My Bee Charmer

Yes I am here yet again! Don't panic though as you probably won't see me again until the weekend or maybe even after that! Lol!

Yesterday afternoon I finished off Indigo Rose Bee Charmer. I have to say that I am so impressed with the way this kit was presented. The chart, stitch diagrams and finishing instructing were fantastic and I have the most beautiful finished piece anyone could wish for:) For once I even have near perfect tassels! Lol!

I stitched a bit on Ink Circles Sea Stars, my SAL with Karen, last night. I finished the motif I started last week, did three fish and started another motif:)

So, ladies, what is your take on the DMC Group crisis? By the way the statement that was issued yesterday reads there is going to be some restructering so I am hoping and praying that the needlework side of it will survive. What will we do without our beloved DMC threadsand what about the dyers out there who use it as a base? I can't make up my mind whether to stock up best I can or wait and see what happens. I do have some charts that are charted for both DMC and Anchor so if the worst comes to the worst I'll just get the Anchor for those.


Well time to go and catch up on blogs for a bit then get on with some of that H word!! Have a great Wednesday! The bad weather we've been expecting hasn't appeared although I know other parts of the country have had it.


Hugs

The Kindess of Stitchers

What's this??? Four blog posts in four days?? Is this woman going mad?!! I know this is not like me as it's ages since I've blogged four days in a row!

This post is just really about the kindness of stitchers. Stitchers are the best people. They're always willing to help in whatever they can, give words of encouragement, make you smile and laugh when you're not feeling at your best etc etc. This morning I received an envelope through the post and upon opening it I found two SB needleroll charts and a lovely note from Andrea so I now have Tudor and Garden. Thank you so much Andrea. I shall be stitching these in the not too distant future. Not only that Nic has offered me any SB needleroll charts that she has finished with. Thank you so much Nic. I shall be repaying both ladies for their kindness in the future. Now wouldn't the world be a much better place if everybody stitched???? Lol!

Speaking of the kindness of stitchers and also bloggers a huge thank you again to those who have visited and commented on Jess' blog. She's so excited everytime she gets a new comment! She absolutely loves to sketch but didn't want to do Art at A level as she only likes sketching and of course Art involves lots of other mediums. She found GCSE Art difficult as it was but it has not detered her from keeping up with her sketching. She has several books to help her learn and if she has no homework etc we will often find her with pencil in hand sketching:)

Onto my stitching:) I started the big motif on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas last night and managed to get a lot more done than I expected as I'd been messing about the Internet for longer than I should. And please remind me NOT to lick my floss when it's hand dyed and a very dark red!! Lol!

Abi is feeling a little better today so hopefully she'll be back at school tomorrow. Jess thought by the amount of work one of the teacher's off sick had left that she'd be off all week and she wasn't sure if the other one would be back today or not. These bugs really seem to taking their toll. Damned things.

I'm hoping to finish up the Indigo Rose Bee Charmer later on today. There wasn't enough of the pearl cotton to whip stitch the front and back together in the kit but, luckily, I have some very close in my stash so it's not a problem.

Off to hang some washing out while it's nice. We didn't get the stormy weather yesterday but it's supposed to be nasty this afternoon.

Hugs

An Almost Finish & A WIP

Last night was SAL night with Nic and we are stitching Just Nan Morning Song. I had quite a good evening on it and am onto the band with the swans. I didn't stitch them though as I'm still working out what colour to do them in. I think they'll be off white:) I think Nic is a bit further than me. This is such a simple stitch and it's so nice to do something like this rather than the HAEDs.

I have finished the front of the Indigo Rose Bee Charmer so just have the back piece to preapre then I can finish it off:) This has been an absolute joy to stitch ( even though I did have to do a bit of frogging!) and it looks so pretty. I love the little verse on it:)

I'll be stitching on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas tonight which I'm really looking to then tomorrow night is Ink Circles Sea Stars with Karen. After that it's anything I fancy so I'm going to get LHN Winter Wonderland and see if I can get it finished:)

I was after having a quiet day today but my plans have been foiled! Lol! Jess came home earlier because two of her teachers are off sick. They left work for the classes to do but as Jess doesn't have another lesson until 5th period she decided to come and do the work here then go back later. She had not been home long when school rang to say Abi wasn't well so I went to pick her up! It seems there's a lot of nasties going around again so, as DH was ill yesterday, I decided I wasn't going to take any chances and make Abi stay at school. So she's wrapped up watching TV!

Many thanks to those of you who have been kind enough to go take a look and comment on Jessica's new blog. She was so excited to have some comments. She has more to upload when she has time but as she exams coming up very soon she may not get time to do them yet.

It looks like we could be in for a stormy afternoon so I think I might go finish up the bee charmer! Have a wonderful week!

Hugs

Reveal Day!

It's reveal day for the S&S monthly SAL challenge:) This month's freebie chart was Drawn Thread The Caron Keeper which was a lovely quick stitch and easy to make up:) I chose to finish it as on the chart so here's my version.Drawn Thread The Caron Keeper

Caron Waterlilies ( colours used not as charted)

I sent this off to Paula for her birthday ( Happy Birthday Paula!) so I added our initials on the back and the year. I hope she received it safely and I kept my promise of no green things:) Lol! OK so there's green on the keeper!

Indigo Rose The Bee Charmer is going well. I'm just about done with the stitching and probably would have been had I not been stitching and watching Dr Who at the same time! Lol!

Tonight is SAL night with Nic so I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping to get a bit more stitched than I did last week!

My eldest DD Jess has just started a blog. She loves sketching so has created it to show them off. She says it probably won't get updated very often but I was wondering if you could pop over to say hello and just give her a bit of encouragement please if you have time? I think she'd be really happy:) Her blog is http://sketchyskyline.blogspot.com/

Thank you everybody for your lovely wishes for our wedding anniversary yesterday:) We just had a quiet day with DH being at work then he went to his Dad's last night to watch the speedway on Sky Sports ( we don't have the sports or movie channels) so it was just me and the girls! Lol! I was feeling a bit fed-up anyway after looking through our wedding photos as I looked so pretty and thin!

My DH has to go for a kidney function scan next month. He had kidney stones before we got married and had to have surgery. A few years ago he had to have more surgery to open up the tubes as they were narrow then we discovered that because the tubes had been narrow and he'd had the stones there'd been damage to his right kidney and it doesn't work as it should. So the consultant just wants to keep an eye on things and see how well ( or not) it's functioning. We're not unduly worried as it doesn't cause him any problems and the consultant is quite happy not to see him again until next year.

Have wonderful Sunday! We're forecast to get heavy rain today. Hope not as I have Abi's PE kit to get dry for tomorrow!

Hugs

22 Years Ago Today

Happy Anniversary to my darling DH:)

Me & my DH

26th April 1986

From left to right my FIL, my BIL, my MIL, DH, me, my Dad, my sister

My flowers from DH:)

On the stitching front I have nothing to show as I've been stitching on the needleroll for the exchange on S&S. I've finished the stitching, done the hemstitching so all I have to do now is make it up:) I just hope my partner likes it. I decided on a small new start and seen as it's my smalls week I chose Indigo Rose Bee Charmer. This is so easy to pick up as it's a kit that contains everything right down to the filling so I just grab my needle and scissors and away I go. It's all stitched in Caron Waterlilies.

I have decided that I want to collect nearly all the Shepherd's Bush needlerolls eventually! I have two, one that I stitched and one that I was sent in an exchange several years ago, and they are just so pretty. So I think I shall treat myself every so often to one. JJ's have them so I can get them easily but it will take me a while as there are 25 of them so it's going to take me a long time!

Well the girls are just getting up ( lazy devils!) so I'll make this short. DH is working today. It's not often he works a Saturday but you can't turn down overtime in this day and age.

Have wonderful weekend everyone:) Thank you for all your continuing visits and wonderful comments. They mean a lot to me:)

Hugs

My Surprise!

My time on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas has come to an end for now although I will be stitching on it on Mondays until it comes round in my rotation for a week again. I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching on this piece and have almost completed a page ( there are 6!) but I have a huge motif to do next time! As you can see I have added a bit of green this time. That is Carrie's Creations Frosty Pine.In the picture you can see the lovely surprise I received from Karen yesterday. Isn't it gorgeous? Karen makes the beads herself and then makes the fobs. I don't know how she does it as I wouldn't have the patience and they turn out beautifully. Thank you Karen {{{{hugs}}}}

Of course last night was SAL night with Karen:) I stitched two small motifs and made a start om a bit larger one. I love stitching this as you don't have to think too much about it and I love picking out what colour to use next! I'm starting now to use colours that I've used for the fish.

Karan asked what colours I had used so here's the list so far:)
4240 Mid Summer Night, 4140 Driftwood, 4126 Desert Canyon , 4120 Tropical Sunset, 4220 Lavender Fields, 4050 Roaming Pastures, 4215 Northern Lights , 4040 Water Lilies, 4124 Bonfire , 4025 Caribbean , 4075 Wheat Field , 4030 Monets Garden, 4110 Sunrise, 4020 Tropical Waters, 4190 Ocean Coral, 4065 Morning Meadow , 4230 Crystal Water, 4100 Summer Breeze, 4200 Wild Fire. I took the names from Stitching Bits and Bobs.

The rest of the week is my smalls week so I think I'll stitch the needleroll for the exchange on S&S. I've scrapped the one I started as I had to frog yet again so enough is enough! I think it was the fabric I'm using as I don't usually have that much of a problem but I don't want to start it on different fabric so after a lot of searching I've decided on something else.

Yesterday I finally got my filling done at the dentist. I had to cancel my last appointment because of a headache so just wanted to go and get it over with. When it was done she said it was a deeper filling than she expected and had I any pain, which I hadn't. So she said we'd see how it goes and that it may well give me some pain over the next few days. Well she was right about that as I was in quite a bit of pain with it yesterday so I reached for the paracetamol. Of course I daren't eat on that side so now the other side is sore as well! Thankfully I've had no pain as yet today so, hopefully, it has all settled down now. I'll be mad if I've had it filled then I have to go back and have it taken out. More expense and more me getting worked up about going. I HATE going to the dentist!

Abi is off school tomorrow due to the strike by the National Union of Teachers. Years 7 and 8 have to stay home but the rest have to go in which includes Jess but she may find that some of her lessons are cancelled depending on which teachers decided to take strike action.

Hope everyone is having a good week. Take care everyone!

Hugs

Sunday Night SAL

Sunday nights are now SAL night with Nic:) We are stitching Just Nan Morning Song and this week I finished the first band and stitched the second too. I'm still not happy with the white fence so may have to frog that and use an off white or something. I don't know what I'm going to do when it comes to stitching the swans ( or are they geese?) but they won't be white! If they are swans ( which they appear to me) I might do them black seen as there are black swans! I darkened the picture so you could see the fence. I must try and get a better one next week.

I picked up my BBD Where My Heart Blooms from the framers on Friday and am delighted with it. John always does a brilliant job on whatever I take in. At the moment I've put it away as I plan on hanging it in my hallway and landing once it gets decorated in the summer. All 6 of these will hang in the hallway and landing eventually!

No other stitching to show! I've finished the S&S SAL challenge piece for this month and have emailed a picture to Karen ready for reveal day on 27th. So I can't show it here until then! I'm hoping to get a good go on the needleroll I'm stitching for the exchange this week and I'd also like to get another PIF done if I get chance.

Look what I got through the post today! BBD Loose Feathers #30 Rites of Spring with the fabric and threads from Needlecraft Corner. I think this may be the last time I get the threads with it as it makes it that bit more expensive but I will probably carry on getting the fabric.

Unfortunately Chris didn't make it on Friday as she had problems with her car and it ended up in the garage being repaired so we are hoping to catch up Friday this week; finger's crossed!

DH passed his first aid refresher course so we were really pleased. He got himself all worked up then did everything as he should so he's been walking around the house continually telling us we're safe because he's a first aider! Lol!

Billy has finally worked out how to get out of his cage but not quite how to get back in! Lol! He flies to the top of his cage and stands there looking down at the perch! So we get him on our fingers and show him it in the hope he'll eventually work out how!

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Thank you for continuing to visit and for leaving the wonderful comments. I appreciate them all very much:)

Hugs

Frogs and Progress!

I have had quite a productive week stitching so far this week although the needleroll I chose to stitch for the exchange hasn't gone well! Lol! I have stitched, frogged, stitched, frogged that many times that yesterday I was well and truly cursing it so it came very close to getting thrown in the bin never to be seen again!! Lol!

Anyway I had a good evening on Ink Circles Sea Stars, my SAL with Karen, and finished the motif I was working on. It was quite a big one so took quite a bit of stitching but I like the effect of it so it was worth it.

I have been stitching on Bygone Stitches A Quaker Christmas for the rest of the week in an evening. I am loving it so far and am so pleased I chose red as the main colour as the Carrie's Creations Old World Red is just gorgeous. I think I messed up when I bought 13 skeins of it as I'm stitching with one strand of thread and the model is stitched with two so I should have a few skeins left for something else:) I'll be carrying on with this until my Sunday JN SAL with Nic:)

Abi finally went back to school yesterday although she still didn't feel 100% but today she's much better and is actually managing to eat better. DH is on a first aid refresher course, as he's one of the first aiders where he works ( this is someone who hates the sight of blood!), and he wasn't feeling well this morning but we think it could be nerves as he's got his assessment today and wasn't looking forward to it. Finger's crossed he gets on OK today but I have every faith in him. Jess just wants us all to stay away from her so we don't give whatever Abi and I have had to her! Lol!

I am looking forward to this afternoon as Chris is coming to visit to hand over the RR, have a cuppa and a natter. So I'm popping out in a bit to see if my BBD Where My Heart Blooms is ready at the framers so she can see it. That is if I can catch Billy to get him back in his cage! He came out on his own yesterday but this morning Jess got him out of his cage and I can't get him back in! Lol!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Looks like we're in for another cold, blustery one!

Hugs

It's Monday!

Very original blog post title! Lol! Couldn't think of anything else! I think Abi and I have that Monday morning feeling. Well mine started just before tea on Friday and I've felt off it all weekend. We both feel like we're getting cold, feel a bit sick and achey but I am sure we will both get over it:)

On the stitching front I finally picked up Chatelaine Spring Morning on Friday evening and stitched quite a bit on that. I stitched the over one daffodils with the one strand of the DMC Satin. It does looks OK but it is a little thicker than the silk threads. So I am now onto the lily of the valley of the band which is quite pretty. I'm quite looking forward to getting back to this in a few weeks time.

Nic and I started our Just Nan Morning Song SAL yesterday; well I did so I hope Nic did too! I chose Jayne's Attic COM from last month, Jonquil, but I think I may have to backstitch round the white bits or choose a different colour for the fence, sheep etc. or even change my fabric, although I don't want to do that now! I'll see how it goes. I love this piece.

Michele over at X Marks My Spot asked if she could see a picture of Queen finished up as a bell pull so just for you here it is:)

Sue asked if Karen and I were using different colourways for Sea Stars. Yes we are. The actual chart is charted mostly for greens and blues but we both decided we wanted something a bit more colourful. Karen is using Carrie's Creations and I'm using DMC Variations:)

I had a lovely surprise last week when I dropped by Dani's blog and found I'd won her birthday contest! The prize is a stitched something so I'm looking forward to seeing what it is:) Thanks Dani!

And finally here's Billy on my finger on Friday evening. He hasn't been out of his cage since! Lol!

Well I'm going to half an hour before lunch catching on blogs then will carry on after lunch! I love catching up and seeing what you've all been up to:) Have a good week everyone!

Hugs

Another Happy Dance!

Last night I put the final stitches into Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers #29 Where My Heart Blooms. This was an absolute joy to stitch, even though I did have to frog some, and I can't wait to receive the next one and make a start.

Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers #29

Stitched on 30 count R&R Korty's Special Blend

Using WDW and GAST

Started 29th February 2008

Finished 10th April 2008

This piece is now at the framers and will be ready next Friday:)

Now I haven't forgotten about the Sea Stars SAL with Karen. I did stitch on it but didn't get the big motif finished. I did manage quite a bit though! Karen is at the bottom now and ready to stitch the sea monster:)

I have decided to join a secret needleroll exchange on the Stitch and Stash forum. I've never done an exchange on there before so I'm really looking forward to it.

Billy has had his first venture out into the big wide world outside of his cage! Lol! He's found several places he likes to sit, has been sat on fingers and seems to like being snuggled. His cage door is open now but he won't come out. I've had him on my finger and got him as far as his cage door and he jumps off onto his perch! Sam asked if we train our budgies to talk. We do try to. Our first one was quite good but the second one didn't seem to interested in learning! Lol! We are trying with this one. I'm quite amazed at how fast he has got used to us. All we have been doing is putting our finger's in his cage and stroking him. If he starts jumping about we take them out until he settles down. I think he is going to be quite a character.

It looks like we are possibly going to be in for a cold, rough weekend here so stitching may the order of the weekend! I think I better do some on Chatelaine Spring Morning seen as that's what I'm supposed to stitching on this week! Lol! Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing:)

Hugs