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

Changing Seasons

I love seeing the seasons change, living in the UK the seasons change quite clearly and reminds me to appreciate time passing.

My little lady is showing time passing in the form of her first wobbly tooth and her impending birthday. ( I'm hoping to have some creativity to share nearer the day). I can't say I'm looking forward to her looking a little goofy for a while;-)


I have braved the single floss over 1 x 1 ....

Jardin Prive has done a series of seasonal trees as freebies - designed for 2 x 2 I thought it might be cute to make them small, very happy with the end product just need to think how I'm going to finish it.

(Each tree is only about 1 1/2 inches tall. )

One bit of exciting(well for me) news is my bundle of charts arrived from the USA and have plenty ahead of me to keep these hands busy. It includes some Blue Ribbon Designs, Prairie Schooler and Quaker Virtues from Bygone Stitches.


Not much else to report, still wading through the beginnings of the year already facing some unexpected challenges, but hoping for a positive outcome.

All for now
Sue x

Stitching Therapy

I read a lot...often crime/thriller/suspense but once in a while I read a book that moves me.  It is in keeping with this blog...

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

The story really pulled on my heart strings - how simply keeping ones hands busy is a form of therapy to deal with grief and disappointment.  Give it a read it's well worth it, even if it means shedding a tear or two. 
My neighbour is wonderfully stitchy and we meet up with the beginnings of a little group, I am hoping she will help me learn to crochet this year (Nudge nudge if you are reading this;-) ). This is the year to discover my crafty side.

On a lighter note, the chart I've been working on for my darling mum is complete and I love it. Not the clearest picture will try to get another one ....ta da....

 

Simple Life - Jardin Prive

The darling youth in the family have started the year on a social note, thus I have become the Party taxi ferrying them from one party to another. Great fun all round. We have the little ladies big day looming need to get cracking on that. Also she has her first dance exam early February so big start to the year...

Always stitching....

Sue

Return to Routine

So we're into 2012, hoping that it's going to be productive year in so many ways.

I'm still trudging through the big clear out though am definitely stealing moments to enjoy my darlings and a little bit of stitch time.  There is progress, well there must be with the loads leaving the house to the tip, charity shops and recycling.

With the end of all festivities the results can be seen on my waist line and with that in mind have turned myself to the task of plodding (as can't call it running) out the miles on the road.  Have entered another event in March so that looming should keep me on track;-)

Well I guess it's all business at this time of year, kids are back at school tomorrow, the man at work today it goes on...

On a last note I am waiting a little package from USA (a little gift to me - from me) ...will give you a peak when it arrives:-)

All my very best wishes for 2012