See, I HAVE been stitching! But this week I got fed up with Autumn in My Garden and got a Chatelaine craving. So out came Evening in the Park - suitably wintery as the clocks have gone back and it's dark in the evenings now.

I finally finished part 6 - the four blue corners and last night I started part 7. So after several years I'm halfway there!

Labels: Chatelaine designs

We've had a glorious autumn here - a real Indian summer. I still haven't needed a jacket, though it has got cooler over the last week. The leaves are turning, some of the trees are already bare, and a couple of weeks ago I got an autumn stitching craving. So here's progress on Autumn in My Garden - 1 over 1.


The fabric is R&R 30ct and I don't think I'll use this for 1 over 1 again - it's too uneven. I love it for 2 over 2 and slightly primitive designs, but not for this.

Labels: Mirabilia, over one stitching, seasonal stitching

I'm taking this week off work and I had very good intentions of blogging lots and catching up, but here it is Thursday already and my first post!

This is the most important post though as I need to say some thank yous. First, a very belated thank you to dear Anne. I got a surprise packet in the post the other week and it's taken far too long to post a photo. A little RAK with some gorgeous threads, my favourite needles and a beautiful scissor fob in red and with a perfect kitty charm on the end. Thank you so much Anne - you know my tastes so well!


Also in the post was my Quaker Friendship RR - back from its trip around the world. Thank you so much to Anne, Katrina, Barbara and Karen for stitching along with me. Here it is - I have the task of trying to make it up now!


And to prove I have been stitching - the last round of Anne's RR:


Last but not least, some kitty love for Anne - Lulu enjoying an autumn morning.

Labels: cats, friends, round robins

I've had a patchwork craving over the last couple of weeks, so I've been stitching away on Tail Feathers. Here's block 2 complete. (Yes I know the top patchwork strip doesn't match properly - I should probably pick it apart and try again. It's hard to be accurate with the zigzag edges on the precut strips!)


Block 3 is almost done as well, so another picture coming soon hopefully - I just have to piece the mini blocks together. I'm halfway through the stichery on block 4 too, and I've been making some of the log cabin blocks for the border...


It's a beautiful day outside so I'm off now to pick the last of the tomatoes for green tomato chutney and dig up the veggie bed. I might sow some winter lettuce too!

Labels: patchwork and quilting

I have become a terrible blogger. But I really do think that this time I might start up again and write more regularly!

So what's happened since I last was here? Well, I've been working (too much), stitching (too little), reading (like a mad woman), and neglecting the garden.

Lulu went to the vet for her boosters and we discovered she had an overactive thyroid gland. It partly explains her weight loss and hyperactive behaviour, and could have contributed to her getting lost. She had the gland removed and she's fully recovered now, although all the fur she lost has come back grey. So we have a black cat with a grey belly!

We've had no holiday or time off, but we are earning enough to pay the bills, so I guess that's good!

And I had a finish...

Ladies, may I present my first finished Heaven and Earth Designs - Earth!


Earth by Sara Butcher
Charted by Heaven and Earth Designs
Stitched 1 over 1 on 28 ct Snapdragon luguna from Sugar Maple Fabrics

Labels: Heaven and Earth designs, over one stitching

Want the chance to win some money while supporting a good cause? To help raise money for the British Heart Foundation, a fellow stitcher has organised a rubber duck race to be held in Cardiff on Sun 6th September.

So that everyone else can join in the fun, there is a virtual duck race too. Anyone, anywhere in the world can take part. Just buy a duck online (£2 each via paypal) and you could win £100 - think of the stash you could buy with your winnings. If you win you'll receive the money converted to your currency via paypal or via another method if you choose (although be aware that fees may be taken out of the winnings via bank transfers and wires).

To buy ducks go to: www.cardiffduckrace.org.uk Please mention that you saw this on my blog and if you buy 3 you will also receive a 4th duck for free. Thanks for supporting a great cause.

P.S. I have been stitching - just very unmotivated to blog. Back soon with a finish!

Labels: fun stuff

Block 1 of Tail Feathers is finished. Well, as finished as it is going to be for a little while. There is a patchwork strip to go along the top but I'll do that in a month or so when I have more fabric strips to choose from.


It's been such fun - I'm so looking forward to block 2!

And here's one log cabin block again - lots more to do but I'll build those up gradually too as the fabric strips arrive.

Labels: patchwork and quilting

My first cute little Tail Feathers applique birdie is done...


And so are my first just-as-cute stitchery birdies. I used French knots for the dots instead of satin stitch because I love French knots.


And the first log cabin block too. I just love this quilt so far!

Labels: patchwork and quilting

Yesterday the postie brought a fat envelope from the lovely girls at Buttonberry. I had trouble restraining myself from snatching it out of his hand while he fiddled with a recorded delivery for Martin. I knew it would be the first block of Tail Feathers!


You might notice that the fabric looks a bit, erm, used. That's because I promptly took a couple of hours off (I did work all weekend so I reasoned it was justified!) and started...


The three mini blocks were very quick to piece and the kit comes with transfers for the stitchery, so that is so much easier than tracing. And the applique uses bondaweb, so all-in-all a really fast start. Lots of stitchery to do though. Here's a close up of my cute bird - still a couple of tail stitchery bits to do.


Lulu is still doing well - she weighs 2.9kg now, so a lot healthier. And I'll leave you with our butter-wouldn't-melt-in-his-mouth Trevor. Only a couple of weeks ago he presented us with a bathroom of feathers and a baby rabbit in one day. The baby rabbit was fine - we had to chase it all round the garden but eventually caught it and released it. The bird was just feathers. The down side of cats!

Labels: cats, patchwork and quilting

Here's long overdue photo - Holly and Ivy Sampler by Country Cottage Needleworks, which was actually stitched over the Christmas holiday while we were at my mum and dad's.


I've misplaced my little stitching notebook, so I can't remember what the fabric is, although I think it was a Lakeside Linen.

Labels: miscellaneous stitching