Frozen Finished and Santa Stitched!

Hi all!

Well...here is the final Frozen picture in a frame...i have plenty of issues with this but I just keep saying that ebony likes it so its ok! She said that she was giving me lots of love and kisses for her lovely Frozen surprise.

I forgot to take a photo of her holding it but here it is...

and here she is!

Can you tell who is her favourite?

Anyway, today is the last day of August and my last chance to successfully complete the Christmas Ornament SAL for August! I made it just in time. 

Here is Santa...

and here he is with his missus...

The next months theme s trees/presents so I will be stitching the Bear from this same Joan Elliott Roly-Polies series.

Well, that is all for now, I have some blogs to catch up on and some work clothes to sort out as back to work I go in the morning! Eek! 

I hope to see you all tomorrow for Top 10 Tuesdays: 10 books to read in the next 12 months.

Bye for now!

Kate x

Updates and a stay of execution!

Good Afternoon!

Update time...lets start with Frozen shall we?  As you know  had stitched some blue, and I stitched some more blue but I did make a mistake and whilst I was considering whether or not to frog, I decided to consult with my manager and client! (Ebony)

Me: Ebony...do you want the blue background or would you be ok with it just all being white?

Ebony: Erm....I do like the blue...but I think that might take you a very long time! You can just make it all white for my surprise on my birthday and then after that you can add the blue.

Me: Ok, thanks.

So she granted me a stay of execution! and today whilst out I came across the perfect frame and so I have unpicked the blue and just need to give it a wash and iron and frame it. Monday I will post the birthday girl holding the finished product!

I have also stitched on my santa ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL but have only about a quarter done. This weekend I will be focussing on the remaining three quarters. I have noticed though that a lot of people have chosen to stitch on plastic canvas and I must say the finished products are looking fab and the design choices are great, so great that I am thinking about next year already! lol

So after this weekend, I should be free to stitch on any of my WIPS or maybe even a new start, I am leaning more to a WIP. I discovered some projects that I thought I had lost and so I have them to do, a couple are actually very close to finishes so I might just work on those ones. I also found some stashed charts so I have been reminiscing.

During the reminiscing phase I got the idea into my head that I would buy some second hand cross stitch books, and they came today, I must say that I am happy with all but one of the books. This is pretty good and all the designs are very different and I am definitely inspired to stitch some of them. I was going to discuss them in this post but I think I might save that for another day. 

Oh, did I mention I have a job till the end of the year? No? Well, yeah! Phew! Which means I need to be super organised. 

As some of you know I have started a new blog thingy majig called Top 10 Tuesdays and feel free to join in as often or as little as you like, this coming month of September we have five Tuesdays! 

I have listed the dates and the themes for those weeks below for those of you who want to think about them in advance. Some months may have themes that link each week together so look out for those. I shall add more weeks themes as we work through them so that the upcoming five weeks will always be available to see (in the sidebar in the left hand side) beneath the badge (feel free to add to your blog) and links to the blogs participating. 

So with Summer coming to an end, lets spend September thinking about Summer:

1st Sept: Top 10 books to read in the next 12 months

There may be some weeks that are book related, and I like to read a book or two over the summer especially, and I figured why not look forward to the next 12 months. Maybe you will be rereading an old favourite, or maybe a best seller has caught your eye, whatever it may be share it with us.

8th Sept: Top 10 dream destinations

Maybe not this summer, maybe last summer or maybe next, where are your dream holiday destinations? Are you a love of sun, sand and see? Are you happier on the piste?

15th Sept: Top 10 things to do near here

You don't have to go away to feel like a tourist, where would you visit if you were a tourist in your village/town/city? or nearby?

22nd Sept: Top 10 cakes to make you bake

I don't bake but I love to watch baking shows! Sometimes I see cakes and think, yum! I should bake that. What cakes are you inspired to bake? Maybe you have seen or heard of a recipe that you would like to try. You hate baking? Then tell is your Top 10 reasons that you hate to bake. 

29th Sept: Top 10 songs of summer

Summer isnt summer with out a song that infects your brain...is it? Maybe you have some summer songs that you love? maybe there are some new ones that you can't stop listening to? whatever reason tell us about them this week.

I shall be back Monday with a Finish for Frozen, and a finish for the Christmas Ornament SAL, and maybe a book review or two.

Hope you all have a great weekend and if you are having a bank holiday on monday then enjoy that too!

Top 10 Tuesdays #2 FEARS

During my 30 day list challenge I vaguely recollect covering fears and phobias, but these were my own, and today I have decided to look at ten really weird ones! People may think that my fluff and sticky hands and crumb phobias are weird...let me introduce you to.....

1. Ablutophobia (from Latin ablutere 'to wash off") is the persistent, abnormal and unwarranted fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning.

This is a very unfortunate (for every one around you) phobia to have.

2. Hypnophobia also termed clinophobia or somniphobia, is the often irrational and excessive fear of sleep.

I am definitely scared of sleep, I love sleep, when I can get it uninterrupted.

3. Hylophobia, also known as xylophobia, ylophobia, and dendrophobia, is a psychological disorder defined by an irrational fear of wood, forest or trees.

I like forests and woods and although they can be creepy they also feel safe.

4. Phagophobia is a psychogenic dysphagia, a fear of swallowing.

I kinda get this one because I struggle with swallowing medication and have developed anxiety a little with it. 

5. Carpophobia is a fear of wrists.

I think this one is defnitely for the niche market.

6. Podophobia is a fear of feet.

lol! This pic made me laugh but seriously, I am not a fan of feet at all, but scared of them...hmmm.

7. Globophobia is a fear of balloons.

Hehehehe....

8. Koumpounophobia fear of buttons.

I have nothing to say about this becuase....well....even I struggle to reason why on this! 

9. Alliumphobia- Fear of garlic.

Are root vegetables scary? 

10. Anglophobia fear of england

Anti-English sentiment or Anglophobia (from Latin Anglus "English" and Greek φόβος, phobos, "fear") means opposition to, dislike of, fear of, or hatred towards England or the English people.

Do you have any of these phobias? Have you got a really unusual phobia? Have you written your own list? 

IHSW part 2.

Morning!

Some of you were probably hoping that I had finished, right? I know I was.

Sadly I have not yet finished, its like walking through sludge still, but I have almost finished Anna and Elsa leaving me with just the blue background. By the end of today I should be able to carry on with the blue, so thats something at least.

So, here it was on Friday...

and fractionally more....today!

Now I shall skip off to check out everyone else's progress. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow for the Top 10 Tuesdays (this weeks topic is fears).

Before it all kicks off....

So, a couple of updates...I know! Who can have updates when they haven't written or stitched since the last update just several hours ago.

Well I actually do....

Update 1...

I was give an Amazon voucher when I finished my previous job and I decided to buy a cross stitch kit with it...who knew? I really like the design, and some of you will already know that I do have a thing for ethnic inspired designs.

Well, it came today, and I love it and am really excited to start it...I am one of those who loves new starts and so I was tempted, that was until I made the mistake of asking Ebony if I should start it this weekend....

Me: ooh! Ebony look! Shall I start this this weekend, its beautiful isn't it?
Ebony: Erm, yes it is but you haven't finished my surprise yet.
Me: Oh!
Ebony: ...and you have to finish my surprise first or you won't get anything for your birthday!

So...I took these photo's and put it up on the top shelf...and stitched a little more on Frozen, then discovered I made a mistake...to frog or not to frog...lets see how it looks first!

So the photos...

The kit....

The pattern is one page per A4 page which is really quite large and easy to read, so that is definitely something to look forward to.

Update 2....

I seem to be allergic to one of these ingredients:

Any ideas??

Update 3...

Yesterday I participated in the #ThursdayThreads and I discovered a few moments that although I didn't win with my story, I did get an honourable mention! Don't forget to check out all the other stories here.

This was the feedback from the judge on my story Perfect Moments.

Mary says: The writer cleverly keeps the violence and horror off screen, ala Hitchock, leaving it to the reader to supply their own images, and allowing the author to say so much in so few words.

So that is pretty nice, right? and I get to put this badge somewhere on my blog:

Update 4...

I asked my sister what should I do a Top 10 Tuesday on and she said ....FEARS! So that is the theme for next Tuesday, so feel free to blog about them, either fascinating ones, your own, or even others. 

And finally, yes finally, I shall return on Monday with battle scars from Arendelle! Wishing you all great progress and absentee stitch masters!

IHSW part 2 is about to begin.....

So, IHSW part two is this weekend, and I know you are all sick to the back teeth of my current project but here it was midweek:

and here it is as of this morning...

I can see that if I knuckle down I could be very close to a finish by Sunday night! 

#ThursThreads Debut

Siobhan's Thursday Threads has inspired me today to climb back on to the metaphorical writing saddle and tell you a short 250 word tale.

Here are the rules..

• The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
• This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
• Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
• Post your story in the comments section of this post
• Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
• Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
• The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
• The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)

So grab that cuppa and I hope you are sitting comfortably...all though its only 250 words so drink half the cup before you start to read this and the remaining half after...in celebration that you made it through :)

Ready??

This is my first time so be kind...heheh...actually just be honest!

Add caption

Then let us begin....

The Prompt:

"They deserved to die."

My tale...

Perfect Moments


The backdrop of the city, its lights shimmering in the moonlight, inspired him.

His compulsion may have lead him to nights like this but it was the showman in him that wanted each victims last memory to be their worst nightmare.

Tonight had been exceptional.

A last minute change of plans and Melody ended up walking home with two friends. He could have cancelled, found his satisfaction elsewhere, but the thought of taking all three made his skin crackle with undeniable glee.

If he had a moment of doubt, the girls never noticed it.

When he reached home, adrenaline coursing through his veins, he felt victorious. Blood and saliva trickled down his chin and he smeared away the remnants with the back of his hand.

They were a sacrifice to his God and they deserved to die.

"THEY DESERVED TO DIE"

A soft whimper came from inside the bedroom and he slowly pushed the door ajar and leaned in, "shhh sweetheart, Daddy's home now".




165 words @tsk_show

Midweek update

Ok, so you probably don't need to see a mid-week update on Frozen, but I wanted you to see Elsa and here evil face before I stitch it all away...

So here is the update...enjoy!

Top 10 Tuesday #1

Today is the first ever Top 10 Tuesday and I am hoping that a few of you will join in, if not now then eventually, and yesterday I announced that the starting theme would be....free choice!

I thought that was a good idea...until I realised I had to come up with a top 10, oh yes....now I remember how this 'good idea' of mine works! 

Today I have decided to reveal some of my darkest secrets...I am going to give you my... 

Top 10 TV shows (Reality edition)

I need to first clarify what I mean by reality as I don't just mean the likes of 'Jersey Shore' (not on my list!) but also shows where people are competing for a crown or a prize etc. There are many many shows like this and here is my Top Ten (in reverse order) and my explanations will follow at the end of the list...heheh

10. 24 hours in A&E

British television series following the hard and dedicated work of the NHS doctors and nurses battling to keep Britain alive and well.

9. Made in Chelsea

Reality television series following the lives of a group of rich some what spoiled young adults living in South London, England and their daily dramas with relationships, gossip and lavish holidays.

8. Catfish

Tackles the mystery and complexities of dating in a digital world.

7. My Cat From Hell

Jackson deals with cats that are not very well behaved. He helps couples and all sorts of people with their behavioral issues.

6. Say Yes to the Dress/I Found the Gown

Brides-to-be from all over America come to New York to find their perfect wedding dress.

5. Impractical Jokers

Q, Sal, Joe and Murr are real-life best friends who love challenging each other to the most outrageous dares and stunts ever caught on hidden camera.

4. Tattoo Fixers

Three talented tattoo artists transform extreme inking disasters into walking works of art as clients with regrettable tattoos visit their pop-up parlour for a badly needed body art consultation.

3. Great British Bake Off

Bakers attempt three challenges each week trying to impress the judges enough to go through to the next round and eventually are crowned Britain's best amateur baker.

2. Great British Menu

Top British chefs compete against each other and are scored by a panel of acclaimed judges for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet.

1. Desi Rascals

TOWIE-style reality soap following a cast of British Asians in the diverse and wealthy suburbs of west London.

Some of you may be wondering why Desi Rascals is my number one choice...well...you need to watch Series 1. It is a reality style soap I guess, much like Made in Chelsea, but there are some good characters in this. 

The food shows, well, I don't cook but I wish I could! The hosts of the Bake Off (Mel & Sue) I have been a fan of since I was in university (when they first appeared) and I like this show a lot as its drama free watching. I love the Great British Menu because they are usually competing to cook at a big ceremony or event (check previous Series) and this year it is the Womens Institutes 100th birthday. They not only have to produce meals that match the brief in terms of ingredients but also in presentation and some of them so far have been awesome.

The wedding dress show I have no explanation for but I really do find them easy to watch whilst stitching....is that excuse good enough?

My Cat from Hell should really be called cat owners who no nothing about cats! 

And the others are mere fodder for me :) I do really only watch these when nothing else is on...except the top 4 of course!

Do you have a guilty reality show pleasure?

IHSW part 1 (Take 2)

Before...

After...

Fingers crossed that you can all see the after pic now?? Let me know if not.

IHSW part 1

Hello and good morning!

Yes, I am still unemployed and it is very frustrating, I kind of miss the routine. However, you would think that I would have extra time for stitching but this project has been hard going since I returned from Germany. I think its more me than anything, the only thing that keeps me plugging away at it is Ebony reminding me I should be stitching! Its just one of those projects where you stitch and stitch but seem to get nowhere fast.

I did try as best I could to stitch as much as I could over the weekend...

Here is where I left off...

and here is where I am now....

I think I am going to have to really knuckle down and get it done in the next two weeks. I also have a Santa ornament to finish! I started him but at the moment he only has a bit of his coat done.

I also posted about Top 10 Tuesdays (see the page dedicated to it above) and currently its just me and Tiff at Tiffstitches, so come join in the fun! 

I have yet to announce tomorrows theme due to the IHSW but how about the first Top 10 is a theme of your choice?

Anyway, I am off to see everyone else's progress...catch you all later!

The Suddenly Kate Show: Top 10 Tuesdays

The Suddenly Kate Show: Top 10 Tuesdays: A little while ago at the beginning of the summer I set myself a challenge to blog for 30 days and for each post I was to provide a top t...

Sitting comfortably?

Hello!

I (being unemployed) have a little too much time on my hands for thinking and thumb twiddling and it occurred to me that I need to add some structure to my life so that things are actually done.

As such....I had this marvellous idea! Brace yourself folks.

I have sort of missed doing all those list posts and found it all quite interesting but doing one almost everyday was a bit much, so I was pondering the idea that once a week would be plenty.

How about a 'Top Ten Tuesday' post? Every Tuesday we post our Top Ten (on a theme) and link up together?

See how I have said 'we'? That's right, folks! I am extending the invitation once again for you to join me.

This time though it is much simpler - once a week, on a given topic (which you can nominate) that I will mention in my Friday post, and when you post link back to somewhere (I should work that bit out!). Its just a bit of fun, so your posts don't have to be serious or profound or anything but they can be if you so desire.

What do you think? Are you in? Is anybody in? I shall post later today with the first topic/theme for the first ever 'Top Ten Tuesday' which shall be on 18th August 2015.

This is how I see you all responding....

Taken from

Or even something like this....

Well.....??? Who's in?

Am I procrastinating?

Morning All!

So...this is where I am at...unemployed :(

I should be job hunting I guess and I will but I always find it difficult to do as I find all sorts of industries and job roles interesting. As it is day one on the job hunt front, and I really need to brainstorm and make some decisions today, I have decided that its probably best to get my procrastinating done early!

So here I am!!

I have been thinking about the stitching that I need to get done.

1. I have exactly three weeks until Frozen needs to be completed and framed and ready for Ebony.
2. August has begun and so has the Christmas Ornie SAL, I have put about three stitches into Santa.
3. My HAED has been having an extended rest.

In addition to these three things, I keep thinking that my stitching life would be better off if I stitched a Chatelaine! So if you have, what would you recommend as a good beginner piece? Obviously, I will not entertain this idea until September at the earliest.

My intention is to stitch the ornament during IHSW. 

I am a huge fan of Joysze at Random Ramblings monthly International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. It was this that made me start a blog so I could participate and it is this that I look forward to each month even when I am not stitching. Last month less than 30 stitchers/blogger participated and it saddens me a little as I remember such a time when there was regularly around 80 participants and even over a hundred. Even when not stitching I liked to go and look at the blogs of those who had and see the great things that they had created. I am hoping that people will soon return to IHSW as its great. Joysze makes a great host because her stitching is always stunningly perfect and she is a lovely person to boot!

So this month I will stitch Santa - who takes a day possibly a little over, and then use the remainder of that time for Frozen.

I actually want nothing more than to stitch right now BUT have decided that the sensible thing to do would be to job hunt during what would be my normal working hours and stitch in the evenings as I was doing....but ...but...yes, I need to keep on track.

So today...I will be making some career choices...cleaning...and attempting to be productive!

I think I actually need a PA as I am rubbish at managing my own life, as funds don't allow for that, does anyone use a good scheduling/organisational app?

Where to begin?

Hello!

I have returned and here I am ready to report...although I am not sure that I am...I have a tendency to write a billion blogs from a billion different angles in my head whilst away and then the reality ends up being very brief and not at all interesting! So, are you ready for brief and uninteresting? If so, then you have come to the right place.

So I went away for two weeks with my six year old niece Naomi and we had a blast, the amount of moments when she was being stubborn or brattish were very few and far between, such so that I would travel with her again. All the things that I may have done on my own in Berlin were not done with Naomi, instead we had a semi-kid-centric trip.

Lets see now...what did we do...

• Hop-on Hop-off tours in Hamburg and Berlin
• Berlin Zoo
• Berlin boat tour
• Visited a church in Hamburg after getting nowhere trying to find the science centre and not being willing or able to wait the two hours to get into miniature world.
• Tropical islands (Europes largest indoor swimming resort)
• Charlottenburg Palace
• Museum of Photography
• Plotzensee Freibad (swimming in a lake)
• KaDeWe shopping centre
• Berlin Aquarium
• Laundry!

Ok, so that is all we did - one activity a day not including any street performers or markets/rides etc. - and we had two rest days. We managed to spend about 8-10 hours a day on our feet. Towards the end of the second week was when the weather sky rocketed and was in the 30s (centigrade) and so we went indoor swing instead.

We stayed at four hotels, and travelled by ferry, coach, boat, bus, train, car and plane. We spent a small fortune on paying for public toilets and were mesmerised by Spongebob Schwankopf. Watching the shows in German made me think about characters and their voices and how in languages other than the original, those countries won't necessarily hear them. I hadn't considered it before being English. Imagine Sean Connery...without the voice? 

Anyway, I did take 500+ photos even though it seemed like less, I should probably have taken twice that but photographing everything is quite antisocial and you tend to focus less on what you are seeing or who you are with and more on composition - or at least I do.

Of the pics that I did take here are a few of my favourites...and apologies that they arent alll Germany sspecific...but you know how I feel about flowers! I also took a pic of a polar bear (that I love) and a brown bear who seems to be looking at his reflection (this is my favourite) and I hope you enjoy them all the same.

There is a garden/park in Hamburg and we managed to spend ten minutes there before it rained - it rains a lot in Hamburg. There were a lot of bees all over all the plants and then hundreds dead on the pathways...it was all weird and I am sure there is a reason for it...so if you know, then please share in the comments. Anyway, I took a pic or two before we left..

 My niece was hoping to see a frog amongst the lily pads but no such luck!

This is a pic of a random statue somewhere in Hamburg which I just liked.

This was near to the Miniature museum that we never went in, for the love of bikes, I am not a fan but the kids seats on the back didn't look the most comfortable.

This was back in the park on a different day and at the opposite end, just before we had some ice cream and saw a red squirrel come down from the trees and still a biscuit from a rubbish bin.

When you enter Berlin Zoo you are met with this chap not far from the entrance, Naomi decided to ask for directions.

Brace yourself...this is my favourite picture....tadaa! lol

  And my second favourite...

A rather fascinating road sign...oh wait...not so fascinating..hehehe.

I saw this in Berlin, I forget where, but I liked it.

An obligatory sign for the Germany underground.

Charlottenburg palace, my niece suggested we go inside, and we walked around the rooms with a audio guide which kept my nieces interest as you had to press the button for each room.

I tried to take picture inside the palace of some of the portraits but every time i did they would come out like this! Obviously a shy bunch.

I saw this and thought it would be a great design for a cross stitched bell pull? 

Queen Charlotte had a thing for the blue and white china apparently, it was all very OTT but acceptable for a queen.

This was just for fun, I stood underneath the chandelier in the ballroom to take it.

This is the mausoleum.

It was orange AND a flower...how could I resist??

This sculpture in the garden reminded me of Hummel ones.

And....that is all for now...I hope it was enough! I have to get stitching...three weeks to finish Anna and Elsa!