Snow!

Yes, we have snow. Here you see the view down to the village, Eloise, Naomi and friends making the most of the weather, and the snow on my palm trees!
Notice how it even makes the repulsive pampas grass look pretty (Oh how I long to dig that up, but some people like it!)

The girls' school was closed, which was both good, because they got to play in the snow, and bad, because Eloise was supposed to have gone on a school trip to London for four days this morning and it was cancelled. Still waiting to see what happens about that as they said this morning that they might try and go tomorrow, but they've not been back in touch. Mind you, they didn't get in touch to say the'd cancelled it either, I had to ring them to find out...

January challenge, frogs and bracelets

Its reveal day for the Jayne's Attic January Challenge. The challenge this time was our own choice of free designs from Papillon Creations. I chose "Moonlight Serenade", and stitched it on 28ct Misty Blue fabric using House of Embroidery threads in Verdon, and finished it as an octagonal pinkeep. The other finishes are shown in the album here. Once again, some lovely stitching by everyone involved.

The frogs in the title of this post are not the stitching variety, but the amphibious kind, who have noticed that the weather has warmed up, and become very twitterpated (If you don't know that word, you haven't seen "Bambi"), as evidenced by the fact that, for reasons known only to themselves, they have decided to build a small spawn-replica of The Eden Project in the garden pond. Compare and contrast the following:-

And finally to the bracelets. I just finished making these "Bella's Bracelets" for the girls (I had to use tibetan silver wolves as I couldn't find any wooden ones), they will be the envy of every other teenage vampire groupie in Cornwall ;D

Crabby Update

I've decided to go with a stitching rotation of sorts this year as it seems to work quite well for some of you. Weekdays I plan to mainly work on my own designs, plus any small pieces for gifts and exchanges, Saturday will be for SALs, the Monthly Challenge, and similar projects, and Sundays will be for UFOs, and any larger designs I want to stitch (first up The Croakworth Sampler). Lets see how long this lasts, to be honest I'd be surprised if I've got the willpower to take it past February, but we'll see.

Anyway, yesterday being SAL Saturday (note the cunning aliteration there), I made a start on the Crabby all Year stitch along. This is how far I got:-

Not much progress for a days stitching is it? I blame James Martin. I sat down for two minutes in front of Saturday Kitchen and lost half a morning...

...but I did get a great recipe for salmon.

Crabby New Year

Or at least it will be soon. I'm taking part in a SAL of Raise the Roof's "Crabby All Year", as organised by Daffycat.

I haven't actually put needle to fabric yet as I'm waiting for supplies to arrive, but I've recharted the heading to read "Grumpy" instead of "Crabby", crabby not being a word we use round here unless we are descibing crustaceans, so this is a progress report of sorts ;)

I got some great stash for Christmas, but foolishly forgot to photograph it before squirelling it all away! Anyway my haul included a Hardanger chart, fabric and DMC linen threads in antique mauve, pink and blue shades from Clare, the Ink Circles Croakworth Sampler, a Whimsy and Wit Quaker chart, DMC scented threads and beads from Polly, and a scissor keeper, needle minder and Soie Cristalle silk threads from Karen, so as you can see I was pretty spoiled.

Now as this post is shamefully devoid of any other photos, I'll leave you with a picture of one of the New Years Honours List's new CBEs

OK, so when did Robert become "establishment"?

Supplemental question (for absolutely no bonus points). When did I get old??

Off now to add an appropriate playlist to my side bar...

Merry Christmas

I'd like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas

and a Happy and Healthy New Year

PS Check my Yahoo Group (link in sidebar) for a small Christmas Present

OK, so I lied...

... its not like I meant to. When I said that was it, no more ornaments this year, I really meant it, but then Paulette had to go and post this beauty on her blog, and I couldn't resist it (I know, I'm weak). I just love the mediaeval illuminated manuscript look of this one. It should have some text and another flower on the vine at the bottom, but due to a slight misjudgement regarding the size of my scrap of raw linen I had to miss those off!

I also recieved my ornament from Dusty in the Stitch & Stash ornament exchange. Dusty stitched me an exquisite Hardanger tree and bookmark. Thanks Dusty, they are beautiful

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well it is in our house anyway. Here is a small small part of my display of stitched ornaments. I've recieved so many wonderful ornaments in exchanges that this year for the first time I've had to hang some from the banister rail too! The rectangular one, with Christmas 2008 on it, was the prize I won in Sally's blogoversary draw. Isn't it just gorgeous? Sally also sent me a little pink angel bear for my tree, and some yummy Thornton's too but you'd need an XRay camera to see a picture of that ;D.

Last night was the Christmas Workshop at the florists in the village. First we made a topiary tree, which you could then decorate as you chose, I decided on cones, orange slices and cinnamon sticks and wrapped the base in hessian. Unfortunately the hessian decided to wick up every last drop of water in the shop and let it all go again onto my trousers in the car on the way home, but you can't have everything.

After that we each made one of these table arrangements. I'd just bought a set of charger plates, exactly like the ones we used, that afternoon, so this goes perfectly.