My Wee Stitchy Blog

WELL THAT'S ALL FOLKS

2011-06-15T20:35:00.000+01:00

well for blogger that is anyway.
I may be making a mistake moving, but life is for making mistakes so I am jumping to the other side.

My new blog address is www.weestitchy.com yes i have my own domain, so yes im sorry you will have to update your blogroll, which if blogger is playing up, is a pain but i am holding a giveaway to celebrate my new space on the net...come on what are you waiting for?!?!?

Moving sides and details of upcoming Giveaway

2011-06-14T18:59:00.000+01:00

After 4 years, 178 posts and tons of comments ( thank you i never knew i had that many), I am moving over to Wordpress, Blogger has lost my post and made me swear at the computer for the last time.
Will give details tomorrow of new blog as i am waiting to finalise my web address, yes I am going Dot Com :) and i cant set google friends up till i have my web address done,
And to celebrate i will be having a giveaway. Where the winner can choose there prize, between, a HAED chart, a £15 gift voucher to spend at sewandso, or a donation to their favourite charity ( we know how a caring lot us stitcher's are -for us, that have so much stash we will never live to see the day when we are able to stitch it all), plus a copy of new Magazine Mollie Makes.

Just don't tell the hubby :D

Is Wordpress Any Good?

2011-06-09T16:40:00.001+01:00

Blogger is really peeing me off lately, not uploading pictures, not saving ( which it is currently saying error occcured as i type again!) the list goes on so i am thinking about switching to wordpress, but not sure of the interface, could really do with some help here since i have been on here for 4 years, not sure really if wordpress or any others are good, so come on peeps spill the beans and let me now pleaseeeee.
.... oh i could show my stitching but pfft i got 20 stitches in total this week, damn work, damn my boss for deciding to moniter me this week, and damn me for not putting the lottery numbers on last night as i would have been a few more notes better off today. pah, i think i need to start this week again. If only we had a rewind button.

Attention of a Fish

2011-06-06T19:18:00.003+01:00

Yes that is me, i get distracted easily, bored quick and would change the house around every week if i could. Yes i know i said i wanted to stick to my blog style for a whole year, but i did six months, instead of six days, so hey i am getting better.
Anyway on to the stitchyness.
This week on the HAED BB it is Freebie SAL week, so i got out Fragile Heart and i have done a bit on her, but now my mind is a wandering to another piece, it seems I do 4 days then want to change.
Yes i know i will never finish anything but as a wise woman said on the HAED BB stitching is supposed to be fun and not a chore SO i am actually listenening to those wise words and putting her away till next SAL, or when she screams at me again, Yes i know 4 days of stitching a month wont finish her this year and i will fail my yearly goals i set myself but sod it, i made 'em i can break 'em! ( besides im going to fail on most of them anyway)

Well at least you can see what i did this time :)

Finally does anyone know where i can get the basics on where to learnt to crochet, I bought the new magazine Mollie Makes and have subscribed for the next 3 issues.

so far its a huge thumbs up, and i would love to have a dabble at learning to crochet, but i dont know one end of a pointy thingy from the other (edited to add learnt it is called a hook, see I'm learning!)
I was even going to buy a mag on crochet, but thought better of it. i mean i could buy tools to get started and still have change for the price it was!

I am also hoping that i will get a chance of making the cover kit on the next issue, as my youngest decided that she would have this issues and is in the process of making her phone cover, charming i know, honestly my kids will take anything of mine!

Crap photo but i am falling out with blogger tonight so it can stop, honestly i really need to stop shouting at my laptop

TUSAL and 4 Days On Corsair

2011-06-01T22:00:00.000+01:00

Yes i have finally managed to actually get my TUSAL in on time, not much going on with it, but i am so tight with my threads but it is growing slowly.

Here is four days stitching on Corsair, she is growing but i didnt put a stitch in her today, as i was making the most out of no internet connection and getting the kids to help me outside. I don't really want to put it down but i need to spend a few extra days on Fragile Heart as i am falling way behind, if i want to actually finish a HAED this year.

This is what she looks like now...

and this is what she looked like before the May SAL...

i know what your thinking, wow she can stitch fast lol hoping i can redeem myself, but i am looking after my niece tomorrow so hoping this weekend will be better, will try and post a mid week update.

2011-05-31T07:30:00.001+01:00

On my previous post, WENDY asked me what the red lines are on my fabric. I dont like gridding much as i am slow and always have to double and triple check the lines so i thought i would give Magic Guide by DMC a go. Now its no where near as nice to stitch on as Jazlyn but it saves me time but i had not seen any that some one had used it and washed the red lines out, so i cut some off my fabric and followed the instructions on DMC's web site, which to be honest were not very good, wash at 40. That was it.

So i did that i put it into a bowl at 40 and what happened.... nothing, i left it for a bit longer, still nothing. Panic was now starting to rise and hubby tried to rub it together. By this time i was on the edge of hysterical, all that work for nothing. I then put some washing powder in and it started to disappear. Hysteria abated i left if for another few minutes and this is the end, but very tatty product( lesson learnt not to let hubby had hold of my fabric again.)

you can faintly see the lines when you hold the fabric up to the light, maybe more soaking would eradicate it completely and i wouldnt use it if you could see the fabric but for HAED its perfect.
Now onto a mid week update on Corsair Daemira. I started stitching her on Saturday morning while having a marathon DVD session and by Sunday night I had got this far...

and that was stitching most of Saturday and Sunday, I wish I could stitch faster. I finally finished all the blue and by Monday night i had got this far...

I may even get half a page finished before the end of this week as niext week is the HAED SAL so i will be working on Fragile Heart, and i am not enjoying stitching on 18ct no more it feels too big, if that makes sense.
Hope everyone is having a productive week
.

Finally Finished ( page one that is)

2011-05-28T08:24:00.000+01:00

Yes i did it, not like there were many stitches to put in, but there were a few colour changes, in there.

Dont know wether to continue with this page or make a start on Corsair Daemira, ( which will have to be renamed as i always have to look up the correct spelling- suggestions welcome, as i cant think of any)

Quick Update

2011-05-22T08:27:00.000+01:00

Did very Little stitching this week, on DOTF life seems to get in the way. But i AM going to finish this bleeding page this week, i am!!

Now must get back to planning this menu out for school, hubby back soon and i said i wouldnt touch the computer and my stitching, will be glad when its next week and i get 5 days off work!

Yummy Johnny

2011-05-10T19:26:00.000+01:00

WOO HOOO!! Got tickets to see Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides, tomorrow, yummy Johnny Depp, looks disher as a pirate than in real life, so to celebrate i bought...... another head yes i know i said i wanted a quick stitch, but i got a soft spot for pirates and mermaids, and i couldn't resist.
CORSAIR DAEMIRA, by Nene Thomas

I have also been looking for something quick to stitch so i could stitch when i am out, so looking for a mermaid or pirate theme to stitch.

Now just to tell the kids, as i have only got two tickets, that wont go down well!

Restless

2011-05-08T20:54:00.002+01:00

No picture Im afraid as HAED's are so slow to stitch up, what i need is a really fun stitch thats not too...trying to find the right words but all i can come up with is concentrating to stitch?, A Quick Stitch?, does that sound right? hmm well i know what i mean but hubby has banned me from buying any more, pah bloody men!
I could stitch my LK Christmas Rules, but its summer and well i don't do christmas charts till at least September/October, so no idea maybe i should start my mirabilia.. does anyone else ever get like this?
Think i will look for some freebies, i may find something there.

I may be just on one of them moods lol

So how many would you say is too much to have on the go at once, how many do you have? and how many charts/kits do you have in your collection? I think sometimes i should stop wanting to start and actually finish what i have!

Fragile Heart

2011-05-05T21:38:00.000+01:00

Crap photo I know!

Page 3 was emailed to us this week so i really need to pull my socks out as i really want to finish a HAED this year. It is the SAL tomorrow so this I took a photo to show where I am at the moment, I should at least finish this page this week. Looking forward to seeing her eye come alive.

May TUSAL

2011-05-04T21:16:00.000+01:00

Bugger, i knew i would forget to post my TUSAL, well better late than never. I even got rid of the jam jar too!!

On the stitching front i havent done any as i have been preparing for my new job, pah work who needs it!

Black, Black and more Black

2011-05-02T07:34:00.000+01:00

MY STITCHY BUG IS BACK!!!, Sorry i had to shout about it as i thought it had buggered off never to be seen again, i have got back into my mermaid again, and took it with me camping, I only took two colours with me 3371 and 301 ( dark brown and black), i did all of these two colours on page 5 and i have started page 6 which most of it is just black.

I really wanted to put it down and finish page one of DOTF but i am going to try and get all the black done before i swap, well as much as i can before Friday as its the Freebie SAL on the HAED BB this week.

The trouble with HAEDS are it doesn't look much but it takes me ages to stitch, so I'm happy with the progress, i am hoping you can see a difference at the end of the week

REALLY NEED TO GET STITCHING

2011-04-23T22:24:00.001+01:00

I took the baby sampler to my sisters yesterday after i went and bought a frame for it from IKEA, and it looked really good, although i nearly killed my husband when all i asked him to do was to put the wire on the back of the frame, and what did he do, he only went and bloody broke the glass!

I wasn’t best pleased and threw a massive strop at him, I mean it was Good Friday at 5.30pm, where would be open at that time? Well it happened there was a place local to us and in the end i was really pleased i went as i have seen the most gorgeous frame that was just what i was looking for!

My Mermaid that is screaming so loud at me now ( busy working and loads of paper work to get sorted before i move kitchens at work) would look perfect in the frame, all really old fashioned and heavy like the ones that were used in the days when Tall Ships roamed the seas, so yes i was annoyed at hubby but i wouldn’t have seen the frame, so i am now all packed for 4 days camping with no kids and my stitching is in the car ready for tomorrow, so hopefully we will get plenty of sun, stitching and relaxation in, and i will have an update to show when i get back.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and don’t eat all your kids Easter Eggs!

Happy Dance Time - Finally

2011-04-20T10:17:00.001+01:00

Yes, i have been stitching, but not much as it seems since i have moved all i do is work get home tidy house go to bed early and i am up at 4 for work again, stitching seemed to have stopped.

But one reason is this little thing, I have finally finished it, well all I am doing anyway.

I didn't enjoy stitching this, and i was determined not to stitch anything else till i did, yes i know its stupid, but if i had put it aside I would have never finished it, so I am going to find a frame for it and get it to my sisters as soon as possible as I am sick of seeing it!

Mermmie has been screaming out to me every time i saw her, so tonight after my 8 hours stuck in a meeting. she will have some stitches put in her!

Well my goals are some what unrealistic but i have done at least one.

Updates

2011-04-08T20:52:00.000+01:00

I have made little progress of anything since i moved, as you will see, but I MUST finish the baby sampler, as last weekend was the Christening, and Charlottes first Birthday was today, so I really need to get it done.

As for my others well, I am still on page one of Fragile Heart, even though the second page has been mailed out to us.

I did make a start on Marilyn, but alas you cant tell which part it is yet, i think its near her face.

I am still on page one of DOTF, i think my goals are going to fail miserably this year!

Here is my start of Daffodil Springs, another Hannah Lynn which was my treat for moving, yes like i need ANOTHER new start.

And finally here is a piccie of the cupcakes i made for my nieces christening/birthday, not happy with some of them as my hubby was complaining saying i was getting the buttercream was too near the edge, but i prefer them that way, but i have got to make some more, for a child's birthday that was at the christening, so i will do it my way this time!

Am i missing much?

2011-03-29T16:25:00.000+01:00

I am still here, but no internet fingers crossed it won't be long, i hate been internetless, how did we survive before

just dont hold your breath for loads of updates my stitching bug is asleep

Before and After

2011-02-06T09:50:00.000Z

Well we have finished taking out all the new units and replacing the doors, we were told to leave our new kitchen in, that we had paid for. I don't think so was a watered down version of what i said.
I mean what's the point as they are knocking the houses down, Hubby said they would take things out what they could sell, well we have left them a kitchen in. Just not our new one.

When i look at the photo now it reminds me how much hard work we put into the house and now we have a leave it all behind.

My mum did says that at least i am leaving that dreadful colour on my kitchen wall behind!
Honestly her house is painted in magnolia in every room, I hate magnolia with a passion. So guess what colour my new house is. Yes thats right Magnolia from floor to ceiling in every room!

I am Moving!!

2011-02-02T08:20:00.000Z

I am still here, but i am not stitching at the moment as it has been a mad rush. To find a house that the rooms are bigger than a box has been hard, they were either far too small and expensive to rent, only for 6 months, or just right but way off our budget. So after months of looking and stressing i can finally say we have got one!!
10 more days and were moving so now is the dubious task of packing. We have only been here 2 1/2 years and to say we had nothing after the house fire, how the hell did we manage to accumulate so much crap!!

So i have made a start on throwing out all the things that the kids have kept and not thrown out and trying to decide what we actually need and what i can make a start on packing. Next Saturday can not come soon enough, the days are dragging and i wish we could move this week!

I will have no internet for about 3 weeks when we move too so how we will cope we don't know, but hopefully my stitching mojo will have returned and i will have lots of updates to show. Now i am off to wade through all the things the kids have decided to keep and throw out, and what's betting that i will make a few changes there!

Here's Looking At You Kid

2011-01-07T13:20:00.000Z

Here she is, and i have really enjoyed stitching her, so much that i am this week going to stitch another Hannah Lynn, Dreaming On The Farm, ( aka DOTF) this week, I even remembered to fray check this piece.

Didn't Manage to Get As Much Done

2011-01-06T22:56:00.001Z

Yay, i finally finished all the black on Fragile Heart, but boy did the last 1/4 of black take some doing. I have been playing taxi service with the kids and only have managed to stitch here and there but i will have to wait till next month to fill the bits in, i have seen a page stitched already on the HAED BB and the pinks just pop.
Will post a piccie tomorrow. Grumpy git (AKA the husband) has gone to bed and the camera is upstairs and its just peaceful with him asleep. should really go to bed since i am at work in 6 hours but I am drooling over Johnny Depp, yummy lol

TUSAL and monotone stitching

2011-01-04T23:13:00.000Z

Well what can i say, black, black and more black and i am still only 3/4 of the page through, i am hoping to finish with all the black tomorrow as i am wanting to 'colour' in before i put it away on Friday.

And here is my TUSAL, on time too, woop woop ( lets see how long it lasts) most of my things are packed up so my orts are in a Baileys glass until i move and unpack and find something better to put them in. Can you see what's left of the candle - hubby didn't think to move it away from the fire, the dope!

New Start for the New Year

2011-01-03T12:02:00.000Z

Well first of all, a Happy New Year to everybody! I hope everyone had good christmas, I am debating wether to take down the christmazs decorations today or not, i know my mum says it is bad luck but hell, im going to be homeless soon so im buggered anyway lol

I have decided to not do stupid resolutions that wont last( well not many of them anyway)
but i Do want to do the following:
try and read as many blogs as possible and keep up to date with them
reply to mail asap - as i tend to forget to reply
not change my avatars all the time, i am going to see if i can keep little miss mermaid for a whole year and not change my blog ( well after i have choosen a theme that i like)
NOT buy any more stitching patterns (this one may be hard when HAED keep releasing patterns to die for)

also i am wanting to take things as they ome and make the best of what i have got, there are people worse off than me
and be happy so any moaning posts you can offically kick my but!!

Now for the updates, been stitching Fragile Heart for the HAED SAL and have managed to do half a page of all the black, might do a bit more of her, would really like to get all the black out of the way.

She is stitched on 18ct 2 x1 and i really need to fray check the sides as there is not much room around the edges.
next I started a bit of Mermaid again, but i think i went into stitching overdrive and got fed up of stitching so went looking for a house to live, found nothing and went to bed depressed, i think i should have just carried on stitching.

Now i have to tidy the house up before i can do any mores stitching. i may be a while...

Goal Reached Just In Time

2010-12-28T23:06:00.000Z

Well I Did it!! i reached my goal of completing four pages of my Mermaid this year, yes it is close and i would not have done it if i had not stitched all day during the Christmas holidays but i can now kit up for the HAED BB SAL that starts on Saturday, don't know what i am going to stitch until then, but i know my husband id relieved as i would not put the stitching down, and he was having to make his own cups of tea, aww poor thing lol.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas!

It's Beginning To Look A Bit Like Christmas

2010-12-22T20:10:00.000Z

My news years resolution should be do finish something i start. As blogging everyday didn't go to plan. But thats Christmas for you.
Anyway i am showing the very little progress i have done on Mermaid, can you see them 20 stitches? No, well honestly they are there!

Took the photo on my new christmas present, well to be honest hubby bought a camera and said it was a joint present for both of us to each other. Now i know i shouldn't be ungrateful but he wanted a camera so got it i didn't want it, yes its better than our old camera but it wasn't high on my list of 'must get', so will i get to unwrap a handbag, purse even some glovers or slippers on christmas day, No as i have it now, yes i am feeling in a very selfish mood tonight, bloody men well it could have been worse, it could have been some tool or kitchen appliance i got.

Grumpy Bev has now left the building, so back to normal service...
The 2011 Weekly Stitch-A-Long Blog is now up and people can join in and i have put on to carry on with mermaid, but i bought this chart from Celtic Rose Needlecraft,

some of you will know that i have stitched Marilyn before in the 2009 SAL blog. So i am not bot sure which to put forward for the blog.

There is also another SAL i am doing on the HAED BB. From the 5 charts i chose Hannah Lynn Fragile Heart, I have got the floss list emailed through to me so i know have to get my fabby sorted out and make sure i have all the floss, as this also starts on the 1st Jan 2011.

Will i finish a design next year, who knows i managed to finish 2 UFO's this year, i am hoping to finish at least one next year, and as for reaching my yearly goal on the HAED BB of finishing 4 pages of Mermaid, well that is looking less likely all the time

Page 3 Finally Done!!

2010-12-17T03:23:00.000Z

Yes, Yes I know, no update or anything from me for a week, but what a week i have had, who was i kidding that i would be able to update never mind stitch! The last week of school term is mad, plays, Christmas dinner, parties, carol services, mad, mad, mad.
I have been starting work at 5 in the morning, finishing at 3 no breaks, no sitting down nothing, getting home and collapsing for a half a hour not moving, then starting again at home, so when i finally sit down later i have just been like a zombie, and they say men have it hard and we have it easy! when they finish work thats it, fat chance of women being able to do that!!!

OK rant over

Here is Mermmie, i was hoping to get page 4 finished before the year end, not sure if thats possible now, but going to give it a go, on the bright side i did finish page 3 !!!

a finish is a finish right? only another 21 pages to finish lol

as for the advent calender, well i haven't even had time to put it together yet,

Damn You Internet

2010-12-09T08:35:00.000Z

Yes I missed a day due to AOL deciding to throw a strop and stop working.

So here is Mermmie, and finally her face is done and I am starting to fill in her hair, you know the stitches that have just one colour in, damn they take some time doing. Love her face now

Yesterday we had a Log Roll, i always make them for Christmas Eve when we have the in laws over for tea,

and today we have....

Mine Pies, NOOOO I detest Mince pies, with a passion, i WILL NEVER make them!!

Said i wouldn't Get Much Done

2010-12-07T19:02:00.000Z

and today is a ham joint, i made a roast honey and mustard joint for Christmas last and it didn't last very long,now im off to ~~drool over~~ watch Eclipse again with the kids

Won't get Much Stitching Done Today

2010-12-06T20:47:00.000Z

I started to do a bit of her hair, after i finish with the yellow at the bottom of the page I am going to finish them few stitches in her face, but this colour is taking ages to do.
I am going to Eclipse now though so i will have to give the TV for undivided attention, mmmm Team Jacob or Edward ( both I'm greedy lol)

Today was a garland, we did have one but it got squashed in the suitcase and didn't reassemble anything so my youngest has now changed it into a wreath for her room , well i think its supposed to be a wreath anyway.

Its Officially Christmas

2010-12-05T16:48:00.001Z

I decided to make the trifle( minus the sherry, yuck!) yes i changed my mind, but I'm a woman and thats what we do lol, I did get a bit carried away a bit with the chocolate flake, but who doesn't like chocolate!

As i thought, i didn't get much done on Mermmie but still progress it progress.

For the calender we have little biscuits, - if you can make them out, which no i am not making today. Maybe later though lol,

and why is official? i have seen the Coca-Cola advert today, so Christmas is now here! now if only i could write the christmas cards out, however, it seems my children have bet me to it and used all the cards i bought and left us with the dodgy ones. Lovely.

Salad Anyone?

2010-12-04T11:15:00.000Z

Well the trifle didn't get made as the kids had ate all the jellies, and i wasn't going to go 5 miles to the nearest shop to get one, but after a bad day at work didn't really feel like making one.

I did manage to stitch some more on Mermmie, and i want to stitch on her all week. On the HAED BB my yearly goal was to stitch 4 pages of her, and i would like to nearly be there, as after page 4 ( not that i have finished page 3 yet) there is only 1 3/4 pages to stitch and a lot of them are blocks of colour.
I do think though that it looks a lot better when viewing from afar as when your right on top of it you can not make out any of the detail, it wasn't till i took a photo that i noticed the flower in her hair.
Not the best photo since my youngest dropped the camera in the snow. Will not get much done on her today as we are going to my mums for tea for my step dads birthday, and she doesn't like me stitching.

Today we have a bowl of Salad on the calender, hardly salad weather at the moment, as it is still cold. I am off to now thrash my youngest on Wii Fit, and prove that 37 is not ancient!

Busy,Busy,Busy

2010-12-03T07:50:00.001Z

Yesterday was like the title says a busy day, i did manage some stitching just not on Christmas Dreams, the bed side lamp is much better for stitching and yes i was being lazy Mermmie was at the side of my bed so i stitched on her last night as my legs just couldn't make it down the stairs to get C-D.

After blogging i dug my car out, dug path out, baked the christmas cake, and boy you can smell the alcohol in it, put the Christmas Tree up ( which i hate but not buying a real tree this year) and managed to make hubby a steamed sponge pudding, all this in 4 hours, so today i was hoping that with it being -11 on the car temperature and black ice everywhere that they wouldn't open the school, but alas they have. The head who lives a mile from me had texted to say it took him an hour to get there( its 8 minutes normally) and be careful, I HATE ICE!! as much as snow.So instead of being able to finish the house off and then stitch i have now to crap myself while driving to work, yes i may live in a beautiful place but all the hills make driving bad at this time of year.

So roll on this afternoon, when i am home and can have the fire on and relax because, ice,snow and kids in school just don't mix!

oh i almost forgot today we have Trifle on the advent Calender. Sherry trifle, yes brings back memories of Christmas parties when i was a child in the 70's the women drinking Snowballs, men on the bitter and us kids sneaking some punch that would have but a horse on its back, while Slade and Wizard were playing full blast, never had trifle since then, may make it for tea tonight, that's if the kids haven't ate the jelly...

Let The Battle Begin

2010-12-02T13:08:00.000Z

OK so the whole advent calender situation had not eased, the buses were cancelled, the roads were dodgy to say the least and the thought of digging the car out filled me with dread, why make work when it will snow again?

So there was still no calender for the kids and they were drawing battle plans up, offering them a Kit Kat as a substitute didn't seem to work and i knew they were up to something, They wouldn't even put the little Panetonne in its place on my advent Calender.

it had come to desperation now, where i had to accept defeat and go to the supermarket with the in-laws as my driving skills in the snow are crap.(plus my little focus was still covered and their 4x4 is a lot better in the snow than mine.)

So after spending 4 hours of being pulled to bits, from 'not making the Christmas cake months ago, what kind of wife am i?' to ' why am i putting the tree up too early, christmas eve is much better', and the classic 'my son could have been living in Australia if he hadn't met me and i had got pregnant', I am finally home, the kids have their advent calender, the oven is warming up as i am making the Christmas cake today (yes it is late but i was canceling christmas altogether when i first learnt we had to move) and i may even put the Christmas tree up, before all the snow melts and it no longer feels christmassy. The stitching may not be as much to show tomorrow, but i will spending the last day before they re-open the school tomorrow, getting into the christmas spirit.

I just wish a little elf would get into the christmas spirit and dig my car out for me... well the fruit for the cake will have to soak in the brandy a bit longer if i am to get my car out, unless my prays for more snow are answered. I am now off to battle the snow drift I may be some time...

Its the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2010-12-01T07:59:00.000Z

Last year was the first year i didn't get my kids a chocolate advent calender each. I was fed up of the kids arguing over who had been opening their calender and sneaking heir chocolate out. Remember Billy Bob Thornton in 'Bad Santa' and the scene with the kids advent calender? Well that was our house every year.
So to stop the constant battles that took place i bought this advent calender, and there was peace and quiet, no more arguing over missing chocolate, there was just arguing over NO chocolate, it was worse than ever!
Who ever said best laid plans and all that...

Well i liked it, its by Amanda Loverseed, who designs the Cut Thru Designs by Bothy Threads, and being a cook and food i thought it was fitting, i even tried to make everything on the calender ( but failed miserably - it would have been cheaper to buy the chocolate advent calenders three times over) I can honestly say that i would not have been a candidate for attempting to cook an entire recipe book like Julie and Julia, ( i watched it last night while attempting to stitch with the crappy light)

But this year there has been mutiny in the ranks and i was subjected to an ordeal that will scar me for at least a week, they all ganged up on me and i was bombarded with snowballs, till i yielded.
( which to be honest didn't take that long) so yes they are now going back to their calenders with the chocolate that tastes awful in ( unless i buy a Cadburys one then it might be me sneaking chocolate out of them lol)
and we will once again have a house full of the joys of ' WHOS BEEN EATING MY CHOCOLATE!!!' ringing all through the house, yes Christmas brings out all the joy and love - just not in our house.

So the reason for this babbling post is that i have decided to share my advent calender with you and every day will post the days picture of it, along with what stitching i happened to get done the day before even if it is only 10 stitches - you have been warned.

Now i just have to dig my car out of the 4 ft drift it is currently sitting in, and decide wether i dare drive in the snow, or catch a bus, which come to think of it i haven't seen a bus for a few days- and buy the kids their advent calenders before they sell out( and one for me- but thats just between us)

oh i forgot to add yesterday that this is the chart my hubby bought me to try and cheer me up ( i couldn't start my other new charts as he didn't know i got them lol) it is called Christmas Dreams, but look at all that detail i will still be stitching this when I'm 70!

2010-11-30T16:14:00.001Z

I have done a little bit of stitching but my room light is terrible for stitching at night really need to make sure our next house has better lighting. So really can only stitch on 28 ct 1 x 1 during the day. Can you believe this is supposed to be a Christmas tree?

Happy Stitching

Bev

Needle over Mind

2010-11-26T09:00:00.000Z

I have not picked up a needle for weeks now as I have really no interest in anything at the moment, the whole homeless situation has not got any better but worse and even when we had the house fire and had nothing left i still didn't feel like this. My husband even bought me a chart to cheer me up.
The doctor wants to put me on some meds but i hate taking mediation unless i am really in pain ( or have toothache), so to try and pull myself together again i am picking up my needle and seeing if the power of the needle is mightier than the pill... or something along those lines couldn't think of any thing funnier to say.

Hope i have some stitching to show on Tuesday

Shopping Spree revealed and a few progress pictures

2010-11-02T17:07:00.000Z

Well I made a start on the baby sampler, as i thought the christening was in a few weeks, but that's been put on hold so there is no rush now, so i will work on it once a month, so i am classing this as Novembers work.

I can also reveal what i bought on my shopping spree ( without even leaving the house)

Yes it is a Mirabilia's Royal Holiday and Lizzie Kate's Christmas Rules, in the kit for Royal Holiday i got Linen fabric, which to be honest i hate stitching on, so i have ordered some from Silkweaver, I am hoping that it wont take too long to come, as i cant wait to get started on her, but i did start on Lizzie kate's Christmas Rules.

Its stitched on 28ct Ivory Jazlyn, which i love stitching on, definitely my fabric now i want to stitch on.

I have also stitched some more of DOTF, did a few days on it. You can actually see some of the antique white now, the blue is next to it.

Here is a quick update of my mermmie, still not got page 3 finished but i am stitching page four too, i have a pile or ironing that needs to be done, but i cant put her down!

And finally here is what i bought from HAED....

By Randal Spangler, Home is Where The Magic Is... a meer 48 pages of charts, yes this is one serious long term project, and then i bought this...

Vixie by Hannah Lynn. I bought both in colour chart format and i love them, now when they will get started on i have no idea.

sssh dont tell the hubby lol

2010-10-20T16:57:00.000+01:00

I have been on a bit of a spending spree, spending my birthday money early, thats what you get when you cant stitch, hoping to have my christmas goodies by the weekend, so for now here is a little sneak to what i got, now can you tell what i bought?

Sneak Previews

2010-10-17T18:01:00.000+01:00

Since I cant stitch i'm going to show you the terrible updates i have made, some are not worth the photo, but i need to finish (or start) the baby sampler as i think its the christening next month.

This is what it is supposed to look like when i have finished

This is what it looks like at the moment.

See terrible, i am hoping that it will spur me on

This is what i have done on Paradisal Bird, since i started it

i don't like it, i don't know if its because i don't like the colour of the evenweave and if it was white it would show more, but i chose this because of the dark greens that are in it, i didn't want them showing through, but maybe if i did a bit on it i would get back into it.

here is the progress i made on Dreaming On The Farm.

there is 2000 stitches here, but the antique white makes it hard to tell, especially with the gridding, i hope that it washes out ok.

And finally this is a piece of art by Brigid Ashwood, which i adore.

i love the pin up style and have wanted to stitch something like this for years, i can only hope that this becomes available to buy on HAED

I Can't Stitch For A WEEK

2010-10-16T10:07:00.000+01:00

I have just had eye surgery and i am not allowed to stitch until at least Thursday when i go back to the hospital for the results of the biopsy and for them to check my eye, i have a patch on ( i took it off as the tape was driving me to distraction but it is stuck back on and now i keep walking into things again!

Since i cant stitch i have been trying to sort out all my blogs that i read as they all went off for some reason, i am sure there is some missing so if your not on give me a holla and i will sort it out, its not like i can do anything else this week, imagine a week off work and i cant stitch.

So here is the progress i made on Mermmie, still didn't finish page 3 but i suppose if i hadn't started a bit of page 4 i would have, i will put a update on Dreaming On The Farm too, as soon as my batteries charge up, and speaking of Hannah Lynn Disney i received my picture yesterday that i won from her Facebook auction! i love it, as i was going to wrap it up and put it away in our new house, whenever and wherever that will be but i couldn't wait, so here is my one of a kind no copies available picture, i may be having a crap time lately but this made up for it.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend, I'm off to try and get some sympathy- not that i will get any on this house lol

why can i never think or a catchy title

2010-10-10T16:41:00.001+01:00

ok the title of this post if self explanatory as i am now brain dead with everything that is going off at home.

I have completed 3/4 of the page now, but you there is still 16, yes 16, colours left to stitch in the part i have left, that is why i love stitching HAED's so much as the detail is second to none, even if i will never stitch all the charts i have in my lifetime.

However with me getting a bit more nearer in finishing this blasted page done. I have learnt that

A) I really need to grid, i took the gridding out early to see how i went on, as i see people with no gridding but nope it doesnt work for me i keep getting lost, and
B) I REALLY need to mark off what i have done and not think its ok i will remember, as sorry but i seem to have found that i have the memory of a newt and i am then trying for hours to see what i need to do next, especially in heavily confetti areas as her hair is.
I am sure i have made a hash of it, but it still looks good to me
and ....
C) Check, check and recheck that i am stitching the right colour and right symbol. I HATE frogging but frogging that wont come out is a nightmare, so i have had to go over certain parts, can you tell which?

So all these mictakes have took this page an age to do, how come can stitch a page a week i have no idea, maybe i ought to say bugger the housework, now wouldnt that be nice.

Mermmie and Stresses

2010-10-06T16:42:00.000+01:00

Well still slow and still not done page 3, but i am still stressed to high heaven, were being evicted through no fault or our own, they company that owns our house want to flatten them so we have till the new year to find somewhere to live. the council says i have more chance of winning the lottery than getting a house so we are going to move into our caravan until something comes up .So if it goes very quiet in the New Year, its because i will have no internet. the kids aren't sure how they will survive life with out the internet.

when i tell them that we didn't even have computer in our house they cant believe how i survived lol

Anyway i nearly bought a new HAED to cheer myself up but i cant spend money on patterns so i am trying not to look as i know there will be something that i want lol

so here is this weeks progress, her hair is nearly done, sorry about the picture, our camera really is that bad

page 3 still not done

2010-10-01T19:20:00.001+01:00

Life is getting in the way for stitching and this week has been a pretty shitty week at home, and for once its no ones fault, so very little has been done, but i love stitching on my mermmie

little progress

2010-09-16T22:22:00.000+01:00

well not much to show really, on the HAED BB i joined another SAL, this time Light Of The World. and where some people are nearly finishing there second page, but life gets in the way here so i only managed about a 1000 stitches.

Also on my DOTF, that has been slow too only 500 stitches in that so not worth showing that then, and then to top it off i have to start the baby sampler for my nieces christening, which she has now sprung on me will be happening sometime next month

A Near Disaster Averted, for A Happy Dance

2010-09-06T10:32:00.001+01:00

OK another finish, yes I didn't exactly stick to the chart as i thought it had enough on it and i didn't want to overdo it and yes it is a week late as my wedding anniversary was last monday but i did it, nearly had to throw it out as i scorched it when i was ironing it, I couldn't believe it the first time i scorch something ironing, and its it a crappy shirt that i wanted to throw out, no its the bleeding wedding sampler that took me nearly 18 months to complete, but after a tip from a friend i finally got it out. You can see it a bit but only from the back.

Now i really want to start HAED's Dreaming On The Farm but i have so much to do, but i think i should stitch what i want to at that moment, so with that i decided to actually sort out my threads, I had boxes filled with threads for different pieces but i didn't want to have to order more, so i sorted them all out yesterday while trying to watch Ugly Betty ( hubby kept turning it over to some war film that he had seen 20 times before- so there was a battle of wills in our house yesterday)

and i couldn't believe how many duplicates of threads i have i mean how many bobbins of one colour do i need?
So the good news is that i don't need any threads for DOTF, woop woop!

Advice Needed

2010-08-25T17:03:00.000+01:00

OK my hubby is going for a job interview this weekend, 500 miles away up in the wee scottish highlands.

its not better pay, its less in fact, there is no house, no job for me ( i would have to find another) nothing but a dream of his to work in the forest, and live in Scotland.

has anyone ever done this, just moved from family and friends, (not that i have many since i have raised kids since i was 19 and they all partied so we just grew apart)

I am scared stupid but also excited as well, he might not even get the job but now he wants to move he will look for a job till he gets one.

I dont know anyone thats done this, just picked up there belongings and moved,

well at least my stitching will fit in the boot of my car lol

are we stupid? am i having a hubby that wants to have less money just so he is happy?

Happy Dance Time

2010-08-16T19:53:00.000+01:00

OK finally its happy dance time, and i am SO glad i have finished this one, after two full on weeks of backstitching i got it done!

Now since i am on a roll finishing off things i started two years ago, so i have restarted (again ) the wedding sampler. I spent all weekend finishing off the stitching so yes, i have some more backstitching to do , lovely!

Hoping it wont take me as long to get this one backstitched and beaded up as i didnt realise i had so many unfinis

Can You See Her Smile?

2010-08-10T19:22:00.001+01:00

Two posts, in one week, well there is a first, but i just wanted to show the progress that I have made on Mermaid. You can finally see her face ( well sort of). but she is finally coming along, if only i didn't have so much back stitch to do!

Update of The Gypsy Wagon

2010-08-09T14:12:00.002+01:00

Didn't manage to finish the backstitching but this is what it looked like when I finished the cross stitching. This is not a design to stitch if you don't like back stitching! Hoping to finish it by next weekend.

Happy Stitching

Bev

Nearly there

2010-08-04T20:25:00.002+01:00

I have been away from blog land for a while. Three jobs, three kids, and a allotment has taken my stitching time to zero. But as I am writing this I am in the Scottish Highlands and I have for 11 days stitched.
The result is I have finished all the cross stitch for the gypsy wagon and up to now I have back stitched half of the design.
I was hoping to show a picture of it all done by this weekend as I am back home after two weeks of touring Wee Bonnie Scotland ( without visiting one relative) but it doesn't look like it will get finished. Will post a picture on Sunday. Now off to fight them blasted Scottish midgies again- and I losing miserably!

Happy Stitching

Bev

How Many Times Have You Re-Started Something

2010-05-02T08:47:00.001+01:00

OK I have stitching to show, i have been reading peoples blogs on my ipod as my computer died a death ( ie the kids put all their crap on it and made it run slowwww) but now i have my own, yes own, not kids allowed to touch laptop, hubby can though so not all good news, though i gave him a stern talking to. No going on dodgy websites AT ALL!!! yes and the finger came out pointing too, so its offical i have turned into my mum lol.

Anyway back to stitching, after some nagging from my hubby i have finished another page of Bothy threads Cut Thru Gypsy Wagon, 4 down 2 to go, then the dreaded backstitch and theres a LOT!

And i have done some more of my wedding sampler, not much but since i have changed using the metallics thread to satin threads for the names i will fly through them this week, and will be starting the dreaded back stitch soon on this one too, at least HAED dont have back stitch in them...

and finally I really wanted to finish page one of Paradisal Bird, but alas no joy as everytime i picked it up the kids started playing up, hubby needed something you know how it goes, anyway this week is the Freebie SK SAL on the HAED Bulletin Board and i have restarted this piece 5 times!!!!!

First attempt28ct 2 x 2 (cross stitch) - too gappy, the white showed through

Second attempt 20ct 2 x 1 ( cross stitch) - this was the other way around, too bulky and looked really scrunched up.

Third attempt 28 ct 1 x1 ( tent stitch) - too gappy again maybe i needed to use two threads

Fourth attempt 28ct 2 x 1 (tent stitch) yuck tent stitch, says it all really hated it, great for fast stitching but looking close up didnt look nice, so at least i now know that i prefer cross to tent

Fifth attempt 28ct 1 x 1 ( cross stitch) yes finally , why didnt i do this from the start i could have finished this one twice over the amount ot restarting i have done on this piece.

New family Arrival

2010-04-13T21:34:00.000+01:00

This little darling is my niece Charlotte Elizabeth and I am now on the hunt for a baby sampler for her.

A little bundle of joy that will no doubt drive my sister insane, like my eldest is with me hence no stitching to show.
We was going to go camping again but since daughter been playing up no chance of that so I am hoping for a sunny weekend to stitch in the building site that is my garden

Finished another page of mermaid

2010-04-07T20:41:00.000+01:00

Well it took slightly longer than a month as I had originally planned, which could have something to do with stitching on my wedding sampler but here us page two of Mermaid.

I love it so far and just over 16,000 stitches in I am not getting bored if it either. Now I'm off to stitch a page of Paradisal Bird

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New start tomorrow for me and my sister

2010-03-31T16:39:00.000+01:00

Here is the update of my wedding sampler as promised

I have only 500 stitches to do to finish page two of Mermaid, which I am supposed to put away and start on Paradisal Bird tomorrow for the month.

On another note my sister is expecting her first baby tomorrow so I am going to be a aunt!

Watch her have it when I am away camping this weekend

Well this is a first!

2010-03-27T12:30:00.000Z

Well I actually stuck to the plan and did dome stitching on the wedding sampler, not sure if you actually tell or not I will have to check last piccie, but at least I did it.
Will post a picture when batteries for the camera have charged up.

Stitching promise to myself

2010-03-25T06:44:00.000Z

Well the wedding sampler has been gathering dust and is fast becoming a UFO. So thursday night is sampler night. One night a week I will stitch on it and update on Friday.
Don't know how long it will last as I am itching to finish page two of Mermaid but I'm going to try...... Don't hold your breath though

Piccies

2010-03-18T17:22:00.000Z

OK here are the bits of stitching that i have done, not much as my eldest has been driving me insane, but better than nothing.

half way through page two of Mermaid

Not much done on Paradisal Bird Also By Alena Lazareva

wedding Sampler not stitched on it for ages, and i know i should but not enjoying being married at the moment ( need i say more)

This is the progress i did for the HAED SAL SK, its stitched on 20ct 2X1 and i hated it i dont know if its because i am now used to stitching on 25ct but it was bumpy and uneven so for the THIRD time i have restarted it, yes i know i am mad as i had nearly finished but i didnt like it

This time i have started it on 28ct 2x1 tent stitch, which i love because this is one nights stitching but i dont like the gaps it leaves i think i need to try tenting on 32ct instead will have to find a bit on eBay as local shop doesnt stock it

Guess who's back, back again.....no not slim shady

2010-03-13T19:45:00.000Z

OK here I am back online, no laptop made browsing the internet at Sisters, or using my ipod which is behaves like a man, plays up when you want it for something.

I have been stitching finished my first page of HAED's Mermaid, still on page two, finished the first part of the Mermaid Story Keep SAL too, but didn't like how it had turned out so i have started that one again.

The wedding Sampler well lets say it hasn't been out for a while, as i am enjoying stitching the HEAD's, that and the fact that hubby is annoying me and stitching a wedding sampler is something i am not wanting to do at the moment, 20 years and he still finds ways of winding me up.

So this post is a picture free post as i have just popped back to make tea, then off out again, as i am lambing and I haven't had time to take any photos, i was going to take my stitching with me, as sometimes the lambs like to take their time, but hubby says no i can muck out...lovely

Spending, Stitching and a Surprising Return

2010-01-25T22:20:00.001Z

OK i have been too busy to blog, i started to stitch some more of my wedding sampler.

I bought two more charts ( well i couldnt help myself,) and yes more boobs, another one that my mum will frown on, but even my youngest loves this one, she says it reminds her of Avatar, and a butterfly fairy, which i love her eyes.

I also started on Alena Lazareva's Mermaid, not much to see really but i am liking stitching on 25ct, and can you believe there is other 2500 stitches here, after a week. not a great progress but its a start.

And finally I had a lovely surprise I got my Gypsy wagon back!

A woman discovered it in her caravan when she went off at Christmas so she went to the last caravan site she was at and the site owner still had my address on file and remembered me- probably with all the moaning i did at him. So here it is, a little dirty but nothing that wont wash out.

I am now going to decide what i am going to stitch for the remainder of this week , carry on with mermaid or have a new start and rotate my work on a weekly basis.

Restart on Wedding Sampler and New Start on HAED

2010-01-08T07:15:00.001Z

Yet again i have been neglecting my blog, but i have been ill all Christmas, which is typical work all year and the when your on holiday your ill ( yes OK i do get 11 weeks off a year- but think about it when your child is driving you up the wall think about us that work in schools that over 100 children that can drive you up the wall, we really do need the holidays else we would crack up lol)

So stitching has been on the slow side.
I worked on the wedding sampler this christmas, and yes i wasn't happy with it, so i restarted it on some 28ct lugana, which i am so happy i did, and i have been stitching the wedding in it, but i used metallic thread 1x1 (2x1 would have been a nightmare to stitch as metallics is not my favourite thing to stitch with) if it worked out or if i should have stuck with the lace design that is stated in the chart, I will find out when i backstitch it.

And finally..... this week we have had to shut the school as we had 2ft of snow and when that was clean all we was left with was a sheet of ice, yes the parents all complain, but when there child falls and breaks something they would complain even more, you just cant win. which meant that i have been able to stitch more than normal!

So i started the freebie SAL that i joined on the HAED BB, and this is how far i have got with Mermaid of the Deep, she is stitched 2x1 on 20ct Aida, but she has now been put away till next month, where hopefully she will have some eyes next time.
Back to work today so no stitching , life is hard lol

Oh Happy New Year too!

Santa Finish and Mistake with Wedding Sampler

2009-12-13T16:03:00.000Z

My santa is finished and hung up in the kitchen, but you can see closely that there has been some colour in the fabric, my daughter wanted to surprise me and put it up on my wall but when she ironed it the red run, i have washed it but you can still see it a bit, i don't know what happened but its on the wall anyway.

I have also been gridding my wedding sampler which is going to be my next project, and i have noticed that i have made some right cock ups!
So do i just carry on, frog it all or just start on a fresh piece of evenweave. I knew i wasn't happy with it but didn't know why, so i am pissed off with it, but i am determined that i am going to get it finished before i start my HAED and i am itching to start it so the sooner i finish the wedding sampler the sooner i can start my mermaid.

And finally i mentioned the idea of using hubby's fishing line for gridding and he muttered something like over his dead body and bloody typical as he was leaving the room, so didn't think that went down well, but after using the sulky threads i am really glad i tried it. i got it from local sewing shop as it is a sewing machine thread but i also saw some on eBay, well i am now going to decide what to do about this wedding sampler

I won!!!

2009-12-09T07:32:00.000Z

I have been neglecting my poor blog life recently, busy busy busy and not doing things i want to be busy with either, but such is life for many so i am not going to complain ( much)

Anyway now i can actually get on the laptop- only because the kids ares getting ready for school. i can show you a update of Ricos, Santa Wall hanger, hoping this will be easliy finished by Sunday.

I have also had a try at gridding using Sulky threads as recommended by people on the HAED Bulletin Board and me of little faith has just pulled them out and it really works!! so gridding is the way for me to go if it makes no more ( or certainly less) frogging then i am all for it., and i wouldnt have had the problem of having a Santa thats not in the middle of my fabric, i still don't know how that happened.

I have also got my 25ct Luguna for the mermaid HAED and i only needed 16 colours out of the 120 that are in the picture, but yet again i am waiting for threads.

And finally i WON the giveaway that Lisa was doing on her blog, Thank you So much, I have already spent the money on some more Lugana for a Freebie SAL that they are doing on the HAED BB, and yes its a mermaid, no surprise there! lol. I am still in shock as i never win anything!

Santa Claus Number 1- added pictures

2009-11-25T21:54:00.002Z

Yes my threads arrived and I have finished LK Santa.

I have also bought a HAED which I love mermaids but hubby not that keen and if I am going to spend months (maybe years) stitching a design I want it on my room, so I bought this and he likes it, I don't know if it's the ship or the boobs but he's a man so you can make your own mind up. (you need to click on the picture to see all of it)

Finally my hubby bought me a cross stitch kit. I was stunned to put it mildly so instead of finishing another Xmas project I started last year I am now stitching another Santa, still in shock though

Nearly There

2009-11-24T07:23:00.000Z

Still no Gypsy wagon hubby says to shut up about it now, but i am still annoyed!!! But I am nearly there with Lizzie kates 'A good Night' just waiting for the threads that i ordered TWO weeks ago to arrive then i can finish it off and start another Santa. Yes i am Santa mad!

Exchange revealed

2009-11-18T07:55:00.000Z

Stitching has been a bit on the slow side, and i am still waiting for some threads to continue with Lizzie Kates A good Night, but i did manage to stitch his beard and hats trim with wisper thread.

I also got some more ATCs from Janet and Beth. Thank you i love them!

From Beth:

From Janet.

I can also reveal my Lizzie Kate exchange that i sent to Jan. I am 'borrowing' the pictures that Jan has put on her blog as i forgot to take any pitures of it before i posted it off.

I enjoyed stitching this as it was a excuse to you DMC's satin threads for the first time. I stitched the top of the stocking with wisper thread too and i really was in two minds to keep it or not lol ( i will have to stitch this one again for me) as i think it is really cute!

Exchanges, Birthdays, and PIF

2009-11-10T13:45:00.000Z

Well its been a while since I posted, as things have gone a bit sh*t around here, and then on top of it all I have misplaced ( i am not saying lost yet as i am hoping itwill turn up, although i have turned the caravan/car upside down) my gypsy wagon.

i took it on holiday I had stitched over half of it and now, is disappeared and i am really p****d off about it.What is it with Bothy Thread designs, the first one i did got burnt in the fire ( that was nearly finished) and this one, has gone for a walkabout, grrrr i think they maybe something in this, ie dont bloody stitch them!

So I have been stitching Lizzie Kates, A good night, until it turns up (Can you tel im hoping it does)

And yesterday i got some of my birthday ATC's from a exchange that i am in. So for the first time i had something to open ( my family say its too near xmas - i just think their tight lol)

From Ronel:

From Lynn

From Marie

from Cindy Mae

An then i got another surprise yesterday as my Lizzie kate exchange arrived too From Heather, which is just right for me( although hubby wishes it wasnt), so a Huge thank you to Marie, Ronel, Heather Lynn and Cindy-mae.

And I can show you the ATC that i stitched for Beth's Birthday ( i did put some buttons on the side but they kept falling, off, i think i need to invest in some super glue!

AND last but not least I need the addresses from Kath and Claire for the PIF, ( my email is in my profile) so then within 12 months, voila!! I can send you my PIF, now on to the ironing

PIF anyone?

2009-10-19T20:54:00.001+01:00

well i cant show you anything that i have been stitching, as they are all for exchanges , which it had been hard to do anything what with work and the kids latley but i am getting there and hoping to find a way to finish them off.

I have also been look at doing a HAED QS but when i came to find one out i remembered they where in the fire, DOH!! But i may have to see if i can get one of these storykeeps instead (without hubby knowing of course lol)

AND... i was picked out by Ronel for a PIF, my first!! so now its my turn.

The rules for this is:

If you would like to be entered into the draw to receive a piece of my hand stitched work within the next 12 months from the 1st November then please leave a comment on this post, I will then enter all the names in a draw( if i have more than 3 comments that is )on 1st November and reveal the 3 winners.

If you are chosen as you must offer the same on your blog to keep the kindness going( and give something nice to someone that isnt a bleeding bill!)

and finally speaking off something nice in the post today i got my ATC from Lynn today, so three weeks today i will be opening it on my birthday, and to be honest i have had to put it away so i dont open it, but it will be nice to open it on my birthday as i dont normally get owt as 'its too near christmas' hence me going to treat myself and buy a ipod touch, sod the miserable gits lol

So thank you Ronel and Lynn, and hoping i can post some piccies next time

The Witches Are A Brewing (Finished in other words)

2009-10-05T08:45:00.002+01:00

Finally finished Brig & Doon, cant believe it took so long doing it Vonnas way, that i actually went back to the old way of using the needle and much quicker, but yes the threads were getting tangled and twisted again, pah! i give up, either slow and neater or faster but not as neat, will have to see how the mood takes me.But i did enjoy stitching it why didnt i start stitching for halloween before there are so many designs that i want to stitch.
I bought some glow in the dark thread by DMC so i want to stitch something for halloween with that.

I am also struggling which LK desgin to chose for the LK exchange, i have narrowed it down now so i will let me duaghter chose, so hopefully i will get it sent off by next week.
And i have finally done some more work on the gypsy wagon, i finshed all the red on page 3. I have decided that there are that many colour changes per page that i am going to do each colour then move onto the next,i just hope that i havent gone wrong along the line, else i will be pulling my hair out!!,

T'old Witches Are Growing

2009-09-29T17:41:00.000+01:00

Well I after reading Tammy's blog, who has the most amazing blogger header i have come across ( i love old fashioned glamour pin ups) i came across Vonna's way off getting her stitching to lay flat. Now i know that i am not the neatest stitcher, but i will give anything a go, and honestly it is working, although it is slower than normal( hopefully until i get used to get) i did try splitting, but god i was at it for ages ans i was so sloowwwww so i packed that it, i would be lucky to do one LK in a year never mind a month( yes i am that slow), So Brig & Doon, is coming along, slowly but very neat for me!

and i can show you the atc i did for Lynn, i have just got to have a look for a birthday card to stitch for some one at work who has really helped me out since the fire, which knowing me may well take some time, hoping to crack on with t'old witches by next weekend

Finally Finished!

2009-09-25T17:11:00.000+01:00

Well after bloody frogging on this thing all week, i can finally say thank god its finished, such a simple design and it was awful to stitch, i dont think my head was in the right place. I mean i love christmas and halloween- its a shame is not as big over here than it is in the US but I am so slack, i have loads that i wanted to stitch for halloween, but i do a xmas sampler, doh! yes thats a bright idea. So rushing this ( and no i wasn't going to stop it half way through, nope i was going to be good and finish the bloody thing) was a BAD idea!

Then to top it off i spilt all my beads all over the place, so now well as you can see i will have a fun weekend sorting them all out ( well maybe not this weekend, Halloween stitching to do)

So this weekend i am starting this 'Brig & Doon' I come across the pattern the bottom of a box in a second hand shop, its folded into little bits, and got marks all over it, but i am hoping i can make it out ok, besides it only cost me 10p, Bargain, i have dyed some Joblean today, was supposed to be clouds effect but hubby butted his nose in and now it looks nothing like dark clouds, just a dark piece of Joblean MEN!

And yes better late than never, my monthly TUSAL, yes its still in the little jam jar, and the cottons are getting pushed down even more, but hey its stopping the thread being stuck to all the clothes,settee and all over the floor.

And whats happened to blogger, and wheres spell checker !?!

Men Have No Idea About A Woman's Needs

2009-09-16T22:00:00.003+01:00

Well i have fallen in love with this little clutch bag, how cute is it, you can find it here. I asked hubby if i could get it, but alas he is a tight ******* he just doesn't understand that i just dont want it i NEED it, but hence he is only a man and what do they know, so i guess not then, ( better not tell him i want a ipod touch then)

I have also decided what to stitch for the LK Exchange, now if only i could get off here and do some stitching. I am going to sulk now lol

I Have Finally Done A French Knot

2009-09-15T08:13:00.003+01:00

I am doing a happy dance and no i haven't finished anything major, but i have mastered the art of FRENCH KNOTS!!!, yes i can actually do the now, OK they are not perfect but there are getting better as i am getting on. For years i would avoid them using beads instead, but yesterday i decided that i would do them and i did one, then another and hey presto, i did thirty!!, so yes they look a bit crap some of them but now i want to do more!!!

So this is the progress that i have made on the Silent Night Sampler, you wouldnt believe that the green leaves took me two days to do, i was visited by kermit, so many times that i nearly chucked the thing in the bin, but now its slowly coming on, hoping to have it finished by the weekend, as i have the Lizzie Kate exchange to stitch up.

Anne has got her card now so i can show you this and what i pig it was to stitch on, took me a hell of a lot longer to stitch than i thought it would do, black was a lot easier to stitch on than this, but it turned out ok.

Now im back on broadband i can finally read and comment on other peoples blogs again, no more dial up, oh bliss!

How Soon Is Xmas?!? (pictures now added)

2009-09-05T15:58:00.005+01:00

Well I did get some stitching done on holiday, but i am starting to regret starting it, as i was listening to the radio and there is only 16 weeks to Christmas, 16 WEEKS!!!! argh i need to get stitching for xmas and i started this thing , think it may be a case that it gets done at weekends. Why the bloody hell did i start this gypsy wagon!! I am also stitching a card for someone,not saying who in case they see, but its a bloody nightmare stitching it on the blue evenweave, the black aida i used with Marilyn was not as bad as this, so instead of being a quickie stitch it aint turning out that way.

I have also done another ATC, but its flying its way over the Atlantic so cant show that just yet. now i need to try and get this card done sharpish else it will be very late.

I have also dyed some opalescent evenweave that i had a pale blue, for my christmas project that i am going to stitch first. I haven't stitched a traditional piece before, i must be growing up !

And finally i have framed marilyn and she is now on the wall in the room, my mum saw it and wanted me to stitch her one, for her birthday next week, well she can nelly!!

Happy Dances, New Starts and a Winner ( oh and plenty of pictures)

2009-08-07T07:38:00.010+01:00

Yes I am late posting but bloody dial up is a nightmare, anyway I have been stitching all night and every morning to get Marilyn finsihed beofre i go on my hols tomorrow, camping in Cornwall, lovely if its sunny, shite if its raining all day.

Now I have started on Bothy Threads Cut-Thru Gypsy wagon, I am taking this on holiday so i might have a bit more done when i get back.I also got this adorable pinkeep from Becky, I love the fabric she chose for the back, I really enjoyed this exchange, so i have signed up for round two

And I can finally reveal the first pin keep i stitched for the Lizzie Kate exchange, think i got carried away with the pins though., and i hope its the case of practise makes perfect.!!!!

And here is another ATC i stitched for Marie way over in Australia.

And finally the winner of the goodies from my 100th post giveaway is......... LORI!!!!, so email me your address ( email address is in my profile) and i will post them off to you as soon as i get back from my hols!!!

Would you believe it has took me nearly two hours to load all the pictures on here today, and i should be packing not surfing, oh well.

100th post giveaway

2009-07-25T07:27:00.005+01:00

Well its my 100th post today, and its took a while to get here, so to celebrate this i am having a little giveaway. So i have Margaret Sherrys Little Fairy Kit, and 3 The Drawn Thread Halloween Charts to pass to the person picked out.
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and put a link to it on your blog, and thats it. I will post the winner on the 1st August ( already!! you now when your getting old when the months fly past quicker each year)

Here is the update of my TUSAL, not bad for two months i think, but its only a jam jar, so its not that big, think i will have to move up to a bigger glass container soon, Hubby thinks its a great idea, as there isnt thread over everything in the house lol.

And Finally i have finished the Lizzie Kate exchange and it will be in the post this morning, its the first time that i have finished a design this way, and i think it is a case of practise makes perfect with this, but you will see what i mean when the other person recieves it, hopefully they will like it. I was stuck in what way i could finish it, then i have looked on the web site this morning and I saw links to different ways to finish off, figures! lol
I also did Maries ATC and that will be flying over to Oz this morning too, so tonight i can make a start on MM, as I have to clean the kitchen cupboards today oh what fun.

Back Seat for MM

2009-07-21T09:56:00.011+01:00

Been busy stitching cards for my hubby to give his bosses since they treated him last week and to the headteacher that has left the school that i work at,so Marilyn has been put to one side for the past week while i finish off the Lizzie kate Exchange and stitch another ATC

The first card is Chickadee Fisherman

This one has been adpated from Margaret Sherry's 12 days of Christmas(to be honest i think it looks crap, not happy with this one)

And the flower card was out of issue 124 of the CrossStitcher magazine

Kate finally got her Butterfly ATC for her birthday, was a few days late, sorry.

and finally this is what i have done on Marilyn, still not finished page two yet, will i ever get there!!

still not able to read most peoples blogs yet as it takes too long to load the page when they have the back grounds on, i cant even see mine, i can post and thats about itAnd it took just over an hour grrr,lol so will have to catch up when broadband is finally on again, maybe next month the way its going.

Can I Buy Another Pc Stitch Darling, pleaseeeee?

2009-07-15T21:13:00.005+01:00

I have been busy stitching for exchanges so no pictures to show, besides I'm on dial up at the moment so i don't have the time to sit and wait for them to upload, i just have to somehow finish off my piece from the Lizzie Kate Exchange, but the ideas are slow coming.
i also am a bit pissed off today, as yes i know i am slow sometimes, but i thought i would have a go at designing a pattern to stitch a wedding card for someone so i thought i would use PC Stitch that I treated myself to last year, it wasn't till i had hunted for it everywhere for 2 hours AND been down to my dads in case i had left it there, that i remembered that i had lost it in the house fire,oh Bloody Hell!, just mentioned it in passing to my hubby that its gone, and he said
'Your not buying it again we cant afford!'
GRRRRR wait till he wants to buy some cigs from his brother, what do you want to bet he says he can get them, what an Arse!!!
Rant over now, will try and catch up on the blogs after nearly a month away, when hopefully i am back on broadband and i can bury the dial up back in the stone age- how did we manage before broadband? now I'm off to see if i can see a cheap disc of PC stitch on eBay ( that's if the page loads some time tonight)

Marilyn, ATC and TUSAL

2009-06-24T07:12:00.007+01:00

just a quickie post today, i have been stitching on Marilyn on a night, as i am getting bitten to death by the bleeding midgies outside after 7 so i cant do much in the garden, so she is coming along faster than normal. I wanted to get her face done asap to see if you can see the line, depending which side i look i can still see a bit.

This is also a pic of my first ATC that I did for Janet, I have took the picture from the Exchange blog, as i took the picture of it on my phone, and i cant find the lead to put it on the pc.

And finally I joined the Totally Useless SAL, which to be honest is not all my scrap ends from this month from what i have stitched, most of it is from the bleeding threads that went up in the vac, which i still haven't re-threaded. It's only a small jam jar, so there's not that many in. Right got to get back to the pile of ironing that has been left to grow as i have been stitching every spare minute.

I Think I Have Made A Cock Up On Marilyn!!

2009-06-22T07:37:00.004+01:00

How hard is it to find batteries for my camera, VERY!! in this house. Every time i come to get it they are gone, so i have to search the remote controls and see which one has the new batteries in, but now i have homed it down to sons xbox controllers or one of Nicole's toys. Anyway.....

Not done any stitching this week as i still felt really low, I haven't even done the stock and month end reports that i was supposed to do for work, sod it i will be late for once i thought, so on Friday night i picked it up and did a bit each night. Only thing is i think you can see where page one ends and page two begins, or is it just me. I am hoping that when shes finished you wont be able to tell. SO hopefully I will have her face finished this week.

Updates and Excuses

2009-06-16T08:24:00.003+01:00

Yes blogging and stitching has been very slow latley ( reason is on my other blog, cant be arse to go into all on t his one) but here is a up date of marilyn from two weeks ago theres no point showing my update for this week as i have done 10 stitches all week and thats it pathetic i know need to get a kick up the arse to get me going. I have got loads of blogs to catch up on, sod the hosuework today i feel

What Not To Do

2009-06-02T06:59:00.003+01:00

I am not a happy bunny this morning. First day back at work, so i got up early and started vacumning house through and was in my bedroom shouting at kids to get up when the vac did a funny noise and started throwing bits out.
I look down and saw my needle organiser empty, not one bleeding thread was in it. Oh s**t! I have only gone and forgot i put it under my bed last night and vacced up all the threads, all 49 of them, Do you know how long it takes to thread all them, bloody ages!
So i spent the last half hour pulling the threads out, finding all the broken needles out of the carpet and cursing while still shouting at the kids to get up lovely.
I know it doesnt look a lot when you see pic, put argh there is a right pile of threads now all rolled into a ball, oh and how dusty is my vac, shame on you girl .

Marilyn's Back!

2009-05-29T07:02:00.004+01:00

OK I have to admit it, but i am a serial starter, and i really want to get my big projects done as well as the little ones in between so i have joined the stitchalong blog to get my butt into gear, as my pile of UFO's are going to grow as there are so many i want to stitch!!! I think that them designers are so cruel putting all these charts out there are once, don't they know that there are some people who find it really hard to resist?

Anyway the first project that i am going to do is Marilyn, I love her and i think she was one hell of a sexy woman ( speaking from a woman's prospective) and i have a nicely decorated hall and the perfect place for here to go, but she was sat in a plastic wallet on a shelf at the bottom of the wardrobe. So here is a piccie to show how much i did last time, and hopefully by next week there will be some more progress on her. i would love to finish page one of her. On the ATC front i have just a bit more to do, but it doesn't need to be posted off for a couple of weeks yet so there is no rush to get it done yet. I am supposed to be varnishing the staircase that i nagged hubby to put in but still haven't varnished it ( i will start just an hour of stitching honest lol)

No Pictures To Show, Bit I Am Stitching

2009-05-25T07:30:00.003+01:00

well my first ATC is flying its way over to Malaysia, well it will be when the postman gets it out of the box, until then its sat there, so now i am starting my next ATC to send out to Kate, although i wasn't happy with it,so i have scraped that and i wasn't going to unpick it when i had done so much so that went in the bin, and i am going to start again, so still no pictures to show you. I have also chose the Lizzie Kate design that i am stitching for the Lizzie Kate Exchange, but i haven't started it yet, as i have no idea how i am going to finish it off.

Do You Think It Is Rude?

2009-05-20T13:39:00.002+01:00

Well i just need to get one thing for Janet's ATC IE glue then i can get it sent off. I REALLY loved doing this and i am already onto my next one, and i cant wait to show them (but not yet), so you lot can tell me if its the right thing or is there a wrong thing with these- apart from the size- is it a case of anything goes?
The only problem i have is really knowing what to do, i worry and think, will they like it, what does the person like?
So i seen other people with a wishlist, which has really helped me with The ATC i am doing now, so i have decided to do one too, to give a general idea about me. I have put the link in my sidebar.
So really (and i don't mind the honest, your a cheeky cow comments- just dont be too harsh lol)
do you think its cheeky of me to do one, or is it a good idea hmmm i have no idea but i think it may lead me to wanting to buy more stash as i see things to put on there, oh dear we can't have that now can we lol

Finshed my first ATC

2009-05-18T07:05:00.003+01:00

I finished my first ATC, well nearly i have to put it all together but it looks really good, if i so say so myself, i cant show a picture of it yet until Janet gets it for her birthday in June, but i really need t get t in the post as its going to Malaysia and it takes a week for a first class postcard to get from Edinburgh to Yorkshire!
Now I am going to try and design my next ATC that i have to do for Kate, that is if it doesn't look crap, if it does i will just find a chart, i also need to find a chart to stitch for the Lizzie Kate exchange, but it s so hard stitching for somebody when you don't know what they like, then i have to figure out how to finish it!, not something i am good at to be honest

OMG I Know I Will Get Hooked On These

2009-05-16T17:46:00.001+01:00

OK , thanks to everyone who told me what to do. Now i know what I am doing, only things is i know i will get hooked on doing them!!!!!

Exchanges To Start

2009-05-16T16:04:00.004+01:00

I think the cross stitch pattern that Kath sent me on the tight is my life to a T!, which is why

the blogging and stitching has been very slow, in fact no existent as i have been having a hectic time on the work/home front. But today my fingers are itching to get started again, so i have been looking for something to stitch for the two exchanges i have joined up on, Lizzie Kate Exchange and the ATC Stitching Bloggers Birthday Exchange. The first one I have to do is a ATC ( which to be honest i have no idea what one is so i really need to find out what one is before i start looking at a design) for Janet, and its got to get to Malaysia by the 22nd June and knowing our postal service i need to get it in the post ASAP, now to look for a design to stitch

Happy Dance, Surprises and The Winner Is....

2009-04-22T06:47:00.006+01:00

Had a lovely surprise in the post when i got home yesterday, as i won a giveaway on Sharon's blog, and its perfect. i have also got my very first hand dyed thread, so I am itching to start using it, i may have to incorporate it into the LK Friendship chart, Thank You Sharon!!

I have also done my very first project on the sewing machine that i had to follow using a pattern. I bought the fabric on a whim as i loved the colours and to be honest i don't know about it now, but i still love the finished product. I used Amy Butlers swing bag pattern and it was really easy to follow. i haven't put a bow on it, i think its fussy enough, but this is the start of the bag making for me, so i won't have the hubby moaning on about wanting another handbag.

My hubby was surprised i chose a easy pattern to start with, as he says i always jump straight in. When i first started cross stitching, my very first thing i stitched was this Country Companion's design, i had never stitched a thing and it was a challenge but i soon got into it, i think i will have to go a little slower on the sewing machine though, there's all these terms that i have to keep looking up what they mean, so no dear hubby i wont be making you a jacket for fishing, not just yet! lol

Oh i forgot to mention Kim I need you adress to post off the LK easter Samplers to you as your name was picked out!

Doing The Dance!!

2009-04-19T09:54:00.003+01:00

Yes its sunday morning and I am doing the dance!

I have very proudly done my first zip, and it looks ace!! Yes I am blowing my own trumpet, and it took me an hour to make, but WOOOOOO HOOOO lol

Its a pencil case for my youngset who starts a new school tomorrow so i thought i would surprise her, as she has been dieing to get her hands on this fabric, how cute does it look lol

Patchwork Bags and Many Faults

2009-04-16T13:57:00.004+01:00

While looking at other peoples blogs, ( yes my list is growing but i love to see what people are on creating) i came across Pink Penguin with a tutorial for a patchwork draw string bag, and since i am still crap with the sewing machine i thought this would be perfect as its the easiest bag to make.

i went and got some scraps from the local fabric shop cut them up and made them into bags, the first smallest one is for Nic's indoor shoes and the larger one for her P.E kit, yes there is thins wrong with them, and i made mistakes but i have to make my eldest one, so this one will be better. Nic picked what fabric she wanted, but i didn't have enough cord for the drawstring, so i have tied it slightly different than the tutorial shows, but even with all the flaws i am pretty chuffed with them, at least they haven't fallen to bits yet ( maybe in a week when they have been thrown around the schools cloak room)

Easter Flip It Finished

2009-04-14T07:11:00.002+01:00

I managed to Finish the LK Ester Flip it, and yes i know Easter Monday is a bit late, but it will do for next year. This is the first time in a while that i havent another project lined up so i will carry on with one of my WIP's until i know what to do next.

Easter Finishes and Giveaway

2009-04-11T12:04:00.005+01:00

Happy Easter to everyone and hope your all getting time to stitch. I have finished Lizzie Kate's Easter Sampler and nearly finished the Lizzie Kate Easter Flip-it. So I don't know if anyone will be interested in this giveaway as they are both Easter samplers, but with it being Easter I am going to give both of this charts to one person. Just leave a comment on this post and i will enter you, i will draw a name out on Thursday. Happy Easter!

And The Winner Is......

2009-04-06T18:15:00.003+01:00

LISA!
Congratulations! please email me your address at pho3nlx at yahoo dot co dot uk and i will get it posted to you in the morning!

The Trilogys Dancing Along.

2009-04-05T20:28:00.005+01:00

The Trilogy's Easter Line Up
Stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen, Summer Khaki

Time to get my dancing shoes on as i have finished, The Trilogys Easter Line Up.

I have now to find a frame that will fit, so eventually i can change them all around as i have decided to do the entire range, so I have now moved on to Lizzie Kates Easter Sampler.

I will be drawing the winning name out for this chart tomorrow when i get home at 5, so you still have time to leave a comment on the previous post if you would like to enter. I was surprised how easy and quick it was to stitch, and its the first time i have stitched on 32ct and i thought it would be harder to stitch but it was a doddle, but i really need to invest in a daylight light or even a bulb.

The Trilogy Easter Line Up Giveaway

2009-03-30T18:02:00.003+01:00

I was at work today when i had a light bulb moment, and yes they are few and far between. I have nearly finished The Trilogy's Easter Line Up, and since its nearly upon us, I am going to list this giveaway now, then next Monday pick a name out of the hat so to speak and send it off as soon as i get the winners address, as i will have finished it off by this weekend. So hopefully depending on where its going, and on the crappy postal service we have at the moment the lucky winner will have it in time for Easter.
Just leave a comment on this post if you would like to be entered into the giveaway!

Winners Of Giveaway and updates

2009-03-30T07:06:00.009+01:00

Rebekah gets Welcome to the Nuthouse, and Ginnie gets Lizzie Kate's March Flip It. Nicole picked the names out, her given right since its been her birthday. send me a email on pho3nlx(at)yahoo.co.uk, with your addresses, so i can get them out to you.

Now a update of the weeks stitching, as i have been quite productive this week. The Trilogy's Easter Line Up is coming along and I am hoping to have it finished this week and put up for grabs this week.

I also started Lizzie Kate's Easter Sampler, but i think i will finish The Trilogy first.

Also i have sent some fabulous fabrics including one of my favourites by Micheal Miller, and some bag patterns (i love bags) from Anne. I am just waiting for the things i need to make them, which i have ordered off the Internet and still waiting for nearly 2 weeks later. I am not patient when it come's to waiting for goods to arrive, until then i am stuck, but i am hoping to get all my Easter stitching done first.

AND finally i have won the giveaway that Sharon was doing, woo hoo!!! hope the rest of my week goes this good!!

Happy Dance and New Start

2009-03-25T07:16:00.008Z

I started Lizzie Kate's March Flip- It Stamp, after Sunday i had done a lot, even though i am suffering from the man flu, by yesterday this is what i had done. These are not great pictures my camera is rubbish and i cant find my phone (that another one lost), will replace when i get better pictures done

and this is the finished piece that i did last night.Didnt take long, which is just as well since its nearly the end of March.

As soon as i had finished it i started The Trilogy's Easter Line Up. I stopped up till the wee hours watching the last 3 episodes of Battlestar Galactica, and nearly finishing one line. Hoping to get this done by next week so i can get the other 2 Lizzie Kate Easter Samplers done before Easter finsihes.

If you would like the lizzie Kate chart, just leave a comment will draw out name next week if there more than one

Welcome To The Nuthouse Giveaway

2009-03-22T12:53:00.004Z

Now that I have finished with the waxing moon's 'welcome to the nuthouse' i don't need the chart anymore. So from now on, i am going to give my charts away when i have finished with them. I aways think that RAK's bring a smile to people's face, instead of selling it on ebay, so if you would like this chart please leave a comment, if there's more than one i will pick a name out next Sunday.

Welcome Is Finished!

2009-03-21T15:59:00.005Z

Waxing Moon: welcome to the nuthouse
Stitched on Platinum 28ct Cashel Linen

Happy Dance time!!!

Yes i couldn't take the guilt no more of the little squirrel staring at me, so 2 long nights later ( i am a slow stitcher) here it is finished and waiting to be put on the wall. the nut is too close to the lettering, so i might unpick it and do it again, hubby says its OK but its bugging me. My first Waxing Moon design but i enjoyed stitching it.

Now which to do next?

My Attempt On The Sewing Machine

2009-03-18T07:48:00.006Z

I have done no stitching at all since last time, apart from the 'W' on the Nuthouse, its just sat in the corner of my room looking at me every time, i feel more guiltier about not doing any, i have loads to do and i have been busy sewing, and shopping, washing and generally looking after my dad to do any. I will be lucky to do any before Sunday, as i have birthday cakes galore to bake too, but why do i feel so bad, sob..sob.

This is something that i did do, my first 'proper' project on the sewing machine, yes there's nothing much to it, but I'm a beginner and we all have to start somewhere. This is 'lucky Duck' as we have named him. Yes i know its not a duck ,but a hen, but it ryhmes so it's stuck lol, and yes its got a black beak and cone, but i didn't do it in pretty colours like it was in the pattern. Its a doorstop, and its for the back door as it never stops open and it has been wedged with a brick in the past. But i have 3 kids and one son who likes to come home covered in mud, ( the muddier the better it seems lol) and they would be no way that some pretty hen would stay clean long in my house, so i have used this Alexander Henry fabric that i won on eBay and made it a gothic hen, which my eldest said was 'way cool' what a bloody compliment, from my children, wow the honor lol!!!