Not an Owl

update but a CHRISTMAS post :)

This year my parents threw away there 25 year old Christmas tree for a lovely (non-sagging) new one. Mum wants to mainly go back to traditional decorations. So we decided it would be fun to make our own. I am so excited as although my mum is arty, she has never gotten into stitching, no matter how much I try :( and she rarely makes time for crafts these days so this should be so much fun!

We have set a challenge of 5 'different' decorations. Although we haven't really set any rules it would obviously be really boring to have 5 exactly the same. And I want more than 5 decs at the end so I will be making 2 or 3 of each thing if I can!

So I had a trip to Hobby Craft for some felt and ribbon today and here is my first:

3 little Gingerbead Men. They were so easy to make, I just drew around a cookie cutter for the shape, decorated with buttons and ribbon, then stitched it together using blanket stitch, then stuffed!

Mum hasn't made it to a craft store yet so im not sure what she is planning. But I will give her some felt incase she wants to make one too! I will post pics of here's on the blog too.

And can you see the edge of the sewing box behind the Gingerbread Man? My gorgeous hubby spotted it reduced to £15 whilst I was on my felt finding mission and bought it for me, because I have wanted one for so long-what a star.

Black Cross on Our Door!!

Oh dear we have had a tough few days!
Firstly I came down with a bad cold and congestion which left me really tired and head-achy... so no stitching :(. Then my 4yr old son was suddenly come down with a stomach bug and was off colour for 2 days. Then along with my cold I came down with the stomach bug and so did my 22 month old! Seeing the eldest being sick is hard but seeing the baby so sick was heartbreaking! He kept looking at me like.. 'please make it stop' My poor husband had to spend the night on he's bedroom floor to look after him as I was too ill to help! We are finally all over that bug but now we all have colds erghh!

I'm hoping to get a little stitching done tonight though. Hopefully on my owl! I will try an update with a picture soon.

Sad News :(

My parents cat Lottie past away of old age last week!

 My mum found her in my school playground when I was 5, that was 20 years ago now!She was being chased around by children and was terrified. Mum scooped her up and put her inside her coat and got the bus home with her like that! After no replies to adverts saying we had found her Mum took her to the vet for a check up and they guessed she was about 6-9 months old and had been living 'rough' for a while. So we got to keep her.

 Obviously my parents are really upset as are my brothers and I as she was also our childhood pet! She was such a lovely natured animal and put up with a lot from us when we where younger, being dressed in dolls clothes and things. She had 3 litters of kittens in her younger days too, and she even outlived some of them bless her. (different family members had some of them). She certainly bought us lots of joy and will be sadly missed.

I have been stitching my parents a little something to remember her and finished it today. The original was an RSPCA chart called 'Smudge' that looked similar to her, so I just changed the markings and colours. 

With my dad in 2008, that is my eldest son on he's lap.

I'm going to frame it over the weekend and give it to them next time I see them. I will get a better picture of it once it's framed hopefully!

Ouch

I cannot believe I haven't posted on here for so long again. I'm a bad blogger and will try and do better in the future :)

I have been doing a bit of stitching though- and even better some machine sewing hurray!
As the winter is almost upon us and the heating bill will possible bankrupt us this year we are on a mission to use the heating as little as possible. I mean we have double glazing so it shouldn't be on as much as we have used it in previous years. Shamefully sitting here in short sleeves because the heatings on!!!
So we are going back to basics. Out come the heavy jumpers, blankets and ... hot water bottles. Which gave me a great opportunity to get stitching.

The children are emergency services mad at the moment so I designed them something along that theme.
A police car for William and a Fire engine for Thomas. I used an old fleecy cot blanket for the actual covers which  I needed to double up to make it thick enough to take the heat! It was so thick that I was convinced it would never go through the machine, but it did.( Which has also convinced me my machine should be fine for quilting) They turned out fabulous. I'm really pleased with them, especially as I designed the cross stitch myself :) A few years ago, even though I was stitching then, I would have just bought a few covers instead at goodness knows what cost, but now I have something that cost next to nothing, that is really personal for the boys and that I can feel proud off! I'm definitely going to try more home-made items from now on.

Even though I still have lots to be getting on with I am already designing a needle book and pin cushion. Although updating this blog has made me realise I really should be aiming for some finishes soon!!