Can we put the tree up this weekend?

Can we,can we? I know, but I am a big child at heart, I love the tree being up and the way that time flies by these days it will be down before I get it decorated!!!
Ollie is ready to be the window decoration as you can see by the header. In fact if he is not there people are beginning to ask if he is ok. The postman did not stay at the door very long yesterday, as he thought we were out as the dog wasn't in his usual lookout spot.Ollie likes to say hello to all the delivery people. Well my bloggy friends I hope you are all well and ready to shop until you drop, we have 2 birthdays this week coming with Caitlin (14) on Friday and Jack (17)on the 6th.Our grandchildren are growing into lovely young people,and if it is possible to get a photo of them together I will and share with you.

Last week I tried my hand at needlefelting and made this.

It needs a bit more work on the handle but not bad for a first try. I had another first try at these little bunnies this week but I have a bit of bother with them not holding the shape well when I have stuffed and stitched the opening shut ,does anyone have a solution.

Just have to practise more! They were from a Tilda design .
Now I have just pressed post so you will have the first bit to read ,call it a trailer dur.
Stitching is progressing ,I thought it was the 1st today so I was going to show you my ornie I had from my secret partner over at Needlecraft Haven, but I cannot as its still only the 30th November , is this dementia creeping up on me.
I have finished my Scandinavian Christmas by Atelier Soed Idee which I won as a giveaway on Carins blog. Oh I loved this and although I tend to tinge the air blue when using the sewing machine I must admit I am quite pleased with it.

We found a twig to hang it from and ta-da the cards have just begun to arrive. Mine are still in the boxes waiting .Not a job I really enjoy doing.
Today I have done a little shopping and fell in love with a little girls something, more than that I cannot say. I also bought a lovely scarf for a friends birthday, I tend to give for birthdays to friends rather than Christmas as I feel it is their special day rather than Christmas which tends to be more family orientated.Qhat do you do ?
I think we would all love to give to everyone but needless to say it cannot be done.
Last time I posted pics of unfinished ornies and here is the finish.

You can click on any of these for a closer look,but remember you can look at the dust but please do not write in it lol.
I bought a canvas from an arts shop for £1.50 tied a bow with a jingle bell on velvet red ribbon and then put pins through the ornies and the ribbon. Maybe next year I will do a bigger one.
Then I finished my Christmas Bells hanging pillow ,but mine was stitched over one so it is ornie size.


That one looks better bigger , I think my camera is getting temperemental.
So since I last wrote I have not been slacking ,mind you the ironing and cleaning are shouting at me.
Also the Sal is growing with Sally and I visited her on Monday and Tuesday to do a bit of stitching and a lot of frogging. Christmas Carol Scrooges house just got finished when it started to snow. I had to get the shovel out and clear the path (damn frog) but then it came down deep and crisp and even. I still hope to get this done for Christmas , Sally is beginning to think she may not get hers finished by the time the man in red comes. I have a feeling she might just do it .This then is progress

Tuesday was Glad Tidings from The Sampler Girl and here is where I have got to, not very much done this week but I am hoping to finish this one in a few weeks.

I mentioned at the beginning I was just a big kid, well I have never read this book and when I saw it I had to have it. The illustrations are gorgeous and just for those it was so worth getting.


The book is illustrated throught like this and it is just soooo pretty.
So my dears it is so nice to chat with you ,and your answers and comments are always so welcome THANKYOU so much for taking a little time to drop me a note. I think last time I mentioned Martin had a website for his arts and craft organisation but I may have given you the wrong address here it is again http;//royalmanorworkshops.weebly.com
Now for some other news, and somebunny would like to thankyou for your interest in his whereabouts and faith in his returning.
OH HAPPY DAY!

I was going to say we found him in the dusty garden shed where he had got shut in after hunting for carrots ,but I am afraid he cannot claim fame like Peter Rabbit. He was found under the chest of drawers in the bedroom,he usually lives on top with the rest of his family ,somehow he must have been knocked off and when I was doing the (not very often moving out of furniture) there he was ,slightly dusty and his spectacles were bent, but he was so pleased to be rescued. As you can see Rose and the girls are delighted to have him back.
So on that happy note I hope to be back with another epistle soon ,take care and its only 25 more sleeps! Argh and not enough done yet.
Hugs n stuff Barb x

You may remember this

Hello my dears, this is the parcel that I received from Angela (who has no blog ,but should!!! as she writes me really interesting snippets from time to time).I have not lost the plot there is method in my madness of posting the same pic for you to see.

This is my return gift to her a design by The Primitive Hare stitched into a little bag with a few goodies enclosed.
Angela was in the States when I sent this so I had to wait a week or so to know if she had got it. Poor Angela was jet lagged when she opened it and thought I had sent her a butterfly. Not until a day or two later when she turned the thread keeper the right way up she realised the butterfly had metamorphised into a Jane Austen Silhoutte, which made me smile when she wrote to tell me.

It has been a while (again) beating myself with a big stick here,since I last posted . I keep thinking to myself I really must do a blog update ,but unless I have got something to show you I feel there is not a lot of point. So I am updating my wips,as I have not finished anything else I can show you yet. I have done a exchange piece but we are not allowed to show that . I have also got more stash. So with out more twittering on my part.You may remember these too!!
Here is Monday nights Christmas Carol stocking which is being stitched by Sally too. I was feeling rather fed up as the last pic I took (I did not show you)as I had a big frog visit and had to demolish some of the brickwork and part of the roof, however all is rebuilt and oh boy I can understand why Sally said it is a mansion.

Tuesday night again with Sally, thankyou so much Sally for being a brilliant Sal partner, this is Glad Tidings, which I am stitching on Sassys fabric over one. Designed by The Sampler Girl.

Really loving this one.
Wednesday evenings you will find me in the Parlour , with my Sampler Girl stitching or Jane stitching. As I have completed "What would Jane do ?"I am now doing an ornament from The Sampler Girl called Christmas Bells.

The Parlour is over at Needlecraft Haven forum and you would be most welcome to join us .
I am now going to tell you some sad news, before I show more needleworky things. You must remember Seymore and Miss Rose , they got married and had Maisie and Millie.

This was their wedding day and such a happy occasion, but I am afraid Seymore has gone missing, the girls are so upset and Miss Rose too, Julie Mum (who was responible for them coming to live with me) is sure he will turn up ,in the dusty cupboard no doubt, and one day when I feel like ferreting (oh no ferrets isn't the right word!) he will be languishing in the peace and quiet. Meantime Miss Rose has a cousin arrived today ,this is the church mouse I found today whilst visiting a little craft room at a church in town. Has anyone a suggestion for a name for him.He has come to give comfort to the others.

Of course whilst in this crafty goodness I managed to slip a few bits into the bag. A lovely little bowl which will be nice for Christmas delicacies to reside in at £3.Also the two little crocheted mats so delicate and perfectly done for the sum of £3.50. Too cheap really considering the work that goes into them.Mr Bunny as £4. So bargains to be had.

It has been a beautiful day today ,and seeing my old friend for coffee and a chat was the icing on the cake. We did so much walking (well for me) and I ended up having to rest this afternoon.So now I am sitting here in the comfy chair writing a missive to you .Tonight, Thursday, is the Card holder by Soie Idee and here is progress for you.

Weekends are stitching bits and bobs last time I showed you the Christmas Carol by The Primitive Hare and here are 2 more to go with it.


Julie will recognise the Holly and the Ivy. The other one is part of A Baby in a Manger by Cherrywood designs.
So that is my weeks stitching .
Martin has been busy in his glass shed making little plaques and penguins but cannot show you picture yet.
He has also become chairman of Royal Manor Workshops, http://royalmanorworkshops.webs.com again after a 3 year break if you want a peak then go take a look. He would like any feedback local or otherwise.
The other member of our family needed a little attention too and the vet has been visited , really just for his booster immunisation jabs but he had to have his feet looked at and has to go back in 2 weeks.

A pic of the Ollie dog with his raggy ball.
Which is his 2nd favourite toy.The first being a rather smelly beaver who needs to go in the wash.
Martin surprised me with this

He knows I have a liking for words and so bought this for me to enable me to write whatever I wish in different alphabets, I think it will be so useful.
Other stash received are the charts I were hoping to arrive so I could stitch one for my secret partner over at NH but they only arrived this week so too late for me . You may be reading this so sorry, had to choose another for you.I have received mine and it is so lovely,will hope to show you next ime.

Notice the word theme again.


So there we go peeps , our family are mostly fine, Kate has been to hospital this week and had her plaster taken off, they x-rayed it and the bone is not healing , so she has to go back in 4 weeks and no work. They have fitted her with what she called a Transformer boot, but her ankle is still very blue with bruising and swollen. It seems as if she may have to have surgery to wire the bones.
I am now going to do a little stitching on my Card holder , I may need it soon well in a few weeks so got to get it done!
Take care all ,thankyou for the lovely comments which continue,welcome to any new followers and hope you will continue to follow and maybe comment when you have time.
Hugs n stuff
Barb