A really quick finish!

Saw this freebie posted at one of the Facebook cross stitch group yesterday and thought to stitched it up with one of the DMC varigated reds...stitched it quite quickly. Can't decide how to finish it off last night so i waited till this afternoon, still i wasn't happy with how it turned out. Oh well, just need to keep trying... This one was stitched up last year and finally finished it off into a flatfold...Again, it is a freebie and i don't know who was the designer. Years ago, after stitching up a design i noted it all in a booklet but lately just don't bother it anymore. After a grey and stormy week, the sun shows up finally this morning. Glad a friend called up to go out for a walk, she've like it nearby my place along the dyke but it was quite windy so we opted out to the forest instead. Was always lovely to walk out there and so engrossed with chatting that we were lost a couple of times, even her dog had lost sight of us so we've been yelling at somepoint. Luckily, it isn't a big forest. Tried this mini apple tarts last sunday morning and quite delicious. Took some to work for during coffee break but i think these are goods for as desserts as well, with cream or ice cream. Hope everyone's having a good week.

Mattress Pincushion...foodies...

Hello everyone...i am keeping myself busy here though with different activities, stitching...working...trying out new recipes, workouts...walking with friends...time isn't enough in a day to fulfill all that i want or planned...haven't read any books lately and i miss that too. Anyway....stitch this design a long time ago and just finish it off into a mattress pincushion this evening. Was searching on the net who the designer is but haven't found out yet...It is a freebie, sorry...can't remember who! We had a furry friend to take care today but the weather was aweful, typical Dutch autumn weather...Gloomy, strong winds and rainy and this friend isn't fun of the rain, we took him at the dyke and he relieves himself and wants to get back home at once...we really can't get him to walk further away...silly dog. Yesterday, was a lovely fall weather...though only in the morning so i'm glad i'd texted a friend to join me for a walk at the beach...think we had spent about 2 hours just walking along the beach, it was cold but on and off sunshine and no winds..so it was a lovely morning. Tried this menu for dinner today, Tagliatelle Carbonara with chicken and bacon... quite a succes. So glad the boys like it, so i don't need to use the bottled ones. Made this typical dutch pea soup last weekend and was yummy too. And this Cauliflower Casserole before the weekend was a good one too. Many many thanks to all who stopped by and take the time to leave me a comment. Really, appreciate them all. Happy week to all!!

Nasty weather the last days...

...and don't know for how long. Strongs winds, wet and grey so staying indoors and keeping myself busy...either stitching, searching for recipes on the net and trying a few. And i do try to note down which recipe afterwards and all the right ingredients and maybe a few changes for next time. Here's another christmas ornament finish. From one of the JCS mags and the designer: Plum Pudding NeedleArt. Started a few designs from a couple of the JCS magazines. The LHN piece i have to frog the one stitch on the right, had picked up the wrong colour, was too in a hurry to stitch i was looking at a different design for thread colours. I made Taco's yesterday with grated cheese and in the oven and with Guacamole sauce as our son prefer's that instead of sour cream. If our daughter is home, she prefer's sour cream so we will have both. She likes guacamole too but then have to be self-made...hmmm, our children are really spoiled when it comes to foodies. Just like this filipino recipe "Pancit" Vermicelli with chicken and lots of veggies. It's not for their taste but i love it so i do make it once in a while. Pasta recipe with bolognese sauce...minced beef, veggies and topped with cheese and in the oven. They love it! Baked chicken was quite good, wasn't tasty as i had expected but it was too short with the marinade, was about an hour before i had prepared it. Should be overnight. The potatoes in the oven wasn't perfect either...i should have used young ones instead of the old potatoes...so that's all lessons for me next time... After posting this i am off to try another recipe for evening's meal. Have to start work at 5pm so i would like to prepare a dish that they can warm up... Thanks to all who stopped by and the lovely comments. Hope everyone have a good weekend.

...another ornament done!

This is my first time to do this kind of finishing and all by hand as i don't have a sewing machine and can't sew. It took me the whole evening last night to finish it off. I can say, it came out alright i am just not satisfied with what i had chosen for the color fabric that i had attached. The picture isn't that too good as well, taken right after last night and had been out and about today so haven't thought to make another sets in daylight. Wanted so much to sleep in this morning but i had agreed to join friends going out to the mainland for some shopping today so ...rain and strong winds still off to the ferry and off with friends and had so much fun together. Probably because one of the the ladies is going home in a couple of days and will be back in Spring and sure we'll miss her company and especially that she's a very good cook... Back home at mid-afternoon as i need to do some grocery shopping cause we are all home including our eldest coming home from the university...she doesn't home come often as she has work during weekends in the city. But this weekend she's home and one of her friends come over for dinner too. While i was preparing for the stuffed Zucchini, father and son preparing for the Pizza. Both came out good and yummy so we had eaten lots and lots. I mentioned on my last post about Taebo...i did tried the last couple of nights and whew quite a heavy to follow but i made it. Had sure feeling sore the next day and still so i opted for a short work out of Pilates this evening. Thanks to all who stop by and left me comments. Really appreciate them. Happy weekend to all!

Getting back into blogland!

Hello everyone....it's been more than 2 months since i last posted. I can hardly believe it, days are passing so quickly. Honestly though, i am more updated at facebook and quicker to post news out there than here on my blog but those were mainly not crafted ones. More on daily routines, activities, social gatherings and it's for my family and friends around the world so they have an idea what or how we are over here. Lately, going through my stitching things and wanted to get back to do some finishing...and here is one of them, design from Little House Needleworks into a flat ornament. Also finish this design from JCS 2015. Thinking of finishing into a small pillow, hopefully will not take long before i'll post a next update... Taken last week during our walk at the woods. Love the fall colours all around...though with the strong winds we are having lately, no chance for the leaves to change colour and they are all on the ground. One of my favorite, catching up with friends over lots of different dishes at lunch... and so i have to do one kind of exercise daily, either zumba, Pilates and just the other day i found out about Taebo through youtube...gonna try that one too! Hope everyone's having a good week!

"My Heartstrings design" into flatfold!

Hello everyone....been a while since my last post again. The usual reason, too busy at work and if not at work then it is at home or socially. Weather isn't that good coming days so having an extra off days. might be good for catching up on crafting i hope. Stitched this design a while back and just finish it off into a flatfold recently. Took a pic with the Dahlia's i took from my garden. My blooming Dahlia's taken earlier this week. Finally, an off day that weather's sunny so sat outside, feet up and with a cup of coffee admiring my flowers. Previous off days usually rainy and windy. Happy weekend to all!

La-D-Da's Tiny Sampler

Hello...thought to post it tomorrow as it is now 1:30am but i'll be working and i am sure won't be online much coming days so better post it now...worked on it for a couple of evenings, especially this evening..stitched and done the finishing at once.So happy, finally have a finish after a long while! Took these pics of my flowers blooming last week after a rain shower. Honestly, didn't done much at my garden but glad still flowers blooming, had added a few here and there lately so hope will stay nice looking these summer. Unexpectedly off early at work so asked hubby that we head out for dinner as both kids are at work till late...unfortunately, the meal wasn't as good as we had expected. Happy weekend to all!

Finishing mood continues...

Have lots of small pieces that were stitched a while back but just don't have the inspirations for finishing..looking through the folders and drawers that i've kept the pieces, i've picked out Spring time as it is the season now, and the christmas piece with it's soft colours. Only, i couldn't find which magazine--Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornaments-- this design were featured so i couldn't add who the designer is. It is nearly two weeks now since the accident with my ankle, happy to say it is healing nicely though slowly. I started walking again since yesterday albeit on my own speed, relatively slow. Instead of walking the distance which i normally take for 45 minutes, it took me an hour and half yesterday and today did improved a bit. Picture below was taken today along the way...been windy, drops of rain a couple of times but glad the sun continues to shine during my walk. Thanks so much for all the well wishes. Hope you all are having a good start of the week.

LHN & The Sampler Girl finishes

Due to a sprained ankle, it is exactly a week from today... i am force to stay home and not to do much, more on resting my foot. The first few days i did more on reading magazines, stitching came to mind but i wasn't in the mood for it till yesterday. I went in search of folders tuck early last year for the renovation and came across quite some unfinished designs which i thought especially these two samplers that i had already completed them off but not at all. On the LHN it shows when i had started it ...year 2011. So i worked on them today, now they'll be added to the piled up items to be frame one day. A pic of my ankle taken a few days ago. Getting better but slowly...i will start work tomorrow so i hope i can manage it. A few pics taken lately...Since Grace is at University, and has work during weekends at the city...she seldoms come to the island. Hope everyone's having a good week. Many thanks to all who stopped by and all the lovely comments.

Going home for a visit!!

In half an hour i'll be off to the ferry going to the airport and flying home for a visit! Quite unexpected decision, just booked my ticket a couple of days ago. I am going alone as kids have to go to school. Had a small finish recently, it's a freebie but can't remember who the designer right now. ...and a few pics of last weeks outings and gatherings with friends. Thanks so much for stopping by and the lovely comments. Be staying home for three and be back the beginning of March...will catch up then...

Sampler & BRD ornament

Kind of productive month of January, stitching wise! Both the Sampler and ornament was completed before the end of January but haven't had time to post earlier. The Sampler Live, Laugh, Love is of PrimitiveBetty's design. The Ornament of Blue Ribbons Design from Just Cross Stitch magazine 2012. A collage how i've made the ornament for anyone who'd like to know. As usual lots of socializing in between work and other activities. If it is not eating out with friends, it is just at home.... Wishing you all a Happy month of February!!