'HAPPY DANCES' BUT WHO ATE THE SOOT ???

 This was such a fun, easy stitch and I can't believe how quickly I was able to celebrate with a spooky happy dance!  I love the black cat peering out with its green eyes and the pumpkin coloured hat is my favourite!

Lizzie*Kate - 'Hats Off To Halloween' stitched on 28ct Sand Minster Linen

 with my choice of Gentle Art Sampler Threads

I didn't have all the exact colours listed on the chart so used some similar and some of my own choice and not having enough 'Purple Iris' for the writing I chose 'Soot' instead, plenty of that one . . . . at least until I got to the 2 letter e's in the word 'Halloween' and this was all I had left . . . who's nibbled the Soot?

If I curl up in my wooden tunnel she probably won't notice me . . .

If I disguise myself with hay she may not notice . . . .

And I camouflage well with the kitchen floor so that's always a good option  . . .

but I was there stitching with Mum at the time and it did look tempting so I only ate one length of it, how was I to know?

Tilly, you pickle!  I just had enough to complete the lettering, if it had been 'celery' or 'spring grass' I could have understood!!!

So with my threads and fabric under threat now I need a new stitching pal and with huge thanks to Cath (The Stitchin' Chicken) that's what I now have . . . .

Cath was celebrating her blog birthday with a giveaway and this cute Stitch Pal was her prize.  I lost my best stitching pal a little while ago, my lovely Buttons, so whilst I get Teabag, sorry Tilly into shape (DS was telling a friend about her on the phone and he misheard him and thought we had called her Teabag!) this is my new partner.  Cath also sent me some crafting scissors, always a necessity to me and she had stitched this cute little bunny which has a pink fabric on the reverse with a bunny holding a big bunch of carrots!  It has a lovely pink ribbon attached and I shall use it to keep my cross stitch needle safe ~ I have hundred of needles but I always use the same one and if it goes missing or I drop it it's everyone on the hunt to find it!!!

Thank you so much Cath, this was the first giveaway I'd ever entered and I was so thrilled to win it.

Another quick and easy Happy Dance this week was Pine Mountain's 'Tie One On' Kit ~ October.

I can't find the pillow form to go with it anywhere here in England so I think I will have to make one of my own but I love the big black ribbons on the sides, they will look great when they're tied in bows ready for the witching season.

I haven't stitched since Thursday as I've been in complete agony with an abscess on my tooth.  After being up all of Wednesday night, my Dentist was really good and saw me the next day and prescribed antibiotics for 5 days . . . . it's the first time today, since then, that I actually feel more comfortable with it and back to myself, don't think I've every felt pain like it and not being able to eat or drink (what's the weekend without a glass or two of wine?) hasn't helped!  DH and the gang have said they will cook the dinner tonight so I can catch up on some sewing (aahhh, how sweet even if I probably won't be able to eat it!) 

HAPPY STITCHING . . .

LIFE GOES ON . . .

I have to start by thanking those of you that were so kind and left me messages of sympathy and support on my loss of Buttons, they all meant so much to me and the fact that people not only read my posts but then take the time to leave a message when we all lead such busy lives is very touching.  I have had lots of ups and downs since that day but have found much comfort in the Rainbow Bridge verse and my knowledge that I had a wonderful 10 years from my bunny, my best buddy.

So life goes on!  On the 15th my twin boys turned 13 and now I have 3 teenagers in the house (it can feel like 4 sometimes when DH's around!!)  We bought them new gaming consoles which they very much wanted and in the evening took them out for a family meal.  The following day they went away for the weekend with their church group to a big Christian Youth Camping Weekend in the grounds of a private school not far from us.  The weather was perfect and they enjoyed swimming, sporting tournaments, discos, camp fire food and a couple of very late nights!

School has now finished and now begins the 6 weeks Summer holidays.  We don't have anything particular planned so I guess it will be a chilled and relaxed time for all, we eagerly await the 24th August when DD's exam results will come through, I know she gave her best so I will be pleased with whatever results she achieves.

And now the news I have been itching to share with you:

introducing . . . .

TILLY

This wasn't a decision I had planned to make but for my own personal reasons and something one of my children had said that touched my heart I decided our family wasn't complete without a bunny.  So whilst the boys were blissfully unaware and away at their camping weekend DH and DD took me to numerous garden centres which all had pet shops so I could look at the bunnies but none of them pulled at the heartstrings.

Our local pet rescue centre was being refurbished so the rabbit department was shut down and no-one had any bunnies for rehoming.

So all Saturday night I searched the internet and finally came across a breeder, some 45minutes drive away who had a litter of 9 for sale with pictures posted of each one.  They were all beautiful with very unusual coats apart from one which just stood out for me.  I emailed her that evening to see if we could drive over and take a look on the Sunday morning and later that night she emailed back to say 8 of them had now been sold and only 1 was left . . . . yep, the one that was pulling at those heartstrings!

Sunday morning over we went with me repeatedly saying to DH and DD 'I don't want to be pressurised, it may be too soon and not feel right' and they agreed.  I explained this to the breeder as well and she said I was under no obligation ..... then she got 'Baby Number 8' out of her hutch for us to see .........  a little mini-lop ear doe, 9 weeks old and agouti coloured (same pattern and colouring as a wild rabbit/and Buttons).  Yep, you guessed it, I melted and home she came with us, 1 week ago.

Tilly at 3 weeks old

I've named her Tilly, no particular reason why, it just suited her.  Within 3 days of her being here we each received bunny kisses, lots of lap hopping and the wonderful binkies that all bunny owners love to see!  She eats virtually anything (including your hair) and loves to sit on my lap at breakfast time eating celery.

The children were so young when we first got Buttons and have no memories of all the above gestures so this is lovely for them to experience and best of all it has encouraged them to talk about Buttons and my memories of him doing the same things.

Bunny kisses for Twin II

Tilly made her first visit to the Vets the very next day for her first jab and to be checked over for any problems.  The vet we saw was the one that treated Buttons tumor so I think she knew how special this new bunny was to us, she cuddled her so much I didn't think I was going to get her back again but her reassuring eyes told me that I had done the right thing and that she was perfectly healthy but just needed to put some weight on!  I'm sure when she returns for her second jab next week the weighing scales will definitely confirm this!!!

And finally, what about my Blog?  Do I continue?  If I do, then do I rename it?

I've lost a couple of followers recently, perhaps my ramblings about sad occasions have put people off but going by the number of kind people offering words of support recently I guess followers are willing to share those moments too.  I don't want to change the name, Buttons & Stitches was all about my bunny and cross-stitching and if I keep the name then his memory lives on too, I expect Buttons name will make a continual appearance on posts along with Tilly.  I have done no cross-stitching since that day not because I've lost my mojo or anything, it just hasn't felt right but I will!  I will stitch something commemorative of Buttons, I have kept his food bowl, he had the same one for 10 years, I shall put a church candle in it and stitch an evenweave band around it with words that are special to me and on special days I can then light it and think of Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you to everyone for sticking by me, normal stitchy posting will resume again shortly!!!

HAPPY STITCHING x x x

MY DARLING BUTTONS xxxx

This is the post I prayed I would never have to write and the words are very hard to find.

My darling Buttons fell ill on his birthday last Thursday and unable to get him to eat or drink I took him to the vets that evening.  He stayed at the vets both Thursday and Friday evening with no improvement and yesterday morning the Vet, after numerous examinations and every attempt to make him well again, found a lump in his abdomen, the tumor had regrown.  My Buttons had done enough fighting and had done so well that my decision was not a hard one, no more suffering.  I loved him dearly.

Buttons now sleeps peacefully.
xxxxx

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

TWO HAPPY DANCES & A TOUR . . . .

Two Happy Dances to report . . . .

Firstly 'Stitcher in Residence' by Lizzie*Kate now hanging on the Study door as I do my best to convince my DH that this room will soon be my domain only and completely out of bounds to him (I'll be ruling the world next!!!)

'Stitcher in Residence' by Lizzie*Kate

stitched on 28ct white Monaco with my choice of Gentle Art threads

Sitting in my pile of fabric odds and ends was a piece of Moda fabric with a design called 'Bird in the Bowers' by Kathy Schmitz, I love the colours in this so used it as the backing and added a small silk ribbon at the top.

Secondly is 'Happy Bunny Bunny Day' by The Trilogy.  I changed everything colourwise with this design as the bunny had to be the same colours as Buttons, after much debate this was agreed to be GAST Cidermill Brown with GAST Walnut for his patches and tail.  I'm not sure what to do with the finished piece, I do not have any fabric that matches the colours and it is not a standard size for framing so it may have to hop to the 'I'm Waiting To Be Finished' pile and wait patiently!

'Happy Bunny Bunny Day' by the Trilogy

stitched on 28ct cream Monaco with Gentle Art threads and pink heart embellishments

******

Despite a little rain on Saturday the weather has been so good that the Barbecue made its first appearance of the year on Sunday and along with some gardening 'al~fresco' was the deal of the weekend.  Our garden is just coming to life again and always looks so good in Spring so here's a quick Tour . . . .

Our house is raised up from the garden so we step out onto a verandah the full width of the house which has two sets of steps going down to the first level of garden which then slopes to a second level. These are views from the verandah . . .

This centre piece of the garden has an archway with more steps from the first level down to the second. These flower beds will be a mass of colour over the next few months and very hard work to keep on top of the dreaded weeds . . . .

Looking from the bottom of the garden to the top this is an excellent slope for keep-fit running and has a shaded tunnel at the top created by the holly tree and the buddleja bush joining forces. On the right hand side we have a fire basket which is lovely in the Autumn and ideal for toasting marshmallows and sausages . . .

This is our 'woodland' area of the garden where we have apple trees, bluebells, ferns, bamboos and the gate leading to the compost heap and the stream beyond.  The squirrels love this area and chase each other up the trees and along the fence panels (great fun to watch) . . . .

We have so many visitors to the garden including wood pigeons, woodpeckers, robins, a very noisy owl, squirrels, frogs from the stream and one unwanted visitor ~ a fox (not a close friend of Buttons).  The robin follows us around when we are digging and grabs anything that wiggles and our friendly blackbird is called Beaky and comes right up to the back door for his daily bread.  I have just planted up my verandah boxes with viola which the squirrels will do their best to upturn and bury they winter supplies underneath - ha ha! I have a cunning plan ~ pebbles between each plant means they cannot dig up the earth without getting sore paws/claws!!!

Well, you know who my last picture will be of and here he is doing what he loves best . . . . snoozing and sunbathing!

HAPPY STITCHING . . . . .

HAPPY DAYS . . . .

After a full recovery by all of us the last week has been just perfect!  A big Thank You to those of you that left get well messages on my last post - really, really appreciated.

My gang of three all went back to school today and I've really missed their company.  Last week was lovely ~ the days have been sunny and warm and that always makes 'Happy Days'.  My twin boys belong to a local church youth group and they have an Easter Holiday Club for the young children and this year Twins I and II were both chosen as group leaders and enjoyed making cakes, candle holders, performing drama and music and having wet sponges thrown at them by the little 'uns.  They celebrated their hard work at the end of the week with all the other leaders with a get-together in the evening with a fish and chip supper.  The normal treat on school breaks is to delay bedtime by one hour but they were both so exhausted from the leaderships that they were more than happy to retire at the normal time!!! (now they may realise just how exhausting it is looking after demanding children)!

DD's bedroom was successfully decorated and is really pretty in pink.  Her big treat for the Easter Hols was to get see her idols ~ Diversity (street dancers and winners of Britain's Got Talent 2009) last Thursday evening down in Brighton.  She has had her tickets since last December and has literally been counting down the days until the big event.  She left midday with her friend and was determined to see them arrive in their tour coach ~ 3 hours later she did and after the show waited for them yet again and was lucky enough to meet several of them and get autographs.  She was on a high all day Friday and when she read on Twitter that they were still in Brighton at a well-known hotel and not leaving until Saturday morning she set her alarm clock early and set off again to hunt them out (what a dedicated fan!!!!)   I was dreading she would get there too late and that they would have made an early get-away so I can't tell you how relieved I was when she rang me midday to say she had met all of them this time and they had each posed with her for photographs!!

And now for me .... with the children all occupied and happy I was able to settle down to a good dose of sewing.  Cluck, Cluck is complete and I'm really happy with it ...

'Cluck, Cluck!!' by The Stitching Shed

stitched on 28count Sand Minster Linen with Anchor threads provided

I was going to frame it and hang it in the kitchen but DH says it will make another nice pillow for the sofa in the Study so I shall find a nice colourful backing fabric and add some heart embellishments.

My fabric for my recently finished Noah's Ark arrived and I have finished that into a pillow, I only added the one embellishment to the front, I was going to add three different ones but it looked too busy ...

'Noah's Ark' by HeartStrings

stitched on 14count Rustico Aida with chosen DMC threads backed with Debbie Mumm Noah fabric and Debbie Mumm white dove embellishment on front

And finally a completion from the bottom of the 'finished' pile from sometime ago ~ Harry Potter!  I knew I wouldn't be able to find the right size frame for this piece so I turned it into a stand up with a star themed fabric and it now stands in the bookcase along with the complete set of Harry Potter books.  I stitched this design from a DMC Harry Potter publication which was only produced in French but was easy to follow, the book has lots and lots of the characters and logos and I would love to add Ron and Hermione to make the infamous trio!  I often think how lucky my children and I have been to actually live the Harry Potter story as it has been told, everytime a new book or film was released we were always there on the day to buy or watch it and with only 2 films left to see now it will be horrible when it's all finished!!!

'Harry Potter' from DMC's Harry Potter Collection

stitched on 14count white Aida with suggested DMC threads

So, what to stitch next?  I can't make up my mind so am stitching a small Lizzie*Kate as a fill-in . . . The Prairie Schooler's 'When Witches Go Riding' is very tempting as is my recent purchase of BBD's 'Midnight Watch' ~ is it too early for Halloween now the Sunshine is finally here ????

And lastly my little sunbathing friend Buttons who's insisting the next stitch should be 'Briar Rabbit' by La~d~Da - it is a gorgeous chart but I've yet to find a fabric I would like to stitch it on . . . .

HAPPY STITCHING . . . .

NOT IMPRESSED!

The signs of Spring have briefly teased us here in the South of England but now have gone away and today it's cold, wet and very gloomy ~ Buttons and I are not impressed!  I think the effects of last week's traumatic episode have caught up with me these past couple of days and I have felt a little the same as today's weather so Buttons has been in the Kitchen keeping me company ~ me with my daily essential Cappuccino and Buttons with his carrots and green beans.

I sorted out another past completed project today ~ 'Wildlife Sampler' and although I have a mount cut ready for it I cannot find a frame the right size anywhere so another small cushion ~ what do you think?

Although the bunny on it is a brown hare it reminds me of Buttons with the colouring and the upright ears, the little footprint at the top is labelled fox tracks and the mouse at the bottom is a field mouse.  Both these two are regular visitors to our back garden (unwelcome ones) - both come to visit Buttons - one to probably make a meal of him if he could, the other to eat his food and nest in his stock of straw!

I have been topping up the stash box the last couple of days ~ retail therapy DH, always cheers you up!  I have LHN 'Snowy Pines' on its way to me and see today they have just released the next ornament 'Winter Sheep' so will have to hunt that out too.  The Postie has also delivered LHN 'Snowflakes' chart, Just Cross Stitch 2009 Ornament publication and Lizzie*Kate's 'Cross Stitcher in Residence'.

And finally . . . . . from Buttons . . . . . HAPPY STITCHING!