valentine tuck exchange

my tuck of love has been received by my partner Missy so i can share a pic with you now. Joann made all the tucks for the exchange and we had to stitch the 2"x2" design, i chose part of Pam Kellogg's mystery from 2005 "Cupids Garden", i have this hanging in my sitting room and thought the blackwork heart suited the tuck perfectly




spent last night gridding my fabric for the 1st page of HAED LEO(as per Lisa's instructions) so i'm all ready to put the first stitch in now
(Edda ~ this is a QS design, only 6 pages!! by Sara Butcher and is the star sign LEO, if you click the link in Stitching Plans you should see a pic)

Happy Dancing

having been ill over the weekend all plans to finish 'Barnabee' went out the window!!! feeling a bit better today, this afternoon i put the final stitches in and added the beads and 3 charms, the picture really doesn't do it justice



thanks again Sally for sending me this chart {hugs} i've thoroughly enjoyed stitching it, i hope you do too Helen (i'll send it on when you return from your hols lol)

tonight i'll be making a start on my first HAED 'LEO', Lisa kindly RAK'd me with this last year and i've been a bit scared to start it, but this year it's going to be my ongoing WIP, watch out Lisa i'll be shouting for help i can see it LOL

the end is near LOL

I think this will be the last update before Barnabee's Quest is finished, i'm hoping for another relaxing weekend like last week when i stitched loads - wonder if i'll get it? LOL




Chart, threads and fabric are all ready for next Thursday's start of the Loopylou 'Hollyberry' SAL (there's a link in Stitching Plans) It runs from Feb - Nov and we're given a piece of the chart to stitch each month. It looks a challenging hardanger piece and will be my first design by Lynda Bodkin of www.loopyloudesigns.co.uk

Hope you all have a lovely weekend
**********************************

I've been tagged by Karen today
The rules: Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write in their blog of 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names.

OK here goes
1. I can't go to bed with a sink full of washing up !!
2. I use the vacuum cleaner everyday (my kids think thats weird)
3. I love turkish delight in chocolate - suck all the chocolate off first and then eat the turkish
4. My bedroom window is always open even in the middle of winter, i like fresh air
5. I talk to myself and answer myself back when i'm on my own LOL
6. I haven't got a passport

6 people i'm tagging are - Paula, Sally, Lisa, Heather, Helen, Mary Ann

Exciting news

my nephew Tom (age 14) is in the 'Schuplatter German Dancing Troupe' at his school. This Sunday they're performing in the 2nd round of 'Britains Best Talent' and Simon Cowell is one of the judges !!! *fingers crossed* they get through to the next round ... rather him than me on the receiving end of one of Simon Cowells quips LOL wonder if they are recording it for a new TV show? better ask my SIL

3 more bands stitched on Barnabee .... 7 to go LOL

**Mary Ann, i'll take another pic for you tomorrow, OK ??

the snow cometh !!

small flakes when i went to bed and this morning was all white over when i let Mr Moe out at 5.30am but by mid morning the sun came out and it's now almost all melted away

last night i stitched the border of part 3 on Barnabee so just need to do the 10 bands inside it now LOL don't suppose much will get done tonight though as it's Wednesday and my stitching club night

stay warm, cosy and safe everyone, and Happy Stitching

hope your back is feeling a bit better today Sally

the weatherman

has just announced that we are predicted snow during the wee small hours tonight, oh yippee!! better get up and see if my weather pixie tells the truth LOL

it's been so cold today, i have had a roaring coal fire going and finished stitching part 2 of Barnabee this afternoon, i'd forgotten how much i enjoy stitching Nans designs. Whilst having a cuppa i did browse through some stitchy sites looking at other Just Nans, Lady Scarlets Journey looks appealing, but it's quite expensive and i have loads of other stuff to stitch so i think it will have to be added to my wish list for now

off to go make a start on part 3 ...

Do your family ...

leave you alone when you are stitching?? or do they always seem to want you for something?? this weekend i've had quite a bit if uninterrupted time to myself, kids were busy and DH was researching his family history so i was left to sit and watch an old movie or two on the TV and stitch away happily, only having a break to keep the cups of tea coming

I can't believe how fast this has grown, it's going to one of those projects that i'm sad to see finished, do you have ones like that too ?




No sign of the snow that they were predicting today, although when i was out running errands this morning (including posting out the 'Tuck of Love' for the exchange at TS) there was a nasty hail storm. The sun is shining now but it is becomming very, very cold and the wind is howling again, the British weather is so unpredictable, i wish it was like it used to be when i was a child and you had proper seasons !!!! well thats how it seemed way back then LOL

Here's Barnabee's Quest - Part 1

spent a lovely couple of hours stitching this afternoon, a rare treat for me as i don't often stitch during the day, i finished part 1 of Just Nans Barnabee's Quest


(Sally sent this to me after she had stitched it, thanks Sally, i'm really loving stitching this just as you said i would lol) i'm eager to start part 2 tonight.

Barnabee himself will be added when all 3 parts are finished the same as beads and other 2 charms

Hope everyone has a great weekend

horrendous weather

howling winds of up to 75 mph, it's really scary, and the rain makes it seem worse. Next doors greenhouse glass is now on the inside of the greenhouse as a tree branch fell on it and 2 poeple locally have their house roofs in their front gardens, also there are lots of tree branches all over the roads, i've not seen weather like this for a long time. Mr Moe decided the best place today was on DS's bed curled up nice and warm and i don't blame him for wanting to stay inside

I, on the other hand had to venture out in it to go to my yoga class, but i took the car so it wasn't too bad, just felt a bit like i was in a dodgem car wobbling all over the road LOL

Yes Heather, i did do some stitching last night (mostly when i got home though!!) Barnabee now has 6 bands completed ...

Wednesday is Stitchy Club night

tonight i'm off the our local stitchy club, only requirements for the club are that you stitch or do another craft, drink tea/coffee and can munch a biccie or two!! it's my 1 night out a week and i really look forward to seeing what the other ladies have been up to during the week. This week i'll be taking the biscornu to show them

TS MB 'Tuck of Love' design was stitched yesterday afternoon, it's all ready to be posted to my partner

Spent this morning finishing off my valentine exchange piece for JA MB -this is a secret exchange as well, i'll show a pic and say who it's for when everyones details have been revealed in Feb

Barnabee is growing nicely, 4 bands are now finished

tuck arrived

thanks Joann, the lovely tuck you made has arrived for the 'Tuck of Love' Valentine Exchange at TS, now to decide which design to stitch (opening 2" x 2"). There are so many little valentine/heart designs out there, have had a looksee but can't make up my mind. Posting date is not till beginning of Feb so there's no rush, of course you won't be able to see it on my blog till after my partner receives it ...

Happy Birthday Lisa, hope you have a good day, how old are you this time ???? LOL

W I P pic

1st pic of JN Barnabee's Quest Part 1 at lunchtime today It's stitching up quickly, and is only approx 4" across so i thought i better post a WIP pic as i'll probably have Part 1 finished by the end of the week LOL

Haven't started on Leo yet, it's all ready to go, but i'm really enjoying this so think i'll stick with it for now

I've gone and signed up for another Hardanger SAL @ Stitch and Stash as well, that starts early March ....what am i like !!!!

surprise stash

Visited my little brother yesterday as it was his 40th birthday ... he doesn't want anyone to know, i'm sure you won't tell LOL. He's just returned from a trip to the US and bought me a pressie - STASH - (Donna Kooler 99 little animal charts booklet, small handbag sized kit and a load of threads) that was a surprise, and there was me thinking he never listens to anything i say !!!

i finished the stitching on 'peachy' Friday night so spent last night sewing it together and adding the beads. Carol Tinson @ www.heiloom.metacraft.org designs some stunning charts and her instructions are so detailed, if you haven't tried one of her charts i highly recommend them

back view front view

i've sorted all the threads (70 or more) for my first HAED 'Leo' that Lisa kindly RAK'd me with last year and i've put a few stitches into JN Barnabees Quest, i'll maybe post a pic later this week when there's something to see

the weather today is nice and sunny and it's certainly made me feel a bit brighter than i have recently

a new start

i've just about finished the valentine piece for the exchange at Jaynes Attic, it needs to be in the mail no later than 1st Feb so that was a priority stitchy project this month. Last night i made a start on Heirloom Embroideries 'Peachy' biscornu. I've been looking forward to stitching this one, DS bought it me for Christmas, i ordered it and he paid but i had to wait for santa to bring it back to me lol. Then there were other things i needed to do first, like the JN, so i'm keen to settle down and make some good progress on it tonight

Postie brought me the charms i had ordered for JN Barnabees Quest today, so thats another that i have everything for, so i can make a start on that later this month, fingers crossed !!!

Happy Birthday Cindy

I stitched this lovey design called 'Heartstrings' from Cats Whiskers for Cindy's brithday. She has now opened the gift so i can share my pics with you. Stitched on 28ct antique white linen using DMC threads. It was really lovely to stitch and quite easy to make up, i'm really pleased with the finished project

finished view


this is the stitching that is on the inside when you open it up

Bookmark exchange

December was month 10 in a bookmark exchange i'm in, i've received this lovely blackwork bookmark from Lamby (thank you, it's lovely)

My stitching - made a start on my exchange piece for a valentine exchange, i'm really pleased with the way it's stitching up

1st finish for 2007

today i put the final stitches into Day 1 of Just Nans 12 Days of Christmas, this was lovely to stitch. I'm stitching them all on 1 piece, 2 across and 6 down on 28ct 'mushroom' evenweave, the fabric is quite stiff but will be better when i make a bellpull for Christmas than a softer fabric

I've also finished stitching another piece, a present for a friend, can't show it yet as she might look here. When she's received it i'll show you what it is LOL

Stash post for me ...

nice start to the day, postie brought me 2 packages from Jayne at http://www.jaynesattic.co.uk/

The first was my monthly thread pack from Vikki Clayton, this is the last one of these as i have changed my monthly collection to Finca Perle as i want to increase my stash of perle 8 & 12 now i've learnt hardanger. Also in there was my 28ct evenweave called 'February' from the 'Count on Me' fabric range (this is specially dyed fabric from the dye pots of Jayne's Attic, one colour per month) the colour of this is gorgeous. Not going to say what it is in case any of you are still waiting to receive yours LOL

The second package was 2 gifts from Jayne, 1 was from a competition that was held on the MB and the other a thank you for reviewing her services (which i must say are 1st class and if any of you haven't tried her i highly recommend you do)

Stitching wise ..... last night i started the JN 12 Days of Christmas, i've done the border on Day 1, not worth posting a pic till it's finished

Tonight is my one night a week out at our local stitching club and i'm looking forward to catching up with the ladies as we haven't met since our Christmas meal out on 22nd December

Happy Stitching

Happy New Year ...

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2007

A very quiet New Years Eve for us watching movies on the TV. DH with his alchoholic beverage, DD cyber partying on MSN with her friends, and me with my cup of tea and compulsory choccie fix stitching like mad ... WHY?? ... because i promised myself that i would finish the San Man Originals Christmas SAL before the end of the year. I only received the chart for part 7 on Saturday evening so it was a bit of a rush to get it done. The final stitch went in at 11.45pm, just had time to get myself another cuppa and sit back down to watch Big Ben in London strike in the new year and the 10 minute spectacular firework show that accompanied it.