SMILES, A HAPPY DANCE & STASH

Let's start this post a little happier than the last one ~ I have my smile back!!!

My lovely dentist has given me my smile back, all be it a temporary one for the next 4 months whilst the gum heals but the new tooth looks so realistic I'm really pleased.  Thank you everyone for your kind messages of support ~ they really do mean a lot to me and are so encouraging xxx

Now, more importantly I HAVE A HAPPY DANCE TO REPORT!

How cute is this?  Bothy Threads Gorjuss kit ~ 'I Love You Little Rabbit' stitched on my choice of 32-count linen fabric with the threads supplied.  The little girls dress should have french knots stitched over it but as I'm not a lover of stitching them I have left it plain and placed the little heart button at the bottom of her dress for decoration instead.  The colours of the rabbit are perfect and portray my very-much missed Buttons and adorable Tilly perfectly.

Talking of rabbits did you know it's The Year of the Rabbit?

In the Chinese Astrology Horoscope, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit and the forecast is:

A placid year, very much welcomed and needed after the ferocious year of the Tiger.

Good taste and refinement will shine on everything and people will acknowledge that persuasion is better than force. A congenial time in which diplomacy, international relations and politics will be given a front seat again. We will act with discretion and make reasonable concessions without too much difficulty.

A time to watch out that we do not become too indulgent. The influence of the Rabbit tends to spoil those who like too much comfort and thus impair their effectiveness and sense of duty.

The scene is quiet and calm, even deteriorating to the point of somnolence. We will all have a tendency to put off disagreeable tasks as long as possible.

Money can be made without too much labor. Our life style will be languid and leisurely as we allow ourselves the luxuries we have always craved for. A temperate year with unhurried pace. For once, it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances!

It's a good forecast isn't it with much to look forward to!!!

Still on the subject of rabbits, look what Lois from http://ofneedlespinsand.blogspot.com/ sent me:

'Bunnies Galore' by Leisure Arts with (wait for it) 50, yes 50, that's 50, a big 50, bunny designs!  Cross stitch heaven for me, I love it, thank you so much Lois for thinking of me, I can assure you it will be put to very good use!

I started stitching this one a couple of nights ago:

Lizzie*Kate 'Love Crazy' which I'm stitching on 28-count linen in my choice of GAS threads, really easy stitch and only 5 colours needed.

And I promised a stash update!

I found the most fantastic needlework store this year in Florida called Needle Orts with the most helpful and friendliest owner who also does mail order.  The store was lovely, clean and spacious (and even had comfy seats for the men in my life to sit in and chill) and the chart selection and threads was just out of this world.

Yummy, yummy charts ~ Plum Street Samplers 'Hares Christmas', LHN 'Spot of Coffee', 'Joy to the World', 'Red House in Winter' and 'Peppermint Twist', Hinzeit Charmed Flakes 'Deck the Halls', Little by Little 'Hot Chocolate', Erica Michaels 'Button Button', L*K 'Snowman 10' and JBW Designs 'The Bunny Collection'.  A few threads to top up and my choice of fabric oddments which were stored by the bag load, good sizes perfect for ornaments and 5 pieces for only $3 . . . . .  ahhhhhhh, heaven!

 

These 3 kits I found in another store and all took my fancy for future projects ~ Dimensions Feltworks Applique kits 'Holiday Pocket Ornaments' & 'Snowman Cheer Stocking' and another cutie by Candamar Designs 'Guess How Much I Love You'.

Oh Dear! Did I just read in the above forecast that this is  'A time to watch out that we do not become too indulgent'!  No more stash for me!  ALTHOUGH  Hobbycraft have a Sale on, the Stitch & Craft Show in London is fast approaching and the Knit and Sewing Show in Brighton is just around the corner, I'll just go and have a look, just a look, just in case!!!

Take care everyone and have a fab week.

Thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

THE ONLY WAY NOW IS UP!

Well, things haven't gone quite to plan over the past few weeks hence my delay in posting Happy New Year wishes to all of you and fingers crossed that 2011 will be both happy and healthy for all of us!

I hate posting messages of doom and gloom so I'll keep this part short and sweet ~ our Christmas in Florida was enjoyable but DD was poorly Christmas Eve and Day with a suspected tummy bug and on our last day DH fell ill and was admitted into hospital for a couple of days and we were unable to fly back home as scheduled.  Without my 'rock' beside me and 3 children to find beds for, food for and keep calm,  I felt very vulnerable and very frightened but with the most excellent care and support from the Virgin representatives both sides of the Atlantic and immediate help from The British Consul we were looked after, made comfortable and returned home with a much healthier looking DH on New Year's Eve.

I guess the experience knocked me for six and feeling so low gave the rotten tooth abscess time to sneek back yet again, as before the antibiotics have not been able to do the trick and end of last week saw a very unwell me necessitating an emergency extraction and a very sore mouth!  The culprit tooth was not right at the front and the gap left is not too noticeable when I talk but I am concsious that it is visible when I really smile or laugh so no more of that for a little while whilst a replacement is looked into!

So, being that low means only one thing ~ THE ONLY WAY NOW IS UP . . . .

And a good start was a lovely, lovely gift from Michelle of http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com/ waiting for me on the mat when I returned :

Michelle is the most talented Textile Artist ever and her designs and creations are gorgeous, made even more so by the fact that she is 'bunny mad' and her 2 adorable bunnies Sugie and Sir Walter Harrington are adored by Tilly and I.  Shell sent me a most beautiful pair of embroidery scissors in the shape of a rabbit with a hand-sewn embroidered heart, fresh tea and raspberry chocolates and a handmade Christmas Card in her trademark colour of white with beautiful ribbon and a snowflake embellishment.  I was chuffed to bits with my package and it's all so pretty I'm too scared to open and use any of it all ~ I'll treasure it forever Shell, thank you so much xxx

Next I was thrilled to be nominated for a blog award by Denise of http://riversidestitching.blogspot.com/

I love Denise's blog site, she always makes me giggle with her thoughts (remember Denise, no smiling or laughing at present) and her stitching projects are awesome and well worth popping over to see!

The award comes with the usual requirements, one to nominate fellow Bloggers with fab blog sites and the other to tell you 7 things you didn't know about little 'ole me?

Well, I'm so late in posting that it seems everyone has beaten me to the first requirement but how would I choose anyway, I love reading all your blogs, sharing all your happy (and sad) occasions and seeing all your wonderful pictures ~ you're all truly inspiring ~ but the second requirement I can do, not easy, but here goes:

1.     I have had Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) most of my life and it makes my ability to fight infections poor ~ hence the persistent tooth abscess ~ however, although it can cause hiccups, I have never let it rule my life and feel I have missed out on nothing, I lead a full life and although I have calculated I have given myself over 51,000 injections I still don't sprinkle out water through all the injection holes when I drink !!!

2.     No laughing! I'm actually terrified of injections and can only cope with them if I'm doing them myself - TV,  real-life ~ no! I'm out for the count !!!

3.     Florida ~ my second home ~ we have visited now for the last 10 consecutive years and hope in later life to live there !

4.     Favourite colour ~ boring I know but it has to be cream, it's safe, quiet, peaceful and clean !

5.     I was born on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11am (and was such an easy birth for my Mum that she was eating fish & chips an hour later) !!!


6.     I passed my driving test on my first attempt despite going through 4 Instructors before doing so! #1 was an elderly gentleman who had taught my dad and brothers but saddly passed away the week before my 1st lesson, #2 was his daughter who wore so much perfume it gave me asthma attacks, #3 who gave me lessons after finishing work at 6pm and would eat his tea whilst doing so, this involved crunching an apple every time in my left ear and when I slammed the brakes on too hard in practicing an emergency stop he through the apple at me*!*! and #4 fab guy with a brilliant sense of humour and a great taste in music ~ success!!!


7.     I only had one job between leaving school and raising my family and that was a designer at a printworks.  I designed the titles and logos for companies and today many of my 'works of art' are still on display at their factories and offices.


and number 8.     just in case I forgot to tell you, you hadn't noticed, it had passed you by or had slipped your memory . . . . . . I LOVE BUNNIES!

So, now to sewing,  I'm afraid not a lot to show you other than my start on 'I Love You Little Rabbit' :

I love this design but changed the fabric from the yucky yellowy 14-count Aida provided with the kit to soft white 32-count linen and yes! there's a little something missing, I've saved the little bunny 'til last to stitch so next time it should be a happy dance and talking of which:

Tilly!  I missed her SOOOO much whilst we were away but she had a great Christmas with the rabbit nurse and made friends with the lady's own rabbit Dave, she kept me constantly updated and even sent me photos of the two of them playing together, ahhhhhhhhh!

Santabunny had left her a prezzie on her return ~ a willow house with removeable roof :

Willow is great for bunnies, it helps maintain healthy tooth growth and doesn't pile calories on their tummies BUT Tilly has decided house renovations are needed and has since created a window to the left of the front door, virtually disposed of the flooring and is requesting a softer finish of carpet and is creating a hole in the roof so that Santabunny has easy access next year!!!!

         

Okay, enough rambling for this time but I've still so much to tell you : Florida and yeh! I got to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a new cross-stitch shop find, more stash and even a start of a new hobby so please stop by again soon when hopefully full-smile mode will be resumed.

HAPPY CROSS STITCHING

xxx

I HATE KEEPING SECRETS!

So to keep three little secrets and one very BIG one has not been easy and I'm literally at exploding point!

This is my first Christmas in the world of blogging and I wanted to stitch and send some gifts to a few people I was lucky enough to have the addresses of.  Two of those have been received and one has been opened and the other kept until the 25th and the third one, fingers crossed, will reach its destination overseas in time for the big occasion.

I stitched this jolly fellow for Lesleyanne (Lesleyanne's Life of Stitches) and found the chart in the 2002 edition of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments.

Roly-Poly Snowman by Bent Creek stitched on 28~count natural linen in GA sampler threads

Lesleyanne sent me a lovely email upon receipt, thank you Lesleyanne and Merry Christmas to you.

Now for the BIGGIE!  Tomorrow we fly to Florida for a 2 week Christmas Holiday and my gang of 3 have been 'kept in the dark' for as long as we could manage.  Playing a Secret Agent is not my strong point but I have managed to consult with schools/colleges and absences for the last few days have been authorised, presents have been exchanged for the 25th, my brother-in-law has been signed up to come down from Scotland and look after the house and Tilly has gone to stay with a lovely lady who's a nurse at the Vets we go to.  This really was the hardest part and I already miss her terribly after only 4hours but her Christmas prezzies are here for when we get back and I shall certainly be doing some serious bunny shopping whilst I'm away!!!

My gorgeous 'Tinsel Tilly' xxx

I shall be keeping in touch with all your posts whilst we're away and hope to post as well but just in case I don't get the chance (you know what with shopping, theme parks, lazy days, cocktails, restaurants etc!!!!!!!) a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL, may it be peaceful, joyous, memorable and snow-free!

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

OK, SO A 'BIT' OF SNOW . . . .

OK, so yesterday's 'bit' of snow was nice, pretty, christmassy and I can cope with  BUT this is taking it too far :

nearly 2ft of snow overnight
 

Winter Wonderland in the back garden

My sewing bench

'My driveway is there, somewhere?'

How beautiful you're all saying, how pretty, what fun for all the children?

NO!, the driveway has disappeared, we cannot open the garage and if we could the roads are so laden with snow the car would be useless, over 5,000 schools, most airports and all public transport are at a complete shutdown and to top it all our central heating packed up over night and no Engineers can get here until at least tomorrow!!!

Even Tilly, after being moved in to the house this week from her summer hutch, is begging to go back to the garage where it's probably warmer!

AND the forecast ~ more snow, I think Siberia would be warmer than here.

On the positive, snow makes the house so bright that cross-stitching is great, any excuse to make cookies is great, having everybody home safe and ? (I would say warm!) is great and Oh! I so don't want to admit it but it is sooooooooooooooooo pretty!

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx