Wednesday 27 November 2019

Getting there, slowly.

The last time I sat down and tried to write on my blog was August but as you can guess it never appeared. I was feeling so down at the time that I think everyone would have thought that I was such a misery. Summer had been fine, the garden took a lot of my time and going in to August we renovated the kitchen and turned our old conservatory into a study. Then everything went downhill,  all I wanted to do was sleep, which I did in copious amounts. Life seemed to go on hold for a while but gradually things are getting better and I'm beginning to look forward instead of back and anyway who can be miserable at Christmas time when I've got visits from family and grandchildren to look forward to. I'm still not 100% right but I'm getting there. 

Gradually the sleeping went on to reading and little by little I started stitching again, nothing big but just enough to keep my mind from wandering. Below are a few of the stitches that I finished off, a couple are waiting to have embellishments put on them before I finish them off completely. I did do another one but that was sent as an exchange piece which was done in July but it's not opening day until next week so I'll post about that another time.


The little pansy cross stitch was finished, don't they have such sad faces.


Hands on Designs.... Grown with love.




Two of the stitches from Lizzie Kates Flora McSample Treats.


and a little bit more on Fragile Dreams.


The cactus has brightened the kitchen up on the dreariest days, I think it's an Autumn cactus rather than a Christmas one. The garden is too wet to do anything with, we've had so much rain but the leaves are making it slippy so I'll have to get out there soon and rake them all up. Well that's about it for now, I hope next time I post things will be a lot cheerier.

love and hugs,

                                                                      

Saturday 6 July 2019

July update

After a few lovely sunny days it is now pouring down with rain again and we were hoping to go to one of the villages that host an open garden scheme. This is the third one this year that I've had to miss for one reason or another but I'm sure that I'll find something to fill the day.

Not a lot been happening again, this bout of depression and panic attacks seem to be lingering but as long as I can get out in the garden and do some stitching then life's not all bad.

I did have some nice post to open in the week. I've been in a little group for years and we send gifts just twice a year so we have plenty of time to stitch or craft whatever we want. This Summer's gift was from Gail.


I love reading so the bookmark will come in very handy, the fabric is such a pretty colour and I'm sure I'll enjoy stitching the Mill Hill kit though it's on paper, something I've not tried before. The sweets are made from maple sugar but I've not tried them yet.


These are the gifts and stitching that I sent to Donna, I hope she liked them.


And this is the stitching on it's own, it was a freebie from here. I did it one over one so it worked out quite small. The photos are a bit dark, it was dull when I took them.


This was my new start from a couple of weeks ago, I have done a bit more on it but not taken any photos yet. 

I have a Summer dress cut out ready to sew so hopefully the weather will brighten up again so I can wear it.

The garden is looking lovely with all the rain that we've had but too wet at the moment to go and take any pictures so that's about it for now,

love and hugs,
Sue x

Wednesday 5 June 2019

June in the garden and stitching

Time has a habit of slipping by at the moment, always something to do whether it be housework, gardening or simply enjoying my crafts.

This time of year the garden takes up a lot of my time, not that I'm complaining, I love being out there, hands in the earth and hoping that the seeds that we've sown will all produce a meal or two once they've grown.

After grassing over the vegetable patch a couple of years ago I've missed growing vegetables and salad crops so this year we've made some raised beds and although it's a little late for this year I'm hoping that we will have something to show for our efforts,


Not a very good photo but we've done two of these, made a bit higher than usual so that I can sit on the side and plant. This was taken about two weeks ago and already we have seeds growing so fingers crossed we might at least manage a salad or two.

The garden is looking good this year and we are lucky that our tulip tree is blossoming again. Last year we had one flower but we've counted at least ten this year. This is the first one to open.



I've still been doing a bit of cross stitching but not as much with the garden taking over and I forgot to show my Easter exchange that I received from Chris at Needlecraft Haven.


This is what I received, such a pretty little bunny stitch,



and this is what I sent along with a picture of the extras that went with it.
                                    

A little Easter stitch at last finished off 


And another that has been waiting to be finished for a while.


I'm still plodding along with Never stop dreaming, I enjoy stitching this but I never seem to get anywhere with it.

That's about it for this catch up but here's a couple of pictures of the garden until next time




Love and hugs,

Sue x


Thursday 4 April 2019

Where does the time go?

I think I'm losing the will to live, this is the third attempt at writing a blog post, the other two just disappeared while I was writing and if it doesn't save this time then I don't know what to do.

The weather is miserable, it's been such a mixed bag lately, snow, hail, sleet and rain and of course we've had a few glorious days when I've managed to make headway in the garden which is looking a lot tidier after a winter of neglect. The blossoms are out on the fruit trees and the spring bulbs are beginning to open up though most of the daffodils have almost finished.

There's not a lot of stitching to show as I've been sewing for a couple of exchanges which I can't put on here yet but I did stitch this for me as I thought it looked bright and cheerful. It came with the fabric to finish it off so I must get round to that along with all the other finishing that needs doing.


                                                         Hip Hop by Lizzie Kate


I got my sewing machine out and made this skirt, it's not a very good photo as the light is so bad with the weather being so miserable today. It's almost finished apart from a good press and a hook and eye on the waistband which seems to have disappeared, I know I bought a new packet of them so they must have gone into hiding.

I've had a bit more time on my hands as my computer has been playing up, my email page keeps turning blank and things don't seem to be in the same place as usual so I've been keeping off it to keep my sanity intact and apart from playing games which I do all too frequently I've not missed it......too much.

My daughter bought me a needle felting kit for last Christmas and so I thought I'd get it out and have a go with all this free time. I've been to craft fairs where I've watched ladies standing round prodding a needle into a clump of wool making wonderful creations and apart from stabbing my fingers a few times I found it very therapeutic and I'll certainly have another go sometime.




Here he/she is, my little hedgehog that hasn't come out too bad.

Mother's day last Sunday came with some beautiful flowers and chocolates and the smell from the blooms is gorgeous.




The chocolates have sadly been eaten, not all by me.


Well that's about it for now so I'll see if blogger is being kind and will let me send this post, until next time,

love and hugs,

Sue x

Tuesday 26 February 2019

Sunshine days

It's been so lovely to have some sunny days and actually manage to get out in the garden in the fresh air, January and February aren't very good months for me but a little bit of sunshine does wonders for the soul. 

I have a few things to show, I finally finished "Ladybugs and Bumblebees" after about three new starts and goodness knows how many changes of thread, at one point I was ready for throwing it but I got it out a few weeks ago and everything seemed to drop into place. I still don't like the pale colours, they hardly show up but it's done.


Ladybugs and Bumblebees by Country Cottage Needleworks

I know I should have ironed it but until I know how I'm going to finish it, it can stay as it is.

I also joined in with the ladies at Needlecraft Haven in their Valentine exchange, this is what I received from Deb, lots of lovely goodies and the chocolate was yummy.
 


This is what I sent to Clare, I'd had the pattern for a while and just needed the right reason to stitch it.


Happy Heart Heart Day by the Trilogy


A late birthday present came through in the post and it's just the right time to stitch it, pansies are such pretty flowers.


And a little bit of Spring to lighten the days,


I've done a little more knitting and a bit more stitching but no photos of them so they'll keep until next time.

Sue xx