Outing

Yesterday I escaped from the house where I have been basically house bound since Christmas - we were feeling much better than we were and decided to attend our monthly Miniatures Club. I'm glad we did, what do they say? a change is as good as a rest! We are making room scenes utalising a two bottle wooden wine gift case from our local supermarkets. We have all choosen a topic or shop from the Victorian ere and will display them in an exhibition at Easter. Everyone has their own ideas around the themes and it will be interesting to see all the interpretations. We were busy swapping materials from pieces of linen for flour sacks to fine wire for jewellery making. Being 1/12th scale you don't need 'large' bits (g).

Dh has been busy using the moulds that santa brought him and has made various figures, passing them to the 'costume department' for dressing! One scene will be a maypole feature so he will be busy making the children for the lady to dress, plus getting on with his own theme. At least Easter is late this year, so that gives us all a little time.

Jenny of Elefantz is running an auction of two of her lovely quilts to help raise funds for people caught in the devastation of the floods and fires in Australia, visit her here www.elefantz.com also the Gum Tree Designers are launching their New Beginnings appeal visit here to see www.gumtree-designers.com, sending lots of light, love and energy for everyone involved.

ps. tried adding a link but it wouldn't work, hence the long winded way.....

Happy New Year

to you all, heres hoping the new year will bring everyone love health and happiness.
We are not doing too well on the health bit as yet, DS went down with broncitis just before christmas and in true form of giving and sharing (g) we have all succumbed to this nasty, one after the other. We all enjoyed christmas and were all delighted with our lovely gifts, since then absolutely nothing has been done other than essentials.
I have been looking at some of the wonderful gifts and work people have posted, but without a flicker of inspiration to pick anything up to sew, until today when I read Jenny's blog and saw her lovely ideas for 2011. Through the fog, I even, with the help again of Chookyblue, managed to add her button. One thing for certain, it can only go up from here lol

Christmas wishes

It doesn't seem like 6 months has passed since I began to blog, so much has happened in that time. Now its Christmas and we are altogether as DS managed to escape the UK before the snow closed the airports. He did have a little adventure just before hand though! he and friends were caught in mud flats in the estuary in Exmouth in their canoes and were rescued by the Air sea rescue helicopter and land crews. They all had mild hyperthermia which has now turned into bronchitis.... silly boy!

I would like to send everyone very good wishes for the festive season and hope however you celebrate you and your families have a great time

Time disappearing

Another week has disappeared - having started in June with Judith's christmas crafting I thought I would be more organised??! never mind, the decorations are out of the loft and some have been put up, more to go. We won't bring the christmas tree in until next weekend, just before DH's birthday, then with DS here it will be fun to dress it together. We bought a rooted tree last year and it has survived, but we don't want to stress it too much.

MIL enjoyed her stay and DH escorted her back to the uk last flight on Friday night and returned on the first flight Saturday morning - good job Gatwick has an all night lounge.

Not much crafting going on but I did finish the borders of this cushion for SIL birthday so MIL could take it back with her. SIL chickens are a little tempremental so it was quite topical.

Constitution Day

At last the winds are from the south, Africa and they are warm! Yesterday was a national holiday here, Constitution Day, so we took MIL to Calpe for lunch. It was extremely busy the spanish are very family orientated and all get together for these occasions. After a stroll to the beach we had a wonderful fish lunch with such variety. MIL was so surprised at having to remove her cardi as she was so warm and couldn't believe standing on the beach in 20c in December. The temperatures drop quite dramitically around 4pm when everyone dons their coats, but a lovely day.

This is the Ifach, it quite dominates the skyline for miles around. There is a path winding its way up the rock, then it disappears inside to emerge on the other side. DD and DS have climbed this, but I believe its not for the faint hearted, even if the views are stunning once you reach the top.

Chilly

Ooh its cold! . DH only just squeezed out of the UK and was on one of the last planes to leave the snow bound country. MIL thinks its positively warm compared to her minus temperatures. Amazing how quickly you become aclimatized to the warmer weather here.

DD presented me with these beautiful flowers just before her hospital trip, the scent was heavenly and even after the lillies wilted the remaining flowers are still going strong. In fact I have my eye on the tiny flowers as these will look great in my 1/12th scale miniature garden.



I finished my waistcoat


and this beanie which was primarily if we go skiing this year, but I think with this cold snap it may be coming into use earlier.

Lots of people have mentioned they have already put up their christmas decs, haven't even rescued ours from the loft yet, perhaps a little job for hubbie today?!

Happy stitching x

Reflections

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for your lovely comments, they all created a warm glow and a blanket of friendship. Please forgive me if I haven't replied individually.

This last week has sent some hard challenges and some minor ones and others that can be considered an irritation, even if it brings you out in a rash (g), through out it all what has sustained me? stitching!

I finished my waistcoat (knitted), a little stitcherie, bought christmas pressies and started a more complex piece of stitching. Unfortunately I have as yet not conquered the process of taking piccies off the camera and onto the computer, but it is a process that DH loves so hey!! but then he went to the UK to escort MIL out for a visit, hence no piccies......yet!

DD under went her surgery, it was not without its own dramas, but the end result is very positive and each day she gains a little more in recovery. As the nurse said, mama's here! nothing more to say.

Tomorrow is another day with its good fortune and positive outlook, and now DH is home, maybe a few piccies lol