On the mend!

I should never have said that i was lucky to have escaped the cough/cold bug that i have seen so many bloggers suffering with.

I could have renamed one of my childrens all time favourite childrens books.....

 

Julie goes to the doctor

 

and she didn't like what she was told either ...... for the past 2 weeks i've been nursing a throat and ear infection, sinus and chest infection.

I'm feeling lot brighter now, but i have no stitching to share with you, i haven't pick up a needle for simply ages...... no parlour stitching, no stocking-a-long either.  I've missed the dealine for the monthly challenge this month too so that didn't get done either.

I can show you a couple of small things i finished before i was sick.

Isabelle celebrated her birthday on Sunday, she was 2 this time and i had already knitted her a topsy turvy dolly with 2 heads.  The pattern came from this Jean Greenhowe booklet.

Miss Pansy

 

 turns into Miss Rose

We bought her a wendy house for the garden, it was very PINK

 

It's even big enough for nanny's to play inside too!

My mum will be celebrating her birthday this weekend. Just a small something to add to her other birthday gift, this time i added a small stitched design to a mirror from framecraft.  I liked the muted colours of this scene, it made me think of the scottish highlands where my late maternal grandfather used to live, i hope mum likes it too.

I've been reading and finished the book i received from Maggie at the stitchers meet up last month. Me Before You was a fabulous book, i thoroughly enjoyed it. 2420 readers on amazon have given it 5 ***** and i agree with them.  There are so many recommendations from newspapers and magazines and individuals.  Not many books reduce me to tears, but the final chapters in this did.  I've passed it on to the ladies at the Book Borrowers and one has already read it, its now gone to a new home this week.  I can see this one being something we talk about a lot after they have all read it.  Thanks Maggie, Jojo Moyes is not someone i have read before, but i will certainly be trying more of her books.

Tonight is Parlour night stitching with the ladies at NH.  I've only got the bottom floral border on Little Hill to do, so am planning on having a finish this week.  It will be nice to have needle in hand again, i've missed it.

I see i have a couple of new followers, shouting a big WELCOME to you, it's nice to have new folks stop by and leave a comment.

See you soon with my Little Hill finish ....

Finishes, WIP's and other stuff

Good Saturday afternoon to you all.......

 

Do you have a nice weekend planned? Or like me are you catching up with things that need attention and planning some rest and relaxation time. 

 

We've had a busy few weeks so this weekend it's going to be calm and relaxed for us. 

 

Hubby's been in the garden this morning, the camelia is blooming very late this year but he's had to dive into the greenhouse and potter in there, rain stopped play outside.

 

 

I've been playing with my new food mixer and baked a nice cherry cake for us to enjoy at teatime. 

 

 

Finishes ....

My SIL loves a handmade gift and this year i was getting stuck for ideas, she's had so many different things over the past 20 years.  We bought her some lovely mugs from the Victoria and Albert collection and i thought these coasters would make the perfect addition to the parcel.  The design is a very old freebie from Just Nan called Whimzi Rose (i don't think its available any more).



 

 

North Pole Post Office, the third in the CCN Santa's Village had the final stitch added

 

A little crochet baby blanket for a friend at the Book Borrowers. Her new grandaughter was due yesterday.  I'm awaiting a phone message to say she has arrived. It's such an exciting time waiting for a little one to make an appearance into the world isn't it.

 

WIP's....

LHN Little House is growing, there's only the bottom border to add to that now.  Next Wednesdays SAL with Barb and the ladies at Needlecraft Haven will see that finished i think and then the chart will be off to a new home.

 

Friday was the stocking-a-long and i made great progress this week on Nativity Stocking.   

 

New stash...

Postie has brought me something different.  Ursh was very naughty at the meet up last month when we were admiring a lovely tassel ornament that had been made, she made me encouraged me to buy this.  I've never done any beading at all before so this will be a first.  Lindsay, you might be getting lots of emails shouting for help!!

 

 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever plans you have for it.

 

Take care, love and {hugs}

Julie x

 

Bank Holiday weekend

Hubby and i have been away again, this time we went to stay with family and saw the Spalding Flower Parade in Lincolnshire.

The first flower festival was in 1959 and it's been an annual event since.  But number 54 this year will be the last one.  The council can no longer help to fund this spectacular event in the current economic climate - such a shame.   

This years event was also masked by the recent bad weather.  Poor growing conditions have meant only 200 bags of tulips have been collected for the Lincolnshire festival compared to 1,020 in 2012.  Other things such foil and rafias have been used this year to make the floats look beautiful.

People come from miles around to watch the parade and view the floats and see all the hard work that has gone into the event.  Lots to see and do and a fun day out.

Here are some snapshots we took on Saturday.  This years theme was "Lets Celebrate" 

Peterborough Morris Men entertaining the crowd in the

 town centre before the parade

Previous Flower Parade Queens

 

 

 

A marching band from Northern Ireland

were taking part

 

All the floats are usually decorated with just

tulips like this

 

Coventry Scout Band

A big well done to all the volunteers and those who took part in the event, it really was a magnificent sight to see in the streets of Spalding.