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.

*

I'm soooooooo cross with myself.

Why-O-why did I come over all cleverclogs and try and change the layout of my perfectly lovely blog??????

I was attempting to change it from a 2 column blog into a 3 column one, and I failed miserably. 

I've now lost my original 'classic' template - that I'd tweeked and moulded into something that I loved the look of.

I just pushed my computer skills a tad toooooooo far, and now I'm upset and extremely mad with myself for even attempting it in the first place.

What you see before you now is something that I'm not happy with at all.

I've tried and tried to recover my original one, but alas, it is lost to me forever......

Woe is me,  woe is me.

It's at times like these I wish that I was a total computer geek.  Moss from the IT Crowd springs to mind.

On a happier note; my friend gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter, and she's been named Rosa. 

Welcome to the World Rosa.

Remember to leave me a comment on yesterday's post for a chance to win goodies.

I've been thinking alot lately

.....about my blog, and how other people may view it.

I know I like it, which is the main thing I suppose.

Anyway, I thought a few more photos along my sidebar wouldn't hurt.  These pics of Violet make me smile and I hope they'll make you smile too - some of you have seen these before in previous posts, but they seem more permanent when they're sitting along side don't you think?

Whilst on the subject of blogging, I was flicking through a book about creating a blog yesterday, and the following made me laugh, so I thought I'd share it with you.  It relates to blog names.

Who Represents - (www.) whorepresents.com

Experts Exchange - (www.) expertsexchange.com

Pen Island - (www.) penisland.net

Italian Power Generator - (www.) powergenitalia.com

Lake Tahoe - (www.) gotahoe.com

I think penis land made me laugh the most.

OK, OK, I'll get my thoughts out of the gutter and show you what I was hanging my nose over yesterday.

This Clothkits catalogue dropped through the door, it's full of wonderful things I would love to be able to make.

Very pretty dresses for Violet.

And, couldn't you just picture her in a pair of these babies?

They look soooooo 70's,  I'm wondering whether my mum dressed me in something similar when I was a toddler.

It isn't just the kiddies clothes that have got my heart a racing.  Oh how I would love this skirt.

What gorgeous fabric.

Then there's......

Aren't they fab???

I know, I know, I haven't even began to sew that lovely bag kit yet, which the other half gave me for my birthday.

Perhaps when things are a little more settled, I'll be able to do an evening class to really get to grips with the old sewing machine.

Anyway, I'm now off to take Violet to do abit of train spotting at the station - oh how she loves those choo choo's.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend everyone.

Jill x

PS - remember to tune in to my next post, because it will be number 100, and there'll be a giveaway.

Put brain into gear

I'm struggling to put my brain into gear this week.  I think this is to do with the possibility that the 'Other Half' may find out this week whether or not he's got a new job.  This job would still be Birmingham based, but at least I'll be able to start viewing properties in search of our new family home.  We've been renting this flat in Solihull now for nearly a year and, even though there is nothing particularly wrong with the place, it's beginning to get me down - I need to be painting walls, hanging paintings, planting some trees and growing vegetables, tending plants, and generally making a house a home. Violet needs to be playing in a garden and not just trying to avoid dog crap and broken glass in the local parks. This family needs their own green space, no matter how small, to call their own. It's hard not to get too excited - it's making me anxious.  I can't seem to focus on anything else. It's Wednesday already and there's been no news. 

I've been searching Rightmove and it's scarey the price of houses in this area.  I may have had a quick browse of the properties back in York - and yes, I did spot the perfect house for us - shall I show you?

Embrace, followed by a stern look, and presents to finish.

My Embrace sweater seems to be turning into a project of Epic propotions.  I thought I'd be finished the back last Sunday, but I was still knitting the Fair Isle pattern on the shoulders last night.  I still have two more centimeters to go before the shaping starts.  Then, finally, I have to try and get my head around reverse shaping(!). It's all good stuff - NOT.  Perhaps I should stick to something I'm actually good at instead of being seduced by this adult knit.

The fact that I'm only 5ft 1.5cm isn't helping either - the pattern is obviously designed for some 7ft model-type, so now it would appear that I'm actually knitting a dress instead of a sweater. If I'm not careful I could even end up with an itchy woollen nighty!

I'm determined I'm going to finish knitting those final two centimeters tonight - fingers crossed there's something half decent on the box to keep my spirits up and my mind focused.

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Today I took Violet for her first Swimming lesson at the leisure centre just up the road.  Before we'd even got in the pool I had to give a man a very hard stare whilst we waited in the queue. I was clearly the next person to be served and had been standing patiently behind the man infront of me at the desk (I was also wet through from the rain, Violet was squirming about with all the excitement of going swimming and I was trying to manoeuvre a pram).  I must have had my invisibility cloak on though because when it was my turn, this silly man behind me thinks that it's now his turn.  How rude and ignorant.  He seemed very put out when I told him that it was now my turn. "Are you waiting?" he asks me.  What the F does he think I've been doing standing in a queue of people for the past 5 minutes?  So, you can understand why I had to give him a hard stare.  Then, my little angel of delight proceeds to pull the alarm in the changing room.  There's me minding my own business, hardly wearing any clothes, wondering why I can hear a gentle buzzing type noise.  Oh no, Violet!  You'll be pleased to know that all was well in the end and we did manage to get into the pool and enjoy our half an hour of swimming.

I have a question though:
Why wasn't there anywhere safe and secure for me to leave my pram (which was quite expensive and I wouldn't be able to afford to replace it)? You'd think that the Council would rejoice in the fact that people walked or cycled to their Leisure Centres instead of travelling by car - so why is there a massive car park, a secure place to keep your bike, but prams have to be left in the reception area where any Tom, Dick or Harry could just walk off with it?  And, if this should happen, they take no responsibility whatsoever.

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And finally tonight, I'll leave you with some more pics of the goodies for my friends 40th:

A Woody keyring

Some champers

A nice bottle of Pinot Grigio

A lovely bottle of Rosé and some After Eights.

Another coffee time read

A tealight holder

Some coloured towels

 and some classic reading material

It's like the Generation Game all over again isn't it?

Have I shown 40 yet?  I'll just go and check.