Rainy days

I decided to have a break from my Moira Blackburn sampler, and pulled out my Just Nan summer humbug. I hope to get this finished up soon. The weather is supposed to be bad this weekend (and so far it is) so it's perfect stitching weather!



While I had my camera out Giggsy decided he wanted to say 'Hi', so here he is...



Rainy Day Crafter recently gave me a stylish blogger award. Thanks so much! She's a very talented crafter, into cross stitch, jewellery making and crochet. You should pay her a visit!

As part of the award I have to list 7 things about myself -

1. DH and I bought our first house in 2004. We have moved about a bit and have now finally found 'home' in our fourth house (which is good, because moving is such a hassle!)

2. I work at a law firm, and my DH and I have a flooring business with my BIL, SIL and a friend

3. I was overseas in 2006 and due to come home via the USA, around the time they uncovered the plots to blow up trans-atlantic flights. Needless to say, I was greatly worried... and blimmin' annoyed I couldn't buy duty free perfume because of it. lol

4. I actually have three nephews and two nieces. They are all gorgeous. I don't feature them much (if at all) on my blog as they are all (except Phoebe) in their teens now. I also feature Phoebe a lot less, as I am more concerned about privacy these days

5. The jewellers ruined my new eternity ring when they re-sized it for me (so, sorry - no photo yet Gabi and Siobhan). They are going to replace it with a brand new one

6. I lost 15 kilos with Weight Watchers last year. I have been maintaining this year, but am going to amp it up and try and lose 5 more kilos. I feel the cold a lot more now.

7. I have lots of big dreams - a couple of them are: I want to walk the Tongariro crossing and the Milford Track - which are both areas of extraordinary natural beauty here in New Zealand and I want to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda (how cool would that be!).

The other part of the award is that I have to nominate 15 other bloggers. I love all of the blogs I read, so if you want to list seven things about yourself let me know and I'll come to your blog and read. It's good to know more about the non-stitching side of blogger friends.

Enjoy your weekend!

Another stitchy post!

Sandra let me know she has received my exchange for her. This is a Little House Needleworks chart which was in an old issue of the Gift of Stitching. I went for a more basic finish with this pillow as I was having sewing machine issues. (A change of needle seemed to help things along though).



I am feeling very spoilt today. My DH bought me a beautiful eternity ring for my upcoming birthday. He told me he had been thinking about it for a while and had been doing a bit of research about when to get them etc. I love that so much thought has gone into it. So we went out and I managed to find a diamond and emerald dazzler in the first store we visited. I'll be wearing it on the opposite hand to my wedding and engagement rings, as my engagement ring was bought in an antique shop in Northern Ireland and is quite an unusual shape - so hard to get rings that sit up against it nicely.

For those of you who want to share - do you wear an eternity ring? If so, how long had you been married when you got yours and what prompted your DH to get it at that time (anniversary? first baby)? And is it a traditional eternity ring consisting of a continuous line of diamonds - or non-traditional like mine?

It's a little chilly here again, so the fire is going well and I'm about to get my stitching out. Enjoy whatever you are doing this weekend.

Happy Canada day and happy 4th of July to my Canadian and American friends!

Lovely jubbly...

Today my exchange from Ann
arrived. Ann knitted me this gorgeous little zippered pouch, and made a beautiful scissor fob. What a gorgeous colour explosion at this dreary time of year (it's winter down here in the southern hemisphere).



I think my gorgeous quilted needlebook from Sandra deserved a bit more air time. Just her second attempt at making one. Amazing! I think she might have tapped into a hidden talent - what do you think? Here is a closer look...



And as mentioned in my last post, I have been cracking on with my Moira Blackburn sampler. I am so loving this at the moment.



Well, it's Friday again... have a great weekend folks!