Happy Birthday to me .......

I've had a lovely day and been thoroughly spoilt, just look at these wonderful gifts that i have received from stitching friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart to you all, such a lot of stunning work as i am sure you will all agree. Thank you also to everyone for their birthday wishes, and i will whisper that today i was 46 ...

Thank you Karen, i love your lovely handmade glass bead bracelets, love the 'wiffie' lavendar rabbit that is so cute and how did you know i adore the JN 15 sided biscornu chart and had been considering getting that!!! Furry cuddles to JJ and Gus for the pussy cat manicure set.

Thank you Barb (no blog) your stitching on the jewellery box is superb (all those french knots!) and thank you Seymore bunny who sent his 'knitty mum' the LHN chart LOL The card of my fluffy boys is a stunner with the paper flowers, you are so talented in your craftwork.

Karan, you have really spoiled me with this super package, i hope you are having fun on your hols. The lapis will be 'wetted' and put into my pocket, i will keep you informed on its/my progress. The charts are super as is your stitching on the little thread keeper. I am also the owner of a Karan creation card.

Rachael surprised me with my very 1st mail-art envelope, how cool that the post office frank the stamp on the front! Inside she included a gorgeous hardanger bookmark, isnt it just stunning. The birthday card arrived in a seperate envelope. Thanks so much Rachael for your kindness.

This cutie Kitty in the party hat together with the lovely pillow arrived from Sally, thank you so much Sally its such a pretty design and one i haven't seen before

Kathy (no blog) made me a cutie kitty bookmark and enclosed some finishing ribbons etc and some lovely backing fabrics together with a super card she had stitched for me.

This fabulous little pocketed pillow swam across the pond from Julianne, it is so perfect for me, well done postie it actually arrived today! Your stitching and finishing is stunning Julianne, thank you so much for the card and lovely threads that were tucked in the back too.

From Fi (no blog), Paula and Angi (no blog)

Thank you again for your kindness ladies, this has been a very emotional birthday for me with you all spoiling me. Much love to you all.

Socks & ornies

Woohoo ... my socks are finished and they fit!!! Not quite as neat as i would have liked but not bad for a first attempt, i will definately be making some more of these. They look really cool on my feet and are so soft. The knitter at the stitchy club was real impressed that i managed to sort out the mistake on the pattern myself. DD has asked me to knit her a pair so looks like another trip to the wool shop very soon.

I wanted to stitch something a little different for Clares Miss-Tree for the church display. Stephie kindly lent me this book with the Little Miss characters in. It was really nice to stitch something so bright and colourful.

Guard cat on duty!

Just had to share Midges latest portrait ... he's trying to impersonate a lion! He was sitting lovely and just as i snapped the button he yawned, a once in a lifetime pic!

Sock sorted - i think!

Had an afternoon sitting in the comfy chair and sorting out the sock and stitching, it was really nice and enjoyable singing along to the radio, certainly didnt want to be going out in the rain we've had today.

Does this look more like a sock now?? Had a lightbulb moment last night and realised the pattern is wrong. Knitters out there might think the same when they look at 2nd Row (clickable pic) after the bracket there is a s1 which i dont think should be there. I omitted it and the heel seems to have knitted up ok, not perfect but ok for a first attempt i think.

As well as making progress on 'le sock' i also did Part 1 of the hardanger SAL bookmark that Clare designed. Mine is the beginners one and is available together with 2 more advanced ones here all proceeds go to the MS society and St Cadfans Church for everything sold.

We have to show the back of this so i've been really careful to make sure it looks perfect. This pic is the front, the back is exactly the same *honest* The others that have been started look wonderful, a nice range of colours. Mine is DMC 3743 Perle 5 and came in the kit.

How do you all feel about other stitchers seeing the back of your work? Do you turn other peoples work and peek if they show you something? i know i do, i cant resist!



Only Julie (sew wilde) asked for the Dolly Mama chart so it is off in the post tomorrow to its new home

Is it Monday!

Not much stitching/knitting etc to blog about, sorry. I did get the Dolly Mama made up this weekend into a fridge magnet, although it looks a bit wonky to me now its done! Lots still on the 'to do' list this month, but being realistic i dont think they will all get done.

All the expectation and excitement of the socks has left me, i've knitted the heel part 5 times and undone it every time, i'm sure i follow the instructions exactly as it says, but you run out of stitches before you have knitted the required amount of decreasing rows!!! We have an experienced knitter at the stitchy club, so i might just have to ask for help when we return on 29th July, there is no club this week as they are having the annual deep clean so we are off to the local pub for a nice meal out.

Trying to keep my mind occupied with something simple and needing no concentration, been a strange week where i cant seem to concentrate on anything. I've spent a lot of time curled up in the chair with a book. Barbara Erskines House of Echoes was a real spooky thriller which grabbed the attention, a really good read. I've now started Lesley Pearse, Trust Me Thanks Barb (no blog) for passing this on.

We are also a bit worried. Davids not been well for a while and we finally persuaded him to visit the Dr last Friday eve, seems they need some speedy tests done today and we get the results Friday unless they send for him earlier.

Hope you all have a lot more enthusiasm for your crafting projects that i do...