2nd Finish and a New Start

My second finish this year,

 I had to stitch both birds shown in the photo below, 

neither took long to do, so without the design.

I just looked at the opposite bird and reverse the pattern.

 I changed some of the colours in this design, 

adding the purples and the yellow of the flowers, 

it's bright and very me.

To carry on with my WIP.

 I put my cat back in the frame, but the shades of grey are so close, I need better light to stitch, so I got out Tree of Life which I last stitched in September 2012, but the shades of brown were too close, so I packed that away.

I decided to start something new, I got out Rachel Jarratt,  a beautiful sampler, but looking at the design, some stitches are stitched over 2, so I will have to get the correct fabric before I can stitch it. 

So frustration set in.

 Back to Pintrest, I found a design from Janita 12 designs, each in a box and started it, it is stitched in just one colour, but I hope to add colours as I go along. I thought I would do the three boxes along the top first. I will show the whole design next time. At least I am stitching. The fabric is white not blue.

 My Amaryllis is almost there, just one more flower to open,

 it is stunning in my sitting room.

It's been a mixed weekend, yesterday afternoon was very wet, so I spent loads of time stitching.
This morning I cleaned my house, not my favorite job, but now it's done I am happy.
This afternoon we went to Whiteley it's an out door shopping centre, met Su and David for a coffee and did a bit of shopping, hubby was looking at mobile phones, me nail kits. Later back home Fliss and Josh popped over, Josh is now watching rugby, so we left them watch Ireland V Scotland and we chatted.
I have just done my second set of gel nails, and have navy blue nails, very dark for me, but the gel does not chip, I enjoyed using the LED lamp, it is not hard, just have to be careful and neat.

1st Finish

It's raining heavy again here, so night in!

 Grand Marquoir is finished, happy dance here,

 I posted my start of this project on 31 January 2013, 

so a year in the stitching along with other things 

 I did not change any of the designs, just the fabric and silk colours. If I am honest I did get a bit fed up with the lack of colour, but it was quicker to stitch just using one colour. I do prefer to stitch with bright colours.

 Sweet dreams is back in the frame 

 I got ahead of the designer on this one, stitching each section before it was issued, by reversing the design, but I was waiting for the outer band with the two birds, but did not get the last designs, so last night I decided to do it the hard way. I am just reversing the pattern. Should be finished within the week, just 2 birds to stitch.

 I have traced a heart design onto some fabric, this was a stained glass window hanger on Pintrest, but I think  make a design out of it. It's in my work box for now, I have decided to keep going with my WIP, and try and finish a few more.
Who Knows might have another go a Winter Watergarden,

 In the garden, snowdrops, and loads of bulbs, we have not had any snow this winter, but late February and March are the months to watch out. 

But please can the rain stop, we have had enough.

 My Amaryllis now has two flowers, it's coming along well,

The orchid on the table behind, is in full bloom.

My Poinsettia is hanging in there.

We are having a weekend at home, I have loads of housework to do, there is only so long I can ignore it.
Tomorrow we are popping to the garage to look at upgrading my car, it's a bit small to use as a family car.
I have a need to go shopping for some nail gel, Su and I purchased a kit and it works well, so I am going to get my own kit, with the LED lamp and some navy blue gel, I don't normally wear dark colours, but these don't chip.
The fore caste is for a very wet weekend, so the garden is off limits, I am planning loads of stitching.

Happy Feet

I have finished both rugs, which I will send off, they should appear on this web site,  pop there if you like dolls house miniatures, Laura had nice items at a good price. I have already started another small project. 

 Dream Sampler is off the frame, I have finished the centre panel, yet again I used my own placement of colour's. I have just two birds to stitch, but I need to mirror image the design so I get it in the correct place.

 This is heading for our bedroom wall, 

most of the colours are in our curtains, so it will fit in well. 

 My big projects I always place on the floor to take photo's, and every time Purdy has to inspect what I am doing, today is dry so she got closer than normal.

 Give away; Sweet Flowers, 

I stitched this last year and it has been in my work box ever since, I really loved stitching it, the design was very different for me, the stitched area is 14" x 9", the whole fabric size is 19" x 17", colours used are grey, green and shades of pink.

 Give away; Romantic Sampler, 

I stitched this two years ago, and it has been in my work box ever since, I really loved stitching it, the design was very different for me, the stitched area is 8" x 8", the whole fabric size is 17" x 15", colours used are pale mustard, shades of pink and purples, this is stitched and a natural colour fabric..

If you would like either of these, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post, remembering to state which one you would like, I am happy to send to any where, but you will have to make it into a finished item. I will be very happy to see them being used and loved.

It was very rewarding to go to our local hospital on Monday and it not be about me, my friend has to wait for her scan results, so soon another visit for support.
My job interview is put off until next week, the lady I am to meet is unwell, but I do have another interview on Friday. I have to go to our local job centre today to sign on, it's an awful place,  our government decided they would not offer me any help, hubby has a good job and our income is just above the threshold, but I have to have signed papers from them to get our mortgage paid, I'm not sure if it is the building or the staff.

I have been home most of this week, the house is very clean and the garden looks good, I have purchased another lean to green house, I now have two, we just have to put it together, it's just like Meccano.
This weekend I am on cat duty, our daughter is off camping, so for two days I will pop in and feed and play with them, hope to see Josh and Sam at some time as well.

Garden post

I have spent the weekend outside, the garden has called to me. I have potted loads of seedlings, and dug up a couple of plants which don't look so well, I have put them into the green house to bring them back to replant later in the month. Every thing else in the garden is doing well.

I am liking the fresh cut herbs we are using. 

 The greenhouse is looking good, my tomato has loads of flowers on, these are small fruit, and the aubergine is very healthy. Below my peppers and cucumber are also growing well, the lemon grass is very slow growing. I have a couple more tomato's with basil planted in my smaller greenhouse.

 The rose cutting I planted in a potato did not work, 

but I should get a crop of potato's soon!

 I was sent a design from Sally  she was having a sort out, this is so me, I love hearts and Sally sent the small packet of beads as well, it will have to waiting in the wings for a while, but it is so pretty, can't wait to have another heart for my collection. Pop over and see Sally's blog, it's so very interesting, thanks Sally I love the pattern.

 Today,  it is Fathers day, hubby has not had the best of days, putting new taps in the upstairs basin, which did not go to plan, then his computer is playing him up, but I made him the dessert below, he loves white and very dark chocolate, I drizzled the white then the dark over a balloon, once dry the balloon was popped and I then filled it with his favourite, cherries. I don't like white chocolate or cherries so it's all for him.

I have almost finished Sweet Dreams, should get it done tonight. I have not done any more to the Tiger, but I will finish it tomorrow evening. Busy day tomorrow, I am at our local hospital to support a friend, so nothing else planned.

I am sorting out a couple of finished pieces, which sit in my work box, I will not use them so next time I will show them and any one who wants one can have it. It would be nice to see them used.

Needle and hook

Sweet dreams is coming along well, just need to add leaves and then stitch the rest of the last section. But for now is packed away until next Wednesday.

 I am crocheting granny blankets in miniature, just seeing if the yarn I have works with this pattern. I have a few colours in this yarn. The hardest part is keeping the stitches small and neat. I am also sorting a small stitching project.

 Josh was watching the birds in our garden, this one came to our feeder, it's a blue tit, Josh is showing signs of liking bird watching, he loves my book on British birds. He also loves helping Kev make the bird cakes for the garden.

We have had two very wet days, good for my garden, but not so good for us, but every where is looking so very good, which brings a huge smile to my face.
We finished making the book for Logan our grandson, it's a photo book of his first stay with us, without mummy and daddy, just waiting for it to come.
Today I am packing we are away for 5 days, popping to North Wales for two days, have a hotel along the beach in Llandudno, Friday and Saturday nights, then on to Leicestershire for a spa hotel for Sunday and Monday nights, so a mixture for a few days, the weather fore caste is good, so fingers crossed for a sunny time, I will take my iPad, to keep up with every thing.

Sunny Monday off

Yesterday we had the day together at home, our visitor did not arrive, so we relaxed in the garden, mid afternoon we were bored, so we popped to a garden centre. I have been wanting  a Jasmin for the corner where we sit, this has a pale yellow scented  flower called Clotted Cream, I have also a Lotus, berthelotii, with a flame red flower which will tumble down the front of the pot. 

I also got some lemon grass. 

 Kev has been making seed cakes for the birds and refilled the worms, so the thugs (Starlings) arrived in numbers, they are not scared of us, two fight over the worms hanging in the tree and throw loads on the lawn, which the masses eat. Later the squirrels were out.

 This morning we went for a cycle ride, not to long, I am still a beginner, we cycled the scenic route to the castle, then walked shore line around the castle and then through the castle grounds, which was full of families. Then we cycled to our local shops for a ice cream, and then cycled home, we were out for a couple of hours, so good excise.

 Dream sample as of last night, can you notice the yellow flower is gone, I broke my rule not to stitch when a good programme is on TV, just one stitch out. So now I will do the 4 blue flower sections and the yellow flower last.

Another nice sunny day here, I have to plant my Jasmine this afternoon, and then some stitching, another perfect bank holiday weekend, the breeze is cool, but in the sun shine we are warm. Both May long weekends have been good, does that mean we are going to have a summer at long last.

Happy little skip

Sweet Dreams arrived yesterday, and I am lucky it's the centre panel

 So I put it into the frame and got going, this is last night's stitching, The flowers should be blue, but I am doing my own thing with shades of blue, and I have added the light green in the middle of the leaf.

 Today I got rid of the wire frame for my herb garden, I got these cheap tunnels. They will help with the cooler weather and keep the cats away.

 I have planted salad leaves, spring onions and radishes, so with the herbs, in a few weeks a nice fresh salad. My fruit area is doing well, the marigolds are also doing well, hubby was happy to see them in the garden.

 This flower I planted last year in a pot and it's back, again I don't know what it is, but the photo is more interesting when looking up.

Had a very good morning with a dear friend, Angela, afternoon with Kev in the garden, and soon we are creating a small photo book for our grand son Logan, from his 1st holiday with us, hope he likes it.

Swapping Frames

I have done all I can on Sweet dreams

 I have two birds to stitch, but I have to swap the design so the birds face the opposite way, I will do this on paper before stitching, I have every thing crossed the middle design is the next section out on 25th, if not I'm in for a long wait. 

 Grand Marquoir is back in the frame, but it does not excite me in the same way, but I plan to finish this one, if it goes in my WIP pile it might never get done. I have just over two and a half pages to go. I plan to stitch later. I have seen a couple of designs I would like to stitch and I have one in my head to make using Florentine embroidery.

 This flower looks weird, it has a pompom head, all the petals are breaking out from the bud, I am not sure what they are called, but I have a couple in my garden.

 My english blue bells are out in both the front and back gardens, I love them, but the bulbs are hard to get, I love their colour. We have heavy rain and winds here again, and it's got cooler, it's more like March then May, oh when are we going to get a summer.

I have had a busy few days, today I had lunch with a friend, we went for afternoon tea, which was fun, yesterday I met with Fliss and Sam, we spent time in town, and then back the their little cottage.
Tomorrow I have another friend coming for lunch, so more chatter and laughter. I also have two job interviews, but for nice sounding jobs, so fingers crossed.

Kev is away again this week, back on Thursday, so I have time for myself, I have been painting for a new mini house using very bright colours, not sure how it will finish.

Flowers, fake and real

Don't you just love these buttons, both Fliss and I fell in love with them, most are for Fliss, I am keeping only the one I am holding, I can't wait to see what Fliss does with hers. 

 We popped into Portsmouth on Friday, and went to a really great fabric shop. Not all gimmicks and shiny things, just rolls of fabric, every thing you could need to stitch, and staff who know what they sell, I loved it. I am sewing, finishing a skirt I started ages ago and making a summer skirt using the fabric shown in my last post. 

 I have finished the second half of the side panel, with having Sammy at Nanna's house for a couple of days, not much stitching has been done, but had loads of fun with cars. Just half of the top panel and two birds to go. Then wait for the middle panel to be released.

In my garden 

 The weather has turned cold and windy, most of the blossom on the tree has gone, I picked up loads from the lawn yesterday. The Peony is late in flowering, but it has loads of buds ready to burst, My strawberry pot is still inside the green house, but the fruit is now forming, I hope to get it outside later this month.

 I have also loads of herbs to put into my plot, I have made plans on how it is going to look, the seedling are salad items and herbs.

 My back garden, but a different view, now the BBQ has been moved away from here, I have my two old wooden chairs as a second sitting area, my little green houses are here as well. The Acer I moved looks happy in it's new spot, it's very rustic here, Kev wanted to do some work, but I love it as it is, this is an old garden and out here I love rustic.

Nothing much planned for this weekend just hubby and I, we had house guest last week and we do love our time together, tonight a nice meal and a film, tomorrow we will see what the weather is like, maybe a drive with our camera's.

I am planning a few RAK's, I do know some one I want to cheer up, so please watch this space.

Little boys

Logan, our youngest grandson came to stay with us for 4 days, on his own, daddy's employer made him work the bank holiday, mummy was on a hen weekend, so we stepped in, and we had a great time, staying close to home, not spoiling him, just loads of play time. Here with Grancha at the church at Portchester castle.

 Sunday we had a family BBQ, Logan and Sammy get on well together, Logan lives 100+ miles away, so they do not see each other every week. They stayed close together, doing every thing as a pair.

 At Nanna's house cousins become best friends, a photo with Josh in, he loves his little brother. They held hands through out the afternoon, without us prompting them, as for our loungers they claimed them. Josh was happy the little lads all played together, he had a good game of grown up football with his uncles.

 My nephew Riley came with his mummy and daddy, the boys had fun playing football and bubbles on the lawn, all three were great together, loads of giggles, and they all slept so very well. Riley is just over 3, so they all were matched well. Kev had loads of fun, he had a new BBQ and was very pleased, loads of nods from the grown up male members of the family.

 We were very lucky to have great weather for the whole of the bank holiday, so much more fun when we can open the doors and play in the garden. I am pleased with my back garden it is looking very good, I have plants to go in later this month, but no plans for any major work, so on sunny days we can relax and enjoy the rest outside.

 I have just two half sections to complete on my stitching, then I can hope the center section will be released so I can complete it, the next release is on 25th, so fingers crossed.

 I was given this soap as a present, it smells divine, so it is here on my desk, it came from The Eden Project, a friend visited there this weekend, we sat in my very sunny garden yesterday, catching up on all the news.

 Thursday Fliss and I went shopping, the material above is for a simple skirt for me and the fun material, I am going to use for a project bag, I could not just walk past it, it called. I hope to get my sewing machine out at some point soon.

I have woke up to rain today, bit of a shock after the sunny spell we have had, but it's warm, I have a few things to do and then I will pop in and see Fliss and Sam, and pick Josh up from school. I am having a couple of restful days after the busy weekend.