A finish

I love the colours

I love the design

I love the fact it's finished.

I started this mid August 2015

but stitched other projects along the way. 

I stitched on 28 ct Toile a Broder, evenweave from DMC

 This will be a cushion cover for on our sofa,

once we have decorated our sitting room

I'm not going to show loads of photo's

if you want to see more click on the link 

Broken Sash, it tracks my progress

Both design's came from this book

both I have stitched before

I decided the colours, the outer section I stuck close to the colours in the book. To ensure the center fitted in and did not look messy, again I used the same colours as in outer section, I did have to add a couple more colours. I used the line of black stitches around the diamond, to ensure the two sections looked good, it was the only place I used black thread. My choice of fabric ensured I had no blemishes to stitch over and allowed the neatness of the work.
I love stitching these patchwork designs, it's part of the reason I called my blog Poppy Patchwork. It's not about counting or fancy stitches, it's about neat little stitches, all tidy and together they make a colourful fabric for me to use.

We popped to Kingston upon Thames today, a dear friend from Spain was over for the weekend, so a long lazy lunch together, loads of gossip and chatter. Afterwards we popped into John Lewis haberdashery, I love to check every thing out, I wanted two small items, one I got the other I will look online. I saw this fabric, beautiful skirt material, reduce to half price, so enough to make a skirt for work at £21.00. I wanted a navy skirt and this sorts that and allows me to get the sewing machine out.

Amazing Grace

Normally when I get my camera out Grace is not happy

she manages to turn each time I click

and I delete loads of shots of her rear end

Yesterday I got lucky

 Hubby had a parcel arrive yesterday, it was for me

after I told him about the book I just finished reading

he found the sequel at a good price on Amazon

 Not being able to do much

means I sit and stitch hope to finish this soon.

I have also cut out another two fat quarters, so loads of sewing to do. 

Did a swap for a couple hot peppers, 

I always have too many tomato and cucumber seedlings

My car has been picked up for it's service, so I am at home today, hubby has gone to play golf, I'm not sure if that is wise, but he made his mind up to go, on the plus side it is dry and sunny outside.
So few hours at home, I am going to have a cleaning morning, get it out of the way.
Over the weekend I will tidy my garden, last year I followed Monty's advice and left all the seed heads for the wildlife, and with such a mild winter, they lasted well, but now I have loads of dried material needing to be removed. This year should be rather easy, it's our 7th spring in the garden so most of the main work has been sorted, it's just a case of ensuring we have plenty of colour.

A helpful tip, I do not buy kits, I always find the fabrics supplied are too big for my love of fine stitching, so I have over the years saved DMC threads. DMC threads were used because the village wool shop sold this brand when I was a child. When I pop them on my plastic bobbins, I always take the long sleeve with the colour number on and tuck it next to the card and then wrap the thread over both, this saves you having to put the number on the bobbins. When I finish the colour, I pop the sleeve in my purse, nice and safe ready for when I next pop to a shop to ensure I replace the correct colour. These days when I find a design, often I have most of the colours in my stash, and if I don't have the correct colours I will have something very close.

Getting over bugs

This was a great book to read

I finished it this yesterday, 

Plot, storytelling and ending was brilliant

One of the best books I have read in ages. 

I am now looking for the sequel After You

 I have stitched all the hexagons I cut out at the weekend

 These are my next colours, 

might try and cut them later

 I had to move fabrics around so I could make another couple of small sections.

I can fit more hexagons in if they are stacked top to bottom

It does only look as if I have added 5 diamonds 

but I have infilled loads above, I'm pleased with the progress
I spent ages stitching yesterday

I have not been out of the house since Saturday, when I went to my hairdressers, I was not well enough really to go, but I would have had to wait ages for another appointment. I have been inside in the warm fighting germs. Today I feel a bit better, headache has finally decided to give me a rest, plus I slept reasonable well last night. If I can get this cough to take a hike, then normal living might come back. I'm not a sickly person, normally I would work through whatever, but this bug is not very nice. Hubby now has the same bug, plus youngest daughter is coming down with it, so as you can imagine I am not the most popular person in this family.
I have Thursday and Friday booked as holiday, so I don't have to worry about going back to work this week. I would like to pop out into the garden one day, which is a real good sign I am on the mend.

Stitching and sewing

I decided on Friday it was time to finish this

just a couple rows of diamonds and some infilling to do

doing such big projects I have not had a finish this year. 

 Yesterday I stitched all the green hexagons about 30 of them

so I cut out more this morning, about 50

I also cut out 70+ paper liners, I don't have any fancy system, 

just a copier and scissors 

These will make 4 fat quarters finished

Friday at work I was coughing alot, but with an open plan office loads of people are coughing. By bedtime, I was feeling really poorly, my throat feels like I have glass in it, so with coughing all night and hardly any sleep, yesterday was not a good day, in fact I fell asleep in my chair late afternoon, some thing I normally never do. I did manage to sleep last night, but I am feeling really awful. I have hurt my left side with the coughing, so I am in a bit of a state. So we have missed a lovely walk with Josh and Sam, daughter has been poorly so I don't want to pass on any new germs. I look outside at the beautiful weather, but I don't have the energy to pop outside into our garden, it can wait to the next opportunity.
So I am going to read my book, maybe do some hexagons, they are easy, avoid my cross stitch, other wise the frog will be out, and try and enjoy this sunny Sunday afternoon.

Just stitching

Joyful World is finished for this section

I prefer January's pinky flowers

I can't wait for March

 My cushion is back in the frames

 I hope to finish this soon

Thanks for your kind comments on my last post, but I passed on the bottle of red and stitched instead, but my chocolate intake has risen this week.
Yesterday was much better at work, we all decided we would ignore all British Gas bills until Monday, giving us a day off from the stress they cause, so we had a fun day and I came home feeling much better.
We had a friend visit last night, so no stitching, but I hope to do some later, this after noon we have Josh and Sam for a few hours.
I am still not sure how to feel about her next door, we have for the last two years lived without any interaction with her and begun to enjoy life in our garden. The daughter and mother had a huge row on Friday evening, we could hear them through our walls, we try and ignore them shouting at each other. We have never had problem with neighbours before, we get on with the mother as much as we can, she can be feisty at times.  We hope the daughter is not going to try any thing else to get at us, we already have security lights around the property and two cameras one looks at our cars and the other over the entrance to our garden.
Win is still in hospital, I did not get to see her on Thursday night, family are with her at weekends so it will be next week before I see her.

Here it comes

Our Amaryllis is opening

it's grown really high

I used the flash on this photo

Looks good

 More diamonds 

 This will be finished soon.
I think I might have found another stitch along.

 Who loves a bargain

I have been looking for a thick Aran cardi for ages, almost everyone I see the sleeves are knitted in stocking stitch which makes them feel thinner.
So I kept looking,
This black cardi is 100% what I wanted with patterned sleeves and the bonus,
 cotton mix, machine washable, from M & S and down to £7.00,
1st January sale item purchased and no plans to get anything else. 

I'm still smiling.

Had lunch with a friend yesterday, I worked with Ann for just over a year before my role was made redundant, I still miss working with her, we went to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, I have not been there for years, but I do love some of the stores are outlets. Looking at what was on sale, most of it I was just so happy to walk past, a few years ago I would have had a spending frenzy.

Almost at end of week 2 and nothing spent on my crafts!

Did a quick walk around the garden tonight, the daffodils are about to burst and we have primroses, our Magnolia tree has buds which are trying to open,  but it is turning much colder, so the tree won't last.
We also went for a walk after work, I am trying hard to keep it up, not missed a night this week,  I have a copy of my 52 things list on my desk top just to keep going with it, I am working on a few, on the plus my nails are looking much better.
I'm not on a diet, we eat so very healthy and when starting a diet I find loads of things you should give up we already do not eat, so it's about portion size and exercise, it would be nice if by beginning of March I could be a little less round across my tummy, at that time I will be looking for an outfit for daughters wedding in April. I feel in the right frame of mind to sort my weight out this year.
Tonight I am visiting my lovely neighbour Win, she has had another fall and is in hospital, at 101 she is starting to lose some of her confidence, which is a shame she knocks spots off loads of younger peopel.

List's

 I finally worked out how to post this list,

 I find it interesting  to look back on my spend in 2015, 

Cardmaking was £253.18,
will be a lot less in 2016, my stash is looking good

Sewing was £40.00,
could be more if I get going, but I do have some stash

Gardening was £395.15,
no surprise how much I spend, should also be less this year as loads should regrow.

Cross stitch was £260.17,
who knows, it's my greatest love, so if I see any thing, it will be mine

expecting my spend to be about the same,
my stash of fabrics and threads is huge. 

I should add a section for wool if I want to knit and crochet.

I hope to loose £200 off my spend next year.
The red and blue figures were one off purchases

The third corner is finished, I got it done last night

I hope to have a finish soon, so I should be looking at what's next. 

 This is ticking all my boxes,

 I love the colours, the design, 

it's my one off original stitching 

 Popped to Tesco this lunch time, I had to get a few birthday cards

these marked at £4.00 rang in the till at £1.50

love the colours. 

My 52 in 2016 list so far.

I have loads of spaces to add things

number one has a line through, it's already completed.

So a good start to January, my hope is no spend on stash this month, the only let down will be if I see a real bargain, but even then I will have a think before parting with my money. 

I have already started working on my 52 in 2016, a few of them have been started, and hopefully will be ongoing all year. Much more fun than resolutions, which always are hard work in January.

I have started reading The Saffron Trail by Rosanna Ley, 1st book of the year.

Our first week in January is soon over, we had Josh and Sam for tea Tuesday, a cuddly time together. Last night we popped to see Su and David, I now have my instructions for the Wedding evening invitations, they will we out within a week, not so many parts. They are at the point where they are paying for every thing, so money is flying out, but they are also excited, as are we. 

Tomorrow we are away for our Christmas present to each other, back on Sunday, with Monday off, so a restful time ahead.  

Swaps Christmas 2015

Card swap from Pat

plus a lovely book marker

my card is shown here  

12 days of Christmas, sent from Mary lovely little gifts

some useful and others pretty, you took notes from my blog, so many lovely things which I will enjoy using, and some different flowers to grow. 

 My gift's for Mary, these homemde

 These purchased

 It's cushion time, I hope to finish this side soon

it has been easier to stitch the diamonds first and then fill in all the colours. 

I have finished my stash list for 2015, yet again in November and December I spent very little, total spend for the year £948.50, which is £79.04 per month, gardening was the most expensive followed by cross stitch, card making and sewing were small spends due to the stash I have at home. So I am pleased I will start again this year and see if I can cut it back more.

I have managed a 10 minute walk each day after work, it's another off my 52 things to do list. I am thinking I might publish the list next time, I still have not filled each number, but it might be nice to have a few spare spaces, for later in the year.

Some where in between

Christmas day was fun for the boys

Lego featured in loads of forms.

 I have managed to stitch, but I did pack it away for Christmas, the plan was not to see it until after today, but boxing day I had the itch, so whilst hubby was watching a film, I sneaked it back by my chair. 

 My stitching is being blamed by a couple of bloggers as a reason for them to start projects, I hope they realise how addictive it is and how much it can cost. On the other hand it's loads of fun and very rewarding. I stitch so much, I always look for a large project, I have a box of smaller piece, ready for any use. Most of what I stitch, ends up in my work box, or I give it away, I love the stitching but don't want to fill my house with framed work. This will be a cushion for the sitting room, I would like to make another using the same colours but a different design. Both designs came from this book which I love, I designed how I should use them.

We enjoyed a lovely walk along the coast on Boxing day, it was dry but very windy, I love to see the sea when it's rough, from the safety of the land (standing well back), the crashing waves are fascinating, lazy rest of the day at home.
Yesterday was another lazy day, we had a second helping of soup, with one serving left, both hubby and I love the way we use our left overs. I sorted the nibble mountain, and packed away a couple of tins of biscuits both have very good dates on them.  Josh and Sam popped in with daddy, so we cut our Christmas cake, it was moist and tasty, hubby was very pleased. The boys helped eat some of the opened biscuits. Later we went to see Star Wars with youngest daughter Su and David, did I enjoy it, was it worth the cost of going, we watched in 3D which made it different, but I felt the story line was a repeat of things gone on before, and a true boy's film.
Today we are popping out, 1st visit to the shops, Hobbycraft 1st, I am looking for something to allow me to stick my small cut shapes to cards, I also want some shiny fun Christmas material. Next door is Haskin's and their Christmas sale is on, most of my tree ornaments have been purchased in sales, I don't need anything, but a wander around will probably bring home a couple of the expensive items if they are reduced. But no frenzied impulse buying.

Diamonds, are a girls best friend

Mine are the cheap ones

 it's fun to be back on this pattern.

 Friday was Christmas Jumper day at work
Same jumper as last year.

Sam was very cute in his Nativity, he sang well but by the second half he was tired, it was lovely to have the Nativity at 6pm, but Sam is normally in bed by 7pm, so he struggled to keep up with the others, there were a few who looked tired and of course a few who were little buggers. It was lovely to see them all and nothing is more Christmassy than young children singing.  No photo's or video this year a few parents objected. The school will add photo's to their site once any face have been hidden, but not sure if Sam will feature, it's a shame we have Josh's 1st Nativity video.
My brother is down for the weekend, he is staying with his daughter, but we hope to see him this evening, I do love his company, we have a few things to discuss, he has worked his magic and sorted our younger sister out, without the row which was brewing.
Sam will be here later, daddy is taking Josh to see the new Star Wars film, so we can have fun together. So no shopping this weekend, just family time. All Christmas's should be like this.

In the rain

These came home with me last Sunday

I have not had chance to get them in the pots yet

it's on my list for this weekend, get my spring pots done

 It's raining, these still look beautiful

my garden is still full of colour

 Cosmos as well, these blooms are huge. 

 Garden looking good, leaves from next door falling onto our lawn

The Magnolia leaves are still on tight. 

 Purdy crashing the photo's, loads of colour outside the back door.

 We made this mound last night, hubby found a hedgehog fast alseep in his garage, nice and dry but not the best place for him, so we laid straw in this corner by the greenhouse, popped him on top, no he did not wake up and then loads of straw on top, we will add leaves from the Magnolia as they drop. 

Hopefully he's in a safe spot. 

 Not had much stitching time this week, 

which gives me time to think about the design of the center squares. 

 But I finished this book as my October read. 

Win has had her operation and is recovering well, she has had a plate fitted, and they hope to have her out soon, a couple of weeks in a hospice and then she will stay with family. We don't expect to see her home before Christmas. She is a fighter and still very strong.
Hubby had a letter from the tax man, who says he has underpaid by just under £1,000, not the sort of news we wanted now he has finished work and before the expense of Christmas, we will pay it monthly, just over £70, it's alot of extra money to find.
I have done nothing on the wedding cards, daughter is happy to wait until the menu is set, I am beginning to think about my Christmas cards, I have a few ideas floating about, I am going to keep it simple this year.
We are having a simple night in, I have been to the hospital most nights this week, but Win has her niece with her today, so I can relax at home. I have a few more things to add to my phone now I have it fixed and back.
Sam and Josh are at a firework display tonight, it's at the Navy base where Fliss and I work, they have a big display each year, it keeps lightly raining, but they are wrapping up warm. Fliss wants to drive past the section where they repair the helicopters, they have loads of different sizes in and Sam will love seeing them.
So I am having a much better week, work is going well again, so much easier when everyone is in, we do love to have a laugh through out the day.

On fire

I have had serious amounts of stitching time over the weekend

hubby watched Rugby matches and I stitched

 Each square a complete work on their own

 I'm building the colours as I go.

 Not quiet half way through

I love the colours on here, all right for this time of year, I started this on 10th August, so this is two months stitching. In a couple of weeks the last part of Carrie Rose will be published, so I will have a weeks break, not that I need a break I love this. I am still building colours, and have one last decision to make. 

Su and I have been looking at the design of her wedding cards tonight, she won't have the full menu for another week, so everything is on hold, there is little to do, but I will wait just in-case any of it changes. Each time we get together we are a step closer to finishing them. My office is covered in glitter.

Hubby cooked lambs liver and bacon for tea and added a few extra items, one being a small pepper which was with the last of the root veg from our garden. A huge shame, it was a chilie, which I hate, so instead of a lovely tea, I had a meal I did not enjoy, he has promised he won't mess we such an iconic dish next time. 

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain, is turning into a good book, has me thinking on whats going to happen next, she has a very nice style of writing. 

Now off to relax before bedtime.