The first stitch is in...

That's right everyone I have started stitching , my first HAED.  The rainy weather drove me to do it he, he, he. Like I needed an excuse! I have done about 120 stitches into my 25ct luguna antique white linen. All black DMC thread so far. I am doing it on an oak lap frame. I haven't used a frame for years. I've decided to train myself to do the two-handed stitching method with the frame resting on a desk. Hoping it is will quicker using that method.  I need to use my daylight lamp as those stitches are oh so tiny! I figured if I stitch on it everyday then I should progress with it nicely.

Marjolein Bastin is progressing well.  I have finished two seeds to the left of the toadstool and have half done the hedgehog.  I should have the hedgehog knocked off by tonight.  In Australia we don't have hedgehogs. We have echidnas instead.  

Thanks for visiting my garden.
                                                   Jan x

My First HAED!!!

I can't believe it.  I have purchased my first HAED (insert Happy Dance here).  "Love" by Marta Dahlig.  It is a completely different pattern to the ones I put in the HAED survey last week on my blog for your feedback. I found it by accident here while trawling blogs. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the one! 

As you can see, Gypsy Firefly was voted to be the most popular pattern voted by you, my readers. Don't be alarmed as I still love it and it will be my second HAED pattern.

Now to begin gridding my 25ct antique white luguna linen...

Doing a Highland fling...

I have just returned from taking DD to compete at a Highland (Scottish) dancing competition on the weekend.  This is not a new thing to me as I grew up Highland dancing myself. I can proudly saw I even particpated in a highland swordathon (doing the well-known sword dance) last week to raise money for the Australasian Championships which will be held in Hobart next year at Easter.  And yes I was a bit stiff the next day.

My DD's kilt is blue Stewart of Appin. It was my sister's kilt so it's lovely that DD fits into it!

Whoo hoo! My Molly Makes mobile phone kit that I won on Sarah's blog arrived.  I love it and can't wait to stitch it. It's my first blog win so even better"!

I am doing a Highland fling today (figuretively speaking) as I have nearly finished stitching the toadstool. What part of the sampler will I do next? The hedgehog? The squirrel? I guess you will have to wait and see...

Take my HAED survey...

I try to blog twice weekly - Mondays and Thursdays. It seems to fit best into my life.  I hope it doesn't mean I am a control freak.  I'm always hoping I have enough stitching to show you though after 3x days. Mostly there is something to show you. When I first started my blog back in '09 I was doing it on a random basis which meant there were long stretches which were blogless :(
Do you have regular blogging days or do you just blog at random times? 

Over the last three days there is progress on the toadstool...

By the way I haven't forgotten about the Hawk Run Hollow patterns I have bought.  I have decided to use 36ct linen for the Shores of HRH as I will cope with the stitching size better. I am going to start Shores of Hawk Run Hollow after I finish Marjolein Bastin sampler. I am trying very hard to not have more than one BAP going at a time. The temptation to start another is very hard to resist!

DH and I took our family to the Royal Hobart Show today. A toddler meeting a kid (the goat variety) is a moment to remember forever.  My eldest son (nearly 11) is missing from the shots. He took off with some school mates once we arrived at The Show which was the last we saw of him LOL.

Thanks for stopping by my garden,

                                                          Jan  xox

A toadstool is growing...

I am up to my favourite part of the English garden sampler - stitching the toadstool.  I love the colours in it and the spots on it's surface. Can't wait to stitch more of it!

 Over the last few weeks I have been thinking about decorating ideas for my sewing room. It's the one room in the house I have a full say on how it is decorated.   My DH likes to gives his input everywhere else.  Here is a little collection I have put up on my sewing room wall.

These old sewing threads which belonged to my DH's grandmother really appeal. I will never use them but enjoy opening their wooden box to admire their beautiful shine, devine colours and vintage labels. Have you got any sewing memorabilia?

By the way if you are a HAED fan please do my survey?  I am going to by my very first HAED but there are so many beautiful patterns and I cannot decide which one to get first.

Thanks for vising my garden,

                                       Jan x0x

An Autumn Story...

The main reason I enjoy stitching the Marjolein Bastin English garden sampler is it reminds me of the Brambly Hedge stories by Jill Barklem.  I adore Brambly Hedge and its world within a wood.  The little mouse with the nearby juicy blackberries I have just stitched are as adorable as the pictures in Jill's books.
  

       

"It was a fine Autumn. The blackberries were ripe, and the nuts were ready, and the mice

                               of Brambly Hedge were very busy."  Autumn Story by Jill Barklem

10 Things you might like to know about me...

1. What was the last film that really moved/disturbed/thrilled you and why? Jane Eyre. The eerie noises from the attic room get me every time.


2.If you could be given ANY gift what would it be?
The gift of pushing thoughts into other people's minds particularly my husband so I don't have to repeat myself. I love my husband so much despite this.
Can I have a second gift?  The ability to crochet. It's the one craft I have FAILED at. I can never keep the tension right.


3.What's your favourite way to wake up and what's the first thing you do?
I love a little sleep in. 8am is the latest I sleep into these days.  First thing I like to do in bed is have a coffee while reading a book or my iPhone.


4. What crafts have you done?
You name it I have probably done it in a big or small way. Scrapbooking, sewing, quilting, cross stitching, tapestry, knitting, crochet, hobbytext (remember that one?) are the biggies.


5.  What were you doing before you started this?
Chasing my toddler around. It's quiet downstairs I think I should go check to see what mischief he is up to.
ADDIT - checked Tom. He was taking all the photos frames from the top of the dresser and giving them to Bob, the cat.


6. When was the last time you cried laughing?
Last week reading my 10 yo DS's story.  His characters were losing limbs and dying all over the placein his sci-fi fantasy story.


7.What did you want to be when you were little?
A school teacher.  I changed my mind in Year 9 and became a doctor instead.


8. What is your current favourite TV program?
Doc Martin. I've only just become a convert and love it. Maybe it's the doctor patient cringe moments in it I relate to the most. 
9. What would you name yourself?
I have been known as Jan nearly all my life so I would drop Janette from my birth certificate if I could.


10. What characteristics do you hate about yourself?
I'm terrible at keeping cupboards tidy

First blog win!!!

Happy Jan here (as a Jan I am not a fan of the catchphrase "not happy Jan" by the way). I've had my first blog giveaway win!!! Thank you Sarah for hosting the giveaway. I have won a Mollie Makes iPhone case kit. Can't wait to receive it.

There has been progress on my right Summer border on the cross stitch. Another shaft of wheat. I am totally in love with my new "angel" scissors. I received these as part of a free gift when I purchased a cross stitch from The Fox Collection recently.

Thanks for visiting my garden,
Jan

Mouse Monday...

"It's time for bed, little mouse, little mouse,

Darkness is falling all over the house."

Mem Fox