My Flowers

No cross stitching piccies today as I don't really have anything to show! I made a start on part 5 of Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV yesterday but didn't quite manage to get it finished. The tree ( or bit of a tree!) is pretty but still does nothing for me if I'm honest! Lol!

I do have a piccie today ( albeit not a very good one) of the gorgeous flowers my DH bought me for our anniversary. The best laugh was that we'd already had flowers from his auntie and from my late MIL's best friend so I had run out of vases! Anyway I did a bit of a shuffle around as I have a pretty pottery jug that belonged to my Mum so I put the ones from his auntie in that and the ones from from DH is the vase! We had a lovely meal out on Thursday and we were fit to burst afterwards! Lol! We all decided to have a pudding which was a big mistake really but it was gorgeous!

I have finally decided on my new rotation and you can see it in my side bar. I am feeling quite happy with this and am looking forward to seeing how I get on with it. So I have a new start for tonight and it's something I have never done before as in a quaker sampler so I am looking forward to stitching on it. It looks pretty straightforward so it'll make a nice change.

The GAST I ordered from Shirley arrived today and they are just gorgeous! They are the newest colours and look so fresh and pretty. I think the green will be an ideal sub for one of the Caron Waterlilies I need for Dragon Dreams Lost Dragon Sampler. Hopefully I will have a bit more stash later in the week! Lol!

Another Week in Stitches

It has been a pretty good week stitching wise this week and I actually feel that I have accomplished quite a bit. First of all here's Little House Needleworks Chocolate Shoppe in it's frame. I struggled with this because of the shape at the top so it's not quite as I would have liked it but I am pleased nevertheless! I am not sure where I am going to hang it as yet. I was going to hang it in my kitchen but the frame doesn't have any glass in it so it'll proably get dirty.

I have managed 20 rows on page 2 of HAED quick stitch Dragonette this week, which I think is pretty good considering I didn't stitch on it on Tuesday night. I think I got over my can't be bothered to stitch on it! Lol! It doesn't look much when you're looking it while stitching but when you see it from as a picture on here it looks fantastic! ( Yeah OK so I'm blowing my own trumpet!)

The fifth part of Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV was released this week and I am still very unsure of this mystery. As I said before I can't afford not to stitch it, unless somebody were to buy my WIP piece, the beads and metallics, so I'm going to end up with something I don't really like on my wall ( good job it'll only be over Christmas!). This part is a tree but it's nothing spectactular; at least I don't think it is. I'll set on tonight and stitch it anyway.

Yesterday I received the Carrie's Creations Lumiere de Cheryl thread from Jayne's Attic and it is beautiful. I can't wait to have a go with it and as I have three skeins of it I reckon I might use it on another project too.

I am going to have a good think about my rotation over the weekend. I think I may have another couple of new starts to add in so that I have a break in between each HAED and I may go back to a full week stitching on one piece rather than having a different piece for weekends. At the moment my new starts may be Just Nan Spring in the Air and Papillon Creations Simple Little Quaker but I could change my mind! Lol! Watch this space!

Happy Anniversary and Chocolate Shoppe Finished!

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful DH! We have been married 21 years today! Wow where did the time go! It hardly seems like five minutes since we were exchanging vows and here we are 21 years and two daughters later as happy as ever. We are going out for a meal with the girls this evening.

I finally finished Little House Needleworks Chocolate Shoppe last night. I managed to get quite a good bit done yesterday afternoon but was so close to finishing I decided not to leave it another week so did it last night. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and it's now ready to frame in the frame I bought especially for it. I just hope it looks OK in it! Lisa the chart is on it's way to you.

This week is supposed to be the turn of HAED quick stitch Dragonette in my rotation and for all I stitched quite happily on her Monday evening when it came to Tuesday I just couldn't face it so out came Papillon Creations Serendipity instead. I really enjoyed stitching it and felt so much better stitching on this rather than Dragonette. So I think there may some changes to my rotation soon. I emailed Helen, the Queen of Rotas, to see how her rotation works and it really makes sense so I may well give it a go. Thanks Helen for the explanation! I really want to try and not have three HAEDS in a row so will try adding in some smaller pieces in between then that way I may have more finishes- maybe!

I finally decided what to spend some of my cash from stash sales on so have ordered the newer colours of GAST from Shirley at Country Cottage and Drawn Thread Sanctuary and La D Da Love is Patient from Mary Kathryn at Ehand Crafts so am looking forward to receiving those. I have also paid for my May COTM from Sassy's Fabbys and can't wait to see what she has in store for us this time. For the first time in ages I was looking at the clearance sale pages on Needlecraft Corner and actually came across a chart I fancied Blue Ribbon Designs Find Your Happy Place so I ordered that as well as a couple of Caron Waterlilies, as there was 25% off threads, I need for charts I have. So I will have quite a bit of stash coming and will no doubt want to start the charts straight away! Lol!

I went for my bone density scan yesterday at the Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease in Hull. Good thing about it being seperate from the hospital is I was seen on time and it didn't take long at all. The scan was straightforward and the results will be sent to my doctor and I've been advised to wait 3 weeks as the consultant is away this week. They also checked my height and weight and the good thing is I haven't lost any height which is a good sign.

I might sit and stitch on Guardian this afternoon and see how it goes. Hope everyone if having a good week! Happy Birthday for tomorrow Paula! 21 again! LOL!

Summer ACEO WIP

It has been one of those weeks where I don't feel as though I have accomplished much in the way of stitching. I hadn't been stitching long Friday evening when I started with flashing in my right eye. It's been ages since I had this so I was not impressed! I put my stitching away, took a couple of piankillers for the inpending headache then laid on the settee. Sure enough the headache arrived but, thankfully, by Saturday evening it had gone so I got some stitching done. Last week was the turn of HAED Summer ACEO in my rotation and I decided to carry on with it over the weekend so here's my progress. As you can see I have finished her face. I have about 700 stitches left on this page then I can move onto page 5! At last I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!


This week it's HAED quick stitch Dragonette and I really want to get more done on that than I did last time! Part 5 of Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV is out on Wednesday and I'm really not looking forward to that after last month!


For those who asked, my latest HAED start is Selina Fenech's Guardian I just couldn't resist her any longer and wanted to start her for reasons known only to me! I have got about 20 rows of page one done which isn't bad for a couple of afternoon's stitching. I won't share a WIP pic yet as there's nothing to see really!


I have sold a few bits of stash lately, including my Dragon Floss collection so am now hoping to update my Gentle Art Sampler Threads collection as well treat myself to a couple of charts from my wish list. Not entirely sure which ones yet!

Have a great week everybody!

Chocolate Shoppe

I actually managed to get some stitching on LHN Chocolate Shoppe this week! Wahoo! I love this chart but have got a little bored with stitching it if I'm honest. I think if I'd been stitching it more than once a week and I'd got on better I'd have enjoyed it more. Anyway I did make good progress yesterday afternoon and felt much happier with it when I put it away again until next week. Hopefully I should get it finished next week as there isn't much more to do. It'll depend on what time I get back from my scan and whether DH is just taking the morning off to take me or the whole day. At the moment it's just the morning but he could change his mind!

I bought some ribbon on Monday and finished up Shepherd's Bush Busy Sheep into a pinkeep ( do you think I'm addicted? Lol!). Busy Sheep was my first finish of 2006 so I think it was about time I did something with it! So here it is! I love this little design and think it's perfect for a pin keep.

Abi has been doing a bit of stitching with me again and finished this San Man Originals piece off. It came with the tuck and the dog charm. I am now hoping she will carry on with her stitching again as it's nice to have someone to stitch with, even if she keeps asking me to thread her needle with more thread etc! Lol! She was thinking of starting a Christmas chart next so keep your finger's crossed that she does!

I shall be having a new HAED start today if I can get off this PC! So watch out for a WIP pic but maybe not for a while, until I get a page done!

Oh my God you should see our budgie! He is literally laid on the window sill ( looks like he's a broody hen!) with his head lent on the water tray of the plant pot going to sleep! Wish I could get a piccie but I know if I move he will! He's such a daft bird!

Poor Abi seems to have picked up what I've got ( whatever it is! Lol!) and DH was complaining of a sore throat last night. Mine still hasn't some to anything so God knows how long it'll go on.

I hope everybody is doing OK this week. Thank you to everybody who drops by to read my blog and everybody who leaves comments. They mean a lot to me and I treasure my stitching friends who brighten my days.

Edited to add a special thank you to Claire who has RAK'd me with HAED Sweet Music of Spring storykeep. {{{{hugs}}}} I love this one as the colours are so bright and cheerful.

Another Pinkeep!

Yes I have finished up another pinkeep! Lol! I like these little things and I am sure I will make more in the future! So this one, as promised, is Chatelaine Lavender Mandala. I added enough ribbon to hang this one up so it is now hung in my dining room. I am very pleased with this one but it did use up quite a few of my pin collection! Lol!

We were looking through Abi's stash box on Saturday night and we found some things she'd stitched that we haven't had framed or anything yet so we decided that one would make an ideal pinkeep so I'm going to do that for her sometime and I also found one of my finishes Shepherd's Bush Busy Sheep and have half finished that into one! I didn't have any ribbon for it but have bought some this morning so might finish that off later today.

My thread arrived from my floss fairy Lisa this morning so I'm sorting out a HAED gift certificate for her. They have a new site now and it's very different from before so I'm waiting for the GC order to be processed then I can send it on to Lisa. I can't believe how little Lisa paid for the DMC in Wal Mart! It was 24c a skein! Do we get ripped off here in the UK or what?!

Postie also brought my small order from Thread Bear this morning. I put in a small order a couple of weeks ago for La D Da Bless This House, a wire hanger and a couple of buttons. They were waiting for stock of the buttons so I said I'd wait for it all to be sent at the same time. Well guess who let the side yet again with their shoddy deliveries. Yep Royal Mail! Kate was very concerned when I emailed her yesterday about my order as she posted it first class last Thursday so it's a repeat of my order from Jayne the other week. I am delighted with my order though, for all Royal Mail let me down yet again, and I will definitely order from Thread Bear again. The order was beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon.

Rather than move onto something new in my rotation this weekend I decided to carry on with Chatelaine Summer Afternoon. I managed to get the queen stitches finished in the beehive and did the blue stars or whatever they're supposed to be, then moved onto the next bit which I love. So here's my WIP pic. I couldn't fit it all in the scanner so you can't see the first part at all. I love the silks used in this. They have such a lovely sheen to them and are gorgeous to stitch with. I can't wait to get back to this again:)

So this week I'm back to my HAED stitching with Sara Butcher's Summer ACEO. I am looking forward to getting my teeth into this again as I only have one full page and two small bits to do now. Also Wednesday I want to get back to LHN Chocolate Shoppe. I'm hoping to get it finished this month if I can get my finger out and get on with it! Lol!

I have received my appointment for my bone density scan and I go on 25th April at 9.30am. So that'll be out of the way soon and I can get my results and see what's what.

I am still feeling quite rough. I ache more than ever today and wish whatever it is would come to something and go!

My First Pinkeep.

I tried my hand at making a pinkeep yesterday afternoon. I decided that I would make LHN Watermelon up into one and see how I got on before I made one with Chatelaine Lavender Mandala. I am not all that happy with the result but I guess I will get better at it :) The piccie is a bit blurry I'm afraid but it gives you an idea of how it looks. I actually stitched this pieces last year and it has been rolled up in a draw until I finally decided what to do with it! I might add more pins to it yet.

We have been to the Museum of Streetlife in Hull today and it was well worth going to. Most of Hull's museums are free so if you are in the area and want somewhere to go it's well worth it. We would have had a look at Wilberforce Museum too but we didn't have time so will visit there at Spring Bank half term.

I think I am going down with cold or something. I have felt quite rough for the last few days and today I ache and have a sore throat. It's just one thing after another:) At least it's now when the holidays are nearly over rather than when they've just begun!

A Bit of New Stash!

We have had a bit of a busy few days so I haven't had chance to blog and last night I didn't feel well so didn't stitch either.


Easter Monday we went up to Sewerby Hall and Gardens While DH has been out working he'd seen a sign that there was medieval jousting on so we decided to go and see that and have a day out. We have been to Sewerby a few times before but not since Jess was in a pushchair. We had a lovely day walking round the gardens and the childrens zoo as well as watching the jousting. It wasn't quite as warm as some of the days we've had recently but at least it stayed dry.


Yesterday we decided to go to York for a bit of retail therapy! Lol! The girls both bought some bits and pieces as did DH and I. Of course you can't take a trip to York if you're a stitcher without stopping off at The Viking Loom although I must admit I do find the shop disappointing cross stitch wise these days. Threads, fabrics and kits are clearly on display but charts are tucked away in a basket under a shelf so unless you look closely you miss them. My main aim was to buy some fat quarters of fabric for backing so I got four plus some more pins for when I finally pluck up the courage to try making a pinkeep. I also picked up Just Nan Pearl Orchids pattern pack which was half price and, after spotting a stitched model of it, Patricia Ann Designs Moonlit Orchid so I did well.


I received my April COTM from Sassy's Fabbys today and it is gorgeous. Such a pretty colour and I love the feel of her fabric. It seems so much thicker than other hand dyed fabrics I've had before; not flimsy like some.


Our car went in for it's MOT this morning and a new timing belt fitting and I'm pleased to say it passed! Phew! I don't think I could have coped with anymore expense with the damned thing! I'm just hoping that's it now and it won't need anything else for a while

I have tried my hand at baking Phyto Oestrogen cake this morning! Chris sent me the recipe for it and I have finally gathered the ingredients together. I'm not sure quite what it'll taste like but I'll give it a go! Lol! In fact I might see if it's cooled and have a taste when I've finished here!


Hope everyone had a good Easter!

A Chatelaine Finish!

At last I have another finish! I have just finished adding the beads to Chatelaine Lavender Mandala and, even though I say it myself, it is beautiful! I have loved every single stitch of this and can't wait to do another mandala. It is so much nicer than the Christmas mystery I'm stitching and I really wish I'd gone for a bigger mandala rather than the Christmas one! So here it is.

Chatelaine Lavender Mandala.

Fabric : SMF Violets in the Shade.

Threads: DMC & Vicki Clayton silk Meadow.

Beads: Delicas.

I'm thinking of finishing this into a pinkeep in the future.

I had a very successful week on Heaven and Earth Designs Winter ( artwork by Sara Butcher). I love stitching this, although that may change when I get to a part with lots of colour changes! Lol! As you can see from the scan there is part of the angel's wing at the bottom. I am looking forward to getting back to this in about a month and once I finish one of the QS' I'm doing this will probably get more attention then. I did have a bit of a panic as I wasn't sure it would fit on the fabric but it will. LOL!

Right I had better fly as I've just nicked the PC off Abi to post this!

New Stash

Just a quick post today. Not a lot to say and no WIPs to show today. I do, however, have some new stash that I ordered several weeks ago that has arrived this week.Not a very clear picture but on the left is Papillon Creations Simple Little Quaker with fairy dust fabric and VC silks in Dragon Blood to stitch it with. On the right is Chatelaine Mini Mandalas 1. I have no idea when I'll get around to stitching these but I think the Papillon Creations one will be after the Lavender Mandala.

HAED Winter is going well this week. So much so that I think I might get page 2 finished by the end of the week. No doubt I will slow down on her when I get to pages with lots of confetti but not to worry. As long as I finish her before I'm 50 I'll be happy! Lol!

Women's problems are weighing me down at the moment. 3 weeks on is no fun. I just want it to be over:(

More WIPs!

Flipping heck it's chilly here in the east coast today! The sun is shining but it's a cold wind although it is pleasant enough. I prefer it this way than boiling hot so hoping the summer isn't too hot! LOL!

I have a few WIPs to share today. It's been quite a productive tome on two of them but not so good on the other two! So first off here is Papillon Creations Serendipity. I stitched part 4 of this on Friday and just love it. I am so pleased with the colours I chose and love how the speciality stitches look. I'm not sure when I'll get the next two parts stitched but I can't wait to see what part 7 is like and am hoping it'll come out soon!

Next up is the absolutely gorgeous Chatelaine Lavender Mandala from The Gift of Stitching. I am really enjoying stitching this piece with Lisa and Julie on a weekend. I have made quite good progress on this and just love the colours so far. Lisa kindly sent me the Vicki Clayton silk I had chosen for this as Jayne can't get the silks any longer, which is a shame, so I'll be starting on the stitches that need that next weekend I think. Stitched on Sugar Maple Fabrics Violets in the Shade using DMC and Rainbow Gallery Petite Braid.

Moving on I didn't make much progress on Heaven and Earth Designs quick stitch Dragonette last week. However I am pleased to see that this little lady now has a head!! She looks so cute! I am hoping to make better progress on her next time.

This week I'll be stitching on Heaven and Earth Designs Winter as and when time permits seen as it's the Easter hols for the girls. I'd like to get page 2 finished but I don't see that happening!

Jayne rang on Saturday evening to let me know my Chatelaine Mini Mandalas 1 chart had arrived and it would be going in the post along with some Udderly Smooth on Sunday and, if Royal Mail behaved, I should get it today. Well Royal Mail haven't behaved ( surprise, surprise!) and I didn't get it today but never mind. Some nice post to look forward to tomorrow. However I did receive some nice post today as Karen kindly sent me some card thread bobbins as well as sneaking in a tube of Udderly Smooth so thank you so much Karen:) I can get some threads wound now.

I seem to be having some up and down days lately. It's crazy really as if I feel fine I'm very upbeat and happy but if I feel yuck I feel so down. Saturday I had a very bad night and did not sleep very well and once something like that happens I just start thinking the worse then I dread going to bed and so it carries on. It's a vicious circle. Thankfully I managed to calm myself down last night and had a much better night, although DH was up at 5am this morning and if he's awake I am as he's not exactly quiet. I did go back to sleep but woke again when he came to give me a kiss at 6am when he was leaving for work! I am really feeling the cold at the moment but then I get really hot. I feel as though I'm going down with cold but it never comes to anything. It's been the same for several years on and off! I just wish I could get through a day without worrying. I thought having a diagnosis would make things better but, obviously, the symptoms are still there regardless.

I almost forgot ( just goes to show how I feel about this WIP!). Yes it's the dreaded Chatelaine Christmas Mystery IV. I was quite enjoying it until part 4 and now I absolutely HATE it! I am not even sure that I want to carry on with it but I can't really afford not to when I've bought stuff to stitch it with. I'm just thankful that I didn't go the whole hog and buy the silks as well. I know it's a mystery and your pay your money and take your chances but it isn't what I expected at all. I certainly won't be doing another of her mysteries without seeing a lot of it WIPs first. I know I am not the only one who doesn't like this part and I have posted on the Chatelaine ez board that I don't like it. Some of the girls think there will be a spectacular Christmas Tree behind the girl and it is going to have to be to make me want to stitch more. I think this is going to be one of those projects that I will get stitched very quickly each month and be relieved to put it away! Lol!

The car is going in for it's MOT next week and we're getting a new timing belt fitted at the same time so let's hope that's it for a long while! I don't think we've ever had so much expense all at once before. The same day we are finally getting the electricity main fuse box replaced. This has been going on since the beginning of February when we were supposed to be having the meter changed but they couldn't get the main fuse out! Thank God that isn't going to cost us anything!

Holding Hands

I copied this from Julie's blog.

Please copy the verse and photo for your blog and carry on the chain of friendship! Leave a

comment so we can all follow the chain…

Holding Hands

This picture shows a line of little girls holding hands facing the immensity of ocean waves. Alone they might be washed away, but together they stand strong. Thank you for holding my hand somewhere along the way when I was facing a wave of my own. I hope you will reach for my hand when your own wave threatens.

All of us girls…

Old and young…

Near and far…

Hold special memories of good times we´ve shared.

We´ve had our share of hard times when our friends were there to make us feel better.

We´ve shared…

our hearts…

our time…

our secrets…

our fears…

our hopes…

and our dreams…



Let us never break the chain of friends! I am thankful for precious moments…precious memories and precious friends…