An extra day ...

isn't that what us stitching girls all wish for when we have a project we really must/want to stitch, well today is the extra day in the year, have you spent any of the extra 24 hours doing things just for you or has it passed you all by much the same as any other Friday would have done LOL

My family have a different reason for today being special to us. My dear FIL passed away on this day in 1996. He was the most gentle and wonderful man and his life was cut short all too soon at the age of 67

I know he would have been happy at the fact that we can only officially raise a glass to him once every 4 years as he was not a fan of folks attending the cemetary and pondering at the graveside. So i'll blow a kiss to this lovely pic of him and say .... "God Bless you Dennis, we miss you very much"

Now to stitching talk and what i achieved this month -
Finishes ...
Dimensions - Spirit of the Eagle
TS Feb colouring book heart that i made into the pink pillow
Blue Ribbon Designs - stitching finished on pinkie (still needs to be made up)
JA Feb challenge - Dragonfly Stitches - Valentine Heart
Mothers Day basket
Charland Designs - Tipsy Tree
Bookmark for the TS exchange
WIP's - Papillon Creations SAL Part 2 done

Wednesday was the stitching club and i had every intention of making a start on ED's 'Spring' i put in a grand total of 30 stitches before i was called away to a meeting and have not touched it since. I'm hoping to make some progress on it this weekend and also to make up the pinkie (i know i said that last weekend didn't i LOL).

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know your thoughts, i really appreciate your advice, suggestions and encouragement. Enjoy your weekend.

Christmas stitching ...

Yesterday was Tinsel Time at TS, the day of the month you stitch on a Christmas project. I had decided at the beginning of the year to do an ornament a month like last year, but of course as usual other things happened and it hasn't got done until now. This one is Charland Designs Inc - Tipsy Tree from the 2007 JCS Ornament Issue, stitched on nordic blue jobelan and made very simply with a beaded bottom edge. A cute little tree and one that i have wanted to stitch since the magazine came out. Just one more to do and i'll be up to date LOL


My Mothering Sunday basket is all filled with goodies. In it is a bone china mug, Earl Grey tea, cappucino coffee, hot chocolate, horlicks, ovaltine, sugar cubes, chocolate biscuits, scottish shortbread biscuits and a bar of After Eight chocolate. Including the card, wrapping and the basket it cost £11.47, a nice and not too expensive unique handmade gift for those of us on a tight budget!!!

Thanks for your comments on the basket idea, both on here and on the MB's. I'm looking forward to seeing what ideas you come up with for stitching and filling them.

Tagging ..

I've been tagged by Karan and Elisa to name seven weird or random facts about myself.
Rules
1 Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2 Post the Rules on your blog.
3 Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4 Tag 7 people and link them.
5 Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

So here goes....
1. I was brought up as a Spiritualist as my mum is a medium and my dad was a healer
2. I collect buddhas
3. I was Chair of Governors at the local school
4. When i was a teenager i used to do the 25 mile sponsored charity walk for Christian Aid each year
5. My house number is 52, the reverse of 25 where i lived with my parents!
6. I do yoga and meditation and like to listen to tranquil music
7. We grow our own fruit and veggies at our allotment

I've decided not to tag anyone else as most of you have already been tagged, but if you read this and want to add it to your blog and pass it on to 7 of your friends please do

Alternative to the plan i had ....

So where did the weekend go to then?? plans i had for my stitching have not materialised at all, and here i am 2 days later with not a stitch in anything i was going to do.

My 'new start' project had a problem with one of the threads. It asks for Needle Neccessities 131 which i ordered ages ago (Threadworx 1045 alternative arrived). When i came to pull the DMC threads i needed for it, the Threadworx was nothing like the greens in the DMC colours, way too bright - disappointment was an understatement, i was looking forward to trying the Threadworx out never having used them before. Karen (Queen of bright ideas and a saviour on many occasions, i wish i had her brains) suggested i look at my collection of DMC variagated as there are 2 different greens in the normal range. Out came the box and sure enough DMC 92 is a perfect match but i only had about 1m left on the bobbin - isn't that just typical. DH drove me to the LNS yesterday afternoon (my brain and legs not in synch mode right now, hence the repeated bloodwork that was done Friday morning) to buy a couple of skeins at a whopping 67p each!!! So you would have expected me to start it last night .... errrrr no, because ....

Whilst we were out i had an idea, in our local Wilkinsons (hardware store for those not in the UK) i purchased a lined bread basket for £1.49. An idea popped into my head that i could use some waste canvas, stitch along the edge and fill with goodies for my mum for Mothering Sunday which is next week in the UK. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and think i might be off to purchase a couple more of these, they would be great Xmas gift baskets.

The decision now is do i start the Elizabeth Designs (couldn't keep you in suspense any longer Rachael, and i do have the other 3 that go with it too lol) or do i finish the bookmark that i was going to get completed this weekend???

Hope you all had a good weekend

It's reveal day ...

This months challenge, Dragonfly Stitches - Valentine Heart (thank you Kris for such a lovely design). After a lot of thought about this one i decided to stitch mine 1x1 on 27ct red linda using black and made a bobbin holder. I'd seen one of these on a blog a while back.

Rachael, here's a clue for you ... the design is an old one from 2000 and a seasons one, any ideas yet LOL

Pinkie preview ...

There were only 5 of us at the stitchy club last night, lots of absences due to this rotten cold/cough bug thats going around. Despite the continual chatter and laughs we had, i did finish the stitching on the Blue Ribbon design. I really wanted to show you the finished pieces before i make it up at the weekend as you wont be able to see just how pretty it is. It has been an absolute joy to stitch.

Talking of the weekend ... we'll be revealing the monthly challenge at Jayne's as well, i'm looking forward to seeing what the ladies have done this time with the Dragonfly Stitches Valentine Heart freebie, mines all done and the pic emailed to Karen to add to the album she has created. I wonder how many ladies have taken part this month, it's a very popular project.

I've decided on the design for the bookmark exchange, but as is usual this will have to remain a secret till its all done and received by my partner. Post out date isn't until mid March but i'm keen to get it done now i know what i'm doing and I think i've decided what the new start will be too, but i'll save that info for another post and keep you guessing a while longer LOL

Take care, lots of love

WARNING ...

If you are faint hearted leave this blog now .... this is me and DH on the big day cutting the yummy cake, Lori-Ann you asked and you've got it LOL. We had a fab day, civil ceremony and a sit down typical english afternoon tea for 40 close family and friends followed by an evening disco reception for 100.

Tonight i'm off to the stitchy club and hoping to get the last of the stitching done on the pinkie. A new start then i think, although i do have a bookmark to stitch for an exchange at TS and i might just get that out of the way first.

Happy Anniversary ...

Lookie what i received in the post for my wedding anniversary from Kathy in Yarmouth, it's the same design i stitched and gave away in my contest - how strange is that!! Someone is bound to ask how long i have been married ... well ... DH and I have been together for 22 years but we have only been married for 8, i was a millenium bride and the weather that year was a whole lot warmer than it is today LOL

Papillon SAL part 2 ...

According to local radio we had the coldest night for a number of years last night, we certainly knew it when we woke up, it was a whiteout!! Even though the suns been out most of the day it really hasn't warmed up much. I decided to spend a cosy hour or two in my conservatory singing away to old songs on the radio and stitching up part 2 of the Papillon SAL while DH was continuing to decorate the hallway LOL

Pillow winner ...

all the names were put into a bowl and DH drew out the winner - congratulations Dawn. Can you let me have your address please and i'll get the pillow in the mail to you next time i'm at the post office. Thank you for entering, sorry you couldn't all win LOL

Hope have a great weekend whatever your plans are, i'll be stitching i hope LOL

Happy Valentines Day ...

Do you think Valentines day is romantic or are you of the opinion like my DH that it is just a way for shop owners to cash in and make money ???

With this in mind, when i was at the stitchy club last night i received a message on my phone which read "Can you stop off on the way home and pick me up a valentine gift for you?" It doesn't take a great imagination for you to guess what the reply was LOL. When i got home my DD came in right after me and presented my with a lovely bouquet of flowers telling they were from DH and he had asked her to pick up something for me when she left work at the local supermarket (i must add she also had an even bigger bouquet in the other hand from her BF and a Be my Tweetheart tweety pie birdie balloon!!). We laughed and made fun of DH.

When i awoke this morning, he brought me my usual cup of tea in bed (thats a daily thing, he is a real romantic really) together with a large box of Ferrerro Rocher choccies (yummy) and a lovely card, and here's the pic to prove it!! I had already bought him a card and a small gift of his favourite choccie, so i decided he had redeemed himself and he could have them LOL

To be fair, he brings me flowers regularly throughout the year and says why should he feel obligated to do it when it is expected from him. I guess he has a point....

From me to you ....

As it's valentines day tomorrow i am giving this away to a regular blog poster, if you would like to have this, please leave a comment and i'll get DH to draw a winner tomorrow. The chart is the 'Feb Colouring Book Page' from the TS MB, fabric is Sassy's fabric 18ct aida in 'Pink Fantasy'(a gift from Karen when we had the Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Week) and the thread is DMC 917
Good Luck to you all

Happy Dancing ....

Finished this morning - Spirit of the Eagle in all it's glory and if i have to do one more french knot star i'll scream.... I've really enjoyed this one and i know Dad would have loved it, shame i didnt see the chart when he was still alive, although i dont think i would have got the same satisfaction out of stitching it as i would have been doing it for different reasons.

Lori-Ann you asked if it was for my wall - my DS has watched this grow with great interest (he usually just grunts and nods at my stitching lol) and has asked if he can have it for his bedroom, he and my dad were very close.

Love and {hugs} to you all

Sunday sunshine ...

and if we get a bit more like we've had for the last couple of days my lovely camelia will be out in flower just like it was in this pic taken last year. I have 6 of these in my garden and they are by far my most favourite plants that we have. One of them was my 1st wedding anniversary pressie from DH.


Stitching update - i have almost finished the indian, 1 more session and i should be happy dancing. The Feb challenge piece at Jayne's is half stitched and i have an idea for finishing that off, just need to make sure it's all done before the reveal date. Then of course the 2nd part of the Papillon SAL is out too, looks like its going to be a busy week, wonder if i'll get it all done? My DD is off college this week as it's half term hols here in my part of the UK and she's sure to want to be booking "Mum's Taxi" LOL

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend

Just for those of you ...

who wanted another update, your request is my command LOL. I sat for a couple of hours this morning, very unheard of for me to stitch in the daytime unless it's the weekend, but it was nice and quiet and i was home alone so decided to take the opportunity and listen to some of my favourite music and have some 'ME' time

Stitchy club again tonight and we have another birthday and cakes, there are 6 birthdays in January so they spread out the cakes over February as well, this is definately doing my waistline no good at all !!!!

Last night was UFO Tuesday at Jayne's, Mr Stick and I are off to go and see how the little 'twiglets' got on and if not stitching, what good excuse they have LOL

Hope you are all well and life is running smoothly for you all. Thank you for stopping by and leaving me comments, i really do appreciate it

Our snow ...

We woke up to a couple of inches on Saturday, but by lunchtime it was all melted away as the sun decided to come out - typical!!
Had a quiet day yesterday beavering away on 'the indian', tail feathers are all done and hopefully the lower wing will be soon if i don't get distracted with something else.... like the Feb challenge or the colouring book page at TS or the pinkie LOL