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