flutter of snow….the perfect weather for food like this….Root Vegetable Broth!

Today has been extremely cold and windy but not a cloud to be seen in the sky…so I hung out my washing on the line for a good old blow!!

Mum passed three more antique china plates along to me last week….my shelves are filling well…

and I put one of my decorated pots to good use with a lovely potted hyacinth….I will picture when it flowers too….a pretty blue I hope!

I also finished a stitching piece this week…albeit a small one this has been in my basket three quarters done for months…I love it’s pretty colours…I am going to make it into a hanging heart…I have a thing for hanging hearts my house is covered them…

I have also been crocheting too…I made this little rose and have made 9 ear warmers for friends and their daughters and my mum and I….super cosy on chilly ears!

and finally……I have almost finished the throw for little Miss…just the edging and weaving in to do….my first crocheted blanket almost completed!

The kiddiewinks and I went into the city centre last night to see the Christmas Fayre and lights…unfortunately the weather turned wet and we had to rain it off early…but we had a lovely wander around the stalls and gift shops and a pizza dinner…it was fun!

 

Well folks I better get off the PC and do some study….the building of the Parthenon this week!

Have a great weekend

Hugs & Stitches

Round Robin & Other Stuff

Firstly thank you for your lovely comments and emails messages of support on my previous post, I’m trying to take each day at a time. It’s also been a worrying week as my Dad was rushed into hospital midweek, they still haven’t made a decision what is exactly wrong with him so it’s a waiting game…hopefully we may know more today with it being Monday as all the departments re-open on a Monday so he can have the scan he’s been waiting for since Friday!!

It’s a teacher training day today so no school, which looking at the horrendous rain and wind outside may be a blessing in disguise…I have had chat’s with the kiddiewinks and explained how I feel when they are naughty and arguing constantly, we have now set chore and behaviour reward charts so let’s see if they make a difference!

My Round Robin made it’s way back to me mid week, I had the top part to finish which I completed saturday evening…thank you to Angela, Lesleyanne, Lisa and Michelle for doing such a fantastic job on it……

Little House Needleworks – The Friendship Tree

32c Belfast Linen ‘Tea-dyed’ by me

Charted DMC threads

I will be framing this..eventually!!

(the chart is now for sale too, it’s in pristine condition as a working copy was used…email me !)

I have a few other little finishes to show you….firstly the scarf I have finished for my Dad for Christmas…

I eventually got around to making up my ‘Reading with Jane’ finish as a cube….it stands on my bookcase with all my Jane books :)

I also finished up a few felt decorations and some Christmas tree bunting…

which was put to use yesterday…when the tree was put up!

It was book week at school last week and on the Friday the children were asked to dress up as a literary character…..bet you can’t guess who Isaac went as…lol!

Well that’s all folks, I am busy hooking blankets and ear warmers for Miss M and myself and I now have orders from friends so plenty to do….as well as studying 5th Century Athens, theatre, the Acropolis and the Parthenon…..

Enjoy your week

Hugs & Stitches

Gift from Becka….

I was one of the lucky girls chosen to receive one of Becka’s Birthday packages this year….when I returned home the other day a lovely parcel was waiting for me on the doormat….some gorgeous fabric, lace, ribbon, a Halloween themed kit, some CK tissues, buttons…oh and some love heart sweets but they didn’t make it to the photo…tee hee!! Thank you Becka it was such a treat to receive it :)

I have finished a few Christmas gifts off this week….I am unable to show you those I’m afraid….but I can show you these….my finally finished kitchen complete with new floor, cooker and pinboard…it’s taken 10 months but it is finally there….

 

We went trick or treating on Wednesday evening, unfortunately the weather was unkind to us and we got absolutely soaked to the skin but the kiddiewinks loved it…..anything for copious amounts of sweeties…

I have been to a tutorial in Leeds this morning it was very interesting discussing Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad and looking at Greek pottery….the kiddiewinks have spent the day with my parents and have gone to a bonfire party, tomorrow they are with their Dad for the day so I hope to do some studies in the morning and some crafts after lunch…

Thanks for visiting my blog today and for all your kind comments,,,,

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

Catching Up…...

Slowly but surely I’m catching up with everything, but my study and revision is eating into all my time, I have about an hour each evening for ME, but it’ll be worth it in the end…that’s what I keep telling myself anyway!

I completed the stitching on my portion (top left) of Lisa’s RR last night, it’s a lovely design and stitch…I hope Lisa is pleased with it so far…it will be travelling along to Michelle to complete the final section.

I also received my private exchange piece from Jo…and wow it’s wonderful, she couldn't decide which design to stitch so stitched them both and sent me a gorgeous double sided pillow..

Jo decided on 2 Erica Michael’s designs and used 28c tan evenweave and stitched with GAST, Stef Francis and DMC threads, the beaded trim is perfect and the gorgeous acorn button is just so sweet…thank you so much Jo I love it so much :)

I had a tutorial on Saturday morning and then went into York for a few hours in the afternoon, I had a wander around but was very good and didn't buy anything….but that’s probably because I steered clear of Cath Kidston, but I am excited to say that I can now get a 10% discount in her stores as a student card holder :), I did treat myself to these beauties though….such pretty colours…

I have organised my desk and bookcase ready for my next module….here is my next selection of module books and DVDs…

My new kitchen floor was put down on Friday and my new cooker arrived on Sunday…so finally my kitchen is almost complete, just a few little bits to complete then I will take some pictures of it all done :)

We are getting used to the 3 return trips to school each day….it won;t be fun in the depths of winter though…brrrr

Have a good week all and thanks for visiting

Hugs & Stitches