Thursday 31 December 2015

Happy New Years Eve




I just love Big Ben!


Here is to a peaceful 2016

A year that's full of health 
happiness for all
xoxoxox


Big Ben at Midnight - welcoming in the New Year
(Stitched 2011)

Wednesday 30 December 2015

I hope you all had ...


A fantastic Christmas

We had a lovely time, simple but lovely :D

I think the biggest task was all the cleaning up and making sure nothing got lost in the mountain of wrapping paper lol Not many presents but they sure produced a lot of wrapping paper lol!! This was me by Christmas night ...


Christmas Jumper Photo :)  I just love this picture!
Baby Abby is trying to 'escape' us crazy people lol

A family photo using my 'Selfie-stick' that Santa
brought for me!!  Santa knows how much I love my photos
I think I need a bit of practise though!!
So, today I am going to finish sorting out my stitching list for 2016 then get some studying done!! (That's boring and not as much fun as stitching but hey ho it needs done!!) 

I have joined DUCJFC2016 in memory of Debbie.  This group has been set up and hosted by Linda. This challenge starts on 1 January 2016 so i had better get my skates on and finish my list!!  

Then do the usual ... out with the old and in with the new for New Year!!  I love going into the New Year with everything neat and tidy!!  Maybe I have a touch of OCD!!  

Have a safe journey into 2016 everyone!
xxxxxxxx

Thursday 24 December 2015

Have a good one ...

From our house 
To 
Your house 
At such a magical time of year...

Merry Christmas Everyone
xxxxxxx




Thursday 17 December 2015

Seeing Santa :)

Good Evening,

This evening we went up to the local Youth club for a Christmas party and to see Santa! (Ryan and Conor were 'bar-humbugs and didn't want to go!) 

Katie with Santa

Mark with Santa

Cara with Santa

We had an excellent evening!!  The youth Club is on the housing estate that we have moved to so it really is local ... all out neighbours!  I think we have 'hit the jackpot' with this house!!  Maybe all the stress was well worth the wait :) 

I am in the process of sorting out my stitching list for 2016. A lot on my list will be to finish off WIP's that I have on the go for me and the kiddies, start new projects that the kiddies have wanted for a long time and teacher gifts for end of the school year in June!!  

But for now ...... I think it is bedtime!!  

Goodnight all xxx

Wednesday 16 December 2015

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

H-E-L-L-O!!!

Oh what madness there has been here but hey we are nearly all ready for Christmas and are very excited!

2016 had better be a great year for us as 2015 was just a little too stressful for us all!!

I have had a play about on my sewing machine in between my Uni assignments and the children not being well!

I made Mark a tunic (well thats what its meant to be lol) as part of a Viking costume that he needed for school!!!






I must admit I am pleased with myself!! Not bad for the first 'proper' thing I have made!

I have also managed to pick up my stitching again .... whooop go me!! With luck I will be back to my normal self in no time ...

Take care
Love to all
Heather
xoxoxo



Saturday 14 November 2015

I'm Back ....


Hello Hello hello!!  

Oh boy oh boy I have missed my normal life!!  Never again am I moving!!

Total madness and chaos this time around as it wasn't a case of move in and unpack ... the whole place need scrubbing and rooms painted and the whole house needed carpet or flooring of some sort!  

So, not only was it a case of 'hump' the belongings from one house to another, it was then a case of 'hump' the belongings from room to room whilst we decorated and carpeted!!  With a great team of work men, family and friends we soon had this place ship-shape and ready to unpack!!  

My girls modelling the carpet! 

All I can say now is ... Pass me my stitching stash cos I wanna stitch!!  :)  

Speaking of stitching, my mum and dad have sent me over my Christmas present super early ...



I am absolutely delighted :) I have been saving up for one for ages now, but they decided to help Santa out!!  I can't wait to have a proper stitch on 'her', I just need some bigger pieces of fabric rather than just scraps that I have had a play about with :) 

No news really other than unpacking etc!  

Its great to be back :)

Love and hugs me
xxxxxxxx


Sunday 25 October 2015

Just a quickie ...

Hello everyone!!

It has been a long, hard and very bumpy 'road' the last 4 or 5 weeks ... Not a stitch done ... BUT we finally have a house that we can move into!!

We shall be moving on Tuesday 27th but we will have no internet for a few weeks!!
Why do companies take so long to connect a service??!!  

I will have e-mail on my phone so at least that's something .... for all my pen-pals and Katie's pen-pals we will be in touch asap with our new address :) I have got our mail redirected to our new address so anything that has been posted to us we will get to our new address :D 

I have never felt so stressed and worried in all my life like I have been the past month or so!  The house we are moving into is one we can stay in for many years to come so at least mow we have the security over our heads knowing a landlord cannot make us move!

The kids are so pleased ....

So from all of us to all of you ... see you on the other side

Take Care
Love and hugs
xoxoxoxo 


Monday 14 September 2015

Great kiddies ....

Hello!!

I just had to show you this ...

I was clearing kitchen up last night before bed (I love getting up to a clean and tidy kitchen lol) and spotted this egg that Ryan had left on top of the egg carton haha!!  A great sense of humour he has!

Egg face!!

Says ... 'Ryan was here'
What a boy!! 

Last week at school Katie was awarded Star of the week ... 

My Shinning Star

Jo has pointed out that my Blogoversary isn't yet as the counter is broken!!  I must admit I looked at it the other week and it said 45 days then suddenly it was 15 days!  I did wonder where my weeks had gone but thought nothing of it!!

Well no news ... no luck on a house yet either :(  Can't believe this is happening to us again!!  I just hope we are sorted by Christmas!!

Bye for now
Love me xxxxx

Sunday 13 September 2015

OOOOO Just realised ....

That it will be my Blogoversary in 15 days time!!!  
OOOOO I think I will organise a give-away :)

Ryan is getting on really well at 'big school' and on Friday he even got the school bus to the main bus depot :)  Great stuff!!  

One more week before James is off to Uni!  I will sure miss that boy!  

There is lots going on here and very little stitching :(  The house we moved into a few months ago has been sold!!!  So here we are again ... house-hunting ... 

Lets hope we are successful in finding a house very soon!!  We feel like a bunch of gypsy's as we have done nothing but move about for the past 2 years!  I'm fed up having to get new address labels printed up lol!!  At least this time it shall be easy moving because when we moved last time I bought a whole load of plastic boxes that fitted under the beds ... All the toys etc are still in the boxes as they make great toy boxes or magazine boxes ... so we are basically packed up and ready to go!!  I love accidental organisation haha!!  

But this week I am going to concentrate on getting James off to Uni before he changes his mind as he doesn't want to leave me with the prospect of moving house on my own but I'm a big girl with loads of lovely friends who will help me :)  

I will keep you posted ... and watch out for my give-away :D

Bye for now
Love me
xxxxxx


Wednesday 2 September 2015

And they're off ...

                                                             

Hello everyone!

Well, back to school for the kiddies, back to routine and homework !!!  

Ryan started High School yesterday and he was a bag of nerves going in but he came out with a big smile on his face so that's a great sign!!  

First day nerves for my big man!!

It was so strange walking just Conor, Mark, Katie and Cara up for the bus!!  I kept looking behind myself to see if Ryan was behind me lol  He was at home waiting for me to get back for a lift!! James checked him over to make sure he had his tie on right and shirt buttoned up haha  I think he is more of the mother hen!!  The next big milestone in our family is James off to Uni on 19th Septemebr!!  

Conor and Mark

Cara, Katie, Mark and Conor

Katie

Getting on the bus!!

One problem the kiddies always have is finding their PE kit bags when everyone's look the same so I hunted down bags that would be easily spotted by them and I ordered these from eBay ... I am totally delighted!!  

Kiddies PE kit bags

I think it is time now to get some stitching done :D  I am currently stitching Cara's mermaid and I Hope to be able to get it finished for her soon!

Have a great day!

love me
xxxxx

Monday 31 August 2015

I made ...

B A G S!!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all well and had a great weekend :)  We have had a lovely weekend, well a lovely few months off the 'norm' of routine ... but I do love routine!  

This is what I made at my beginners sewing machine class!! 

A Lavender Bag

A bag for my Cross Stitch stash

Katie Modelling My Bags

I must say I totally enjoyed my day learning to use a sewing machine :)  I am now saving up for a machine of my own!!  Cara has already started a 'wish list' of goodies she wants made haha!!  She has a lot of trust and faith in my abilities haha!!  

Joan Elliott Stitch A Long with my
Sewing Machine Jar

The last few days have been busy sorting things out for school as the kiddies go back tomorrow :) Ryan  also starts big school tomorrow!!

Uniforms/PE kit/Coats all ready for
Tomorrow!!!
There is and will be lots of change going on in this house as James has his date now for Uni, and he moves into his residence on 19th September!!  Life seems to be flying by at the moment!!  

I will post some photos of Ryan in his big school uniform :)... I just hope its not too much of a struggle to get up super earlier tomorrow lol

Have a great week all!

Love me
xxxxxx

Wednesday 19 August 2015

From ....

THIS ...




TO ...



I am totally made up :)  It was more hard work trying to get a photo of her framed than it was stitching her lol The light kept reflecting off the glass!!

Sewing machine course tomorrow .. I cant wait!!  I will let you know how it goes and I just hope I don't come home with the machine sewn to my jeans lol

Love me
xxxxx

Monday 17 August 2015

Great news and a Mermaid for Cara

Hello there!!

After a busy couple of weeks (as usual lol) and a heart echo scan for Katie I can say that Katie's hole in the heart has nearly closed :)  For all you people familiar with a pin pick ... well that just how big the hole is now :D  Totally delighted!!

A child born with 2 holes in her heart now only has one teeny weeny little hole that should close on its own in the next year or so!!  We have to go back in 2 years for another echo scan and with luck the hole shall have vanished!!  She is not on any medication and has never needed an op!! Absolutely amazing!!  

Katie (with tongue out) Cara and me!!
Love my hair band lol 

Finally I have started stitching something other than my Summer fairy lol  She is at the framers still waiting to be framed :)

This week I have stitched some on stitches onto a piece of fabric and 'Dah dah' ... a mermaid started to appear haha!!  

This is another of Joan Elliott's fab designs :)  I bought 'A year of magical Stitching' chart pack and the mermaid I am stitching is from July


Mermaid for Cara

We have had 'fun' this week as one of our cats, Charlie, went missing and after a big Facebook plea and numerous hours and hours of searching around the streets, two people spotted her in our local area!  They kept her amused, after phoning the vets, and once her microchip was scanned to confirm she was our Charlie we were reunited with her :) Fantastic!!

Never underestimate the power of social media and the generosity of good people!!  

Charlie

Next week I am off to a one day beginners sewing machine course :)  I cannot wait to learn how to use a sewing machine!! I am really looking forward too this :D

James, my 19 year old, is in charge of the kiddies ... but I suspect that it may well be Cara who is in charge haha!!  Poor James will be hen-pecked all day lol I will let you all know how I get on with the sewing machine and how James survived the 'monsters' lol lol :D

Have fun and keep safe everyone

Love Heather
xxxxxx

Wednesday 5 August 2015

She's Finished!!!

Hello to you all!

The summer Holidays are going swimmingly ... literally lol The rain has not stopped at all for weeks!!  I think we need an arc building haha

Laura and Abby moved out a few weeks ago and its very strange I must say!!  James is off to Uni in 4 or 5 weeks time ... the family is shrinking!!  No doubt James will be home every few weeks with a bag of washing and to raid the fridge haha!!

With the weather so bad I ended up booking Mark, Katie and Cara into the local summer scheme for a few hours a day just so they had something to do!  Where has the sunshine gone?

The kiddies are at their fathers this week so I sat down and finished my Summer Fairy :D Delighted!!

Summer Fairy Finished
04 August 2015

Summer fairy
Of course the children have a list of stuff ready for me to start now lol There's no rest for the wicked lol

I already 'had' to stop my Fairy stitching the other week to stitch a doggie for Cara!!  Oh the chore of such a task lol

Cara's Doggie
I have also stitched and posted my exchange for the Margaret Sherry blog exchange but I cant show photos just yet :) I think the next task will be Cara's mermaid and then Ryan's dragon!  Both designs by Joan Elliott ... I think they are as hooked on her designs as I am :D

Well, I must sort out Cara's mermaid stuff and get cracking lol
Happy stitching and crafting everyone :)

Love and hugs
Heather
xxxx


Wednesday 15 July 2015

Pen-pals for Kiddies

Hi there,

My two youngest Katie (nearly 8 years old) and Cara (5) would each love some pen-pals!!

Any of my regular readers have children/grandchildren or know of children that would love to correspond with either or both of the girls via snail mail post?

I don't mind posting outside of the UK  :)

If so please either leave a comment with e-mail address for me to contact you or drop me a line heatherloismail@gmail.com

Thanks!

Love me
xxxxxxx




Thursday 9 July 2015

Totally delighted!! #projectoftheweek

Hello All,

Yesterday my Summer fairy was voted project of the week by the World of Cross Stitching magazine :)

I cannot believe how many lovely comments I got and also all the 'likes'  Totally over the moon!!




I can imagine that you are all getting a bit fed up of looking at the lovely lady lol  

I aim to have her finished asap!!  I am just waiting on more metallic thread to arrive so I can finish her dress off and get more beads on!!

This nomination was a lovely surprise and a nice birthday gift to me lol  Its my 44th Birthday today!!

Wow I am getting old haha

The British Heart Foundation and @YorkshireMOS are doing a giant Heart of Steel and by making a small contribution people can have names engraved on this giant Heat of Steal ... needless to say I am having, with Katie's full agreement, her name engraved on the heart :)  As many of you know she was born with 2 holes in her heart.  One has closed and in August she is due a scan again to check on her progress ... fingers crossed .... anyway click on the link and have a look at this magnificent project being organised by lots of companies!!  Its amazing!!


Embedded image permalink
Heart of Steel
Photo https://twitter.com/@YorkshireMOS

Bye for now
Love me
xxxx

Monday 6 July 2015

We Have ...

B E A D S!!!  (At long last hahaha)  Ok just a few but hey its getting there!!

Summer Fairy as at 05 July 2015
Hi there everyone!

Well as you can see I am on the final run of Joan Elliott's Summer Fairy!!  Phew its been a long time coming!!

I've hunted out a few photos from the last few week ... hope you enjoy them :D


Ryan's very last day and moments of Primary
School. Photo taken just as he was about to
walk through the school gates for the
very last time!
Mark won the Award for
Manners and Conduct
for his year :)  Excellent!
Well done Mark xxx
                                                             
Mark - Sports day
               Katie Sports Day


Laura and Abby Sports Day!!
Cara Sports day- racing with her shadow lol!!
Walking to school bus stop

My Fav photo :)  My one and only photograph with all
5 kiddies all warning the same green jumpers!!
This was the one and only chance I had as
Ryan in big school next year and last year
Cara was in red Nursery jumper!!

Me after showing off my sticker from the
Headmaster after I 'worked' hard with
the Parents Council at school one Sunday!!
Conor on the plane off to visit
my parents with James!!  

I hope you enjoyed this little snippet into the events of the past few weeks :)

Now time to do some Pen-Pal letters :D  I love snail mail!!  Anyone else enjoy the good old fashion letter through the letter box?  There is nothing like it at all!!

Pen-Pals anyone? lol :D









Bye for now

Love me
xxxxxxx