Stitchy catch up

I finished this design back in 2014, it's under the heading of 12 square sampler, I did enjoy stitching it and I still love these designs, I am only planning to have 3 boxes here. I don't have the original, I gave it away to another blogger. I have left out a few tiny bits in these 2 boxes, I wanted the design to be crisp and not busy. 

Another design stitched in 2014 (a busy year for me), this is under the header of European cushion, again the colour drew me to this design, I still have the finished work and intend to make a cushion to go along with this on our bed. When I pulled the threads, I always choose colours by eye, I found the pale brown is the exact shade I am using on the design above. 

This centre section, is my all time favourite design,  I stitched it in 2012, it under the header of cross stitch patchwork sampler. I gave this finished work to a dear Spanish friends daughter, I intend to have to across the whole of this design, overlapping the other designs. I always knew I would re-stitch this beautiful design. 

This is my work so far, I am pleased with how it's growing, the side panels are the easiest, as I am following the design, the centre panel is the most enjoyable part of this design. The top line is level, my photo skills are not as good as my stitching. 

I am really enjoying this project, it's huge, but these uneventful days are long, so I fill my time stitching and watching the birds in our garden. Everything I am using is from my stash, I am keeping to the colours from the original designs, but choose them by eye from my drawers, in hope to use some of the huge amount of silks (floss). The only area I am being free on choice is with the middle sampler, these colours have to match the design and not clash with the design next it them. The designs were never made to be stitched in this way, parts of it are being decided as I stitch, I am enjoying the freedom of the central band. I need to add more red in this top section as there is loads of pinks and reds in a design I am using lower down. 

I am really enjoying using my Q snap frame again, it's lovely to see the whole of my work, my big wooden hoop is great for smaller projects, but it does crush the fabric and I would not ever want to have any stitched area in the holding section of the hoop. 

Nothing much is happening here, we are walking locally most days, we do get to see daughter, Will and George once a week, which for us is such a boost to our well being, we are also beginning to see more of our neighbours as we all get out a bit more, thankfully our weather has up to now helped. 

I'm not planning any jobs inside or outside, mainly because we have done all we want to, talking to our lovely neighbour who shares our drive, hubby is looking at huge wooden gates to be put across the drive just past our side door (main entrance), just to help make things private and ensure Pauline feels safe as she lives on her own. 

All together now

 This is how Patchwork Sampler should look as done by Jan Houghman, its perfect, I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Below is my finished photo's, I did not want the letters  through the design or the centre panel.

 Bottom rows

 Top rows

 Here in the centre was the biggest changes, 

I left out the large panel, and stitched the designs so they crashed into each other, reusing a couple of panels to fill in gaps. All was worked using DMC silks I stitched on Zweigart, Lugana, 25 ct, the fabric has perfect squares, 

 Arty shot, every one has one.

 Purdy loves my new camera, I love this shot, she is so contented with us we can get really close, I tried to get the same shot with Grace, but she is camera shy. Laura my camera is Samsung, PL122, 16.1 mega pixels, with a bright red case! I'm loving it

 My next project, Tree of Life,by Klint, using Madeira threads, I've not used them before, my only change is to use a finer linen, using just one Strand instead of two. Normally I use my DMC silks and then pass on the kit, but as this was a give away I won, I want to stitch it true, no changes I promise.

 Below sums up our summer, the flowers are there, but always raining, we have had 3 days of rain, many places in the south west had 5" of rain yesterday, loads of flooding, I am happy to say we and all our families are OK, but my heart goes out to every one who is suffering because of this weather. And to everyone suffer from the heat in USA, loads of us are having an off summer for so many different reasons.

The wedding dress is done, I have not made it just a few stitches to tidy it up, we changed the straps and also added fastening on the back, so the lace does not have to been done up tight and look scruffy, pics will be here in September. I have a book to read, Peace is every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh, it's talks of the Buddhist values, helping you to accept what you can't change, and showing how wonderful each day could be.
I'm off to get every thing done, we are watching the Murray final, I hope it will be as good as the ladies yesterday.

Sun out tide in

 Today has been bright and sunny, so in my lunch break I went for a walk, this is 10 mins from the office

 and on a sunny day with the tide in, perfect, I sat and ate my lunch, pure bliss, shame the fore cast is for rain tomorrow. There were few people about, these were taken on my phone.

 Looking across to Portsmouth

 I have done more stitching, and using my new camera, the picture is sharper, but as my old camera was over 5 years old, I was expecting an improvement. I have about 5 patterns to go, a bit of finishing, so I hope to have my happy dance later this week.

I have a very busy weekend, I have to do some stitching to a friends wedding dress, we have changed the straps and I want to tidy the back, not alot of work but a busy Saturday morning.

My good new did not appear, I was hoping for a job interview, but the company have put off recruitment until September, I also had another letter from the hospital and another operation in August, just a small one, I was hoping I might have not required it, but I am promised this will be the last.

So very mixed feeling here, I really don't want much, some summer and to be healthy, both is close but just out of my reach. Just one more week at work and I have a week off, Kev and I have made our plans, booked rooms watch this space.

Port Solent

 This is just 10 mins drive from our house, oh the other half live, flats start here at £250,000 without a place for your boat or water view, we don't often come here, it's always busy and full of places to eat.

 This is from across the water looking at Portchester castle

 Shame the tide is out, I pass this twice a day on my way to and from work, I am so lucky the shore is so very close to us.

 We ended on top of Portsdown hill, looking over Portsmouth, I love it up here, the whole of the coast line below you, it was breezy but sunny for a while. Loads of sea gulls over head, a popular place for bikers as well.

 I did well with my stitching last night, finishing the big panel under the yellow and starting more panels.

Our roast beef dinner was great, both cars are washed and shinning, the housework is done, I should sleep well tonight. I am hoping for some good news this week, should be able to share at the weekend.

I a bit miffed with myself, I have just dropped my camera and it's broken, Kev has gone on line and brought another, which I probably will love just as much, how silly, I've had my compact for years.

Hope your weekend is full of fun! 

Family weekend

 More on Patchwork sampler, not done so much this week, 

been busy, 

but hope to stitch tonight for a while

 Dice for my car, I hate furry dice, but love these, got them on Amazon, and they match the colour of the car., I really am enjoying all the union jack things around. All the cars are covered in dust, so tomorrow I will hand wash my baby car, so if we have more rain it's my fault.

 The tubs at the side of our house are looking good, 

we now require some sunshine to make them grow.

 Today we had Josh, who was playing games on my ipad, this one is called  flow free, he quickly got up to much higher levels, and went home and asked his mum to put it on her ipad. It also goes up to a level I like, it's free so if you have the iphone or ipad give it a go.

 Sammy preferred to play on the floor with toys, he loves this wooden train and loads of Bob the Builder toys, later we walked to the park at the end of our road and had loads of fun on every thing there.

This afternoon we went shopping, I got an nice dress in a size 12, also had my hair cut, hope to colour it tomorrow, to many grey hairs for my liking.

We are planning a roast beef dinner tomorrow, not had one for ages, if the weather is nice in the afternoon, we will go out in the car, no plans as yet to where we go, just having fun in the afternoon.

Mix it up

 Patchwork sampler is stunning, I can smell the finish line, 3 more patterns done, I am so excited with this, I will have it framed. It's so great to have a hobby which gives so much pleasure.

 My orchid, in the sitting room, stunning, I love real flowers in the house as well as in the garden, such a delicate flower which is so sturdy and last so long.

Do you  love my daps/pumps or what every you call them, I did gym in school in daps, plimsoles to every one else, I love the way the same item has a different name depending where you live in the country or world. These are for work and they are so soft and light, with so many flowers.

Work this week has been manic, I am doing two peoples work, my arch nemesis is away and I'm loving it, no snipes, no questions to anyone, it's hard work but the atmosphere is great, loads of happy faces. Shame our boss does not notice.

Plans for the weekend include Josh and Sammy over on Saturday, loads of time with family and evenings in with hubby Kev, perfect.

All very English

 Patchwork sampler is moving forward, I have finished another two sections, I have a bit of filling to do, but this is the bottom right hand corner done, I have just over 2 pages to finish. I am stitching carefully, avoiding mistakes, I want to finish this I have so many great things to stitch, I am going to have to have a rota a with 4 projects and do one a week.

 I am loving all the retro look at the moment, I purchased my T shirt yesterday from Next, I love the shop, but their prices are often high.I had a good time shopping with Su.  And the frame below, I wanted to put Josh and Sammy in it, but it is not big enough, so I will have to find another photo.

 Yesterday day turned into a family day, my brother Martin visited and brought his daughter and grandson Riley, Fliss popped in with the boys, Sammy and Riley are the same size and played well together, in the photo below they look as if they are plotting some thing. Lots of laughter.

Today is sunny, I have spent the morning with Fliss, and soon I will sit and stitch, not had much time to myself, but I do love family weekends.

I have colour

 I have been doing some of my Patchwork sampler, 

Sweet flowers is not finished, but I will work on it over the weekend, I love the colours, and at this time I need colour and cheer. I so love to stitch this work, each pattern is a perfect work of art.

Work is almost impossible, but there is another meeting tomorrow, with an extra person sitting in, so I hope to be able to register my feelings and may be some one will listen and offer a solution. I have a good boss, but he is weak, and my supervisor is strong and has no people skills. We will have to see.

 My garden looks a mess, I was unable to do much in the spring, 

on the few dry days, 

so I am please with the flowers growing.

 Enjoy the colour, feel the warmth, on this wet cold evening.

 Yep the mere cats are still with me

I'm off to stitch, and next time I am here I hope to feel better, we have just booked out next small break in 4 weeks, so something to look forward to.

Photo heavy

Above progress on the Patchwork Sampler, but normal for me I am unhappy with the blue design, the pattern is very free hand, no repeats, which is strange, because every pattern on here repeats on it's self.
So below is my version, I took his first pattern and repeated it, added some infill, and I like it.

 I have filled in the gaps left by the removal of the panel, and I'm loving it, I have just over 3 pages to go, it has to be framed as Paula said it's far to nice to use as a cushion, and my sister and a couple of my friends are begging for it, but I'm keeping it, I'm thinking it will look great in the spare room with all the African items and colours.

 I won the give away from Loredana, and the postman came today, I have never visited Malta, so the postcards show her country, and a calender for 2013 with cats on, perfect.

 Some herbs, we have Rosemary in the garden, but noThyme, 

I will start them in two weeks after our holiday.

 Loredana does crochet, and I was hoping she would make me something, 

 This toilet roll cover is great, and white trimmed with blue, 

my bathroom has white fillings and painted blue walls and blue accessories, perfect. 

Thank you Loredana

Today has been good for me in many ways, 1st this morning I weighed myself and I have lost another pound, OK but not wonderful, but this morning I was 10stone 13 pounds, under 11 stone, which I have not been for over two years, since my health problems. 2nd, the lovely parcel from Loredana was waiting for me on my desk after work. 3rd I had a message from Hazel I have won her give away and she is sending to me "Tree of Life" by Klint, I loved it when I saw it on her blog.  So happy me sat here.

On Friday we are off on holidays, Saturday morning we will wake up in France, a weeks break, with Su and Gav our youngest daughter and her husband, we have been to France with them before, please keep your fingers crossed for good weather. Cos I know the food, wine and views will be perfect.