Stitching show, needle punch and painting project!

Well, Is life as busy in your pad as it is here? This has been another hectic week but I know by reading some of your blogs, you are finding it to be the same-so many jobs, so little time....

Hubs was meant to be in the States this week, but due to the air problems, his flight was cancelled, so all my plans to run the roads had to be put on hold! No, I'm only joking-I'm actually glad he is here this week to help with our three year old. She had to have a full leg plaster of paris on since Sunday because of a limp, so it is great to have an extra pair of hands as she cannot weight bear. We hope to get it off on Monday and hopefully the limp will have disappeared (there is no fracture etc)

As you can imagine, I have spent my week reading and playing!! I did get the odd little break:))

Last week, we had a stitching and craft show-nothing like in the States, but I did manage to dig for a few little goodies:)

I got a few patterns-I know this is one of the older books of Primitive Gatherings, but I didn't have it and was glad to get my hands on it. The small pattern is a Primitive Gathering needle punch.



Being a Christmas person, I couldn't resist this wire hanging and some rustie goodies.



I also got some lovely woven Japanese fabrics that I took a liking too-possibly a little bit different for me, but I thought this bag would be nice to make sometime.



I did get a little more needle punch done and I must say, this is a very enjoyable craft and am looking forward to trying a proper pattern next time (don't look too close-since completing them, I have learned that I have probably punched my rows too close together, but I'm pretty pleased for a first attempt)
I'm not sure where it will hang yet, so it's on the settee meantime!



Now, I want your opinions on this next project-your very honest opinions please!

This shelf started out pine once upon a time.
I painted it cream over black and then stained it after distressing, but I'm not sure about the finished colour-Should I have left it unstained? (I am trying for a few occasional pieces in a lighter colour)



Thanks for visiting and hopefully I will get you posted on my outside-it's still a work in progress!

Have a great weekend and don't forget to say you visited as I enjoy the company:)

Blessings,
Shazy x

Easter break

Hello blogging friends!

I'm beginning to think that this is how blogging and I are going to be-'as and when'
At the minute, that doesn't seem to be too often, so I thought I better pop in and say hello, incase you forget who I am!!

Lets just say, life is very busy and snatching a few minutes to catch up on a few of your blogs is a luxury these days, but I am hoping to catch you up soon:))

The children have been off school this past two weeks-just back today, so this past two weeks has been family time. We had a lovely little break of five days to Spain, which we really enjoyed. I think we enjoyed it even more when we realised home was having snow storms and hurricanes!!!! Our weather in Spain was just lovely-not too hot, yet hot enough to get out and about and do plenty of activities which the kids wanted to do.

We found this lovely pool which was 36 degrees-needless to say, we spent two afternoons there



The boys had a competition at this and had to go back a second night to decide who really won....Boys!!


We spent a very enjoyable afternoon at this place-there were all sorts of activities from water-sking, quading, rock-climbing and treking etc. Leah got to do an Easter egg hunt-do you see her little basket?


Meanwhile, I relived my youth, by attempting pony treking-I forgot how hard it is to stretch ones leg away up there!


Safely back from an hours trek-can't understand how they knew we were foreign-it couldn't have been the white bodies, could it?


Back to porridge and the outside which was annoying me before I went, was waiting for me when I came home....nothing else for it, but to get stuck in!!


Needless to say, there has been very little crafting going on, but I think I would be in despair if I couldn't fit a wee bit in.

Needle-punch and rug-hooking have been tempting me over the last while, so.....I ordered a needle for needle-punch and used a couple of Primitive Gatherings patterns that I had which were for pin cushions-just plain and simple to get me going.


I'm not sure yet how to finish them off-I haven't researched that yet, as I was too impatient to get started:)
I am going to show my inexperience now by asking what you will probably think to be a silly question, but,for you experienced needle-punchers out there; can you use calico or is it necessary to have weavers cloth?

There will hopefully be a set of three, the third being a sheep. (the markings will be covered with stitches, I didn't want to waste the fabric:))


Thats about all from my neck of the woods, just to say, that I hope this lovely weather continues and hopefully I will have a nicer outside to show you.

Have a great week,
Blessings,
Shazy x

Some spring bunnies!

Good afternoon!

Where does time go? I can't believe how the days are flying by-I don't know about you, but I feel as if I'm in a speed wobble:)

Is it the time of year or something, but all I seem to see is the cleaning that needs to be done-windows, laundry, cupboards, floors, bathrooms.....that's only inside; the ouside I can't bear to look at, after the winter hammering it has received!!

Don't get me wrong-I'm grateful to be able to do it, but sometimes its a tad overwhelming, possibly because I want it done yesterday:))

BUT..the main reason why I'm naffed?-I think I have just blew my chances at getting a little trip to the States!! Rather my sewing room has.

Hubs is into renewable enery stuff and we had discussed a little trip (just him and I) to Wisconsin-he would get to his show and I would get to ALL my fav quilting and prim shops:)) Sadly, the other night, I asked him to move some boxes in my sewing room, that I couldn't lift. Unfortunately, they were boxes FULL of fabric-hubs was disgusted at the stash and I was quite firmly enlightened, that I didn't need to go to any quilt shops for the rest of my life! Huh? A girl needs LOADSA stash!

Maybe it's time to make a few nice dinners.......humm

I have really enjoyed seeing all your beautiful homes and your spring decor. Decorating for spring is new to me, so I don't have much, but here are a few pics of some bits-actually, they seem to be all bunnies:))



These bunny eggs are a little difficult to see-here is one close up



These next little bunnies, came from Christine (Preferably Prim) I think they are very cute. Thanks again, Christine.



Thought I would try a little change of colour scheme-not red this time (tho' if you look closely, there is a fine red stripe in there!)
I made some of these eggs for my sister-her kitchen is these colours and I thought they looked lovely and fresh. The chocolate bunnies I made from wool.



Next, is a simple little project.I tried my hand at felting some wool this past week-the bunny and the background wool are the result. I was pleased with the felting, maybe I will try over-dying next time!



This is the time of year when I start gathering up bits and pieces of hand sewing to do, as from Easter on, we spend alot of time up at the North Coast. Now, I know these aren't spring, but, I loved them and just had to have them:)) So these are my 'summer' projects-aren't the wools just yummy...





(This is the kit and the pattern for the above little pic-I got these from The Quilted Crow)



I haven't had time to blog much recently and that only seems set to continue-what, with all the work I need to do and the Easter hols etc... but I hope you all have a lovely break and enjoy family time,

Blessings,
Shazy x

Spring is in the air!!

Hope this post finds you all enjoying nice sunshine! Although cool, it is so heartsome, having the sun shining. The only downside is, all I can see is dirty windows and dust!LOL A job for another day:)

I'm hoping my week only improves-we have had 2 quite stressful days, dealing with school bullying, but hopefully as we speak it has been resolved. Why do children want to be so mean sometimes and why do they have to suffer such hurt sometimes? Anyway, I will not sort it out here and now, so lets move on.

Here are a few bits of sewing I have been working on-time to sew seems to be evading me recently. I will have to change that somehow:))





This little bunny is made out of wool and backed with linen.



I have taken a liking to sheep and penny rugs.




A friend of mine (Christine from Preferably Prim) really loves pineapples, so this was made for her walls which she is decorating.

This next project has me in seventh heaven!! I am sooo enjoying making it-sure it contains all the things I love-wool, saltbox houses, willow trees and RED!!!
The background is darker and more mottled than the pic shows-it is to be framed as a picture.



Thought I would leave you with a little smile:) My son gets the job of putting away the toilet rolls after shopping!! Needless to say, they didn't get too far-who needs toys when they have toilet rolls-my son refrained from the pics (11yrs?)



Now for the fun part!



Even eating breakfast became a pleasure, instead of a chore:))


Have a great week,
Blessings, Shazy x

We have a winner!

Hello blogging friends!
Thank you sooo much for entering my giveaway and for those who posted it on their blog an extra thanks:)

I wish you all could get something, but I'm afraid there can only be one winner-

Here we go.........




Well done to Tanya from Friendship Crossing, if you can get me your details, I will get these off to you!

To those who have recently joined me, I hope to get around to all of your blogs soon and thanks once again for taking part:))

Blessings, Shazy x

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!!

Hello everyone!

I mentioned in a previous post I was going to have a giveaway, well, that time has come! Actually, I was going to leave it until next week, but I looked out at the MORE SNOW and thought, no, I want to think 'spring' and I want some fun!

Whats the occasion, for the giveaway?
Well, I have had sooo much enjoyment, friendship and inspiration from I started blogging in December, that I wanted to say a big THANKS!- blogging has opened up a whole new world to me; so to those great friends who have followed my journey and to those new friends I look forward to meeting, I hope you enjoy and most of all, lets have some FUN:)

So, here goes... (heck, I'm nervous now:))
but lets run with it.......



(Click on pic to enlarge for clearer view)



Firstly is this prairie doll. She is carrying a little sack with a rusty pin attached. Her pillow has a little black sheep machine embroidered on it and is
stained for that old appearance. To add a little Irish culture, I made her bonnet from linen:))



Secondly, you will get this little spring sampler in a distressed frame- this is a Shelly Auen pattern.



Finally, we have some raggedy eggs- 5 small eggs and 2 large-duck? haha! I have used homespun flannels to cover and they come lightly stained.


The rules are simple, but please be informed, so that everyone enjoys,

~ You must be a follower of my blog to enter

~ all new followers are most welcome, so come on board:)

~ You need to leave a comment on this post

~ Drawing will take place, Friday 5th March

I would love it if you would put this giveaway on your blog and please say in your comment that you have done so-this will give you a second entry:)

Finally, I hope you like and please join in the fun!

Blessings, Shazy x

Painting projects!

Good Monday morning to you all. I hope you all had a good weekend. Our weekend revolved around our daughters 14th birthday. It was just a family time as she didn't want a party-I wasn't complaining! We often end up looking through old photos for some reason at birthday times-I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy it-I end up feeling sad at the days that will never return.

I was reading someones blog the other day and I could really relate to it. She had a stitchery that said something like, 'take time to smell the flowers.' Sometimes (and I am guilty) we are sooo busy just surviving, that we fail to enjoy every minute of our kids lives. That will be enough of the nostalgia for now, lets move on!

Below are some painting projects I have been working on. This is a new craft to me, so please view with kindness:)

I painted this window frame with cream over black and sanded, then put a matt varnish over as I didn't want it too dark (It is darker than the photo shows)
Click to enlarge if you wish.







Oh, sorry, excuse my toe:)







Just to show you where I hung the frame and one of the signs. I am not in love with this mantle, but it will have to do:( I figured if I displayed it nicely, it would detract from the mantle?



Another sign over this mantle.



Show and tell over for another time. I will sign off now and get the house cleaned after the weekend:(

Have a good weekend and don't forget to enjoy all those precious moments with family and friends,

Blessings,
Shazy x