It's Raining Again!

Anybody remember that Supertramp song?  Very fitting for today in my part of the world ~ typical UK Bank Holiday Weekend weather!
I hope that whatever you are doing the rain doesn't spoil it for you.

Kate

Tartan Lovely Ness

I first saw these when LM and I were in Scotland with the TVR Club back in April ~ loved them immediately.

Recently I had an email to say the Ness were having an online sale so I thought I would just have a wee look.  I'm not really keen on buying shoes online when I have no experience of the makers sizes.  I took a gamble though and it has paid off ~ last night I walked around the house for an hour or so wearing them, looking down at the tartan gorgeousNess of them and they fit perfectly. 

 I have a dinner date with a few friends tonight and I'm trying to work out what to wear that will allow me to give my new footwear their debut ~ little things!  Speaking of dinner ~ it's a final get together for four of us who worked together before Jen disappears off to Italy for her wedding next week.  I'm looking forward to it.

Hope Tuesday is good to you.

Kate

Kind Words, Flowers & Memories

My latest temporary assignment drew to a close on Friday last week.  Fortunately I have been asked stay on for a while longer to carry out some system reviews and report my findings & recommendations.

To mark the end of my "watch" the MD organised a little thank you ~ these pretty roses were part of it.  I was very touched by the kind words and gifts ~ I've really enjoyed working with the staff there.

Now I have to admit to having a wee irrational phobia where roses are concerned.  When we were young we walked with Dad to visit Grandma & Grandpa each Sunday morning while Mum was busy making lunch and baking.  Often when Dad's roses were in bloom he would cut a bunch to take for Grandma ~ I remember one time when I was carrying said bunch of roses that an earwig came creeping out and I have associated roses with this ever since ~ silly or what?  Our Sunday morning visits were memorable for other reasons too as we were always treated to fizzy orange, cheese puffs and chocolate teacakes while the grown ups were having their cup of tea. 

As gorgeous as these roses are I couldn't keep them at home ~ my Mum has always loved roses so she now has them in her room ~ they brought a smile when I visited on Saturday, I can only wonder at what her thoughts were ~ I bet she wasn't thinking about earwigs though!

My weekend has been full of allsorts ~ shopping, ironing, opticians appointments, organising and wondering what the week ahead will bring.  GB2 has a birthday to celebrate, GB1 has exam results to collect, we have dentist appointments to attend, new glasses to collect and general busy-ness to sort things out for the return to school in September.

Have a good week.

Kate

Blog Giveaways

Sharon at Daffycat has stitched two real cuties for her giveaway based on a Bent Creek design with gnomes - a lovely scissor fob and tiny needle minder.  Beautifully stitched and finished!

Terri at Dixiesampler is having a welcome back to blogging giveaway following a bit if a traumatic time with internet/blogging related matters.  I just love the huge wooden button in Terri's profile picture ~ I need one!

It's Tuesday Stitching Group for me tonight - I should get very close to a finish!  Tomorrow evening the Lovely C is hosting a few of us from the Wednesday Quilting Group - there is usually a wee bit of hilarity so I am looking forward to it.  Quilting Group will start to meet again in early September - I think I may even get onto a quilting project when we reconvene!  I have signed up to a BOM quilt being run by Carol at Just Quilting - it's a Christmas wall hanging and I shall work on this at quilt group ~ I haven't allowed myself to start this yet as I really must get a few other things out of the way first ~ famous last words!

Smile today - people will wonder what you're up to!

Kate

 

Exchange Piece & SAL Progress

I mentioned a while ago the Summer Holiday Exchange on the Needlecraft Haven Group ~ we were to kit up a freebie pattern on a summer theme and send it to another participant.  Once we had received our kits we have the 6 weeks summer holidays to stitch and finish them ~ there will be a reveal day on the group in September and we will then learn who sent our kits to us.

This is my progress so far ~ I did tell you it was bright didn't I?

I'm not too sure why I didn't take a photograph of the package when it arrived, but I didn't! 

It's stitched on 25ct Floba with DMC thread ~ I have a plan for finishing but I can't tell you about that until later ~ I hope it works!  I managed to stitch a little more on this today while visiting Mum as she slept most of the time I was there.

This is the Best Friends SAL from Atelier Perdu ~ sadly I am way behind with this piece.  This is my progress on Part I, Part II has already arrived and Part III is due to be released very soon!

I am really enjoying this however I am finding that natural light is the best when stitching over one on 32ct fabric ~ unfortunately working 5 days a week really gets in the way.  I have a wee bit of unpicking to do ~ not something I am looking forward to ~ but I'll get there ~ eventually!

It's Monday again ~ hope you have a great week.

Kate

Ooops!

I seem to have started something new!

This is the mystery SAL from Carol at Istitchaholic

stitched on 40ct Antique White Newcastle linen with a Limited Edition hand dyed silk from Dinky Dyes called Nanna.  This was a lovely quick stitch ~ Carol provided the whole border pattern with part I, my plan is to stitch the border as I complete the subsequent parts ~ there are eight in total released every two weeks. 

The thread came in a Christmas mystery pack a few years ago ~ the theme was Pantomime and the pack contained fabulous hand dyed fabric with names like Streets of Gold & Prince Charming.  It also contained a whole host of threads ~ the Dinky Dyes ones were themed on Peter Pan, 4 in total ~ Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell & Nanna.

It's dull and overcast here this morning and I'm pleased to report that it's not raining ~ I have housey jobs to complete then I'm off to visit Mum again for the afternoon, some of the jobs may still be waiting when I return!

Have a great Sunday.

Kate

Summer Biscornu Exchange

I've had confirmation that my partner has now received the biscornu that I sent in The Friendly Stitchers Summer Biscornu Exchange.

So here is the one I stitched for Mouse ~ an internet freebie that I paid particular attention to writing down the name of the site, unfortunately it's in that "safe place" so I am unable to tell you where it came from!

Stitched on Count on Me Fabric from Jayne's Attic (no longer trading) in Rose with DMC 3608 and Caron Waterlillies Caramel.  I didn't use the whole pattern as I liked the result at this stage ~ the colours remind me of neopolitan ice cream!  And here is the back ~ I finished the biscornu with MOP buttons.  I was so pleased to hear that Mouse was delighted with her exchange piece.

You can see the biscornu that Mouse made for me here on my blog and also here on Mouse's blog ~ her pictures are better than mine.

My next post will follow quickly as I have a new SAL to show you.

Kate.