12 Days of Blogland - Day 4 - A Happy Dance

.... I was right - today is Happy Dance Day - I finished La Belle Etoile.  Hurrah!  Finish #4 for 2011.  I am hoping that by being part of UCJC and WIPocalypse and the SALs I will be doing that 2012 will have finishes in the double digits.  Now, wouldn't that be something?  Anyway, would you like to have a look?

La Belle Etoile

A Threadbasket SAL

Stitched on 28 Count Praire Green Wichelt Linen

DMC threads

After finishing this, this morning I felt at a bit of a loose end (despite having WIPs coming out of my ears - lol!).  Luckily, I found this website Should be Reading and on W.. W.. W.. Wednesdays she asks these three questions:

 What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here are my answers:

 What are you currently reading? "Mockingjay" Bk 3 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• What did you recently finish reading? "Catching Fire" Bk 2 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• What do you think you’ll read next? Hmm, not sure - whatever takes my fancy, really.

I can really recommend The Hunger Games trilogy if you like reading Young Adult fiction.  In an earlier life I was both a teacher-librarian and an English teacher so I acquired a taste for reading that genre of fiction.  This series is  really interesting science fiction- fast paced and imaginative.

Love to hear what you are reading currently, 

hugs, Kaye xoxox

P.S. Don't forget to check out my 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland Giveaway on my sidebar.

12 Days of Christmas in Blogland - Day 3 Let's have a Giveaway!

Hello lovely bloggers, 

Today is Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland and so I thought it was time for a Giveaway.

If you would like to win this lovely kit (it contains chart, fabric and all threads) by Mar Bek "The Angel's Prayer", please comment on this post only to enter.  I will post internationally and if you would like to post about it on your blog,well, that would be very nice. I will draw the winner at the end of the 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland - on January 6th (the last of the 12 days is January 5th).

It has been a very quiet day today - I have nearly finished La Belle Etoile - I am hoping for a Happy Dance tomorrow, but in the meantime, I found this stitching from last year - I had forgotten that I had finished it, as you can see it is not even ironed! - it is part of Mill Hill's Christmas Village series - "The Toy Shop"  I must get it framed, although I do have a number of the other designs - maybe a quilt?  What do you all think?

Anyway, off to watch some "Treme" with DH - whose back is slowly getting better.  Thank you everyone who has sent good wishes his way.  Thank you also to everyone who sent kind wishes our way about our stormy day.  We really got off very lightly compared to many other families in Melbourne.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of them. You can read about the Christmas Day storm here, if you are interested.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

12 Days of Christmas in Blogland - Day 2

... how did everyone's Christmas turn out?  Ours was very nice, at my DS's house.  My DBIL cooked up a storm.  My favourite was the prawns in zucchini flowers panfried in tempura batter - scrumptious!

Unfortunately, though, we had a huge thunderstorm in Melbourne, in the late afternoon/early evening.  Flash flooding, huge hailstones and thunder and lightning.  I came home from dropping one of my mother's friends home to find this had happened to my  Christmas Grotto and Christmas Tree:

You might remember that a few weeks ago I posted it about it raining in DD's bedroom - while this time it was pouring!

So, today the all the Christmas decorations ended up being packed away.  I know, I know it is too early but it was just easier in the end after the storm.  DH is still in a lot of pain with his back so it was a very quiet day despite being DS2's 19th birthday.  Traditionally we have always gone out to dinner and a film for his birthday (Boxing Day being such a quiet day) but because of DH's back we bought Chinese takeaway and watched "Rise of the planet of the apes" which DH had being given for Christmas by DD's BF - wasn't he thoughtful (the BF I mean)?

Anyway, I made lots of progress (despite spending five hours doing DH's ironing - this was my Christmas present to him - we decided not to exchange proper gifts this year as we are off to the U.S.A for a month's holiday in March,  and we will probably buy lots of souvenirs, etc.) on La Belle Etoile - so even though I didn't get it finished by Christmas Day, I should get it finished before the end of 2011 - fingers crossed.

Before today's stitching:

 My progress today:

There are some fabulous giveaways listed on my sidebar - so please check them out and watch this space as I am going to have a Giveaway for the 12 Days of Christmas in Blogland - I will post about it in the next couple of days (once I work out what it will be! lol!)

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

A successful Christmas Party and a lovely surprise

Our Christmas Party was a roaring success on Saturday night.  We had about 30 guests from various facets of our lives, so not everyone knew everybody else which turned out to be a recipe for success.  Everyone commented on how nice it was to meet someone new and all our guests went home raving about the gourmet food DS1 had prepared for them (isn't he a great son, to do that for me?).  He made three types of mini pizza (making his own pizza dough), boozy melon and prosciutto and some prawn canapes.  It was all pronounced delicious.  Unfortunately, I was so busy running around chatting to people and organising things that I did not have time to take even one photo!

However, I do have some photos of a lovely surprise that arrived in the mail for me from Jo of Serendipitous Stitching (please check out her blog - it is gorgeous and she is hosting the online Advent Calendar -a  brilliant idea - I am Day 22 (I think - must double check with Jo).  A few months ago I won her giveaway of a stitched christmas card of a city skyline.  I chose Coventry.  Well,  I had forgotten all about it, so imagine my surprise when this arrived in the mail:

Isn't Jo's stitching gorgeous? Thank you so much, Jo, I will treasure this card always.

Despite being extremely busy both at home (party cleaning up, etc) and at work (lots of page proofs to check before I finish on December 23rd) and feeling a bit off colour this week ("Too much partying?" I hear you say; "Too much work", is what I reply!).  I have found a little bit of time between blog reading and all my other stuff to do some stitching on La Belle Etoile.  The first pic is last week's progress and the second is what I have managed to do so far this week.  I am getting there.  Although I did see a beautiful colourway on ArchangelDecker's blog Chronicles of a Cross Stitching Hockey Fanatic, you can check it out here.  Her colour choice is stunning!  I love lavender and silver!

I am about to start the tree on the left so I might steal her idea of snow on the branches - brilliant!

Well, that's all for me for now.  Off to a big meeting in the city soon.  Have a wonderful stitchy day,

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

P.S. Don't forget to check out all of the great giveaways and contests listed on my sidebar.

A REALLY quick post

... this is just a quick post as I have not much to report but I missed talking to you all.  Despite having signed up for FNSI, as I was feeling quite unwell last night no stitching was done.

... and today we are getting ready for our Christmas Drinks party - we have over 30 people coming.  So, no stitching is going to get done today, either.  However, I do hope to get some done tomorrow for IHSW - and I am really keen to finish La Belle Etoile before Christmas,

cheers, a slightly harassed Kaye, xoxox

More Great Giveaways

Hello lovely bloggers,

I am having a lovely time stitching tonight and watching some TV and doing some blog stalking reading as DH is out for the evening.  I do love a quiet evening at home.

So, I have found some great Giveaways being hosted by Nancy of The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe - she is having two fabulous giveaways.  The links to her blog are on the sidebar of my blog.  Go check them out - it will be worth it.

Back to La Belle Etoile for me,

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

Last Post for NaBloPoMo

Hello lovely bloggers,

Well, tonight is my last November post and I made it!  30 out of 30 posts for NaBloPoMo!

At times, it was a bit tricky but on the whole I must say that I enjoyed it - it was a lot of fun.

I hope that the other bloggers who did NaBloPoMo enjoyed it as much as I did.

I have had a steady week of stitching this week - here is my progress on my La Belle Etoile SAL:

Have a great day or evening everyone,

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

Weekend Roundup

Hello lovely bloggers,

Well, lots to report on this 27th post in a row - go NaBloPoMo!  Only 3 posts to go after this one for a perfect record for the month.

As I posted yesterday, it rained really heavily here in Melbourne yesterday.  Very hard to believe as I sit here in brilliant sunshine today at 6.30pm.  Anyway, as promised here are some photos of the measures we had to take to combat the indoor showers:

The window in DD's bedroom

Leaking through DD's wardrobe - thank goodness she was not home to see this!

Our front hallway.

However, Saturday did have a bright note as we were invited to an engagement party which took place in the afternoon.  Now, being an ever vigilant cross stitcher, I espied these little darlings on the wall of the study where we placed our bags and jackets.

Aren't they cute?

And here is a pic of DH and I at the party and one of some of my friends.  My friend who has just got engaged is second from the left.

There was the most gorgeous chocolate engagement cake and very cute Red Velvet cupcakes:

I have been working hard on my La Belle Etoile SAL, here is my progress pic:

...and lastly, here is my TUSAL jar, with Furio looking after it for me:

Have a lovely evening everyone, stitching or blogging or any other fun thing that you are doing,

Hugs, Kaye xoxoxo

Sunday.....

Hello lovely bloggers,

Today for NaBloPoMo, I am going to add to my post as the day goes on:

7.30 am - woken by a happy Furio purring in my face.  He is a great alarm clock

8 am - checking out blogs as it is too early (thanks Furio) to go pick up my friend for our walk

8.25 am - Discover via Rita E's blog Stitch Days about a great new Giveaway from Miss Print, you can check it out here.

8.41 - Having partially satisfied my Blog Stalking reading craving,  I head off to pick up Marie and then on to Prince's Park for our walk.....

..... to be continued.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

10am - Finish walk, Marie and I stop for coffee at our favourite Greek Cafe where we indulge ourselves after all that hard work by sharing a Greek custard cake (in my defence, I had not had any breakfast!)

11am - Stop to buy bread for lunch, some Christmas party invitations and a new diary for 2012:

The outside box cover

The cover of the actual diary itself

Now, aren't I organised?  Actually, my DD has told DH and I to keep the 12th January free for our Christmas present - I wonder what she has in mind? - and told me to write it in my diary, so I just had to go out and buy my 2012 diary.  Isn't it pretty?  The inside has gorgeous photos of the French countryside and French style:

This is just a sampling - aren't they absolutely gorgeous photos - what a lovely year I have ahead of me, enjoying these photos?

... ... to be continued.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox


2.10pm - I have been watching episodes of 'Fringe' and stitching my La Belle Etoile SAL.  Here is a progress pic:  (sorry, not ironed and I can't seem to get that background colour to show up right)

2.27pm - I have given up in frustration - despite the progress pic showing up in iphoto - blogger cannot see it!  Grrr!  I will try again later.

... to be continued...

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

3.35pm - home from the supermarket shopping with DH - always such a joy - NOT!

Still no luck with uploading the SAL progress pic - so annoying - it is definitely sitting there in iphotos but neither blogger nor picasa can see it!

... to be continued...

Hugs, Kaye xoxox


7pm - Getting all dressed up in my glad rags to go out for Malaysian food and a movie with DH, DS1 and DD - we are seeing "Drive".  Has anyone seen it?  I will be able to give you my review in tomorrow's post.

This is probably all from me today,  (thank goodness, you are probably all saying as this has turned into a bit of a marathon post).

lots of hugs, Kaye xoxox

Under Milkwood

Hello lovely bloggers,

As I mentioned in yesterday's post - last night we went to see Heidelberg Theatre Company's version of 'Under Milkwood'.  They did a lovely job but, as might be expected, they were not as good as Richard Burton:

Isn't his voice amazing?  It is so lyrical and beautiful!

Enjoy!

Edit:  I am happily stitching for IHSW - on my La Belle Etoile SAL from Threadbasket.  It is a miserable, wet day here in Melbourne - so a great day for stitching.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

... and we have a winner! ... or should I say, two!

Hello Lovely Bloggers,

I have a winner for my 'Just Because' Giveaway and as I got to 100 followers by the time it closes, I have a winner for my '100 followers' Giveaway, too.

But first, I am going to tease you - you will have to read my whole post to get to the big announcement!

I have finished Part 1 of 'La Belle Etoile', the Threadbasket SAL I am doing.  Here is a pic:

I am really loving this fabric - it is Prairie Green 28 count by Wichelt.  Really easy to stitch and the colour is fantastic.  I am thinking of using it for 12 Dancing Princesses and Jane and the Prisoner of Woolhouse - both HAED.  Here is a better picture of the green fabric:

I have also just had a reading finish:

This was a really interesting piece of historical research which looked at the life and reign of Elizabeth I from the lens of the influence of the women in her life.  If you are interested in The Tudors and historical research - then I can recommend this book.

Well, my baking mojo seems to be back after my sickness - this is what I made for last night's dinner:

Pasta, chorizo and tomato salad (I adapted the recipe from a dish I saw elsewhere)

Zucchini Fritters with Dill Yoghurt Sauce 

This recipe is from my friend Vicky's blog, The Weekend Cook. Please check out her blog - she has some lovely recipes.

The winner of my 'Just Because' Giveaway is.... Linda from 'Stitchin' with my Furbabies'  I am so happy that the random organiser chose Linda's number, she was so keen to win that she made lots of comments to get herself lots of entries in the Giveaway.  Congratulations, Linda, here is just a reminder of what you have won: 

And the winner of my '100 followers' Giveaway is... Wagapapa, her blog is Wagapapa Creations.  Please check out her blog as she is having an blogaversary giveaway.  I am also really happy that Wagapapa's number was chosen by the random organiser as she had just slipped in with a late entry - so it goes to show that it is never too late to join in a Giveaway or competition.

Now, Wagapapa, it is a surprise what you have won - you will just have to wait until you receive the parcel in the mail!  (evil chuckle) 

Linda and Wagapapa, please contact me on KayeDeP@gmail.com with your snail mail address and I will send you your prize.

Well, tonight is my JCS Christmas Ornie SAL with Julie from JulieandYesDearsravings, so I had better get some stitching done.

Love to you all, 

Hugs, Kaye xoxox