Saturday, July 5, 2014

Birthdays, Hotties ... & other stuff . . .

Good afternoon dear friends & readers,.

It has been a week of birthdays . . . two of my dear friends celebrated birthdays ... & I myself turned 54 this past week  (sigh ...)




As several of us all share our birthdays around the same time we had a lovely lunch out to celebrate
My friend Bev had celebrated hers while on holiday overseas ... 


I stitched Bev's "B" using DMC 4180 in pretty variegated marshmellow pinks

I had stitched the letter "B" while Bev was away, using  Michelle's gorgeous  stitchery alphabet pattern which I purchased from her earlier this year



Also my friend Sandy...(who has her birthday tomorrow) - I stitched her "S" using Cottage Garden Thread "kangaroo paw" ... & made them up into little box-bottom pouch bags filled with my rose petal potpourri



I was very spoilt myself & received some wonderful gifts & treasures



My friend Leeanne stitched me this gorgeous mini wall hanging in redwork, which I just adore


Thank You SO much Leeanne   :-)

And Carolyn sent up a parcel from the South Island which included this wonderful apron she had made from recycled vintage fabrics ... it has already had lots of wear by yours truly   :-)


I love the doiley on the pocket .... Thanks Carolyn  :-)

Sandys lovely daughter Abby commissioned me to make her a hottie cover for her partner who is training to be an aeronautical engineer . . .  Abby suggested perhaps a plane appliqued on it ??



I had enough left of this gorgeous tartan blanket & I appliqued the plane with some red wool blanketing 



I lined it with a red spot flannelette for warmth 
 I initially hand-embroidered Tim's name on, but it was hardly visible so I unpicked it & appliqued it in some denim blue wool felt
Abby collected it today & was delighted with it . . . I sure hope Tim is too !!!!
As I had sold 2 hottie covers recently, I decided to make up another two - I figured they are not something I will sell many of in the summer months !!!




After stitching this gorgeous wool felt angel pincushion back in May



I came across 2 more Anni Downs pincushion patterns in my drawer ... so decided to make them up using up some of my wool felt remnants . . . 


Gilroy Goose & Larry Lamb ... filled with my finely crushed walnut shells 

From time to time I receive emails asking me whether I sell the craft work that I feature on my blog ... my apologies if my blog appears vague.
 Yes the stock I make is for the Cottage (unless I have made it for a gift). However should you wish to buy something from my blog (as some have done in the past) I am more than happy to package it up & post it to you ... simply email me for a price ... "stitchedbyjulie@hotmail.com"
I am looking into adding a selling page to my blog in which I can offer some work for sale over the winter months when my Cottage goes rather dead quiet  :-)
(also I am happy to make to order should you see something you would like made in a particular colourway)


Just 1 kitten photo to share this week folks ... I had purchased a "cat carrier" as I figured perhaps I was going to need one for vet trips etc ... I must be honest here & confess our last cat never went on a trip to the vets, if she ever got unwell she got a jab of penicillin down at the cowshed ... yes I can hear you all gasping now but she lived a long & healthy life til she was 17 years old.
Anyway The Mr instructed me to "just leave the cat carrier outside so they can get familiar with it" . . .


Considering Sickie looked at me initially like "if you think I am ever going in that thing you can jolly well think again!!!" ... I just had to snap this pic on my way to bed last night . . .

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend out there folks & I hope you find some creative time for yourselves as I plan to
Thanks so very much for stopping by today for a visit
much love & friendship,
Julie x0x0x

14 comments:

  1. Happy birthday for last week Julie. I love your hottie covers and the pincushions, the colours you used are wonderful. Have a happy creative, crafty weekend

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  2. Happy birthday for last week Julie and I am very glad you were spoilt. It is wonderful to see your Alphabet creations. I hope your friends enjoyed their special days also xx

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  3. Your Blog is far from vague Julie....
    Such lovely gifts and treasures...Always full of colour!

    HaHa! And the Kittie~Kitties in the cat basket, well, if
    you leave anything new lying about, a cat will always
    want to check it out...And, move in! Bless!

    Oh! And, a very happy burfday...for this week...Here's
    to many more..!

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  4. Many Happy Returns Julie!!! you had some lovely pressies and gave your friends some beautiful hand made gifts. I love that picture of little sickie - what a nice kind idea to get them used to the carrier.

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  5. Belated Happy Birthday to you Julie. What kind and generous friends you have to give such pretty gifts. I absolutely ADORE all your tartan makes (for obvious reasons!). You're a very talented needlewoman. Good weekend to you too. x

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  6. Happy, happy birthday dear friend!! I'm so glad that you've had a lovely time celebrating your 54 years : ) So nice for you to receive such heart-felt handmade special gifts from your crafty friends. Your are much treasured.
    I thinking I may be in need of a cat loan...I have noticed I have a little brown mouse friend following me around these past few days! Very cute, but today he came right up to the back steps. I think I may call him Marvellous. Marvellous the mouse.
    I do love your hottie covers...especially the little red plane. We just watched Amelia tonight (about the aviatrix), now, she once flew in a plane just like Tim's : )
    Have a lovely week my friend. May your seeds sprout with gusto. Much love Catherine x0x0x

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  7. Happy belated birthday sounds like it was well celebrated - as it should! Ahhh cat carry training seems to of worked perfectly.

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  8. Bestest Birthday Wishes for last week, Julie. such lovely gifts you have given and received..and your other goodies are lovely too - the hot water bottle covers and pin cushions are gorgeous. Love that the kittens have found the carrier to their liking... if only they knew what it was for!

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  9. Oh Julie look at all your lovely gifts!! Happy Birthday for last week too. The new pin cushions are gorgeous, and as for the cat picture, so cute!!!

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  10. Looks like you got some lovely presents. No problem with the kittens getting used to the cat carrier. we use to do the same with the horse float, it didn't always work with all horses though.

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  11. Hello Julie,

    Happy Birthday to your and your friends. Love that tiny little umbrella in one of the photo's. That cat picture is just so lovely. I am sure the vet would have done the same thing as you.
    Have a fantastic week.
    Bev.

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  12. Happy birthday, your gifts are lovely. The gifts you made are beautiful too and I love the different hot water bottle covers too and the pincushions. The kitten photo is so cute! hugs Wendy xx

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  13. What gorgeous, gorgeous treasures :D Happy belated birthday xx I'm still desperately trying to catch up on all the unread blogs! There just shouldn't be so many darned good ones!

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  14. Hello dear Julie
    Firstly belated birthday wishes!!!!!!!! I see you were really spoilt by your stitchery friends - all beautiful work.
    Your hottie covers are gorgeous and the one for Tim is perfect - love tartan!
    The three little felt pin cushions are so cute , I've just read somewhere else about walnut shells being the best filling for keeping pins and needles sharp! To think that's what was used in times gone by and then forgotten in favour of a modern polyester stuffing1

    I've totally fallen in love with your little alphabet pot pourri bags you made as gifts - I always find inspiration on your blog Julie.
    Did you buy the Michelle Ridgeway pattern here or do you have to order through her blog, it's just that I'm not so keen on PayPal which is her method of payment through her on-line shop. My friend Lilla had a bad experience with PayPal.....
    I'm sorry I haven't been around but I've been working full time for July and now I'm home with the flu!
    Tomorrow was to be our embroidery day but two of us can't make it so it's prob next week!!!
    Now I want to catch up with the rest of your posts!
    Take care
    Hugs
    Shane xox

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Hello, & thank you for taking the time to comment on my posts - I read and appreciate each and every one of your comments :-)
I always prefer to reply to your comments by email unless you are a no-reply-blogger in which case I will reply to your comments in this section here. Thanks so much for stopping by to read & comment on my blog x0x