Eight Random Facts Meme

Dani tagged me. I'm usually pretty bad about doing meme's, but here goes...

The Rules:

-Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves
-People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules
-At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names
-Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I have a Bed & Breakfast/Guest House.
2. It's unclear yet which it is. It's too big to be a B&B, but a bit too small to be a Guest House, so I'm stuck in the middle. The Tourist Board can't make up their minds either, so just let me choose! I'm thinking of expanding though, so if I do, it'll definitely be a Guest House!
3. When I was 13 I had 60+ Pen Pals! In my early/mid twenties I still had 15 or so pen pals. I don't really have any anymore (given that I haven't written a "pen pal" letter in years), but I do still keep in touch with a few of those pen pals who I've met and are great friends now (waves to those who read this blog).
4. While I was at uni, I was an International Operator for British Telecom... which is actually a great job to have (schedule wise) if you're a student.
5. I LOVE old movies - two of my favourites are Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. I'm way too ashamed to tell you how many DVDs I own!
6. I'm BIG on making lists. I make a "to do" list at the start of every week and I'm very good at working my way through it. If I didn't make a list I'd get very little done. I'm pretty organised about things otherwise, though.
7. I can't sing (I wish I could!), though in high school I played the flute and clarinet.
8. I got my first PC when I was 17 back in 1992 (mostly for word processing - made life easier having all those pen pals! lol); and I made it onto the Internet a few years later. At the time I only knew TWO people who had e-mail. Oh how times change....
   

I'm supposed to tag eight more people, but it seems everyone's done this meme already! Consider yourself tagged if you haven't!

English Roses Happy Dance!

Just a quick post to share my Mirabilia English Roses Happy Dance.

Fabric: Silkweaver Sandcastle (Classic Linen).

A few notes...

1. About 35-40cm cuts of the silk ribbon will do per rose (to avoid any waste by cutting the lengths too long).
2. I ran out of the #157 4mm YLI ribbon. I got 5 yard packs of all the other ribbon called for and this was more than enough – apart from the #157. I was going to improvise with what I had (perhaps do a few more of the roses in the other darker pink colour), until I had a look on eBay, and there was a lovely UK seller on there selling it by the meter… so I got 2 meters which was all I needed (she didn't mind that it was all I was buying, bless!) But if you do run out and can't buy it by the meter, improvising with the other pink colour would work out just fine!
3. Only one pack is needed of the Mill Hill 00168 & 03035 beads, not two of each as the chart recommends. I had plenty of each colour left over at the end just from the first packs.
4. Be careful with the Kreinik – I only just had enough of each colour (especially the 021). I use short lengths of the Kreinik when I use it mind you, so I probably waste more than the average person. :)

I probably won't get this framed until the autumn, as it's a birthday present for mum, and her birthday isn't until December. I'm really happy I got it done with so much time to spare. There's nothing worse for me than feeling pressure to finish a stitching gift!

Thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments on the framing in my last post.

Back from the framers...

I had my hands full coming out of my lovely framers this morning. :) I thought it best to take some photos while I had the chance, as most of these pieces are gifts.

Gloria by The Silver Lining, for my grandmother:

About two years ago I asked nonna Giulia if she'd like me to stitch her anything in particular, and she asked for a rose, as it was my grandfather's favourite flower. Though he loved many flowers (he was a wonderful gardener).

The next two are for my cousin Rita's new baby girl Serena, and my friend Michelle's new daughter Abbie:

The Birth Band by The Drawn Thread

Baby Garden by Just Nan

And this one.... is all for me!! I finally got Quaker Garden by Blackbird Designs (one of my all-time favourite designers) framed!

And finally, another progress photo of English Roses. I'm not bored with it yet, so I'll keep going for now. I've done the top half of the silk ribbon roses and leaves since this photo was taken, so I think I'll start the beading next, even though I have quite a bit of stitching to do at the bottom yet.

I searched and searched the Internet for photos of her by other stitchers and can you believe I couldn't find any?! (that was a first!) I found a few that had just stitched the lady in the middle, but not the rest of the design... very pretty they were too... but I had wanted to see what the silk ribbon roses were supposed to look like! :) Hopefully I'm doing them right...