Happy Birthday ...

Today is my 45th Birthday, and what a wonderful day it's been.

Friends have called in to see me and i've received lots of lovely cards and gifts from family, friends and online ladies too. Some of them were a total surprise. Thank you for your good wishes on the MB's i visit too.

Tonight i'll be off to the stitching club with my basket full of cakes, and also a candle to light in memory of our dear friend Hazel which will burn to celebrate her life for the duration of our meeting.

My brother recently had a holiday in the US and i asked him to see if he could get me the Whitman Tin whilst he was there, he didn't manage to get that but he did get me all this (and yes those Whitman boxes have the chocs inside them ... yummmmmy)

DH bought me a pair of 'love' scissors from Kelmscott and started off my pandora bracelet, he bought me the love charm, the kitty, Leo symbol and the glass bead. DD and her BF chose the present and the four leaf clover and DS chose the fish (he's a keen fisherman!). It's really beautiful and the charms can be collected and added easily when a special occasion comes along.

A box arrived from Karen earlier this week and was duly confiscated by DD, she decided i could not be trusted near it LOL. Karen you really have spoilt me, i know how busy you are and yet you still found the time to stitch me the beautiful ED card and the mirror together with all the other stuff that you enclosed, i felt really spoilt, i love the choccie bar, thats just about how the split goes in this house LOL (please can you come over and vacuum up all the teeny weeny stars that now adorn my conservatory floor!)

Another envelope arrived yesterday and as soon as DH saw Sally's name on it, that was duly hidden too. Thank you Sally for this gorgeous needleroll and fob, the strange thing is i had bought this chart to stitch for the needleroll exchange we did at JA then changed me mind, it really is beautiful, thank you.

When postie came this morning he had an armful of cards and wished me Happy Birthday, such a surprise when i opened these. Rachael sent me such a cute card of a knitted chef holding a cake (i have this pattern in my stash Rachael!) Helen was kind enough to send 2 dragon floss with her card and i am also the proud owner of a Karan creation. Karan also sent a JBW chart with her card. Jan and Fiona have each handmade a card and Kathy over at the east coast has sent me a card and some yellow gingham fabric. Thank you so much ladies. xx

Thank you for making my Birthday a very special day
Love to you all

Autumn ...

Elizabeth Designs 'autumn' that is and not the season, we're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave, temperatures rising la la la (sorry just burst into song there a minute!)

After last weeks no stitching i seem to have whizzed along with this over the weekend so i thought i better show you a WIP.

Sorry, but its been too hot to finish off the knitted toy, as soon as the weather settles a bit i'll get it done, only a month till the show so i've got to get on with it. No correct guesses yet as to what it is.

Happy stitching and UFO'ing to Mr Sticks band of ladies at JA forum

Reveal day ...

Today is reveal day for the monthly stitching challenge at Jayne's Attic forum. The chart chosen by the ladies this month was the freebie 'Love' by Debbie Draper Designs. A friend had some 28ct gingham for her birthday and sent me a piece to try it. This seemed the perfect time to have a go with it and i chose to compliment it with DMC 223. It was the first time i've tried to make a mattress pinkeep and i was really pleased with how it turned out. There are lots of lovely different finishes this month in the album, lots of ideas for future months. Well done all the ladies who took part.

Waving at you...

I hope none of you ladies have had the virus that is going around... i have done nothing but sleep for the past 3 days and felt so washed out and exhausted, no stitching/computer/household chores and not a lot else - did you miss me?

This morning i had a very sad phone call, one of the ladies from the stitchy club passed away in the early hours. I have known Hazel for more than 20 years as she used to take her grandsons to school and one of them was in the same class as my son. It was such a surprise when i joined the stitchy club to see her there, i had no idea she was a stitcher. We have shared a lot of laughs over the years and she will be greatly missed. I decided to sit and spend some time thinking about her this morning, i added the lady in to finish the SAL piece. It is 'The Friendship Tree' after all ...God Bless you Hazel.

Hope you are all fit and well and the UK ladies are enjoying the glorious sunshine we have been having for the past few days

Champagne and posh frocks!!

Wouldn't it be fun to have a stitchers ball and get all dressed up and receive our awards in style....

Elisa named me for the Kreativ Blog award on her blog, thank you Elisa, this is the 2nd time i have won this one.

The second one is from Christine
These are the rules:
1. The winner can display this award on their blog
2. Display a link to the person you have got the award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs, you like.
4. Set the links to the blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a comment on the blogs you have chosen.

There are so many of the blogs i read that have already got an award that i am going to be a party pooper again and not actually nominate anyone, if i visit your blog then both of the awards i received apply to you, so please feel free to put this onto your blog and nominate your friends who haven't received it yet ....

I raise my cup of tea (i dont drink!) and say 'Here's to you all for your talent, inspiration, help and advice. I enjoy visiting your blogs and seeing what you are all doing and being a part of the stitching bloggerworld, please keep up the good work'