27th October Happy Blogaversary to me!!!!

Well hello there folks! This is just a tiny post as I thought I would not keep you in waiting any longer . I did not do the random generator thing as I wasn't sure how to. So the old fashioned way of names in a bowl. I did have a little brown jug I was going to use but Martin couldn't get his hand in it lol.
So he is to blame for your name not popping out -sorry to all those,but congratulations to..............


Angi M I will be in touch and the parcel will be on its way soon.
Thankyou to all who entered and for all the lovely comments, bless you.

I too was a winner this week, for a long time I have admired Stitcheranons work and so entered her giveaway, not knowing what it was and I WON. WooHoo!! Not a stitched item that I was hoping for but a certain amount to spend at a needlework shop of my choice,how about THAT. I chose some 36 count linen and threads to stitch my 'I've got my love to keep me warm', by the way Gaynor I shall be sending you a rak stitched by me somewhen in the next 365 days as I didnt get my three people wanting to do a pif ,hope this is ok by you .

I stitched with Sally on Monday night on my Jane Stocking and this is progress so far.

Aren't those little sheepies so cute. Really really pleased with how this is coming on.I think Sally has finished the row I am about half way through and is going to start the words next week. Hopefully I will be able to catch her up and be roughly at the same point again.
So folks I am now off for a nice warm bath to soothe the aches and pains. Take care all and I will catch up with you again soon.
Hugs n stuff
Barb

Tomorrow ,tomorrow

I will see you tomorrow ,its only a day away.
Don't forget the chance to win my giveaway will announce the winner tomorrow.Thanks to those who already left a comment for me on the relevant post.
Hugs n stuff
Barb.x

Is it possible? at last an update

That today I may get this written ,without the gremlins visiting ! Lets see if I can show you a picture of your stitched piece for the giveaway - just dont forget to leave a comment on that post.

When I went to meet a friend for coffee yesterday ,in the coffee shop of all places I found these pins and they were just what I needed to go in the cushion for you ,so I felt really pleased with that little purchase.So that's the front ,now the back,
As I said yesterday the fabric I bought whilst on holiday. I must admit to being pleased with the finish of this and I am going to stitch one for me at some point too. Just hope whoever wins it will like it.
Anyway enough of the giveaway, I would like to send you all but the pocket won't allow so just the one parcel I am afraid.
I have had rather a problematic time with the wrists hands etc and this morning I think I ached from neck down , a hot bath and medication are easing it so hopefully if I can sleep tonight then it will help. But you do not want to hear about that! you want to know what has been happening , what has arrived etc.
Well we had a fabulous weekend with the family ,4 generations making Halloweney type things, MIL who is 85 to Ella who is 10 having me teach them how to make pumpkins. Graeme and Martin and Ella at times,making a giant spiders web to go in her bedroom window-we had lots of good food ,

lots of laughter and just a relaxing weekend ,especially for Sue who is a daughter-in-law in a million, I mentioned I could not reach the plate rack that runs round the top of the kitchen /dining room with all my dusty plates on, no longer dusty , no sooner said than done! Out with the steps (which I am not allowed on) plates etc down , I washed them ,mil dried and Sue bless her washed the shelf and wall above and put it all back . I now have a kitchen that is totally clean.However she did relax after ,whilst all the creating was going on snuggled on the sofa with my magazines.

Picture of some of the said plates.Scuse the top of the fridge another flat surface for the Dh to put things.lol.

Sue asked me to thankyou for your good wishes for her mum, who is home but she gets very frustrated with herself , she was such a chatty lady and now her speech is slurred and she cannot at times make herself understood, however Sue says although she is not quite the same and things sometimes come out wrong she still has her mum.Apparently she asked Sues dad if she could go and thank the paramedics who administered the medication in time , who, when she did, thought it such a nice thing to do as they do not get thanked afterwards very often.
Kate and tribe came over Monday night as Jack had his parents evening, sil was in Manchester so we fed the others and Kate had hers after. Jack is set for A and A* in most subjects IF he keeps at it. His teacher says he needs Bromide in his tea!
So I have seen the family in the last few days.
Ollies feet are healing at last ,but the bathing and putting cream on still continues.
Ok so what has arrived been stitched etc.
Well I had this bought me by my lovely man, when I am tired holding a hardback book is not good,the pages won't stay still so he got me this.

A KINDLE.

I am enjoying Eat,pray,love at the moment on it, I do miss a real book but it is easier for me.
Talking of books ,Graeme brought this down for me on Sunday, some yummy recipes in it and only £5 at Sainsburys, and he got discount too not bad eh.

I also bought this after seeing a friends copy ,she bought it at the show and it was £14.99 I got it from Amazon for £7.99 just a little different ,but I would love to stitch the girls (grandaughters ) one of the bags each , full of plans lol.


On the stitching front I have at last received my Shepherds Bush order,and The Journey has arrived as well as the pansy roll. The journey has nice words which are:-
Take Joy in the journey and the friends you find along the way.

My friend Sally is going to stitch along, a Shepherds Bush design Emmanuels Song I think, we start on January 1st if you fancy joining us ,any SB design and probably on a Monday night.

Talking of Monday night this is our Jane night and we are stitching The Stocking, here is progress so far.

I think maybe I will have another night in the week for TSG designswhen the SB one starts as I have so many I want to do.
I still have most of these ornies to do - must stitch more -chat less- here is the latest I have got.

I like the way this one is finished. Whilst browsing LHN site I came across this download from Gigi R, ,proceeds to UNICEF , and there are some lovely designs in here. Just thought I may enable you too,it is in French and I don't speak a word of French but all looks fairly straightforward, and if the bear of very little brain can figure it out I am sure you clever bodies can.

12 patterns are what you get.
I have had a finish besides the cushion, only a little one but I like it.It is on the chimney breast, a design by Country Rustic Primitives and I have mounted it on a piece of black painted hardboard with string for a hanger.


Just ordered a winter one ,thought I would do one or two to hang there for each season.
Now last but certainly not least I had a little gift come yesterday from my friend Julie who sent me this , it is on my to do pile Julie which grows ever higher, it is just so pretty and when I am in a pink mood it will be just right. Thankyou so much for thinking of me ,also there was a lovely chatty note and the picture on the front was just so cute. I have to say that it gave me a lift on an otherwise mundane day.

You may remember Julie has been encouraging me with the crochet lark, I cannot do very much at all without pain kicking in, so I am picking it up for a short time only. Martin wants a blanket for his "old age" to keep his knees warm, I hope he isnt going to need it for an awful long time!! Graeme said oh like that can you make me one for when I sit in the consevatory-oh how I hate to disapoint him. Wonder how long he can wait!
This is progress on blanket so far lol.

Well folks I think I have at last caught up , this dratted machine has behaved itself and I am about to press post.Thanks for your very kind comments, andI hope you haven't got too stiff sitting reading this. I am off for a good stretch (I think I would like to come back as a cat , as they always look as if their stretches hit the spot.
Take care all and I good luck to those who wish to enter the giveaway
Hugs n stuff
Barb

oops dont know what happened there

Sorry folks but I have just posted an eighth of my post -have I been subjecting you to this mayhem for almost a year sigh! Well I will give you an update either tomorrow or Thursday as I am not in the right frame of mind to type it all again, However the giveaway post holds leave your comment to be entered on that and it is a bar of soap should you be wondering!!!!!
Going to look in the dusty cupboard for my brain (just typed brian ,whoever he is,argh .
Take care back soon
Hugs n stuff Barb.
Thanks Lesley Anne your comment is counted.

When Autumn leaves float by my window

I just love autumn how about you.Well I am about to celebrate (commiserate with you),my first year of blogging. SO if you would like to have a chance of winning please pass it on to all and sundry to give them a chance too and if you would leave a comment on here saying you have done just that ,I will make the draw on the 27th October which will be the date of my very first missive.
I was a bit disapointed in the response to my pif but thanks to Jacqui who responded ,can you e mail me your addy.I am going to make the pif a rak instead and send to three people somewhen in the coming year so Jacqui consider yourself one of those. Does that make sense .
Anyway here is what I have put together for the giveaway



I have stitched this cushion from the Honeysuckle Manor book by Blackbird designs ,it has my initials and year on it, I changed the colours from the ones in the book,it is stitched with GentleArt threads Peacock and Flax. The backing fabric I bought while we were on holiday,along with a bar of handmade soao from Odds and Suds in Tavistock,a packet of heart buttons, a small parcel of fabrics for you to use however you wish, A Christmas card kit ,a little bag of lavender, and a bag of Thorntons chocolates.

Would you like

Something stitched by me. Well I signed up with Sallys pif and so now I am posting this in the hope (everything crossed) that 3 of you will sign up for mine.Here is what it is about.
.
"The idea is that 3 of you join my Pay It Forward and then I will send a hand made gift (made with love!!!) to each one of my THREE within the next 365 days!

So this is me, asking for 3 people to join my PIF -just leave a comment to this post !That's it...no Catches! NOW...I only need THREE...who wants to be my THREE????

So please come and join me and be one of my THREE because I would really love to make something special for you."


Look out next time for a blogaversay giveaway which I am hoping you will all (69)followers enter .
Hugs n stuff
Barb
I will give you a blog update soon, probably next week as not much to report this.

I will try again-

I typed almost a whole blog grrrr, then the internet threw it all away,will try again.It is almost an hour ago now so I have calmed down a little.
Well we are home and as you can guess by the header we saw lots of sheep!! The sheep I wanted a pic of scarpered when we opened the car door. So we took his friends instead although the one on the right is doing a disappearing act too. The one I wanted had a white face and his features were of a smiley face ,no I kid you not. That is why we stopped to take a picture but perhaps he had enough of being in the limelight and got suddenly camera shy.Before you ask I had not been on the boozy juice either!!
Well folks shall I bore you to tears with the dreaded holiday snaps,well go on then just a few ,then I have some stitchy pics to show you.
We had a lovely relaxing week away, no hot sun and beaches or days by the pool for us,instead we stayed in our lovely countryside and had some "us"time - we do like Dartmoor and the surrounding countryside ,some say it is bleak but it has a beauty all of its own. What do you think?


You get the picture!
Anyway we stayed on a smallholding about 5 miles from Tavistock and apart from 5 blacksheep these gorgeous girls a horse and a cockerel that seemed to think it was daybreak all day (but not at daybreak ) it was just soooo quiet.

We could have had fresh eggs for breakfast but Martin said he would pass on that one.
We stayed in a converted barn in a small hamlet (you don't hear that word much now do you)? about 5 houses in a road that led to nowhere. A pic of the barn and 2 views from the upstairs windows, one looking at the owners house and the other of their neighbours opposite.



Ollie had a great time too, we frequented the watering hole we go to in this part of the country and he had his usual bowl of water and biscuits. Then we had finished our meal the chef brought him out a slice of beef. Dog friendly I think so.


The sign above the bar says Dogs welcome , children on a lead.
Then he had his usual dips in the River Tavy ,a bit further down than this was taken. The water rushing over the weir was in its autumnal colours of tweedy brown with gold hightlights in the sun.Well I thought it quite pretty anyway.

Whilst there we thought we would visit Morwellam Quay,a tourist attraction we visited some years ago ,people dressed in victorian dress and lots going on. We were a little disapointed to find it looking less than bustling and just a little neglected.Apparently we found out later that the place had gone bankrupt and had new owners. I suppose they are going to work on it to get it back ,just seemed such a shame. Anyway I took a few pics for my blog and will put underneath what they are.

A boat. Seriously this was a barge used to take things down or up river.
Morwellham was known for mining copper and in its time was a thriving place,with its own little schoolhouse .

One of the miners cottages.

Are you losing the will to live yet? I know its not awe inspiring, but Martin likes waterwheels and such its a man thing,so had to take this for him. Anyway off we went to Dartmouth the next day, through the twisty windy roads. Martin actually got me on a boat!I am definately NOT a lover of boats big or little, but Ollie was jumping up and down wanting to go and Martin too ,so after I found out where the lifejackets were-you think I am joking -it is a standing joke in our family that I sat under the lifeboat all the way to the Isle of Man when the children were little .Somewhere I have a photo.Anyway it was only an hour and a half , we weren't sure how Ollie would like being off Terra firma so we opted for the shorter river cruise (that was my excuse and I was sticking to it.)Anyway the boat had a bar and a G&T saw me braving the elements (its was so calm not even a ripple) and almost shivering me timbers. Want to see the river ,we passed Agatha Christies estate but you couldn't really see much but a glimpse behind the trees.We also Jonathan and David Dimblebeys home,name dropping here.


Luckily we had decent weather and the only day it grizzled was Wednesday and rained Wednesday night. I of course being in Tavistock had to visit the needlework shop, not much in the way of cross stitch ,but lots of lovely fabric and bits and bobs,Martin was beginning to despair of me and my daily fix.Here are a few of goodies bought.

Some ribbons and tassels - you never know when you will need a tassel or two.

Of course some books- I just love these Tilda type designs - just got to make them now lol. Oh I fell for the nightshirt angels so I am going to make this and bought the fabric whilst there.


Of course then I saw this little sweetie and had to get the kit. Bad girl bad girl. Then Martin saw this beauty so it had to come home with us.


Did I say there was nice fabby in this shop hmmmmm yummy.

I did some stitching too since last we spoke and I used some of the new fabric to back this Stacy Nash Lets play in the dirt pincushion.


I also stitched these two

I have never done this type of easel finish before and boy did I get sticky, I do not think I shall be doing many more like this, not a lover of glue sticky stuff. They don't look too bad though do they.
Of course on Monday last and this was my Sally &Jane day,which has seen the stocking grow a little , hope Sally hasn't missed me too much, although I see she has been very very busy herself.


I hope you are still with me on my epic blog, I do have a little more to share with you, lots of people seem to be hooked on this crochet lark and I have struggled .oh boy have I struggled but as I couldn't play on my computer this week as the keyboard wouldn't let me type some letters and the frustration set in. So Martin ordered me a new keyboard and fixed it last night. What a man.
Anyway I digress. Not perfect by any stretch but for a first finished attempt ta da-


Must not neglect stitching ,that was a note to self.
Before we went away I received in the mail a package from Faye in the U.S. we are part of Stitch it and Pass it on, and now I have to stitch these designs for the next person and I am really looking forward to it. So applause please for Faye and the Stitch it and Pass it on girls here is Buttoned up for Christmas designed by Cathy Jean of Victoria Sampler.

Well folks are you still awake as I think I am almost. Must be those sheep again.
Oh thanks for all the wishes for Sues Mum, thankfully she is on the mend. I do not think it will be a quick fix though as her speech and writing skills need a therapist,who surprise surprise cannot give them an appointment for at least 3 months.They have decided to go private as her brain needs to retrain as quick as poss. Thanks also for comments on the pumpkins,
Well next time I will be giving you a chance to win a giveaway as I will have been blogging for a year on the 27th of October- doesnt time fly when you have fun- thanks or blame goes to Julie and Karan for nagging me.
Anyway if you arent asleep yet I know a boy who is -dog tired -he really needs to get a bigger chair.

Sweet dreams all ,take care and if you want to leave a comment I would just love it.
Hugs n stuff
Barb

Home again .

Just a quick addition

In my post earlier I mentioned I wanted to make some pumkins just thought you would like to see my tomato size pumpkins and one larger Going to look for something to hang some on too. See you in 2 weeks, enjoy your hobbies whatever and I will hopefully be back with all my news soon.
Hugs n stuff
Barbxx

You have heard of putting your head in a lions mouth

well the header is a picture of Ollie and his lion.!!!

Hello everyone, how are things with you? I have lots to show and tell you as I am a bit late updating this . It has been a mixed bag weatherwise here in Dorset, but at the moment it is sunny albeit blustery and it certainly is a little chilly in the breeze.
I am sure that the dear old apple tree will soon be bare of fruit if it does get really windy, proof that there are apples though.

These turned into this:-



You can probably see the Jane Austen saying that I shall be stitching at some point, my fathers favourite was apple pie. I think Graeme my son takes after him!!

Last post I think I mentioned that we had a glut of tomatoes ,then we didn't ,and this was how they looked yuk,little caterpillars had had the lot. Just hope they enjoyed them .


No more garden news,although you may remember I said I only had one gladioli out of 20 I planted, Christine was having trouble too with them in her garden. Suddenly we had a growth spurt and this week 6 came into bloom, 3 are a gorgeous burgundy colour.

Well look see what I received in the post this week from my lovely friend Sally, totally unexpected and so welcome with the news we had this past week.

Isn't it so me, even the sheep is the same shape as me !!!!! If anyone watches Shaun the sheep ,I liken myself to Shirley lol.Thankyou so much again Sally.
Anyway as I mentioned we had news this past week a bit of a shock , our DIL Sues mum had a stroke on Monday. She is such a kind and thoughtful person she did not deserve it.There is a slight improvement though, just such a shock for Sue and family though.
I wasn't going to mention the garden anymore!! , but wondered if you would like to Take a turn around the garden with me, this one of my finishes since last time.
It is clickable as all pics are (I hope).
This was stitched over one on Sassys 28count fabric and is a Sampler Girl design.
I can also show you an almost finished Sampler Girl pillow, I am awaiting the filling as I had run out (it came this morning).
This is her latest design, and I just had to stitch this one, as as you know I am such a fan of Jane.(and Tanyas designs of course)

Such a quick stitch ,but a design that works for me!
Maybe just one more Jane ,not a finish but a wip that is another SAL with Sally, and is The Sampler Girl Stocking or will be when its finished , which will be a while yet.

I did start this post yesterday but the internet did not want me to play so I have just taken up where I left off. So today it is Monday and for Sally and me it is Jane Day!! Yipeee.
Another wip and some progress I will finish this by Christmas ,I will , I will, I did stitch on it last night too.

In the corner you can just see a book that I thought I might like that came this last week ,it is Blankets and Throws to knit ,by Debbie Abrahams and they look scrummy,however working out the cost, oooooh bit prohibitive.But took a pic of one to show you,I would probably be knitting this in my dotage, WHAT! I AM in my dotage!!


I found a rather large bag the other day it was in the dusty cupboard all along,I peeked inside, well now, I thought ,I have a ufo and a half, I started this some years ago ,at least 10, it will be at some point a charm quilt. All stitched by hand and every piece different,but so many memories sewn into this, a piece of fabric from my grandaughter Caitlins first dress, fabric bought specially for this whilst on holidays in Austria, Italy, and this country. Various pieces gleaned from dear friends some no longer here. So I thought to myself I really SHOULD finish this. So I have put a back and filling to it and I am doing a tied quilt ,thought that would be quickest and still in the hand .Then I only have the border to do so --as they say watch this space but dont hold your breath!!!

It doesn't look much in the pic but it wow it is BIG, and quite colourful.
Also last week I did have stash post ,want to see, yes I know you do.As I love seeing what you all have and just sometimes you enable me too.
So first to last are these :-

Autumn a new design by Cricket Collection.


This one I have wanted for a while but I could only get it from ABC Therapy and kept holding back as their shipping seems a bit expensive and they take ages or seem to, I caved in in the end and now have it. At the same time I got this can you see a Hallowe'en theme coming here, I want to do some of those pumpkins.

Another design I have liked a while is, Lets play in the Dirt by Stacy Nash Designs,can someone tell me please when will I get time to stitch all these and also who will want the finished articles when I am gone!

Then came this months auto ship from DSL the Lhn christmas ornie, must get on with these too arghh.

Which leads me into another finish ,strictly speaking though, it is for the Stitch n stash group christmas ornie for September ,but Septembers page is not up yet so I shall show you here.


I am trying to have a primitive theme this year and just liked the words on this one.Plus it has a bird!!so could even hang on the birdie wall ,this is a design by Simple Goodes stitched by Jennifer. I finished it with a hessian back to add to the primitive look.
I also visited the tame framer yesterday and he had done the 2 birdie ones and Generosity. So I am awaiting 2 hooks for Awake the Dawning Day and to thine own self be true. Meanwhile here are the others.

This is actually a true pic of the colour of the birdie wall the next ones well nothing like but gives you some idea of what it is like.


See nothing like.
Martin framed Return to the Sea for me today the same as Home will take pic when I get them on the wall.I am a very lucky girl,I have a hubby who is good with his hands!No comments please on that last remark.
Also this last week my magazine came , I decided to subscribe as it was so much cheaper. Pumpkin recipies this time in it, but as my pumpkin is about the size of a tangerine I will not be making pie or soup lol.

I mentioned earlier about Sues mum, well although her speech is very slurred and limited ,she has regained a little use in her right arm. We went up to see G S and Ella yesterday for dinner, my son had sent Sue out for some 'her' time to meet a friend for coffee ,while he cooked the dinner, Sues dad also came before Sue and he went off to visit at the hospital.Martins Mum came too ,so he did well cooking a roast and an apple crumble for 7. He then thought his mum might like to go to Hobbycraft which is near them, I went screaming and kicking that I did NOT want to go,and if you believe that there you really dont know me!! Anyway I got a few bits and bobs ,some felt for pumpkins and some Hallowe'en type ribbon, some buttons and just bits I thought might be useful. Also bought Ella a stencil design book as she stayed behind with Martin and walked Ollie. We had tea and saw Sue briefly when she got home, poor girl looked absolutely done in, and we heard when we phoned to say we got home safely that she was just off to bed 8.30. I think having to see her mum like it, and having to be patient while her Mum is so frustrated, dealing with her dad who she says is not positive and her brother who felt that the grand prix was more important than going to the hospital.Well you get the picture.
Anyway there is a marked improvement on this time last week when it happened.
Well folks I do not think I have much else to tell you, if I do not get to the blog again it is because we are having a holiday next week, so shall have to see how much I get done as to wether I get another post done before we go. No internet access there or mobile ,so books and stitching being packed.
I have 10 comments to answer thankyou so much for them , I do read them and would like more ,I expect some read and don't comment but please do as I do enjoy reading them.You say such nice things and it is nice when someone likes what I do. Anyway ,

Jules thanks for commenting and the sweet words.

Jane so pleased you like accompanying me on my journey as I do on yours.

CarolR the hardanger was done a while ago and Mylene asked if I was doing any at the moment , that was my first piece (jumped in with both feet)so it is not perfect , it is so forgiving though as it has had so much spilt on it through the years and washes so well.

Lesley Ann thankyou for your comment on Ida Mae, you can see her framed now.

Heidi lol, at your liking of my Little Women bag-

Angela hope to see the LW on your pics soon then!

Julie and Sally if you are ever this way I will make you a rhubarb crumble!!

Simply Stitchin in the garden -Just love your title and thankyou for your comment.

So all answered and now I am going to wash the tea things before settling down in the comfy chair to sal with Sally and Jane Austen.
Take care all and thankyou for coming to visit me, hope to speak to you soon .
Hugs n stuff.
Barb