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!