Castles is framed - AT LAST!

After weeks and weeks I have been to the framers.
Here is how my Castles In The Air looks now.

I am absolutely thrilled with how it has been done and can't wait for Mr Midge to come home and hang it on the wall.
Bye for now.

Slow progress

Hi folks, it is ages since I have stitched - or seems it - but as November is well and truly here I decided that I should make a start on this month's Snap.
Here is a work in progress shot.

Lovely colours to work with is this month.
The framer called yesterday to say that my Castles in the Air is ready to collect. I can't wait to see it.
Once I complete November's Snap I really need to crack on with the Advent Calendar. Not too much to do but I really want it complete for 1st Dec.
I'll take a photo when I get home from the framer.
Bye for now.

Alex's Birthday Cake.

Today is my son's 8th birthday. He asked me to bake him a cake for his birthday as he doesn't like the fondant icing on the kind of cakes that are aimed at children in the shops.
Anyway, we picked out this cake from Ruth's blogThe pink whisk - caramel cake and here is my version.

It's a bit messier than Ruths because I think I made the icing too thin but when I put it on a plate this evening it will be fine.
I used a flake on top instead of Dime bars as I couldn't get them in my local supermarket.
Have a look at The pink whisk blog because it has loads of fabulous recipies for people who like to bake - not chefs. She makes it easy with step-by-step photo's and  everything I have tried turns out deliciously scrummy.
He has picked his favourite tea tonight - Macaroni cheese with bacon so I guess I'd better crack on with that now before I collect him from school and then it will only need a quick bake in the oven.
Bye for now.

Tree of Stitches.

After joining up to the Stitch Specialists I thought I had better get a wriggle on with this. I am working on 32ct turquoise Zwiegart evenweave with DMC thread (310) I have completed the first 3 parts of this. I love the different speciality stitches and really missed them since Castles in the Air has been finished. Eyelets are next!

Bye for now.

October TUSAL and two UFO's!

Hi everyone. It's Tusal time and here is the update this month.

I have had to tamp it down so that the whole years worth will fit in.

I have also had a good old tidy out of my craft store and I found these two UFO's. The first is a Latch hook rug I started for my daughter a long time ago. I asked her if she still wanted me to complete it and she does as apparently "Eeyore is so cool" I am over the hump with it and will see how much I can get done before poor Eeyore falls out of favour with the 12 yr old fashionista.

The second find was a quilt panel Advent calendar. This was also bought ages ago but never even started so out comes the sewing machine and dressmaking shears and I begin. I've cut out the pockets and top stitched them I have pressed them into the final shape be it a single, two, three or five pocket strip. I have started to attach the pockets to the base fabric and it is fiddly but quite easy. I will have to go shopping for some wadding, backing fabric and bias tape but hopefully this will be done in time for Advent starting on Dec. 1st.

There are so many projects in my craft cupboard I haven't got on with and I know that I designated 2011 the year of the UFO but I think it may have to run on through 2012.
Bye for now and thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Pearl tissue case

Some of you may remember back in February I went to visit Polstitches shop in Wales. I bought this pattern whilst I was there and stitched it up. It has however, lain in my sewing box for ages waiting to be finished. Anyway, I bit the bullet and decided I should get on with it and here it is.

I am really pleased with it.

I hope to have some progress soon on my other projects.
Bye for now.

October's Snap

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but life just gets in the way sometimes.
I thought I'd better crack on with October's Snap and here it is.

I can't believe that there are only two more parts to go, this year has absolutely flown by.
Bye for now.