Sunday 20 October 2013

I was hoping .....

For a walk in a wood ,crunching through fallen leaves ,not to be we have soggy wet leaves and rain today so here I am hoping to bring you an update on my stitching ,stash , and family.

Where to start I wonder ,ok I hear you  I have wips to show you and one finish .So we will start there I have been stitching in the parlour over at Needlecraft Haven and this week saw the finish of Garden Pleasures made into a cushion.
I am pleased with how this turned out and it is a nice partner for the one I did early in the summer.
They can reside on my bed until I can put them on the garden bench . I do have another finish but cannot show you that yet as it is my spooky exchange piece. Really really pleased with it,more than that I cannot say.Oh sorry I am telling fibs here I do have another finish but still have the rest to do to finish it properly . This is turning into a copy of Sallys blog in places as we stitch along together. Here is Simplicity from LHN Little sheep virtues. 
I did another woolly sheep and it turned out quite well again. Next is Patience and then Wisdom and Friendship which I received yesterday.
Love these 2 little sheep but in order this is the bang up to date one although Sally has told me there is another out and that one is kindness.Here is Wisdom.
So as we are on the subject of stash I ordered from The Silver Needle in the US this as I love the words and I can think of a few of you that I could stitch this for lol.
I couldn't believe how much postal rates have gone up from the U.S but they have so many great designers and so I succumbed . I try and keep the order under 18dollars so customs aren't involved. I think that is all the needlework stash I have this time , but I do have some books.
I have the first one of Pamela Hartshorne on Kindle ,and I have read all the Susannah Kearsley books to date. Shall I let you into a little secret shh don't breath a word. 
This is my pile of books to read not counting the 3 above. What is it that is so comforting about a pile of books. I am not mentioning how many I have on the kindle to read. Well at least that is probably enough for next year!!! The ones on the left are loaned from my hairdresser so not all mine!!! I think after stitching it is my one weakness as the postmistress in Larkrise was heard to utter on one occasion. 
Daughter Kate has started a new job this week, she is a cancer specialist nurse and has been working at our local hospice, she has just taken a job for another 2 days a week in the community doing the same thing,she is hoping if it suits her to do that for 4 days a week. I am so proud of her as she is so compassionate and thinks it an honour to be with someone who has to battle and at the end lose against cancer. Sorry if this upsets anyone out there . As well as having 4 children and one of them a very hormonal teenage girl ,I think she deserves a medal. 
These are 2 of her boys. Sam has just started secondary school and has much to everyones amazement settled in really well.Very smart in his new uniform.
Of course his little brother Alfie had to get in on the act too .
These were taken last week when they came over after school for dinner as Kate was working her first day. It will be nice to get to see a bit more of them as it looks as if child care may be a problem at times so they will come here. 
Talking of coming here , Weymouth now has a super new Sainsbury store, which we have been wanting for years. So we did our first shop there at the weekend. Got to support the family business lol, as Graeme is deputy manager of Hedge End store near Southampton and Sue works in the Ferndown branch. We also paid a visit to another new store that has opened in Dorchester which is our County town, this was the Range , my goodness what a lot they sell. I did have to buy a couple of fleecy throws in case we cannot afford the heating nills!!! Nice and cosy . also a couple of new cushions. 
 
Could not believe how cheap these were . I think I shall have to arrange another visit .
I think cushions are fab. Well my lovelies I still have not got round to sorting out what I shall do for the blogaversary which is this month. The time has flown and I think I will as mentioned pick out a name that has commented over the last year. For a while I seemed to lose my followers but I see they are back , if I get to 200 you never know what might happen!!Perhaps if you mention me on your blogs (if you think I am worth a mention)we will get the 200. I think maybe a voucher for somewhere of your choice. Hmmm !!
Anyway shall I do wips now not that there is many really.
This was last weeks state of play with the ufo of Quaker Diamonds.Will show you this weeks strictly progress next time. Then I have Jardin Prive and positive thinking that Sally and I are stitching on a Friday. 
I did so want to finish the words in this part but I was just too tired ,so I have to play catch up with Sally as she has done the words.  So I have started November wordplay but need to change some things on it as it is a little too americanised (is that  a word)for me. So here it is not a lot done at all but Guy Fawkes ,treason and plot has to be in there methinks.

So on that note I shall put on my sou wester and wellies and go out into the weather and walk the dog along the fields and cliff tops. If I am not back in a couple of weeks please arrange a search party!!
Take care and hope you can make sense of this rambling. 
Much love 
Barb,

19 comments:

Vickie said...

hahaha! Hope a search party is not needed. Great update Barb. Do take care.

Christine said...

Lovely stitching and finishing Barb. I am quite jealous of your pile of books to read. I just finished one and had to trawl "the pit of doom" (also known as Eloise's Room) to find one that I hadn't read yet. It's a modern re-imagining of Hansel and Gretel, the jury is still out on it.
Congratulations to your daughter on her new job.
I'm sneaking up to the 200 followers mark too, I see a giveaway in the offing

Cath said...

I think my pile of books is larger than yours ,lol. Just got around 50 or more (haven't dared count them) for 30p each so very happy.
Lovely stitching as always Barb . Great family pics too. Congrats to your daughter on her new job. I hope it works out well for her. Also to your grandson for settling in at school. The move to "big" school can sometimes cause problems..
Take care . Wet and soggy leaves here too . xxxx

cucki said...

Very sweet stitching like always...
Very pretty family pictures ...
Congrats to your daughter for the new job...
Big hugs x

Julie said...

You think that pile of books is large, you should see the bookshelves in my bedroom with ones the BB ladies have read and tell me I must too!
Wonderful stitching progress, I love the Garden Pleasures cushion, so pretty.
Your Jardin Prive looks just like mine, especially now I have put it right lol.
The boys look so grown up, how lovely they will be coming to spend a little fun time with you and granddad.
Congrats to Kate, I hope it all works out well for her.
Much love and {big hug} x

Kate said...

Lovely update Barb - hope you have managed to find your way back after the walk! We've had poor weather up here over the weekend too.
Congratulations to your daughter on her new job, I hope it works out well for her. I have huge admiration for healthcare professionals.
Take care

Shirlee said...

What a lovely post my friend! I've eyed that L*K design a time or two ... may have to break down & order it : ) Great finishes & WIPs! What very good-looking grandsons you have! Your daughter sounds like a great person. Have a blessed week my friend!

butterfly said...

What a lovely post Barb full of every thing, beautiful stitching fab stash and lovely family. We have our cosy throw overs to ready for the bad weather the heating can stay off untill it snows ha.

Tina said...

Lovely blog post Barb,I never want it to end.
Love your cushion,the fabrics you have chosen are beautiful.
Your wips are coming on fine.

Grandson looks really handsome in his uniform.
Hope Kate settles in well and how nice to spend more time with grandchildren

Hugs
Tina xx

Simply Victoria said...

Pretty pillow you made!
What dear service your daughter gives - bless her heart! Handsome grandsons.

Louise said...

Love the Quaker Diamonds Barb and I so enjoyed seeing your beautiful stitching and the cushions are great.
Hope it dries out there soon,
With best wishes,Louise

Clare-Aimetu said...

I hope you made it backok Barb to do some more of your gorgeous stitching x x

Michelle said...

Lovely stitching Barb and lovely photos of the family. Hubby has gone swimming so I just turned up the heating!!

Sparky said...

This makes my heart sing , your stitching is a delight.

Annie said...

Hi Barb.. thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a lovely comment.

Your new cushion is gorgeous and such a great companion piece to the first one. You are quite the busy stitcher with finishes, WIP's and stash enhancement!

Sweet family photos. You can be proud of those kids!

Andrea said...

Barb, what a wonderful post. Love your finishes. Lots of lovely stash to sort through. A greta pile of books too.
What would the world be without compassionate people like your daughter. A true vocation.

angelasweby said...

Barb, you've done some lovely stitching. Garden Pleasures really is gorgeous especially finished as a cushion. I love both your cushions. Also you've made good progress on Quaker Diamonds and the Jardin Prive design. I haven't seen that one before. Your LHN collection is growing quickly too. Simplicity is really pretty
Good luck to Kate in her new job. What a very special and incredibly capable person she is. Lovely looking grandsons :-)
Enjoy your reading. I seem to be doing lots of reading and no stitching at the moment. Hope my enthusiasm returns!!

Sally said...

Beautiful, beautiful stitching Barb. Wasn't it nice to finally get the next two sheep? Wonder how long the next one will be!

Your finish is absolutely gorgeous.

I hope Kate's job goes well.

What are you stitching tomorrow if the next part of the SAL hasn't come out?

Hugs xxxx

Catherine said...

Great update!! Love seeing all of your lovely projects and your handsome grandsons! Good luck to your daughter ~ not an easy job, but can be so fulfilling in many ways.

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