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!!

Guest Room (picture heavy posting)

This is what I have been so busy doing and I might add really enjoying too.

Evening shot of the new style room

Peeping through the 'Looking Glass' would you like to come and stay?

Evening shadows falling in the room

Let me show you a better view of the pillows/cushions on the bed, the pillowcase came from Laura Ashley, the bird pillow I made to match the blind and the angel cushion my SIL Dawn made as a gift for me last year.

This wall has the script on it - I would love to say I wrote this freehand, but I didn't, I ordered it from America, as this wall was difficult to place pitures on as the you would have to walk round the bottom of the bed and they would get knocked I thought about this and decided as I didn't want it plain so when you woke up on a morning you just saaw a blank wall, I wanted my guests to feel a little inspired after a good nights sleep.

A little vignette on my lovely Ikea drawers that I built myself - I do have plans to paint and paper these the same as the tallboy drawers, but not just yet - these hold a lot of my stitching things.

The bed I built myself as well and its a small double bed, its a beautiful ivory iron bed and very comfy! The tallboy I painted with Dulux 'Timeless' and then papered the front of the drawers with 3 different Laura Ashley wallpapers, then added new drawer furniture in the way of little china bird handles. You can just see a snippet of my roman blind I made, the blind and the cushion fabric is by 'French General' its a soft linen and red colour - tres elegant!

The walls I painted in Soft Linen by Laura Ashley which is a beautiful matte paint but boy was it a pig to put on, it didn't like going over a satin paint at all.

The little chandelier lampshade, I bought in Dunelm Mill and had to build it together, which was a bit of a fiddle only having one pair of hands, but it looks lovely and when its turned on it casts little dew drops around the room on the walls.

I hope you enjoyed your stay, and will want to visit again, my door is always open and I still have a couple of more things to do in the room and add a couple more pictures on the wall, but its now at the stage where guests are welcome to come and stay.

I've joined my post to Cindys http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ show and tell Friday, Cindys blog is so lovely hope you'll pop over there too.

A surprise gift from Annemarie

Truely Spoiled - yep thats what I am, I received a wee parcel from Annemarie (http://ortsandends.blogspot.com/) as I had won the lovely Goode Huswife chart giveaway she held last week, I expected an envelope to drop through the door. Imagine my total and utter surprise when its was a box that was being delivered, and inside the box was the chart and this wonderful wee pincushion made by Annemarie, its so wonderfully stitched and put together and the backing fabric is perfect for it too its vintage browns and lovely.  Plus there were some threads and the most wonderful pink stripy pair of socks which I love and will wear tonight when I go for my driving lesson....... (that is if its still on its been snowing on and off since 11am this morning - great big flakes - fed up with snow, I want some sun and brightness and warmth!!)

I am sooooooooo lucky - Thankyou An again - hope you got my email.

Til later this weekend with more pics of mystery project (s) from posting below

and now for something totally different

Just a little teaser of what I have been up to lately, I promise to share much more over the weekend, but I have been having fun and making my space my own!!

Thankyou too for all your encouragement for my 'other' new adventure into the world of driving I really have appreciated your encouraging words xx

Moi... Driving indeed

Yes you heard it here first, I have finally succumbed and had my first driving lesson tonight - yep tonight - in the dark- in the drizzling rain - 51 years of age and finally learning to drive (pat on the back puullease).

How did it go? I hear you ask - well it went ok, I'm in one piece, the car is in one piece and the instructor hasn't reached for the valium yet, I had a lot of fun, and drove along an A road to Egremont (YES an A road not  a B road or a country lane its a fully certified A road) and back, its a good 20 mins drive just one way and I also drove around a housing estate several times, I only stalled twice (both times at a junction, and I didn't kangaroo hop at all) can't wait for Friday when its my next lesson, mind you I have had to have 3 glasses of wine when I got in and a great lump of chocolate and my head is buzzing - just can't imagine sleeping at all LOL!!

Wish me luck for Friday!!

Garden of Life - Blackbird Designs

An old finish finally framed. This is 'Garden of Life' by Blackbird Designs which was a SAL I joined in on,  I finished it a couple of years ago and never got round to doing anything with, well now I have framed this lovely piece.

I've stitched it on 40ct cream linen using the recommended threads, and enclosed it in a lovely Mother of Pearl Frame I bought in Marks and Spencer, this is now sitting on the drawers in my bedroom.

Christening Gift

My friend Gill asked me to make for her something she could give her daughter to commemorate Matthews christening next week, so after looing through my patterns trying like mad to find something suitable Gill chose this cute JBW design - Sampler rabbit - isn't it a cutey?
I have stitching him on 36ct Antique white linen using 1 strand of 'Denim' Carries Creation thread. As Gill left the finishing decisions up to me, I thought I would do a simple finish (and as I wasn't feeling 100% this week, I thought would be a bit of a no-brainer finish for me) but like all finishes the ideas just keep flapping around my head until I came up with the one above.  I knew she didn't want anything to fancy so I made a small flat ornament and curved the edges. I added cording I did with DMC thread and then added some narrow navy ribbon for a bow tie for the rabbit and on the top of the flat ornie. The hanger is a cute cream and blue spot ribbon I had - just to add a little more interest. The backing fabric is navy and white gingham check fabric

How I am longing for some better weather now we have cold, rain and wind here in Cumbria - YUK!!

I am feeling much much better thankyou, your kind enquiries I have been very grateful for, as were your comments, I still have an abcess on the side of my gum, but that has started to drain - in total I had 3 - 2 on the gum and one starting on the offending tooth (and this from me who goes to the dentist and dental hygienist every 3 months) my face still feels a little sore as does the gum, but I feel lots better than I did.

Now someone asked me and I really apologise as to whoever it was as I can't remember who it was at all - re the heart finishing on the 'weekend stitchery' post - the answer to your question is I draw the shape on the fabric - allowing for seams and cut it out then I hand sew my finishes - I never use a sewing machine I like to feel in control of my pieces of fabric and the sewing machine never makes me feel like that - I know it takes a little longer by hand but I prefer the finish - HTH??

I am busy stitching a couple of gifts at the moment so will share them soon - again no work on 'Finch Song', but I do have some new ideas buzzing around my head for something a little different.....and ending on a final Happy Note I won a giveaway myself on Annemaries blog ( http://ortsandends.blogspot.com/ ) for a Goode Huswife chart which is OOP, so I was very happy and it really made my day, seeing as I haven't won anything for ages and ages and I have been feeling so very rotten so it was an exciting pick me up!! Another pick me up were the scissors from Yuko has arrived and ooo they are so pretty, I have been showing them off to my ex- SIL Dawn today tempting her to splurge and get some soon I hope!

 I hope that you all have a good weekend

And the Winner is..........

Margaret B - http://blog.thefrenchbear.ca/

I will email you tomorrow Margaret for your details, I have just had my tooth pulled out and am feeling quite queasy, so I am going to bed. for a lie down.