June, Orts and a little bit of holiday

We had an amazing time in France - far too much good food, speciality beer and wine. Here's a few photos:

The view from our bedroom window

 

Nick snapping the harbour

 

Our favourite bar

 

On our picnic on the last day

 

Me and the Chemin de Feu steam train

 

These are the benches we sat at most evenings with a beer or
bottle of wine (the photo is taken from the other side the estuary -
the benches are the beige squares under the trees)

We really did have an amazing time - especially trying many beers in the Au Vieux Port (not all in one night) I did put photos on facebook and there are some in my online album AimetuClare.

Whilst away I stitched The Drawn Thread - June - but I'm not finishing it until I have stitched July, August and September so I can finish them altogether. I am very behind with these but they will all be ready for next year :) 

The Drawn Thread - June

I have not started another project but have one ready to go (and I might get a bit done after writing this) As always it's a gift so I can't share it just yet BUT it needs to be done quite quickly so you won't have to wait long.

Needlecraft Haven is very busy at the moment - we have just finished the Holiday Exchange but I have to finish mine off so no photos yet. The Autumn Exchange and Spooky Exchange are both open, the September monthly challenge is up and the 31st Orts jar photos are up. Julie hosts the UFO stitching and now that Strictly is back we are Strictly UFO-ing - I have mine ready to go on Saturday.

Here's my Orts jar - I'm very surprised at how full it's getting - but then I have stitched an huge amount this year already.

Orts Jar - August 2013

And finally an apology - I am very out of touch with everyone's blog with being on holiday - I will be blog reading now I'm back but only new posts or it will take forever. I'm sure there will be lots of stitching news.

Thanks for popping by Aimetu's Stitching and reading my latest news.

Birthday Gift

Just a quick update before our hols next week. After stitching all the gifts for school I had a very very busy needle working so hard to stitch a very special gift for a great friend.

Julie reached her half century birthday last week and as soon as I saw this sampler I knew I had to stitch it for her - we live about 16 miles away from each other and often pop up or down the road for a visit - hopefully a few more now I've retired.

I used Picture Frame Express - ordering online with their custom frame calculator is really easy and as they are only in Coventry I can collect (usually next day). The only difficulty is colour matching for the mount and frame when looking on the pc.

Friend's House Sampler - Moira Blackburn

I did not stitch all the borders on the chart but had a double mount and a mustard coloured frame.

Many thanks to Julie for the photo - the ones I took did not look very good.

Summer Blog Hop and more gifts

Jo who's blog is Serendipitous Stitching is organising a Summer Post Card Blog Hop. I've received a beautiful postcard from Lynn - Kearnel's Korner 

Pop by and visit both Jo and Lynn - don't forget to leave a comment too.

 

Lynn's message: 

This design is called Peace Inside by Midsummer Night Designs. I loved this from the first moment I spotted it. Our home is out in a country village and we love to sit and watch the birds each morning. Our door is always open to friends and family and we do love to entertain. Being a cat lover, I was thrilled to see a little cat stitched in the piece as well. I've yet to have this one framed but it sits very nicely on a tabletop easel.

This little piece just seems to embody our home and I'm very proud to display it.

And now for my news - here are a few more of the gifts I stitched for colleagues at work.

Dee - who collects headgehogs and I had no idea

Rav & Kat - two close friends

Nadine & Steve - Mr & Mrs

Annabel - who got married last year

The girls in the Office - reply for student questions

 

My gift for the Staffroom - it hangs next to the clock !!

I had a great last day at school - no cover lessons which made a lovely change. Allthe students left at lunchtime and all the staff went to the main hall for speeches and presentations, not something I find easy but it went ok. Altogether there were 16 people leaving so the presents took a while. Quite a few people were retiring (like me, but they were slightly older hee hee) and some moving onto pastures new. A few tears all round but it was a great atmosphere and lovely to see everyone to say goodbye.

 

I was overwhelmed with gifts from individual members of staff; the cleaners had also bought me a gorgeous scarf and Sue had made a beautiful card. here is the mantle full of my cards - I have to keep re-reading as there is too much to take in.

 

Nick gave me a card too - so sweet of him.

 

School had had a collection as had the English Department - I couldn't believe how much people had given as my gifts were amazing; Lots of Cath Kidston items as well as a huge french sign, I'm not sure where it will go but it is beautiful.

 

All my gorgeous gifts

Huge french sign

Straight after school Nick and I caught the train from Nuneaton to London Euston and on to St Pancras as Nick had booked us on the Eurostar for a 3 day trip to Brussels. It was amazing - the whole day was very emotional added to by Eurostar who just finihsed it off perfectly - I have blogged about our travels on my other blog Aimetu's

 

Thanks for popping by - I should have some more exciting stitching news soon - if you'd like to see all the gifts I stitched for my school colleagues they are in my Flickr Album.

 

Overload of HDs and not all stitching :)

I have one week left at work - sad in many ways but very very happy in lots of others.As soon as I handed my notice in back in January I started stitching small gifts for my colleagues. I finshed them all - over 30 - just in time and gave some out on Friday. I tried to stitch something personal to each person and amazingly some were more than perfect.

This is a photo of all the gifts laid out on my table - and each blog I'll share a few more as all in one will be a photo overload.

All my gifts for work

Adele's - and she does !!

Jo - our Librarian

Gillian, Shirley, Claire & Lisa

Louise - who is moving schools
and teaching languages not literacy

I have a few more to give out tomorrow before sports day :) I loved making and giving these gifts.

The other HD is for our daughter Philly - she is currenty out in Mallorca au pairing for a family for 8 weeks but that isn't the HD.

As well as studying at Uni in South Wales she is a Young Volunteer (Platinum) for Sport Rhondda Cynon Taf which involves working at the council offices, arranging sporting events and training for Gold and Silver volunteers. It was their annual awards night last Wednesday- here's her nominations section:

Young Volunteer of the Year
This award is for an individual that has volunteered their time in school or the community and made a significant contribution to the development of sport in Rhondda Cynon Taf. They may help with the administration, developing a website, taking registers or helping with marketing. Applicants must be Under 25 years of age.
Finalists:
Matthew Jones (Gadlys Rovers F.C. & Hirwaun and Mackworth F.C.)
Phillipa Hearnden (Platinum Ambassador, University of South Wales)
Daniel Reynolds (Gold Ambassador, Aberdare High School)

 .... she won!!! We're so so proud of her - I had a lovely tweet from her lecturer saying 'She is an incredible talent and I am so pleased that she is a USW student' (University of Wales)

Philly & Me - leaving for Gatwick last Sunday

And finally we have a large family living in our garden- well in our bird box but not birds. It fell off the wall and before we could put it back a queen bee moved in and has made a hive - the bees have pushed the bird rubbish out.We don't want to move them as they are not causing any trouble and are good for the garden. In the winter they will die anyway and we'll get rid of the box then. Today it is again very very hot and the clever bees have a perfect way of cooling down  - one of the workers sits at the hive door and buzzes its wings making a draught into the hive - how clever is that !!

Buzzing bee

Thanks for reading all my news - I'll blog again soon with some more gift photos :-)

July - how did that happen???

We seem to have slipped into July and I have no idea how .... I guess it's because I have been so busy with various things not just stitching.

Firstly here is my orts jar for June - it is filling up nicely.

June orts

With leaving work soon (and there are now 13 people going at the same time) there are a few 'dos' and the first was mine :-) The English department all went for a drink from work and then enjoyed an Indian meal at a local restaurant. It was a great night and tonight we're out again as another member of our English team is leaving. This time we're going to Frankie and Benny's.

School puts on a musical every summer, thanks to a huge amount of work from Miss Mason our music teacher, the students (as cast, orchestra and crew) and half a dozen other teachers. I was Front of House before the show and dresser during the show. This year we performed The Wedding Singer, Tuesday and last night - the show was amazing.

Last week we took the cast to see the show performed at Leicester by a professional cast - for some of our students it was the first time they had been in a theatre. The cast met them before the show, answered their questions and gave them a few tips. Last night 10 of that cast came to our school to watch the students - this caused many more nerves but the students were so proud to perform with them in the audience. The visiting cast all stood to applaud at the end and came on stage to chat to the students. A superb end to a superb show.

So as you can see with meals out and the show (rehearsals all weekend) I have missed the end of June. I did remember to change the design on Needlecraft Haven - it's definitely a July theme :-) but I forgot to take my Orts photo so I'll have to do that later.

I have been stitching, mainly my secret gifts but the 30th June was Reveal/Opening Day for two Needlecraft Haven exchanges.

In April at the NH Spring Meet Up we set up a secret bookmark exchange. On the day everyone wrote their name and address in a card along with their favourite colour, flower and sweets. We all chose a card and kept the name inside a secret. The exchange was to then stitch a bookmark for that person using ideas from the card or anything else you knew about them.

I picked my next door neighbour Ursh's card and knew immediately what to stitch. She has a birdbox which is on our side of her house so we also enjoy the blue tits that nest there every year. I don't usually use a kit but just loved this DMC one from Sew and So:

Meet-up Bookmark Exchange for Ursh

And it was Lindsay who had my card. Lindsay makes some amazing beadwork and she sent me a beaded bookmark which is just stunning. She also sent some beautiful speciality threads.

Meet-up Bookmark Exchange from Lindsay

The other exchange on Needlecraft Haven is the Holiday exchange. For this we put together a free chart, thread and fabric to stitch it and sent it to our partner by 30th June. The theme for this was holidays - anywhere we've been, would like to go or a general holiday idea. This is also a secret exchange so we do not know who sent the chart. We have to stitch it up by Reveal Day:1st September.

This is the chart pack I received, well just the fabric and thread as the chart is to be kept secret:

Holiday exchange fabric and thread

Well that's about all my news for now, I will soon be able to share my gifts and you'll see then why my blog has been a little quiet this year, something I hope will change once I finish work. Thank you for all your lovely comments, I do enjoy reading them.

Blooming June

The sun has been shining for the start of June – we had some beautiful days in Wales. Last week the evenings were lovely but today we’re back to grey June, come back sunshine please!

I have been stitching but as always just lately it’s more gifts – I have nearly finished the stitching so hopefully next week I’ll be able to have a ‘finishing’ time. I have already put together some of the framed gifts, some coasters, some books and some key rings – I think I have shared a few on here but I will have a ‘Gallery Blog’ soon with all the items.

I must get my camera out and take some proper photos too; due to being so busy I have been using my phone to take the photos. It’s good but sometimes the focus is out (there are a few like that on this blog, sorry). I am actually looking forward to taking photos or all the gifts using my camera as I do enjoy photography; something else I will soon have time for.

Anyway here is my Orts jar (a blurry one as my phone focused on the background – aarrrhhh). I should have added this to NeedlecraftHaven last week but as we all know times runs away. There isn’t really a definite colour this time, although I can see groups of colours where I have worked on a particular project.

Blury Orts Jar for May

My Drawn Thread for June will be very late, as will my July but by the summer I should be all caught up ready for next year. I haven’t changed my mantle either as it seemed a little pointless without the stitched piece. Next year I am going to spend a little longer on planning each mantle and if needs be go shopping !!

I have been gardening at Dad’s – I’ve now painted all the raised beds and half of the fence – it makes such a difference. The plumber is fitting the kitchen this week and then the electrician can finish off. Once they have both done we can start the actual decorating. It still looks like a big job but I think once it’s emptied of workman stuff it will look much better.

Dad's Garden

My Mum gave me two fuchsia and two tomato plants to grow on – I managed to find a Ruby proof place for them – for now at least.

I know those plants are here somewhere!

I am always one for a bargain and just lately the Co-op seem to have their flowers reduced quite often. I bought some roses and lilies the other week for just £2.50 and they lasted 10 days J I have also grabbed this love miniature rose for £2.50 (it came with a pot but I prefer this one that was my Grandmother’s via my Dad’s) and DH spotted theses lilies at M&S for just £4 including the pot.

Roses in Grandma's pot

 

M&S Lilies

That’s all my news for now – I am enjoying reading everyone’s blogs as we move slowly into summer, there’s some lovely work being done and so many great ideas.

Thank you for calling by to read my news and leaving a comment, it’s always nice to read them x x

Good start to June

We were at the caravan for the start of June and what beautiful weather we had too. We did some good walks with Ruby but I did manage a little stitching as well.

I finished this coaster - I've stitched it many times but I love this saying and the colours are so delicate.

and I finished a few more key rings - I had to buy a bigger size as Sew and So have stopped selling the square ones. I stitched over one and am really pleased with the finishes.

Friday 31st May was my Mum's birthday and we had a trip out to Hatton Country World - a great place and we were lucky enough to see the peacock in full glory - I've written about our trip to Wales in my lifestyle blog Aimetu's

Hatton Country World's magestic peacock

I will be very very late with this month's Drawn Thread calendar piece as I must get the other gifts finished and I have the Needlecraft Haven Bookmark Exchange to stitch by the end of June. In fact it may be I do June and July's after I finish work as I have so many meals, school show, theatre trips and other things going on.

I hope everyone is enjoying this glorious sun we have at the moment - thanks for calling by :-)