I have joined the Totally Useless SAL and, as it's new moon, here are my April orts! As I have only been stitching on Petites Lettres Rouges during April, these are the only orts I have to show but ...

... here is my Coca Cola glass of orts! I have no idea of how long I have been collecting these but quite a while going by the different colours hiding in there. I am searching for a pretty jar to continue with the SAL as once I am up to speed with my stitching that tiny little glass dish will soon be filled.

Despite the bright sunshine it's too cool to sit outside today so I am going to put the tv on and work a few more stitches in PLR. I may just get this done in time to meet the contest deadline - we shall see!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Here's another update on Petites Lettres Rouges and as you can see I am getting there. It's a slow process as I can only stitch for a short while each day and I doubt it will be finished in time for the contest deadline but hey I can but try!

I decided to join the Totally Useless SAL (here) and need to search out a pretty glass jar. At the moment I have a coca cola glass which is nearly full but I need to start a new jar for the SAL. My first showing is tomorrow (new moon) so don't expect a full jar as I only have a few red orts from PLR to show. Maybe I can show my full one too - is that against the rules? 

Not much else to report except the sun is shining with rain forecast for the weekend so ...  I'll leave you to guess where I am going now - no prizes for the right answer!

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend and

Take care

At last I have a stitching photo to show you. I know it's not a lot but it's a start! This piece is called 'Petites Lettres Rouges' by Blackbird Designs who are holding a contest (here) with a freebie pattern. I have until April 27 to complete my stitching and produce a picture and although I am not sure if I will be able to do this, I will certainly try. As befitting a pattern called 'Petites Lettres Rouges', I am using French 40ct Gander linen in a pale creamy beige together with a deep red Soie Surfine thread. Both fabric and thread were gifted to me by dear Valie and I think this is the perfect project to try them out.  

I went to the library yesterday to stock up on reading material and found a copy of Jane Johnson's 'Crosses Bones'. I think this book is also published under the name 'The Tenth Gift' but why it was published under two titles I have no idea.* Part of the synopsis reads "Her fiery temper and determination to be more than a country wife are matched only by her skills with a needle." Crossed Bones is a story of two young women; of an adventure that began 400 years ago on the craggy Cornish coast and will end in the dusty bazaars of modern-day Morocco. It is a search for secrets - and it is a story about finding love where you'd least expect it ...". I will report more fully once I have read it. It's not my usual type of book as I prefer the ilk of John Grisham, James Grippando etc but I'm always open to trying something different!

The sun is shining today but there's a chilly breeze (one of the downsides of living near the ocean) so any thoughts of reading or stitching outside is out of the question. Maybe it will improve later.

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Take care  

Nina has a great giveaway on her blog! If you want to win, all you have to do is post a picture of your scissors on your own blog and then leave a comment (here). To get an extra entry you need to put the above logo on your blog with link back to her blog. The game will end on April 30 at mid-night. The prize is not only a pair of scissors with a fob and some hand dyed thread but the beautiful box too. The winner will be announced on May 1st. I would wish you luck but I want to win myself so good luck to me!!

And here are just a few of my pairs of scissors - trust me I have many, many more and one day I will sort them all out and post another picture! The glass frog belonged to my grand-mother and is part of a dressing table set. It has a domed lid and is a very pretty blue. The flower bud is from the clematis which runs along the back wall of our house and will soon be in full flower - don't you just love Spring?

I have been stitching some and I hope to be able to do some more this afternoon and post a photo tomorrow. It's slow going but I am enjoying putting in at least a few stitches!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

... by Oatmor Harris!  As I do not have any stitching pictures to show, I thought this photo of Kirby might amuse! It was taken at the local carnival parade last Summer and shows not only Kirby (center) with a couple of her friends but the young lady behind them in the Ugg boots and baseball cap is my daughter, Nicola, who is Kirby's mum! Oatmor Harris is my son-in-law's company and he always enters into the spirit of local carnivals by not only entering the parade but by loaning out other trucks (with drivers) for others to participate too.

My last remaining stitch was removed last Tuesday morning and my hand is still a bit tender but I am hoping to get some stitching done over the weekend. I went to Stitch-n-Bitch on Wednesday evening to discover that the charts and materials that we had all ordered for the Just Nan 15-sided biscornu had arrived. We have decided to stitch this as a group project and will be making a start on May 17 at an all-day Sunday stitch-in! I am looking forward to doing this pretty project. 

While blog surfing earlier today I discovered that Blackbird Designs are holding a stitching competition (here) and they even provide the free pattern. Vonna (April 16 post) has already finished hers and has stitched her grand-mother's name and date of birth. Isn't this a great idea - one which I may steal if I can discover the year of my grand-mother's birth as I have no idea. We have ten days in which to stitch and mail a picture to BD - I hope I can do this in time!

Thanks for visiting

Take care 

HAPPY EASTER

Yesterday I received yet two more packages in the mail. Firstly was this beautifully stitched and finished 'get well' pillow from dear Angela (no blog). Isn't it gorgeous? I love how she used the lace edging and her choice of fabric and flosses were lovely. 

And not only did Angela send me the lovely pillow, she also sent me some pretty finishing fabric and ribbons! Thank you Angela.

My second package was from sweet Edgar enclosing my favorite Altoid mints. I feel a tin topper or two coming on here! Thank you Edgar.

I went to have my stitches removed last Tuesday afternoon but it was not a good experience although I managed not to faint! She removed the two outer stitches and the wound immediately started to 'gape' so she decided to leave the middle stitch in and to put on a couple of narrow steri-strips. She then covered this with a padded dressing. By late evening my hand was really sore which I put down to having the stitches removed. The following day it was still quite sore so I removed the dressing to have a look and could see that the steri-strips had fallen off and when I moved my hand/fingers the wound was gaping open. Ken went to the pharmacy to get me some wider steri-strips yesterday so I cleaned the wound with antiseptic wipes and put these on and today it's feeling much better! The last stitch is being removed next Tuesday and then I will be able to concentrate on getting full movement back to my hand and fingers.

Obviously I have done no stitching and have been amusing myself with catching up on recorded tv shows and with a book or three! Hopefully, I will be able to put a few stitches in 'Love' over the holiday.

A Happy Easter to you all and thanks for visiting

Take care

I stitched for a little while yesterday afternoon. I was very good and took heed of all the warnings not to overdo it! This is what I achieved - ok not a vast amount I know but I enjoyed each and every stitch. The only thing I was unable to do was to cut the fabric with my Gingher shears so Ken did it for me - under close supervision of course! He said that he didn't realise that we had such a good pair of scissors and I told him that 'we' didn't but that 'I' did and to keep his hands off. He ruined my last pair by cutting carpet with them! The Love pattern is by Birds of a Feather and is stitched 1*2 on 35ct white Brussels linen with DMC 815. 

This is the beautiful white orchid that my Stitch-n-Bitch group sent to me. Isn't it gorgeous? I am so lucky to have so many caring friends, both on and off-line. Thank you to everyone who has supported me by leaving encouraging comments, emailing me and sending me such wonderful gifts - I am truly blessed!

I have removed the Mepore dressing as the cut is healing well. Not long now until the stitches are removed and I can start massaging and exercising my hand properly. 

I have a pile of ironing if anyone is interested? No - oh well don't say I didn't offer!

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Renae is having a surprise giveaway so pop over to her blog and leave a comment! The winner will be posted on April 20th.

Obviously no stitching pics but this afternoon I am going to try to put needle and thread to fabric. If it hurts I will stop and I will not overdo it. The cut has healed very well and the stitches are coming out next Tuesday and I can't wait to start a few stretching exercises - gently of course! 

Have a good weekend

Thanks for visiting

Take care

My dear friend Valie has already discovered that I lack patience and this is the theme of the lovely pinkeep I received from her in today's mail! It is perfectly stitched and finished in such pretty colours with a co-ordinating fabric back. I have decided that it shall live in front of my computer to remind me that 'Patience is a Virtue'! Thank you so much Valie. 

And can you see the tiny stand? I had admired how Andrea displayed her pinkeeps and asked her where she got her tiny 'easels' and she told me they are plate stands. I promptly paid a little visit to ebay and brought 10 of these little beauties for £3.99 (here). They are perfect for displaying pinkeeps and other small pieces of needlework.

 

I have removed the bandage from my hand and, after bathing the wound with warm salt water, I now have a Mepore dressing on. It's healing very well although it's still a bit bruised and slightly swollen - just look at those fat fingers! The stitches will be removed on April 7. I am exercising both my fingers and wrist but not too much (such patience Valie) - I don't want to pop those stitches!

Yesterday was a beautiful warm sunny day and I was able to sit outside in the garden with my book - sheer heaven! 

Thanks for visiting

Take care