Sorry

I have so much to post about... Beautiful gift from Cathy, DD's birthday, TWO finishes!! Snow. Round Robins, SALs. So much. I am so tired. I have not even had the energy to have my two happy dances yet. Soon, I promise. I'm just in a small slump.

HUgsxxx

Oh my, what a beauty!

On Friday I got this amazingly beautiful scissor fob made for me by the very talented Veronica. It is soooo stunning that at first I thought it was just too good to use. I didn't want it to get lost or broken. However, I grabbed my new Ginghers and promptly placed it on them. Love it. Veronica, thank you from the bottom of my heart! And you know what... she even put a coffee pot on the end which is very apt for me as I don't drink tea - only coffee! Now, how did she know that I wonder??





I have been working away on La D Da's Alphabet sampler which I haven't touched for a good while. As you can see, I have done a fair bit on it. I don't think it will take me long to get this done at all. Maybe a week? Although saying that I do have other things I need to get done - like, 2 exchanges, CdC, Stitch alongs coming up, RR to prepare for, other ornies for DD, DS etc. So you know, maybe I will finish it, maybe I won't. Watch this space.


Sassy's 32ct jobelan Creamy Cocoa using NPIsilks 2x2

That's me! Have a good week everyone. xxxxxxxx

Coffee dying fabric

The other night I turned my hand to coffee dying some fabric using the instructions found on the back of Heartstring Primitives Charts.

I used some odd bits of 36 count Edinburgh white linen and also a scrap of stitching I had done to see how it would look to dye after stitching. I tried using instant and ground coffee and did a weaker solution for a small scrap to see the difference. Actually, the ground coffee I used was a rather special Chocolate Truffle flavoured one from Whittards. I noticed no difference between the instant and the ground coffee to be honest. I then put the linen in the oven to dry off a bit and these are the results:

These were taken in the evening:





These were the same pieces taken in the daytime:





I then had a piece of cream coloured 28 count Brittney which I thought I could dye and see what happens. This piece took a bit of battering. I burned it a bit int he oven as I couldn't get it to lay all flat and wherever you get lines or folds then these places will darken. This can be a good thing if you want these marks but I wanted something more subtle. So I washed out the burned bits and dipped scrunched up areas into a darker coffee solution and put back in oven but then that wasn't quite right so I washed it out a bit again and tried ironing it dry. Iron too hot and caused burn marks as it began to cook the coffee. Washed it again etc you get the picture. Eventually hung it up to dry and this is the final outcome:





As you can see - a more subtle result. So I was a happy chappie and set about having a new start on it. This is Ann Taylor by Heartstring Primitives. I love my new start and my own hand dyed fabric. Squeeeee!!!!!



Love love love it! I'll definitely be doing this more often. A cheaper alternative methinks.

Also just a quick note about another lovely blogging lady who is going to have a fantastic giveaway as soon as she reaches 300 followers. Julia Crossland is a localish artist to me. Please go and check out her blog and wonderful creations.

Thanks as ever for all the beautiful comments. You really cheer my days - oh you'll never know how much they mean right now. Thank you special peeps. xx

Cosy stitchy update

Well I do think an update is in order, don't you? I haven't posted in over a week but that's because I have been doing some serious stitching. Well that and doing the whole bonfire night thing and freezing our behinds off at the local display. Yep that was good. I refrained from making the rocky road eaties again and even swerved from putting on a crusty pie top on my hotpot! Well, I'm at target now you know so I have to be careful to stay there - this time!





So first up is my CDC progress. If you have followed me for any length of time you will know what an absolute hell I have had with this project and have not enjoyed stitching it muchly. However, recently, I have had some sort of a boost and have not been able to put the thing down! I have had to save a bit to do in December as it is now part of an SAL which I think has been extremely helpful in me getting this thing done!



This silk (Thread Gatherer silk n colors) has an amazing sheen to it. I have tried to capture it on camera but I can't really do it. When you turn it, the whole thing changes. I can't really describe it but I have never experienced it before with thread.

I have also been working on HAED Rose SK. So much detail in this one - it really makes my eyes water at times. Loving the way it is turning out. So so pretty.



Got the latest copy of Country Homes and Interiors the other day - oh what an issue. If you haven't got it - run RUN and get it. It is gorgeous and filled with drooly christmassy things. Here's a taste:



and if you're wondering what that is floating in my hot choc - it's marshmallows - yummo!





Really warmed me up. We've been having some freezing cold weather here. You remember my cold feet?? Lookie now:



Thanks to MnS. Perfect cosy toes. Keep warm dear friends. xx

Some lovely gifts..

I got a couple of lovely gifts through this week from blogging buddies. First up was a beautifully wrapped parcel from Maaike which enclosed a couple of lovely magazines. I think they are written in Dutch as Maaike is from Amsterdam so I don't understand very much but the pictures in them are lovely. The parcel was wrapped in the most gorgeous ribbon and string and crocheted flowers!



The second parcel I got this week was the Stitch and Pass on from Barb. I was not expecting this so soon as my "turn" is not till January! Anyway, the idea is to stitch the chart then pass the stitched item and the chart onto the next person in the round and so on. It's a lot of fun. If you're interested then take a look at the Stitch and Pass on blog. I love what Barb made me and can't wait to hang them on my stitching tree at Christmas. Barb also sent me a couple of additional gifts - not part of the Stitch and Pass on. She sent me some cute wooden buttons and a crochet magazine which has some fantastic patterns in them. Thanks Barb.







Tina emailed and asked if I would like to start Shores of Hawk Run Hollow next year as part of an SAL and I have said .....YES! Ooohhhh it's getting to that time of year again where I can start planning new starts yippeee!. Anyone want to join us??

Speaking of new starts.. I broke my pledge and have done some Christmas ornament stitching. Well, I am in a couple of exchanges so thought I'd better make a start. No pics though as they are for exchanges.

Yesterday I had a turn about another local park in our area. Here are a few of my favourite pics:













It truely is Autumn! Bye bye my lovelies. See you soon. xx

Quickie trip to London

Had a bit of a spurr of the moment trip to London this weekend. Now, after my last trip to London - a complete and utter nightmare with someone who shall remain nameless and who I will not be in contact with again!!! - I vowed I would never return. However, husband had some business to do down there and thought, seeing as it was the half term holidays, that we could all tag along too. Ooohhhh okay then!

I knew time would be short so I planned a couple of shops to visit and I knew it meant a nice meal out as well. However.. about an hour from London, husband's phone died! So we spent most of the time yesterday in o2 and the Apple shop wherein he got an upgrade and an even better phone than he had - bonus!

So with what little time we had left and freezing my butt off....

We ate in Maxwells who brought the little darlings puddings rather late so they knocked some off the bill - another bonus!


Me and sweet girl enjoying our meal.

Beautiful food there actually. I had BBQ Chicken Chop salad which was lurvely. Oh and I had a cocktail too! How exciting is that!! That was last night.

We breakfasted in a little cafe this morning with was lovely and I was very tempted to get one of the gorgeous cakes but I didn't.

We visited Liberty





Love this building. It is the oldest shop in London apparently. Prices are shocking. This cushion was £175 I think.



This bar of Lavender Chocolate was £5.25. But I bought it anyway ;-)



The Christmas dept was simply gorgeous! I could have stayed there all day. Ooooooh I do love Christmas. I do, I do! So many twinkling lights.



I love the collection of fabrics. Autumn is definitely my thing at the moment!



and this gorgeous hoop display... oh now there's an idea..



We visited Hamley's. I was too excited by all the daft gadgets and toys to take many pictures in here and time was running very short..



We visited All the Fun o' the Fair in Carnaby St but it was shut!!!!! Dangnabbit. Maybe we got there too early?? Anyway, here's a misty window shot.



After a long, freezing morning we had to check out of the hotel and go to Cockfosters and get the car and drive home again. I am happy to be home even though my feet are still as blue as they look! I really need some fuzzy slippers to keep them warm.



Oh and do you want to see how my throw is coming along???

Are you sure???

Well, I'm not there yet but I did promise a sneak peak.....

Sooooo....

Here you go...





I love it! It has such warming, autumnal colours in it. Really need to get going with this before all the leaves fall off the trees!

On Friday I will be visiting The Nimble Thimble nr Oswestry in Shropshire. I have wanted to go for such a long time. I don't have much cash this month but hope to gather enough to have a little spend. For those who don't know.. this is a beautiful stitching shop which tends to stock in lots of American style folksy type of charts and things. I am going with my lovely friend who has just learnt to crochet so it should be a great day out. I promise to take lots of pics!

Thanks for visiting me. I am trying to catch up on everyone's news. I'll be round your way shortly. xxxxxxx

Stitching Retreat, Ripple TaDa and some stitchy progress!

Hi peeps. Brrrrrr.. It's really cold here in the UK. A real cold snap. Have some homemade soup to warm your toes. It has been nearly a week since I went to the Stitch and Stash stitching retreat in Nuneaton and I haven't blogged it! Well, it went super duperly. Tracy came to mine on Friday and we both went together in my car. We go on Friday so we can have an extra night. We went to our usual eating spot - that of Frankie and Benny's and enjoyed some delicious tea. Back to the hotel for some serious stitching before the Saturday meet up.

Saturday meet up was great! Usual peeps there and a couple of peeps I haven't met before so that was lovely. It was great to see Julie's crochet especially her Lucy bag - super cool. I have ordered my pack of Rico for that and am waiting - very patiently - for it. I baked those yummy chocolate thingys from that magazine a few posts down for the meet up and they went down surprising well! I substituted the chopped choc chunks for sultanas and they worked a treat. Oooops I forgot to take a picture of them though so I guess that means I'll be making them again - doh! I don't know how it happened but I managed to get myself roped into a Round Robin!?! TINA!!!! Anyway, Julie and I have never done one before so thought it would be a good safe place to start so Julie, Tina, Clare and I are going to do a small one starting in January. Hmmmmm.... I am struggling with designs to choose - such a hard life!

Watch the concentration going on here:





Rachel and Julie deep in discussion:



Vicki's (India Grace Designs) stuff:



Kathy's Stuff?



Julie's work:



Lesley's beautiful work:



Thanks Kathy for organising this. Can't wait till next year. The Stitch and Stash bb is having a bit of a revamp thanks to Clare and it is looking wonderful. New pages up and plenty to chat about. Please feel free to join us. It is a lovely group.

Whilst I was there I decided to pull out an old wip "A Most Noble Pursuit". I am so glad I did. It has been an absolute joy working on this so I think I will keep at it. The Needlepoint silks are a joy to work with although I have noticed I have to be careful of the colours bleeding - not on my fabric as yet but on my fingers so far!! It has been over a year since I worked on her I fear.





I have a TaDa as well. I finished the ripple for my girl. Ooooh I love it. It looks so great on her bed and she loves just lazing around on it. I am glad all my hard efforts are so appreciated! I decided not to do a border on this. Join me in my happy dance :-) xxxx







Awwwwww and sweet dd has a little finish of her own too:



Now she wants to go onto something bigger :-S I am reluctant knowing how long it has taken her to finish this although she has been a lot quicker on this one than her others so maybe she is ready. Ho hum... perhaps something for Christmas??

Quick news on my autumn throw: today I began joining the squares together and it is looking superb but I want to do a bit more joining before I show it. I can see its potential at the moment but I fear others would not. Believe me though... it is going to be fab!

Sorry if there has been a lot of pics on this post. Just needed to get everything down and stay up to date. Thank you for visiting me. I love love love getting visits. Have a great week lovely people. xx