Kirby came round yesterday to work on her uni project - I think maybe she gets peace and quiet here. While we were having lunch, the postman came with a box and I could see from the return address that it had come from Yuko in Japan and I was very suprised as I was not expecting anything from her. I put the box to one side (such patience) whilst I finished my lunch. Kirby was most intrigued with the box and said she wondered what was inside so I told her she could open it. She didn't need telling twice and when she opened it she found not only a package addressed to me but one for her too! Her face lit up and even more so when she saw that Yuko had sent to her a beautiful cami knitted by her dear sweet mum especially for Kirby. She put it on immediately - a perfect fit and said she can't wait to show it off to all her friends. It matches her knitted socks too! Thank you to Yuko and her much talented mum for such a thoughtful gift. Yuko obviously gets both her talent and her kind heart from her mum.

I have put some time into finishing some exchange pieces and have one more to stitch and finish. These will be my last exchanges for a while as I am due to have surgery for mutiple trigger finger on my right hand sometime this year and I would not want to sign up for exchanges and be unable to fulfill my commitments. As I have already had the same surgery on my left hand in 2007, I know that I will be unable to stitch for at least 6-8 weeks so I will stock up with books and dvds to keep me amused. I hope it won't be too long before I can resume exchanging as I enjoy choosing something to stitch for my partner and putting together a goodie package too. 

As I mentioned yesterday I have made a start on my Beatrix Potter SAL. After feeling so unwell this past week or so,  I found it quite therapeutic to stitch these Quaker motifs and I am not sure that I will be able to make this a year long project! I have actually finished the unfinished motif in the picture and stitched the large flower motif and made a start on another one since taking this shot. The fabric is a 36ct linen called Puck which I got from The Sampler Guild for an entirely different project but, when I did a floss toss, the HDF Raisin Wine silk floss, which I had already chosen for this project, called out for this fabric. 

Yesterday I started the finishing of exchanges for the end of the month. One of these exchange pieces is a bit fiddly with having to wait for glue to dry etc but it's nearly finished and I am pleased with the result so far. Obviously no pictures of these yet!

Lost has returned to UK television. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this programme and last Sunday we had a 2 hour episode - if only all episodes were 2 hours long! I had actually forgotten that it was on and watched the Dancing on Ice skate off without recording Lost but luckily we have multi-start on our Sky HD box so I was still able to watch it. Is Locke really dead or will he recover once he returns to the island? If the island has now gone back 3 years in time, does that mean that those that have died during the those 3 years are now alive, Jin, Charlie, Anna Lucia et al? Will Hurley ever lose those extra pounds? And talking of Dancing on Ice - isn't Ray Quinn the complete package? And Todd Carty, what can I say about Todd? He is the most entertaining skater I have ever seen; I just hope he doesn't kill himself in the process!

The household chores are beckoning so I must sign off - enjoy your day.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

This morning I received a lovely package from Anita of Little Stitches. Anita is a really talented lady - go visit her blog and/or her website to see some of her lovely designs which can be purchased at such a reasonable cost. In the package were some Access Thread Drops, a Cover Button Kit and extra buttons, some shaped and coloured eyelets. some needles and a skein of Carrie's Creation silk floss in a gorgeous share of mauve and teal called Epithany. I've not tried this silk floss before and I am looking forward to giving this a try. Thank you Anita for such a lovely gift. I have something a bit different planned for these buttons so watch this space!

At last the sun has made an appearance and I feel so much better this morning so I am planning on some 'finishing' today. I have two exchanges which should be sent out next weekend so hopefully I will be on time. I was beginning to panic a bit as usually my exchanges are stitched, finished and mailed well before the deadline! 

I did stitch some over the weekend as I made a start on my Beatrix Potter Quaker SAL and I will post a picture tomorrow. I found it quite comforting to curl up on the sofa and lose myself in a few Quaker motifs and I am very pleased with both the fabric and floss that I have chosen. 

Thanks for visiting

Take are 

I have not picked up a needle and thread since last Friday although I have to tried to keep up with reading and commenting on blogs. I just wish I could get a good nights sleep; I am a real grumpy bear when I don't get my sleep! But I did get out my Kumihimo Disc which was given to me by a friend ages ago and which, I am ashamed to admit, I put away and forgot - sorry Caroline! There was a link on someone's blog to a You Tube video (here) showing how to use the disc so I thought I would have a go. OK I won't be able to use the braid for anything but it's my first attempt and I enjoyed having a go. So much so I now want a Marudai and have found a UK supplier so watch this space. The braid in the picture should be down through the hole in the disc but I pulled it through to the front so you can see the braid more clearly (click on picture for a closeup view). 

I have two exchanges to do for the end of the month. One is stitched so just needs to be finished; the other needs both stitching and finishing although I have chosen fabric and floss. I hope I can get these exchanges out on time. 

Back to my sick bed!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Yesterday I finished my mistletoe ornament for January for the 2009 Christmas Challenge. I have not shown the back as this is where I will be putting my Charland mistletoe charm when it eventually arrives from the US. It is stitched on 40ct flax linen with DMC 926 and 3813 and put together using white Dentelles 80. The round pearl beads that I already had in my stash were just right for the mistletoe berries. I am very happy with this ornament and I am selfishly keeping it for myself!  

I am not stitching today as I have caught some bug or other and have a sore throat, a bad headache and a blocked nose. In fact I'm going back to bed!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

On December 13 I mailed six gifts to the US. To my knowledge only four have arrived. I have no idea of what has happened to the other two - what is it with the postal system? I'll own up that I missed the deadline by a couple of days for mailing in time for Christmas, but surely they have had plenty of time to get there now? One missing package contained one of the tiny Christmas Crackers (see here) and a birthday gift and the other the above pincushion with Swaroski crystal and pearl pins. Still, ever the optimistic, they may eventually arrive and if they don't I will re-stitch! The pincushion is a CA Wells' pattern and is stitched on 35ct white Brussels linen with white perle no 12 and a pink AVAS silk floss although I cannot remember the shade number. 

Still no luck with the Charland mistletoe charm but a thank you to all those who searched their stash and/or contacted their LNS. I guess I will have to wait for the one I have on order but in the meantime I will 'finish' the ornament and stitch the charm on later.

It's dull and gloomy yet again. Will the Summer ever arrive? Will I ever see sunlight again? Will I ever sit out in the garden and feel sunlight on my face? I'm SAD!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Today the postman delivered a rather large box; inside this box was a 'special' box - all white with snowflakes and tied with a pretty red ribbon; inside this box were a profusion of little packages all wrapped in tissue paper! I felt as though it was Christmas again. I unwrapped all these little packages to find some wonderful gifts: a pretty rose mug and some hot chocolate mix to fill it, a box of truffle assortments, a stitcher's diary, a tiny 'frog' button, a cut of fabric with co-ordinating threads, a tube of hand and nail treatment, a beautiful quilted bag and a perfectly stitched and finished 'door sign'. "Oh my", you might say, "who sent such a great package?" Well let me tell you it was Margaret from New Zealand who put together this box of goodies as her 1st blogaversary draw, which draw I was lucky enough to have won. Thank you Margaret for your kindness and generosity. I hope that Su will be as happy with my blogaversary gift as I am with this one.

Also in this morning's mail delivery I received the white Dupion silk fabric that I need to finish an exchange that I am working on and also the vintage French monogrammed linen marker ribbon which I had ordered from France. I had ordered this ribbon with my initials on it but unfortunately they have sent me CB instead of CR so I have contacted the seller and I am awaiting to see what happens now. 

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs pantomine in Canterbury last night was excellent but then these pantomimes usually are. We all had a great time hissing and booing and general audience participation - will we ever grow up? I hope not! 

I am undecided whether to start another exchange piece today or finish off those I have already stitched or ... maybe the first few stitches in Beatrix Potter? I am itching to start this and surely a few stitches won't hurt my schedule?

I am still in desperate need for the Charland mistletoe charm (see previous post). Please, please can anyone help?

Thanks for visiting

Take care

At last I can show you my blogaversary giveaway prize! The pattern is a Lilybet Designs freebie called Birds & Berries and was stitched on 35ct optic white Brussels linen with recommended DMC threads. It is not too late to enter the giveway which finishes on Wednesday but please leave a comment (here) and not on this post so I can keep all entries together! I apologise for the bad photo but it's so dark and gloomy here today - not the ideal conditions for taking pictures!

I am about to finish my ornament for the 2009 Christmas Challenge and I will hopefully be able to post a photo of this tomorrow. I am about to get back to finishing my stitching of yet another exchange for the end of the month and I have also kitted up Beatrix Potter Quaker SAL with 40ct bisque linen and HDF Raisin Wine silk floss ready to start as soon as I have finished my commitment stitching. I am looking to making a start on this.

Thanks for visiting

Take care