the year is almost over

So Christmas is over - only just, and my family were all totally spoiled by each other and others.

My darling husband really went to town and generously bought a Nikon DSLR camera for me which undoubtedly will all enjoy and on a crafty note I received 'A Good Marriage' by Lizzie Kate which I could not wait to start...so watch this space for the finish..


















In my quest for a homemade Christmas we put together a few of these lovely jars as small gifts for teachers and friends.  I must credit Momitforward and The Larson Lingo for inspration.

On a very serious note....

America has always held quite an attraction for me, as it seems to offer so much. The crafts and things I seem to be drawn to are often based in the USA. 
The absolute tragedy and horror that happened in Connecticut just before Christmas really moved me.
My little darlings are a similar age to the victims and I cannot imagine what the parents must be going through and my thoughts have been with them.
I hope that the New Year brings them some peace.

I wish you all a very peaceful blessed New Year .
Stay safe and cherish your loved ones every day...

Sx

1 more sleep

Yes it's Christmas Eve and there's two excited kiddies in my house.
We have a lovely day ahead filled with friends, carols and Christmas PJ's.

I have had a very crafty few months making gifts, working a few more ripples on my big blanket (pictures to follow) and stitching  the Glad Tidings SAL and here it is the last stitch in this morning- just in time even though it's not framed/finished. Still deciding which to do.

Roaming Reindeer- Blue Ribbon Designs

And on my tree is one of the ornaments I've one this year from the Just CrossStitch ornaments edition.   It looks so lovely and my little housey is very cosy this Christmas - now only if we could wake to a white Christmas (not likely though).

I have had a fabulous crafty year, and am enjoying keeping my hands busy and creating things..I am still working on a few things and will post pics as I finish. 

Not much news I'm afraid, but wanted to wish you all a wonderful blessed Christmas and all the very best for 2013.

Merry Christmas

Sx

 

the season is changing

The season is changing and there is definitely a a wintery chill in the air. It's time for hats and gloves to come out.

This year I am organised ....the shopping for presents is DONE!! Now I should have time for the lovely bits of christmas when it comes around...

I have finished my first ornament...could not have done it without consulting The Twisted Stitcher's Tutorial blog here. Vonna is brilliant in sharing tips and information.  I am so happy with the result..
Ta Dah..

So now I have another to finish....will post when it's done.

Have had very busy hands, crocheting, stitching and sewing.... lot to get on with will keep you updated.

I love all things Christmas ...and the whole build up.  The little darlings have already started practicing their plays which I can't wait to see.

Wishing for some nice wintery weather over Christmas.

Happy Monday all
Sx

Bags and bags

Gosh I feel like I have become super handy, all the new skills I have been learning..

First off in an effort to make homemade gifts this year I've been trying different things...here are my trials...
The first on shown in the previous post ...

This is the second with a different filling to help it 'stand'
















The third has a mixture of fillings ....still trying to decide the best finish, but on the whole I'm pretty happy with the results.

This Pic just shows the lining of attempt 3

And now for a stitchy update, here's my most recent finish....

I have used a little creative licence to make it a 'pair' for Rosey

I have joined a Christmas SAL organised by the lovely Hazel of QuietlyStitching  The Sampler Girl - Good Tidings, and am loving it already.

first days stitching ....

 next to 'my' seat I have a few bags of 'things i'm busy with' and as you can see my second blanket is growing slowly.

  Well need to love and leave you, children need dispatching to bed, Darling other needs feeding on his return and i have a wonderful stitchy evening to attend;-)

Ooh before i forget, the kids and I are off on a little holiday to Norfolk to spend some time with friends we've not seen in an age. I'm very excited.

Bye for now
Sx

 

Today I made

Today I made something I've not done before.....am so happy with the result.  I have been wanting to make gifts and now think this is something i will do a few of this year ( if anyone reading this post receives one for christmas - act surprised) ;-)

here it is..





























This was just a quick note...gotta run and get my darlings from school.

Sx

It's done

My first crochet project is done and I'm so happy with the result....

Here it is...i think the term is..Ta Dah!

 9 colours, most evenings and I'm going to be COSY this winter

 Attic 24 - is a great inspiration and this is worked off her summer garden throw pattern.
.

 I loved doing this, so theraputic and am already planning the next one.

Many thanks to my neighbour for all the input.

Unfortunately not very chatty this evening but wanted to share the loveliness.

All my love
S
x

An extra little note Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is doing another fab giveaway and here's the link.

A moment of frustration

Please allow me a moment to express my frustrations....

I don't know how all you lovely ladies manage to get to all the jobs and still get some time.  When we moved into my lovely littlle house I thought "I can just about manage to maintain this ..." and yet somehow my house seems to be in a constant state of disarray.  So today is the start of "getting organised.

The reality is that it does not come naturally to me and I find it easy to let coffee with friends and some lovely stitching/crocheting get in the way.  I also can't believe the amount of paper, washing and stuff my family of four produces ( I include myself in this as clearly I contribute!).

So at this moment I'm feeling more than a little overwhelmed and wish I could have a team of fairies to help me along. (I'm sure you've met them Ironing-fairy, washing-fairy, cleaning-fairy and co).

Yours in the midst of cleaning-up- the chaos...

Sx
( Back to it after a rescuing cup of coffee...)

Ps: stood on the scales - need a diet/exercise fairy too...the food fairy has been too available of recent times.

She can be taught

It's been a while between posts, life has been incredibly busy.
Firstly the lovely Bouquets now is proudly displayed on my kitchen wall.

not the greatest view could be any wall in this pic.

We have had a wonderful time this holiday, but I am now needing a rest;-)  We have been fortunate to have my parents with us from South Africa for a few weeks. The first week together we spent in France (our first visit), it was lovely to see somewhere new and all be together.  The only thing to mar the time away was having someone drive nto the back of us on the way home. Only a small fender bender, but truly the last thing I need is more car issues.

My darling children have returned to school, at just the right moment before there was complete fall out in the house.

On a stitchy note I have had two small finishes (well almost) ....Rosey (needs a very little bit doing but this will take a trip to the craft shop as I am missing some thread) and Always and Forever both by Little House Needleworks.

With my Dad staying with me while my Mum flitted to the USA I thought I would try make something new for dinner. Here it is....

Salmon en croute (not bad for a first attempt and is was scrumptious)




Dad and I also did a fabulous walk around Edale. This was taken at the top of Mam Tor.






On onto what I have learnt...at the beginning of the year I said I would learn to crochet....well I've learnt enough to get going.

This is the the beginnings of my first project...

I was 'practicing' and have decided to turn this into a cushion for my DD. will post a completed pic once it's done

So I have got courageous and placed a order for some wool....

It arrived today - such loveliness.

Going to get granny squares under-way to hopefully have a cosy blanket of loveliness in time for winter

Still have loads of stitchy things on the cards, working furiously on my Moira Blackburn and there is a few other sneaky things catching my attention.

So much to do - will be amazed if I get all things done.

With much love and busy hands
S x

Sampler aux Bouquets

It's complete, hooray and it turned out so well

unfortunately I can't seem to get it all in one picture. It's at the framers so maybe once it's up I'll get a full photo.

We've been busy busy in this house, between my darling husband travelling to the USA quite a bit and school and work. The kids and I took the opportunity of his travels to go to Florida and yes the Magic Kingdom really is magic. We had a fabulous time and the kids were on form.  Was so very proud of them maintaining through 14hrs of overload. It was very special to spend time with family we haven't seen for years.


This wasn't taken at Disney,it was taken in Miami but really shows my darlings having a great time. 

After such a wonderful holiday,I must admit it was good to get home.  Now I'm getting things ready for an imminent visit from my Mum and Dad, how I have missed them. Am very excited to see them and ave a good catch up....roll on friday.

Have made a start on some of my WIPs, will post an update soon.


Have a wondeful weekend.

S x

Great giveaway - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

She's at it again, go have a look at  Nancy's blog as she has a great giveaway.

Although I hope she picks me.

 

Sx

In my garden

 The results of my hard work are beginning to show....I just took a quick walk around my little garden and the first roses are in bloom and I would like to share them with you....

 I am eagerly awaiting my Whisky Mac(Yellow) , Bell Epoque (Caramel) , Jam and Jeruslsem (Orange and yellow) and Velvet Fragrance (Deep Red) to show their colours....



Also have been working hard on Bouquets.... 

Happy weekend all....
Sx

Three Cheers...

We've been celebrating here in the UK, Diamond Jubilee everywhere you look.  It certainly makes one feel patriotic.  I took the kids camping for the first time over the jubilee weekend but after having a week if fabulous weather in the last week of school, the moment our tent was up the rain came down..
This did not damper the camping spirit in the darlings so was not a total disaster.. I do salute all single parents though as this escapade was without the  man of the house. Unfortunately his work trip to USA has been extended a little.  We are all looking forward to having him home.

This week we have claimed some 'lazy' days ....kids having been playing around the house beautifully and I have grabbed a few stitchy hours and here's my progress on Bouquets

This is turning out to be lovely to stitch.
I have a confession....I battle to resist new charts, the problem is I am collecting more charts than I have  time for....mmmm...it's going to be busy hands for a long time yet.

Garden update : after a surprise attack from the entire slug population I fought back and have reclaimed the garden (hopefully) - think I got to them before much damage was done. 
                     Judging by the number of rosebuds I have fingers crossed for a brilliant show of colour shortly. Next year I am going to have to fill the gaps with some earlier flowering plants but need to read up a bit first....as I'm still aiming for an evergreen/perennial garden which limits the flowering plants.

My darling children are growing so fast, I can't believe the school year will be ending shortly, this year has flown it feels like I am chasing to keep up with myself.

Three cheers for the Her Majesty, The Queen ..



Wishing you a sunny summer....
Sx

finding it difficult to choose

I have the lovely Bygone Stitches - Quaker Virtues in my "to-do" box, I have the fabric (Vintage Mocha 32ct) but for the life of me I can not settle on the thread to use.  I have narrowed it down to Threadworx or DMC to keep the cost in check , but the colours ....
There are SO MANY choices/combinations to choose from and I am battling to make a commitment.


On a different tack I have started Sampler au Bouquets - Jardin Prive and am loving it, just need a stitchy day to really get my teeth into it.

With summer hopefully arriving soon and the long awaited visit from my parents(in august) I have been working very hard in my little garden (oasis) and most of the jobs are done. I am hoping there is going to be a fabulous show of roses in the holidays.


will add pics to this post when a get a chance (or the dog has got off me!)
Sx

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

This is the first time I'm promoting anything on this little blog, but these colours are stunning.

If any stitchy people EVER read this blog then go along and see what lovely things Nancy creates...
Here's her link...

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: New summer floss colors and a new give-away!:

At long last ...

Hooray -at last I've finished my first start and here it is....

Well when I say finished still needs the year added to it and maybe initials, but I want to think about it a bit.

I had one of those truly me days - and used it to get this finished, was great to be quiet and stitch without needing to be anywhere else. 

We have had RAIN and RAIN and RAIN.

The garden desperately needs some sun before all my lovely new (and old) plants drown.  

Just a quick update today.

Sx

Shades of Blue

This is the first project I started and have really battled to get through it, not sure if it's due to the blues but I have been easily distracted - but I pledge not to start anything new until it's finished...(hard not to be tempted by the lovely charts waiting kitted for me)

I have used a variety of tones and hues of blue and hope they sit well together in the finished product, as  some are true blue and other more aqua, well will wait and see.

back to it...
S
xx

Spring snow and summer stitching

I woke this morning to find that the weatherman was right - snow in spring. After a glorious week of sunshine and warmth that got me furiously working in the garden, this morning everything was white.

Although I like a bit of snow normally I have great concerns for my newly planted members of my garden - I hope they all survive the onslaught of the snow and wind.

On a sunnier theme I have done a bit of stitching and Summer Ete is complete...

 So I've tried to restrain myself starting anything new or buying any more charts (of which there is many that I love), I have two other WIP and will "definitely" not start another until at least one of them is complete.

Have started teaching myself to crochet, not doing too badly though I think I need to set aside a morning once the darlings are back at school.

Easter is just around the corner, I know chocolate frenzy comes to mind but I hope the message doesn't get lost along the way....

Happy Easter ...
S
xx

not much action

It's been a little while but for one reason or another I have been slow stitching;-(
In a perfect world there would be moments to closet myself away to pursue creativity....but life has been busy.
My love is changing jobs, always stressful, my darlings very busy with school and i have had to put some more time into distance on the tarmac with a sneaky half marathon looming this weekend, not going to do any great time but should get around.
Perhaps there will be time for stitching while i "recover".

I think spring is peeking around the corner and my little garden has needed me and after some planning it's off to the garden center....

I hope to have some progress to report soon....just wanted to be "present" here!

A good week to all
S x

A little bit more

The first little bit of warmer weather arrived this weekend, think it may be teasing and we're not quite ready to turn the heating off.  A peek at my garden tells me that there may not be too much stitchy time available to me when things start to grow and will need a little help. Am waiting for the risk of frost to pass before giving everything a good trim and hope like crazy that is all comes back beautifully for the summer.

So this weekend,  I've been doing a couple of things crafty when I could grab the time..

 love these beads..

 

thought I would have a go at some earrings - as I don't wear them am hoping these are to my sisters taste.

Here it the beginnings of the Time and Season Sampler - Moira Blackburn, couldn't resist starting this as the threads were calling. I just love the range of colours in this kit.

Somehow with busying myself with these fun things - my house still hold vague semblance of order, so not a bad result for the weekend. All Good!

Now to face the week ahead;-)

S x

Not a bad start

Having a ever growing interest in the general making of things I thought I would give some homemade jewellery a go and have to say it's not bad....


Ta da....

 

it could get quiet addictive ... but am still loving my stitching - not enough hours in the day for the "need-to-do's" and the "want-to-do's"

Have been using my needle and thread to complete Patchwork Printemps - Jardin Prive

 

I used the suggested colour palette which I love - it's so gentle and easy on the eye.

It goes without saying can't resist the next in the series "Patchwork Ete" and have made a start.
When I first started this creative leap I had said to a friend that I would do one chart at a time - this was met with a chuckle and how right she was...

Currently I have 3 WIP :
Pathchwork Ete (as mentioned)
Time and Season (Moira Blackburn)

Simple Little Quaker (Papillon Creations) - this I'm finding difficult to keep working on am using a selection of blues so maybe that has something to do with it.

and my mind keeps wondering towards the Quaker Virtues (Bygone Stitches) waiting for me, not wanting to do too much blue so I don't struggle as it's a large chart I think I've settled on three colours ThreadworX -Rain Storm and Spanish Olives with Fall for the accent colour. Just need to commit now;-)

My darling other is out for the evening so great plans all......on the couch with 'Time and Season' and a glass of wine....just got to get the offspring to bed.

Have a great weekend...
S x

to mark the passing of 6 years

My darling daughter has turned six, has her first wobbly tooth and has danced her first dance exam.  - Wow she really is quite grown up...

To celebrate this birthday, we invited 5 girls for tea...fortunately we have a big car so fetching 4 extra girls from school was manageable. In an effort to give them enough to do we decorated biscuits...

drew on fabric bags and made bead bracelets...(still need to take a pic of this creativity).

Having found a recipe for flower pot cakes  (Princess Party cookbook by Annabel Kamel) I tried my best...

and used some other of her ideas.

I think they all had fun and ultimately all that matters.

I have a very happy little girl..


With all this activity, not been much time for stitching...


A weary farewell...this weekend is for recovery
S x