TUSAL, New Starts & Shopping

 

Firstly TUSAL ~ left shows my ORT's for June and right shows the first six months of this year in a christmas bauble.  You can see there are many colour changes ~ for me there are just a few too many fuzzy bits!

I have a number of new starts ~ unfortunately I can't show any of them here yet.  There should be one that could be pictured if only I could establish where it is!  It's a freebie from The Primitive Hare called Merry Yule ~ my Christmas Ornament for June.  It's still a WIP at the moment ~ I will show it once I can find it and get a photograph.  The others are all birthday gifts for Tuesday Stitching Group which should be finished and re-homed soon.

I bought these fabrics from Michelle who was having a bit of a de-stash ~ I love the colours, especially the green.  I have plans for at least one of them but at the moment I'm not sure about the others ~ they will be found a use!

I also bought the new book by Mandy Shaw from Dandelion Designs ~ Stitch With Love

It's full of gorgeous stitcheries and things to make such as cushions, bags, blanket a Christmas wreath and gift tags, aprons and the fabulous sewing tidy pictured below. 

Hope you're enjoying the weekend.

Kate

I have Lots To Tell You

As I've been missing for a wee while ~ I thought I'd split up my posting into several small ones to prevent boredom setting in with one long one!
Firstly, thanks to all who sent kind wishes for my Mum they have been very much appreciated.  She's recovering well but the fall has definitely knocked her confidence.  She's sporting a cast on her wrist for the next four weeks but thankfully the stitches are removed and the bruising is almost gone.  Bro4 is here for the weekend and planning on taking the WP's out and about so hopefully that will give her a good lift.
It's gorgeous here so far today ~ I have almost all the laundry done and hanging in the sunshine and I still have plenty of other chores to keep me busy but I am hoping for some time to relax in the garden too.  The house is quiet as LM has taken the LM car off for a bit of TLC, GB1 is off to work and hoping for a relatively calm shift and GB2 is away for the weekend.  It's sometimes nice to have the house to yourself don't you think?

I'll leave you with a picture of All You Need Is Love by The Drawn Thread.  The stitching has been finished for quite some time as it was intended as a Valentine gift for LM.  I had originally planned a tin finish but I haven't finished anything that way before and couldn't cope with the idea of glue going wrong on this piece.  So it sat waiting until recently when I found this frame ~ it's a bit battered but I thought it would be perfect.  I love it and I hope LM does too.  Valentine's gifts are OK in July ~ right?
Have a fabulous Saturday.

Kate

I am still here!

Sorry for the lack of posting, unfortunately my lovely Mum had a fall last week so I've been a wee bit pre-occupied.
I have lots to share so will try to get back soon.

Hope all is well with you.

Kate

Artistic Friday Mark II

Friday lunchtime I finished work and set off for The Crafts House, collecting the Lovely C on the way ~ after an unscheduled stop to pick up my glasses that I forgot!  We were booked in for a spot of summer painting ~ some had already arrived and Sandra was being the hostess with the mostest and dishing up teas & coffees while we waited for the others to arrive.

This was our first project ~ it's made from layers of torn text from a dictionary, diluted paint, sequin waste printing (didn't like that bit!) card shapes, stamping and beads.  The workshop is designed so that we make three things in 3 hours, we were almost finished this after hour 1 and it was set aside with just the beads to be added later.

Project number two was this ---------->

We painted the sides and back of the blocks then applied papers, inked the edges of the blocks and the letters, embellished and then they were wired together with added beads.

And finally this cute little birdhouse.  Painted & with papers applied.  Some inked text added before stamping and finishing with little pen dots & lines.  It's not the best photograph ~ it's just so dark here today.

It was a lovely afternoon ~ as it always is ~ Sandra had make carrot cake and strudel, there were fresh strawberries and cream too, and surprisingly we (and I'm only talking about the Lovely C & I) had time to eat some. I added the beads to the top project after dinner last night ~ I mixed some that came in the kit with some from my stash together with some sequins and used invisible thread to do it.

It was the perfect way to end the week, very relaxing ~ Thanks Sandra.  Hopefully I will be on The Hill again very soon.

Kate

I'd like to update you ......

...... but I am currently unable to upload photographs ~ I'm not delighted about this.  I shall just have to wait patiently ~ I hope you can too.

Mystery Purchase

Cast your mind back to March and The Pins & Needles Exhibition at the Newcastle Arena ~ if you can remember what I was rambling on about back then you will be my hero!
I made a mystery purchase at the exhibition which I promised to show once I had found the finishing touch for it ~

This is an old mill bobbin converted to a lamp ~ it came without a shade. The original one I bought was the same colour & shape but far too small, so it was returned and this larger one bought in it's place.

 When it was converted felt was added to the bottom so it's fit to sit on any surface.

The picture to the right shows the label on top ~ I'm not too sure why I didn't turn the lamp before I photographed this!

I love the light my mystery purchase casts ~ I really like the reflection too.

I just love this lamp.

Tomorrow, or it might be today by the time this post is published, I am off to The Crafts House for a spot of painting/crafting.  The lovely C and I have signed up for the four seasonal crafting sessions.  The Spring session was back in March and you can see what we did here and here.  We have no idea what we will be making ~ only that it will be summer themed.  We do know however, that we will enjoy ourselves ~ Sandra always makes sure of it.

I managed another 30 minutes cycling after work ~ I didn't feel like it but it had to be done.  I'll try to get out again over the weekend, GB2 may come with me ~ but I will probably have to cycle 5 metres behind him so as not to damage his street cred!  It's likely that I will be much further behind him ~ he has teenage legs!
It's just me and the GB's this weekend ~ LM is away in France camping with a group from the TVR Club, they've gone to watch 24 Heures du Mans.  He'll return home creaking from sleeping on a camp bed, possibly pink from too much sun exposure, unshaven, full of silly boy tales and probably malnourished from a diet of pot noodle and haribo star mix.  I'm sure it will all be great.
I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to the weekend ~ enjoy whatever you may be doing.

Kate

Cycling Update

There wasn't any this morning!  The weather was perfect, bright and warm.  I had decided that start time would be 06:45 ~ leaving plenty of time for breakfast and shower before work.  LM woke me at 07:30 ~ he said I looked too peaceful and he didn't want to disturb me!
There is always tomorrow ~ it will no doubt be raining cats & dogs then.  To compensate (slightly) I have been running up and down the stairs in the office ~ would have preferred the bike ride.
Moan over!

Kate