***Happy Dancing***

Back in December last year i was invited to join the Needleprint Beatrix Potter Quaker SAL blog. I put the first stitch into mine on 15th Jan. Membership grew fast on the blog as ladies showed updates on their own blogs and we soon had the maximum 100 stitchers. With all good intentions of finishing this by the end of this year and thinking yeah right in your dreams... I HAVE!!

There are such a lot of different wonderful variations and all so lovely, its been great to watch them all grow over the year, and see 7 finishes to far. Mine is stitched on 25ct laguna in potato using Carries Creations - Wedgewood and Bordeaux.

Thanks to you all for your encouragement over the year with this, my first large Quaker project.

Remembrance Day

IN FLANDERS FIELDS.
In Flanders field the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
~~By Major John McCrae, May 1915.~~


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I'm pleased to report that DH's test results showed no sign of H1N1, although he was quite poorly with whatever it was. He is now much improved and went back to work late last week. DS and i seem to have escaped the germs, fingers crossed it stays that way as i know lots of people who are unwell right now.

Stitching news - Christmas Wishes by Linda Bodkin of Loopylou Designs is finished, i decided against the doves eyes in the bottom hardanger panel as i prefer it without. The threads of this one are different to those the charts asks for too although they are basically the same colours. I also finished the final part of the hardanger bookmark from Clare Aimetu

Beatrix also has a motif added but as there is only one more to add till its completed i'll save that for the happy dance!

Just Nans Lady Scarlet has also grown and there are 4 more bands added. Its such a lovely one to stitch, hopefully i'll be on target for a finish in 2009 if i can get part 2 done this month but its that time of the year again when we are all busy with secret projects that can't be shown as we are secretly sending goodies off to santa for friends and family.

I hope you have all had some productive stitching time and the bugs and germs are keeping well away from you. Thanks for visiting.

Beatrix and the boys

Beatrix has been put away now till next month. It's amazing what you get done just taking it to the stitching club each Wednesday night and the odd evening inbetween. This month i managed to add 4 motifs and that just leaves 2 for a finish. Two months to go till the SAL ends so i should easily get it finished in 2009, thanks Hazel for organising this SAL, its been great fun and was my first quaker biggie.

Marian has asked how my "fluffy boys" are as i haven't posted any pictures for a while. They have been busy perfecting the art of cushion hugging, although i think Midge has an identity crisis as he is in 'her ladyships' chair (yes girls thats mine) my SIL bought me the lovely cushion as a birthday gift. Oh to be a furbaby and enjoy the comforts of a good home!

DH is off work right now and confined to home with what they think is acute tonsillitus, they have swabbed the bacterial growths to check for H1N1 as apparently its on the increase again. With his asthma history they want to be certain as he is due to have a flu jab and also the swine flu one when it is available at our surgery.

Reveal day

Octobers monthly challenge was for either Four Fat Friends or First Snow from The Drawn Thread. I had almost finished stitching First Snow and had a great idea of how it was going to be finished when DH looked over my shoulder and said 'i do hope that one is our Christmas Ornament for this year, its really nice' so it ended up as just that and will adorn our tree this year. Its stitched on 36ct edinburgh linen using Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Art Sampler threads. Instead of stitching the snowflakes i used Delica beads which sparkle that i had in my stash although they dont show up so well in the picture.

The mini christmas stockings that DS wanted knitting for his friends children are to be filled with mini chocolate santas. He didnt want traditional christmas colours but asked if they could be typical blue/boy and pink/girl but i did add some holly leaves and berries to them to make them seem a bit more Christmassy. He was really pleased with them and i hope the kids are too.

Did you all remember to put the clocks back last night and enjoy your extra hour in bed...

Knit not stitch

Only 1 evening of stitching this week which was Wednesday at the club, i took Beatrix with me and accomplished half of another motif, its growing but very slowly, why is it the last little bit gets so boring and always takes forever?

It's been more of a knitty week, DH's halloween socks are complete, he's really pleased with them especially as they are a bit longer in the leg than the other pair.

I've also been knitting some Christmas surprise smalls which grow really fast. DS saw them and has asked for 2 for his friends children for Christmas.

Thank you to Gaynor for the lovely knitting mag which i won in a contest on her blog. It's got a great book about crochet with it, thats the 'lets try something new' i want to do in 2010, this year it was the socks and i have mastered those (i know its only on 2 needles and i have yet to master the 4 needles LOL) Lots of stitchers seem to be enjoying taking a break from stitching and trying knitting or crochet recently i have seen it on lots of blogs.

This morning i finished off the monthly challenge piece. This month it's a choice of 2 free designs from The Drawn Thread, not long till the reveal of this as its next Sunday.

Enjoy your crafty time ...