Gifted Gorgeousness ~ January

15th of the month means its time to do a post for the first Gifted Gorgeousness of the year. 

I have sent out two RAK's this month.

The first went off to Justine.  She commented on a forum I belong to that she had never used silk threads.  I have a few and thought it would be nice for her to receive a little surprise in the post and give them a try. 

 

The second envelope I posted out just a few days ago.  This one went off to our our dear Jo, the organiser of Gifted Gorgeousness.  I sent her one of my bunnies.   With Jo's love of all things Halloween she just had to be dressed in black with a purple skirt underneath.

 

 

In my almanac book (pic in the last post) it tells of the constellation of stars this month.  Last night my granddaughter was getting in the car to go home and said 'look at the black sky and all the bright stars nanny' so we both looked up and sure enough as we were looking south they were amazing.  After mummy drove off I nipped back inside to get my almanac and sure enough there it was orion and orions belt so very clear and just like in the book.  Exciting stuff and what a gift to see!

 

This picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

For anyone who doesn't know about GG, its anything at all that is gifted.  It could be to you, or from you, the rules are very simple.   January's link up post can be found here.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone has in their GG posts this month. Januarys always a good month as everyone starts the year with such good intentions.

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

Moons and stripes

The first day of the new year saw us witness a wolf moon, it was also a super moon and the biggest and brightest we will see this year.

 

The term supermoon refers to a full moon which occurs when the moon is closest to Earth.   The first full moon in January has been nicknamed the Wolf Moon because traditionally, it appeared when wolves howled in hunger.

 

Unfortuantely, it was very windy and cloudy, even though DH and I took quite a few pictures, this is one of the best - i really must try and improve my camera skills.  

 

 

We bought ourselves a copy of this almanac book for this year and strangely when DH's subscription copy of Gardeners World arrived they were suggesting buying a copy.... does that mean we are trendy?

 

 

It's filled with lots of interesting information about seasonal things and tells me that we'll see another supermoon on 31 January.  That full moon will also be a blue moon because it's the second full moon within the same month which is rare.

 

My brother had a special birthday holiday in the US in October and brought me back some sock wool he found and liked.  Still nursing this awful cold that's about I haven't done any knitting or crafting since 19th December but this week I picked up the needles again on Wednesday evening and the feel of wool and needles was so comfortable.  I finished off the socks and ended up with a nice new warm and cosy pair for me..... my first finish for 2018.

 

 

 

I've also had needle and thread in hand and a little stitching has happened.  I can't share that with you as its the monthly challenge Christine chooses for us.  You'll have to wait till the last Sunday of the month to see that on reveal day.  I must remember it needs to be fully finished and find inspiration how to complete it.

 

Love and blessings to you all

 

Julie

 

 

Waving farewell to 2017 and Welcome in 2018

We've arrived at New Years Eve, that must mean it's time for a round up of my craftwork during the past year.

 

I've seen quite a few collages recently and thought I would show my finishes this year that way too.

 

Quite a productive year when you see it displayed this way instead of a list with more knitting than stitching......... 26 knitting - 18 stitching - 1 feltwork

 

Many thanks for visiting me during 2017.  Your support and encouragement has meant a lot to me through the good times and the not so good news we had. 

 

2017 brought things I had not expected into my life with health issues that will continue on and at times its going to test us as a family but we are determined to walk the pathway that comes with our heads held high and hopefully keep a positive outlook and take advantage of the good things that we have in our life.  We are very fortunate compared to so many. 

 

 I'm looking forward to being part of the blogging community in the new year to come and my continued friendship across the 'webwaves' with you all. 

 

My stitching bug will resurface again and needle and thread will find its way into my quiet moments as well as the calm and relaxing knitting that has seemed so much easier recently.  I haven't made any plans for the year.  Earleir plans this year were to start my stitching year with the wonderful Cricket Collection seasons Spring chart that I won from Katie earlier this year.  They are so lovely and I still keep looking at them and thinking I might like to give them a go, so who knows, when the stitching bug grabs you, sometimes you just can't resist! 

 

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, I hope 2018 is filled with all your hopes and dreams.

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie x

 

 

Gifts a plenty

Christmas, a time for giving and receiving, caring and sharing.  I hope you had a Happy Christmas with lots of fun and good times with those you love.

For us it was a little different this year with both DH and I full of cold.  We did spend a couple of hours on Christmas Day with our daughter as she had planned and cooked a beautiful Christmas dinner for us.  Sadly, we tired easily and headed home after a short time back under the fluffy blanket where we have stayed.  Today i'm feeling a lot better, but DH is not.  A trip to the dr and DH has a sinus infection, that explains the horrendous nose bleed during last night!

I sent out some handknitted gifts that I can share with you now they have been received.

 

A scarf for DD ......

 

A pair of socks for Barb

Socks for Clare

Father Christmas brought me lovely gifts from online friends...

 

Thank you Clare, Christine, Barb, Angi, Gill, June and Kathy.

Santa hardanger ornament was made by Clare and hand printed tea towel by Christine 

 

This lovely handknitted scarf was a huge surprise.  DD has taken up knitting with no help from mum, all her own work learning from online sites.  Well done Amy xx

 

 

Blog reading and catching up with you all is on the agenda for this evening now i'm not permantently attached to the tissue box!  See you soon.

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie  

Merry Christmas (and this months GG for Jo)

We plan for Christmas for ages.  Crafters start making things months before the man in red appears.  Some even work on ornaments all year round to try and avoid the last minute rush.

 

I started the year with good intentions and made a few ornaments which you have all seen, they've been gifted to friends and family.

 

This final little easy one went off in an envelope last week.

 

 

The four seasons was a SAL that I joined and did manage to keep up with.  I chose the PS designs from the Gift of Stitching magazine. 

 

Winter stitched and finally made up.

 



 

It joins the other 3 to complete the set.

 

A friend asked if I could make a pair of socks for her if she supplied the wool.  

 

It's a good job I made a start on them when she asked and got them finished in plenty of time as I've been nursing the mother of all colds for the past week and been bedbound.  There's been no Christmas preparations here this week, this year we'll be winging it.......

 

Just time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, hope you have a good one, before I head back to bed with a warm drink.

 

 

Love and blessings

Julie x
 

 

I'm sure you all know what Gifted Gorgeousness is all about - but just in case you don't ....

It is a chance for us bloggers to show off gifts we have given or received.  It could be yarn, a thread, a piece of fabric or something that's not for crafting but was sent/given to brighten your day. 

 

You can read more about 'GG' here.  It's the brainchild of Jo at Serendipitous Stitching