The tour begins

I thought I would start my tour with my lounge, its so hard to take photos of it, I have struggled a little so that I could try and give you an overview, but it was difficult, I hope that you like the snippets that I show, otherwise you will all just have to come and visit and see it for real LOL!

Let me start with yet another cushion, remember me?!! I stitched this pretty EEF design a little while ago, and mum suggested finishing it as a cushion, and this is the finished result.

Next up is the view when you walk through to the lounge on the right hand side of the room. The footstool mum and I recovered together, we had fun doing it.

Would you like a view of the little vignette I did in the corner - yes? Ok here it comes

Next up more of my cushions that Mum and I made together, it was mums idea to add the MoP buttons to the sides of this cushion,

Transfer was a freebie on the web, fabric from IKEA.

The mantle view - Stocks from Marks & Spencer, candles from Melt, light from Ikea

The opposite side of the room, print is by Sue Fenlon - a wonderful artist who lives in Northumbria, I have another above the other sofa

A close up of the Love Pillow that Mum made for me, we saw these when browsing one day in a posh shop and they were £80 each, so mum said she would make me one.

View through the looking glass

I hope you enjoyed the look around my lounge, its very very different to what it was before as I had a gold suite and deep cushions and different mirror and artwork on the walls now I'm very happy with it as it feels like my space. Of course there are things I would still love to change - I would love to remove the carpet and have wood flooring put down, I would also love to change the fireplace and fire, but I can't do that, so this is my finish, I can't wait now for Christmas and to change the way it looks again LOL!

After the Rain

Two posts in One Day, almost a record for me I think LOL!!

Thankyou for not deserting me your comments mean so much and they give me great encouragement so thankyou!

I popped out in the garden earlier this evening once the rain had stopped and took a few pictures to share with you, I hope that you like them.

The one above is from my back garden, I can see this from my window, a few of the wild yellow poppies have appeared and look so pretty amongst the London Pride, Hosta, Day Lily and Meadowsweet.

This is my large oriental poppy

Grandma's bonnets (Aqaligia)

My lovely spring Clematis

Lace Cap Climbing Hydrangea, Hosta and Meadowsweet

A visitor among the Ivy

Tash amongst the self seeding plants in the front path

Well I hope you liked my little visit I made for you for the Garden, it looks so fresh after the rain today, I couldn't resist taking some photos and Tash as always had to join me, so that she didn't miss out on the photo-shoot LOL!

I'm Back!!

Wow I can't believe its so long since I have posted or even been around the blogs, also I haven't even really been on the computer very much at all! Thankyou to all who have emailed me, rang me or posted a comment to me wondering where I am and if I'm OK!

As the saying goes : Keep Calm, Carry On!! and yes I have had to think about that wee saying on and off over the past few weeks, at times its been tumulteous, as it was the anniversary of 'the Break-up' which I struggled with and also it was 'his' birthday and the first without me being around 'him'. 'He' has been on holiday with his'chick' (I say the 'chick' word loosely as I would very much like to call her something very unprintable, un-writable etc LOL!) which I also struggled massively with. But.... then I thought about all the things I have achieved since he went and how my life is changing and what I have learnt and I gave myself a wee pat on the back and thought I have come on in myself quite a bit, what with learning to drive (not yet sat the practical test yet, but I have booked a date), I've bought a car, All that decorating and re-designing the house and losing weight, not that far off my target either now just another 28lbs to go, I am now lighter than I was in 1999!

The cushion above is what I made for 'Him' for his birthday, as the saying can also apply to how he has been feeling at times so I gather, so I hunted around the internet and found the freebie design and printed it off onto transfer paper and made the cushion. 'He' told me that he liked it so that was good!

The cushion behind it, is also one of new ones that I made a whole assortment of different ones with Mum when they were over for the weekend a couple of weeks ago now. These I will show soon.
I have had lots of visitors too, staying from a couple of nights to almost a week at a time, this is the first weekend in ages when I have had nobody here and its giving me the opportunity to blog etc.

I have taken lots of pics of the house and will show them soon and also I have been working incredibly hard on my garden, it might be only a little space but I had let it overgrow this past year and so have worked at it and its now full of plants and hopefully will look wonderful when they all flower. I even have a couple of tomato plants - courtesy of 'Him' and will have my own toms this year which I am looking forward too.

Great news to share

Just a very quick pop in, but I am so excited I had to share with you all

I PASSED my Theory driving test today - so thats part 1 over and done with and I can fully concentrate on my actual driving and get ready to do my Driving test next, I got really good marks too whch so surprised me as I thought I wasn't ready for this part of the UK driving test yet and I passed first time with it, with flying colours- fingers crossed that the next part I can do first time too LOL, though I still keep stalling at traffic lights I must have a lesson soon I hope that I can sail through without making any mistakes.

Also Nephew number 2 sits his actual driving test on Thursday so I hope that he passes first time with it as he passed his theory test first time too a couple of weeks ago now.

A New Finish

Well I hope you all had a really good Easter and received lots of delicious eggs? I had a wonderful few days over in the North East with my family. I stayed with my sister Helen but spent a lot of time with Mum and Dad and my brother and his 2 very handsome young teenagers came up on Saturday and it was so lovely to see them all, we had some good days out - we wnt to Yarm, Durham, Northallerton and Middlesbro', we also went to Helmsley on Sunday and went to a a wonderful craft fayre which was a lot of fun (sorry no pics as I forgot my camera this weekend) and I went shopping and bought a couple of things for the house and some fabric too. I also found inspiration for cushion making.

This cushion above is actually larger than it appears here, its a full sized cushion, and I stitched JBWs 'The Queen Bee for the centre using 28ct Natural Linen and cream silk thread. The cushion is made up of some lovely heavy linen fabric that I had and I trimmed the bottom corner with some 'Love' ribbon that I had in my stash - thats cos I am thinking of giving this as a gift for a very very dear friend.

The trim I have used is some fine crochet lace and I used 2 MoP buttons for added interest.

As I was away I didn't get chance to do any work in the Garden at all, and today has been the best day so far this week - hopefully this nice break in the weather will mean I can get outside and do a bit to it all - I really need to pressure wash and seal my decking before the weather gets to warm and I won't feel like doing it, plus I need to do something with my outside wooden furniture as its quite a mess. Tomorrow I get my onion plants in readiness to pot them on to give them a start before they need to go in the ground in May.

I am still doing a few finishing touches (like making cushions and covering my footstool aand possibly new lounge curtains - Can you tell my Mum and Dad are coming in May LOL) to the house and it should all be finished completely after the first May Bank Holiday and so during May time I will give you my tour, thankyou for your kind emails and comments about my 'tour' idea I hope it won't disappoint.
Mum and I are having a 'crafty' Bank Holiday that first weekend, as they are both coming over hopefully and Mum and I have plans LOL!

Happy Easter

I really hope everyone has a very Happy and Fun Easter. I know I will I'm off to visit my family and stay with my sister for a couple of days - It will be great fun.

Thankyou for all your kind comments and many of you asked about the 'Onion Club' well what that is , its literally what it sounds - its a club and we all grow VERY VERY BIG Onions and show them in September, I have a couple of postings on my blog ( http://susimac.blogspot.com/2007/09/well-i-never.html ) about the shows, the best position I managed to win has been 3rd, ( http://susimac.blogspot.com/2008/09/proud-moment.html ) that was brilliant - there are 30 of us in the club.

I haven't finished taking pics yet of all my changes to my home and I have still to do a couple of little things left to do, but when the weather picks up I will really like to show it all to you so thankyou for telling me that you won't be bored and that you would love to see it.

I'll be back next week with some finishes to show you, I have finished all the stitching now on Cage D'Eglantine, I have just the framing to do, and I have bought myself a frame for it, so that might be a next week show to you, and I have also finished my SIL Dawns birthday gift which I will be handing over to her next weekend too when she is here, so thats a finish for you to see too.

Meantime we have had had lots of sleet/snow/rain and wind yesterday and today, the wind kept me awake half the night howling around my bedroom windows, I hope it howls itself off tonight and forgets to return LOL! there is lots of snow up on the Cumbrian Fells that I can see on my way home from work and from my guest room window, I wish 'Spring would hurry up and get here'!!

Follow My Heart

I was so excited when NatalieJo opened her on-line stitching shop and knew immediately which one I was going to do first when I saw them there on screen for the first time.

Just to tease - here is the back of it - have you guessed which lovely it is yet? - Course you have its in the title of this post.

I have chosen to stitch my version of this on 40ct antique white linen 1/1 using the recommended thread colours apart from the writing which I stitched in an unknown overdye I had in my box, I think the colour is called zambuca and its a Six Strand Sweets thread.

You might wonder why I chose to stitch it this small, especially when its not hat huge anyway - well thats because quite a long time ago, mum bought me the smallest pair of scissors and I was always losing them, so I wanted something to keep them in and so it had to be as small as I could make it.

I followed the instructions putting it together, which was so easy as the instructions are very clear and easy to follow, and then I wanted something else on it as I always like to change things slightly (as you know) LOL! and I added 1/8" satin ribbon all around the edge - its the same ribbon as I used on the back on the scissor pocket.  The wee pocket is made with some tilda fabric I bought when I was last over the North East its such a pretty duck egg blue with the smallest of polka dots on it, I know it looks quite big on my pictures but the whole piece together measures 2.75 inches long by about 1.75 inches wide.

I would also like to thank those of you that have given me this lovely award, that was so so kind of you, and really unnecessary I always feel such a fraud getting awards as there are far far nicer blogs out there in blogging land who post regularly and comment regularly - unlike me who is so errant its untrue and although I keep promising I'll be back out there visiting anc commenting more time just slips away from me with all my other things, and so I will nominate all of you who visit me here you are all so very very worthy of taking this award yourselves and Thankyou so much to the ladies who gave me the award - Love ya girls

You might wonder what I've been up too lately (and there again you might not LOL), well my sofas have arrived and I have been playing house, and trying to make it look like I want it too, I'm nearly there and I will have some pics for you at some point I promise - would you like a tour of my home? You might not, it might be a little boring but I'm excited as I love it when a plan starts coming together don't you?

Hope you are all having a great weekend - I'm off to Onion club tonight.

Blog Award

Carol has very kindly nominated me for a Blog Award - I don't know what I have done to deserve this, but I am very thankful for it, as its so nice to receive awards especially from someone whose stitching and finishing I am always in awe of (not to mention her designing skills)

Here's how the award works. The rules are simple:


1. One must accept the award

2. Thank the person who gave you the award

3. Add a link to the person who gave you the award

4. Paste the award on your blog

5. Write 10 things about yourself that others might not know

6. Pass the award on to 10 others

The passing on bit is not in the least bit easy as I would like to say its to go to everyone that visits me and leaves me comments too, but I will enter into the spirit of the award and try my hardest to list just 10
1. Szentpyr
2. Dovile
3. Staci
4. Anna
5. Jane
6. Terri
7. Nina
8. Carol
9. Adriana
10.Hazel

Now this is another hard bit for me hmmmm 10 things that you might not know about me, now let me think!!!

1. I'm impulsive (so much so I have just splurged on 2 new sofas, when really I shouldn' have - but I don't regret it LOL)
2. I'm quite shy, but hide it well.
3. Libra is my star sign
4. I lived in Malta for 3 years
5. I am really enjoying being single, even though I thought I wouldn't
6. I am a fully trained and qualified Nurse
7. I'm originally from the South of England (Hampshire)- not the North of England even though I have a Northern accent
8. I've never been to America or Canada
9. So far I have lost 4 stone in weight over the past year (another 3 to go!) EDITED to tell you that there is 14lbs to a stone, so,  I have so far lost 56lbs)
10. I love Interior Design, next to stitching its my other passion

..a little of this and a little of that...

As promised here is my progress on my latest stitching, as soon as I saw this chart I knew I had to have it, and as soon as it plopped onto the carpet through the letterbox I kneew I was going to start it - no exceptions for any other pieces I'm doing, this was the one!!

The design is by Martine Leonard and is called 'La Cage D'Eglantine' isn't it pretty so far.

Next up is a picture of the workshop I did at  Fobbles earlier this month...

We made needleboxes and it was great fun - Here are a few of the finishes taken from the top of them. THANKYOU Ladies for coming I really enjoyed teaching the class and I am looking forward very much to our next smalls workshop.

More on Fobbles later this post as it's some VERY VERY VERY Exciting news.

Next up is my stash acquisitions........

As you can see I have been treating myself, there is still some more to come, some MORE Blackbird Designs and some Homespun Elegance and some Shepherds Bush, I should be getting them early next week.

I bought 2 of  NatalieJo  beautiful designs and I am itching to start them too, her instructions for the finish are so lovely and clear and the charts are marvellous, I can't recommend them enough.

I also got myself the lovely Friendship Sweet Bag by Jeanette Douglas, its going to make the perfect gift for someone when I have stitched it.

Now talking of Jeanette Douglas, the very lady herself, will be teaching a workshop in Autumn 2010 at  Fobbles I do beleive there may be a couple of spare places left, so if you contact Bev or Edna at Fobbles they will be able to tell you.

ALSO

There is more..... Next May (2011)  Ellen Chester of With My Needle is coming to the UK and teaching at Fobbles as well  (again, contact Fobbles for all the details if you fancy coming, their address and phone number are on there) - See, I told you I had exciting news, not One but Two lovely designers coming up to my pretty part of Cumbria and I am going to both, I can't wait, I'm so excited, and I mean excited, if you knew me, you would know that I won't stop talking about it and get all giddy with it all LOL!

Thankyou for asking about my driving lessons, they are going well, slowly but steadily - I can now parallel park the car and my turns in the road (3 point turn) are excellent if I say so myself, I have finally mastered the art of not stalling at every junction (now just every other - No just kidding I haven't stalled for a while now LOL), and I am finally enjoying going around roundabouts, which if you knew where I live you cannot get anywhere in this county without going around at least 3 roundabouts to get anywhere.

Hope you all have a good weekend, its Mothering Sunday here in the UK tomorrow, so Happy Mothers Day to all you Mums and most especially Mine xx

Quick visit

Hello Everyone, No I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but I have been so so busy. What with teaching a finishing class at Fobbles, Being away for a few days, decorating 2 rooms, work and driving lessons, I seem to have missed blogging out.

I have some new stash to show you, hopefully before the end of the week, and some stitching progress too.

Thankyou all for the wonderful, wonderful comments you left me for my EEF (previous post), WOW what can I say, they have really made my day, week, month, thankyou so so much.

Hope you are all well and stitching like mad, I will be visiting blogs again soon so I can see what you have all been up too, as soon as I am finished with the decorating.

Forget Me Not - EEF

Well its finally finished and I am so sad about it as I really enjoyed stitching this lovely design. I said in a previous posting that it was called 'Remember Me' but its not when I re-looked at the chart packing its called 'Forget Me Not' - so I'm really sorry if I confused anyone out there in blogland.

I have stitched it on 36ct antique white linen using the recommended DMC threads. There were a few speciality stitches amongst it - Smyrna, eyelets, satin, rhodes and of course 1/1.

I hope you enjoy seeing this as much as I enjoyed stitching it - now to find the perfect frame for it.

Spring beauty

I was standing in the shower this morning admiring my beautiful spring flowers I had bought yesterday and I had arranged at the end of the bath, I thought I just would have to share them with you too, its such a beautiful day here today - bright, frosty and if you get in the sun a little bit warm

Hope that you are all having a great weekend, I have almost finished my EEF design and hopefully will be able to post it up tomorrow.

A little finish

Thought I would share this little finish I have done, it was a freebie from DanyBrod published quite a while ago now. I have stitched it on 40ct white linen using Kaallund silk thread (the same colour as I used for the Valentine Exchange and made it into a little ornament, the edging I used some 1/8 inch satin ribbon and the hanger is the 1/2 inch satin ribbon the same colour.
I was asked where I got my Kaallund silk thread from - well it was from Jaynes Attic who unfortunately is no longer trading I bought the whole range of colours a few years ago when she first stocked it, but unfortunately I too have no idea where to get it from now and its such a lovely thread to use too and the colours are so beautiful.

Thankyou for all your lovely comments about my progress, I have almost finished the EEF and am thinking about starting another of them if I can decide which one to so next.

Tonight was driving lesson time and I had a good lesson again, they seem to be getting better so maybe I am improving!!

Progress

Two posts in one day LOL!

Thought I would share some progress with you on both my Shepherds Bush 'Finch Song' and my other new start which is EEF 'Remember Me'

First up is 'Finch Song' I do really like the colours used in this design and the silk threads give it such lustre.

Of course I had to get that wee sheep finished , but as you can see overall I haven't made loads of progress.

Next up is 'Remember Me' by Ewe & Eye & Frieds (EEF), as those who know me know, EEF are one of my favourite designers of all time, and this is such a pretty design as always with EEF it hasn't disappointed me.

I just love the variety of different stitches used on most of these designs and this one has lots - satin stitch, Eyelet stitch, Rhodes, smyrnas and some 1/1 as well.

I'm stitching this on 36ct Antique white linen, using 1 strand of DMC, and I am using the recommended colours, as I just loved them.

Hope you are all having a great Sunday

Valentine wishes

I received yesterday the most beautiful Valentine ornament from Shay from the 'Holiday Exchange' I feel really fortunate, as this is sooooo lovely, look at the beautiful stitching and finishing, and ooo that charm is gorgeous. Shay told me in her card that it is by Just Nan -  Thankyou very much Shay and also for the lovely extras that you have sent me.

I hope that you are all having a wonderful Valentines day and received lots of flowers and cards? Has DH or Partners spoiled you? I hope so.

I am  again really busy at work which has delayed any kind of posting from me this week, I can't believe its over a week since I posted, but never mind I'm sure you understand, I must have a visit around your blogs in a bit, I've missed seeing what you have all been getting up to and what lovelies you have created.

My driving is going really well, I am enjoying it - not ready yet though to take my test, but hopefully a few more lessons and I will be, so far I have had 6 lessons, and I can do a turn in the road and not hit the kerb!

Valentines Exchange To Amy

I joined in a Valentine exchange on the Holiday Exchange blog that Becky runs, my partner was Amy and I have just found out that she has received my exchange that I sent to her. Now I know that Amy wasn't too fond of the colour 'pink' sooooo I thought I would use shades of Coral when I stitched this pretty little design by Blackbird Designs, which is part of the 'New Love' sampler which is I think now out of print - it was one of the schoolgirl samplings that they brought out a few years ago.

I have stitched it on 36ct raw linen and its 1/1, I had such fun doing this and I have used Kalluund silk thread in fireglow. I also used the same thread to make the cord around the outer edge and the half tassel. This was such a small design I thought that I would make it into a floss ring tag. I hope that Amy was pleased with it, the poor love had also been my partner for the Christmas exchange, when I sent her a Shepherds Bush little ornie.

Thankyou all so much for your kind and truely wonderful comments about my guest room - Yes if you ever fancy a visit to the Lakes and a trip to Fobbles - get in touch, I always like to meet fellow stitchers!

I have also been asked a few times as to where I got 'my words' from - well they are from here: http://www.wisedecor.com/index.html its a lovely site, but I hasten to add if you order to the UK you will get stung by customs - my customs bill was almost the same as to what I spent on the words.

I'll be missing for a few days as I am off to visit Mum and Dad, should be back Sunday or Monday with new stitching to show - Have a great weekend!!