Just a little update

Well as it is almost a week since I last posted I thought I would catch up,and make it not so long!
It is a fine sunny morning here in Dorset and spring must be coming as the birds were very vocal this morning.Martin went off to his glass group thinking it was the last Saturday of the month ,but has now returned and gone to do the food shop.Dur he got the wrong week.
R.A has been bad this week ,hence the short post as wrists and back are not good , I am hoping when the spring does arrive things will get easier. I thought I would be having a lazy Saturday and could watch some rugby but it is not being played this week.Oh well I shall just have to listen to my book on my new MP3 player.

Jack has to have braces but apparently it is "cool" to have them at school now , he says he can choose the colour he has . Oh my how things change. He is 15, and has to have 5 baby teeth out,and 2 adult teeth before they can fit the braces. Then he has 2 years of the first set and 2 years of the second. I am wondering how he will feel when he is 18 or 19 with them.

The skiers are back , I think I am losing the plot, as when Graeme phoned I thought something was wrong I thought they were away for 10 days.I was wondering why they had to come back early. He said they had had a fantastic time and Ella had loved it. I may even get a pic to share with you at some point.

Kate is working this weekend so we wont see the tribe, a nice quiet weekend. We are taking Mil out for lunch tomorrow.

On the stitching front I have a few things to share. Still not got prize but it is in the post but coming from the US.I also have ordered a chart that I fell in love with on Heidis blog. It is by Beth Twist of heartstring samplery entitled Let it snow I beleive.. I will get my handies smacked. It is this clicking finger I have problems with!!!!!!!!

I have got the patterns from Kate for my birthday from The Sampler Girl, also got 2 e patterns too.


Speaking of Jane Austen this is what I had from my brother and have some pennies left.

The DVD will go with the one I had from Mil and the book is another one to add to the JA collection.I made a bread pudding in the week and here is a piece for you to share along with a cup of tea in a cup that was Martins grandmothers. The plate I am not sure what to think of as it says on the back Made in Staffordshire by Clarice Cliff.Somehow I dont think so as its not like her designs. Interesting though.


I think I must be on a JA roll at the moment as I finished one of the e patterns and it is going next to Emma,stitched over 1 on Sassys Khaki.



I received the threads to do Quaker Diamonds this week too, not got the fabby yet as that has been ordered through Picture plus-not used them before. the picture makes them look quite bright but they are more subtle and sludgy that this. Gorgeous though.


Last but not least progress on Quaker Christmas


So folks that is all for now - I would like to thank all of you for you kind wishes and the comments you leave - have a stitchylicious week ,and I will catch up with you again soon.
Take care hugs n stuff
Barb

Such a lucky girl ! 16th Feb

I have been so spoilt the last couple of days- and havent really come back down to earth. However news of the last week is as follows ,I will warn you though this may be rather long and picture heavy.
On Thursday the holiday makers flew out to Austria for sking for 10 days. There was a bit of a hiccup though as when Graeme went on line to check their flight the day before ,he found it had been cancelled this was with BA .So he was frantically trying to find another airline ,they ended up getting a flight with Easyjet and having to pay £180 extra for the privilege (ouch).
It is -8 out there with plenty of snow!!
On the health front Sue has her appointment for the day after they come back-she has to see an Oncologist.So we are hoping it is nothing too serious.
Jack has to see an Orthodontist today. As it is half term I think Kate is probably tearing her hair out, as she is trying to get her bedroom painting finished before the new carpet arrives today.(The whirling dervish who is Alfie 3 likes helping).
I am still getting pain in wrists and ankles and back now , I will start taking the pills again if it gets too bad,

On Sunday it was as you know Valentines Day and Martin brought me a red rose a box of chocolates (which I really do not need lol) and a card. He said he would do breakfast whilst I showered. When I got to the kitchen this was on my plate.

He outdid himself.
I did make him something ,but cannot show you until later as it is part of the monthly challenge over on Stitch and Stash, so it has to wait until reveal day. I also bought him a box of Thorntons dark choc gingers (his favourite).A card too of course.

Then it was the Big DAY , my birthday and boy what a day that turned out to be.
Without more ado I will show you pics of the goodies I have had.
Martin bought me a watch and an Mp3 player ,I have the watch but the player has not arrived yet.I wont show you pics of those though.
These are just as they come so if yours is first or last they were all wonderful.




This was sent by Karan who made the card too. I was thrilled to receive this chart and when Martin saw it and I mentioned about the special Valdinin threads ,he said I had better order them then as it has to look right . What a man!!!!! SO guess what I did yesterday. I did cheat a little though as it said 3 ply and you cannot get 3 ply in this country. I did see on ANITAS LITTLE STITCHES site though that you can use 2 threads of the 6 ply and they do it in the same colours. Hope it does work as I ordered the 6 ply from Sew and So. Saving myself customs and PO charges.

Next was



This was from Julie and awww the words around the edge made me gulp a bit I can tell you.Have you noticed the "sheep"!!!! The stitching was just so neat , also included was an oven glove (perhaps Iwill have another go at making cake Julie now )she knows how hopeless I am at sponge cakes . I shall have to stitch the design first on it.
Then

From Barbara I had some fabby for backing some ribbon and a needle nanny with flowers on all very useful and the fabric was lovely.
Next

Karen sent me some ornie 28count fabby - lovely colours Karen will have to go look at what I can stitch on them.
More


This was Graeme and Sues pressie they left with me.A Poole Pottery Vase a design I collect called Under African Sky. Isnt it gorgeous. Ella bought me one of my sheep in a jumper unfortunately I have that one so she may be able to change it.

This was from a beading friend who dropped in yesterday,it is made from swarovski crystals and is going to hang on my scissors I think, I have a mobile phone but never use it so I think scissors are the best place for this little cross ,so pretty isnt it.
Are you bored yet ?

This was from Sally ,another one that is just SO neatin her stitching and finishing and she wrote me a lovely little note in her card. She knows I like birds so stitched me this perfect little cushion.


From a stitching friend Anne in Ireland this is a miniature. a little table filled with all the things a florist (ex) in my case would need. Even down to the specs which I certainly need . Very unusual and so delicate. Have to hide that when the whirling dervish is around!!!


This was from Tina who sent me a parcel that contained this ,not only has she stitched this Lizzie Kate design on Sassys fabby (my fav) she had it framed and then not only that she sent me a pair of scissors that she got from yoyo in Japan,and also included a pkt of highlighters. Blimey .This is going on the wall by my stitching chair ,how true has this saying been.


This my dear Mil gave me as she knows I like Jane Austen ,I also ordered another couple of JA bits from my brother as he sent me pennies. They havent arrived yet.

An old school friend gave me a Wh Smith gift card ooohhh books and music here I come.
She also gave me some body butter?and some body scrub? Ithink a new body may have been better. Martin is not too sure about the body butter (due to me getting very hot at times ,the mind boggles lol.

Caitlin sent me over a bag she made me - her first attempt at stitching - she said she did not like the sewing machine so I said she can come and practise on mine.

Kate has sent to The Sampler Girl for some charts for me but they have not arrived yet either . So I will be celebrating this birthday in the days to come.
I have a post script as the postie has just been so thought I would let you see the latest arrivals

I received this morning from Rebbeca
this sweet little needlecase with a hardanger front, just so delicate. Will be off to find some needles to put in it when I have finished this.

Then I had a little packet from Angi with this pretty home made card and 2 sparkly pins they will go in Rebeccas needlecase.Think I have finished Oh no ,but almost.


Even Ollie (dog from header taken on Valentines Day) spent his pocket money on a book for me ( he wasnt too sure about getting me a book about a cat though.

I have one more pressie pic to share and it is this one from a neighbour a glass dish and coasters for the lounge as they are the colours in here.

So as I said wasnt I lucky, to all my friends THANKYOU JUST SO MUCH. you made my birthday so very special and not just for the gifts but the cards that said you care ,I dont know what I have done to deserve it but wow it was a good one.

Now for a couple more sorry but this is my stitchy bits , cannot show you Quaker progress as I havent posted to YOYO yet, but I have started my tusal and that I can show you it is my non Thin Lizzy jar -there is no whisky in it!!!!

ccc
Then my final pic for this time (you can breath a sigh of relief now)

A finish stitched but not put together
Febs LHN monthly ornie done.
Well I hope you have enjoyed looking at all my goodies - I will catch up again in a couple of days . Oh now to go and wash the breakfast pots and get back to normality would you believe it has taken me 2 hours to do this argh !!!!!!!
Hope you all have a good week too leave me a comment if you have time and thanks for looking. I also won something on my birthday (not the lottery) but will share when I get it. I was thrilled as do not have luck with winning things. Anyway take care all
Hugs Barb

Made me smile -

You are probably thinking I would have hearts and flowers being almost that day of the year but Oh no, racing sheep , I saw this photo by Rick Turner , well as they say the rest is history. As you know, I sort of like sheep,and when I saw this I just had to share. I love the jockeys .Hope it gave you a smile too. Then I thought ,I have to find the appropriate background and this was it. So until I decide on a change, which seems to be quite frequent these days, here is my current blog. I took the music off as I tried to update it and it was playing on top of itself ,if you know what I mean. Anyway if you don't at first succeed (give up).

When we set off on our journey last Friday (for the funeral) I was hoping to see some sheep to photograph ,however we were on busy roads all the way and those sheep we did see were too far away for pictures to be taken .Not saying anymore about the funeral,it was all rather sad.

It has been rather a nice day here today ,cold but sunny,the washing fairy has been very busy and the ironing one is hiding in the cupboard. I reckon that someone put a curse on me and that ironing board , it is always shouting at me .
Would you believe that these roses lasted 2 weeks ,threw them in the recycling this morning- wonder what I will get this week.Well a girl can hope , and Martin doesn't usually disapoint.

I have had a little stash arrive, and as I have yet another birthday soonish ,I am in the process of telling all the family what I would like lol.

Graeme Sue and Ella are off to Austria (OOOHHH SO ENVIOUS) they are going ski-ing though and we used to go in the summer, walking. In the mountains ,oh the air is sublime.
We wont be doing that again , grr stupid RA.
Anyway as usual I digress, I have my pressie from them sitting here beside me,unopened! as I will not see them before they go. It is not stitch related though lol.
Talking of Our dear Sue, she has to see a blood consultant-of course the appointment for her to gois for whilst they are away. So she is hoping there will be another one waiting for her when she gets back,still fingers crossed that it is treatable.

Ollie has been to the vets yet again, we have wooden floor in our bedroom as I think I have mentioned before,he does like to get on the bed if he can, (when no one is looking)but when he jumps off he has no purchase on his paws so slides. Then he ends up like Bambi when he goes skating with Thumper. So having done his Bambi impression by collapsing in a heap he hurt his back hip and leg. So walks on lead for 3 days .HE was not impressed and neither were we with another £100 VET bill. I hope he realises how much stitching stash he is preventing me from having.
Oh that was a good link wasn't it.
Stash for you to (perhaps) drool over is as follows.
This is my Emma Project from The Sampler Girl, more later.





I saw these Prairie Schooler trees and thought they may be fun to make at some point.
The other design was a Dessins design in French but with an English version.This is to make for my birdie wall.


Took pic of English side too, also I received my LHN third ornie (haven't done the second one yet.) This month is He is a flake.

Last but not least the 2 last stockings of the year and end of the stockings from Blackbird designs .November and December 2009 .They were a little late in getting here.

Worth waiting for though.

Now for the wips and finishes.
As you know I am doing the SAL with Yoyo on her Christmas Design. Which is my Quaker Christmas and here is where I am up to with this one.



Really pleased with this one, but I really must get some done this week.
Also I am in trouble with Julie and Mr Stick regarding no work done on the Vine ,so I am in detention and must attend class next Tuesday so teacher can keep her eye on me.
The JN sal is growing V e r y slowly but I have put a few stitches in it.
I have finished this one though for my birdie wall,it is going to be framed at the weekend.

This is a design from LHN entitled Morning Berries,it was a complimentary chart way back when. I stitched it over 1 on Sassys khaki with the recommended threads.It will have a black frame like my other birdies.
Then the really exciting one,I think so anyway and I am really really pleased with it. For any of you who are JA fans you will know what I mean ,I think Martin is a little unsure ,but then he is a man.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE

Emma on the wall.


So for this time ,that is almost all my stitchy news - maybe more to share with you soon, my dear MIL has finished her cross stitch thatched cottage. It has taken her over a year with many tears dripped while stitching remembering dad. Who as you know was a stitching man,but I am so proud of her she has DONE it,That too is off to the framer this weekend so I will see if I can grab a pic when we get it back.
Hope you have enjoyed the ramblings , thanks for coming to see me. I have also joined the TUSAL but have not posted pic of my Thin Lizzy jar- there is "no whisky" in it.
Bye all take care and will speak again soon
Hugs and thanks for taking time to leave me a comment.

Barb

Good news,stitchy news and Sad news

Okay which first, let's do the sad ,then I can feel better with the good.
Sad news of my SIL she slipped away at 5 a.m on Sunday morning,it is a release for her and although her hubby of almost 40 years and their 2 girls and families are feeling very raw at the moment, I think in time they will realise she wouldn't have wanted anymore pain and even worse quality of life. They sang happy birthday to her last week on her 60th birthday but there wasn't any response. Gulp. Ok tissues away. We are now awaiting a funeral date they are not local so will mean a journey.


Now for the better news , I am going to try and keep this post short lol, as wrists and fingers are not behaving themselves at the moment.
I do not know how to link (or should I say Julie has told me how ) but haven't tried yet perhaps next time, but if you look at blogs I visit (some not listed yet lol) you will see Carols "I Stitch", well I was soooo pleased that my suggestion won, she asked for suggestions of names for her new design and here it is



Isn't that great, Carols work is perfection and I never dreamt for a minute that I would have my name on one of her charts see bottom pic at the bottom. Thankyou Carol for sending me my very own copy of the chart , you will see it here stitched at some point in time.

Now other stitchy pics for you to peek at are

This is one of the e patterns I got from Country Rustic Primitives. I stitched it on Osnaburg fabric from Threads and Patches it was £4.50 a metre which I thought CHEAP as chips lol.The designer suggested you wash it first and I am glad I did as it does shrink a little. I just cut a piece to allow for shrinkage and swished it round in some woollite in the bowl. Jenny also shared how to age it ,but as it is a bit slubby and I quite liked the colour I left that bit ,Maybe I will try on another one. I have used string (hairy) for the hanger and all in all I am pleased with it. This will be my first ornie on the monthly christmas ornie over at Stitch and Stashers.
Next is my LHN Fa-la-la finished I made it into a tag for the tree- now I have to start the next one.


I have done some progress on 4 Wishes but not a lot pic for you to see


I have also this week stitched on the Vine and Quaker Christmas so I have not been slacking.
No stash to show this week - I did buy a floss box ,not a posh one, just a tacky placky one ,but it does the job.I also bought some 36count Edinburgh Linen in case the Osnaburg didnt work.
I do have stash coming though and next week I may get to show it to you ,hee-hee.

Alfie enjoyed his birthday and has now got his Lego. He built a tower and started hitting it with his hammer, What, are you doing? asked Kate (dd), I am just making it level was the answer . yep if its not right hit it with a hammer !!!!



Well folks thats the news this week ,let's hope that now this year can start to get better.Now off to try to get my hands working so I can stitch. I did stagger round the block with Ollie which I couldnt do on Sunday.
Thanks for the comments , and some new ones too ,thanks so much for popping by and reading my wafflings.
Take care and I will speak again soon.
Barb

All things pink!

Well I am in the pink- just a quick post today ,as I am sure you cannot bear the photo any longer I know I can't. However, I must thankyou for all the polite comments you made lol.
The tulips are some of the flowers that Martin bought me on Saturday. I love shades of pink in flowers. I also love white flowers too. I have these in my bedroom, these red ones in the lounge and in the hall the pink alstroemeria.



I do not have any stitching for you as it is only a few days or seems like it,since I last rambled on.

I do have some! good news to share with you, my friend is out of hospital yay. Her husband stayed so hadn't got the messages till he came home with her. I had a message from her on the answer phone ,I have not spoken to her yet and as she is still recovering and I do not want to interrupt her "rest"time. She did say there had been complications so I will find out more when she feels up to phoning. I just felt so much relief when I heard her voice.
Still waiting for Sues diagnosis. SIL in a bad way and it is still touch and go she is in Intensive Care and has been for over a week. Spoke to BIL last night and he said he feels absolutely exhausted , I think if she does come through this it will still not be an easy life for either of them.The waiting game continues.

It is Alfies 3rd birthday on Wednesday , he said he would like some Lego bricks- blimey they are like gold dust- we had to order the bigger size box with 1,600 bricks in it direct from Lego . It won't be here for the day but Kate said he won't mind. Martin said she had to count them every week to make sure they had not lost any, You can if you like ,was the very short reply !!

Then we have Graemes birthday on Saturday next, I won't tell you how old he is ,but his sister Kate will be 40 this year and there is 2 years between them and he is older lol. A pic of them taken in the summer on Martins birthday.They will not be impressed I have shown you -well if I get mine on here it is only fair.

You will have to excuse them, Kate cannot be serious for long, and the table was full of curry things.


No stitchy pics this time I have been stitching a little on the Quaker and I actually did a bit on the vine last week too,so Julie will be pleased.
I have ordered some e charts from Country Rustic Primitives so I will be showing you those stitched at some point. Also ordered the new Sampler Girl Valentine Booklet,and the Emma project. I do like Jane Austen and her sayings.I am awaiting the new Blackbird Stockings too from Thread Bear. Just a few bits and pieces to keep me occupied!!!Will let you see when they arrive.

Thanks Sally for offer of Pine roll but that is one I have -and still to do.
Jane found your blog (at last)thankyou and have left you a comment .

Now for those of you who do not like my music choice I am not going to apologise cause I do -lol. I am trying to add more but it doesn't seem to want to play.IF you cannot stand it then turn down your volume and you wont hear it.

The lark arising I first heard at a funeral and this will seem a strange thing to say but it was at a crematorium and I do not like those places at the best of times but this one well was lovely- we went in to Cello music which was a bit dirge like. Then after the first hymn ,they played this piece of music and the bit in it where the lark is soaring and singing really made me feel that her spirit had been uplifted too. Then we came out to the theme from a Victorian Cottage Garden as she was a gentle person and loved her garden and flowers. I am afraid I have been to many funerals over the years (getting on myself now!) but I have never forgotten this piece of music and how it affected me. Hope i haven't distressed anyone talking about funerals.
Crikey I started off all flowery and light and ended up all gloomy and heavy you really wanted to read that didn't you .

I am gradually adding peoples blogs that I visit to my side bar. Also books etc ,I have just been trying to read a book by Susannah Gregory if any one knows her or likes her ,it is called the Devils Disciples and I cannot get into it.If any of you want it Let me know and I will get in touch with you.Have a look on Amazon to see what it is about.

I will end with a pic for you of my "special"bears I seem to get one every Christmas from either a family member or my old school friend they are the Harrods(see name dropping here)Christmas bears- Kate and I used to love to go to Harrods at Christmas and dream!! Every year we would buy a carrier bag and a pencil as that was all we could afford lol.Anyway here are they on my bed.


I expect by now you are all bored to tears so till next time when I may be allowed to ramble some more
take greatly care and keep muchly warm
hugs Barb

A happy New Year and a little catch up from me

I hate having my photo taken so make the most of this it probably will not happen again. Martin "got me" so for those of you who know me, now you know me some more lol.
This is just really a quick update , blimey what a start to the New Year , Martin had choking session on Sunday dinner and ended up having to make a 999 call. That was scary. SIL is very ill in hospital that also happened on Sunday,Liver and Kidney failure ,she was not expected to pull through. So every-time the phone rings we think its the call. She is due to have her 60Th birthday in a weeks time.
They do not live close so no chance to go visit. Her girls are beside themselves as is Martins brother.
No news from friends husband still,despite leaving messages, no news on Sue either.
Thankyou so much for your good wishes for them it means a lot.

I have a little stitching to share with you
my last ornie of 2009 was this one that Julie did on Stitch and Stash and I had to do it too. I ferreted through my mags till I found it and lo and behold here it is. I finished it in a hurry so don't look too close.


Taken from the 2003 JCS mag.

Then I stitched this Blackbird design stocking "Winter Carnation" for Karen for her birthday. Filled it with Lavender and added some bits and pieces, I know she had some other stitchy bits from other friends and she said in her e mail to me that she thought we were trying to get her back into stitching. Do so hope it worked.


I am currently SAL with Yoyo on her Christmas design - I have chosen Quaker Christmas and here is my progress so far.

I have also started on Stitch and Stash Just Nan SAL 4 wishes but not really enough to show any progress. But I will.


I have finished the LHN SAL ORNIE but not "finished" it into anything yet here it is over 1 on Sassys Celery.

Not altogether happy with the faces but they will do. I have just heard postie come to the door and he has brought me the next ornie to do (will I ever catch up) a pic for you.


It was Sam's 8th birthday on Sunday (not all bad things happened last Sunday) Kate made him an army cake ! she had little toy (plastic) soldiers on it , when the Alfie had finished helping she said it looked like a battlefield!!lol. We gave Ella a Nigella Lawson cookery book for Christmas as a little extra , Graeme and Sue came down to see Sam on Sunday and Ella had made a fabulous looking cake from it,called Malteser cake, it has Horlicks in it. The icing was very sweet though. I don't suppose it took the tribe long to demolish it.
Well folks those of you who have to work -you poor things- but I have done my bit honest- I am now going to get the vine out and stitch on it ,so I may get a star from Mr Stick instead of a prod.
Take care all and hopefully I will have good news for you next time.
Thankyou for your comments,I do read them and Jane I still haven't found your blog!
For those of you with poorly folk ,and that are generally under the weather thoughts are with you.
Bye for now.Oh forgot Ollie is fine ,he disappeared whilst out with Martin this morning - he thought he would go for a walk with 2 labs and a greyhound instead. I will change the background and the Header next time ,did mean to do it now but stitching is calling.
hugs Barb.