Sunday 3 November 2013

Tidying Up and Finishing Off

Hello my friends, thank you for being here!

It's Sunday again and I'm happy to be linking up with  Chrissie for Sunday Stitchalong once again!
Today I'm showing you the completed stitchie I was working on last week:


 I back the fabric with a soft cotton wadding before securing in the hoop, then run a strong thread through the overlap and pull tight. The wadding gives the piece a slightly padded look, which I like. Before tightening the thread, inside the back of the hoop I place a round of good quality acid-free watercolour paper followed by a circle of wadding to neaten things up; have I explained that properly?

So while finishing off this little picture yesterday I thought it a good idea to take care of another couple of things I'd been working on over the weeks - you have seen these before, but I thought it would be nice to show you how they look in their little hoop frames: 



They are just lying on the coffee table here to be photographed, and a permanent spot has not yet been found for them - maybe they'll say goodbye and go off to new homes since Christmas is almost upon us, who knows …

Tidying up these little pieces got me inspired to think seriously about  more of the stitchies that were lying around looking kinda lost .. .. so I got the sewing machine out today and made a couple of cushions … do you remember the cat and the owl from previous posts?




Do you like them? I'm feeling a bit chuffed with myself - oh dear, does that sound like pride? I'm just very pleased with the way they turned out! Owl cushion is child size whereas cat is larger. 


This week has seen very little progress on my cardigan knitting, in fact, let's be honest, I ripped it out and started again, so haven't quite caught up to where it was a couple of weeks ago: the sizing was wrong - it would have fit a monster, and you know, yes, you know don't you, that I'm no monster?!!! Anyway, I'm happy with it now so I will really concentrate on it this week.

I nearly didn't do this post today cause I was all upset! Yes, J and I watched 'Out of Africa' again and boy does that film get to me! I think it's my favourite film ever, taking me through every emotion possible - it just seems so very real and the ending breaks my heart every time. Of course it is a true story so what else can one expect, but Meryl Streep and Robert Redford are so ideally suited to the parts they play - what else can I say - wonderful story!

But before that we had our walk and I took the camera with me this time.

Waterlilies and ducks in the pond on the outskirts of the park - such a treat to behold, don't you think?



Then around the corner and a bit further along we have these lovely sights. We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful area!


And I think this wouldn't feel quite like my blog if I didn't include a couple of  'In the garden this week' pics for you to peruse: I love my garden and it really is at its very best at the moment!


This rose is such a beautiful specimen with a wonderful fragrance - J planted it only three or four weeks ago and it's doing so well already. It's in an ideal spot where it can be admired for it's beauty and fragrance by anyone coming through the front gate: 



It's been quite a week hasn't it - so many interesting blogs full of the excitement of the preparation and celebration of hallowe'en, as well as beautiful makings, fabrics, yarns, etc.. I've enjoyed it all so much and I thank you all for sharing so much of the daily happenings in your lives. Thank you also for the lovely responses to my posts - you're such a lovely bunch of friends!

I hope that you all have a wonderfully fulfilling week and that those of you whose health is not as good as it could be will soon pick up and feel good and strong again.

Warm hugs to you all!

Joy xoxo

54 comments:

  1. I think your embroideries on both the hangings and cushions are truly delightful Joy... As for your garden, c'est tres belle .. The new rose exquisite! Hope you have a wonderful week..

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  2. Lovely to hear from you Grace, and thanks so much for your sweet message, glad you like what you see here. A wonderful week to you too and keep happy snapping, I so enjoy your pics! Joy x

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  3. Oh Joy those embroiderys, are so what I like. They are really beautiful.Your garden is lovely too, the pink rose is exquisite x

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    1. Many thanks Joy, always lovely to hear from you. Joy x

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  4. Hi Joy, glad you like my post, I should have contacted you first, but I could not find a link to an email address, your garden photos are gorgeous, especially today which here is horribly grey and damp x

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    1. Hi Hawthorn, I was completely blown away when I saw what you'd written, and so appreciative of your sweet kindness - how very thoughtful of you! It doesn't matter in the least about you not contacting me first. Thank you once again! Joy xoxo

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  5. Lovely Joy what a fabulous post in every way. I do adore those little cushions they are perfect and would fit in any room. As for your outside picture they are just divine and bring so much pleasure to a cold and rainy part of UK. Your blog is always something I really look forward to reading Joy, thanks so much.
    Joy are you able to leave me a personal message as I have been trying to get in touch - there is a space at the bottom of my blog which goes through to my email - it would be nice to chat. Hope to speak very soon, big hugs to you Joy
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Dear Dorothy - what a lovely message, thanks so much, and it's wonderful to know that my post can bring a little bit of sunshine to where the season has 'darkened off a bit'.
      I will be in touch later today and thanks so much! Joy xoxo

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  6. Hi Joy, I have been looking forward to your post, it's like reading a magazine, I love your finished pictures my favourite is the wheel barrow, you must have so much patience to get them so neat and perfect. Love the cushions too and you have every right to feel, to feel chuffed I would too. Lovely pictures of your walk and your garden, the rose is beautiful, roses are my favourite flower especially David Austin roses, I have 5 in my garden and if it was bigger I would love to have one of every kind have a great week Joy. :)

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    1. Hi Linda, and how nice to think you've been anticipating my post, thank you! Those little stitchies really don't take a lot of effort Linda, and are soooooo relaxing; once I begin one it's difficult to put it down! Yes, the David Austin's are tops aren't they, I love them too!
      Joy xo

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  7. So many lovely things Joy! Your needlework is lovely, all of them! I am sure that your cardigan will turn out OK, but I am not a knitter, so what would I know! Out of Africa is on my top films list too. I love the flying scenes and also when they are sitting round telling stories after dinner, I just think that is so romantic. I have several of Isak Diansens (not spelt right there!) books, and they are just as descriptive as the film is. Sorry, I have gone on! Hope you have a great week and enjoy the knitting. xx

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    1. Thank you so much for your lovely message Amy! So you are also a fan of THE film - I also love the flying scenes and the stories; the word 'romantic' hits it on the head I think, then to realise that all was lost is just too sad! It takes me days to get over a viewing of it.
      Joy xx

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  8. Such a wonderful post full of such lovely things, the embriodery is gorgeous I love the litttle cushions and the hoops too, you're garden is so pretty, I love to see all your flowers in bloom when here is the UK everything is going to sleep for the winter. Have a great week.
    Clare x

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    1. Hiya Clare, I hope you are feeling somewhat better? Thanks so much for your sweet message and I'm glad you enjoyed seeing my little pieces - like you I thoroughly enjoy doing them! Joy xo

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  9. You have been a busy little bee lately!
    Looks like you're well into Spring now, lucky you.
    Rachell

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    1. I certainly have, Rachell, and we are enjoying the change of weather - at last! Joy x

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  10. WOW Joy, stitching really is your thing, those projects are all completely brilliant. My favourite is the cat. You pulled a local heart string with me today because I live about 7 miles from THE David Austin roses, where he lived, has a nursery and amazing planted up rose gardens etc. I take my mum there for a lunch treat every term or so to say thank you for helping out with my childcare. Glad you are enjoying your rose on the other side of the world. Love to you Jo x

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    1. Aw Jo, what lovely things you say, thanks so much! I was so interested to hear about David Austin's place - how lovely it must be to take your Mum there and enjoy those beautiful specimens all together in one place, that would thrill the socks off me! Love to you too sweetie, and do enjoy your week! Joy xo

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  11. You are such a talented stitcher, Joy. The pillows are beautiful, as are your lovely framed embroideries. I am very impressed with your work. Your walk looks lovely, I really like waterlilies and those are some beautiful examples. I hope you have a wonderful week, take care. :)

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    1. Hello again sweet Jennifer, and thanks so much for your lovely comments, I am most grateful! There's something special about waterlilies, I'm sure you agree. I hope your week is a wonderful one also! Joy xo

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  12. Joy, I just love your creativity and talent. You are so imaginative with your stitching. Don't worry about your cardi, you'll be glad you ripped it out to make it the proper size when you are finished and it is perfect. Love the beautiful area you live in.
    Hugs,
    Merediht

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    1. Lovely Meredith, thank you so much, and also for your vote of confidence - it has been a bit tricky sorting out this pattern but think I'm on the right track now! I'm loving all your knitting - and you're so fast with it, well done!
      Warm hugs to you, Joy xo

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  13. Dear Joy
    Your stitching projects are beautiful (as always) and you should feel very pleased with yourself for all your hard work. The end results are lovely. That rose is just gorgeous too. Have a great week.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Hello again dear Ellie, I very much appreciate your kind words, thank you, and am looking forward to enjoying your next post. A lovely week I wish for you also with my best wishes.
      Joy xo

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  14. Love your hoops, you're so neat and the pictures are so sweet. Love what you've done with your cushions :) xx

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    1. Many thanks Cheryl - so nice to have your sweet message. Joy xo

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  15. Oh you are a clever one dear Joy! The hooped embroideries are utterly charming! I love them to bits...and the cushions, well, I wish I could just reach out and grab one from the computer and have it all to myself! You should indeed be very chuffed with yourself! :-) I smiled at your 'Out of Africa' comment - I was completely devastated when I first saw that film, it is a masterpiece, from the acting to the story to the soundtrack. I'm going to have to see it again now...Lots of love, Chrissie x

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    1. Hello lovely Chrissie, and I'm so happy to have your lovely message, thank you! Glad you like the stitchies and wish you were close enough to grab a cushion for cuddle times! I'm not surprised to hear you are also 'gone' on this wonderful film - it'll take me days to get over it again! Enjoy the re-viewing, but I'll warn you, it doesn't get any easier! Lots of love to you too lovely, Joy xo

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  16. Well in my estimation you have reason to feel chuffed, Joy :) Thanks for letting us admire your stitching, and flowers, and sympathize with you about having to frog some of your knitting :(
    Have a happy week!
    Gracie xx

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    1. Hello again Gracie, and it's lovely to receive your kind message, thank you. I'm becoming rather accustomed to making changes to my knitting these days but usually it's worth the extra effort taken to get it right, although a bit bothersome at 'frogging' time!!!
      I wish you a happy week too lovely,
      Joy xo

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  17. ...And you are a very special, wonderful friend as well, Joy!!! xo I have to say you put me to shame with the beautiful projects you're working on and completing. Boy, you're a busy girl!
    I love your Christmas angel stitchery. That little reindeer is just precious! All of them are just so sweet, and those pillows...how adorable, AND the mousie looks so cute peeking out! I like all your pretty pictures. Your gardens are sooo lovely! Have a fun, creative week, Joy! xo

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  18. Sweet Paulette, how lovely is your message - so many thanks - you are such a sweetheart!
    I laugh when I think of the little reindeer, he's such a funny little fellow isn't he! Those little stitchy characters are from the lovely surprise book from my Tracy and I'm really looking forward to doing more from it. What are you working on at the moment - I'm looking forward to enjoying seeing more!
    Wonderful week of happies for you sweet girl!
    Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  19. My! You've been so busy. Those are all wonderful stitchery projects. Of course I think you already know how I love flowers ;-) Your floral collages are beautiful.

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  20. Hello Joyful and thank you, I am always happy to see you here and do enjoy your messages. I have had a look at those beautiful pink specimens on your latest post - they are stunning! Happy crafting and try to not get toooooo busy! Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  21. Hi Joy -I love all your stitchings and the clever ways you make them up. It must all look so pretty around your house. thanks for sharing pics of your walk and garden- it really is so beautiful. Have a good week and look forward to seeing what you will have made!

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    1. Hi Leeanne and thanks for popping in and saying such lovely things again! I'll be watching for your next makes also - enjoy whatever you this this week! Joy xo

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  22. Hi darling Mum.

    Well you're busy with so many gorgeous things again! Love your roses too, they are breath-taking. I think it's very therapeutic to view a movie you love and have a good cry. We can't watch the Cat scene at the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's without crying about our poor Boris ^..^

    I saw a lovely new French film on the weekend - Delicacy. I had a bit of a bawl, probably also due to the wine I was drinking hehehe!! - but it was happy too.

    Have a great week.
    Love you heaps,
    Trace
    xx

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    1. Hiya Trace - yeah, busy, busy, but happy doing my little stitchies! Ah yes, wine can be very therapeutic too - let's all have a good bawl over those films, nothing like a good cleansing cry!!! Thanks for your lovely message, talk soon.
      Love you heaps too darlin', Mum xxx

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  23. Hello lovely Joy and what a wonderful post filled with some rather gorgeous stitchings. Oh my those cushions are simply wonderful and YES you SHOULD be proud dear, they are simply beautiful, so well done you for being so incredible talented and clever! I love your pretty framed pictures, they all look so sweet and especially together. I love the dancing angels, they are just too adorable and I would love those hanging on my wall!! How very frustrating that you have to start all over again with your cardigan, they say it is character building, for me the jury is still out on that, it is simply a pain in the bottom (dare I say). I have had a similar experience this week, do I feel better for it being finished now, no not at all, but hopefully you will find a newer and better level to bond now that you've started all over again, goodluck with that. Oh my the David Austin Rose is simply wonderful, the kinda rose I would like to have in my garden, simply beautiful. Thank you for letting me know about winning the giveaway, that was really sweet of you and yes it most probably confirmed that you are NOT a monster, phew! :-)). As for Out of Africa, I am with you 100% one of my all time favourites and I cry my heart out every time and I don't recover for a good day or two, so I can see why there was a temptation not to blog, hopefully writing the post got you through it a little quicker this time. Enjoy your week lovely Joy and thank you for always leaving such long and lovely message, you are simply lovely!! Much love xoxo

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    1. Dear Hannapat, thank you for being so sweet, you say the nicest things! It IS a pain in the proverbial to undo something that took a long time, but doing so seems to get easier these days - so long as it works out to one's satisfaction in the finish, but it sounds like something hasn't worked out well for you recently and I'm sorry to hear that. Onwards and upwards though and try to count it as another learning experience: I do sometimes wonder though, why there have to be so many of those!!! Aha, another Out of Africa fan; it is such a heartbreaking story isn't it - I don't know why I keep watching it - maybe I like to torture myself. Another one is English Patient; have you seen that one?
      I was so delighted that you had won Cheryl's lovely giveaway book, Hannapat, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you make from it - when you have time, maybe after the 'Market Fair' that you're working towards? I have been missing seeing your little stitchies, but think you probably have more than enough on your plate right now.
      Again, lovely to hear from you lovely Hannapat, and thank you so much! Do take care of your health whilst enjoying your week - I hope it's a great one! Much love and warm hug, Joy xoxo

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  24. Another wonderful post Joy. I love your little finished stitchery and they all look so pretty displayed in the hoops together like that. Your cushions are just beautiful too...you have every right to proud! I have never seen the film you mentioned, but so glad that you did blog in the end. have a great week,
    Marianne xx

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    1. Dear Marianne, another lovely message from you, thank you, I'm glad you like the little stitchies - I have done so many little things and came to the point where it seemed a shame to leave them there in a pile - time to make decisions about how best to make good use of them! I hope your week is going well - I've been enjoying seeing your lovely work!
      Hugs, Joy xo

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  25. Hello Joy.
    Hope your well? Lovely post as always. Your stitching is looking fab! I especially like the posh kitty on the cushion lovely to see her all finished.
    I've not seen out of Africa before...sounds like a good film.
    Your photos of your walk are so sunny!! grey here, so nice to see the sun shining the water lillies are lovely.
    I like the look of your new rose I love David Austin Roses so nice to see one in bloom I will have to wait till next year to see mine.
    I'm pleased to tell you that a lovely parcel arrived this morning for me! all the way from Australia! very exciting. I really cant thank you enough. So thoughtful and kind. My daughters drafting a thank you card later hehe she loved the dolly xx

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    1. Hiya FB, I'm so glad you enjoyed the post - I think it probably is nice to see a wee bit of sunshine now that UK is into the cold damp grey time. Never mind, the sun always shines again.
      I am delighted that the parcel arrived safely and in good time FB, and very happy that you and your daughter are happy too! You're very welcome! I'll be over to your blog shortly!
      Have a wonderful week, Warm hugs, Joy xo

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  26. Dear Joy what beautiful stitching you are so creative and please be proud of your creations - I am very proud of you. Thank you for sharing x

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    1. Oh Sue, what a gorgeous little message, thank you so much. Joy x

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  27. Hello JOY, WOW what fantastic lovely stitching..and there is nothing wrong with being pleased with your stitchery... They are all wonderful... Oh, how I enjoy your walks in your beautiful world.. Spring in Australia is most gorgeous indeed.. I wish you a lovely week. Hugs Judy

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    1. Hello Judy - lovely to hear from you, and I'm happy that you're happy with what you see here! I wish you a great week too, and take good care of yourself! Warm hugs, Joy xoxo

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  28. Your stitching is so pretty, I love the latest one, I'm a sucker for anything Christmas themed. Have a good week. Deb x

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    1. Thanks so much Deb - it is nice to make the most of this special season isn't it! Hope your weekend is a good one. Hugs, Joy x

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  29. Your embroidery looks really pretty in those little hoop frames. Such a good idea!
    That new double rose you recently planted is my favourite kind of rose, just lovely and such a bonus to have a fragrant perfume too!

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    1. Sandra, thank you - the hoops do set the little pictures off nicely don't they. I see people are also placing lovely fabric in hoops these days too, and groupings do make nice displays. Joy x

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  30. I love the embroidery you finished, especially the wheelbarrow. It always feels wonderful to get the finishing work done. Your framed work and pillows are beautiful and there is no shame in being quite proud of your work. Beautiful outdoor photos also.

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    1. Hello Cathie, and thank you - the wheelbarrow is rather special for me with the memories it conjures up! It's a relief too, to finish off a few of these little stitches - the pile was growing!
      Joy x

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