The Peculiarity of Computers

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

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

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

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

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

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....................

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.