Chatelaine Mystery 13- Peacock Garden

Well those that know me, know I like stitching Chatelaines designed by Martina Webber. Well this year is no different. I've signed up to do this years mystery as the pull of the 'Peacocks' drew me to it.
I've decided this year that instead of sending for the thread kits from America with all the speciality threads in, I would do the bulk in the DMC threads that are cross referenced, use the caron Waterlillies, and Perle threads as per original kit and of course the metallic thread and beads. I'm hoping this saves me a small fortune too!

Anyway, I made a start on it yesterday afternoon, and again this afternoon/evening and here is my progress so far.

Sewing update

Here where I'm up to with St Sophia. Unfortunately over Christmas & the New year I came down with Bronchitis, so I was forced to stay inside and keep warm with my sewing for company....what a pity. LOL.

I'm going to make a start this weekend on the Chatelaine Mystery 13 for this year which is 'peacock' based. I've got my fabric now, and instead of sending to America for the complete kit, I'm just going to use the DMC equivalent with the recommended Caron Waterlillies thread- which I love. I'm hoping it will still look ok, but I just can't justify the expense of the recommended threads/kit this year, so this will be know as my recession buster piece. As the charts are released a bit every month, I'm hoping to still be able to stitch St Sophia in between the releases, if I can keep up!!

New Years Day Snow.

New Years day brought us around 5 inches of snow, which for us living on the coast is a rarity. The dogs thought it was great fun, who says snow is just for kids!!! Here is Brook and Orchid having a truly mad time in it, just wonder how long it will last for now?

Sewing update - Moonlit Orchid is finished!

Finally got a bit of time to get on with this today, so here it is-finished!
I'm going to make it into a bell pull, but as yet I don't have the bits to do it so it will have to go away in the drawer until i get them.

Livingston Canine Society Open Show-Bathgate, Scotland

A very cold frosty start for our journey up to this show. It was touch and go as to whether we went up or not, but we did. The roads were clear but icy until we reached Livingston, and saw how much snow there had been. Luckily the roads were ploughed and gritted, but the area was under over 6 inchs of snow. Anyway, we made it in to the show and Orchid did extremely well again, winning the Golden Retriever puppy, Junior and Novice classes to our amazement at still only 9½ months old. She also collected another couple of points towards her JW. I have to say that this was the coldest day I have ever shown dogs on, and with air temp of -7 we were perished. Still we had 2 hours to travel back in the car and a happy contented glow to warm us up.

Sunderland Open Show - 20.12.2009

After going 'beating' with Brook yesterday and getting caught in the snow blizzard trying to get home, I didn't think we would get to this show today, let alone even get home last night. I've never been as frightened as I was yesterday afternoon, not being able to see where I was going or even keep the car going where I wanted to go!  Anyway after 2 hours we made it home, safely with my car in one piece, just as well as I only got it back on Tuesday!
Today we carefully set off for Jarrow and the roads were much improved. Orchid won both the GR Puppy and Junior classes and Best puppy in breed. Unfortunately she wasn't placed in the group, but did go on to win the Any Variety Gundog puppy class. Brook managed to get a 3rd in the GR Graduates, but was slightly stiff and had a grazed inside hind leg from yesterday which I think was a bit tender for him. Orchid also won 3rd in the Any Variety Puppy bitch stakes and her mother, Willow, won the AV Veteran bitch stakes to my surprise. So all in all we have had a rather eventful weekend.

Stitching update 13.12.09

Moonlit Orchid is now well under way (in fact I've probably reached the half way stage!) It's a real joy to stitch with an easy goal of just stitching a band a night, which is probably why its getting stitched up so quickly. Its going to be made into the bell pull variation once finished, but I need to get a hanger to suit it yet.