cross stitch, card making mum

i am in the middle of another model stitch - this one is for jo at polstitches and it is nearing the final straight. it is a design which i would not normally stitch but since stitching this one, i don't think it iwill be the last. can't show a pic yet but as soon as it is finished and back with jo i will be shouting it from the rooftops!!

also need to get started on christmas cards - can't believe it is the 1st of november already. only made 5 so far and i need to make mine and then some stock for the christmas fayre at my daughters school. better get a move on

since my last post (in april - must get to be a more regular blogger) my back is just about back to normal. i still get the odd twinge but no where near as bad as it was. i have to take care of it now as it will always be more susceptible to injury but, touch wood, it is ok at the moment.

i set up this blog ages ago but have never actually made an entry!!!
it was my birthday at the weekend and i have had some gorgeous birthday cards from forum friends - here they are:

they are all beautiful and are all on display in our living room - don't think they will come down until the christmas cards start arriving

haven't added anything on here for a while, have been really busy and kids have been ill.
start of the easter hols and colds started adn then one week back at school, my sons birthday and he starts being sick. hubby, son and i have all had sickness bug all over weekend, luckily i only had it a day adn then hubby two days but jacob has been really bad adn still not right. luckily daughter has been alright.

son was three last week, won't be long before he starts nursery in septemeber - they were talking about taking him now as he only missed out on intake by a few days but he isn't potty trained yet and i don't feel like letting go just yet.

i have finished my commission stitching and wendy from enchanted needles was really pleased with it.
 
i am now into a new project but this one is a secret as it is an exchange gift for a birthday exchange on pink laydees forum - have just had to unpick some of last nights work though as i went completely wrong for some reason!!

i have nearly finished the hardangar stitch along, just need to add the beads but need to do it in daylight as teh beads are so small - can't wait to get it finished:

leg and back is still playing up. went to physio on saturday and she was pleased with progress but since has sickness bug it seems to be aching so much more and after todays school run and wander around town it is agony - hope the improvement starts again soon.

i have also been starting to make cards for my daughters summer fayre - did a stall last year and they were popular so was asked again this year - seem to be doing mostly decoupage at moment but need to get some other designs made too, must have a mass card making weekend soon!

i suffer from panic attacks and have since i conceived my eldest child. i changed my tablets four weeks ago tomorrow and have been back to see consultant today. he is really pleased with how i am getting on with new tablets and so am staying on te same tablets dosage for the next six weeks when i will have another review.

have also had two sessions iwth the physio re back and leg pain. i have a shift in my spine where it is bending towards the right and the bottom three vertebrae(sp?) are very stiff and i have lost the natural arch in the bottom of the back. so lots of manipulation and exercises to do to try and get it right! at teh start of teh second session, the physio says the shift has improved and i am straighter but bottom of back is really stiff.

stitching wise i have done the third week of the hardangar stitch a long all bar the french knots - had a bit of a problem with them. there are only eight of them but after the first two which looked ok the others just wouldn't lie right so i have bought some beads which were delivered today so will finish that tonight.

i am also starting another stitch along. it is to make an eight sided pin cushion - it has a special name and begins with b (something like biscournu) will have to double check the name. i needed some hand dyed aida so have ordered some from www.polstitches.com and the matching varigated thread and some similar beads - they are due to be delivered at end of the week so will get cracking on that over weekend.

need to sit down and have a good go at commission piece too - lots of colour changes of varying shades of pink and purple, need to concentrate - hope to do some tonight after adding hte beads to stitch along first!

tomorrow night is earmarked to do two mothers day cards for mum and mum in law - need to tget them done!!

have had a mixed week craftwise! my back adn leg is still playing me up although luckily i have a physio appointment tomorrow morning, hoping something will be done as leg does not seem any better - towards the end of theweek my leg is really painful.
i can't always sit and cross stitch for too long at night at moment and so have been looking for other things to do to keep busy - i bought one of those knit a scarf kits and finished it this week. of course i had to buy a pink one adn when i went to photograph it, it looked like a pink fluffy pile on the table so i decided to ask my daughter to model it but then son wanted to model it too - so think i may have lost it!!
i know my daughter wants me to do her one too but think son is going to argue for one too!

i have also done the second week of the polstitches hardanger stitchalong too adn am really enjoying this too. i bought the materials pack from her too and so am loving teh colours jo has chosen!

i have also stitched a little on the noahs ark picture although this is going to have to take a back seat for a while, while i stitch a commission piece for wendy at enchanted needles.

had a good session stitching last night. my big project at moment (i usually have one big/main project on the go and then have little projectrs when i want something light to do) is bothy threads cut thru noahs ark. last night i finished the fourth, of nine, pages:

i have also started a weekly stitch along 'sweet dreams hardangar' by a desiner - polstitches who also runs a business, hand dying and selling threads adn fabrics. this is week ones work, kloster blocks adn algerian eye stitches

i have also received in the post this morning a piece of commission stitching - a birth sampler for a girl - will have to check with the designer if i can post pics of this as i stitch on it.

back adn leg is getting no better and so i have also bought a funky pink scarf to knit when i am sitting in pain and when cross stitch is not an option!

two child births with no pain relief and now back pain and spasms and i am nearly in tears!! orginally thought it was sciatica and then not sure but waiting to see a physio to see if they decide i need more tests.
am stocking up on painkillers but nothing seems to be helping the pain. have been into town this morning looking for birthday presents and was supposed to be taking son to a playgroup at nursery this afternoon and have had to disappoint him. can't move too quickly and trying to change son's nappy is hilarious at the moment!
must sound like a real moaner but don't seem to be able to do anything at moment; walking hurts, sitting cross stitching is really difficult and can't sit for too long, sitting at computer is also uncomfortable. think i may have to go and lie on sofa for a while and wait for friend to bring daughter home!

well this is the first post and i hope to update this blog at least once every couple of days.
i have two children - a daughter aged 4 1/2 and a son who is nearly 3. i am married to darron adn we have been together for 11 years, married for 6.

i have at moment got a bad back and leg. doctor thinks it is sciatica and said i had a lump at bottom of back. have been putting anti inflamatory gel on it for over three weeks now but hasn't done any good, been back today and he is referring me to a physio - hope it doesn't takke too long as i am in real discomfort and pain after walking back home today. charlotte is back at school next week after half term so need to be able to get her to and from school each day, getting there isn't too bad but it is the walking home from school or town that is the problem as there is two big hills to walk up and jacob doesn't allways want to walk up, so i end up pushing the pushchair each time.

we are trying to potty train jacob at teh moment, he knows what to do but doesnt' like the potty so i am up and down stairs all the time taking hime to the toilet all the time - not too good for my back adn leg pain at moment.

charlotte is also getting better at having dry pull up pants in teh night too - she had a little set back last night but we have had nearly a week of dry pull up pants before that. need to bite the bullet and leave them off one night but she is sneaking into our bed during the night so knowing our luck it would be our bed that ended up with the wet patch.

will try and update over the weekend adn upload some of my cross stitch work - my current work in progress is the bothy threads cut thru' noah's ark and i am nearly finshed 4 out of the 9 pages.

hoping tonight to have a card making session and start on my stock for charlottes school summer fayre. had a stall last year when i made a donation to the school for every card i sold and have been asked to do it again this year so really need to make a start.