Thursday, November 27, 2014

Can't Sleep and Reminder About Giveaway

It's 3:30 am and I can't sleep.  I went to bed early but woke up wide awake.  Is this the "energy" burst you get during the second trimester? If that's the case, I'm not a big fan of it.  I like my sleep!! Give me energy during the day not when I'm sleeping!!

Okay, rant over.  Thank you all so much for your well wishes, hugs and hurrahs.  I mean to respond to everyone once reports are over, which I will be this weekend. We are thrilled about little bean and everything seems to be fine except this waking up early bit.  So as I was transferring over photos onto my computer, I realized I forgot to do a post about my little Victoria trip a few weeks back, for my sister's convocation at the University of Victoria.  The last time I had been in Victoria was when I was 12 so it was nice to revisit the city again.  We stayed in a charming B & B and wandered through the downtown, which I fell in love with.  Victoria has amazing old buildings and the most charming little shops, including a knitting and stitching store!!!! I hadn't been to a local needleshop since the one in Prince George closed when I was 11! I was in heaven, and did a lot of damage too...hehee.

Buttons Knitting Needleshop
Loved all of the framed stitching on the walls!

Carriage House Samplings...forgot to even look at the ribbons
Birds of a Feather Sampler Sarah Emery
 I felt sort of rushed since my auntie and sister's boyfriend don't really have an interest in stitching, so I completely bypassed the beautiful wools and ribbons, forgot that they were there until I saw the photo, and sort of in an elevated state, ran to the fabrics, threads and charts.  It was so nice to see and FEEL the linens! I bought a few.  Couldn't help myself, plus I saw the beautiful Sarah Emery on the wall and realized I have that chart, so I bought the linen and threads to stitch it with.  



I also found a Good Huswife chart and a cute PS Santa that I am going to make for hubby this Christmas.  My sister, who didn't want to come in at all...lol, came in and ended up buying the same Good Huswife chart, linens and threads to stitch it.  Here she is stitching on the ferry.  I got her started.


I took a lot of other photos of Victoria but it was getting dark already at 4 so not many photos turned out that well.  We visited the Empress Hotel and wow, is that an amazing hotel! I felt like I was transported back to 1882.  The Parliament building was all lit up but again, photos turned out crappy.

Cool little alley
A door from old China town

A really cool Irish Pub I want to visit when I can drink again

Parliament all lit up

The tea room where High Tea is $50
Next time I visit Victoria, I will have more time to explore and revisit the stitching store with ample time to peruse. Very charming city if anyone is interested in visiting.

Well, I have done a smidgen of stitching, but mostly crochet.  I have been stitching snowflakes like crazy and you never know, some of them may float into your home soon! I started a baby blanket but changed the pattern since the bamboo cotton I got is very fine and doesn't work well with crocheting from the back stitches.  Those who crochet will know what I'm talking about.  



I actually finished the vase on Sarah Chapple but the lighting right now is pretty dim so I'll post an older photo.  


I stitched a bit on the PS Santa and started Sarah Emery.

Low 3:30am lighting
Last but not least, I guess I forgot but I ordered two more charts and some black lugana  awhile back.  One of the charts is Beggar's Christmas and I want to pull the threads and stitch that one to add to our Christmas ornaments this year.  



Reminder!! My giveaway ends on the 30th so there's still time to enter! Click on the right side bar under the header Giveaways and it'll pop you over to the post.  Good luck to all who entered!


Hugs to all...maybe I can get another hour of sleep in?!

Anne

24 comments:

Vickie said...

Ah Anne. Love the baby blanket and color. Rats! It does not let me know boy or girl. ;)
Will you be checking in on your sister for progress? Are you doing an SAL together?

marly said...

Glad to hear you are feeling well! What a charming city. Enjoyed the post!!

Tricia T said...

What fun things you found at the stitching shop! I always love seeing stitching things in real life rather than online. It's more fun to have them in your lap on the way home, than when you order online and have to wait for them to arrive!

Are the snowflakes hard to make? I think my daughter would love to try making some for next Christmas! Is there a pattern you could direct me to?

Take care of yourself and Baby Bean!
- Tricia

Jacqueline Morris said...

Oh yes I like sleep too when I do! Take care of yourself..
Oooh wonderful stitching shop.. I could look for hours in there! Oooh yes you can tell its almost Christmas with pretty lights :)
Oh crotchet... I have tried and failed.. yours looks delightful, love your pretty snowflakes :)
Your stitching looks really pretty and will look beautiful when finished.
Smiles :)

gracie said...

Sounds like you had a lovely trip to Victoria. Hope you get more sleep...sorry The Little Bean is waking you so early!

Margaret said...

Ok, I have to say I don't remember any wakefulness in the second trimester. lol! On the other hand, it's been over 20 years since the last time I was pregnant. Ahem. :D Love seeing your pics from Victoria. I hear you on the shopping with family -- can't spend the time you want to, rush rush. So sad. lol! But that's life. I went into a knitting store up in Maine while we were on vacation, but no time, no time. Ah well. Love that alley, and high tea -- wow! Take it easy!

rosey175 said...

I am a brand new crocheter so I can only guess at your yarn woes; does it split easy? I love your colorful snowflakes! I am a bit afraid to make them in yarn but they look so cute and fluffy!

Good gravy, $50 for tea. I imagine it's a lovely experience but think of all the floss that could buy!! Lovely stitchy shop too. Actually the whole area is lovely! I must not be looking hard enough here for such pretty sites.

Little Bean is just preparing you for those nights of crying at 3am for no reason what so ever. ;)

Melissa said...

I can't remember if it was the second trimester but the insomnia in the middle of the night can happen and frequently. Someone told me it was training for when your baby arrives! Makes sense.

Victoria is lovely as far as the downtown core charm is concerned. The needlework shop is great. They used to have lots more stitching stuff too but now more yarns.

Great stash! I have some of those charts too. I love how your Sarah Chapple is coming along.

I'll have to learn to crochet one of these days.

Take care!

Brigitte said...

So nice to hear from you and to know that you are doing great. I think it's a great idea to write a blog post when you can't sleep, lol.

Nice report and pictures from your visit in Victoria. Seems to be a lovely place - and such a fantastic needlework shop. like you I can spend hours in such kind of shops, but like you I don't have such a shop near where I live. Your new stash is wonderful, I love the charts and the fabrics. Great choices. And such nice progress on your stitchy projects and the new crochet starts.

I hope these sleepless nights won't happen too often.

Shelly said...

Hmm, I'm really liking that BoAF sampler! Victoria is a place I'd like to visit. I'd been to Seattle to visit a grandmother, same kind of weather/atmosphere there it would seem. I went to the Attic once and my daughter sat in the car for about two hours waiting for me. Did I feel bad? Noooo! Take care, Anne. Hello Bean!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Amazing stashing! Victoria looks like a lovely city. I'm loving the colors you chose for the baby blanket. Hope you get some sleep! :D

Kaisievic said...

Hmm! Shame about the sleeping as you will need all that you can get when the baby comes - lol! Victoria looks lovely, which state/country is it in?
Love your new stash and very pretty stitching.

Mouse said...

ohhh bless re the lack of sleep ... but it will be worth it in the end ... loved your shopping trip :) nice new charts and goodies to stitch them with too .... love mouse xxxxx

P.J. said...

Happy to hear all is going well with exception to sleep...the little bean is prepping you for the future. Nice stash enhancements and stitchy progress. Love the beginnings of your blanket...love the color too!!!

Mii Stitch said...

What a lovely post :)
Hope your energy level will come back soon... believe me this is actually better than morning sickness (or evening ones, like I had)!!!
Looks like you had a great trip and the cross stitch shop!!!! Wow, heaven, pure bliss!!
Love your purchases and stitching.
Baby "bean" will have the most wonderful blanket to snuggle too, the start looks so promising :)
Hugs xoxox

Julie said...

What a wonderful shop, great purchases you brought home.

Hope you managed a little cat nap to replace the lost sleep.

Justine said...

Victoria looks gorgeous! Glad you made the most of it even if you did feel a bit rushed. Those linens look lovely.

I remember the sleepless nights whilst pregnant all too well! Hopefully it will pass soon and you can get some rest. Cat napping is a great idea if you have time.

Anne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Just watch out, the time you wake up when pregnant is he time baby wants their night feed!! Look up "dream feed" for advice on how to survive this LOL.
Looks like you had a great trip especially the real life needlework shop. I think the fabrics would be my weakness. I like neutrals but it's so hard to tell what they are going to look like and feel like when you buy online.

Andrea said...

Good to hear that you are doing well. I think you may well be a little over-active. You have been very busy on crafting all sorts of wonderful creations.

Giovanna said...

Nice new start, and nice going on Sarah Chapple. Hope you're getting some sleep.

valerie said...

Sounds like a lovely visit to Victoria! I went a few years ago and indulged in the high tea. I wish I had known about the needlework shop. I have Sarah Emery as a WIP. If you are still stitching and interested in SALing in the new year, let me know. I've gotten as far as the top alphabet and one butterfly before setting it aside. Hope your bamboo cotton behaves for the baby blankie! :)

Maggee said...

What a great thing, to find a stitchy shop!! Along with the great Irish Pub, Parliament, and the many other sights you will see next time--sounds like a fun city to visit! You got some great stash! I look forward to seeing progress and starts! Provided you get to sleep thru the nights NOW!! Hugs!

Meari said...

I always enjoy "armchair trips". Thanks for sharing your visit to Victoria. :)