Friday funday!

Poor Midge is feeling very sorry for himself. He was not impressed when naughty mum woke him up this morning to put him into the cat basket and bundle him into the car for a short drive to the vets for his annual check up and vaccination. The bad vet also stuffed a worming pill down his throat! He's been curled up on the big bed since he came home having a catnap LOL


When i got back postie had been and Amy had signed for a parcel for me ... it was my needleroll in the secret exchange at JA. On opening the envelope a gorgeous smell of lavendar wafted out coming from the needleroll. Many thanks to 'secret stitcher' for this lovely piece of work and also for the goodies you enclosed. Reveal is this weekend, i'll show you mine and let on where it went and of course find out who stitched this.

GOOD DEED FOR THE DAY ~ I intercepted a burglar this afternoon ... he was robbing my neighbours car, i shot out of our front door and shouted to him and he sped off on his bicycle, his friend and look-out was up the road. He was in his early 20's and obviously an opportunist thief. Unfortunately she had not locked the car as she had only nipped inside to pick something up and he did get away with her phone but lots of other stuff that was in there was OK. She's phoned the police to report it, but i don't suppose i'll be getting a visit to give a description etc. DH thinks we need to get a camera put up on the outside of the house as there has been quite a bit of vandalism in the area lately as well as thieves ...

Bunnies & Gardens

I'd like to introduce you to Marie, she arrived safely with Tracey and her daughter Erin today. Helen, i hope folks don't add them to their wish lists, i'll have made 17 i think when they are all done, i think thats quite enough for a while LOL

Tiny Rose Garden grew quite a bit last night. Tomorrow it's LHN SAL but hopefully i'll get it finished at the weekend and then a new start for next week, but i'm not sure what to choose from my stash mountain so will have a good look over the weekend and see what jumps out at me.

Apparently my cactus in the previous post is an Easter one, a little late flowering this year. I do have a Christmas one too (that is smaller and bright pink and sounds like your mums one Lori-Ann)

for stopping by ...

Grumpy stitcher ...

Bullion knots ggrrrrr .... i had never attempted these before and Part 5 of the Papillon Creations SAL had them in the butterfly at bottom left. I did all the other stitching and found a practice piece of 28ct to have a go - 1 hour later and lots of grumbling and a few naughty words and i had a reasonable one stitched. I did have to take the fabric out of the frame and hold it in hand to get them done so i could tease the thread through the wound thread on the needle but they are now finally done, not perfect but acceptable to me anyway!!! Hope you all had better luck with yours.

Another heirloom plant for you to see. This cactus is a cutting from my grandfathers house up in Dunoon Scotland. He passed away a few years ago but this was always in bloom for his birthday 14th May so i just had to have one of these. Haven't a clue what type it is but the flower measures a whopping 6" across and it's such a straggly scruffy looking leaf to the plant. There are about 9 flowers on it this year.

Yesterday was UFO night at JA, hope all you ladies did lots of stitching. Tonight i'm off to the stitchy club, guess what i'm taking with me .... shocker it's the Tiny Rose Garden, thats the only thing in the workbox right now that needs urgent attention and i did say i would get it all done before i had a new start didn't i .....

Happy Stitching

Stitch, stitch, knit ...

Mums birthday gift is finished. This chart has been in my stash since 2006 and was a complimentary design called 'Darling Buds' from Carol Tinson of Heirloom Embroideries. It was a printed chart that came with an order i received. I saw a mirror finish recently that Chris had received in an exchange and decided it would be a good idea to give that a try, it turned out OK i think.

Week 7 of the LHN SAL with Karen

The border of the last 2 boxes at the bottom were stitched and i filled in the first 4. It looks quite different now with a bit more colour added. Not a bad week this time and no sign of a frog to spoil it. I dont usually wish time to fly by, but stitching this is so nice i am doing just that LOL

This little lady is Emily. She was sent to the US at the beginning of May to Lynne. She's arrived safely and is having a fun time snuggled up amongst Lynne's collection of Pine Mountain Pillows that she loves to stitch.

Today i made up the next 2, so they will be off in the post on Tuesday and also another special little baby one that will go to a young lady who has a birthday later this week so her mum can have hers back ... any guesses who that is?? Only 6 more to make ....

Hope you're having a nice weekend

Friendship, Flight & Finish

FRIENDSHIP
A birthday present for my friend/neighbour 12 years ago was a rose bush named 'friendship' and it's become a tradition that she comes over to give me the very first flower of the year. Here it is this year and i'd like to share it with all you wonderful friendly visitors to my blog and thank you for taking time to stop by, read my ramblings, look what i've been doing and leave a comment. Thank you for your friendship.

FLIGHT
Our nesting box on the side of the garage has been inhabited by a family of tits this year, you can just see something peeking out between the ivy leaves (pic taken last week). Dad came out earlier this week followed by a ball of fluff on a short flight from the ivy to the fencing (you can see the ivy top left of the 2nd pic and the little fluffball). Dad flew off and the fluffball did a funny little dance but stayed on the fencing so dad returned gave him a little meal to give him some dutch courage, chirruped and flew down the garden to my pear tree and fluffball followed - so my baby has flown the nest. We've not seen any more little ones so perhaps he was an only child!

FINISH
Happy Birthday Kathy ..... this is the little surprise i was making last week and had to get in the post quickly. I decided to make a bobbin holder. It's backed with the same fabric and i stitched the date there.
Chart - Just Nan Ornamental Letters
Fabric 28ct lavendar/purple? (not sure what)
Threads - DMC and gutterman gold fine braid
I've stitched this design a few times before but never tire of it, and with it having all 26 letters of the alphabet on it was a very worthwhile purchase and great value for money - publicity bit over LOL

In the UK we have an extra days holiday this weekend although they are predicting yet another wet one! I hope you all have a lovely weekend and some fun times with your families and may the stitching frog be non-existant at your house. My little friend went to pastures new this week at the club on Wednesday, so hopefully i'll have a productive weekend.
Happy Stitching