Lizzie Kate Summer Sampler Finished

Stitched on 28ct Pale Green Jobelan

I switched out the blues on the house for purples and took liberties with the sunflower head as well as I didn't have the called for colours.

I used a clear bead for the door nob.

I am really pleased how it turned out. I have the other three seasons to do too.

Natures Vision and Summer Sampler

Last week was a good week as far as my stitching was concerned. First up is Natures Vision.

Here is a before photo:

And this is what it looks like now:

I got the whole wing finished! So it will be onto the next wing when I pick it up next.

I got some more done on Summer Sampler too:

I really am enjoying stitching on this one as it is bright and colourful.

Other News

Last Friday was 'C' Day as in Chicken Day. Yes we got the girls finally!

This is Dottie (Colins ). She is a a Maran's Cuivree.

This Doris and she is mine. She is a White Sussex.

This is Dolly and she is mine too lol. She is a Blue Haze.

All three together. We just went for old fashioned names and they all start with 'D' lol.

Dragon's Lair and Summer Sampler

I  worked on Dragon's Lair and Summer Sampler   last week.

Here is a 'before' photo of Dragons Lair:

And a 'now' photo.

A close up:

I really love how colourful this piece is. It is for one of my twins Joshua. Not too much stitching left and then 100's of beads to sew on.

And lastly but not least Summer Sampler by Lizzie Kate.

I always think that LK charts always look so much better stitched than the photo on the front of the chart.

Lizzie Kate Summer Sampler

I have been really busy this week and I have not managed to stitch as much as I would of liked. But every stitch counts! I swapped blues for purples on the house as I did not fancy the blues :-)

We have been very busy in the garden making way for our new pets as well as preparing the garden for growing our own veggies.

Colin (on the right) and our friend Phil having a break whilst reading instructions and Lindita Stinky Rita being nosey lol.

One chicken coop!

Hopefully we will be getting our three chickens over the next week to ten days. We will also be adding a run to the coop but we have been advised to keep the chickens in the coop for the first 3 to 4 weeks.

Phil made us a lovely bird house!

Birdhouse and Coop in situ.

Colin also put together a frame for either the runner beans or peas.

There is still absolutely tons to do in the garden. And I have to say that my house resembles a green house as we have propagators on nearly every window sill in the house lol.

Woohoo, A Finish!

Definitely a big woohoo! Not only is it my first finish of the year but my first finish in months!

Back view:

Humming Birds by Barbara Ana

Stitched on a piece of scrap 28ct linen from Polstitches.

Close up view before it was stitched together.

I have already started a new piece.

It is Lizzie Kate's Summer House Sampler. I have changed the colour of the house to purples though :-)

Been So Busy.

I have been so busy lately that at times it has felt like my feet have not touched the ground! Thankfully, I have a couple of weeks now that I can relax for a bit.

I started a new HAED, Dragon Moon Storykeep.

This is how much I have done so far:

I have been working on the backstitch on Midnight Enchanter as well but no more pictures now until it is finished. I am finding it a tedious task as there is so much. I am doing it in dribs and drabs.

I got my prize through from Lizzie Kate:

The popcorn is maple and Bacon flavour! I don't think we have anything like it here in the UK but I could be wrong! I love the charts and will stitch them sometime in the future.

I had two drumming events, and here are a few pictures.

Colin and I.

Me looking like Princess Fiona. I'm covered bodily in green face paint for Jack in the Green.

Section 5 playing on the stage at Hastings Castle.

My green ball gown .............I look mouldy with the face paint on my body lol

Section 5 knackered after walking up a massive steep hill.

Me and my drum chum Rebecca and Colin.

Hiding from the rain in the castle.

Parading down to Butlers Gap for the big drum off! I'm in front as usual lol

No, that's not Achmed the Dead Terrorist, it's our mascot (one of them).

Weekly Update

I have not got as much done as I would of liked, but I was very busy over the weekend.

First Up Spirit HAED:

I am very pleased as I have finished page one and page two which is a partial page.

Next up, Midnight Enchanter:

I am so close to finishing the actual stitching! Just leaves tons of backstitching and couching :-/

Just the bit left in the above photo to stitch and the mauve Kreinik at the top of the moon.

RAK

Edie from my I Love Cross Stitch Yahoo group sent me a RAK. I knew Edie was sending me it but what I was not expecting was her astounding generosity! Edie sent me L&L Angel of Summer, Celtic Christmas, Angel of Spring and last but not least Angel of the Sea including all the threads and beads for it. I was astounded to say the least! I had tears in my eyes when I saw exactly what Edie had gifted to me. She also sent me some pieces of fabric which will come in more than handy seeing Colin's job situation is so dire at the moment. I just can not thank you enough Edie and again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Lizzie Kate Win

Linda over at the official Lizzie Kate blog held a competition and all you had to do was leave a comment about your favourite bacon food and I WON! I hardly if ever, win anything, so I was chuffed to bits!

http://lizziekateblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/makin-bacon-blog-contest.html

Drumming

All the Scouts groups in our area held a big parade on Sunday in honour of ST. Georges Day , which was actually on the Monday but due to the good old British Government (said with much sarcasm) it is NOT a public Holiday seeing it is England's patron Saint but it should be seeing Wales, Ireland and Scotland all get a day off for their Patron Saints day! Just put a wig on David Cameron (UK's Prime Minster, but you knew that didn't you?), and he will be the spitting image of Maggie Thatcher the Snatcher...............but I digress, sorry,

Anyhow, we drummed for the scouts and didn't realise till we got there what a big parade it was or should I say just how many scouts there were. There was hundred's of them lol. Anyhow, we had a great time drumming in their parade then we headed off around Hastings and then the Old Town drumming for St Georges Day (in advance lol, don't get me started again lol, bloody government).

This is just a few of us but there was about 40 drummers altogether.

Having a pint before we started drumming.

'It's a Jingle out There' Finished

It's a Jingle out there by Lizzie Kate stitched in DMC

I couldn't resist finishing this off this afternoon instead of stitching on Celtic Summer. I am not sure whether I will frame it for Christmas or finish it some other way.

For my next small piece, I found a Mill Hill kit called Wisteria Angel that somehow ended up as a UFO which is about half done.  Lots of beading going on in that piece and I will post a picture once it is finished.

Spirit HAED Update

I have done 10 hours on Spirit. Here is what it looked like before I started with 200 stitches in:

And this is what is looks like now with 1400 stitches in.

1400 stitches altogether so far! It stitched pretty quick as there wasn't too many colour changes and a few of the blocks of 10 x 10 had only two colours. I can see why people get adicted to HAEDS. I get quite excited for every 10 x 10 square I cross off on the chart!

I have also done a bit on my Lizzie Kate, this is what it looks like.

Not too much more to do on it. It stitches up lovely and quick.

Now it is on to stitching Castles in the Air. I thought I was on part 5 but I am on part 4. I'm hoping to get quite a bit done in the 10 hours before I rotate again.

Lizzie Kate Finished

I finished this yesterday afternoon. I am pleased how it turned out. I swapped out a couple of the colours, I used purples instead of blues on the doghouse.

I am going to finish The Bookshelf next and then move on to a new project. I am not sure what though yet.

Lizzie Kate Update

 

This is what I have managed to get done so far. I swapped out a couple of colours on the dog house from blues to purples. Its a bit blurry as had to use my mobile phone camera.

Long Time no Post!

It has been a long time since I blogged. I haven't been around for many reasons but the primary one being illness. It has just been one thing after another. I have had on going problems with my stomach since I had my gallbladder removed. I have now been diagnosed with bile reflux. To put it simply, they screwed up my operation and didnt leave enough 'pipe' for the drainage of the bile into the intestines and now it pools into my stomach. Add that to pre menopause, depression and anxiety/panic attacks, I have had a shit few months to say the least! Because I have not been stitching as my thumb joint on my left hand  has seized and the Dr has recommended I stitch again to try and make it more supple. I haven't and could stitch due to the arthritus but I have some good cream for it, so from tonight I am going to start stitching again. I am not picking up my last piece, The Bookshelf even though there's hardly any left to do, for now, but I am going to start a Lizzie Kate piece just to get me back into the swing of things.

 

It's not a brilliant picture as had to use my mobile phone as the batteries have died in my camera. I am actually on the last band. It looks washed out but the fabric is actually a lovely crystal peach.

This is the LK chart I am just about to start stitching on. So, wish me luck that I can get some done without my thumb playing up too much!