Charles Diana 30th Anniversary and Me

Charles and Diana were married 30 years ago today. I was there and still think it the most amazing event. The procession was much more spectacular than William and Catherines and though Catherine was elegant and beautiful there will never be a bride or wedding to match Diana's.

The two tapestry samplers above commemorate that spectacular day. They were not stitched by me, I bought them on ebay for my collection.

Ruth who commented on my previous post alerted me to this fabric at Spotlight. Thanks Ruth, I only bought half a metre but had to have some for my fabric stash.

Today I was at Hobbysew and found even more had to have fabric. This half metre will go in my cat fabric stash.

When I went to pay for my fabric I spotted these cat embroidery scissors to go with all my other scissors. I hope this is not the start of another collection.

Also bought all the threads for the next cross stitch sampler waiting in the queue. this is a chart from Cross Stitch Collection magazine. Lots of half stitches, back stitch, gold thread and some gold beads. This one should keep me busy until the Diamond Jubilee charts start to come out next year.

Charlotte, you are not after that hat again are you?? Just because I forgot to put it away after my last collection open house.

William and Catherine Finished Cross Stitch

William and Kate, finished and framed at last. Am I the first stitcher in Australia to finish this sampler? Do I get a medal? Or a round of applause? I think I started my stitching about the middle of March so four months of stitching but I was away at the wedding in the middle of that, so I wasn't too slow. I am going to have a coloured surround made to go in the frame and I moved another sampler out of this frame to make way for Wills and Kate.

The back of my stitching, not too bad as there many colour changes, blended threads and half stitches and a tiny bit of back stitching. There was also a generous amount of fabric and threads in the kit.

This is a sampler I stitched for the Golden Jubilee in 2002. This sampler willingly gave up it's frame and wall spot to William and Kate and moved to a cheaper frame.

Here's Wills and Kate on the wall but I think they deserve a more prominent position. I will deal with that upheaval tomorrow.

Already started on my next project, a sampler bought from Majesty Magazine and much quicker and easier to stitch. This one will show the Engagement date.

Charlotte and Emily are showing their usual interest and enthusiasm for my projects.

Rain and wind all day and this is what happened while I was immersed in my Royal sampler display dilemma. A tree from the opposite creek bank fell on my shed. No damage and willing workers soon had it cut back away from my fence. Now they need to take the tree out of the creek before flooding occurs.

Special Lace and Doll Club

This special peice of lace was sent to me by Gina a very generous blogger friend in Victoria. I hope to find out more about it, I think it is most likely needle run lace made in Nottingham for the 1937 coronation but am still doing my research. Too precious to use I will tack it carefully onto fabric and display. Thank you Gina for sharing your 'find'.

Doll club last Saturday and I entered the 3 competions. One being for a doll with blue eyes. Above you can see some of the stiff competition I was up against and received no prizes at all.

My old blue eyed doll usually wears a school uniform made many years ago by my mother. For this comp. I dresses her in a skirt made from Charles and Diana wedding fabric and she was able to wear the school blouse and underwear with it. Oh well, back to the school uniform tomorrow.

Next section was a bear with a ribbon round it's neck. This 'Gund' bear usually wears a cape but I tied some Charles and Diana wedding ribbon round it's neck. Perhaps I overdid the ribbon and there were lots of very nice bears that won.

Next section was a milk jug cover, my Royal Visit 1954 cover is on the left and once again I must admit some nicer covers won.

All was not lost on the day, I won a raffle prize. This table top fountain, as soon as I saw it I was hoping I would win and below you can see why.

I have always resisted buying my 2 girls a water fountain as they are expensive and Charlotte and Emily might walk away and ignore it. But this one is ceramic so no taste in the water, easy to change the water every day and Emily is giving a demonstration of how good it is.
Charlotte and Emily are always happy when I bring them home a present, but I never mention the great afternoon tea served at Doll Club.

Princess Diana's 50th Birthday

Today would have been Diana's 50th birthday. A beautiful woman whose circumstances caused her to lead a sad and lonely life which ended too soon.
I think Catherine will be much better looked after and made happier than Diana ever was.
'Pax Vobiscum' Diana