AND THE WINNER IS .........................TA DAH..........

Happy Friday Peeps!

This one certainly crept up on me!  This week has seen more work being done on the house, and it feels as if it is never-ending sometimes!  The new french doors are now installed and performing their new task of framing and inviting the back garden into the sitting room with a  gusto.  I will take another shot of them opened another time, as I am not allowed to open them yet. Have to let it all set.

 Isn't everything all Autumny all of a sudden?  I have been gathering in the harvest!

 There are still lots of apple to pick!..... No there are not only two apples!

Take a look at all those red hot chili peppers! This is the last batch, we have about 4 bags stored now, and they may be tiny, but they are hot. George loves hot food, I mean really hot, bring me that fire extinguisher hot, hot! 

There is also a tiny new window in the shower room. This being our very impatient shower room, which wants a makeover too, and in protest of waiting too long, has now sprung a leak which has caused me to trot up and down stairs every hour to empty the bucket. Obviously I have forgotten a few times, which results in the utility room beneath flooding. In fact I think it is a while since I last did it! Ooops, back in a mo!

Oh dear!

Another glimpse of the kitchen, which now has the floor down, and a rather large hairy dog in it too!

At the moment though, I am confined to my work room with the dogs, this is the only place left to hide! I have music playing  (The Eels, I love them! Got every cd of theirs I think!) so the dogs can't hear the banging, and the curtains shut so they can't see the man on the ladder! I hope the man on the ladder doesn't think me rude! In this room sits my PC, and so I am writing my blog this week on there instead of on my laptop. So this week I have my 'Z' back.. yippee I can be Suzie again!  I wonder what I could do... hmmmmm, maybe have a mess on my sewing machine?

This is my lovely naughty, indulgence, it was expensive, but I treated myself to it when my Mum died, with some money that she left me.  However it is ages since I did any sewing, with all the work and upsets over the last few months. But I seriously  think is time to get sewing again, after all I am called itch2stitch aren't I!

I have a confession... I am Suzie and I am a gadgetholic! I simply cannot resist the urge to collect little gadgets for sewing, strange feet for my sewing machine, objects which promise to make the job easier or more professional......elastic guides, jean-a-jumps, measuring gauges... I view these objects as vital, magic, essential when I buy them, and then I simply put them in here.....

And then rarely use them!

I love the idea of patchwork and quilting, but I have only ever taken baby steps with it so far. This, which is so basic it is not true, was going to be  a bed cover, but never got finished.  It is made from dresses which my daughters wore when they were little, some shop bought dresses and some which I made for them. So each square holds special memories.

Whilst rooting about in my room I came across this embroidery which surprise, surprise, is also unfinished. It is a tablecloth, or should I say it will be one day if it ever gets finished!

 How about this for some sewing inspiration? I took some pics in the V&A on our hols in London,  Iranian fabric I think.  Isn't it beautiful? Can you see how you could use this design  (and the gorgeous colours too!) in an embroidery or some quilting, etc.?  Or, Sarah if you are reading, don't they remind you of colourful doilies?

It is amazing how much inspiration you can find by just looking at things that little bit closer. 

Ooooh and I love this fireplace! I would love to have one like this, perhaps in a garden room, with white furniture and lots of comfy colourful pretty cushions? Oooh yes please!

Now to the winner of one of my drawings.......


The winner is........ Mummy Boo Bear! Congratulations!  Let me know your posting details and also what colour you prefer, as you didn't mention that  in your comment and I shall get on to it as soon as possible! I can just do it in the colours you saw on my last post if you wish, it is entirely up to you. If I ever emerge from my work room that is!

Thank you all for joining in the fun, and there may be another chance for you to win again in a few weeks, if you would like too.  And may I say a big thank you to all my new followers too (and my old ones!), it cheers me, and makes me feel happy inside to 'meet' you here! Thank you for taking the time to visit me and leave your lovely comments. :)

Until next week, I wish you all good things. I am off to empty that darn bucket again!

Suzie xxxxx

Who would like to win one of my drawings?

 Hello all you lovely peeps!

Well I am back from my travels, and since I got back I have been so busy,  and I have a sore throat and feel so achey, so I am sorry for not keeping up with your blogs, tis not like me at all, to stay away from you all for so long. I do apologise, but I will be trying to catch up with all your news as soon as I can.  I have been thinking of you though! You are never far from my thoughts..... get out of my head!  No, only joking!

 Would you like to win one of my drawings? Perhaps like this one? Maybe even choose what colours you would like? Read on to find out more!

You will be happy to know that George and I had a jolly spiffing time in London, and I shall be giving you little snippets  in the coming weeks, as I have so many things to tell you, it would be far too long a post! Needless to say there were many funny times! I, for instance, got chastised while in The Tate Modern. Yes! I did! I spotted a very interesting sculpture which was arched in shape and hollow in the middle with refective surfaces. A woman had walked into the centre of it, and I of a curious nature, waited for her to leave and then I too explored the inner world of this piece of interesting art. Hmmm, it was a bit like a surreal hall of mirrors. Fascinating, lets wave our arms a little.... oooh how funny.  OIIIIIHHHHH! I was startled  by the sound,  and  I looked around to see an irate attendant staring at me and gesticulating. HUH? Duh? Me? Do you mean me?  He pointed towards the floor at the wire barrier.... which I should not have crossed! (well I hadn't even seen it! I had gone in from the side)  Oooops, sorry! I really had to overcome the urge to point to the woman who had first ventured into said sculpture, and shout out "Well, she did it first!".

Some pics.....

I love the hustle and bustle of London!

And the really unexpected and interesting places which you find when you venture off the main roads!

I loved this wondeful wacky wonderland! 

Isn't this fab!

Isn't this yummy!

 Just before I left for my hols, lovely Alex sent me this award, Thank you so much Alex, you are lovely!

Please go and visit  Alex at Pink feather paradise  
She has a wonderful and very enjoyable blog, you feel like you are home there! Well worth the visit if you haven't already done so!

I have been so lucky with oodles of kindness being bestowed on me lately!  Tracey at Tracey's crafty scraps sent me a lovely parcel filled with goodies, beautifully sewn and made by herself. Also, she sent George a wonderful knitted willy warmer too  ;) . George seems somehow a tad reluctant to model the article however! But of course he is over the moon about it and awaits the colder weather with a relish! Honestly he laughed so much when I gave him his little (very little!) gift! Ha ha ha! Tracey is a lovely friend, she is funny, talented and one of the kind of people who I admire greatly for her ability to laugh in the face of adversity and always remember others... like little old me! (hey! Less of the old!) Thank you Tracey!

Ha ha ha ha ha! George is still smiling ove this one! Brilliant!

Lovely goodies all lovingly made for me! 

A gor-gee-ous pin cushion too!

And then, if that wasn't enough to find in my porch... more kindness!  Look at what arrived in the post!

How wonderful is this? This lovely little scottie doglet is from the very kind and talented Aunt Spicy. I was filled with tears at the note too.. this little dog has come to cheer me up after the loss of my little dog Archie, how absolutely kind! My friend had popped around for a cup of tea, and I read the note out to her, but couldn't get the words out properly for tears! Now I have to think of a name. Any suggestions? I would love to hear them! I will get my thinking cap on too! I tell you what, why don't I put your suggestions into a hat and whoever's name I pull out will win one of my drawings.  How about that? Are you all up for it?

 Beautiful, sweet little doglet, beautifully stitched and such wonderful fabrics too! What more could a dog loving peep want!

Back to the London trip!  On the second day we were in London, there was a tube strike! So it made getting about  a bit more difficult and took longer. Well we did it the way George does it... by walking everywhere!   I tell you I need another holiday to recover, I was so exhausted, and my feet and legs just about gave way! I think my shoes have actually given up the ghost now too. We walked for hours and hours! When we left London to go and stay in Tewkesbury, I was quite ready for a quieter pace.Tewkesbury is an old Cotswold town at the meeting of the rivers Avon and Severn. Such a lovely walk along the river looking at all the boats. The wetherspoons there has the most attractive beer garden, which of course we just had to try out and sample!

 The Tewkesbury Wetherspoons beer garden

Our hotel in Tewkesbury.

You will no doubt not be surprised that my dogs Ralph and Bertie were very happy to come home from the kennels! We walked them home and it absolutely hammered down with rain, so we all arrived at  the house looking like drowned rats. I love seeing how happy they are to be back, running about to see if everything is still as they left it! Of course Ralph had to wait in the kitchen until he dryed off before being let out into the rest of the house. That dog knots up for fun, and he looked a bit ragged after the kennel and the rain! Oooh and that wet dog smell! Nothing quite like it is there!?

Oh gosh, I am happy to be home Ralph!

Me too Bertie! 

Oh... hes conked, it must be all that barking he did at the kennel. Its worn him out!

 I shall tell you all a bit more next week, like about the loony on the bus (why do they always sit next to me?!), but  in the mean time don't forget to think of those names for Aunty Spicey's lovely scottie dog, and you could win one of my drawings (if you want one that is! ha ha ha!). So just leave a comment telling me your suggestion for a name for my new little doglet and tell me what colour you would like in your drawing/painting and we will go from there!

Happy days to you all Susie xxxxxxxxxxx :))))

A Peek at my kitchen Makeover! Come and have a gander!

Hello!

Well its been a long time coming, but our kitchen makeover is nearly, very nearly finished! Hurray! hoorah! Dippy do-dah! (Backward flip somersault!) At last I can prepare a meal once again without searching the rooms downstairs to find a vital implement, to return to said kitchen to find a burnt offering! Do you remember what it was like before?

Well heres a peek.....

So? What do you think? This has been a very low budget production. The Kitchen cupboards and sink were all bought second hand from my Friend Karen (hello Karen if you are reading this! Big hugs!) for £200! Of course you have to add on the price for fitting, worktop, tiles, cooker, hob and flooring, but it was done with very tight purse strings! It just needs some shelves putting up, for my bits and bobs (you know, all those pretty finishing off touches!) and the kicker boards.

What other news?  More kindness in blogland! A surprise envelope in the post from Jacqueline at Once upon a Fairyland.  An envelope filled with kindness and love from a very special lady and friend. Lots of owlishness just for me. Words which thank me for being real, and putting out what is in my heart. Thank you Jacqueline, your words mean more than I can say. In the beautiful note Jacqueline suggest that I put one of the owl stickers onto George's head while he sleeps for good luck! So funny! It will complete his new look of wearing odd shoes! So glad that that gave so many of you a good laugh in last weeks post!

 

And hey!  I won a giveaway. Yes I did! The very lovely Joe at Josie-Mary has sent me these lovely goodies! How lucky am I? Very, I'd say. How wonderful to think of an owl for me Joe! It is filled with lavender, and smells delish!  The brooch is divine and the photograph really does not do it justice. You are so talented and clever Joe!  I love each and every one of your gifts! Thank you! Do visit her, if you haven't all ready, she makes the most beautifully (and skillfully made) gorgeous goodies!

Some sweeties too, yum! What a sweet shopping bag with dashhounds on and some lovely Emma Bridgewater tissues which I will keep in my handbag.  Ahh the Union Jack! .........and talking of union Jacks.... there is more to report....

The lovely George and I have decided that 4 years without a holiday is quite enough! So we are going to London for a few days! And then a two night stay in the cotswolds on the way home.  I love London, all those museums and art galleries to explore. I shall be letting you all know how it goes! So the Tissues will be going with me Joe, in my little Cath Kidson Handbag to see all the very Englishnessness of London! All those red Double deckers!

This reminded me, that as a child, after watching Cliff Richard's film, Summer Holiday, I announced to my long suffering Mum, that when I grew up I was going to live in a double decker bus (red... it just has to be red!), adopt some children and have an Old English Sheepdog. Well, I did adopt some children (3), and I did get my Old English (4 so far!) but as of yet I have not lived in a bus! If I had done, it would look have looked something like this inside!

Ha ha, I somehow don't think I will get my bus! But stranger things have happened.  Oooh Cath Kidston, squeal, squeal! I must go to the London branch (one of them!), I shall be like a child on E-numbers let loose in a sweetie shop! Watch this space girls! (and any boys too!)

Ta ta old beans until next week! Have a jolly spiffing weekend and week!

Susie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :)

Walk a mile in my shoes............!!!

Who keeps nicking the time? Where did the last week go? Just a really, really short post this week. Thank gawd I hear you all shouting out with glee!

 Do you remember this design which I did a while ago? Well, I still haven't sewn it! I think I need a big kick up the beep beep beep! :)

On monday, we, that be the wonderful George and I, decided to go for a stroll to our local hostelry. This was indeed very naughty, as we don't do this in the week usually. So off we trotted. It was a lovely evening as we ambled along, wordless, deep in thought. "OH NO!" says the incredible George, " we have to go back to the house right now!". We were almost at the pub for goodness sake, so obviously I was curious to know why, but George was laughing  too much to answer me. In fact he laughed all the way home.

Are you just a tinsy winsy bit curious to know .........................................................................................................................................................

Why? ........................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................

Ha ha ha ha! Oh you are sooooo funny sometimes George!

Have a wonderful weekend and a smashing week too.

Lots of love to you all. Susie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Farewell for now Peeps!

Hello my lovely friends!

How the jolly heck are you all?  Good and spiffing tip-top I hope.

Oh, I have been naughty this week letting myself loose around the shops! Obviously, ( no, really! Obviously!) it was necessary to buy some items with which to dress the house. Well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it!  It is all part of the makeover George! Wink wink!

 I couldn't resist these little birdies! Now could I?!!!

And I couldn't resist this ever so cute set of hooks!

The picture doesn't do this candle holder justice, I can't wait to see the lovely warm red glow! 

Ahhhh, there it is!

Finally, this gorgeous natural heart... I love hearts!  I was actually going to put this one away for my friend Susan for Christmas, but when I went around to her house for a coffee I saw that she already has two!

Another expense , this one very necessary indeed, was a trip to the opticians to finally have an eye test, and be fitted with some much needed new glasses. Well, I have been very fretful about going to the opticians since the optician last time (over 2 1/2 years ago) told me that the reason why he was taking an awfully long time looking at the back of my eyes, was because I had had cancer, and you can sometimes see things!  Oh dear! The absolutely worst thing he could have said. I am supposed to go quite often as the chemotherapy has made eyes deteriorate quicker, but I haven't been because of what he said!

Anyhow, I was a bit nervous, and hated the back of the eye photographs etc! You can imagine what I felt like then when she told me that one of the bits at the back of my eyes (can't remember what it was called!) was bigger than the other and I needed further tests! Yikes! I actually felt like leaving!  Errrr no, running!  Anyway, it was all fine, and I now await my glasses so that I can actually see to sew and draw properly again!  Phew!

On a lighter note, the lady behind the counter asked George if we were together, to which George replied... "yes,..... unfortunately!"        Ha ha ha! Funny man!

I have spent another busy bee week with paint brushes a painting! The stable door has had numerous coats, and yet still remains, well frankly, not so good. I think I need to go and get some more paint!  I got a cheaper make you see, which has now turned into a more expensive one!

My invisible horse was not impressed at all, as he couldn't look out of his door whilst I was heavily armed with wet paint brush!  He did offer to help by using his tail, but it would have been far too messy to have been of any real help.  :o)   Sooooo.... we stopped for a bite to eat instead. By the way, I'm the one with the moustache!

No sewing done, no art work either.... just too darn busy I am afraid.  At night I have found, as the light fails, so does my eyesight, and I can no longer (maybe I will be able to when my new glasses arrive) enjoy the delights of embroidery or cross-stitch of an evening watching TV, as I used to do.   However, I can knit! I can actually knit without my glasses on, and only really need them on to read the pattern, so I have been making a cardie in the evenings!

I can do basic knitting really, and so far have done the back, and front sides, and half a sleeve, but I couldn't say at all if I will manage the collar, edges and button holes! I have never actually knitted anything like this before! So wish me luck!

Do you want to hear something funny?  Well, you may remember a while ago, me telling you that post cancer, I have been trying to find insurance. Do you remember? Well, not being one to give up easily, I had yet another shot at it.  I recieved my quote the other day.... ho ho ha hee ha ho hee ha ha hee haw hee haw!  Are they mad????  £230 a month just for moi! Not a chance on earth!  George's is about £25, or something like that!  I shall therefore continue to remain just as useless dead, as I am alive!  Huh-hum, moneywise that is! Shhhh -shhhhush George! No one asked for you opinion!!

This week I received  these beautiful felts which I won in a giveaway from Annie at The Felt Fairy. They are in such soft gorgeous pastels, and I had been hoping to show Annie, and you,  something which I had made with them, but no... nothing at all to show yet! Sorry, maybe soon though!  Thank you so much Annie!

Next week the ever suffering George is off work and we should at last (!) be having the kitchen installed. So over the weekend we will be tearing out cupboards, pulling up the flooring and ripping off the tiles.  It will be all go here for quite some time to come, so I may or may not be taking a blog break for a short while. If I do, I will still try to find some time to catch up on your blogs!  If I am not a round for a couple of weeks you won't forget all about little old me will you?!! Promise?


 Love to you all,  goodbye for now.... won't be away long I hope!

Suzie xxxx