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Thursday 26 June 2008

Benjamin Bunny

Here's a picture of where I'be got to with Benjamin Bunny Sampler. I'm popping in to see Helene and baby Amelie (who this is for) this afternoon.

Afterwards, I'm off on holiday, down to Cornwall, so I won't be around for a while. I'm taking Benjamin Bunny with me, but I don't expect I'll get a huge amount of stitching in.

Wednesday 25 June 2008

On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

On Sunday we went to Ilkley Moor - not the best conditions for walking - we nearly got blown off the Cow and Calf rocks. We didn't have hats ;)



For the non-Brits out there, "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at", roughly translated from Yorkshire to "On Ilkley Moor without a hat", is a folk song, here's a link to the wikipedia entry, complete with full lyrics in Yorkshire and normal English...



Monday 23 June 2008

stitching update

Well, it's been a while since I last posted pictures of my stitching. A week ago I was busy working on Wild Fairy Light, and I've almost done 3/4 of it now.


We had another stitch and bitch last week, and I took Assisi knot garden. I didn't get too uch done though, must have been bitching too much ;)

Last weekend I finally picked out a birth sampler for my friend Helene, and started it on Sunday. It's a Benjamin Bunny sampler from Cross Stitch Crazy magazine - I saw it in the newagents and bought the magazine for this pattern. I'm not overly impressed with the magazine though. Anyway, I started it last Sunday and this is my progress after about 1/2 week...

I'm pleased I got it started, as on Tuesday I had a text from Helene sating that she'd had a baby girl (Amalie, not sure how she is spelling it yet though) , a little ealier than expected. I did a bit more last night, and I've now finished Benjamin (in the centre) and started the pears. I've converted the anchor to DMC but I'm not too happy about the darker green, so I need to sit down and choose a better dark green tonight - so I'll have a little frogging to do. I'll take another photo once it's sorted.

On another note, we had strong winds yesterday, and it blew the first two rose flowers off my new standard rose "ruby wedding". Before I'd had chance to photograph them. NOT HAPPY. I picked up the slightly battered flowers and I've put them in a vase so at least I can enjoy them....

Thursday 19 June 2008

Roses

A while ago I shared a photo of my newly planted rose garden. It's now getting well established and the roses are starting to bloom, so I thought I'd share some more photos.


This is the lastest photo of the garden as a whole. Last weekend we put in the path of stepping stones - which were kindly given to us by our lovely neighbours, Ruby and Nav (they'd pulled up their path a long time ago and the slabs were behind their shed). We also planted 2 more roses and spread some bark chippings to keep the soil moist and weeds at bay - it also looks MUCH nicer than the bare soil. But we're going to need to buy some more to finish the job!!


Ed bought me this rose as part of my birthday present 18 months ago. I nearly killed it last summer, as the pot it was in was too small, but luckily I managed to rescue it (but we didn't have any flowers last year). It's a David Austen rose called 'Winchester Cathedral'. I just adore white roses.


This is 'sexy rexy', which was covered in lovely flowers last year (it moved house with us), this is the first flower so far this year. It was a freebie from a gardening magazine. I love the vibrant pink...


I bought this white rose about 2 months ago, but I've forgotten the name. Wonderland? Celebration? I love the way the flowers have that creamy centre. At the moment it's a much smaller plant than the others, but I'm sure it will grow in time.


Finally, this is 2 winter pansys I bought last autumn to give a little colour. They've spread like wildfire and are covered in flowers (still). Although well past they're 'best' (technically) and very leggy, they are so colourful they're staying put until they stop flowering. I've not even spent hours deadheading them - I've only had chance to do it once!! Not bad for about 50p each!!

Tuesday 17 June 2008

Viking Unst

Ok, now for a little archaeology! (and a shameless beg for votes)

Our university is a co-partner in the Viking Unst Project, the excavation of a Viking settlement on the most northern island in the UK. It's been nominated for a Heritage Lottery Fund award for 'best in heritage'and I'm asking blog readers to vote for it at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.

I've just spoken to Zoe, one of the team who are currently en-route to Unst for the excavation. They left Bradford on Sunday, and are still 2 ferry rides away from Unst, apparently they missed a ferry this morning and are trying to pass the time skimming stones somewhere in the Shetlands. They'd really appreciate your vote.

Here is a pic of the excavation of a long house (courtesy of the Northern Atlantic Research Unit - That's why I phoned Zoe ;) ):


And this is a photo of their coolest find from last year, a small stone carved into a little man:

Monday 9 June 2008

Stitching update


On Monday last week I worked on Fantasy Triptych for the TW SAL, but then for the rest of the week I focussed on Wild Fairy Light - and last night I finished the fairy (apart from the blending filament for the wings - I'm still in the process of tracking down the right colour!

I also had some luck on ebay yesterday, and won TW's Tradewinds kit. Can't wait for it to arrive!!

Monday 2 June 2008

June goals

May recap:

1) do next 1/4 of Assisi knot garden - pretty much. I did more black but less red, so I guess that evens things up!
2) work on Fantasy Tryptich - yes
3) work on Wild Fairy Light - I took it away with me this weekend, but didn't get any stitching done until Sunday (1st June)
4) do a freebie - yes, but I needed to buy some neads so it's not quite there yet!

June goals:

1) work on Assisi knot garden - I'd like to finish this in July
2) work on Fantasy Triptych
3) work on wild fairy light
4) start birth sampler for Helene
5) complete Margaret mat and make progress with Milanese lace