OK! Nobody Panic

Monday is nearly over and if We all stay quiet and behave it may pass by without incident ~ at least I hope so.  I still haven't worked out how Mondays can be so stealthy ~ I finish work on Friday evening and then bam! it's Monday again.
My weekend was fairly non-stop ~ Saturday having already been covered in my previous post I shall move swiftly on to Sunday

I spent the morning painting at The Crafts House and this is the completed ornament that I made.  As usual we had a few chuckles which is always good and Sandra had made a cake to celebrate Sarah's birthday ~ cake is definitely good too.

The wire hanger needs to be made a little more secure but on the whole I am very happy with my efforts ~ this will be my ornament finish for August.  Unfortunately I am still a wee bit behind as June's ornament WIP has disappeared into an incredibly "safe place" and July's hasn't been started, or chosen if I'm admitting to mis-demeanors.

I passed the afternoon visiting my Mum ~ I had collected a couple of magazines on my way so was able to read to her a little, I think she quite enjoyed just looking at the pictures too.  I managed a little stitching on my Summer Holiday Exchange piece while Mum dozed ~ I hope to have a picture to show you soon, it's bright so remember to bring your sunglasses!

While blog reading recently I stumbled upon a SAL that Carol of Istitchaholic is running ~ Part I is to be released this coming weekend and I'm looking forward to it.  I'm off to check whether I have sufficient 40ct fabric and to check out what thread I might use for it.

Remember, stay quiet and keep out of mischief ~ I'll try my best too!

Kate

Another Sunday

and that means that Monday will arrive soon!

We had torrential rain yesterday ~ I was out and about for much of the day ~ weigh in followed by a visit to see my Mum with my Sis2 who was down from Scotland for the weekend.  Managed a short visit to Just Quilting on my way home to collect some batting that I needed.  Always a pleasure to be welcomed there, the assembled ladies were doing a class making quilts from jelly rolls with Lucie and they were all looking fabulous.

The rain seemed at it's worst on my journey home and I made a detour from my usual route as part of it was flooded and I wasn't sure that little Jazzy would have managed to wade her way through the volume of water ~ she probably would have been fine but better safe than sorry.

I'm off for a bit of painting therapy with Sandra at The Crafts House and the Diary Dames this morning ~ this is Sandra's pet name for our wee group ~ Carol, Doreen , Lucie and her fantastically talented daughter Sarah and me ~ the hanger on!  Afterwards I'm visiting with my Mum again for the afternoon ~ it will be good to get some alone time with her ~ it's likely that Mum will snooze the time away but I'll have my stitching to keep me company if she does.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday.

Kate

I'm late, I'm late .........

and other white rabbit happenings.  How can it be August already?

I'm back in the unenviable position of being behind on everything again hence the title ~ I don't think I'm actually late per se, more agitated that I'm not finishing things. 

 First up is my unofficial TUSAL reporting which was due 30 July ~ yeah I guess I am late for this!  I took the photographs to take my mind off other things on Saturday but didn't get round to posting them till now.

There seems to be quite a lot considering the small volume of stitching that I have achieved for July.  I have so many things at present which I'm sure would take just moments (relatively speaking) to complete, I'm just missing the inclination.  And I'm sure you know that trying to finish something when you're really not in the mood to be doing it can spell utter disaster ~ so things have been left.

Secondly, I joined a summer biscornu exchange on the Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group and this is the lovely one stitched for me by my partner ~ isn't it gorgeous?  There was a lovely note enclosed with it and it arrived super quick after partner's details were issued - Mouse clearly has smokin' needles.  Thanks so much Mouse, yours is almost ready to mail out, I should manage that this week.

Next is my top secret project which is coming along ~ slowly!  Part II arrived in the mail last week ~ there isn't as much stitching as in Part I but still I am behind.  No photographs just yet.

Then we come to the summer holiday exchange on Needlecraft Haven ~ I have started this but it hasn't had much time devoted to it and there are no pictures ~ these need to show me working on the project. 

Now, blog reading, groups & emails ~ waaaaay behind.  Housework, laundry etc ~ waaaaay behind.  Bit of a theme really and not one I care for too much! 

A new month has arrived and I'm hoping that I shall manage some catch up.  It will be a busy month ~ LM has a few business trips coming up, the GB's are off for a few days to a wedding.  I have applications to follow up and interviews to attend, the GB's have exam results to collect and digest and we have family matters to discuss and plans to be instigated. 

I won't tell you about the rat incident..... 

Till next time.

Kate

A Sheepish Surprise

There is an incredibly kind and generous Lady that I met through an online stitching group ~ she is always sending little parcels of kindness to many, many people and I have been very lucky to be one of the recipients of her generosity.  I wanted to do something in return, so now that I know that Barb has received my package I can show you what I sent.

Now you might get the impression that Barb is a fan of sheep ~ well I think you could be onto something there!  Sheep are not a big thing where I live so these things have been brought together from many places as I've travelled around ~ the coaster from Ullapool when LM and I were on our touring trip of Scotland with the TVR Club, the card from a day out in Richmond, the phone charm from my last stitching day in Penrith and Dolly.  Now Dolly came from the imagination of Sandra at The Crafts House, and we are all very lucky that Sandra is prepared to share all her ideas with us.  I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours one Sunday making Dolly under the tutelage of Sandra ~ thanks Sandra.

On the back of Dolly is a wee message for Baa'rb!  I'm delighted that you like the things I sent.

Well Monday has arrived again ~ how does it do that?  Arrive so quickly.

Here's to a great week.

Kate

Last Weekend

It seemed like I was on the go much of the time.  Saturday was a really miserable day with rain that never ceased and Sunday was not much better.

It was Christmas in July over at Just Quilting on Saturday ~ the wreath was on the door (no picture as the rain was coming down like stair rods!) and the tree was up complete with lights.  All the Ladies were hard at work when the Lovely C and I called in ~ the projects they were working on were gorgeous as ever.

I managed to get the seven fabrics that are required for my secret project ~ I'll show them later when I have part I finished, eventually ~ part II is already on it's way from France.  Carol bought the cutest little pillow and some fabric.  Next we went to our monthly EG meeting ~ I wasn't sure about the subject of the talk as textile art is not something that I go for.  I was very pleasantly surprised though as our speaker Nicky Dillerstone gave a fabulous talk and brought everyone into her world - it was really interesting.

Sunday morning was spent at The Crafts House finishing the project I started last time I was there.  These wise old birds will be a gift for my Dad ~ the wise owl of our family who will be 90 in September.  After painting Doreen and I had a trip to Country Baskets for a look around and a good soaking on the way back to the car!

LM wanted us to visit the garage to try out some seats ~ he spends a huge amount of time in his car so it's vital that it's comfortable and he just doesn't fit in standard seats!  Not very exciting really but it has to be done ~ we also had a test drive on Monday of one of the cars he is thinking about buying.

Monday came around far too soon for my liking.

Yesterday we should have had a visit from my WP's however since her fall Mum is not doing so well and was taken back into hospital on Friday and is being kept in for a few more days ~ I'm off to visit this afternoon. 

GB2 finished school for the summer on Thursday so we now have two teenagers lounging about the place ~ time for a wee list of jobs me thinks!

Until next time.

Kate

Exchanges and SAL Updates

Michelle hosted a BBD exchange a wee while ago ~ my piece travelled all the way from Perth, Australia and can be seen at the bottom of the post here.  I have heard that my partner Melanie has received the piece I stitched for her now so I can show a photograph.

This is a design from Honeysuckle Manor and was finished as a pin box in the book.  I finished this as a mattress pincushion and was very pleased with the result ~ my first finish of this type ~ I'm delighted that Melanie loves it.  The fabric is linen but was unmarked in my stash so that's all I can tell you about it.  The thread was a silk from a Silk Mill starter pack that I bought at the Harrowgate show some years ago ~ a little unruly to work with but does finish nicely.  A couple of vintage buttons were added to complete the pincushion.  Thanks again to Michelle for organising the exchange.

There are two more exchanges I am taking part in ~ a summer biscornu exchange over on The Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group ~ I've heard from my partner that mine is already on it's way to me!  I better get a move on to stitch mine, although the deadline is not until 12 August.  Also, I received a lovely exchange parcel from my partner on the Needlecraft Haven Yuku Group - this is a secret exchange where we had to kit up and send out a freebie pattern with a summer theme ready for our partners to start stitching 22 July.  The SAL runs the course of the school holidays and we will be posting photographs on the group of our progress and also of us stitching ~ in the garden, while on holiday etc.  A little bit of summer fun ~ partners will be revealed in September when we should all have our projects finished.

I'm progressing with my top secret project too, I joined the SAL late so I am lagging behind however Nataliejo has assured me that I will be able to catch up as there is not so much stitching in part II which is already on it's way!

Thanks for visiting today ~ I appreciate you stopping by and love to read all the comments that are made.

Next time I will have some painting to show you ~ till then.

Kate

Weekend Flashback

We had a very early start last Saturday ~ LM needed to catch his 8:46 train from Penrith to go and collect the LM car back from it's little holiday.  It was the monthly stitching day at Just Sew for me and I was really looking forward to it as had to miss the June day.  The traffic crossing the A69 was much heavier than I would have expected but it was still a good run with a quick stop at Southwaite Services for a coffee & granola bar to keep us going.
I was there so early I had a walk around Penrith before going to Just Sew ~ there are a couple of shops that I like to visit but I don't always get the opportunity, I was however too early for some of them so I wandered, took photographs and made notes of places to pop back to later in the day. 
I was first to arrive but wasn't alone for very long ~ there were nine of us stitching on various projects from bags to table runners some canvas work and a bit of knitting.  I was very pleased with what I managed ~ finishing one project and moving another well on.  A few of us have signed up to a class next month to make a bag which I am looking forward to.
Sunday was a lovely warm day ~ the sun was slow to show it's face but when it did it was wonderful.  The LM was off out to his monthly car club meeting followed by a run out to Melmerby for tea and cake.  GB1 was working and GB2 was avoiding the required tidying of his bedroom.  I managed to amuse myself pottering around ~ mostly backwards and forwards from my seat in the garden to empty and re-load the washing machine and "peg out".

This was the view from my seat in the garden - a picture of perfection for a warm Sunday.  iPod on the docking station for sunny tunes, sewing basket with a selection of projects, sewing glasses ~ an absolute essential, pincushion, a drink ~ well several really, container for threads, buttons, scissors etc.  Oh, and an empty bowl that had contained my current favourite treat ~ broken up meringue nest and yoghurt.
I hope I get to repeat this sedentary experience over and over across the summer months.
As I make this report I am more than ready for the coming weekend ~ I have EG on Saturday and myself and the Lovely C plan to call into Just Quilting before ~ I need fabric for my top secret project, also they are having their Christmas in July workshop and I am reliably informed that they will have a tree up!  Sunday I will be at The Crafts House working on my owl project in the morning and hope to get a trip to Country Baskets too.

Enjoy you plans ~ whatever they may be.

Kate