New Year's wishes

I hope that you've all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.

We're heading off to London soon to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but I just wanted to pop my head into Blogland, and wish you all a very happy New Year.  May it be filled with love, peace, creativity, and friendship.

While I'm here I'll show you the one, and only Christmas gift I got around to making this year.  It was for Violet's teaching assistant.

The pattern is one I adapted slightly from one I found in a book called Stitch, designs by Penny Black.  I loved sewing on all the sequins and beads, which represent baubles.  If I'd have had more time, I would have added some metallic threads as well, and maybe also an angel charm for the top of the tree.

As with all my previous cross stitch decorations, this one is filled with Lavender.  

The run up to Christmas was so busy that Violet and I didn't get round to making our usual Queen Delia Christmas Cake.  So Violet has spent the past couple of days baking and decorating this beautiful New Year's cake for us all.

It looks, and smells, delicious.  I can't wait for her dad to come home from work so that we can all try a slice.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

X

Light nights

I love light nights.  

It means I can bring out my embroidery hoops and thread.

I wonder what it could be????

Teacher's Xmas gift (part 1)

Phew!!!!

I've finally managed to find some spare time to sew together a couple of gifts for Violet's teacher, and class assistant.

Here's the first one.

I found the Santa design in a lovely embroidery book I own, called Made in France - Cross Stitch and Embroidery in Red, White and Blue.

For those of you who've been following my blog for some time, you've probably already guessed what I've filled this Christmas decoration with. That's right.  They're full of dried Lavender. So, they not only look delightful, but smell delightful too.

I know that I said only very recently that I wouldn't use anything higher than a 28 count linen again, due to my ever failing eyesight.  However, I stitched this on 32 count Belgian Linen. It was in my stash, and I didn't want it going to waste, but boy was it a b*#@*! to work on.  My poor eyes!

Pattern: From a selection of Christmas decorations, taken from Made In France.

Fabric: 32 count Belgian Linen.

Thread: DMC

Lavender: From Daisygifts.co.uk

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Trying to be industrious

I'm beavering away.

Trying to finish off a couple of homemade gifts for Violet's teachers.

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Snow is falling

Not here, but in my latest cross stitch, which is entitled 'Snow is Falling' by Belle & Boo.

It's not very often that I buy Cross Stitcher magazine, but when I spotted the front cover whilst browsing in WH Smith's one day, I knew that I had to purchase a copy of their October 2013 issue.

I've used slightly different colours to the ones listed in the design, not by much, but I just knew that if this little girl had been Violet, she'd be wearing her Yellow wellies.

I also used frosted white beads to represent my falling snow, instead of using white thread.

The whole project is stitched on a 28 count Cashel Linen in Ice Blue.

Apologies to Vivienne for teasing her with my sneaky peak bunny image earlier in the week.  I hope the wait was worth it.

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Santa's Wish List

My first craft love, was for cross stitch.  I absolutely loved it, and would sit happily for hours stitching away.   I even used to take it to work with me, and sit quietly at my desk of a lunch time, beavering away at my latest project.  

I often wonder just how many hours I've spent creating presents for new babies, weddings, christenings, new homes, anniversaries, birthdays, christmas gifts, teacher's gifts, etc.  My brain would probably explode if I actually sat down and calculated it all. 

Since Violet's birth I've still done the odd one here and there, but after discovering my love for knitting, and more recently, sewing, I don't seem to find the time for my old hobby as much as I'd like.  

Another reason why I don't do so much of it, is probably due to the fact that my eyesight in my 40's isn't as good as it used to be in my teens, and in my 20's.  No more 32 count Linen for me I'm afraid, which is a shame because I loved the delicate detail I used to get from working smaller stitches.

For me, the light also has to be right for stitching.  I find it extremely difficult to stitch with artificial light, so my cross stitch tends to fall to the bottom of my project box when the nights start to draw in.

I am going to share a finished Cross Stitch with you today folks.

It's one I've been working on (on and off, more off) for quite a few years.

Every time I've taken out of my project box, I've always had very good intentions of actually finishing it, but other projects, and present making, have always come between us.  

On Santa's list, I included as many family and friend's names I possibly could to make this project more personal to us.

It's turned out beautifully.  I just wish that I'd finished it years a go.

  I just need to find myself a decent framer, who's not going to charge me a kings ransom to frame it.

The pattern is called Santa's Wish List, and it's by Janlynn (#09-67).  I purchased this years ago, so it may no longer be available.

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Christmas is coming.....

and I'm so behind with the projects I want to get finished.

I've picked up a cross stitch I started earlier on in the year, and have been working like a demon on it.  I'm just about half way.  I really want to get this finished and off to the framers as I'd like it out on show when all the other Christmas decorations come out, which is probably gonna be very early December.

  So many WIP's to finish off - sometimes it's hard to see the woods for the trees isn't it?

I love, love, love Christmas time though - How about you?  Does it fill you with dread or does it make you feel like a child all over again?

In my blogging absence I've caught up on a little reading.....

 3 books, which I've really enjoyed.

I've read a couple of Philippa Gregory books in the past and have thoroughly enjoyed them, but I just couldn't put The Other Boleyn Girl down.  I could have sat up and read it through the night.

It was the same with Sara Young's, My Enemy's Cradle, about a young Jewish Girl hiding away in a Lebensborn Maternity Home in Munich. 

The Proposal by Lori Wick was one of my bargain buys from the local charity shop.  It cost me the princely sum of £1, and it turned out to be a very easy going, enjoyable read.

I would highly recommend all these books - and I've put them in my Book Box if any of you fancy giving them a go.

I've loads to tell you, but I've just received a telephone call from an estate agent informing me that a house I loved has just had an offer received on it - so I'm off to make Maria's Lemon Curd & Blueberry Loaf Cake in the hope that it'll cheer me up.

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A catch-up

Sorry I've been absent for a week or so, but I can assure you all that I have been kept very busy.

Before I start boring you all with what I've been upto, let me just say a very big thank you for all your heartwarming comments regarding my previous post.  I've been doing alot of thinking about those projects and have decided that I'm going to get them all out of their carrier bag for good, and get them out on display. 

Over the past few days I've been spending rather alot of time on the computer, checking out all of the potential nursery schools for Violet - no easy task I can tell you. 

 Lots of coffee has been drunk, lots of sweet things have been consumed and lots of headache tablets have been taken. 

What a sodding nightmare this has been, and it still isn't finished.  I've whittled it down to 5 schools and have made arrangements to go and view all of them.  I was hoping that I'd be able to do this over the peroid of a couple of weeks - the other half finishes his job this Friday and has just over two weeks off before starting with his new employer - so this would have been the ideal opportunity. Things are never that simple though are they?  I've only managed to arrange one viewing for next week.  The others have had to be arranged over the coming weeks, the last one being 20th October.

Violet will be starting at a 'Two's Club' this Friday, for a couple of hours.  Even though she is a very socialable child already, I thought it would be the perfect activity to do prior to starting nursery.  I know she'll love it, and the good thing (for me, rather than for Violet) is the fact that I have to accompany her and am responsible for her whilst we're there.

On the making front, I've finished yet another Lavender Pouch.

Check this one out.

I think this is my favourite so far.

Do you remember me showing you my original design???

I then stitched this.

I didn't want the back of the Lavender Pouch to just be bare linen, but I also wanted to keep with the same sort of theme - what better thing to do, but reverse the pattern that I'd already stitched.

Then it was just a case of sewing it all together, and attaching a cute ribbon.

Hope you like it.

The flat we currently rent is all very cream and lacking in colour - we aren't allowed to put any pictures or posters on the walls, so it all feels rather impersonal - so, to add alittle bit of colour to Violet's room, I decided to make her some bed linen, and started with a pillowcase in some Amy Butler fabric.

I love, love, love it and wish it were on my bed.

It's uber bright too. 

The pillowcase was made using just under a meter of fabric (it's about £10.40 a meter), so I have plenty left to make a couple of make-up bags for Xmas presents, all I'll need to buy are two zips.

I can't wait to get started on a duvet cover to match the pillowcase.  Though rather than do the whole duvet in the same material, I'm thinking that some applique in the same material might be more suited to a little girl. You'll have to watch this space though, as you know I'm not the most skillful of person with the old sewing machine.  Nor the fastest.

I've been quite disappointed in myself over the lack of books I've managed to read this year.  I'm not the world's fastest reader, but I thought a book a month would have been achievable, even for me.  I'm ashamed to say that I've only managed to read 7 books in just over 8 months. I must try harder.

Whilst I'm on the subject of books, I've decided that I'm going to open up a Book Box on my sidebar.  This will have a list of books that I'd like to pass on to other folk.  If you want one of the books that will appear in there from time to time, then all you need do is email me which book you'd like and your address and I'll send it to you.  After you've read it, please feel free to keep it should you so wish, or pass it onto someone else, it's upto you.  The only condition will be that these books are not for resale. Does this sound like a good idea to you?

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Memories in stitches

Whilst the rain poured and Violet napped yesterday afternoon, I tiptoed off to try and organise a few boxes of my possessions; in the hope that I could do a spot of de-cluttering.  Some of the boxes haven't been opened in years.  In one such box I came across a carrier bag of what felt like material.  Inside were two cross stitches and two parts to a tapestry cushion I'd stitched in, what felt like, a past life.  That may sound strange, but it's true. I'd done all of these projects whilst still living at home, pre marriage, and at a time when both my parents were still alive.

1994, 16 years ago - wow.

I remember my mum sewing the fancy seam around the edges.  I never did get the opportunity to ask her how she did it. 

The cushion covers were the first things I stitched on my floor standing tapestry frame, which had been a 21st birthday present.  All my aunties had clubbed together to buy it for me.  I was overjoyed when I unwrapped it. 

I have memories of my mum desperate to have a go because she could see all the lovely bright colours I was using.

Perhaps it's about time I got my finger out and actually sewed them together.

I got particularly sentimental over this cross stitch of a white tiger..

I'd been making it as a present for my dad, who really loved tigers.  Sadly he never got to see it.  He'd gone into hospital for a triple heart bypass operation.  The operation was a success, but he had a major stroke whilst he was recuperating on the ward a few days later, and by the end of the week he'd died.

It appears that I've just stuffed all of these into a bag so I wouldn't have to look at them.

Isn't it funny how you can get really weepy over three pieces of stitching?  

I think it's high time I did something with them.  They don't deserve to be just packed away in a carrier bag for the rest of their days do they?  Especially when you think of all the hours each one took to do.

Some wounds never heal though, do they?  Maybe I'm not quite ready for them to be out and on display just yet.

Where's my hankie????

*

Wishing you all a very lovely weekend.

Let's hope the sun makes an appearance.

*

Good morning.

Finally, I can sit down to write a short blog post today - I've spent the last 20 minutes or so, trying to remove 5 toys, which Violet had dropped/pushed/stuck down the back of the radiator - not an easy task I can tell you. 

Anyway, first off I'm going to introduce you to my friend's new little baby - Rosa.

Check out what she's wearing.

Yay - she's sporting one of the baby cardies I knit for her. 

Rosa's as cute as that little ladybug button - OK, she's cuter. 

Before I get too broody, I'll get onto the second thing.

I've been trying to organise a couple of boxes (ahem!) of all my cross stitch paraphernalia, and have discovered that I have two of these....

Here's a closer look at the picture.

The pattern is called Winter Queen, and was designed by Nora Corbett.

I haven't got the foggiest how I ended up with two copies of it.  So I thought I'd offer one of them to you guys gals.

If you think you might like it, just leave me a comment on this post.  If more than one of you fancy it, then I'll obviously have to put all your names in a hat and draw a winner.

This is a really beautiful cross stitch to do - I should know, I stitched it for an aunt of mine about approx 14 years ago. 

It's stitched on 32 count linen.  There's beading involved, but this is very easy to do, and some very fluffy 'whisper white' thread is called for on the Ermine edging of the ladies dress, which might make you sneeze alittle when it goes up your nose - ATISHOO.  Gesundheit.

Have I tempted anybody to give it a go?????

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If you want to see what Louise won in my surprise giveaway.....

...... pop over to Louise's lovely blog.

I'm sure that you all guessed that one of the surprises, included in the giveaway, would be a cross stitched lavender pouch. 

Here's a close up of the one that I sent to Louise.

Material - Belgian Natural Linen (32 count)

Thread - DMC (dark purple)

Chart - can be found in Silhouettes in Cross Stitch, by Julie Hasler

In the book, the pattern had been used as the base for a tea tray.

I know my gran, and possibly my mum, would have used a tea tray, but I'm not quite sure whether people still use them these days.

I've been asked to make a couple of lavender pouches for my aunt, who wants to give them to friends as Christmas presents.  It's lovely to be asked to make something for somebody else.  I just need to decide on the designs I'm going to use.

I was hoping to make as many Christmas presents as I could this year, but time is slowly slipping away and I haven't even started on anything even remotely Christmas related yet. 

Last year I made some truffles and they were a very big hit.  I always assumed that truffles were difficult to make, how wrong was I?  They were so simple and utterly delicious.  I'll go and search out the recipe I used and share it with you all. 

Sorry to mention Christmas when it's only August - it's just been on my mind.

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And, on a totally unrelated note:

At the weekend Violet kept asking her dad and I for a song called 'Honey Bee', but we didn't have the foggiest which song this could be.  This morning enlightenment dawned when 'Imma Be', by the Black Eyed Peas ,was played in the car. 

She's a very big Black Eyed Peas fan.  I should have known - bad mum!

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Making Monday Moment

We're having yet another day of torrential rain here again today, so Violet and I are staying indoors where it's warm and dry.

While Violet sat on the sofa watching Shrek earlier this morning, I thought I'd get out that Clothkits bag kit, which the other half bought me for my birthday, and make a start on it.

I was enjoying sewing it so much, that in no time at all I had created this....

 I can't tell you how chuffed I am with it.

It's lined, the stitching is neat and everything.

As soon as I'd photographed it, Violet immediately claimed it as her own, and tootled off to do a pretend shop with it slung over her shoulder. 

It's not very big, but I can't wait to use it.

After achieving success with the bag, I thought I'd tackle the purse that also came with the kit.  Now this was gonna be tricksy as I had a zip to sew in this time.

I did struggle alittle with the zip, but the finished article doesn't look too bad.

This is just the right size to keep a couple of nappies in, so will coming everywhere with me now.

Sewing both these in just a few hours has given me so much confidence.  I'm not ready for anything fancy yet, but I think I could definitely tackle another bag or maybe a cushion cover - where did I put that Ikea fabric???

I've also been thinking up some new designs for my new obsession with making lavender pouches. 

I sat down with some graph paper on Friday evening.....

and by Saturday night I had created this....

Material - Belgium natural linen (32 count)

Thread - DMC

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Love cross stitch chart

A few of you have asked me if the pattern I used for my latest Lavender Pouch, which I revealed in yesterday's post, was my own.  The answer is sadly, no. It's a Bent Creek chart - Book number: BC1059

I've used it several times before for weddings and anniversay presents.  It's a very easy chart to follow and is finished off in no time at all. 

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Thank you for all your positive comments regarding my new look blog (and header).  You'll be pleased to know that I'm gonna stop playing about with it now and just 'let it be'.

(Deep sighs of relief all round).

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A Ta Da moment

I've finally found the time to sew together my latest creation.

People call these 'Ta Da moments' I believe.

So, Ta Da......

Another Lavender Pouch.

You're probably really bored with these by now, aren't you?

It's turned out great.  I'm so happy with it.

This one is destined for my brother and his wife's first Wedding Anniversary at the end of this month.

It's a bit of an unusual gift, but it's useful in the way that it keeps your undies smelling nice.

After yesterday's post about how woeful I had become over losing my blog template, I spent the evening playing around with some of my photos over on Picnik.  After a little tweaking I've finally created my very own blog header.

It'll take some getting used to, but I think it looks rather cheerful.

What do you think?  Hope you like it too.

It makes it feel more personal now that I've actually used one of my very own photos (it's that beautiful Click yarn you can see in the background). Now that I've learnt about sizing etc, I think I'll be changing the header every now and again.

Hope you're all enjoying your day.  We've been baking.

Remember to leave a comment on Saturday's post, if you haven't already, for your chance to be in the draw for a surprise giveaway.

Cooking & Stitching

The weather was on the crappy side yesterday; so after taking Violet to buy some new Schleich animals, and popping into Pets at Home to look at the real life fish, guinnea pigs and rabbits (I very nearly bought one for Violet, they were so cute), I came home and decided to cook something from this months BBC Good Food magazine. 

It was soooooo delicious that it would be extremely selfish, and rude, of me not to share this recipe with you.

SAUSAGE ROLLS

12 sausages
2 slices white bread, whizzed into crumbs
2 tbsp chopped sage (I used dried sage because I had some in the cupboard)
500g pack puff pastry
3 tbsp caramelised onions (I used M&S)
flour for dusting
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tsp sesame seeds

Heat oven to 200c (180c fan)
Remove the meat from the sausage and mix it together with the bread crumbs and sage.
Halve the pastry into 2 rectangular blocks and roll each block lenghways only until you have 2 thin sheets, about 20 x 45cm.
Thinly spread the onions in a strip over the pastry, leaving a 3cm border along one edge of each sheet.
Divide the meat along the onions, shaping into a smooth roll.
Brush just the border with the beaten egg. 
Folder excess pastry over the meat and press to stick to the eggy border, trim this edge, tuck under slightly to hold, then brush all over with egg.
Scatter with sesame seeds and slice each roll into 5.
Bake on a baking sheet for 35-40 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Once cool, freeze in bags. defrost overnight in the fridge.

The other half even tried one when he came home from work and gave it the thumbs up, which is a great result because he's so picky when it comes to food.

* * * * * * * * *

I meant to say a very big thank you to eveyone for all the great compliments, which I received for the Strawberry Lavender Pouch  I posted about recently. 

Some of you asked if the pattern was my own design.  Unfortunately not.  It's one, which I've had it in my possession for a very long time though.  I'd cut it out of an old magazine of my mums.  I just had to wait for the right project to come along in order to use it.  In the magazine the pattern had been used as an edging for a pinny - just check that ladies hairdo out.....

What do we think, 80's????

The Lavender Pouch I've stitched for my brother's 1st Wedding Anniversary just needs sewing up.  Hopefully, I'll get chance to do this later in the week, so will be able to post a photo very soon.

I've also started yet another one - can you tell how much I like stiching these?

I don't want to give too much away about this one though as it's destined to be part of a giveaway I'll be doing for my 100th post, which is only two post away.  Oh my gosh!!!!

There'll be lots of other goodies added to the haul as well, so I hope you'll all enter for a chance to win.  I don't have that many followers, so the odds of you actually winning are very high.

I took this photo of the sky from out of our living window the other night......

..........it was beautiful.

Wishing you all a lovely day. 

Jill x

Let battle commence

Do you remember that Lavender Pouch I embroidered for my Fairytale Swap partner?

Here's a photo to jog your memory just in case you can't.

I was sooooooooo very, very chuffed with it when I'd finished.

The other half also made very encouraging noises when I showed him the finished article, and my jaw almost hit the floor when he said I should make some more.

So, not wanting to disappoint him, I've been busy stitching away...

Adding some of this.....

And created this.....

Me likey very mucho.

But, its destiny lies in someone elses knicker drawer.

You may be wondering (or maybe not) why I entitled this blog post 'Let battle commence'.  The reason being, that I had to use that darn sewing machine again.  I felt a tad calmer about it this time.  I thought we could be friends, or at the very least, come to an amicable agreement that it wouldn't bugger up my embroidery and I, in turn, wouldn't throw it out of the flat window.

As you can see, it's not perfect, but it's turned out OK.

I just need to mention a few things whilst I'm on the subject of making these Lavender Pouches.

Firstly,  if you are wondering why I haven't showed you my Fairytale Swap gifts.  They never materialised. Unfortunate, and a little disappointing, but hey ho.  Life's far too short to get pee'd off about such things. 

Secondly, when I initially had the idea of making a Lavender Pouch,  I didn't appreciate how hard it would be to actually find any dried Lavender to put in it.  I scoured Florist Shops, Garden Centres, Craft Shops, Hobbycraft - nowhere sold the blessed stuff.  I was beginning to give up hope, until I eventually found some in the National Trust Shop at Baddesley Clinton.  But, the price!!!!! oh my goodness, was shocking.  But, I was desperate, so purchased two TINY bags.  This time around, I wasn't prepared to pay extortionate prices, so I asked the advice of The Linen Cat.  She makes such wonderful things, including Lavender Bags.  She told me where I could buy tonnes of Lavender at very reasonable prices, which is available here for any of you who may be interested.

I'm already onto making Lavender Pouch number 3, which will be a first anniversary present for my brother and his wifey. 

Me and that sewing machine are going to be seeing a lot of action betwixt now and Xmas time.

Buona sera

x