Midge & the rose bush ...

In amongst this rose on our arbour is not where a certain young Midge cat got his war wound... this rose is Zepherine Drouhin and is a thornless rose. It does have the most wonderful scent to it though and as you sit under the arbour and soak up the evening sunshine you get the scent of turkish delight - my favourite! It's his favourite vantage point to watch the comings/goings of all the wildlife and humans in the garden.

I have a confession to make Karen, i didn't stitch on the LHN Friendship Tree this week so no update pic - sorry. I really wanted to get the basket finished on Friday, but that went into Saturday and then wasn't feeling too good Sunday or Monday. I'm sure it will be out again this Friday though as i missed it.

The second basket has been started this week and fabric/thread for the monthly challenge at JA decided on. For July it's Debbie Drapers 'Love' freebie. A lot of ladies chose this one, so hopefully there will be a good choice of different finishes this month. I think i might take this with me to the stitchy club tomorrow. It's the last one as they are then closed for 2 weeks for the annual deep clean of the Community Centre so we'll be off to the local pub for a meal for the following 2 weeks. No stitching then... what a shame eh!!

Happy Stitching
& UFO'ing to all Mr Sticks 'friends' I hope you didn't forget it was Tuesday lol

Raffle Basket ...

Have you ever stitched using waste canvas??

Our donation for the fruit/veg show raffle this year will be 2 stitched gift baskets. I chose a rose border from an old magazine for the first one. Tack the waste canvas onto the liner to secure it, stitch, then remove it very carefully one thread at a time so as not to disturb the stitching. We chose a mug/biscuits/hot drinks for this one. It's gift wrapped in see through plastic with a bow tied at the top but i had to remove it to photograph it. If you've never tried it give it a go, it really is easy to use and worth the extra effort to make a special gift and of course you can stitch on almost anything then.

The people of Tenerife know what to do with frogs!! Look at this cute froggie thimble made of pewter that David and Amy brought back from their holiday for me. He looks such a grumpy chap doesn't he, i wonder why??

I have a small collection of pewter pincushions so he'll be right at home with them.


Thanks for stopping by, hope you're having a good weekend

Summer is finished ...

no not the season, i mean the Elizabeth Designs Summer Flower Sampler. I added the charms to it today before my busy day started. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and have put it away with Spring until i get round to stitching Autumn and Winter, which will be soon i think.

It's been a strange week with DD on hols. DH has been off catching up on things around the house so my PC and stitching time has been invaded, as soon as i sit down he suggests we do something or go somewhere. It's nice to have him home but will be equally as nice for him to go back to work on Monday LOL

Thank you for your kind comments about Midge. He's been a good boy this week and taken all his tablets really well. The swelling has (to put it bluntly) burst open ... yeuck! and is now healing nicely. He went back for a check up this evening and she's really pleased with him. I now have a hole in my purse where there once was cash LOL

Happy 4th July to all my overseas readers.

June achievements ...

Here we are again, the last day of yet another month and time to remind myself of the progress that was made this month.

SAL'S:- Friday is LHN Friendship Tree SAL with Karen so that had 4 more weeks added to it and yesterday i caught up with the Papillon Creations freebie SAL and stitched part 6, that means we are half way with this now.

FINISHES:- More knitting than stitching this month - 8 adults and 1 baby bunny were knitted. I did finish the tiny rose garden at long last and the monthly challenge at JA (Blue Ribbon Designs - Health & Happiness freebie) together with the bookmark prize for the fruit/veg show. There was also the biscornu for the exchange at JA but although it has been received i can't show it till the reveal date.

WIP:- Only one new start this month - Elizabeth Designs 'Summer' - i've been taking this one with me on Wednesdays to the stitchy club and it's over half finished. I also started my 'toy' for the knitting category in the show.

Unfortunately still no progress on HAED Leo again, i really must get her out otherwise i might just get a visit from that rogue Mr Stick and i dont want that do i .....

I hope you all had a productive month too

Happy Stitching

How to stitch correctly ....

Conclusion of the ladies at the stitching club on Wednesday - so long as the stitcher is happy with the end result thats all that matters ....

1. Who cares how you hold the frame or what type it is
there is not 1 type of frame that is better than all the rest, it's a personal choice
2. OR what direction your crosses go in
so long as they are all the same way, it doesn't matter which way you do it
3. OR if you cast on with a loop or not
depends how you have learnt and if someone shows you something different
4. and can anyone tell me the correct way to sit when you stitch???
If you could see me all scrunched up on the sofa with my workbox at the side with all my stuff on it and the frame bundled up next to my not quite as slim as it once was midrift, i'm sure i dont sit properly either, but its comfy and i like it!!!

No stitching but knitting whilst watching BB last night (i know i'm sad, but it's DH who is keeping up with this so i had to watch it!) Friendship Tree came out this morning instead for a couple of hours and i stitched the fence and the little kitty whilst keeping a close eye on Midge. He's not too good, he's had a run in with a rose bush the vet thinks and he's got a nasty swelling in his armpit area. She gave him 2 injections and some antibiotics yesterday and wants to recheck him again in a week in case he needs to have it operated on and a closer look.

Amy rang from Tenerife... they arrived safely and the flight was only delayed by one hour so that was good. Even better was the pizza they had with The Keiser Chiefs in the airport before they left, so that made her holiday a success even before it started.