A quick look at Henry

I have my first update on Henry and his wives...... now don't get too excited as it is only day 2. I started it last night and soon discovered I was 8 DMC thread colours short..... So ordered them today. I decided to start on Henry himself.... his bottom half!! So here is the bottom of his grey/blue tunic and the start of his red cloak. You can also make out one flesh coloured hand! The bit of grey down the bottom left is part of his leg.

I thought as it was on 18ct aida I may struggle to see it at night but it has been ok so far, my only hinderance has been how tired I am. Stuart still has a really bad cough which is keeping us both awake at night..... so I feel a bit like a zombie at the moment. Luckily my cold didn't get any worse. I hope I get a better nights sleep tonight.

This morning I took my mom her cushion present (wrapped) and card around ready for her birthday tomorrow. She wasn't expecting a present as I have said we will go shopping soon for her to pick something she wants. She said "I thought you hadn't bought me anything" I said "I haven't!" that confused her..... can't wait to see her reaction when she opens it.

Tomorrow evening at club I intend to take one of my Christmas gifts, I think I'll start my bookmark for my Auntie.

Ginnie x

D half done

I am feeling a bit rough today, I have finally come down with the cold that everyone else in the family has had. Stuart has been ill all week and has a horrid cough now that is driving us all mad! I don't seem too bad, just a bit sniffly and tired.

I got lots done around the house yesterday, we sorted the garage, had a trip to the tip, sorted the garden, changed the bed covers and turned the mattress!!! etc etc... I even managed to stitch! This afternoon I got to the bottom of the chart instructions on D for Dancer, so it is half done. On my next rota I think I can finish the top half - then it is just the edge and the finishing!!

Here is the result - only just all in the picture and the dragonfly is back in it's bag for safe keeping!

I have also completed the Golden Wedding Anniversary card for my parents to take to a party next week for some old friends of theirs. It is a simple design but looks nice.

In between stitching D I finished my "Spooks" piece. I think it turned out a lot neater than my first attempt, I just want to thread some cotton through to make a small hanger and then it can hang up for Halloween. I am now working on a small Halloween scissor fob - will show you next time.

I think tonight I may get my Warwicksire Map out!! Then next week it is HENRY..... yeah.. I can't wait to stitch on this I seem to have been waiting to start it forever.

I will update you in a few days and let you know who I am sending the Pooh chart to.

Ginnie x

Been buying again! but have a small giveaway!

I had a nice delivery yesterday, but it is ok none of it is for me.... they are all going to be gifts for friends and family. I ordered them from Sewandso.

Firstly, as Christmas gifts to make I bought a coaster kit (framecraft) with poppies and a butterfly on for my mother in law. Then I bought a handbag mirror (also Framecraft) for my mom with a lovely red rose on, oh but it is stitched on 22 count.... my poor eyes! Then I bought a bookmark (Royal Paris) for my Auntie, this has lilies on and is sewn on plastic canvas. Lastly I bought the Bent Creek chart "I Do" to stitch for our friend's daughter Helen, who gets married next summer. I have been looking for a while for a nice chart, I didn't want anything too cutsie or religious so when I saw this I thought it was nice and simple. I hope you all agree I have made a good choice on this! So I am going to be busier than ever before Christmas, I think my rota will have to go on hold nearer the date to get these done. The wedding one though will wait until the new year.

Sewandso very kindly sent me a free Winnie the Pooh chart aswell, which was very nice of them. (see below) But I don't think I will ever get around to stitching this. I love Winnie the Pooh stuff and completed a large ABC one when the girls were little which is now stored away as the girls out grew it. So I have decided to hold a little "giveaway".... if anyone of my readers out there think they can put more use to the chart than me then please email me or leave a comment. If more than one person would like it I'll hold a draw. If you can do this before Monday I can then get it posted out at the beginning of next week. I hope I can find a nice home for it.

By the way the Open Evening at the school went very well, thanks for everyones good wishes. I think we got through a record number of teas, coffees and squash. I didn't get home until after 9pm and was shattered after being on my feet all evening. I missed my club on Wednesday but spent the evening working on D for Dancer. I think it is looking great, I especially love the little ballerina dancer. I had to put 3 teeny tiny beads on this morning... of course I dropped one.... can't find it anywhere!!! Good job there are spare ones!! For the photo I have placed the dragonfly charm on but it is not attached yet. Colours look a little washed out on this today but I think that is just the light! The dancer is more pink on top than that!

Can't believe it is Friday night already, this week has flown by. I think I am going to work on some more little Christmas motifs for cards tonight, I started a little penguin earlier in the week and I think I'm in the mood to work on him first.....

Ginnie x

Updates

I won't have much time for stitching tonight as I have to go out in an hour. As most of you know I help out a lot at the girl's school. Tonight is Open Night for prospective new pupils so I am helping with refreshments.

Here are my updates, firstly Family Tree -

Hope you can see some progress! I worked on it quite a bit but it is still growing slowly! You can see the beginnings of a little house and lady on the left! Also the border is progressing well on the left. Still plenty of tree to do on both sides.

Now to D for Dancer, this is how I left it last night -

I have just done the "detached chain stitch" to make the daisies. Next is some more cross stitch - the dancer, the dog etc. I am also supposed to attach the dragonfly charm below this but as it is on a roller frame I will have to leave that until last.

Anyway must dash.... got to eat before I go...

Ginnie x

Super weekend

What a lovely weekend it has been. The weather has been really nice and sunny.

Yesterday we went to see The Nutcracker at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton, it was fantastic. It was by the English Youth Ballet and they had 100 local young performers in it. Becky's friend, Zoe was a "sugar flower" it was exciting to see someone you know on the stage. Becky wished she had auditoned for it too but they were back in February and she didn't know about it! This is a picture of the Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Last night we had a fish and chip supper and watched the TV! I only got a little bit of stitching done but never mind I had a lovely day.

Today I finally finished the cushion for my mom, I didn't get the pad until Friday so I knew I wouldn't complete it until today. This was a first for me, I have made basic cushions but not ones like this. I am pleased to say I am really happy with how it has turned out and I can't wait to see what my mom thinks. Here is the finished article!

I have been working on my Family Tree too, I will continue tonight with this then move on next week to week 2 of my rota - D for Dancer. I am also inspired to start my "Mill Hill" Sugar Plum Fairy after going to the ballet so I may start that too.

Hope every one else has had a good weekend too.

Ginnie x

Blackwork Angel

Not much to show today! I am still waiting for the cushion pad I ordered to arrive so I can complete my cushion for Mom. Hopefully that will be here soon and I can post a completed picture at the weekend.

I have been busy stitching on my Family Tree but will also update you with that over the weekend. I was very tired last night and didn't do as much as I had hoped but I have been enjoying working on the Tree again this week.

At Stitching Club tonight I decided to do another Blackwork piece to match my Christmas Tree I stitched last week. Here she is -

I have enjoyed these little pieces, I may do the bell next!!! They are nice and quick to complete also!

I should have plenty of time over the weekend to stitch as Stuart is away from home, it is the British American Football finals in Doncaster that his team - Redditch Arrows - are playing in. I am taking my mom and the girls to see The Nutcracker Ballet, much more exciting!!!!

Ginnie x

Busy cushion making

My Mom's Sampler is complete!! I have been busy hand sewing today making it up into a cushion cover. I do have a sewing machine but it lives at mom and dad's house, and I couldn't think of an excuse to bring it here without telling mom about the cushion!!! So I have done all of the front just the back now to stitch, I don't want to add a zip so I am making a flap at the back.

Here it is yesterday as the stitching part was complete along with the green fabric I am using to make it into a cover. I have very little fabric so was lucky to find a good match with the green of the border!

Hopefully in the week when it is a complete cushion I will post another picture.

Do you remember "Cup of Cheer"? Well I was going to make it into either a tea cozy cover or put it around a box to keep my tea bags in...... but instead I just made it into a little ornament and I have it hanging by my tray in the kitchen with my tea making stuff on. I backed it onto a piece of card and then added the blue cord, again this was a first for me. It went ok but if you look closely it isn't very straight!!

Lastly I have also completed my first little Halloween piece. It is a freebie from RainbowGallery. I only just had enough aida as I seem to have miss counted my stitch size, I know I cut this just before our holidays as I was going to get Laura to have a go at stitching it while we were away.... must have not been concentrating! Never mind, I will make it into a little ornament like the one above, the cord will just be very close to the stitching!!!

I put my Henry VIII fabric onto the frame in the week and couldn't resist doing just a tiny bit!! I did part of his hand! It has gone away now until it has it's turn on my rota - here's the next 4 weeks -

1. Family Tree
2. D for Dancer
3. Henry VIII (& Warwickshire Map)
4. Dusky Dreams & possibly start Pirate's Creed

I must also make a Golden Wedding Anniversary card for some friends of my parents before the weekend of 4th October but I have a chart already for this which I have stitched before so it shouldn't take long, I will begin it next week.

Ginnie x