THREE WEEK CATCH-UP . . .

Where did the last 3 weeks go?

Well firstly a 'BIG' event on our calendar which was full of mixed emotions.  DD, no, DDD - my 'Dear Darling Daughter' officially finished school on Thursday, 20th May and now only returns to school to sit her exams, the last of which will be on 23rd June!   Now when I say Where did the last 3 weeks go? ... Where did the last 16 years go?  It really does seem like only yesterday when she tightly gripped my hand on her first day of school and since then all the Christmas Nativities, Sports Days, Dressing-Up Days (we've done Hermione Granger, Pongo from 101 Dalmations, Victorian Maid and Fairies), School Trips, Parent Evenings and now it's all over (hold on : tissue box needed yet again!), I will miss it all.
Now College Days and Independency begin . . .

The following day was her first School Prom and I don't know who was more nervous!  We have spent months hunting out THE dress, THE shoes, THE bag, THE jewellery and transport and thankfully it all came together as we had hoped.  The weather was beautiful and sunny and the afternoon was spent at the hairdressers having her hair dressed for the occasion with curling tongs, diamond hair decorations and a cream flower and when at 6pm she came down the stairs ..... (yep, tissue box again please!)

Her dress was pale gold satin with jewelled front skirt and bodice and laced back.  Her sequined clutch bag matched and her shoes were cream to match her hair flower with jewels attached.  DH and I were the proudest parents ever!

Now to stitching!  'When Witches Go Riding' is complete and I'm really pleased with it, I was so unsure about the fabric colour but persevered and now it's complete I'm happy.  The design is a busy one with strong colours so I feel the fabric colour helps lift it without losing any definition ~ I really recommend this stitch to everyone, it's easy and fun and progress is quick, I did change the faces on most of the pumpkins to smiley mouths but other than that I stuck to the chart.

'When Witches Go Riding' by The Prairie Schooler stitched on 28 count Antique White Jobelan with suggested DMC threads

Next was a quickie!  I had the suggested fabric and all the GAS threads so it is as it should be.  The only nitpick I had was that it said on the chart to do the Smyrna stitch for the eye in the same colour as the body which meant it just didn't show up at all and it is definitely not shown in that colour on the front of the chart.  I have all the charts for this series of birds and the eyes are all stitched in a light colour different from the body and after trying that and still not liking it I stuck to good old Black and I like the result!  For once this has stitched up to a standard size for framing and yesterday DH bought me a lovely pair of wooden frames so this birdie will be framed and on show soon and I can replace with the appropriate bird as each Season comes and goes.

'Summer Bird' Wee One by Heart in Hand  stitched on 32 count Summer Khaki Belfast linen with suggested GASTs

Next I did something very daring . . . . I opened the 'hidden from sight ~ but know it's there lurking' ... W.I.P. box. I always feel very guilty when I open this box at the expense of the items waiting in there to be picked up again but being ignored whilst others get chosen first. BUT I did find probably the smallest project started, over 2 years ago I think, which were 3 little circular snowmen faces taken from a past cross-stitch magazine. I had completed one and half-started/finished another so after recently completing both Halloween and Summer projects (a little Seasonal confusion at the moment) I finished a Christmas stitch as well. I love their little cheery faces, the magazine suggests finishing them as cards but I think I will make 3 little stockings (one for each of my babies with their name on - Oh Mum! how embarrassing!) and add these faces to the front of each one.  The gaps in the blue background should be white stitches but I'm going to add silver beads to sparkle them up for Christmas.

'Cool Yule Snowmen Trio' stitched on 28 count various shades of linen with DMC threads

I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks.  The boys are now on Half-Term for one week and DH is on 2 weeks holiday so we shall be able to spend some good times together.  I took a chance and suggested to the gang that we might have a day out at the Zoo and take a picnic like old times (I really was expecting 'no way Mum, do you know how old we are now?') but it was greeted with approval and I was really chuffed (tissues please!), not sure if DH had had a sneeky word with them beforehand but who cares, a family day out, it will be fun!

I'm hoping in the second week DH and I will be able to hunt out some bargains at the Charity Shops, I was lucky on Saturday and found an unused kit with damaged canvas but 25 unused skeins of DMC threads for £2.  I also found a bundle of old cross-stitch magazines and in one is a chart that has really wet my appetite, not one I would ever choose before so I'll leave it 'till next time to show a pic just in case I have a change of mind!

Thinking of all of you who are commemorating Memorial Day overseas.

HAPPY STITCHING . . . .

CLEVER BUTTONS . . .

Clever, clever Buttons!  A 70% chance of success and nearly 10 years old  ~ No Problem.

A very stressy day last Wednesday started with an 8am visit to the Vets with Buttons for his op.  The vet was lovely and gave me her assurance she would do everything possible to give us all a happy outcome.
At 11am she rang me ~ op was over, tumor (quite a large one) was removed and Buttons had come round from his anaesthetic.  I was so relieved, (tissue box was near empty at this time) and she said to ring again at 3pm to see how he was doing.   3pm, no problems, although sleepy he was doing everything they needed him to do - eating, drinking and pooping so back home he came and spent the whole evening sleeping on my lap . . .

and the next day . . .
 When can I get back out in the garden and where's my watercress?

Buttons and I want to say a BIG HEARTFELT THANKYOU to you lovely, lovely bloggers who were so kind and left messages of good luck and wishes ~ they definitely worked xxx

Now to stitching, well lack of it really.  I have started a new stitch 'When Witches Go Riding' by The Prairie Schooler and have made some progress, it's a fairly easy stitch as it only uses 7 colours and they are just DMC threads.  I have a sad lack of cross stitch fabric at the moment so opted for Jobelan Antique White which I'm not convinced by but I hope when it's finished and I add some spooky fabric to it, it may all come together. 

For the past 9 years the end of May has been our time of year to come to Florida for our dose of sunshine, Disney, shopping malls, the most friendliest people I've ever met and most importantly my stock-up of everything cross-stitch.  This year DD will be sitting her exams at this time and obviously they come first, she has worked so hard for them and we are trying to keep distractions to a minimum until they're over so I'm suffering severe withdrawal symptoms at the moment and waiting to see what we can plan for later on this year.

SO, I think for all the above reasons that gives me the right of some retail therapy (c/o DH) and so far . . .

Lizzie*Kate set of 'Flip It Bits' charts with embellishment buttons

Lizzie*Kate 'Charity & Ewe' chart and Lizzie*Kate 'Bless Our Home' Snippet

Jobelan 28ct Bay Leaf, Jobelan 28ct Wood Violet and 28ct Riviera Linen by Graziano - cream/natural gingham

'The Needleworker's Sampler' by Sue Hillis Designs

(a 50p find at the local charity shop)

OK, ladies that's all for this post.  Another thank you to all who sent me such lovely messages on my last post, I have only been blogging since end of February so it's lovely to know people take the time to do this.

A belated Happy Mother's Day to all the overseas Mummys ~ hope it was a good one and you were thoroughly spoilt for the day?

Buttons and I are two very Happy Bunnies . . . HAPPY STITCHING x x x

A PLEA FOR BUTTONS . . .

Sorry, not a happy post today!

My adorable little bunny, Buttons, has been diagnosed with a tumor and it has been a very difficult couple of days trying to sort out our best options for him.  The tumor has grown very quickly and although it is not bothering him at all at the moment and he continues to eat, drink and hop around, it is likely to continue to grow.  Buttons is now nearly 10 years old and has coped with near blindness for the last 4 years with no probs at all and is a fit, healthy bunny!  Our options are to leave alone but with the prospect of it growing more and causing him pain is not one I wish to take or to operate and hope that being 9years plus he can cope with the anaesthetic and make a full recovery, the vet gives him a 70% chance!!!

Our decision is to take the 70% chance before the situation worsens so he is booked in for his op this coming Wednesday.  I am in pieces ~ he's my best buddy, absolutely adorable, very placid and loves a cuddle ~ I'm so worried for him and would miss him terribly if he wasn't here. I know, rabbits can't go on for ever, but I'm just not ready for this - Summer, Sunbathing & Strawberries ~ all the things Buttons and I love most!

A big plea to everyone to keep everything crossed for him and that on Wednesday evening I can post happy news
x x x