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Thursday, 20 October 2011
A win and a RAK




This morning I received a package from Simone of Atelier Soed Idee with the giveaway I won on her blog. I had a choice of colour and, as you can see, I chose red - no surprise here then! Simone has the most wonderful designs and kits for sale on her website *here* and many of her designs can be seen on her blog *here*. Simone has been designing since early 2011 and her designs are both delightful and reasonably priced. Thank you Simone for my wonderful gift.




I have also been RAKd by the lovely Elisa of Old Ragged Threads who sent me a skein of GAST thread in Cherry Wine - such a pretty shade of red. Thank you Elisa - it's much appreciated.




I though you might like to see this 'sky' picture from the back of our house late yesterday afternoon. I love to look at clouds and these were quite amazing.


Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Another French red sampler


Click on the picture for a closeup view


Thank you to all those who left 'get well' comments, sent emails and e-cards - much appreciated! I am feeling a lot better now that the antibiotics have started to work and to prove it I had a new start yesterday of yet another little French red sampler. I know this pattern was a freebie but I have no idea of where I found it - maybe someone recognises it? At the bottom of the alphabet it has the initials LV and the word Paris. I have no idea if the stitcher was LV who lived in Paris or if the name was indeed LV Paris. I am using AVAS Soie d'alger 2925 on 48ct blanc cassé Gander linen - two of my favourite combinations of fabric and floss.

I received a RAK from Simone of Soed Idee this morning - a skein of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe's hand-dyed floss in a fabulous colour called Turkey Red - I can't wait to try this out - thank you Simone! Simone has some wonderful new charts and kits in her new Atelier Soed Idee shop so go *here* and check this out as I am sure you will fall in love with her designs.

The sun is out today and I think it may even be warm enough to sit outside later or at least I am hoping it is!

Thanks for visiting
Take care


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Thursday, 29 January 2009
A gift or two!



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.



And now to my package! Yuko tells me she has been sorting out her stash and decided to share some with her friends and knowing that blue is my favourite colour she put together a 'blue' package for me. It certainly didn't make me feel blue; such pretty fabric and trims - thank you Yuko for your kindness.

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. 

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Monday, 26 January 2009
An exchange and a RAK


Recently Becky and I did a personal exchange and now that Becky has received her package I can show you the mattress pincushion that I did for her. I knew exactly what I wanted to stitch for Becky - check out all those tiny bees! The pattern is a CA Wells design from a class I took with her in Cape Cod in 2002 called 'Stitching in the Garden' which I amended very slightly. It is stitched on 30ct Brussels linen with Glorianna Winter Woods, NPI silk threads and DMC 12 perle cotton 642.


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 

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Monday, 1 December 2008
Christmas RAK


I received a surprise package in the mail today. I didn't recognise the handwriting or the postcode written on the back but I could see that it also said 'Christmas RAK'. I was on my way out but, of course, I could not wait until I got back to open it so I immediately tore into the package and what a wonderful surprise gift from Andrea. I have been wanting to stitch this Blue Ribbon freebie "A Star on Top" (here) for ages but have been too busy stitching for others! Isn't it just beautiful? Andrea's stitching and finishing are as perfect in RL as they look on her blog; my pictures do not do it justice and I am sure that Andrea will post a much better photo. I absolutely love it - thank you so much Andrea - you have made my day!

Nothing to show on my own stitching front. Ken and I went out for lunch yesterday as I had received a birthday voucher from our favorite local restaurant - buy one meal get one free and, of course, we could not miss out on that offer! And I have also been busy setting up the 2009 Christmas Challenge blog. There are still places available for anyone who is interested. Just email me - there is a link on my profile (here) and let me know your blog url, if you have one. For those of you who have had problems viewing this blog you need to use IE browser. 

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Sunday, 5 October 2008
RAK from Tammie



Yesterday I received a package in the mail. There was nothing on the outside to tell me where this package had come from so being the patient person I'm not, I hastily ripped it open to find that Tammie had sent me a lovely gift. Inside was a delightful little notebook with my favourite LHN house on the front together with the sweetest little bookmark to match and a pretty fob! Not only did she send these but she also enclosed a box of pretty pins, a pack of tiny heart buttons, a pack of clips, a piece of finishing fabric in a gorgeous plummy shade and a bar of dark chocolate (Tammie has obviously been reading my Wish List)! Thank you Tammie for your kindness in sending me a totally unexpected gift. 

As you may have noticed I have been playing around with my blog. I'm not sure if this is a 'final' version but it will do for now and I do love those tiny white flashing hearts on the background! 

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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Monday, 8 September 2008
RAK from Michele


Today the mailman brought me a package. I was surprised to see Michele's return address on it as I am not expecting any exchanges at present. When I opened it I was amazed to find the above gifts. A beautiful 'bowtie' coaster from her trip to Pennsylvania Dutch country, 2 tins of mints (she obviously read my wish list which says my favourites are Spearmint flavour), a post-it pad with my initial on it and a delightful pot of Rosewater Glycerine Hand Therapy that has a tiny ribbon rose on the top. Thank you Michele for this totally unexpected gift.

Still no stitching pictures that I can show as it's exchanges and gifts all the way. 

I have been asked for more information about my personalized thread drops from numerous people so here's goes. I use ordinary card stock and the outside shape is made with a 2" scallope elipse punch. I used an ordinary office size hole punch for the top hole and the bottom hole is made with either an egg shaped or teardrop shaped punch. I got all my punches from Finishing Touches of Totnes who are extremely helpful although I am not sure if they sell internationally. I have been making more and, as well as printing names on one side, the other side has something relevant to the recipient too! I can assure you that these thread drops are quite simple to make so have a go! If you have any further questions please email me - there is an link under my profile.

Thanks for visiting
Take care

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