Foxed by a sandy whiskered gentleman.

The Gentleman raised his eyes above his newspaper and looked curiously at Jemima -

"Madame, have you lost you way?" he said.

Here at the Magpie house, Beatrix Potter's characters are real people. We have Piggling Bland's garden down the back, in what was supposed to be my pottager. But the broccoli got eaten by the white butterfly and the marigolds didn't keep anything at all at bay in the pest department, so I gave up on the pottager idea and just had flowers. I once had half a dozen little girls down in Piggling Bland's garden eating homemade conversation peppermints.

Now those little girls are all grown up. The one that shall be referred to as, "she who is proficient at separating eggs" has also become proficient at cross stitch.

I am having her latest creation framed for her Christmas present. Jemima is one of our favourites, even though she is such a simpleton!

I washed them in cheap shampoo to remove any marks.

Laid them on a towel to dry.

Pressed them on the wrong side onto a towel so that the stitching didn't become flattened.

And took them to the framer.

Presently I will reveal her in all her poke bonnetted loveliness.

But not till after Christmas, just in case "she" is reading my blog!

See ya blog chics! have a lovely weekend.

.... and be ware of sandy whiskered gentlemen.