Contemplating my needle and thread: 2010

Thankyou all for your continued support, visits and comments I really appreciate it, even though I haven't been the best blogger this year.
I just would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas - I'm off tomorrow to the family for Christmas but should be back next week - weather permitting LOL This is the first Christmas with everyone for 15 years and I am so excited!!

Its a Dogs Life - Harry Update

Good Evening my friends - Harry here, I've managed to sneak my last visit in before Christmas arrives, My mum says cos I've been good I will most likely get some pressies from Father Christmas - I do hope so, as all these strange parcels keep appearing with lots of new smells around them.

I've not been able to go outside all week, but Im quite happy about that as its very very cold on my toes, but mum bought me a wonderful red puffa coat to wear and I'm very snug in that, but my feet get too cold, so I haven't been out.

I found the warmest place in the house the other day, my mum put the fire on and oooo it was toasty, I put my bed here myself much to mums amusement - she never offered to help, she was laughing too much, then I gathered all my favourite things including the toy that was Tashas (its now mine) and I guard it with my life as you can see I cuddle it in my bed. Mum took this photo of me - just to show you all that I can be quiet too sometimes.

Well I wish you all a Merry Christmas, I expect mum will be on before Christmas with another posting - as far as I know mum says weather permitting I'm off to see Bailey and Bonnie for Christmas - yippppeee!! I hope the snow stays away so mum can drive over.

Hearts for Christmas

Christmas Greetings

Here we go, another Christmas Ornament, this time its designed by the lovely Carol R http://istitchaholic.blogspot.com/ this was a pretty little freebie that she designed for us last year.

This is for the Fobbles Christmas tree ornament exchange.
I have stitched it on 36ct antique cream linen and used a green NPI silk thread and a red (poinsetta) Gloriana silk thread. I have finished it very simply as I felt it really didn't need any enhancement to take away the lovely simplicity of this design, all its got is a red velvet ribbon hanger. Thankyou Carol for designing this lovely little ornament, I loved stitching it.

Til Later - Hugs

La -D-Da - Merry Christmas

Yet another ornie!! This time its by one of my very very favourite designer - La-D-Da. This is from the 2009 JCS Ornie magazine.
I've stitched this on 30ct R&R linen - iced cappuccino and its 1/1 and I have totally changed the colours and picked my own, they are all Vicky Clayton silk threads, but I couldn't tell you their names as I lost all my labels. I've finished it with a pretty green/mauve moire shot silk and edged it with a varigated silk ribbon that I found amongst my ribbons - it was actually the ribbon shades that helped me choose the thread colours.
I'm not giving this one away, I'm keeping it, as I loved it so much.
Til Later - Hugs

Update from Harry

Hello my fans, my mum says that some have asked about me and that my absence has been too long - Blame mum for that she has been too busy on this computer to let me anywhere near it - Its always 'Harry No!" these days - sigh...

I helped her with the Christmas decorations last week, that was great fun, I found some shiny round things which the Big fluffy thing called Tasha said were baubles?? anyway I had a good game with mum, she was a panting mess when she finally caught me, she spoilt it all a bit by hiding the shiny bauble, but I have seen where she put it but its a little too high for me to get, as its hanging from the light! It looked far better under the sofa with me than where she has put it.

That big fluffy thing seems to be getting a little nicer to me, she actually gave me a kiss the other day, but then I went an spoilt it all, by grabbing her 'normous' tail, she didn't like that and smacked me hard so I hid behind mum. She sat on top of my house last night and watched me the whole time - mum says thats good as she now wants to be in the same room as us, I don't know I think I preferred it when she wasn't with us, she gives me the 'evil' eye a lot especially when I go near the 'normous' tail.

I got weighed tonight I weigh 3lbs 9oz, I've put on 70z this week mum thinks I've grown a lot too, she says my tail doesn't look like a pencil lead any more, so since I came to live with mum I've gained loads of weight and grown a lot, as I only weighed 1lb 4 oz when I came here, Mum is very proud of me she says, especially as she says I'm a picky eater - I don't know what she means, her dinner always smells nice and I like the cheese cubes she gives me sometimes and I love fish - especially if its the fluffy things and I can steal it.

Well its time for bed so I have to go... Night night sleep tight and don't let the bugs bite

Angels Sent

Another ornament from the 2010 JCS Ornament mag. This one is by 'Still stitching with Susan, LLC and is called Angels sent. I have stitched it on 32ct antique white linen and used a snippet of red silk thread I had in my stash - I've lost the label from the thread so I couldn't tell you what colour it is or make, but I was pleased with how the varigation turned out., I've trimmed it with some red pom pom braid.

Quiet weekend this weekend here, Harry and I have been out a couple of times for a little walk and we delivered cards and some pressies, he seemed to like that but there again he is a sociable little fella.
Til Later - Hugs

Christmas Magic

Just a little ornie which I'm giving as a gift to a friend, its from the 2010 JCS Ornament mag, and its by Charlottes Web Needlework.

I've stitched it on 36ct antique white linen and used DMC threads, I've added white beads instead of the recommended glass beads and its trimmed with white braid and I've added silver and clear bugle beads.

Hope you are having a good weekend and its not too hectic, all our snow has gone for the moment, I hope it doesn't return anytime soon!

Til Later - Hugs

Shepherds Bush - Safe Keeping

This delightful, little pretty is my latest SB finish - its a small kit and I have used all the recommended threads and fabric that was included in the kit, its such a pretty trifle and I do so love the gorgeous silk ribbon that was included the colours are so lovely. I found I had the perfect pair of scissors too within my scissor collection, the pinks match perfectly.

Hope that you are all keeping warm with this snowy weather it seems we are having a lot here in the UK and its predicted to carry on til Christmas, yet again work as deemed that we can't go in, I wouldn't mind if I got paid like the staff do when its adverse weather or that it is impossible to get to work, but as Agency personnel I don't get paid and I could get into work, if they would let me, I really don't need this, this close to Christmas, what with them already cutting our hours down every week, my poor bank balance is really suffering - at least I have the consolation that the rest of the Agency staff don't get paid either so we are all suffering the same problems - Sorry small vent, quite annoyed as you can tell.

I will fill my day with Harry, cleaning upstairs and wrapping some gifts I think, then hopefully a little more finishing work to be done. Do you like my new blog background? I thought I would go a little more Wintery.

Enjoy your day wherever you may be

Til Later - Hugs

Christmas decorating

Til Later - Hugs

La-D-Da - Merry Christmas (Edited)

Instantly recognisable I know, and I guess there are a lot of us stitchers out there that have done this pretty little Christmas ornie, but I do so love this one.

Edit: **I've been asked by some of you where the design is from - just to let you know its from 2005 edition of the JCS Christmas Ornament magazine.**

I have stitched it on 36ct white linen, using silk thread. The backing fabric is deep red slik moire and the trim is silk ribbon and silk roses.

I have been finishing a couple of other ornaments and also my knitting, I've made 2 pairs of socks and the most gorgeous bag, which I am just doing the final embellishment for, the socks and the bag are Christmas gifts, but I will show you them here first.
Hope that everyone is keeping warm and cosy, its really very cold, snowy and icy here in Cumbria, Harry doesn't like going out in it at all, so House training is much much slower than I wanted, but I can't let his little paws get too cold now can I!

He helped me put up the Decs yesterday - that was fun .... NOT!! LoL!!, I'll start sharing pics with you over the coming week, Have you got yours up yet??

Til Later - Hugs

Christmas is Coming

Finally as promised the start of my Christmas stitching for this year.

This lovely little kit which included the gorgeous wooden frame, was given to me by my friend Jen, as soon as I received it I knew I wanted to get it started, but I have Harry around now and of course stitching has yet again taken a back seat a little, but I got this all finished and wanted to share it with you.

The design is by Olde Colonial Designs and is of course called 'Peace on Earth' as said in the stitching. All the fabric and the threads were included in the kit as were the tiny silver angel charms, I didn't change a thing. The whole thing measures about 3" high.

Thankyou Jen for the lovely surprise gift, I really loved stitching this pretty.

Other news is I have finished quite a few ornaments so far, but as yet not put them all together, I have plans though LOL!
I'm off to Harrogate this weekend, with Mum and Lil' Sis Helen and SIL Dawn, I am so looking forward to it as I haven't been for a couple of years now and Dawn has never been before, so its gonna be fun, fun, fun for the 4 of us. Anyone else going this year? Maybe we can arrange a quick meet up, that would be lovely.

Til Later, Hugs

Further adventures....

...of Harry

HELLO!! Harry here, mum has finally let me post on the blog, she's been too busy to supervise me she says as she has been stitching and knitting and has stuff to show you all, and I keep stopping her, but I have dying to tell you about my visit to see 'Grandma' and mostly about visiting Bailey and Bonnie (who I might add is a grumpy old lady with no sense of fun!)

Mum took me over the other weekend and I met the rest of the family, Oh Bailey is my HERO!! He let me climb all over him and he has the most wonderful tail to chase and hang on too, I tried it with 'Grumpy drawers' but she was having none of it, kept telling me off, so I just gave her lots of cheek instead, but she did let me sleep near her.

I had the longest journey to get over there, but mum says I was very good and we can go again, in fact we are off to visit 'My HERO' again this weekend as mum is going to a place called Harrogate to a knit and stitch show and I can't go there, so I'm staying the day with Bailey and Grandad.

I have been leaarning to fetch and can do that quite well I think, and I have now had my last injections which hurt a little, and last Saturday I went out for my first walk, - Ooo that was scarey, but I'm getting used to it and people keep stopping to pet me as they think I'm incredibly cute and the smallest thing ever.

Molly commented in my last post and told me the big furry thing is a cat like her, well the 'Cat' thats here is getting a little better, but I like nothing better than when she is eating her tea, to try and pinch her biscuits, she gets all cross and I have to hide behind mum, but I always manage to pinch a couple of them LOL!

Rory said I would like the spiky stuff real soon and he was right its really nice excpet when its wet, then I get cold again, but I am getting better at my toilet habits and starting to go outside I just fgorget to ask mum to take me out sometimes ... sigh... its such a lot to remember and I am only 3 months old, Mum is quite good about it, but she gets cross if I just stop playing and start to go where I am stood, but thats getting better now and I hardly do that, and mum has been giving me some yellow stuff called cheese as a treat and I like that stuff so I am getting betterer and betterer. I have completely dry nights and I am dry through the day as I have one of mums friends coming to see me every lunchtime and she thinks I'm perfect so I don't want to spoil that.

I'll leave you with a picture mum took of me mountaineering on Bailey, he was ever so obliging and was laying on the floor so I wanted to lick his ears so I walked all over him to get there....

L'Cage de Eglantine

Finally a finish to share with you, this is L'Cage de Eglantine, by Martine Leonard, a wonderful French Designer.

I first saw this on DanyBrods ( http://dany88.canalblog.com/archives/mes_broderies/p20-0.html ) blog earlier this year and fell in love with it, so thought I might do my version of it too, I also added like Dany a ring and a clasp instead of a stitched one, which I felt makes all the difference.

I have stitched mine on 40ct cream linen using the recommended DMC colours, the little bird is stitched 1/1 on 40ct and attached to the cage using a cream chiffon ribbon, the cage is 2/2. I have used a beautiful piece of embroidered lace trim to edge around the inside of the frame, and the frame is just a very simple creamy white 10"x8" from from Ikea.

Watch out for a Harry post soon as he has been pestering me as he wants to tell you all about his holiday to the North East and to reply to his 4-legged friends comments.

I also have a couple more finishes to share too, but these are more of a Christmas kind.

Til later Hugs

Am I not just the cutest....

....dog you have ever seen, well at least thats what my new mum has told me!

Let me introduce myself my name is Harry and I'm here to cause havoc in 'her indoors' normally ordered life.
I've already got her to roll up her big cream rug - can't be doing with all the cream bits she has around, so I wee'd on it - I thought she wouldn't see it straight away but she has hawk eyes! She says she will unroll it once I've learnt some manners - Ha! we'll see eh! I kept her awake on Sunday night, she was in such a nice big bed and she had me on the floor in a cage - Ha! the indignity - and that big fluffy thing kept looking at me and licking "its" lips, my cuteness doesn't seem to work on "it"! "It" won't even introduce itself as "it" just keeps walking away from me - "it" is very scarey thing though! I must ask 'Her Indoors' what "it" is.

I tried to pull the feathers from round the edge of her fancy red velevet cushions, I only managed to get 1 before I got caught, but I will wait cos I know I will get the chance again.

'Her Indoors' took me to what she said was the garden - didn't like that at all, so I wouldn't wee until I got back in again where it was warm and there was a puppy pad which was soft on my feet, not that spiky green stuff called grass - I had the indignity of having a blue spotty harness put on me, to walk around the garden , don't tell 'her indoors' but I didn't really mind it I thought I looked quite grown up, I just wish she would knit me a jumper or something, cos baby its cold outside!
Well my little paws are aching doing this typing lark, but don't despair I will return when she lets me have a go again, but she wants to get on the computer she says.

Oh Wow

Thankyou everyone for yor lovely comments and the wonderful welcome back, I sure have missed you guys... I will reply to my emails this weekend. Thankyou too for the lovely compliments, I really appreciated them, Helen is the pretty one of us girls as she is such a petite little thing and very dark haired and slim, I'm the clod hopper LOL!! and the fair haired one (take after my mums side of the family)

Harry had his first night with me and seemed to settle OK, I was a little worried as he hasn't really eaten - he has had a little drink, so I contacted the girl I got him from - as I had worried mum syndrome - she said put him in his cage through the day with door open and give him a little chicken twice a day plus make suer his puppy dried food was there all the time, - he woofed (apologise for the pun) the chicken back, had another drink and sniffed the biscuits - he had a cuddle from me til he dropped off to sleep and at the moment he is back on his bed in the cage, he slept all evening perchde on my shoulder its was so cute. He slept all night too in his bed in the cage beside me and was fine as well.

Tash knows he is here but is ignoring the whole business, just keeps smacking her lips (she does this when she is preturbed, but she is OK and I have made a big big fuss of her.

Will be showing some pics this next week of my other finish if I can manage to get it framed and also of course of Harry.

Til later

Hugs

So Sorry.........

.... to have worried quite a few of you, thankyou so much for the concerned emails and phone calls and comments on here, but I am OK - honestly!

I just seemed to lose interest in a lot of things in my life, I needed some time to myself and find what I think is me again (that is still an ongoing process LOL!). There has been such a lot of changes for me over the last 18 months what with family changes and health issues, work status worries (still hanging in there at work by the fingernails) etc etc and I just think its all caught up with me in the end, without me realising it quick enough!

I don't have a lot of stitching to share with you as I don't seem to have done very much at all, stitching wise really, its been something I have been battling with in my mind for a while and so chose to take a break from that too.

But I want to share with you what I made for my lil' sis Helen for her birthday. Its stitched on natural linen using cream silk thread and framed in a Laura Ashley pearl frame - the silhouette reminded me very much of Helen and thought it was perfect for her.

I did pass my driving test on the 2nd attempt which was early August and I just LOVE driving. I drove over to mum and dads the 2nd weekend after I passed I was so proud of mysekf driving on my own to the opposite side of the country and made it in one piece. Mum and Dad was really proud of me too. Mum took my picture in her garden and as many of you haven't got a clue what I look like I thought I would share that with you too, if scarey sights upset you I suggest you scroll down a bit further and bypass that picture (I really hate my picture taken and I look like I am about to run off LOL!) Those that have met me will be able to see that I have grown my hair somewhat, gone very blonde and have lost 5 stone in weight (- hopefully Angela you will recognise me the next time we meet up)

Next up what to share - Fobbles exhibition, that was a lovely weekend and I made a small collage of some of the exhibits so I could share them with you - sorry its not the normal fobbles exhibition posting that I would normally do, but I thought a little something was better than nothing at all. I really recommend that if you could ever attend one of them that you should go, its lovely to see all the work shown and it seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year.

What else - weeeeeelllll I think its one of the most important things that is happening in my life at the moment and certainly the most exciting - I would like to introduce you to Harry!! Harry is coming to live with me as from Friday 29th October when he will be 8 weeks old, he stands about 4" tall and is about 6" long at the moment - of course he will grow but he will always be very very small, especially as he is the runt of the litter and both his parents were runts too - Can any of you guess what he is?

There will of course be more updates about Harry and his progress and I do have some other bits and pieces to share with you - Meeting the truely wonderful Jeannette Douglas and doing her workshop, the lovely Lynette Anderson meeting, Harry, Knitting and even more knitting and a tiny bit more stitching, I think I have probably bored you all silly by now - that is if anyone is still visiting me?

Love and Hugs

A week has passed.....

.... and I cannot believe where the time is going. How are you all? Ok I hope, thankyou so much for the lovely comments that you left about Mum and Dads garden, I have passed them onto them, and Mum said to thank you all for visiting.

What have I got to show you today, well I have the finish that I made for Tizy for the 'French swap with Nina' exchange and I was delighted to hear from Tizy that she liked my choice for her and that it had finally arrived on her doormat. - Things seem to take such a long time to srrive to Italy from the UK - it takes longer to get there than it does to to the U.S.A. - It always seems that way, whenever I have sent anything to Italy - have you found that too?

As I so enjoyed stitching my little scissor holder and fob the other month from the design 'Ancien filet crochet' by Danybrod, I decided to do it again.

This time I stitched it on 40ct antique white linen and used, red silk thread. The backing I used a vintage style rose fabric I had in my stach and trimmed the scissor holder/pinkeep with red ric rac braid.

The scissors are by Kelmscott Designs and I felt matched perfectly with the rose designs of both the xstitch and the backing fabric, I also added a vintage style crochet lace trim to the scissor pocket, and a large MoP ring for holding thread at the top - again the ring was from Kelmscott Designs.

The weather here has been absolutley awful, we have had torrential rain and gale force winds, everyones garden have been wrecked, and I do believe I am starting to get webbed feet! Yesterday and Thursday there were power cuts in parts of the village due to the weather conditions - I had no electric when I first got up and then it came back on again and then when I got home from work - No electric again, this time it was off for a good 2-3 hours which is a real pain, but today it seems to be OK.

News to tell is that next Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th is Fobbles annual exhibition of craft work (all things stitchy loveliness, beading etc etc), so if you are up this way and would like to visit, its open all day on both days and I can meet you, which would be fun - there is a small admission fee as all the proceeds go to 'Hospice at Home'. If you can't get up to visit, I will of course have pics on my blog again.

I'll leave you with another picture of Mums garden

Ooo and BTW I sit my driving test next Thursday 22nd at 08:20am - wish me luck!!

I have been away.............

.... visiting Mum an Dad, and whilst I was there I couldn't resist taking some pictures of their early summer garden .... sigh..... its so beautiful, Mum has such a great eye for planting. The weather was lovely too whilst I was there so I managed to get some really great pictures, so without further ado and because its said that a picture paints a thousand words I won't twitter on anymore I will just show you!!