Fleeting Visit

I'm around just....I discovered my blog and then I seem to have vanished again....but noooooooo, I have exciting wonderful news....we are on the move...a lovely little house in a lovely little street in a fabulous area....it all happens the weekend after this one!

So forgive me as I am hidden amongst a deluge if boxes and bags...it will be worth it....2015 WILL be a great year!

A HUGE thank you for all your visits and comments on my blog, I do really appreciate them! Until next time... Hugs & Stitches

2015...A New Start

Hello all and a Happy New Year, it’s been a very loooong time since I last posted, I haven’t been in a particularly good place, struggling with life in general and all it throws at us…but I made some BIG decisions at the end of 2014 and this year I’m determined will be much better. 

I’m not going to go much into the whys and wherefores of the struggles, but health, finance and study were all part of the problems, by removing the study, I have assisted in helping the health and the finance is something which remains an issue until I win the lottery, more frugal living is something I’m attempting, cutting costs where I can and making things stretch a little further wherever possible.

2014 wasn't  really a good year for crafting, basically as I didn’t really have the time, with juggling 2 jobs, study, 2 growing demanding children and all the other ‘stuff, needles crossed 2015 will be more productive, without the stress of it all.

I managed a few finishes, first was a small chair throw/blanket which I crocheted for my bedroom to lay over a wicker chair, its make from James Brett Cotton On Yarn, a lovely mix of cotton and acrylic, in pretty spring like shades. 

I completed this for the iStitch group Exchange, it’s Sew French Blue, I finished it as a pinkeep trimmed with lace.

 

My Yarndale Mandala, which I was most proud to see making an appearance in the programme!

Teacher’s thank you gifts…

Home for the Holidays by the Drawn Thread, finished as a hanging ornament…

There you go…not a very productive year craftwise, but I hope to do a little more this year…I’m currently working on a blanket for Miss M’s bedroom…

Also 2 new year long cross-stitch projects, both by the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

I am hoping to stitch each month in each corresponding month….in theory that is!!

as well as starting a patchwork throw for my bedroom…

Busy busy busy….

Catch you soon…

The Next Stitcher of the Travelling Pattern.....

....is Bekca
Well done and welcome to the Stitcherhood....I will contact you very soon...
A HUGE thank you for all your visits and comments on my blog, I do really appreciate them! Until next time...

Hugs & Stitches

The Travelling Pattern and Other Stories

Good morning from a sunny York….YES…..SUNNY…no wind or rain…it’s breezy but that’s ideal for drying the washing on the line…the bedsheets are blowing well in the breeze…happy news!

I was lucky enough to be chosen by Margaret to stitch on the "Count Your Blessings travelling pattern.
This pattern originated with Daffy Cat in Februrary 2011 and three years later it’s still travelling,I’m the 37th person to stitch it.
If you would like to be the next stitcher please leave a comment on this post only.
You do need to have an active blog and be known in the blogging community as a reliable exchanger. I will leave the post open until Sunday 2nd march, I’ll then let you know who the next stitcher will be….

Here is my version of the pattern…I stitched it on gingham linen which I had in my stash drawer and used hand dyed Carries Creations threads…I’m pleased with how it has turned out!

It’s been half-term here this week, we’ve had a quiet week at home, baking, crafting, DVD watching, bedroom gutting and kitchen spring cleaning…little miss baked buns and young man baked brownies…I did take pictures but unfortunately my daft phone decided to crash the other evening and I lost all my pictures…grrrr…annoying or what!

I did get this picture of the little miss modelling one of her new masquerade masks she made….she’s a real girlie girl, she’s always dressed up in some costume or other from her dressing up chest…they are often a strange combination and mix, but she has fun…

I did a little embroidery as well as stitching on my travelling pattern….this is a free design from Jenny at Elefantz, she designs some gorgeous embroidery, worth a visit to her blog, she also has an craftsy shop and offers some free designs and tutorials…so are delicious…

I also finished up my cowl and wrist warmers using that gorgeous Folksong yarn….here they are…

They are so soft and snuggly warm….perfect for those cold mornings on the jaunt to work…I hooked the cowl in half treble and the wristies in double crochet, both this a scalloped edge top and bottom (UK terms).

Back to work tomorrow…*groan*…today is a final lazy day, the goulash is simmering in the slowcooker, the washing and tidying is all done, so the rest of the day is mainly mine for doing what a fancy.

Have a great week…

Hugs & Stitches

Folksong and Adventurers….

Bright and extremely breezy here today, but at least it’s not raining….we’ve had buckets of it every night though.

I’m working extra hours the weeks around the half term so I can take the week off, downside of a new job….no accrued holiday, so extra days for 3 weeks so I can take the days off for the half term week.

The kiddiewinks and I went shopping into York last Saturday, it was bright and sunny….but very chilly, but it was pleasant wandering around the shops, young man wanted some headphones for his tablet and the little miss chose a craft kit to make masquerade masks…a half term project! Of course I could not come home empty handed…I headed into my LYS Knit & Stitch, they have so many lovely yarns, I could do severe damage to my bank balance….I wanted to make myself a cowl and some wrist warmers…I chose Sirdar Folksong Chunky….this yarn was in the sale and the colours are fantastic…it’s a wool and acrylic 50/50 mix and hooks up a treat…the cowl and 1 wristie are complete…the second one I need to finish…

Whilst we were wandering we passed another one of York’s historic treasures…I remembered to take pictures for you all…

The Merchant Adventurers Hall….there is a fabulous website for this gorgeous building here

I took some other photos too of other parts of the city, but I will save those for another time :)

My bargain tete a tete is flowering beautifully now….50p for pretty sunshine everyday….worth every penny!

During my mammoth bake off for the Rainbow’s church coffee morning last Sunday my extremely old weighwatchers scales decided to go to scales heaven….I had to do some guess work but the cakes turned out great. But this did mean a new pair of scales were required…I knew what I wanted a vintage style, I was lucky enough to discover these beauties in Wilkos yesterday…they have pink, red, minty green and lime….I chose the minty green…

I LOVE them so much!!

I also picked this up yesterday….it’s a super magazine with all kinds of craft projects, some which are childfriendly too….I’ve already earmarked about 7 projects so far….not including the cute mouse on the cover….

Finally….I finally finished a new blooming flower cushion for my sofa….it’s been an on and off project since before Christmas..

The pictures below give a better idea of the true colours…

 

Well that’s all folks…enjoy your Sunday!

Hugs & Stitches

Weekend Wanderings….

I was walking through the city centre yesterday to go to the hospital to visit Mum (all went well and the surgery went to plan, I spoke to her this morning and she has been out of bed and had a short walk), I visited the haberdashery for some bias binding for the basket lining and I picked up a couple of balls of chunky yarn for a cowl I'm making….more of those later in the post

When I'd finished my childfree mooch I wandered onto the hospital, it was a cold, dull, breezy day .....the breeze was certainly stronger whipping around this magnificent building...

I suddenly realised how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful and historic city, I am probably not the only person who walks around and doesn’t notice the amazing historical architecture around me….I made the decision there and then to appreciate my hometown much more and every time I venture into the city shopping to visit a new (old) place…..

This is York Minster, or to give it it’s proper name ‘ Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York’ beneath the building is the remains of a Roman Basilica from the fortress as York was the Roman city Eboracum during its occupation of England. There has been a Christian Church on the site since 627AD.

A stone Saxon church survived Viking invasion in 866AD but was ransacked by William the Conqueror's forces in 1069.  William appointed his own Archbishop, Thomas, who by the end of the century had built a great Norman Cathedral on the site. The present Gothic Style church was designed to be the greatest cathedral in the kingdom.  It was built over 250 years, between 1220 and 1472. 

 

The Minster has a fabulous website is you fancy finding out more….click here

History lesson complete…..onto crafting…I fancied a nice snug cowl for those cold mornings walking to work…I picked up a couple of balls of King Cole Big Value Chunky for pennies yesterday, I set to it around 7pm last night and by 11pm it was all done…

The light is not good today, the colour is a deep purple with flecks of cranberry and an iridescent plum…I hooked it in treble crochet on a 10 hook, it’s quite loose and floppy which was the look I was aiming for.

Also….this morning ye olde sewing machine was set up….and this occurred..

and now it’s like this….

I’m so pleased with it….my yarn for making my circles for my bed blanket is now to hand, so I can pick it up whenever I need to…

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers for my mum, I passed them all along to her.

I’ll be back soon…..

Hugs & Stitches

A New Yarn Basket!!

It’s a damp drizzly day in York today, but after the freezing cold few days we had at the start of the week, a pleasant relief, we skated to work and school this week, I nearly ended up on my posterior several times as my office is located on an industrial estate on the edge of York in a little village so the country pathways were decidedly dicey.

i have been rather under the weather too, since my flu jab in November, I’ve not been right, a constant cold and cough which didn’t want to shift, last week it just got worse, i could hardly breathe, a trip to the docs gave me the diagnosis of a chest and upper respiratory infection, no wonder I was feeling so crap…anyway I’m now on the horse pill sized pills and starting to feel a bit better.

I’ve managed a little stitching this week, the next of my LHN Sheepies….Patience, I’m stitching it in the recommended DMC threads, but have made a change on the blue, I fancied something a little brighter.

 

I also got a new basket for my yarn this week…..I love it sooooo much, it’s lovely and big and will hold a good amount of yarn..

The weave is fairly smooth, but as I don;t want my yarh to get any snags, i am going to line it…I have had some heavier weigh CK fabric in my stash cupboard for a good long while, it will be perfect for the job…and it’s pretty too..

My mum is going into hospital tomorrow for a hysterectomy, she’s been waiting an awful long time for it, she will have  12-16 week recovery period afterwards too, so I will be on hand to help out with household stuff as much as I can….I’ll keep you posted on that.

Right folks, time to make a basket lining template I think….keep warm and dry

Hugs and Stitches

Pottering….

It’s been a pottering few days, catching up on chores, cleaning windows and washing curtains and all the boring things like that that have to be done. My living room is looking lovely and clean and tidy now, the paintwork and decor is a little tired but that will have to wait, but by changing some of my trinkets and treasures around it makes it feel almost new again….also another pretty bouquet of flowers always cheers me and the room up…

I dressed my other hottie this week….another bright and cheery jacket…

The Little Miss started Rainbows this week and was very excited….

I have been doing a little stitching, I started this quite a while ago but it fell by the wayside with Christmas gift stitching…it’s Ewe & Eye & Friends ‘Love Letters’, I’m using Six Strand Sweet threads of my own choice, I should hopefully complete it over the weekend.

Finally…Andrea messaged me to say my Blogaversary giveaway package had arrived to her…I loved putting it together…enjoy it Andrea!

A quiet weekend at home for us…it’s bright and sunny here but it’s biting cold…brrrrrr!

Hugs & Stitches