Friday Frolics and Weekend Stitching....

Hello!  I have now emerged from a wonderful 3 day weekend with some stitching progress to show off!  The weather was fantastic and both Hubby and I had a very lazy, do nothing but stitching weekend!  My favourite kind of weekend :o)

As you probably read in my last post, I have recently been stitching on my "Faces of JE Mystery SAL" piece again and over the weekend I just kept on going with this one!  I am finding it hard to put it away this time....

I was supposed to take a photo on Friday night before I started stitching, and another one after my Friday night effort, so that I could do a Friday Frolics post... but I forgot!  So this post is covering my FF stitching as well as a general update on my SAL piece.

When I posted last week after IHSW & FNSI my SAL piece looked like this:

She now looks like this:

I have now started filling in her skin by stitching 1 over 1 which is taking a bit of time..... (as it does!!)  I have so enjoyed stitching on this fairy which means I have to make a decision as to whether to keep it out for another few days or swap her for another WIP that is sitting in the basket.

Before I go I must show you a couple of pics.... one is of the gorgeous roses that I picked from the front garden on Sunday.  Our roses are starting to show off their Spring colours and they look amazing...

And secondly, seeing as I showed you a picture of Oscar enjoying the sun the other day.... I really should show you the other two.... Felix and Mitzi on guard in Daddy's office.....  Have no idea what was outside that was attracting their attention but they are certainly intent on something!

Speaking of Mitzi - I have to tell you what her favourite movie is at the moment: 101 Dalmatians.

We had the telly on the other night and the 101 Dalmatians movie was on while we were doing the dishes - next thing I noticed Mitzi sitting by the couch watching the TV!  I managed to grab my phone without disturbing her and took a video of her watching all the puppies.  She even barked when the 2 baddies appeared!!!  Don't think she likes Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams anymore!!  I was amazed at how glued she was to the movie!  So cute too....  She often watches the TV but this is first time she has sat for so long...normally after 10 mins or so she loses interest but not this time.  I think she ended up watching almost the whole movie!!

So that's for today!  See you again next week when hopefully I will have some more stitching to show you!

Ta-ta for now.... happy stitching!
Hugs xx

Spring is in the air.. or is it?

Our back garden - over run by the Nasturtiums!
Oops.. there is a shadow of me taking the photo...

Here's the latest weather report... Spring has sprung down under... apparently... the flowers and bees tell me it is so, but the sun is still playing hide and seek!  We have had lots of lovely rain since September began but it has stayed cold and the sun only shines every now and then!  But I am not complaining about the rain, as we desperately need the rain to make sure the dams are full and we have water for Summer!

My TUSAL photo for September was taken in the garden amongst the Lavender.  I love my Lavender plants, as do the bees!

TUSAL September 2013

Of course as per usual I am late in uploading a TUSAL pic... This month the ORT's are mostly purple and orange and some sparkles as I have been stitching on my exchange piece for the MS Lovers Halloween Exchange.  Pics to come once it arrives at its destination.  It has been fun stitching the Halloween piece... think I might just have to stitch some more Halloween designs - there is something about the purple, orange and black colours that so speak to me!!

If you are interested in keeping in touch with what is going on with the 2013 TUSAL pop on over to Daffycat's blog and join in the fun. The next new moon is on 5 October (oooh, that's my birthday too) - let's see how many more ORT's drop into the jar between now and then.

That's it for this very short and sweet post.  I have been thinking about my stitching goals for next year already and one thing that I noticed this year is that I haven't stitched anything like the same number of things as I have stitched in the previous couple of years - so I am going to have to think of a cunning plan to rectify that for 2014!

Now for some cuteness overload just to keep you smiling....

Mitzi & Oscar
curled up together in the craft room (my chair of course)
or is it their chair?!?

Oscar & Felix
There are 3 of these baskets side by side... but Felix likes to
curl up with Oscar in the same one!

Til next time, happy stitching everyone, see you again soon!

New Moons - 2013

5 October
3 November
3 December

Mitzi's Baking Day

Mitzi's baking! Can you believe it? No, you're quite right.. It wasn't Mitzi baking at all, it was me baking for Mitzi... Which is probably even more surprising than my dog baking!

So why was I baking for Mitzi? Well, when Mitzi was 6 months old we found out that she has either a wheat or a beef intolerance, or both! So her diet had to change and since then we have been on the look out for wheat-free and/or beef-free snacks. We found a great source of snacks for her when we went to the Million Paws Walk - Waggy Dog Bakehouse. We have done one order of snack biscuits from them so far and will be ordering from them again, but in the meantime we thought we would also see if we can make some for her.

So after lots of snooping around the interweb, we found a couple of different recipes that looked easy and tasty. So today I decide to test one of them out - pumpkin cookies.

They were so easy to make. The recipe actually calls for canned pumpkin but as we don't have that here in Australia I used good ole' fresh butternut squash and mashed it with a small amount of butter into a nice purée. And guess what, I think it worked!! What do you think? The recipe also asked for dried milk powder.. which I didn't have in the cupboard... so I added a teaspoon of honey to sweeten the recipe slightly.

Thumbs up from Mitzi!

And look how many the recipe made - about 50 biscuits. We have stars, hearts and a couple of bells. I don't have a bone shaped cookie cutter but I know there must be one out there somewhere.

Such an easy bake... And obviously a hit with Mitzi!

See you all again real soon!

Hugs

Posted with Blogsy

April... surely not....

Wow, can you believe it - it is April already... and as it's the first day of April how many April Fool's jokes have you seen so far today?  I am sure that there will be some good ones out there somewhere!

I hope everyone had a nice Easter.  We have had a very quiet long weekend... lots of crafting and relaxing... and not a lot else!  Both of us have really needed to just have the time to veg out.  Hubby has been doing some very nice machine embroidery squares and I have been stitching, while Mitzi and the kitties sleep the day away.  The most activity we have had is taking Mitzi out for a walk each morning and trying out her new extended lead.  She loves it - 8m of freedom!!  As yet we haven't taught her to walk off the lead... suspect that she would become very easily distracted and take off... so the new long lead is just what she needs in the park.

Yesterday while I was stitching, Mitzi was as usual lying beside me snoring... then she moved to the other end of the couch and disappeared.  I thought that she had got off the couch but no... she had buried herself in amongst her cushions.

Somewhere in amongst the cushions there is a puppy!!

As I mentioned in my last post I have been stitching the Margaret Sherry "Puppy Love" ... which I am still stitching - no further update though - will leave that for the next post.  While I have been stitching this and the other MS designs for my secret stitching I have been thinking about starting my next Chatelaine.  Have had very itchy fingers for starting one of these!  On Sunday I decided to give in to the urge and started one.  Not a big one - just a little wee one to whet the appetite - CHAT 038 Mini Mandalas II.

photo of A, B & C

I have started the first one in the group of 3 mandalas and I am really enjoying it so far.  I purchased all the correct threads and beads from the European Crosstitch Company as I thought I would I give these different silks ago for the Chatelaines.  So far so good... I have been a good girl and been using Thread Heaven and it does seem to make the threads glide through the fabric.  Might have to use it with my DMC threads as well.  No twisting and knots... love it!!  Once I have stitched these three I will take the plunge and do a larger one.

So do you want to see a photo of where I am at so far?  Of course you do...

WIP Photo - Mini Mandala A
1 April 2013

After a week of stitching I am really pleased with my progress so far.  I will stitch on this some more today and then switch back to "Puppy Love" during the week.

That's it for now... hopefully I will be back again on Friday with an update on both projects.

Have a wonderful Monday and week, til next time, happy stitching
Hugs

February 2013 TUSAL

Love is in the air!!  

Happy Valentines everyone.... albeit a day late

Hello everyone!  Yes, I know I have been missing in action for a month.... my last post was my January TUSAL post... goodness me the days continue to fly by...   Not only haven't I been playing on my blog, but I also haven't been spending much time on catching up on my blog reading or emails.  Work has been so full on since Christmas/New Year - normally at night when I get home the last thing I want to do is get on the laptop... instead I play on my iPad! We have found a new game that has been a little bit all consuming... but I have now made a big decision... no more gaming at night - stitching and posting is what I should be doing...  Lets see if I can keep that promise :o)

ORT Report

Late as usual....
This month's little ORT's have come from two secret stitchings and also my little MS Summer Cat that is slowing limping along...

One secret stitching is currently on its way half way around the world and the other is almost ready to go on it's journey.... destination unknown as yet ;o)  Once they arrive I will do the full show and tell.

February 2013 TUSAL

Well dear readers, that's it for another ORT report.  If you are interested in keeping in touch with what is going on with the 2013 TUSAL pop on over to Daffycat's blog and join in the fun.  The next new moon is on 11 March so let's see how many more ORT's drop into the jar between now and then.

Now for some stitching updates....

MS SAL Updates
SAL #3 Cool Cats - well as mentioned previously, Summer cat is slowly limping along.  I will get this finished eventually!!

MS Cool Cat - Summer as of 15.02.13

SAL #4 Puppy Love - oops, not started yet....  I did have every intention of starting my puppies before the start of February... but instead I stitched a secret gift and started my MS exchange stitching instead.

So you think you might need an excuse to stitch this weekend.... no, probably not, but let's pretend that we do need an excuse... it's that time of the month again!

IHSW 15-17 February 2013
Woo hoo, here we are again... another IHSW.  I wonder if I will manage to actually get some serious stitching done this weekend.  So what will I be stitching?

Hopefully I will be able to tackle the following:

• Finish off the exchange piece and box it up ready to send
• Start Puppy Love
• Stitch a bit more on Summer kitty

If you would like to join in the stitching weekend, pop on over to Joyce's blog, say hello and sign up.

Til the next new moon in March 2013, happy stitching and may your collection of ORT's keep on growing!

Now before I go, who wants to see a picture of our puppy love - Mitzi?

A few weeks ago Mitzi had a play date with your Mum, brother and sister. They had the best of times!  It took Mitzi a little while to get into play time with the other three, but towards the end she was having the best of times.  They will be all getting together again soon - I bet Mitzi can't wait :o)

Mitzi with her brother and sister
(L-R Marley, Milly and Mitzi)

Mitzi has taught herself a new trick.... or rather she has started copying Felix - jumping on the kitchen chairs.  Luckily she hasn't graduated to the table yet!!  She so thinks she is a cat sometimes...

Where's my dinner?

Well, that's about it for this little update....  Have a wonderful weekend everyone, see you again soon!

New Moons - 2013

11 March
10 April
10 May
8 June
8 July
6 August
5 September
5 October
3 November
3 December

Totally Useless SAL - New Moon 13 November 2012 Update

Hello again!

Wow, another long absence between posts.... and again no excuse!  I have been stitching and reading blogs even if I haven't been leaving comments... sometimes I do a fly by read and promise myself that I will come back later and leave a comment and of course time goes by and then I don't get back to comment!!  So I must say sorry to everyone for not leaving lots of comments, I promise to try and do better ;o)

So what has been happening around our little ole' place....

I finished my Christmas Card for the Margaret Sherry Yahoo group Christmas Exchange.  I also made a little needle book and some Christmas pins to send to Vilma.

Margaret Sherry Christmas Mouse
MS Yahoo Group Exchange - sent to Vilma

Needlebook and Christmas pins sent to Vilma

I also had some birthday cards to finish off for the Craftbubble Birthday Exchange, but I completely ran out of time for stitching the cards, so I had to buy cards for the last 3 birthdays for this exchange.  But I still felt that I should make something for the lovely ladies... so I spent a couple of hours putting together three little pin cushions.  The cat panels were the perfect size for a pin cushion.

Pin Cushions for Craftbubble Crazy for Kitties Birthday Exchange

I suppose I had better show you my TUSAL photo for the month of November.... after all that's why we are here!

This month the Dragon has an owl for a friend.  The ORT's have a few more threads in the jar and some lovely purple ones on top from the little bit of stitching that I have been doing on Spring kitty - MS Cool Cats number 3.

TUSAL November 2012
Dragon and Owl

This weekend was also the IHSW - but not much stitching has been done in this house over the weekend.... hubby and I have been way too busy sorting out the house.... we are on the move... but more on that later.

Before I go I must leave you with a photo of Mitzi..... I went looking for her earlier today and this is where I found her...

Mitzi in Felix's basket with Felix's mouse!!

When we were cleaning up today I put all of the cat's toys in the top basket so that they wouldn't get sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.  And of course Miss Mitzi, who just adores the cat's toys, found them.  She climbed into the top basket via the bottom one and selected her favourite orange and white mouse - the same mouse that just so happens to be Felix's favourite one too.  I am sure that she thinks she is a cat most of the time!!

Well dear readers, that's it for another ORT report and IHSW update.  See you all again same time next month... Pop on over to Daffycat's blog if you are interested in keeping in touch with what is going on with the 2012 TUSAL, and don't forget to drop in on Joyce's blog to check out who joined the IHSW for the month.

Til the next new moon on 13 December 2012, happy stitching and may your collection of ORT's keep growing!

New Moons - 2012

13 December

Puppy dog tails

Or should that be puppy dog tales!

We have now had our new little lady in our house for just over a week, and what a week it has been!!

Mitzi is the most delightful puppy.  She has been so good and has settled in very well.  The boys have slowly started to come round to having a puppy in the house.  They are not too sure about her when she barks at them and tries to get them to play with her!  The funniest thing is when she is sleeping they both come up and sniff her and check her out... but when she is running around they prefer to keep their distance!

Mitzi loves to chew things - like all puppies.  We have had to barricade off parts of the garden (like the veggie patch) as she thought running around in there was the best thing - all those plants to chew like rhubarb and raspberries or fertilizer!  So now her veggie garden runs have been stopped and she is a bit miffed about that... but better to have her on the other side of the veggie patch than in there eating things that will make her ill.  Bamboo is much safer to chew!  Should have named her Panda!!

And of course what else do puppies like to do?  Dig!!!  There are little holes all around the garden where she decides all of a sudden to dig a hole.  She has found the big holes that Daisy had dug in the back yard and loves running into them and lying down...  but of course she has to make her own as well.  Luckily they are easy to fill in at this stage!

And after a big morning of running around in the garden we just have to sleep.  She is lying on Daisy's old bed - her little mat fits nicely in half of the bed and the other half she lies on when she gets too hot from sleeping on the mat.  We nearly gave these beds away to the dogs home when we took the last of Daisy's food and mats in,  but decided to keep them just in case... just as well we did as they are perfect for a little dog to stretch out on - albeit they are rather large for a little dog!!

Oh, and did I mention she loves the boy's cat grass!  Poor kitties, their life has been well and truly turned upside down by a puppy.  Not only does she bark at them with that high pitched puppy bark, but she also can fit through the cat door into their outside area and then she goes and eats their cat grass!  Yuck dog spit!!  We have also barricaded off parts of the house so she is currently confined to the kitchen, family room and part of the dining room area, which means the boys can go and hide from her in their many hidey holes around the house when she gets too much for them.

I had forgotten how much attention puppies need when they first arrive in the house!  Constantly watching her to make sure she doesn't chew on electrical cables or wee in the wrong spot... but that was last week!  This week she is getting the hang of either going to the back door to go out or heading out the cat door (most of the time), and now that the speakers and my stitching light have been put away there isn't any obvious cables in her play area to worry about.

Tomorrow will be a big day for her as I am going back to work in the morning and she will be home alone with only the cats for company.  I am only working in the morning on Wednesday and Thursday, and will be home on Friday, so it will be a bit of test for her to be on her own for so long.  So far we have only left her for a couple of hours at the most.  But I think she will be ok....  Hubby is at home next week on leave but after that it will be back to the normal routine for us all.  I think she will be ok by then as she has settled in very well and even slept all night last night :o)

Mitzi has already found a place in our hearts and while she will never replace Daisy it is nice to have a dog in the house again.

Stay tuned for more Mitzi updates!!  I will be back in the next day or so with some stitching updates for you.

Til then, keep safe and happy stitching...