Tales Of A Stitching Mouse

from RAKs to Hermit-ting and Beyond

2012-02-21T02:05:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone :)
cooooo what a wonderful week .... I suggest you get that kettle filled up ... the cups are ready along with a angle cake slice or a biscuit to go with it :)
soooo where to start ... June sent me a lovely RAK of a mouse house design :) the mat comes with it with wee paw marks on it .... it is sooo lovely and was just the thing to brighten my day :)
I heard that the gifts I had stitched all arrived safely at their new homes and so I can finally reveal what I have been stitching away at these last few weeks :)
It was Becky's birthday on Saturday and my little stitched gift to her, actually arrived on the day ... what good timing was that ... she absolutely loves it PHEW ..lol and says it is sooo her
Jo and Sally and Niina have received their 200 follower winner gifts so I can show you those too (Inky 's yours is stitched just needs finishing hopefully today and then can be on its way;)

for Jo I stitched part of the Romantique sampler(scroll down a few posts to see it almost done ..lol) as she has always coveted it and wants to come over and sneak it to her house once finished ..lol ... I took the top off the fabric and used the same threads to do the rose for her ....
for Sally I stitched a freebie from Ewe and Eye and Friends Alphabet Heart in Gast claret I think it was :)
Niina I stitched the top part with the sampler girls freebie a little tea and then charted the finnish underneath with my own wee design to tie in together :) for Becky I stitched the freebie ,A token of Friendship which I thought was just her (when I can find the link to say who designed it... I will do :)

soooo the fun continues ....... in case you thought it was quiet at the mouse house over the week end .. you were right ..lol .. I escaped to the country and hermitted at Gillies house .....
the journey over was a wee bit wet but I saw the most amazing rainbow on the way there and strangely enough it was in the same place on the way back three days later ...lol but when I arrived the sun was out and stayed the whole time while light :)
I took with me all my crazy's and my country cottage sal along with my over locker as Gillie wanted to cut down the excess fabric on her crazies and have some more manageable pieces to work on :)
while I was there I received my birthday surprise from DJ and I can't thank her enough as she spoiled me rotten and when you see the photo you will know why it has moved into my must stitch now pile ...lol
soooo Gillie and I spent a productive weekend stitching and chatting while drinking tea with some cutting and punching ....that was me making floss tags while Gillie did her overlocking heheheh......we also had a wonderful pub meal on the saturday night and went for a lovely tootle (well they walked fast I just strolled..lol) after church on Sunday and took some lovely photos :)

and the outcome of all that stitching ..... I finished my first crazy of this year WHOOPPPP WHOOOP..... Bloom by Threadwork Primitives ..... Gillie wanted it to stay at her house .. I said it was a good job I didn't mind stitching it twice ..lol (mmmm christmas prezzie sorted???? hahahah)
and I almost finished the January Cottage tooo .... just a few little bits and then I can move onto February's before March's get to the mouse house :)

I had a wonderful time at Gillies and we both didn't want it to end ... DH say's I can escape any time Gillie would like me back hehhehe.....
soooo are you ready for the photos ????

for Becky birthday :)

for Niina

Bloom finished :)

birthday goodies from DJ :)

for Sally

For Jo

snowdrops at the mouse house :)

Gillies Church :)

gillie and WT forging ahead

just stunning views on walk

cuppa and orts :)

Jan Cottage CC SAL

Bentley in his dragon costume :)

From June :)

for Joyzeeee:)

Bentley taken today

and again after a mad chase round the garden

hyacinth today :)

mmmmm Joyzeeeee I have taken some photos of my orchid for you but I can't seem to find them on the computer eeeekkk ... may not have up loaded them DOH ... I will find them for you :)(found and added and some more ..lol )
just had to include one of Bentley wearing his new scary outfit ..lol ... he is currently snoozing waiting to go on his pootle to the woods methinks thats where DD1 is taking him :)
well the kettle has just reboiled so any one want another one before I go and get some HW done ... now don't get too worried only sorting the washing out off the airers heheheh ...
soo there you go folks a wonderful end to a wonderful start .... hopefully this week will just be as good and productive ... until next time, take care and happy stitching every one :) love mouse xxxxx

Happppyyyy Valentines Day :)

2012-02-14T00:05:00.000-08:00

HI every one :) Happy Valentines day to you all :) Jo had another lovely idea of a Secret stitcher Valentine .... we had to send in a photo of something we had stitched with the word love on it or a heart and she would send them to every one and we would post our secret Valentines heart etc on our blogs today :)
mine is beautiful so I thank my " Secret Valentine" very much

From my Secret Valentine :)

off to go and see who got mine ... seee you there :)
love mouse xxxxx

Winner of the travelling Pattern :)

2012-02-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone :)
just a quick squeak to let you know who the winner is for the Travelling pattern ... drum roll please as I pass out some more custard creams and bourbon biscuits with the cuppas .......

Anne of http://dollsmusings.blogspot.com/ please can you email me back channel with your snail mail address and I shall get it in the post to you asap :)

sorry it soooo short and sweet today but time and tide wait for no man including a wee mouse .....
will catch up with all the blogs over the next day or two and hopefully will be able to share some photos of stuff that has been sent out :)
take care every one and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxxx

perfect pose

well I couldn't leave with out one photo now could I hehheheh

Travelling pattern, Snow and kettle is on ..lol

2012-02-05T04:02:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :) well the world outside the mouse house is white... brrrrrrr but the sun is out and looks ever so pretty ... I have stocked up the bird feeders so they are chirping merrily at me in thanks ....
the kettle has just boiled soo brews all round ??? I have some bourbon creams or custard ones if any one wants an elevens iz with it :)

Well as the title says the Travelling pattern "Thankful for Ewe" is ready to move on ..... so if you would like the chance to have it next, please squeak up :)
I didn't have any of the colours in that the chart requires so I did a floss toss and picked out ones that were near to them and then decided on the fabric as to which looked best on it ... surprisingly enough it was down to two choices an antique white 32 count linen and 18 count rustico aida and I decided to go with the aida ...... now bearing in mind I haven't stitched on aida in quite a few years .... I have become a linen/ even weave snob ...lol .... you would have thought it would have been a doddle ... the finished size is wee compared to what I normally stitch BUT NO !!!!!! I have un stitched more times on this small piece than I have in the last few years on everything else ..... so next time I have a thought to do something on Aida prod me hard will you !!!

I must thank every one for their birthday wishes and cards and emails and presents :) I have had a fabulous week of the post man bringing goodies and there is something still to come *VBG .... I think it is lovely that you can spread the celebrations out and sorry that there isn't any cake left for those who missed out on it ....

I decided on Monday to sneak up to the town and go and have a look around the charity shops and I am so glad I did as I dropped on quite a few bargains for a change ...lol ..... I got a lovely wooden box perfect for putting some stitching on , a frame that is the perfect colours for to bee or not to bee LHN , just needs a wee bit of tlc , a small white urn that will be perfect for a pin cushion and also a couple of stitching mags one of which is the very first issue:)
I have been stitching as much as I can this week and have finished a present for some one who reads the blog so I can't say or show atm but I will be making it up this afternoon to go on its merry way hopefully in time for her birthday ....
I have got the stuff sorted to get the rest of the 200 follower winners stitched and finished ... won't be long girls ...lol (and I'm over 300 now *VBG mmmmm thinking cap on here )
I have also been working some more on Kaths present sooo with any luck she will get it this side of Christmas hahahahah .....
I got further on with I sew's my heart by Heartstring Samplery too ... just love working on 40 count too :)
I did a bit more on the Cottage SAl on Thursday night over at Bev's in between munching on hot freshly made scones and jam and a cuppa or two .....
and also been working on my Band Sampler that I have designed for my group the Friendly Stitchers ....... the release date is march so I am stitching away at it to double check there are no mistakes ??? I think I may need a model stitcher or two ... any takers hehehehe ;)

Fresh cuppa is here again ...:)
The girls wanted to get a coat for Bentley for next week when he will be able to start to go out in the real world and meet more doggies ... so off we went to Pets at Home (just as the snow was starting to come down ) and he came away with ...... a lovely warm waterproof coat and a jumper which he loves to bits and asked for it putting on last night to go out in the snow with .... he was so funny chasing the flakes and trying to eat them as they were coming down .... I did try to take some photos but he was moving that fast it was very difficult .....

well I had better show you some photos now hadn't I otherwise you won't believe I have actually done some stitching this week hehehehe ....

goodies from the charity shops

little urn

goodies from Michelle

I sew'd my heart Heartstring Samplery

perfect colours or what :)

BOO snuggled up as cold out there ...lol

Birthday goodies from DD1

lovely card from Teejay

cottage sal CCN

start of the snow

WOOO HOOO finished !!!!

new coat

love my jumper

a touch of spring

see I am getting further with it ...lol

birdies at the feeder

this morning :)

So there you are this week folks .. I din't realise how much I had to tell you all ...lol .. off to go and get that finishing done and a few other bits and bobs ..... hope you all have a a fab superbowl sale / day over across the pond .....
squeak to you all later (don't forget to say if you want to be next for the TP, will draw it next weekend 11/12th Feb :)
take care and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxxx

Birthday cake any one ????

2012-01-29T14:38:00.000-08:00

HI every one :)
well as you can tell from the title, there is a piece of birthday cake for you all ... it was yesterday the 28th Jan and I was *cough cough years of age ... heheheh ...
kettle is on for you all to have a cuppa with your cake too :0
well I have had a busy old week with one thing and another ...
on Tuesday night Kath and Chris and I went to a craft cafe in the village where they live .... its a lovely little place with china cups and saucers and tea pots that don't match but look perfect together and rather nice cup cakes too ;) we had a lovely couple of hours stitching and chatting .... I took with me the Cherry wood design "Needles" and got a bit stitched on it too :)
I have been working on Kaths present as much as I can ... the only time I seem to get atm with Bentley is an hour or two on an evening so things aren't moving as fast as normal .... *sigh but he is worth it ....
I have told him all about you and even managed to get him to pose for you ... as we have learnt the word "sit" ..lol .. he loves to run round the garden and pick every little leaf up and then go "chase me "...lol
We had stitching night at the mouse house this week and I managed to run the hoover round and tidy up the scattered toys up before the girls came Phew ..lol needless to say not much stitching got done as Bentley decided to nick Bevs threads and run off eeeekkkk .... luckily it was got before any slobber got on it ...
DD2 and I went to Morrisons (local supermarket ) and got some bits and bobs and a chocolate birthday cake for the girls to have some on Thursday night .... we decided to treat ourselves to a ginger bread cookie when disaster struck !!!! the icing on it was rather hard and much to my horror it fractured one of my bottom teeth LL 5 to be precise ..... good job I've got an appointment next week to go for my annual check up .....
My birthday day dawned beautiful and sunny and I spent a lovely hour opening up my cards and presents and would like to thank every one who sent me cards and goodies especially Jo ,Becka,Kath, Gillie and Val just to name a few ....(there is some more goodies on the way too *vbg)
Becka picked me to be her birthday month girl and stitched me a beautiful little mouse ornament and in my parcel sent some needles and pins , some lovely ribbon and a beautiful piece of fabric with tea pots on it all with the theme of pink :) and some tea :) she knows me tooo well hehehehe
another cuppa ????
I certainly was spoilt rotten and as it was my birthday I started a new piece I've wanted to do for ages and it was kitted up last November ... I sew'd my heart by beth twist and although I haven't got very far ...I love it ... I have done a little bit more than the photo will show ....
On Saturday night 21 of us went ten pin bowling to help me celebrate my birthday and with something to eat as well ... well we had such a laugh ..... four lanes of bowlers and much cheering when I got a strike .... and lots of laughs when I missed heheheh .... the bowling balls are really too heavy for me so I had to launch them in the general direction .... I didn't come last at any rate heheheh.
A few things I must remember to mention .... Autumn is having a wee give away :) Di has been really good and stitched every day this last month sooo please go and pop over and say hi .. and encourage her on her stitching marathon :)
I've been awarded the versatile blogger award by Ali and June so I will do a separate post about that later otherwise we will be here all night ...lol but thanks ladies for choosing me :)
ok with out further ado I shall pop up the photos for you to drool over ..lol

Cherrywood designs Needle

getting there :)

from Becka

lovely goodies :)

my cards

I sew'd my heart new start 28/01/2012

Cake any one :)

worn out little pup tucked up

learnt the word "Sit"

posing in the mirror

my new hoodie

and another view

soooo there you go a Bentley fix as well as my stitching ...lol
hope you all had a fab stitchy weekend and I shall catch up with you all real soon :)
t.t.f.n :) love mouse xxxxxx

IHSW & TUSAL and a wee bit more ..lol

2012-01-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :) hope you have all had a wonderful stitching weekend and got lots done ..... I've been stalking a few blogs and it looks like all the needles have been smoking from over use and a few flat butts are around too ....hehehehhe
ok so... where do I begin *(cue music..lol)
the kettle has boiled and the cuppas are ready and we have some nice chocolate digestives to munch as well tonight :)
On the stitching front I have lots of little bits to show you ... stitching time has been drastically reduced due to the small bundle of fur ......I have to time it so I can get a few stitches in when Bentley is asleep or wait until reinforcements arrive in the evening ......
The IHSW flashed past like a blurr, but I managed to work on the Winter Band sampler by LHN ,the Ladybugs and bumble bees LHN, the Romantique sal by Angie , did some more on Kaths birthday stitch and frogged a lot too :( .... also did a wee bit on the Cottage SAL and also started the Band Sampler I have designed for my group the friendly stitchers ,as well as frame the "count your blessings " to match the others I did last year (the frames are from Wilkinsons)

I almost forgot, I received the Travelling Pattern from Gracie the other day ....."Thankful for Ewe" ... I have made a start on it after spending ages choosing the fabric and the floss guess what I opted for ....... 18 count rustic Aida !!!!
along with gast threads which off hand I can't remember ..lol ..... I shall do a post for it once finished, to chose the next person for it to travel too, so keep your eyes pealed :)

oooo on a good note my parcels have all arrived at their destinations so I can show you what I stitched for Peggy she showed photos on her blog and her face is a picture when she sees it ..lol .... I am pleased to report she loves it PHEW ..lol....
the other parcels. one was a RAK and the others were thank you's.. just for your info ...lol
I also remembered it was TUSAL day to day sooo I took a picture of my orts with my wee mouse from Fiona .... there does seem to be rather a lot in there ...lol
OOOOO am cream crackered ...lol just had to chase a wee black and white bundle around my small garden as he seems to think that eating every single leaf , stone and worm dust is fun .... If I haven't lost any weight next time I go hahahhaha
seriously though he is hard work when I have got him .... I mean we have to have a snuggle cuddle in the morning for a hour before I can get anything normal done around the mouse house ....lol followed by a play and then another nap etc etc etc ..lol
well I have made another drink for you all to slurp while you drool over the wee progress photos and my tusal etc ....

Winter Band sampler LHN

Getting there with the Romatique SAL

Start of my band sampler

bit more on the Jan Cottage

more done on the Ladybugs LHN

Finally in the frame :)

the start of the Travelling Pattern

Kaths birthday stitch half way there now :)

my orts for Jan 2012

stitched for Peggy :)

a few mins peace and quiet

favourite game eating stones

just look at those ears ..lol

I couldn't leave you with out any photos from Bentley ... .lol

well I shall say if you have got this far well done ..:) ...handing another biccie to dunk ...
(the bloods came back with normal iron levels but raised liver functions so I have to have that one repeated in 6 weeks ... I go for scan beginning of Feb sooo I will let you know how things go once I know too ...lol )
Ok this is definitely it now .... honest heheheheheh .....
take care and happy stitching and I shall catch up with you all soon :)
love mouse xxxxxx
ps Next Saturday is celebration day.... there will be birthday cake ;) so save a wee corner on Sunday for a piece :)

A cross stitch kit review :)

2012-01-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :)
I was asked at the weekend by Yiota if I would kindly review one of her cross stitch kits.......

so grab a cuppa and sit back and enjoy :)

after a few emails back and forth and having a really good drool and looking through all of the choices on her site www.yiotas-xstitch.com
I finally decided after much deliberating on... Landscape window in stained glass .....
Her site is really easy to navigate and has lots of choices for those who are just starting out and also for the advanced stitcher .... including cards and biscornus too :)

The kit arrived very quickly and beautifully packed in a stiff card-boarded envelope clearly stating do not bend on the front .....
I opened it with great excitement and pulled out the clear plastic sleeve keeping all the kit together and loved how all the threads were pre wound onto large bobbins and clearly marked with the colour.

Yiota uses Maderia threads but does give a DMC option that won't be quite the same as the original charted version .... a needle was carefully popped into the Aida that is provided with the kit ..... which was cut to a generous size to accommodate the size of the chart I had chosen and to be able to frame it afterwards :) I was pleasantly surprised how nice the fabric felt (being a even weave and linen snob ...lol.... I wouldn't have objected to using it )

The chart was spread over two sheets of A3 which is a perfect size for me with clear and strongly printed symbols which is a definite added bonus too as well as centre marks .
There was an instruction sheet included with very helpful hints and tips for those just starting out :)
In fact it is the perfect way to receive a kit ... you can start it straight away with minimum fuss .... and that is what I did ....except I did change the fabric for a 28 count even weave in the same colour ...
I spread the chart out on my stitching table and set off with the first colour required for the middle of the chart and stitched a wee bit .... well you can't review a kit without starting it now, can you ..lol

I certainly will be going back to purchase another kit soon that I have my eye on..... as its my birthday very soon ;)
I certainly would recommend any one to use Yiota if they were looking for a special cross stitch kit for the speed of service and also ease of usage and the clear detailed charts that you receive along with the all important wound bobbins :)

soooo I shall show you the photos now

safely

packaged

encased in the plastic sleeve

look at all those lovely colours on the aida
with the needle safely into the fabric

Landscape window with the sun streaming through
rather apt I thought ..lol

clear instructions and brilliant chart sheets :)

started stitching

added a wee bit of colour :)

Thank you Yiota for giving me the opportunity to review and stitch this lovely kit and I will be showing progress through out the next few months sooo watch this space :)
take care and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxx

AND I did it ;)

2012-01-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

stitch on each days new crazy project that is heheheheh
hellloooo every one ... brrrrrr it has been very chilly and frosty here at the mouse house .. the sun has tried to come out but didn't do much to raise the temp soooo I stayed indoors to day :)
Bentley has got rather big headed over his fan club ... he even wanted his own blog ...lol he has kindly posed for some photos yesterday and today for his adoring fans and even went to sleep for me in my room long enough for me to stitch on today's final crazy .....

But I digress ..... yesterdays crazy needs to be squeaked about first sooooo have you got your cuppa's ready and you comfy ??? then I shall begin .....
I started the Bloom Sampler by Threadwork Primitives ... stitching it on 28 count lambswool with the recommended threads ... I loved this chart when it was about earlier on last year and I was lucky enough to win it, in a goody box from Terri so it was one of the first ones into my crazy list :)

I shall tell you this while you are still sitting down, so you don't fall off in shock and spill precious cuppa's over the screen but ....... I actually stitched on my Romantique Sampler to try and get it totally finished asap .... yup I worked on a UFO hehheheh .... so I shall show you a progress photo in a mo :)

Yesterday I decided in my infinite wisdom to sort out the corner cupboard with all my cleaning stuff in .. I had bought some small plastic baskets to put things in so that it would be easier to get stuff out for other peeps too :) and cooooo you know when you think, should I really have started this heheheheh ... it took me all last night and today to get it done with a inquisitive pooch trying to help me wipe the shelves down .... it is now all shiny and tidy ... for now ...lol

today dawned early as per and as I was trying to get my emails up to date I had a little helper wanting a cuddle ... luckily the camera was to hand to take the odd photo or two ...lol
I tried numerous of times to sit down and put the thread in the needle and start today's project but a small bundle of fun kept saying I'm here ...lol .... I finally managed about 2.30 this afternoon to stitch when I had brought his cushion and blankie into the craft room for him to have a snooze on ... my little froggy was gob smacked that was all I had managed, when I took the photo heheheheh ......... can you guess which chart it is ?????...lol

in at 14 Bloom Sampler Threadwork Samplers

part 20 Romatique Sal update

yep that was I all I managed

yup it was "Needles" of Cherrywood Designs stitching on beige weeks dye works gingham fabric with Cranberry Gast thread :)

sooo here you go ,some awwww photos for you all ...

morning cuddle with me

ain't those paws adorable ..lol

am tiredddddd

ohhhh nooo not the camera again

AHHH BOOOOO

snooooooozing

soooo that's all the crazy starts for this years challenge all done .... there are a few more to start later on once I've got a few smalls done and dusted for a few peeps that are waiting ... won't be long honest heheheh
sooo hopefully next time I blog there will be lots of eye candy to look at, fingers crossed a small furry pooch with let me heheheh....
soooo until next time take care and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxxx

I'm Keeping Up ... just ..lol

2012-01-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :)
I have managed to leave the puppy sitting duties to DD2 and DH while I come on here to keep you all up to date on the stitching front ;)
Bentley is having a mad moment chasing round the rooms and coming up to say hello to you all before going off again ...
the kettle is on, ready for you all for a cuppa or two :)
Yesterday and today have passed in a blur of running round and going shopping and fitting in the stitching when I could ..... sooo don't expect miracles .... a start is a start heheheheh .....
So yesterday I stitched on two things .. one was a crazy and the other a SAL the CCN cottage SAL (I took this to stitching group and worked on it a wee bit more )
the crazy was .... ermmmmm hang on I forgot ..lol
*mouse scurries into the kitchen to sort out the drinks and then into craft room to remember .....
AHHHH yes I remember it well ...lol The Souvenir Sampler by the Drawn thread ... I am stitching it on a 28 count natural linen with the recommended DMC threads (it is charted for Needlepoint ink silks but ....) and I didn't get very far at all ..... ho hum
I met up with my stitching buddies last night and got a quite a bit done on the Cottage Sal ....I am stitching it on a piece of Sparklies fabric called barely bronzed with the recommended threads... ish ...lol and I am loving how this is looking already (the photo's are really c**p colour wise *sigh)
whoops Bentley is trying to sort out the washing .... socks are being nicked from the wash baskets heheheh ....
mmmmm stitching today, as I had a helper I thought oooo I would start the Cranberry Sampler by the Sweetheart Tree .... I had to copy the top half of the chart so I could get it nearer to me ...lol ... and also I can see me having to mark off where I have stitched as there is a lot of backstitching at the top and bottom of the chart ... I only managed an hour on this today ...
well after writing this update I am going to hibernate in my room and get some thread and a needle into something to try and catch up ....
sooo with out further ado I shall put up the eye candy for you ;)

Drawn Thread Sampler

January Cottage CCN

the Cranberry Sampler

you can see from the needle behind the wee frog how much I got done ...lol ...the amount is the size of it .....
I have been pootling round and seeing how every one is doing and I am really enjoying being nosy and trying not to be enabled at the same time ....
I must say thanks for the get well wishes .. they seem to have helped, at least today I've felt better ..lol ... I should get the results of my x-rays and bone density scan on Monday all being well :) and have got my appointment through for the other problems ;)
ok I can hear my stitching calling me sooo off I go and get something done ....
take care every one and happy stitching until I next squeak to you :)
love mouse xxx

Two for the price of one post ..lol

2012-01-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :) sorry I didn't do a blog update last night but time and tide doesn't wait for a mouse never mind a man ..lol
I am having a hard time atm with my get up and go .. and feel rather tired all of the time and my pain levels are on the high side tooo ... not sure if it is a combination of every thing or just the extra bundle of fun we have ...lol
any way 's I am not going to moan any more ... just have the odd squeak here and there ;)
I am awfully sorry but I have been forgetting to make the cuppas for every one and was reminded rather nicely the other day heheheheh soooo..... * mouse passes large mugs of tea/ coffee and hot chocolate round with a chocolate biccie too, to make up for it ..lol

SOOOOOO Tuesday the 10th day of the challenge saw me finally sitting down and putting needle to fabric at ...... 10.00 pm .... I had picked the "north wind shall blow " from LHN to do .... I just love this chart with the colours and the wee robin on it to ... I had a choice of fabric in my bag as I couldn't decide at the time what to do it on .... soooo I did the famouse floss toss and the darker steel grey fabric won ,.... the colours really pop on this one :)

I got my trusty tape measure out and double checked there would be enough fabric just to be on the safe side and folded and started the chart in the middle for a change .....just in case you weren't familiar with the chart as the other ones I have been starting at the top .... I am using the recommend CC threads on this one and I just love it :) mmmm think I have said this before earlier ..lol

moving on to today's start ..... I decided to work on Sampling in the square by Blue Ribbon designs and wait for it ... on the recommend 40 count fabric !!!!!! I am doing it with the mac cheaper version of threads as I couldn't justify the hand dyed ones for this one when doing my shopping list for Harrogate but ..... I think it still looks fab with the normal DMC and Anchor equivalents ....

and as for 40 count oooooooooo I am a convert ... just loved working on this one today too .... although it is defo one to work on in very good light .....

I took a wee ~~stroll~~ hobble around my very small garden today while watching the small bundle of fluff pottering round ... and armed with the camera I took some photos of spring arriving at the mouse house YIPPPPEEEEE :)
I also had to take photos of said wee bundle of fluff asleep on DD2's quilt that she brought down stairs and forgot to take back up and it was left on the pouffe in front of the couch .... get ready for the awwwww factor again ...lol

right I have waffled enough and need to go and make a start on the CCN cottage as I am itching to start it .... oooo btw I will get another skein of floss for Melicent just to be on the safe side :) and I think I will wait until the border is done too before I make up my mind re the letter A :)

When the North wind doth blow LHN

Sampling in the square Blue Ribbon Designs

would you believe these have flowered all winter

think these are either tulips or daffs :)

peony

hyacinth :)

mushrooms under the holly and apple tree

how cute is this eh ???

dog tired ..lol

off to go and stitch now :) take care one and all and all being well will see you all again tomorrow :)
happy stitching :) love mouse xxxxx

Melicent Turner started :)

2012-01-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

Helloooo every one :)
thank you for all the good wishes ... test went well ... it was really weird watching the machine come over me but it was painless so that was a bonus ,in fact I was soooo chilled I almost fell asleep ..lol ... I got to look at the images and it was really odd seeing a thin me hahahahaha .... I've to ring up about the results in a week ish ... as I don't go back to see the consultant until end of June .

I managed to get a tiny bit of stitching done on Melicent Turner LHN ... I am stitching it on a coffee coloured even weave with the recommended crescent colours .... I am not happy with the letter A as it looks wayyyy to light but hopefully when the border goes around it , it will show up more ???
Has any one actually finished this? and how many skeins of weeping willow did they use ??? as I re looked at it today I get the feeling I may need more than the one skein , although it doesn't say this ????

My threads arrived today for the Country Cottage SAL I am doing ... I did a wee happy dance when I saw what they were sooo all being well on Wednesday when both girls are in to look after Bentley I shall be able to get started on it *VBG

our (the girls) little man has been out socializing today and went in the car to pick up DD2 from work and then went visiting ... and then a friend came round for a cuddle especially to see him ..... he has been very good with the training process and has found his voice too ... he sounds soooo funny ... and he has been very brave and ventured into the big wide world of the garden chasing DH round ..lol.
soooo I shall leave you with the progress photo and some more awwwww photos ...lol

Melicent Turner day nine LHN

being bashful

take care every one and happy stitching until tomorrow ..... off to go and catch up with you all hopefully at any rate .....love mouse xxxxx

Summer Splendor in winter ...lol

2012-01-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :)
ooooo our little man is ever such a good pooch .... he has settled in very well and knows his name already and "no" ...lol ... he is doing well with his puppy training and getting used to the collar and lead and has discovered the joys of grandmas garden as it has grass .... he has been running up and down it and picking up leaves and wee sticks and going chase me ...lol
He has been visited by lots of people and had lots of cuddles and been out and about in the car to get his cage for his sleeping in at night and when I have to go out with out him when every one else is working ....

I managed to get a start on Summer Splendor by LHN today .. I am stitching it on Khaki even weave with the recommend hand dyed threads ... the photo doesn't show the fabric colour so well... ....

I am at the hospital tomorrow for a bone density scan so I shall be having a ready brek glow all day hahhahah ... I don't know how long I shall be there so I may start tomorrows start a wee bit earlier just in case I don't get chance to stitch on anything .....

sooo here are a few photos for you ....

Its a hard life being a puppy hog

posing for Emma :)

whoops toooo close

summer splendor LHN day 8 start

So there you are for today .... will keep you updated on how Bentley gets on and also my stitching ... which I think is taking second place atm with you all hahahahah ....
take care and will catch up with you tomorrow ... happy stitching every one :)
love mouse xxxxx

please meet ....and a wee bit of stitching :)

2012-01-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :)
please have the awwww factor ready for our newest member of the mouse house .... he is 10 weeks old tomorrow and is a a black and white cocker spaniel and his name is Bentley :)

I have also done my crazy challenge start today ... early doors ... which was a good job ...lol .... I have started ..."There is a garden" by Purely Samplers Homespun Elegance on a lovely deep peach even weave with the suggested threads .....and got quite a way into it before I stopped for a cuppa ..lol
I won't keep you waiting for the photos soooo here they are and will catch up with you more tomorrow ;)

Bentley

Day 7 crazy start

soooo see you all tomorrow ....love mouse xxxx

Pumpkin Cottage and scissor frogs :)

2012-01-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :)
first of all many thanks for the good wishes ... I am experiencing "women's problems" and I have now got some help etc after the tests... until I go to the hospital for some more tests done *sigh ....

but enough of that ...lol .... welcome to all my new followers *waving paw at you all ... I've snuck up to over 300 now ... and am soo pleased to see you all and no I've not bribed to0000000 many with cups of tea and goodies honest ...lol

I finally managed to sit down after tea to start today's offering of Pumpkin Cottage CCN using all the recommended threads but stitching on an unknown piece of 28 count evenweave that is actually a lovely peachy shade :)

I was sooo enjoying it I didn't really want to put it down to take a photo and update and catch up with you all ... it is lovely to see what other peeps are stitching on and all their goodies and links and enabling etc etc etc .... and boy do they seem to do that to me lately when funds are low *sigh heheheheh

It seemed I wasn't the only one to be visited by those pesky frogs the other day they seem to have done the rounds all on that same day ..... hopefully they have hopped it to somewhere else away from any stitchers :)

soooo while pottering around town today I popped into a few charity shops and picked up some books four for a £1.00 :) and also a lovely scissor frog that just needs a wee dip in soapy water to be pristine :) well the top part does ..... for the princely sum of £2.49 or $3.84 converted :)

well I shall let you see the photos for today ... I hate having to take them so late on as I can never get the colours right ... hopefully tomorrow will take them again for you to see the proper colours :)

Pumpkin Cottage CCN and a flat out frog ..lol

scissor frog

I don't know whether I should really let you in on this but...... there may be a new furbaby coming to the mouse house ... not sure what type but hopefully it will be a springer of some sort .... the girls are buying it and training it etc etc etc and we are going possibly tomorrow, to go an see if, where we got my Bracken from have got any pups ready .... soooo will let you all know soon ;)
off to go and catch up with every one else's blog's and say hello :)
take care till tomorrow and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxx

Lady bugs and things

2012-01-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :) sorry so late in posting this tonight but has been one of those days where I seem to have been like a mouse on a hot tin roof and getting no where fast ..lol
I didn't get my needle into any fabric until tonight at stitching meet up where over a few cups of tea and shortbread biscuit I managed to make a pitiful start on Ladybugs and bumble bees by CCN ...
I am stitching it on an unknown creamy 32 count evenweave with all the recommended colours for a change hehehehe .....

hopefully tomorrow (friday) will be a better day but I have to go to the Dr's for some tests etc soooo wish me luck and all being well will be back at home to stitch for the afternoon ... I've already picked out Pumpkin Cottage to start :)
sooo here you go my craptastic (just love that word ... thanks Edgar ) scan of my start ..lol

Ladybugs etc by CCN

right it is way past this wee mouse's bedtime sooo off I go .... see you all tomorrow ... take care one and all and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxxxx

something a wee bit different today :0

2012-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hi every one ... today I though I would treat you to something a wee bit different in the fabric dept :) and who ever sent the frogs over.... I will be having words ..lol
day four dawned .. cold, wet and miserable the mouse house was reasonably quiet so I decided to choose today "Bushel and a Peck" by La D Da and stitch it on a Sparklies solitare fabric that is just adorable to look at and stitch on ... I am using a mixture of Anchor and Dmc as didn't have all the colours in and merrily got to work ....
then I had to reverse stitch .... set off again and got further to realise... I was a thread out *sigh * reverse stitched again ..... meanwhile the postie came and brought me a lovely parcel from DJ with a beautiful stitched snowman in a gorgeous frame ... and my CCN January Cottage chart too ... whoop whoop :)

so armed and dangerous with a cuppa I got back to my stitching to find ...... not only can't I count today.... I can't read either ...lol .. instructions stitched with one thread over two ..... * aggghhhhhhh .... but on the up side I think it looks better with two over two on this fabric ...lol

I got to the end of my thread length and called it a day with this one and took a photo quick ...lol ... and decided to sort out the "normal" thread for the cottage ... I have most of them sooo should be able to make a start on it in the next day or two ... I am going to stitch these all onto one piece of fabric from Sparklies (again)... called Barely Bronzed ... took a photo to show you again too ..... while the brain was working I remembered I hadn't shown you the wee prezzies I managed to stitch for a few folks for Christmas soooo I shall pop that on here too, for you to nosy at :)

and the strawberry fob was made by Yvonne from Friendly Stitcher s for the bran tub the other year at Harrogate .... it is gorgeous isn't it :)

ok here you go... eye candy ....

From DJ .. its sooo cute :)

Day 4 start

almost ready to start

Christmas goodies to friends

and some more goodies

Right I shall leave you for now and go and get something done and decide what I shall start tomorrow and hopefully the frogs will have gone ..lol
take care and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxx

And a wee bit more gingham ..lol

2012-01-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hellloooo again every body ... hope your day has been as productive as mine today .... my back must have listened to you and shushed down enough for me to potter and get things done ....
I follow Inkys words ... do a bit... stitch ... do a bit.... stitch and I seem to get loads done and stitching to boot too ...lol

as the title suggests today I've worked on some more gingham and it is lovely to work with ... I started Winter Band sampler by LHN ... the fabric is actually beige not pinky ... not sure why it showed up that colour yesterday ......
I could have stitched more on this as it is such a lovely one to do .... and its only 4 and 3/4 wide and 10 inches long soooo hopefully won't be long before its on the finished pile ..lol
I have done the backing for my finish and used light interfacing to see how it works for me .... and I've chosen the finishing, finishing bits and hopefully it will be done before the end of the week and on its merry way too .....
one down a few more to go heheheh

I am going to work on Kaths 50th birthday prezzie tonight in the vain hope it will get nearer to completing it ..lol .... she doesn't know what it is yet ... but she may have heard the odd mutter under my breath of wish I'd picked another chart to stitch ..... but it will be worth it .... ( I will keep repeating that tonight hahahaah)

I have been blog hopping and looking at every ones new starts and some finishes and its lovely seeing all the eye candy .. have been making a must get list heheheh ....

soooo here you are now todays wee bit of eye candy .... Winter Band Sampler by LHN stitched on beige weeks dye works linen :) with the recommended threads converted to anchor (well some of them ..lol) ....

Winter Band sampler by LHN

ok it is cup of tea time .... its thirsty work this blog writing heheheh
until tomorrow ... take care and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxxx

Gingham and Scissors

2012-01-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Helllooo again :) .... well I shall be hopefully popping up every day in your readers at least for the next 14 days hehehehe .....
well at the mouse house today it dawned lovely , bright and sunny but with a definite nip of frost in the air .... although someone ought to tell the birds it isn't quite spring yet ... they have turfed all the moss out of my stones on my patio ... that doesn't normally happen for another month or so......

I had a funny turn today and decided to take down the decorations and have a wee spruce up with help from DD1 .... well all got done.... and then my back decided to have a fall out with me and has given me a lot of back chat since :( soo I shall keep this short .. for me at any rate hahaha

Day two of the crazies dawned this afternoon with CherryWoods designs Scissors .... stitched on 28 count weeks dye works beige gingham fabric with Cranberry gast thread ... I actually love stitching on this fabric and glad I've got another couple to do on it ....
so with out further yacking here is my today's progress

Cherry wood designs Scissors :)

I have also had my first finish of the year .....whoop whoop .... and I am making it up atm .. unfortunately I can't show you as it has to go on its travels first ;)
so once it has got to where it should be I will show you all :)
ok I am going to scoot off and put the kettle on and get into a more comfy seat and hope my back starts talking nicely to me soon ..lol
take care and squeak to you all tomorrow :)
love mouse xxxxx

Let the Craziness begin :)

2012-01-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :) hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and a very merry new year 2012 .... I hopefully have visited all that are on my blog reader over the hols to say hello etc sooo if I have missed any one * yoo hooo happy new year ..lol
sooooo here we are at a new year ... new goals ... new cups to drink your tea / coffee/hot chocolate out off ???
I suggest you go and grab a cuppa and some yummies we could be here a while heheheehh

well after looking at my stitchy list for last year I did extremely well on the stitching and finishing of things off ..... approx of the top of my head 61 finishes (some were extremely little) and only a few things to finish off which I will concentrate on ~~while~~ after starting my new crazies of 2012
I have a few prizes to get finished and on their way along with a few surprises for my followers in the pipe line *VBG

soooo before I forget I really must thank my fellow stitchy friends for the wonderful presents I received off them for Christmas , Chris stitched me a pin cushion from BBD , Michelle stitched me a lovely pillow from the trilolgy RR and gave me a lovely dragon floss called snowflake ...Sheila made me a cute knitted mouse , Val made me a beautiful bracelet and send a lovely thread with it too :) Karen got me a lovely little chatelaine needle holder ... Kath got me a lovely wall hanging to stitch and make up ... already thought what thread to use on it :) Niina sent me a moomin tin full of teas and sweeties ... yummmm ... having to fight my DD for the tin though heheheh and finally Fiona sent me the cutest girl mouse and some little candy canes and goodies to make a marshmallow hot chocolate yummmmmmmmm .... thank you sooo much and there is some still on its way travelling across the pond :)

I would also like to thank all my other blogging buddies for keeping me sane and on the straight and narrow and for being the nicest peeps around .. you know who you are (((((HUGE HUGS)))) to you all :)

ok on to the eye candy and nope Joyze no hunks here am afraid I shall leave that to you heheheheh
with out further ado here is my new start and my prezzies :)

Winter Whites finished and made up :)

first crazy start of 2012

from Niina :)

designed and stitched by me :)

goodies from raffle with the stitchy girls here

mouse and goodies from Fiona :)

from Michelle

mouse from Sheila , pin cushion from Chris
and Bracelet and thread from Val

Tea from DD2 :)

From Kath

oooo as I was adding the photos forgot about the finish finish of Winter whites into a simple cushion and also a biscornu I designed for Inky and decided to stitch it myself ..lol and in there is the Yummy teas from Whittards that are my yearly treat :) as well as the Christmas raffle I won from the stitchy girls I meet up with each week ... a lovely drawn thread chart and frame .....
On Boxing day my DH cousin's came and Helen is a wonderful painter of animals http://www.helenharnett.co.uk/..... she couldn't wait to have a look at my stitching and has actually commissioned me to stitch her the Souvenir Sampler by Drawn Thread so I shall be stitching it twice ... once in silks for her and in DMC for me ....and in return she is going to paint me a oil painting of my furbabies Bracken and Monty who are no longer with me ... it was something I wanted doing but could never afford to have done at the time ..... so a wonderful situation all round ... she was really impressed with my stitching *vbg* sooo please send me some steaming needles and good wishes etc to get all this lot done ...lol

oooo almost forgot sarah over at crafty moo is having a giveaway :)

Well I had better go and get something done now so I shall squeak to you all tomorrow .... take care and happy stitching
lots of love mouse xxxxxx

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year 2012

2011-12-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hi Every one :) just a quick squeak to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a merry stitchy new year 2012 .... :)
to all who are starting the crazy challenges etc in the new year I wish you luck and steaming needles :)

I am keeping this one short and sweet ;) but I will leave you with a design I designed especially for my group the Friendly Stitchers ....

I stitched it with Evergreen Gast and Hollyberries Gast which I thought was quite fitting for the season ..lol

and finished making it up in the wee small hours of Christmas eve eve ..lol

hope every one has a wonderful Christmas and a merry stitchy new year (again ..lol)
take care one and all and squeak to you all in the new year :)
love mouse xxxxx

Hi every one :) ooooo can you see this mouse move ????

2011-12-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :) ooooo can you see this mouse move ???? methinks you need to grab a cuppa or a wine seeing as it is the season to be merry ;) and sit back ready for the ride and eye candy to follow hehehehhe ..... don't scroll down to the end first ..lol

It was the weekend before Christmas
when all through the house not a creature was stirring
except a hermitting mouse
she sat in her chair with her needle and threads
while images of new crazies and humming birds danced through her head

she stitched and she stitched through out the long winters night
as she knew the end of her crazies was in sight
as the clock struck midnight, she scampered to bed
with only one row to stitch "yeahhhhh " was all she said

and on the morning of the 18th of December
a pretty good date for you all to remember
she sat in her chair and stitched that last row
and took a photo so you all would know .....

that mouse had finished all fifteen of her crazies .....

yeah I know that last bit don't rhyme heheheh

anddddd this week the postie has been extra busy bringing un expected goodies to the mouse house as well as some that were expected :)

first of all I got a wonderful card from Inky with a raspberry tea in it and a needle minder in the shape of a wee frog .... he is sooooo cute .... then Patty C sent me not one but two absolutely gorgeous stitched ornaments which are on my tree .... I've got stitched ornaments finally on my tree whoop whoop ..lol ..... I can now show you mine that I sent to her ..... I've also heard that my partner on friendly stitchers has received her ornament soo i can show you both of those tooo :)
then my blog goody wins from freddysmama turned up as well ......

are you jealous yet hehheheh as there is more ......a box from Finland turned up from my good friend Niina and inside was a Moomin tin filled with yummies and tea :) I will have to fight with DD1 for the tin as she loves Moomins ..lol and then .. yup there is more ...lol a parcel turned up for me with no identifying address on it at all ... soooo i carefully opened to find a letter in it saying please read .... and so I did ...lol ....Fiona had sent me a Christmas gift and one that I could open straight away ..... so I did ..lol and found a cute red mouse pincushion ..... I can't wait to see what my other goodies are .....I want to thank you all very much for making this little mouse sooooo happy not only with the presents but also for the cards that have come too :)
I must admit to being very behind with the cards etc and If one doesn't get to you it don't mean that I don't love you .. just time hasn't been on my side and the last posting dates came and went before I knew it ......

so are you ready for the eye candy ????? well you'd better get another cuppa first .. piece of chocolate roll or mince pie to go with it ????

mine to Patty C

mine to Amy on Friendly stitchers

Amy 's to me

Winter White finished 14th December

crazies kitted up

crazies all kitted up

stitched by kath finished by me :)

stitched by Kath finished by me

thought this was cute my

mantelpiece

from Patty C to me sorry photo a wee bit yuk

my blog win goodies

my cute needle minder and card from Inky

from Fiona :)

my second gorgeous ornie from Patty C

yummies from Niina :)

thread gathering finished today

closer look :)

sooooo if you have managed to get this far .... well done and an extra cuppa for you ..lol

thank you to every one who has been on this years stitching journey with me and kept me company and encouraged me all the way .... I will say it again ... you stitchers are the best ;).... and I will need you all again for next years crazies hehehhehe :0)

take care and have a great week and see you before the big day :)
love mouse xxxxxx

ON the 9th day of Christmas ......

2011-12-09T00:12:00.001-08:00

Hi every one :) Jo at http://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/ had a brilliant idea for an on line calender and today's my day :).....
so here is my picture for behind my door

Stitched by me 2010

as to traditions for Christmas ... welll since we have been married, the main one was having the decorations up by the 6th December (our wedding day 23years this year eeekkk ..lol)

but I digress .....
as a wee child I remember being soooo excited on Christmas eve as we hung our stockings on the door handles of our bedrooms my sister and I .... and they nothing special, just a pair of nylon tights, but the love that went into the wee gifts in there was second to none .... my mum and dad couldn't afford much but there was always an apple and a satsuma at the bottom..... and each small present was wrapped and eagerly ripped off in glee ..lol
We always got the yearly annual of our favourite comics .... Dandy , Beano , Mandy or Bunty .... mine were the first two and my sisters the second .....
I blame the parents for my wicked sense of humour ;)

I loved the run up to the "big" day with the carol singing ... I was always the first to start and loved going to church, as it always seemed more special as the candles were always lit each Sunday in December ......
One year when we were very small my sister and I were woken up early as it was snowing and we hadn't played out in the snow before..... so we were bundled into our warm coats and wellies and joined the rest of the children on our street and had a wonderful time .... one thing that always puzzled me was the fact I could see the stars twinkling in the sky ..... I asked my dad years later and apparently it was midnight we were playing out in all the snow ......

so there you go a wee insight to a little mouse's Christmas :)

ho ho ho and merry Christmas to one and all .....and peace and goodwill to all, as it is the season ......:)
until next time take care :)
love mouse xxxx

Harrogate, Stash and lots of goodies to boot :)

2011-11-29T13:36:00.001-08:00

Hi every one :) ... better warn you in advance this post could be a wee long heheheh ... so grab that cuppa and keep the pot hot, methinks you are going to need it hahahahah .....
In case you didn't know I and a few friends from my group .. along with thousands of other folks descended on the knitting and stitching show at Harrogate this last weekend :)
The preparation for this event started a good few days before making my list for stash I would require to do my crazy list as per last post ..... well I duly wrote this list out three times !!!!! on the final one I wrote on two sides of A4 paper with all the flosses in alphabetical order or number order and the count of the fabric I required or needed ;) on the other and popped it into a plastic wallet and into my travelling stitcher bag :)
The sunshine was duly ordered as last year we had terrible snow storms we were praying that it didn't happen this year and thankfully it didn't :) ... any way Friday dawned beautifully early .. I asked Shelley to text me when she set off from her house to mine so that by the time she had made it to the mouse house I would be up and a wee bit with it ..lol ..... I had the  kettle on for a reviving cuppa for when she got here ... showed her the tidy mouse house craft room and the list before setting off to Harrogate .... I was that excited I couldn't remember whether I had put the list in my bag and all the way there I was fretting I had left it at home and how could I get it to me for the show eeeekkkkk ....
We pulled up at the hotel around 11.00 am and I breathed a sigh of relief when I found that blooming list ..lol ... Val and Shelia were already there and Sandra was on route and before we knew it, Karen and Gillie along with a wee Scottish Lady (Ally) that had been whisked down specially for the weekend as a surprise to the others turned up not long after .
We all went down to the show once we had got organised and met up with Frances from our group who we had not "seen " before .... she fits in very well ;) and it was lovely to meet her face to face *waving paw hellooooo again ....
I zoomed round the show as fast as my little legs would let me and found the Sparklies stand and promptly got out my stitching to show Kate what I had done on her fabric ...... Gillie turned round to Shelley and said "shall we go and have a three course lunch and a coffee afterwards and come back to get her in a couple of hours " ... oooo the cheek ..lol
I managed to get nearly all on my list after cutting it up and leaving bits at at Trudy Ann Designs before going to West End Embroidery for the other threads I needed :)
Gillie and I returned late in the afternoon with arms laden with my goodies as she very kindly brought my new lamp back with her ... its hard only having one arm free ..lol
We came down to dinner for 7.00pm and was still there yacking and laughing well passed 10.00pm and carried on till quite late in mine and Shelley's room as ours was the biggest this year ... Ally and Gillie were stitching on the biscornu I had designed for the bran tub while we were all in there ... Gillie stayed up till 2.30 am and finished it :) ... considering I gave them the chart well in advance of the weekend you would have thought it would have been done before ..lol
ok I've had to put the kettle on now ..lol .....
On Saturday we met up with some more friends from the group who had come down for the day along with Fiona  at the Trudy Anne stall and photos were taken by Michelle sooo if you want to have a peek at them go there :)
stash wise I got some backing fabric and buttons and charms and Ally's belated birthday prezzie a lovely piece of fabric from Sparklies ... Kate kindly said she would come to the hotel that night to talk to us all :)
we went back at dinner time for a well deserved cuppa and for the girls to have the hardanger class with Val back at the hotel in her posh sitting room :).... not much was got done, I hasten to add as there was too much hilarity and Karen got a stitch from laughing !!! Although I did take a photo to prove that Ally actually stitches hahahaha ....
Kate from Sparklies  came back to the hotel before we had dinner and gave us a lovely talk on how she learnt to dye and how she works to get those lovely colours of her fabrics ... she fitted in really well as we were all in fits of laughter after her talk .... we learnt quite a lot and are really grateful she took the time out to meet us and offered to come and do a "class dyeing " session once we could work out the where .... looking forward to it very much :)
we carried on with more chatting and laughing over dinner ... the chuckle muscles certainly got a good work out .....laughing at Karen and Shelley forgetfulness as to what they went looking round the show for that afternoon ..lol... they finally did get what they went for ... good job I did a list is all I can say ..lol..... must mention that Val had stitched us all a lovely biscornu bud for each of us as well as a wee Christmas prezzie that had to go under our tree when we got back home :)
On Sunday we all swapped the Biscornu's before we all split up to go back to normality or at least some of them did .. Shelley and I gluttons for punishment pootled back down to the show to get the bits in we had missed ....  we discovered the "Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry 1745" which took the whole of the underneath corridor up on both sides ... 105 panels of work which took over 18 months from start to finish with bits stitched on by folks who had never picked up a needle before ..... the end result is very impressive and I hope my photos do it justice ....
we also went round the guild stalls downstairs and had a good look at the work the students had put in and also of the stunning work of the exhibitors upstairs in Hall M ... unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos there .... but some of the work was exquisite to say the least :)
Shelley and I decided to take a pit stop and got a drink and a sticky bun to revive us and had a right giggle when a lady stopped us to say to go and prop ourselves up in the corner of the cafe area ... I said I am already propped up ..lol with my crutch ... she said we looked like we needed to lean against something .... I looked at Shelley and said do we look that bad hahahahah .....
We finally emerged from the show at 4.30pm !! and made our way home to to the mouse house and a restorative cuppa or two before Shelley went on her way to her house.......

so there you are.... the tales of the Harrogate weekend ... the stash will be shown in a wee while .... I just have to tell you of the kindness of a fellow blogger Karen  who sent me the box for "Casting a Spell" as we over here cannot get it ((((HUGE HUGS)))) to her and many thanks ... I shall have a lovely display for Halloween next year :)
I also received a lovely parcel from my secret pen pal which arrived over the weekend with an adorable mouse , some mouse backing fabric, a wee mouse button and a beautifully stitched mouse and tape measure scissor fob with matching scissors (pattern is from the brooke books alphabet freebies)  and some lovely autumn fall sweeties ... which taste just like our fudge over here yummmmmmmm ......Thank you soooooo much, they are all gorgeous *VBG can't wait to know who you are so I can thank you by name ..lol :)
And today Teejay popped over to the mouse house with my calender girl goodies .. she got the thread as they reminded her of me .. Jolly Joker and steaming needles are amongst the names heheheh
so endeth this huge blog update ..... three cuppas later I get to the end heheheh .... I must admit I am still recovering from it as I didn't realise but I have an upper respiratory infection so it was no wonder I sounded like my bellows had bust when I laughed hahahah.....

ok folks I will love you and leave you to drool over the photos of the weekend and my stash and goodies ...

Calender Stash from Teejay :)

My pudding had same both nights it was soo yummy ..lol

Hardanger class in Val's suite

My Biscornu design stitched by the girls to swop

the length of the tapestry !!!

my biscornu bud stitched by Val :)

Royal Hall Harrogate

gorgeous goodies from my pen pal ... my mouse is adorable

the box from Karen with my chart :)

Jane Greenoffs stall at Harrogate

My small stash haul

my backing fabric haul

so there you go hope you have all enjoyed the write up and I shall leave you in peace for a wee while ...lol .. take care and happy stitching one and all :)
love mouse xxxxxx

ISHW Craft room and a finish or two :)

2011-11-20T14:38:00.001-08:00

HI every one :) soooo pleased it was international stitch and hermit this weekend .. I could actually get my petite derrière in my chair legally and stitch hahahahaha with the odd cuppa or two (that goes with out saying really hehehe)

I am also really pleased to say that I have got both my ornament exchanges finished finished and are all ready and packed to go the post office tomorrow and be on their merry way across the pond and on time tooo PHEW heheheh photos will be shown once they have been received safely :)

here at the mouse house earlier on this week the weather has been glorious sunshine and sooo mild for this time of year .... I have had the back door into the craft room open while I have been merrily sorting and putting stuff away and I can finally say I'VE DONE IT !!!!!..... can you see this happy dance ????
three weeks later the room has had a spring clean, a lick of paint and a whole lot of sorting done ......
the best comment was from a friend ,when moaning about stuff not going back in he said it was like digging a hole then trying to put it all back ... it won't go in no matter how hard you try ...lol

I promised Cindy that I would get Afternoon tea out and work on it this weekend as she was getting Gillie to nag me at Harrogate (this Friday whoop whoop) soo last night I worked on it for 4 hours ... as its over one ... it doesn't look much ... I was sorry to have to put it down as it was late and bed time for me ..... have taken photos as proof !!

Cindy, Shelley and I were talking on FB the other night and we got round to how many pieces we had stitched on this year and finished ... well I got my little book out and counted 1,2 miss a few 45 ,46...... eeekk I had finished 46 stitched pieces and have 9 more on the go *KERPLUNK ..lol
I have had to take a photo of the book too ..lol they are a suspicious lot ..lol

As you know I am going to do the crazy January challenge 2012 again as I have thoroughly enjoyed doing it this year and as we are going to Harrogate stitching show on Friday till Sunday .... I have this afternoon got together a list of charts I wish to do from my stash pile next year .... this could be subject to change if I can't get the threads/ fabric notions etc to do them at the show ..... do you want to know then ?????

ok.... deep breath.... and go

flower patch.... loopy lou designs
souvenir sampler .... the drawn thread
scissors .....cherry wood designs
needle ... as above
winter band sampler ....LHN
Melicent Turner sampler.... LHN
ladybugs and bumble bees.... LHN
the north wind doth blow.... LHN
pumpkin Cottage ....CCN
summer splendor ...LHN
bloom sampler ....threadworks
bushel and a peck .... La D Da
Cranberry sampler ... the Sweetheart Tree
there is a garden ... Purely samplers
a sampling in the square .... Blue Ribbons

as well as doing the Cottage SAL by CCN and one or two smalls too ..... I have also been doing a wee bit of designing for my group the friendly stitchers but that wont be released till next year ....

soooo all I need to do this week is go through my stash and check what I need to get and all being well this will be the list :)

ok Cindy and Shelley here are the photos for you hahahahah...... DOOOHH I forgot to mention that I worked on Winter Whites this weekend too and worked with whisper thread for the first time too on the sheepies ..lol and my finish was Fa la la by LHN :)

here you go now ..lol

poinsettia all ironed :)

view from my chair

the gallery :)

outside onto my garden

to the left stitching to the right card making etc

Fa la La finished (LHN)

Afternoon Tea Haed

Winter Whites

Whisper sheepies

my book of remind me to do 's ..lol highlights are the ones finished

please excuse the hand writing .. usually updating when I remember and have to get it down quick..lol..... sooo I hope you have enjoyed the insight into my wee room and it is still tidy hehehehe

right I had better get this on to the blog land as I have peeps waiting to look ..lol

off to go and make a last cuppa before bed

take care and happy stitching :)

love mouse xxxxx

still recovering ..lol

2011-11-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hi every one :)
sorry my usual blog post is late but as you can tell from the title I am still recovering from the party and the re decorating of my craft room ..... we still have bits of Halloween still up that we haven't got round to sorting out like curtains etc ... need to find a dry day to get them washed and back up so we are still stuck with the shower curtain up and the black ones in the room ooo and not to mention the red light bulbs which surprisingly are quite nice really hehehehe.

The kettle has gone on for you Joyszeroo :) want a fiendish fancy or a scary lemon n lime jaffa cake bar to go with it ????

My little piece of sanctuary is now sporting a wonderful calming buttermilk cream colour on the walls and shiny white window sills ..... it really didn't take that long to do the painting ... its all the sorting out and reorganising that's the problem ..... after a week and a half I just had to sit down and out some stitches into my Winter Whites ..lol
How is it that when you take stuff out of a room .. get rid of some of the furniture and some craft magazines (card making one ) tidy up things into the correct boxes and reorganise that you suddenly find it won't all go back in ?????
there must be a answer to this sooo all suggestions gratefully received heheh

The weather at the mouse house as you have already guessed has not been very conducive to going out and about until today when DD1 suggested we go for a walk in the woods near by and I could take some pictures yipppeee ... soo armed and dangerous with the camera DD1 , DH and I went for a pootle round stopping every few mins for a hang on ... ooo look at this and ooo look at that mushroom ...It was absolutely gorgeous in there with all the fall colours and as we walked round leaves were silently raining down on us ... the only sound was of the blue tits chirping and the rustling of a squirrel up a tree every so often .......I must admit it was the very tonic I had been looking for as it blew all the cobwebs away and I feel sooo much better than I did .....

I have done some stitching as mentioned on the Winter White .. not much progress but better than none at all and I've also stitched my ornament for my partner on friendly stitchers just need to decide how to finish it .. I've also started my ornament for Patty C which I hope she will like, but obviously I can't show you them as yet ..lol The next on the stitchy list is the biscornu I've designed for the Harrogate bran tub exchange which will be revealed in two weeks YIPPPPPEEE ooo can you tell I'm getting excited to go ..lol..... I've still got to do my list yet as I need to sort out the crazy challenge pieces for 2012 and make sure I have everything for them and if not I will get them at Harrogate *VBG and then I've to make an Autumn Needle book as an angel stitching for one of the members on Friendly Stitcher's who was let down by her partner .. soo I need to get sorted for that one asap too :)

well I suppose I'd better get those photos up I can show you heheh drum roll please hahahah

The book case sorted

Winter whites LHN

mushrooms at the woods

adventure playground

entrance to the woods

some sort of hips ???

anther mushroom

looking back

one on a tree

ooo its mouse ..lol

love this one :)

and another type

and found some more pretties

I hope you all enjoyed your walk in the woods as much as I did today and I shall now go and put the kettle on again and go and get my needle warmed up and get some more stitching done .... thank you for all your lovely comments back channel too, checking if I was ok etc ... take care one and all and happy stitching to you too :)
love mouse xxxx

Stitching SPOOKS n GHOULS eeekkkkk

2011-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :) first of all Happy Halloween to every one however you celebrate it or not as the case may be :0
Ok where to start .... ohhh go on then I'll get the kettle on .... cup cake with it ????
kettle is filled and on and bubbling away merrily ..
The week started with a finish YIPPPPPEEEEEE.. no 13 /15 to be exact..... poinsettia house by LHN ... the last stitches went in on Tuesday night .. unfortunately the piece was un ironed when I took the photo, as we had started to get the Halloween props out and ready for the BIG party on Saturday night :)
I have also put some more stitches into Winter whites but am not sure I took an update photo as I have slept since then ..lol
my craft room was slowly emptied from then on and cooooo I forgot how big the room actually is hahhahahah .. my stuff is spread through out the house in the bedrooms the attic and the garage and that was only what was on the floor , the work top, the window ledges and the shelves ..lol ....mmmm do you think I might have a craft addiction ???
I got a real shock on Thursday .. we had the stitching club here so that they could see some of the decorations..... as DD1 and her friend K had started to put them out .... we were merrily stitching away when both DD's n DH came in, after going out for a McDonalds, with a MacALLY !!!!! DD1 had arranged for her to come down and stay for a few days especially for the party WOOOOO HOOOOO :)

Friday was a veryyyyyy lonnnnnng day shifting stuff and hanging stuff up and occasionally stopping for a tea break ... there were four of us doing this and DD2 was baking yummy flapjacks and cup cakes ...... can 't remember what else we did as brain has gone for a walk..lol

Saturday the day of the party dawned very early as none of us had a really good nights sleep as we were soooo excited ... ?? and there were lots still left to do .... I had to find my sewing machine to do some alterations on part of DD1's costume and stick something onto DH's ... Ally was making tea and catching up on emails to make sure we were up to date with all activity on our groups ... she later iced all the cupcakes with butter cream icing in white and dark chocolate .....I went round and took some before photo's while I was at it too :)

Karen and her DH turned up with the star of the show Freddie who had his own costume and she got straight in and helped with any thing she could :)
I received some goodies from a blog win (sorry no photo :( but if you go to http://ftnfk.blogspot.com and have a scoot down a wee bit you will see what I won :)
the guests started arriving early and the party got under way in full swing for many an hour and there was music, laughter, karaoke and quite a few screams from peeps finding the scary bits around the house .......
DD1 and K did a fantastic job in the dining room ... they hung ooodles of black bin liners fringed so that you could get through them .. in circles from the ceiling and blacked out everything in there ... the only light was from the UV lights and the animated objects that were sensor activated ...... it took us ages to figure out how to get through ..lol and we kept ducking and that was in daylight .... when the guests came it really was pitch black and caused much merriment :)
every one had a fantastic time and complimented DD1 on throwing such a fabulous party ..... it was with great reluctance that folks began to drift home in the wee small hours of the morning .
Sunday Ally and I went round mine sweeping all the abandoned bottles , plastic cups and left over food in a bid to get some normality??? back in the mouse house......lol .... one huge brown bin full later of bottles we made it hahahaha
we then collapsed and chilled for the rest of the day (some more so than others eh Ally ..lol) in her defence she is poorly with a chest infection so I let her off ;)

Sooo Halloween day arrives and it took another 5 of us to take everything down , change light bulbs, hoover up and then we had a hilarious game of Darts ... please check out the mouse skills ..lol photo below !!!
we decided to have a fish and chip supper as a reward for all our hard work and then the girls entertained us with the Karaoke again

All in all we have had a fabulous few days .... the down side is no stitching can be done for a few days now as I and DH redecorate the craft room and then I have to get it all back in some semblance of order eeeekkkkkk wish me lots of luck ... I think I am going to need it ..lol

well there we have it for today folks ... so glad you have kept up with me heheh and the photos are on their way in a mo .... if you have a sensitive nature look away now hahahah

still tidying and the beers moving in

poinsettia house no 13 finish

winter whites lhn have done more to this since

I've moved out and beer moved in

enchanted living room

BOOO

my bathroom eeekkkk

wicked witch

some of the guests

phantom

Freddie

on our front garden

Karen , Ally n mouse

spoooookyyyy

time warp

Little bat

My brilliant shot :)

well that is all for now folks :) hope you have had a wonderful weekend .... take care and hope you all have a great stitching week :)

love mouse xxxxxxxxxxxx

what have tissues and lemsips have in common

2011-10-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :) well if you haven't guessed from the title .... this little mouse has been awfully sick this week with a bad cold :( gotten from her lovely DD1 and its passed on to DH as well ... soooo not much has been got done this week .
I knew it was going to be bad when my daily squeak got delivered to my in box with a little mouse blowing into a tissue and surrounded by them ..lol ... wish I could show it to you, as it was ever soo cute but not sure I can put it onto here

I have managed to get some more stitched on FA LA LA at stitching on Thursday night at Kath's this week ..... I had been in contact with them before and so far they haven't got it fingers crossed :) we had a lovely night stitching and admiring Kath's Halloween decorations and eating a lovely supper cooked by her daughter followed by a piece of coffee cake yummmmyyy :)

and today I finished off the spaniel puppy that I have stitched for Kath on her Afghan ..she asked me if I would like to do a square for her ... and never having stitched on one before I was quite impressed with it ..... may have to get one of my own :0...... I started it on Tuesday and finished the rest today .... I could work on it as it was over two so was 9 count and my tired little eyes were pleased I could see it with out my glasses heheheh .

on the postie front I have had a wonderful week .. I received my rotating designer exchange piece from Karamino she stitched me the most lovely scissor keep in the shape of an acorn complete with felt leaves and an adorable owl charm :)

then DJ sent me some more ornaments for the Christmas tree fund for Alison Joy's ward ... there are some more on their way soon soo the whole tree should be covered in "beautifully stitched with lots of love" ornaments :) along with a lovely Halloween ornament for DD1 which she loves and has hanging in her room atm .... I had to prise it down to take a photo hehehe

then I got a chart off Michelle that I am was hoping to stitch asap ..lol " poppy creations ...season of the witch" realised I haven't got any cc black coffee or gast black crow agghhhhhhhh..... ho hum ..lol

and then the cutest little tiny mouse pin was made and sent to me by cucki all the way from her house to mine ..... unfortunately he suffered a wee bit of damage that was fixed with tweezers and some glue .. one of his little wee tiny ears came off in transit :(

ohhh and I got a lovely card from my secret pen pal too ... I thought had a idea but now am completely confused who you are hahahahh :)

other than that I've not been able to get much done with the cold .. I have attempted to empty my craft room in preparation for Saturdays huge Halloween Party thrown by DD1 and had to give up but hopefully it will get finished this week.... I had a brain wave that while every thing was out I would re decorate and give the room a lick of paint .... that will be after party and when we are feeling much better :)
I did manage to get a load of threads on to their new bobbins and into a case .... I've had these threads for years and kept thinking will do them one day and as Thursday was the day I woke up to a pulled muscle in my neck and I couldn't do anything other than look forward or to the right sooo driving was out I decided to chill for the day and wind them on ....

soooo there you are folks not much to report except I am feeling a wee bit better today and long may it continue :)
I'd better leave you with the photos of said goodies heheheh

rotating designer exchange

my organised threads at long last

my sweet mouse pin from Cucki

FalaLa LHN update

ornament from DJ for DD1

Kath's Afghan piece

sooo there you have it for this week folks :) hope every one stays cold free :) and happy stitching
love mouse xxxxx

Hermitting and lots of stitching and goodies :)

2011-10-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :)

It was the night of the hermitting when all through the house
not a creature was stirring except for a mouse,
she sat with her needle and stitched through the night
with a cuppa in one hand and a light to her right.
She weaved her magic with colours of thread
with thoughts of new projects dancing in her head,
she stitched tiny kisses till the breaking of light
and she knew then then end of the chart was in sight.
She put down her needle and scampered to bed
where she dreamed of more patterns and lots of new thread :)

Its amazing what you can come up with when you are stitching in the wee hours of the morning ... heheheh .. hope you like my wee poem :)

Well I had a lovely start to the week when the postie brought me my Needle book from Ally we were exchange partners for the Autumn Needlebook exchange over on Friendly Stitchers .. she stitched me the pumpkin design by JBW designs in the recommend floss on a cream even weave .... picture to follow..... and I also received from my secret pen pal a cute halloween gift of a candy corn bag filled with yummies including some peeps and gummy rats and a really cute Doodles design from Hob -Nobb designs called swirling leaves .... thank you ever soooo much .... I still have some of the yummys left and am slowly working my way through them :) DD wants the bag after she was a wee bit jealous that I had got it hehehehe
I also received some lovely threads off Jillann for my calender girl month over on Friendly Stitchers which I have lovingly drooled and fondled heheheh
and I have sent my ornaments off to the attic needlework shop to raise some funds for the breast cancer cure and I've sent my pen pal letter off and hope she receives it soon :)
I got my sewing machine out in the week and finished the needlework shop into a cushion along with some hand stitched cards I had received and one that I had stitched many years ago ... you may be able to tell its on aida !!! I also made some up for kath too which she picked up when she and Bev and Chris came to the mouse house on Thursday night for the stitching night ..... we all got lots done and lots of tea drunk too ... I worked on my Poinsettia House and stitched some more of it on Saturday after tea :)

I went out Saturday afternoon with my friend Tina and we went to the local garden centre were we indulged in a wonderful hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows and a fresh cream scone tooo .... very bad of me I know and I paid for it late but hey ho hehehehehhe (photo was took ;)
we had a wander round before we headed back to her house for a cup of tea .. it was thirsty work catching up with each other heheheh

I had a conversation with DJ a few weeks ago and said mmmm your birthday is coming up soon isn't it ... answer yes ... thought ooo got time to do something for it .... this week sent an email saying I was going to be late for an important date .... I forgot about posting times over the pond DOH !!!!! any ways that's what I was doing till the wee small hours on Friday night and on Saturday I finished her wee present which will be in the post asap along with her "Wet Noodle prize" (she came 2nd) in our group "the friendly stitchers" competition .... of who had worked on their UFO's and finished any through out the year ... progress photos were put up during the year and was voted on by the group .... we ran this competition in memory of one of our members Alison Joy who wielded the wet noodle for many a year .......

Cindy are you there ???? this next bit is for you :) my haed design was screaming at me today and seeing as it was hermitting weekend and I was doing it I took it out of its folder and said now then what's up ..lol
I had started it ages and ages ago and as things go other projects came to the front of the queue and it got left behind :( .. I had started the stitching 2 over 1 but wasn't happy about the untidy coverage ... didn't think it was my stitching ..lol and sooo I took it all out today and re started it 1 over 1 and I am much happier with the result and carried on stitching the design until tea time ... so I shall show you the progress photo in a wee while yippppeee I hear your cry hehehehh
Have just put the kettle on for you all ... any one want a piece of Chocolate Swiss roll ???
Righty ho I am fortified with my cuppa soooo here finally are the photos of progress , cream cakes and some flowers too :) Not to mention the start of the Halloween decorations going up !!!!!

goodies from my pen pal

from Ally

calender girl goodies from Jillann

my Christmas cards made into cushions

Needle work shop LHN

Tina and I's cream tea

Spooky decorations

lobilea

black eyed susans

poinsettia house LHN

Afternoon Tea HAED

ornament one

ornament two

So there you have it for this week :) hope you have enjoyed the photos and I must thank you all for the lovely comments .. I do enjoy getting them :)
hope you have a great stitchy week :0 till next time take care one and all :) love mouse xxxxx

Scarborough, stitching and a century post

2011-10-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :)
DD1 has been updating my back ground and my profile picture in honour of Halloween ...... just in case you were confused hehehe

well I can't believe I have got to my 100th  post since I started blogging last year.. I wonder how many cuppa's we have got through in that time hehehehe ....

As you know DH and I escaped for a few days away at Scarborough this week (that's why it was soooo quiet ..lol) and we had a lovely time.. the weather was great until we got back ....we stayed at the Grand Hotel and we got upgraded to a lovely big room due to a mix up with the rooms .... we wandered around the south side of Scarborough to our hearts content looking at the light house and all the boats in the marina and listening to the gulls screeching and catawalling and the sound of the waves lapping onto the beach as the sun went down and the tide came in.   On Thursday we went up to The Castle .... we walked round the whole of it with DH giving me all the history and finishing off with "one day they will finish it" hehehehe... and boy was it windy up there , thank goodness DH bought me a new walking coat which was lovely and toastie :) , had a go on the slot machines and won a few trinkets hehehe not to mention taking 330 photos ..but I won't bore you with them all hahahahah .....
we found a 2nd hand book store in the town and I dropped on a copy of Traditional Samplers by Brenda Keyes for £5.00 what a bargain ..lol .... I was gutted that the only time I have found a stitching shop there, that it was closed on a Wednesday .... nooooooo....... but DH on the way back home took me to York so I could go to the Viking Loom and the Craft Box there .. but unfortunately I didn't get much there either ... the fabric was wayyyyyyy to expensive(£50.00 for one metre of cream Belfast!!!!!) and they didn't have much in the way of specialist threads either so I ended up with a fat quarter of lovely pink fabric but I did take a nice shot of the York Minster ..lol

SOOOOOO finally onto the stitching bit :) as you know I entered the stitch bitch challenge competition and I can now show you my entry .. I won one of the lovely charm packs from Barb and Alma  and cant wait to get it and use it for something nice :)
My rotating designer piece arrived safely at its destination soooo I can show you that too yipppee and I have almost caught up with this months Romantique SAL .. I've only got a wee bit left to stitch and have sent my photo in as the final part comes out tomorrow .. if I get chance after yackking to you all I shall put a few more stitches into it :)
that is all the stitching updates I have got this week with going away as I didn't take any with me as we went for a complete just us break :)
but the postie did bring some lovely stuff for me this week .... my blog win from deb of the thread gather's fame arrived safely and I am still drooling over the scissor frog and the adorable gingher scissors ... I am going to have to make a special scissor fob for those beauty's :)
and DJ sent me a" just because prezzie "too the JCS Halloween and Christmas issues which I have had a squeak at, over a large cuppa ..... any one want another one ???? she is also doing a blog giveaway to highlight breast cancer awareness month sooo pop over and see her won't you :)
Rhona of tangled threads has opened her online shop at http://www.tangledthreadsonline.com/ so please go and have a peek you never know you just may find something that she has designed that will fit the bill :)
ooo have just remembered ..lol the little mouse in the needlebook photo is a Dora mouse design ... they do lots of other creatures and they are lovely sooo if you want to buy me something ;) heheheheh they do a frog, a westie ,a hedgehog and they have brought out some new ones we noticed when we went to the garden centre the other week :)
oooo have just previewed this and the space for the writing is sooo small .... mmmmmm
ok soooo on to the long awaited photos ta daaaaaaa

stitch bitch challenge piece

rotating designer piece

view from dining room window

looking the other way

sunset over Scarborough

sunrise from dining room window

the Grand Staircase

Scarborough Lighthouse

Scarborough Castle

looking onto North Bay at Scarborough

the Grand Hotel in the distance

another view just for DJ :)

ruins at the Castle

some more ruins

another view

York Minster

goodies

closer view of scissor frog and yummie ginghers

romantique SAL almost finished

finally framed by me :)

soooo there you are folks and if you've managed to get this far yipppee.. well done have another brew to celebrate hahahah :)
I shall leave you for now and hope you have a great week stitching :)
take care one and all :) love mouse xxxxx

Lights camera action :)

2011-09-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :) ooooo its been really warm here at the mouse house ... the washing line has been full every day with billowing sheets drying in the glorious Autumn sunshine ... long may it last .... my freckle s have almost joined together to make a lovely tan heheheh
well I can at last show you some of the stuff I've been working on yippppeeeeee :)
soooo grab your cuppa and sit back to watch the show ...lol

I left you last week with the start of my Autumn Challenge Sampler from the Samplermaker group...... well on Wednesday I finished it..... VBG :) ... I stitched it on a 28 count peachy creamy beige even weave from my stash using Anchor threads and a tiny wee bit of DMC 930 for the birds ...... If you want a copy of the chart and the no's I've used just email me :) .... it just needs a wee bit of tweaking as I noticed I'd moved the alphabet at the bottom one stitch to the left too much .... ho hum still learning this designing lark heheheheh

I also finished my needle book for Ally and sent it on its merry way and as she has got it I can now show you that too :) I stitched her Autumn treasures a freebie from the rainbow gallery designed by Erica Michaels using a piece of gold sparklie unknown linen using threadworx and Steph francis Silk in autumnal colours whipped stitched together with quilt wadding inside and a coordinating felt for her to pop her needles on too :) She adores it another big PHEW heheeh

Sally got the travelling pattern safely and has made a good start on it last time I looked ..lol so bob on over to see how she is getting on :)

Lynda finally received my PIF and loves it too PHEW again ..lol so another photo for you to drool over heheheh this was stitched on a piece of mocha ? linen using the same threadwork thread as Ally's needle book and finished off into a wee pillow with autumnal fabric .....the chart was a freebie from another blog and I wish I could remember who it was so I can say thanks for it ..... if any one recognises it please let me know :)

on the stitching front I've also stitched the little freebie that daffy cat was offering on her blog called ladybug smile and I've stitched it to sent to America to the Attic Needlework shop so that they can raise funds to help cure breast cancer ... it only took a couple of hours to do so I shall be stitching another one or two and make them up into little cushions :) this is my plan for the weekend ...all being well as you all know the best laid plans of mice and men ..lol

we had the stitching group at Bev's this week and I managed to get quite a bit done on the Poinsettia House by LHN .. sorry no photo on this one as just realised and its too dark in here to take one now DOH !!!!! will bob it up next time :) ...... I have quickly started the next sections of the Romantique SAL today and have almost got part 19 ( I think ) done but again its waaaaay to late to take a photo ...... I have been struggling to get the post up as I've had to move onto the new updated blogger interface and though a wee bit strange am getting more used to it ...... this may change ..lol

DH has just brought me a cuppa in :) oooo yeah we are going away this next week for a couple of days to Scarborough all being well .... just the two of us :) looking forward to a fish and chip supper on the prom heheheh

I have decided only to do the 15 challenge pieces next year as thought if I did the 31 I wouldn't be able to stitch anything for any one else ..... I am hopefully going to go through my stash this weekend as I try and tidy up in here and pick the pieces and then figure out what fabric and threads I need to get after going through the mouse house stash piles :)...... all being well there shouldn't be too much to get heheheh ... but as we are going to Harrogate Show again this back end of November I can pick up what I need extra from there :)

Ok sooooo are you ready for the show ??????? ......... here you go some photos for you to peep at :)

Ally's needle book

Autumn Sampler Challenge peice

Daffys cats freebie stitched for fund raising

Lynda's PIF

So there you go folks :) hope you have enjoyed the show and all being well there will be some more piccy updates next time :)
t.t.f.n and happy stitching :)
love mouse xxxxxx

Would you believe I'm speechless and the Winner of the TP revealed :)

2011-09-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :) ooooo hope you are all well and enjoying the lovely fall weather we are having atm and that as it is weekend you will get lots of stitching done :)
well as I have said I am speechless this week .... a rare occurrence hahahahah but it has happened not once , not twice but three times this week alone!!!! ..... soooo put the kettle on as I've got lots to tell and show this week as well as reveal the next stitcher of the Travelling pattern :)
are you settled ... want a biscuit to dunk ?? Edgar has got a new cookie book... think he ought to make us some to go with our cuppas :)

ok I digress ... I received the lovely "happiness "chart from Jane on Tuesday which is in the must stitch soon pile ..lol ... and also my calender girl threads arrived from Meg (friendly stitchers)

On Wednesday my private exchange arrived from Angela .... I took it carefully out of its parcel and wow wow wow it is gorgeous ... my photo (to follow) just doesn't do it justice .... it is beautifully stitched and finished and my very first flatfold .... she had a hard time choosing the pattern for me .... I didn't realise I was sooo awkward ..lol she writes all about it on her blog .. go over for a peek :)

Thursday the lovely post lady we have this week knocked on the door and passed me a large white box and it was addressed to me for a change hehehehe ... and it was my "back to blogging prize" from Terri .... I carefully opened the box and the first thing that struck me was the delicious smell followed by "oh my " oooooohhhhh and look and wow which brought DD into the craft room to see what all the fuss was about .. she tried to pinch my Yankee candle ... but it didn't work ..lol.......... I was blown away with the goodies inside of fabric , threads , material , charts , sweeties and a pen and note-lets and a wish list pad ..lol not to mention the lovely ribbons .... I just spent the day looking and fondling and and generally gob smacked to be honest ......
I just had to take them to our stitching group meet up which was at Bev's this week and show off my goodies to them all :) and I got some stitching done in between the cups of tea and the delicious butterfly buns that Bev had quickly whipped up for us to eat :)

eeee I've popped the kettle on again ... its thirsty work writing this hehehe

oooo back to the speechless bit .. I got a message on the Friendly stitchers from Jillann that she had sent me a just because present ...... and it arrived today ,..... the cutest little stitching mouse ... from Etsy ... complete with a mouse badge and a certificate too ..... DD1 said it looks just like me.... although it should be wearing glasses when stitching ..lol
soooo there you have it ... I am just overwhelmed with everything this week and I thank you all from the bottom of my stash pile ;0 (and its a lot bigger now ...lol)..... I am so glad that I started this blog and found so many new friends in the stitching world.......

On the stitching front I have completed and packed,ready to send the rotating designer piece to my partner... this time was Prairie Schooler..... I've started my needlebook for Ally for our Autumn Exchange over on the Friendly stitchers ..... kitted out a few bits for some ornaments to raise money for Breast cancer ( see Pumpkins blog ) and started stitching the Autumn Challenge Piece on the Sampler maker group sooo I will show you in a wee bit ...

And my Challenge piece is up on the Stitch Bitch blog you can go and vote for your favourite ... I'm not saying which is mine but may be you can guess ???

FINALLY the winner is of the Travelling Pattern is ..................................

SALLY

It was a very difficult choice ...... I shall pop the pattern in the post on Monday as I've to go to the post office with a huge pile of stuff and that's the first day I can pootle up .... can you just let me know its arrived safely :)

If you have made it this far congratulations ..lol the photos are coming up next for you to drool over ... please have your hankies ready to mop it up ;)

My exchange piece from Angela" Paper Whites" LHN

Back to Blogging goodies from Terri

My stitching mouse from Jilllann

Autumn Challenge piece The samplermaker Group

calender girl goodies from Meg

I am now going to go and get a wee bit of supper and then go and get some more done on the sampler as I am thoroughly enjoying stitching on something I have designed using the motifs from Jenny over at appleseed prim blog that she kindly gave us to use how we wished for the challenge .. I just hope she likes what I have done :0 and for the eagled eyes ones of you ... yes the colours are different to what I have charted ..lol I did a floss toss on my fabric and they were the ones that went pick me pick me .... so I did ..lol

take care one and all and hope you all have a lovely stitchy weekend and I shall squeak to you all soon :)
love mouse xxxx

IHSW and i'm stalking the postie again :)

2011-09-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hi Every one :) hope this finds you all well and been stitching to your hearts content of the weekend of the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend of September..... I was really good and managed to hide away on Friday night and then it went down hill from there hahahaha .. did get loads done on two exchange pieces I am doing... unfortunately can't show you just yet:(
BUT the week before well I can show you lots and yack about lots heheheh SOOOOOO get the kettle on me thinks you are going to need it ..lol

now where was I ahhh yes .... I have been very fortunate these last few days and have won some lovely give aways .. one from Debbie which please forgive me for droooling a wee bit here .. a pair of wonderful blue gingher scissors and a scissor frog will be winging its way across to the mouse house .... a lovely chart off Jane a bird of happiness and also a prize from Terri for her back to blogging give away ... this also is winging its way to me .... sooo can you see my happy dance ???
My personal exchange piece is winging its way across the pond too soooo now you can see why I am stalking the postie heheheh ..... he has been very nice to me this week already though as my secret pen pal sent me two of the cutest wee mice ornaments and some notelets .....(I've sent my letter off to my pen pal and I hope she gets this one ) and also my calender girl parcel of Meg (from the friendly stitchers group) arrived too ... soo have been drooling over my stash again heheheh

on the sewing front I have completed the making up of the christening cushions and dropped them off as well as doing some making up of stuff for Kath too.... so now I can move a wee bit more in the craft room .. well I could until I went to Michelles..lol ..... Kath asked me if I wanted to go and meet Michelle on Saturday as she was going to pick something up from hers and as I had bought a craft tote from her as well, I could get it early instead of waiting to meet her at Harrogate ... well not being one to miss out on an outing ... off we went to Michelle's house and Chris came too ... I was the map reader again ..lol
we had a lovely time there ... her new conservatory is gorgeous as well as her garden and while I was there gave an improptu sewing lesson ..lol ... we went out for lunch and had a lovely meal at a local carvery before heading back for another cuppa or two and admiring of her stitched pieces and stash too :)
Can't wait for Harrogate to meet up again ... how many sleeps now ???
I got back home to find out that our main computer has developed a fault NOOOOOOOOOO ..... luckily I had managed to back up quite a lot of my files of work a few days before ... its still all there just won't let us stay on to do anything .........
I've managed to get a bit of stitching done since I got back and hopefully as DH is on nights this week should get a bit done each day and night soooo that I can catch up with everything ....watch this space ......:)

ok hopefully I will be able to upload some pictures soooo fingers crossed as never done this before on here ......

christening cushions finished

from my secret penpal :)

Stocking stitched by Kath made up by me

Fa La La By LHN me and DJ :)

Stitched by Kath made up by me :)

Yeahhhhhhh it did it ..lol ..... I've sent off my PIF to Lynda sooo hopefully it will arrive soon ...
we had our stitching group at the mouse house last Thursday and I managed to get quite a lot done on the Fa La La by LHN ... DJ can you see yourself now ????..lol
before I forget I must let you know that the boys have gone to a new home and are settling well ... they have now got lots of lady friends ;) and my garden can now be put back to some semblance of normality as the boys quite liked a lot of my plants to munch on ..lol my poor hostas are reduced to tiny ragged leaves ....
think this is it for now ..... don't forget about the travelling pattern in my last post ..... you need to comment there if you want to be in with a chance for it .. well I have just seen the time and it definitely time for this little mouse to go to snooze so I shall say t.t.f.n... take care and happy stitching till next time :) love mouse xxxxx

Time to Travel on TP is finished :)

2011-09-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hi every one :)
short post tonight but still, does any one want a cuppa ?????

The travelling pattern is finished Woooo Hoooo :) I started in Sunday and finished at stitch club night on Thursday at the mouse house :) I have even made some wee changes to make it mine ..... can any body guess ??? ..lol

The rules of the TP are as follows:

1. Comment on this post, saying you would like to be part of the Stitcherhood.

2. By leaving this comment, you agree (if you are chosen) to stitch the design and send it along to the next person in a timely manner. If this means dropping everything in your rotation to concentrate on this project...so be it. If you can't bring yourself to do this ~ don't sign up.

3. You must have an active blog to participate. If you have a blog but never post to it ~ you won't be chosen to be the next stitcher.

4. This is a giveaway-type Traveling Pattern. That means you must follow it from blogger to blogger to enter each time it is ready to send along. Commenting on this post doesn't make you a guaranteed part of the Stitcherhood.

The Traveling Pattern has been stitched by:

1. Sharon of It's Daffycat, Oklahoma, USA

2. Karen of Karen's Handiwork, South Carolina, USA

3. Patty of Hanging On By A Thread, Florida, USA

4. Terri of Chocolates for Breakfast, Stitching for Lunch, USA
5. Lynda of A Cozy Little Place for Stitching, Oregon, USA
6. Nataly of Nataly's Needle Creations, Massachusetts, USA
7. Erin of Fairy Tales & French Knots, NY, USA
8. Jo of Serendipititous Stitching, Suffolk, UK

9. Mouse of talesofastitchingmouse South Yorkshire uk

The above are all the blogs where the TP appears in all it's glory so you don't have to rummage through the blogs to find them.

so with out further ado I shall bob a photo of mine up now (don't forget to spot the difference ..lol)

and look forward to seeing your replies :)

I shall choose the next person next friday 23rd Sept :)

take care and happy stitching :)

My rendition of CYB by Shakespeare pedler

love mouse xxxxx

From a Travelling pattern to the Nimble Thimble and beyond heheheh :)

2011-09-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone :)
I must say many thanks for all the comments about missing me .. you made a little mouse (ok not soo little hehe) feel all warm and fuzzy when reading like I'd got lots of Hugs off you all :)
Well I shall say it again .. grab a cuppa this is gonna be a long one ... do you know for a person who doesn't get out and about normally I sure seem to be these days heheheh...
It took me quite a few days to recover from the trip back from Scotland sooooo much so I forgot to put in my post that the Travelling Pattern had arrived "Count Your Blessings" safely from Jo at http://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com ..... I popped it safely on my desk and at the first opportunity I pulled the threads for it and cooooo I actually had most of them .. that was a shock to the system I can tell you .. no stash shopping for them hahahahah .... found some fabric took a photo then changed mind about the fabric DOH !!!! (all photos at the end as sooo much easier for me ..lol)
anyways I have started it last night and have got the top border and part of the house done soooo won't be long with this one folks... :) so keep a peep out for the post saying it is ready to go on its merry way and for some one else to stitch this lovely design :)
We had the stitching club at Bev's this week and I got loads done on Fa La La done .. in fact it is half way finished ... I've just got to stitch DJ next ;)
I have finished the stitching on Linda's PIF just got to make it up hopefully over the next couple of days as well as the twins hanggy things are done now soo need to make them up and the pillows sooo pleased that they will be done in time PHEWWWW ..lol
I took DH out for his birthday and he loved his presents .. DD2 made a fantastic cake .. walnut and Fudge and she got high praise from DD1 as she thought it was made by Grannie as it was soooo nice :) In fact we went out again last night to the Indian with the DD2 and brought something back for DD1 as she wasn't feeling to good :(
COOOOO I have just looked up to see the trees are being blown about and it looks yuck out there at the mouse house and I need to go out this morning too ..... eeekkkk
ok where was I mmmmmm kettle ... who's having one today ???
I went on Friday to have my acupuncture which was great timing as we(the stitchy girls ) were going off on Saturday to The Nimble Thimble and meeting up with Gillie .......
This is the fun bit ... hope you have got your drinks by now and also a large napkin / tissue etc to mop up the drool .....
Saturday dawned lovely thankfully and I drove to Kaths house to meet up with every one else before we set off in Kaths Rav mobile to The Nimble Thimble .... it is somewhere where I have been wanting to go to for years .. I have always chatted to Chris at the shows and wanted to go and see the shop and I was going finally YEAHHHH .....
We were all giddy in the car and discussed what we may or may not be buying and Bev had never been to Wales before (we pass through and out etc on the drive down ) I was in the front seat (more leg room phew) as co driver and keeping an eye on the trusty sat nav and the road signs ... we arrived safely at the destination with only on hiccup to the wonderful place that the shop is located at ......
We pulled up and Chris came out to greet us all as I was taking pictures (as usual ..lol) she didn't see me until I walked in and she was shocked to see me finally there and with the company I was with ,as she has known Kath for years too and couldn't believe that we came from the same area and had only found of each other recently :)
well after that the kettle went on and well we drooled and were like kids let loose in a sweetie shop not knowing where to start .. look at ... fondle or drool over ... it is set out beautifully with welcoming arm chairs for those poor other halves who have to suffer coming and the wallet having to come out too hahahahah ......
I asked Chris could I take photos and was given permission to take.. so that you could drool over the eye candy on offer ....there is something for every one from fabric in aida , even weave and linen to charts from LHN to La de da and everything in between as well as Weeks dye works threads, Crescent Colours and GAST threads too :) not forgetting to mention that they do framing as well ..... I was taking photos to squeaks of delight and oo look at this and wow and then there was a "hello Kidda " as Gillie walked in ..lol sooo more hugs and intros all round ...
We had been there for ages going through the stash and popping things in piles around the room going that's my pile to every one ..lol .... it got to dinner time and as the weather was a wee bit iffy .. Chris had set up the table upstairs with the important kettle for us to eat our picnic with (normally we would have sat out side as the views are gorgeous) Gillie had to threaten the girls to step away three paces from the charts to get them to go upstairs hehehehe...
we all had a lovely picnic and chatted nineteen to the dozen on what we had put in our stash piles and what we were looking for and when we were suitably fortified we went back and ooooed and ahhhed some more :)
I must admit that in the stash pile contest I won the "least amount spent " award... DH was pleased to hear that hahahah .... and the others well lets just say they all had a fantastic time and were grinning from ear to ear with their goodies and the car was definitely more heavier on the way back ;)
Chris 's customer service is second to none .. she knew where everything was .. recommend stuff and also found stuff for us "just in case" and not forgetting that all important phrase "the kettle is on girls" :)
It was such a pleasure to go and visit the shop in real life and I would higly recommend it to any one ... they don't have a web page atm *hopefully soon* but do do a fantastic mail order ...
just ring them up ..01691 780088
or email :chris@thenimblethimble.co.uk.........
(full address is .. The Nimble Thimble,Llangedwyn Mill, Llangedwyn , Nr Oswestry, Shropshire Sy10 9LD UK)
and no I didn't get any perks for this write up ... just wanted to let peeps know how good it was there ;)
SOOOOOOO breath a sigh of relief if you have got here in one piece hahahah and nowwww on to the drool session .. oooo but wait forgot to say we called at Llangollen Viaduct on the way back to see the canal etc ....

Bev having hard time to chose

Ok Michelle here they are just for you and every one else ..lol

DH birthday cake made by DD2

The Gang :)

Discussing the charts :0

Chris coming out to greet us at The Nimble Thimble

Inside .. how yummmy

Bev being let loose in the shop ..lol

Another shot inside

Drawn thread,Sweet heart Tree and Victoria Sampler Wall

Iris enjoying the drool fest

Llangollen Viaduct

canal boat at Llangollen

View from Other side of Viaduct

Calender Girls Stash from Val

Small Stash pile :)

Count your blessings Shakespeare Peddler

Fa La La LHN

Soooo there you go folks :) I hope you enjoy your drool fest and I forgot earlier to say its my month for the Calender Girl threads over on Friendly Stitchers and I got some gorgeous threads from Val and some beautiful earings "just because" she makes them herself sooo if you are looking for nice Christmas presents of jewellery have a pop over and have a look at her etsy site :) ( I really should be on commission for all this advertising hahahaha )
Ok I shall leave you to carry on drooling and shall catch up with you all soon :0
take care and happy stitching :)
ps had to add this as forgot earlier ..... sent my pen pal letter and received mine on Friday last week :) *waving helloooo to you
love mouse xxxxxxx

YOOOO HOOOO am back :)

2011-09-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

HI every one :) have you missed me ???? make sure you grab a cuppa or two and a dunker this is going to be a lonnnnngggg post with lots of pictures :)
As you all remember I was setting off to sunny Glasgow last Wednesday .... well it was sunny until I reached the border hahaha then it poured down soooo much I couldn't see the road in front...... apparently that was Scotland's way of saying hello ..lol .
The scenery was fabulous and the heather was out on the hills and it looks soooo soft to touch from a distance but don't do it close up as it prickles hehehe
I set off from the mouse house at 9.30am and arrived in one piece around 2.30ish and after a wee bit of ...woops that bit of motorway isn't on the sat nav.... I found Ally's pad and parked up ..... then the fun started we had to unload the rather full boot up 3 flights of stairs eeeeekkkk ..... luckily one of her neighbours "Q" came and helped with everything and then the kettle went on :)
The rest of the day was spent yacking , drinking tea and doing a show and tell as well as giving Ally her PIF (photo later) and meeting the famous miss Minnie May .
Thursday we went up to the shops for a pootle round and to see where Ally volunteers at the PDSA as well as getting some of Jim's gorgeous "tablet"...... we stopped of to partake of some refreshments at a local cafe and I was impressed with the Scottish snowball .. being used to the tunnocks one's here and of course I had to partake of one with my cuppa.... well a girl has to keep her figure up hahahahah and yup I did take a photo ;)
Friday was spent stitching as the weather didn't know whether to be sunny , thunderstorms and lightning or just normal !!!! sooo I spent my time stitching on the Romantique SAL and almost finished it there (just done the last bit today) while Ally did some more on her crocus cushion ......
Saturday we had arranged to meet up with some fellow stitchers at Largs which is a wee coastal town about an hour away from Glasgow..... the weather was kind to us and the road was fabulous to drive down  with a hill of 10% going round a steep bend or as I called it "hell fire corner" !!!! we managed to find a parking space after we almost joined the queue to get on the ferry to Millport I think it was ....and strolled along the promenade to Nardinis to partake of one of their famous Ice creams and meet up with the girls .. as Ally and I were first there we had some lunch of delicious home made lentil soup and a sandwich before we had the Ice cream and you've guessed it I took a photo of it hahahaha
the rest of the girls arrived and we spent a couple of hours yacking and doing a wee show and tell .... Maureen had left hers in the car ..lol Dee showed us her Drawn Thread Alphabet and it was Gorgeous and soooo neat on the back too well you just have to have a peek don't you hehehehe.....
We decided to have a stroll round the town to walk off the ice cream and bobbed into a few shops and grabbed a few bargains too ... Laurna bought a beautiful pink checked type of Twiggy Hat .. wish I could remember the name of the designer and wore it while we were there later on when the weather got a wee bit cooler as we strolled on the sea front .... stopping every so oft for me to take pictures of the views etc as per usual :)
it was great meeting up with the girls and spending a short time with them .. we will have to have a longer stay next time as we had all travelled quite a way to get to Largs ,we decided to set off back before it started to rain and get dark ....
Sunday dawned another lovely day but as we were shattered we decided to have a stitching day again ... for all those who know ally please make sure you are sat down for the next bit of waffle ..... are you ready ???? please don't have a slurp of your tea just yet as .......... I taught Ally how to sew on the machine and the over locker and yes I did get evidence hahahahaha .......now you can slurp and pick yourselves up hahahah ....... I had a look at Ally's lovely antique hand machine and after a wee bit of mmmming and ahhhh ing we managed to get it to sew but we need to find some better needles as the ones I had brought with me were too rounded they needed to be flatter (she has got a picture of the machine on her blog .......http://allysstitchinglife.blogspot.com/) ..... so if you get chance go and bob over and see it :)
while the over locker was out I went round all her fabric in her basket soo that it was all neat and no frayed edges and also her WIP basket soooo I know exactly what she has got and how far she has got with it too ...lol........ after tea I worked on my Autumn Challenge pattern for the samplermakers group and it felt like a "Blue Peter " moment as I was armed with coloured pencils and prit stick heheheh ... and I quite like the end result ... hopefully I can get it stitched in time :)
On Monday we went to a business meeting re Ally's soon to be new shop (fingers crossed all works out) before we went onto the gardens where Ally spends a lot of her time tending her plants ( I came home with a couple ) and went round the secret walled garden which was absolutely lovely and I can see why she spends so much time there :)
Just popping to put the kettle on .... who wants one ???? be right back :)
right were was I ??? ohhh yeah Tuesday we went to the "Millicast " shop for DH as its his birthday next week and he wanted some tanks from there and as it is only 10 mins walking from Ally's pad I thought I'd better go heheheh ..... when we got back we had a well deserved cuppa before settling down to some more stitching ..... Ally is doing Blackberry Jam by the Sweetheart Tree and was struggling with the Scotch stitch on the Gingham fabric and so I helped her get back on the straight and narrow and now she is well pleased as she is now almost halfway done with the piece ...seee I do come in useful heheheh.... I did the restart to my Winter Whites by LHN and worked on that for the rest of the night with Minnie purring beside me :)
Wednesday was spent at another meeting and pottering round the shops again and browsing through charts and magazines and getting stuff ready for my homeward journey the next day which I have to say was dreadful as there were two accidents one only 500 yards in front of me which stopped us on the motorway for an hour and the other which had the other motorway I needed to get onto blocked off and I had to do a detour across the moors luckily given instructions by a lovely local lady (unfortunately there was loss of life at this one :(
I finally arrived back home to the mouse house after a 9.5 hour drive totally exhausted and first thing I did was make a brew  and have some cereal as not had anything to eat or drink since 12.30 and it was now almost 8 pm .........
Well if you are still reading this you deserve a medal ..lol and I shall now say the photos are almost here .....
there is one more thing to say.... Anglea (http://hookedonstitches.blogspot.com/) has received the personal exchange piece I did for her YIPPPEEEE I can now show you that as well :)

Finally the bit you've all been waiting for the photos which I shall let speak for themselves .......
take care and thanks for putting up with me waffling ..lol
love mouse xxxxxxx

Minnie May

River at the back of Ally;s

Snowball :)

Really friendly Locals

glass houses

Beautiful memorial

yep Ally using the overlocker :)

Largs

Chunky Fudge YUMMM

The girls admiring the view

Still largs

Ally's PIF and others done for her :0

The potting shed

Secret Walled Garden

Inside the Garden

Passport and my pocket money

Angela's Cushion

Winter Whites LHN restart

Poinsettia House LHN

Romantique SAL