We had a storm here in the UK last week, very high winds, worse than we have seen for some time. Unfortunately, we had some damage resulting in the insurance assessors having to come out and see what can be done. A tree, a large fence, a garden shed and two not happy neighbours!
A couple of little outings have happened this month and quite a bit of staying home.
The craft group went on a bus trip to the Crafts for Christmas show at the NEC the first weekend of the month. Very busy there but I did make a couple of little purchases. I bought a few other things but they are for gifts.
A new 1/4" foot for my sewing machine and some bottom line thread for the shuttle (purchased on advice from the quilting tutor). After seeing Jo's lovely Nutmeg Company little housey I treated myself to the Cinderella Panto House. It wont be stitched for this festive season, definitely next year. A beading kit to be shared with a friend as we both try our hand at making a bracelet, something new for the new year. There was hundreds of stalls for papercraft but not many for stitching and knitting.
A cute bee hat has been knitted. The kit was donated by a local councillor for the charity knit group and I was asked to knit this childrens hat. So cute....buzz buzz.....
DH asked me if I would kindly knit this little chap, and he's now gone off in the post to his new home. We've named him Alf. I used two strands of 4ply sock wool for his hat to give it the tweed effect. It always makes me smile to add a face on a character I've knitted.
Still playing catch up with the Plum Street Sampler SAL. Days 3, 4 and 5 now complete so not too far behind everyone else.
Clare will soon be decorating a tree in her church for the festive season. Some of you may remember she has done it quite a few years now. This years theme is joy and here's the ornament I stitched for it. Found in the 2004 JCS ornament edition.
I was lucky enough to be able to give the ornament to Clare in person Saturday 14th Nov as 5 ladies from Needlecraft Haven met up for a days stitching and fun, organised by Clare.
We always have a goody bag exchange and this time the theme was 'numbers'
Each of the lovely homemade cakes has a raffle ticket underneath to correspond with a bag, you choose a cake and hope that you don't get your own bag back!
The number I chose for my bag was 6 and here's the contents of my goody bag that was won by Gill...
The bag I chose was from Clare herself. She chose the number 4, great things inside including a lovely chart from Elizabeth Designs with the four seasons on. Perfect for next years seasonal SAL. Thank you Clare.
We also have a book exchange. This time with the theme of the day being numbers we had a dice game to decide which book went home with you, that was fun!
We passed the books around the number of times the dice showed after each of us had shaken it. In the end my book went to Clare, I'd chosen Tangled Lives by Hilary Boyd to donate and the book I received was this one. Thank you Lindsay.
Lots of nice work on show, its always nice to see things in person that you have been looking at over the months before meeting in person.
Everyone donates something to the raffle. The money raised from this keeps the forum advert free, it usually lasts till the next meet up.
I was lucky enough to win the jester bag (bottom left of the pic) that Gill had made, its fabulous and was a real hit at my Craftshare group. The ladies are all keen to have a go at one of these themselves.
The lovely day did end on a sad not though as one of our ladies had an accident on her way home resulting in a fractured wrist and broken shoulder. Get well soon, {{gentle hugs}} Angi.
A lovely 'thinking of you' gift arrived for me in the post from dear Barb, isn't she fabulous. She's holding a bunch of lovely forget-me-nots. Thank you so very much my dear friend. Perhaps you are a reader of Barb's blog and have seen her lady currently displayed on her November mantle who is carrying poppies for remembrance. Barb does some wonderful stitching and visits some great places so if you haven't visited her, why not pop along.
This week its time to post out the ornament for the Christmas exchange. Pleased to say mine was finished on time and is being sent. Not long to wait till the reveal of that as its opening day on 1st December so i'll share that with you next time. Also, it will be reveal for the monthly challenge at NH organised by Christine this coming Sunday so something else to show you. Some Christmas gift knitting as well, so I must remember to take a pic of that.
It's that time of the year when secret things are being made and everyone is so busy with preparations for the holiday season. Not too many days left if you need to whip up a quick Christmas gift and mail it out.
Wishing my overseas visitors a very Happy Thanksgiving for later this week. May you spend happy times with those you love over the holiday. I've seen a few of you with coverings of snow in your gardens so I hope it doesn't cause disruptions to your holiday plans.
Thank you for your good wishes comments on my last post for me, I am much improved.
Till the next time .....
Blessings to you all
