Around the World part 6

This was a lovely quick stitch and I'm happy to say I'm up to date with the SAL.

The pic is a bit dark but it's the best I can do untill I find the camera.
I'm back onto my Birds of a Feather project now.
Bye for now.

Around the World part 5

I have now completed part 5 and here is the pic.

Part 6 is out and I have already done the outline so I should have caught up by the time the next part is out.
Autumn is really on it's way now. The last of the tomatoes are ripening in the greenhouse, the beans are all picked and either eaten or frozen, I have a store of soft fruit in the freezer to last the winter and my butternut squashes are swelling nicely with all the rain we are having here in Yorkshire. The nights are drawing in - it's dark at 7.30 pm now - and the time of year when I get on with my crafting.
I have lost another two pounds on my "sort of" diet and so I'm really pleased with that.
Thanks for dropping by, I'm sorry I have neglected you so badly over the summer.
Bye for now.

Around the world - part 4

Hi folks, sorry I have been AWOL for so long but the holidays are over, the children go back to school on Monday and I should be able to get on with a few of my projects.
Here is an update on ATW.

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We have been away in Tenerife for a few weeks during August and had a wonderfully relaxing time. Loads of sunshine, book reading, walking and swimming - pure bliss.
Bye for now.

Around the world - part 3

Here is my completed part 3.

The school holidays are upon us and all my time seems to disappear. I have promised myself I will complete part 4 before we head out to Tenerife in August.
Hope you are all well and thanks for looking in.
Bye for now.

Around the World - Part 2

After a very wet Jubilee holiday I have managed to catch up on some of my stitching projects.
Part 2 of Around the World in 80 Stitches is now complete and as with all Yvonnes designs, I have loved stitching it.

The Mordivian stitch was a "right Royal pain in the you know what!" I had to frog it several times before I was happy. I also wimped out and did the no-cut hardanger but I still like it and I wasn't sure how it would look when it was framed if I'd cut it..
Right, I'm going to have a quick flick around with a duster and the vacuum and then I'll settle down with my birds of a feather project. Hopefully I'll get an update to you soon.
Bye for now.

Hello strangers!

Hello my friends and fellow bloggers, long time no post. Life has got in the way of everything and the last few weeks have been very hectic.
I have managed to lose a total of 11lbs now so I'm pretty pleased with that and with my next holiday looming in August I can envisage losing another 7 before we go. YAY go me!!!!
Not much stitching has been done, although I have finally completed part 1 of Papillon Creations new SAL - Around the world in 80 stitches.

I love how Yvonne designs these, they are so beautifully thought out.
Right well, part 2 is here and I have a Jubilee weekend to prepare - loads of family fun, BBQ's, friends around and to top it off a cricket match at the local club - here's hoping the good weather holds.
Bye for now.

Home from the hols and ready to start.

We have had a wonderful break in Spain and are back renewed and ready to get on with some stitching.
I got home to an e-mail telling me that the new SAL was available at Papillon Creations. It is called Around the World in 80 Stitches and will be complete in 24 parts. The project will "travel" the world and teach new stitches along the way. I am really looking forwards to starting.
Here are my choices of thread and fabric.

Hopefully, my next post will be a progress picture.
Bye for now.

Birds of a feather update (and other mutterings.)

I have worked a little more on this over the weekend.

I am enjoying this one very much. Also read the good news that there is to be a new stitch-a-long from Papillon creations starting mid April and I can't wait. I have picked out all my threads and fabric so I can crack on once the first part is published.

My friend Agi has updated her blog with some lovely new items to stitch. There is a gorgeous twist that I think would be lovely filled with lavender as a gift for someone special. Why not head over to her blog and check them out You can see her blog here

The weather here is just beautiful and my cherry tree is in full bloom. Here is a pic

There isn't a cloud in the sky and it is really warm, I can hardly believe it is March, it feels much more like June.
Got loads to do in the greenhouse today - pricking out etc and will do that whilst listening to the Test Match on the radio.
Bye for now.

Tusal 22nd March

Here is this month's ORT collection.

It is sat on the ironing board in my living room and the eagle-eyed amongst you might be able to spot Castles in the Air up on the wall.
I'll be back soon with an update on Birds Of A Feather.
Bye for now.

Update on Birds of a feather.

I have worked a little more on this design and it is a beautiful design to work.

I have added some of the metallic thread to the border and as usual, it was badly behaved despite using thread heaven (which does help)

It is 4 1/2 weeks to our holiday in Spain and I am very pleased to report that I have managed to lose 8lbs since the start of the year. I'm not sure that I am going to make my target of a stone (14lbs) but I feel so much better nad all my clothes fit so much better now.

The days are really starting to lengthen here and the growing season will soon be upon us, in fact I already have some forced rhubarb almost ready for picking and my early potatoes are shooting up and have already been earthed up once. I love this time of year, almost every day there is something new to look at in the garden and that continues right through untill mid May when it is at it's best - in my opinion.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
By for now.

I'm so naughty!!

I know that I wasn't going to start anything new untill I had completed one of my UFO's but I have had this kitted up for ages and have been itching to start it.
It is the Birds Of A Feather sampler from Papillon Creations. I thought it would be a nice companion piece for Castles in the Air.
Here is where i am just now.

The box at the top is part of the border. and the "blobs" are Tied Windmill stitches.
Hope you like it as much as me and thanks for dropping by.

Tusal 21st Feb.

Here it is.......................

 You might be able to see some peacock colours in there from a new project. I'll update that later for you as it is only just begun.
Bye for now.

Table runner update.

I have done a few more kloster blocks on my table runner. I had a bit of unpicking to do as I was one thread out when I tried to join up one of the diamonds and I was somewhat irritated to say the least. Anyway, here it is......

The thermometer is reading -7C this morning and we are forcast snow this weekend and into next week so maybe I will get some more done whilst being snuggled up on the sofa.
Mr Midge is going to Scotland in the morning to watch the 6 Nations Rugby match and hopefully will be home on Sunday morning - weather permitting.
Keep warm and thanks for dropping by.

The owl has landed.

A few weeks ago my beautiful daughter and I were shopping and we saw a cushion in the shape of an owl. Beth loves owls and really wanted the cushion but it was soooooo expensive I persuaded her we could make one instead. This weekend we sorted through our "bit-bag" and started work.
It wasn't easy teaching her to use the machine as she is somewhat heavy footed but eventually we produced this ......

..... She is absolutely thrilled with it and it now has pride of place on her bed.

I have also made a little progress on the table runner and I will photograph that later to show you.
Thanks for reading my blog today and welcome to my new followers.
Bye for now.

Tusal - Jan 23rd

Here is my TUSAL.

As you can see, there is not much in it just some of the perle thread from the hardanger table runner.
Hopefully my next update will be a bit fuller.
Bye for now.

Picture as promised.

I did a few more blocks last night and here is a pic of how far I got.

The instructions say to work all the Kloster blocks first so I shall be busy for a while.
I'll be back soon with another update.

Where does the time go?

Hi, sorry I haven't been around but we have had the lurgy! All of us have been suffering with sore throats, coughs and general malaise. Anyway, we are all on the mend now.
The peacock and pheasants have been sidelined as the confetti is driving me crackers and I want something I can get stuck into. Have I picked up one of my many UFO's? No I haven't! I have decided to start a hardanger table runner that I bought over a year ago. I got it out of the packet and it is huge. So far I have marked the fabric (top right as I always do) and done the first set of Kloster blocks. I have never done this on such a large scale before - although it is a repeating pattern - and I am finding it quite testing with the evenweave fabric and thick (perle no5) thread. There is nothing worth showing at the moment but when there is you will have pics.
My healthy eating has gone a bit astray whilst we have had this bug but luckily I haven't gained weight. I am now back on it and meeting my friend for a one hour power walk before we collect the children from school.
Mr Midge is indulging in a ski trip this weekend and I am thinking up activities for the children to do. So far we are going to bake and maybe - weather permitting go for a picnic. I thought if we were all wrapped up the fresh air would do us good plus food is lovely when eaten outdoors and my daughter has no appetite whatsoever.
Hopefully I'll be back with an update soon.
Bye for now.

Happy New Year

Hi everyone and may I wish you all the happiest and healthiest year possible.
I have not stitched for over two weeks as we have had familly staying with us and the constant rounds of food, clearing away and conversation have kept me away from my projects.
I am just retrieving my Peacock and Pheasant project from the depths of my stitching cupboard and plan to have a few hours on it this afternoon.
Here is where I left off.

I want to get a good start on this before the new SAL from Papillon Creations starts sometime in January.
I have so many UFO's and unstarted projects in my stash that I have promised myself I will not buy anything new to start this year. I even have enough fabric and threads to make a start on the Papillon SAL. The only thing I have decided to allow myself to buy is stranded floss that I run out of during the course of the year.

As for other New Year Resolutions, I really need to lose some weight (oh hear she goes I hear you say) my last check up with our practice nurse (I went for a smear test) showed my blood pressure was up - not dangerously - and as we all know dropping weight and doing more excercise really help so that combined with a holiday in Spain looming at Easter has given me some serious motivation. I am aiming for a stone (14lbs) by 2nd April. I have another appointment with the nurse on the 9th Jan so I'll let you know how I get on.

As most of my regular followers will know I am a keen gardener and I have been going through my seed packets and trying to decide what to grow this year. I am waiting for a nice day and then I will get my greenhouse scrubbed out and ready for the seed trays to go onto the stageing.

Well I had better make a start or my afternoon will have disappeared.
Bye for now.