Happy Dance....

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Last night I had a Happy Dance as I finished this sweet design from JBW Designs, "NOEL".

I am so pleased with this finish as I only completed it in 8 days!

Any ideas as to how best to Finish it?  I would live some suggestions (the finished design size is just under 7" by 7").

Well, must do some work now.

Hugs, Kaye

May 28th - time for a TUSAL update and a Smalls SAL update.. and my "E" giveaway winner.....

Two of my regular updates happen to fall on the same day - May 28th (shh! don't tell anyone I am posting this on May 29th) - TUSAL and Smalls SAL.

What are these, I hear you ask, well, a TUSAL is a Totally Useless Stitch A Long, where we collect our ORTs (Old Raggedy Threads) each month - it is sort of like a record of how much ( or little) we have stitched.  It is run by the wonderful Daffycat and you can check out all of the other TUSALers on her blog It's Daffycat.

Also each month I participate in the Smalls SAL run by Stitching Lotus.  On the last Wednesday of each month we post about the Small/s we have stitched for that month.  (A Small being whatever you like but just not a big project).

So, here we go:

TUSAL update.....  the red kitten tin is my home ORTs and the little pink tin is my train ORTs.

These are my Smalls finishes for this month:

A FINAL FINISH on Spring Witch, Haunted House and an exchange piece so I cannot show you all of it:

Now for the winner of my "E" Giveaway.....

... and the winner is....

the lovely Jo from Serendipitous Stitching

Congratulations, Jo, 

Jo will be stitching the "E"  "for my friend's daughter Emily. All four of my friend's children have an ASD and the older girl always said she wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up. The teachers laughed but this girl now swims for her country in the youth team. I wanted to stich her the K mermaid (when it gets released) so I would stitch this one for Emily so she doesn't feel left out. I don't think the boys are bothered..."

How lovely, Jo, so many people had wonderful reasons for wanting to stitch the "E" but luckily I didn't have to choose - Mr Random Organiser did it for me!

Have a great day everyone, 

hugs, 

A fruitful Sunday....

Yesterday, I had a most fruitful day both on the baking/cooking side  and on the stitching side.  Let me tell you about the baking first....

First I made a big slab of Zucchini slice to cut up into squares and freeze for my work lunches.  It smelt so delicious when it came out of the oven that I had to have a slice for my Sunday lunch - lol!

Then I decided to bake bread rolls (first time ever!) using this recipe from the lovely Melissa from St John's Stitcher, it is her Nan's recipe.  You can find it here.

Lovely, hot, straight out of the oven with a pat of butter.

Then I made some raspberry shortbread slice, from a very old recipe of mine (not sure where it originated from).  It is delicious with a cup of coffee.

Then I got down to some serious stitching.  First off I finished an exchange piece - I am so pleased with it but I can only show you snippets until the recipient gets it.

Then I finished "Haunted House" as my May piece for the Halloween Ornie SAL

I just squeezed it in under the "Monsters" theme as it has a ghost in it.

It is another freebie from Maja of The Snowflower Diaries.

So, I was very pleased with myself this Sunday.  Although I may have pushed myself too hard as I am not feeling too good this morning - a bit achey all over, I hope that I am not coming down with some sort of virus!

Have a great week everyone.

hugs, 

Film Review - "Belle"

Today my dear friend, Kim and I went to see the film "Belle"...

We first had brunch in the upmarket shopping strip of Brighton.

Yes, Brighton of beach boxes fame....  did you know that these beach boxes sell for around $200, 000?  Amazing, hey?

... the shopping along this strip is really excellent - lots of wonderful dress shops and gift shops. Lots of temptation, to which I must admit I did succumb ...but more of that another time as I digress and I want to get back to the film...

"Belle" is based on "the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield and his wife, Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet her status prevents her from the traditions of noble social standing. While her cousin Elizabeth chases suitors for marriage, Belle is left on the sidelines wondering if she will ever find love. After meeting an idealistic young vicar's son bent on changing society, he and Belle help shape Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England."

We both really enjoyed it.  The acting is excellent, the costumes and sets are gorgeous and the subject matter is important.  I can highly recommend it.
This is a painting of Dido and her cousin, Elizabeth and an article about an exhibition about Dido.

Afterwards, we did some window shopping and then stopped for a relaxing drink.

Now,  I would like to remind you again about my giveaway, if you have an "E" in your life and you would like to stitch this design:

Please enter my Giveaway here.  You have until next Thursday (29th May) to enter.

So, that is all for me for now, off to stitch now, have a great weekend.

hugs, 

Spring Witch FINISHED....

I Finished my Spring Witch into a cute little cushion.  I am really enjoying playing around with fabric and trims.

This is a freebie from The Snowflower Diaries  - thank you Maja - which I stitched for the Halloween Ornie SAL.

Now, if you have an "E" in your life and you would like to stitch this design:

Please enter my Giveaway here.  You have until next Thursday (29th May) to enter.

... and just to end on a laugh.  I saw this on FB the other day and it is so me!

Have a great day everyone and may your needles be smokin' hot!

hugs,

An "E" Giveaway....

... I was going through my stash the other day and I found this design:

I bought this last year to stitch for my mother's birthday this year but sadly she passed away before I could even start it.

Now, I feel too sad to stitch it and I have no other "E" people to stitch it for.

So, I would like it to go to a Happy Home.

Is anyone interested?  Just comment on this post or email me at kayedep@gmail.com and let me know.

I will keep this open for a week - so next Thursday morning (29th May) I will pick a winner.

You do not have to be a follower or have a blog - just comment/email and have a snail mail address, of course.

I am happy to post anywhere in the world.

hugs,

A Happy Dance and look what the postie brought......

I had a very Happy Dance last night as I finished stitching something for an exchange (just need to Finish it now) but all I can show you are little snippets - don't want to give away the surprise now do I?

... and the post bought me two great parcels this week....

The first one is a cute mug rug from the lovely Gaynor Ann from Stitchers Anon Cross stitch.   Just perfect for a coffee lover like me, she also sent a postcard and some yummy chocolate!
Thank you so much, Gaynor Ann - the mug rug is already on my desk at work.

Then,  I was lucky enough to win a giveaway hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus.  She gifted me a very sweet LHN design (like so many others I adore LHN designs) plus some needles and some gorgeous threads - the colours are delicious!

Thank you so much, Heather.

I love my bloggy friends, don't you?

hugs,