Spring Exchange

I returned home from my little break away on Friday evening, the opening day for the Spring Exchange.

We had a lovely time, glorious weather for the time of year and we saw lots of lovely places, photos are being sorted from the camera so i'll do a post soon for you.

My brother was rushed into hospital on the Monday we were away so even though we had a nice time, we were also very worried about him. He was discharged Thursday late evening, but had to be readmitted again Saturday. He is now back home again resting and i have been able to see him and give him a big sister hug.

The Spring Exchange @ NH

I stitched a Shepherds Bush design for Angie (no blog that i know of) called Softly Spring and made a pinkeep.

The fabric was a piece from the oddment bag, a 28ct count but no idea what and i used DMC threads as i didn't have the required special silks the chart asks for.

I have heard that Angie liked it, i wonder if anyone else chose this design in the exchange, i need to go and see what everyone else received.

The lovely parcel i opened was from Rachael.

A Lizzie Kate spring design, so beautifully stitched and made into a little tray. It's the first time i have received one of these and i have never made one myself. Something else i might have to have a go at.

It's beautiful, thank you so much Rachael.

I'm looking forward to catching up on blog reading this week and see what you have all been up to whilst i've been away.

Take care, happy stitching and crafting!

xxx

Let's catch up

It seems like months since i made an entry into my online blog journal even though its only been 3 weeks.

Computerlessness (is that a word?) is the main reason i have been away, unable to post pics and also i've been sick with a nasty tummy virus. Some sad happenings have also made me take time to sit and think and make some decisions about things. My laptop died, one day fine the next it wont switch on, and then the biggie office computer we use decided to keep cutting off the internet connection, so frustrating. Limited savings and DH and i decided to upgrade the office computer to something better. Programs installed and its now ready for use YIPPEEEE it's so much faster, but so different to the old ones, so a learning curve for me and using it takes me longer right now.

I missed wishing you all a Happy Mothering Sunday for those in the UK. I hope you all had an enjoyable day.

Mine was spent with daughter and grandaughter as her partner had to work that day. I was spoilt by my two children and had lovely gifts.

I made this little crochet tin cover for a flowering cactus plant i picked up for own mum. It accompanied another gift i purchased for her, she loved it so that made me happy.

Stitching on The Sampler Girl SAL with Barb and the ladies at NH continued each week.

A happy dance last week when i put the final stitch into In the Garden with Jane Austen, i have loved every stitch in this one, it's turned out so pretty. Just need to get on with making it up now.

The Spring exchange was sent out on time and i have received something. It's still safely in the envelope waiting to be opened on Friday when we can reveal what we have received and who it's from. The Round Robin has also been given to Clare, we met for a coffee and a chat to exchange that which was nice and i have received Tina's (no blog).

DH has been really patient waiting for me to start his crochet blanket. He decided that he wanted a granny rectangle and last week i sorted out the wool he chose. Do you remember the one i gave as a Christmas gift that he was so upset about when i wrapped it? Well he decided that he really, really did want three of the colours in that one as it was so nice so thats what we've gone for. Just a few rows to start it off and i can pick it up between other projects and he should have it finished for the autumnal evenings!

Both socks are now complete and have been keeping my feet toasty warm. Maybe i should knit me a pair or warm socks each March if it makes the the recent temperatures we are experiencing hit record highs for the time of the year.

Very unlike spring here in the UK right now, more like summer approaching, i see that other readers are experiencing the same warmth too in other countries, it's nice isn't it. The gardens are looking lovely with the flowers blooming and it sure does make people seem friendlier when you are out and about. This pic makes my feet look very huge, they are not, it's the camera angle, honest lol.

At the stitching club we have been having a visitor from Tobago. She is staying with family for 6 months and is friends with one of our members. She was telling us all about some stitching they do back home. She brought us each a small piece of gingham to have a try. You stitch a smyrna cross onto the same colour gingham square in a desired pattern. I chose to make a cover for one of my marmalade pots and completed mine to give her (she was able to sample my marmalade too). It really is effective when completed. Thank you Esther for showing us this new technique, i really enjoyed having a go at it.

Today i have had the most wonderful envelope delivered. I was lucky enough to be the winner in Staci's (Snippets and Stash) blogoversary draw.










I have a thing for tins and this is stunning. A Whitmans 100th anniversary tin that i will cherish. Thank you so much Staci, the contents are fabulous. If you haven't visited Staci's blog please do, she is an amazing knitter and stitcher and it's always a pleasure to stop by and see what beautiful things she has created.

Spring officially arrived earlier this week and my DS has also celebrated his 27th birthday. That means we are fast approaching the end of another month, but, not all my planned stitchings for this month will get completed - i do have a good excuse though. DH and i are off for a few days break to the seaside very soon. Sorry Christine, but the challenge will not happen this month, i'll do better next time. My monthly ornament is stitched but i'm not sure it will be made up by the end of March. Not a stitch put into Shores again this month either... must do better on that next month.

My camera is charging ready to be packed, so hopefully next time i post i'll be able to tell you all about my seaside adventure with pics, fingers crossed the weather stays nice and warm just like it did for our little break last September.

Just a quick reminder to the UK ladies, clocks go forward tonight, so lighter evenings on the way, that'll be nice.

Wishing you all well and hoping that life is being kind to you and yours.

xxx

RR, SAL and a new start

What a change in the weather, monsoonish today, lots of heavy rain!

A day to be spent inside with crafting projects and a good film this afternoon i think and this morning gave me time to blog about what i've done this week.

Jaclyn's RR is complete and ready to move on to the next person. Vermillion Stitchery birds and butterflies from 2006 was the lovely design for this one. It had been on a RR last year and 5 squares of the 12 had been stitched and Jaclyn decided to continue with it again for this years RR.

I chose the Diamond Fantail for my square, the month of May. It was a hard choice as they were all lovely birds.

I had a brainwave as to why to choose this one.

The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year and she will be starting her Jubilee tour of the UK on March 8th in my hometown of Leicester and as i will still have the RR with me on that date it seemed the perfect bird to choose. It was a lovely project and not something i would have normally chosen to stitch.

Wednesday was of course The Sampler Girl SAL with the ladies in the parlour at Needlecraft Haven.

Lots of wording completed this week on the right hand side. There are some lovely projects being stitched in this SAL, well done ladies on your progress this week too.

This week there has been some trouble going on in the wool cupboard!!

The sock wool is not at all happy and keen to wait for their turn on the needles so i have had to pull out one of the new balls and take it under control and make a start on the new waffle pattern socks (patttern free at Ravelry by Sandy Turner). Thanks Lily for the link to this lovely pattern, yours did inspire me to have a go myself and i am loving the way they are turning out. The stripey regia wool i had planned to knit next is much more refined and agreed to stay in the cupboard for a while longer ...

When i mentioned Isabelle is one of my posts recently Ranae commented that she must be 'growing like a weed' i did love that saying and yes Ranae she certainly is. I can hardly believe 9 months has whizzed by since she arrived. Here she is posing for the camera. She does love to have her pic taken, mummy always has the camera ready to snap a shot or two.

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely weekend and the weather in your neck of the woods is much better than i am having.

Before i forget .... Dani, the travelling pattern is on it's way to you, it's in the hands of the postal service now, a scarey thought and i will be in a panic till it arrives safely.

Take care all

xxx

Travelling Patterns next destination...

It was hard to choose who to send this on to, not like a simple drawing of all the entries and pick a name.

I had to explore all the blogs to see if you fitted the criteria of an active blogger before making the decision.

Also, a lot of the commenters on my finish i only know from that comment alone and i dont know if you are a good exchanger or not, so i decided to choose a person that i had been following myself for a long while and knew that they were an avid stitcher, popular blogger and good exchanger even though they have a busy life.

I also thought that as the pattern had been in the UK since August 2011 it was time it had an overseas holiday to a totally different country.

Dani @ Black Belt Stitching Wizard

you are member number 17 of The Stitcherhood and i look forward to seeing how you finish your version of it.

As soon as i have your address i will get it in the post to you for you to stitch and pass on in a timely manner.

Thank you to all who commented on my finish and for entering The Stitcherhood drawing, i hope you are chosen soon for the pattern to come to you.

Special thanks to Sharon daffycat for starting this travelling pattern, it's been fun waiting my turn.

Challenge reveal time again

A lovely sunny weekend, it was wonderful to see my crocus bulbs open up fully as i drove onto my driveway.

The snowdrops are just about to open too although my daffodils are still little buds.

It wont be long till i look out of my window and see a sea of yellow loveliness brightening my day.

Spring is definately on it's way .... yippeee!!


A treat to celebrate our anniversary and DH had booked us seats to see Calendar Girls at the theatre.

He took the afternoon off on Wednesday and we went to the matinee performance. It felt a bit naughty him being off work and us having a fun afternoon out midweek. It's ages since i've been to the theatre and i do love it. The performance was very funny and well acted, we both enjoyed it very much. Has anyone else seen it whilst it's been on tour?

February challenge reveal

This month the design was from Happiness is cross stitching.blogspot. There were two designs to choose from, a little kitty or the love freebie. The album can be seen here.

I made mine into a felt stuffed heart and gave it to my daughter as we babysat Isabelle whilst she and her partner went out for a meal for the evening to celebrate Valentines day. I thought it would be a nice reminder for her of the evening out.

A quiet weekend, DH was making the most of the sunshine and good weather and was in the garden and i sat in the conservatory and finished off Isabelle's cardigan. I also completed the stitching on the spring exchange piece, just need to make that up now and then get it into the post to my partner. It's a secret exchange so no reveal till we all open our envelopes next month.

Clare has finished her page on my RR and you can see it on her blog. Thanks Clare, it looks great. I've sorted threads for Jaclyn's which i have and it's waiting on the frame for my attention later this evening.

An extra day this month being a leap year and it will be the anniversary of DH's fathers passing, its strange being on a day that only comes round once every four years.

Live well, laugh often and love much



p.s don't forget if you are a member of The Stitcherhood and want to be in with a chance of the travelling pattern coming to you, please comment on the post below.