After seeing the lovely hoop box that Vonna showed on her blog *here*, I was quite enamoured by the idea and thought I would do one too. I already had the pattern - BBD Summer House - and a piece of R&R 30ct cappachino linen in my stash so I thought I would make a start. I also had the same colour thread that Donna had used but, it is a little too 'browny' for my taste so I decided to go with DMC 115. I stitched the design 2*2 but oh dear it's much too large for my liking so I am going to restitch it 1*2 on 40ct raw Newcastle linen with a yet unchosen thread and finish it on 5" hoops instead of 6". I may even chose a different design or do my own thing! Vonna posts an excellent finishing tutorial for this on her blog and only asks that your give her credit for her idea. Thank you Vonna for sharing your wonderful idea.

****************************

I was searching through my blog recently and found the 'day book journal' I did on August 4 2010 and thought I would do another for today:

Outside my window ..... it's dark and dismal

I am thinking ....I can’t wait for next summer

I am thankful for ...... my health, my family and my life

I am wearing ..... black shorts, black top, flip flops

I am loving …. my new design - Sew Frost

I am stitching .... C Mon Monde SAL

I am hoping .... to start my Christmas shopping soon

I am drooling over .... an 11" Macbook Air

I am sorely tempted by ...... an 11" Macbook Air

I am hearing ...... Layla - Eric Clapton

I am reading ..... Now You See Her by James Patterson

On my mind ..... Sunday roast

From my picture journal…. School days - 1963

************************

I started on the C Mon Monde SAL and have only to put the roof on the house which I hope to do this afternoon so I can send off a picture to receive Part 2. I will post a picture shortly thereafter with details of fabric and threads.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I won another pair of scissors on ebay.fr for the princely sum of 6 euros plus postage and packing of 1,50 euros - such a bargain! As you can see these are marked 'France' on one side and P R Nogent on the other. I wonder if these are made by Monsieur Roulot? They are very fine and delicate and a wonderful addition to my collection.

After a terrific thunderstorm a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. My picture does not show how pretty the colours were. A few year ago I drove through a rainbow - I didn't find a pot of gold but it was quite a magical experience!

***************************

The Mystery SAL box is now 'finished' and I have prepared a finishing tutorial which I will post once the SAL is over. For those of you enquiring about the release of the chart, it will be available as soon as the SAL is finished which won't be too long now. Keep checking back or click on CHARTS on the sidebar or sign up to my mailing list by emailing me (my email address is on my profile) for email notification of the release.

There is a new Christmas/Winter chart due for release shortly - it was to be Sew Hopeful but, after much deliberation and chart amendments, I changed my mind and it's now called Sew Frost - imagine a Winter scene with holly, snowflakes and snow laden trees!

I am also working on a wedding sampler for the son of dear friends in Sarasota who is getting married on 11.11.11. I asked about the wedding 'colour theme' and his dad said 'bright primary colours' - I hope he wasn't pulling my leg but anyway I stitched red on white and, hopefully, the happy couple will be pleased with it.

I signed up for another SAL, a partnership between The Threadbasket and C Mon Monde which comes in four weekly parts. I must admit I misread and thought that it was every four weeks! I have the first part but have yet to choose my fabric and threads so I think I am already falling behind before I start!

Thanks for visiting

Take care and have a lovely weekend

There is only one part remaining now and is due for release on November 5 but there is also a bonus pin pillow chart for all those who complete the design and send me a picture.

If you missed out of signing up for the SAL the chart will be released at the end of the SAL so please keep checking back here or join the mailing list for notice of the release. Just email me (email address on my profile) to sign up. In the meantime, please check out my other designs *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar. You will find free patterns for the taking and patterns free with a purchase.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

This morning I received a package from Simone of Atelier Soed Idee with the giveaway I won on her blog. I had a choice of colour and, as you can see, I chose red - no surprise here then! Simone has the most wonderful designs and kits for sale on her website *here* and many of her designs can be seen on her blog *here*. Simone has been designing since early 2011 and her designs are both delightful and reasonably priced. Thank you Simone for my wonderful gift.

I have also been RAKd by the lovely Elisa of Old Ragged Threads who sent me a skein of GAST thread in Cherry Wine - such a pretty shade of red. Thank you Elisa - it's much appreciated.

I though you might like to see this 'sky' picture from the back of our house late yesterday afternoon. I love to look at clouds and these were quite amazing.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Ken and I took a trip out yesterday to Rye in East Sussex. This is a very pretty little town just over the Kent-Sussex border.

We parked the car and walked up a steep lane and arrived at the Landgate monument. This is the only one remaining of four gateways built in 1329. Click on the picture for further information.

The houses either side of the steep and tiny streets are quite delightful. Look how narrow the house with the green door is in the top left hand picture!

When I saw the above shop I thought of Edgar - blogland's very own Black Sheep!

We took the coast road home and stopped for a breath of fresh air at Camber Sands. I have no idea why it's called Cambers Sands as the beach was pebbles not sand. It was very windy and I was nearly blown off my feet!

Vera (no blog) recently sent me a picture of her finish of Sew Animalistic that she stitched last year. She tells me that she used some old 'dirty linen' from her stash with 'Calico Kitty' thread which she thinks is a Sampler Thread. Whatever the fabric and thread it's a very pretty finish! Thank you Vera for allowing me to post your picture.

Sew Animalistic is still available *here* or by clicking on the CHARTS button on the sidebar.

I don't feel too great today - I had a dental checkup last week and this week I have a bad toothache - how typical is that?

Thank for visiting

Take care

There is a lovely Halloween giveaway on the Lover of Cross Stitch blog *here* for this wonderful hand-carved pumpkin plaque. You need to be a follower of this blog, you need to comment on the post and then post about the giveaway on your own blog and, if you become a follower of Benjamin's wife's blog, you get an extra chance! The winner will be announced 2 weeks before Halloween.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

Part 6 of the Mystery SAL has been released today. If you have sent me a picture of Part 5 and not received the chart, please let me know. My spreadsheet tells me that all those entitled to Part 6 should by now have received it.

If you missed out on signing up for the SAL, the chart will be released at the end of SAL so keep checking back.

Thanks for visiting

Take care

I have now finished stitching my SAL Giumauve et Violette. I'm not sure what I will put in the space above the garland in the centre - the designer suggested a charm and I think I have a Fleur de Lys charm somewhere in my stash which might suffice. I'm not sure of a 'final' finish!

Last week we took a trip to Canterbury and I took a few snaps. These show a marked difference between the old and new buildings in the city centre. The 'older building' is, of course, Canterbury Cathedral.

We also popped into a shop for a bottle of water and noticed this lovely display of 'old fashioned' sweets (candies) - check out those sugar mice - how I loved these as a child. I resisted buying any as I am not sure I am up for a pure sugar hit!

We then drove to Westwood Cross in Broadstairs as I wanted to go to Hobby Craft and after a quick lunch at Frankie and Bennys we decided to go see the new Jason Statham movie - Killer Elite. As you can see from the above picture DH arranged a private showing! Not really but we did get the cinema to ourselves and the movie was great.

On the way home we stopped so I could get a picture of the Viking Ship at Pegwell Bay. This ship has been there for as long as I can remember. Isn't it wonderful?

This year there seems to be a vast amount of spiders webs in my garden with the most enormous spiders. I keep well away and used the zoom on my camera to get a couple of pictures!

I'm sorry for the mish-mash post today but I have been holding these pictures on my desktop and have at last found time to post. All the pictures are clickable for closeup views.

Thanks for visiting

Take care