Hear ye,well not a lot !

Hello everyone did you think I had deserted you . As if I would. Some of you know I have been feeling a little under the weather,due to a virus thing and then a perforated ear drum. Which I can tell you is not pleasant. Anyway been Drs again today and have more antibiotics as she said it is still very red and angry in there. She needs to see me in 2 weeks unless it gets worse. Then she if the deafness is still there she will send me to Audiology- oh the joy of all that.
Anyway that is all I am going to say on the subject . Since I last wrote we have celebrated the New Year and we had all the family here for dinner. Oh boy was that a squeeze but we managed and all enjoyed it.

The Journey begins. On the first Monday of January 2011, Sally Colleen and I started our respective Shepherds Bush Designs. This is the start of the Journey and it is so nice to stitch. This was the first weeks progress followed by this weeks.


It does not look much progress but every little helps and some of the thread colour is very close to the fabric colour. I think they are clickable if you want a closer look.
Then on Tuesday I decided I would do the Rosewood Manor Quaker Diamonds -this I am doing over one as the Quaker Christmas,here is the start on that although I think I am going to change nights to Thursdays as I want to do the UFO night with Mr Stick and Julie on Tuesdays . I am going to do the Autumn design I started or I can see it being put away until this Autumn. Anyway another pic for you

I placed a 50p piece next to the first motif I finished so you can see just how small it is.
Now I will show you how far I have got with the Autumn Ufo ,however I do not want you to think it is all wips I do have 2 little Happy Dances to share.

The first one is The Sampler Girls Claras Dance done on fabric called for and also threads. I am quite pleased with how this turned out, although I now need some more filling-so shall send for that when finished on here.

Then I was reading Heidis blog the other day and she had stitched this design from Danybrod and I fell in love with it. So of course being the copycat I am ,well imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so they say, I had to stitch it. On my 60th birthday a friend gave me this photo frame and I have had it upstairs awaiting something to put in it. I now have to find the other 3 seasons to put in it lol.So if you see any designs out there. Let me know. I did wonder if to use the same design but use the seasonal colours and change the tree and adapt the words. Anyway My thanks go to Danybrod and Heidi for pointing me in the right direction with this one.


Yesterday was the night I had decided would be my Jane day,and I am delighted to say Tina , Angela and Margaret have decided they would also fancy a Jane Day. Tina and I are doing Sense and Sensibility and Angela and Margaret are stitching Fancy a Jane Day. So girls how did you get on. I did mention to Margaret I would maybe set up a blog for Jane stitchers but I have not yet decided on that.
Anyway another wip for you

I had not realised how narrow (but long) this design is.
So that is me up to date with stitching.
Thankyou so much for your enthusiasm and encouragement to me in my stitching . I just cannot believe how kind you all are. I have just realised I have 93 followers ,blimey 93 I never thought I would get that many.
Family news ,well we have had Sam who is now 9 enrolling for cubscouts and taking his promise. He was 9 last week and although he is not smiling properly(trying to keep a straight face I think) here is a pic taken last night just after he got home.

Sorry it is a little dark.
It was also the whirling dervish that is Alfies ,birthday yesterday heis now 4 and I just love this pic of him , I GOT A BIG BOAT Nanny he said,Think he was pleased don't you.

Jack the eldest grandson started his GCSE exams yesterday. I think it was English a subject he is not really that bothered about although important. He is excellent at Maths and Sciences though.
Sunday is our sons birthday ,Graeme will be (oh perhaps I had better not say )but it makes me feel old realising my son will be 43.I do not know if we will get to see him or not.
Martin has just come in to take Ollie out as I am confined to barracks . He really is a treasure, coping with a chest infection of his own too.
I have one little piece of stash to share which I shall do for next Christmas , I know Sally said she would post me hers when she has done it but I thought she may like to have a Jane night again together later in the year where we stitch the same design.

I also have been a little naughty and ordered an early birthday present for me well Brother usually sends pennies. So I took the bull by the horns and ordered The Needle Charmer by Examplar Dames in the US. As it was $28 I do hope I dont get charged by the PO here. It has happened to me once and i felt as if I did not want to order from the US again,as when you have to add £12 to the order it makes it an expensive chart. Anyway when it arrives I will of course give you a glimpse.
Ok I think that is all my news nothing much happens when you cannot get out.
Take care all and keep stitching. Thanks for saying Hi - it is good to have a friendly visit.
Hugs n stuff
Barb.zx