Today is the day

I start the SAL with Sally ,Return to the Sea by the Sampler Girl, so to prove I have started today I have put todays newspaper next to the first 5 stitches. So updates on this may go on a while lol.

Another pic of threads and design.I am using threads suggested but stitching it on white 28count Joblean .I was going to use the ivory but decided as it has to match Staying Home (the other side of a mirror) , I would use the same fabric

Just love those colours of silks.
I seem to have been a while away from my little blog, no real excuse just did not think I had anything much to tell you about, although when I get started it is amazing what comes to mind.
Since last I wrote Jack has been made prefect and narrowly missed being head boy, he hopes he may be chosen for sports captain but I suppose he will know soon. It doesn't seem possible he will be in his last year at this school,or that almost 16years ago I was saying to Iain that it was all over and he had a son. He couldn't face being with her !!!hmmm least said. So mum did.
However it was rather special just her and I.
So now he is growing up and although trials and tribulations of teenage years have raised issues he is settled again and hopefully if things turn out as he plans he has a good future. He has just been accepted to do work experience at his old primary school,as he hopes to become a teacher ,we will see what he thinks after the 2 weeks.
Ella has just been in a show which unfortunately we couldnt go to, it was Thriller the music from Michael Jackson. She was a zombie and various other characters.
Sam our 8year old went to roman hill fort the other day and whilst out was telling his friend about some fossils he had found with his grandad the night before, and also about the things Martin had told him about the dig that he was on a couple of years ago. Only in an amateur capacity I might add. Anyway Sams friend said in earshot of Kate, I wish I had a grandad like yours he's cool, and he knows lots of stuff about fossils and all sorts. I think that is the only time my dear husband has been called 'cool' in his lifetime.
All the others are fine and looking forward to the summer holidays.
Talking of cool, here is my wintery ufo project Generosity. Not progressing as well as I would like still trying to find the missing mojo.

My mojo keeps making an appearance in fits and starts ,bit like the Scarlet Pimpernel,I seek it here ,I seek it there.Talking of Scarlet how about this for a touch of red.

Think I shall have to attack that trellis with a paint brush!

On the subject of gardens thank you so much for all your comments about the garden, I could show you the wild bit but I don't think I dare!!!

Anyway if you want a flower fix here are a few that are in bloom at the moment.
Amber Queen.

This was a rose bought for us by mil last year.
, That one is English Miss I bought that when my dear Mum died 10 years ago, it only has that one stem with that one bloom on this year. I am hoping I won't lose it.

This one I haven't a clue what it is called,we have had it years and although it is still in the same tub we planted it in,it has rooted into the earth beneath and so if the pot splits I do not know what will happen to it.
Sorry I have gone off on a bit of a ramble here (not another rose groan!).No better get to the stitchy stuff, I have no finishes that I can show you,so no dancing again Heidi, as the one I have finished is for a friend who reads this so you will all have to wait for that one.
I do have some wip though if you would like a peek.

This is progress on Beyond my Heart summer sal with Blackbird designs group.
Then of course QC, about half of page 4.


WHAT IS THAT i can hear you say well,it a rather dreadful pic of progress on an HAED storykeep Sal that I have started along with all the threads ,crikey that will keep me cross eyed i think.

I have been trying to keep my hands mobile and sort of knitting, I say sort of as I am not very good at it nowadays, I thought I would knit this for mil as she loves bears and has a VERY large collection, her favourite colour is lilac too so I thought this little bear could have a lilac dress. I dont know if I will be doing anymore! although there is quite a cute hiking bear,with a rucksack.

On Friday we had an evening out ,it doesn't happen very often as I never know how I am going to be ,but threw caution to the wind and went and saw the Fureys.

Of course Martin had to have the DVD and a double cd, I think he has nearly worn his old ones out. They were very good and we really enjoyed having a night out together.If my Irish friend Anne is reading this ,we mentioned Balbriggan and they said the traffic was awful lol.
So my friends that is all my news for now ,oh sorry forgot stash, only one item apart from DMC threads and some white fabric which I wont show you ,but here is the item from Blackbird Loose Feathers last design I think .Front and back of Hedgerow Birds.



A little something for all of you who come and visit my little corner of cyberspace and sometimes say Hello, I love getting the comments and you are all such nice people. So from me to you a little bunch of sweepies from my garden , if you sniff hard you may just be able to smell them lol.

Bye for now , take care and whatever you are doing this week enjoy your stitching.
Hugs n stuff
Barb.

Stash and update

The header pic is Wisley a rose in my garden. Thanks so much for the lovely comments on the garden and offers of coming to stitch with me there ,you would be very welcome.We have been busy out there this last week and my stitching has suffered and the mojo has gone walkabout.Need Mr Stick to come and prod me into action.Just so far behind on things at the minute.
Well last time I did not show you recent additions to my stash so here as promised is a few of the purchases in May and June probably April too.
Where shall I start hmmm......
Well birdie ones first me thinks.


Sarah Tobias Book Blackbird designs


Elizabeth CHS.
Flirt a Feather by CHS. BTW all these pics are clickable to be made bigger.

So as you see the bird wall will be quite full when i get all these bird designs stitched.
As with birds I have also had a splurge on The Sampler Girl designs ,Tanya had a sale recently and I can never resist her sales ,so I got these, I think I am only
missing a couple I would like now ,so when the next sale comes along they may have to jump into the basket too.
Anyway here are the latest ones.

I also ordered the fabric that goes with, I would rather be at Pemberley.

Some seasidey ones just because the summer is here.

Last of these is Mansfield Park . However ,whilst on the subject of Jane Austen I saw on the stitching Janeites forum this book that someone recommended ,so yes I had to have that too.

Talking of books , another I got when I ordered this, was a book I remembered from my childhood (more years ago than I care to mention).Just thought I would re-read it now .

My Kate dd asked if I was in my second childhood, when she came to look for a book to read. Hmmmm now I wonder.
Also Julie gave me a link to some crochet I think it is called Attic 24,oh it grabbed me by the throat and said YOU HAVE to try this. So another book was called for here it is ,however I think I was a little ambitious !!!!

I think my brain,hand co-ordination is lacking ,well maybe just the brain!!!

Martin has gone back to work today,after a week off and it feels all wrong here , even Ollie is sulking. He had a very busy week in the garden ,Martin not Ollie, I really should have taken a before and after pic of this ,as it was a wall that always had the stuff that gets dumped somewhere in front of it. No more!! here is our weeks efforts and I painted the bench (please dont tell me I missed a bit) .



So now you see why I have not got much stitching done - excuses excuses .
The little I did - oooohhh another link hee hee.
Progress on Quaker Christmas

Onto page 4 now.Shall have to get a wiggle on with this or Tina will be way ahead of me. I have not seen Yoyo posting lately on the SAL,wonder if she has her computer problems fixed yet.
I also have started a SAL with the Blackbird design group I belong to,it is a summer sal ,your choice of one of their designs. I have chosen Beyond my heart a Loose feather design for my bird wall. I did start it on fabric called for,decided it was too dark and opted for white. Now I think it is too stark, shall I tea dye it when finished ---any thoughts?

So you see not a lot of stitching done , oh I did do 2 hats on my Generosity but I will wait until I get more done before taking a pic. Btw if you have a ufo to finish why dont you come and join Julie and Mr Stick on Stitch and Stash forum and get it finished , Julie is a sweetie and Mr Stick well he only wields his stick from afar.

Martin took a pic of the swimming dog yesterday and I was going to post it for you ,however although he sent me the attachment I dont know how to get it on here . So next time you will maybe get pic of swimming dog.
Again thanks for the comments , I look to see everyday if some kind soul has posted me a little message,they do help my day along.
Well spose I had better go do something or my dear Martin will think I have been sitting here all day talking to you instead of dealing with housewifey duties and doing the girlie jobs.(wink). Why is cleaning the loo a girlie job can anyone enlighten me.
Oh well take care all hugs for you that are feeling under the weather ,had a pain day Saturday but managed a walk with Ollie and Martin around the fields yesterday,which took ages and in pain last night but ok today.
Hugs n stuff till next time
Barb x

Make a cuppa and pull up a chair!

At last I have an update for you. I do hope so anyway, if this laptop behaves itself,it has almost taken a trip through the window this last couple of days. I get things all typed in then it all drops out and I lose it all. I have changed the header pic please do not think you have got eyesight problems , its blurry ,I thought I would show you these sweet lily of the valley that grow just outside the lounge window and smell gorgeous.
I have been out and about in the garden with some pics for you to see. I have stitchy things to share and and some stash to show you too as the camera had a problem too last time ,all sorted now, it is just the person that uses it that has the problems now lol.
Well firstly a Rak from Sally , how pretty is this, I do read a lot which Sally has picked up on and so this will be used everyday.Thankyou so much Sally I love it. It is typical Sally colours and is just so delicate the whole thing is just lovely.Are you ready here it is.


The pics are clickable if you want to see them bigger.
The book that is shown is clled In Praise of the Needlewoman and is full of pics of needlewomen stitching.
I think I will do alternate pics of garden and stitching this time.So here is a picture of our Clematis that climbs its way over the garage roof which I can see from the kitchen window.



Now a little story, a little while ago you may remember Julie sent me Seymore bunny to help me with my UFO projects, he carried in his hand a stick ,supposedly to help him hop along ,but I think it was to whack me with when I was not stitching!! After a while he fell for Rachaels bunny and was disappointed when she did not return his affections, so as a last resort he advertised for a mail order wife. Of course he never dreamt anything would happen, but one day to his great delight a bride arrived in the form of Miss Rose, a wedding took place,again you may recall the pics of the happy pair. Well time passed and being bunnies they got up to what bunnies do best and along came Maisie and Millie. You are beginning to wonder where this is leading arent you, well a few days ago in time for the Monthly Challenge at STitch and Stash, Miss Rose had a birthday and the girls and Seymore gave her a new apron and Seymore gave her a crystal bracelet.The chart for her apron was Tulip Time by Bettys Primitive a freebie. When I saw it I just had to stitch this. It is stitched on Osnaburg fabric.


I think Seymore and Maisie had gone into the garden to see the old man who lives near the bottom of the garden but they must have been behind a bush looking for something nice to nibble so couldnt take a pic,

Our garden is a bit untidy but pretty in places.
Of course being spring my next pic has to be my latest finish ,Oh dear Heidi not another Happy Dance .This is my CHS The Song they sang ,stitched on Sassys French Cafe over 1. It will be framed at a later date when I do a couple more for the birdie wall.


Hope you are still with me!!!!
Talking of spring we have a flock ,well more than one family, of starlings visiting the garden at the moment and wow do they get through the food. We put a block of fat with fruit and seeds in every day. We are very lucky and have a great assortment of birds that come to feed and drink just outside out lounge window (they can smell the lily of the valley too when they come for a visit.lol) Despite being on a busy road ,we are set back a bit so they are not really disturbed. Even Ollie sits in his chair to watch them. So a pic of the baby starlings waiting for breakfast.


Well this is working quite well , we do have lots of places to sit in the back garden and I shall be out there in the summer no doubt. The summer house (theres posh) that Martin built 8 years ago when he was made redundant ,before he got another job.One of the places to sit ....


Can you see what I see lurking is it a "PURPLE FROG".


Just in front of the summer house, is a raised bed that we did when my dear Mum died,as she is buried 300 miles away ,I wanted a place I could call hers, so this is Mums garden.


Right back to the stitching and here is yet another May finish which is the Monthly Christmas Ornie Challenge over at Stitch and Stash .I finished this from the JCS 2008
By Full Circle designs,I finished it into a pillow and I am quite pleased with it.
Yes they are SHEEP in the pic with it.


I am still stitching on Quaker Christmas and have finished page 3 ,but have not got pic of that ,you will have to wait until next time.
Meanwhile back in the garden another place to sit is futher up and you may just catch a glimpse of Phoebe she has been carrying the pot for quite a while now and we never hear her complain!!


On the other side we have the gravel and water feature that was a 40th wedding anniversry present from the children.


Are you dizzy yet all this toing and froing.
Well you know that I faithfully stitch every week on my UFO night with Julie and Mr Stick, (tongue in cheek here) I found this little gem in my box of abandonment and here are the pics that show the weekly progress it is Generosity by Drawn Thread.



I think that is all my stitchy news apart from stash that may have to wait until next time or even a post all to it self lol.
I have couple more of the garden one is of the decking area that we did a couple of years ago with the water feature that i have now planted. Yet another place to sit, we often have meals out here.




I am not going into family news suffice to say I think it is ongoing to those in the know. Although I will say my DH Martin will reach 65 on Saturday and although he has decided he wants to do another year (probably to buy me more stash lol) we are going out for a family meal . His mum bought him this fab rhodedendrum for his birthday.

On that pretty note I will say Happy Birthday to him and its see you next time from me.
Take care all and many many thanks for all of those comments and if you have stayed thus far well done ,and the tea is cold!!!
Hugs n stuff Barb.