A short while ago I won a Down Sunshine Lane Gift Certificate on the Monthly Finishing Challenge and here's what I got with it. I had also ordered Thank You Sarah Tobias which was out of stock and probably a good thing as Patti has now sent it to me as a gift! There are some lovely patterns in the BBD book and the Winter Wonderland chart came with a gorgeous Dinky Dyes variagated silk floss (aptly called 'Winter Wonderland') and two tiny star buttons. I am just itching to stitch.

Yesterday I was very good and, even though the sunshine showed that my windows were dirty after the wind and rain over the weekend,  I completely ignored it and put my feet up and read. Nicola came round and gave my hair a good wash and blow-dried and straightened it for me so I feel a bit more of my old self today. 

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An update on the bandage situation! This is the latest designer model - I can move my fingers and hey I can type with two hands - for a while anyway! I think the next step is a Mepore dressing until the stitches are out and probably for a short while after too. Do you want to see the 'gruesome' pictures too? 

And ...  why wouldn't I rest up? I wanted the bathroom window open; would I wait until Ken was ready to open it? Oh no - I climbed on a stool, grabbed the latch and pulled with my left hand (I normally have to use two - it's a skylight window); the window opened but as I got down off the stool I felt something in my back give ... ouch now I have back pain too! Will I ever learn? 

I went to the library yesterday and came home laden with books to see me through this week but maybe - just maybe - I could try a stitch or two? Mmmn we shall see!

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Secondly, a package from Valie in France with some of the gorgeous Gander linen, some red silk threads and an Easter decoration. Valie has it's 'twin' hanging in her kitchen. I have hung my 'other half' in my kitchen too. Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Stitching bloggers are such wonderful kind and thoughtful people. Thanks to all who have left such great comments and get well wishes and also sent e-cards and e-mails!

Lastly, my 'boxing glove' bandage which hopefully will be removed later today for a more lightweight and less bulky one.

Obviously no stitching pictures - maybe next time - well I can dream! I am reading as many blogs as I can but no comments yet - you would not believe how long it's taken me to do this post! Until next time ...

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Just look at this fabulous giveaway on Ginger's blog! The decorated and glass glittered egg is 4.75" tall. It is trimmed with vintage silver roping, silk flowers, Dresden trim and silver jingle bells. The bunny is 3.75" tall sitting, or 5.25" tall standing and fits nicely inside the egg. She is made from a very soft, warm brown viscose fabric with Ultrasuede foot pads and is filled with polyfill and glass beads. The inside ears are lined with sandy pink Ultrasuede and she has a very soft white viscose tail. To take part in this giveaway just go here and comment on the post - one comment gives you one entry but post about the giveaway on your blog your name will be entered an additional five times! You have until March 24 to enter and a name will be drawn randomly on March 25. Congratulations Ginger to 25 years as a bear artist.

I know that Mother's Day is celebrated at different times in different parts of the world and today it's the turn of mums in the UK! My dear sweet mum passed away in 1976 - such a long time ago. I think of her often and especially on this day. A Happy Mother's Day to all those mums in the stitching/blogging world! 

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I received an invite from Valerie to join her Easter Egg Hunt SAL but of course I am unable to join but I did tell Valerie that I would advertise her Easter SAL on my blog. So if you are interested in joining go here and scroll down a bit. This SAL has already started but is still open if you wish to join. Valerie's blog is in French but she also translates to English.

By this morning's post, I received a spool of AVAS Soie Surfine in a gorgeous red from Valie so I think I might try it out later if my head clears enough to concentrate. It's great to be able to try out threads and fabrics from another country - thank you Valie! 

As you can probably tell, I still feel unwell. I am completely bunged up; I have a headache and the ever present sore throat which is probably caused by my hacking cough. And even my bones ache - funny thing to say I know but I don't know how else to describe it! I am really ready for Summer, although the sun is out there is still a chilly breeze coming off the sea. One of the downsides of living near the ocean I suppose!

Enjoy the weekend and

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And, of course, the wonderful Jane Bostocke sampler (1598) which is the earliest dated British sampler known to survive (more here). The colours are as vibrant today as when Jane first put in those tiny stitches. Just think this sampler is 411 years old!

We then headed for the restaurant where we had an enjoyable and not too expensive lunch.

After lunch we went to the Fashion Department where we saw clothes (mainly dresses) from famous fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Catherine Walker and others. Kirby took pictures and made notes for her course work. Some were made 'recycled' products; a dress made entirely from bras and another made from a leather coat. It's amazing what ideas these designers have.

After leaving the museum we decided to go to Harrods. How nice to be greeted by the doorman saying "Good afternoon ladies"! We wandered through the brightly lit departments just 'window shopping' - I think I can live without that handbag selling for over £3,000! Just think of all the stash I could buy for £3,000! We must get our priorities right!

The day went far too quickly and we took the underground back to Charing Cross. As we had 3/4 hour to wait for our train we went down to Trafalgar Square to sit in the sunshine for 1/2 hour. It's a shame that there's construction work going on so the fountains were boarded off but it was nice to relax and 'people watch'.

When I got up yesterday morning I felt quite ill. My throat is worse, I also have an ear-ache, a headache, a stiff neck and a streaming nose! I gave up on home remedies and called the doctor's surgery and was lucky enough to get a cancellation appointment. He says I have a viral infection and has given me some antibiotics. Last night I took a warm bath and was in bed by 9.30pm and slept until 7am this morning. I cannot believe I have had this bug since mid-January. Hopefully when the medication kicks in I will feel a bit better. I am wondering if this will delay my surgery. I tried to call the hospital yesterday and by the time I got through the automated machine to the correct department, an answer phoned said that she was not in the office until Monday and to dial again to speak to someone else! Don't you just hate these machines - I just want to speak to a real person - I will try again today.

As much as I feel like going back to bed I need to give the house a thorough cleaning in case my surgery does go ahead. 

Thank  you all for your good wishes for my surgery both in comments and emails. It's nice to know that someone out there is thinking of me.

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I have also stitched another gift but this needs to be 'finished' which I hope to do either later today or maybe tomorrow. And then I shall work on Beatrix Potter until my surgery. It's not long now - just over a week and I am getting a bit nervous. Silly really as I know exactly what to expect although this time I will be having a local anesthetic as opposed to a general that I had last time so I will be wide awake whilst they carry out the procedure. I need volunteers to call round and dress me, brush my hair and help around the house! Ok don't all rush ... 

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A short while ago Pokua had some weekly giveaways on her blog so I duly entered each one on the allotted day. She used a list randomizer to choose the winners and my name was 3rd for one and then down to 8th for another and then 2nd and, on her very last giveaway, I was first! I am so delighted as this beautiful Quaker ornament was the prize for that giveaway and you all know how much I love Quakers. I am not sure what fabric Pokua used but the floss is DMC 930 and the pattern is an online freebie (here). The backing fabric is a co-ordinating blue and just look at the gorgeous tassel on this - it has a silver topper with delightful beads in blue, cream and silver. There are some lovely photos of this over on her blog (here) so take the time to visit and see this and her other wonderful stitching. Thank you Pokua for this lovely giveaway!

My stitching has ground to a halt! I have no idea why but I cannot summon up enough enthusiasm for it. I keep picking up the gift I am working on, I put in a few stitches and put it down so it's very slow going. I really must get on with this as I want to get it mailed before my surgery. Talking of my surgery, I had a call from the hospital this morning asking me if I wanted to have it done a week earlier as they have had a cancellation. I checked my calendar but I have an appointment with the eye doctor the day before and, of course, Kirby and I are having our trip to the V&A the following day. I have made arrangements for the 24th, lifts to and fro the hospital etc. I will not be able to drive and Ken will be working so I said I would prefer to stick to the original date. She said it wasn't a problem and they would see me on the 24th.

I was up bright and early this morning and my chores are finished so I am going to pick up needle and thread to see if I can get my stitching mojo back - wish me luck!

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A short while ago I won Staci's giveaway of the above patterns. When Staci announced my name I emailed her to say that although I would stitch the A-Z pattern, I doubted that I would stitch the Rainforest Romance so I suggested she draw another name. However, she has sent me both patterns and has no objections to me passing Rainforest on! So ... if anyone is interested in having this pattern, please leave me a comment saying you would like to be entered in the draw and I will announce the winner on Friday (March 6). Good luck. 

Still no stitching to show you although I have worked a little on a gift. I think my cold or whatever it was, is hopefully on it's way out although I am left with a cough, it's not as bad as it was so a doctor's visit skillfully avoided! 

After a really beautiful day yesterday, today is wet and dismal - roll on Summer!

Thank you to everyone who left such great comments on my recent exchanges - they are much appreciated! These are my last exchanges until after my hand surgery but I will resume exchanging once my hand is fully recovered. As I do not yet have a surgery date I will continue to stitch on gifts, ornaments for the 2009 Challenge, Beatrix Potter SAL and, of course, my miniature stitching!

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