Wonderful Holiday

We had the best holiday on our cruise to the South Pacific. We had all the good weather while everyone at home was inundated with rain! The ship was lovely and we enjoyed the pools,

 quite a few cooking demonstrations,

and  yummy (miles too much) good food.

 We were very well cared for by our room stewards and that also included the cute towel animals.

 Jeni and I really enjoyed a few cocktails too.

 As well as all that, we visited some lovely places in New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu.

 It was hot and the water was so nice....note that is me in the water with Ma and Jeni.

 Pa even managed to go on the tender boats and enjoyed some of the ports too. He managed the whole trip very well and had a wonderful time. It was so nice to see him enjoying it all.

 Jeni and I walked up to the church on Lifou island. We needed another swim after that walk.

I'll share a few more pictures tomorrow.

Stitching on the Lake projects

I am back! We had a wonderful holiday away and I am looking forward to sharing some photos soon. Best share the projects for our first stitching day which is next Saturday, 17 March. Can't wait to see everyone. Fiona and I have created 6 lovely projects for you to enjoy. There is a stitched Noah's Ark cushion using a lovely stamp.

 Here is the canvas scissor keeper.

 This is the little zippered purse.

Here is the coloured and embroidered sewing pocket. Bring along some fabric to make your pocket so you can choose the colours of your threads.

Just what I needed on my holiday....a stitched shoe bag.

Here is the beautiful needle roll stitched on linen.

We hope that you find these pictures helpful as you plan what to start first on Saturday. Looking forward to another lovely, inspiring day of stitching.

A Wednesday update

I had a lovely day on Wednesday catching up with the social and class stitching ladies and catching up with Fiona later in the day.  In the morning, Janet was working on this exquisite christening gown for her baby, who was due in a few weeks.

Little Audrey had different ideas and arrived on Friday! Her proud daddy sent on some photos so for those of the Wednesday ladies who read this blog, here she is. Congratulations and well done, Janet...and daddy too. 

We did do some stitching too. Chris had this beautiful pin cushion she bought at a stall. It looks so lovely and we all appreciated the beautiful hardanger.

 In the afternoon, Karen had finished her apron using the jug of flowers applique.

 She has also finished her Town Hall. Wish mine was done too!

 Don't her pots of roses look great?

Fiona came with me to the night class but I forgot to take any photos. We all enjoyed having her there. It was lovely to catch up with her and was also a good chance for us to get some organisation done for the first stitching day on 17 March. There are still a few places if there is anyone still wanting to come.
Only 2 sleeps to go till I head off on holidays. Must get packing and get all those stitching bits and pieces organised.

Stitch-a-long and Vignette progress

So good to be able to show you February's blocks for the SKOW Stitch-a-long. Here is the icecream

 ...the hot chocolate...

 and one of my favourite books.

 I have also made the bottom border.

 I have also been plodding along with blocks 8 and 12 of my Vignette quilt. I have finished a few more flowers since this photos was taken.

Getting ready...

Spent some time on the weekend getting ready for our holiday. Only 8 sleeps to go before we head off on this ship!!! Can't wait. I just had to get some stitching ready as there are some sea days and not much to do other than chat, read, eat and sew. We are heading off with Ma and Pa and Jeni and Paul on another adventure together.

Here we are when we cruised to New Zealand in 2009. So looking forward to some great times and so pleased that Pa is able to cruise again.

Here are some of the projects I have prepared to work on. I have had this gorgeous pattern for a Sewing folder by Anni Downs for a while and have been wanting to make it. I needle turned the applique pieces ready to work on the stitching.

These little bits were a little tricky but will look so good with the stitching.

 I also traced some cross stitch stars for one of the borders of Scandinavian Christmas.

 I also prepared the colours for a couple of Anni's little stitchery kits.

 Oh dear, that might not be enough. Can't head off without enough stitching!

Summer stitching

It has been another busy week of stitching! Best not complain as I have had some lovely days though could do with a bit of time at home to work on my many projects. Mustn't waste today...blogging isn't wasting time  though. On Monday I taught my second Summer stitching day at Hobbysew. Seven lovely ladies spent the day stitching and chatting and eating yummy morning and afternoon tea. Here are some photos of them busy at work.

For those still planning to book into Stitching on the Lake, the April 14 date is now full. There are still places on the 17 March. 

Progress!

I had a very productive weekend as we had a quiet one without the excitement of weddings! It is nice to get a little done on some of my many ongoing projects. I finally put together block 7 of In my Garden. The pieces had been appliqued for quite a while and were waiting to be sewn together.

 I had also finished the long stitched piece that goes on the other side of my Vignette quilt and was able to put part of the side together.

 Now the stitching on the piecing needs to be done before I can start the centre parts of the quilt.

 I also enjoyed appliquing the next three blocks for Some Kind of Wonderful. They were fun to stitch.