Connors birthday finish!

Connor became 7 yesterday. His growing up too fast, i dont like it! 

Only 2 pics im afraid, he had a great day but all of the pics we took came out blurry (last time i let my partner be the photographer) 

He loved his Avengers cross stitch. its not perfect as i didnt give myself enough time to stitch. Theres a few bits that i frogged and Connor informed me i forgot to put America on Captain America, but that is ok as i tried my best! lol

Happy Xmas! Yule Fairy

Happy Xmas!!

After almost 2 years of stitching i finished Yule Fairy but put her away as she is my Mums Xmas present. I found some lovely fabric in my local fabric shop and that very night i sat down to finish sewing the stocking.

It has turned out a lot better then i thought! The toes and heel are still a little boxy- as i have found on the other stockings i made- but nowhere near as bad as i expected. The sewing machine played nice so i managed to finishing sewing it after only 3 attempts at rethreading! Thats a record! I think i am finally getting better at sewing....

I thought i would include a photo of my Mum receiving the stocking Xmas day. Shes just starting to cry....good tears :)

Xmas morning was over so quickly. The kids loved it and was very excited.

Stockings 

 One of Esmai's main presents was a recycled dolls house. This was originally made for my sister almost 15 years ago by a neighbour. My sister has long out grown it so gave it to us for my daughter. It had been pretty beaten up, all solid but the door and windows were hanging off and it had chewing gum inside.
My partner complete redecorated it, white paint, flooring, fixed the doors and windows, wallpaper and the best bit was it was complete free, we brought some dolls and furniture but the actual house and decorating didn't cost a thing!
She has played with it for hours. Making the dolls walk up and down the stair, over and over and over- telling me off when i dont do it right!

 We made a gingerbread house with the kids. It was the first one we have ever made and it was a disaster!! It was from a kit but the damn thing kept falling apaprt

A rare chance to stitch during the day with my little helper

Esmai snuggled up for almost 30 mins ( a life time for a toddler!) and helped me stitch. She held my chart, helped me count, well upto 3 anyway, and made sure i didn't get distracted by eating my chocolate for me!

I love it when my children take a interest in my hobbies. I remember sitting with my Nan as she stitched. She taught me, maybe one day Esmai will want to learn :)

More progress then i thought!

I have spent 2 nights working on my sewing, the rest of the time i have been working (the boring kind)

I was surprised at how much i had managed to get done. I didn't realize how much until i looked at my last update. I would hate to jinx myself but *whispers* I think i might have it done in time for Xmas this year!.....Maybe. A year late is better then never ....right?

Yesterday we went down to a local park with my parents. It was the first time in ages they have been able to come down and play with the kids, due to everyone's health problems. My Dad had more fun then the kids and i expect he would have slept well last night as he was charging round the park chasing the kids, who of course loved being chased by the child eating Ogre! 

It feels like ages since i have updated how the Sprogs are getting on:

Connor: Is really enjoying being home Educated. All the nightmares have gone! He is growing in confidence. He never fails to surprise me with his love of learning, which has made a recent reappearance. He is struggling with a bad bout of hay-fever at the moment so is having to take meds daily. Its his birthday in 15 days. He is massively over excited.

Esmai: We have hit the Terrible 2's a little early. She is into climbing everything and anything. She is sleeping better and slowly stopping boobie. She loves anything vaguely baby shaped or furry and has a fascination with her coat and the word "Nooooo" and "Stuck"

This went on for almost a hour!

Dino Hoodie

 

Not alot of stitching to show so i thought i would show you the Dino hoodie i made for Connor. We are covering Dinosaurs at the moment in home-school. I kinda of threw it together in 20 minutes while i was waiting for dinner. It is not neat and the stitching is very poor quality,but now i know what im doing im  planning on making a revised version,which will be neater and planned out a little better. Which will be a good thing as i have now got 2 custom orders to make, one of them being for my 18yr old sister!

Stitchey update

 

We have been busy busy busy!

Stitching has been going well but slow due to not pressuring myself and also we have hit a very busy 2 weeks in Home schooling.

 

We have been working on the Solar system. I had grand plans to paper mache the solar system. I worked on it solidly every night for almost 2 weeks. Each planet got several coats and when they were finally ready to paint, I called Connor into the kitchen only to find that they had all collapsed. Every sodding one! So we ended up buying polestrine balls from the local craft shop. We had lots of fun making the model and although it still needs some tweaking i am happy to have it done. We are currently working on a floor book of the Solar system. Its like a lapbook but massive. Hopefully it should be finished within a few days,if i find my get up and go, which im afraid has got up and gone. Possibly as we are all full of flu.

 

Please excuse the poor quality photos my camera isnt feeling too well either.

 

Stitching as of last night

Some written work Connor has done on the Solar system

Painting Mars

All painted and drying

Hanging in Connors bedroom

 Esmai has now learnt to use a fork without stabbing herself!

Halloween 2013 - pic post

We had a very busy Halloween. Baking cookies, making decs and trick or treating.

Connor ready to carve his minecraft pumpkin

Kids costumes

Connor making a scary face

Kids snuggled up on the sofa

Esmai playing with flour

Esmai eating flour

Connor cutting out cookies

Esmai covered in flour

Window decs



For some reason I couldn't get a good pic of the windows :(

Small progress

Theres some small progress on the bottom of the page. Some of the shawl (im really looking forward to the next page where its al drapey) and some background. For some reason blogger has turnt the picture round.

 The kids are doing really well at the moment. Connor has got very much into Ben10 again. And even spent his pocket money on a Ben10 outfit-which he refuses to take off !

 Esmai has started to take a interest in my cross stitching.She has even started to "help" rearrange my thread box.

Caught touching mummys sewing

"helping"

Update on page 3 and birthday buys!!

First of all I would like to say a massive thank you for everyone's kind words on Connors cross stitch. I read all the comments to him and he is over the moon.

 

 

I decided to sew al the black on the page so I have a rough idea of where everything is and can work in rough sections again. So all the black is now done. I then started some of the red on the wing. The colours are amazing and he picture really don't do it any justice!

 

 

Before I forget Esmai is now walking without too much help. Connor goes back to school next week.

And I will finally be able to recover from all the days out we have had. Only problem with keeping the kids busy is I end up more tired them they do!

 

 

Its my birthday next month. The way that things- money wise- are working out at the moment means I got my birthday pressies this month from my partner and children. And the best part Is I got to choose them!!

 

4 New charts from HAED. A Storage box to keep threads in and THE best gridding pen I  have ever found.

No more lost threads!

 

I still haven't finished putting all the threads in

Middle Earth- I have been after this chart forever!!!

Eternal Promise- I fell in love with this chart years ago

Storykeep-Forest Walk- His so cute

Mini Small Things

So lots to keep me busy for the next few years. Now I have to find the time and money to kit all the new buys up.

Connor's First cross stitch!

Connor (5) has been bugging me for a few days that he wants to do a cross stitch. I went online and found this small freebie, some 6count aida I had brought years ago and some black thread. He done really well, hopefully this will improve his hand/eye co-ordination.

 

 

 He loved doing it and was very pleased with the result. He insisted on wearing the q-snaps as a necklace. Loving this photo!

Maybe a couple more small freebies and he can start the magical world of HAEDs with me hehehe