Unwell

Yesterday I woke up to a terrible bout of hay fever. By the evening I was unwell with heat exhaustion. Quite scary stuff especially the heart palpitations. On the previous Sunday,  I got sunburnt and didn't know that it can take up to forty eight hours for heat exhaustion to show. It's quite amazing how unwell it makes you feel. It's my own fault as I didn't use sunscreen.  Lesson learnt!

I have finished my butterfly bookmark by Vervaco and will post a picture when I feel better.

Conservation Work

I started my first day on my conservation course in which I will get a John Muir Award. The John Muir Trust is the leading conservation charity in the UK. More info can be found here:

www.johnmuirtrust.org 

I am helping to conserve a meadow, with adjoining woodland and a swanary. I am also learning wood whittling among other things which is really enjoyable. I was also given a journal to fill in too.

The images are not brilliant as they were taken with my phone.

More Jack in the Green Photos

A few more photos have surfaced from the Jack in the Green weekend. Social media is wonderful as I would of never have got to have seen these photos taken from various groups on Facebook.

Me and Angela.

Me and Ricky prior to the drum off.

Drumming outside The Albion.

Adrian and me.

The drum off, doing my bit with Tombstone Pete on Flying Scotsman.

Silly larks in The Stag after JITG.

In the JITG procession.

Colin and I prior to the drum off.

The last two are Bev and myself entertaining the crowd at the drum off.

Lovely memories of a wonderful weekend :)

Rumtopf AKA Rum Pot

I started my rumtopf jar today.

For my first layer I have used strawberries, raspberries and plums. My next layer in a couple of weeks will be peaches and pears. I have used a 3 litre jar so I should get a good quantity when it's ready in a few months time.

I didn't weigh the fruit but so far I have used a whole bottle of white rum (70cl) and half a pound of sugar.

A Long Weekend and Stitching Update

We had a lovely long weekend here in the UK as Monday was a bank holiday. I am shattered as I was out on the Sunday and Monday performing with Section 5 :)

I have two stitching updates. First my Vervaco bookmark.

I really like how this one is turning out. It is very pretty and looks so much better than the photo on the packaging it came in.

Secondly my Castles in the Air by Papillion Creations.

It's not a brilliant photo so the colours don't show as bright as they should. The part I have stitched since starting again is the green diamond bit. I will take some close ups soon and post them here in my blog.

Every May Bank Holiday at the beginning of May, Hastings celebrates Jack in the Green. The whole town heaves for the weekend. 

Me waiting for the procession to start.

Getting ready to drum up Croft Road which is a horrendously steep road!

The tall man is my partner Colin.

Myself, Ray and Jules.

Section 5 Drummers in the procession.

My fella Colin.

This one was taken on the Sunday. We are heading off to our annual drum off with other groups.

The drum off at Butlers Gap.

Me, Jackie, Bev and Sam.

In the procession.

I had just the most amazing time. I ache so much today and  my head feels a little delicate. I am not a big drinker and I consumed quite a lot over the last couple of days.  Mainly neat spirits from my friends hip flasks!

A Finish!

I haven't stitched in goodness knows how long and last night I picked up a small Mill Hill kit and then completed it today. It's called Plaid Pumkin. It supposed to be a brooch but I made it into an ornament instead by hot glueing some ribbon to the back.

Finished cross stitches

Completed  cross stitch and beading

Cut out

 Assembled and finished :)

Colin went into town today and came back with a couple of colouring books which were going cheap in The Works :)

September Already

I can't believe how quick the year has gone by! September already. The summer here has been rather a wash out. Apparently we had the heaviest amount of rainfall in August since records began :(

I have changed the name of my blog to reflect me and the things I love to do which is all sorts of crafts. Cross stitching is taking a back seat at the moment as I can't see to do it until I sort out some new glasses as my eyesight has changed.........guess its an age thing lol.

I have recently taken up adult colouring. It really does help with anxiety and is very therapeutic.

Colin and I are still drumming. It's our only form of socialising and we still enjoy it.

Small Update

All my stash and WIP's are in the loft since I lost my stitching mojo but I did manage to find a small kit in a drawer.

Its not a brilliant photo but you get the idea.

My progress so far. 

I am enjoying stitching on it even though it is aida and navy aida at that. Colin is going to get all my stash down from the loft soon.

My bookmark arrived from sewandso today. Not sure when I am going to start it yet. Hmmm, do I have two projects on the go or finish Count the Stars first?

It's Been A Long Time

It has been a very long time since I have blogged yet alone done any cross stitch. Unfortunately I had a traumatic event in my life.............my wonderful son Chris, committed suicide. I am slowly picking up the pieces in my life, one has too for my other children and grandchildren.

I have had a strong urge to cross stitch again and to be honest, I can't be bothered to sort through my stash so I have ordered a bookmark kit from Sewandso. Hopefully it will arrive by Wednesday so I can start it.

I am still drumming, it's the only thing that keeps me sane lol.

A Finish :)

Yup a finish :)

OK, so I had another break from stitching due to losing my mojo again.  I think I may be on top of it this time around. My tastes have changed and a lot of my WIPs come UFO's do not appeal to me right now.

First up is my finish.

It is a bookmark by Vervaco. The kit is very good quality. I love how it turned out.

Second up is my current project.

It is Winter Robin by Anchor.  I have been concentrating more on the background. I am liking it so far.