NEWS FLASH . . . .

SUCCESS!

Reports are coming in of big celebrations and very happy bunnies in the Sussex area of the United Kingdom.

The darling daughter of Jane of Buttons and Stitches x x x rose at crack of dawn this morning, held her breath, crossed everything possible and collected her exam results....

4 passes ~ 2 A Grades and 2 B Grades

Eyewitnesses claim that Jane showed clear signs of nerves and stress whilst she awaited the news but loud joyous cheers and laughter were heard shortly after 11am and it is believed celebrations will continue well into the night ahead!!!

A BUNNY FINISH . . .

I've just finished this bunny pillow for another really good cause ~ http://pumpkinpatchandcobreastfund.blogspot.com/2010/02/welcome.html

This truly is a wonderful opportunity to stitch a little something and help raise funds for Breast Cancer Research.  The above link will give you all the info you need, it's not too late ~ stitched items have until November to be sent in ~ come on ladies! just one contribution will mean so much!

'Printemps des Lapins' by Danybrod

stitched on Sand 28count linen with suggested DMC threads

I did ask Tilly and Oscar if they would like to pose with the bunny pillow but it's a fairly hot day here in Sussex and they are out in the garden making the most of it ~ here's their reactions to my request . . . .

'Not now Mum, this tunnel is sooooo cool for my hot paws, anyway can't you see? I'm pretending I don't know you're there!' 

'I'm not even going to pretend I'm asleep ~ I'm out for the count in Bunnyland!!!'

I'm still clicking my knitting needles in the evenings and making squares for 'Stitching for Charity' as shown in my last post ~ I must say, I was really disappointed to have only had 2 comments, again this is such a worthy cause.

I've also just finished stitching my gifts for Lainey's Summer Exchange and tomorrow they will be on their way to their recipient.  I thoroughly  enjoyed putting this package together and it has given me inspiration for a few ideas for our recently decorated cloakroom . . . .

I thought this was very English seaside and rather cute ~ a seaside Beach Hut!  My chosen DMC colours are a little darker than the stitched model ~ the blue is a denim blue to match some new hand towels and the red is more burgundy red which will match some wooden hearts to hang in the room also.  I'm not too confident with how it's finished but will have a go . . . . watch this space!

School holidays are now well under way and so far so good!  The twins are out socialising at a School Reunion (even though they're only 14 years old now!) and are going away camping to Somerset with their Church group all of next week.  DD has just booked her first driving lesson for this Friday and next week will get her exam results ~ Oh! my goodness, my 1st born now looking at University options and learning to drive ~ do I feel old or what!!!
Thanks for stopping by
HAPPY STITCHING
xxx

A CHANGE OF NEEDLES!

I've changed needles at the moment!

My cross stitch needle is taking a well-earned break and in its place are a pair of 4mm bamboo knitting needles and this is what they are producing . . . .

Cath from The Stitchin' Chicken posted on her blog a request for any knitters to join the Stitch for Charity challenge to help knit a total of 1000 4"squares to make into blankets and jumpers for babies and children in Lesotho in South Africa.  I feel this is such a great cause and takes such little effort so out came the needles and clickety click they go each evening and the bonus is I get to watch the TV at the same time!  If you can help here's the link to Cath's request http://stitchinchicken.blogspot.com/2011/07/woolly-challenge-for-sfc.html
You have until 25 December so if all knitting bloggers out there only knit 1 square that would amount to a good percentage!

Now, here's something weird!  I say clickety click in the info above but I'm actually a silent knitter as I use bamboo needles ~ 'what's strange about that?' you ask!  Well, if I use metal needles they bend, I am quite a tight knitter but not to the extent that the needles bends completely out of shape resulting in wonky knitting!  I can hold metal cutlery and without any force it does the same thing and more bizarre . . . . I have never ever needed to replace a watch battery even with watches that I have worn for several years . . . . . is this an X-Files moment or does anyone else have the same experiences?

A big Thank You to Cath also for nominating me for a Stylish Blogger award.  I have, though, already received it before so on this occasion will have to pass but I am touched that I was one of Cath's choices, it means a lot to me xxx

It's a mini-heatwave here in the South this week but it's forecast to be followed by heavy rain and thunderstorms so it will be shortlived, never mind we are just about to light the BBQ and make good use of the sun whilst it's here.

Thanks for stopping by
HAPPY STITCHING
xxx

THE 'TAILS' OF TILLY & OSCAR . . . .

DD has been putting her creative skills to good use again and look at the results . . . .

Tilly and Oscar's adventures in print!

College term is coming to an end and AS exams are well over with our fingers crossed for good results in August.  These last 4 weeks DD's college has been giving her a flavour of what the second year will involve and in English Language the year will concentrate on children's literature which is something DD has always had a love of whether it be writing or illustrating SO this is her first attempt at both and who better to do it about?

The story content had to be suitable for young children and have both repetitive sounding words and storyline so Tilly and Oscar are of on an adventure.  Having hopped too far away from home and losing their way  their search for home begins encountering many animals on the way all greeting them with 'Boo'!  You'll be pleased to hear the story has a happy ending and even gives me my '5 minutes of fame' and has me waiting for them at the door back home!!!

I love the illustration so much (taken from a photograph of them both) so DD adapted it for my new header ~ just sooooooo cute!  (I'm dreading the Bill she's going to present me with!!!)

Although the illustration is of Tilly and Oscar I don't want to change my blog name ~ Buttons' my beloved bunny now pain free and happy at Rainbow Bridge and 'Stitches representing my passion for needle and thread.

Buttons has now been gone for just over a year but so fondly remembered . . . .

My stitching news is not huge but I do have a finish ~ 'Chicken Sampler' by The Stitching Shed . . . .

Last year I stitched another of their designs ~ Cluck, Cluck so thought, when I bought this earlier in the year at the Stitching Show, that it would make a nice matching pair of cushion covers.  The colours are virtually identical, I have just made a couple of small changes ~ the wording was Hen and Cluck which puzzled me as it was called 'Chicken Sampler' not Hen, so I repeated the word Cluck so that both designs read the same and instead of stitching 4 flowers around the centre chicken I shall add some buttons!

I'm just about to start stitching for another Exchange and some gorgeous Sampler Threads have just landed on the doormat so it's all systems go!
I want to highly recommend a UK on-line supplier who fulfills orders as quickly as 24 hours and carries stock of all the lovely hand-dyed threads and US charts that us English stitchers find so hard to find here but love so much to stitch . . . .
The Patchwork Rabbit run by Karla (http://www.patchwork-rabbit.co.uk/) ~ her prices are excellent and the postage costs are minimal ~ hop over and take a look, any special requests then give Karla a shout and I know she'll help you out, I recently needed 'Bamboo' for a design and wanted one as white as possible and hey presto! the next day it was here ready and waiting and a real bonus is Karla will cut you a 1yard length of thread if you only need a small amount rather than buying a full skein.

And finally ~ after weeks of tender loving care of feeding, watering and pruning . . . .

I have my first ever SweetPea with lots more promising buds!  These gorgeous flowers bring back lovely childhood memories when my Mum grew these in abundance every Summer on trellises outside our kitchen door and their lovely smell filled the house ~ it's funny how a smell can bring back such lovely times!

Thanks for stopping by and as always your lovely comments

HAPPY STITCHING

x x x