I'm moving this stitching diary to:

http://vashxstitch.blogspot.com

I've enjoyed my time with this Bravenet one, but it's functionality is a bit limited.

Do you know it all or is there something out in the stitching world you still want to know how to do?

I would like to think that I know a lot and am an experienced stitcher, but there are still two things I haven't yet attempted:

• stitching beads on properly (I've got to do this for the Mirabillia Angel) which you'll no doubt learn all about how I fair on this blog
• hardanger

I get Wednesday afternoon's off usually, and I often am busier running errands on Wednesday afternoons than I would be if I stayed in the office.  But this week I'm getting caught up with a lot of stuff here finally in the flat and I actually had some "me" time!

I actually planned to do a bit of shopping this afternoon, first item on the list was a small hoover for the flat. I've been here three weeks, and what with Jade's cat litter turning up in the oddest places, combined with leaves that he brings in and also our hair getting everywhere, the floor's been getting a tad crunchy of late - and I really needed to clean.  My landlady has a Dyson hoover that I can use, but the thought of humping that up two flights of stairs to the flat has put me off using it.  But in the end I didn't have to buy one, my boss donated one of the office hoover's too me (he plans to get a  new "Henry" Hoover for the office), so that was a trip to Argos that I didn't have to make.

So picture me at lunchtime walking through town carrying a hoover, people must have thought I was a bit strange, but then again, Cornwall attracts all sorts.  Anyway, halfway up the road, one of the straps broke on my handbag (again - this is the second time this has happened, I exchanged the first one - and now the same thing has happened to it's replacement), maybe I'm carrying too much stuff around in it, for I had:

• 2 small plastic hoover attachments
• purse
• glasses case
• gameboy advance (complete with plug and charging lead)
• mobile phone (complete with plug and charging lead
• keys
• address book
• 2 cheque books
• make up
• assorted ketchup and sauce sachets
• salt and pepper sachets
• scraps of paper and receipts
• cherry lip balm
• passport
• and not forgetting of course, for this is a cross stitching blog: my purse project (which at the moment is still the Canterbury Bell Fairy)

What do you think?  I guess you can see why the strap broke

Anyway, the shop exchanged the bag for another one and I endured embarrasment again as I had to take everything out of the old bag and put it into the new one. 

When I had dropped the hoover off, I set off along the seafront into Newlyn so I could get a piece framed. It's the African Elephants piece that is in my webshots album (2004 Finishes). This piece is particularly special to me because my Aunt started it off last year, and unfortunately was unable to complete it because she died of cancer in June. I finished it off this summer in her memory. This is the reason I took it to a professional framer - I didn't trust myself to do a good enough job. It's going to take about 3 weeks (they have to order some materials in) but I should get it back in time for Christmas.

After leaving the framers I stopped at a small cafe and had a jacket potato which was filled with "bang-bang" chicken.  Well, all I can say is - it certainly banged!  The chicken was in a satay sauce, but it was quite hot and spicy - very tasty, but hotter than I would have liked. 

After finishing that I walked back along the seafront.  The wind was quite cold coming off the sea, and I was surprised that the damage to the sea wall in Newlyn hasn't yet been repaired from last month's storms.  There are still barriers in about 5 or 6 places along there where the vicious waves ate away at the edge of the wall. 

So now I'm sitting back here, (after de-crunchifying the carpet with my new hoover) and just telling you all about my afternoon on this blog.  Ermm..... I'm supposed to be stitching actually, UKCSF (my yahoo group) have Wednesday evenings as UFO night so I suppose I'd better get stitching  

What is it with cupboards? Jade has always had this thing about wanting to disappear inside them. When I was moving recently out of Jo's house he got in my food cupboard before it was even half emptied. He used to do the same thing at my house too, he was always getting shut in the airing cupboard in the hall where he used to sneak in the bottom while I was putting the T-shirts away, I don't know - it must be a cat thing!

I've done some stitching this weekend. I did some Cautious Cat and finished off the main body work, I've now only got to do the green background and of course the backstitch.

This afternoon, I did a bit more on the Mirabilia Angel, here's my progress to date.

You are a Ragdoll! You are known for your laid
back attitude. You are the ultimate in
low-maintenance. You'd rather hang out around
the house all day than seek adventure.

What breed of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I'm quite pleased with this, because this is how I would describe Jade too (he's a blue persian - but acts like a ragdoll).

Hand-dyed fabrics - love 'em or hate 'em? If you love them, what kind/colours do you have?

I love the Silkweavers' Reflections range. 

They are a opalescent fabrics which are hand-dyed in pretty swirley pastel colours.  I think they are perfect for Teresa Wentlzer fantasy designs, the sparkle just adds that extra something to the design, particularly the dragon ones.  I stitched "Stretch" the dragon on a minty green piece of this.  I'm also stitching the Mirabilia Angel on a piece of this, it's called Coral Reflections.

In fact, to celebrate having a permanent address again, I've just re-subscribed onto their Fabric of the Month Club where you get sent a selection of fabrics every month.  I should get my first batch just in time for Christmas.