September starts

well, I've been pretty busy of late, but most of it has been fun!!

Ed and I took a week off work. We didn't go away, just stayed at home. We did several jobs that had been waiting for a while, went blackberry-ing (is that a word) - I couldn't stitch much that day beacuse my hands were purple, but Eddy's were worse:



We then made a VERY thick and sticky blackberry jam (our first ever attempt - clearly overcooked, but tastes brilliant). We ate lots from our garden too. The best was peas and artichokes. The peas were Bird's Eye, but the artichokes, onion and dill were all home grown. We worked out the artichokes would have cost us £10 in a supermarket. I hope the plants last the winter...

We went to Leeds to the Royal Armouries to see the weapons in films exhibition. We were both a bit spoddy in the LOTR section which was amazing. Reminded me why I wanted to be a costume designer as a teenager (I even looked into it for Uni until I realised that I'm crafty, not creative and imaginative). We also bough curtain poles, which ended up costing a fortune because I'm fussy, and I even made the 3 curtains (hall window, landing window and front door). Now I just need the poles we ordered to arrive and a free weekend to hang them.

I did quite a bit of stitching and started 2 projects, Dracolair's Phoenix and a Winnie the Pooh called 'Eyore's Problem' - it's the Pooh sticks story. I made Eddy pick somehting from my stash (I'm stash only stitching for a while because of the curtain poles), and that piece was his choice.




I just saw a fun 'where have you been' map thing on Sara's blog, here are my travels:



It took me ages to work out where Alaska was on the US map. My biggest problem with the states is I tend to end up in the same place. I've been to Missouri 3 times. Twiced to visit Phil and Amanda, which is very cool, but why did I have to have a conference there too???? Hopefully next year I'll be able to add Chicago - I don't think O'Hare really counts... Of course I'll try and visit Phil and Amanda again too :) I should add that Phil and Amanda have just got the Pooh calendar I stitched for Jack framed and it looks brilliant!

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

I'm clearly a northern European traveller, but I'm impressed by the lack of gaps... The island in the med confused me, until I realised it was highlighted as part of France... My Geography knowledge is dreadful!

I'm back at work now, term starts on Monday and we meet the students tomorrow. Of course I'm not ready. I worked until 8pm tonight. One day I'll learn...

The wonderful world of Julie and Mikko

Just to rub in the rather poor map coverage I have in my previous post, I have now (finally!!) found the link to Julie and Mikko's travel blog.
Jealous?? Me???

I've known Julie since I was about 5. She moved to Finland with Mikko a few years ago and they's just set out around the world.... luckily thay packed their unique senses of humour.

Bon Voyage!!

September goals (a little late this time)

July recap - I wanted to work (and finish if possible):

1) Assisi knot garden
2) Benjamin Bunny
3) wild fairy light
4) Necessities sampler

I actually worked on them all, and finished them all (WFL on the 1 Sept), as part of the Stitching Olympics on the wagon. Amazingly I came joint third in the 'rotation relay', and a 'bronze medal' is on its way to me as we speak... It was such a fun event, and it really focussed my stitching last month.

I also said that Mondays I'd work on FT, and on Thursdays I wanted to make progress with my lace - I woeked on FT every Monday, but only picked up my lace once, due to manic stitching marathon and a hectic few weeks at work.

My September goals are:

1) work on FT
2) start Dracolair's Phoenix (already have done), and get 50% done
3) start an obligation piece - either Postman Pat birth sampler or Las Vegas wedding sampler.
4) start Barbara Thompson's Peacock
5) start somehting else.

Yup, I'm taking part in September startitis on the wagon!!

More hapy dancing...

I *just* managed to finish Wild Fairy Light for the Stitching Olympics on Monday night - although I was stitching well past bed time to be able to do it!



She's a Who Knew!?! design, and is stitched on PTP's 'Fresco' cashel linen. I substituted the required Gentle Arts thread with Crescent Colours' Razzleberry. IT took me a while to track down the required 'confetti fuschia' krenik blending filament for the wings, but I think it was worth the effort.

Lat night I finished Peacocks and Dragons (William Morris DMC) bookmark. I used left over thread from Assisi knot garden, and antique white quaker cloth - the edge of the piece I used for FT.




So, as of last night I have got only 1 WIP - count 'em, 1!!!! (Lindsay may realise that's slightly directed at her - I'm not sure if I'm scared or jealous that she's got 49 WIPs!!!). Tonight I'm stash diving, at which point I can set my Septmeber goals.