Shell Cushion

I have completed half of the shell cushion, this side will not need anything else doing to it all the backstitching is complete. I estimate that it will take about a month to stitch the remaining half. This photo doesn't show it but in fact the fabric is a lovely ice blue colour which I think looks much nicer than just plain white. This is intended to go in the bathroom as we have a seaside theme. It is much easier to do the quarter stitches than I thought it would be and the variegated blue thread is a nice touch. As it's name suggests the thread changes its shading as you stitch so it is best to stitch each complete cross so the colour is consistent.

Update - About Time!

I started this blog with the intention of posting about my hobbies particularly about my cross stitching projects but sorry to say it has fallen by the wayside but I thought it would be nice to start posting again. My main problem is that I have so many other interests in addition to cross stitch that although I have fairly regularly kept at least one project going I do tend to progress rather slowly. Anyway here are those projects I have completed recently. I am really proud of The Magnificent Seven but have to say my favourite is the sleeping elf which now hangs over my bed. I am currently working on two projects one of Humphrey Bogart for my Dad and the other a cushion with sea shells of which I have already almost completed one quarter of. This one is coming together quite quickly. I am already thinking about what to do next! Am considering trying to stitch on evenweave fabric which I have never done before but apparently people say once you start using evenweave you don't want to go back to aida. That is enough for now but hopefully I'll keep up the posting a little more often from now on!

Jane Austen

Recently watched the new Jane Austen productions and thoroughly enjoyed them and a new discovery for me was watching JJ Feild's performance in "Northanger Abbey" he was brilliant and so scrumptious! Definitely be looking out for his new films coming out later this year
"Shadow in the North" (second part of the Sally Lockart series) and "O Jerusalem".

Samurai Update

Well finally it is done the Samurai is completed it was a lot of hard work but I am really pleased I am hoping that very soon I well get it framed properly. It is really satisfying to see it finished and if I do say so myself I think it looks great!

Showing Off

At the request of a friend I am posting a couple of cross stitch pieces that I completed some time ago but she encouraged me to put them up. I did the poster of the Titanic for my Dad who is particularly interested in the history of the Titanic. The Christmas sampler I really enjoyed stitching it was immensely satisfying watching it grow beneath my fingers. I display it all year rather than for just one month how could I not:

Rant: Mobile Phones

There I am sitting quietly on the train absorbed in my book, lost in the world of a perilous situation, a passionate embrace or solution to a particularly vexing murder investigation. Then suddenly the silence is broken by a mobile phone ringing and the next 20 minutes are spent listening to some complete stranger's plans for the weekend, break-up of his/her relationship or business options.

Whilst I am left dreaming of an image of myself optunely wearing stilettos one of which I take and proceed to smash the mobile to bits. Is it just me who is driven insane in this way and who can't tune out?

Read It Swap It

If you haven't already found it, and you are a bookworm like me then I urge you to join Read It Swap It (www.readitswapit.co.uk) all you need is some books that you no longer want, join up (it is free) and list your books. Then browse through over 66,000 books (and growing all the time), select your choices an email is automatically sent to the person who has the book they browse through your list choose something (if they want to). Addresses are sent you send your book they send their's and hey presto you have a whole new pile of books to read for the price of postage. Try it - it is excellent! Plus there is a forum to get new ideas and share yours.

My First Post

This is my first post to my very first blog I have been thinking about starting a website for some time but thought this would be a fine way to begin. So ...


I am getting very close to finishing my biggest cross stitch project for some time "The Mighty Samaurai" -

You can see my progress it is looking fabulous even though I do say so myself.


I belong to a book club at work - the ABC Club (Alcohol, Books and Chat) and our current choice is Behind The Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson haven't started it yet - we are due to meet at the beginning of October so I'd better get a move on but I am just finishing the third in the trilogy of His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.