Autumn exchange

Dusty has kindly sent me a picture of the biscornu I stitched for her for the Autumn exchange on Jayne's Attic ( my picture vanished into cyberspace somewhere). It is the Autumn Biscornu by Barbara Ana designs
I have completed my Fair and Square exchange piece for Annette but cannot show yet as I have not sent it off to her. I also completed "Love Letters" the Papillon freebie but decided not to use it for the wedding card as I had originally intended, instead I stitche d a design from this minth's CrossStitcher mag - pics of these will follow when I get a chance.
I want to stitch some ornaments but am feeling uninspired at the moment - mainly due to the fact that I am very, very tired - don't know why really although work is very stressful and I am letting it get to me which I shouldn't do. I have a long weekend off next week though which should help.
I plan a lazy day today - just me, stitching and the TV..lol.
Well thanks for reading and for the lovely comments you post - I really do appreciate them.

Autumn exchange

Yesteday was the reveal day for the Jayne's Attic Autumn exchange organised by Clare so I can now show what I sent and received.
I received a lovely pinkeep from Christine - my first one. I love it and Christine also sent me some lovely NN thread and gold beads. Thanks Christine. I am now inspired to make up some of my LHN finishes into pinkeeps, this will be my project for the New Year.
I sent to Dusty - the Autumn biscornu by Barbara Ana - it made me smile to stitch it - I hope Dusty likes it. I am going to stitch the Winter one for myself I think!
I have just been looking for the pic I took of the biscornu before I sent it to Dusty but it seem sot have vanished from the computer - typical! I will have to ask Dusty to take a pic for me.

Back again

Had a couple of busy weeks so not been able to blog - still trying for that elusive day off work but things are so busy at present it is difficult . I know that if I take a day off in the week it just means working twice as hard the following day..lol.
Last Sunday was my mum's birthday so DH, DDs and I want up to the NE for the day. We went for a meal at the Cleveland Tontine (McCoys) restaurant - for anyone who knows the area it is on the A19 at Northallerton. We had a lovely lunch - I had black pudding followed by bream with crab risotto and a chocolate brownie and pistachio ice-cream for dessert. Then it was back to work on Monday. I was on call Thursday and Saturday this week - quite quiet for a change - worked a couple of hours on Saturday evening then had to go back in at 6.30 am Sunday morning. At least it meant I was up to go to Sainsbury's nice and early.
On the stitching front I have a finish to show you - "Where my Heart Blooms" by Blackbird Designs - I loved stitching this. I am now stitching "Love letters" a Papillon Creations freebie to make into a card for a wedding we are going to in November.

Not been around

I haven't had a chance to blog at all recently - been really busy since getting back from my training course and then went down with a nasty cold. I had to keep going into work as I was so busy and then when I was on call on Friday night I managed to trap the little finger of my right hand in a heavy door (don't ask how..it was midnight and I was very tired). So yesterday I was very sorry for myself - sneezing all the time and hardly able to hold my stitching!! However I feel much better today, which is a good job as I was working this morning and am on call tonight.
On the up side I do have some stitching finishes. I have completed my Autumn exchange piece for the exchange on Jayne's Attic and it will be on it's way in the post tomorrow. I hope it arrives in time as I am a little late in posting it. I will post a pic on 2nd November which is reveal day.
I also finished off the Tumbling leaves biscornu which I started stitching on holiday in Spain a year ago! It does take me a while to get round to thing but I get there eventually!
I have also finished Blackbird designs "Where my Heart Blooms" - can't take a pic yet as it is much too dark now. Watch this space! I have "Beyond my Heart" to stitch next and I was very bad and ordered the charts and fabric for the other 2 designs in this years series. I will have to wait a while for the threads for those though.
I am also planning to visit the North East for the Stitch and Stash Christmas get together on 6th December - I am really looking forward to it as I haven't seen any of them for ages. I don't have any local stitching friends so it is nice to meet up with others who understand my obsession..lol

Back again

Well I'm back - the course went well, hotel was OK and I had a couple of nice meals out, including a lovely Chinese banquet. Just have to get it all working at work next week when it is installed.
I received my squares from Dani for the Fair and Square exchange - posted in Canada on Monday, arrived in Manchester, UK on Thursday - must be some kind of record!
I love them and now need to make them up to do them justice, any suggestions/tips welcome please. The design is from The Gift of Stitching stitched with Caron Waterlilies "cedar".

Away for a few days

I have to go on a training course for work in Basingstoke so I will be away until Wednesday evening. Don't expect I will get a lot of stitching done but I shall take some with me just in case. I am continuing to stitch on my Autumn exchange piece and also have a new start "Be Still and Know" by MBT Designs which is for my daughter.
I have enjoyed my few days off work - I did get some painting done and also found time for some stitching ..lol. I have been reading the latest Kathy Reichs book - Devil Bones too.
Back to work on Thursday which I am not looking forward to but hey it pays the bills.
Thanks again to everyone who has left me a comment - it's good to know you are out there.

Fair and Square

I joined the Fair and Square exchange group and sent off my first squares to Dani. She wanted Quaker squares so I stitched the top part of the Quaker Flower freebie by The Workbasket in DMC 115.

A busy (but enjoyable) day

I took a trip to London yesterday - for some work related training which was pretty uninteresting but by happy co-incidence my friend Carol of Heirloom Embroideries
was in town and we managed to meet up for a coffee and a quick catch-up. It was lovely to see her again and hear her news. I also got to see some of her latest designs in the flesh and they are gorgeous.
I haven't any finishes to show but thought I would show you something I stitched a little while ago - seemed appropriate - it is one of the Tea and Coffee threadpacks by Little House Needleworks/Crescent Colours. I have all 6 of these and they are lovely to stitch. They are stitched in one strand of CC Belle Soie silk on 32ct linen from Polstitches ( I'm afraid I can't remember which shade - think it might be Georgian). The silk is lovely with very good coverage.
I am currently stitching a piece for the Autumn challenge on the Jayne's Attic board so I can't show that at present! I have a few days off work now as I had a lot of hours owing so I am going to try and spend some time stitching (although I am meant to be painting the woodwork round the house..lol)
Finally I would just like to say a big thank you to Edda, Karan, Julie, Sally and Chris for taking the time to comment on my last post and for the words of encouragement. I was so touched that you hadn't given up on me so thank you all and Sally I think I sounded a lot more confident than I really am...lol. Blooger is being very silly at present and won't let me comment on blogs but I am reading all of yours too!

Giving it another try!

Now I know no one will be reading this because I am the worst blogger in the world and let down the lovely people who used to read my blog by never getting round to updating it. Well I am going to try and do better! There are a couple of reasons for this

• I read so many great blogs that I feel guilty that I don't put something back by sharing my own stitching
  

• I feel that I am entering a phase of my life where I need to take control. Some bad things have happened to me and mine over the past few months and years. I now feel that I am in control of my life to the extent that I can deal with whatever it throws at me and keep on going. I've learnt that life is for living, it's no use thinking about the past and what might have been
• My stitching has been varied and random recently and I have no routine at all and am deperately in need of one or I will never finish anything. This blog may help to inspire me with that!
  

So here I am the new positive me...lol
I don't have any stitching to show at present because I have been in a phase of lots of new starts and no finishes except for some exchange pieces which I can't show at present but I am stitching on "Where my Heart Blooms " by Blackbird Designs and hope to have it finished soon.
So, wish me luck with my new positive outlook and I will try and reward you with lots of stitching pics!

Memories

I have joined in the SAL on Jayne's Attic
- designed by Jayne herself. So far I have really enjoyed stitching it - it is technically difficult enough to make it interesting but still a fun stitch to do. I am stitching in different colours to the recommended ones - with Jaynes' help I have chosen DD silk in Hawthorn, with coordinating DMC threads. I love the way it looks so far, can't wait for next month!

A quick stitchy post

I have completed stitching the front and back pages of the Quaker Friendship book which I am stitching as a RR with Sally, Lisa, Tracy and Chris.
Stitched with one strand of Old Willow Stitchery thread (Boysenberry) over 2 threads on 32ct linen

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to say
Happy New Year!!! and I hope that 2008 brings us all everything that we wish for!!!

Where does the time go?

Well it's Boxing Day already and the festivities are over for another year. We got back from my mum's on Teeside a little while ago and now I am gearing up to go to work tomorrow.

I got some lovely gifts for Christmas - an REM live CD/DVD, the new Neil Young CD/DVD, the latest Patricia Cornwell book, a watch, choccies, Bladerunner DVD, gloves. I got lovely stitchy stuff too - the 3 coffee thread packs by LHN, some beautiful turquoise threads from my friend Jayne who also sent a silk scarf, purse and jewellery roll, thanks Jayne and from the Stitch and Stash gift exchange I received Ink Circles Cirque des Triangles, Heirloom linen by Polstitches, OWS thread and gold needles. Don't know who my partner was yet but thank you whoever you are.
I also received a beautiful pendant from Sheila - again many thanks, Sheila.

Haven't done any stitching this week but hopefully will get round to some at the weekend.

No time at all

to do anything - at least that's how it feels. I have been so busy trying to get ready for Christmas and go to work that I don't seem to be getting a lot of stitching done! I have completed Humbug by Christine of Alchemy Stitchcraft and he is hanging on my tree and I made up a couple of biscornu from stitching I did on holiday. I started stitching on my RR which starts in the New Year ( I know I'm cheating but I also know that I am getting some new charts for Christmas and I am going to want to stitch on them in the New Year!! I will share pics when I have completed my second piece of stitching for the RR
In other news DD1 passed her driving test on Wednesday - at the second attempt! So much better than me who gave up after 2 goes..lol. I think I have all my pressies sorted now - just a couple more cards to make and things to wrap, which I am going to do tomorrow as it is my day off.

Just a quick word

to say that I am feeling rather under the weather with a cold today and to show you the lovely card I received from Jaclyn in the stitched card exchange on Jayne's Attic. I really should take part in more exchanges as I do love receiving things..lol

At last stitching....

Finally got around to posting some finishes.
The first is Psalm 145 by LHN which I have stitched for my daughter's church - hope they like it! It is stitchied on 28ct evenweave "Earth" by Polstitches using some of the recommended WDW and GAST plus a few other hand- dyed threads where I did not have the charted colour.
The second finish is Serendipity by Papillon Creations - this has been finished for a while and I just love it. I'm looking forward to seeing what Yvonne has for us next year.

Still around

but really busy... I've been very busy at work and with enjoying myself recently so had no time for much stitching or blogging. Work is a little better - just had to impose my point of view a bit and make sure I didn't get taken advantage of. Got to work the weekend though but then I have Monday and Tuesday off! Helen I promise I will post some stitchy photos then. Thanks to everyone who commented on my holiday pics - wish I was back there now!
Had a good time last Sunday at Collectormania in Manchester - got to meet some of the actors from my favourite TV show - Stargate Atlantis, I met Torri Higginson, David Nykl and Jason Momoa and they were all lovely and really friendly. Can't wait to see who comes to the next one in March.
As I said I haven't done lot of stitching - what I have done is work on some of the small designs from the Fall Collaboration pack that I started on holiday and also Tumbling Leaves by Alchemy Stitchcraft, just need to make them into biscornu now! Next week I plan to work some more on Cirque des cercles and Ring'o'roses.
Alos eating into my stitching time was knitting - I have made apair of fingerless gloves for me and am now stitching a pair for Emma, next up is a scarf for me. I bought some lovely wool from Elvincraft
that's all for now - stitching pics will follow soon!

And another one!

this is Emma and me on the beach at Moraira on the Costa Blanca - the ones in the previous post are of the beach, sea and surrounding area. It is a relatively unspoilt bit of the coast but I'm not sure how long it will stay like that judging by the amount of building going on.
almost forgot to say - thank you so much to everyone who left comments for me - reminded me of why I started to blog in the first place and I promise I will keep blogging this time.

Holiday pics

Had a really rotten day at work - lots of disagreements, which I hate and no proper plan of how to complete the tasks we need to carry out. I am trying this evening to be positive about it all and go in tomorrow with an action plan which I can make work otherwise I think I may go mad!!
Anyhow to cheer myself up I have been looking through some holiday photos and thought I would share a few with you.

Long time no blog

Hi everyone

I know, I know I'm hopeless at this blogging thing but I'm determined to have another go. I haven't felt much like sharing recently - been very down for no apparent reason but that is, hopefully behind me now.
Just got back from a lovely week's holiday in Spain, several firsts for me there - my first time abroad, first time on a plane. I found it all quite stressful and got rather anxious at times but really enjoyed myself and now can't wait to go back. It won't seem so strange the next time.
I would like to post some holiday pics but Blogger won't let me at the moment, I'll try again another time.
On the stitching front I have signed up for a RR organised by Sally - we are stitching one of the Quaker books by With my Needle, 5 stitchers are taking part and it should be fun. I am also stitching some of the charts in the Fall Collaboration pack - planning to make some biscornu and a little secret stitch for Christmas.
When those are done it will be back to Ring'o'roses and my SAL with Helen of Heirloom Christmas.

thanks for reading, be back soon