Cross stitch book review and give away

Some time ago, I was asked to do a review on my blog of this book you see below. It is called Two Hour Cross Stitch - Flowers 300 quick and easy designs by Trice Boerens. 



Here is the blurb on the back:

"If you have limited time for crafting, Two - Hour Cross-Stitch: Flowers is the perfect book for you. It's brimming with 300 classic, vintage and retro-inspired blossoms that are not only beautiful, but also quick and easy to stitch. The colourful motifs are shown finished and are accompanied by a chart and a list of suggested colours. Perfect for stitching on the go, these flowers are sure to shine on any project you design."



It is a sturdy paperback book with full colour charts inside. The instructions are very limited which suggests it is aimed at people who already know how to stitch but because of the simplicity of each design, this book would be suitable for the beginner. Each design has been stitched and is photographed alongside each chart. The colours in the list are DMC.



I think each design would be great to use for smalls like pinkeeps and scissor fobs and such like and would make lovely RAK gifts. There is potential to collate them together and make into a bigger sampler as well if you are the creative type.

I am offering this book as a giveaway to one of my followers. If you like the look of it and think you might use it then please make a comment below. This is open to all my followers - wherever you are in the world. I will pull a name out of the hat  on Sunday 6th May.

Thanks for reading! Look out for another giveaway very soon. A full kit from Yiota's Cross Stitch!

April WIPocalypse and catch up

Not much stitching to show for having been away for over a month - blogwise I mean! Here is where I am at with Bouquets - slowly but surely. I was hoping to get it finished by tonight but I have had so much on my mind at the moment, my mojo has just disappeared completely! If you find it, please send it back to me. Thanks.Here's my wipocalypse for April then. Sorry it's a bit late!

So so close to finishing this sucker! Go go go!!!! I want to start another Sampler Girl one. 

Thank you so much for all your kind comments on my last post and the lovely emails and messages you have sent me. You really are the world's dearest friends! I have been up and down and they say time is the greatest healer but I am not so sure of that one. I am working things through one day at a time. 

A special Thank You to Karen from My 4 Lil Girls for this amazing gift to cheer me up. I bought one of Karen's bags from her last year and I love it! These are just perfect additions. I know I am a little late in publicly acknowledging this but Thank You Karen from the bottom of my heart. xxxxx

A Tissue Holder:

A Patchwork cushion cover:

A Patchwork Heart:

Some good news is that I have an interview for a job on Friday. I had prayed about going back to work as littlest starts school in September. I had prayed that a job would "come to me" and that I wouldn't feel stressed about trying to find something. Well, something did come to me. The Deputy head of an independent Christian School not too far from me had also been praying about a position needing filled and my name had dropped into his mind. I am certain that I am right for that job. It means also that my children will be able to attend it as well which is a bonus as fees are expensive. (Not as expensive as other private schools but still expensive to me!) So I have had to think about getting my teaching head in gear as I haven't used it properly in a good few years. Saying that, I have been doing a little bit of tutoring this year so I am half way there already I guess. For those of you who don't know, I am trained as a secondary English teacher. Crafting has definitely taken a back seat this last month. 

Hubby and I managed to get away this month as well. The first time we have been away on our own without the children in about 3 years!!! Thanks to my dearest friends Michelle and Mark who kindly ran them ragged for us. We decided to head Northwards and went and stayed in a quaint place called Alston - north east of Cumbria along the Penines. The Pub we stayed in was small and cosy and all the locals seemed to appear that night. Everyone was warm and friendly and the food was delish. All local and home cooked etc. Log fire burning. You get the idea. We stayed at The Angel Inn which I would highly recommend. The next day we went a walking around a few local places which did us the world of good. Just wish we could get a few more of these times away. Hubby is working away now for a good few weeks so it's home alone time for moi. Here are some snaps of where we stayed and visited. 

Well, that's me although I do have a book review to do - which will be a giveaway and also Yiota from Yiota's Cross Stitch has also asked me to do a giveaway from her so please look out for those posts coming very, very soon. Much love to all my readers and commenters. 

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Quick update

Hi all. Just a quick update as it's been a while since I posted. I have had the worst week of my life - I tell no lie. I thought things couldn't get any worse but they did. I have been emptied of everything inside me and have become numb to any sense, any feeling, any emotion. I would like to think things are on the mend but I have been destroyed by hurt and pain and trust is not an easy thing to replace. Once it has gone, it takes a loooong time to build again and I don't even know right now if it can be. I still have my faith and hope so I AM okay. Obviously, any form of crafting has taken a back seat but I think, tonight, I might be able to do a little. I am taking things one day at a time. Thanks for all your positive thoughts, prayers and emails. I appreciate every one. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

March Wipocalypse update and a beautiful RAK!

Wow hasn't the time just flown? Perhaps because February is a shorter month? I'm not sure but time does seem to be flying by at the moment. Life has passed me quite a few downs this year already but now and again I get a few ups. This was one of them:

The cutest little RAK ever arrived in my post last week and I have only just got around to posting about it. This was so unexpected and it is so nice to get this in the post instead of the usual bills. This little beauty was gifted to me by Cath at The Stitchin' Chicken. Thank you so much Cath, it made my week!!!

Okay, so March Wipocalpse time is here already and I am actually ready to post on time! I have been keeping very very busy on my Sampler au Bouquets and well into the third and final part of this stunning sampler. I even resisted the urge to start a new Sampler Girl one - Tina!!!! - bad influence that girl - oh I wish she had a blog and then we could all harass her!! Just kidding my sweet friend and I will start that new one soon I promise but I really want to get this one finished this month if possible. So, here's my progress....

Please 'scuse the crumples!

And a close up of the progression. 

So that is all I have for you at the minute. My hyacinths have started blooming. I have been doing a little more knitting on my waistcoat - slowly, surely. I have also been inspired to knit a skirt by the lovely Staci so that might be another project in the bag. Thanks for all your wonderful  comments and emails. They make my days easier. 

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Overwhelmed..

I have been truly overwhelmed by the generosity of bloggers this past week. Not only did I get a cosy cowl from Heidi and a beautiful red exchange from Cathy but this week, Louise sent me one of her walnut shell stuffed hearts and some chocolate!!! Isn't it beautiful??? The chocs have long gone I am afraid! 

Also this week, Lynda returned the "Dandy Dreams" chart I loaned her and added a couple of charts for me from my wishlist!! Now, the thing is, this was just a loan as I have other people that wish to borrow the chart from me and in no way did I expect anything in return but Lynda had already given me two LHN ornament charts so these two beauties were a real surprise! Thank you so much Lynda. I am quite overwhelmed at your generosity! 

Melissa also emailed me to let me know she had received my redwork exchange. I showed you a little snippet of it a couple of posts down. Pleased to say that she liked what I made her. Phew! It is always a relief when an exchange arrives safely at its destination. Here is what I made her. 

AMAP alphabet

28 count over 1

Threadworx Wine Castle thread. 

I have been trying to cheer myself up a wee bit with some colourful blooms as hubby has left for a long work trip. Just as we are starting to get back to normal, he has to go back to work which means going away again. So I bought the lovely tulips at the top of this post and also these two tubs of hyacinths. I love hyacinths and adore their smell once they start to bloom. Looking forward to these bursting forth!

Thanks for coming to visit me. The Dandy Dreams chart (click on link to see my finish) will be being posted off to Tina (no blog) but if you would like to stitch it after her then let me know and I will start up a sisterhood or something. 

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A Cowl, a Snood, an Exchange, some Knitting, getting away and IHSW update!

Well the title says it all really. Lots to share but I will try to be brief. About a week ago I got a wonderful surprise through the mail. 

This beautiful crocheted cowl was made for me by my dear blogging friend Heidi. I was not expecting it and it was wonderful to receive it. It is so thick and snuggly and warm. Just to show you how it looks on....

Not a great pic of me but you get the idea.

I finally finished my own snood from the Deramore's freebie pattern they offered on their last newsletter. I changed the pattern slightly and just did  knit two together at the front instead of knitting at the back. Again, here is a pic of how it looks on.

Sticking with the knitting theme, I have knitted the back of the waistcoat pattern I bought but it looks a little short to me. I know I will have to pick up at the top at some point so will just carry on till it is done and then maybe reassess for length. 

Yesterday, I got the most gorgeous redwork exchange through the post from Cathy B. It is an exchange on the FTT exchange board which is a small group of stitchers. I just love this piece and it made me cry when I read Cathy's card attached. It was very touching and I will treasure it always. Thanks Cathy. The pattern is from Heartstrings Samplery. 

Now, I did hermit a little over the weekend. I did go away on the Saturday to Bala in Wales. We stayed in a guest house on the edge of the lake and it was beautiful. These were our views from our window. 

It was so relaxing and the breakfast in the morning was lovely; pancakes for the kids and a locally produced full Welsh for us. Yumm. We met up with some of my husband's friends that he works for on the Saturday evening and had a really great evening. They have three boys and the kids had a brilliant time playing with each other and jamming together in the studio. I definitely need more weekends like that. On the way home we went through Llangollen and this shop had the longest place name I have ever seen!!

But, I did hermit before and afterwards and have made some lovely progress on my Sampler Aux Bouquets. Here is where it is up to now. I am determined to get this finished up soon. Please excuse the wrinkles. 

So I am a bit worse for wear today after going out last night so I am going to take it easy today and be kind to myself. Thanks for stopping by and letting me share a little piece of my life with you all. 

Oh I notice I have made 302 posts and have just over 500 followers now! That deserves a giveaway so I will get my thinking cap on and get busy. Watch this space. 

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