Saturday 28 May 2011

All by myself- for you to see

Well I think this deserves a post all to itself. I had a package from Dear Sally this morning, I had sent her another SB kit (well got to keep her busy) lol. Anyway this morning," as a thankyou", she said and for our friendship, she sent me this.
Gulping here!!


I could not believe my eyes when I saw this gorgeous box that Sally had painted and then mounted her beautiful stitching on. Upon opening, it was not all ,inside was the little cushion that matched it. I know it is out of the Stitchers Journey book and thought you may like to see it against the original.

Isn't it just perfect,Sally knows my tastes so well,and I have a little Sallys basket with all the little gifties she has sent me since knowing her which sits at my bedside. This will not go in there it will sit beside the stitching chair. I know you would like to see inside so here you go,

I am just blown away by this (can you tell) and would like to say a big THANKYOU Sally, you are the best!!
I did try and take a closer one so on that note ,I will be back in a few days with an update.Just had to post this though.

Take care all and hugs n stuff from me
Barb

Friday 20 May 2011

All along the backwater among the rushes tall,

Ducks are a dabbling ,up tails all.


This was taken last weekend ,we went to Graemes at Wimborne and had a walk with Ollie down by the river. As well as the speedy ducks, gliding along all serene was this
and following a discreet distance behind (no not Ollie although he desperately wanted to join them) was her mate.

Anyway my little swanducks how are you all, I have to say I am a lot better this week, apart from the back which I will not go into here ,just saying I am sitting here with a bottle(not gin) tucked firmly on it and not moving a lot.
Thankyou all so much for my welcome back comments, was I gone that long ! Hope your weekend is as good as ours last weekend. We spent Saturday with Graeme Sue and Ella as I said earlier. Graeme cooked a 30minute recipe from Jamie Olivers book and it was so yummy. I did try and get a pic for you but got his hand instead and when it was dished up we were so intent an just eating it I forgot. Here is the scrummy chicken dish complete with Graemes hand.

Then on Sunday ,Martin and I spent all day in the kitchen cooking for Kate and her family and mil. Phew at the end but it was nice.
It is a bit of a birdy theme post this time, as we started with water birds, how about another one-

Just had to take a few of him - I think he has a split personality he thinks he is a garden bird.

I think the birds are desperate for water ,apart from the ducks etc of course, and so is our garden ,the front needs sorting so don't look too close. Another visitor in for a drink with the sun showing all his wonderful colours in his feathers was Mr Magpie.

continuing with my birdie theme I visited Christines blog ,Alchemey Stitchcraft and she had a mention and pics of some fabulous fabric she had ordered. So as you do, I went and had a look at Fabric Inspirations website and WOW!!! HAVE they got some fabulous designs. I only succumbed to 2 one of which I cannot show as it is for an exchange piece. However I can show you this

What do you think ,isnt it gorgeous , I can see some cushions in that and even Martin liked it. I may even have to think redecorating around this just love the colours- so Christine thanks for the link ,will let you know if Martin thanks you too when I show him the paintbrush .
I have had a little stash too this week ,one I cannot show that exchange again, but I ordered this yesterday and got it this morning and it had only arrived in the shop at 3 yesterday afternoon. This was from Chris at The Nimble Thimble she is so brilliant for SB designs.

Now do I do one of these or French Heart for the SB sal with Sally and Colleen , think it will be French Heart first,so that is next Monday sorted. Speaking of Shepherds Bush and the Sal this week saw yet another happy dance (wonder if that is how I did the back ,just too much dancing !)with Sophies Roses ,will show you front and back.


As I have lost my tame framer and am running out of wall space I thought another little cushion was in order.
As well as the SB sal ,I am also doing a sal with Jane Austen and The Sampler Girl designs over at Needlecraft Haven as many of you know and this week I finished my other bedpost design a TSG design but changed the colours. This is the letter from Darcy to Elizabeth.

What do you think?
I am not the only one who has been busy Martin has been busy with his glass fusion, and I am delighted with these two that he finished, first a votive holder for a lovely lavender /lemon yankee candle, it stands about 3 inches tall.


I hope to have more to show you of his work when he retires -if you want to see- but the other one he did was this little dish .The dragonflies are copper sheet punched out with a dragonfly punch . Brass sheet and little wire coil.All sandwiched in between 2 sheets of glass and fired in his kiln.

I think that is all my news for now, so I will wish you all a very good weekend, we are hoping to get in the garden this weekend ,and so I shall end with a pic of our Rhodendron that is not going to last too much longer.

Take care all and we will talk again soon. Please leave me a comment I do like seeing who is reading this waffle!
Hugs n stuff
Barb

Monday 9 May 2011

Did you miss me?

I am sorry I have not been about for a while, and thanks for the Big hug Julie I can tell you it has been needed. I am not sure what is going on as the hands and wrists have been so painful just wish they could make up there mind if its RA or not. However the main reason for the quiet period is due to hands not much stitching has been done so not a great deal to show you. Also,feeling sorry for myself here ,I have had the lurgy back scratchy throat cold cough (again!!) so not felt much like doing anything, HOWEVER now I am back and feeling much better now the cold thing has gone and I have been forced to stay away from doing much .So I have been perusing your blogs and havent you all been busy. Sally has been as prolific as usual and I hear I may have to get the clogs out for a happy dance, well got to make a noise havent you when dancing. lol.Tonight is a visit to hers for tea with Colleen, who has found her sheep and now has to stop them escaping by stitching a shepherdess.
I did get some done on Sophie and hope to get another border finished tonight. Here is progress so far girls, I think French Heart is next on the SB list.

Really loving this one . Not sure if it will be a framed or pillow finish. What do you think ?
I have 2 finishes to show you one is a companion piece to A spot of Spring which I showed you last time ,this is a Spot of Summer .

As I did not have a sun charm suitable I found this Sunflower in my box of many things and it seems to go. I also put the ribbon again around the design as I did with spring as I need them to go next or at least close to each other. I found some fabby too that went well for the back.

I bought this for a backing for Daisy Cottage a design from LHN ,or it may be Country Cottage one of them anyway ,I still have it to do ho hum so much to do.
I bought a new magazine or should I say Martin bought it for me when I was not up to much, called Simply Homemade, I am impressed as I am knitting a scarf from it, and Martin has made a fused glass piece from it. How many times have I bought magazines and not done anything from them ,for us both to get something out of the same mag well I think that is a result.

Progress so far.
Martin has been playing with glass and he fired up the kiln to fuse some glass to make a plate. This is the design before it went in the kiln.


It took hours to 'cook' but disaster when he opened the lid it had cracked which turned into broke as he picked it up. Such a shame as it was really pretty. This week he had a go at a fused candle holder but cannot take pic of that until he makes the base.
I know its not stitchy but it is crafty and thought you may like a look at our other stuff. I have got another stitchy finish to show you which is A Sampler Girl freebie, this I have been doing with my Wednesday night girls . I think I told you I was doing something for the 'bedpost' and this is it.


I did this on 28count fabby over one with Dmc threads. What do you think , I think it looks so pretty hanging there. Won't tell you what the other half said about the second line , I will leave it to your imagination!
So that is my two little finishes ,I know have to decide which SG I am starting this Wednesday.
Post before last I think I asked if you knew what design I had started ,got the crystal ball out, here is another update are you any the wiser?

We have had terrific thunderstorms here in Dorset over the weekend we even featured in The Daily Telegraph today with a lightning strike taken over the Chesil Beach .
My dear Martin bought me this when he bought his paper today ,oooohhh Colin Firth shall be watching this soon.

Our daughter Kate (Catherine) she was there first lol. has a birthday tomorrow, she had the big one last year, so we will probably go out for lunch and see what I can treat her to as a pressie.
Jack had his prom last Friday ,he phoned me to say he was on his way to pick up Camilla (the ex) he sounded so happy, I was a very choked up Nanny here I can tell you. He had a wonderful time and then they had a after prom party that went on until the small hours. He said he had a slight hangover the next day,he is not used to drinking unlike some of the youngsters these days.
Anyway that is all my news for now so I hope I can get some stitching done quickly, so it is not such long a wait for you.
I have an exchange piece to stitch so don't hold your breath , this is being run by Lainey and as I enjoyed the last one so much I thought I would do it again. I think I have chosen a design for a finish that will take a while , and I cannot show it so I may be a while!!!
Take care all and keep well.
Hugs n stuff
Barb x












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