Pendle Stitches

Going, going, gone!

2009-02-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

Not only am I bored of the weather, but I'm tired of tussling with Blogger. So, I've moved.

From today you'll find me at http://pendlestitches.wordpress.com/. I'll see you there.

Are we nearly there yet?

2009-02-25T12:44:00.001-08:00

As a child I, as I'm sure pretty much every child in the history of travel has, would drive my parents to distraction on journeys. No sooner had we pulled off of the driveway than a little voice from the back seat would pipe up "Are we nearly there yet?"

And so it is with this winter.

I don't know about you guys but I'm pretty much ready for Spring.

Whilst some of this is due to the godawful weather, I think some of it also has to do with the knowledge that at some unknown point in the, hopefully, not too distant future, we shall find our family and our world will change beyond all recognition.

So I'm all of a flurry trying to get projects out of the workroom and onto the relevant person or part of the house.

So today I've 80% finished the skirt for MSIL - it's hanging overnight ready for the final bit of hand stitching on the waistband, and hemming. These WILL be done tomorrow.

I've also been through my fabric and pattern stashes (which are pretty feeble compared to most of the stashes I've seen elsewhere) and decided which fabric I'm going to eBay and which I'm going to sew. All bar a couple of pieces (including some gorgeous £20 a metre palest green linen which I'm terrified to waste) have been allocated to patterns and are ready to go. The eBay stuff will be loaded as soon as Mr S has a bit of time (it's his account and I frankly don't have the faintest idea what to do). There are 9 garments ready to go. 3 dresses, 5 tops and a pair of trousers.

So I'm feeling virtuous. I'm hoping to have enough stuff cleared that when the Spring finally arrives I'll be in a position to take advantage of it. Not only by having time to make a start on remodelling the back garden, but also having room in the workroom for lovely summery clothes.

That's the intention. Let's see how I get on.

Phildar Mens Cable Sweater

2009-02-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

Mr Stitches French Sweater (so named because we bought the yarn in France last year) is finished. It's not been particularly straightforward, mainly because I'm a knitting numpty sometimes.

Firstly, I added length to the sweater without factoring in the need for additional yarn. Basic schoolgirl error - more of that in a mo. Secondly, on one of the sleeves I consistently knitted a cable in the wrong direction, frogged it, reknit it....in the wrong direction. Doh! But not just once. Oh no......about 5 times. I lost count after the third time...trying to blank from my mind the absolute idiocy of making the same mistake over and over and over again.

However, its finished and he loves it:

And so do I. It was a joy to knit. It looks quite complex but it's a very simple cable pattern once you've got into it. The most difficult task was translating the pattern from French into English. Whilst I have sufficient French for the basics - buying wine, coffee, food, yarn and embroideries (not necessarily in that order) - translation of patterns is a completely different kettle of poisson.

If you too are brave (for brave read foolish) enough to embark on such an endeavour then I cannot recommend Chez Plum highly enough. Her French Knitting Dictionary is a life saver and, if all else fails, she offers a translation service (I haven't tried this so can't comment on it).

One other thing I can recommend is DON'T BUY PHILDAR!

I love, love, love their patterns. They have a certain je ne sais quoi and I've always had good results from them. Their yarns are relatively inexpensive and whilst they are often a mix of natural and manmade fibres, this makes them less susceptible to the ravages of boys. But, their customer service sucks.

I had to order an additional ball of yarn to knit the neck and do the sewing up. The yarn cost 3.60 Euros. The shipping cost 13.90 Euros. The solitary ball of yarn was shipped bouncing round in a box which would easily have carried 20 balls of yarn. A Jiffy bag would have been so much more appropriate. There was no option for a cheaper alternative. It was ridiculous. I wrote to them a week ago to express my disappointment. I've had no response.

In the current economic climate I think the least we can expect is an acknowledgement of our comments on poor service, choice, or the waste of over packaging, even if no remedial action is to be taken. To be ignored makes it very easy for me to vote with my wallet. No more Phildar for me. It's a small protest, but I feel good about it.

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I've also completed this embroidery. This isn't my version. Guess who forgot to take a picture before wrapping it up and gifting it. I'll hopefully be able to post it soon.

The chart is by Little House Needleworks and my version is slightly different in that I changed the threads and used Oliver Twists instead of the recommended colours. Just a word to the wise - the Oliver Twists bled all over the linen when I washed the finished embroidery. Cue mass hysteria.

However a quick visit to Morrisons and a soak in some colour run remover and all was well. But you have been warned.

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And finally to weightier matters. Having finally finished the black jersey dress (I'll post as soon as I've got pictures) I've moved on to Ma Stitches-in-Law's Christmas present skirt. I'm making the 10 gored skirt from Ottobre Designs 2/2007.

And I've got the cutest vintage 'weights' to hold the papers in place whilst I do the tracing:

It's the little things that make it all the more enjoyable.

Man on a mission

2009-02-23T06:28:00.000-08:00

As promised, I've finally found the battery for the camera (they are a bit like socks in this house, going missing on a regular basis), and here is a picture of the cake we made for the adoption celebration:

Its the Baked bakery Sweet and Salty Cake from Martha Stewart, and isn't for the faint hearted - either cook or consumer. Pa Stitches-in-Law proved to be neither:

An ending and a beginning

2009-02-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today I've been busy distracting myself by burning caramel to make the Sweet and Salty Cake from Baked bakery in New York. You're not supposed to burn the caramel but, what can I say, I've not made it before. I did crack it in the end. I'll post more about this when I've found the replacement battery for my camera and can download the pictures.

Thankfully the preparation of such an extravagant cake is perfect to stop yourself thinking about what the social workers are up to on your behalf. Especially when Pa Stitches-in-law is on his way over and expecting great things.

But all was completed by about 2.30pm, which meant that we had a little time to kill whilst the ganache set and we waited for news.

Thankfully by the time the news came in the cake was ready to eat. And it turned out to be a celebratory cake, because the Panel said Yes.

Mr Stitches and I have been approved by the Panel to adopt two children under the age of 5.

Whilst we sometimes thought we'd never get to this day, in reality this is where the real journey begins. We are elated. And then some. I'm off to open the champagne.

Things like this don't happen to me.

2009-02-18T02:58:00.000-08:00

As promised I'll now tell you what happened to me yesterday.

Black Purl decided to drag me out for lunch to stop me thinking too much. She arrived at the door with the words "I have something in the car for you. You can have it for the same price I paid for it." I was, as you can imagine, intrigued.

So I followed her to the car. She opened the boot. And there sat....

I squealed. A lot.

She was manufactured in 1929 in Clydebank, Scotland.

So obviously, the next question was "How much do I owe you?"

"£30"

"Wow, £30, that's great."

And it would be. Bargain.

But it wasn't £30. And that's the kicker. Because things like this just don't happen to me.

"Noooooo" she said. "£3".

£3???? £3!!!!!!

I simply can't believe it. And she works as well. She just needs a little TLC to clean her up. Obviously I'm talking about the machine here, not Black Purl. She's fine and dandy. But, fear not, it won't be anything aggressive. I want to retain the vintage beauty.

But I am overwhelmed that my friend found her for me. That's the best bit of all of this.

Teaser

2009-02-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

Today I had a great, busy, distractionary kinda day planned. I'm trying hard not to focus on tomorrow. The, shhhhhh, you know what meeting, tomorrow afternoon. So I had a list of things I wanted to achieve, and so far have achieved just 2 of them.

So before I zip off to do the French studying that I really have to get done today, and then start on something craftyn I have news and a teaser.

Firstly, the news. Pa Stitches-in-Law is finally home. He really should only have been in for a couple of days but the hospital lost paperwork and then the neuro consultant wouldn't see him without some different paperwork. They were planning to keep him in until Friday of this week (which of course isn't the tiniest waste of NHS resources *said in vaguely sarcastic tones*), but a couple of judiciously placed phone calls made by Mr Stitches and voila, two hours and he's out. Hurrah!

And so to the teaser. Black Purl arrived just as I'd received this news to drag me out for an hour for a quick lunch just to I didn't lose it completely. She opened the boot of her car and....I'll tell you later what was in there. And it wasn't just Milo. All I'll say now is OH.MY.GOD.

And now I'm off to study.

BTW, if this post seems a tad random....too much coffee. ;-}

Two years

2009-02-16T03:58:00.001-08:00

Two years ago today, I drove 240 miles in my beat up old Honda from Guildford to Euxton. On the seat beside me sat a basketed and disgruntled Alice cat. In front of me, in a van with a busted gearbox, drove Mr Stitches with all my worldly possessions. It rained every single mile of the way. I cried every single mile of the way.

I'd always said that wild horses wouldn't drag me North again. Well, that'll teach me to never say never. Because here I am. The love of a good man achieved what wild horses couldn't.

The first year was, shall we say difficult. If you hear hysterical laughter at this point it's Mr S, who probably remembers it much differently than that. But lets ignore him and move on.

I thought I'd never settle here; never feel at home; never have a life.

How wrong can you be? Whilst I'll never love Euxton, I can live here for now. Our house isn't pretty on the outside, but on the inside we've a warm, cozy and loving home. It's always filled with laughter and often with family and friends. Hot chocolate and Madelaine's or tea and scones are always on offer.

But most importantly, I have Mr S. I have no words for how wonderful he is. But he knows. And so do I. Happy Anniversary Mr S.

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On the subject of friends, mine are about as good as it gets. Firstly, the Preston Stitch n Bitch crew have been busily knitting hats for homeless people. I counted them up yesterday and we've got 39. I'm fond of round numbers so shall whiz up a 40th today and deliver them tomorrow. Thanks to all. You're marvellous.

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My lovely and talented friend, Rick, kindly gifted me some pieces of his handmade pottery. As I have absolutely no talent for pottery but love hand made pieces, I'm absolutely thrilled with them.

I'm beyond excited that he's promised to make me a utensils jar for my kitchen. Not only do I get to tidy out a drawer that it's really best not to look into, but I'll have something beautiful made just for me. Wow! Thanks so much Rick.

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Black Purl has fabulous taste in art and I'd often admire a piece she had, which we affectionately called Fat Bottomed Girl.

In case you didn't recognise the setting...that's my sitting room, with my TV just edging into the right of shot (it doesn't like being left out of things). Yes! BP gifted FBG to us. We are amazed at her kindness and thrilled with the piece. Thank you, Black Purl.

I know it's one that you'll either love or hate but we love it so don't care. (In case you're wondering it's a Fred Yokel and we're trying to find out the proper name for her).

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And finally, if I can get my sorry behind in gear, there'll be some finished objects to show this week. Mr S is fast becoming skilled with a pin and yesterday was helping with the hem on a dress that I'm embarrassed to even think about how long it's taken to sew. Also I've just the neck and sewing up on the French Sweater. I'll try. I promise.

Love

2009-02-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

It's been another of those weeks here, with Pa Stitches-in-Law in hospital since Sunday, having suffered his second Grand Mal seizure in 3 weeks. They're not taking any chances this time and have carried out a scan to rule out a brain bleed. Thankfully this is clear.

Whilst the NHS is a wonderful thing, in reality it can be so frustrating. It took them 4 days to get him in for the scan (which given his medical history could have been very dangerous) and have kept him in for the weekend because although the Neuro consultant was in the building on Friday, the necessary paperwork hadn't been raised. WTF! They now won't see him until Monday at the least.

I have visions of him turning up on our doorstep in his pajamas, demanding cake and payment of the taxi. He is, as you can imagine, bored beyond words.

Our lives seem dogged by bureaucrats and paperwork at the moment. But at least we'll get to the bottom of the recurrence of the seizures.

But what's this got to do with love. Well, today we've been out and about watching the annual madness that is Valentine's Day. Hurried last minute purchases of overpriced and wilted red roses. Racks of tacky and tasteless cards with which you can tell the object of your desire how much you love them.

I'm typing this as Mr Stitches cooks venison meatballs in tomato sauce for supper. He's been at it a while and I'm thanking the lord for a dishwasher. But how much more loved am I that even though we're all preoccupied with PSIL's health and our impending Panel date, that man loves me enough to spend time and energy so I can sit and drink tea, read my favourite blogs and reflect on just how damned lucky I am.

Wherever you are, I hope you are loved as much as I, and those you love are hale and hearty.

Here we go again!

2009-02-11T06:02:00.000-08:00

I've just had confirmation that our new Panel date has been confirmed for next week, the 18th, at 2.40pm. Or was it 3.20pm. Who knows? And frankly, I don't give a damn what time it is as long as we get the OK.

Our Lovely Social Worker has assured me that she won't be leaving the Panel until we have a yes, as she's on maternity leave shortly afterwards and is determined to see us through to approval. And she's one determined lady so here's hoping.

I'm pretty sure a sense of relief is imminent. It's been a tough three weeks during which I've not achieved very much except a world class talent for moping and generally feeling very sorry for my self in a rather pitiful manner.

Perhaps now the fog in my head will clear a little and I can finally get something done.

Slowly losing my mind

2009-02-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

There's not a great deal going on Chez Stitches at the moment other than trying to sort out more documentation for the adoption (thoughts of moving goalposts spring to mind) and the accompanying grinding of teeth.

My head is so full of the waiting for our new panel date that I'm having trouble concentrating on much else. On the knitting front, I've managed a couple of beanie hats for homeless people and finished the sleeves on Mr Stitches' French sweater, only to find I have insufficient yarn to complete the neckband. Pick an expletive and I probably used it when I figured that one out.

All is not lost - I can get another ball shipped in and it won't matter if it's a smidge out on colour. But really, I could do without it at the moment.

On the sewing front all has ground to a halt. I replaced a couple of zips in jeans over the weekend and roundly cursed myself for procrastinating on that task. How ridiculously easy are they to do? Idiot!

So please bear with me if not a lot happens here for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully (keep everything crossed for us here) normal service will be resumed after the 18th.

Oh, and it's snowing. Not enough to be gorgeous and photogenic. Just enough to cause havoc on the roads.

The Wedding Singer

2009-01-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

When Mr Stitches proposed to me, we discussed having the smallest wedding. A civil ceremony followed by a lovely dinner with close family. No frock. No flowers. No fuss.

But slowly, surreptitiously, the day began to morph into something more. Something a little grander and more fabulous. It started with the venue. We hadn't finished parking the car at the West Tower before Mr S had his chequebook in hand to secure the day.

And such a venue needs a frock. Suddenly I'm browsing for design ideas and silk samples.

My good friend Jani is to do the flowers. The cake is definitely going to be chocolate. We're just not sure of the form this will take. Will it be cupcakes? Will it be a large cake surrounded by shards of chocolate?

All of this planned splendour will be captured by the lovely Pete and Laura. We don't just love their photos, which are FABULOUS; their metal covered photo album is to die for.

So, we'd kinda figured we had everything in hand. Until a few weeks ago we were at Cedar Farm Galleries when we heard the tinkling of ivories. Further investigation revealed Craig Manchester playing jazz in the coffee shop. We were hooked.

A few emails later and he's booked for the day. With his singer.

They're called Blue Eyed Soul and they are just marvellous. They're recording at the moment so watch out for them.

So much for a small wedding!!!!!! ;-)

Simple weekends, and breaking the fabric embargo

2009-01-25T10:45:00.001-08:00

When Mr Stitches and I were wearing ourselves to a frazzle on the house last year, what kept us going was the certain knowledge that one day, some day, it would all be over and we could have our weekends to ourselves. Recently we've felt the truth of that knowledge with quiet weekends. Weekends that have no plans. Weekends where we can mooch around the (tastefully decorated!) house, watching movies, baking cakes and catching up on some reading.

Or weekends like the one we've just had. We had planned lots to do, but mainly spent time not doing them. But it's one of those weekends that makes you count your blessings.

On Saturday we pootled over to Bolton to HabFab, ostensibly to buy some zips and threads for projects I'm about to start. Obviously, there'd be no fabric or pattern shopping because of the embargo! Yeah, right!

In my defence I chose HabFab as our destination because whilst it occupies a large floorspace,and the staff are lovely, it's the oddest shop and I'm not normally enamoured of their fabric stocks.

Oh foolish girl! It's like looking for love...when you stop looking you find it. And so with this:

Not normally my first choice for a fabric as I'm not normally a burnt orange kinda gal. But the red, black and cream balance it and I really do like this. And it was only £5 a metre. And Mr S insisted. It's destined to be a top of some description to go with a pair of black cotton drill trousers I already have cut out, and that I plan to sew as soon as I've finished the black jersey dress that's currently on the table.

I suppose that this falls under the resolution of only making complete outfits.........just how good am I at justifying this!

And if that wasn't enough, there's another reason for grabbing it. I have waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much black going on at the moment. Most funereal. I need a shot of colour. Sold!

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We returned home to spend the evening with my nephew Matthew. He's nearly 18 and has special needs, and shamefully, I think this is the first time he's stayed with us on his own. Bad Aunty.

We had fun. Matthew and Mr S spent an unfeasible amount of time discussing music and swapping "you've really got to listen to this" stories. They made plans to build Warhammer models together and we curled up on the sofas with takeout supper (I was outnumbered 2 - 1 - chips v spaghetti!) and movies. Just normal family life and a taste of what we have in store.

Sunday the boys buckled down to some coaching/studying:

As the topic was maths, I made a beeline for somewhere else and left them to it!

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My somewhere else was the garden. Despite snow last week my plants are determined to herald Spring, perhaps in the valiant hope that it will hasten the season's arrival:

I think that the frost burn on the Camellia flower shows they may be more that a little misguided, but it's good to see them. Especially as this was their first winter and most of the newbies seem to have survived.

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This picture of northern domesticity was broken only by frantic meetings with our lovely social worker and much raking of brains to provide coherent answers to the questions raised at Panel. These have been done and emailed. Let's hope they're sufficient - we have to resubmit on Wednesday!

Another month, and last minute trousers.

2009-01-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday we finally arrived at Panel. Can I just say it was like taking the worst Russian Grammar exam in the world. Having done no revision at all. Horrid.

We waited for some time for the Chair to come and collect us. There were about 14 people in the room and us. I'm a pretty confident person but even my nerves wobbled a bit. They grilled us, in a very gentle way, for about 20 minutes and then sent us off to wait. And wait. And WAIT. Oh...and then wait some more. The allocated time for a Panel review is about 50 minutes to an hour. Ours took an hour and a half.

Needless to say the result was not what we'd anticipated. Our approval has been deferred for a month. Not because they think that we would be bad parents. Not because our relationship, at almost three years is particularly new. And certainly not because of any medical issues.

Nope, it's been deferred because we were TOO IMPRESSIVE (their words, not mine) at our Panel interview. They feel our report (which is what other social workers looking to place children will see) doesn't reflect adequately our personal strengths and the strength of our relationship. Cue much grinding of teeth. They could have approved us yesterday, but would rather wait until the report has been rewritten, and then approve us at the next Panel meeting.

Which is in a month. On the 18th February.

We are not downhearted. Well, maybe a smidgen, but that is mostly adrenaline comedown after the buildup of the last couple of weeks.

This is truly a good thing. Whilst it means a further short delay whilst we finalise the documentation, it means that the paperwork will be the best it can possibly be when it goes out into the world. And that should mean that we have to wait less time for our children. And THAT can only be a good thing.

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Still on the subject of our adoption panel - thank you to everyone who sent us kind words and good wishes. The last few days have been a flurry of texts, emails and phone calls (and lemon cheesecake), which have without doubt kept me sane.

My friends and family, you are wonderful, and we are truly blessed.

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And last, but by no means least - the last minute trousers. Did I get them finished???????

Drumroll............................

Yes I did! And I'm rather pleased with them overall.

As you can see, I have no waist to speak of, a flat behind and more than my fair share of front. This all conspires to make trousers all but impossible to buy that fit well. This pattern, Vogue 8483, was the pattern I used on my Janet Moville trouser fitting course last year and I am more than delighted with the fit.

We did a flat bottom and a full abdomen alteration. We lengthened the leg and shortened the waist length. And this is what you get.

Now, you'll note I'm not showing you the waist yoke here. That's because it's not perfect. I did a fly front zipper that I am pleased with, but the overall yoke is a little hinky....mainly because I sewed these up so quickly. But as I always wear a top over the yoke, this isn't really a problem. And I can do better next time.

The odd thing was that when I put them on I couldn't work out why they felt so different from other trousers I've worn in the past. Then it came to me. It's because these fit!

I'm an idiot!

2009-01-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

After distractionary yarn browsing today with Black Purl and Xtiand (I was good - I didn't purchase anything) it was a little late to sew, so I sat down to do some more work on the French Sweater.

Whilst the Sewing Gods are kinda leaving me alone (if we ignore the temperamental overlocker...which I think we should), but the Knitting Gods are less lenient.

Spot the not-at-all-deliberate mistake:

Snaky cables are not what I had in mind. They'll have to come out tomorrow. Drat it! I'm off to bed with tea and a magazine, and rather a petulant attitude!

Saturday Night Feverishness

2009-01-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day. Mr S had his pre-Panel haircut; we took Ma and Pa Stitches to the tile emporium to purchase the tiles (obviously!) for their soon to be remodeled bathroom; we dropped the carpet shampooer at Julia's who is in a frenzy of domesticity as she and her DH start their adoption journey; and last, but not least, we visited Black Purl and Milo (who was strangely well behaved and not climbing trees) ostensibly to fix a fizzing light switch but really to drink tea and gossip. All was well with the world.....except for a nagging thought at the back of my mind that I REALLY need a new outfit for our adoption Panel on Wednesday.

Not unreasonable I suppose. Except that the nearest temple to ostentatious consumerism is about 40 minutes away in the form of the Trafford Centre. Oh. And I hate shopping for clothes. Truly I would rather stick pins in my own eyes that go clothes shopping. Fabric? Of course, silly. Yarn? Doh! Shoes? I'm a girl...of course I love shopping for shoes. And don't, for goodness sake, let me anywhere near a kitchen store or bookshop. Unless, of course, you want a couple of hours of peace and quiet. But clothes? Not in this lifetime, or, I suspect, the next, will I ever, ever consider this to be fun.

But. Needs must when the devil drives and once I get an idea in my head, well, Jack Russells and bones spring to mind.

So, we left Black Purl's with all good intentions to go the the living hell on earth that is the Trafford Centre on a Saturday afternoon. But it was raining, heavily. And rather blustery too. And all I could think of was a cozy fire, a glass of Chardonnay, a good movie and the sleeve of Mr Stitches French Sweater, which has been languishing in the knitting basket all week.

Needless to say the fire/wine/knitting/movie combo won.

So what's a girl to do? I draw the line at clothes shopping on a Sunday. Too much to ask a girl to contemplate.

Then I remembered the New Years Sewing Resolutions. Number 1. Clear the stash. A light bulb moment.

So here I am, a little over 66 hours away from Panel, contemplating several yards of lovely grey/black marl something or other that I think I bought from John Lewis a couple of years ago and Vogue 8483 (the trousers).

It's doable, despite full days of commitments between here and Wednesday. I just hope the Sewing Gods are on my side. Here goes.

The 12.10 to parenthood.

2009-01-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I drank too much wine. Those of you who know me also know this is may have happened on the odd previous occasion. You'll also know that the reason for last nights overindulgence was that I was going slowly out of my mind waiting for a date for our adoption Panel. And yesterday should have been it. Only it wasn't. Hence the wine.

Today I feel decidedly shabby. Normally a cue to lie on the sofa drinking tea and watching shockingly bad TV.

Not today.

Today I am, despite the self inflicted shabbiness, on top of the world. No need for sofa or TV, although tea is always a good thing. The reason for this departure from the norm?

We have our Panel date. It's next Wednesday. At 12.10. By this time next week we'll know whether they've recommended us as adoptive parents.

I can't quite decide whether I should be elated or terrified, so I'm going with both. It's been a long year of interviews and meetings and we are now so close I can't quite believe it's true. But it is.

We have everything crossed they say yes. And then our already wonderful live will change for the better.

Wow! Maybe I do need that sofa after all.

Cha cha cha

2009-01-14T03:40:00.001-08:00

Last night, despite the best efforts of the universe, Mr Stitches and I finally made it to a dance class.

We have been planning to go for some considerable time, but things just got in the way. Firstly it was the house renovations. Then we went to the class, but it was the wrong night. Then I got the lurgy, then Mr S got the lurgy and so on and so forth. You get the idea. Last night I tripped on the drive/my heel/whatever and nearly ruined the plan again. But, we made it.

And just how hilarious can it be. Fred and Ginger we are not! Unless its Fred Flintstone and Gingerbread biscuits! We tripped, but not the light fantastic. Mr S swept me off my feet....into a heap on the floor. We sweated. We stumbled. We didn't stop laughing. With each other, rather than at each other. We had the most fun we've had on a night out in the longest time.

Today, we both ache. I have pains in places I didn't think it was possible, and I have no intention of telling you where they are. And yet, I find myself practicing my waltz steps whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. I can't wait for next week. I can't recommend it enough.

Reasons I love Mr Stitches #783

2009-01-11T11:45:00.001-08:00

Yes, dear Reader, we here in the UK are finally catching up with our fashion forward cousins in the US - the new (to us) season of Project Runway finally arrives on Sky 1 at 8pm on Wednesday 14th January. If you've not seen it...it's far superior to the wannabe UK version. Set the Sky+ NOW. Which is what the divine Mr S did and why I have yet another reason to adore the man.

I would recommend not phoning me between 8-9pm on Wednesdays for the foreseeable future. I won't hear the phone. I'll be far to busy hurling abuse at the TV.

Ahhhhhhh.......bliss. I am a happy girl.

PS - Note to the big cheeses at Sky - there are also Canadian and Australian versions that we Brits would love to see on Sky. Please. Pretty please with sugar on.....

Coat alterations finished

2009-01-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie to show you the altered coat. The pockets won't get me a place at the Chanel Atelier any time soon but I think they just about pass muster. We'll see what Ma Stitches-in-Law thinks tomorrow when she collects the coat. They can always come off and be redone - one of the blessings of hand stitching.

Overall, though, I'm pleased with this. And it's another item off the "to-do" list. Yay!

Have a great weekend.

OOP Simplicity 3991 and alterations to a coat

2009-01-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

I'd almost forgotten that I'd promised to show you my first attempt at a knit garment. I made this Khaliah Ali pattern, found in a discontinued bin at Fabrix in Lancaster. I also bought the fabric there.

Excuse the poor picture, but frankly this top doesn't warrant much more!

Although I'd flat checked the measurements and altered the pattern accordingly, this still doesn't really work for me. I've had a little time to reflect on why and have come to the conclusion that, whilst I'm carrying a few (ahem!) extra pounds, they're not distributed evenly. They are all happy to congregate around my middle, mostly to the front, and sit and party there.

This means that whilst in theory I'm a plus size, when it comes to patterns I really need to start from a standard size and make the adjustments. Which proves that taking shortcuts in sewing doesn't really work. Dammit!

This is the second Khaliah Ali pattern I've tried which has failed for me. So I'm putting that particular range to bed now. I won't be using them again.

That said, this isn't the worst top in the world. It's fine for padding around the house and workroom, or popping out running errands. The fabric is super soft and deceptively warm. The construction was so easy and it's given me confidence to try more knit garments. For this alone it was worth the effort. Mr Stitches kindly said he now understands why I get so frustrated at ready to wear, because even though this is far from perfect (my words, not his, he's not that brave), it's still better constructed than most of the rubbish on the high street. Another reason to love the man!

More successfully, I'm currently altering a coat for Ma Stitches-in-Law. I'm not a huge fan of alterations but I hate waste more. This lovely coat had been lurking in the back of MSIL's wardrobe for a number of years feeling lonely and unloved. It had been a sale bargain too good to miss but absolutely swamped her petite frame.

So, out came the shears. 10 inches off the hem. 4 inches off the sleeves. I can't tell you how nervous I was. It's one thing mucking around with your own stuff, but someone else's....a whole different ballgame.

Anyway, so far so good:

Still a little creased but when MSIL tried it on it looks SO much better. And nothing a good steam won't cure.

We're adding pockets too. I know it's no big deal but I quickly drafted a patch pocket - I would never have had the confidence to do something even that simple before my course last year. Baby steps...but steps in the right direction. I've used the chunk from the hem to cut two lined patched pockets:

These will be hand stitched onto the front of the jacket so I don't have to try to match the topstitching down the front edge of the coat. I'll show you the final result soon - hopefully over the weekend.

Pants!

2009-01-06T03:54:00.000-08:00

Of the expletive type, not the sewn type.

We've just heard that we won't be going to Panel on the 14th January, but are provisionally booked in for the 21st.

The waiting is awful. We are feeling decidedly flat. How much worse is it going to be waiting for them to find us our family?!?!?!

Well, they do say good things come to those who wait. It will be worth it in the end.

.....and a new one's just begun!

2009-01-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

How much do I love the first of January. It's like opening a new book, not knowing how the story will unfold. Who will be the heroines and the villains? Hoping for it to grip you and have a happy ending.

I have high hopes for 2009. Mr S and I are getting married. Hopefully we're getting a family too. Pretty big stuff by anyone's standards.

But its the small stuff that I've been thinking about. Now that the bulk of the work is done on the house I want to turn back to the creative side of life. So here are some preliminary thoughts on what I'd like to achieve creatively this year:

1. Clear all my stash fabrics, yarns and embroidery projects.

At a rough guesstimate, I have 8 knitting projects that I haven't started yet and one on the needles. So I'm not buying any more yarn until these are all done.

I also have 4 embroidery projects. Here I may need to buy the odd skein of thread, but that won't break the bank so I'm OK with that. Just no more charts or kits until these are finished.

Another shot in the dark reveals that I have enough fabric and patterns for about 14 garments. As I'm always bitching and moaning that I don't have anything to wear (my wardrobe does echo and it drives Mr S bonkers) I need to get these all cut and sewn. I keep putting it off because I really need to drop a few pounds (quitting smoking will do that to you), but I'll just suck it up and do the alterations as necessary.

I also have the fabric for the bedroom and sitting room curtains, a valance for our bed, a blind for Mr S's study, a blind and a door curtain for the kitchen/diner. These are my priority as windows are looking very bare without them.

I think there is enough there to keep me going for at least 3 or 4 months of sewing, more for knitting/embroidery.

2. Make complete outfits rather than just odd garments for which I have nothing that matches

I know it makes sense but what can I say. And I also know that making up the stash may mean that I have to make one or two sneaky purchases but I'm keeping that as an exception to the rule.

3. Take my time and work on perfecting fit and finish so I have garments I really love and want to wear, rather than just getting stuff finished as fast as I can.

4. Enter a sewing competition

5. Sew my wedding dress.

6. Draft at least 3 patterns.

7. Master my new CoverPro machine which means I'll also work on improving my knit garment construction.

8. Make a pair of dress trousers for Mr S.

9. Make a coat for me.

Phew, that should keep me going for a while. But at least my workroom will be slowly clearing of bags and rolls and piles of fabric and yarn as I do so. Is that Mr S I hear cheering in the background.

Well, in the spirit of good intentions I'm off to finish the front on his French Sweater. Toodles.

Another year over......

2008-12-31T10:30:00.000-08:00

...and wow what a year it's been. We had a rocky start to the year with my road traffic accident and Pa Stitches-in-Law scaring the bejesus out of us with his heart attack. And then we sadly lost Uncle James mid year. But as we sat around the table on Christmas Day (just the six of us this year - both sets of parents and Mr Stitches and I) we still felt blessed. We have wonderful family and friends, all have our health, roofs over our heads, food on our tables and a warm bed at night. In the grand scheme of things you don't need much more.

I've been thinking back (as you do at this time of year) over what we've achieved. Whilst I haven't done nearly as much sewing, knitting or embroidery as I'd like to have done (and frankly, who does), we have achieved a great deal:

Renovated the whole house - just the outside and the sewing room to do over the next year (hopefully - but don't tell Mr S!)
Completed our assessment for adoption - all paperwork is now in and we are awaiting confirmation that we shall be at Panel on the 14th Jan.
Mr S passed his Prince 2 qualification first time out and secured a great new job. Snaps for Mr S.
I passed my Italian despite my complete lack of studying.
I completed a basic pattern drafting course and now have a full set of blocks.
We set the date for the wedding (not long now. Note to self - must lose weight and decide on wedding dress!)

Not too shabby in hindsight. No wonder we were tired!

Anyhoo - despite thinking we had all we needed, Santa took a slightly different view. I think he went down the route of "well, next year it'll all be about the children" so we had to climb over piles of gifts to sit down in the sitting room on Christmas Day.

I'm not going to bore you to tears with the whole list of goodies, (it was enormous) but everyone was too generous (thank you all) and I got lots of lovely things to support my knitting, sewing and cooking obsessions. I think the squeals gave away my delight. But without doubt my absolute favourite gift (and one that hadn't crossed even the darkest, dustiest recesses of my mind) was from Mr Stitches (who else?)

Apparently its a bit of a family tradition that eternity rings are given before the wedding and who am I to argue. The picture really doesn't do it justice but for the record its white gold set with aquamarines and diamonds. The aquamarines are the exact same colour as my engagement ring. He is a marvel. I'm still not over the shock and find myself using my left hand more than usual!

I am a lucky girl.

There has been little crafting going on here over Christmas, mostly knitting whilst watching movies and munching chocolates. This scenario also included Amontillado sherry and/or Bailey's lattes!

However I have finished the back and am one pattern repeat away from finishing the front on Mr Stitches French Sweater:

I've finished Butterick B5125:

This is made up in 100% cotton. The print was imported from the States last year - can't for the life of me remember where from. The plain is just a quilting cotton from Hobbycraft. Very simple to make up and has a nice retro vibe about the styling.

I've also finished my first jersey top and have started birthday gifts for next year - but haven't done the pics so will revisit them next year. I'll also start thinking about projects for the New Year and getting the new look blog up and running (it's a work in progress at the moment).

So for now I'll say goodnight and wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. May your dreams come true. See you in 2009!

How did that happen????

2008-12-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

I don't know how it happened, but I turned my back for 2 seconds and lo.....it's 3 days to Christmas. And whilst I have turkey in the freezer waiting to be thawed and cooked, that's pretty much it.

I think that the adoption could have something to do with it. November and the beginning of December have been a flurry of activity and nerves as we finalise our adoption application and cross everything in the hope of an early Panel date. Well, we didn't make it to Panel before Christmas as hoped, but we did submit our application on Friday. Such a marvellous feeling. We are beyond excited (as are the adoptive grandparents in waiting). We are hoping for a Panel date of the 14th January, but won't know until the New Year. It will be a fabulous start to the year. And then the search for our children begins.

We know they are out there somewhere waiting for us. They just don't know that we are on our way. But we are. And we'll be there soon. We can't wait!

So now the preparation for Christmas begins in earnest. The next few days will be a whirl of baking and cooking, wrapping and cleaning. There'll be painting of nails, and dressing of tables. Which is all well and good, but as I type I don't have the foggiest idea of what I'm going to be baking and cooking, and the only ingredient in the house is a frozen turkey breast!!!!!

I think I need a plan. So I'm going to pootle off and create one.

All of this means that there is a very good chance that this will be my last post until after the festivities. If I do get the chance to go online I'm thinking I need to work on sprucing up the look of this blog so it's a tad more interesting. I'll need to convince Mr Stitches to utilise his technical skills as I don't have a clue.

So, in case I don't get the chance, I'll take this opportunity to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season. Have a wonderful time.

In the spirit of Christmas

2008-12-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

OK, at this time of year it's so easy to get wrapped up in the cynical, materialistic nonsense that is Christmas in the developed world. That time of year when all you want to do is stab the annoying person in the queue behind you. You know, the one bashing you with all her bags whilst loudly talking into her cellphone. The one ignoring her horrible offspring as they wreak havoc in the shop. It's at this time of year you realise that those useless stirry stick things in Starbucks really do have a purpose. Although I'm not convinced Starbucks would condone poking queue pests in the eye with said stick thingys.

Anyhoo, just a reminder that whilst we bitch and moan about having to do Christmas shopping, and bake yet another tray of mince pies, or having to drag our sorry selves off to our other half's Christmas party........not everyone is that fortunate.

So in the spirit of Christmas, my humble suggestion is that your visit www.kiva.org and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going. As a sewer, I always support someone who is making a living this way, who perhaps needs money for the things we take for granted, such as fabric or a machine.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back. Or you can just relend it. And you can lend as little as $25. Which, lets face it, most of us spend on patterns, books, magazines or other frivolities in a month. But it can make a difference to someone trying to make their way in the world.

It's just a thought.

Cribbio!!!!!

2008-12-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

Against all the odds I received notification today that I passed my Italian module for my degree. I have no idea how that happened but I'm not asking for a recount. Just thanking my lucky linguistic stars.

Only three modules left (so three years then!) and I've got my degree. Hurrah!!!

(BTW according to the Concise Oxford Paravia, "cribbio" is Italian for "blimey" - which seemed appropriate in these circumstances.

I did something!

2008-12-09T06:30:00.001-08:00

Hurrah! I finally lifted my lazy behind up off of the sofa and did something creative. I've finally made my Christmas cards and posted them. I've astonished myself.

No pictures, I'm afraid, because that would be too obvious. You know, that whole idea of make something, photo it, post photo on blog for all the world to see. Nooooooooooo. In this house it goes along the lines of make something, put them all in envelopes and seal said envelopes, post them, curse roundly at your own stupidity at not having taken a photo of them for your blog.

Homer Simpson had it right.

Doh!

So, family members shall see the finished item within the next couple of days. The rest of you can image a tastefully designed, beautifully crafted and generally elegant Christmas card, which shall bear no resemblance to the real thing but works for me.

Ramblings of a fevered mind

2008-12-08T04:18:00.000-08:00

I CANNOT get rid of this bug. It's driving me slowly round the bend. I sound like I've inhaledtoo much helium and I feel like roadkill. And all the time there is in my head the constant litany of things that need to be done and projects I want to complete.

Frankly, not much of anything is going here on except lying around eating cake.

In the last week I have:

finished the back of Mr Stitches French holiday sweater, and cast on the front;
made a further arm and leg for the doll I'm making my great-niece for Christmas (I'd rather stupidly only cut the poor creature one arm and leg initially)
baked two batches of cupcakes for friend's birthdays
tidied the workroom
started stitching birthday cross stitches for next year (too organised, but they do take a while to complete)
had a lovely supper with Rick and Julia (just the loveliest people - and Charlie is besotted with Julia and pined for her all day Saturday after they left)
spent 4 hours trawling the Internet trying (unsuccessfully I might add) to locate the last few Christmas presents for the difficult family member (you KNOW who you are!)
made the Christmas pudding.

All fairly mundane and innocuous and uneventful. Indeed. Except for the making of the Christmas pudding.

Now I realise that Stir up Sunday was last weekend, but I couldn't stir myself, never mind a pudding. So this Sunday I gathered Ma and Pa Stitches-in-law in person, and Ma and Pa Stitches via webcam, and commenced the annual ritual of the Making of the Christmas Pudding.

Normally this is a charming event which heralds the beginning of the fun of the Christmas festivities. We all gather together for tea and cake. We all stir and make a wish.

This year didn't go quite according to plan.

Firstly, the webcam software was doing weird things, taking 30 minutes or so of Mr Stitches' genius (and some inventive cursing) to resolve. As he was busy with this I was measuring ingredients into a bowl.

And attempting to make breadcrumbs.

Attempt number one resulted in the catch on the lid of the food processor snapping sending the lid and the bread within spinning into the air and across the room. It's amazing how much breadcrumbs look like snow when you're laughing till the tears flow.

So out came the blender. In went more bread. On went the switch. Out came a horrible noise and a huge puff of black and pungent smoke. End of attempt number two and much more hysterical laughter.

Third time was the charm. The blender worked and lo, there were breadcrumbs that we could use. And (if you ignore the exploding packet of suet) Seasonal goodwill was restored.

I just wonder if virtual stirring counts?????

Today is no better. I'm writing this at 12.52pm and all I've done is some post, some emails, two loads of laundry, and put the pudding on to steam. I'm supposed to be making Christmas cards, but then they were supposed to be done yesterday.

And I'm feeling flatter than a pancake as Social Services have closed submissions for the 7th January Panel date, so the earliest we'll get now is the 14th January, and this won't be confirmed until the New Year. The only blessing on this is that they are focusing on getting children through the system, which can only be a good thing, and we really don't mind waiting if it means they are safe and happy. But a date would be a good thing.

So enough of these ramblings....I'm off to think about doing something. I shall report back when I have done so. I wouldn't be holding your breath!

Squeeeeeeeee!!!!!

2008-11-30T13:52:00.000-08:00

Santa Stitches loves me. I know what I'm getting for Christmas and it's marvellous. It's this.....

I'm SO LUCKY! And absolutely thrilled. Obviously it won't be allowed out of the box until Christmas day, but I can live with that.

Whilst I think about it I must also take piccies of my treats from yesterday. That guy of mine really spoils me. :-))))))))))))))

Patternmaking

2008-11-30T09:03:00.001-08:00

Whilst my mojo may have deserted me, my brain is working overtime on new ideas. As I've mentioned previously, for the past 10 weeks I've been attending a patternmaking class at a local college. Now that I've got my basic blocks fitted and ready to use, I need to start working on developing my skills. So Mr Stitches purchased the above book for me. (Thanks, honey.)

It's a hefty tome, but just so inspiring. Whilst the Winifred Aldrich book (which was the recommended text for the course)

gives you good basic instructions for a variety of garments, the illustrations themselves are a bit dated for my taste. Helen Joseph Armstrong's book is the opposite. It illustrates a basic concept and then a number of variations. It even has instructions for all the elements that I'm considering for my wedding dress, which is rather exciting.

So, when I do finally find my mojo, I'm going to have a go at drafting something a little more challenging than a skirt. This could be the start of something good (and a whole lot cheaper and satisfying that patterns from the Big 4). Watch this space.

Has anyone seen my mojo?????

2008-11-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

After a relatively good start to the week sewing wise, it all went horribly wrong on Thursday when the flu resurfaced. My friend Kirstey sympathised that this is the pattern for it.....coming and going and coming and going. Well I wish it would just pack its bags and push off somewhere else. It's a most unwelcome house guest.

So Thursday and Friday were complete busts. Made even more annoying as I had to cancel lunch and dinner plans with friends. As the weather has turned to cold and crisp...

and I was getting cabin fever under my duvet, yesterday Mr Stitches and I ventured forth through the fog to Kirkby Lonsdale, an historical market town about an hour from home.

I had low expectations of the town (after all, Chorley is an historical market town and has nothing to redeem it), however Kirkby L was a triumph. Small but perfectly formed, with character and lovely independent shops (not a major High Street name to be seen). We had a lovely few hours walking, shopping and partaking of tea and cake. And managed to box off another large chunk of Christmas shopping. We are almost done with it.

But today I find that I still have no enthusiasm for sewing or knitting or stitching. I have yarn by the mile, dressmaking projects cut out and begging to be constructed, embroideries to complete for gifts and cards to make for Christmas. I haven't even bought the ingredients for the Christmas pudding (although we did buy a rather large turkey breast this morning from our favourite butcher, Huntleys) and have still to start wrapping the Christmas gifts.

So I'm wondering where my domestic and creative mojo has gone? I've checked cupboards and shelves, in baskets and under the sofa but it's nowhere to be seen. If you find it, could you please pack it up and send it back to me....It's 24 days to Christmas and I need it back. Now!

Twisted Thread

2008-11-24T12:58:00.000-08:00

As mentioned previously, last Thursday I went to the Knitting and Stitching show in Harrogate, and let me tell you, it wasn't pretty.

I'm a grown up.

A 5ft 8ins, too many stones to mention, grown up.

A 42 year old grown up.

I've run a company, renovated houses, travelled abroad, and made bread (and not just the stuff in the machine, but real, get your hands in the flour, leave it in a warm place, bread).

But show me 3 (count 'em.....3) halls packed full of yarn and fabric and vintage sewing books and new sewing books and cross stitch and....well, you get the picture.....I kinda lose it.

So there I was, confronted by the Aladdin's Cave of loveliness with my partner in crime, the fabulous Black Purl, and all dignity went out of the window. There was much squealing, and oohing and aaaahing and hyperventilating and spending of money. (I hasten to add that BP was much more composed than I and did not behave so completely inappropriately.) Not to mention coffee and cakes!!!! Generally the perfect girls day out.

So, what exactly did you buy, I hear you cry.

Well, in hindsight, I was particularly restrained. Mr Stitches may disagree, but I'm maintaining my position. So here goes....I'm sure you'll agree I could have been soooooo much naughtier:

First up some beautiful yarn from the endangered Teewater sheep, produced not far from me by the lovely Freda over at Teeswater Wools in Clitheroe:

Next some wonderfully soft Merino. I have no idea who this is from as there is no label and no leaflet in the bag. Boooooo...I would have loved some more of this:

Next we have patchwork fabrics for a yet undetermined project:

And some vintage embroidery transfers, which I suspect will find their way onto vintage inspired aprons, but who knows:

There is also a vintage embroidery book, currently being digitised by Mr Stitches, and some vintage patterns that can't be shown here as they'll give the game away regarding my current train of thought re my wedding dress (11 months today I'll be a married woman!)

Finally, and not purchased from Harrogate, are a few sources of inspiration:

Oh how my head hurts with the ideas and inspirations and general loveliness. So much so that today I fired up the overlocker and finally got back to some sewing. The black jersey dress will be making her debut here soon.

Feeling blue

2008-11-21T07:21:00.001-08:00

Yesterday the lovely Paula and I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. Wow!!! is all I can say. Marvellous company and a superb show. I'll photo the lovely goodies I bought (and there were many) and post about them soon.

Today I'm feeling blue. We've just learnt that we aren't going to make it to Adoption Panel this side of Christmas. We'll be able to submit the application before the Holidays but the earliest date we'll be at Panel will be the 7th January. Boooooooo!!!!!

However, we'd much rather Social Services did the rather marvellous job that they are doing at the moment and we get a perfect placement, than rush and it all go horribly wrong.

I promise to be more chipper at the next posting, which will also be a feast of pretty things.

That Bloody Wedding

2008-11-19T13:40:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd sneak a quick blog entry to let you know I'm still here. Not doing much of anything except socialising at the moment - such a hard life, I know.

But it occurred to me that the countdown at the top of this blog might raise a few eyebrows.

"That Bloody Wedding" ???????? What's wrong with the woman????????

Well, here's the skinny. Mr Stitches proposed on Christmas Day last year. How lucky can a girl get? The wedding is the 24th October next year (expect to hear MUCH more about it over the coming months). We are very excited and very much looking forward to the day, and the marriage that will follow.

But discussions about cake, flowers, venues, blah, blah, blah, inevitably cause Pa Stitches in Law to roll an amused eye and groan "Not that Bloody Wedding again".....obviously before making a very clear argument for sticky toffee pudding for dessert and chocolate wedding cake!

So it's now officially know, very affectionately I hasten to add, as "That Bloody Wedding". It is, I assure you, all good.

And so I'm disappearing into the social whirl again for a few days but will be back with something sewing related very soon. Have fun and keep warm.

Ain't nothing going on.....

2008-11-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Due to the house being overwhelmed by the Lurgy, not much has been going on Chez Stitches over the last couple of weeks.

Just prior to being struck down, however, we entertained Pa Stitches-in-Law for his birthday on Halloween. It's astonishing just how happy chocolate cake can make grown people!!!!! (PS. It tastes MUCH better than it looks!)

Since recovery, not much has been going on. Catching up with ironing. Painting woodwork and doors. Drafting V.2 of the bodice block. All pretty dull stuff.

However, I've managed to finish the Ice Cable Hat in Peace Fleece:

I've also done most of the Chat Noir cross stitch:

And I've cast on Mr Stitches' new sweater. The yarn was one of the purchases made in France during our recent holiday, and the finished item should look something like this:

but at the moment just looks like this:

So...a bit of a way to go, then. But it's an absolute delight to knit with. Particularly after the Yellow Thing.

Unfortunately, there's not going to be many opportunities over then next coupla weeks to do any crafting. But for all the right reasons. This week I'm playing catch up with my sewing courses, am off to Hobbycraft/Crafts for Christmas, and have Ma and Pa Stitches visiting for the weekend. Oh, and I'm spending Wednesday evening celebrating my BFF Alice's fabulous success. This doesn't leave much time for sewing and knitting. And the blogging will probably go by the by as well.

So, please bear with me. I'll be back soon and hopefully with some interesting pics from the show.

The 44th President of the United States of America

2008-11-05T00:16:00.000-08:00

How do I envy the American people this morning?

Here we are frustrated by a stagnant Government who refuses to face the people, knowing how we feel, and what the outcome will be. However, when we do get the opportunity to have our say, how few of us will actually excercise that right? And, to be fair, our choices are not exactly inspirational.

Yesterday in America was a different story.

A compelling candidate.

Voters taking to the booths in their millions, queuing for hours whatever the weather to do so.

And a landslide victory for change and hope.

What's not to envy?

And let's not forget the historic aspect of this election, with Martin Luther King's Dream being realised.

So, today, I am thrilled to see that 'change has come to America', and pray that soon we get, and take, the opportunity to bring change to our country too.

The Lurgy

2008-11-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Nothing to report other than Mr Stitches has kindly shared his lurgy with me. So it's 2.50am and I can't sleep and haven't got the energy to do anything other than sniff, cough and surf the net. So frustrating - I could be sewing.

On a positive note I should walk the auditions for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!!!!

Hopefully normal service will be resumed soon.

Interweave Knits - Green Tea Raglan

2008-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's finally finished. The sweater that has become know as "that awful yellow thing".

I encountered two big problems with this particular sweater.

Firstly, the yarn. The original yarn for this pattern was Classic Elite Bam Boo. As this isn't readily available locally, I ordered Anchor Bamboolo from the wonderful McA Direct. Now, McA are a wonderful company who are always helpful and a pleasure to buy yarn from. I can't recommend them highly enough. Anchor Bamboolo is another story completely.

To put it bluntly, it's a pain in the behind to knit with. It slips and splits and generally makes life difficult.

The second problem was the pattern. I followed it to the letter only to find I couldn't fit it over my head and had to do some judicious unpicking at the neck. And, in hindsight, another inch or so to the length wouldn't go amiss.

That said, now it's knitted up, it has beautiful drape and hand, and the colour is gorgeous. But I shan't knitting this pattern again in a hurry. And Bamboolo shall never knowingly enter my knitting basket ever again.

McCalls 2586 - Men's drawstring slouch trousers

2008-10-23T09:15:00.001-07:00

This is the fourth pair of these TNT trousers that I've made for Mr Stitches in the past 2 years. He wears them around the house in lieu of jeans or joggers. They're more comfy that the former and smarter than the latter should he need to go out of the front door.

The only adjustment made to the pattern was to reduce the crotch length by trimming off the waist edge - I forget how much, it's so long since I did it. Also the sizing of these is very, very generous. Initially I cut them to the size to match his measurements but had to adjust them by two sizes down so they didn't swamp him.

This pair were cut out a couple of months ago, from a length of Armani seconds linen that I purchased from Washable Fabrics on Preston market for about £7 for 2.5m. They took me just this afternoon to sew.

I also had the opportunity to try a new "gadget".

Normally I would thread the drawstring using a safety pin, but this little darling is an absolute gem and saved so much time and cursing. Highly recommended. I got mine from John Lewis.

I have no doubt I'll be making these again and again.

A new passion

2008-10-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

One upon a time in a land far, far away (Well. Surrey. Its not actually that far but for the purpose of this story....anyway, I digress) there lived a lonely and unloved Bread Machine. One day the Bread Machine found its way into my loft (I think there was a removal truck involved), and there settled down to live a cold, lonely and generally unproductive life.

Well not any more. For I, my friends, have discovered the magic of the Bread Machine.

And it is this....

5 minutes of measuring ingredients (all of them wholesome and not an hydrogenated fat or other weird thing in sight) and you're done. The machine does the rest. Leave it alone, go and do other more interesting things, and soon enough the house is filled with the smell of bread baking.

And if you're lucky enough to get to it before Mr Stitches you might even get a taste of it. Which is yummy btw.

Oh, and it's about a third of the price of a similar sized loaf at the local bakers. So I reckon that if I'd paid for this rather than receiving it from Ma Stitches who also didn't use it, it would only take a couple of months to recoup the expenditure just by making normal wholegrain loaves. That would be reduced if I used it to prove French bread, or rolls, or fruit loaves, or.........hmmm, I'm hungry at the thought and the slice I cut for the picture is calling to me. Bye for now.

The weather outside is frightful.....

2008-10-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ok....so the weather here is being its normal charming self....

so it seemed a good idea to do something useful around the house. Obviously, the first thing you need on rainy days like these is cake. Lots of raisin studded rock cakes to accompany the inevitable cups of tea.
Then, time to tacke the sewing room. As an unreformed neat freak, my sewing room has been driving me to distraction for some time. Not only does it need completely ripping out and refitting (and that's going to have to wait for a little while), it's also been the dumping ground for anything and everything over the last few months whilst we've been doing the rest of the house. Which means that it looked like this....

Not good. Also not good is me freaking out about the disorder and the inability to find something as simple as a ruler or a particular pattern. Just not pretty. Ask Mr Stitches (poor man!).

Time to take matters in hand. So two afternoons, several large black rubbish bags, quite a bit of distraction as long lost treasures were unearthed, and ta-daaaaaaaaahhhhh...

SO much better - I can find everything...even a walking foot that I didn't know I had. So tidy...and saving money at the same time. Pah, to the credit crunch I say.

But I've also finished the blind for the sitting room, so the neighbours can't be nosy any more...
....and I've finished 2, yep 2, cross stitches that are for Christmas pressies, so all I'm showing you is a few stitches. BTW, those are French Knots, not mistakes.

So feeling rather virtuous, and the bar is set for this week to see what I can achieve. Who knows? And who knows whether the weather will be nice. I suspect not!

En vacance - La Fin

2008-10-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

OK, I heard that big sigh of relief...but this is the last set of holiday pics, I promise, and I'll keep it brief.

On the Thursday we decided to brave the weather and pootle over to Lille for the day. I'd heard great things about Old Lille, and frankly wasn't disappointed. The shops are to die for. As we rounded the first corner, what did I espy, but the lovey K'thylda embroidery shop.

Now French embroidery shops are a completely different animal to most of those in the UK, and, to my taste, offer a much more elegant and desirable range of kits, charts, and books. I find they run to slightly less twee than mainstream English designs. Mr Stitches demonstrated admirable patience as I ran around the shop like a 5 year old on e numbers, squeaking periodically as I found another covetable design.

After several minutes and a very deep breath I narrowed the selection down to about 4 kits and 3 magazines, but despite Mr Stitches offers of generosity I decided on just one kit based on the iconic Le Chat Noir poster. I may also have sneaked a copy of De Fil en Aiguille as well. Just possibly!

So an altogether happy bunny wandered round the rest of the shops in the sunshine which had kindly decided to put in an appearance.

After a delicious lunch of the best Beouf Bourgignion I've ever tasted and a clever little dessert taster with coffee...

...we went to the Museum of Natural History. I shan't bore you with the details of the detour round the enormous book shop in the centre of Lille, other than to say a slightly bewildered Mr Stitches had his bottom pinched whilst I was distracted with the shelves of delight. I'm not the only one who thinks he's gorgeous!

So we ended the day at the Museum, which is just the cutest thing you've ever seen. It's tiny with cases crammed full of displays and hasn't changed a bit since it was opened at the beginning of the last century. It's not big but a nice way to round off the holiday in a couple of hours when footsore from shopping but not willing to give up on the day and just eat cake.
We did nothing special on the Friday but mooch around Arras in the rain. Not worth a picture, frankly. So we headed back to the cottage for a movie fest and a bottle of the red stuff.

And that's all I've got to say about that!

Excellent news

2008-10-15T02:18:00.000-07:00

I've just heard from Ma and Pa Stitches that Pa S, who has smoked for the best part of 60 years, is quitting.

I am thrilled and astonished and very proud. Way to go Pa - we're all behind you on this.

En vacance - Episode 3 - Chantilly

2008-10-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was another rainy day so a trip to the beautiful Chateau de Chantilly was in order.

Now, I didn't know that Chantilly lace is traditionally black, but there were definately pony tails a-hangin' down at the Chateau, at the Living Horse Museum....
Yep, seriously, these are the stables. They are enourmous and amazing. I'm afraid you'll have to make do with a picture of fiberglass horses, but they have some truly beautiful real ones there as well. And hounds! Heaven!
Next stop the Chateau itself. Lots of quite dull, and often not very good, portraits, but again a fabulous building with the most impressive library.

Unfortunately the library had an air vent heating system.

Fortunately I wasn't wearing a white silk dress with a pleated skirt and high heels....
Although...the skirt I was wearing was the one I made just before the holiday from a self drafted pattern. Not a bad first attempt.

So, not many holiday posts left to go now. Is that a huge sigh of relief I hear?????

Fruits of my labours

2008-10-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

Having whined constantly all week about how miserable the weather has been in this part of the world, the sun came out yesterday. As it's such a rare occasion (it's back to it's normal cold and overcast self today) I decided to make like Mole, "hang Spring cleaning", get outside and enjoy the day.

Whilst the front borders have been done this year, the back garden is a shambles. It all needs digging out, the patio re-laying, a new lawn and borders. As the priority for this year has, and continues to be, the inside of the house, we just planted some vegetables and pots of flowers.

And then left them to it.

So, it's all looking more than a little wild. I pulled up dead plants, and emptied pots. I got rid of the tomato plants that rotted seemingly overnight. I put weedkiller on the bindweed that is sneaking under the fence, and hosed the patio.

And I also decided to empty the growbags that had held potato plants that had also died. So I was beyond thrilled when I opended the bags and found a veritable harvest of home grown potatoes.

As each successive bag open and spilled its secret hoard, the bowl filled up. And the courgette plants are still producing veg. These have been the biggest success this year.
The aubergine plants didn't do anything at all, but we are getting peppers. The first one to be harvested is above.

Considering that all these plants were just stuck in the ground and then abandonded to their own devices, this just goes to show just how smart Mother Nature is. Trouble is, now I want an allotment. We are on the list but goodness only knows when one will become available.

Back inside the house, and the lampshades are finished.....

I decided to go the whole hog and cut up a little bit of the trim that is being used on the blind and curtains and use some of the beads on the shades.
Whilst not perfect, I am ridiculously pleased with these, as they look so lovely with the rest of the room. And so much nicer that the original plain cream shades. Well worth the faff.

En vacance - Episode 2 - Amiens

2008-10-09T00:25:00.000-07:00

On Monday we went to St Quentin - it hooked down with rain so we just had to spend the time in the shops!!!!! Thankfully there was a rather splendid wool shop in the town. But no pictures of the town - all rather unimaginative.

However on Tuesday we went to Amiens. Stangely it was also raining then, so after a quick pop into Galleries Lafayette to purchase a chapeau for me and a brolly for Mr Stitches we visited Notre Dame. The cathedral is a replica of the one in Paris, but apparently larger.

It is magnificent, both outside and in.....
And we lit a candle for Mr Stitches beloved Uncle James.

Then, off to visit the house of Jules Vernes.
Now here's a useful travel tip. When walking around an unfamiliar town, in whichever country you may find yourself, avoid using your SatNav to guide you to your cultural hotspot of choice. It seems like such a good idea but 2 miles later you will find yourself at your destination, only to realise that you're only 1/2 a mile away from your point of departure.

Well, I suppose it beats the gym and leaves room for a little patisserie later in the day!

Anyhoo...the museum was fabulous. A beautiful building....
And you can see the inspiration for the books throughout the home (like the conservatory in "The Time Machine")...
Right, so where was that cafe again???????

En vacance - Episode 1 - The gite

2008-10-07T16:36:00.000-07:00

Here's the first entry about our recent holiday in France. I'm not planning on doing too many and boring you all senseless, but I know some of you would like to see the pictures. This also means that we won't be dinner guests will be spared a slide show of 274 pictures of France. (Hurrah I hear you say!)

So, here goes.

We stayed at the delightful Ferme De Nobecourt in the Somme region, hosted by the equally delightful Marc and Stephanie Leroy. They are charming and very kind about our abysmal French. I can highly recommend this gite.

Our 'cottage' , built in 1746 and recently fully renovated, was wonderful....

But I turned several shades of green over M et Mme Leroy's 'farmhouse'.....
And that's only the back of the house.

Even I'm not brazen enough to take pictures of their front door (oak and wrought iron for those who are interested. Double doors about 8 ft high and 12 wide. Stunning.)

Whilst the cottage is on a working farm (and boy, do those guys work hard!), the view at the front was screened by ancient chestnut trees....

and the view from the patio at the back was equally wonderful....
Lets face it, the view on the patio wasn't too bad either (and only about £2.00 a bottle, even with the appallingly poor exchange rate at the moment).
But don't be fooled by the glorious weather in these pics....these were taken on the Sunday after we arrived and that was pretty much it for lovely weather from there on in! Hmmmm....September in the Somme....we were very grateful for any sun.

We're back!

2008-10-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

Despite the best efforts of the weather we have had a fabulous holiday. The return journey was 500 miles in the car and 2 hours on the ferry so today is catching up with unpacking and a thank you lunch for Ma and Pa Stitches-in-Law, who babysat the furry babies whilst we are away.

I have a bajillion photos so will select a few edited highlights and post them sometime this week. Its a busy week with sewing classes and visits to friends and social worker visits so please bear with me.

Shades of progress

2008-09-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

Ok...I'll stop with the awful puns! For once, yesterday I actually achieved what I set out to do and got the bindings for the lampshades cut and pressed. They look very uninspiring to start with....

...but really do make a huge difference to the shades, covering a multitude of sins and errors. They are quite fiddly to get in place and need the tiniest of stitches, but I do so love sitting and handstitching that this is quite the most fun I've had with this project. They are, therefore, quite time consuming to sew, so I sat after supper and stitched whilst watching TV and managed to get just one strip on. These won't be finished before I go on holiday. I am quite tempted to sneak them in the car so I can finish them whilst I'm away. Wonder what Mr Stitches will think of that?
Tomorrow we are off to Roisel, in the Nord-pas-de-Calais in France. I'm terribly excited as I haven't been to France for a year and am getting awful withdrawal symptoms. So today is a flurry of cleaning and packing and stitching trying to get these trousers finished to take with me.
I've not done any construction shots as they are black linen and it just doesn't show up, but will take some piccies of them when they are complete so you can see what they look like. The pattern was altered at the waist (as I don't have one), the back pattern piece and back crotch seam (flat backside), leg length (the usual 2 inches added to make them fit) and a knock knee adjustment (which is hilarious because I don't have knock knees per se, but pronate enough to make the adjustment worthwhile). All these adjustment were done by the lovely Janet Moville when I attended her trouser fitting course. It looks like the course was well worth the money as these have been a dream to make up and look so much nicer than anything I can buy, even though I have thrown them together in the shoddiest of manners as a wearable toile just to get back in the swing of things and to try out the pattern. This says an awful lot about the appalling fit and construction of most of the stuff on the High Street, but really, don't get me started on THAT topic!

So, there'll be no posts from me for a week or so. I'll be perched in cafes with an espresso or (more likely) a glass of wine, pootling round brocantes and museums and French craft shops. Poor Mr Stitches. But what fun!!!!!! :-)

A little 'light' sewing

2008-09-24T02:11:00.000-07:00

Over the past month or so I've been slowly working on a couple of lampshades for our bedroom ("light" sewing......get it????!!!!!).

I thought it was about time I got them finished as they've been patiently awaiting lining and binding for some time now.

Whilst the lovely instructions in The Complete Lampshade Kit suggest using a lighter weight silk as the lining, a lack of suitable purveyors within a 100 miles of Chorley led me to think that using a bias strip of the face fabric would be a suitable alternative. So that's what I've gone with - time will tell whether it works or not.

For the frames I stripped the shades that came with the lamp bases - and discovered that they use quite a firm glue to stick the fabric to shop bought frames. These new shades are all hand sewn. It's one of those projects that seemed like such a lovely "Oh, let's have lampshades that match the curtains" idea at the start and about halfway through you think that what you really should have done is padded the walls of the bedroom instead, because you really are completely bonkers.
However, today I'm hoping to get the bias tape cut with which I shall cover all the raw edges and then, maybe, when they are finished, I'll revert to the original idea that making your own lampshades is a good idea!

A strange week in Northland

2008-09-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

What a strange week. No building. No wallpapering. No painting. No workmen. Very peculiar indeed. Instead it's been what many would consider to be a normal week.

On Monday I started my pattern making and dressmaking courses. I've drafted the beginnings of a skirt block and will revisit that as it progresses. At the moment it's a very unpromising skirt toile and doesn't look like anything I'd want to be seen in public in. I've also started working on a toile of an Inspired by Project Runway pattern, which hopefully will be made up in this lovely black and cream satiny fabric.

The fabric was bought last year, or possibly the year before, in Brighton. I'm hoping there's enough of it to wiggle this dress out of it with some semblance of pattern matching.

On Tuesday I went to the Historic Chorley Market (I think that's a typo and should be "Hysteric"). The market is a celebration of appalling tat and really quite grim, with the odd exception. I bought enough lamb and steak in various guises to feed us for a couple of weeks and it came to £35. I worked it back to about a £1 per serving, which I think is at rather good value for money.

The rest of the week passed in a blur of busyness but I really feel that not much got done.

The weekend was definately the best we've had in a while. Yesterday we had a lovely lunch with the Stitches-in-Law (testing the lamb from the market - it passed muster) and then popped over to Cedar Farm Galleries to pick up a brooch that Ma Stitches-in-Law had ordered from the jewellers. When we got home we discovered that Charlie, feeling left out on the lunch stakes, had snuck into the kitchen and helped himself to the lamb bone and leftovers. We think he enjoyed it, the little sneaky beast.

So today has been a day of domestic bliss. Whilst Mr Stitches watched the football (yawn!!!!!!!) I made madelines and hot chocolate for breakfast in bed. There is no photographic evidence of this due to Mr Stitches enthusiasm for madelines. However, a small cake crumb mountain in the bed confirms the veracity of this statement.

As the weather has changed for the better, in that it's finally stopped raining for more that a single 20 minute stretch, I thought it would be a cracking idea to tackle the weedfest that is our front garden.

Once the weeds have gone, it actually looks really rather nice, and quite as was intended when the borders were planted in the summer.

A couple of plants have fallen prey to the army of slugs and snails that are encamped in both gardens, and who descend en mass on a regular basis on the gourmet delights we planted. Ha! Revenge is mine in the form of a liberal scattering of slug pellets. Organic of course!

I then dragged Mr Stitches and Charlie Dog to the park. Charlie was decidedly more enthusiastic than Mr Stitches, who was, prior to my interruption, happily ensconced in his new den, playing with computers and other boy gadgets. I was intrigued. I haven't been to Worden Park for, oh, maybe 15, 20 years. But I did spent most of my childhood there. And, with one or two notable exceptions, it hasn't really changed. It was surreal, but rather fun. Charlie had a ball.

Playing with other dogs and trying to catch squirrels. I didn't know before today that squirrels actually laugh at dogs........once they're safely out of paws reach up a tree.

After a supper of homegrown courgettes turned into carbonara,

I wrote this post sat in bed, thinking that, after all, all the work of the past few weeks might just have been worth it.

A perfect day

2008-09-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update - no pics I'm afraid - but news. The house is nearly finished - it looks like home and though we have some woodwork to do at the weekend and some paint touch ups, we now have a lovely kitchen, tiled floors and carpets throughout the rest of the house.

This means that I can start other projects, such as curtains and blinds. But I've also started a pattern cutting and a dressmaking course today - more of that at a later date.

The best news today is the the adoption process took us another step closer to our babies today - the medical reports came back with the thumbs up. We are so close - hopefully will be at Panel within the next couple of months. Fingers crossed everyone.

A good day

2008-09-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

When we started on this modernisation project it seemed that we'd never reach the end. But today has proved us wrong. Today we have achieved tiles on the walls and a fully working GAS oven and hob. Today we have finished all the major painting projects (just some touch ups and skirting to paint - none of which can be done for the next week or so). Today we had the radiator in the kitchen fitted (which should make Pa Stitches very happy - his new warm and toasty corner is in place ready for his next visit). We've had the sofas cleaned - no more small chocolate ice creamy handprint reminders of baby Rose's last visit.

Charlie has had less of a good day. He had a spa day appointment as he was decidedly woolley, scruffy and smelly. Unfortunately he was so woolley, scruffy and smelly that the poor groomer had to resort to extreme measures. So 4 hours of brushing and clipping and bathing later, the poor soul has the dog equivalent of a pudding bowl haircut.....
I feel like a bad mother.

Oh. My. Gosh.

2008-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

After weeks of waiting there was much excitement Chez Stitches at 8am this morning as a van arrived and two delightful chaps jumped out and promptly unloaded cabinets,

doors, worksurfaces and appliances (more of the latter later).
One hour later and we had a pile of the same in the kitchen and a very Extreme Makeover gazebo on the drive. I was expecting Ty Pennington to pop out of a box at any moment!

I decided to skive for a while as I don't think the fitters would have appreciated me lurking in the doorway oooing and aaaahing as each box was unpacked.

When I returned I wasn't disappointed. In two hours they had built the dresser unit, and as the afternoon unfolded, and I painted the woodwork in Mr Stitches new study, the kitchen came together.

It's lovely. Well, that's actually a HUGE understatement. But I'm so thrilled I can't think of enough adjectives. Needless to say it will become even more wonderful as the week progresses and tiles are added and we have water and gas connected to the appliances.

Ahhhh, the appliances. Not only will I be cooking on gas by Wednesday evening, which is enough to send Mr Stitches into raptures in anticipation of Tarte Tatin, but I will be able to utilise my newest, bestest, dishwashing toy......

Oh happy day!

It's all about the food....

2008-09-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

Today we have been working against the clock to get the kitchen finished. As I write it's 11.15pm and Mr Stitches is putting the finishing touches to the paint on the ceiling and walls in the kitchen. I've just finished cutting in the edges and he's doing high speed rollering.

The original plan for the kitchen was to paint it a pale green to pick out the colour in the lovely Laura Ashley curtain fabric. Unfortunately every option looked like so much pea soup.

Now, I have nothing against any of my walls looking like food. The hallway is Soft Coffee. Food themed walls are not a problem. But pea soup walls just weren't a look we were happy with.

Creme Anglais, on the other hand, is a completely different story.....

Now, I appreciate that:

1. This picture doesn't really do the colour justice.

2. It's not the most exciting picture in the world.

However, there's only so much you can do with a room with no discerning features except a fridge and a dining table covered in old curtains. And in photos, cream is cream is cream.

So, you'll just have to trust me that when I walk in the room all I want to do is make cakes and stuff them with cream. Or, Mille Fuille oozing with Creme Anglais. Which, in my humble opinion, is exactly what a kitchen is for.

Thankfully it's only about 33 hours until the fitters arrive. Phew!

Charlie says.......

2008-09-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

That despite the lovely squishy new rug, and the toasty fire on his bum (yes, I know. It's September. But this is Lancashire. It's cold!) he's really rather bored of all this DIY malarky.

I have to say that I agree with him. Especially as yesterday, the plumber arrived and stole my sink. Now I'm not particularly bothered to lose the old sink as it was very battered and really rather revolting, but it would be nice if I didn't have to wait until next Wednesday at the absolute earliest to get it replaced. At the moment all I have are a few pipes......

No sink. No cooker. Nothing. Good job we have a fine selection of purveyors of quality take out in the vicinity. That and salad. And sandwiches. I cannot wait until the new kitchen is finished and I can cook again. You all know I love to cook. And Mr Stitches is pining for homemade chocolate cake in any format. Which, frankly, he deserves after all the building work he's done over the past few weeks (he's boxing in water pipes in the kitchen as I type, and it's nearly 9pm. He's a star!)

However it will all be worth it when this roll of Laura Ashley loveliness is tranformed into curtains and a blind for the kitchen...

I find it hard to resist Laura Ashley, and even more so when it's on 50% discount in the sales. Bargain! It would be rude not to....so I didn't.

Extreme Makeover:Euxton Edition

2008-08-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

After two days lulling ourselves into a false sense of security, today we have finally ripped out the vile old kitchen. Which means that, as I type, what will eventually be the home of chocolate delights currently looks like this:

The picture doesn't do justice to the scene....it doesn't, for instance, clearly show the thick layer of dust, or the rubbley pile lurking behind the cooker. Nor can you see the 70's wallpaper in all it's orange, kitsch glory. But, who am I to spoil your fun?

I feel like Margot in The Good Life!!!

The good news is that Mr Stitches and Mr Stitches Snr have worked like Trojans today to get the wiring sorted. By next Sunday all this (wiring, stipping of wallpaper, filler, sanding, painting) will be done and ready for the fitters and tilers to arrive and make it all lovely. With this in mind we've brought forward the Fitting of the Carpets (deliberate capitals - it's a momentous event which marks the Finishing of the Decorating) and now we shall have cozy toes on Saturday 13th Sept. At which point we shall sleep. A lot.

Old friends.....and new

2008-08-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

After 18 months in dark and dusty boxes, tucked in a dismal corner of the attic, some old friends have been brought back into the light....

and now have a new permanent home alongside some new friends.....
It's rather like Christmas! A task that should have taken less than an hour took considerably longer as each box was lingered over as forgotten books were brought to light, and a reading list for the next six months was mentally prepared. The bookcases, btw, are on the sitting room side of the Great Wall of Euxton. Mr Stitches is the new resident Flat Pack Expert.

AND.....there's still plenty of room for lots of newcomers. Waterstones here I come.

Speaking of new friends, I received a parcel from Canada at the weekend from the lovely Camilla Valley Farm. Three skeins of their Peace Fleece yarn in winter colours.

These three beauties are to be knitted into MK Carroll's cosy chapeux for the winter, one of each colour to match my different coats.

It's almost a knitting plan. And doing my bit for world peace at the same time.

Out of the box

2008-08-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

After much sanding, painting and cursing, we finally have a sitting room that looks like we might actually live in it.

The paint was not yet dry when the genie was let out of the box.....

Well, I did say it could come out as soon as the room was finished!!!! (BTW - the walls are NOT painted in Magnolia - just evening light and my rubbish photography.)

After some more cursing as cables were sorted and secured, and then the picture quality was generally tweaked, a certain peace descended and a happy Mr Stitches assumed the position...

And before too many eyebrows are raised in disbelief...yes, I did comment about shoes on sofas, and yes, Mr Stitches has lived to tell the tale and enjoy the fruits of his labours. But only because the I've arranged for the sofas to be professionally cleaned in the next few weeks!

I've not completely lost the plot.

Miss Alice, the imaginary cat

2008-08-21T01:35:00.001-07:00

It's a widely held opinion amongst friends and family that Miss Alice is, in fact, an imaginary cat.

This is because Miss Alice has fostered an aloof and reclusive persona that has resulted in very few people seeing more than a glimpse of her tail. (For 'aloof and reclusive' please also read 'anti-social'.)

However, she appears to be mellowing in her old age and now regularly appears on our bed demanding cuddles, and comfy blankets to snooze on. Mr Stitches and I happily supply the cuddles. The comfy blanket is courtesy of the magic needles and endless patience of my mother. Thanks Mum!

The Great Wall of Euxton

2008-08-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

Finally I have mastered the art of uploading pictures. Helllllllllllo 21st Century.

Once upon a time this was an archway between the sitting and dining rooms......

...until Mr Stitches rediscovered his wall building mojo (initially found in what was the old master bedroom, but is now a study and the 'babies' room).

And this is the lovely navy wall.....see - I wasn't joking. But things are progressing and now we are at the painting stage, thus....

Note the new coving - Mr Stitches is also becoming a dab hand at cutting splendid mitred corners.

Only 37 days to go and all this will be done. Phew!

Making progress

2008-08-14T02:08:00.000-07:00

The sitting room is finally stripped of all the awful wallpaper. Although in hindsight it was a much better look than the navy blue and lime green (I kid ye not) that lies beneath.

It was a hellish job and I'm awfully glad it's over. Photos to follow once I've worked out just how the camera works. (I know, I know.....it's the 21st century and I'm such a luddite. It's a work in progress.)

The good news is that after my lunchtime Italian class I'll be spending the afternoon fillering the holes so that tomorrow I can sand and cove and then we're ready to decorate.

I feel a big, fat, hairy HURRAH coming on for that.

Hello and welcome

2008-08-11T08:07:00.001-07:00

This is my first blog entry and I'm excited to say the least.

Mr Stitches and I are currently in a mad rush to complete modernisation of our house before the end of September and so initially I suspect my posts will be very much concerned with the ongoing tribulations of bringing our neglected house up to scratch, and transforming it into a family home.

But once that's completed, the fun begins.......and I can't wait. Sewing, knitting and embroidery, plus whatever other crafts catch my magpie eye from time to time. Plus general musings on life in a Lancashire town (which frankly isn't that exciting, but I'm exploring possibilities to make it more so).

So welcome. Whether you're friends and family looking to see just how things are progressing here, or a visitor to my blog - it's nice to "meet" you.