Valentine's giveaway...& other finishes!

Hello everyone! Been a while since i offered any giveaway...recently, i had more time for stitching and thought to make something to offer. Here it is, a simple biscornu which can be use as a scissor fob as in the picture taken or just for a display. It is a freebie i've seen on pinterest but no designer link to it. Everyone is welcome for the draw, but please indicate if you want to be added for the draw and if possible to leave your e-mail address so i know where to contact you. It will be open until the end of January so i can send it out the beginning of February. Another freebie which i can't find who the designer is, this will be send to a friend in Asia. This is a freebie of 'Primitive Hare' and tried adding a piece of fabric and made into a small cushion. Not really happy of the chosen fabric but i don't have much choices for this design. Bought a couple of fresh fruits last weekend and wanted to try them for baking, right saturday evening i was ready to prepare them for muffins but my scales don't work anymore but the next day is sunday and stores are closed. After worked i stopped by at a friend's place and borrow hers so late last night was able to prepare these muffins. Fresh raspberries are easily rotten if not eaten or in use just after buying that is why i was quite in a hurry to do soemthing with them. Taste good and actually quite easy to make. The raspberries, i've used butter.... ...while the blueberries i've used yogurt & oil instead of butter. Both turn out fine. One day last week, i was with colleagues to the city...to the Horecava exhibition- this takes four days and everything for the foodservice industry. We sure seen quite some new things and had lots of fun too. Thank you all so much for stopping by and all the lovely comments. I really appreciate them all. Wish you all a wonderful week!!

LK stamp, the winners... & work continues...

We don't have oven and washing machine here on the rented house so i went sunday evening to our house to make the apple cake and do the washing, while waiting for the cake i stitched on the LK December block and now the piece is done. Will have to wait for the buttons probably sometime next year, i am just glad it is done and can be store away.

I am so sorry this took me a while to pick the winners of last month blogoversarry. Finally here are the names: ,
Maggie, Cath, Nia, Sally Irene
Please do let me know your address info details and hope to send the ornaments beginning of next week. Thank you everyone for the blogoversary greetings!!


Work continues and here are some pictures taken from last week progress. Worked on the barn, filled in the footing with concrete as well as the flooring.



Last friday they started working on the timber wall frame inside for the living room.

Took a couple pics of some of the cakes i've made lately. Just simple ones as i am not good with decorating the cakes. Sometimes the whole cake is just enough for a day, as they have twice coffee break.


I hope you are all having a wonderful week. Many thanks for stopping by and all the kind comments.

5th blogoversary giveaway & taking a break....

..... from blogging & groups!

After posting my update this afternoon i went and look back on my first ever post here on this blog and to my surprise it is my blogoversary TODAY!!. I thought it is tomorrow the 13th...am i glad i've completed all the ornaments yesterday which i had planned as my giveaway. so only to take pictures of them all this afternoon.


In celebration of my 5 year BLOGGERVERSARY I would like to offer these five ornaments, thus there be five winners. The giveaway is open to absolutely anyone, please simply leave a comment on this post only. I will pick the winners at the end of this month(31st oct.)

Regal Red Christmas flatfold
Milady's Needle design
JCS magazine 2010
32ct linen
variegated DMC 115


Happy Skater ornament
Little House Needleworks design
JCS magazine 2010
32ct Belfast dirty linen
DMC threads


Christmas 2010 pinkeep
Glory Bee design
JCS magazine 2010
32ct linen
DMC threads


December needleroll
Birthstone & flower samplers
From a booklet of The World of Cross Stitching
(no designers was given)
Stitched on 28ct white evenweave
DMC threads


Sing Noel Ornament
Primrose Needleworks
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, December 2008
32ct linen
DMC threads

Going to be taking a break from blogging and the yahoo groups for a while, i don’t know for how long. Hubby will be coming home on thursday so everything will be out here including the last 2 computers. Hubby have a laptop but with the 4 of us it will be very limited time for each. We were really spoiled having each one, the kids are getting use to it now but i sure miss visiting all your blogs and the groups, not to forget facebook!
Thank you all so much for visiting and for taking the time to leave me a comment. Best wishes to all!

Scissorfobs & the winners!!

These were the scissor fobs that was sent out last month. Till now, i am still waiting for two who haven't sent a message if they receive it. It's more than three weeks now since it was sent so i hope by now all were receive or else maybe two were lost. These were all a surprise so noone were expecting it.



This is a pic. of the magazine where the designs came from.
((all pictures can be enlarge))

With my last post i am really surprise so many had signed in which i am really grateful to know that you want one of my finishes even if it's a little one. I really enjoyed making them and hope all the reciever will love it. I only feel guilty as i can only pick 4 winners as one was sent out the same day i posted the picture on my blog and one for me. Anyway, here are the winners: Terri~Boog, Carol, Margaret and Anita (no blog). Congratulations to all!! Please send me your address info. and will send it by next week. THANK YOU you to everyone who entered and stopped by!

Thursday evening, while waiting for hubby's phone call if he can make the last ferry to the island i started this design. This is an hour stitching and i am loving it but much as i love stitching i am more than happy to received the said call that he's on the last ferry at 9:30pm.

As you can see i cut a couple of blooms of the Hydrangea and took inside. It looks gorgeous on my kitchen table.

"Buks" is the name of the dog, here's a pic of where i took him for a walk three times a day. Whew! With all that walks for the whole week, sure had helped losing a bit of weight!! I think he has enjoyed his stay here with us. He listens quite well and follow me everywhere.

Only, i am a bit disappointed of what he did to my flowers. The owner doesn't have a garden so he has no idea what these lovely flowers are.


Again, i really appreciate all your visits and for taking the time to leave me all the kind comments. To all my new readers and followers, WELCOME! hope you will come back and take time to say hello.
A happy weekend to all!!

Let It Snow ornament!

I'm excited to share my second finish, isn't it sooo cute and so appropriate for our weather right now. Let It Snow ornament
Glory Bee Design
JCS 2009
32ct. blue linen, DMC threads
After finishing a couple of snowman designs thought to stitch on others too. I owe a few people some small stitched designs for their quilt blocks, so here's one i just started yesterday. One of her themes were hearts so i hope i've chosen the right one.

These two pictures below were small booklets of Christmas designs from previous magazines. I'm happy to send this out to anyone who wants to have it. ***Edited: The booklets are yours, Jenni! Please send me your address and will try to post them next week***.
As always, i really appreciate your visits on my blog and THANKS so much for taking the time to leave me a comment.
I hope everyone is staying warm in this cold, cold winter!!

Today, i am 40!

I can't believe it...but i turned 40 today! It sounds so old and probably in looks i am quite old but i do feel i am still on my 30's. ha...ha...I've mentioned to one of our friends over here that i dreaded it and so i am not going to celebrate this year. Not really, it has been very busy here lately so we would like to get out for a few days. Oh well, it didn't put her off and brought me her gift and a card last week. The card really makes me laugh...i'll try to translate:
((you can click to enlarge if you want))
40 doesn't mean life is over, you still have lots to look forward too..
*menopause
*more wrinkles
*and more ointment to camouflage
*becoming 50
therefore be cheerful and on to 41!
These pictures was taken last week. I went to get my hair trimmed last week and afterwards i let it braided, i didn't remove for the night so the next day it looks like this. I love it but pity i can't braid it myself from top to bottom to get this effect whenever i want.

Since i am not going to celebrate it here at home i thought to celebrate it here on my blog with a giveaway and also as a special thank you for all your friendship. I am so very grateful for each visit you make, each comment you leave, and each email that you send my way. So, here is what i've finsihed so far, A scissor case with the matching scissor fob. I've only manage to complete the pink one for now but if the winner prefer the green one, i'm sure it will be finish by then.
The giveaway is open to everyone! Please indicate if you want to be entered and if possible to leave an e-mail address. It is open until the 4th of January.

I ám a bit of a hurry for this post as i need to do more packing and some gifts to wrap so i haven't the time to go and search who the designer is of this freebie. I will look for it when we get back after Christmas.
(i hope it will work as i schedule this post for the 24th)

Here’s wishing all of you a Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy & healthy New Year!

December giveaway! x'mas ornament!!

I know it´s not yet December but since this is a x´mas ornament, i would like to send it out before the end of November, hopefully it will reach the new owner in time for Christmas.
Christmas Angel Ornament
Midsummer Night Designs
JCS 2007
32ct linen
DMC Threads

((you can click on all pictures to enlarge if you want))


As always, everyone is welcome to enter, but please indicate if you want to be added for the draw and if possible to leave your e-mail address so i know where to contact you.
It will be open until thursday, 26th of November.

With this i completed the whole year for my monthly giveaway. Did try each month with different finishing and i really really appreciate everyone who sign/or enter the draw. That really motivates me to continue till now. I do hope you will continue to visit me even if without the giveaways.
I am willing though...that is; for next year 2010!! to grant anyone's wish with a stitched piece finish into what they'll like either a scissor fob, pinkeep, floss ring tag, biscornu, mattress pincushion, needleroll, needlebook, hanging ornament or a flatfold. If anyone's interested PLEASE send me an e-mail: mboekel@yahoo.com , with your info of what kind of finishing, favorites color or designs (i don't have much choices though in my meagre stash and rely mostly on freebies).

Oh well, i went to picked up hubby the other day and i was feeling a bit nervous of his reaction over the dent of the car. Parked the car infront of their ship and went in for a cup of coffee and then i heard that i have to move the car but i gave him the key instead so he went to park it on another area. When he came back, i asked how he thought about the dent but he hasn´t even had a look at it. We left the shipyard after an hour going back to the island but stopped elsewhere for lunch before taking the ferry back, still he hasn´t had a look at it. Till we are parked at our garage and i told him to have a look and he said it looks worse on the picture i´ve sent than it really was. We will see over the repair later but not so soon...

Here some pictures of hubby and Max last night. These two are really close!!

Since hubby is home for two weeks this time i might not be online much. I´m sorry if i´m late visiting everyone´s blog, and i know I owe a few friends email back and will try to answer soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by and all the kind comments. I am not yet over with therapy but atleast it is getting better. I do hope everyone will have a wonderful weekend!

Nov. giveaway, a simple needlebook!

I messed up the earlier post of this, hope it comes out alright now.
((you can click on all pictures to enlarge if you want))
simple needlebook
Freebie by: Les grilles de Maryse
32ct linen
DMC threads
Everyone is welcome to enter, but please indicate if you want to be added

for the draw and if possible to leave your e-mail address so i know where to contact you.
It will be open until wednesday next week, 11Nov.



Can't get an appointment for therapy last monday as it was already full, but glad was able to get in yesterday. She was busy for half an hour, which actually the shoulder pain is due to problem on my neck. After that, the pain eases a bit and today is getting better. I am scheduled to go in again on monday.

As you can see i got a dent in our car! Happened last night when i went to pick up the boys(4) after their football training and just dropped one and driving through a norrow road followed by a curve to the right and i didn't noticed i was very near the fence on my right side. It was very dark and raining quite hard. I went back this morning to check out the damage and let the owner of the place know i was the one who did it. Glad it wasn't bad, only a small scratch. They appreciate it that i had tell them about it. oh what a scare it was last night!! I thought aside from the car damage i'll have to face more payment to let the fence fix. I really hadn't sleep much last night thinking of it all.

Hope you are all having a good week. Thank you for visiting my blog, I really appreciate all your visits and lovely comments.

Another busy weekend ahead but...

....first would like to share my finish project this week. The travelling pattern, SIMPLY LIVE! I've been working on this on and off and finally it's done! I've used most of the given colour numbers but a few was replaced but then also from Sampler Threads. So in all where stitched using GAST hand dyed threads. Kathy, will send the chart to you sometime next week. I think Maggie has sent the addresses before but i can't find it anymore, hope you'll see this message and send me your info.


Simply Live
The Primitive Needle
32ct Belfast linen
Sampler threads


Chris just picked the winner of the Oct. giveaway early this morning, congrats to .....Katri!. Please send me your info. and will send it early next week.

In a few hours we will be leaving the island and off to the southern part of Holland for the weekend. We will be joined by one of our friends and stay on one of the Landal parks .....Landal Duc De Brabant.
Saturday, was booked to go to .....Efteling, one of the famous amusement park here.
WEll, better go and packed as nothing was done yet..!
Thanks so much for stopping by and hope everyone have a wonderful weekend!

Oct. giveaway, halloween ornament!

Halloween ornament
freebie by...??
32ct linen and DMC threads

I am sorry i can't find who is the designer of this one as i printed it

a while back. Hope somebody know and i really appreciate to hear who the designer is.
Everyone is welcome

for the draw, but please indicate if you want to be added for the draw and if possible to leave your e-mail address so i know where to contact you. It will be open until thursday, 15th October as i would like to send it out the following day because we are going away for a long weekend with the children this time.

Hubby had missed Max a couple of times when he was here while dh at sea so we've asked the owner if we can borrow him for a few days and picked him up last sunday but had to bring it back wednesday evening as we get another dog to take care of.


This is Buks from one of our friends. He was dropped today as our friends are going to Turkey for vacation. They are flying mid-morning tomorrow so they left the island early this evening and going to stay at a hotel nearby the airport for the night.


I know we should control eating much as we've gain a few pounds the last days but we have quite some apples brought by my brother-in-law last month, from their apple tree, though we've used lots last weekend for Grace birthday still lots are over. Since everyone loves "appelflap"(apple fritter), i've made some yesterday.
Just made this apple tart early this evening as i promised a firend to take one for her birthday which she'll celebrate tomorrow together with their daughter. Also prepared a beef curry but haven't taken a picture of it as it's still not done. Our friend(living at the mainland) is nearly six months pregnant and quite weak so the doctor's advice not to work much.
Again, another busy weekend ahead of us! Hope you all have a great weekend.