Nearly done!!!

Well the final border of my quilt has been done, now the putting together and hand quilting. I have never done this, been a cross stitcher for over 30  years so any tips for quilting would be gratefully received

 

I've aalso completed part two of my Halloween SAL

 

Since it had been ages that I had posted I said in the last post I would send out some goodies. I put all the names in my thread catcher

and the winner (picked out by the hubby) is........ Stichin by the lake!!! if you message me your address the goodies will get on their way to you x

Happy stitching everyone xx

 

 

Halloween stitching in Belgium and goodies from Birmingham

Hi to one and all I can't believe it was March 30th the last time I posted. Things have been so busy and my health hasn't been so good I am on the waiting list for a new left hip.....have to put up with pain until then!!!
I have just had a week in Belgium with the hubby and got a lot done on my Halloween SAL from Gaynor at Stitchers Anon over in Ireland

 

 

The day before I went on my hols I visited  the quilt festival in Birmingham with a trip from my local sewing shop and got a few bits and bobs

 

while in Belgium we visited a beautiful town called Ypres where they have the war graves from WW1 they are beautifully kept. It was a really serene place and makes you think of all those that sacrificed their lives. The entry into Ypres is the Menin Gate where at 8.00pm every evening they remember those that lost their lives and do a bugle call

 

 

 

My last venture at my sewing class done in a day ....well proud of myself!!!

not too good a picture, it's a sewing wallet with 2 side zipped pockets and a clear middle pocket so easy to put together

 

Well it's getting quite late here and I know I will have an early start tomorrow as my Grand-daughter is staying she will be up at the crack of dawn.

For any of my blogging friends reading this please  if I can get at least 10 comments the first one picked out will receive some goodies as it is so long since I posted.....hope you  haven't all forgotten me!!!! happy stitching xxx Bev

 

 

 

 

Happy Mothers Day and a few stitchy bits!!

Well I hope all you Mums out there are having a lovely day I've been spoilt by my boys.

 

 

I've been to my second block of the month for my Medallion quilt it was flying geese, which I really enjoyed doing though I had a little problem on the day in that my sewing machine started to 'die a death' so to speak so I only got one strip completed. My machine was over 20 years old so my DH treated me to a new one, it's a Husqvarna 100Q and I'm in love with it. You don't have to use a foot pedal if you don't want it's got a stop/start ( I know many of you will know about these things already but I didn't so I just find it amazing and so so quiet compared to my old one)!!!! Her's a picture of it so far

 

 

I've got a few stitchy things on going which I keep having a little turn at, I prefer to have a few so I don't get a little bored and start making mistakes!!!

One is chart/quilt from Six Penny Memories

 

A Country Spirits Easter chart

 

My crochet skills are getting a little better!!!

 

Here's a photo of my two Grand-daughter with yet more trophies for their ballroom/latin dancing, they're running out of space for them all

a real pair of cuties!!!

 

I'm off out dining now, I'm taking Mum and Dad out for Mothers day lunch then it will be stitching the rest of the day as I will be too full to any ironing!!!! (that's my excuse anyway) hehe!!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend

 

 

Bev xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling really pleased with myself!!!!!

Well I've just had my first day on my block of the month to make a Medallion quilt at my local quilting shop. I've been doing paper piecing and hadn't a clue what it was until Rosemary showed us but it's sooooo addictive, so much so I can't wait for next month. I have completed two of the squares to make up the middle and am well on with the other two. So, hopefully I will be able to finish them before next time Next class is flying geese which will be a new challenge all on it's own!!!
I keep looking up at the finished quilt which is hung on the wall with a bit of trepidation thinking will I be able to complete all that!!!!
I am also meeting some nice ladies, some of which are beginners like meso we all have a nice little chat too. I was quite envious because they were all talking about their sewing rooms. I've got a spare bedroom (be it only quite small) but I think with a few shelves and a good workspace area it just might all fit in. Will have to get DH to have a look with me see what we can do.
Just going to have a sit down now with a cup of hot choccie and do a bit of cross stitching. xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR OH WHERE HAVE THE LAST 3 MONTHS GONE AND CRAFTY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Hello to my friends in blogging land it's been too long but so much as happened. My last blog way back in September was a really happy occasion my son's wedding............September 17th my D in L started her phased return back at school but  came home at lunchtime to find their kitchen on fire!! They had gone out left dishwasher on and it had caught fire, the kitchen door was open so.......smoke damage everywhere. From then until 20th December they have been living in the premier Inn in town, coming to me for meals and me doing all their laundry, so no time for much computer.


But they are in now and we got together to let the new Year in with a 'real bang', couldn't wait to kick out 2013!!and I'm so looking forward to this year.

I've had a lot of me time this holiday plenty of crafty things.
I started my Song of the seasons sampler again, I hadn't stitched a great deal but just didn't like the WDW linen so I've changed to a Sparklies hand Dyed evenweave.

I've got a couple of crochet projects, I've just started a Drop in the Pond lap blanket

When I visited the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show in November with my friends Kath  and Michelle I came across a stall called Hooked by design and she had some beautiful things, not cheap but I just couldn't resist this one, a granny square bag, here's a few of my squares

And finally my new Year crafty resolution and one where I might need some of you help and advice!!!
 I want to learn to quilt as there's a lovely new shop opened in my village called The Oh Sew Sweet shoppe. There's a little corner of lovely sweeties but the rest of the shop downstairs is full of material and quilting things. Upstairs is the room where she is doing workshops/classes. I've been to one to make a cushion......you will see my effort below, I was quite pleased with myself. I've also bought 3 fat quarters of material to start a project but it has to be easy so if anyone of you reading this has any ideas I would love to hear them. Hopefully I will be attending more classes throughout the year.
So a happy new year to one and all
                                              Bye for now xx Bev xx

wedding weekend

Well it's been back to the usual routine this week, school started, busy busy, by the end of the week it seemed like we had never just had six weeks off!! The nights are drawing in quite fast now and it's so much cooler. Friday we had torrential rain and the forecast for the next day wasn't so good so we were thinking large brollies for the wedding but, on the day the sun was shining.
I had such a lovely day  everything was just perfect so I thought I would share a few photos with you all

My son Steven is on the right, his best man Karl on the left and 'my top man' Christian in front

                                          The bride and groom, just married

                                                        signing the register

                                                My three little darlings!!

                                                           Grandad's little princess!!

                               My oldest son Ian, his partner Alice on the left and my niece
                               Rebecca

                                                         
                                                                       Mum and Dad

                                         and finally the cake, it looked far too nice to have to cut up
The other good news was that the day before Jackie went to see her neuro-surgeon and everything was good, there was no trace of anymore tumour and things were good. So it's a good start to their married life.
I have managed to fit a bit of stitching in this week but can't share with you yet because one is a Halloween exchange on my x stitch monthly group and the other is a Christmas ornament, so all will be revealed soon. Happy stitching to everyone and hope you all have a lovely week xx Bev

Harrogate show stash and a bit of crochet

Well hi everybody I can't believe it will be 3 weeks this coming Sunday since I last blogged!!! Where as the time gone, mostly with the grand-children and helping with bits and pieces for my son's wedding on September 7th. Jackie goes back to see her surgeon the day before the wedding so fingers and toes crossed things ok. She's feeling better in herself but all the numbness down her right hand side hasn't got better so heres hoping!!
Well today I've been with my friend Kath to the Northern quilting and stitching show at Harrogate and boy was it busy, let women free with their purses, well enough said!!! hehe. You just get lost in all the wonderful things, materials, kits and lovely threads ooooh heaven!!!
Here's what I bought

The Oh Christmas tree is by All Through The Night designs and the lady who I bought it off said she had stitched hers in Crescent Colours Grasshopper because the threads on the chart are Valdani hand overdyed Olive Green, has any of you ladies heard of these because I haven't???
Next is Hands On Design's Under A Quilt and I've got the threads as well. I haven't bought the fabric beacause over the past year I've been in  a fabric a month club and have some gorgous hand dyed fabrics. The brown bag in the middle is a Bottle Top Tree Kit. You use milk bottle plastic tops and cover them in Christmas material and assemble it like a tree, something different!!
Below is a handbag and purse with owls on. My school's emblem is an owl and all our classes have owl names so I couldn't resist!!

And finally I've been doing a little bit of crochet and knitting of two scarves

Well I hope everyone has a good weekend, I'm going to chill out with some stitching before school starts on Monday, and, as anyone knows who works in a school you're back about 3 days and you ask yourself have you ever even been on holiday!!!!
Happy stitching xx Bev

 

Minnie Mouse room, chilling and stitching, and Sunday roast with my liitle darlings!!

Well this week has just flown by. The Grand-kids have been on their hols so we set about decorating Jessica's sleepover room. One of the walls when we moved here was lime green and Jess left instructions she wanted pink so here's the finished result. It's minus the wall stickers as I'm awaiting them from E bay. The contrast wall is Candycotton and the room looks so calm and peaceful now!!

 

All day yesterday I spent stitching, it was bliss!! I did a little more on the LHN Mystery Sampler, it's not growing a lot but I can only manage about an hour when working on small count, even with a light and magnifier. I've just been for some new glasses this past week and was told my short sight has got worse. He even really cheered me up by saying sometimes with age it can get worse!!!

 

Today I've had my little darlings for lunch with my son Steven and Jackie. It was so nice to see her looking well. I think she really needed it as she wasn't so good before she went but the sea air as really done something good and she say's she feels well which is brilliant!! We're all looking forward to September 7th when they get married.
And this afternoon I've finished off two little designs I've had on the go for a while, they were freebies but not too sure where from. The Halloween one I've stitched on Aida, easy stitching.

Well I'm going for a hot bubble bath and then a glass of rose wine in my pj's hope everyone has a good week and happy stitching!! xx Bev

 

Totally Chilled out...........in more waysn than one!!!!!

Hi to all back in 'sunny' Mapplewell after a lovely week in St. Ives Cornwall, and what a pretty place it is too. I've never been to that part of the country before but will certainly be revisiting. We stayed in Carbis bay which was just one train stop into St Ives at the Cottage Hotel. Lovely food, which is so much better when you haven't cooked it yourself.

This was the view out of our bedroom window

St Ives bay

A very misty St Michaels Mount, it was a shame it was high tide when we visited I would love to have gone across.

Lands End we picked a misty morning, and very breezy too. Was trying to get a picture of Richard but the queue was massive. You could pay a guy to put on where you lived and how many miles, I took this quickly in between their shots!!

And even managed to fit some stitching in too!! It was lovely to sit in the chair in the room and just look out to the sea and stitch, very therapeutic!!!
And now the bad news!! hence the title of my post. We got home to a 'stinky' smell in the house and found out that our fridge freezer had 'died a death' sooooo we've had to go out this morning and invest in a new one which thankfully is coming tomorrow.
Happy stitching  to one and all xx Bev

Mystery Sampler, Crochet and a little bit of cha cha cha!!!!

Well things are starting to become 'normal' again. A big thank you to everyone for their prayers and wishes for a good recovery for my future daughter in law. She came out of the hospital a week ago, it's going to be very small steps but I'm sure with a little help with things from the family she will get well.
Not a lot of stitching as been done of late, I tried but when you are really tired you make mistakes and a lot of 'frogging' was taking place so it went back in the basket. What I have been doing though is some crochet and have completed a scarf....I'm quite proud of it really!!

Not bad for a first attempt, I've quite got the bug now. I'm also quite excited as on Thursday I received  the L.H.N. Mystery Sampler in the post from Patchwork Rabbit...... looks interesting.

 

Yesterday I was with my son and grand-daughter Chloe at her first dancing competition. Four months ago she took up latin and ballroom dancing. I was so proud of her she got into the final of the quickstep, runner up in the cha cha cha and won the rock and roll with her partner Caitlan

WHAT A GIRL!!! PROUD GRANDMA OR WHAT!!!!

Below are a few pictures, one is a little far away, she was just about to start her cha cha

 

 

 

A smiley happy little dancing girl

Well the weather is beautiful here at the moment, lots of sunshine, a little bit too hot for me to sit outside in today, I'm not a sun worshipper so I think a little bit of stitching may be in order sat in my cool living room, I may even stitch a few threads in the mystery sampler. Hope all my blogging friends are having a lovely weekend.

Happy stitching

Bev

 

 



Hi I haven't been able to do any crafty things for over a week now so no piccies to show. My son Steven  and his family are having very testing times at the moment. His partner (my future Daughter in law) is very ill. She went in for a quite routine op, she had a benign tumour on her pituatry gland. The day after she had it done she had complications resulting in a three and a half op through her skull (the first one being through her nose).  She had fluid leaking from her brain and the viral infection was meningitis. She had a drain from her head, that didn't work so another op for drain into her spine. She was looking brighter the last couple of days so we thought things were looking up but he had a phone call at work this morning calling him back to the hospital. As I write this she is undergoing another major op. They have my three grandchildren 9, 7, and 4 who are just wanting their Mummy. I am so worried and doing my best to 'keep everything together' but it is so hard. They say things happen in life to test us!!! we are just getting a larger share at the moment. xxxx

Sleepover and winner time!!

Jessica's important job before bedtime, and the winner is

 

Calamity Jr

You're the winner!!

 

 

 

private E-Mail your address and the goodies will be on their way x