Made by Me

Maddy's Giveaway

2010-11-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to win the blogaversary draw over on Maddy's blog and this morning you wont believe what arrived.....

There is this felt bag which is just begging to be decorated.... mmmm... can't wait. And threads, needles, ribbon, felt, a hair clip, a yankee candle that smells wonderful.

Here is the ribbon and felt... the ribbon is so ornate.....

And there is a really pretty card.....

This is the gorgeous needle book Maddy made for me

And this is a keyring which has gone straight on my handbag. I'm sorry that my photos dont do it all justice. Its all wonderful. Thank you so much Maddy

ATC Received

2010-11-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

I have been taking part in the ATC exchange over at Exchange Heaven and today I was lucky enough to receive this ATC from Maddy. I am really pleased with it - thank you Maddy

For Tel x

2010-11-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

Halloween.... and as usual my workaholic hubby missed it. Here you go babe, here is the pumpkin and your adorable little .... skeleton

Tel has recently rediscovered an interest in fishing. And he is moving away from carp to the beautiful trout and salmon that you can sometimes find in the rivers round here. So Tel, this is for you. It'll probably be a keyring to clip onto your tackle bag.

Sew Noel Completed Ornies

2010-11-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Here are the finished bits from Sew Noel. The light wasn't great so the colour doesnt show up well. I have two completed ornies for the christmas tree and a little keyring for Jacob

A Few Little Finishes

2010-10-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Carol 's blog?

She designs sampler style cross stitch charts some of which she offers for free. I really like them all and when I wanted to make some Christmas ornaments I turned to her 'sew noel'.

And to be a bit thrifty with the fabric I used her alphabet to stitch Jacob to be made into a keyring at a later date.
And using her alphabet from 'sew autumn' I made these two little keyrings for J's friend and his sister - just a bit of fun.

I Won!! Thank you Michelle

2010-10-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway hosted by Michelle. On my doormat this morning was a lovely tissue wrapped parcel containing linen fabric, needles, threads and lovely charts. Thank you very much Michelle.

What a Lucky Girl!!

2010-10-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Look! Look! The postman came bearing gifts from my wonderful hubby. I have had a few 'ordeals' lately with a tooth having to be taken out (I'm terrified of dentists) and then I had to have a colonoscopy which was most unpleasant. And all this had to be bourne without Tel with me for comfort and reassurance. And however awful it was... when this turned up I thought 'totally worth it!!' Thank you so much babe xxxx

These are mill hill cross stitch and bead kits. They look really scrummy. Can't wait to have a go.
Then there was this pinkish linen and a gorgeous deep pink thread and a basic hardanger kit. I've always wanted to try hardanger so watch this space. And a polstitches ornament pattern and a note to say the fabric and htreads will follow soon.

I think everyone must know how much I enjoy Lizzie*kate designs and these will go straight in my must do very soon pile!

And then there was a huge piece of batting and all these fat quarters for finishing.

I am so thrilled with all of it. It will certainly keep me busy for a long while.

Terry thank you so much babe. I am bowled over with all of it. And I promise to put it all to very good use

L*K Prayer Connection

2010-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

I stitched this sunday, monday and today and it has appeared quite quickly I think. Its another Lizzie Kate design and I think it is really sweet :)

A Mad 48 hours

2010-10-07T04:55:00.000-07:00

My needle was abandoned on monday in order to collect my lovely Tel from the airport. What a drive! Its about 90 mins from here to Manchester airport and I think every driver out had a deathwish! How J and I arrived in one piece I don't know, but there was Tel waiting for us and free to come home for just 48 hours.

Tuesday was our only 'proper'day with no airport runs and we had lots to get through including collecting Tel's watch which had been sent away by the jeweller for a new battery and had taken almost 6 weeks to sort. This is what Tel has to put up with for having a watch that does everything apart from turn into a liferaft!! We mooched round shops hand in hand and went to kit Tel out for some fly fishing which he hopes to indluge in at christmas.

We also had to visit the school for parents evening and got to sit and listen to how great our lil lad was doing. We have a few things to practice at home to keep the progress coming but couldnt help but admire his neat carefully formed writing. To think he is still only 5!!

I made a casserole for tea and then we headed down to the prom. Tel and J had a bike ride which was the one thing J had asked for while daddy is home and I walked Katy along the sea's edge as it started to get dark. It was a lovely evening.

Mum and dad popped over to drop some bits off at about 9pm and hearing people downstairs, J - who was in bed - reappeared. He was doing his usual trick of climbing on the furniture gatting into silly positions and then 'it' happened. Somehow he sort of somersaulted off a chair and landed cracking his head on the corner of the coffee table. It was one of those falls that you just know is a bad one. He wasnt knocked out and threw himself at me crying. I hugged him and cradled his head and then I realised there was blood everywhere.

I said to Tel we needed to go to hospital and J just started screaming 'I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go'. I was trying to comfort him and hold a cold wet tea towel to his head, Tel was trying to get him dressed and we were all trying to persuade him to go and let a doctor take a look. What a nightmare! It took 20 mins for 4 adults to get one little boy into the car and he was still kicking and screaming. He'd calmed down by the time we reached the hospital but then started being sick which worried me after banging his head.

Still the bleeding had stopped and face with a friendly nurse J gave in and started brightening up. Poor lad, he had split his scalp open and he had to have one nurse hold the split together while a second nurse glued it closed. J was very brave.

We didnt get home til after midnight and then it was an hour before we finally got to sleep.

Yesterday I decided to keep J at home to keep an eye on him and to allow him and Tel some time together before Tel flew away. We took him to the toy shop and chose a present for being brave and then we went to the lovely Dutch Pancake House for lunch.

All too soon it was time to go back to manchester and send Tel back to work. Still, it was an unexpected bonus having him home and I miss him more than ever today.

Still, I have time to sew again now so watch this space x

L*K I'll get my elves on that

2010-10-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here you go... I have finally finished the L*K design 'I'll Get My Elves On That!'. It's taken me a week and it hasnt been without its problems. I think I will avoid Wisper thread for a while.

I was unable to get hold of the embelishment pack that matches the design so I had to raid my button box. Consequently Santa has only one button because I didn't have two matching small enough. Plus the star on top of the tree... mine must be bigger than the correct one so I had to place it lower on the tree.

However I fear the worst is yet to come as I am going to attempt to finish this as a flatfold. I need to get hold of some batting to pad it out. This will be my first try at a flatfold and I will be refering to the tutorial given by Angela and she rates it as very advanced. Many thanks to Michelle for pointing me in the right direction.

Thank you very much for all the lovely comments esp about my little darling Katy who is currently snoring away next to me.

And a final snippet of happy news..... Tel is popping home for two days next week!!!! Can't wait to see my gorgeous hubby.

Lucy x

Katy

2010-10-02T04:58:00.001-07:00

Katy... born 2nd July 2010

Springer x cocker spaniel = SPROCKER spaniel!

WIP

2010-09-28T06:52:00.001-07:00

I was hoping to have a finish to show you by today but my current project is taking a little longer than expected. Anyway here is a sneaky peak....

Its a Lizzie*kate design from Christmas 2009 called I'll get my elves on that. I love Lizzie*kate; they are always so much fun. This design uses a thread called wisper which is used 1 ply and had fluffy fibres all along it to give a fluffy and slightly 3d appearance.

I love the finished effect of wisper but threading the needle is a nightmare. I have never had a problem threading the needle before but I think I'm going to have to go out and buy a needle threader to cope with this. (and don't worry Tel, we are talking about a purchase of about 50p!!!)

There is something about september with the children going back to school and so on that makes me feel I can face a bit of Christmas stitching. The season is really changing here with leaves on the pavements and the evenings smell of smoke from all the fires.

I'm also working on 4 little gifts for Tel to take back to work for the wives of his mates. I have done the stitching for one needlebook so far but its not finished yet. If anyone knows of any small 'UK' charts I'd love to know. I'd like to stitch little UK image gifts with things like the tower of london etc.

I'm feeling a bit down at the moment. I'm very grateful for my sewing and being able to lose myself in what I'm doing. And of course I am always boosted by hearing from you so please leave a comment.

Lucy x

For My Mum

2010-09-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

Did I mention it was my mum's birthday last monday? Well with her birthday money she bought herself a lovely toile de jouy bedspread in an offwhite with deep pink/red pattern. Well I saw the perfect design to compliment it and best of all it was a freebie from here

I'm really pleased with how it turned out :)

And a quick message for Tel - LOVE YOU BABE X

Goodbye Monty June 2010

2010-09-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that animal goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm an comfortable.

The animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt and maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your friend finally meet you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of yuor pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown

Thank you Teacher

2010-09-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

Well we are starting to catch up on the stitch pics I have to share. Here are the little hanging pillows I made to thank J's reception teachers.....

I think both designs are Lizzie*kate but with 90% of my chartsstill packed for the move I cant check

Name X Stitches

2010-09-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hello

A big thank you for your lovely comments. Its wonderful to think other people are stopping by to see my sewing and read my little blog. I really enjoy hearing from you and checking out your blogs too x

Last Christmas I made name plates for two of J's little pals, Adam who is a good friend to J and sister to Chloe who had the somebunny design, and Sam who is the most adorable little lad.

See what you think - the alphabet is a Lizzie*Kate one.

Cross Stitch for Chloe

2010-09-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

Chloe is the daughter of a close friend and last Christmas I decided to make her a little cross stitch picture. This is the cross stitcher SOMEBUNNY design.

And here is a pic of a little koala sent to me (with other cute pics) from Tel when I was worrying about seeing the dentist. Did it stop me worrying? No, but it did make me smile.

Lastly I can't blog today without wishing my mum a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY - have a great day mum x

Family X Stitch for Tel

2010-09-19T01:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't felt like blogging for ages as you will have noticed, but now we are in our new home and I am feeling settled I suddenly feel a great urge to stitch and to show you the work you have missed.

This is a piece I stitched for Terry. Its very symbolic for us with the word FAMILY and two pretty homes with friendly smoke billowing from the chimneys. With Terry being away its hard work to stay a family unit rather than me and J and Tel being the visiting daddy, and of course Tel is on his own out in Algeria, far away from home and us. He has the cross stitch with him on his wall.

I hope you like it.

A Little Pressie for school

2010-09-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a little sampler (chart from cross stitcher and available free from the coats crafts site) made for J's classroom at school. His class is called 1NM. Hope you like it

YAY Terry!!

2010-04-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

Terry is back til monday... unexpected bonus x

Back in Blogland

2010-03-30T02:20:00.001-07:00

Hello

Crikey its three months since I posted!! I am still alive, sometimes well and still sewing although not as often as I would like.

Terry has completed another rotation and is now 2 days into his next stint at work. I had him at home with me for a whole month and the house seems empty without him. We were blessed with gorgeous weather and spent time walking with Monty and driving round the hills of North Wales. J loved having Daddy home of course and the two of them tackled soft play, swimming, endless bike riding and goodness knows what else.

The really big news is we have found a house we want to buy. We have put in an offer, had it accepted, done the survey and are now waiting for the legal bits to all be sorted so we can exchange contracts. I have a pic ready to share with you as soon as its all sealed!! Watch this space.

Well I feel ready to get back into blogging so I hope you are prepared to see a bit more of me from now on.

Lu xxx

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-21T01:27:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all my Blog land friends!! I hope you all have a peaceful Christmas and find lots of cross stitch in your stocking from Santa.

Terry is home today so I will be busy with family stuff for the next 8 days. Lots of pics of Christmas pressie sewing I can share with you then.

Love to all

Lucy

Llandudno

2009-12-02T01:59:00.000-08:00

Hello My friends

I thought I would share with you some pictures of where I live.....

This is Llandudno....

Image no 1 is the promenade in the snow, No 2 is the bay from the Great Orme and No 3 is the West Shore from Marine Drive (Great Orme).

Llandudno is on the North coast of Wales and the town is found between two headlands - the Great Orme and the Little Orme. The town grew mainly as a Victorian tourist resort and many of the buildings are Victorian although there is a bronze age mine on the Great Orme.

The name Llandudno is a Welsh name Meaning Church (Llan) of St Tudno. It is pronounced with the welsh double ll which doesn't easily translate into an English sound but is somewhere between L and Cl.

Most of the attractions here are summer based for the tourists and tend to be traditional such as a Punch and Judy show and cable car rides, but there are more odern additions which J really enjoys like the Ski slope and the Taboggan run.

All in all, I love it here and I hope you have enjoyed having a peek into where I live - I challenge you to do the same.

J is 5!

2009-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Look at my lil chap! With his fifth birthday appoaching I decided to take Jacob, his friend Adam & Adam's sister Chloe to Anglessey Sea Zoo to celebrate. We had a lovely couple of hours looking at the sea horses and little sharks, browsing the gift shop and playing on the bouncy castle.

Jacob was 5 on November 18th - Happy Birthday son!!!

Exchange with Ronel

2009-11-27T05:29:00.001-08:00

Hello My Blogland Buddies

Here are a couple of pics of the piece I stitched for my recent exchange with Ronel and the bits I sent to her.

I made a needlebook and decorated it with blackwork using a pattern from Just Cross Stitch magazine. And most of the goodies I sent were charts as Ronel had said it was hard to get hold of charts in SA. I also included a customise match box kit as I know Ronel likes papercraft too and some mini hama beads.

Apologies for the picture quality - my camera was poorly and I was borrowing mum's which I didnt find very easy to use.

The Wanderer Returns

2009-11-18T02:34:00.000-08:00

Just letting you know that TERRY is home for a few days so I will not be about in blogland. Will return soon with pics of 2 more finishes and J's 5th birthday x

Exchange from Ronel

2009-11-09T01:09:00.001-08:00

I was having a bad day on friday until I opened the door to the postie and received this....

I 'met' Ronel via blogging this year and not only was I impressed with her stitching but also her gorgeous photo mosaics which she uses to display her work. These are her images - shamelessly stolen from her blog.

I received a lovely fat parcel full of goodies including silk thread, a rose scented sachet, heart charms and a pink tape measure but pride of place are this needlebook and scissor fob. They are so perfect I actually had a little cry. This is my first needlebook. I have made a few but always for other people so now at last I have one of my own. See the initials - I have been LE for so long but I got married almost 3 months ago and I am now LC and this is the first time I have anything with my new initials on.

Ronel Thank You. I hope the parcel I sent for you arrives soon. Please forgive the stolen pics and I hope to be able to exchange with you again.

PIF and a posting

2009-10-30T05:03:00.001-07:00

Hello My Friends

Thank you to Lindylou and Nika for signing up to my pass it forward. You will both receive something from me in the next 12 months. Please email me your postal address or leave an email here and I'll contact you.

There is still one more vacancy so if anyone is interested please let me know or the third stitch piece will be offered as a giveaway on here.

And note to Ronel - hun your exchange piece is on its way

x

Pass it forward -2 days left

2009-10-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone else interested in receiving a stitched piece made by me?

Pass It Forward

2009-10-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever I have been chosen as a PIF recipient by Ronel - I am so excited!! Thank you Ronel.

Anyway as part of the deal I now have to offer a PIF here. How it works.... if you would like to receive a hand stitched item made by me sometime in the next year please leave a comment on this posting. Hopefully someone will comment.... anyway I'll draw three names on october 30th and they will receive a stitched treasure from me. But if you are chosen you must make the same offer and continue to 'pass it forward'

Happy Stitching
x

Wedding Pics

2009-10-13T01:15:00.001-07:00

Wedding Day!

2009-08-20T02:04:00.000-07:00

Hello

I'm getting married today!! I promise to be back in blogland very soon. We are moving house on tuesday and I hope to be internet connected within a week of that. Sending love to you all

Lucy the Bride!! XXXX

Back Soon

2009-07-16T03:15:00.001-07:00

Hello my friends

Just to warn you I am off to Wales for a week or so but I will be taking my sewing with me and will show you what I've been up to when I get back.

xxxx

New Wedding Date and New Friend

2009-07-10T11:32:00.001-07:00

It turns out that it is extremely difficult to get married, blessed and to move house all in the space of one week. And sneaking through into the following week isn't going to prove possible either as J has to start at his new school several days earlier than expected.

So we have taken the plunge and moved the wedding date and the big day will now be (drum roll) August 20th. So far all cast and crew have been able to cope with the change of date except my hair and make up lady Jo. And it means that its only about 40 days til I DO!

Also I have a new friend through cross stitch and blogging. Hello Ronel and I am looking forward to our exchange. If you haven't already visited her blog please have a quick look because her work is lovely and so inspiring. 5 mins on her blog and I'm just itching to stitch.

And finally here is yours truely hard at work.....

'Challenge for a Finish' Finish

2009-07-08T03:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the Challenge for a Finish callenge piece for july. The challenge was to make anything but use only 1 colour of variagated thread so my challenge piece is officially the scissor keep as the needlebook uses othe colours.

The home sweet home design is a freebie from here

This is just a repeating blackwork pattern.

And a matching little needlebook.

All are returning to Algeria with Tel for his friend Mohammed to give to his wife so eventually they will find their way to Egypt. I really enjoyed making them.

Pet Service

2009-07-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the crazy spaniel all dressed up for the pet service at church. Sadly he wouldn't stay still for the pics so they aren't terribly good. The T Shirt says Jesus Loves Me and was made especially by the lovely Chrissie at kissiboo. You can find her at kissiboo.com and on ebay.

My News...& I DO I DO I DO!!!!

2009-07-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends in blogland.

Tel has gone back to work in the desert today so I am sad and missing him. He is away for 7 weeks this time which is less than last time but still seems I have a mountain to climb. But to keep me going through this rotation I have a little job to do... I have a wedding to plan!!!

Yup! Tel and I are getting married on August 26th. Its only going to be a small wedding with maybe a dozen guests at the local registry office, food in our local and a blessing a few days later with our 'church family' but I am still really excited.

And we are relocating - moving to North Wales near where I grew up. That should happen very early September.

So I may have 7 weeks ahead but I do have lots to keep me busy.

And my message to Tel - I love you. I can't wait to marry you. You are the best daddy J could ever have and I know you are going to be the best husband too. Thank you for loving us and chosing us to be your family. XXX

A Gift for Tel

2009-07-06T05:56:00.001-07:00

http://ravenelle.over-blog.com

Cream 28 ct linen

2 over 2

I love the fact that my bloke is a stitcher. And he happened to comment one day that I made things for other people and for exchanges but had never sewn anything for him. He was right - so to put that in order here is the little needlebook I made for him.

The design is a freebie from Ravenelle and I think its a wonderful pattern. I have omitted the flower border from the bottom.

I've not been making these smalls for very long and every finish is a bit of an experiment and on this ocassion I have added pockets front and back. The front pocket is to tuck the blades of his scissors into. I have added some tapestry needles on the felt and the pocket at the back holds a little pack of sharps for any running repairs he needs to make while out in the desert.

So my babe, this is for you, with love xxxx

Alphabet Exchange

2009-07-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Trilogy - Happy Heart Day

1 over 1 on sage linen

The June exchange on exchange heaven was a piece to include the whole alphabet. This little cushion was the piece I made for Lorna.

I made a tiny pocket on the back and edged in lace to match the design. And as a little bonus I popped in a lavendar aromator. Hope you like it Lorna x

Biscornu

2009-07-06T05:15:00.001-07:00

I have finally taken some pics of my first biscornu - only about 6 months after I made it! I do have the excuse that it now lives on my mums dressing table 235 miles away but.... Anyway it was so much fun to sew and the design was from the internet but alas I cannot remember where so if anyone recognises it please let me know so I can give the designer credit. Colour choices my own.

Exchanges Received

2009-06-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

Wow what a lucky girl I am.... two exchanges received today. Firstly from Rachael on Exchange Heaven.....

Its a scissor keep - the scissors held on the central ribbon, with places either side for pins and needles - which Rachael kindly included. Beautifully stitched over a single thread it is having pride of place in my work box. Thank you Rachael!

And this lot is from Ann (izzieann) on the crafty natter birthday exchange. My fingers are just itching to get playing with this scrummy set but I must must must finish my exchange piece first. Thank you very much Ann

Welcome Home!

2009-06-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

Terry the best Daddy in the world, with J

Terry's first rotation has almost finished and after nine long weeks without him, I am looking forward to welcoming him home tomorrow. Then I have almost three weeks with him, so I may not be in blogland very much for a while.

And here is a bit of backstitch appearing on the Bothy threads sewing sampler.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

2009-06-10T03:19:00.000-07:00

Huge CONGRATULATIONS to my darling Tel on your promotion and rise! I always knew you were fantastic at your job and its great that you are finally with a company that can see that too. I've been and bought you a nice bottle of champers and it's cooling in the fridge ready for you to enjoy on monday. I love you babe xxx

Progress Report

2009-06-07T05:52:00.001-07:00

This Is the Bothy Threads sewing sampler which Tel sent as a pressie a few weeks ago. Its lovely to do as all the colours are so bright, but its a bit vague in some places until I manage to get some backstitch done.

My Waxing Moon design hasn't been worked on this week.

And look who has had a haircut?!? Poor Monty was really suffering in that hot weather so I sent him for a clip. Doesn't he look posh?

Lots of love to Tel. Only 8 days til my knight in shining armour returns from the desert. Can't wait!

The Latest from the Sahara

2009-05-31T11:08:00.001-07:00

This oak beamed cottage is next to the car Terry was working on before. Can't wait to see it in person and only 15 days to wait. Yippee!

Exchange Fob Received

2009-05-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Lorna who sent me this lovely scissor fob as part of our fob exchange on exchange heaven. Its such a sweet little fob that will hopefully stop my scissors disappearing down the side of my chair. I'm delighted with it.

And for my fellow spaniel lovers here is a pic of Mont enjoying the sun yesterday

CURRENT WIPs

2009-05-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hello All

Here are the two things I've been working on this week along with an exchange piece I can't show you yet.

And just for his Daddy here is a pic of J off to the school teddy bears picnic

It was school sports day yesterday and J did really well. In fact he would have won lots had he not stopped to wave at mummy! And poor Mummy herslef was forced to make a fool of herself in the parent race. Thank goodness I have no pics of that.

Update for Terry

2009-05-16T15:10:00.001-07:00

This is Terry's sewing tonight. How he finds time to do any with all his work and keeping me company on the video link I don't know. He's run out of one colour so I'm going to try to send some cotton out to the middle of the Sahara.

And we are now more than half way through this current work rotation and I have only 30 days til I can see my babe again.

For Baby Thomas

2009-05-14T05:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the little gift I made for Thomas....

Lickle Ted design from WOCS Magazine

DMC threads, pale green linen

My First Exchange

2009-05-13T02:14:00.000-07:00

Nostalgia Blackwork

Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Antique White evenweave

Here are the pieces for my first ever cross stitch exchange. I have joined the lovely ladies at Exchange Heaven and the first swap available to me was a scissor fob. I was sending to Michelle http://stitchcraftplace.blogspot.com/ (modelled by my scissors!)

Its always nerve wracking sending a stitched piece to a fellow stitcher for the first time. I popped in a bar of choccie and a postcard and Michelle was kind enough to say she loved it all.

Just Waiting

2009-05-12T02:43:00.000-07:00

I've posted my exchange so I'm just waiting for it to arrive so I can show some piccies.

I'm also working on a little something for brand new baby Thomas.

Feeling very low just now.

Garden visitor

2009-05-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Look what was in our garden today..... Its a slow worm and I haven't seen one of these for at least 20 years! Here is the little chap in an ice cream tub (aka deluxe slow worm residence) so J can get a good look and I can take a piccy. Then he went back to the garden to carry on with whatever slow worms do. Here's a bit about these wonderful beasties nicked shamelessly from the BBC info site....

Slow wormAnguis fragilis
Slow worms look superficially like snakes, but are actually legless lizards. One way to identify them is that unlike snakes, lizards (and therefore slow worms) have eyelids.

They are not often seen basking in the sun and prefer to hide under rocks and logs. If caught by a predator, they have the ability to lose their tails, but the tail never fully grows back. They hibernate from October to February/March under piles of leaves, within tree roots and in crevices of banks. They hibernate both communally and solitarily, and sometimes share hibernating sites with other reptiles. They sometimes burrow in soft substrates so that just their heads are visible

Needless to say I am delighted to have met this little fella.

I can't show you my current stitching finishes although there are two as they are for an exchange so I'll pop up a pic when my partner receives them.

And here is J with a pic he did at school. He doesn't often show interest in drawing, being more a climb and leap and scare mum to death kinda kid so I think this is the first time he's drawn a face.

Also must add many congratulations to Jackie and family on the safe arrival of baby Thomas May 2nd 8lb 5oz.

Finally Tel this bit is for you.... Love you lots and miss you like crazy

Terry WIP 2

2009-04-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

Another update from the sahara stitcher.... well done babe

Latest Finish

2009-04-30T03:48:00.001-07:00

Bent Creek on 28ct linen with recommended threads

With thanks to my lovely Tel for having all the bits sent to me xxxx

Brill Post Day

2009-04-27T06:02:00.001-07:00

I had two parcels arrive this morning care of my lovely fella. They are little gifts for being so brave (!) over my poorly toe. And they arrived in record time from the people at http://www.sewandso.co.uk/ so thank you to them too.

Here is what came

There is a Bothy threads sewing sampler, Bent Creek God Bless you and all the linen, threads and buttons needed to make it.

And here is my poor toe

Mind you it feels tonnes better since my goodies arrived. Thank you babe. Aren't I a lucky girl?

Magic Multiplying Money

2009-04-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

I have taken on a challenge. The church I attend (St Georges Norton) has a regular shortfall each year in its budget and we need to raise about £8000. There are all sorts of things going on to try to make up the loss and one is the challenge of the talents. Do you remember the parable of the talents? A rich man entrusts his servants with money while he goes away. The first two invest it so when their master returns they have a profit to show him but the last servant buries the money in the ground so all he has is the original amount. Well thats what the plan is.... to give people £20 of the churches money and to see if anyone can turn it into a profit.

I'm obviously thinking along craft lines and making something to sell. I have til Sept 26. But how am I going to get enough made to make a decent return? Any ideas gratefully received.

Tel's WIP

2009-04-25T02:17:00.000-07:00

Terry is doing more sewing than me! Friday is a half day for him and he was able to put in a few hours on his cross stitch. Not sure of the name of the kit yet but its by DMC.

So here is his WIP. And I think you'll agree it looks bloomin good for a novice needleman. Before this kit he'd just done a tiny mouseloft kit which is now his scissor keep.

So the message of the day is 'well done babe!'

I'm depressed

2009-04-23T01:42:00.001-07:00

Its official. I'm depressed. And I've been so well for months now. Need to do some sewing to chill out.

Oh and I'm seeing the sore toe doctor today. Way I feel might just tell him to amputate!

A quick Hello

2009-04-22T03:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Pals in Blogland

Just stopping by to say I have been snowed under with housework in preparation for parents arriving on saturday so have nothing to show or report. Soon as I can pick a needle up I'll be on with a piccie.

Lula x

Sore toe!

2009-04-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

I have a poorly toe. No, don't laugh! It REALLY hurts. It was an ingrowing toenail but that was put right but it never got better and is now infected. The doc has given me 2 lots of antibiotic tablets now and some antibiotic cream. And I am waiting to hear from the podiatrist. At least toes aren't required for needlework.

School reopens tomorrow and I get a few hours break every day from the J monster. Much as I love him I am soooo looking forward to that.

Lots of love to Tel who is offically in his new job now. Good luck babe and remember they are lucky to have you.

WIP & Missing Tel

2009-04-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

I feel a bit guilty today because its Sunday and I didn't go to church. J has been such a handful all wee I just couldn't face him misbehaving in front of everyone there so instead of praying I went to the local soft play and did some sewing.

Now J is 4 1/2 sort play is great. He just runs off and plays, returning from time to time to ask for drinks, crisps and anything else he's spotted someone else having and thinks he ought to have too. In between these visits I am free to relax and sew. We arrived early so I was able to nab a sofa, curl up and stitch away.

My current project is an anchor sampler. My dear friend Anne gave me some money for my birthday (way back in March) with instructions to buy something for cross stitch and this is what I chose. This is how it looks after about 6 hours work.

Its a whole 7 days since Terry left on his latest work trip. Seems like forever and I've still got so long to go. So babe this is a message for you.... I miss you and I love you more than ever. Tel has now left Dubai and is on the site in Algeria right in the middle of the Sahara Desert. And he's taken some cross stitch with him so I hope to be posting a pic of his work in a few weeks.

Finally some stitching

2009-04-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ah at last. I let J did holes in the garden and while he was busy I did a little bit of cross stitch. I didn't dare do anything big as he could burst in at any moment with dirty hands or worms etc so I did this tiny Mouseloft kit that J himself had bought me for Christmas.

And here is a pic of yours truely with that crazy spaniel

`orrible day

2009-04-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

Its been one of those days... You know, when you start out full of optimism. I was determined to accomplish something today. I even agreed to make porridge for J, when I usually refuse because he doesn't eat it.

The weather was grim. Drizzly and grey looking but I wrapped up J and shoved the spaniel in the car and drove to the common for a walk. J was bribed to behave by the promise of a torch when we reached Tesco.

Tesco was full of people in their own world who crashed their trolleys into me. J kept running away while I searched for the afore mentioned torch. And I started to realise that maybe today wasn't going to go quite as planned.

We survived the shopping trip and I even remembered to send dad's birthday cards, bravely allowing J to accompany me to the postbox wearing his rollerskates.

Then it was time to go to the cinema. My friend Lisa (hi Lis!) had kindly invited J and I to join her and kids to watch Marley and Me. J has never been to the cinema but recently missed a class trip there so I'd been meaning to take him. We began with lots of explaining about keeping still and quiet and needing to leave if he couldn't. I paid £8 to get me and J in, another £2 for popcorn and we were set.

The first bad move was sitting in the front row. This was mainly due to J being too short to see if further back but it did leave a tempting 12ft or so or empty space in front of us. That was the setting for 30 min of rolling round, chatting, playing and generally not sitting still and quietly. I felt all the eyes behind me boring into me, the mother who could not control her child. The woman who had spawned that monster that was ruining the film for everyone else. Hissing threats to make J sit down was not working so finally I gave in and took him out.

J is going through this phase at the moment where he throws huge tantrums, refuses to move, hits out, all sorts of dreadful things. I'm trying to be sympathetic cos he hates it when his daddy is away (and I do - love you Tel xxx) but its driving me up the wall. His behaviour didn't improve much when I met my friend Anne and her grandson for tea. And then yet another tantrum before bed. I feel worn out.

And what was missing from my awfull day? Sewing!! The thing I need to do to relax and yet again my needle lies idle. To compensate I've just blown $20 on some Lizzie*kate stuff from the US. When you can't sew, shop!

Oh well.... maybe tomorrow will be better x

needle and thread withdrawal symptoms

2009-04-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Its the Easter holidays and with Terry away (miss you babe) it's just me and J here at home. My awake time is spent amusing and tidying up after J, squeezing in meagre bits of housework and chatting to my beloved. There is no time over for a bit of cross stitch. As if to rub my nose in it, my parcel of fabric and threads needed to make the new Brenda Keyes sampler 'over the hills and far away' turned up. And all I could do was stroke it.....

In true british style it rained today and I was struck by a rare brainwave. I could kill two birds with one stone. I could take my little monkey to the soft play centre for rowdy climbing jumping and sliding and while he did all that I could sit quietly in a corner with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and my sewing.

Sadly when I arrived it seemed everyone else in the universe had had similar ideas and in order to avoid standing I had to squeeze myself into an inch or two of seat and position my legs so my feet couldn't rest on the ground. I had to cling on to my seat edge in order to stay on and so didn't even get to open my work bag.

Oh well.... maybe tomorrow I'll find a sewing window....

Happy Birthday Ruth!

2009-04-15T05:44:00.001-07:00

Its only two months late xxxx

Cross stitch on plastic canvas

A Few Bits by Me

2009-04-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'm going to have a go at popping a couple of pics on here of some of this years latest little makes. Nothing fancy.... just a bit of fun.

Of course I've never added a pic before so you may not be able to see anything at all. But here goes...

I have a little cross stitch card for Annie Hankin, a lady who goes to St Georges Church and very kindly knitted me two beautiful scarves.

And a little handbag mirror again in cross stitch for my lovely friend Ann as a little extra pressie for her birthday.

ARHHH!!! kids

2009-04-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

why do they chose the worst possible moment to misbehave? I've spent the past 12 hours entertaining, feeding, cleaning up after and now its bedtime and I want my bit of peace. Am I the worst mum ever??

Welcome to my blog!

2009-04-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Hi

I'm Lucy and I'm a new blogger. I've set up my blog to keep track of my crafty creations and to keep in touch with my darling Tel who works away from home.