Pressies!!

You just sometimes know when a package is going to fill you with joy – and this one certainly did! It was waiting for me when I got home this morning. Lovely Wendy has sent me a ‘cheer-you-upness’ Autumn themed package following my knee replacement surgery 5½ weeks ago. I clearly laid on the ’sympathy vote’ thing well didn’t I? It has been painful though ….. see, there I go again! Wendy is a very talented crafter and her prim, rusticy kind of style is very ‘me’. So, here we go with the reveal!! First I opened the box to see it filled to the brim!

Then, one by one, I eagerly opened each package and I was not disappointed.

My eyes immediately fell on the Maltester Truffles – Maltesers are my favourite chocolates by the way, so they will not last beyond today!! And so on to this gorgeous velvet pumpkin pincushion with three of those lovely decorated pins. Isn't it fabulous?!

Next this really lovely cross-stitch sampler cushion – Wendy is a very prolific cross-stitch expert – check out her blog for proof and see the exceptional work she produces. Also, the sweetest little felt blackbird sitting on a wooden bobbin – just so lovely!

And lastly, this ‘Salted Caramel Pumpkin’ candle in a jar – what can I say except Mmmmmmm, yummy – can you smell it? It’s so scrummy I can’t tell you!!

So that just leaves me to say a massive BIG thank you to my lovely, kind and very talented bloggy friend, Wendy – I absolutely love it all! You’re such a very kind friend xxx

A Hand-y Bag!

I’ve made this handy little bag for carrying around my stitching ‘bits n’ bobs’ when I’m on the move .......... this one in brown is for me!!

and this one is for my lovely bloggy friend, Wendy over at the ‘The Quiet Room’.

It was Wendy’s birthday recently, so I had made her a few things, although I admit I was a tad late sending her gifts ….. but I think she’s forgiven me though!!

I made Wendy’s with some of the beautiful ‘Field Notes’ fabric by the very talented ‘Blackbird Designs’ ladies – such gorgeous fabric. Whereas mine (above top) was a ‘cheap as chips’ fabric I picked up in the market a while ago …… quite cute though all the same I thought.

I’ve never sewn with PVC before (see pocket), so that was a challenge, and I haven’t put many zippers in before either, so it was a double whammy!! In all honesty, the brown one was a bit of a practice run before making the one for Wendy …. wanted to make sure I got it right you see, so I hope I did!!

A hand-y bag for when you’re on the move, and just have to take a bit of stitching along!!

Spooky presents for me!!

Apologies to Wendy (The Quiet Room blog) for being so late in posting photos of the gorgeous Halloween presents she sent to me …….. and they arrived bang on 31^st October – perfect timing, although I think Wendy thought they might not arrive on time! As I told Wendy in an email though, had I been at home the day before, I would have had them then, but instead I had one of those ‘excitement inducing’ cards from Mr Postman telling me there was something ‘too big to go through my letterbox’ waiting for me at the post office depot. And as you can guess, I was there at 7:00am the following morning (on my way to work) to collect!! I seem to have been so busy this last week and/or late home from work, which is why I’m so late!!

And look at what I got

One more pumpkin to add to the collection that Wendy sent to me before – and as she says, you can never have too many pumpkins (Pumpkin Queen she is!! LOL)

And then, two beautiful cross-stitch pillows/pin cushions

Aren’t they just lovely? Look at that quirky green pumpkin face in the 'Trick or Treat' one, and I love the colours in the 'Boo' one! 

They have all been added to my Halloween/Autumn display – can you see the new white pumpkin at the front there?

Thank you again to my very kind and generous friend Wendy – I love my gorgeous pressies.

Pressies for me!!

Just look what was waiting for me when I arrived home from work the other day 

………. pressies from my luvurley friend Wendy of The Quiet Room blog - is there any better kind of parcel to greet you when you just know it will be full of wonderful things - and so it was!!

There are quite a few photos, SOOOOO generous was Wendy! 

Now, we all know how long cross-stitch takes don’t we, and there was not only this sweet 1816 pincushion, with mother of pearl buttons & pins, but

 ……….. wait until you see this!! A cross-stitch pocket, which is just amazing! – there is so much work in it

and inside - scissors and a little charm. 

AND as if that wasn't enough, inside the pocket was all this!!! - everything  to make a gorgeous Easter pillow, with the cutest chart/pattern, 28-count linen ........ the chart suggests 40-count, but these old eyes can't do any smaller than 28-count, so this is perfect. And then all of the flosses, and not just DMC floss, but Weeks Dye Works and The Gentle Art (beautiful colours) - and even the needles!! So much!!! Wendy understands clearly too that I shall need until next Easter to make it LOL …… or maybe even the one after that!! 

And now my favourite – I loved it when I saw it on Wendy’s blog a little while ago – this gorgeous woolly sunflower cushion – such lovely, neat stitching - I adore it. 

And to top all of that off (Wendy is clearly trying to make me fat LOL!!!) – 3, yes 3 packs of chocolate …… I am the biggest chocoholic in  the world of course (Wendy knows me so well), so this photo is several days old now, because I knew the choccies wouldn't last until the weekend when I could blog about them – so I took it immediately !!!

As I said to Wendy in an email, she is the cleverest, talentedist!!, kindest friend, I’m sure I don’t deserve it, but again Wendy, thank you, thank you SOOOOOO very, very much. I love EVERYTHING.

I'm actually half asleep whilst doing this post, as I've had the loveliest day today at the 'Malvern Spring Quilt Show', but I'm now shattered having walked my legs off! And yes, of course I made a few (!!) purchases ....... but the pictures of my stash can wait until my next post!!

More lovely Christmas pressies!!

Just look at this beautiful redwork embroidery Christmas picture I received from Deb (The Angel and the Pukeko blog). Isn't it beautiful, so much detail and hard work has gone into it - I love it. I plan on getting a nice frame for it eventually, as it deserves to be displayed properly, so that's a task for me in the New Year!

Deb also sent me these rag doll patterns, which I shall keep for another day - I do like them and would love to tackle them one of the days

............ and I also had this cute little 'Dolly Bird' fridge magnet. There was also a very appropriate (for Deb) 'Pukeko' shopping bag, but I forgot to photograph that and it's in the car now as I used it today when I went shopping.

Thanks Deb, I love them all and really appreciate the work you've put into the lovely embroidery.

Anyway folks, this may well be my penultimate blog post, as I shall soon be signing off from blogging - certainly for the time being anyway (Wendy, I will email you soon!) ......... priority's change and life just simply gets in the way at times, but I will explain more in another post. So for now I shall simply say a great big
'HAPPY NEW YEAR' to all my bloggy friends.

Christmas time!

If only you could get a whiff of this picture ........... you would smell the most wonderful smell – Caramel Apple to be precise!!

This is just part of my Christmas package from my lovely, lovely friend Wendy (Quiet Room blog). The little lady above is described as a ‘Prim Wax Dipped Angel’ and she smells just gorgeous. And that’s exactly what she is – a little rag doll angel who has been dipped in wax (the whole thing)! I’ve never seen one before – quite amazing!! She has a lovely little red dress on and curled wire for her hair. As yet, she is still in the plastic bag – the smell is that strong, I don’t need to take her out of it yet.

And as well as my little angel, Wendy has made these beautiful wool cones – they’re so sweet look at the little Christmas mouse, and the Ginger.

Then there’s one with one of those grubby candles that light up (as demonstrated) .......... and then there’s some candy canes and a bundle of cinnamon sticks. They’re really lovely aren’t they?

And as if that lot isn’t enough, Wendy has also been cross-stitching and look at this beautiful Christmas pillow – I feel another "Gorgeous" coming on here!! But I can’t think of another adjective to describe it, so here goes – it’s blooming GORGEOUS!!

Thank you so much Wendy – they’re wonderful and I love them all.

I suppose while I’m at it I may as well show you what I sent to Wendy a couple of weeks ago. I stuck with wool, as that is Wendy’s favourite. First of all, I made a woolly Christmas pudding pin cushion, perched on an old wooden bobbin (made myself one too actually). I used red glass beads for the berries and added a couple of ceramic Christmas buttons, which can either stay attached, or could be snipped off for use if wanted.

Secondly I made this snowman wall hanging – Wendy loves snowmen, and I really enjoyed making it and was pleased with the outcome, as was Wendy I believe.

Anyway, that’s it for now this side of Christmas, so I wish everyone a

VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

More birthday treats!!

Well, it’s been a while since I posted. Life generally, health worries/problems (now alleviated more or less) and all-round lack of enthusiasm being to blame!!

But now I am prompted to post after receiving my belated birthday gifts from my lovely, lovely, super, clever friend, Wendy (aka the Queen of the ebay ‘wins’!!) – check out her blog for full explanations!!

Anyway, as I said to Wendy in a thank you email last night, I think she knows me better than I know me, because this is what she sent to me:-

First off, a red heart paper weight and wooden heart, which now decorate my lounge and kitchen

Secondly ..... get ready for envy!! Don’t you just love this chocolate polka dot mug/pin cushion – how cute is that, with its ‘Just Another Button Company’ pins? I love the rose pins, they’re so pretty.

Thirdly, this gorgeous ‘Just Another Button Company’ Carrot pincushion kit, which includes both their buttons AND pins. I am a huge fan of ‘Just Another Button Company’ and had been eyeing up their new line of pincushions, so this is right up my street ....... I’m really looking forward to making this up, and again, as I said to Wendy, I think I even understand the instructions!!!

Fourthly!! Look at this beautiful basket of cross-stitch pincushions (or possibly drawer liners) there's 11 of them altogether. Wendy wasn’t sure what to call them, as they came up smaller than she thought they would, but whatever they are, they’re gorgeous – she has put a lot of work into them, which I appreciate as a cross-stitcher myself (sometimes anyway). I may fill the basket with something like rosehips or cones maybe and then put the pincushions on top – something to tinker with anyway!!

And finally, here is everything together ........... who’s a lucky girl then eh?? Yes, it's ME

Already said privately, but now publicly, thank you so very much Wendy for my lovely, lovely pressies – they really did cheer me up when cheering up was needed!!