When you open a drawer....

Thanks for all the lovely comments last time round, both about my stitching and the wedding pictures.  Three weeks since the wedding and it seems ages ago now.  The honeymooners are home and back to the real world – work!!! 

A little progress to share on A Sampler Story.  The filling in done on the 10th block which, even though I have a love/hate relationship with filling in, I enjoyed and on to the next one.  Love this block.  The nursery rhyme Little Boy Blue has been rolling round in my head while I’ve been stitching this so I feel as though the next block should have cows and the wording ‘the cow’s in the corn’!! It doesn’t!!!!

With my parents now content to be living in residential care I’m gradually starting to sort and clear their house.  We have no plans to sell the house yet but with it unoccupied there are things there of sentimental value, both to my parents and myself, that I would hate to have anything happen too should the worst case scenario of the house being broken into happen.  I don’t remember my maternal grandmother as she died when I was 2.  I always knew that she was gifted when it came to needle and thread and that she worked as a milliner before she got married.  I’ve loved coming across items that belonged to her, some that I knew were somewhere in the house, some that I didn’t.

Here are two of her needle cases.  I knew about this one….

But had no idea there was another one…..

Then I came across a bag with some linen hankies inside.  I found these in amongst them….

And, a real little gem was finding these antique collars folded up in the middle of the hankies. I’d no idea these were there and it was like finding an extra little treasure.

I love that I now have these and I’m wondering if there is any way I could display the collars and hankies.  Thoughts anyone?  Could I get them framed do you think? I feel like they deserve to be seen and not shut away in a drawer.

Well, that’s all from me for this time.  Hope all is well with you and yours and given that it’s almost the weekend – have a good one!

Until next time…

As the dust settles....

Hi everyone!  I had this insane idea that I would manage another blog post before our daughter’s wedding.  A combination of being busy and lack of stitching time and even though I thought I might do a quick fly-by post well, obviously it didn’t happen!  Although the wedding happened on May 24th it has taken more time than I thought it would to get settled back into a more normal routine and I’ve really only got back to some stitching in the last few days.

Stitching first.  Well, there I was being all smug about getting caught up on A Sampler Story.  Didn’t take me long to fall off that particular wagon.  Here is where I’m too…

I had made a start on the 9th square right after the last time I blogged so I had made a bit of progress with that but I only finished it last week and a start made on the 10th one.  Some filling in to do which I tend to have a love/hate relationship with. So, May squares not finished but, given that the French Open tennis is on,  I’m treating myself to sitting in front of the tv, watching tennis to my heart’s content and stitching (and closing my eyes to the state of the house!) and I should get caught up (again!!).

The Sampler Company (Brenda Keyes) A Sampler Story on 32ct cream linen and suggested threads

I do have one finish to share, another of the BOAF Santas.  You know, I think this one is my favourite so far.  I think it’s the black and the red and the contrast with the fabric and he just makes me smile.

BOAF Black Santa using 32ct BOAF Meadowlark linen and suggested threads

And now to the wedding.  We had the most wonderful day. The weather co-operated by being sunny, the happy couple spent the whole time smiling and enjoying their day, I loved every minute of the day while my DH relaxed and enjoyed it more once his speech was made at the reception!!  I don’t usually share pics of my family on here but in this case, I’m making an exception….

 

(pic should be clickable if you want a closer look)

Until next time….

A house, some flowers and a santa.....

Hi everyone! Finally, a day here where the sky is blue and we’re having some much overdue sunshine and it actually feels pleasant outside!  Mind you, the weather forecasters have said to enjoy it today as by tomorrow we’ll be back to rain again!!! 

I've been enjoying PSS A Red Cottage ……

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Meadow Rue using suggested threads

I love stitching in red and houses are another favourite of mine, although it’s been a while since I stitched any. I love how the flowers pop off the linen too. Such a pretty piece to stitch.  Only the over one house to stitch (okay, I’ve sort of been putting that off!) and a couple of the red motifs and then I’ll have a finish to share.

Here’s a progress pic of the next BOAF Santa, the black one. 

Stitched on 32ct BOAF Meadowlark using suggested threads

He’s looking slightly odd without a body but I couldn’t resist stitching the stocking and having a bit of a change of colour.  I feel like he’s stitching up much more quickly than the green one.   I loved the green Santa but when I was stitching him he just seemed to drag along.  This time round, I’m feeling a lot more love for this little guy!

Another day or two working on A Red Cottage and then I plan to get back to A Sampler Story.  Having got back on track, if I’m not careful I’ll be falling behind again.

Hope all is well with you and yours!  We’re very definitely on a wedding countdown – 17 days to go - now if we could just have weather like today on the day……!!!!

Until next time……

Back on track...

Hi everyone! It’s not like I was really behind on A Sampler Story but having finished the 8th square it’s good to feel like I’m back on track with it.

 The Sampler Company's A Sampler Story stitched on 32ct Belfast cream linen using suggested threads

I’m now putting this to one side until next month (which isn’t that far away!) and going to be picking up this one again, Red Cottage by Plum Street Samplers.

 PSS Red Cottage stitched on 32ct Vintage Meadow Rue using suggested threads

It’s been sitting somewhat neglected for the last month or so.  I was thinking I hadn’t stitched any more on this since the last time I mentioned it in a blog post so I was surprised to find that I had actually stitched a little bit –  well, if you can call two leaves, a bit of stem and a chimney a little bit more!  I’m aiming to stitch on this for the rest of the month.

I do have a finish to report – the second BOAF Santa is completed. 

BOAF Green Santa stitched on 32ct BOAF Meadow Lark using suggested threads

 I felt like this guy took me forever to stitch.  I was only stitching him on Sundays, keeping on track with #santasundayxs on Instagram, and there were some Sundays that I managed no stitching at all, but it still took me 8 weeks to actual stitch him which felt like an awfully long time!!!!  So two done in 4 months!! I thought about changing tack and stitching on something different but then I thought, no, let’s keep going.  Next one up is the black one and hopefully that will be a quicker stitch!!!!!

Life is settling down gradually.  My parents are doing okay and, as each week passes, I can see them becoming more comfortable in their new surroundings.  Meanwhile, there is a big event just around the corner for us – a wedding! Our daughter will be getting married in just over 4 weeks time so we are starting to be on a countdown to that!

Hope all is well with you and yours! 

Until next time……

All about squares....

Hi everyone!  Even though life has settled down I have found that getting back to what was my old routine has been more difficult than I thought. Everything is fine, my parents are settling in to their new ‘home’ and I’m no longer feeling like I’m constantly on the go.  Instead, I feel like I’ve gone from one extreme to the other and my problem over these last few weeks has been getting myself motivated to do anything! 

About the only thing I have been feeling like doing is stitching and having felt like I was falling behind on A Sampler Story that is what I've been working on.

First of all I completed this square….

Then I figured the next square looked like a quick stitch so I would keep working on it and, sure enough, it took me no time at all to stitch this one…..

That meant I was back on track to stitching the two squares for April.  The next one turned out to be another quick stitch…..

And by then I was really feeling like I was on a roll and this is where I am on the next square…..

By the end of April I’ll have 8 squares completed and 16 to go!!!

Hope all is well with you and yours.  I still haven’t managed to catch up with everyone’s blogs but hopefully that’s the next thing I can get back on track with.  Enjoy the weekend whatever your plans!

Until next time……

New starts.....

Hi everyone!  It’s been a while.  The day after I last blogged my parents were involved in a car accident.  My father was at fault, the car in front of him stopped very suddenly and, even though he put the brakes on, he wasn’t able to avoid running into the back of it.  The car he ran into didn’t have much damage but my father’s car did, to the point that it was not worth fixing. My parents themselves were badly shaken and very sore for a number of days but fortunate that it was no worse.  So, as quickly as that, my father’s driving days were over.  At 95 it was time really that he was no longer driving although, this was the first accident he ever had in over 70 years of being behind the wheel.  Well, that changed everything, these past years they always used still having their independence with the car as the reason why they could stay home.  As you know, since last summer it has been one thing after another for them and I have spent many days driving the 120 mile round trip but this really was the thing that meant they needed to move closer to me.  Funny how things turn out, the very first residential care home I enquired at, and one which my parents knew of and had always heard good things about,  had a married couple’s flat becoming vacant mid-March.   It is about 10 mins drive from our house and they moved in two weeks ago.  They are still adjusting, it will take a while, but I am hoping that they will settle and realise that this is a positive move for them.  As for me, I’m still finding it very strange for my days not to revolve hours driving in the car!

As for stitching. As soon as I saw Paulette’s Red Cottage release I knew it was one that I had to add to my stash and move to the top of the ‘to do’ pile.  I’m loving this one and here’s my progress so far. I’m stitching it on the suggested Vintage Meadowlark although in 32ct and the suggested DMC instead of the NPI’s.

My plans for my monthly stitching of A Sampler Story have taken something of a back seat these past weeks.  I do have some progress to share, in that I have finished the 3rd and 4th blocks.  Stitching of the two blocks for March hasn’t started yet so I’m going to be way behind on that but I’m being nice to myself and not beating myself up over it!!!

Then here is La D Da’s By Her Hand.  This one was put to the one side once PSS Red Cottage arrived so I still have the personalisation to do. 

Now that my days are no longer revolving driving up and down to my parents I’m hoping to pick up the threads of my life again which will include getting back to visiting and commenting on blogs.  So often this past while when I had so little time to myself I found I just wanted to pick up my stitching, even if it was only for half an hour, rather than spend time on the computer.  I’m more than ready to be on here more now though!

Easter seems to have crept up on me this year.  We’re not having much Spring-like weather having had heavy snow last weekend that is still lying around.  DS#1 and DS#2 are coming home for the Easter weekend so I’m looking forward to that as we haven’t seen them since Christmas.  Whatever your plans this coming weekend hope it’s a lovely one.

Until next time…..

Progress.......

Hi everyone!  Goodness, I’m actually going to manage two blog posts in a month!  Been awhile since that happened!!!   I do have some progress to share on a couple of things and I am starting to get a little bit more stitching time these days which I am enjoying!

Here’s the third block from A Sampler Story.  I was a bit ‘iffy’ about this block only because it had to be filled in but, when I got down to stitching it, I had a complete change of heart and loved working on it!

Mind you, I’m not leaving myself much time to stitch the next one before the end of the month.  Going to work on that block this week and hopefully I can get it completed quickly.  

Here’s where I’m to on La D Da’s By Her Hand.  A few more of the flowers stitched and each and everyone has had to be frogged at some point when I’ve been working on the outline. I really don’t know what it is about these flowers but I seem to be developing a complex about them!!!! I'm using 32ct LL Vintage Sand Dune and the suggested overdyeds.

My first Christmas stitching for 2013 is BOAF’s Red Santa.  I’m aiming to stitch each of the BOAF Santas this year and have made a start on the green one (though can’t say I’ve stitched much of it yet!). If anyone is on Instagram, some of us are trying to work on Christmas themed pieces each Sunday.  Search for #santasundayxs and you can see what we’ve been up too.  If you want to join in you are more than welcome. It’s a no-pressure SAL, just stitch what you feel like stitching and share pics when you feel like it.

 Stitched on 32ct BOAF Meadowlark using a mix of suggested overdyeds & DMC

* Now that I've uploaded the picture I've realised I've forgotten to stitch the doll's hands and the bows in her hair!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments last time round.  The good news is that my parents celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together, at home, on February 17th!  So far, so good, my mother is doing well and she is so happy to have made it back home again.

Until next time…..