A little celebration
Mood:  party time!

Yeah!!!!

My daughter Emma had her second swimming certificate today. Here in Holland is that calling certificate 'B'.

Just a little party this evening for her! I brought her a gift: a writingmap from Diddle, with paper, little things; just great for a girl.

Now we are eating pizza, french frites etc.

 

One progress and two little finishes
Mood:  happy

Yes, yes, yes. I did it; a little progress on the towel .
It's not that much, but it's a start, don't you think. Today I did a few stitches what's above the needle. The name was already done last month.

Yesterday evening I made to little finishes ready!

First is from Pine Mountain Designs: Winter 9 path. These are very fast to stitch and easy to finish , put it in the pillow and voila... ready.

Second is a very cute little pillow from: Sal des maisons de campagne I was intended to do one piece a month, but I must still start with  February.

I stitched it on 32-count linen (rest of something); one over one.

 

 

Busy month ahead

I'm facing a very busy month for my accountancy bussiness; a lots of taxforms will be filled in again for all my customers. The magic date August 1st, is every year a fact. Allways a lots of stress.

The kids are still on school, for the next two weeks, but they are so tired already. I hope that it's August 3rd very soon, so we can take the plane to Lanzarote. Two weeks of sun, swimmingpool and great food is just what we need in this house.

I haven't stitch anything, the last 2 weeks. Maybe this evening; but the tempature here (30 degrees) makes it difficult for me, beside the earinfection, which I still have.

It's time to tell
Mood:  sad

It's really a long time, that I've posted something. I'm so sorry about that. But I had my reasons.

Let me tell me what happened the last couple of months:

Last February I had a very thick finger (you must think so what); but  the doctor told me first that I had "Artrose". Unlucky I am: last week I was diagnosed in the hospital "Artritis Psoriatica". This means that I will have a lot of pain in my body and I have a skin desease. Now you see it only on my ellbows, and I hope that will be it.

Since a week, I'm fighting against a big earinfection in my right ear. So I think I have enough for one year.

That's why, I haven't much stitching done, the last couple of months. I hope I will be soon stitching again, and share some pictures.

My mother give me two kids from her. She can't see it enough, so I will have to make them first. Then I hope that I can do more progress on my Elizabeth Minnich's Decorated Towel from Carriage House Samplings.

This is a picture how it will be when finished; I only did some stitching on the top of it. Not so much, to put a picture here.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Pay It Forward
Mood:  special

Annemiek from www.dehandwerkboetiek.com started a Pay It Forward and I signed in today.

Its really great so please join us !!!!!

Here are the rules written by Annemiek:

"the first 5 people that e-mail me or indicate interest in my PIF challenge, will get something made by me in the next 354 days (this challenge will have a deadline for myself on Dec. 31, 2008). In turn you must post to your blog the same challenge and accept 5 people to send a PIF to...they do it to their blog and so on....sound good? "

I will also have a deadline on dec. 31, 2008 and you can email me on
jannadesigns@checkjemail.nl if you want to join us of when you are interested.

Let the PIF rolling!

 

Just in time for Christmas
Mood:  lucky
Topic: Cross Stitch

After I bought the Santa 2007, I thought I must have the other two also.

My framer does a perfect job with the framing.

Santa 2005:

Santa 2006:

And last Santa 2007:

Right now, I'm very busy with seven trees from the Prairie Schoolers Christmas Trees II. I don't think there are finished on time, but when they are I will show the pictures.

For now I wish everybody a merry christmas and a happy new year!

 

 

 

A new finish and a new progress
Mood:  happy
Topic: Cross Stitch

I started this on Fathersday and last week I've finished Home of a Needleworker. I've used 32 count Ivory Belfast linen with the recommended DMC. It was a very quick stitch, even for me though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The very same day I started directly on a new one.

It's Mary Margaret from Carriage House Samplings. It's one from the Girls Series and I'm very happy with it. It turns out very beautiful. I'm using 40 count Mocha Belfast linen with the recommended NPS.

 

 

Some progress and some finishes
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Cross Stitch

Last weekend, I've promised to put some more pictures of the Mouline Rouge en Doll House.

So... here they come!

First The Moulin Rouge

I've done a couple of more motifs and I'm very proud how it turned out, so far.

Second: Doll House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh yeah. I start over again (for the third time) and this time I'm stitching on 32-count. Finally I'm happy with it.

Last Sunday I've started a new project. And I must say, it's going very fast. It's Home of a Needleworker from Little House Needleworks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last but not least; two more finishes. The first Easter Cracker from Bent Creek and the second is Milkpaint Sampler: A threadfold from Remember the ladies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Ribbon Biscornu
Mood:  happy
Topic: Cross Stitch

I've finished my first biscornu last Sunday as a gift for my mother. I stitch it on 32 count Wood Smoke from Lakeside Linens with different pink colours from WDW.

Front

Back:

 

It is a free design from Ink Circles and it's called Breast Cancer Avareness Ribbon Mandala. On the back I wrote "Voor mijn moeder" means "For my mother". 

 

 

Finally an update
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Cross Stitch

Finally I can put an update again, after twelve terrible months. Last year in August we had to say goodbye to my father in law, after two years of sickness. A couple of months later we said goodbye to the sister of my father in law.

A week before Christmas my mother was diagnosed Breast Cancer on both breasts. She is now still recovering, but she's doing well.

My DH got his first coronary on March 4th on the age of 41. Two days later our youngest daughter became 4 years old. So that was not a very happy birthday for her.

Now it's quiet again, so I hope that was it for now.

In the mean while, I keep stitching to keep my minds of something else.

First: Bird House Row

Second: Hand to Work

 

Third: Coffee Menu

Later I will share more pictures of my works in Progress, like Doll House and Moulin Rouge.

Welcome baby Ingeborg
Mood:  special
Topic: Cross Stitch
Welcome to the world, Ingeborg. She was born on May 10th and I had a little bit stress for her gift.
You see below that the door knob hanger isn't really a hanger but I framed it. Her mother was very happy with it.



I did also a few more stitches on the Doll House, but not so much to share it yet. Yesterday I began on the Corriagio which I get from Melody. Melody I'm so really happy with it. It's a beauty !!!!

Hope to share some more pictures soon.

To tired to stitch
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Cross Stitch
The past two weeks, I'm to tired to put some stitches on a project. It makes me even a little bit sad. I want to, but it didn't work.

To much on my shoulders right now: housekeeping, school holiday, my own business, care of sick child (she's allergic of something, but what?), planning a birthday party for my oldest daughter Emma and so many more things to do or to remember.

Only the doorknob hanger is almost ready; just some beads and then the finishing. I hope I can make it ready on time. Maybe I have to ask Annemiek to make the (multi color) cording again.

Coffee Menu Finished
Mood:  smelly
Topic: Cross Stitch
I've finished one of my goals for 2006!

Coffee Menu was very fun to stitch, because I'm a true coffee freak. We discovered the Senseo a couple of months ago and we are a big customer for the Senseo company since.



Now It's time to finish the door hanger for my ex-co-worker, who's pregnant. There are some toys on it, which I stitch over one. After that I have to find an piece of oval cardboard for the finishing. If somebody could help my with a model, please let me know. Sorry, but I can't show you a picture right know. After she received the gift in May, I will.

In the mean while, I want to put some more stitches on the Doll House and The Mouline Rouge.

But when I received A New Beginning back from Annemiek (she needed it for a few shows here in Holland), I must do that first, so I can show you the complete finished piece. Then I can allow myself to start something new. I'm not sure yet which one from my to do list.

Busy month for business
Mood:  rushed
Topic: Cross Stitch
I need a brake at the moment. It's a very busy month for me in the accountancy business. The year 2005 must be closed for a lot of clients, so it's a race against time right now. I'm glad when the month is over.

In the evenings I'm trying to take a brake and put some more stitches on a shop model for Annemiek's "De Handwerkboetiek". It is called "A new Beginning" from Abbey Lane Designs. Interested in the whole picture? Look at her website; the link is on the right!

Here is my picture:

Update pictures Doll House
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Cross Stitch
Finally an update from my progress on the Doll House by Brightneedle. I told you earlier that I had to start
over by a couple of mistakes, but here he is. My daughter Emma asked me a few days ago:
"Mama, will you finish this tonight for me?"

So sweet....

The full house...



and a closer look...

What I want to do in 2006.
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Cross Stitch
The lists are maybe to long for the reason of some big projects, but here are my different goals/wishes for the year 2006.

WIPs to finish in 2006:
1. Coffee Menu, Little House Needleworks
2. Doll House, Brightneedle
3. "shop model(s)" for Annemiek
4. Moulin Rouge, Long Dog Design
5. Animal Garden Box, Beardie Designs (just the finishing).

Wish to start in 2006:
1. Winter Circle, Cross Eyed Cricket
2. Elliot the Snowman, ...
3. Needle Nick, Lizzie Kate
4. Milkpaint Sampler, Remember the Ladies
5. Kitty Cottage Sampler, Little House Needleworks
6. Dog House Sampler, Little House Needleworks
7. Little Witc, Shepherd's Bush
8. "Birth gift" for ex co-worker and friend (I have to finish this before May 1st)
9. Robin on an Egg, Bent Creek
10.Happy Halloween, Bent Creek

I hope that there enough hours in a day. (LOL)

Happy New Year
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: All
H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !!!!!!!!



One bottle champaign further and after 5 hours sleep, because my oldest daughter had a "blood nose", I'm trying to wake up.

Besides that, I wish everybody a happy and healthy 2006 and of course a lots of success!

Seaside basket from Lorri Birmingham Designs
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: Lucie Silvas - Nothing else matters
Topic: Cross Stitch
Finally I can post a picture of the present for my mother. She became 70 years old yesterday and it was a big surprise for her to receive this present.
I made it only in a week, but the more troubles I had with making the cord. Annemiek is my helping hand in this kind of situations.



Next week I will show more pictures of the Doll House. I had to start over with this project because I made a misstake with the linnen. I thought I was making it on 32-count over one, but it was 40-count instead over one. That was the reason that I couldn't see it in the evening (LOL). After 2 misstakes in the chart, I made the decision to start over, with pain in my heart though.

Now I'm busy with my to do list for 2006. I will share it later on with you.

My first stitches on the Coffee Menu
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Cross Stitch
I put my first stitches on Coffee Menu and I must say, it's going very quickly.
I decided to stitch this piece on 32-count Vintage Light from Lakeside Linen. The special threads are in order by de Handwerk Boetiek, so that's the reason for the empty spaces on the picture. I haven't decided yet how to finish it: with a frame or as a real "menu"card.

I have to put this piece aside, to start with a christmas present for a good friend. Hopely I finish this one on time.

Congratulions to my mom and dad
Mood:  celebratory
Yesterday my mom and dad were married for 50(!) years. The present from her children and grandchildren was a birthday calender with 12 pictures, one for each month. My sister in law made all the pictures for this, and she did a great job.

Two pictures from my own children are below, to share with you. What a beauties, don't you think?

Emma is on the left en Dorine is on the right.