Mr Big Stuff

Wilberforce was invited to his Mummy's 10th birthday party yesterday so we put together this card.  It gave us the chance to try out our new dogs embossing folder on the Sizzix machine.  His paws are very dexterous.

We then made up this piece of Airdale cross stitch into a padded sachet, we already have our own and Wilberforce thought his Mum would like one too.

Then we stamped some paper and a gift tag to wrap it all up in.

Here is the invite we received and the boys enjoying themselves there.  A good time was had by all.

Wilberforce in the Wars again

Poor Wilberforce has another eye infection.  It is only three months since his last.  His vet cannot seem to find the reason and we wonder if he is alergic to any of our plants or shrubs as he does seem to frequently blunder through the undergrowth and I have to pick burrs off his coat.  So he is back on the eye drops, antibiotics, and cream for his eye.  He has also got arthritis in his front leg and is taking tablets for that too.  Fortunately, he's already starting to look a bit better since I took this photo so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

I have finished another blanket (number three) for the local dog shelter we adopted Higgins from.  In the past I have sewn the squares together which took a couple of evenings but since taking a course on finishing and joining crochet I crocheted this one together using 1 double crochet and one chain in every other stitch and it took me just an hour and a half to complete.  Result!

 

 I am still working through my small cross stitch kits and made this little pansy card topper.  I used my new Big Shot die cutter I got for my last birthday to cut the apertures so it is proving very useful as I have also used it for cutting applique and designs for embroidering over in fabric as well as paper and card.

Because this house is crowded with Airedale Terrier paraphenalia I decided we should have more Border Collie stuff and whilst looking through my old stitching magazines I found this chart in New Stitches no. 63.  I think I will make it up into a hanging sachet. 

 

Airedale Terrier in Stitches

 I finally finished my Airedale Terrier cross stitch I started last year.  There were so many colour changes that it took me ages.  I found the perfect frame in my craft room so it just has to be washed, pressed and framed now.  I love his cute expression.  We both think he looks a lot like our darling Archie.

 Wilberforce has been in the wars yet again with an eye infection and has to wear the "cone of shame" yet again.  With the help of eye drops and antibiotics it has healed quite a lot since I took this photo.  He still has to wear the buster collar except when he is eating or we are with him as he keeps trying to scratch the skin off!

 Higgins is in fine fettle, he never seems to get ill (touch wood) I guess the Welsh Border Collie is a pretty hardy breed.  Here he is enjoying a Jumbone type treat.

 I have finally finished my patchwork squares and have started putting them together.  I am not sure if patchwork is my forte though.  When sewing clothes or home furnishings if a seam is 1/4" bigger in some places it doesn't really matter but with patchwork it means the squares don't line up so you have to be super accurate which I find a bit tedious.  I have got to learn how to quilt it next, with the help of another class so it will be quite a while before I finish it.

My cross stitch sampler is coming along faster than I expected probably because it is in one colour so there is no stopping to rethread and join different colours.

The weather has been so warm and sunny this week, hotter than Spain and Greece so we have been in the mood for spring cleaning.  I started with my craft room and have filled three bags of craft stuff (it is amazing how the trends change) for the Wet Nose animal rescue shop and have been going through my hundreds of craft magazines to see if I can reduce them.

The issues I did not want to keep have gone to my local hospital shop and any with ideas I like I have stuck in this hardback book and then recycled those magazines.  I have a lot more shelf space now.

Stay Cozy and Craft

I am resisting the urge to hibernate, I do not like this time of year, the best thing I can do is stay close to the fire and indulge in some crafting till Spring comes.

I have not been crafting as much as usual recently instead catching up on the huge pile of books and magazines I have beside my armchair and bed.  Over Christmas I knitted these owl fingerless gloves, they are quite a sociable project, ok for knitting and talking at the same time.

Then I decided to knit this cable beret, the pattern was free from the Love Knitting Website and also a crochet collar for Wilberforce which only took about an hour to make. 

Christmas seems ages ago now but I only just downloaded my photos, here are two of the boys enjoying a couple of their presents. 

 During my post Christmas clear up, I came across this fabric I bought last Autumn from a department store in the city.  It is called Terriers and is from Makower.  There are a few different designs but this one has Airedale Terriers on it so I had to buy some.

Have a few projects on the go at the moment but am waiting for the better weather, at these times of year I wish I lived in a hot country - roll on spring.

Staying out for the summer

This summer has been such a scorcher, the best I can remember for years that we have been making the most of it and been out and about.  On Monday I went out wearing a t-shirt but yesterday it changed so I think winter is finally on its way.  Finished my Airdale Terrier, it is from Knit your own dog: the second litter by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne,  I used the recommended wool, Rowan fine tweed.  It took no time to knit but was a bit fiddly to put together.

Here are some pictures of the boys enjoying the sunshine on holiday, Wilbur at Hunstanton beach and Higgins under a bench trying to find some shade.

 

 

I have now returned to my craft room and computer although it is still very slow.  We complained to our broadband provider but because we are quite isoloated here there is no decent coverage so it seems I have just got to put up with it!
 

As well as the Block of the month course I have signed up for crazy quilting too, here is my work in progress.  I am just adding too it a little at a time so it will take me a while before I am finally happy with it.

It was my birthday last month and I chose some goodies from Hobbycraft.  I got a new Sizzix big shot and amongst my other gifts I bought these reindeer hearts kit from Docrafts, Christmas in the Country range.  I like to make a few new decorations ever year but it seems to come around faster every year.

Vote for Charlie the Airedale Terrier

 

Calling all Airedale Terrier Lovers !

CHARLIE has reached the final 6 in the UK competition to find ‘PAT DOG OF THE YEAR’ and the winner will be announced at Crufts 2014.

Charlie is a very hard working dog ! He ‘works’ at a hospital for young adults with learning difficulties , a residential home, a school and 2 prisons showing unconditional love to everyone he meets.

I cannot remember an Airedale reaching the final before BUT he needs your vote (and those of your family and friends to WIN !

Please email win@yours.co.uk Type in Charlie in the subject box and press send ( before 15/11/13)

PLEASE VOTE FOR CHARLIE AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THE BEST BREED IN THE WORLD !!

Summer is Here!

Can't believe summer is finally here after such a long hard winter.  I have slapped the fake tan onto my pasty pins and am making the most of the outdoors before it all ends.  The summer is so short if you don't get out there, like that Boots commercial, you will miss it.

Although I have not been using my computer I have still been crafting.  I'm doing a block of the month course with Craftsy as I have always wanted to make a quilt but joined late so I have only managed the January and February blocks so far.  I hope to catch up eventually.

I have finished the large cross stitch project I was working on - a map of Norfolk by Heritage Crafts.  This is the fourth of these maps I have worked, not sure where the other three went to, will have to try and dig them out although I haven't seen them since we moved house.

I have been in an embroidery mood lately and just finished Cornfield with Poppies by Rowandean.  It had been in my stash for several years so thought it was about time.

Saw this hydrangeas kit in my local craft shop and decided to give  it a go. Only took a couple of nights.  It is by DMC.

Then I found this flower basket kit which was given away with the now defunct Needlecraft magazine

 I have found four embroidery kits that have been in my stash for about 20 years!  I have started working one of these now.

 We are still trying out the recipes from our Wagamama recipe book and here is the Chicken Ramen.  Very tasty.  Because I don't eat meat I always substitute chicken in recipes for Quorn fillets. As you can see it looks just the same and tastes good too. 

Wilberforce's eyes have now cleared up and his buster collar, much to his relief, has been removed.  Here is a picture of him and Higgins playing in the paddock yesterday.  We have booked Wilbsy in at the grooming parlour as he is looking so scruffy - we had to leave it until his eyes were better.

 

Have fun and enjoy the summer.

Wilberforce in the Wars

 Poor old Wilberforce is not a happy bunny, he has been wearing this buster collar for almost two weeks because of eye problems.  The vet is not sure if it is an infection or he has hay fever.  He is taking antibiotics and eye drops and having his eyes bathed twice a day but he keeps rubbing the area until it bleeds so he has to wear the buster collar until it clears up.

 Higgins is keeping well, here he is reclining on his favourite sofa...

I have been busy, as usual with my crafts.  I signed up for a patchwork quilt course and have almost finished the first four squares, have a big piece of cross stitch on the go which I haven't photographed yet and have finished another crochet blanket for our local dog shelter.

I love Wagamama and used to go there once a week.  I don't get into the city much these days so I bought a copy of their recipe books and thought I would try recreating them at home.

We tried the Chicken cilli men yesterday. I am not much of a cook, in fact I am pretty rubbish but with John's help in preparartion it actually tasted really good. Want to try a few more from here now.

The Great British Bark Off

No, I didn't misspell the heading, in the current issue of Wag there is a recipe for doggie cupcakes taken from a new book called Dinner for Dogs by Henrietta Morrison.  They looked simple enough for even me to make so I thought I would try them for "the boys"

Here is the recipe, I substituted minced pork for the lamb and added 2 eggs as the mixture looked a little dry with just one.

Here is Wilberforce waiting for them to finish cooking.

The finished result.

Mmmm, delicious

 

I tried to photograph Higgins eating his but he always runs to another part of the house to eat in private, probably to stop Wilberforce taking it from him!

 

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On ther crafting front I am still working on cross stitched designs from my Veronique Enginger book.

This designs, my third, is called The Crazy Years 1925 and I have now started on a fourth design from the same book.