so much of a long time...

It has been so much of a long time... phew...! a whirlwind of stuff, good and bad... i am back in the burrow an stitching in abundance. watch this space.

Just a few bits for spring

I got Doodle Stitching as a gift for my birthday. So these are just a few stitchings that I have done from the book. I really love this book. It's cute and the designs are so versatile. Her blog, Little Dear Tracks, is full of gorgeous stuff. I am a regluar reader.

a mermaid made for a birthday card


little bunny



This last picture is from Urban Threads, made for a valentines card.

New Year Nothingness

I have not felt much like doing anything lately. Maybe it's the weather. I have got my eye on some embroidery books, with my birthday looming some of them will be birthday treats to myself. And I am about to start to stitch this for a valentines card.
I have also discovered White Lies and have been listening to To Lose My Life pretty much all the time. Their new album, Ritual, has just been released which I think will be among my birthday treats. Happy bunny.

Merry Christmas

I tried something different this year with my cards. I normally make them with cross stitch but I tried embroidery, making Christmas trees with lights on. On some I used green organza, some a piece of green fabric (bought with a bag of fabric scraps), and some using a stitched outline of a tree using split stitch. I enjoyed making them, they have been much quicker to make than cross stitch. I enjoyed being creative and making each one individual.

a lark in the evenin'...

this was made for a birthday present. The chart is from JBW designs and I used "Eve's Apples" thread by Crescent Colours.

a bird for autumn

my finished bird for autumn. just winter to go...

apples

these a few designs I made for Apple Day, to sell on the stall. I made them into cards.

beautiful autumn

Autumn
by Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.

Rustling under the Leaves

I am here under the leaves, rustling about. Our internet connection was broken for a week but is now back and working. But pictures are still not happening due to a lost card reader. They are building up on my camera so there will be an influx of them once reader is found.
I am off work on a "staycation" at the moment but have come down with a bad cold and am totally germified. I haven't managed to do what I wanted to do. I have managed a bit of stitching, mainly appley for Apple Day cards.
The nights are drawing in and it's getting chilly.

Autumn is Nearly Here

My favourite season. The leaves are turning, the air is cool and the sunsets are amazing. I have my threads and buttons ready to begin stitching the Autumn Bird. I have photos of the finished Summer Bird but unfortunately, I am having trouble locating them on the computer. So pics will follow once the IT faeries have stopped playing games and hiding them from me. I have also been stitching apples again for Apple Day, for our stall in Ely. We are a bit more organised this year and have a bit more input from people in the Ely KTOG.

Owl in the Dark

Just wanted to share this blog with you. I have followed Stephanie Dosen for a while on blogger and on Ravelry. She has a pure magical voice and her songs are from a dark ethereal wispy forest. You can find her here.

Just some pictures to share....

Spring Bird from Heart in Hand


Blue Beaded Tile from a class at Stitch and Craft


Whimsical Bird inspired by Birdie Decoration on Ravelry

Spring is slowly springing.

Spring is here. No it's not. Yes it is. Well, it's on it's way. Isn't it? The slow arrival of spring is starting to get me down so I was lifted by the discovery of these flowers in my garden. I'm not sure what they are so if anyone has any idea, please let me know.


So a stitching mood lift was this :

I stitched it for Thom's birthday present, being a Moomin lover and extremely fond of the quote by Moomintroll himself, it was a perfect project. Stitched on hand dyed aida with DMC thread black (310) and white (blanc) and the lettering was Stef Francis 6 strand cotton shade 38.

Just a parting pic of Arthur having a wash.

Stitch and Craft 2010

I took a trip to Stitch and Craft at Olympia on friday. I've been looking forward to it for sometime and saving my pennies.It was a fabulous day although it was a bit long due to the coach trip - but worth it. I thought there was more knitting and crochet this year and slightly less papercraft and slightly less cross stitch. But all the larger cross stitch companies were there. It's funny how very few places were selling DMC/Anchor thread and also any type of hand dyed thread. It was all about the kits. The wonderful Trudy Anne Designs were there though and all my shopping was purchased with them (apart from some bobbins, a bead mat and a slightly overpriced hand made teapot button. A collectors item in France, I was assured). My haul was distinctly bird themed and was commented upon by the lady who served me.
I took part in 2 workshops : an Assisi one and a skyline bookmark one, the first being the most worthwhile and fun. I found a small meercat kit to stitch for a father's day gift for my Dad. Perfect!
I also saw an exhibition including the worlds largest knitting needles, must have been about 12 ft long.....


In case you're wondering, I bought the Autumn bird at Ally Pally last year so now I have the set.
It is Thom's birthday on saturday and I am stitching a top secret picture for him and so can't post a pic yet. He may read this. All will be revealed soon...
And one of King Arthur himself enjoying the sunshine....and being most disapproving!

My growing book list

I have recently found out about 2 books which I must read. The first being Stories Rabbits Tell and the second being Rabbits : Gentle Hearts, Valiant Spirits.
Both look fantastic. Oh, and a third.....Disapproving Rabbits. I think I have the world's most disapproving rabbit.

Has it really been so long?

I can't believe it's been so long since I have blogged. Just a brief update until I have more time to upload all my pics I have taken. Well....we have moved house, had Christmas, had my birthday and got a promotion at work! It's been so busy at times I haven't known whether I am coming or going. But things are calmer now, still lots of unpacking and decorating to do but for the time being, I am just relaxing. And stitching of course. We have a house bunny now, Arthur (r-fer rabbit...I know, I know...) Who was living with my Dad while we were renting but now we have room in the new house for him. He's very clever, only taking a few days to litter train and he lifts our spirits no end by just doing what rabbits do. He has the sweetest personality and I couldn't be without him again. Pictures of him being all cute and fluffy to follow.

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 :)
>!!<