My Easter week

Hope everyone had a good Easter. We had a very quiet Easter, we didn't do much or go anywhere. We have been having problems with the dog, he is getting very old now and struggles to get up etc. I get up nearly every night to get him up and let him out.... which makes me tired and he doesn't have a great quality of life anymore. So we think we need to make a big decision and take him to the vets... but it isn't easy. So that may happen over the Easter holidays while Stuart is off work! My one Auntie is also very ill in hospital, they are still trying to find out what is wrong.... so all in all we have had a rough week! On the positive side my one cousin and his wife, who live on the lovely island of Jersey, are expcting their first baby. They have been trying for ages and have had lots of problems, so this is great news.

As to my stitching I am pleased to say I finished my Art Deco Diva. Here is the end result and also a close up of her face and beads around her head dress.

I think I will get this framed, it is so pretty.

I also worked on my Christmas Window piece. I can finally say I am enjoying doing this one as it has started to take shape. I still don't think it'll be completed for this Christmas but I'll try my best. You can now see the ladies bag and her boots. There is just so much brown yet to do for the door etc..... that'll drive me mad, I'll have to try to do just a bit at a time.

This week I am working on my Family Tree again, I still hope to get this done by the summer. I find working on it makes my back ache though as it is on a large floor frame. So I do just short bursts at a time.

Anyway the weather seems to be improving here, which is nice. We are going to have a day out in Worcester on Saturday, go and look around the Cathedral and shops etc.

Have a good week.

Ginnie x

A fairy framed at last!

When I first started this blog about 18 months ago one of my first finishes was a pretty summer fairy for Laura's bedroom. But her walls were so full of photos and drawings that I stored it away until I could find a space for it! Finally a few weeks ago she had a big sort out and her walls are now less crowded...... so I finally took the fairy for framing and here is the end result.

Of course Laura now thinks she should have another fairy to go under this one in her room..... I have found another one called Moon fairy that I will add to my "To Do" list.

Last week should have been Christmas Window week on my rota, but I just didn't feel like stitching on it at the time so I continued with my Art Deco Diva as I am enjoying this one so much. In the latest issue of Cross Stitch Card Shop they have a set of six small Art Deco ladies too, so I also started one of those but have no photo of that yet.

I still have some cross stitch to do on her but have completed a lot of the back stitching so her features are more defined. I am working on my Christmas Window this week instead.

I also finally finished April..... but haven't made it up into an ornament yet, I will do that over the Easter weekend, so it will be a little late being hung up! I need to do the "May" one next...... I am determined to do all the months this year that I didn't complete last year.

The girls and Stuart all break up on Thursday for Easter holidays. I have 3 days off from Friday so I'm looking forward to the break. Laura has just had a 2 day GCSE exam for art. 5 hours each day in silence!!! I don't know how she managed that!! It is strange to think that this is the end of their last full term at school. Next exam for them is German "speaking part" just after Easter..... so lots of revision over ths hols!!

Until next time.... happy stitching...
Ginnie x

All good!!

Not so much stitching news today but lots of good stuff to tell!

Firstly I am so proud to say that Laura got into King Edward VI Sixth Form College! You cannot imagine what an anxious Saturday morning we had, our postman is never early. She had 3 friends who had also been for interview (some got automatic places due to very high grades) and 2 of them texted her early saying they hadn't got in. This just made us even more worried. Finally at 12.45 the postman arrived and as soon as I picked up the envelope I could see the top line of the letter and I saw the word "Congratulations"...... we all shouted "yeahhh!!" Only 1 other friend got in and about 6 others in her school. I believe it is 4th in the country for A level results so no wonder it is hard to get a place, good one Laura.

Now I can say both girls are sorted and doing exactly what they want to do. Just need to get their GCSEs now, although Laura's place is not dependant on her grades although I am sure they wouldn't be happy if she failed all her exams! Becki only has to get 5 GCSEs C or above and she has 2 already!!

To make the day even better Laura's Prom dress was ready for collection, so we went and bought some shoes and collected the dress. We then invited mom and dad over for a chinese takeaway. The girl's also had a friend over but she was one of the ones who didn't get in, so we didn't celebrate too much.

As for Friday night, Becki and I had a fanastic time seeing Brian and Kristina dance. It was touch and go whether Kristina was going to turn up, they had already cancelled other shows due to health issues and she missed the train and was late arriving on Friday. But it was worth it, they danced beautifully. The whole evening was full of dancing, other couples too. Then at the end we were able to have autographs and photos taken. Here are ours -

Becki with Brian

She was so happy because he told her she had a very beautiful smile.

Me with Brian and Kristina.

There were 2 Chippendales, they served us chocolates and gave all the ladies a shoulder massage. Becki loved it!! Not sure that Stuart was too happy about it though!!!

So I have to confess I did no stitching for 2 whole days!! And after all the excitment and stress I did little on Sunday either as I was so tired! So I'm not showing a Henry photo as I only did a small amount. I did finish my latest charity square, the Bug in a Bottle, which I think is so cute. Laura reckons she wants me to do one of these Bumble Bees for her!!!

Then I have worked on my Art Deco Diva a few Wednesdays at club and also last night and here is my progress on her. I am really enjoying this one and will work on it a bit more this week before getting my Christmas Window out again. Sorry the photo doesn't do it justice, the metallic thread in the dress is lovely.

Well I have babbled on enough for one day, so until next time,

happy stitching

Ginnie x

Henry has 3 complete wives.

As you can see from the title I have worked on Henry this week and am pleased to say Anne Boleyn is all stitched now too! So here he is -

I was hoping to get Catherine Howard done too, I did all the blues then realised the middle part is in the same colours as Anne's dress I'd just done and I was bored with those colours! So I did some more of Katherine's green dress. In fact all the blue has been completed..... one more step closer to completion!

I also got hooked on another new piece this last week! I have been wanting to stitch this for the past year and finally succumbed on Wednesday and took it to Stitch Club. I was going to save it for club only and work on it every Wednesday.... but I enjoyed it so much that I carried on working on it over the past couple of days. She is from Cross Stitcher magazine issue 208 and has a lovely jewel effect metallic thread in it. I think she is called Art Deco Diva... well I am calling her that!

Half term is now over so it was all back to work and school yesterday, least Becki had lots to tell! I have emailed school for them to put a notice in the school newsletter about her audition. No problems since with the bullies, they are just ignoring her still which she is happy about.

Laura made us proud on Sunday, I have mentioned before that she is a young leader with the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. She was asked to carry the Union Flag for Thinking Day.... which is a very important role, she had to lead all the other flag holders from the district. Her leader told me the District Commisioner had requested she did it..... so she must have made an impression on her at some point.

This evening we have booked our summer holiday. We haven't been abroad for 5 years and I promised the girls a nice, warm, beach holiday this year. So we are off to Spain! As I don't like flying we are doing a mini cruise to Northern Spain and stopping at a big campsite with lots of amenities for teenagers!! So excited already... I need to review my holiday wardrobe and see what else I may need!!!!

I am working on my Christmas Shop window scene again this week and I must start another charity square soon. Next weekend is my birthday and we are going out on the same day for my Aunt and Uncle's Golden Wedding anniversary, so a busy weekend ahead.

Until next time.

Ginnie xxx