Sunday 14 November 2010

Ahhhh........choo!

It has been a mentally draining week and quite a busy one at that too. Adrian, Matilda and I moved out of our house this week for one week and moved to my parents house whilst we had our top floor of our house floorboards sanded and polished. We were very excited because the rooms getting done were our bedroom, the little hallway, the babies room and our staircase. This means we are getting closer and closer to setting up our nursery. We moved back in on Saturday night after I finished work and had to do a big clean up as there was a film of dust everywhere. We did put up sheets and plastic covering, but because we couldn't cover everything we did get a bit of dust, but it wasn't too bad. I love our new floor, it's so pretty.
It was nice to spend the week at Mum and Dad's to spend time with them and because we were looked after well. :-) Adrian went home for two nights to stay at his parents to spend time with them too.

I also made a trip to my LNS on Tuesday and decided to buy some jubilee 28 count evenweave and some more gold tipped needles and made a start on Achoo. He was hiding in my bedroom every day and I stitched on him every night in bed as I had to hide him from Mum and Dad. I did take him into work too incase I found some time on my breaks to keep stitching him which I did so I did manage to get a bit accomplished which was great. I am so happy I decided to buy more fabric as straight away I could tell the difference in the quality and it feels nicer to stitch on. I can't believe the week I start stitching on a new project for Mum and Dad is the week we need to move in with them, go figure. :-)



Adrian and I found out some sad and shocking news on Thursday, his sister Katherine was diagnosed with cancer. She had been feeling unwell for about a month and on Thursday morning she had noticed she had a lump on her chest, so she went to the doctor straight away that morning. The doctor said it needed to be looked at urgently and they sent her off to an oncologist. They did some tests and found out the lump was a tumor and it was quite large which is why she was feeling so unwell and not being able to breathe so well. On Friday she had bone marrow removed and a biopsy done and we find out tomorrow what sort of cancer it is. They are quite certain it is either hodgkin's or non hodgkins and she will need to be treated with chemotherapy. The good news is it is treatable and she won't need to be operated on to remove the tumor, instead they will give her steroids to shrink it.


It was quite a shock to receive such awful news this week, especially as it came up so quickly and it is never something you expect to happen. It has been a very emotional week and i've found it hard to be strong for Adrian but I am trying really hard. The best news is everything being said about her cancer is positive and if you know Katherine you would know how strong a person she is and she is being so positive which makes everything feel so much better. We just need to be strong for her too.
It brought back memories of my Mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago this Christmas, but she is very well and healthy now and it's such a uplifting feeling and great for Katherine to relate to. Mum had to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy too so I am sure she will be good for Katherine to ever be there if she needs to talk to someone about it.



So it's been a full on week. I came down with hayfever/cold this week too so I've been sneezing away. I guess it relates to starting Achoo this week too. :-) I've only been able to visit Katherine once and because she starts chemotherapy tomorrow I won't be able to visit her until I am 100% well again.


Since cross stitching is therapy it's been good I've been able to do it this week and today it was our monthly stitchy meet which was held at Bek's house today. I managed to get a bit of stitching done on Achoo and just sit back and relax. My Dad came over to our house today and kept on the renovating on our house with Adrian. They managed to get alot accomplished, which I think was a good distraction for Adrian.


I want to show you a picture of my progress on Achoo

I am enjoying stitching on Achoo, and I am liking the blended colours in the thread dimensions like to use.

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my Humphrey's corner baby sampler, they really made my day.


Happy Stitching x

Sunday 7 November 2010

Humphrey and Achoo

I am so excited to say I finished Humphrey's corner! I sat up late last night watching bewitched and trying to finish off the writing on the sampler which mind you needed much concentration, which probably wasn't the most smartest thing to start at night time. But I did manage to finish stitching half of it and finished off the rest of the writing in the morning. I'd never cross stitched writing on evenweave before, it's always been on aida when I've had to stitch some writing, so it was my first time and it was a little more difficult than aida, but I got there eventually.
I just adore this piece, most likely because it is for our baby but I really love the colours in both the fabric and the piece and I just think it is so cute! I will show you each elephant on it's own and then the full pattern.
This little one is so cute, I love his little jumpsuit. He's my favourite after the sleeping Humphrey.

This one is too cute looking at his little duck.

The last cutie.

And the full pattern on it's own. I started cross stitching this pattern on Thursday August the 26th and finished it today, 7th of November. I didn't get much stitching time as I would have liked the past few months so I would have finished it sooner if I had the chance to stitch more. But I am happy with 2 and a bit months. :-)

There is nothing like starting a new pattern. :-) I just love it. The new threads and fabric, it's all so exciting. After I finished Humphrey I started kitting up a dimensions kit called 'Achoo' which I've had in my stash cupboard for years. This is him here.

I sorted out the colours onto the colour chart and changed my aida over to evenweave and started a little bit of stitching. But I'm not sure I love the evenweave, it feels and looks different to what I'm used to and it's been sitting in my stash cupboard for awhile so I forget where I even bought it. I think it was at the craft show one year but I wouldn't know what brand it is. I am thinking I might go to my local LNS tomorrow and buy some new fabric. I've always liked stitching on Jobelan. I need some new needles too so it's a good excuse to go to my stitchy shop. I can have a browse too. :-)
I think Achoo is so sweet, I've decided to stitch him for my parents. One day I would like to stitch him for myself too but I want to stitch something nice for them as they always do so much for me and my husband. I would like to stitch them a suprise to hang up in their house. I am planning on having it matted and framed when I have my baby sampler framed too, so after bub is born of course. :-) Going by the size of Achoo he won't take me that long at all.

It's been nice getting in some stitching this weekend, we are in the middle of house renovations getting ready for our new arrival on the way but i've still managed to get my cross stitch out. I hope you've all had some stitching time too. I've enjoyed reading up on all my blogs too.

Until next time, happy stitching xx