Marilyn's Back!

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

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?

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

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

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

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....

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!!

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

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

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

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......

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!!!

Not Much To Show

Hardly done any stitching, been busy decorating and working when i do get home, do the whole running a house bit i am too knackered to pick a needle up. The weeks holiday we has was harder work than it was at home, with everything that was going off. I did do a bit on the wedding sampler, and it is so much easier with the needle organiser. I also bought another chart, yes another, when i said i wouldnt be i saw it and thought that is our house perfectly.

Its Waxing Moons, Welcome To The Nuthouse we have finally got our hall decorated so will be puttiing that up where people will see it when they come in, just a different take to the Welcome door mat that everyone used to have when i was little. I hoping to get this finished this week if my sewing machine that i ordered last week doesnt turn up (long story but i wont spend so much money on something on the net again)

Oh Happy Days

YES!!!! one day later my stash has arrived!!!!

Nice new charts that i can get done for easter, and i am so glad the needle organiser has finally arrived, will make the wedding sampler so much easier

Now how the hell does the Q snaps work?

Been On A Spending Spree

I haven't got much done this week to say i have had a week off. Been busy decorating for my uncle he got a old folks home and it was painted bright green and orange, and it takes some covering!!.
I have been stitching on my wedding sampler, but not got much to show hopefully by Sunday will be able to show the progress that i have made.

I have bought some Q snaps, and a needle organiser so it will make stitching the wedding sample quicker, i am really enjoying stitching it but with one needle its taking me too long, so it will be a lot better.
I have also bought some Easter charts so i am waiting for them to come, the walls are still plain so these quick stitch charts will be good to do for Easter, if i cant have chocolate i will have stash instead lol!!
The only thing with buying online is the waiting for the stuff to come as it seems to take forever, i am not known for my patience when it comes to shopping!!

My two girls have also started a blog to show off there work, keep on stitching, at the moment only my 9yr old has put her stitching on, but she shows a flower that she did me for Valentine's day which she designed herself!!, my eldest is stitching hello kitty and she is neater than me!!i have been looking for some blogs that they can read of other youngsters showing there work off but had no look, so if you know of any would be glad if you could tell me, i want to keep them off the TV and have a hobby, my lads not bothered in it though still cant prise him away from the Wii just yet!!

Bad, Bad Girl

Oh I have been bad, very bad, Yes i have bought another kit, yep me who said no more spending, me who said i will finish the project that i am doing before i even think about starting another.

Yes I have failed miserably, but hey ho, who bloody cares!!!!

So my new rotation now includes this chart, I'm not saying what it is, just yet, see if you can figure it out, which actually now i have seen the photo i can tell ( well yes obviously your saying since i know doh!!!... but when I'm stitching it up close i cant see the features of it at all)

I started this Saturday night and to say its me who's stitching ( who is so bloody slow normally) i have done quite a bit, now i just need to come off here and finish my housework ( well start actually, yet again there's a ton of ironing that i have to do) and i can get stuck in.

Just off to look at a few charts on the net before i start..... just looking though, honest lol

So What Do You Think So Far?

This is the first picture of my wedding sampler, i am disappointed that i haven't had time to stitch more, if i am to stick to my rotation i have to put this away now and start on the next, but i am having far too much fun stitching it.

I do need a bigger hoop though, i could do with trying another method, i have ordered three different sizes from Stitcher but they wont be here till next week, the one i am using at the moment is far too small and i keep getting the thread stuck in the aida.

Will be a lot easier and quicker to stitch though when i get the bigger hoops.

i am really impressed with the design so far!!!

Bit Pathetic Really!

Pathetic start, or what!

That's it, all i got done on the Gypsy caravan, for a full week.

To be honest i have felt like crap all week and the last thing i wanted to do was stitch. so i am really disappointed with what i got done. BUT my wedding sampler came so i am going to sit and work on that today, what bliss, i love it when it snows and i get the day off. It is also on the enchanted needle website now to buy.It is everything that i asked. i said what i would like to be put on, and what i liked about her designs that Wendy already had what i would like included and here it is!!!showed hubby it was on the website last night and he said that he is famous ha, in your dreams boyo. fingers are itching to start, will put my progress what i get done today on later

New Charts On The Way!!

I haven't got much stitching done this week, all of my 3 kids have been ill, one after the other, when i tried to pick up the stitching all i got was 'MUM!!!, so i gave up in the end. The bathroom is taking shape though.







I also won the Gypsy Wagon chart from bothy threads on ebay there was no aida with it so i bought some hand dyed from Polstitches, i got aida, but now i am wishing i bought it on evenweave, but never mind, next time i will buy some evenweave next time and they have the opalescent back in stock, ( I love sparkly everything would be stitched on this if i could)

And Finally!!!



Wendy at Enchanted Needle has designed me a wedding sampler for me. I told her everything i liked and wanted on it and she has come up with it excatly as i wanted!! If i could have designed it myself that is how i would have done it!! So I am so excited about it coming that i cant wait to start it, also Wendy asked me if i wouldn't mind if she put it on her website, so my wedding sampler will be on there soon!!







Bang goes my new years resolutions, about not starting another project until the one i am one is finished, so I will now be on a rota, one week on each project, thats if i cant stop stitching my sampler, now wheres my opalescent evenweave, perfect lol!

Update of cut thru cottage

Just a quickie post to show update of the progress that i made this weekend while watching Most Haunted Live, going to start on the bathroom next.

New start for 2009

My house is bare, there are no pictures on the wall and it needs brightening up so I have decided to start in the kitchen. I like all types of cross stitch and last year i was in the process of stitching this - It is Bothy Threads design, Cut-Thru Garden Shed. I had nearly finished it just had the back stitch to complete.

This is what our shed used to look like, hubby had everything in it, ( which to be honest when he was doing my head in was the best bloody place for him!!)

I Really enjoyed stitching with the bright colours and i want to stitch it again, just not yet.

Anyway I had some vouchers and i spent them at hobby craft and bought this design from Bothy Threads

It will take me ages to do this but i started it last Friday and by this week i had done this........

i am hoping to get more done this weekend and finish this room off.

I Have Been Tagged! ( just a while ago)

I was laid in bed last night and for some time i have had a nagging feeling that i had something to do and could i think what it was , could i hell as like. last night it dawned on me. BW tagged me. I was like oh deary me ( well not exactly but you get the drift lol)So I am so sorry i forget everything since the fire, as nic says DOH!



The rules:Find the 6th folder in your photos folder and then the 6th photo in it.

Post it on your blog Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.



My Photo is nothing stitchy cause everything was lost in the fire, as you can see i lived in a building site for months, thankfully it doesn't look like that now, but its a tip a the moment, piles of clothes away as I'm washing ready to get ready for work on Monday.

so the 5 people that i have tagged are:

Karen

Kelly

Selina

Sally

Susan (aka Daffycat)

I have just realised that i must have deleted some blogs that i read when i tried to change my theme for Xmas but got fed up of all the error codes, bloody hell going to go and have a hunt on the web for them now grrrr, bleeding computers

Hello 2009, Sod off 2008!!

Happy new year to everyone, yes I'm a bit late but had no laptop for 3 weeks!! nearly killed me off lol. Not manage to do a lot of stitching over Christmas but i did do Sharon's design of a reindeer.

I was going to make them into little ornaments but to be honest my sewing as absolutely crap and i haven't got hold of a sewing machine yet so i have put them in a envelope ready for next Christmas. Not the best picture that i have done as i didn't have any beads and i had just pinched these from Nic's art box, and they are all now neatly put away so this one will have to do, Sharon's is much better.

I also did a bit of Santa and Fairy by Anchor but as you can see i didn't get it finished and now Christmas is over I'm not really in the mood to stitch it, so that it getting out away till November.

Well that was a good start to my New Year's resolutions, I wasn't going to start another project till i had finished the one i was working one, but sod it why change a habit of a lifetime. so now i am on the hunt for something to stitch i quite like to do the Crabby all Year sampler that is also on Sharon's blog, never seen that one before, need something to stitch this weekend though so I'm off on the web hunting for a freebie, while watching Robin Hood ( again!!)

Is This The Strangest Thing You Have Seen Stitched?

ok as I was looking for a picture on the tinternet for the newston's law pic I am doing I come across this on google I put in newton, cross stitch and lets celebrate and this is what I come up with.

I have seen some things that has been cross stitched before but the female reproductive system is I think the strangest that I have seen.

So I was wondering what's the strangest thing you have seen that has been stitched?

when can i stitch?

i have been so busy with work, kids and trying to get house done for Xmas that i have not got much stitching done, but i did manage to finish my Santa what Karen sent me, but did i get a photo of it before my youngest gave it to her teacher, nope i was running around late again in the morning that i completely forgot.

i have started newtons law lets celebrate cross stitch, but theres nothing much

i have also set up another blog for me to rant and moan about everyday life( which is all i seem to do these days lol) and keep this one for my stitching.

RAK!!!!

You know when your having a pretty bad day, you are really bad at your job, everything is a total mess and your dreading going home - all the kids had a friend over each for the first time since the fire and six kids in one house, well say no more lol

to say i was fed up was understatement, well my neighbour came around and gave me a box and i couldn't believe what was inside!! A box full of goodies from Karen, so thank you very much it was like Christmas for me, i couldn't believe it, i now have a stash of stitching goodies again!

i couldn't wait for all the kids to go to bed so i could start stitching, so since i was in the Christmas mood i started on the father Christmas ornament, didn't get very far but i didn't want to put it down, cant wait to finish work today, so i can get stuck into it again!!

Change Of Name

I have changed the name of my blog, also the theme which I love, I was browsing the web and came across this blog extra icing on the cake ( i need inspiration as i have to make my step dads 50th birthday cake), and i loved her theme, and got the freebies that were available.

anyway my daughter said i should change the name too, as even though it was personnel to me it was a funny name - ok sometimes they know best so this is her suggestion.

on the stitchy front i fingers are itching to get another project done. i was given a pattern which Sue designed, on the yahoo group i am in, so i going to start that next. i also got my bedroom finally finished, its plain at the moment but i like it ( apart from the gorgeous bedding, which has gold metallic thread in twined through it- it creases just with sitting on it)

My First Happy Dance Of The Year

I have been so busy all week, what with decorating, varnishing and been a taxi for the kids ( you know your old when your children have better social lives than you do), that i havent been able to show the progress that I have made with my birthday present that the children bought me, I finally finished it tonight and now i cant wait to stitch anything to do with Christmas

I love Christmas, buy Hubby hates it says it just an excuse to get into debt, i keep telling him you dont have to be rich to enjoy it, and we have told the kids that it wont be a lot they get and they understand that having trainers costing £100, ( which i will never buy them as think what a waste of money) and the latest gadget isnt going to be the death if them, but i still cant wait to go out and buy a tree and decorate it. last year I had just under 300 baubles, luckily they were not in the house when we had the fire so we still have them, we did however lose the artifical tree that the mum-in-law gave us, so at least something good did come from the fire lol

Another year older,nearly!

Its My birthday tomorrow so tonight we are going to see the James Bond film, which i am not complaining as i get t drool over Daniel Craig.

yes I am one of the sad people that is only go to see James Bond as i can ogle at Daniel Craig and hubby wont notice, haha.

Its Nothing fancy but we havent been out since May so I am not too bothered where we go. My mum and sister gave me some B&Q vouchers for my birthday so i can go and buy a gas fire for the room, so the stitching goodies will have to wait a but longer.

I have bought the new crossstitcher magazine so I can at least do the little freebie that i got with It, got to make Nicoles Little Red Riding costume too so another busy day, roll on when i have nothing to do but stitch!!

Started Stitching Again

Came home today,and was i glad it was Friday the kids at school have been acting up all week, whether its because its the first week back or there hyped up with bonfire events going on all week i don't know but I so glad i have two days off. Got to finish decorating my bedroom this week, so hopefully will have a photo to put up soon, its nothing special just plain but its not covered in smoke and soot which is a bonus.

Came home today to find that they had started to board up my old house, got upset over it, even though i see it everyday when i go out of the house, then my little darling Nicole told me that she had to go to school on Monday dressed up as a character out of a book for National Book Week, bloody great been on the net and she been picking costumes costing £20, sorry but no way I'm paying that t wear once, hubby is putting up new staircase and i know for a fact that i will have t go and get 'a few bits' as he calls it and spend a fortune, anyway i am going to make something up for her, will have t be something easy though as my sewing machine wasn't recognisable it was just melted so it was only the metal that was left. you don't realise what has gone until you need it.

on the stitching front, i was given a magazine so i am now stitching a forever friends Xmas design, done a lot more than i expected today, but camera batteries have died will try and get a picture up of it soon