Liebster Award

Katya has awarded me this award... which I feel very guilty about accepting as the last time I was awarded some thing I refused it... so I am sorry I did now, very silly of me to be influenced by some people who all swear that you get viruses from awards!
Thank you Katya for thinking of me and awarding me this.

Leibster is a German word meaning favorite, dearest or beloved. The Leibster is awarded by bloggers to other new (and not so new) bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers., to help spread the word and help the new talented bloggers gain wider recognition.

The Leibster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy:

1. Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

These are the bloggers I have chosen, their blogs are inspirational so please visit them.

http://shebafudge.blogspot.co.uk/

http://smileattheflowers.blogspot.com       

http://ccsstitchingdiary.blogspot.com 

http://veronicaoyh.blogspot.co.uk     

http://fiona-stitchingandstuff.blogspot.co.uk

And five random facts about me??

1 I read all the time and can sit a read a book in a day and do!

2. I do not like cross stitch teddy designs or those like them.

3. I am always dieting

4. I love 'The Archers'  a radio programme which I listen to everyday.

5. I go to a weekly patchwork and quilting class and love it.

Hope those I have awarded this award will be delighted.

Happy stitching all

Chris xxxx

Christmas in March!

My March ornie hanging from our planted Christmas tree on the patio in this glorious sunshine!

Isn't he a cheeky looking Santa, I borrowed the chart from Lesleyanne and to be honest have forgotten the name of the designer.. It was easy to stitch and I completed it in no time at all. I waited till this month to finish it off and because I want fairly big ornies, did an extra row of the white stitching all round, and made a long pillow shape. Its backed with a blue fabric. I just love the snowflake effect on the band of stitching.

Under the stitching I have sewn a row of baby pearl buttons, which I think are so cute!

I have several charts to choose from for April as when Sew & So had their sale, I bought quite a few, naughty as I do have Christmas ones but you know how it is, you want need new!!

Happy Stitching

Chris xx

My BOM

This is block one of my block of the month.. I bought this last year each month and I really didn't realise it was so difficult. However as I have sewn quite a lot of patch work in the last three months I am a lot more confident.

My half square triangles are perfect and the mini squares in blue and pink patterned fabric are not too bad too!

Here are just three of the 9 that are left to do!

Yes there are 10 in all. But I am happy to sew one every month. It's the embroidery that takes the time but I am happy to stitch that in the evenings.

What ever, I love it and even if I take longer than this year to sew it. I won't mind. It is so pretty.

It's called 'Down in the Garden' by Leanne Beasley.

Enjoy your crafty days what ever you doing!

Chris xx

Stitching progress and a battle.....

Celtic Summer Lady
At last I have finished the green and gold part of the dress which completes the dress. Whew!I was beginning to think it would never be finished and for a while I didn't like stitching it as I had gone wrong and wanted to quit! But I bravely frogged a whole section and set off again and wow its done!

I have two more celtic ladies and I never thought I would say this but I think I would like to tackle them one day as well.

Still a lot to do and hundreds of beads to sew on, but that is for the next time I pick this up!

And my Rosewood Manor, Quakers and Quilts has also come out of my wip basket in February.

I was just going to stitch one section of the quilts but got carried away and did two!

The close up of this one shows the straight stitches in between the cross stitches. I haven't ever done this before and I was a bit wary but I like it and think it gives a very nice effect.

I am not too sure I am using the right colours for the back stitch motifs, because it doesn't really say what colour to use except for the outer square, anyway would it matter?
This month, March already, I will try to do just a little to these two and more on my Chatelaine which is waiting for its turn!  I haven't stitched as much in the evenings as I normally would do this last month, as I have had a to-do with my thyroxin dose tabs. It seems I was taking too low a dose but my Drs didn't let me know so consequently I have been sleeping early evening and all other horrible things have affected me,  my usually long nails have  flaked and peeled, I  have lost some hair and worse of all have put on a considerable amount of weight. Although I have now have the correct dose I am struggling to lose the extra weight, my nails are growing SLOWLY! and although my hair has stopped dropping out it is still lank. So I have not been my usual 'pollyanna' self. Still it could be worse so I am battling on. I have my wonderful DH who has been cooking the proper meals for me to lose this weight and he is very supportive in every way, so I can't ask for anything more.
The daffodils are flowering in the garden and we have our little veg. plot dug ready for planting! So in spite of everything our life is good!

Happy Stitching all, spring is here and the sun is shining

Chris xx