A Cross Stitch Small and Slow Sunday Stitching

Hi there stitching buddies!

I'm linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, 'cos finally I have a few hand stitching projects to work on.

Yay! I finished the first of my three “new to me” cross stitch projects. 

If you already follow me, you might remember?.... this is the one I told you that "took me over" ..... it was meant to be my travel stitching, 

but it's finished already!

Now I need to think how to FFO (fully finish off).

Pattern PM25 "Christmas Tree" by Anchor

But I have to say, with all the needle changes for the different colours it felt it took forever to stitch 

(probably three days) despite being such a tiny picture! Stitched on 14 count

 (14 stitches per inch).

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Today I’m stitching a little more on this pattern from CrossStitcher - it’s the free gift from the magazine.

 I've found I really needed grid lines, 

but are you supposed to keep putting them in and pulling them out? Possibly not, but I don't want to get the grid threads caught in my cross stitching.

The pink binding is temporary while I stitch, so the rough edges of the fabric don’t catch and ruin my thread. The pink tab on the top helps me to pick up and stitch quicker ..... you know what it’s like 

when you can't easily tell which way up is!

From CrossStitcher Magazine issue 351

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Just a couple of pictures while writing. My mum was saying how she missed the "Five on Friday" posts I used to do where I showed places DH and I had been walking, so just a couple of photos from a walk today:

This "little" guy was so happy sitting here that when we returned 30 minutes later he was still sitting in the same place! He obviously had plenty of grass to chew well within reach!

I know!! This is a bit funny, a veggie taking photos of cattle! But still, he does look cute!

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Oh, and this was a delicious veggie meal we had last week at our favourite cafe. Not the clearest photo, I took it with the camera rather than phone and there wasn't really enough light.

Nut Roast with steamed Kale, roast parsnip and carrot,
with a special gravy, and finished with a salad of pea shoots

It was such a tasty meal we've ordered one to cook at home for our Christmas dinner. Just hope the train strikes are all finished so we can go and collect the order!

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Even more hand stitching:

 When I was browsing on Pinterest last week I saw some teeny "Cocktail Napkins"!

Well, as I'm always thinking "Eco" and "Save the World" I thought this would be a good idea! 

I hate going into restaurants and being given paper napkins (often with each course) that get very little use and then go straight into landfill, so this is my very latest hand stitched "Squirrel" .....

using a small piece of Osnaburgh (6" x6") I'm now considering how to decorate! 

This isn't the lace I'm going to use, I was just testing to see if it was suitable. I think the napkin needs brightening up, but not too much as I do plan to use, and wash it plenty, and it might not last too long if it gets stained! So, its not meant to be a heirloom piece!

And, of course, I want this finished NOW! Tee hee!

Must go now, lots of you to visit, and I want to carry on with some of this stitching!

I do hope you'll come back to visit on 20th ..... when I'll be joining in with Jo's On line Advent Calendar. Why not pop over to see what is happening so far HERE.

Hope you are having fun, stitching, too!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

Linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

(may add to this list later)

A peek into the Queen's back garden

Hello, Dear Readers,

A couple of weeks ago we had day out in London, and I am so glad it wasn't the day the power failed on the railway and many trains were stuck for hours!

We arrived in London at Victoria Station and walked the short distance to Westminster Cathedral.

Our aim was to see the views from the tower, but it did cost a little more than we anticipated (£6 per adult whereas their website quoted £5).   My photograph is a little lacking as I have missed the top of the tower and there is far too much foreground!  Believe it or not it was sunny and I was dazzled and unable to see the picture in the viewfinder to check what I had taken.

St Paul's Cathedral in the distance, sadly now being obscured by the higgledy piggldy mess of modern construction.   Poor old Wren could never have imagined it!

Our little peek into the Queens garden!

Buckingham Palace gates

The plans of the Cathedral are on display in the tower and this one made me think of patchwork or embroidery.

Cathedral plans

Mosaics in Westminster Cathedral

Mosaics within Westminster Cathedral 

You'd never guess!  More mosaics

Well a trip to London would not be complete without a visit to our favourite Organic Vegetarian Italian restaurant, Amico Bio.

My starter

Vegan ice cream - yummy!

I didn't eat alone, but I was too slow to take pictures of the other's meals' before they started them. 

It was nice to be able to sit at a window table and enjoy our meals whilst watching the world go by.

After our very tasty and filling meal we decided to walk it off.  That was when we found a row of Ferrari's parked by the roadside, like you do!  There were many passers-by taking pictures, and, why not, I joined in too! Again, I have more pictures but I'm sure you wouldn't want to see them all.

Our last viewpoint of the day, for photos, was Staple Inn.

A pretty escape from the hustle and bustle of town!  But then we had to face the tubes and trains again to get home.  I was pretty tired by the end of the day and glad when I was able to get a nice cup of tea and have a sit down.

If you've made it to the end, I thank you for popping by, and hope to see you again soon.

Barbara xx