Wednesday 28 May 2014

Stitch from Stash May

I can't believe it's the end of May - the time has flown, especially the last week or so. I have lots to blog so will blog on Aimetu's Stitching and Aimetu's today - this blog is purely for Stitch from Stash and my stitching ... so here's my update:

Charts
  • Hearts Full of Love - Lynn's chart sent with RR
  • Meet Up Exchange
  • Summer Exchange
  • French Country - Amour
  • Monthly Challenge -- free chart The Little Stitcher
Fabric
  • 28ct antique white
  • 32ct ecru
Thread
  • DMC colours as required for charts
  • Weeks Dye Works as required for charts

Finishing
  • backing fabric Summer Exchange
  • ribbon Summer Exchange
  • Christmas fabric Monthly Challenge
  • gold ribbon Monthly Challenge

Additions to Stash
  • seaside ribbon 25p (one metre)
  • owl ribbon 25p (one metre)
  • flag ribbon 25p (one metre)
  • heart ribbon 90p (one roll)
  • Paris fabric £2.75 (fat quarter)
  • pink fabric £1.25 (fat quarter)
  • plastic coaster Meet Up Exchange (£1.69)

Total spent £7.34


My section on Lynn's RR

Lynn's RR so far
May Monthly Challenge
My Travel Project kitted up
Santa's House - completed
(minus the white)
Ribbons bought for stash
CCN Monthly charts
prize from Stitch from Stash
I can't share some of this months photos just yet but I will do soon. Thank you for calling by to see this month's Stitch from Stash - even though I did spend a little hee hee

Monday 12 May 2014

RR, Wales, Museum and a surprise

A third of the way through May already - this year is certainly flying by. The weather here in the UK has been mixed the last few weeks - we've had some glorious sunny spells but then some really heavy downpours, usually when I'm walking Ruby.

I have been quite busy - as always - and have finally finished my part of Needlecraft Haven Welcome Round Robin 2014. I was working on Lynn's piece this time which is Hearts Full of Love by Jeremiah Junction. I stitched the banister and two quilts.

My section on Lynn's RR
Lynn's overall
 Nick and I went to the caravan for the May Bank Holiday weekend, it was surprisingly quiet, in fact we have noticed quite a few of our neighbours have not been around much this year.
 
We took Ruby for a walk over the new Dysynni bridge - a bit breezy but lovely and sunny.
 
New Bridge
The railway bridge through the railings
Bluebell wood
Are you looking at me?

Nick and Ruby

We are back again at the end of May but this time without Ruby as we're are then going straight to South Wales to see Philippa. The Queen's Baton for the Commonwealth Games is travelling through Wales and on the 25th May Philippa will be one of the Baton Bearers -w e are so proud of her. The Baton has arrived in the UK in Jersey - here's the link to my other blog which has a piece about when the announcement was made http://aimetus.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/commonwealth-day-queens-baton-relay.html
 
Last weekend was the Open Day for Nuneaton North Scouts to celebrate their 100th birthday - another link to my other blog with some old photos http://aimetus.blogspot.co.uk/2014_01_01_archive.html
 
I helped set up a museum at their Headquarters with some of my Dad's old photos and documents from when the group had it's original name of 1st Ansley Hall - a few people who came were actually young lads in these photos dating back to the 1950s. he museum will be left up for a couple of months before we put all the papers and photos into folders and store them for the future.
 
1950s photos
1960s and 1970s - you can watch me grow
up through these photos
The banner with drawings on was a Beaver Scout Challenge
in 1996 when I was Beaver Leader - it travelled the world
as the challenge was for it to travel the most miles
Uniforms
It's been great fun setting this up but also very sad that Dad isn't here to help - frustrating too as he's know all about who is in which photo and when it was taken, whereas we've all been playing detective and piecing together old memories.

And so to the surprise ... which happened just this morning. Mel from Epic Stitching and wonderful host of Stitch from Stash sent this email:

Missy who won one of the sets of all 12 months of Cottages by Little House Needleworks has graciously let me know that she already has them all! 

And therefore that another name can be drawn. 
Thanks so much Missy!! 
 
So the "second" of the second winners for the Cottages is: 
 
Thank you so much Missy - I am so pleased, especially as I was quite unwell this morning, you certainly brightened my day. And thank you to Mel for all your hard work running Stitch from Stash
 
Talking of Stitch from Stash I have been buying so for the first time this year I have spent some money !! but not a lot :-)
 
I went to Kisko (a fabric warehouse) with my Mum and bought some material for a sewing  project which isn't in SFS but I did get distracted and bought some ribbon and new fabric for a stitching project - total spend £5.65
 
Prices £1.25, £0.90 & £2.75

Ribbons were 25p each (1 metre each)
I have been stitching the Meet Up exchange - all from stash apart from the finishing item so I need to add another £1.69 to this months amount. I have also kitted up the Needlecraft Haven Summer Exchange all from stash, and the Monthly Christmas Challenge is ready to go, again all from stash.
 
I have kitted up all the other items using my stash that I need for my new project using those gorgeous new fabrics - hopefully I can share the finished item next time.

Ready to go
Thank you for visiting - happy stitching to you all x x
 
 

Thursday 1 May 2014

May Day

May Day is the traditional end of winter and start of summer - Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.
 
Another special day so yes I'm making a May Day dinner - there is very little about a May Day menu other than milk based puddings were often made. Here's my May Day menu:
 
boiled ham
mashed potatoes
homemade chutney
green salad
 
trifle
 
elderflower cocktail
 
Spring flowers feature in May Day celebrations too, usually as a garland worn by the May Queen.
 
Now it's a new month I can reveal my Monthly Christmas Challenge on Needlecraft Haven. This month Christine chose a lovely design from Maurismom and is a beautiful tree design using buttons - I added a red button to the top to link in with my felt backing.
 
April Monthly Challenge
 I am working away on September from The Drawn Thread - I have put May out but as yet have not decided what else to put on the mantle for this month. I need to make up June, July and August too so they are ready.
 
May - The Drawn Thread
Earlier this year Bev won my Blogoversary giveaway - Bev lives the other side of the world to me and her parcel took ages to travel - I think it was doing a bit of backpack touring on the way. It has now safely arrived - here's the goodie parcel I sent (all from my stash to keep my on my zero spend)
 
Bev's Giveaway Goodies
Our garden is slowly coming into bloom and my orchids inside are all in flower - I love these plants and they seem to be quite happy in our conservatory as they are nearly always in bloom and one has even had a 'baby'



 
 
The photos are a little blurry as I used my iphone - I gave up using my small camera because my hands are not stable due to my MS and I always end up with camera shake. However last Saturday Hubby and I had a trip to Leicester and he treated me to a new small camera which I tried in the shop with no shake :) we're going to our caravan this weekend and my camera will be coming too for it's 'trail' run.

We had great fun in Leicester, going by train was a change which meant we could enjoy a lovely glass of bubbly in The Case Champagne Bar, and scones with cream in Patisserie Valerie.
Champagne at The Case

In Patisserie Valerie
I just love this poster on their wall -
 a pair of garters with every bottle !!
As I said we're off to Wales - Hubby has a new car so it will be good to take it on a run. We have decided we don't want Ruby harnessed on the back seat of the new car (she has worked out how to step out of it and even with a full cover the seat is left so hairy). So we've bought a new 'kennel' for in the boot - she cannot be free as she climbs over. The photo was taken with the side windows down but they roll up so she can see through the mesh, the front rolls down and she is zipped in. We've taken her on a short run and she seems quite happy, I just need to get some cording to use as anchor ties - maybe there is some in my stash haha.

It's quite nice Mum, thank you
Easter Saturday was our lastest wine tasting for the Scout 100 Challenge - all the fun is in my other blog Aimetu's - pop along to have a read.

This month's stitching includes: May Monthly Challenge (another great design), Lynn's RR, September The Drawn Thread, Santa's House, Summer Exchange and Meet Up Exchange on Needlecraft Haven and a small surprise - looks like a busy month.

Thanks for reading my latest news - please add your thoughts as I love to read them.