Jo's giveaway

Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching is hosting a sponsored giveaway.  She has some cross stitch kits from yiota to giveaway.  Hop over and see!

Oh dear...who forgot their WIPocalypse update?

Yes that would be me!

I have only stitched on Cotswold Village this month as a WIP and as a photo of that was posted for my Theme-a-licious update, I won't bore you with another.  I am going to focus on my wedding sampler for Colin's sister and hubby this month.

My blog heading

Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) asked me about one of the designs in my blog header.  So rather than just tell her what she wants to know, I thought I would tell everyone!

So vertically down the middle is Papillon's How does your garden grow?
Across the top is a butterfly freebie from yiota which I changed all the colours of.  Under that is a close up of the apples in Cut Thru Garden Shed.
Next to these two is part of Roots and Wings by Waxing Moon.  The top right and bottom left are 2 designs from a series that I sent out for a RR, probably in around 2003/2004 ish.  They were in Cross Stitcher magazine I think and there were pansies, sweet peas and 2 others.
Going to the bottom right is a part of Waxing Moon's 'If I stitch fast', a butterfly from a recent issue of Cross Stitch Crazy and the Welcome is from a Hobb Nobb design but I can't remember which off the top of my head.

(Bet you wish you had never asked now Jo?)

Theme-a-licious roundup for Amazon April

Crikey, I'm getting later and later with these.  I haven't been near my blog or stitched hardly at all in the last week.  I am currently writing the last assignment for my OU module and then mid June is exam time (eek).  Therefore life at the minute is dedicated to study, revise, study, revise, sleep!

Below are pics of what I have done this month.

So first up is Cotswold Village scene.  This is huge but I really enjoyed stitching on it.  Maybe it shouldn't go back in the UFO box.

This is 'Two Little love birds' which is a Love Thy Threads design that I am guinea pigging.  It is a gorgeous design and the colours are so pretty together. 

Above is my progress so far on Around The World in 80 Stitches (ATW80S) for short. It is really pretty but I haven't come across most of the stitches before so it is challenging me a little...ok a lot. It will be done though!

And this is the pathetic progress on 6 Fat Snowmen.  

I got some fantastic post today.  Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) saw this card and thought of me, can't think why...lol.  It is absolutely amazing and I have had a smile on my face all day and keep going to look at it.  Luke went and compared it to the 'real' one and found loads of differences.  He particularly liked the frog in the demi john bottle at the bottom.  Concensus seems to be that I should frame the card and hang below the cross stitch when it's framed.

The other great bit of news is that I have rediscovered an old friend.  Once upon a time, I became friends with a lovely lady in America although actually I can't remember how we met...hmmm....  Anyway as she loved the British cross stitch mags as much as I did, she had a subscription sent to my house and every now and again I would put them in a box and post them off to her.  She made my two kids the most beautiful quilts for their beds which they still use today - despite the fact their feet stick out the bottom of them.  When I wash them it has to be on a day where I can get them washed and dried and back on the bed the same day....or else!  They love those quilts more than anything they own!

Bizarrely I have been following this person for quite a while and it never ever clicked that this was my old friend.  After discovering who she was I re-read all of her blog and basically thought what an idiot I was as it should have been so blatantly obvious.  Short of putting up neon signs telling me who she was....honestly...I really am dumb!

We never fell out as friends it was just a case of relationship troubles on my part and we gradually lost touch over a period of time.  I would guess the last time we corresponded would have been possibly around 2004/2005 ish maybe.  I am so excited to have found her again.  

Oh I suppose you want to know who it is, do you?  It's...

Shirlee

Graze.com

It's not often that I post about something I have discovered that doesn't have anything to do with stitching but this is great so I thought I would share.  Unfortunately if you're not in the UK, you can't partake - sorry :(

A friend at work introduced me to a company called Graze.com.  You go on their website and chose which of their products you either like, love or hate and then each week you receive a box through the post with a selection of 4 of these products to snack on.  There are breads, dips, olives, nuts, seeds, chocolate and loads of others.

I have been trying them for a few weeks now and so far have loved everything I've received.  You can change your mind after you've tried something or opt to have something just once to try it so it really is very flexible.  I never thought I would be a convert to something like this.

Anyway if you would like to try graze for yourself, I have put a code below whereby you can get a free box to sample it.  It's very easy to cancel or change boxes and getting a surprise of healthy treats each week is fab!  There are nutritional guides with each box too.

If you fancy trying it, go to Graze.com and where it asks for a voucher code enter V9QY71Q. If you do give it a go, let me know what you think!

My big news

Well I said I had a big announcement.  

What is it?

Is a new job?   

 NO!

Am I pregnant?    

 NO!

Did I win the lottery?

NO!

This 

is

what

my 

big

news 

is...

scroll down...

go on......

keep going......

It's finished, it's finally finished!!!

Just under 4 years on and off!

I went to Ikea today and picked up a frame for it and will hopefully frame it over the weekend.  Although as Rachael has a sleepover for her 13th birthday I probably won't get it done!

...and the winner is....

Well actually that should be winners are!

So here is everyone's names all written out (best writing of course) ready for the pot of destiny.

And here is the pot!  Actually it's an old candle but the pot was too nice to throw out when it was finished with.

I had Colin draw the first name which is for the Mouseloft kits.  The name he drew out was......

Mangogirl

Next was 2 cards/bobbins of Stranded by the sea floss.  Luke drew......

Amanda

Third  was Cross Stitch Crazy April 2012 issue.  This one was drawn out by Rachael.  She picked......

Linda

Finally was the Silkweaver's piece.  After arguing over who would draw it we decided that Colin would.  Well the kids were arguing, not me and Colin.  The name he drew out this time was.....

Jo, who can't think of a clever nickname (sorry Jo!)

                                                                                                                

Please email me your snail mail addresses and I will get these in the post to you ASAP.  Thank you to everyone who entered - all 13 of you!  Unlucky for some I suppose!

Big, big news in our house, but I will share it tomorrow.

Wipocalypse update (April)

There hasn't been a lot of progress on my WIP's / UFO's this month.  These are the 3 that I worked on during the month which was as part of the Theme-a-licious March Madness.  

I have been working on Garden Shed yesterday and today and am hoping it will be finished either today or tomorrow.  I am feeling really fired up to finish it and only have about quarter of a page of actual stitching to do with about 2 1/2 pages of backstitch.

I have put a poll up.  What design should I stitch for the rest of the month once Garden Shed is finished?  You can vote for more than one option.  If you're not sure what the designs look like have a look at the WIP page.

Tiny Treasures Exchanges Too -exchange received

My exchange piece has arrived at Melissa's house.  I chose the peacock butterfly to make as a scissor fob but it turned out too big.  I made that into a little pin cushion for her instead.

Peacock butterfly from Cross Stitch Crazy magazine

Close up

I then found this one here but changed a few colours...oh ok...all of them!

stitched up

 And this is them ready to send!

ready to go!

Don't forget there are a few days left to enter the giveaway if you want to.  Just see the previous post!

My 4 year blogoversry

Last week was my Blogoversary.  I have now been blogging for 4 years!!  As promised here is the blogoversary giveaways.  I thought I would do 4 little ones rather than just one - one for each year I suppose!

Although I would love it if more people read my blog I would like the giveaway to be for the people who actually do read, whether that is occasionally or every post.  Therefore I would like to ask you NOT to post the details on your blogs.

If you would like your name entered to win any or all of these just let me know by posting a comment on this post only.  I will pull winners at random on Easter Monday.

The 4 draws will be for:

1. two little Mouseloft kits - one of a handbag and accessories, the other of a shoe.
2. two bobbins of Stranded by the Sea floss.
3. Cross Stitch Crazy April 2012 issue - wrapped with the free gift.
4. a piece of fabric called Summer Sky from Silkweaver (9" x 13", 32ct, Belfast Linen) This looks nothing like the picture which was taken outside.  Think pale blue sky with wispy clouds!