Birthday celebrations

My life feels like I have been in a whirlwind of a race these past few days and I am only just able to sit down and catch my breath. Last week, our family took a short break to a Haven site and it was wonderful. Just what we needed. There was so much to do - we got to see the Olympic torch  go through Pwllheli, in scorching hot sunshine too. We went to the beach, swam in the pool, slid down the slides umpteen times. Daughter went roller blading and water walking and we all had a go at pot painting.

We enjoyed - yes really - the evening entertainment and all got up for a boogie on the last night. We weren't there for very long so we tried to fit in as much as we could but we are definitely looking forward to returning. It was fab fab fab! 

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a blast! My dear friend Tracy had come down to stay for a couple of days and we had a great time stitching and starting new projects. Tracy even managed to learn to crochet! Finally!! And she didn't throw a strop once! Great going girl. I started a new Sampler Girl one, "Return to the Sea," which I have had kitted up for a while now and wanted it as a companion piece to the "Staying Home" piece I did. 

I got some lovely gifts from friends and family and there seemed to be a bit of a butterfly theme to them all. If they didn't contain butterflies in the actual gift itself, then the card or wrap had butterflies on it. It was really quite strange and now I am bent on wondering what all these butterflies symbolise. Freedom? New start? Short life??? So, if you don't want to see what gifts and goodies I got then look away now.

Here are my gifts from Tracy. She also sent me a mahoosive cut of wichelt for a chart that I am hoping soon to get from Edgar in exchange for another - (Edgar - I am onto my neighbour and she is stitching away on it!) I just had to take a close up of the cute bookmark with the sewing charms on. They're gorgeous. The chart is simply superb and she even kindly bought me the CC threads to go with it as well. Thanks so much dear friend. Love it all.

I also took part in the Friends Through Threads Birthday exchange and I have been paired up with Jill who sent me a wonderful parcel of stitching goodies. 

The stitched piece is BBD's Rose Garden which is on my wishes and she also sent me a chart from my wishes too along with notebook, linen, pins, threads (including some of her own hand dyed) and glue and walnut shells which is fab as I don't have any of this great filler and can't wait to use it. The stitching pouch was made by Mama Joan. Everything is perfect and lovely Jill. Thanks so much.

Non stitchy gifts included this beautiful Yankee Candle wax tart burner - butterfly themed - from my kids.

A butterfly umberella and scarf and a homemade butterfly picture and homemade candle from my sweet sisters.

Some lovely perfume and recipe book from my friend.

Beautiful necklace from my husband.

So lots of lovelies for me!

In the evening, we all went round to our friend's house as it was her partner's birthday on the same day too! We had a BBQ and a few drinkies and stayed over and it was a lot of fun. Really great to be able to let my hair down and not worry about getting back in time for the babysitter. Although they don't have kids they seem quite alright to have us over from time to time so all the better. Here's some pics from the happy night:

Little craft update. Here's where I am up to on the flower blanket:

It's growing!

And a snippet of my new Sampler Girl start:

Just had to finish on a Jubilee with this pic my husband took of my son and me which I thought turned out rather well. I'm not very photogenic so when I see a reasonable pic of me I don't mind showing it. This was taken round at the sister in law's house where she put on a little Jubilee House party for family and friends. What a lovely, thoughtful idea. 

Hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.

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