Wish you all a very...

...and all the best in 2014!!
(spare of the moment desicion for a last stitching this year, glad it was a
quick one) Till next year, i had been a very bad blogger this year of 2013.

Ready for the last part...

...but i am flying soon to visit my family in Asia so i'll catch up after 3 weeks from now.

So sorry, wasn't able to visit blogs the last days...busy busy..

Chris band had been performing again last weekend and i so wanted to add a video here but blogger won't allowed. So, only a picture then...

Had friends for dinner last saturday too, always fun...

...off to catch the ferry and to the airport...

Another Christmas ornament exchange...

Probably the last for a while as i want to... if i can and have enough time to stitch a few ornaments to send out to friends for the holidays. Sorry for the first picture below, it's blurred but that was the only picture i took before sending the piece.
  
Here's what i received back from Melissa. Lovely and so neatly finished! 
Visited friends at the mainland last weekend and they have a few of these cuddly Rabbits. I was at first hesitant to hold as i thought they're like cats and get scratch but she's quite good to stranger. Isn't she cute!!!

 
I've been cutting recipes from magazines but not really trying them unless when i am having a party. Or since it is foreign the kids might not like it but i'll never know if i will not prepare and let them taste it. Been off the last days so here's the first...Tacos last Monday, just a simple one though quite some veggies in it. They've love it especially Chris!!
  
This one yesterday, Korean spicy chicken wings with garlic soy sauce. Grace boyfriend was here too for dinner and he loves it too...Chris finds it a bit hot...but i like it. 
Might try a couple again next week when hubby is home. He is expected to come home on Monday being away for more than two months.

 Thanks a lot for stopping by...hope you are all having a good week.

Abc ornament exchange...

For the ABC exchange, i've made it into a pinkeep/scissor pocket. It's a freebie design which was printed a long time ago, can't remember anymore who the designer of it. Exactly a week ago today, i dropped my Iphone and came face down on the hard tile floor. From the sound ot it at that moment, was really bad...i thought if i will picked it up all tiny glasses will spread around...I was so glad it didn't and still work though difficult to type words as couldn't see the letters clearly. Last Saturday, we were at the mainland and there's a shop that do repairs for this kind of damages on phone, a bit expensive(70.00 euro's)...now, it looks new....
 Friends were planning to go to the mainland for shopping, 7 in all...and fits exactly on our car, will be cheaper than to take the train but i was hesitant as it is my first time to drive to the place they want to go...more than an hour drive... i have the "Tom tom" so why not...so off we go...as you can see on the picture, Chris the only boy and he did enjoyed the attention!
Quality time with friends!!
 

Many many thanks for your continued visits and for taking the time to leave me a comment. I truly appreciate them all.

Autumn Exchange...

....at one of the Yahoo groups. Honestly, haven't visited yahoo groups for quite a while, too busy at work and home...what a surprise to see the changes made when i log in recently. A few, i cannot follow anymore and only one stays the same old format. Anyway, here's what i send for the exchange and received back in return from Frances. Sorry, the pictures aren't clear, just had taken with my Iphone  in the evening.
   
A week ago my daughter who is now studying in the University in Utrecht since last September sent me this picture through WhatsAp. Finally a clear picture with her and her boyfriend, Dennis.
He's been in some pictures with us as group usually when we are out dinning and wasn't that clear so i am happy to receive this one from her. She doesn't like much to be in the picture compare to when they were little kids...



Thanks so much for stopping by and the lovely comments.
A happy weekend to all.

It's official i am...

...the shortest in the family! Just realised it when i saw this picture taken last weekend with me and our youngest son, Chris! He is 13 thus he can get taller...

Looks like our saturday's are booked for party's, had to take special off days and worked during sundays for the time being. This picture below was last saturday at one of our friends at the mainland.

Quite some friends are celebrating their birthdays lately...this coming saturday will be two celebrations. Glad, both are here on the island!

This ornament was for the Friendship exchange i joined in at HOE. The Lizzie Kate pinkeep i made and send to Sandra who lives in Barbados.

Here's what i received back from Marie. Such a cutie and so neatly finished. Love it!!

Thank you all so much for visiting and taking the time to leave me a comment. I really appreciate it. Hope everyone have a good start of the week.

Simple Joys...

Love this one!!! Had worked on it on and off, bit by bit and had used hand dyed threads
of WDW and GAST! Don't know how to finish it off though, thought into a flatfold or
probably order a special frame for it....

I've received this one as a gift/RAK and now that i've stitched it...i would like to pass it on...anyone interested, if it's more than one person i have to make a draw by the end of this month so just leave
a comment here if you want to stitch this design..

Here's a couple of collage of our get-away the other weekend. Had a lovely and relaxing time.
Really pampered and had lots of drinks and foods...way too much i gain almost 3 kilos when we came home....Probably the Baileys which i had lots of every evening..hmmmmm, sure yummy but better keep-off of that stuff!!
 
Last saturday an event here at the harbour or where i work...actually, organized by my boss.
Friday evening was for the young ones...games from different teams, 10 in all where Chris also joined.
Had watched a few and by then i thought they weren't serious about it and at midnight quite a surprise to hear that Chris group won the first place!!!


Many thanks to all who stopped by and took the time to leave me a comment.
Really appreciate it so much. Hope it will not take a long while for the next update.
Happy week to all!!

Start with a finish...

Actually completed a while back but the piece had been hidden in between the other designs piled up in a drawer...yeah, my stitching items aren't organize for sometime now. Do really need to work on it but waiting for a longer off days at work and all the activities here of the kids. Grace finals exam ended today! Results will be announce the third week of June. So it'll be a while before they know/hear if they go to university or stay for another year.
 
With the spill of the wine...luckily, i manage to remove...almost, a very light one can be noticed when you know which side otherwise can't really recognize it. So i work on it a bit...Now, i received a few books i've ordered last week and i think will be spending time reading instead of stitching for a few nights or especially after work.
  
 Just want to share a picture of my blooming orchids! The dark one on the left, been blooming for nearly two years now. See the leaves, looks healthy and green! 

Thank you all so much for visiting and taking the time to leave me a comment. I really appreciate it. Hope everyone have a good start of the week.

@ Friendly Stitcher's exchange

These had been sent and received for quite a while now
but haven't had the time to update or post on here.
Had chosen a LHN design and finished it off
into a mattress pincushion. Glad to hear Chris like it.
((You can click on all pics to enlarge))

                                        Here is what i received back from Chris. I so love what

she've chosen and very neatly finished.

As usual too busy socially and some i haven't have pictures

taken from gatherings we've been too. 

Chris band had performed a couple of weeks ago

at one of the event which mainly for adults but

they try to invite young ones too and let them 

performed earlier for the youth. Do hope the video

works (below the picture).

Hubby was sick when i attended one of the birthday

parties so he wasn't able to joined us. He had a nasty

flu that lasted more than a week so he had missed

out on a few occasions even the performance

of the kids above he wasn't able to go and watch.

By the way, about Grace with her test for the Pilot study,

she didn't make it at the last test. Now, she'll have to

re-organize what she'll going to follow after this school

year. Quite a difficult decision for her...anyway, exams

ahead for them so they'll have to concentrate on that first.

Many many thanks for visiting and all the kind comments. I really appreciate them all.

March finish!

I've a couple of finishes but can only post one as the other one is for an exchange
and i don't know if she is checking my blog, would rather as a surprise.
Hopefully, i can finsih these serie each month...

I have a few projects for these month but haven't took a pic yet,
too dark now for taking pictures and if i wait for it i don't know
if i have time to post again coming days. I took these one earlier.

I had a scary moment with our car this afternoon at the mainland, bringing
our daughter to the city, half way where she goes for the school for further
test for the pilot study. I cannot drive her all the way as it will take me 3-4
hours there and 3-4 back. i am not use to that kind of long driving so i had
to bring her half way that she can get the train straight to the school campus
which is better. But along the way, after nearly an hour from the ferry the car started
to have troubled so i got panicked as it is a highway and everyone droves very
fast(130km/hour). And the car slows down...glad we were able to reach the parking
area at the train station and from there i called the car services, lucky we are a
member of it and one came for help after half an hour. Glad wasn't that really serious
and i could drive back home but have to do it slowly.  Have defect of the throttle
position Sensor, so  have to bring to the garage soon.

Thanks so much for your continued visits and all the lovely comments.
I so deeply appreciate them all!

Finishes...finishes!!

Whew!!! I didn't expect to complete these all in time, i mean before the end of February.
Happy dancing here!!!
I still haven't finish off into ornamnets the two christmas designs i stitched last January though...

 

 

 
 

The kids had a week vacation last week(Crocus vacation) and
Grace had been out with her friends most days while Chris stayed home
as almost all his friends went on vacation.
So last weekend, while his sister out, just the two of us went to dinner,
quite had fun together!!
Last night was booked to have dinner out with a couple of friends so i had to missed my
Zumba evening...wow! had laugh a lot during the evning, glad it wasn't so busy at the
restaurant we went too. Imagine, went in at 6pm until after 11pm...

Mattress Pincushion

I noticed this one wasn't included in the picture for this month's w.i.p's, i nearly completed the stitching with this one when i took the picture so i thought i'll quickly finish it & completed it off into a Mattress pincushion. I couldn't find who the designer is, printed it out last week and forgot to take note from who. I am not even sure if it's a recent freebie or from previous year. Do hope somebody can share or know who is the designer.
I used DMC: varigated thread, #48 on 32 count linen. I do love how it turned out!!! Now, i hope i could fine some of my previous February theme i've completed before....

Yesterday, our daughter Grace(17) passed the second test to join the academy for commercial pilots. We are really happy and proud she've made it being the youngest in her group. Although she still have 3 more test to go...Hopefully it will be scheduled soon. Because she doesn't have any other options to follow after her term here which will end this coming June. Kind of heavy for her now as it's her exam year too...

Many thanks to all who stopped by and all the kind comments, they are very much appreciated.

January finishes (part 1)....

...but first the winner of the Valentine giveaway is~~~ Jan! Congratulations! Please send me your address info and will post it as soon as possible. Do hope you will see this post as you haven't leave your e-mail info.

 Kind of happy i manage to finish all the charts i've posted the beginning of january and added a few more. The ones completed into ornaments were all sent out for gifts & exchanges so i couldn't show a picture of them. These will have to wait for completion as i am out of inspiration how to finish them off.

Last weekend get-together with friends at the mainland.
I'm afraid i gain lots with all the gatherings lately, and with the
weather we have these days is not a good one for walking.
Doing Zumba an hour almost daily doesn't really help
me lose the extra's. Hope to keep off from food and alcohol
very very soon...

Coming weekend is booked again with friends...might be the last one for a while. Hubby will be off sometime next week and will be away for a month.

Thank you all so much for stopping by and all the lovely comments. Hope you are all having a good week.

A Valentine pincushion giveaway!

A few finishes lately, just can't post pictures as it's for exchanges & gifts! I want to celebrate it with a small giveaway, a Valentine pincushion! Please note in your comment though if you want to be included and leave an e-mail address!

This will close the 30th of January as i want to send it out at once and hopefully be receive in time for Valentine. Outing with colleagues and the owner of the pub/cafe we are working...Too quiet here on the island so we are close for a while....

Below pics were taken last weekend, with friends here for dinner! ...was till around 4am!!

Here's eating out with friends and ended up till around 3am at home. Was quite a late nights weekend but FUN!!!