Day out and the Welcome Autumn chart winner

 Last Friday I went with Joanne and the two kids to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Park.  We had a great time, Bonnie and Jacob really enjoyed themselves and were as good as gold all day.  Jacob is sometimes a bit of a handful, he isn't good at holding hands and has a tendency to bolt if anything takes his interest.  We had a little talk before setting off, If he started running around he would have to have his reigns on.   He must have taken notice because he held either mine or Joanne's hand all day.  I've never seen a kid so excited by all the rides we went on, he had so much fun and didn't stop laughing all day, it was lovely to see his excitement.  The only thing he was wary of was the massive T Rex in the dinosaur park, can't lame him, from a distance it looked very real!

~~~~~~~~~~

New stitching start... It's the last Wednesday in the month which means it's stitching group tonight, I'll be taking my new start, Pumpkin Spice Everything by The Scarlett House.   

I did sit and stitch for a while this afternoon, not many stitches, but it's a start.

~~~~~~~~~~

And finally, as promised I've drawn a winner for the Welcome Autumn chart.

Sue! (Sues-asifbymagic.blogspot,com) you are the winner!

Please can you drop me an email with your address Sue, (my email is in the right hand side bar) and I will get it in the post for you :-)

Enjoy the rest of your week

-X-

Fancy frock

I'm off to my book club in a few minutes but just had to pop in before I go to show you my latest sewing finish.  

I've been slowly plugging away at making this dress for a while and yesterday I finally finished it!

I'm really happy with how it came out, can't quite believe that I actually made something wearable!!

The  pattern is Hinterland Dress by Sew Liberated.  It wasn't difficult really, but I had the help of Holly at my sewing class for advice and help with anything I wasn't sure of.   I only worked on it at my weekly sewing class, which is one reason why it took much longer than It should have. 

The only criticism I have is nothing to do with the pattern and everything to do with me.  In the time it's taken me to make it I've lost almost a stone in weight.  At the moment I can get away with it but it will definitely be to big if I reach the weight I'm aiming for.

I chickened out on making button holes, (I don't feel confident enough to tackle those yet) so the bodice placket is false.  The wooden buttons I purchase at Holly's shop.

I'm already planning on making another one.  I think It will be good to repeat the process so that I can get familiar with some techniques, and also to make a smaller size.  I'm considering going down two sizes to give myself the motivation to get to my goal weight, watch this space!

PS.  Don't forget the giveaway on my last post is still open.  if you want to be in with a chance of winning the chart please throw your name in the hat, (if you haven't already) before the end of the month!

-X-

Welcome Autumn, a pillow finish

Back in October I was lucky enough to win a give away from Martina and chose this as the piece to stitch on at the last Nimble Thimble meet-up.  I finished all the stitching whilst I was away that following week and made it into a little pillow last week. 

 Welcome Autumn by Primrose Cottage Stitches

I really enjoyed this one and so I'd like to pass the kindness on and offer the CHART as a give away.

So, If you fancy stitching this for yourself and would like to win the chart please say so in your comment and I will draw a name at the end of May.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After what seems like weeks of rain we are finally getting some sunny days at last, Saturday afternoon was spent in the garden tidying things up and today I've planted up the last of the bedding plants in the pots.   Everything is filling out and the garden looks a lot fuller than it did just a few weeks ago.

I know I post a photo every year but I'm just so proud of my Hosta It has to be done :-)

Just to give you an idea how big it is, that gap is about 5 foot across.  

I've never had a problem with slugs and snails because of the copper tape around the pot, it really does work, there is no need to change it every year, it's been on this pot for years.

That's me all caught up for now, I hope you enjoy what's left of the week.

-X-

This week

I finished the socks I cast on when I was away while watching the coronation on Saturday.  The yarn is by Felt Fusion in the colourway Little Dancer on their hight twist zebra base.  In hindsight I wish I had used a contrast for the heel and toes, still, I think they came out fine and no one sees heels and toes when they are in your shoes do they 😉

 

Last Thursday Oliver and Arty had an inset day, Jenny was at work so dropped them here in the morning and I took them for a day out at Wightwick Manor.  It's somewhere I've been a few times, as  have the boys, the grounds are lovely, there is plenty of open space for the boys to run around and as it was a school day for most children It was fairly quiet.  Luckily the weather was nice enough for us to sit and enjoy our picnic outside where we could watch the baby geese.  Once the  boys had burnt off some energy running round we went to look around inside the house, I didn't take any photos of the interior this time but I've posted a couple times previously about Wightwick Manor, if you want to have a peek, here in 2016 and here in 2021.  In one of the final rooms was a dressing up box, they both had fun trying on different outfits, I managed to get Arty to stand still long enough to get a photo.

 The weather is a bit hit and miss at the moment, shame it rained all day for the coronation, although it didn't seem to dampen anyones spirit for celebrating in London, Sunday was a much better day, very warm and sunny, good job too as there were many street parties organised, including one in our little  cul de sac.  We had jobs to get done so didn't go, but I did send along a couple of bottles and our apologies for not joining in this time.

That's about all the goings on this week, I'll leave you with some photos of the lovely tulips we had this year.  I these bought these online from Farmer Gracy, on the whole they were great but a few didn't open and the head just went mouldy, never had that happen before so not sure what happened.

Thanks for popping by, see you soon.

-X-

Stick6in2023 - March and April

I hope your May Bank Holiday went well, however you chose to spend it.   It's been a busy one for us, nothing very exciting but something that has been in the planning for a while.  This morning we emptied and dismantling the wardrobes ready for the next stage of the bedroom decoration, and this afternoon was spent in the garden.  Everything is growing at a rate now, I really noticed the difference after a week away when I came back on Saturday.  We didn't sit down until after 6pm, hence the lateness of my post but, as it's the 1st of May I wanted to share my finish for the Stick6in2023 hosted by Martina and Manuela.

  I am choosing to take part in the easier option of  choosing six charts for the year and allocating each of them a number, 1-6.   The number 2 was chosen for March and April and this was my chart with that number allocated.

Oct 31 by Cottage Garden Samplings 

I stitched it on 36 count linen, 1 over 2.  I used the recommend threads with the exception of the black used in the raven, for that I used DMC 310 in place of overdyed called for.

I was drawn to the pumpkin on this chart, although I do think the raven is mighty fine too. 

And here it is all framed.

(Apologies for the poor photo It was getting dark when I took it and this was the best of a bad bunch)

I ended up ordering a frame from Amazon after trawling around various shops looking for something suitable.  I know a lot of you mention buying frames at charity shops for finishing, I do look but never seem to get lucky.

The number 3 has been pulled for May and June and have everything ready and looking forward to make a start at the weekend.

Part two of my day in Conwy 

The walls around Conwy were built between 1283 and 1287 as part of the defence system alongside Conwy Castle.  It takes around three quarters of an hour to walk and they can be accessed from three gateways at different sections.  Again, amazing views of the small town and in the distance the castle.  Some parts are quite steep and there is only a two bar railing on the one side, so not somewhere you would take children for sure!

Interestingly I found out that the castle when built was not the colour it is now, it was white, It would have been so much more visible then against the blue of the sea and the green of the fields behind it.

The wall finishes at the harbour, I loved how the little boats were all lined up along the shore, so pretty.

As I'd started my walk in the middle I re-traced my steps and then continued the rest of the walk.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day out in Conwy, although it's definitely a town for sight seeing, you would be disappointed if you went for the shopping experience.  

I promised myself that when I visited Llandudno again I would walk around the Great Orme.  It's five miles along Marine Drive, there are some sections with quite an incline but that was ok, I could stop and have a rest while taking in the wonderful views, I was in no rush.  

I didn't take many photos this time but there are plenty to see on a previous post, Driving The Great Orme.

Down on a section of beach I was lucky enough to see some seals too.  The beach wasn't really accessible so they were quite safe there. 

I can highly recommend a solo break, I've definitely come back more relaxed than when I went and wouldn't hesitate in doing it again sometime.

-X-

Chart buying and visiting a castle

Saturday was our April meet-up at the Nimble Thimble, there were fifteen of us this time, It was a lovely day of stitching, chatting, shopping and of course eating, Chris and her husband always put on a lovely buffet lunch and afternoon cake for us to enjoy too.

These are my purchases, didn't go overboard but I'm happy with what I got.

A few of the ladies bought Hoot in A Boot last time and once I'd gone home I kept wishing I'd bought it too.  Luckily Chris still had a few in stock.  Halloween stitching is not my thing but with the pumpkins I think this can be more of an Autumn piece.  I might try and get this one and the Autumn Cottage stitched this year, the others will be project for next year. 

The weather has been kind so far this week, yesterday was really lovely, a perfect day for a visit to Conwy Castle.   The castle was built between 1283 and 1287 by Edward I during his conquest of Wales.  You can read more about the history here, if you are interested.

  What a great place!  Navigating all those narrow steps to climb to the top of the turrets, (I think I climbed all of them), is well worth it, the views are just amazing, It's extremely high, as I think you can see from the photos.

Great views of the LLandudno Flyover, on the left, in the middle is Thomas Telford's suspension bridge. The bridge was one of the first suspension bridges in the world and is a grade I listed structure, now taken care of by The National Trust and is passable by foot.  

On the right is the tubular railway bridge, it was built between 1846 and 1848 one of the first examples built of this type of bridge, and the only one left, it too is now grade I listed.

I'll share my walk along Conwy town walls another time.

Enjoy the rest of your week

-X-

Still not 100% but slowly getting there

 I'm still struggling with the remains of this cold virus thing, whatever it was.  The majority of the last ten days or so have been spent either in bed or lying on the sofa.  Luckily Mark was working close to home so was here in the mornings and the evenings, there wasn't a lot of work on so they told him to take a  few days off because I wasn't well, which was nice of them.   I was prescribed antibiotics and a nasal spray on Friday so hopefully they will be doing their job and I will start to feel something like soon.  My head still feels really stuffy and I haven't been able to go to my aqua fit class or had the energy to do any walking or exercise, I was just getting into a nice routine too, I'll have to make the effort to get going again when I come back from my break away.

This Saturday It's our annual April meet-up at the Nimble Thimble and then I am away for the rest of that week.  I thought I'd share what projects I've been getting together to take with me.

I'm behind on my ornament stitching and this small Prairie Schooler will be a perfect quick stitch.

Pumpkin Spice Everything - The Scarlet House

This one has been waiting for me to stitch it for a couple of years

Welcome Autumn - Primrose Cottage Stitches

I won this chart from Martina in a giveaway on her blog last year, once I've stitched it I'll keep the kindness going and offer it as a giveaway on my blog

And I'll keep the Autumn stitching theme going with this one, if I have time.

Welcome October- With Thy Needle And Thread

(A free chart which you can find here)

For all of these projects I had all but a couple of the threads and I'm using some scraps of fabric left over from recent projects.

And should I get bored with all of the above, and I have the time, I'll cast on a new sock.

This was one of my purchases from Wool@J13 last year and when I came across it while sorting my stitching projects I changed my mind about taking the West Green Loft Yarn skein I shared last time.

Plus, it's almost time for this years Wool@J13 show so I have to use it really, ha ha.

This is just so bright and funky, I can't wait to see how it knits up :-)

I finished the stitching on my stick6in2023 project, I should be able to fully finish it before I go away ready to share at the end of the month when either Martina or Manuela will let us know what the next number drawn is.  

I'll probably drop by again while I'm away and share what I'm up to, fingers crossed some walks and the sea air will finally clear my stuffy head.

Take care

-X-