Samplergazer's Witterings

I Am Beyond Proud

2010-09-15T09:25:00.000+01:00

I cannot tell you how proud I am of my two eldest sons who cycled 241 kilometres for charity this past weekend. They cycled in tandem to cover that huge distance. When you bear in mind, that although both are very fit, and play football regularly, they have never cycled any where near that distance. So it makes their feat even greater. This was the first time they had ridden in tandem and they did so well to complete the course and still continue to smile!

The ride was for the Prime Movers Against Disorders charity which helps those with diabetes, dyslexia, leukemia and lymphoma.

Then just for the last few miles they were joined by Alastair's son, my Grandson Dylan, on his new bike.

Having read this you can understand why I feel so proud of them, and indeed, of all the participants who gave their time and efforts to raise money for this cause.

My Brush With Royalty

2010-09-14T20:10:00.000+01:00

Last Friday The Mann Ladies (Janet and Heather to the uninitiated), Chris and myself went to Clarence House Eco Garden Party. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7141845.ece
Prince Charles, whose initiative this was, opened up his Clarence House,Lancaster House and Malborough House Gardens to many companies who supported his eco friendly initiative. The event is part of the Prince’s Start initiative, which promotes a more sustainable lifestyle. He said that the festival would help to demonstrate how everyone could make a difference.

These are some photo's of the event

and my own brush with Royalty

Finally we all decided that this was truly 'The Way To Go' in a completely biodegradable woollen coffin complete with a blanket stitched edge!

I Said I'd Be Back

2010-09-01T12:30:00.000+01:00

Here are a few more photo's to amuse you

This sweet piece is from Chessie & Me and it's called 'Chessie's Fern with Linen' As soon as I saw this I fell in love with it. It's so sweet and such a quick stitch.

I've been babysitting quite a lot this summer and I thought I'd show you my football mad elder Grandson. He's as football crazy as his Father and I often feel sorry for my DIL being the only woman in a house full of potential football stars.

It's Me Again

2010-08-31T11:12:00.000+01:00

I know it's been a long time but I have been incredibly busy and not too well.

Way back in June I was lucky enough to be invited to the home of a wonderful friend called Mary Bruce to attend a private class with Jackie du Plessis. Many of you will know Jackie from last May when she taught for The Sampler Guild. This time Jackie tutored us through the finishing for Lady Jane's Garden.

This picture shows the fob and cotton reel holder. Whilst the pictures below shows the inside of the needle case and the finished basket.

We also took Le Petite Triannon but, of course, I haven't finished stitching this yet let alone done any finishing. This project has the most beautiful needle case in the form of a little bootie and sole. The picture below shows how many queen stitches I had to stitch before completing the bootie sole.

This shows the side panels for the bootie. And I'm afraid that is as far as I got with this piece.

Tomorrow I shall be back with some more pictures.

Bonjour Mes Amis

2010-02-22T12:44:00.000Z

Yes I have returned from the French Needlework show (Les Fete en Aguilees) a somewhat poorer woman in monetry terms but richer in experience.
Although the weather was so cold, mostly below freezing, after our initial day it was fine with none of the expected snow.
Here are just a couple of the beautiful charts that I bought.

Due to Bertie's diligence we were able to pay a visit to 'Sajou' at Versailles. If you ever get a chance give these ladies a telephone call and they will welcome you to their small wharehouse full of the most wonderful Sajou items. So here is Bertie, interupted just once, from her shopping mode.

And finally, the palce of Versailles in the late afternoon sunshine.

Another Puppy Problem

2010-02-06T14:29:00.000Z

This puppy jumps from one problem to another. Having only just got over the campyla bacter infection he decided to try and leave his crate without removing his paw from the the wire of the crate's side. Another £52 lighter we returned from the vets and Merlyn is blotto after the pain killing injection. This poses a problem only because I am supposed to give him NSAID pain killing syrup on his food and he's too out of it to eat. He looks so relaxed that I'm thinking I want some too !! In the 7 weeks we have had him (he's 15 weeks old today)there has not been 1 week when I haven't either been to or telephoned the vet. Luckily he's so lovely that he's worth all the worry.

A Beautiful Present

2010-02-04T09:58:00.001Z

It was my Birthday early in December and I was very lucky to receive this wonderful pin cushion from Patti. I love the way she has finished it and I have it sitting on my needlework table all ready to use. The problem is that it seems so lovely I don't want to stick pins in it. So I shall have to keep it on display.

Yes the date on it is a dead give away of my quickly advancing age. It's funny how I never feel that old inside.

Aspirations

2010-02-03T14:44:00.000Z

The other day Connie sent me a link http://xszemkozt.blogspot.com to the incredible talented Nina and her Blog. I loved what I saw so much that I decided to try and dye my own linen following Nina's instructions. I used a 'teapigs' tea called 'Berry Fruitful' and this was the result. Not bad for a first attempt but I was sure I could do better if I tried. Who doesn't remember that phrase from their schooldays?

My next attempt was using chamomile tea with this choice of threads and ribbon.

And here is my final attempt using ordinary tea.

I really had a good time playing with this but no one need worry I certainly won't be making it a full time job.

Wonderful Presents

2010-01-15T13:41:00.000Z

I was very lucky to have a wonderful hand made presents from my friends Janet and Heather this Christmas, Janet made mea beautiful scissor case complete with scissors in the colours that she knows I love best.

Isn't it just exquisite.

Heather, knowing my love of Teddy Bears, dressed these for me. They are called 'Penny Patch' and 'Suzie Sew'.

Wonderful people with great talent.

Will I Ever See Grass Again

2010-01-13T10:16:00.000Z

More snow today. When I went to bed last night we almost had a thaw and then overnight another 3 inches. Not, I know, nearly as much as other places but still enough for me. Merlyn is able to go out for a walk now so he skated along on top of the snow. He looked like a bedraggled rag when we got home.

The poor birds are also having a problem finding food. We put out food on top of our garage roof and look what we saw...........

There is, however, an upside to being stuck inside the house for a number of days. I have completed several projects and here they are.

The first is a Shepherds Bush piece that I used as a box top. I painted and waxed the box and then mounted the needlework on the top. Now I need to find some goodies to go inside it.

Then I knitted nm DIL a lacy neck warmer and matching gloves. She is an absolute delight to have in our family and it's a pleasure to see her face when she wears the things I make for her. The pattern was given to me by a good friend in the USA who also loves lace knitting.

That's all for today. Now I'm going to carry on with my pre-stitching of Jackie du Plessis's 'Thistlewood' ready for our class in May. I've completed the pre-stitching of 'Briar Rose' and I am so looking forward to the classes to finish both these pieces.

The Peculiarity of Computers

2009-12-30T15:26:00.001Z

I have been struggling for several days trying to change the surround on this blog. Nothing works and I cannot alter it. It's obviously something to do with Firefox because I have had problems with my email since Firefox updated. What it is to be computer illiterate.

Anyway here are a few finishes to show. I have a wonderful friend Janet who finished these for me as I was running out of time. She is trying to build up a finishing business and as you can see, is very good at it.
This is a Shepherd's Bush heart design called 'Gypsy Hearts'

I supplied all the finishing materials and Janet made this beautiful cushion for me.
I love Shepherd's Bush needlework. Their designs are always so delicate.

The next is another one by Shepherd's Bush called 'Quaker Heart'. Again, this is finished by Janet.

I used my choice of silks and so this is not true to the original but is more to my taste.

That's all I have for you now. I must get back to 'Puppy Patrol'

8.45pm - A big Thank You to my wonderful friend Patti who, in an instant, managed to change my background.

A View From My Window

2009-12-21T17:28:00.003Z

You would be forgiven for thinking that this was taken abroad somewhere. But No - It was taken from our living room window yesterday. There is two inches of snow on the ground and the temperature is below freezing. These parakeets have been flying around for several years now but never been in such desperate a search for food that they would come this close to our home. There is a flock of about seven that were feeding on and off all day. It was almost 'One in, one out, keep moving' and we filled the containers twice over and poured seed on the ground.

The Guinea Pig Becomes A Puppy

2009-12-18T09:28:00.008Z

Yesterday, one day earlier than expected due to the adverse weather conditions, we collected the newest member of our family. His name is Merlyn and he is a Blue Merle Border Collie. He comes from the same breeder as our other Border Collie Chia.

I first saw him when he was three weeks old and he looked like this...........

He looked so much like a guinea pig I wondered if he would turn into a proper Collie. But he has and he's so cute.

Chia doesn't think much of him but I'm sure as he grows she will get used to him. He's so small at the moment that I'm sure she is still running with the guinea pig theory!

Well Here I Am Again

2009-12-16T17:05:00.005Z

I know I haven't posted for ages but I do have a lot of things to show you. These are things that I have quietly finished whilst the rest of my life has gone crazy. I've spent two wonderful visits with some American friends who are beyond wonderful. Their generosity, both with time and material things, have given me more than I can ever repay and my life is much the richer for having spent time with them all.

I plan (Yes everyone who knows me will no that nothing ever goes to plan) is to add a few photos every couple of days just to bring you up to date with the wonderful things that I have stitched upon.

I made a promise to myself that I would not buy anything new until I had completed some of the class kits that have amassed in my cabinet. I thought I had been so good when I managed to close the cabinet doors now. Something that wasn't possible before.

So let me introduce you to Miss Maisie and Miss Beatrice.

I really enjoyed making these as must be obvious from the fact that there are two of them. I just couldn't make up my mind between the two colours of felt. I had bought both pieces on a visit to France earlier in the year and this was just the opportunity to use them. Luckily I had cotton fabric that matched and there I was with two of them. They took on their own personalities and names as I was making them and now sit primly on the cupboard.

So until the next time.........................

It May Not Be Stitching

2009-08-17T11:16:00.002+01:00

But it is something that I have made. Every year at this time my one housewifely feeling surfaces and I make jam and jelly. I have no idea why I am blessed with this longing to root through the hedgerows and pick blackberries but I am. So, as there is an abundance of blackberries in our surrounding fields, I took the dogs and started to pick. Now those of you who do this will know that one bowl is never enough and so it was that my kitchen work top was filled with bowl after bowl of beautiful, large juicy blackberries. Jelly was duly made and now I can sit back and gaze at the jars which fill my cupboards to overflowing. Perhaps I should point out that I am the only one in this house that eats jam and therefore it will last until I am in my dotage as will the jars of strawberry jam left over from last years jam making.

Now on to something that I have completed on the knitting front. These are ' Scrunchie Gloves' the pattern for which is taken from '101 Designer Yarn Stash Wonders' They knit beautifully in stripey yarn and certainly much more by luck than judgement I managed to find yarn in my stash that really showed them well.

Slower Pace of Life

2009-07-06T12:26:00.017+01:00

Life has taken on a much slower pace now that the wedding is over. The day was glorious and my new Daughter-in-Law looked wonderful. A few last minute panics such as Mel having lost weight and 'The Dress' now being too large were dealt with superbly by a wonderful friend of mine, Janet, who came to the rescue and altered the dress with only one week to go. There is little better in life than having great friends and Alastair and Melanie have many who came together to toast them on their wedding day.

Then came Wimbledon which gave me the perfect excuse to sit and watch the matches whilst finishing my remaining projects without feeling guilty. I've been trying to get these finished for some time now and here they are.

The first piece is by Ellen Chester of With my Needle and is called 'Friends in Stitches' I have had the kit for this for some time and actually stitched it at the beginning of 2009.

The second piece here is called 'Ackworth Variations' by 'Needlemade Designs' and is stitched on 40ct Lakeside Green Slate linen with Silk 'N Colors shade Wind Whistle Cottage. I have to admit that it was hard going for me. I don't often stitch on high count dark linen and this project showed me exactly why not. The chart has a small thible shoe to stitch also but by that time I had finished the needle pocket I was ready to give up.

Finally I completed a new cardigan for my DIL using 'Dream in Color' Smoochy double knitting yarn. This is a free pattern from the on-line knitting magazine 'Knotions'
There are several such magazines available on the net and I think they are marvellous. When you consider how much we pay for patterns and magazines now days they are a wonderful find.

I'm still here....................

2009-06-09T14:48:00.005+01:00

I know it's been a long time but things have been happening here. My MIL is still no better and is proving to be a problem that no one can solve and my wonderful ex-MIL passed away on May 29th surrounded by love and happiness for her long life. I was lucky enough to spend some hours with her before she went and I'm very grateful for that.

So, I have only a few new things to show you. The first is by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods and is a piece called 'The Mermaids Two Tales'. I was lucky enough to take this class at Hilton Head on the east coast USA last October. Yes I know how long ago that is but please......... it's all back stitch and I kept picking it up to do a little every so often.

And then ...........I had to finish it.
The scrims inside are not part of the case. I already had these and thought that they would fit in quite nicely. The beautiful thread winder comes from Vikki Clayton

I decided to stitch this Prairie Schooler design over one. I saw it finished when I visited 'The Attic' in Mesa, Arizona. One of the ladies who worked in the shop had converted the DMC colours to Waterlillies and Belle Soie silks and I immediately fell in love with it.

Prairie Schooler

The most exciting thing that I have to tell you about are classes that we are organising for The Sampler Guild. Jackie du Plessis of 'It's Fineally Finished' has agreed to teach for us next May 2010 when she visits the UK. She will be teaching four of her designs over three days. The classes are becoming booked up so quickly which is wonderful. If you would find this of interest please check with The Sampler Guild web site for the information or contact me on my email address.

Isn't It Amazing

2009-03-14T11:14:00.006Z

how seeing a piece finished can change your mind about stitching it. The Sampler Guild had a get together a couple of weeks ago and I saw this little bird as a finished ornament. Now I had seen it many times before as it is featured in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament 2004 magazine. Each time I had totally ignored it's potential. At the Gathering I saw it finished beautifully by our friend Sandra Carstairs. Seeing her beautiful model really made me want to stitch it and this is the result.

Then I got carried away and decided to stitch the new small stockings from Blackbird designs. The charts are monthly and each feature three designs per month. I chose one design from January, February and March.

This is my January choice -

This is February with the mandatory hearts -

and this is March with spring daffodils -

An Update

2009-02-23T14:54:00.020Z

I've now finished my Williamsburg 2008 project which is 'Carried Away' by Jackie du Plessis. Those of you who follow my blog will know, from my previous posts, how much I like her projects and this was no exception. Once again she has designed a piece totally different from all her others. Immediately I saw it, I loved it. Perhaps it was helped by the fact that it was in my favourite autumnal colours which I love. The first picture shows the beautiful box and all the acesories together. The box is lined with solid rust coloured silk and wonderful checked silk.

The next picture is the outside of the needlebook. The inside has pockets made from the solid rust silk.

This picture is of the bottom cushion which lays in the box.

and the final picture is of the bottom of the cushion which has a very clever secret envelope.

I really am so impressed with Jackie's designs and I'm looking forward to taking more classes with her.

The final part of this post shows a thimble and scissor keeper designed by Betsy Morgan of 'Willing Hands'. I found this chart in this month's copy of the Australian magazine 'Classic Inspirations'. As I was stitching it I seemed to remember something similar. When I checked my class kits it transpired that I had taken Betsy's class for the self same design. No wonder it seemed familiar. Am I an idiot or what? The design is three sided and is opened by pressing the edges together.

On another note I had a wonderful time in Paris with friends Bertie and Britta. Catherine, who lives in France, kept us busy for the entire four days. The aiguille-en-fete (French Needlework Show) was wonderful and needless to say I came home ladended with French charts. There is some wonderful talent out there which I tend to forget as I concentrate on the American market.

More Finishes

2009-02-03T10:39:00.014Z

As anyone living in or around the south of England can tell you we had more snow than we have seen in years. It started to fall on Sunday night and didn't stop until late yesterday afternoon. It was forecast but of cause, this being England,no forward plans were made so no roads were gritted or salted. Everything ground to a halt. London was a ghost town with only the intrepid few making it in to work. My son works in 5 miles away in Harefield. He managed to make it to work and he was one of only seven people in an office of forty-five to do so. Anyone relying on bus or train transport was out of luck. I took my rule outside and measured the depth of snow in my garden. It measured ten inches deep. The dogs were in their element. Even Willow, at fourteen, was charging around with her nose buried in the snow.
As I was effectively snowed in, I decided I would photograph a few more of my finishes to show you.

The first is an old class piece that I took at Sampler Gathering in Plymouth.As far as I can remember I took the class in 2003 or 4 The design is by Wendy White of WeeWorks and is called 'A Sailor's Valentine' I have put one of the few pictures my Mother allowed taken of herself inside. I thought this would be much more difficult to assemble than it actually was. I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The next piece is a Breast Cancer piece from Blackbird Designs called 'Buttons and Blooms For The Cure' I had never sewn piping around a finished piece and was very pleased that I managed it.

In October 12008 I was lucky enough to attend Rae Iverson's ASG on Hilton Head in South Carolina. This class was taught by Catherine Jordan. We had to prepare our linen and paint the background colours before we started stitching the design. I think most of us were very hesitant but Catherine was very good and helped us all to achieve the finished product.

Back Again

2009-01-28T13:42:00.008Z

'At last' you might cry. At least you might if you were even a tiny bit interested in what I have been doing. I know I havn't posted in 6 months. At least that is what my friend Patti just told me. So now I have made a New Year's resolution to try and post at least twice a month or whenever I have soemthing new or interesting to tell you. Life just ran away with. I'm looking after 2 (yes - I did say 2) Mother-in-Laws which has taken it's toll on my time. Not that I'm complaining as I have still managed to attend classes and stitch. I have a new 'Favourite Designer' I have taken 3 classes in the past year from Jackie du Plessis of 'It's Fineally Finished' and her work is superb. Her designs show such brillance and her class teaching is just wonderful. The next two pictures are of her design called 'La Vie en Rose' which I took in June 08. The finished piece opens up to show a needle page and a small scrimshaw with an S on it. Naturally as my name starts with an S.

The next two pictures show her desing called 'My Plum' and I was lucky enough to take this class as an earlybird class at Williamsburg in December 08. The two end panels have a lovely little silk bag sandwiched between them.

For my main class at Williamsburg I took Jackie's class called 'Carried Away'. It is a small carrier with pin cushion, needlebook, waxer roll and a lot of other goodies. Now, although I have finished the stitching, I havn't as yet put any of the pieces together. You will see them here as soon as I have completed them.
As I enjoyed them so much that I have booked another two classes with her next year. One at Elegant Stitch in Modesto, USA in October and one at Williamsburg next Christmas. If you have a chance to take any of her clases you really shouldn't miss out.

And finally Jackie's Breast Cancer Awareness Piece for Lois at Elegant Stitch, This is called 'Pretty in Pink' and it's beautiful.

This Retiired Business

2008-06-30T13:05:00.007+01:00

Life is such fun at the moment. I so busy that I haven't had time to update my blog lately. I have several finishes to show you. Firstly, I found this just started the other day and decided to finish it. It's by Hillside Samplings and is the 2006 Folk Art Sewing roll.

The second finish is one that i am particularly proud of. It's the Americanna Sewing Case by Catherine Theron. This is one of the classes that i took at Criss Cross Row this past March. I changed the count of fabric and only used 1 strand of wool for the bargello. I replaced the inside linen with a particularly beautiful R & R 400 count linen but used the same threads that were in the kit.

and finally a shawl that I knitted whilst on holiday last month. I cannot stitch in hotel rooms as the light isn't good enough. However I can knit and this is the result. The shall is knitted width ways and the frill at either side is knitted on afterwards. The yarn is a very stunning colour way from 'Posh Yarn' They hold their sales on a Sunday evening at 6pm GMT and their yarn is so popular that it is a fight to get the yarn you want. It certainly gets the adrenaline flowing.

Beautiful Day

2008-05-10T11:16:00.006+01:00

Today am finally over the horrible cold/virus. It hit my asthma head on and for the past 10 days I have felt 90 years old. I have hardly moved from the house except to take the dogs walking and that took three times as long as normal.
Today, when I woke up, I could breath. Such a difference. However nobody wanted to hear me moaning so I'm going to show you the rest of the finishes.

This little needle case is 'Be True' by Blackbird designs.

This one is a beautiful design called 'Needles and Pins' by Gloria Moore of Milady's Needle.

This next one is a design by Ellen Chester of With My Needle. It is called 'Beauty and Grace.

I have finished Catherine Theron's Americanna Sewing Roll and am stitching a small piece by La-D-Da called 'Briar Rabbit. Then I feel a shawl coming on. I'm away from 22nd May and I can never see to stitch in my hotel rooms but I can knit. Let's see how I get on with the lace knitting.

Sanity at Last

2008-04-28T14:11:00.007+01:00

There are those that might question the title of this particular blog but my retirement has taken off with such speed that I haven't had a chance to draw breath. My friends (wonderful people) have drawn me into their own lives and therefore enriched mine during this time of change for me. I have not once had a chance to feel at a loss. In fact my days just speed by. I was always faintly incredulous of those who stated that they didn't know how they managed to find time to go to work. Now I'm one of them!

I have several finishes to show. At least you will know that I haven't been entirely without purpose.

This is Key to my Heart by Lauren Sauer

and this by Brightneedle

This by Merry Cox named A French Bon Bon Box

So as you can see I have done plenty of stitching in the evenings after my very hectic days. Now I feel the longing to knit somehting so I am away to search through patterns and yarn!

Back Home Again

2008-03-19T14:21:00.002Z

Now my retirement starts. I'm back home after the classes at Criss Cross Row in Newark, Delaware. What a fun time we all had. I took classes with Wendy White and Catherine Theron. Both lovely people and wonderful needle workers. The classes where held at the Christiana Hilton. On my arrival I was told that the hotel had overbooked and I should drive to another hotel just up the road. I was feeling very annoyed until I realised that the Hilton would be picking up the bill. Yes, they paid for my first night's stay, dinner and breakfast. How could I stay annoyed having just saved a considerable amount of money. Well. I couldn't. The next morning I drove back to Philadelphia airport to collect my dear friend Margi Ochs who was flying in to take classes. That afternoon classes started and the fun began. Marsha had a boutique running all day which was staffed by the wonderful friends she has. Marsha herself, spent a lot of her time driving to see Ken in rehab. The boutique was filled with all the new designs out at Nashville market so restraint went out of the window!

On Friday late afternoon I went with Marsha to visit Ken. The drive was 1 1/4 hours each way. Although it was a shock for me to see Ken as he, was Marsha assured me that he was better than the day before. Those of you who have followed Ken's illness via the Caringbridge website will know that his recovery from the rupture of his brain aneurysm will be much slower this time. Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation is a wonderful place with dedicated workers dealing with all levels of brain and body injuries. Ken will have a long stay this time. Ken recognized me and could associate me with Jim which I felt very happy about. It transpired later that all the staff recognized me also as Ken has a picture of Jim and myself taken in Alaska on his wall.

The classes finished all too soon and on Sunday night I was on a flight back to Heathrow. This is were my life will now change. I woke up on Tuesday morning and my first thought was "This is the beginning of the rest f my life". Retirement starts here so I have to get out of the habit of rushing around as I shall have days to finish things. Let's see how I get on.....................

Update on my Latest Stitching Project

2008-03-06T11:59:00.004Z

This is my latest stitching project. Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers Design #29 "Where My Heart Blooms". In the end I decided to stitch this over one as I'm not keen on stitching on 30ct linen over two. It's just that little bit too large for my taste. It's coming on very nicely and I hope to finish it as a flat fold.
I was sitting at the computer looking at there past designs and admiring them. At the same time I was thinking that a lot of their designs have blackbirds on. Well DUHHH! How stupid am I? Of course they do they're Blackbird Designs. Well you do have to make allowances for me!

Wednesday 21th March is gradually getting closer. That's the day that I fly into Philadelphia to take the classes at Criss Cross Row. I can't wait to see Marsha again. The news on Ken is a little better. He has been moved to rehab and will under go the same intensive rehabilitation that he had in January 07. We are all praying that he continues to improve.

Perspective

2008-02-24T14:13:00.003Z

Yesterday I had some terrible news. I was waiting for news on Ken Cauthen's condition. Some of you may remember that my dear friend Marsha Cauthen, the owner of the on-line needlework store Criss Cross Row, had suffered a terrible shock when her husband Ken had a brain aneurysm in January 2007. Marsha had helped Ken throughout his ordeal and although he never regained his short term memory he was able to function reasonably well with Marsha's help. On his last hospital visit they were told that the aneurysm needed to be re-coiled as there was a space which, for safety's sake, needed to be filled. The operation was to take place on 22nd February and should only have taken 1 1/2 hours.
Yesterday I heard from Marsha that things had gone terribly wrong and that to enable the surgical team to get to a blood clot part of Ken's skull had to be removed. As I type he is in a drug induced coma and on life support. Many of you will know or have heard of Marsha. Please include them in your prayers today. They both need all the love and prayers that we can give.

Today, to try and keep myself busy, I completed my 'Love in Williamsburg' by Giulia Punti Antichi. I decided to leave of the lettering and finished it as a cube stand up. I am very pleased with the result which you can see below.

My Latest Stitching Project

2008-02-23T13:57:00.002Z

I always love it when I get a package in the post and this was no different. My order from Lois at Elegant Stitch has arrived. I have joined the Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers club and this was my first chart. The chart is entitled 'Where My Heart Blooms'. I have joined the club with the pattern,fabric and threads option. Not, of course, that I need any more threads but I love the idea of the complete kit. I know - I'm lazy but there we are.

The charts will come every 2 months and at the end there will be a mystery sampler made up of elements from all 6 previous charts.

I have also completed yet another Victorian Shoulderette. This time I have made a matching hat to complement it. Needless to say the hat is not for me but for my son's wonderful partner who, I think, deserves much more. Now that I shall be finishing work I am hoping that I shall be able to help with the children so that she can have a little time to herself.

I am in countdown mode now for finishing work. Two weeks and two days to go. Now it cannot come fast enough.

I'm off now to put the first stitches in my 'Where My Heart Blooms'

At Last......

2008-02-18T14:32:00.002Z

Yes I know I've been winging on and on about handing in my notice and I know it must have bored the pants off of you but I finally did it last Monday and I'm FREE. My last day will be on 11th March just in time to fly to Delaware for Criss Cross Row's Acadamy classes. I'm taking Wendy White and Catherine Theron's classes. It will be a fun filled few days.Once I return I can stitch, quilt and knit at my leisure. I suppose somewhere amongst that lot I should really mention cleaning but somehow it doesn't seem very important.
Jim's operation went very well. He was in the Clementine Churchill for one night only and then home. He's healing very well, with a great range of movement in his arm.
Last Saturday I had a Sampler Guild gathering at my house. We really are so lucky in that we have found such a wonderful group of women with whom to share our love of stitching. We really care about each other and share our ups and downs. Meeting up as we do has become a very important part of my life and I am very thankful for it.
It speaks volumes about me that I agreed to have my two beautiful grandsons to stay overnight on the same day as the Guild gathering.There was 20 minutes space between the ladies leaving and Dylan and Luke arriving. On Sunday morning I looked like my worst nightmare. But stitching is a healer and by Sunday evening I was back to what passes (for me) as normal. Now I'm off to daydream about freedom...................

Weekend Talk

2008-02-10T16:18:00.000Z

I felt a great feeling of relief this Friday. At last I told work that I would definitely be leaving, if not in December, then sooner if my pension will allow. Now I'm of the opinion that I cannot wait until December. There is so much that I could be doing and I resent time spent working where appreciation is never shown. Lip service is easy and doesn't cost anything but rewarding senior staff could be a saving grace. They havn't learnt this lesson in the 11 years that I have been working for them and for that reason discontent is rife. I made a decision in the last week spent at home that I really didn't want to carry on working in an atmosphere that has changed from enjoyment in hard work to malcontent at little recompense. Immediately the words wereout of my mouth so I felt that a great weight had been lifted. I'm now in charge of my own life.

Jim goes into hospital tomorrow to have a shoulder arthroscopy and depbridement. He will be in overnight provoding they find nothing else wrong. Then he will be forced to take 2 weeks off and rest the right shoulder/arm. Many years ago I worked at this particular private hospital and I know he will be well looked after in almost (for a hospital) luxurious surroundings.

This weekend's finish is shown below. This is another chart by the French designer Atalie entitled Avril 2007. Perhaps now my biscornu phase in completed. I had fun stitching this one but enough is enough and I shall cast on this evening for another Victorian Shoulderette. I plan on beading the lace edging on this one.

On the Upside

2008-02-06T14:52:00.000Z

This week didn't start well. I caught some sort of bug and I've been at home struggling to get rid of it. I actually don't know what was worse - the anitibotics or the bug. However today I feel a bit more normal. Yes I can hear you all asking 'What is normal for her?' Normal is feeling able to stitch and complete a project that I started the weekend before last. This is a bicornu designed by Le Fil Atalie. You can view her designs at This biscornu is the design for October. The chart is in colour although the instructions are in French. However, you don't need the instructions to stitch this. So thst is the upside to being off sick,

The back of the biscornu is a very quick stitch. I didn't have the Atalie floss with which the design should be stitched but I chose colours from The Thread Gatherer which I had in my stash

I also have the chart for The April Biscornu and I think I shall stitch this next.
On another front I have sorted out my stash and put some things on Ebay. I was very firm with myself. Anything that I knew I wouldn't stitch this year went. The problem is that I don't seem to have created any space at all. The drawers to the filing cabinet are still stuffed. Maybe I need to even more strict.

Finshed Items at Last

2008-02-02T13:28:00.000Z

As I promised I managed to upload some finishes to show you. This is the finished Victorian Shoulderette. I am so pleased with the way this has turned out and I really love the Dream in Color Smoochey yarn that I used. It knits so beautifully. I intend starting another but this time in Posh Yarn 'Lucia'. I also thought that I might try adding beads to the bottom of the next shoulderette

The next finish is 'Ghosties and Ghoulies' by Brightneedle. This was a class that I took in 2006. That shows how slowly I finished that one. Actually I had completed the stitching but put it aside to finish. This piece is just so sweet.

And then finally...... my Merry Cox piece from Williamsburg 2006. I held of this conmpleteing this because whilst taking the class my Son and Daughter-in-Law told us they were expecting another birthday. I waited until Luke was born and then added his initials.

I'm now well on the way to completing Merry Cox's piece which I took at Williamsburg last Christmas. Merry isn't teaching Christmas 2008 and I'm not going either. I didn't think that I could manage Williamsburg and Ackworth again in one year as I did in 2006.

Time Flies

2008-01-30T11:30:00.000Z

I promised myself that I would sign into my blog every day and at least post something of interest that had happened during the day. O.K. - so that hasn't happened. What a surprise!
On Friday my good friend Patti came around and endeavoured to show me how to organise this blog. As you can see success didn't come easily. No pictures of finished items. No pictures of family or even of me, the blog writer. Friday is my day off and I promise myself that I shall spend some time attempting to upload photos.

I don't know what I caught this week but I do know that I have had to force myself to stay awake for the past few days. Come the evening I could cheerfully give up and go to bed. But I have forced myself to stitch mainly because I really want to get my Merry Cox ' Williamsburg' piece finished to show. Because I have been interspersing knitting with stitching I havn't managed to get as much done. I admit that I would usually have finished the project well before this in other years.

Work has been especially busy of late. I don't understand moves that promise to make a GP's surgery paperless turning out to mean 'Covered by more paper than one can ever deal with in the time allocated!!!!!' Whatever happened to 'put the patient first'???? Effectively it's now 'Fill every form in triplicate before the patient sits down in the consulting room and then send the triplicated forms on a journey around the surgery to different admin staff to be procesed'.

But - enough of this winging. Should anyone ever visit this blog they will think (maybe correctly) that I am a mad woman. I'm not - I just work in the NHS!

My Days and Evenings ......

2008-01-25T10:48:00.001Z

My days or evenings never turn out as planned. After walking the dogs and nearly getting blown away in the evening gale and soaked in the driving rain, I collapsed in a heap in the chair and didn't have the energy to do anything but knit. I'm working on the Victorian Shoulderette by Sivia Harding.

This pattern is a joy to knit. The instructions are easy to follow and I especially like the way the bottom band of lace is knit at a different angle than the rest of the shoulderette. As soon as I learn how I shall post a picture. I'm nearly finished it now and I really think that I shall knit another soon.On the needlework front - I still have my Merry Cox Christmas in Williamsburg peice to complete. I have completed three sides of the design. It grows so quickly because it is mainly tent stitch. I cannot wait to see my finished piece and although it sounds as if knitting has overtaken needlework in my life, it isn't really like that. I love the way knitting has made a revival and all the hand dyed yarns there are around at the moment. Wool is so tactile. It really is a needleworkers faullt that I returned to knitting at all. I was introduced to sock knitting at ASG in Louisville in October 06 and I have been hooked ever since. I'm really thankful that my son's partners all love handknitted socks!

This is a bit like Alice.................................

2008-01-21T11:38:00.000Z

Well, here I am with my first ever blog. What to say? This morning was so dark and dreary so I felt I needed to be cheered up. What did I do? Well, what I always do and that is buy something. This day's something happened to be wonderful Dream in Color Smoochy yarn from Socktopus. It just goes to show what a google search will throw up. In all my searches over the past year I had never found Socktopus before. I'm not quite sure how I can have missed such a wonderful choice of hand dyed yarns available here in the UK. That means NO CUSTOM charge. I was on top of the world and one thing led to another and so the blog was born. Will I have time to write down my thoughts every day? Who knows, least of all me but I can only go with the flow.
Later on in the morning my day was brightened even more by the arrival of a pink package from Posh Yarn. The package was full of Laura Noble, Laura Maze and Lei Glimmer. Now, I have no idea what I am going to knit but I do know that it will be a shawl or stole. I have knitted several of Evelyn Clark's designs recently and just love them. Tonight will be taken up with the pattern search.