And now for something completely different

So I have been found out I guess - not much progress on any knitting or sewing projects - that will be down to a hectic week which included managing to double book myself. I have been seeing friends, doing lots of Guide things and supporting a very worthy charity event in aid of Breast Cancer.
Finally did some relaxing this weekend with some lovely friends who came to stay and brought me some beautiful plants, one of which is pictured above.

I have no idea what the plant is - and neither did the lady who brought it, relying on one friend who reads this blog to tell me as she is a very keen gardener! The plants are grown by a very talented neighbour of my friend - she is well known in her local area for her plants and sales, and whenever I visit my friend we go round and browse the garden, discuss my garden and then I am recommended some plants to buy - all very reasonably priced.

Hubby suggested taking pictures of the plants with the macro setting on my camera and I have thought about the 'rule of thirds' when photographing this - I think I should have two versions of this photograph for some photography friends - the one above and a cropped one with the flowers in the centre Also tried to get one of the plants with a bee in it for my wildlife photographer friend but it flew off :-(

Hoping to get these plants and more into the garden this week and make progress on the knitting/sewing - a quieter week - no Guides but filled with at least two craft nights - although that is card making and I tend not to put that on here, but maybe we'll see

Well this seems like a lengthy post so I will go now and try and find something to do - hubby is watching the GP ad I feel at a loose end! No idea why as there is PLENTY to do.

Nearly there

Today has been a good day on the housework and card-making front and having a friend round this evening for dinner. Less good on the needlework front, but fortunately I did make good progress with Mr. Fox last night. Realised that I have forgotten to record the hours spent on him after the first two or three - an excuse to do one of his pals perhaps???? Yes????

Easy as ABC

Here is the tote bag that I started about 3 or 4 weeks ago. It really is quite simple - the most difficult bit so far was sorting out the threads. Interesting that these colours are quite 'dull' if that is the right word for them, but I love them together yet this week I have been in a little trouble for commenting that I found colours in a card making challenge dingy - oops. Maybe it is because |I have so many lovely colours to choose from in my card supplies (hopefully that might have made some amends!!!!! :-) ).

Little bit spoilt for choice what to cross-stitch at the moment but it has been said in previous post comments and to me in person that I ought to finish something. Ok, ok, I have not had someone to keep me in check recently and I have come to a standstill with the knitting and Nile. And somehow sewing up slippers is not appealing, but I know I must get back to these things. Plus I was quite proud to have finished a project per month but that lasted until, what, March? Sigh.

Paws

Here is the progress so far with the fox cub. It is quite a small count and has half stitches so has taken some concentration to get this far. Should get easier though as I get to the body.
Off back to the needlework once I have posted this - no need to watch the TV every second now that Wimbledon has finished :-(

How cute is this?

A few weeks ago the needlework shop where I go to stitch and chat twice a month had a reorganisation and moved everything around, such that now the needlework kits are in the adjoining tea shop. This little fox cub is just one of a group of cute little cross stitch animals. For the past few get togethers I have sat at the table with these little pictures just a yard or so away and last night I weakened and bought the fox - well it seemed the right thing to do especially as one of the ladies pointed out that I had been admiring him for some time.

So here he is - in my home. I wouldn't say he has joined the stash as I have started work on him already - what joy :-) It might not look like it but he has half stitches - oh well, I'm sure he will be worth it.

Last night there was show and tell of a beautiful picture with foxes (yes more foxes) and sheep and birds done by one of the ladies. We did discuss how long it takes us to do cross-stitch pictures - scary we decided and perhaps we are best not knowing. But being curious, I decided to keep track of the time I spend on this one as it is small - only an hour so far although not much progress has been made, but that did include setting up.

Oh dear

Well I never intended leaving this blog for so long - shame on me! Reached a bit of a standstill with the Nile and the knitting. I have run out of another of the threads for the Nile and the shaping of the jumper and working out the pattern is a little tricky - tried working it out twice and got two different results so need to try again :-(

So I have started this kit - something fairly straightforward that I can do at sewing group and still chat!!! I bought this from one of the shows from the Cross-stitch Guild. Going well so far and hope to make good progress this week - watch this space.

Can you tell what it is yet?

Here is some knitting I have been doing - all knitting done just needs putting together. The two oblong pieces need felting - at 30 degrees according to the instructions but it does not seem to have worked so I will need to wash them again at a higher temperature. The wool used for those pieces is quite thick (done on old size 0) and is bobbly but incredibly soft.
Hopefully a post coming soon of the completed articles(s).