Snowdrops

After moving my seat from in front of the rockery I can now see the pots of snowdrops that had been hiding there.

Gardening

Spring must be on it's way! LOL I've started the garden clean up that I should have done in the Autumn last year and planted some early seeds. Pete let me get a heated propagator and even said I should get the bigger one!

That led to going through the garage and the shed to clear the benches ready for the seedlings once they have started to grow - I wish I had a greenhouse. Even though we have a big garden we didn't really plan a place for one.

When Pete rebuild the garage a few years ago he built a potting shelf in the extension for me but he kept using it for all his woodworky type things. Now there's another big workshelf which can be lowered - but never is - and that's covered with his things as well! So I'm reclaiming my potting bench in front of the window.

I had forgotten what gardening does to your hands though - I'll have to be a bit more thorough with the Udderly Smooth! I love it. A friend gave me some for my feet as well. I usually have a pot by my bedside table and a pot in the kitchen (which is finished) and a small tube in my sewing bag

Playing with layout

Well I've been playing again, discovered some helpful things about my blog. I hope they work out. Next thing I want to do is decorate the 'pink' sidebars. Will have to think about that for a long time.
By the way I hope you like the picture at the top I thought my photos should be shared and I will be changing them every now and then . I just like to share! They are all photos I've taken over the years. If you want to see more then you have to follow this blog.
Thank you to those who are following my blog, putting the link in the sidebar seems to help. I've also discovered the blog link which is really a duplicate of what I had before with more features.

Felted flowers

Before felting















and after

Coq Au Pins 2

Well Coq is complete. I've taken a photo of each side as the design is different. Unfortunately I think I've made his beak a bit small. I don't think he will be able to eat - will he starve?

Help needed

I'm trying to kit up a blackwork sampler that I want to make for my Ruby wedding in 2011. Yes I know it's a long time off but if I don't plan it now it will never get done.

I have the chart from Carol Leather see
http://www.x-calibredesigns.co.uk/html/special_occasions.html

I thought of red fabby with white/off white/pale pink silk floss. Anyone any ideas?

Calico Gardens workshop 2

For those who have seen my Calico Gardens before - this is just to stay that I've just started another, I've done Natural Calico, Purple Calico and now I've started Brown Calico.

The calico has been tea dyed and I'm trying to put on different tones of fawn and brown. I can't believe it's taken me all day to do this small piece. There is still a lot of work to be done on it.

Fractured colour HD

I made this piece of fractured colour ages ago and the cushion pad finally came today so it's now complete. The colour scheme looks wrong on my stitching chair, but it will look great in either of our two spare bedrooms - well actually they are DH study and my workroom - so they are not really spare.

Sorting

As mentioned on earlier posts I've been having a sort out. All my speciality threads were sorted but haphazardly stored in two boxes that my wine glasses from Prague came in.


Now they are properly sorted on rings and half of them are in two nice blue plastic boxes I found in town today.






All I need now is two or three more blue boxes for the rest next time I go into town!

Visit

DS arrived yesterday and we had a pleasant evening around the dinner table - the tv didn't go on once! He's just gone off to see his aunt and will be back either late tonight or early tomorrow morning as she has to go back to work.
This morning he took me to Raspberry Bazzar in Tynemouth where I bought a loose jacket for the spring. It was half price in their sale. Then we went to a second hand bookstore where he bought some science fiction books for £1.50 each.

When we got home he helped me tie up some plants around my garden arch. Every time I looked out of the kitchen window it bugged me that they needed tying back as they were just about to wrap themselves round the tree above. There's jasmin and another two climbers in there and they are all intertwined together.

Stash Clear out

Well really a stash clear up. DS here for a visit and in order to give him a bed to sleep on I had to tidy my work room. (Sorry I don't have before and after pictures) but you wouldn't really like to see the mess, boxes and plastic bags everywhere.Well that's not the whole truth either - I was getting to the stage where I couldn't find things. So the last week I've been sorting and finding things I forgot I had in order to put them back in their rightful place. I have a very bad habit of going on courses and leaving the bags/boxes unsorted. Two things I was looking for, my felting needles and a piece of work called 'Purple Calico' Well the good news is I found 'Purple Calico' but not my felting needles, I bought some more for the felting I did at the weekend. I also found lots of my speciality threads which had been taken out for a variety of projects and never got back in their rightful places. So they are all sorted again. I really do have an awful lot of stash!

Flower brooch

I've been doing a bit of finishing this afternoon. This is a knitted flower that I felted in the machine. Unfortunately the red petals are not pure wool and they haven't felted as much as I would have liked.

Needle felted brooch

Having fun, sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy, but then the brooch is fuzzy anyway.

Felted heart earrings

Had a nice afternoon at our Guild meeting felting hearts. I made small ones and turned them into earrings. Love them but don't know when I would wear them apart from today.

New knitting

For a time I've been trying to make some fingerless gloves. The first two attempts were not a success and I only made one glove. I think I've cracked it with try number three and I've made both gloves, though I could only take a photo of one as the other was on my camera hand!

CoP HD

Well I've finished the stitching. I only have to cut out and make up now











Close up of one over one stitching on scissor keep and needle nanny

Snow pictures

Snow in the back garden after one whole day of constant snow.



























And in the front garden. The poor plants are breaking under the weight.

Back online

My modem gave up the ghost on Monday/Tuesday night. Worked one night and the next morning caput! Didn't realise how much I rely on the net, I was having real withdrawal symptoms. I must be an addict!

Anyway after two telephone calls to Virgin Media they have sent me a new modem and all is well, I can get my daily fix again. Deep breath. I was very surprised when the modem arrived this morning, it is tiny! My last one was a monster in comparison.

Coq Au Pins needle nanny

Whow I've completed this one over one piece. It looks lovely, but a bit of a nightmare to stitch. I left the petite needle in place and you can see the size of the normal stitching on the left. The colour of the fabric looks better, I took the photo in full daylight, obviously the best light for photos.

Corsage #2

Made another corsage, crocheted this one with sari wool.





This picture shows it on my jumper.










This one is on the felted bag I'm making. It still has the feet, handles and lining to be done.

Knitting

I've picked up my knitting needles again. Tried to make some fingerless gloves but tried two different wools with not much success. I've just made a corsage and it's BIG.

It's really to go on a felted bag so should look better on that.

Coq Au Pins update 3

Have just finished the Scissor case. Sorry the colour looks much whiter this time rather than the` yellow fabric.

More bithday pictures

Flowers from DS















Watch from DH

My Birthday

Having a great day. DH bought me a new watch, without my help. He chose just the one I would have chosen myself, a Citizen Quartz, round face and bracelet strap. DD gave me a new Kipling bag and crocheted a small cat to go with the usual monkey that comes with the bag. This is
Kipling #4, I have a purple, a brown, a black and now a maroon one, they are all different designs. I love them. DS sent some flowers and I opened some lovely cards from my friends that contained threads from the birthday exchange. Thank you so much girls.





We had a nice meal last night went to Brunos in Cullercoats, only marred by the fact it was very cold, fortunately I had a big scarf with me that I put round my shoulders. Two bottles of nice red wine between us. I slept fine 'till 4 o'clock this morning, then I was wide awake.
DD is on her way home now, hence the meal last night instead of tonight!

Going Out

DD, DH and I are going out for a meal tonight. An early birthday meal for me as DD goes home tomorrow lunchtime. I hope the weather further south is OK. Went for a trip to the Metro Centre. DD bought my bday present, a new bag, we are both fans of Kipling bags and I will have another maroon one tomorrow. great. I've also been looking at new watches which DH is getting me, we'll go into Newcastle tomorrow after we drop DD off to see some more.

Coq Au Pins update

I've finished the stitching for the Chicken pin cushion and the border for the front of the scissor pocket

Changes

You may notice a few changes to my blog. This is because I've just found some new gadgets. The photo at the top, I will try and change every now and then. You can also follow my blog or subscribe, at the moment I'm not sure the difference between the two, so if you know please let me know.

Feeling the cold

Don't know what the temperature is outside, but I'm freezing and I'm inside with the heating on! I'm going to have to put the gas fire on soon.

Don't know why

I'm feeling a bit down this week. Perhaps it's the weather or the time of year. I think it's because it's the end of another year for me and my birthday is next week, another year closer to a big one. Also my blood sugars have been up recently and the nurse gave me another tablet to take. I feel as if I rattle in the morning. It's brought my results down a bit however I don't think it'l be enough. Sorry for being a bit negative.

Coq Au Pins WiP

Progress so far

The photo makes the fabbie look grey, it's actually quite yellow and the thread looks more orange.

New Start

I've just started 'Coq Au Pins' by Twisted Oaks Design using Jayne's 'Dick Whittington Streets of Gold' 28ct evenweave and Dinky Dyes Limited Edition Nanna stranded thread. Thanks to my friends who are getting me some more threads - you know who you are. You can see the finished pieces at link

Finished

Well I've finished another Biscornu. The design is from Jan Houtman's 'Patchwork Quilt'. I took a quarter design and made it into a full circle ten adapted part of the design for the back. It's the first time I've done an adaptation so I hope Jan wouldn't mind. As the bisc is to go towards the sale to help keep his samplers for all to see. I'll be sending it off to Theo shortly.
I used fabric and thread from Jayne's Attic Panto pack so they are one off colours.

Another Biscournu

Well I've finished the stitching on a new biscournu. It's for the Jan Houtman Trust. I've used a design from 'Patchwork Quilt' and then adapted the design for the back. It's the first time I've tried an adaptation like this.

I used fabric and thread from Jayne's Panto pack.

My First Finish for 2009

I started 'A Good Vintage' when I came back from new Year holiday, 6th January and I've just finished it although it's not framed yet. I love it.

Thought it was time

I posted a few pictures. These are from our Guild Christmas Exhibition. I've only just downloaded them from my camera.

First my cushion, I'm not sure I like it.Andrew's Red Dragon

My bottle hanging and the 'Jean' hanging on the wall.

Our Branch banner, I did the co-ordination and some of the stitching, but lots of people had a hand in the rest of the sewing.

Suzy's sampler I made at Carol's workshop 'I Did it My Way'

You can see my three 'Eternal Flame' candles on display

Happy New Year

We are now into 2009 and I hope you all have a brilliant year with lots of good fortune.

Happy Christmas

Well it's almost here only a few hours to go. I hope everyone who reads this has a fantastic time over the holidays.

Are you all looking forward to opening the presents? - I am.

Just been for a walk round the streets where my DD lives. DS will be arriving in about two and a half hours and we are all sitting with computers buzzing. The cats are asleep and we just have the food to prepare for tomorrow. What a lazy time.

Stitching hugs to you all.

Sheila

Whow 2 weeks to go

I can't believe we just have over two weeks to go 'till Christmas Day. Where does the time go? It's cold enough for snow again and we are due some nasty weather tomorrow (Saturday). It's our Embroiderers' Guild Christmas Exhibition and I just hope it doesn't stop people coming out.