Fish and a bagful of ribbons

It's been a funny few days. I must've eaten something that disagreed with me on Sunday as I've felt under the weather for days, and been moping around with a face like a wet weekend. I've done a bit of stitching here and there, working on these two pieces of needlepoint. Both destined to end up as spectacle cases and, when I eventually finish 'em, go in my Etsy shop. Speaking of which, I've been making another embroidered fabric cuff, this one narrower than the previous effort. The idea being to make a kit to go in the shop, all you need to make a cuff including embroidery thread, beads, sequins and so on.

I've assembled the packs, but now have to write out the instructions, which for me is the tricky part. Writing clear, straightforward instructions that are easily understood is a skill in itself. I really enjoyed selecting the material to go in the kits, and it was the ideal occupation for someone who didn't want to move far off the sofa.

Though I did feel okay enough today to trundle along to the supermarket, of course calling into a charity shop on the way. Picked up another bargain book for the To-Be-Read pile. (Am currently engrossed in S.J. Parris 'Treachery. Strapline: 'In Elizabeth's England there is no greater crime.' Set in 1585, and treachery there certainly is. It's a page-turner alright.) I also unearthed another bargain, £1.49 for a bag of ribbons and trimming. Love the shocking pink and especially that Indian style trim at the base of the picture. There was also a vintage tape measure in the bag, softened by age and constant handling. I like the notion of incorporating that, or lengths of it, into some slow stitching. I don't need it for practical purposes as a tape measure. I've at least two modern ones, plus several quilt rulers, but I'd like to give it a second life somehow.

Can't think of much else to tell you, except I've been seeing on Facebook previews for a new film, Olivia Colman in 'Wicked Little Letters', about a scandal over poison pen letters in 1920s Sussex. It looks like it'll be a cracker. Anything you're looking forward to with film or TV? I can always use a decent recommendation.

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Taking a blog break ...

Hello! And goodbye, at least for now. The blog's on hold for a little while as I'm easing myself into 2026 gradually. I'm still stitching and reading and enjoying life with Badger the cat. Even though he treats my sofa like a giant scratching post!

Badger!

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Final post for 2025 (I think. I mean, unless anything amazingly wonderful happens that I can't keep to myself any longer ...)

The days are marching by at record speed, and I've finally - possibly - bought all the presents I need to buy and written all the Christmas cards I need to send. I decided not to put up a full-sized tree this year as I'm convinced Badger the cat would simply view it as a climbing frame, and I'd find it toppled on a daily basis. Instead, there's a small green tree, and a simple white twiggy one that has lots of vintage baubles dangling from it. To be honest, I prefer the twiggy one, so the green tree might be permanently retired from now on. I've not gone crazy with the decorations, but there are various strings of fairy lights that look so pretty when they're lit. I have - between internet shopping and baking mince pies - made a little fishy pin cushion, decorated with seed stitches, French knots, chain stitch and stem stitch. I'm on the look-out for grey tweedy material to make another fish as I think that'd look better than plain ...

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