Sunshine and flowers

Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it. ~Author Unknown

Since the bank holiday (which was mainly drizzle for us) the sun has been out - so typical of the British weather.   It's been good for the garden though as lots of flowers are now brightening it up and our rhubarb is coming on a treat.

Our lilac bush is adding some lovely colour to the back garden next to the camelias and our hellibores which seem to flower forever.

In the front garden we have a multitude of Primroses and our Weigela is also blossoming well - love the contrast with the silver foliage plant which I have no idea of it's  name.

 I hope to spend some time in the garden this weekend weeding the borders initially and then hopefully enjoy some sunshine and stitching.  I am very close to another finish for May.

Top class service

Better days are coming. They are called Saturday and Sunday. ~Author unknown

The latest copy of Punch Needle &Primitive Stitcher arrived through the post yesterday.  I ordered it along with a couple of items from The Patchwork Rabbit and once again first class service from them again. 

This issue contains more punch needle patterns which isn't something I intend taking up but I  think the patterns could easily be adapted to embroidery or applique work.  There is a gorgeous design by Maja of The Snowflower Diaries who is creating the Joyful World SAL .

Along with the magazine I  purchased some variegated threads to use in future Christmas projects - nothing like trying to plan ahead.  If my plans work out it will also involve some upcycling of the rings which are left once I've used up sticky tape.

Happy 1st Birthday

It's your birthday to-day, so why are we waiting?
Without further delay, Let's start celebrating.
~Norman Wesley Brooks, 1967

It's hard to believe Harlee-Jay is already a year old.  That first year seems to have whizzed by.  Here is a photo of the framed baby sampler which is just one of his birthday presents.  I hope to be able to update this post later in the day with a picture of him.

Great fun with the crafting friends yesterday evening and I managed to stitch quite a bit more of the bookmark gift stitch.  I am hoping to get it done by this evening - keeping my fingers crossed. 

Gift stitching

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.  ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur

This year it is my intention to do lots of stitching not only for my enjoyment but also to give away as gifts.  Kathy's 70th birthday was my first gift stitch of the year.  I started another one which was a freebie from one of the cross stitch magazines and while it might have been just a small item I have so far only managed to complete half of it.  I hope to get it completed this week though.

Me being me though and always flitting from one project to another have just started another gift stitch which also needs to be completed this month.  I will give you a sneak peek of this one as it needs to be kept fairly secret until the recipient receives it.

This one has lots of lovely bright colours and so far is stitching up quite quickly.

Can't catch me

I have my first finish for May.   The bank holiday weather apart from Saturday was pretty miserable which meant once my tired eyes had recovered I was able to work on the simpler of my projects for May   I was able to complete Part 2 of the Cross Stitcher SAL.   

This one I managed to stitch in an evening while watching the snooker final.  Here is how the SAL is looking overall.  I wonder what next month's stitch will be?

I may not be able to run fast but at least I've  made a fast start to my stitching objectives for this month.

Sunday's progress

Weak eyes are fondest of glittering objects. ~Thomas Carlyle

I wasn't able to get as much stitched on the Cornwall Cottage Sampler this week as I  would have liked -tired eyes.  My main objective this week though was to make sure the large motif I started last week was finished, that at least was achieved.

There are two large motifs, two small motifs, half a motif , the remainder of the internal border, my name and date and a little bit of backstitch left to stitch.  

There are a few more weeks worth of work to be done on this but when it is finished I shall miss adding to this every week.  However, my mind is already racing away and wondering what I will stitch in its place.

May goals

The world's favorite season is the spring. 
All things seem possible in May."
-  Edwin Way Teale

What would I like to achieve stitching wise this month?

At least 400 stitches on Landscape, May Joyful World SAL,  Cross Stitcher SAL Part 2, Cornwall Cottage Sampler,  Soda Stitch Alice in Wonderland and a couple of gift stitches - how many days does May have in it LOL?

If I manage to get Alice finished I've just purchased this set of five PDF patterns, one of which will replace this in my stitching programme.

As usual I came across them while looking for something else on Etsy - for anyone who is interested they can be found here.  If you were me which one would you choose first?