Shopping and stitching

Our shops are full of Union Jack items, and any thing retro

I am not normally a fan of retro items, but this cushion just called to me, it's not even my colours for the sitting room, and I had to do a deal with Kev, one new cushion in one old cushion out, which was not so bad, one of my cushions was looking jaded.

I have finished my 1st square for my sampler, and did aload of green stitching, I am mad, I have the frame for this piece and so I have set the size, but most of the contents I have to design, I have plans for the outside area's and will put an ABC in the centre, the rest is just a mixture of what I have in my head, and as you know that will change as I stitch, I have asked each of the family for two things which they think would describe them selves, Kev has gone for Guardsman and his motorbike. I'm not sure what I will have. I also want a stork under which I will sew the names, DOB, and weight of our grandsons. I also want Grace my cat on there.

So my head is spinning with idea's.

We have had a lady move close to us with loads of cats, we think as many as 8 or 9, which is a problem for Grace, she is a small cat and they are picking on her, Grace now does not go out much. The cats are always in my garden, I do chase them out, they are messing every where, I think I am going to have a word with there owner, but I am looking for ways to stop them digging. The birds and squirrels are not visiting so much, and I do miss them.

Su our daughter had good news this week, she has her new job, still within Estee-Lauder and her replacement starts on 31st January, so once she has trained her she will move to her new department, we are so pleased for her.

I have not seen Fliss, she is unwell and as I am not allowed to catch any germs I have not been to visit, I hope to be able to see her early next week.

We are hoping to have a walk around Portchest Castle this afternoon, and then later I hope to be able to sew, an almost perfect weekend.

First finish 2011

It's finished, and I'm pleased with it.
I am looking for a black plain frame and then it will go on the wall with Kev's army photo's

I have now started my second project of four to stitch in rotation, I already am working on sleeping cats, below is the start of my family sampler. I have not made a sampler since I was a child with my mum. There is no pattern for this, just plans in my head, I want to do a patchwork square in each corner and edge the whole sampler with a line of the bright green. I am working on 28 dpi even weave and using DMC threads from my large stash.

I have taken this pattern from American Patchwork Designs in Needlepoint by Melanie Tacon, this being the best book I own.I have done it before it was shown in the book as a cushion cover, but I framed it , please look at finished items on my side bar.

I spend alot of time stitching and watching TV,
I am following the world news on BBC,
and my heart goes to anyone fighting the floods in Australia, Brazil,
Natural disasters.
Also the recovery of Gabrielle Gifford in America.
Unrest in Turkey and Tunisia, both beautiful places we have seen
I sit here and moan regarding another day of rain here
but really it is just an inconvenience to us,
2011 has started badly for thousands of people
I so hope every thing improves soon and we all have a good year.

Thunderbirds are go!!

What a great title.

The Post Office yesterday launched their new range of stamps and the celebrate the work of Gerry Anderson, Josh loves every thing to do with Thunderbirds, so we had to send him a post card with the Thunderbirds stamp on, Sam has Captain Scarlet. Josh has most of the Thunderbirds and Tracy Island, he would like Thunderbird 5, the space station, but we have not been able to locate it, if anyone sees's one please let me know.

Palace guard is coming along very well, just a bit of work on the little boy in brown, and a bit more back stitch. I hope to finish it in the next couple of days.

This year I am going to rotate work, rather than just doing one thing at a time, so I hope to finish sleeping cats, I want to start my family sampler, but I still need to design some of it. I also have two kits Summer Meadow and Christmas Teddies to start. My first copy of Just Crossstitch came from USA, and there are a couple of projects in there I like.

Weekend stiches

The Palace Guard is coming along well, we were away for the weekend and I took it with me, it's a perfect size for traveling. I was able to stitch Friday night and yesterday. I am pleased with the look so far, one small problem with this kit, the silks are all cut to lengths, and I have run out of three colours, lucky my silk drawer is full and I have been able to finish every thing so far.

We had a good time in Somerset, Kev's son Stephen, Nic his wife and baby Logan were all doing well, after cuddling Sam who is 11 weeks old today, Logan at one week was so very small, but oh so beautiful, it's great to see another little family doing well. We went out with my brother on Saturday night, it was his birthday and I try and get back for celebrations, we popped to the village pub, and had fun.
Yesterday is was Fliss's birthday, so we popped around for coffee and birthday cake, they had been shopping in Winchester, this having the nearest Kath Kidson shop, Fliss loves all her stuff. Josh had all his Thunderbirds things out and was playing, and I got my cuddle with Sam.