Saturday, May 30, 2009
[Editited] And yet, another GIVEAWAY!!!
[Edited] I changed the deadline until 14, June (Sunday), 2009!
So you have more time to join in!!

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Hi again, here is yet another GIVEAWAY!

I don't know why but, I'm so grateful for everyone around me, especually this year more than before.
Probably, I think I have not been in good health, suffering from the side effect of medicines...
So I'm quite nervous more than before and so I really appreciate for everybody who care about my health a lot...
So, this year is a thanks year, and so here is another small token of my gratitude.


I made another pinkeep with Lilly of the valley design © Les grilles de Maryse, as I want everyone to "BE HAPPY!"

 I stitched on 28ct Stoney Creek Dyed Fabrics (Antique Pink) with DMC (#470, #3865).
On the photo, flowers colour doesn't show up much, but in the real life, it's fine!

 Here is a photo of backing fabric I chose for this pinkeep.
Lilly of the valley & Roses??? a bit funny, though, it's OK! :D

Here are some close up photos...

I put rose (again?? lol) , what do you say? a little ornament (?) on the top of this pinkeep.
This time I didn't add tied ribbon, leaving this aside quite simple and nice, I think...

If you would like to join in this Give Away, it's just simple, just leave a comment ON THIS POST ONLY for this Pinkeep, and please post about my Give Away on your blog.
I will also draw the winner 14, June (Sunday) in Japanese time, so you have more than 1 week!

This Give Away is for everone who even doesn't leave comment regulary, first visitors, 日本の方, friends, not cross stitcher, everybody can join in!
Please feel free to leave your comment here!
ご応募は、この日の投稿にコメントを残してくださいね！

Of course you can enter both GIVEAWAY!!
Have fun!

Take care.
Thanks for your visit!




Design : Pinkeep Mai (Freebie) © Les grilles de Maryse
Fabric : 28ct Stoney Creek Dyed Fabrics (Antique Pink)
Thread : DMC
Finished as : Pinkeep



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posted by Yuko at Saturday, May 30, 2009 | Permalink | 96 comments
Friday, May 29, 2009
[Editited] 3 years Anniversary - GIVEAWAY!!!
[Edited] I changed the deadline until 14, June (Sunday), 2009!
So you have more time to join in!!

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Hi again, I made the piece that I showed on the last post into a pinkeep!
It's been a while since the last time I made a pinkeep and found myself liking make pinkeeps so much!

By the way, this month of year, it's my 3 years cross stitch anniversary!
I've started cross stitch 3 years ago!
I'm so happy that I could find this wonderful hobby and many of wonderful friends!!

So I made a pinkeep for a Give Away!

 I love French custom that somebody received Lilly of the valley will be happy, so I wanted to make something with the design of "Lilly of the valley" for this Give Away to bring a recipient happiness!!

Here are some close up photos of this pinkeep...



If you would like to join in this Give Away, it's simple, just leave a comment ON THIS POST ONLY for this Pinkeep, and please post about my Give Away on your blog.
I will draw the winner 14, June (Sunday) in Japanese time, so you have more than 1 week!

This Give Away is for everone who even doesn't leave comment regulary, first visitors, 日本の方, friends, not cross stitcher, everybody can join in!
Please feel free to leave your comment here!
ご応募は、この日の投稿にコメントを残してくださいね！

Take care and Enjoy!
Thank you for your visit!!


Design : Freebie © Les chroniques de Frimousse
Fabric : 36ct Wichelt (sand)
Thread : DMC

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posted by Yuko at Friday, May 29, 2009 | Permalink | 113 comments
Lilly of the valley, again...
I loved Lilly of the valley from before, but since I knew the code for flowers for Lilly of the valley and French custom on the 1st of May, I fell in love this flower more than before!

So I stitched again this flower, but I think I've miss chosen the fabric colour, white flowers didn't shop up at all... Don't you think so?

So, I backstitched with light gray thread for these flowers look like shadow, but yet it didn't show up much...

So the next, I dyed (?), putted on (?) coffee with puffy sponge.

And BAKEed! uhmmm, it doesn't match well with innocent Lilly of the valley?
I shouldn't have baked??

But, if I finished it into something, it would go well, I hope!
I soon post next one!

Write soon!
Thanks for your visit!




Design : Freebie © Les chroniques de Frimousse
Fabric : 36ct Wichelt (sand)
Thread : DMC


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posted by Yuko at Friday, May 29, 2009 | Permalink | 6 comments
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
"Lilly Of The Valley" - Heart Shaped Ornament
Finally I finished my favourite flower and design "Lilly of the valley".
I stitched two pieces of this design, as I fell in love with this beautiful pattern!
The one I stitched on 40ct linen, I finished into a heart shaped ornament like danybrod has done.

I liked her heart shape so much, so I copied it, I hope she doesn't mind about this...
And tied Lilly of the valley with dark green organza ribbon, also used for hanging.

 I sewed this by hand so the shape looks not so good, though it's still beautiful with this design, I think!

Can you see the canework which is placed back of this ornament with artificial flowers?
This is my mum's work. She has done so many beautiful and wonderful canework for several years ago, though she's got tenosynovitis, so she quit it...



Anyway, here is a back side, I used light green flower motif fabric for the back.
A close up photo is below...

I made another piece into... secret yet!
I will show you on the next post, actually I like an another one very much, so I gave this heart shaped ornament to my mum, as I knew she would love this!

Please look forward to see an another one on the next post!
I don't know which one you might like, though!
Take care + Thank you for your visit!
Happy stitching!




Design : "The lilly of the valley" (Freebie) © Danybrod
Fabric : 40ct newcastle flax linen
Thread : DMC
Finished as : Heart Ornament

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posted by Yuko at Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | Permalink | 23 comments
Strawberry Diary 0526 And WIP
Strawberries, it's been only 3 days or less since I saw green berries, it suddenly turned to red like this!!



Today Sweetie picked them (only 3 though!) up, I think it must be a very great experience for him!





My mum put empty pet bottles in the planter and let strawberries up to be bathe in the sun, so suddenly they started turning into red!



First home raised strawberries!!



Sweetie : Yay! here it is, but I don't like fruits and veges, actually...





It's fun to raise veges and fruits at home, I always wanted Sweetie to have such experiences, so I'm so happy that we could!
More strawberries are growing and Tomatoes!
We are very looking forward to see them every day!

How was the taste??? mmm... (lol) it was quite sour, not sweet at all, haha!



Here is my WIP that I can show here at the moment.
I have been working secret project at the same time, so here it is, Blackbird Designs Freebie!
I didn't see the chart (thread colour) and went to the room where I store threads and picked up "Antique Rose" (GAST), as I thought it would be nice for this design.


And after I saw the chart, it was stitched by the same thread, "Antique Rose"! wow!
So I was very happy that I picked up same colour with a designer, as thinking it would be nice!

The white clover ("Shirotsumekusa" in Japanese) you can see above photo and below was from Sweetie for me!
When he took a walk with his grand-ma (my mum), he always brought back wild flowers for me.
Mum told me he always says "Do you think mummy will be happy if I gave this?"


How sweet boy he is! Sometimes too naughty and I'm fed up with it, though he has very sweet heart!!
Thank you so much, my dearest Sweetie Tass! I love you, too!

Sweetie has started his "English Rhythmic" class from today, and he was so happy and seemed he had very much fun!
So at home we did the same thing like "head, shoulders, knees and toes~" and played, it's fun for mums, too!
I hope he will continue this class and will be able to speak English fluently in the future, and want him to meet and talk with my dear friends abroad, especially with Auntie Carol!

Take care and have a lovely day!
Thanks for your visit!

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posted by Yuko at Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | Permalink | 9 comments
Monday, May 25, 2009
Happy Birthday dear friend! - "Love Notes"
I heard that my dear friend received her present from Japan for a while ago, but after that no sound... Didn't she like this gift? lol
By the way, Happy belated birthday, dear my friend!

I have shown this as sneak peaks and as finished piece, then I finished as this into a sachet.

My friend doesn't do cross stitch nor embroidery.
This is designed as pincushion, though I added lavender in this mini and long pillow to let her sleep well, as I heard that she couldn't sleep well as she was thinking a lot about something when the last time we chatted.

I was very in hurry, so photos are not good, the below one is blury... sorry!
I added tassells on four conors of this sachet.

Just a quick post, I must take bath with Sweetie, and mum is nagging me to stop
playing with PC as always! lol






Strawberries are getting bigger a little by little.
And getting a bit red, now!
These were taken on 20th, so still green, though!











Must go!!!!
So, bye for now,
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stitching!





Pattern Name : Love Notes
Designed by : Paulette Stewart
Company : Plum Street Samplers
Fabric : 35/36ct unknown white linen
Thread : DMC
Finished as : Pincushion / Sachet

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posted by Yuko at Monday, May 25, 2009 | Permalink | 12 comments
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sweet Cousins & Silly Auntie...
Today, my brother's kids were here to see their grand-ma and play with my son!
They were running around in the house as screaming, it sounded so funny!
Kids are so sweet!

Here is a photo of my Sweetie's cousins!
They are so sweet, they are 8 and 6, and Sweetie is 4. I think 8 years old boy doesn't care about a little kid much, but this lovely nephew is so sweet and he always care and look for Tass so much!
Boys are running around everywhere, jumping on the bed, etc...! So active!

But 6 years old girl doesn't join them much, she was drawing princess, etc... so I played with her to be a model.
I passed her Tass's toy glasses and let her wear my scarf and what do you say? Hair-band?
I let her wear it on her head, and told her to pose for a picture like a model!
How is she? Isn't she cute?! She was poisoned by lacquer, so her cheeks were red and swollen yet, poor niece... Get well soon!

Here is a silly auntie Yuko... (lol)
My niece asked me to do the same, and she took this photo, haha!

Silly me, but I'm always like this, I love to amuse children so much, so when I always take photos of kids, I make noise like pig grunt to make them smile!

Oh... here... Now I'm addicted to this, Yes, Kiri!!!
Why is this such delicious???

I can't stop eating Kiri, when one of near supermarket did sale on Kiri, we bought 20 boxes!!!
Crazy, aren't we?!
I'm dreaming to sleep on the bed which was made by Kiri... lol






Tomato's stems are growing so much, but not much flowers yet...
And here is a flower, it's very small though, is this really be a tomato after the flower finished???
I hope it will go well!!












Thank you so much for your lovely comments always.
I'm so behind, actually no time to read everyone's blog at the moment, so I haven't been visiting your blogs for a long time, either leaving comments, though please forgive me!

Take care and have a lovely weekend!
Thank you for your visit!

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posted by Yuko at Sunday, May 24, 2009 | Permalink | 8 comments
Friday, May 22, 2009
"Happy Day For You" (Freebie) For Belated Mother's Day
Finally I can show you this finished piece! whew...
Here is "Happy day for you" (Freebie) © Plum Street Samplers, I stitched this for Mother's day (10th of May) and could finish stitching in time, but finishing work took me much time, as I don't like and am not good on sewing machine...

 I stitched this pattern on lavender colour linen (28ct DMC #3743), some thread colours were changed to fit this colour linen.

There was no nice wall in this house (lol, I mean they are old!), so I took photos on the piano, therefore not so good to see the entire piece, sorry.

I sewed linen picot lace both sides of the stitched piece, and added lavender colour lace on the bottom of it and also the fabric which I used for the background.

On the pole of tapestry, I put organza ribbon flower, too.
I gave this to my mum and now it's hanging on the wall of hall way.

Here is a photo which was taken with candle light...

Actually "Mum's the word..." is now in a WIP box and I don't feel like stitching it as I have to undo and re-stitch whole tree in the chart...
So mum, "Mum's the word..." will be for the next year, lol

Oh, a father's day is waiting for me in the next month, but it's OK, he can wait for me for a long long time as he is now in the heaven.
But dad, I will stitch for you, too! Wait for me, please! :D

Take care and thanks for your visit!
And happy stitching!!




Pattern Name : "Happy day for you" (Freebie) © Plum Street Samplers
Fabric : 28ct DMC linen (#3743)
Thread : DMC
Finished as : Tapestry

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posted by Yuko at Friday, May 22, 2009 | Permalink | 24 comments
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I'm Speechless... Gift From Carol R. (lots of photos)
Yesterday, I found a puffy envelope in the post, and it was from Carol R.!!!
She mentioned that she sent sweetie + me something about a week ago, and it arrived safely yesterday afternoon!
When I said "Oh sweetie, there is a parcel from Carol!" in Japanese, but he replied to me "Oh, Auntie Carol?" in English! (lol)

I was so thrilled to open it, and as always I opened the envelope with my sweetie Tass!
This time my mum was also with us looking forward to seeing what's in there!

Once I opened envelope, there were many of gifts everything was beautifully wrapped!
I was already touched by seeing them, I felt her warm heart already then...

First, we opened Present for Tass.
He was so excited to see what's inside, there were Thomas's English books, Jelly beans (Auntie Carol knows how much he loves jelly beans!) and some miniature toys!!

Look at them!! How sweet of her, she bought them for my son when she went to London with her grand daughter Kirby!
They are too cute!!! Tass was crazy about them soon he saw them, but I also fell in love with these tiny sets!!

Look at this sweet pink Mini!! I love this photo, so I will make postcard with this photo, later!
I asked Tass "Can you give me this Pink Mini???", he immediately said "No~!!!", lol
I just teased him! :D
Now he makes a town and there is London city, but he is thinking London is a country, lol
It's difficult to understand for 4 years old boy yet... but he knows American, Japanese, Canadian, England's flags already!

And she kindly sent him some British coins to play!!
How thoughtful lady she is! Now he is playing with them! Thanks Carol!
His real PIL didn't send him anything for his Birthday, but he is so lucky boy who is always thought by many friends of mine!!
Thank you so much for your constant consideration, Carol and also my friends!!

AND!!! Here they are!!! What sweet Carol sent me!
She isn't pinky type, though she knows that I like pink, so she sent me pinky stuffs!
Thank you so much, Carol!!

HERE!!! I was just speechless, not WAS still NOW, I'm speechless of seeing her perfect work!
This is what I was always seeing as drooling every time she made and posted on her blog.
My mum was also speechless to see her stunning work!!
I took many of this pincushion (how can I use this as pincushion!!), so please look at this her perfect work for a while...

Can you see my name YUKO at the corner?

And also can you see CAROL's name, too?



I'm sure you all are seeing this as drooling like me!

She knew that I love this pincushion so much, so she was secretly making this for me, I heard!
I'm so lucky enough to be a recipient of this her work, thank you so much Carol!!

Here is another her beautiful work, scissor fob!
Lovely, isn't it?! She added a charm which was written "Made with Love".
Yes, definitely this was made with her love, I felt!

Thank you SO SO much, Carol as always!
You made our day, indeed!
I really appreciate for you!

Here is an additional silly billy photo of me, lol
I was cooling my forehead with ice, and tied it by handkerchief, not I was dancing (lol)

I said I have been feeling better than before maybe on the last post, but still have been suffering from fever...
It's not piggie flu, so don't worry everybody, but it's side effect of medicine.
And it's getting higher and higher nowadays.
But I think my body has got used to it, so I don't feel ill much even though I had high fever.
Just feel hot and thirsty very much...

In Japan piggie flu is spreading, new patients was found in Tokyo area...
Actually the prefecture where I am present now is most popular for piggie flu, but if it's spread in Tokyo area, it would be awful!
It will soon spread around Tokyo area as there are so many people.
My hubby's company is in the center of Tokyo, and he goes to company by crowded train everyday, so he should be very careful for it...
I hope it won't spread much...

Take care + Thanks for visiting
And happy stitching!

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posted by Yuko at Thursday, May 21, 2009 | Permalink | 16 comments
Monday, May 18, 2009
Now I'm with a big FROG... (sigh)
"Oh No!", "Oh No!"
This is what I have been kept saying nowadays... (lol)
It seems that there is a big frog on my back or somewhere very close to me!
I have been frogging so many times, oh how tiring this is!

Here is a "Mum's the word..." for my mum. I was thinking nothing wrong with this, BUT!
I found a big big mistake!
The tree has to be four linen threads right, so I have to frog the whole tree later... (sigh)

And here is another new project that I started today, this has started with specialty stitches and so it was quite hard for me to go forward...
When I get used it, I found that I shouldn't stitch it first, I stitched too much... oh no...

And after I frogged, another new specialty stitch has appeared, and when I finished it I found a big mistake and so I should frog this specialty stitch, yes everything... (big sigh...)

Please go away, a big FROG from me!! from here!!!

As for my health, as I knew that it's the side effect of medicine, I'm thinking I should get used it and face to this condition.
I still have fever everyday, but I got used it and so not like before...
So now I can stitch, only a little by little, though I'm happy with it!

Thank you so much everyone for thinking about my health always.
Everyone lefts comments with warm words which is concerning of my health.
I'm so touched by them everyday, but sorry that I can't reply to your comment at all...

Sweetie (my son) is getting more active than before, so I have to look after him with mum, so no time to read your blogs, no time to reply to e-mails, comments, etc... nowadays.
SO sorry, but when I have time, I will try to do my best for them!!

Here is a snap of his new bicycle from my mum as his 4th Birthday present!
He choose Micky Mouse's helmet, I knew that you will chose it! :D

Take care and have a lovely week!
Happy Stitching!

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posted by Yuko at Monday, May 18, 2009 | Permalink | 12 comments
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Antique Lamp and Cupboard
A while ago when we all went to my mum's friend's home, my son and I were surprised by her unique home decoration, as I've heard of it from my mum, though they all were very unique!
Basically her home decoration is like Bali (Southeast Asian) taste, but when I told her that I'm interested in Antique things recently, she suddenly remembered there are some stuffs that she doesn't use anymore and so brought them for me.

 One of them that I liked the best is this very old lamp!!
This is so beautiful antique lamp, I think! Yay!
I don't know what my husband would say about these kind of things, but I will definitely bring them back to my home!

I better a bit clean inside of the lamp, though it's so nice, isn't it?!
She also gave me antiqued cake rack, and same style bird cage to decorate greens inside, etc...

Thank you so much for her from here again!
Oh she is the one who made me a lovely tote bag before.

And here is a cupboard which my grand parents were used.
I found this in the garage and immediately decided to bring back this, too!

I think it's nice to store the magazines or books of cross stitch, and also charts!!

My mum's home is actually my grand parents' home, so there are so many old things in this house. So I'm quite exciting to find something old!
I have found some lovely antique things already, and so I'm asking mum if I could bring back them, too.
But mum is worried about where I place them, as my home is small...
And also she is sure that my hubby wouldn't be happy if I brought them back (lol)
Don't worry, mum!

Finally piggie flu has come into my city... sigh
Schools are closed for some weeks, I heard.
I do really hope everyone is fine.

Take great care and Thanks for visiting!

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posted by Yuko at Sunday, May 17, 2009 | Permalink | 3 comments
Saturday, May 16, 2009
"Love Note" Finished
Thank you so much for so many Birthday wishes for my Sweetie!
He had a wonderful birthday, but also he was got angry by my mum + I, as he was TOO naughty (maybe he was too excited, I think!)
I told him that so many my blog friends in the world say "Happy Birthday to you", he said "Wow!".
Thank you so much always for your lovely comment, I really appreciate for them all!

For a while ago, I stitched one of design of "Love Note" © Plum Street Samplers.
This design is for pincushion, I have never made such long type pincushion before, though I loved this words in French.

The charts was written to stitch all hearts, but I added crystal heart charm on the center, as I knew that I had this charm in my stash, so when I first saw this design, I thought to add this!

My mum and hubby nagged about my stash, though my stashes are very useful!!
If you had them as stock, whenever you need you can find the right item from the stash box! lol
Just an excuse, though...

I added "2009" , as this is for my dear friend's birthday present!
It's a bit hardly to see, but this was stitched with two colours, deep red and pink.

Here is the finished piece, I hope I could finish this nicely...
Now it's on its way, it should be there where the recipient is, but I have no sound yet...
I'm a bit worried now, it is taking so much time to get there!!!

Anyway, Thank you Paulette for this lovely design!

Take care and have a lovely weekend!
Happy Stitching!




Design : "Love Note" © Plum Street Samplers
Fabric : unknown 36ct linen
Thread : DMC

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posted by Yuko at Saturday, May 16, 2009 | Permalink | 10 comments
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Happy Birthday Dearest Sweetie!!
Today is a my Sweetie Tass's Birthday! He turned 4 years old!
Time flies so fast, we have cerebrated his birthday at my mum's home 2 years ago when he turned 2, and I remember exactly about that time!
Actually we are all down, we have cold and have fever (not piggie flu!), but we went out for shopping for buying his presents and birthday cake!!

We all don't like cakes that much, so we can't eat whole circle cake, so we always buy short cakes.
When he grew up and he could eat a lot, I would definitely buy a whole circle cake for him!!
We went to Sushi restaurant for lunch as he loves Sushi! :D

And also today we were no appetite as we are having cold, so just these short cakes to cerebrate!
Shop staff forgot to add candles for the cake, so we used our heart shaped candle.

My mum bought a bicycle and helmet for his 4th birthday!
I wanted BMW Mini's bicycle, but there wasn't the suitable size (inch) for him, so we resigned...
And I bought him this LEGO and new cap for summer!

Now he is playing with this and seems so fun!!
He is quite good to make something with blocks, so he is looking at booklet and making town!

And also his auntie presented him these lovely clothes, Thanks auntie!






Not so much differents at all...
A little bit bigger than before???












Sweetie, I do hope your new year will be full of happiness and I love you always!! ((hugs))

Thanks for visiting and Happy stitching!

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posted by Yuko at Thursday, May 14, 2009 | Permalink | 23 comments
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thanks And A Happy Mother's Day!
Thanks & Happy Mother's Day!
In Japan today is a mother's day, and so I stitched "Mum's the word..." © Primrose Samplers this year for my mum and my "Surrogate Mother in Law" Carol R.
You might thought what is or who is my "Surrogate MIL" on the last post...
She is my dear friend Carol R. !

Why "Surrogate MIL" ??
If you read my blog regularly, you might know about my real MIL, so Carol R. offered me to be my SMIL!
I can't explain well as my English ability is not good enough, so please visit her blog (here) and please read the reason why, lol

Anyways, here are some photos of framed piece of "Mum's the word..."
Isn't this beautiful?! I love this and also my mum fell in love again as always (lol)
There was another antiqued beautiful frame, and I was going to choose that one, but when the mat was made and set the stitched piece, this frame was more beautiful than the antiqued one!
Just simply beautiful, I thought and decided!

Here is a close up photo of the frame.
Now I still have been stitching for my mum this design, but she also will choose this mat and frame for this design!
So my SMIL and mum would have the same piece, how nice!

Here is another present for Mother's day from my hubby and me for my mum.
This is preserved flower, and so these flowers keeps their beauty for about 2-3 years.
Every year we send flower, in Japan carnation is the symbol of mother's day, so this also has carnation in the vase.

Isn't this beautiful?! I fell in love with this and decided to send this to my mum.
I also sent the flower for my real MIL... just token of ... what? LOL

I chatted with Carol R. last night and it was SO fun!! We chatted for a long time and she made me happy with her warm and thoughtful words, thanks SMIL!

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day for all mum in the world!!

Take care + have a lovely weekend!
Happy Stitching!






Design : "Mum's the word... (Chrysanthemums)" © Primrose Needleworks
Fabric : 32ct Witchelt Linen (Sandstone)
Thread : GAST, CC, and DMC (I changed some colours)

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posted by Yuko at Sunday, May 10, 2009 | Permalink | 21 comments
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Mum's The Word...
Tomorrow, 10th of May (2nd Sunday of May) is a Mother's Day in Japan.
Last year I stitched "Love You, Mom" © Bent Creek for my mum, and this year I choose this design for her "Mum's the Word..." © Primrose Needleworks.

I have been working on spinning threads on bobbin as how I organized threads were not good idea for a lazy person like me, I was putting threads them in plastic bags like small ZipLock, and put them in the boxes.
But this idea wasn't really good TO me, I couldn't find what I want to find and so bought threads and at the end so many same colours were found in the box... silly me!

So now I can't find the recommended threads easily as I have been working on it and messing around with threads!
So recent work of mine, I changed colours a lot, but it doesn't mean that I don't like the recommended threads, just couldn't find them, lol

Anyways, so I changed colours for this pattern, too.
"Chrysanthemums" in #746 wasn't show up well, shame...
I didn't know "Chrysanthemums (菊）" and checked dictionary, and then the dictionary said it's used for funeral as well...　so I asked Su if this pattern would be for dead person???
But Su told me, in England it's also the symbol of mum or mother's day!
In Japan also "Chrysanthemums" is used for funeral, so when Su told me about that I felt OK! go and start stitching! :D
Thank you, Su!

I added "2009 YUKO" above the word "Chrysanthemums", but I stitched it with one strand and so it was shown quite weak, but it's OK, I'm a modest, lol

Here is a humming bird, the chart was written to do backstitch, but I couldn't do beautifully, so I did long stitch. I think it's fine and beautifully done, though what do you think???

I framed this with beautiful mat, and presented to my "Surrogate Mum" in England.
I have been stitching the same design for my mum, too, as she loved this as well!
I heard that my "Surrogate Mum" received it safely, so I will share some photos of framed piece tomorrow!

Back to stitching, until tomorrow I would like to finish my mum's one!






Here is another diary "Tomato Diary" lol
Now we have been growing strawberries and tomatoes in the planter.

This is so nice experience for little kid to see and know how they grow up!

Here is a tomato's flower.
I didn't know that tomato's flower is yellow like this until now.

My mum is always thinking about my son Tass, thinking how she makes him happy, smile and make him excited!

I really appreciate for her, she doesn't do anything to me, she says "just relax now", but she is old so seems quite tough to nursing him all day.
Thank you, Mum!



P.S. To Bonnie who has left a comment on my last post, could you please tell me your e-mail address? Thanks.

Take care + Have a lovely weekend!
Thanks for visiting!!





Design : "Mum's the word... (Chrysanthemums)" © Primrose Needleworks
Fabric : 32ct Witchelt Linen (Sandstone)
Thread : GAST, CC, and DMC (I changed some colours)

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posted by Yuko at Saturday, May 09, 2009 | Permalink | 11 comments
Friday, May 08, 2009
[Edited] Lily Of The Valley
May's flower "Lily of the valley" is called "Suzuran" in Japan.
I didn't know that in France, 1st of May is the "Day of Lily of the valley" and send this flower to family, friends, etc... and is said this flower brings you happiness!
What a sweet day! That's why I saw so many Lily of the valley's images or photos, etc... on the French blogs on 1st of May...

I saw this freebie on Dany's blog (she is one of my heroine!), and couldn't resist to stitch them!
Her finishing is so pretty and beautiful as always!

* Some friends noticed me that the link to the freebie has already gone from her blog...
Brigitte told me the freebie chart is not on Dany's blog any longer but one can certainly get from her when sending her an email.

I stitched twice, one is on 40ct linen, and another one is on 30ct linen band.
Now I'm thinking how to finish them! :D

This is so beautiful design, and so my mum also fell in love with this as she saw I'm stitching...
I knew it, mum, so I prepared materials for two!


[ Lily of the Valley ]
Code for flowers : Pure, Happiness returns


I hope finishing work will go well, I will do maybe tomorrow if I didn't go out.
From today, I will try to write "Strawberry Diary", about strawberries that we planted!
We also planted tomatos, so will probably write "Tomato Diary", too (lol)







Photos were taken 4th of May, 2009.

This hand is my son's (nearly 4 years old) hand, so you can maybe imagine how small the strawberry is.

Strawberries white lovely floweres are still blooming, so we will probably pick them a lot than we expected!


It's so fun to observe them, when floweres finished, fruits are appear a little by little...
My son is also observating them together, and he is very expecting to pick them (but he doesn't eat fruits and veges... he is a very picky boy!)

I will try to take photos of them later and post them sometime!






Design : Lily of the valley © Danybrod Avril 2009
Fabrics : 40ct unknown linen (natural) + 30ct Linen Band (natural?)
Threads : DMC (I changed some colour and used ; #987, #3012, #934, #B5200)

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posted by Yuko at Friday, May 08, 2009 | Permalink | 22 comments
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Beautiful Yesterday!! (lots of photos)
Now in Japan, most of people are having holiday, it's called "Golden Week", this holiday is the one we can have holiday without hesitation, as we Japanese can't have long holiday at all...

But we don't like crowded place and traffic jam, so we have no plan to go anywhere special in this holiday, so we are having just normal life!

Yesterday, we all went to church as my mum had something to do, so sweetie and I were playing together while she was working, as there is an extensive garden in the site of church, it's so great place for sweetie to play and running around!

Look at this beautiful photo above!! He looks feel so fine and peace!
I love this photo the best!!

He doesn't get used to play around outside as you may know about Japanese crowded cities... There are some parks near mum's house, but it's very small and nobody is playing outside... and also he couldn't enter to Kindergarten because I became ill...
So he doesn't have little friends around...
Sweetie, from next year, you can make so many friends, I'm sure!

Most of photos, he just followed my instructions, I asked him to lay down on the grass, take dandelion, etc... then he fed up with me asking him to pause from the middle way of taking photos, lol

I am very famous that I HATE insects, BUT, BUT!!!!
I'm getting used to touch or catch them (only little one, though!) a little by little.
So yesterday, I caught ladybugs and attelabidae insects for my sweetie!
CAN'T BELIEVE, that I caught them!!! Mum is tough!!

Hello there, from sweetie! This place is so beautiful and feel so peace!
He was running around, I was so happy to see him running as laughing!!

And again he is playing with CAR, lol... Yesterday my brother's family and we went out for shopping to buy my niece's Birthday Present (she asked grand-ma to buy new bicycle!).
And then my brother bought my son a shelf box for toy cars' which can also be a car park, because my brother saw that my sweetie mess up very much! lol
Thanks, brother T!

Look at this, lovely photo, isn't it! It's the first time he laid down on the grass!
I think he was feeling very good, and think it was very good experience for him!
That's why I like country side!!

I realized green makes people's heart so fresh and peaceful.
The scene is from the park to the river.

I found a very old bicycle trailer in the park, of course it's the first time for him to see this, so I told him about this that when we were child old people were using this to carry things.
He knew about this image as he loves to watch "My Neighbor Totoro"!

There were so many split woods, sweetie said "I'm pixie!" and playing to step up onto them.
After then he started pretend to be pixie, and so I called his name, he correct it and said to me "Mama, call me pixie" lol
Everyday like this, he becomes Micky, Minny, Tinker Bell, Daddy, etc... and also he asks my mum + I to be someone else... before I became TV! why??? lol
Kids are so funny!

This nice picture, do you think who took it?
3 years old sweetie took some nice photos of me!!
I think he is seeing that I'm taking photos almost everyday, he knew how to take photos, so he measured the distance, etc... and checked preview and said "uhmmm it was a bit small, so I take mama's photo again" , I was very surprised!

Here is our feet (shoes)! I took this photo when we sat down on the bench.
I love this kind of photos, too! :D

Just before we going back, we met Welsh Corgi named "Kotatsu", he was very gentle and we played with him a bit! He was so lovely!!

This Clover (Trefoil?) is present from Sweetie!
Thank you Sweetie! I'm so happy to receive sweet present from you!!
My mum told me when they are taking walk, Sweetie always say "If I gave Mama, Mama will be happy and cheerful?? What do you think, grand-ma??" and took field flowers.
How sweet of him, and I'm so touched by his warm heart.
Thank you Sweetie!

Sorry all, I'm preparing to send secret projects out now, so yet no stitching photos to share...
But thank you so much for your visit comments!
I appreciate for you all!
Take care + Happy Stitching!

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posted by Yuko at Sunday, May 03, 2009 | Permalink | 21 comments
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Herb Garden
The other day, we drove down to very country side to get fresh tomatoes.
But we were late, fresh tomatoes were gone...
So instead buying tomatoes, we went to Herb Garden.

Behind this building, there is herb garden, but this time we didn't go in, we just went into the shop and bought some herb breads, etc...


Inside the shop, there are so many herbal goods, like aroma oils, shampoo, soaps, cosmetics, etc... I have used herb shampoo before, and it was very natural and good.

We bought some breads and had Hibiscus tea (with honey).
It's so tasty, we often buy it and have it in summer with ice.

Bunny! We love bunnies, so my son was so excited to see this stone bunny!
He is lovely, isn't he!

We found beehive, oh woo...

Sorry, I have done two secret projects, but I can't show them yet, so nothing special to show on here...
But thanks for visiting and thanks for your comments, always!
I really appreciate for them!

Tomorrow, we are going out for shopping to buy my lovely niece's (my older brother's daughter) Birthday Present!
What will she ask her grand-ma to buy???
Take Care + Happy stitching!

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posted by Yuko at Saturday, May 02, 2009 | Permalink | 4 comments