Tuesday 31 December 2013

We survived the 21st!... and my final Happy Dances for 2014

DS2's 21st went very well on Saturday night. There was lots of fun, good food and lots and lots of lovely young people all celebrating the 21st birthday of my dear son who was born on Boxing Day, 1992.  If you want to see, here are some pics from the night:














There are heaps more photos but I won't bore you with them all!  lol!  It was a lovely party and my son has some gorgeous friends - lovely young men and women - it was such a pleasure to see them all so grown up (all of his school friends I had taught at some time or another! - lol!)


.... and amazingly, as I didn't actually mean to start anything new (but as I was dashing off to Mah Jong yesterday I quickly grabbed a sweet little design which I had won in a giveaway to stitch while we played and chatted), I had four quick finishes last night (there was enough fabric and floss in the kit to make it four  times) 

Sorry, it is a bit washed out - the fabric is actually a pale pink.

"Shoot for the moon" by Elegant Stitch on R&R Reproductions Awareness Pink, 32ct, with NPI black silk and Gloriana Limited Edition Starry Night Yellow silk, buttons from my stash.







Well, that is all from me - must dash, off to get my hair cut ready for the New Year.  Happy New Year to all of you - love you all.

hugs,

Friday 27 December 2013

Spoilt rotten ..... Part 2


.... and the generosity of my friends continues....


From my dear friend Sarah of Sarah in Stitches in Dubai,  who wrote:

"I know that you have been going through a lot lately and I wanted you to know there are people out there who care and have your back!"

Well, Sarah, you certainly have my back - love you my dear one.

A very pretty Christmas card:




All the goodies:


A cute design from an old magazine - such a good idea - two new thimbles for my collection and some gorgeous blue/brown hand-dyed thread from Victoria Motto Sampler Shoppe:


Look at this sweet little biscornu pincushion with two of my favourite gold needles in it:


Thank you, Sarah, you are a very dear friend. Love you heaps!

Then on Christmas Eve, this gorgeous gift arrived from an ex-colleague of mine, Robyn, as a sympathy gift.  A beautiful Wedgewood tea strainer, so that I could make a cup of tea and think of my Dear Mum. How sweet of her is that?  Thank you so much, dear Robyn.


Thank you to both of these dear friends and once again to everyone who supported me throughout this horrible year - Roll on 2014, is what I say!

hugs, 

P.S.
Well, just to top off the year from Hell - I am 24 hours out from having my DS2's 21st birthday party at home - 120 people coming - and I have broken the middle toe of my left foot!  Just what I need when I am trying to run up and down upstairs to prepare the house for the party!


Thursday 26 December 2013

Spoilt rotten....


.... that is me!

I have such lovely blogging friends, I am so very lucky and blessed.

First of all I was involved in this year's Santa Sack Swap run by the best swap mama ever - Cheryll - who paired me with the lovely Melanie who is a true kindred spirit.  As you all know, 2013 has been an astonishingly difficult year for me and my family, with many stresses across many areas of our lives, culminating in the passing of my Dear Mother on the 25th November.  Throughout these past few months both Melanie and Cheryll have been so understanding about my inability to cope with this swap properly with the marvellous Melanie even offering to send her gifts and for me not to bother. Well, as you can imagine, I was not comfortable with that idea and I did send her a parcel although, unfortunately, I had to "outsource" everything (as we say in the publishing industry) and nothing was made by my fair hands, which, of course, is what I really wanted to do.  But I know that Melanie understands and I hope that she loves all the gifts I chose for her.


Well, here is a blow by blow of my gifts from Melanie.

The parcel arrives:

Inside is this gorgeous tote (just right for work) with lots of parcels inside:






A lovely table runner in one of my favourite colourways - purple - just perfect for the "floor" of my natitivity set - it really ties it together.




A sweet Xmas ornie showing "naughty" Furio stealing a pressie!

 Two very special thimbles for my thimble collection.  Melanie wrote:

"The thimbles were mine (I'm a Yorkshire lass, my husband proposed under the clock tower in Thirsk). I thought maybe you might like them for your collection."  Now, how thoughtful and kind is that?  I will treasure them always, Mel.


A clever little sewing book with my name specially stitched on the inside:


and look Furio makes an appearance on the outside!


and these are the goodies inside - aren't the mini threads cute?

... and look at this special felt flower-covered change purse - so vibrant and pretty.



Here is Furio again - this time he is masquerading as a pincushion - trying to be helpful maybe?


A colourful Christmas bunting set:



... and there is more - a Christmas mug rug and matching teabag caddy (these will have pride of place on my desk at work):

... and some Lindt chocolates (they didn't last long, I can tell you!):



and lastly, this beautiful stitched card:


Thank you, Melanie, I could not have asked for a better or sweeter or more understanding swap partner.

Love you heaps, oh kindred spirit, Merry Xmas,

hugs, 










Saturday 21 December 2013

FNSI

For FNSI I delved into my UFO basket again and found this gorgeous sampler - nearly finished!


Now, again, I ask myself, why did I stop?  After a while, the answer came to me, it is blindingly obvious, really - so I can start something new, of course!!!!!!


Here is where it is after FNSI - I should get this finished in a few more sessions:


You can check out what everyone else did here.

hugs,

Friday 13 December 2013

UFO.......

.... I decided to go to the basket where I have a stash of UFOs. At random I pulled this one out:



Imagine my surprise to find that I had finished just over half of it already!  Now, the question I asked myself is "Why did I put it away?"


hugs,

P.S. I am going to check out that stash basket again tonight - I wonder what other treasures I will find?

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop.....

  Hello my lovelies and Happy Valentine's Day....   ... and this means it is time again for the fabulous Valentine's Day Blog hop o...