Tagged!

O boy, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has these moments of utter frustration sometimes. Isn't it wonderful to have one of your stitching/blogging buddies tell you: it sounds so familiar but it's so much funnier when it happens to someone else. Yeah, right... No need to guess who that was, right? Hmm, I suppose I'll take it in the spirit in which it was intended... ;o)
Both Isabelle and Maria S. seem to have a very high opinion of my sewing talents and have offered possible solutions to the problem. Thank you, I am flattered, but ladies, my sewing skills...??? They're non-existent.... Is there any way I can glue the pieces together...?? LOL!! Rest assured, no fabric will be wasted and I'm sure I'll find a purpose for it in the future. Margaret, welcome to my blog and thank you for your kind words!

On to something else!! I was tagged by Charlene!! My very first time, so please be kind! The deal is that I tell you 8 things about myself you may not already know. So without further ado, here are 8 weird, wonderful or just plain boring things about me...

1. I take a walk every day... not all that unusual, except I HAVE to take the same route every time. If I start thinking about options, the one where I take a shortcut straight to the couch becomes most appealing.
2. I talk to myself... out loud... I have entire conversations either with myself or with people who aren't actually there... preferably when there's no one around, but I get caught out sometimes. Could be considered healthy... right???? A way to process events, information... sigh... Maybe not... see #3.
3. Put #1 and #2 together and what do you get??? The village idiot... yep, that's me. If you see me in the street, just nod and keep on walking...
4. My name is Harmien... I never put that on my blog so quite a few of you don't even know that...
5. I used to be quite bemused by Annemarie's stitching, how awful is that, my best friend?? I thought it was for old folks and fuddy-duddies. I hope I apologized to her (I think I did). I know I will be forever grateful to her for getting me hooked!
6. My favourite food is sushi!! I love making it myself!
7. In a perfect world I am a gifted and famous singer -- in reality I can carry a tune, but that's about it...
8. I quit smoking 9 years ago.

Well, there you go!! I am a mystery no more... :o) Any comments, psychological insights and suggestions will be carefully considered...

And seeing as the last untagged stitcher in blogland was practically begging me to tag her... Annemarietje... YOU ARE IT!!

By the way, the picture is of a small card I stitched to go with a present that I can't show you yet... It's an element from "Nature's Beauty" by Little House Needleworks, which should be a clue about the thing I can't show you yet... :o)

Murphy's Bourse, or the bourse that wasn't.

Anything that could go wrong, did go wrong... well, maybe not entirely, but still it was enough to make me foam at the mouth.
I was so geared up for the Focus on Finishing weekend during which Isabelle would explain all about the bourse. I had chosen "The Sampler Lady" (by Little House Needleworks) for my design. Every minute I had, I stitched in order to be ready for the tutorial. I stitched and I stitched. On Saturday morning I went to the patchwork shop and chose a gorgeous piece of fabric that matched my design perfectly.
I've been coming to this shop for almost eight years now and the entire shop is stuffed with baskets and more baskets filled with beautiful pieces of fabric all neatly folded. And ALL pieces of fabric I have EVER bought there (quite a lot over the years *grin*) are 50x50 centimetres (give or take a centimetre). I'm sure you can guess what's coming... At a quarter to five I finished my stitching and went to iron both my stitched piece and the fabric I had bought. I was SHOCKED STUNNED and FURIOUS to find that the piece of fabric measured not 50x50 but 25 x something or other. A narrow strip of fabric that I didn't know what to do with!!! There was not enough time to go back before closing, the shop is closed on Mondays, so it was only today that I could take the fabric back and exchange it for a bigger piece... except they don't take anything back, the shop lady kindly told me... store policy!! So I'm stuck with this piece of fabric I don't have any use for, I would have to buy it off the bolt, a piece of which I would only need one-third and it's all pretty expensive at that!! So it's back to the drawing board, but I WILL finish this bourse!

To end on a happy note... here's "The Sampler Lady" (Little House Needleworks). I altered the design a bit to make a better fit for the bourse -- it really was supposed to be a square, but I figured as long as I kept the linen square the design not being so would be alright... right, Isabelle (please say yes)????


Last but not least, I would like to say a huge thank you to Karen and Anne for the Focus on Finishing blog and to Isabelle for hosting the tutorial. I was there... the bourse just wasn't.

And the birthday fun continues!!

Annemarie had already warned me to get ready for a birthday surprise, so when the mailman arrived my fingers were itching to open the package. Well, she truly outdid herself... Once again!! 'Cause will you just look at this... Isn't this AMAZING???

A complete sewing set with such a sweet design by Christiane Dahlbeck!!

The most beautiful ort bag -- and I didn't have one, so I am thrilled to bits!!

















With gorgeous fabric and such delicate stitching on it!!














And look! The matching fob is TINY and SOOO cute! Those scissors An never wants me to use... hah, yeah right, they'll come in plenty handy, I'll promise you that -- they're especially for frogging, you see!












I know there are plenty of you out there who would love an Annemarie Floss Fob Original, and not meaning to brag about it, but...

I'VE GOT ONE NOW!!!

On there is a skein of sumptuous Needle Necessities, called Very Berry, I believe (#301).

So to you, Annemarie, my dearest, dearest friend... Thank you!! I'm sending great big cyber hugs to you!!

Birthday torture from a dear, dear friend!!

A few minutes before I was about to leave the house yesterday for an appointment that I just COULD NOT be late for, the doorbell rang and my lovely postman dropped of a huge box with Vonna's name on it as the sender!! I was so excited standing there in the hallway and I wasted valuable time jumping up and down in frustration, because I knew there was no way I had time to open it!! It was agony!! So a few hours later I raced home and was completely overwhelmed by these amazing gifts...

Vonna stitched this amazingly beautiful sewing basket!!


Isn't it FABULOUS?!!! The design is called "Muscat Blue Sewing Basket" by Cherished Stitches. Just look at the detail of the lining and the tassels, the beaded cording. I am totally in awe of this woman's stitching and sewing talents and overwhelmed by her kindness and generosity!!


It was like a treasure trove, because inside were these Muscat Blue accessoires...
... a scissors case with matching fob, a pair of scissors in a perfect match to the blue of the basket, needles and a needle holder!! W-O-W!!


Vonna, you are just the sweetest person! Thank you so very very much!! I will treasure these always!!


And a HUGE thank you to all of you who have sent me your kind and wonderful birthday wishes!! Ladies, I've said it before and I'll say it again, you rock!!

Birthday surprise!

Look at what Carol sent me for my birthday. Isn't she an ANGEL?!!!



















The most beautiful fob, with a garden theme because we both love gardening. It has such delicate colours and the cutest little tag that says... well, see for yourself...!!

I adore it!! Thank you so very much, Carol!!! Receiving such a wonderful surprise made me feel very special!

Hah!! Who said the 13th day of the month is unlucky?! They're plain WRONG!! This just proves it!!

Winners and stitchings

Lili was so happy to hear that she will be receiving "My Needle and My Thread" soon!! Here's what she wrote:

I can't believe it! I feel like the queen of the celebration! I am toooooo happy! During the week, while trying to see if you had made another stitching post (I just can't seem to get the working of Bloglines so I check everyday), I read the comments and felt Barbara had a great idea and I agree 200%. So here's my suggestion: I will stitch this lovely and truest design in priority, and send it to Barbara afterwards to follow this "chain" she so brilliantly and friendly proposed -and that is so in keeping with your kind gesture, Harmien. For this purpose, could you please ask Barbara to send you (or me: you can give her my email) her address so we can do it? I am thrilled and I think you had the most generous idea, I will follow your tracks. Thanks a lot Harmien (I just can't believe I won!) HUgs! Lili

So Barbara, The Sanguine Stitcher, would you please leave a comment on my blog with your e-mail address? As with Lili's, I'll make sure it won't be published in the comment box. That way I can put you in touch with each other! Isn't this fun!?? I feel like a match maker!!


Now on to some stitchy business. I did some, yes I did...!!
Can't show you the finish-finish yet, 'cause the glue is still drying, and the recipient is known to stick her head around my blog door from time to time... :o)

This is "Posey Pocket" by Full Circle Designs! Stitched on 32ct Kiwi (Countrystitch), using my own choice of GAST and a piece of WDW's wool felt.

I'm off to find a chart for next weekend's Focus on Finishing's Bourse class! I've wanted to make one of those ever since I saw one, so I had better be ready!!

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for visiting!!

The luck of the draw

Are you ready for it, ladies?!! That was quite the response you gave me!! I'm glad you liked the idea. I shamelessly stole it from Becky, but I'm sure she doesn't mind. Rachel suggested I skip the 'dipping into the hat' part and send the chart to Barbara... I'm assuming she meant The Sanguine Stitcher who made this pledge: once I finish it (I'll stitch it immediately as soon as I get it) then I'll offer it up again to other commentors on my blog. And boy will this chart be going on a world tour :) Isn't that the most wonderful thing?? I love the idea of 'my' chart travelling the world spreading wonderful stitching sentiments!! As much as I love this pledge though, I am sticking to my original plan, because that's what I promised you all -- besides, Erik is raring to go, woudn't want to disappoint him! -- BUT I do hope that the lucky recipient will remember Barbara's pledge and think: I will do that too!

So without further ado... *insert drum roll*...

Here's the draw (please note that Erik is dipping his hand in a lovely blue cable hat I knit last year)...


and the winner is...

Lili!!!

Hurrah!! So "My Needle and My Floss" will be winging it's way to France soon... Merveilleux!!

Lili would you please send me your e-mail address in the comment section (with the help of comment moderation I will make sure it won't be plastered all over the web), so I can contact you in person and you can e-mail me your snail mail address.


This was fun... I may just have to do it again sometime... :o)

My Needle and My Thread

... they comfort me. They do indeed, and I was so happy reading your lovely comments! I know many (if not most) of you feel the same about this hobby of ours!! But it also left quite a few of you wondering who the designer was!
So here's the info: leaflet #119 "My Needle and My Thread" by Waxing Moon Designs.

In the spirit of PIF's and RAK's and all things good I would like to offer this chart to a fellow stitcher/blogger who would love to stitch this too. I've seen this done in blogs before and I think it's a lovely idea!! So if you're interested just send me a comment, I'll drop your name in a great big hat and leave the draw to the lovely Erik, who I'm sure will be as neutral as Switserland, as blind as Justice and as fair as can be... :o)
The draw will be a week from today, so that's May 11th.

Until then happy stitching!!

Ne'er a truer word was spoken

My favourite flower

Thank you all so much for your support during my coughing fits! I am happy to report that my cough, though still there, is FINALLY getting better, I even managed to get some sleep last night... Barbara's suggestion of jenever and crushed Fishermen's Friends, beneficial though it may be (I doubt it...), made me want to vomit, but she did inspire me to make my own concoction... plenty of alcohol involved... :o) But seriously, it felt very good reading your comments, thank you!!

And I'm so pleased you liked Nature's Beauty!! I have special plans for that one, so stay tuned! I finally spent an hour at the local quilt shop this Saturday fondling and buying some gorgeous pieces of fabric, an outing that had been on my wishlist for the longest time. Now I can finish a few more projects... No stitching worth showing you today, but not to worry , 'cause when I'm not photographing my stitchy things and the cats are not doing anything worth taking pictures of, THIS...


... is another subject that I'm passionate about: Daylilies! There are about twenty varieties in our garden and this is the first one to flower each year. Today was the day!! Called: Intermediar. Honestly, isn't she a beauty?!! I had a hard time capturing my subject, she wouldn't sit still in the strong winds... LOL

I promise a stitchy picture tomorrow, I feel a happy dance coming one!