Beady finish

It has rained here for the past two days, loads of heavy rain, so inside we stay.

 I have finished beading my 1st tree

 I found the tree topper in my stash box

I have searched out my Christmas material, and decided on these two, I will get my sewing machine out tomorrow and sew it together, hubby is home today. I prefer to use my machine when I am on my own I can then spread out. I will try and finish a few other projects, I have some hearts to make up.

 I used two size of seed beads, these are the normal size, I mixed loads together,

I also used petite seed beads along the top of the branches. 

I will bead the 2nd tree later, it will be a gift for my sister Leanna

This morning we met Su and David for breakfast in Costa Coffee, which was a 1st for us, we chatted for almost two hours, they are both on holiday this week, it was a real nice way to start the day.
Fliss is also on holiday this week, today is a day at home for her and the boys.
Our garden is looking good for all the rain, I did manage to pick some tomatoes this morning, I only had time for a quick dash out, I still get withdrawal symptoms if I don't visit my shed, and I wanted to ensure the Amaryllis was doing OK and not dry.  I can't imagine life without a garden.
My window sill plants are growing well, the Lemon now has four small leaves on, the Lime leaves are huge. The Avocado now has a very small green shoot coming through the top of the split, all very rewarding.

Oh Christmas Tree

Finally I am stitching, this is another design from Pintrest

 I am stitching two, but in each case only the tree, just two colours so a quickie. 

I will add beads to the branches.

 My sister is a hoarder, and can not buy just what she needs, here are a few of her seed beads, she has confessed she has never used any of these, they were purchased 'just in case' They came home with me for this project, I will keep a few and the rest will go back, I have no need for them.

 This is my aim for the finish, I won't copy it just use it as a guide.

 I think it is beautiful.

 Yesterday Josh was 9, and for his birthday he went to Harry Potter World.

 Just a few photo's of the fun they had.

 Sammy loved the motorbike

The boys will be with me one day in the week, so I will hear all the stories of the best bits, Josh is not good with photo's. Sammy climbed on every thing he could, both boys had a great day.
I have pulled out Winter Watergarden it's time I finished it, I looked at it in June 2013, but last stitched it in June 2011. I have everything I need, I just need to focus on the next section.
Not done much this weekend, I am hobbling about like an old woman, I have trapped a nerve in my lower back, which runs down to my left leg, so I can't sit or stand, and now on the second day, I am grumpy.
It's wet outside, so no bike ride, we will pop out later for a Pizza, but other than that, it's stitching and chatting to hubby.

Back garden

Southsea front, in Portsmouth, we popped down yesterday, first time in ages,

 I forget how lovely this place is, so near but a nightmare to drive to. 

We went on the bike and then went for a ride afterwards.

 My Salvia in the garden is not as great as normal, some thing is eating it !

 I have sorted both greenhouses, on the left is full of cucumbers, with a few peppers, on the right just peppers, I did have tomatoes here, but I have composted them. Plus a couple of trays of seeds.

  I have sorted my big veg tubs, hubby is going to build me a raised garden here, for salad and small veg, it will run along the back fence. I love this area,  it's productive and beautiful at the same time.

 My couple of cheap shrubs are growing well, and my cutting from the box plants have all taken, I will leave them for a bit longer before re-potting.  This afternoon, I have been sorting out pots, planting bulbs for the spring and loads of pansy seeds.

 My avocado stone now has more roots on it, and when looking inside the split I am sure I can see the start of a green shoot, it still sits on the tripod in water.

 My lemon pip now has three tiny leaves on it, so I think I can call it a plant, and the leaves on the Lime plant are huge.  The window sill where they live has sun shine most of the day and they love it.

In February, Kev gave me a house plant, which when it had finished I place in the garden, the main plant went very scruffy, but today I took 3 side shoots off and potted them up, so hopefully I will have some new plants. Also in Feb I took my Amaryllis bulb into the greenhouse to dry out, I checked it today and there are new shoots forming from the centre, so I have potted it and placed it in my shed, which is dark and warm, I hope it will grow again.
I have planted loads of Salvia, East Friesland into my flower boarder, they were in pots by our front door for the past three years, I will find something new for the pots for next summer.
We popped into Wilko's again today and got another bargain, John Innes potting compost reduced from £2.50 to £1.50, just in time for me to plant my pansy seeds.
I have had a lovely afternoon in the garden, just doing a few jobs and keeping it tidy, in two weeks we are having a garden party and BBQ for hubbys birthday.
Not done any stitching, but I have found a quickie to do, in fact I aim to stitch it twice, and then on to Winter Watergarden.

Change of colour and a finish

1st posted 26th April, finished 19th August

I changed the yellow half flowers back to blue,

 and then added some yellow it them, I think it works well.

28dpi, using DMC threads, just one strand

I added one extra colour, the design was not done in DMC, so I choose the shades myself.

It has been a joy to stitch.

I am tempted to stitch it again and have a pair of matching cushions. 

Here is the design 

At this point I have nothing to stitch, I could not find anything which called to me, and now I am staying with my brother until Thursday, so no stitching tonight.
I am having a restful couple days away with family, I spent the morning with Martin and the afternoon with Andy and Leanna after she came home from work. It is great to have time to sit and catch up with every thing.
Fliss, Josh and Sam are having fun, I will collect them tomorrow lunchtime and head for home.