Summer is almost over...

Well it has been a pretty busy 6 weeks off from work.  Firstly, on the stitching front.  I had taken part in an exchabge on the The Stitched with Love Exchange blog and sent to Catherine here is a photo of what I sent her.

I stitched the Summer Sachet from Blackbird Design's book A Stitcher's Journey.  I made it into a little pin pillow.  I also added some little pins that I had made.  This was the first time I had made any decorative pins, and I think they turned out pretty cute.  I received from Pam in the US, she  had stitched a really cute needlebook with her house and my house on it.  There were lots of really cute and fun things included in my package from Pam, thank you. 

We had decided not to go away on holiday as a family this year as my eldest son didn't want to come with us in our caravan.  He was away on a camp for a week, so the rest of us sneaked off for some time away from home.  We visited Rothiemurchus and did some cycling, there are some fantastic off road trails around this area.  This is a picture of Loch an Eilean Castle, which we passed on one of our cycle trips.

When we got home DS #2 and I headed off to Northern Ireland.  We left at 4am on a wet Saturday morning to travel to the ferry terminal.  We eventually arrived at where we were staying by 5pm, we live really far north and it always takes us a long time to get anywhere.  We had a busy week and on one of the days we took an open top bus tour around Belfast, it is really interesting to hear the history behind the troubles in Northern Ireland and also to see the Peace Wall and the murals that are painted on the walls and the gable ends of buildings.

 

After my week in Northern Ireland it was home again for a few days.  Then my youngest DS travelled to Glasgow for a basketball clinic with Gannon Baker.  He had a fantastic time and learned a lot of new skills.  I didn't travel with him, but his coach and the team manager were there and they both said it all the players involved had a fantastic time. Here he is doing one of the skills that he learned and Gannon Baker doing the same.



 While on holiday I also decoupaged and

painted this handy little set of drawers.

I have also spent some time stitching and sewing.  I made a start on getting my Etui finished.  It has been sitting for months waiting on me having the time to put it together, well it is almost there, I just have to put the back piece of fabric on and sew the binding on to that.  Once I get started on the hand sewing of the binding it should go pretty quickly.  Hopefully, I will get it finished by the weekend.  I also made myself a new handbag.  I had picked the fabric, clasp and pattern up in Myrtle Beach last October and only now got around to making it.  I love how it looks and hope to make some more.

I can't share anymore of my stitching and sewing at the moment as they are for exchanges.  As soon as I am able I will post a photograph.  Hope everyone has a good summer and enjoyed reading and seeing some of the things I have done during my time off work.