Busy needles and busy fingers

January is half way through already and I missed the first week or so having an unwanted visitor - flu. It's a good job our sofa is cosy and I had my stitching and Kindle to keep me occupied.

The Needlecraft Haven Meet Up exchange was a huge success. The forum was buzzing with posts about who was stitching, who had forgotten !! and finally who had posted and received a parcel. Opening Day was 10th January.

As I organise most of the exchanges on NH I usually know who is sending to me but this time we had chosen our partners on the day - everyone wrote their name, address and a few details in a card and we randomly chose a card each - so no-one knew who had who.

The exchange was to stitch an ornament with a saying on that suited your partner, either from knowing them or from the details they ad written in the card.

I was very excited about opening my parcel .... this was my superb gift .... from Rachael.

It's perfect - just me !!

This is the ornament I stitched for Tina - I stitched it over one to keep the writing scrolly and I know Tina loves her stitching shops and stash enhancing.

Ornament for Tina

I have stitched the start to my Welcome RR and will be posting it to Dusty today or tomorrow. It always takes a little longer to travel overseas. I'm really pleased with how it's started, the design is one I have had in my stash for many years - it's quite simple and easy to stitch. My RR is in two pieces as once finished I can hang either summer or winter up depending on which 'time' we're in - so as the clocks change so will my welcome banner.



W on my winter banner

W on my summer banner

So far this I have stuck to the Stitch from Stash challenge - I haven't bought anything and have used my fabric and ribbons from my stash in the attic. I have started two new pages at the top of my blog - one listing all the other stitchers taking part (thanks to Mel for the full list) and a page showing the items from my stash I have used. It's only early January but I have already used quite a few things.

I have been, and will be, very busy with Scouts as this year is our group's100th birthday. Over the year we will be doing 100 different challenges - you can read all about my challenge on my Aimetu's blog. I have had two promises so far and hopefully will have a few more.

I have also been looking through Dad's papers for old scouting photos - if you are on face book the group page is Past and Present Scouts 1st Ansley Hall - Nuneaton North. Here are a couple of my favourite photos.



1st Ansley Hall scout band - my Dad is the big bass drummer

My first camp - St Asaph, Wales 1966
Mum and Dad are far left and I have centre stage - can you see me?

Taken at Bovington Tank Museum whilst on camp at South Down Farm
Ringstead Bay, Weymouth - Dad is the tallest leader and I'm a bit obvious!!

Dad's house is virtually finished - just a few finishing bits which is a good thing as we have a tenant !! I am amazed how quickly someone saw the house and said yes at the rental price and are moving in 1st Feb. We do have a few things in the back garden to finish but we have agreed to do that in the warmer weather. It's been hard work and at times quite emotional. Next month I'm going to sort out an online and printed photo album to show the progress of the house, and the printed one will have a few more photos of Dad in - I'm looking forward to having time to visit relatives and chat over some of them.

It was a bit of a mixed blog this time - I hope you enjoyed my varied news. This Friday we're going to a Michael Buble tribute night and Saturday we are in London for the France Show - I'm so excited as last year we missed it due to the snow.

Thank you for calling by and sharing your thoughts  - happy stitching x x  

Welcome RR, Exchange and a SAL

My 2014 is off to a great stitching start - Needlecraft Haven is very busy with some activities nearing posting time, many are in stitching time and sign ups are open for other activities. I do enjoy hosting NH - it's members are so lovely.

Firstly I have two Happy Dances and it's only 7th January :-) At the Nuneaton Meet Up in the autumn the Meet Up exchange was launched. Everyone who wanted to join in wrote a few details about themselves in a card - we all picked a card and had to stitch a ornament with a saying on for them. My ornament is finished and has been posted. Mine is for ....... and the saying is ....... (revealed next blog)

My second Happy Dance is for the Monthly Christmas Challenge on Needlecraft Haven. This is not run by me but a great forum member Christine. This year the monthly SAL and monthly Christmas ornament SAL have been combined. Christine shares a freebie chart each month which we stitch, finish and send her a photo. At the end of the month the gallery is opened showing all our various finishes using the same design. Mine is done but again you'll need to wait a while for the photo.

I do have a photo to share - I have decided to join in Mel's Stitch from Stash this year. It means all my projects (unless for an RR or particular gift) have to be stitched and finished from my stash. There is an allowance of $25 a month but I am hoping not to use this.

For me this challenge is perfect as now I have retired I don't like asking Hubby for stitching money (although he'd happily pay hee hee) and I have so much stash in the attic. This will make me use up many of my bits, especially for finishing. This is the stash I selected for my first two finishes of the year.

All from my stash

This year I am also taking part in the Needlecraft Haven Welcome RR - there are 5 of us in the group; Ursh, Lynn, Dusty and Gillie. My design is quite simple and relatively small but it's something I have wanted stitched for ages. It's actually two designs that I will be making into a hanging - one for summer and one for winter (as the clocks change)



Creative Moments Winter and Summer Welcome Banner

The chart was given to me over 5 years ago and I have kitted it up from my stash so still on track for the Stitch from Stash challenge.

Two other things I am hoping to do in 2014 is read more books, a mixture of physical books and ebooks, and do more cooking/baking. This is also off to a great start as yesterday I finished reading my first 2014 book and Sunday I baked a fabulous pudding to use up some Christmas left overs.

This is one of the free books on Amazon

Panetone and marmalade pudding with orange
coulis and sweetened yogurt

A New Year can feel very strange, lots of new plans made and promises made - it's easy to put pressure on ourselves to keep these promises up or think that if the year starts badly then the whole year will be this way. In reality it is just another sunrise/sunset day - it is only humans that have put a number and significance to it - new starts, good and bad days can happen anytime ....

.... so my wish to you all is to love everyday with friends and family doing whatever you enjoy, whatever the date.

Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year to all my blog readers - I wish you and your family a very happy 2014.

 

 

We've just had a lovely few days in France but I don't have any photos to share. Instead I'd like to share again a few of my favourite moments from 2013.

 

My first Drawn Thread for the mantle

 

With Philly in Gloucester on her birthday

 

My Goody Bag from Maggie at
the Nuneaton Meet Up

Ruby in our lovely garden

The gifts I stitched for my colleagues
when I retired from school

My two favourite chaps outside my favourite bar
Le Vieux Port - Etaples



With Hubby cycling in Spain in December

Looking back there are so many lovely moments with my family and friends and many stitching happy dances. 2014 looks like being another busy year and  already have a list of projects to do or to finish.

 

My favourite photo from last year is of me and Philly just before she left for

her summer in Mallorca

 

 

My favourite stitching piece is a simple piece now hung over the staffroom door at school - it's important to remember why we're working so hard and enjoy life.

 

 

2013 has been and gone

with treasured memories still living on

2014 - what will it hold

joy and love for young and old.

 

Happy New Year

 



Christmas Thank You to my family and friends

I hope you have had a fabulous Christmas with your friends and family - it's a time to visit relatives, have drinks with friends, spend time with family and remember loved ones. I've done all of these this Christmas which has made it a lovely festive time.

A huge thank you to my friends and family for some amazing gifts - all very much appreciated and 'just me'

'Kisses' necklace and earrings from DH
Heart bracelet from DD

Wine Opus book (it's massive) from DS
Wine tea towel from a school friend

Owl bag from a close friend

 

Wine making equipment from Mum

Charts from NH friends

A variety of gifts from my NH friends

Tomorrow DH and I are off to Calais in France for 3 nights. Our friends who we went to Spain with are coming too - it should be a great time as we're on a wine mission. I'm sure we'll find a bottle or two.

I have cut my Christmas Cake to take with us - it will be coffee (from the flask) and cake whilst in the car on the train going through the Channel Tunnel. I use the same snowmen candles every year - I love snowmen at Christmas, our house is full of them.

Snowman Cake

I hope you've all had a great Christmas, enjoy the last few days of the year - 2014 is just around the corner.

Merry Christmas

Seasons greetings to all my blog friends http://www.e-cards.com/pickup/?code=ca6417-pp-aimet1

I hope you all have a wonderful time with your friends and families.

I have no new stitching to share but this is on our wall for Christmas - as if we need any encouragement haha

Christmas Calories - Sue Hillis 

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful 2014

Back home

We're home and oh is it chilly - Spain was lovely and warm, well once the sun came up. It was dark until nearly nine and was quite chilly, however it stayed light until nearly six and was very warm in the sun.

Here's a few photos to give you a taste of our time in San Pedro del Pinatar.

fresh prawns and mussels on the terrace

cycling along the causeway at Mar Menor

Murcia Cathedral

Roman Theatre at Cartagena

I have not flown very many times and was quite worried but it was ok - I was also worried about what to take as we only took a cabin bag so had many restrictions including weight, size, toiletries and most importantly scissors/stitching. I took two pieces, one to finish and one to start - but I can't share as the finish will be a Christmas gift and the start is an exchange piece.

However I did spot these beautiful quilted items in one of the Spanish shops.

This year I have not done a tree for the ST Laurence's Church Festival as we were away the setting up day and will be away for the taking down. I have really missed being involved but we managed a quick visit yesterday. The church smelt lovely with over 60 real trees - you can see my photos here - this is the main altar, so beautiful.

 

 

It was lovely going away - Hubby certainly needed the break but I am now rushing around like a ad person getting Christmas sorted, so if I don't blog again until the New Year ( we're off to France on the 27th) I would like to wish you and your family ...

 

 

 



 

 

 



Off to Spain

We're off to Spain tomorrow to stay with our friends who have a holiday home there. It's the first time I've been to Spain and only the fourth time I've flown so I am a little nervous to say the least. I have been very busy sorting out parcels and overseas Christmas cards to post because they will be too late when we're back.

It's all getting very exciting with Christmas coming and today our daughter is coming home from Uni for the night - a chance to go shopping together and the four of us go out for a meal. She is off to Prague for a short break before Christmas with her boyfriend so is also busy - she will be home for Christmas though.

It's very Christmassy on Needlecraft Haven too - lots of new activities and two exchanges happening - Advent Exchange and Ornament Exchange. I took part in the ornament one - opening day was 1st December and it's a secret exchange so we don't know who sent until reveal day - I had this beautiful beaded ornament

and this is the ornament I sent to my partner. I know it was received so can share it but I'm not saying who has it

Finally this is the ornament I have stitched for our friends when we get to Spain. We are all wine and beer lovers - doing many wine fairs together. I thought this appropriate - the saying is suggesting that the bar is always open as 'it's 5 o'clock somewhere' and in Spain it'll be an hour before here at home hee hee

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well - it's a very exciting time of year with so many events happening. Thank you for calling by, see you when we get back from the sun.