Stitching again

 Almost finished

just the words in the bottom hearts

I am using my own words, our location in one and the year in the other

 I am loving the cup with flowers in

 I have shown you this book before, I love almost every design inside

 I stitched this design once before on a small scale

I am now thinking it would make a nice cushion cover

I will have to place an order for the silks.

Paella, bubbling in the pan

I don't cook very often, but I love making and eating this dish.

plus leftover for lunch today. 

I love stitching so you cover the whole canvas, and it looks like fine material, plus my desire for a big project, I think this will tick all the boxes. I did look at Christmas designs, but can't get in to festive stitching in August. I have finished reading both books, A Little Strange was the least favourite book out of the three I have read by Sarah Walters.
I have not been in the garden, we have had rain for a few days, so it's looking after itself, plus I am now planning to work in out front garden. Like so many other front gardens it's parking space for both or cars, there is coloured pebbles down (which I hate) but it would be a waste to remove them at this point, but the small gardens could look better.
Soon it will be the weekend again, we are home again but doing normal weekend things, catching up with both daughter, plus Josh and Sam will be home from Grandma's, and I can't wait to see them both.

Blooming marvelous

Our Magnolia tree in 2nd bloom

pure bliss, and lucky to still have these flowers after the strong winds we have had, it's been more like late September/October. Still we are promised a better fore caste for the coming weekend

 I picked these three poppies from the garden

I love the thin petals, the colours and shape. 

 Done a bit more stitching

I have guessed the bottom right hand square will be another heart

The middle section arrived yesterday

I don't want to stitch more words in these last two hearts

so I am looking for something relevant to hubby and myself

I have decided to send my finished stitching Mandala Flowers to Michelle I love to see her crochet as well as stitching, plus partners Jack stitching ( yes lucky lady they craft together), and Sylvia her lovely cat. I will post it this weekend.
Tomorrow is the last day of July, where did that month go, as reflected by loads of bloggers this year is flying by. I don't feel as if I achieved much in July, garden looks OK, I have seen it better. I have been walking when possible (ie when it's not raining) and hitting my target steps. I am feeling restless, but I don't know what I want to do, nothing fires my imagination.
I am now working with Su to make her wedding stationary, we are keeping it simple and on Saturday we are at another wedding dress shop.
We do have a lovely wedding later in August, my niece is planning a super day, we will be away for a few days. Next weekend a visit to my brothers house, which is always fun, he is promising a BBQ in his revamped garden. Plus changes in work which most of us will enjoy.
I have been to our local library and found two books by Sarah Walters I so enjoyed Paying Guest, I am now reading Fingersmith, which will be my August good read.

Box 7

Just the words inside this box to be done

 Very simple stitching

Monday is almost done, I am hoping to get out for a short walk later to complete my 7500 for today, I have set myself the task of doing 7500 steps each day, it's not huge but a start. It is so easy to get home and sit and stitch.
Sunday was the best fun, it rained all day, heavy enough to stop us going out, but my friend Cat came over, we sat and chatted for hours, drank loads of coffee and ate cake, not had a stay in Sunday like that for ages. Hubby and I did get out for a walk, not up to my target steps.
Later I have to find something to do, no book to read no stitching......................

Mix and fix

The 6th section came in yesterday

simple stitching, lovely design.

 More on Carrie Rose

This section is almost finished, must be done by June 10th

My next start arrives, another stitch along

 My micro salad

looks good and taste better

our kids were bemused with me growing it

we also had fresh radish and herbs.

 Sam's flower

he does not normally pick flowers from our garden

last September, Sam choose the plants for the pots at the side of our house

yesterday he was so pleased to see so many lovely flowers

 This morning we have the promised rain, 

Oh well at least we had a sunny day yesterday

We had our BBQ last night, and lit our chimera, being British we sat in our fleeces eating, as the sun was going down it got rather cold, desert was taken inside.
May must have been one of our coolest on record, out of the sun yesterday was cool.
I did spend some time in the garden, I tried to make a fruit net cage, I had the poles, corner connectors and net, it all went well until I tried to put the net on the frame, it's not big enough when stretched, so for now, I have a 3/4 net cage, still it looks better than my 1st attempt, with loads of bean sticks. I also planted a few leeks in my raised garden.
Sam and Josh spent the afternoon with us, Sam outside, helping me in the garden, asking loads of questions, and taking an Aquilegia for his garden, Josh stayed inside making more Harry Potter cards, I now have to make Doctor Who cards for him. They are coming back this afternoon, we are taking them to the ice cream parlour, we are looking forward to their faces on seeing so much ice cream. I'm sure photo's will follow.

Busy post.

Firstly some sewing

part 5 arrived, nice easy stitching

 Orange pip, with nice shiny leaves

it's getting stronger each day

 What's this

an USA product, on Pintrest they are saying if you dilute 50/50 with water and spray it should keep flies away, useful in the garden. Summer is coming and mad cat woman and her 20+ cats next door are already providing us with loads of flies. I have sprayed it along our wooden fence and over the wooden table, it smells lovely.

I'll let you know if it works, I got it from Amazon.

 Tomato plants are doing ok, 

I have a plastic closh around them for a bit of extra protection

 Peony time again, can you feel my huge grin, so far there are 8 buds, but more will come. Sorry if you get fed up with my gushing about this plant, it just means so much to me, a bit of mum in the garden. 

 English bluebells a beautiful sight, I have some more to plant for next spring and behind my Aquelia just coming into flower, this plant has reseeded through out the bed, so loads of flowers. I hope to dig some up when they are a bit bigger and do a plant swap with neighbours. 

Dawn sent me a link to Sizzlex sale page, so I now have a small order coming my way, I did keep it under £20, I have ordered some nice embossing plates.
Yesterday afternoon we were inside, so I was able to stitch the whole design in one day, next square will be out in a month.
Tonight it is much cooler, the sky is dark and we are hoping for some more rain, hubby and I are going for a small walk, he has to return a large rake borrowed from a friend, Tomorrow the top soil and turf arrive, he has the whole day to get it done, we just need the delivery to come early.
Hubby is now working just 3 days a week, just until September and then he will retire, I have another 6 years to go, thanks to the government changing the retiring age for woman, I hope to be able to stop work in a couple of years. So hubby will have time to play golf (weather permitting) twice a week.

Nothing doing

Part 4 of Maryse SAL 2015

it's so quick to stitch

I am into this French rustic style

 Carrie Rose

I've gone around the corner

and down the right hand side

 I am using the gold and blue on each side panel, the designs are all different, but it works. I have the flowers to add around the boarders and the a bit of the center to stitich, now I have completed more colour, I can stitch the central design, knowing where to put the colours. 

Yesterday was a wet and blustery day, so we spent most of it inside, I took Martin to Novatech, local computer store, and then we visited Su and David, they had started the heavy work on their back garden, and wanted advise on how much they could take away. David has a small tree to remove, it's next to the shed and is already causing problem with it's roots. Normally I would do anything to save a growing tree, but in this case I advised him, they have another small tree in the garden, which will be trimmed later in the year.  The rest of the day was spent inside, later a nice meal and we watched another film.
Martin lives alone, and enjoys company, so loads of chatter, ref children, grandchildren, our childhood, and when it's just hubby and brother, then the conversation goes a bit silly.
At this point they are both sat in my car, fitting a camera, it records front and back, is it just me or are some drivers getting more aggressive, hubby had a knock in his car 2 weeks ago, not his fault, just a driver who wanted to get in front and took chances.
Nothing done in the garden, it's getting the rain we required, just wish it was not so breezy, the petals from my Magnolia tree are littering the lawn.
Lazy evening later, preparing to start work tomorrow.

How do you hold yours?

No progress on stitching

but I have been asked by Jo about my stitching frames

I do not like the round wooden hoops, they leave their impression in the fabric

  Just a few photo's to show how I use my frames, the true benefit I find, is I am able to stitch on the whole piece of fabric and cut once the stitching is finished, less fabric waste. The photo's on the right show how I tuck the fabric  to keep it out of my way when stitching. Skaters have been in the frame for just over a month, so the fabric is really not too bad for creases.

 I purchased a package of two  F&F frames, 11" and 17" frames which I prefer to use as oblong frames. These can be used for bigger (17" square) and smaller (11" square). I do find the bands do slacken the fabric as you are stitching, but a quick twist and it's all back tight.  I do have one wooden frame to which you stitch your fabric to, but since I have the plastic frames the wooden set stays unused.

Please see Dawn's comments, she has frames from her shop stock. 

 I did some stitching last night, 

the 3rd section arrived yesterday, and I have finished it already, 

this is a very simple SAL for me. 

I have to wait until next month to continue stitching. 

It's a nice day together with hubby, we popped into Southampton this morning, we have decided to upgrade our camera's, we are getting so much fun at photography club. We each have purchased a Sony A58, with a second prime lens, so a very expensive day, both our existing camera's are about 5 years old, I got mine 2 years ago second hand. We can use all our existing lens with our new camera's, and have ordered a few accessories from the net. Now hubby is listing both old camera's on ebay, fingers crossed we can get a bit back, the camera shop's offer for our old camera's was disgusting.
My plan was to spend an hour in the garden today, just a bit of tiding and sorting the new staging for the greenhouse, but no time, so I will plan to be outside this week. It has been really sunny, but once the sun has gone it's really cold. March is here, so just a few weeks and spring will be with us.
Today is St David's day, my Welsh hubby is really happy, Wales beat France in rugby yesterday. So I send good wishes to all Welsh readers of this blog.

Finish, start and regrowth

My SAL 2015, 

I have caught up with the first two squares. 

I love the simplicity of this design.

Skaters are back on the rota

 Cucamelon seed's, these are the only seeds I have planted this year.

 Free flowers

last time these were white

I only ever purchase white flowers

 The promise of more to come

plant in the front has very small flowers

A gift from my sister, this wooden heart, our Christmas present, 

Not something I would purchase for myself, but I do love it.

Just two photo's from tonight, one with a slow shutter speed

 second with fast shutter speed.

It is past our bed time, but we have had such a good evening at photography club and I am still buzzing, Richard our tutor is so clever, he set's us up and tells us what we should achieve, and then stands back, ensuring we use the settings until we get the photo's we want.
Yesterday was busy with laundry and some housework, with an early night, I am always tired when returning from family visits, today was a lazy day, I did stitching this afternoon.
Tomorrow I am hoping to get the sewing machine out and make another patchwork cushion, using the same fabrics as before but in a different style. I have decided on the finished front and back to use plain red fabric for the outside pieces to make up as a cushion, not a colour I would normally use, but I think it will enhance the patchwork. This second one will have blue fabric, all I have to do is purchase the fabrics.
Thank you for your comments on my last post, I get two reactions from my folded bags, one is 'brilliant' and the second is 'your weird' I just find them so handy.
I watched  the film Gone Girl over the weekend, brilliant film, very clever storyline. I want to watch Boyhood next, still looking for a book to read.

Home sweet home

 I have managed to do some more stitching, 

so far only two squares have been released

my in true me style, I have stitched six boxes.

 I hope to get these two finished in the next few days

and then back to skaters

I am pleased to be back home, I had a great time away, the journey down was hard, the A34 just before the motorway was closed so I had to travel along the A303, with everyone else, it was a long journey made worse but the idiot drivers who were trying to get ahead all the time. My journey home this afternoon was via the motorway's and much easier.

I had a day with my sister, we did card crafting, I took loads of my card and cut out dies from her stash, she used loads of mine. Leanna did want me to leave a few of my dies, but I resisted, it's not something I want to start, our taste are very different.
We did make up loads of cards for Leanna to sell, she had purchased a kit, printed with fairies, butterflies and flowers, none to my taste, but we did make 20+ cards.

 Just a few I cut for my stash

beautiful embossing design, goes well with this card

I managed to get to see everyone I wanted, and enjoyed a lovely visit on Sunday to Logan and Finn, both were sleepy after a hectic morning, but it was great to have time with mummy and daddy.
It was great to catch up with older sister Liz and younger brother Ivan, we did not go out on Saturday evening, but had Sunday morning drinking coffee and chatting. I love to stay with my  brother Martin, we get on so very well, he worked on this computer, but I really have to purchase a new one, we are just weighing up if I should get a lap top.

But it is so nice to be back at home with hubby. 

New start

I have done some stitching, most of the first design, just the central words.

As always I have a busy time whilst back home, Thursday I spent some time with my older sister, a couple hot drinks and loads of catch up. I also saw Leanna my younger sister.

Yesterday was a nanna day, here we are all together, Logan and his baby brother Finn, we went out for the perfect lunch, and spent loads of time catching up. Finn was a great little man and slept all through the meal, Logan played with his Batman and super hero toys. Both boys grow up so fast, I last saw them in late December, so Finn has changed so much. We did have time to play on the adventure area in the garden. 

I will pop back and see them on Sunday for another round of cuddles and giggles.

I brought my desk top computer with me, Martin is checking it over and replacing the graphics card, he also wanted to upgrade my programs and cleared my computer. Not to risk losing all my work, I went ahead and ordered my book, 2014. So it should be with me within the two weeks. Everything else has been backed up.

Today I will spend most of my time with Leanna, we are planning a craft day, I am hoping we can avoid a shopping trip, so far this long weekend is getting expensive. Plus I would like to do some card making, I am hoping to use her dies and make some toppers for my stash, I did bring loads of my paper and thin card.

Tonight the plan is to pop to Visit Ivan, younger brother for a couple of hours, with Martin, I will be their driver, I am also making Paella for tea. I should have made it yesterday but after such a huge lunch, I passed on an evening meal.

Almost

Just a few more stitches to be done

4 snowflakes and the wire 

 The second tree is done, you won't notice but I had to unpick the top of the tree, star, it was one row to low, I could have gotten away with it, but I knew it was wrong. I was pleased I got so much done,
I'm not taking this to my brothers house, I have my new SAL and Santa's to stitch if I get time.

I finished the back panel of my patchwork cushion yesterday afternoon, I now want to decorate the five squares, so I am having time out to decide what to use. The plain squares make it look very different. I still have no idea for the outside panels, I can't even decide if the panels should be plain of patterned.

In an hour I will start the long drive to Somerset, it takes between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the traffic, I am taking the longer route, using motorways, I really don't want to be driving down the country lanes, nice in the summer, but at best mucky at this time of year.

All square

The front is finished, I did add the lace to the center block, 

it makes the design look a bit vintage

 and the reverse

I have ironed it to it's size. Later I will make the back, the stripes are going to be placed the same, but the 5 squares will be plain linen. I need a trim for the outside, but as of this moment, I can not decide what to use. 

 My simple stash arrived, I purchased it from K@tZ XStitch, this is my second order from them, they are quick and keep me informed at every stage of the process.
I am stitching a SAL, from Maryse as you can see I am stitching the white 2015 design. I love the simplicity of this design, a simple stitch for me. I do enjoy SAL's I have two for 2015

 It was a heavy frost this morning, it's sunny now

 We had photography club last night, it's changed to a Tuesday, with less people, and now the club is a nice bunch. We have an hour in the studio, learning on how setting on our camera's work and then outside to take photo's to show we understand. I had an extra 30 minutes before the start of the session, in which Richard talked me through some of the finer points. I understand about the light but just having troubles putting into practice.

One shot from last night, taken at ground level, 

the rings are a decoration grid around a tree, 

I love arty work like this. 

Next week we are on a Motorway bridge for the whole session. 

  This morning I nicked hubby's macro lens ( we both have Sony's so we can each use all our lens) and took some shots of the Cyclamen, I'm rather pleased with them. The flower bud looks like a birds beak.

I have started packing to visit family, home in Somerset tomorrow, part of me is looking forward to the visit, but I intend to spend time with my sister, we get on better when we have 100 miles between us, we are very different women, we have the same craft taste, but go about things in a very different way. I am staying with my brother Martin, and also going to see grandson's Logan and Finn. It will be great to have time for myself, hubby is staying home and only coming down on Sunday evening, whilst I drive home on Monday, he will be tutoring a course in Bristol. 

I have not stitched skater at all, I hope to be able to do some this evening, but for now the sewing machine is calling me.