Stitchy Fingers

Hi all, Spring and autumn are always the best periods to go to interesting hobby salons. Is it this time because autumn is here and we need to forget summer with all its good weather, holidays, and less time for everything crafts related? I'm quite sure that autumn is a season where once again we "nestle" ourselves in our cosy homes, pick up our different types of needles and embroider, quilt and knit again. Yesterday (Sunday) I went to a one-day event south of Brussels = the Foir' Fil. Everything here is dedicated to cross stitch (and also some quilting, felting and rug hooking). It really is our little Belgian "Aiguille en Fête" (a very big and famous salon in Paris which opens the creative season each year in February :-). Quite a lot of different designers from Belgium, France and Holland who came and showed/sold us their different works. For a complete list of whom was there you can always visist their site . This year you could wi...

Although I love the monthly IHSW (better known as I Hermit and Stitch Weekend) hosted by Joyce , I didn't participate the last couple of months due to lots of things going on (holidays, more knitting and quilting than stitching, ...). Last weekend it was that time of the month again and though I'm late I think it's better late than never! ;-) I decided to stitch some more on mom's "Asian Beauty" by Lanarte. I wanted to get rid of all the beige/fleshy colours I was embroidering and start on the red! I can assure you my friends ... it's gorgeous on the black fabric! That red really "pops"! :-) Here she is : Stitching on this piece is a pure joy and seeing her come to life is really special. I'm truly in awe at how the folks at Lanarte caught the face of this beauty with only a couple of colours and colour blends! Have a nice weekend (Friday should be done soon :-)!

A couple of days ago I saw a movie called "An Amish Murder" with Neve Campbell in a leading role.   Sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community of Painters Mill, Ohio. A young Amish girl, Katie Burkholder, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Murders. In the aftermath of the killings, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence, and for Katie, the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish. Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate Burkholder is back. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate for Chief of Police. She's certain she's come to terms with her past--until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to name him, she would betray both her family and her Amish past and expose a dark secret that could destroy her ( taken from IMDb)   The story is good and Neve really ...

Although we're still officially summer I feel that autumn is creeping closer. I start thinking about applepie, cider, nuts, mushrooms, strolls through sunlit forests and crackling leaves, ... the famous "autumn mood". Because of all of this I'm considering stitching some Halloween designs. As if to answer my question ... here's new release from one of my favourite designers : the Primitive Hare. Watch and admire :   How cool is this?! Stitch it, finish it and play around with stacking the cubes! It will be a perfect companion piece to the other design she released in September 2013 : Dreaming away here!

... as if I need other things to add to my ever growing pile of WIP's or "things to do in a near/distant future" ;-) Hearstring Samplary - His Eye is on the Sparrow - 435 x 363 stitches (calls for Weeks Dye Works and Sampler Threads)   R &R Reproductions - Quaker Seasons of Friendship - 440 x 250 stitches Blackbird Designs - Cats on Parade    I'm looking forward stitching these. Probably I'll begin with the smallest one = Cats on Parade as it is almost Halloween :-)! Speaking of Halloween, I've also ordered a green linnen band for another fun stitch : Blackberry Lane Desigsn - Witches Night Out I won't immediately start the sroll but I can see myself stitching the scissor fob to already feel a little bit of the Halloween mood. I've also found a lovely pair of scissors to accompany the fob :-) Kelmscott Designs - the Spooks & Spells or Magic Lace scissors Those names are lovely aren't they Deciding whic...

Way too funny ... I just HAD to share this with you! How would it be having a Disney prince in your life? Here's why ... NOT (that girl is too hilarious)! Look and shudder ...

This Monday it was back to school for my two girls. For my youngest it was a big day! She isn't a pre-schooler anymore but a first grader. She'll be learning the basics of reading, writing and maths (although she already knows a lot because of big sis :-). I don't have a baby anymore :-(! On the stitching front I'm happy to report that I worked some more on mom's "Asian Beauty" (by Lanarte). I love how her face is beginning to get her final shape! As for quilting ... my Dear Jane got sadly neglected the last three / four weeks due to holidays and too many projects that I took with me and my kids who were in holiday mode (very active - didn't want to go to bed too early = mom who didn't have a lot of "me-time" ;-). Although I like the summer holidays a lot, I'm glad they're over (two months holidays for the kids is a little bit too long I think) and that we're all back to the normal routine! I hope to pick DJ up again ...

Hi all, I meant to post earlier but it have been a couple of hectic weeks! After returning from our holiday at the coast we remarked that our elderly cat wasn't feeling all to well. After two visits to the vet we decided to let him go. We didn't take this decision lightheartedly!Physically he was still quite okay but he had a form of dementia. The poor thing didn't do but wander around the whole day and he didn't even know anymore how to go out etc. Our buddy (Sheeba) got to live a good age of 17 years. Because it was sooo empty afterwards we decided very quickly to take in another adult cat from the animal shelter. Actually it's a lady who takes care of 100 to 150 cats at her house = a lovely cottage with a big garden. This little fella came home with us and he adopted us really quickly! ;-) We call him Radja (from Maharadja). Mom proposed this name and we like it! :-). This week we'll let him out for the first time and we keep our fingers crossed...