My Cross Stitch Attempts, Alec's Birthday & Some Changes . . . . . .

Greetings lovely friends & readers

One of the things I wrote down on my List-of-Hopes-&-Wishes as the New Year rolled around was to teach myself to Cross Stitch again (I don't make Resolutions, preferring instead to have this List). 

It is over 2 decades since I last attempted cross stitch & when I look at some of the beautiful work my crafty friends do, I always wish I could manage to cross stitch but my eyesight always failed me.  It was my dear friend Shirley who suggested I try on Aida Cloth as the Aida is much easier to see the tiny squares, compared to the Linen.  

 I found a remnant of Aida in my stash & decided to have a try using this free pattern from Whilst Iris Naps.  My dear friend Jane kindly cross stitched this design for me back in 2022.    I found the little rabbits not too tricky so I had a go at the carrot which ended up a teeny bit wonky but I was able to fix it up.  I made these little items up into a sweet Easter display in a thrifted glass dish.  

Inspired by this I tried another free pattern, this one from The Primitive Hare..  This took me longer but I was thrilled with how it turned out ... until ... I decided to teadye the aida once I'd finished it & the red dye in the Cottage Garden Thread I'd used, ran.  I was so disappointed, rinsing out what I could, but deciding to sew it up into a small cushnion anyway.  Note to self Julie - tea dye the aida before stitching in future !!

I saw this sweet rabbit pattern on Instagram, a freebie from @arcadia.stitchery so I printed it off  & have not long finished stitching it up.  I am backing these pillows with leftover chenille fabric from my stash & filling them with crushed walnut shell as it helps them to sit nicely.   I am hopeful I can continue with these simple little cross stitch designs as I do enjoy making them.

Last Sunday was Alec's birthday & he was turning 11!! A Very Important Age Granny  he informed me !!  I baked a batch of cupcakes & Rice-bubble crunch to take down to Kinloch.  

I also had some more charity sewing to take down.  6 cats & 6 rabbits from my wool blanket stash.  Yes that IS a ginger cats tail you see tucked in there 😯

Alec's parents had gifted him an electric scooter for his birthday.  He gave Granny a demo.   I think this was a wonderful gift as it got him up & outside, & away from his devices.  He has apparently been on it all week after school - out until dark.  I gave him money towards a new, safer helmet which he has purchased this week.  

We all went out to 2 mile bay Sailing Club for a pizza lunch & Alec's Mum had made him a birthday cake 

(which was delicious).  

I was most taken with the black swans that were serenely swimming around - I took a short video of them but can't get it to upload unfortunately.  They were just adorable. ❤

In the midst of last week I was rearranging some furniture & needed to move my wall unit some 7 inches to the right in order to fit another chair into the gap. 

I'm not sure how, but I ended up taking all the china out of my wall unit, washing it, & then (in a moment of madness) decided to wash all the teddies that sat in it also.  

Thankfully it was a nice autumn day & I got them all dry on the clothes line.  

I washed the lace runners & doilies & everything just sparkled once I'd put it back together (which ended up taking 3 days in total). When I deep clean the lounge, somehow this unit always just gets a lick & a promise, so it was wonderful to know it had been thoroughly cleaned,

There are a few changes happening here at Threadbear HQ as we are in the midst of getting our house exterior painted.  This is what the the windows look like currently -  like being in a cave.  While I am so thankful to have (4) tradesmen here doing work that would otherwise be mine to do - it is also very stressful & the furry family members are most unimpressed & traumatised.  

There appears to be changes in blogland too, as I had so many issues getting my last two posts to publish.  My Fleur Woods inspired post took 5 days & has had very little traffic.  I was going to delete my testing post but as some folk have kindly left me comments, I shall leave it up.   It is bewildering to me so, as I hit Publish on this post, I shall hold my breath & say a Prayer. 

As always dear friends - thank you for your ever-welcome visits & for the sweet, kind comments you leave me here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - remember to be kind to yourselves & to each other,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,