A Butterfly, a Rabbit and a Bird

How do those three come along?Well, quite well, I can say. To start with the butterfly, here it is, framed, and I think it turned out beautiful. Now all I have to do is find a place on the wall, where it comes out as beautiful as it is.

The Rabbit, a continuing story.... It is our Nijn, a little dwarf rabbit (even smaller than most dwarf rabbits) with constant tooth problems. Since this little animal refuses to eat hay (like he should being a rabbit) his teeth keep growing. We went to the vet, to cut his front teeth several times. Then we decided it was much stressless and cheaper if we learned how to do this ourselves. So we did. After a while, his teeth were growing to the left, and to the right, so we went back to the vet. The best solution was to pull out his front teeth.

So we nourished him for a few days, being in pain and unable to eat his normal food. He recovered, and all is well that ends well, we thought.

But no, not in Nijn's case. A few days ago he again refuses to eat, and being a rabbit, that is very serious, because his bowels have to keep working, otherwise he will die in a few days. So we went to the vet, last night. Again: a problem with his teeth. They don't wear and become irritated, so again, our Nijn is in pain when he tries to eat. He gets a painkiller, something to stimulate his bowels, and, again, is nourished by me. That takes a lot of time, but it makes me feel like a young mother again, feeding her baby.

The Bird, third in row, is a little stitching from Helga Mandl, Friends gather. Stitched on 32 ct. Belfast Linen, Silkweaver Solo. My goal is to get it finished before monday, since I have to start working again, and no much time will be left for stitching and blogging. Here is the result until now!

Finished!!

Wow, am I proud of myself! I finished my WIP Celtic Butterfly! All morning I stitched like crazy, and I finished it at 13.00 h. I washed it, hanged it to dry, and after that ironed it. Jumped into the car to go to my LNS where I left it to be framed, and was at home again at 16.30 h.

To give some more information: I started this WIP July 16th, 2007. I didn't work on it during winter months, because the light wasn't well enough to work on it. April 2008 I decided to work on it again. It is a design of Heaven and Earth designs, QS Celtic Butterfly I. Stitched one over one. Designsize 185 x 126, 91 colors.

Another thing to show is the Crazy Exchange I stitched for Stephanie, and she let me know she received it this morning, so now I can show pictures. I sent her a needleroll by Shepherd's Bush, Shepherd's Roll. I just love stitching them, I think I will stitch it for myself too, some day!

Holiday stitching affairs

It's too early to rise, but I awoke and it seems I don't fall asleep again, at least not in a moment. So what is a better time to update my blog?

First of all, I was sooooo happy to read Carol received my gifts. I was her partner in a Birthday Exchange, and I received a Crazy Exchange from her a few weeks ago, so I stitched something in return.All I can show at the moment is the CE, since her birthday is about a few weeks. I sent it off early, because I didn't want to take the risk she wouldn't receive it in time.

This is what I stitched for her:

I forgot to take a picture of the goodies I sent, but luckily, Carol did, so I think it's okay with her I use hers.Last two weeks in Czech Republic I had plenty of time to stitch. I finished a CE that I can't show of course until the receiver has got it. Besides that I stitched a biscornu, only have to finish it, because I didn't have fabric for the back side.

I also finished a little design of Lizzie Kate, Snippet #78 Hop Squared. Luckily I could buy a piece of fabric it was originally designed on, and I have plenty of the fabric left,so maybe I will stitch it again, to give away. Of course I have to do the finishing, I think I will turn it into a pinkeep.

I made a start with Periwinkle Design, I Love Letters Needlebook.

And I made good progress on my WIP, a design of Heaven and Earth Designs, Celtic Butterfly. I think I can finish it this summer, before duty calls again ;)

As always I took too much with me, but you never now what you are willing to do, isn't it? So the things I brought but didn't start or finish are now future plans, waiting for their turn to become WIPS ;)

Exchange gift received

Today I received a gift from Carol , USA. She made me a wonderful scissorfob, and in her package added the scissors too! They combine perfectly, and I am very happy with it. She addes some teabags, French Vanilla, as you can see on the picture. I didn't know yet it was that great fun to be involved in an exchange.

Last week I finished something for a birthday exchange, of which I can't show pictures yet, of course. I have to wait untill the package has been received by the lucky one. I also finished the autumn biscornu. It turned out to be lovely!

And (of course) I made some progress on Celtic Butterfly, as you can see ;)

Holiday

Today me and my family returned from a week's holiday in Germany. We had a great week, the weather was marvellous, it looked like summer! I have been able to stitch quite some hours, as I rose early in the morning. I started the day with an activity like walking or cycling (in the hills!) and after that I could sit down to take a rest and do some stitching.

In the evening I have been stitching at my HAED Celtic Butterfly, and this is the result until now.

During daytime I was working on a biscornu. I finished one of them, and another one almost. Of the latest I can't show a picture, as it is meant to sent in an exchange, but this is the other one. It is a monochrome biscornu, designed by M.A. Rethoret-Melin. I stitched it on cloud-brown aïda with Gloriana, color Topiary.