Sunday Stitchalong and a Conglomeration

 Welcome one and all and I trust that all is well with you!

I'm joining in again with  Chrissie for Sunday Stitchalong but it's already Monday morning here! I'm not making apologies for that because, well, we spent valuable time with our younger daughter, hubby and grandsons yesterday, enjoying catching up over cuppa and cake and taking in the lovely warm sunshine whilst wandering through the vineyard and veggie patch - well really, why wouldn't you! And then afterwards, just to add to the pleasure, we had lovely home-grown artichokes, freshly laid eggs, and a case of their wonderful award-winning wine to bring home with us. Once home the thought of sitting at the computer really didn't  turn me on - and besides - I hadn't yet started on my stitching for the week so couldn't have shown it to you anyway: that all makes good sense doesn't it!

But I did make a start and here it is: a Christmas theme, simple and quick and most relaxing - I am really enjoying this!

So far I've used back stitch, little wee French knots, satin stitch and a mish-mashy sort of feather stitch for the angel's wings, oh and long and short for the hair. Apart from the wings which used two strands, everything has been done with single strand floss. 

And where did the inspiration come for this little piece? Well now, I must tell you, the postie brought me the loveliest surprise one day last week: I was already watching and waiting for the arrival of a  package from Judy containing a Giveaway that I'd been fortunate enough to win (more on that shortly) so a second package arriving at the same time sent me into a bit of a spin for I couldn't remember having ordered anything recently from Amazon. When I got into the parcel here is what I found:

My daughter Tracy had organised for Amazon to send me this lovely book - just because! Just because what? Because she loves her Mum and wants to encourage and support me in my endeavours - now isn't that lovely and aren't I blessed with my beautiful family! Thanks again Trace, and you can see I haven't let the grass grow under my feet xxx !

The book is so well laid out with double-paged spreads - pictures on the right side and all the info regarding types of stitching and threads etc. on the left - so not only was I inspired, I actually traced off the little motifs, with a wee bit of re-arranging, and this time round used dressmakers carbon paper to copy them onto the fine linen fabric. I'm happy!

And now for Judy's lovely gift, making it a double dose of excitement and pleasure:

Her sweet pin-cushion which she had lovingly crocheted - all squeezy and cuddly - so nicely wrapped in matching colour tissue and ribbon plus a sweet little cross-stitch for me to do. As well, Judy sent me a lovely note on her special paper and a postcard showing where she's based in the States. Many thanks once again Judy - the first giveaway I've ever won xx.

Remarkably, shortly after being told of this win I then had word from Deb telling me that I had won her lovely giveaway - a knitting pattern for the beautiful 'Pau Hana' jumper. Many thanks again to you too, Deb xx. I bought a lottery ticket after that but it didn't come up for me, although that doesn't mean I won't win in the future, does it!

Last post I showed the cardi I had begun to knit, and that's all fine but very little progress made on it because - well - I got side-tracked by a magazine! Just over a week ago, whilst browsing the newsagents stand I happened upon this, which led to THAT! Who is THAT peeping out from behind my cushions?

Could you have resisted that picture up in the top left corner? No, I couldn't either, so the cardi went on the back-burner, as projects are wont to do, and I spent the week working on this little Mousie. Following the info in the magazine I see that this pattern is also available through Ravelry. Overall the pattern was very good, but there were a couple of little hiccups which were probably (hopefully) printer's errors but which would bother a newcomer to knitting, and I don't like, after 50+ years of knitting, finding abbreviations that are nowhere else to be found; that aside, once moving beyond my annoyance, I did enjoy most of the process. For the shoes I used a Patons baby bootee knitting pattern  rather than the one provided. I do love Miss Mousie, and am still working on a name for her - so far suggestions have been Millie, Molly, Gertrude (Gertie?) - you're welcome to have a shot at it, I'd love to hear from you! 

Now I'm giving my lovely Hubby (J) a bit of bragging space here: he BBQ'd some lovely fish  along with asparagus wrapped in prosciutto the other night, and oven-fried some chips too. It was all delicious and I enjoyed it very much even though he felt everything had had a little bit too much heat!

Now don't you think he did a great job - and I promise I did not interfere or offer one word of advice - oh right, maybe that's why it was such a success!!!

I must also show you a pic that J very cleverly took a few mornings ago: he heard a tap-tapping sound and when he looked across the road saw two kookaburra's perched on the tree in front of the neighbours property. Right, well, that's  not really unusual but - one of them just happened to be killing off a mouse (or was it a rat), by bashing the poor thing off the branch. Notice its mate sitting watching the action!

Just a couple of lovely blooms from the garden now: roses and lillypilly foliage ... ...

And some pretty shots from the garden in situ ... ...

And 'that's all for now folks' (who said that - 'twas a very clever and entertaining rabbit from many years ago??? Of course it was  the inimitable Bugs Bunny!)

I'm wishing you all lots of happies, and for those of you who celebrate hallowe'en, do enjoy the fun! Many thanks for all your lovely welcome messages.

❤Joy xo