Friday 31 March 2017

Good intentions...


Oh my!! What can I say......

I thought I was actually going to be on schedule and put regular blog post up again...hmmmm what happened your wondering? I shall try to explain...

As you can see from the top picture something is wrong! Kevin and Han had caught the snuffles that turned into them both feeling and being rather poorly. Han ended up taking antibiotics for a chest infection. Then poor jon caught it!! Oh my! He literally slept for three whole days! During all that I was feeling alright and running everyone around! 

Then.... Just as jon got better I developed a cough, then my cough got worse.  It's now a full blown horrendous bark! When I cough it's hard to catch my breath and leaves me really light headed, so once again I am stuck in bed.  The best place for me I think! I have no energy and don't think I am over the worst of it yet, I have snuffles, blocked ears and nose and someone has a drill in my head constantly! Han tells me it's going to get worse before it gets better! Hmmmm I keep telling myself it's only a cold! 

Just look at all th meds I am taking...ha ha not all at once! I would like to think they are helping 😊


Whilst being poorly I have tried to do some crafting... Very hard when you can't stop coughing and have no patience for anything. I have done a little doodling with water coloured paints, that's been quiet relaxing.  Ha ha until I start coughing! 

Here is some of my doodling...




Yes I love colour 😊

Ok so here is what I have just about managed to do! 

I prepared my lovely May Basket by Primitive Gatherings.. All I had to do was stitch it down! 

Here is how it was.....


I have managed to put a few stitches in....

Look at the reverse...


I think it rather funny. And the front now....




I think I managed to match the wool colour alright😊 it shall be stitched...soon! 

Oh yes!!! Have to tell you about something I made recently that I am very pleased with.  It's something I had been meaning to do for ages.  To protect my millennium frame and stitching when I am either taking it somewhere or not stitching. This was no easy task as the millennium frame is 45 inches long! Ha ha well I made something and even put a zip in it! Go me!! Han calls it my millennium sleeping bag! Ha ha

I naturally covered up my stitching as its a secret! A Hands Across The Sea design under construction!! 


Inside..

Outside...

I feel very happy that I managed to make this! And thankfully just before I got ill!! 

Moving on...

Han and Kevin have been on my case! Oh in a nice way! See they both bought me this dmc kit for Christmas and have been nagging me to stitch it! So yes! I started it! It came on 14 count, I swapped it with some 18 count from my stash as I thought it went better!  Pretty design 😊


Here is where I am...


It's a start!! 

Hmmm talking of starts, I have neglected a particular lolly design that I MUST get back to... Yes! I am talking bout the Blue Ribbon design Botanical Blessings. This one...


I guess I have moved on a little since last time! Ever stitch counts, right?!



Ooooh yes! Sorry side tracking again, just remembered I never showed you all the bag I made with the floral fabrics... Remember this? 


Then this....


And my bag!! It's very useful.


Whilst I am off track here is something else! Jon had done some research into soothing an horrendous barking cough. He's such a great guy! And found out that marshmallows ease it!! Of course they do! Ha ha So Han and Kevin went to the shops....to my shock came back with this!!

I put my phone next to them (iPhone 7) so you could get perspective.


Little closer...


Crazy!! Apparently Han and Kevin found these beauties in the USA isle in Tesco! So maybe all you guys across the pond know about these already?! They are MASSIVE!! I am pleased to say they are helping too! Ha ha I can only manage one every few hours though! 

Ok so I have to get back under my duvet and all I have done since writing this up is cough and cough.... I think I sound much like a rather large dog barking at the moment, no! Maybe a walrus or seal! It's not good either way! 

Happy smiles to you all and I shall return when feeling better and have more to share with you all 😊
Xx

Friday 24 March 2017

What have I been doing?



Hello happy smiley friends 😊

I have to tell you all I am still really excited!! About what? Being accepted into university!!!! Eeeeeeeek!!!!! It's explained in my last post in case you missed it! Yippppeeee! Me a student! 😊

I have lots to share with you all.... I am still stitching but cannot show you it yet! Soon!!

I guess I should start with the wool flower at the top? I wanted to create something with colour and oozing happiness, a mat of sorts to go on my desk when I am not using it.  I had some wonderful charm square packs, and thought about how to use them.  Having never used them before I knew it would be interesting what ever happened to did! A challenge!! 😊

Here are the charm packs, my lovely husband jon has been buying me them as he thought they looked nice! I love them!! 


I decided to use the Moda Bumble Berries one.... Nice bright happy colours 😊 Put with some of my fabric from my stash and some Moda wool...

This is what I came up with!! It's before I stitched the flowers on. 


The finished mat....


I backed it with a raspberry motif fabric, I think I bought in IKEA! Love idea!! 😊 My mat has a place....on my desk!! More on my desk maybe in my next post 😊

I will stay with wool as I seem to of made a few things with wool lately! Hmmm I have Rebekah L Smiths wool Applique folk art book and love the designs in it.

I made an adorable bunny in it first.... I made the pattern smaller and oh yes! Changed the colours! Ha ha just like me!! 

Yes! I made a green toned bunny!  Why not?! 
Before stitching...


After stitching and made into a cute pin cushion....



Then I decided to make something a little more challenging.... With lots of bits... Fiddly with the scissors!! 
Again I made it smaller and changed colours slightly.


I love wool, it just feels really lovely to work with and I really enjoy creating with it.

I did sort out my art box, see I was going to go along to a local art club... Cutting a long story short, it appears I was not welcome to join the group! Han says I don't need them! I will find another group.


Ooooh yes!! More on that pencil case in a moment! 😊

I cheered myself up with a happy doodle picture....


Back to wool for a moment.... I have had this Design from Primitive Gatherings called May Basket Welcome Banner in my stash for some time now.  I thought it would be nice to actually make it!! Ha ha so that's what I sent out to do! I got as far as cutting the design out and placing it, using fuse and bond it's all stuck down in place too.  All I need to do is stitch it....here lies the dilemma! I was thinking to try and match the colours of the wool and stitch like that.. Then I had another thought to just stitch it all with black? Hmmmm perhaps not! Sounded alright in my head, but now I have put it on paper I don't like that idea much at all! Ha ha guess I will be colour matching! I will use anchor threads probably as I have a fair few of them I don't use for cross stitching now.



So I should hopefully have an update on this next time! 😊

I am sure I share these with you? Appologise if I have.... Here they are if not!! So I joined some time ago now Kathy Schmitz One Stitch Club and every month a new design is released to stitch. The blue one is the one I stitched and the red one is the one Kathy Schmitz stitched!! Yes!! THE actual design Kathy Schmitz did!! 
And I bet your all wondering how I got hold of that?! Ha ha well..... I stitched up this moths design the quickest and posted it in the group.  As a kind of reward I received the one Kathy stitched!! How awesome right?! 
I was thinking and thinking what to do with them both and then it came to me! I needed pencil cases, so that's what I made! Or rather tried to! Zips!! Another new challenge for me! Omg! Tricky!! 


Here they are...



I love them... I managed to line them too... Very pleased with myself 😊

I have done more creating!! I think my sewing machine missed me!! 

It's almost Mother's Day here in England so again I thought what could I do.... A kind of basket my mum could use to put her wool in when she is knitting. Great plan!! Then I thought about adding a little simple mum motif.

Before stitching....


I made the basket then I just wanted to see exactly how much it would hold... A lot!! 


I made a tiny little one too, forgot to take a photo of that! I know my mum loves them as I have already given them to her! See I bought her favourite chocolates too.... Maltesers in those little red boxes, and I put them in the basket.  I had to keep moving the basket around, away from our radiators as I was afraid I would melt them! So instead of giving her melted chocolate I gave it to her a little earlier.  She really liked them and I know she is using them too!! 

Here is a photo of my mums one and two others I made! Ha ha for me! I liked them too! They are surprisingly really quite large and hold a lot.

Oh but I did not stop there!! Han loves bees so I made her one too!! 


They are multiplying all over our house! Ha ha 

I just wanted to share a few things of what I have been eating....tried something new, corn tacos filled with mixed salad leaves, tomatoes, grated carrot and onion.  It also had a light mixed herb dressing on.  Tasted really good and I liked the crunch of the tacos.  Different, light and nice 😊 nice one Jon for thinking up that one!  


I also love Heinz vegetable soup, it's my go to food when I am feeling poorly and bored with food as I will always like this! 
Everyone here thinks I am odd! Well rather it's odd how I eat it! Ha ha I eat all the liquid first...


That leaves the yummy vegetables to eat last! Mmmmm


Nothing odd about that? Just the way I enjoy my soup! 

Ok.... I am pretty sure your all bored of me and my photos now! Until next time.... Keep smiling 😊😊

Thursday 16 March 2017

So exciting!!!!



Hello!!! I have so much to tell you!!! Where do I start..... With THE most exciting news of all??? As some of you know I decided to apply for university this year! To do something for me, that I would enjoy and hopefully to achieve something at the end of it.  I decided to apply for a degree course, B A in Textiles.  Due to me having health issues still and mobility issues too I opted to apply at my local college that also runs university degree courses. I went about 4 weeks ago for my first interview and it went really well.  The tutor wanted to set me a brief to see how I would tackle it.... I loved every minute of it. Today I returned for my second interview and took along all the work I had done.  It was an amazing interview and I am so proud of myself. I am pleased to announce that I was offered a place on the course!!! 


Feel free to high five me!! Ha ha The tutor really liked all the work I had done and was impressed with the fact I had done so much without direction.  She is excited too to get me working on her course!! Omg!! I am over the moon, I am having a little trouble actually expressing how excited I am...this may help....
Eeeeeeeeekkkk!!!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkk!!! Eeeeeeeeeeekkk! Ha ha I will be contacted soon as I have a project to do over the summer!! How exciting!! Then I start September!! Omg!! Me studying at university!! Who would of thought that!! And something else that is rather special....Han will be studying at the sam place doing a B A in Fine Art!!! Yes!! She will be doing a degree course too!! How awesome is that!!
Talking of Han.... Not sure but actually some of you will be aware as I know some are on Facebook and follow me on Instagram too.  All of last week Han entered a local radio competition.  The object of the competition was to become famous for a whole week! By taking photos with celebrities and videos too! I must say it was a hectic week!! Oh but a lot of fun!! A huge THANK YOU to Kevin as she pushed me about the who,e time in my wheelchair. Here are a few videos Han got.... Just awesome!!!






We also gathered photos!! 

It all started with a train journey...


Passed a few places...

Saw this.... Just the outside as we were going past it! 


Yes we went to London!! To the BBC!!! 

To watch The One Show...

It's done live and daily if your not familiar with it.  And Han was hoping to catch a few celebrities!! 
On the show that day was the Harlem globetrotter with  Tony Robinson (Balearic from black adder), Miranda Hart (a comedian currently in a west end show), Rob Beckett (comedian) and Dom littlewood (presenter, don't get done get dom!) and the presenters Matt Baker and Angela Scanlon (presenter from Robort wars). Han managed to literally get everyone apart from Angela.





Of course I had to get in on one!! 

Whilst waiting I spotted Fiona Bruce who reads the news!! 


It was such a fun day....here are some photos of the filming...





An awesome day!! I don't think I have ever met so many famous people in one day!! As you could see in all the photos Han had her local radio flag!

Han actually spent some time in the radio station too, she was on air and read the traffic report! She loved it.




 The competition winner was in for a treat as the prize was for 4 VIP tickets to the Isle Of Wight festival this year!! Last year Han and I looked at it but it was far too expensive!! 

Guess what????

Hannah won!!!! 


And here is the list of who will be appearing...


Let me tell you....I am So excited about Rob Stewart!!! Not sure if I am able to go yet.... With my restricted mobility not sure if it's a good idea? Have to wait and see, we are waiting on more information. If I am unable to go then Han has to video and Skype me!! Ha ha 

I have some more awesome news to share... To date I have lost just over 6 stone in weight....or 38.2 kg or 84.25 pounds!!! How awesome!!! By bobbing about in the water when I can and eating healthier... 

Here I am with cheek bones!!! 


I have been having a bit of bother eating as I seem to of gone off literally everything. But I am trying...


Lol it's scooby doo pasta! 


Fist pizza in ages it's 6 inches! Lol has vegan cheese on it! 

Baguette with garlic mushrooms and parsley....in a dairy free butter.

I must be doing something right!! One day at a time!! 

I have managed to make a few things too...

This blue one is the one I stitched! It's the March design in Kathy Schmitz one stitch club.  The red one is the one Kathy Schmitz stitched!! It really is!! She posted it to m as I was the first person to complete this months design! They are so lovely. I had an idea how to finish them, but just have not go around to it as yet.  Something experimental for me as it will be me using a zip or two! Eeeeek! Never used a zip!! 


A few close ups...




I also stitched this.... Trying some different stitches out.


And I made time to make a few things to send as gifts too! I am happy to post photos now as they have been received by the people :) 

This is a pin cushion I made, it's a miniature version of something I intend to make!! It's from The Enchanted Garden book. I am pleased to say the person I sent it to loved it! :)


I made a heart little pillow filled with lavender for another friend...using more stitches... I am pleased to say the person that received this loved it too! 




I managed to get my sewing machine out too, to play with some fabrics!! 



I made this into a little tote bag, hmmm forgot to take a photo! Next time!! 

So I think I have probably sent you all to sleep now?! Hope you have enjoyed my photos, I have really enjoyed sharing this with you all :)


Until next time...keep smiling! 😊😊😊😊