Huge Huge Huge Happy Dance!

The last part of the Heirloom Embroideries Huswife Mystery arrived on Monday and as soon as I saw it I got an awful feeling of dread.
Sewing machines and I really do not get on. I used to be good at sewing when I was at school, but since then it went downhill quickly and now I always seem to end in a right mess when I use it. On Tuesday I got the machine out to have a practice and I couldn't even get a decent line stitched, the tension was all wrong and I ended up in tears I was so frustrated. I left everything where it was and shut the dining room door to stop myself throwing the machine and the huswife in the bin straight away lol. Then my stubborn side started talking and gave me a good slap and told me I couldn't be beaten, if I couldn't use the machine I'd have to sew it by hand.
So Wednesday I stitched the inside satin pockets and backstitched the inside and outside together, then last night DH helped me make the cord and I started adding that, and tonight I finished the cord and added the felt to the inside and voila!
It's not perfect by any means, the seams, corners and folds etc could be better. The fabric and satin are also far too flimsy for my liking and I don't think are ideal for something that's supposed to be used rather than just displayed. But I'm so proud of myself to making it on my own, start to finish! I think this will be displayed with my other stitching accessories, but I think eventually I will make another huswife using thicker fabric for the outside and normal cotton fabric for the inside so I can use it regularly.
So I've reached my June goal of finishing it, and am one very happy bunny!!!!!

Good Mail Day & Cirque

I received some lovely mail from the postie this morning. My stitching accessory exchange from Ish on the Jayne's Attic BB arrived and I'm a very lucky girl. This is the second set poor Ish has had to stitch for me as the first package is either still in some postie's van or as Ish suggests has been eaten lol. This is my first tiny stitched fob and the pincushion also has a magnetic strip in the back so I can use it as a needleminder as well! I love the beaded edge to them, I'm going to have to try this myself sometime soon.
I also received the Papillon Simple Little Quaker chart from Sally as she has finished with it and knew I liked it, so thanks Sally (hugs).
Unfortunately the last part of the Heirloom Embroideries mystery huswife still hasn't arrived, although we were assured it was sent yesterday. I was planning on getting on with it this weekend so that's my plans out of the window.
And finally here is the first wip pic of my Ink Circles Cirque! This is stitched on 32ct white murano fabric with one strand of Vikki Clayton premium silk in Caribbean Splash, over 2. I haven't stitched much as I've not really been feeling too great this past few days, but I'm loving the colours and the chart is so easy to follow, it's a fun stitch.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend. The weather here is supposed to be rain, rain and more rain so not much planned for us. Erin is going to a birthday party this afternoon so she should enjoy that.

Couldn't Stand It Any Longer

My fabbie for Cirque had arrived when I got home from work today, so I cut it to size, fray stopped the edges.... and left it to dry for all of 5 mins before I couldn't wait any longer to start lol.
I am so excited with this new start. I love the silk I've chosen, the design is fab and the chart is wonderful to work from so far. It seems so simple compared to the things I've been working on lately, no colour changes, nice bright cheerful colours and the circles are so me! I really think I could quite easily get addicted to it!
Will post a pic in a few days once I've got more to show.

My Silks....

For Cirque have arrived!!!!!
I'm so excited, and the colour is just perfect for what I was wanting! I've been and ordered some more skeins to make sure there is no chance of me running out, and now I just need to choose fabbie and I'm ready to roll!
Also in my package was AMAP Victoria's Quaker chart and the silks to stitch that with, which looks gorgeous as well. It's going to be hard not starting that as well, but it will have to go in the to do pile for now.
Here's hoping this week is the start of a much better stitching and stashing week!

Some Stitching To Show

I've been stitching on and off for the past 10 days or so. Some nights I've not picked up my stitching at all, then others I've done a good few hours.
I've been having real problems deciding on my new start so haven't actually done one yet. I am more or less decided now that it will be Ink Circles Cirque Des Cercles stitched using Vikki Clayton silks in Caribbean Splash, but I'm still waiting for the silks to arrive so not 100% until I see them in person. I had a problem with ordering them in that I ordered regular silks but Vikki had sold out and isn't going to dye anymore. She offered to send me the premium silk instead, but then I realised that the premium will need to be stitched over a lower count fabric so it will make the whole thing larger, and in turn I'm going to need more. So I need to make sure when it arrives that it really is what I want, then I'm going to order a few more skeins to make sure I will have enough before I start.
I've also been waiting for the last part of the Heirloom Embroideries Mystery to arrive, but to no avail. It was due out at the beginning of June and I know quite a few people have been wondering about it. Anyway, it seems that Carol has been having more problems with her computer and that's why we've not had replies to emails and posts on her forum. I don't know the reason for the delay in the packs actually being sent, but they are supposed to be being sent out by Tuesday at the latest so we'll see what Wed/Thur brings!
And due to the hot weather we WERE having up to last week, I've also been avoiding stitching on my latch hook rug as it's just too big and I get all hot and bothered with it laid allover me lol. So I pulled out my Tomboy QS for one evening for something to do, and just carried on with it! I've now reached the very bottom in the section I've been stitching so you can see how big she is going to be, and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am going to get the rug out later to at least do a little bit on, and with the mystery arrives and my silks I'll be busy with other things, but I'm determined now to get her out again soon and keep going, I want her finished this year!

1st Monthly Goal Finished!

After getting hooked on Indigo Rose's Bee Charmer Biscornu at the weekend I managed to finish it last night after fiddling with learning how to make tassels lol. So that's another new thing I can do now!
I really love this design, there were different stitches in it, different colours, and the plastic pellets for the filling that came in the kit were just great, they make it feel solid and heavy so it sits beautifully. And the bee button just finishes it off nicely. I have it displayed on my unit in the lounge now, it's too nice to actually use lol.
And here is the pic of the Heirloom Embroideries Huswif Mystery I've been stitching. This is after May's part was stitched, which was adding the beads and the clasps for when it's been made up. I must say the beads have really added to the design and they are a gorgeous colour. I can't wait to get the last part and see how it's going to be finished off, although I have to admit to trying to persuade Julie to agree to finish it off for me if it involves using a sewing machine. Don't know why she said no.... lol
And finally, I still haven't decided on my new start for the month. There are just so many designs calling to me right now, I can't make any sense of all the babbling! Every time I think I know which I want to start another suddenly pipes up, so I'm getting nowhere. Last night after finishing Bee Charmer I did a tiny bit on my HAED Tomboy QS and enjoyed it, so might do a bit more on that tonight, or might get Eeyore's rug out and get a couple of rows done on that.
Til next time!....

About Turn - Sort Of

Well, I went to hand in my notice at work on Monday and was met with a very unexpected reception. My boss (who has also become a good friend) was in a real state and begged me not to leave! She said that she would do anything she could to get me to stay. I explained that I love working for her, but the stress is getting to me and it's worse when she is not there and I've got to do all the work on my own. I also explained that I don't want Erin to be pushed from pillar to post when she starts school, always being at out of school clubs etc, and that she needs her mum around more. She said to leave it with her and we would talk some more today, but to give it more thought. So last night DH and I talked more and DH said that the only thing really that would make it worthwhile me staying would be for me to do school hours, which I said was no way they would allow as my boss finishes at 3pm on a Thur and Fri to go get her daughter from school.
So this morning I went to work and when my boss arrived she looked terrible. She said she hadn't slept for worrying about it and had decided if she couldn't do something to make it so I would stay then she was leaving as well. She said that she had an idea and was going to go see one of the Partners of the firm and would come back to me. She came back down about 15 minutes later and said that she had got the Partner to agree that if I would stay I could work 9.15-2.30 Mon-Wed and 9.15-5.00 Thur & Fri, which would mean I could take Erin to school everyday, and pick her up Mon-Wed. My mum had already agreed previously that she would pick Erin up from school on a Friday and take her to her house for tea, so that would just leave Thur with Erin going to the after school club.
Soooo, after talking to DH some more on the phone we decided that I would agree to do the new hours starting when Erin starts school, on the proviso that I will give it a try for two/three months, and if I still feel it's not working then I will leave and there will be no hard feelings.
My boss has also agreed that we will have alternate school holidays off, so that we can plan well in advance what holidays we will be having etc, and I've been told by her and the Partner that I am to take on less work generally and when my boss is on holiday I've to pass work to the other Solicitors to deal with rather than trying to do it all myself.
So whilst it's an about turn on what I had planned, I'm hoping that this arrangement will solve a lot of the problems that were stressing me out, whilst still meaning I am earning a wage.
My boss is under no illusion however that this is it, problem solved completely, but I'm going to give it a go and if it doesn't work then I will leave knowing I've tried everything I can, and knowing that I'm meant to stay at home full-time. So watch this space!

A New Month

Well May was rather a wash out for me stitching wise, I can't even really remember what I stitched on, only that it wasn't much.
I did a little on HAED Always Dreaming QS, stitched my stitching accessory for the Jayne's Attic Exchange, and did the May section of the Heirloom Embroideries Huswif Mystery, but I think that was it.
Now that I've made some decisions about my family's future, although I am worried about the money aspect, I feel that a huge weight has been lifted off me and I am calmer than I have been in a long time. I am looking to the future with optimism and excitement.
I've removed my rotation list from my side bar and replaced it with a monthly goal list at Julie's suggestion, and I feel much happier with that idea.
So for June I want to finish the Huswif Mystery, finish Indigo Rose Bee Charmer Biscornu (had initially just wanted to work on it, but after getting addicted to it last night I want to finish it lol) work on my Eeyore Latch Hook Rug and have a new start (I had put that it would be Papillon Serendipity Freebie, but other things are calling right now so I'll just say a new start!).
Thanks to everyone who reads my blog and leaves comments, they are really appreciated and brighten my day.