Stitching & Rugby

Over the weekend I finished a bookmark I have made for a colleague at school who is 40 next weekend. Her party is next weekend, it's the one I bought my new dress for. She loves reading (being an English teacher) so I thought a bookmark would be a good gift. It is a free chart from The Victoria Sampler

Design: Friends Count Sampler by Thea Dueck
Fabric: 28 ct evenweave in ecru
Thread: DMC #12 & #8 Perle Cotton ecru, DMC Floss 223, 224, 712, 926 & 3042

I missed the JA UFO Night last week and I am not sure I will be able to stitch this Tuesday either, so I have had a unofficial UFO day and stitched two panels on my perennial garden. The anemones were easy to do but I found the french knots fiddly on the lupins, they are very effective though.

Yesterday was the EDF semi-finals at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, and DH had bought us tickets for both matches. We had a great day of rugby watching, our seats were on the first row which had great close up views of the players including Gavin Henson. We did play "duck" a few times as we seemed to be sitting in just the right seats for the drop kick through balls LOL. The first game was Ospreys v Gloucester Rugby and the second game was Cardiff Blues v Northampton Saints. The second match was the better game and the final will be Gloucester v Cardiff but we won't be going to see that one. They certainly are fit, it was amazing watching their warm up routines, I was speachless watching the positions they got into to stretch their muscles... ;)

It was a glorious sunny day today and I spent the morning clearing up the back garden. Everything is coming up including all the little bits of seed spread by the birds. It looks quite tidy now and I have noticed many buds so there should be many more flowers soon.

I am hoping to get another ornament stitched for Miss-tree this week, in between scouting meetings, parents night and slimming club LOL

Enjoy the spring flowers :)

I got a sticker :)

Yippee Yippee I have lost my first half a stone (7 pounds) at Slimming World - in just three weeks. I only lost half a pound this week but that was all I needed to get to my first half a stone. I'm finding it ok, not missing anything yet and I don't really feel as if I am on a diet. For reaching this goal I got a lovely star stitcker to go on my book, only a little thing but it does feel good even at my age to get a "star" sticker LOL.

We are going to a 40th birthday party in a couple of weeks, black tie do so I needed a new dress. I hate clothes shopping as I always feel fat and frumpy BUT last night I found a perfect dress in Debenhams. It fits perfectly, no lumps anywhere, well apart from a very nice cleavage LOL. I am so pleased because I was getting a little worried about finding something and nothing in my wardrobe fits. I'm not bothered now if I don't loose any weight for the next two weeks because the dress fits perfect as I am, I will be good though.

I have stitched another two ornaments for Miss-tree, shoes and a handbag this time, as part of JA Monthly Stitch-a-long. I think next month I will do some hats for a change.

I have been stitching but the items are secret for a few more days, sorry. I'm stitching a book mark as one of the gifts for my friend who's 40, hopefully I can share that tomorrow as it's nearly finished. I did make this welcome card for a friend and her partner who have just bought their first house.

and this was the card I made my mum for Mother's Day :)

I haven't done any work on my Perennial Garden tonight for JA UFO Night, but I might take it to bed and do half an hour. If not I will work on it tomorrow, I'm not sure which flowers are next.

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I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day, happy stitching.

Success

It was my second weigh in at Slimming World last night and I lost another 2.5 pounds :) I am so pleased especially as I was so good over the weekend with everyone here. I really stuck to it. I just need to lose 1/2 a pound next week to reach my first 1/2 stone:)

Stitching wise I managed to do the next flower on my perennial garden last night as part of JA UFO night. I realised that I am turning the fabric as I stitch so the crosses down the side lie in a different direction to the ones on top LOL It means that top and bottom will match and left and right sides will match - I looked at it from a distance as if it was framed on the wall and I'm sure it will look ok - it is not filled in stitching so will not be as noticeable - I'm certainly not froggin' or changing now.

The weather has turned so nice and the spring flowers are looking beautiful. I just popped outside and took a few piccies before posting - enjoy:)

Enjoy the sunshine - have fun.

Brilliant Time

Yesterday was the Meet Up here in Nuneaton, I love organising these events and I've had a really brilliant weekend.

Friday night the stitchers who were staying locally for the whole weekend came round for a buffet tea. I did baked potatoes with either Quorn bolognaise or Quorn chilli, salad and french bread. Everyone brough bits and we had Pringles, Sensations, mini sausage rolls, mini pasties, chicken goujons, cheese bites, lemondae, coke, wine and for pudding cheesecake, toffee pavlova, tiramisu and walnut cake - bet that's made you all feel hungry now LOL. I have to say it was quite a spread but I was very very good on my SW and I only had the potatoe, Quorn and salad,with a glass or two of wine of coruse. I did resisit the puddings, but to be honest although I'm a pudding person I just did not fancy anything.

Thanks to Hazel, Michelle, Rosanne, Lyn, Kathy, Jacqui, Keely (she is such a little angel), Urszula and Jayne for making it a brilliant start to the weekend.

We all arrived in the sunshine at school yesterday at 10. We soon sorted the large tables into one big one so we could all chat together. The school's library is a superb place to hold these events as it is big, light and airy with lots of room for sale/swap tables, show tables and goody bag space. The kitchen and loos are down the corridor so we are not "contained" in one area. We had so much food left from Friday that as well as drinks in the kitchen there was a mini buffet with lots of puds in the fridge (I still resisited LOL).

I can't even begin to tell about the stitching - it was all so fabulous and impossible to highlight any pieces. The people who came were; Hazel, Michelle, Rosanne, Lyn, Kathy, Jacqui, Keely,Urszula, Jayne, Jane, Vicki, Kate, Maureen (the lady from church who knitted allthose choisr boys for her tree), Christine, me,Philippa (my DD), mum (Jan), Donna, Hannah (Angie's DD), Kylan (another little star - Angie's DGS),Lynn, and Maggie - I do hope I haven't left anyone out. Here are a few photos of the day:

Philippa enjoyed her day do, especially cuddling Keely.












After the meet up we all enjoyed a meal at a local pub, The Griffin Inn.

Kathy gave me this gorgeous bracelet as a thank you, it fits beautifully. She also gave Philippa a delicate earring and necklace set which she loves. Thanks Kathy you're so kind.





I'd just like to say a HUGE thanks to everyone who came - it really was a fabulous day :)

Saturday is ...

the Meet Up here in Nuneaton. I am very excited, especially as I will be meeting some new stitching friends. Quie a few people have decided to make a weekend of it and are staying tonight and tomorrow night at local hotels. Tonight we're having a buffet tea here which will be great fun as it's Red Nose Day too.

Tomorrow we are at the school 10am til 4pm so we have a full day of sticthing and chatting. I have a few things to show and I will be revealing a little stitching secret - I'll let you all know tomorrow if I get time or Sunday.

I am sorry I have not posted much these last two weeks but life has been a little busy. I have been working hard to get things finished, building wardrobes in both DS's and DD's bedroom, helping DS with his job, helping DD with her school work and my work has been crazy. In March and April I have 4 training courses for me to go on and 4 I am taking students on. My first one is today. Tuesday night I left school at 5.40 and last night was Subject Evening for year 10 so I didn't get away until 6.40. I'm thinking of just taking a sleeping bag in LOL>

Well I had best go and get ready for work, I just wanted to let you all know that I am still here, happy stitching.

Successful First Day

DS had his first day at the vets today and all seems to have gone well. He has come home very tired but has his rota for the week, some late nights but an early finish on Friday.

This weekend we got DS's bedroom furniture from Ikea and DH spent all day Sunday putting it together. Now both DS and DD have new cupboards in their rooms, plus new beds which may (please please please) mean tidy bedrooms LOL

We also bought another unit for the lounge to finish that off, so things are definately looking good.

I am so excited because this weekend is the meet up here in Nuneaton. I've lost count of who is coming but I think there will be at least 10 of us. Quite a few people are staying Friday and Saturday so I've invited everyone round on Friday for a buffet tea. Then Saturday we have the school from 10am until 4pm to just sit and stitch - well if we stop talking long enough to stitch LOL. I am so looking forward to meeting old friends again and many new stitchers, including a lady from church who made the fabulous knitted choir boys for her Christmas Tree.

I don't have any stitching to share as I have been so busy getting ready for Saturday, building bedroom stuff, and doing some training stuff for work. Hopefully I will have some more stitching to share soon.

Tomorrow is my first weigh in at Slimming World - I've quite enjoyed this week. I have alternated between red and green but I prefer the red days as I'm not a carbohydrate person, I love my meat. Best thing is I've still be able to have my V & T and occassional glass of wine :)

Happy stitching everyone

News Update

I can't believe it's nearly a week since I posted - time has certainly flown by, mainly with sorting out DS and his new job. Thank you so much for all the kind wishes, he is really pleased. He has just two days left at college but tomorrow they are off to Crufts so just Friday to do. He will have some work to do and post into college but we'll be on his back to do that LOL.

DD had her dance show at Bedworth Civic Hall on Monday - it was really good, she was in a great dance called "Pirates". I had taken DD and her cousin to Leicester during half term shopping for their outfits and they looked really good under the lights.

I have been busy at school, and it looks like I will be for a while as I have quite a few training courses coming up, either for me to go on or for me to take students on. Still it's better to be busy than not.

Last night I joined Slimming World as I have to loose some of this weight. I have been to Weight Watchers quite a few times over the last 20 years but every time I put it back on and by now I know all the tricks and how to cheat LOL... So I decided to try a new one and really enjoyed last night. I have found today ok, in fact I couldn't eat all my fruit salad this evening and I've had a vodka and tonic all within my Syns. Hopefully I will be ok with this one and will see some results. We are going to a 40th birthday in early April and I'd like to be either able to get into my skirts or feel good enough to go and buy a new dress - fingers crossed.

Stitching wise I have been making a few secrets so can't share but I have also been working on my Lavender piece (Sally may recognise it- but I needed another one) Now I've taken the photo I can see I've missed a bit on one edge - good tool these cameras, it's a bit like proof reading.

I have been making lots of cards, and sorting out my stash boxes, something that always takes a while. I am getting ready for the Nuneaton Meet Up on 14th March, I have quite a few things ready but need to sort out my £5.00 goody bag. I do enjoy these days- there are so many talented people around and it's nice to see everyone's work, and have a good chat of course.

Thanks for reading my news, hopefully soon there will be some more stitching to share.