A Freebie.... the end of a rainbow, and a finish.

We have been having a lot of heavy rain with sunny spells in between lately, and this is a pic of a rainbow that appeared one afternoon...... it seemed that the crock of gold must be down a neighbours chimney!!

I feel that I should be doing more about Christmas as it will soon be upon us, I really should be in the kitchen making Christmas cake, but I seem to have lost my mojo at the moment. I have been stitching for Christmas, but just cannot work up the enthusiasm to think about the shopping, and the food making. I suppose with all the works that have been going on, on the house it has detracted from the Seasonal feelings. I am sure that come the 1st day of December, and I will get the feeling come back to me.

Here is a pic of a beautiful Christmas orni which I was sent by a stitching friend Abi from Yahoo Friendly Stitchers Group which I also belong to.

The pic below is of the Christmas Orni that I did for Mouse in the same ornament swap on Friendly Stitchers Group. The pattern is called "White Christmas",and was a free pattern which can be found at Drawn Thread

This is the back of the Orni

I have been doing a lot of Christmas stitching, but unfortunately I cannot show you what I have done, or it will not be a surprise for the recipients, as they are all bloggers.

I just had to show a pic of my Lipstick Plant. Despite the mistreatment it gets, and the lack of water most of the time, it survives despite everything. This is the third time that it has flowered for me this year. Its home is on my stairs on the windowsill next to my pottery Camels. I don't know the real Latin name for it, its just known as lipstick plant.

Free Small Lace Sampler Pattern.... and a gift from Australia

I would like to share with you a picture of what my lovely friend Margaret in Australia sent me. I had said that I liked the Koala bookmark that she had made and had posted a pic of on her blog...... but I didn't expect to receive the two beautiful bookmarks that she sent me. I love the Koala, but aren't the Gum Tree Blossoms gorgeous. Australia must look wonderful when those trees are out in bloom.

I have been busy this last week trying out my upgraded pattern programme, and would like to share with you the little Small Lace Sampler that I have made.

I have yet to find out how to encapsulate a pattern in a PDF, but no doubt I will find out in the near future. So please bear with me for putting the seperate parts of the pattern  for you instead of just clicking on a button.

Just click each picture to bring up a full size pic.

Please send me a pic of your finished pieces, as I would love to show them on my blog. I have done purple, but you can choose whatever colours of thread, or fabric you like.

I can't wait to see all the different stitcheries.

This pattern is for personal use only, and not for commercial purposes. It may not be sold, or be published on another blog, or,website

I hope that you enjoy this little pattern.

A Small Finish, My own Stitcheries for patchwork, and more.........

A touch of Autumn in my garden

Autumn is most definitely here in England. My small Japanese Acer on the left with the pink Ixia's peeping through, and the Mahonia in the pic on the right are just a sample of natures rich colours. Isn't mother nature amazing, only a few weeks ago the Mahonia was a dark rich green, and the Acer was a beautiful burgundy copper colour.

Well my faithful followers I haven't really been doing a lot of stitching the past few weeks, especially the week before last, as I had the builders in my kitchen laying down a new floor surface which needed a latex screed spreading all over before laying the final finish. This had to be done over 2 days, so the kitchen was a no go area. It was awful as I had to have most of the kitchen appliances etc in my lounge Ugh!!

However, I did get to make a little key fob from a pattern that I found some time ago on Corinne Leroy's beautiful blog, the pattern can be found here. I used 18ct white hardanger, and DMC 817. The gold chain edging was a piece of gold coloured thread that had been knitted through one of those knitting dolls that children have where the cord comes out through the bottom of the doll. 

My~~~Happiness Is~~~ Blocks for patchwork

I have designed a series of Stitcheries, which I hope to be able to sell if they seem to be popular.

Below are a couple which I have stitched up to show you.

I would really like your comments about the stitcheries to enable me to judge whether I should carry on with the project, or give up now.

Pinkeep WIP

This is a work in progress of a pinkeep which I have worked on 36ct raw linen. When I found the pattern which is a freebie on Sablaise's blog, I thought how lovely it was, and could also be used for a Christmas ornament, especially done in these colours.Thank you Sablaise.

The pattern can be found here.

The cards below are just some which I came across a couple of weekends ago at a flea market.

The two with the brightly coloured flowers are Dance cards dating back to the 19th Century. The one with Cinderella printed on it is dated 1889.

The other with the white Chrysanthemums on is a Christmas card dated 1888, and says on the back Edies' love to Nellie.

I just couldn't resist them. I bought 13 cards in all, and will post some more another day.

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The Dividers which I have used on my blog are courtesy of the Gutenberg Library which I found whilst downloading some free books, and of course are free to use under UK & US Law as they are now copyright free.

Three Finished Stitcheries, and a wonderful gift

I wasn't looking forward to this week as I was going to have my kitchen turned upside down in order to have a new floor laid. It was going to be necessary to have all the appliances, and the table and chairs in my lounge, as we don't have a garage attached to our property where I could store everything while the floor layers did their work. The Garage is round the road, and everything would not be insured there. Anyway, they have had to delay work until next week...... thus delaying the turmoil.

However on Monday morning, after advertising a velvet button backed rocking chair on Freecycle to giveaway, and a lady replying by phone and asking me after having a chat with her after me saying the chair was no good for Stitching in. She said to me, "but would it be good for Spinning in", and me saying yes; she turned around and said would you like a spinning wheel.

I have always wanted a Spinning Wheel since I had visited a County Show some years ago, but could never afford to buy one, as something always came up where I had to for go having one.

About an hour and a half after ringing me she brought me this beautiful Ashford Spinning Wheel. Apparently she belongs to  the Spinning Guild in Exeter, Devon, and it was surplus to her needs. I was so amazed at her generosity, I was speachless nearly......(not the normal me)lol! And.... she even brought me a fleece to start spinning with.

When I last had a go at the spinning I was a natural the lady had said....... but now I think she was sooooo wrong. I need to have loads more practice before I can spin any yarn suitable for knitting. I will get there though!!!

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My latest stitchery finishes

The  Peaceful Bird is a freebie courtesy of Betty at Primitive Betty's.

I thought it was beautiful, and will look lovely in my quilt when it is finished.

I just love the Attitude Fairy..... my husband says it is so me!!

I just love doing these stitcheries, as they are so quick to do, I can do a couple in an evening.

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A Frugal Dessert Recipe. Yummy!!!!!

serves 3

I had a few fruits that were left from last week,

One white peach with a beautiful red centre,

One Necterine,

One Large Black Plum,

One small cooking apple.

I took the skins off all the fruit, cored and stoned, and sliced into a dish.

sprinkled with 2 desertspoons of muscavado sugar.

Topping

Take two crusts of the end of a pre-packed loaf

(normally these get left in our house)

Blitz the crusts in a processor,

add 1.5oz butter, and two tablespoons of muscavado sugar,and

two generous tablespoons of dessicated coconut.

Blitz again for a couple of seconds, and then spoon over the fruit.

Bake for about 20-30 mins until topping truns a nice golden brown, and the fruit starts to bubble through, depending on your oven, mine took 20 mins in a convector oven, at 180 deg C, or Gas 5., 350 deg f.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!   We did.

Blackwork Finish & A Game and Craft Country Show

Thank you to all of my followers who left a comment for me last time. All comments are much appreciated, and it is always nice to hear what you all think about the things that I blog about.

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The picture above is a small blackwork piece which I worked on 22ct Hardanger fabric. The pattern was a freebie by M.Brouwer, who I must thank for the lovely little pattern. It was a delight to stitch, and it will be made into a needle case. I will also make a scissors fob to match with part of the design. ( Please click highlighted word to find pattern). You may also find another seasonal pattern on the link at the moment.

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Day out at The Game and Country Show.

The weather was beautiful at the weekend, and for a long time my Husband has wanted to have a go at Falconry. Recently I was emailed that a Game and Country show was to be held fairly nearby, at Powderham Castle in Devon. The castle is home to the Earl of Devonshire. So I decided on reading that there was to be many falconry displays, and that the public would be able to fly the birds of prey, that we would go. Unfortunately after being there most of the day, there wasn't the chance for him to have a go at falconry, but we had the most wonderful time looking at all the crafts, and seeing the birds fly.

I had a Harrier Hawk land on my head whilst trying to take a photo of it in flight, and I was amazed that even with its long talons it didn't stick them into my head. To the contrary it was so gentle sat there upon my head like I had been crowned with a bird hat, and it sat there for about 3 minutes. My husband was so thrilled to see it up so close to him. Me not so, as I have a fear of birds up close.

This is a pic of the very bird.

Harrier Hawk

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More birds which we saw

Barn Owl

Merlin

Golden Eagle

Falcon

Eagle Owl

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For Some who like Knitting

There was a lady at the show who was displaying knitted rugs to cover picnic chairs, and the for the floor, all knitted on what looked like broom handles. Enormous needles about three to four feet long. The yarn that she was using was a double knitting wool multiplied up 15 times. When she was demonstrating she had 15 cones of wool on the floor at one time. I asked her how long it took to knit a row, and she said she could do 2 rows in 2 hours.

Here are some pics of what the rugs looked like.

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Other Crafts that we saw

There were local blacksmiths who had taken mobile forges so that they could do a demonstration of their craft, the items that they made were beautiful. I have shown some of their work below.

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Woodcarving & Hippy Hut

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Items made of Driftwood

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Some Cute Dogs

Jack Russell Pup

Lurcher Shaking Hands

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Our Stuart Slaying a Dinosaur whilst having his first go at Archery.

He got the Dino right in the top of its head.

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I did buy a bit of Stash......well it had to be done!!

Dear Hubby has a new mobile phone that has a screen that is always on display so it needs a case. Also I thought I would make some little slippers for our little grandson who is a baby of 5 months. So as I was walking past this small marquee I saw that they were selling the softest of fine glove leather, it was a regal blue..... I just couldn't resist.

The lady who served me told me that they have a website, but they don't list the fine leather as a product, but if you contact them they will always oblige in sending you some, if so wished. They also sell beads, and other general craft & leather craft supplies, & leather accessories.

They can be found at http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk/

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And On The Way Home we saw.....

The most wonderful Fallow Deer Stags.

I thought you would like to see this beautiful building. Its called the Minadab Restaurant just between Dawlish and Teignmouth,Devon, I used to live near to it, but have never managed yet to go to dinner there. I really must do sometime, just to see if it is as pretty inside.

Just going down in to Teignmouth looking at the mist over the water, where the sea meets the River Teign