EASTER RAKs

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

I hope you have all enjoyed a lovely time and the Easter bunny has been kind to you xxx

I cannot find the words in which to thank each and everyone of you that left such kind and supportive comments on my last post regarding two special loved ones in my life, unfortunately there are no updates at the moment and our lives remain in turmoil.  My biopsy came and went but not without problems (and unforeseen stitches ~ ouch!) and now I, too, wait for results to find if I have a big fight ahead of me :(

NO more sad news, let me show you a couple of Easter RAKS I managed to get stitched and posted and which have now been received.

This was for my very kind friend Barb who has a real soft spot for sheep . . .

I took part of a Shepherd's Bush Christmas stocking design and stitched it on 28-count linen with my choice of DMC threads

 I couldn't resist adding these extras to the package, the googly eyes on the gingerbread sheep did make me laugh and the tea cosy was so sweet, so much so that Barb's husband has suggested she wear it as a hat to keep her brain warm ~ cheeky!

My other RAK was to Shell who has 2 gorgeous bunnies ~ Lady Hannah Goldenhare and Sir Walter Harrington, they help run their Mama's blog and do a very good job too!

JBW Bunny design stitched on 28~count black evenweave with DMC threads

Stitching on black was a first for me and once I got used to it, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Shell is a Textile Folk Artist and her creations are beautiful, she has recently used darker greys and blacks for her backgrounds so I thought this might fit in with her current decor ~ hope she likes it?

Rain has finally returned to the South today and as we are now in drought conditions with a hosepipe ban, I guess I shouldn't complain!

Some easter baking and needle and thread are the order of the day!

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

XXX

SADNESS, KINDNESS & VAMPIRES!

Thank you once again dear blogging friends for your get well wishes ~ they really do mean so much.  I wish I could post just happy news but my world has been turned upside down in the past week and sadness and worrying times seem to be the main ingredients of each day.

My dear MIL has been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and at the age of 81 with so many health problems already we are anxiously awaiting Specialist's decision as to whether they feel they can safely operate or not, she has been told that chemo will not be an option available to her.

My dear Dad was diagnosed with an aneurysm last year which has had to be constantly monitored as they can only reach a certain size before they rupture and are fatal.  His scan last week showed he is now within 1mm of that danger and the Specialist has said he cannot operate as he would not survive the procedure.  Instead they are going to fit stents to help the blood flow to his heart and again we anxiously await the date for it to happen ~ it feels like we are sitting on time-bombs!

I feel devastated for both of them ~ they are very much loved parents/grandparents and the days that lie ahead of us are very frightening.  Please keep everything crossed that they can both get through this and brighter days are to come.

With my life in such turmoil you can imagine how thrilled I was when Mr. Postie dropped this little cutie through my letterbox . . .

My dear blogging friend Sally stitched this for me after reading about my continual chest infection in my last post (more of that in a mo), oh! I just love it.  Sally stitched this on 35-count coffee-stained linen with DMC threads, backed it with cream calico and edged it with a chenille trim ~ it's so sweet and everything ~ colours, coffee! and of course bunnies is so me!

It really brightened my day and has pride of place on the mantlepiece ~ thank you Sally so much for your kindness and for listening xxx

 So, now to my rotten chest infection which had still not improved last weekend so it was back to the Emergency Clinic and more stronger antibiotics prescribed, ones I had never taken before . . . . you can only take them standing up and you mustn't lie down for at least 30 mins afterwards and you cannot go out in the Sun whilst you're taken them ~ what's that all about?  I keep constant check in the mirror for any fangs and have stayed away from anything garlic, hmmm not much fun being a Vampire!!!

Of course the weather this week has been glorious Spring sunshine and I've really missed sitting out with the bunnies cross-stitching :(

I've also received news that I have to go into hospital shortly for a biopsy ~ I don't do hospitals, hate them, so although Diabetes normally means being put on a drip making a longer stay, I have opted for a local anaestethic so I can escape back home as soon as I possibly can!!!  

Progress ~ well there has been some when it comes to stitching ~ Christmas Patches is coming along nicely and is a real joy to stitch . . .

I can't make up my mind whether to stitch the teddy bear at the bottom right hand side, it's quite a jumble of patterns and colours and is quite hard to immediately determine what it actually is so I've started the border and will then begin the backstitching and make my mind up then ~ so far so good!

Well done, if you've stuck this post out to the end, I realise it's not a very joyful one but I know I have some very good blogging friends out there who will share both the sad and happy times with me.

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

GOOD AND BAD PROGRESS

Well, let's get the 'bad' progress out of the way first . . .

Thank you to everyone who left me get well wishes on my last post, unfortunately silly me let the cold go on too long and put off going to the Docs so last weekend it turned into a nasty chest infection and being both asthmatic and diabetic this was not really good news!  I've been on antibiotics and steroids since and it seems to be a very slow and long process to getting well again.  I still don't have much voice to speak with and my breathing feels very hard work but I am actually dressed and up and about today and that feels like a BIG step in the right direction.

There is a funny side to it all though ~ with my voice as it is I can do a brilliant impression of Ron Weasley when his voice was breaking in The Chamber of Secrets and a lovely gift of beautiful flowers from DH and the kids made my breathing even worse so they had to go outside and I can only see them through the french doors in the Dining Room!!!

 I hate posting dreary, miserable news so let's crack on with some 'good' progress ~ Christmas Patches is stitching up a treat and I'm really, really enjoying it . . .

This has really been the only thing I've felt comfortable doing at the moment ~ I can wheeze in time with each stitch!  I have nearly finished Santa himself then it will be his sack of toys, a teddy bear at his feet, the lovely heart, berry and pine needle border and finally, did I mention? every bit of this design is back-stitched!  I don't mind back-stitching so I'm quite looking forward to seeing Santa coming to life!

Finally, here's a picture of Tilly impersonating me and how I feel most mornings . . .

Her little paw and nose was twitching like mad when I took this photo ~ I'm guessing Mr. McGregor's garden might be in her dreams!!!

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

COME CLOSER . . .

Last Tuesday struck me down with the dreaded lurgy so with a lovely wheeze and hardly any voice at all, please come closer so I can whisper, try and shout out to you . . . .

HAPPY DANCE!

LHN 'Winter Band Sampler'

Weeks Dye Works 30~count Parchment Linen

DMC threads

Red Cardinals and Snowflakes

Not sure if I should have left a light on in one of these windows, after all there are 2 little bunnies sitting at the bottom needing the odd carrot or two!

I loved stitching this one :) although there are only 8 colours to the design, I think it pops when it's finished especially the white snowflakes!  I do have an idea of a finish which actually ~ hold your breath ~ may not be a pillow!!!

Sleep is minimal at the moment as that seems to be the time when the continual coughing takes hold, so I have made use of my extra hours and started my next project and I really dug down deep in the stash box for this one . . .

This gorgeous design uses 39 different colours for the 'patches'.  I love the fact that I can pick and choose which patch I fancy stitching next and so I'm hoping that with it being quite a large design this random method will stop me getting bored with it . . . hmm, famous last words!!!

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx