No Hummingbirds were harmed in the making of this Chocolate!

Thom and I have been together for 4 years now and this is what he bought me for a gift....knowing my love of birds (more so hummingbirds) and, of course, chocolate!

I also received a bag patterned with birds and butterflies, which I had had my eye on for a while. I am very lucky! My glee at my surprise gifts were tinged with guilt as I hadn't been able to get anything for Thom as I had been struck down with tonsillitis and felt pretty rough for a while. Unfortunately I had to have another course of antibiotics as it was on it's way back!
I've been busy making Christmas cards for a swap on Ravelry. We are exchanging a cross stitch card along with a small stitchy gift. Here are the cards I've made....

I've also been making a card for my Dad of a robin. I make one every year for him.

My card making is going to be limited this year, I'm sad to say, as we will be moving soon.
Happy stitching!! =!!=

October Festivities

It's been a while since I've blogged....it's been a bit busy here, in the burrow. I went to The Knitting and Stitching Show in October at Alexandra Palace with some friends and had a fab time. I got some treats which included some threads from Crescent Colours and a cross stitch bookmark book.
Also in October, The Ely KTOG and the Ely coffee and crafts group held a stall at The Apple Day in Ely. It's the first time we took part and it was a grat day, if a little chilly. We warmed ourselves with hot tea and soup and nibbled on biscuits and apple treats. We made £73 for charity and got lots of people interested in the knitting group.


I have made 2 ATC's recently too. Never made them before and they are really fun to do - and you can be so creative with them.


And look what we found in our kitchen sink one morning....

It's oh-so-quiet in the Burrow....

There is not much a-happening in the burrow at the moment but I have finished the woodland bunny. Here he is....

I'm doing some small autumnal-themed projects as well, which I'll show when finished.

>!!<

The SAL so far....

Here's what I've done so for in the Watership Down SAL on Ravelry :


I should definately be finished by the end of August. Wednesday and Thursday see me off work so will put in extra time to get him done :)
>!!<

First Sock Syndrome

Some knitters sometimes suffer with "Second Sock Syndrome". This is when they have knitted the first sock of a pair and then have to knit exactly the same sock to make up the pair. Well, I have come to realise that I think I suffer with "First Sock Syndrome". I have knitted socks before with more or less no problems - in fact, I breezed through it considering they had been my first pair. Now I am using the same pattern for another pair and I have just hit problem after problem with it. I managed to get all the way down to the toe, with help from a few other knitters in the Ely KTOG group and and still the damn sock did not want to be knitted! So I frogged the whole thing - and felt like a weight had been lifted! I am now knitting it again, for I will not be beaten by a sock! Here is the rogue sock....

Home Grown Yumminess

Thom and I have taken over part of my Dad's garden and we have a small vegetable patch which is flourishing. We have lettuce, corgette, green beans, chilli's, runner beans, red cabbage, carrots and tomatoes (which don't seem to be fareing well!). This is a bit of our crop....


This is two meals I have made, the first being sauted corgette with salad and the second a vegetable cobbler.


In stitching news, I have been doing bits and pieces really. My mad mission to start as many projects as possible in a minimal amout of time has finished. I am now calmly finishing things and getting things done. I treated myself to some new thread from Stef Francis
as they are having thier annual 10% off summer sale. Here's what I got :

I am currently making a birthday card for someone but after that I will be taking part in a SAL and RAL in the Knittership Down group on Ravelry. I have my book and threads at the ready!
Happy crafting >!!< xx

Rainbow Owl

Just a little picture of my finished owl....



>!!<

Crochet Coral and a Rainbow Owl

On Saturday I went to workshop at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge on crochet corals. I have seen the exhibition before while at Alexandra Palace during the Knitting and Stitching show 2008 and thought it quite spectacular. I also caught up with Rosie which was great as I hadn't seen her in months!But since then my crochet skills have improved and I was thrilled to see that the workshop coincided with one of my days off! So armed with a crochet hook and a few odd balls of yarn, I headed down and created this :

Well, I put the edging on when I got home, but some of the creations that people have contributed are amazing! It was lovely to see kids crocheting, learning a skill and learning about the environment among other things.

In stitchy news, I created this little fella :

He's almost finished and I had great fun designing him!
Happy crafting! xx

Bamboo Baby is finished

I finished the Bamboo Baby jacket today. I think it must be the quickest I have ever finished anything ever! I found the cute little buttons in my button jar and after much mulling over and comparing between ladybirds, turtles, hearts and flowers I decided that these looked the best.


I also received in the post a chart from someone in America who kindly offered to send it to me, after I could not find it anywhere. It was a chart of the Margaret Sherry Cats on a Swing picture. I had found the kit at a car boot sale but it had no chart with it.

Happy Stitching :)

Church Farm Rare Breeds Centre

Yesterday, Thom, my Dad and I went to Church Farm Rare Breeds Centre which is just north of Ely. The weather was beautiful and the Farm was lovely. Lunch was excellent at the cafe there and so a fine day was had by all. Here are some of the lovely animals we met.

Your Eyes Do Not Deceive You

Yes I have started knitting again! I remembered that I had a pattern for a cute little baby jacket called "Bamboo Baby" from the "Yarn Stash Wonder" book by Judith Durant. I found some fairytale dk from Patons in cream and have beavered away this afternoon sitting in the garden, making the most of the sunshine again.

I have also finished Baby T's biscornu :

:)

This Charming Pig

I have been reading a book called "The Pig Who Sang to the Moon". I have wanted it for a while and was most pleased when Thom decided to make the decision for me and buy it! Its by Jeffrey Masson and is a book about the thoughts, feelings and emotions of farm animals. It is an excellent read and really opens your eyes to how farm animals live and thier plight against being used for the animal industry. I was pleased to discover that Jeffrey Masson is coming to Cambridge in June to give a talk on his new book "The Face on your Plate", a book on veganism.
This book inspired me so much that it drew me to make a book mark in honor of it. Here is the finished picture. It just needs assembling.
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I sat on Cathedral Green on Saturday as I was at a loose end and finished off the stitching. It was a lovely warm day and I made the most of the sun.

Happy Stitching! :)

Ely's Eel Day

I didn't realise how long it had been since I had blogged! Life has been a bit hectic, baby T is finally here (although she was a bit early), and baby and Mum are both doing fine.
On saturday 2nd May Ely held it's annual Eel day. The day started at 10.30 with a procession from the cathedral down to the river and Jubilee Gardens, where there were some lovely stalls, music food and drink. The sun shone all day and a few people from the Ely Knitting group met to knit/stitch and generally enjoy the sunshine and music.



In stitching news, I have just started a baby biscornu in celebration of the baby T arriving. Will post pics v. soon!
Happy stitching :)

Daffycat's Beatiful Fabric Giveaway

Daffycat is having a giveaway on her blog, which I have entered into! Check this out - Daffycat.

Rabbit Biscornu

I fiiinally finished my rabbit biscornu! I eventually chose some buttons from the City Cycle Centre in Ely and it came together well.
I also treated myself to this thread, Carons Wildflowers, Nefertiti shade. I am making a blackwork stained glass window picture from MH's New Stitches.
In non-stitching news, I made these lovely vegan cupcakes. It's true what they they say - vegan cupcakes really do rule the world!

My Easter Haul

I did quite well this Easter..more than I was expecting or deserved, to be honest! Top is a card I made.
xxxx:)

Happy Easter

An Easter treat....

Reading until Twilight....

The faery of gloom has been visiting the burrow recently. She can be found skulking in every corner and you stumble across her when you least expect it. She is not a pleasant house guest. I have not been able to concentrate on anything, not even stitching, or any of the things I love to do. Except one thing. The book "Twilight", by Stephanie Meyer. I have been sucked in completely and cannot stop thinking about it! And who could resist falling helplessly in love with Edward Cullen and his delicious vampiric beauty? Not I. I am resisting the temptation of making a purchase of the DVD as I want to finish reading the book first - but it's hard! I picked it up today whilst out shopping and could feel the pull but reluctantly put it back. Money is very tight at the moment, so thats another reason to wait a while. I also discovered that the next film, "New Moon", is out this November. In the mean time, back to my book....and Edward.

With my Nose in a Book....At Last.

For years and years I used to read books faster than I could breath. Until several years ago when I seemed to lose interest in every book after only a few chapters. I love the feeling of being totally gripped by a book that you can't eat, sleep or function properly until you know whats happeneing next. A few years ago, My Dad bought me for Christmas "The Land of the Living" by Nicci French. I began to read it Christmas Day evening and I had finished it by Boxing Day evening. This has happened frequently with Nicci French books. It also happens with Alich Hoffman books too. But lately I have struggled again - until I found this book...."A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket! I read it straight through and became totally hooked! I decided to read the whole series and look what I found in a charity shop today....

....the next book in the series! I also found an offer in WHSmiths which I couldn't resist - and that doesn't happen often! It was a BOGOF offer on selected paperbacks and I found these books which I have had my eye on for a while....

I don't normally buy books new, I scour the charity shops until I find what I'm looking for - and it happens sooner or later. It was a good offer so I indulged. Anyhow, I'm still suffering wih a sore neck so it was medicine, in a way.

Blackwork Butterfly

Here is a pic of the finished butterfly. Sometime last week, I managed to trap a nerve in my neck and the muscle has spasmed and so I have been in much pain. Needless to say, all stitching has been on hold. I tried to do some of WG but even that was too much. On the way back from the pharmacy (from getting my pain relief prescription from the doctor), I found this shop. I had not seen it before and it has jars and jars of beautiful beads. Not suitable for stitching but wonderful to look at all the same.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

We had a lovely time by the sea - even if it was slightly blustery. We stayed at Eton Lodge and we couldn't have asked for a better B & B. The vegetarian selection on the menu was brilliant and the food was lovely. I didn't get as much stitching done as I wanted to as the sea air was very powerful, making me sleep for 12 hours the first night. Wednesday, we drove across to Wells and enjoyed a walk around the town. It was bight and sunny but very cold. Definately hat and scarf weather. We decided to drive down to Fakenham for lunch and it was much warmer there. After a stroll there and the purchase of an inexpensive kite from the toy shop, we headed back to not-so-Sunny Hunny, where it was quite calm. We flew the kite for a while - it has been years since we have done so and it was so much fun, and walked almost to Heacham.

This is Thom flying our kite.
Thursday morning, before we left, we went back to the beach but it was way too windy for kite flying. After fighting a losing battle for 20 minutes, we headed back to say our goodbyes and head home.

A Happy Stash Enhancement Exercise

Saturday I spent at the Stitch and Craft show at Olympia. Ahhh what a lovely day although I returned tired - but happy! I thought to myself that there was more knitting there this year. I particularly loved the vintage knitting stall, promoting a new book of vintage knitting patterns. But my favourite stand this year was the Trudy Anne Designs stand. They don't have a website but they sell folk art style kits, accesories and charts. Lizzie Kate, Bent Creek, Trilogy and Needle in Hands were all featured there. I have already started to make my shopping list for them for Ally Pally in october...I did a class, "Beyond Cross Stitch", which I started to make a picture of a butterfly made using blackwork and beads. It uses black and gold thread and I have almost finished it. Will post a pic when finished. Amongst my haul is 2 blackwork kits (a snail and an owl), a small chaffinch kit (for my Dad when finished) and a magnetic snail, which I fell in love with, all from Jane Greenoff. Some rustic snail buttons from Injabulo were also bought, 2 charts from Trudy Anne Designs, both featuring rabbits, variagated thread also from there called Steamed Broccoli. I also got a super-whizzy new lamp with a magnifying glass - a high-tech version of the one I bought last year! The only thing is doesn't do is make me a cup of tea!



Today we are off to Hunstanton for a couple of days. It is Thoms birthday and his family have given him some money to spend on a B & B and a nice meal out as a presant. I am taking my blackwork butterfly and the chaffinch to stitch. We are hoping the weather will hold out and it won't rain! See you all soon! xx

Spud

I felt so sorry for this little fellow, I just had to post his plight! Spud He doesn't look like a hodgeheg at all. At least the doctors say his spikes might grown back!

A Mushroom has Grown in the Burrow

There is nothing better to gladden your heart during a time of gloom than a spot of stitching. I took a small break from the Woodland Goddess to stitch this small but fabulous forest fungi. The design is actually from the WG chart by the wonderful Joan Elliot. After a rummage through my stash for something suitable to stitch on, I settled on this 14 ct aida I hand dyed some time ago. Perfect, I thought. It also has Mill Hill seed beads on the top. Another card I am making for a friend is also stitched on this fabric but is of a simple flower design, similar to this :


In other stitching news, 5 days left until I go to Olympia! I have my list ready and it is constantly growing. I am booked onto the Beyond Cross Stitch worshop, something I have done before but that was the only one that appealed to me. Plus it breaks up the day and I get to stitch with other stitchers! Take Care! x

The Big Bang Theory

The subject of this post is not anything to do with the TV programme as in the title. It's about the explosion of our washing machine, a mere 3 weeks old! It was delivered on the 9th February and 10 days later it tripped the electricity with a loud bang. After a fuse change, all was well - for 3 days. The is stopped working mid-cycle. So we called the company and an engineer was sent out 2 days later. After a bit of tinkering and a few questions asked by him, he discovered the electrical panel had burnt out and so fitted us with a new one. All was well again. Untill 9 days later when the drum exploded, again mid-cycle, splaying small shards of white plastic everywhere and buckling the drum. Sigh. The company was called yet again and they have promised to deliver a brand new one on monday. We wait in hope that this one will not be a rogue machine that slipped through the net!

A Stitchin' Birthday!

Last Tuesday was my birthday. I had a lovely day and received some lovely gifts. Among them was the fabric and threads to make The Woodland Goddess. I have coveted this since the Stitch and Craft show 2008 where I saw Joan Elliot and her stunning work. It is stitched with beautiful hand painted aida called Fallen Leaves from Polstitches and uses metallic threads and Mill Hill beads.
I also received a kit for making a cross stitch coaster set of blackberries and blackthorns from my Dad. Thom took me out for a meal in the evening and a little time was then spent at the Cambridge KTOG. Thom gave me a yummy carrot cake (my favourite!) complete with candles. Thursday evening, my Dad, sister, her husband and my niece and nephews came to visit. We had nibbles and more cake.

Stitch-a-long and Crafting a-plenty

This weekend I took part in a Stitch-a-long on facebook. I have never taken part in one or a swap or anything like that due to not having enough time. I didn't want to commit and so disappoint anyone. But now I have finished studying I have more time to enjoy what I love - stitching! The February Stitch-a-long started on friday 6th Feb at 5pm and finishes at 12pm monday 9th feb. All that was required was for me to post a before and after picture of my stitching. I decided to stitch a picture for a valentines card for Thom. Everyone else taking part was very supportive and nice and there was some magnificent work going on. There was another crafting event going on this weekend which I attended - a craft morning at Sue Ryder in Ely. We paid £2 and in return we got a cup of coffee/tea and a cake, all proceeds to Sue Ryder Care. There was a variety of crafts going on including card making, quilting, knitting and stitching. I met some lovely people and hope to go again when they organise it again. I also took my valentine stitch-a-long project along to stitch on.

Snow Bunnies

February arrived on sunday and with it came snow! The first flurry came in the afternoon whilst I was working and by the time I left at about just after 9.30pm, it was coming fast and furious. Pretty, but not pleasant to drive in. So we went to bed wondering how much of a winter wonderland we would wake up to in the morning. Not much is the answer. My footprints had been covered from the night before but there was not much else. The school opened as usual (the only one in Britain if the news is anything to go by!) and life carried on for us as usual. Thom and I were both off work (a rare occurrence) and so we went over to Huntingdon Garden and Leisure with my Dad for a while. By the time we were ready to leave, it was snowing hard again. So back to the burrow we headed, for an afternoon of tea, hot cross buns and stitching. Here are my two moon-gazing hares first thing on monday.