The year's best achievement

Merry Christmas to all my blog reader friends.

I broke up from work yesterday and don't return until 4th January 2011.

Yesterday I picked up my "best achievement" of the year.... my Family Tree piece. Actually Stuart collected it for me and hung it on the wall ready for my return from work. I am so please with it - it looks stunning. It is hard to see the frame on the photo but it is carved in little patterns that suit the stitching! (hard to describe!) I also couldn't get a photo without the flash blurring a small part of it.

So what's in store for 2011..... well I need to make several cards first, which I intend to start over the holidays. I am stitching 2 shoe ABC cards for some of Becki's friends who have birthdays in early January. I am stitching a nice card for my best friend's birthday in February and a Golden Wedding card for my mom and dad at the end of February.

I also intend to finish Henry in 2011 and start the Nora Corbett Poppy Pixie (which is all ready to start !) Then anything else that takes my fancy.

Happy Christmas Stitching to all

Ginnie xx

Family Tree complete

Well I actually did it.... I completed my Family Tree piece before the end of August, in fact I finished on the 28th !

Here it is in its full glory -

Sorry I still don't know how to make the photo 'clickable' for a close up, but it is in my Facebook photo album too if you are a friend on there!

Just need to get it framed now, may wait until payday again now later in the month as it is quite big and will therefore be a little costly.... but it has to be framed !

Now I have an empty stitchng frame.... I think I will start the Nora Corbett Poppy Pixie I had for Christmas.

Ginnie x

Blackwork Lady

Finally found time to blog again. I have had a busy week which included several early mornings. Becki had her Induction Days at college and I took her, then Stuart had to have his car mended and I took him to work. So by the evenings I have been too tired to do much!! Becki loved college and got on well with the other dance students so she'll be fine in September.

Stuart also got a new job last week. His school is about to close and we were beginning to worry he wasn't going to get anything sorted.... but he finally has. The school is in the next Education Authority and is about 12 miles away, but it's not too bad a drive. So all of my family will be starting something new in September...... very exciting.

I completed the Blackwork Lady stitching a few days ago. I didn't think I would finish this so quickly but I just loved it. I need to order the frame to go with it now.

I also finished another charity square, this one is for an "up in the air" theme. So I choose a colourful hot air balloon.

I have also been trying hard to get my Family Tree completed. I am now just working on the top border. The rest of the tree is done but that bit can't be seen now as I have rolled up the stitching just to work on the top. I am so pleased that I am close to finishing, it'll be such a great piece.

Happy stitching to all

Ginnie xx

Back to my bags!

I had the sewing machine back off my mom yesterday and I was just itching to use it!! So I finally made Becki's Pointe Shoe bag with the ballet dancing hippo on! The material was a great match considering I bought it without taking my stitching with me! I made it just a drawstring bag but used green ribbon to thread through it. I am very pleased with the end result and so is Becki. I have told her not to bring back any orders when she starts rehearsals!!

I also continued with my Family Tree piece. I'm not really sticking to my rota at the moment so I have changed it. I will put my 2 large projects (Family Tree and Henry VIII) in a 2 week each rota and then do any other along with them..... whatever takes my fancy! So Family Tree has had its 2 weeks so now it is Henry's turn.

I worked over the weekend on the block in the middle of the tree and shows our family name. It was a bit boring as it was all cream..... one big block! I also struggled fitted our big double barrelled surname in.... but I did it. Just the green of the tree at the bottom, the bird and all of the top border to go. I am very proud of my determination to finish this now!

My lovely little Forever Friends bear is also complete (as far as possible). Just need to wait now to add either blue or pink around the bib and border and of course the name! I just love him..... and have lined up the next Forever Friends bear to do!! I'm obsessed!

I also made a start on the Summer cushion to match the Spring one I finished earlier in the year. I am working on this at stitch club on a Wednesday night. No picture of that yet!

The girl's have a busy week of exams coming, they have had Maths this afternoon and found it a hard paper! Poor things are stressed and not sleeping well but have only 16 days to go until they are done!

Happy stitching

Ginnie xx

Tree update and another square

Just enjoying my last day off work before returning tomorrow! We had a nice day in Bath on Saturday but the weather was a bit miserable and the journey down took forever because of holiday traffic! We only took a few photos as my battery ran out! Should have remembered to charge it!

Here are just a couple of shots at the Roman Baths.

I have been trying to work on my Family Tree while I have been off work. It is getting there slowly........ I am still aiming to get this finished by the end of the summer. I am going to carry on with this as soon as I have finished blogging!

I have finished the other mouse charity square to go with the one I completed last week. This time he is in his aeroplane

Then I have started my Forever Friends baby teddy for my cousin's baby. He is looking very cute! I will have to leave some parts blank until I know if it is a boy or a girl.

The girls left school on Thursday, what an emotional day that was. I actually cried after I had dropped them off and drove home! I still remember their first day at both Primary and Secondary School and it seems like only yesterday! They took loads of photos and had some lovely comments written in their leavers book. Now it's just exams and revision sessions!!

I am only back in work for 2 and half days and on Friday afternoon we are off to see "Hairspray"...yeah!! So something else to look forward too.

Until next time.

Ginnie xx

Family Tree

Thanks everyone for your kind words about my Auntie and our dog. Sadly my Auntie Pat passed away yesterday morning. It was very quick in the end, they had diagnosed cancer last week then said it was so aggressive and spreading so quickly that there was nothing they could do. She was only 64, not very old really. She was little George's grandmother (posted about last May when he was born) he will never have any memories of her. So now we have another funeral to attend, my poor uncle is devastated. As to the dog, well he is still with us, but things are the same I have just had other things to worry about over the last few days.

It was quite appropriate then that I have been working on my Family Tree this week, as I have just lost a member of my family. As you can see I have moved the frame again to a smaller size so it is easier to work on, all the parts rolled up at the bottom are complete. I worked on the borders alot and all the green of the tree beside all the boxes. Still that big chunk of tree to tackle.... I keep putting it off!

This is my little Art Deco Lady I mentioned the other week. There are 6 in all in the latest Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine and I want to do at least 3 of them to hang up in our bedroom. I need some black beads to complete this, which I haven't got yet, and then finish the border and the back stitch. It is very pretty.

We did manage to have a day out on Saturday, we went to Worcester and looked around the beautiful Cathedral and then walked around the shops. It was a lovely summer like day. I did take a couple of photos but they weren't very brilliant!

This week I want to finish my Enchanted Mermaid, so I hope I have another "grand showing" for you next time.

Until then, happy stitching

Ginnie xx

Creative card making weekend.

As the title says I have had a very productive weekend and made up several cards. 4 of which were cross stitch ones and 2 decoupage ones. I will just show you the 2 thank you cards today, I also made 2 baby cards and the decoupage ones are for Mother's Day. I'll show them next time.

Sorry the light wasn't good tonight but the flash washed out the whole cards so they look a bit gloomy. They are for 2 of the girl's teachers who have been lovely, I know it is early yet but I wanted to get them stitched and finished in plenty of time of them finishing school. The designs are from an issue of Cross Stitch Card Shop and were really quick and easy to do.

I made 2 baby cards, one boy and one girl as I know of 3 people having babies this year and thought I'd do a selection to send when needed. One of which is Helen who had baby Grace last February, she is pregnant again and just found out it is going to be a boy..... so that makes her card easier!

This week has been Family Tree week too. It may not look like a lot has changed from last time but I am pleased that I have all the name boxes stitched up now and all the back stitch on the family at the bottom complete. Lots more of the green in the tree to do and the border!!

Lastly I finished another Charity Square, this time I did Eeyore. The back stitch on this was a bit of a pain but I got there in the end! Next I am doing another little fairy.

This week is Mermaid week again and I have also sorted the threads for "April" Lizzie Kate's Flip It stamp. I will need to get that finished before March is out. This Thursday the girls are performing in a Dance Show at school for Sport's Relief, Becki is performing a solo to Snow Patrols's Chasing Cars, so we are looking forward to seeing that.

Until next time, happy stitching

Ginnie x

Last week's stitching

Not an original title, but I couldn't think of another one! I can now get on Blogger again at work so I thought I'd write a post this afternoon as I have a Parent Support Group meeting tonight and may not get chance to go on the PC.

It has been a stressful week, although Stuart has recovered from the flu he has had a reoccurance of a problem with his legs that he had last year so he is still not 100% I think the flu bought on the leg issues !! Then the bullying with Becki came to a head on Tuesday, they started making her life miserable at school as well as on Facebook etc. So much so she was in floods of tears Tuesday evening and didn't want to go back to school. So we finally went into school to talk it over with her Head of House. He has been great and saw Becki right away the next day, she really didn't want anything said to the girls still, so for now they are seeing how it goes but at least she has someone to talk to at school and they have all the evidence I printed off. Since then it has been quiet.... so I am hoping they have got bored with picking on her. She has under 50 actual school days left (not including exams!)... she is counting down.

So I have some stitching to show although I feel I could have done more on my Family Tree but just didn't seem to have as much time last week. Here is my little bit of progress.

I have worked well on my AOY piece for my Aunt and Uncle, I think I'll get this finished by the end of the week so I can frame it. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed working on AOY's.... may have to start another one I have had in the pipeline a while!!

Somebunny also got finished for my Charity group, I have just sorted out the threads for another similar one. I love the colours in this one.... lovely shades of blue.

Finally I made a little bookmark for Becki..... with a dancer on of course! I need to make Laura one now but I can't decide what theme to pick.

Next Monday Becki has a very exciting audition. She is auditioning for the English Youth Ballet. They take 100 local dancers and they appear in a big production later in the year. This time it is to appear in Giselle in September. It would be great if she got picked but we know it is strong competition so the experience will be great on it's own. So fingers crossed for next Monday night!!

Happy stitching...........

Ginnie x

Fantastic Family Tree

Hope you are all ok........ I am fine but cold!! We have had a fair bit of snow here since Tuesday and they forecast more tonight! The girls school has been closed as they had a burst water pipe so they have had an extended Christmas break! The cold also killed my car battery... I had to beg a lift to work on Thursday and then use Stuart's car on Friday. Managed to get a new battery fitted now but could have done with out the expense just after Christmas.

My dad came out of hospital on Wednesday, his scan showed he has gallstones, but because of his age they don't want to operate. He has to follow a low fat diet and go back in 3 months. He is still in some pain but getting better slowly, mom and the dog were very pleased to get him home!!

So from the title you can guess I have been working on my Family Tree! I am so pleased with how much I have done. I managed to alter the frame so you can see the whole thing in all its glory!! Since my last posting on this back in Nov I have completed such a lot. The family on the right are now stitched just some back stitching to do and all of the border at the bottom is complete. I am hoping to get this finished by the summer..... I hope I can do it!!

I have also had my first finish of 2010. I am doing some Fairy Tale alphabet letters for "Stitch for Charity" and I am loving them..... they are so sweet. Here is letter A and I am working on B now. I really want to do more for the charity this year as I had a big lapse last year. I have been going on the forum more and was very pleased to see the first quilt with one of my squares in this week!

Finally today my sewing machine found its way out of the garage.... boy it was cold! And I was able to put together my January piece. The ribbon hanger want a bit off track but it seems to be hanging ok. I have started February and will show my progress on that one next time!

On Tuesday this coming week Becki has her interview/audition for Halesowen College..... so please all keep your fingers crossed for her. A couple of her friends had their interviews last week (other courses) and have got places! Laura is still waiting to hear from her chosen college!

On my rota I am going back to work on my Mermaid piece.

Until next time.

Ginnie xx

Small progress

Another week has gone by... and I don't feel I have a lot to show you this week.

We went to visit Halesowen College on Tuesday for Becki, they do the Dance BTEC National course that she is interested in. She really liked the college and the course and has applied for a place there next year. She has to have an audition but they tell you on the same day if you have got in! Then on Thursday we visited Stourbridge College which is going to be Laura's second choice if she doesn't get a place at King Edwards' Sixth Form College. So that was 2 days of no stitching!!

On Wednesday this week it is Stuart's birthday so I thought I would make him some cards. As he was at a league meeting on Saturday I spent the day working on those. Firstly I made a decoupage card for him off the girls.

Secondly I cross stitched a letter S for him off me. I am pleased with the way they have turned out considering I did them both in just one day!

I have also been trying to do some of my Family Tree, you can see the people emerging on this side now. Slowly but surely on this one!

Lastly I worked on My Needle's Work, she now has 2 arms and half a head!!

I am thinking it is getting very close to Christmas and I may have to abandon my rota to get all the things I want to get stitched for Christmas. I have made very few stitched cards this year but I do want to make some more ornaments for people in my family and I have 2 cushions to make up for the girls - the Ballerina one and Tigger one. This week I am working on the Lizzie Kate Christmas one so I'll try to get as much done as possible, I think I have less of a busy week than recently.

Until next week.

Ginnie x

Mermaid and Rabbit

Here is my late update of "Enchanting Mermaid" that I was working on last week. She is progressing well, all of the bottom right hand corner is complete now (except beads.)

Then today I finished Rosie Rabbit. She is such a cutie. I need to make it into a cushion now before next Saturday as Alex is coming for a "sleep over" so she can take it home on Sunday for her sister. I agreed to the girls having a sleep over as Stuart is away for the weekend, so it'll be all girls here!!! I am also looking after mom and dads dog next weekend as they are going back down to Dorset to visit my Auntie and Uncle again.

This week was "Family Tree" week again on the rota. But I was getting so fed up of it on its large frame that I finally sorted the base out again and fixed it all back together. It is much easier to work on now but I have to sit on one of the dining room chairs by the window. Here it is in it's new place. Because of this I am now going to change my rota and take "Family Tree" out. Instead I aim to work on it every week but only in the day light by the window, so that'll be a small amount of time in a morning before work and then at a weekend. I hope I still progress on it......... I aim too. That means week one slot is free....... so a new start is loaming!

I will take a closer photo on Sunday when I have worked a bit more on it!

Until next time.

Ginnie x

Various WIPs

Not a very original title..... but here are a few photos of pieces I have been working on over the last week.

Here is my Family Tree, I have finally finished the cream colour in the back ground of the "Family" box and the central house is all complete. I have now started the right hand side, you can just see the little house and the first person emerging! Also Laura now has her name on here too! I keep thinking I am getting closer to finishing...... but then I look at the chart and realise there is still lots to do!!

Here is the beginnings of Rosie Rabbit for Olivia. It has such a cute expression but it is stitched in mainly 4 colours, so I only do little bits at a time!

I also started LHN - "My needle's work" I had this for Christmas last year with the proper threads so I thought I would make a start. I am using 32ct instead of 28ct so it will be a tiny bit smaller. I think I would like to mount it on a photo album when it is complete and I can keep photos of my stitching in there! Not much to show yet, this is the piece of stitching the lady in the design is holding!

Then lastly I finished another charity square. This one is for a themed quilt - Bugs in a bottle - so here is my spider!! Some little child will love this quilt when it is done with all those lovely creepie crawlies!!!

This week I am back to Henry and have already stitched Katherine of Aragon's head and headwear this week. She is the last of his wives to work on even though she was his actual first wife! I am looking forward to carrying on with it tonight.

Until next time.....

Ginnie x

Family Tree update

Thought I'd sneak in a posting before bedtime. Becky's dance exams went well I think, this week she is at Summer School and is doing a small performance on Friday evening. She has just been showing us her dances, they look lovely.

We didn't have a very good Sunday, we woke up to find the trailer had been stolen overnight off the front garden. Ok it wasn't chained up, but it was only small and been in the same spot for 2 years. There is little chance of it being found and it wasn't covered on the house insurance (only found that bit out today!) Also the tent poles were still in it, which I didn't realise until Stuart told me. It's just a good job we aren't going camping this year! What un-nerves me the most is that the "lowlife" would have had to come right up to the kitchen window to wheel it off the garden and that we knew nothing about it!

I cheered myself up on Sunday by doing lots of sewing. This was mainly machine sewing again. I have 2 cushions that I'll have to show you later in the week as they haven't been given to their "new owners" yet. Then I made a canvas bag (fully lined) for my mom. I was really pleased with it but forgot to take a photo. I intend to make another one before my holidays so I'll show you it then.

So here's my Family tree update. I rolled down to the bottom again and made a little progress. I would love to finish this by Christmas but I think it'll probably be next year now, there is still a lot to do.

I also finished my little Christmas ornament...... finally. I think I'll give this to my mom and dad for their Christmas tree this year.

I'm working on Country Idyll again this week and would still like to finish this by September, so back to work now.........

Have a good week.
Ginnie x

Small updates

On my last post I forgot to mention that this week is a busy week for me also, so I am sneaking in a quick posting now while I'm at work.

Both last night and tonight I am helping sell refreshments at school, and after a busy (ish) day at work and the killing heat we have here at the moment I haven't stitched as much as I would have liked. Luckily I am also having a night away this coming weekend so may get some free time to stitch. Just Stuart and I are going to Hereford for a break away (about hour and half drive from us) the girls and the dog are being looked after by my mom and dad. I am looking forward to a chance to finally get away and de-stress.... it seems ages since I had any kind of break as last year's summer holiday was a disaster.
I will tell you all about it next week.

Back to stitching, here is my Family Tree progress from last week. Not much to show I'm afraid, just another name box done and some of the line borders and tree.

I was hoping to finish my poppy card to show today but I didn't quite make it. I only have a little of the poppy and one white flower left though, so will get it done by the weekend. I love poppies and think this looks lovely.

An update on my giveaway stitching for Maggie, it is stitched I am just making it into the ornament now. With me going away at the weekend it'll probably be in the post next week.

The girl's work experience is going really well, they are both having a good time but didn't realise how tiring it was working !!! I think they are looking forward to the weekend too so they can get more sleep!! We also managed to speak to Becki's head of year last night and told her how upset she had been about not receiving an award. She was very nice and said Becki was always an excellent pupil and always very well behaved and sadly got over looked sometimes. She is going to speak to Becki when they return to school. Still doesn't give her an award but least she feels a little more appreciated.

Hope you all have a good weekend, I believe the weather here in the UK is supposed to be a little cooler.... phew !!! (never happy are we!)

Ginnie x

Family Tree and August

Here's my updates from last week.

Firstly my Family Tree, this is moving along well. I have worked some more on the large box in the middle which will hold our surname. Also the green of the tree above the large box and more of the border.

Secondly I have made a lot of progess on August Flip - it. It was quiet at work last week so I managed to do some at my desk. I love the little cute bumble bee!! I may finish this in plenty of time for August !!

Lastly here's a photo of the new member of the family. This is baby George, I haven't seen him yet this was emailed to us. I probably won't see much of him anyway as I don't really see my cousin Steven very often. My mom and dad are visiting today though.

This week I am back working on Country Idyll, I want to complete as much of the bottom half as possible this week....... I'm hoping to do some tonight at home but I have a bad headache at the moment so I hope it clears up later so I can stitch.

The girl's took paper 1 of their GCSE English today, they have been entered a year early as they are very good at English (Helps when your dad teaches the subject) I hope they got on ok as they were very worried this morning. Paper 2 is on Thursday so keep your fingers crossed for them.

That's all for now.... happy stitching.

Ginnie x

WIPs and a bell pull!

Thanks for the lovely comments about my daughters, I am very proud of them as they are very good, ok they have their moments..... but on the whole they are great. They had a lovely day and now have birthday money to spend!!

Thought I would share a couple of my WIPs today. Firstly here is Family Tree, I managed to continue with the blue edges, another names box and some of the large surname box. I would have liked to have done a bit more.... but the weekend's events got in the way!!

I also started the Lizzie Kate - March Flip it.... not a lot to show yet but it's a start. I have a few of the other months now too so will be able to continue with the set!!

Also thanks to Shellie I have joined a charity stitching group that can be found here. I am really pleased to get involved in this project as it is something else useful I can do with my stitching. For stitchers they want 6 x 6 inch squares of certain themes that they make into quilts. They also require knitters so I have recruited my mom to knit some prem baby clothes. Please feel free to check out their forum!! I have started on a "Fairy" square and I intend to do a circus theme one next. I know Shellie has done a disney square. The themes are quite varied. Here is the progress so far -

Lastly I did manage some machine stitching on Sunday afternoon and here is my D for Dancer bell pull. I am very pleased with the finish and it was really very easy to make up. It is now hanging in Becki's room! I bought the bell pull ends from sewandso they are made by Framecraft.

This week I am back on Country Idyll, I want to get lots of the greens on the trees done this week. Tonight is Stitch Club so I'll be working on my Lilliput Lane for my SAL, I'll be glad when I have finished this.... not much more to do!!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Ginnie x

Cones !

Well I managed it, I sewed together my Easter Cones on Sunday afternoon, with not too many mistakes. Did my usual trick on the first one and sewed the ribbon on the inside not the outside..... I always do that! Then my cotton broke a couple of times but I think it is cheap cotton, it came free with the machine. But the end result was a good one. Sorry the photo doesn't do them justice and you can see the clutter through the glass cabinet doors!! They are a bit fuller now as I bought a few more mini eggs yesterday. The knitted chick in them was from someone Stuart works with, it has a Cadbury's Cream Egg inside it (I have one too!!)

Here is my Family Tree update, I wanted to complete the pretty bird up the corner, which I did. I also wanted to complete another box, which I also did. I enjoyed stitching on this last week more than I have recently. My dad spotted it when he popped over and said how impressive it looks. It'll be so great when it is finished and framed.

I forgot to mention last week about some more of my girl's achievements, I am very proud of them. Becki passed her Grade 4 Tap exam with a B grade (infact only 4 marks off an A) she was really pleased considering she thought she had failed it! Laura got enrolled as a Young Leader at Rainbows and Guides, tomorrow she is taking the Rainbows (5 - 7 year olds) to The Sealife Centre in Birmingham... they are going on the bus!

I didn't manage a lot of stitching yesterday as I seem to have come down with another cold, at first I thought it was hay fever as I had been in the garden a lot... but now I just think it is a cold. I feel better tonight so I can continue with my stitching, it is Country Idyll again this week.

Laura's card is also nearly complete, all the stitching is done but I need some gold beads and I don't seem to have any left. So I'll finish it as soon as I get some more, in the mean time I must start Becky's. There was a lovely free gift in the World of Cross Stitching this month called "Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady," I want to start that too for Becky's favourite teacher who is leaving next term, she teaches her Maths and it is because of her that Becky has improved so much in Maths, she'll be missed!

Until next time,

Ginnie x