Crafting life... One stitch at a time

Cat's artwork scares me sometimes

2012-02-13T19:43:00.001Z

This is my dear daughter after she's photoshopped her self portrait for her art GCSE. I wish I could do photoshop like this. In the original she's not a ghostly pale colour, covered in blood, make-up run or bruised. Her eyes are naturally green.

The image is (c) C. Wilde 2012 - if you're interested in her work or want to know more about commissions then leave a comment and I'll pass it on to her to answer

WIPocalypse - 2nd Post of 2012

2012-02-11T13:08:00.001Z

There's been a little bit of stitching this month, but mostly it's been month of finishing already stitched items into somethings. My pile of FUPs (Finished Unfinished Projects) is slowly going down... and my finishing skills are slowly improving too.

(I will edit this post in a bit to show the only piece of stitching I've worked on this month once I take a pic, it's Earth Dragon by Cross My Heart)

Finishing Frenzy - 13th Project

2012-02-08T23:42:00.003Z

Another finished project waiting to be made up... I was feeling uninspired with this one for a few days so I left it on the sideboard with the fabric and waited for something to happen...

This is what happened...

Photo Friday - Tall

2012-02-07T22:34:00.002Z

Taller than a double decker bus - and not really crooked!

New to me stash..

2012-02-07T21:37:00.002Z

Every once in a while I wander down to my local charity shop (Helping Hands Tadley) and donate some goodies we no longer need, want etc - I keep a bag and fill it over a period of weeks then off we go in the car. Of course I can never resist browsing - and this time I found some fabric scraps (though to be honest they are quite large pieces) that will be great for my finishing frenzy this year - my favourite is the far right aqua & white print but I can see all of them being used somehow :)

Flowers from work

2012-02-07T21:30:00.002Z

For my birthday - thanks guys :)

It was Wicked!

2012-02-07T21:26:00.001Z

No really it was... Alan took me to see Wicked! at the Victoria Apollo Theatre in London.Totally awesome show and highly recommended if you get a chance to see it.
Not many picks but here's the stage with the awesome Dragon at the top, representing the Dragon Time Clock that features more in the book.

We stepped out of the theatre about 10:30pm to this - a snow-covered London - and a chilly, slippery walk between theatre and underground, underground and hotel. It was beautiful though.

Awakened early in the morning - well 9am - with an announcement that the "staff were investigating an alarm condition but no action was necessary yet" - we wandered down for a lush buffet breakfast: fruit salad, organic yoghurt, cooked breakfast, juice & coffee.

By lunch time we were back on the train to Basingstoke and on our way home. There wasn't very much snow at home, but took this pic from the window of the train as we zoomed through the countryside.

Birthday Treat - Dr Huge (lots of pics!)

2012-02-06T21:23:00.000Z

Having wandered and wondered all around the National Gallery, the next stop was Olympia 2 for the Doctor Who Experience (known as Dr Huge in our house, not sure why). On the way into the experience there are lots of models, figures and memorabilia to check out:

First up are some Silurians (Homo Reptilia) from the 2010 story "The Hungry Earth"

We couldn't take any photos in the Experience, and to be honest it was more aimed at younger kids but did like the 3D short film towards the end and the tardis that moved and shook as you stood around the console was pretty cool.

On the other side loads more memorabilia - David Tennant's PJs

The costumes from all 11 Doctors - this is the 1st - William Hartnell (1963-66) - unfortunately it's only a replica as the original has been lost

2nd Doctor - Patrick Troughton (1966-69) - this one is also a replica as the original has been lost

John Pertwee (Dr Number 3) (1970-74)

4th Doctor - Tom Baker (1974-81)

5th Doctor - Peter Davison (1981-84)

6th Doctor - Colin Baker (1984-86)

7th Doctor - Sylvester McCoy (1987-89 & 1996)

8th Doctor - Paul McGann (1996)

9th Doctor - Christopher Eccleston - 2005

10th Doctor - David Tennant - 2005-2010

and the 11th Doctor - Matt Smith (2010-now)

The Face of Bo

A Tardis console

A Time Lord

Kylie Minogue's costume from the Christmas Special 2007

Amy Pond (Karen Gillan)

Donna Noble (Catherine Tate)

Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)

Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)

Captain Jack Harness (John Barrowman)

K-9 (my personal favourite)

The Tardis Console (from 1983-89)

Police Box (I think this is an older one from the 1980s)

Now on to the baddies and the uglies!
Davros - creator of the Daleks

A rank of different Daleks, oldest on the left... I can't remember the details but there have been many dalek incarnations.

Slitheen

Sontarans

The Tardis console from the story "The Doctor's Wife"

My birthday weekend

2012-02-05T20:36:00.000Z

Started early Saturday as we intended to queue to see the Leonardo Exhibition at the National Gallery. So here's Alan (and me behind the camera) at a cold Basingstoke Railway Station at 6:45am - waiting for the coffee shop to open and our train due at 7:09am

See how early we were, the station was almost deserted and it was still dark!

We arrived at Waterloo at 7:55 - optimistic there wouldn't be too many people in the queue that early (the gallery opens at 10am) - hopped on the Northern Line to Charing Cross.

The National Gallery faces on to Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Colum and the London Olympic Countdown Clock. Unfortunately we were wrong about the queue. There were already 1000+ people there, some having started queueing at 10pm the night before - bearing in mind it was about -3 celsius when were standing there, on the exposed and windy square - I don't want to think about how cold those people were! We would have had to queue until 2pm to get a ticket to come back about 9pm that night. We had plans for the evening and I didn't really want to stand in the cold for 6 hours on the chance we may have gotten a ticket before the gallery closed at midnight. We decided that it would have been nice to see the exhibition but not worth frostbite and went to Caffe Nero across the square to warm up.

This is one of the fountains on Trafalgar Square, iced but still working - it had melted by the time we left the gallery at lunchtime so I'm guessing this ice is just from the night before

From the window of Caffe Nero - my archetypal photo of London - Black taxi, red bus, red telephone boxes and Nelson's Column (and a pigeon)

We toured the ordinary exhibitions around the National Gallery. To call them ordinary is not fair though, there were some amazing paintings. You can take a virtual tour here. We'll have to go back to see more of the exhibitions another time. Alan's favourite was The Fighting Temeraire by Turner. I really liked this one The Virgin and Child ('The Madonna with the Iris') that came from the workshop of Albrecht Dürer - you can't see it until you zoom into the picture but the painting of the transparent veil is exquisite.

And then we headed off to Olympia 2 to the Doctor Who Experience - hence the smile - Alan is a huge Dr Who fan, particularly the Tom Baker version (4th incarnation) - I swear one year I am going to knit him the Tom Baker scarf

(to be continued)

Finishing Frenzy - 12th Project

2012-02-03T20:35:00.001Z

Ready to start, fabric, buttons and thread chosen for this piece...
Plan is to stitch this one onto a flanged pillow with the four buttons in the corners...

And sometimes a plan comes together almost as expected!!

A really hectic week here and there

2012-02-03T20:30:00.000Z

Lots of to-ing and fro-ing. Wednesday - 200 miles to Leeds University with my son Tom for a look around the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Faculty - one word can sum up our tour of the facilities - Amazing! Thursday - Brixton London to take Cat and friend to Panic! At the Disco at the Brixton Academy whilst Alan and I had a leisurely date at the Ritzy cinema and cafe around the corner
Saturday - another really early start - trip to London to see the Leonardo exhibition hopefully, a show and then a night in a hotel for a lay in and room-service!!
Oh and my 40th birthday is on Sunday

Finishing Frenzy - 11th Project

2012-01-30T21:50:00.001Z

This plaid bunny was stitched many years ago. I think it was a freebie from Leah (samplergirl) and I've finally finished it into an egg shape. This finish wasn't much fun - I mounted the stitching and the fabric backing on acid-free foam core, laced them both, glued the two halves and trimmed with ribbon.

Finishing Frenzy - 10th Project

2012-01-28T21:28:00.001Z

Oh I'm on a roll these days with the finishing doo-dads. I looked at these two an thought they belonged together. They are from a squares exchange that I took part in years ago. My theme was "British Wildlife" - caused some issues with my overseas pals (oops, I got better at choosing RR themes as time went on)

I found a fat quarter that picks out the blue of the rabbit square and then left it on the kitchen table all afternoon whilst I figured out what to do with them. I settled on some offset patchwork to make a small wall hanging. I didn't use the buttons I dug out and I couldn't figure out where to put them! I know the patches aren't quite square, I've only done a little patchwork so I'm still learning.

There are a bunch more squares for these swap that I still have to do things with. Looking forward to having my Craft Room eventually so that I can put a lot of these out on display.

Finishing Frenzy - 9th Project

2012-01-27T22:59:00.002Z

Another FUP was finished tonight. This was the third of the Bride's Tree Ornaments I've finished so far (though I'm not so happy with my February one and can see me stitching another design for that)

In the end I didn't use the beaded trim - I stitched the piece of co-ordinating ribbon close to the seam of the pink fabric and the needlework. The piece of ribbon was saved from an item of clothing, it was used to hold the small envelope that held spare buttons. I always keep these small scraps of ribbon as they are enough to make a hanger for an ornament.

Finishing Frenzy - 8th Project

2012-01-26T21:43:00.000Z

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I'm really starting to enjoy finishing things into little doo-dads! When I get my craft room it's going to have a fabulous collection of finished pieces that will make me smile every day... This one is a Bride's Tree Ornament stitched last year. I finished into a small pillow with lace trim using a shabby chic fat quarter I had in my stash and some lace I found in a charity shop.

Finishing Frenzy - 7th Project

2012-01-19T23:58:00.003Z

This is one of my own designs that I stitched as part of a collaborative effort on a forum to create a calendar. I think this must have been 10+ years ago as it's stitched on Aida. I'll be charting from my finish and publishing this one as a freebie on Sew Stitchy as soon as possible.

I picked two pieces of fabric from my stash to finish this one into a flat tuck wall-hanging - one a dusky pink plain poly/cotton, the other a funky print cotton fat quarter

And this is the finish piece, with a narrow border in the pink fabric, backed with the printed fabric. I used iron-on interfacing to stop the piece sagging. Another FUP bites the dust!

Finish Frenzy - 6th Project

2012-01-15T12:50:00.002Z

This is my Bride's Tree Ornament for February:

I finished it into a hanging heart with some scrap red fabric and a length of red ribbon

Finishing Frenzy - 5th Project

2012-01-12T18:33:00.000Z

This was a piece of stitching that my daughter Catherine did when she was learning. Not all the top stitches go the same way but she did manage half stitches and back stitch. I've kept this tucked away for many years but finished it and showed it to her today.

I used some scraps of red fabric, black bias binding and some black and red ribbon to make this hanging tuck pillow.

Finishing Frenzy - 4th Project

2012-01-12T18:29:00.000Z

This one is a bit of a cheat - I'd already finished it before but the hanging ribbon had fallen off and it was coming apart at the top so it needed repairing. So I present "Basket of Hearts" by Charland Designs

A treat for Charlie

2012-01-12T18:16:00.000Z

Now that I'm back at work, Charlie is going to the dogsitter every day. When he gets home, he's so excited. Today I gave him a chew treat and he was behaving like a puppy, pouncing on it, not like the 13½ yr old dog he is.

And I love the way is holding it between his paws in this picture.

Finishing Frenzy - 3rd Project

2012-01-09T21:56:00.000Z

Another FUP bites the dust. I found some neon pink felt in my stash that was just perfect for finishing of this little beauty! I mounted the stitching on a piece of acid-free foam core and glued it to the felt with a ribbon hanger.

Now I'm pondering taking it to work or saving it to hang on the door of my craft room when I get it (when Tom heads to university we are switching rooms around in the house)

WIPocalypse - 1st Post of 2012

2012-01-09T20:29:00.001Z

Here's my first update for WIPocalypse 2012 So far in January I've managed to work on Earth Dragon and to "finish" two unfinished projects (FUPs)
Earth Dragon hasn't seen very much stitching yet this month - about 4 hours - but here's a before and after shot

and here are pics of the two "finishes"

Photo Friday - Day's End - January 6th

2012-01-09T17:02:00.002Z

Not my best effort by a long way but I'm still getting used to my new camera.

Oh this is embarrassing... Finished Unfinished Projects...

2012-01-06T15:13:00.003Z

Which will hereafter be known as FUPsI promised Cross Stitch Crazy that I would dig out my FUPs and take some pics. I think I am missing some, but I have no idea where they would be - I need to have a peek and see if they got put in the attic accidentally.

Small ones (I plan on finishing these one's first) - there are christmas ornaments, autum/nature themed pieces and some valentines & bride's tree ornaments.

Medium ones - I haven't decided what I'm doing with these ones, they made need to be framed so they may be one's I try to do myself

Large ones - these have to be framed and I don't have the funds for that at the moment so they will have to wait

Finishing Frenzy - 2nd Project

2012-01-06T10:36:00.001Z

From This...

To This You can download this free design from Sew Stitchy

Finishing Frenzy - 1st Project

2012-01-05T15:10:00.000Z

Today I challenged my friends on Cross Stitch Crazy to "finish" a Christmas Ornament before the tree is taken down and the decorations put away tomorrow.

I picked one from my stack of "finished unfinished" objects and set to work. First I chose a piece of fabric from my stash that picked up the colours of the stitching. The fabric I chose isn't particularly Christmas-y but it is a pretty shabby chic print. I opted to go for a simple stuffed pillow ornament, but I think I'll be more adventurous next time.

Then stitched the ornament to the backing fabric, attaching a fabric hanger and leaving a small gap at the bottom to stuff the ornament.

Finally I stuffed the ornie, stitched close the gap at the bottom and took a picture to prove I can finish things IF I set my mind to it.

My First Finish of 2012

2012-01-03T23:07:00.000Z

This was the first freebie I designed for Sew Stitchy and I've been meaning to stitch it for far too long.

WIP Update (lots of pics)

2012-01-03T21:00:00.000Z

Here's my definitive WIP List with up to date pictures. The first five are in my current rotation. The last four will be added in as I complete something.

Earth Dragon by Cross My Heart @ 60% complete

Flirt drape cardigan knitted in Debbie Bliss Cathay shade "tomato" (the pic is way off colour, it's a bright red) @ 80% complete

Coffee patchwork table cover - the top is complete, it needs batting, quilting and binding - 44% complete

Blumenweise im Raster @ 15% complete

Four Horses of the Apocalypse @ 13% complete

Celtic Spring @ 4% complete

Spot of Summer by Drawn Thread @ 1% complete

Winterhaven by Just Nan @ 1% complete

Stargazer Lilies by The Silver Lining at 1% complete

New Year in Wheaton Aston

2012-01-03T20:41:00.000Z

We piled in the big green (not so green) vehicle to Wheaton Aston to celebrate New Year with Alan's mum. We took food, champagne and chinese lanterns with us - determined to see the 2012 in properly. Firstly there was some dressing up (as I haven't had a chance to wear this dress in the two years I've owned it) My purple hair has faded to a dusky lilac but will have to be dyed brown for work soon anyway.

Alan in his New Year waistcoat.

Cat in her Japanese sailor girl style dress

Tom, who doesn't do dressing up...

Alan with the soon to be lit Chinese lanterns

The lighting ceremony!

Waiting for the lantern to heat up before releasing it.

A successful launch

Up, up and away

A not so successful launch, we aborted the operation due to high winds and decided to try again on January 1st.

Christmas in our mad house...

2012-01-03T20:19:00.000Z

was much more relaxed than it could have been!Here's some pics

Cat is wearing her onesie with devil horns and a tail - she lived in this over Christmas it seemed! In the foreground you can see the Texas Instruments SR-16 (from 1974) that I bought Alan to add to his quirky collection of older electronics.

Tom trying to break my new camera! Wearing his birthday present Tshirt that says "Made in 1993"

Christmas dinner cooked by Alan - fabulous job, the new kitchen made this much easier. We had a turkey and gammon roast.

Cat and Dog snuggling.

2012 Goals

2012-01-03T14:13:00.000Z

I've set some less ambitious goals for next year as I'm going back to work shortly and my stitching time will be reduced

Finish These Projects:
1. Earth Dragon (CS)

2. Cathay Knitting Project (K)

3. Coffee Patchwork Project (S)

Get the following projects to 50%:
1. Blumenweise im Raster

2. Four Horses of the Apocalypse

3. Celtic Spring

Work on these projects in 2011:
1. Spot of Summer

2. Winterhaven

3. Stargazer Lilies

2011 Stitching Round Up

2012-01-03T14:09:00.000Z

I set some pretty ambitious goals for last year and I'm pleased to see I achieved almost everything I wanted to get done. This was despite not being able to stitch for a good part of the year due to my sore shoulder. Thankfully that is on the mend now so I'm looking forward to a year with less pain and being able to do more.
I wanted to finish these 10 projects and managed to finish all of them:
1. Emperor Penguins (CS) - Finished 8th Jan
2. Debbie Bliss Bunny Toy (K) - Finished 9th Jan
3. Blackwork Chessboard (CS) - Finished 10th Jan
4. Funky Sox (K) - Finished 16th Jan
5. Autumn Sox (K) - Finished 22nd Jan
6. Herbie the Hermit Crab (K) - Finished 24th Jan
7. Midsummer Night's Fairy (CS) - Finished 5th Feb
8. Stitchers Make the Best Friends (CS) - Finished 11th Jan
9. Magicas Puntadas SAL 2011 (CS) - Finished 9th Nov
10. Poppies Kit by Golden Bee (CS) - Finished 23rd Oct I wanted to get these 3 projects half finished - I finished two and the third is now 60% complete: 1. Noro Blossom Cardigan (K) - Finished 13th Feb 2. Earth Dragon (CS) - Achieved 15th Nov
3. Kimono (S) - Finished 13th Feb

I wanted to stitch on these 9 projects before the year end - I worked on only 5 of them:

1. Cathay project (K)
2. DMC Linea Bracelet (S) - Finished November 21st
3. Coffee Table Runner (S)
4. Blumen in Raster (CS)
5. Four Horses of the Apocalypse (CS)
6. Celtic Spring (CS)
7. Spot of Summer (CS)
8. Winterhaven (CS)
9. I think... (CS)
And I managed to finish 18 projects in total:

Our House is Filled with Love (CS)

Emperor Penguins (CS)

Debbie Bliss Bunny Toy (K)

Blackwork Chessboard (CS)

Stitchers Make The Best of Friends (CS)

Funky Sox (K)

Autumn Sox (K)

Herbie the Hermit Crab (K)

Midsummer Night's Fairy (CS)

Bird Heart (CS)

Noro Blossom "Eloise" Cardigan (K)

Kimono Costume for Hallowe'en (S)

Kind and True (CS)

Quaker Needlebook(CS)

Poppies Kit by Golden Bee (CS)

Magicas Puntadas Romantic Sampler SAL (CS)

Christmas Ornament for 2011 CSC Exchange (CS)

DMC Linea bracelet (S)

30 hours of stitching between these two pictures...

2011-12-21T15:35:00.000Z

And this piece is now 60% complete - I may yet finish this one before the end of next year!

BEFORE

AFTER

Christmas Ornie Exchange

2011-12-21T15:17:00.000Z

I received this beauty from Jacque - in the peacock colours I requested (I'm hoping to do a tree in purple, lime & aqua this year) - it's quirky and gorgeous so right up my street!

4 horses (well part of a horse)

2011-12-15T16:29:00.000Z

after another 20 hours work at least you can now tell it's a horse!!

Back to the start of my rotation to work on Earth Dragon again

2011-12-14T18:19:00.001Z

Bathroom has been painted - the blue is pretty intense!

The kitchen has also been painted - I'm really loving the warmth of this colour. It's quite a cold room so this will help us feel cosier in here.

Floor gets laid tomorrow and then just the final touches and clean up remains.

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodelling - Day 6

2011-12-14T15:16:00.002Z

The updates aren't so drastic now - the shower has been half-fitted - waiting for the electrician now to do the finishing touches.

The kitchen has been primed ready for painting -it's going to be painted my chosen colour today.

And here's the chosen colour - Dawnlight

More pics later to show the colour off...

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodelling - Day 5

2011-12-12T21:48:00.001Z

The tiles are done - just decorating, the floor and finishing to be done...

Blumen 'eck

2011-12-10T00:54:00.001Z

Here's this one after another 10 hours, it's now 14% complete - still a long way to go but most of Page 1 of 20 is completed.

End of day 4 of the remodelling... much better!

2011-12-09T14:35:00.001Z

I think the end is in sight! The kitchen units are all in, here's the pics to show them off...

They look so much better than they did before.

The bathroom sanitary ware has also been replaced. Woo hoo! Tiling on Monday...

Earth Dragon - possibly last update of the year

2011-12-09T11:23:00.001Z

Front on view to show the progress to date - I'm so happy to be past the half-way mark on this one and to have met my 2011 goal

And an angled shot to show the dark brown on black stitches that I think I'll despise - I know they really add to the piece but arghhhh!

Kitchen and bathroom remodelling End of Day 3

2011-12-09T09:34:00.001Z

The walls have been plastered - I can see how things are coming together now! The units are being fitted as I type this (these pics were taken last night)

This is the bathroom as of last night - today the old sanitary ware is being ripped out and replaced with new. Tiling and a shower are to be fitted, a floor layed and the walls repainted.

2nd Day of Kitchen and Bathrooom Remodelling

2011-12-09T09:28:00.001Z

Old wiring ripped out and new wiring chased in ready for plastering plus one extra double socket. There were never enough sockets in my kitchen so this will really help.

A note on my pillow

2011-12-09T09:21:00.001Z

Actually not just a note last night but this...

Which was meant to remind me of ads like this from the 1980s

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation - End Day 1

2011-12-08T21:51:00.001Z

The existing kitchen has been ripped out - all the cupboards, worktops, tiles and floor are gone. I'm left with my cooker, washing machine (disconnected) and a temporary sink freestanding in the room.

This is the other wall - the electricians came the next day and made even more mess but the results weren't that exciting - a new fuse box, new sockets etc. No flash was used in these pics so they colours are off.

Behind some of the original units - there was some grimy and very old snippets of wallpaper. The house was constructed in 1948 so I suspect this was some of the original decor before fitted kitchens were the norm - you can see similar bold coloured wallpapers reproduced today by Bradbury & Bradbury - so tempting to get something like this once kids have moved out and walls won't be subject to so much wear.

More fragments of wallpaper - wish it was possible to match this somehow to a brand/pattern

Another snippet of wallpaper, this looks like a garden/sea view - love the block print

On top was some later wallpaper, this I think is 1950s - much more geometric/abstract than the earlier paper - these will all be covered up tomorrow. You can buy repro 50s wallpaper from Bradbury & Bradbury also amongst other stores

December Goals

2011-12-05T18:38:00.001Z

For my December rotation I have set myself the following goals: Earth Dragon to 55% - achieved :)
Cathay Knitting project to 40% - achieved :)
Coffee Table Runner project to 40%
Blumen in Raster to 14% - achieved :)
Four Horses of the Apocalypse to 8%

Paring down...

2011-12-05T18:23:00.001Z

I've decided to pare down my WIP list and remove three projects that hadn't even been started - so they've disappeared from my sidebar. It was a liberating experience. Why did I do this? Because I'm following a rotation again.
I've put five projects into my rotation and will add in another only if I complete something. I have four projects waiting in the wings that do have stitches in them (though in three of them there are very few stitches indeed). It was the thought of starting WIPocalypse 2012 that has prompted this move. I really want to finish these older projects so I can start new things.
The current rotation is:Earth Dragon by Cross My HeartFlirt - a wrap knitted in Debbie Bliss CathayA patchwork table runner in various coffee themed fabricsBlumen in Raster from an old Burda Cross Stitch magazine (German edition) Four Horses of the Apocalypse by Kustom Krafts (a project inherited from my daughter after she gave up)
Waiting in the wings are:Celtic Spring by Lavender & LaceSpot of Summer by The Drawn ThreadWinterhaven by Just NanStargazer Lilies by The Silver Lining
I am hoping that I will only have 5 WIPs by the end of the year - wish me luck!

Photo Friday - Rugged

2011-11-30T21:32:00.001Z

This is Kinder Scout in Derbyshire looking towards the Kinder Reservoir, picture taken July 2010

Christmas Ornament Exchange on CSC - Mine is finished!

2011-11-13T18:10:00.001Z

and will be going in the mail very soon (hopefully tomorrow if I can walk to the Post Office)

Here's a close up showing the diagonal cross stitch, smyrna cross and rhodes stars stitched in Au Ver A Soie Soie D'Alger and the running stitch in Kreinik Japan gold.

And here's the finished stocking hanging on my sideboard in all it's glory!This was a kit from Periwinkle Promises that I received when I was a member of the Traditional Stitches stash collectors club wayyyy back! I stayed on the wagon and stitched from my stash.

Finished Romantic Sampler :)

2011-11-12T20:20:00.001Z

Yay, so pleased I finished this just before my shoulder surgery as I can barely move my left arm now :( Darn physio exercises have left me so sore and stiff :(

I signed up for WIPocalypse 2012

2011-11-06T16:50:00.000Z

anyone else want to join me - I hope to have 5 or less WIPs by the end of this year. Do you think I can do it? If I start one for every two finishes that means I'll need to finish 18 projects... Still think I can do it? My current list of projects is on the side bar. Details of WIPocalypse 2012 can be found here

Magicas Puntadas SAL - Part 9 Finished

2011-11-02T11:11:00.001Z

On to Part 10 now - I hope this will be finished in the next couple of weeks.

Magicas Puntadas Romantic Sampler SAL Part 8

2011-10-26T23:02:00.003+01:00

yay! on to part 9 now. Not a great picture but so pleased to have gotten another part completed.

Poppies kit finished

2011-10-24T16:35:00.002+01:00

Stitched on 14ct Aida from a Golden Bee kit - this was a piece I finished for Alan's mum after she was unable to complete it.

Magicas Puntadas SAL - Part 7 completed

2011-10-18T23:12:00.003+01:00

As part of the Stitch-a-thon over on Cross Stitchy Crazy I set myself the target to finish at least Part 7 of this SAL, and I've managed it. I'm really behind on this one because I haven't been able to stitch but I've decided I need to stitch and will just take a painkiller if I need to.

Back to stitching again...

2011-10-16T23:36:00.002+01:00

Taken today - 45% complete but I've run out of DMC 3371 so I can't finish the top half until I have this. Put it away for now until some more thread can be acquired but close to my target of completing 50% by year end :)

Yes I'm back to stitching, yes it hurts but I needed to do something to occupy my mind whilst not working and I've hit a bit of a wall researching family trees and have left that to sit and simmer until I have a brainwave.

Magicas Puntadas SAL - Part 6 completed

2011-06-24T23:28:00.003+01:00

I've completed the 6th instalment of this SAL now. Can't wait until the next part is sent out on 10th July, the design is really coming together and the colours are "popping"!

Stitchy Mail: Kit a Freebie Exchange

2011-06-21T20:58:00.003+01:00

Yay! I received my package from Kristen today!
I got a groovy piece of orange evenweave, a dmc thread and a Needle Necessities thread to stitch this cute pumpkin (you can see part of the chart in the photo) - I love it!

Liquidity: Values

2011-06-19T20:35:00.003+01:00

Liquidity: What does SUCCESS mean to you?

2011-06-17T00:57:00.007+01:00

Now?

1. Hitting my stats in my job.
2. Keeping my portfolio of customers happy
3. Rebuilding Cross Stitch Crazy as a community
4. Being a great help-mate to Alan in building his career

In five years time?

1. Opening "Sew Stitchy" the bricks & mortar shop
2. Both my children going to university
3. Being fitter and healthier than I am now

Liquidity: All of this has been leading up to

2011-06-17T00:42:00.008+01:00

"What is my purpose in life?"

I want to run a cross stitch shop. Now I have to work out how to do it. I know I can't afford to quit my job right now but I can make steps towards realising my dream.

Research the costs

Discuss with Alan what it might mean to both of us

Build up the website in the meantime - tutorials & information pages

Get the payment module working correctly

Produce free designs

Produce my own design line

Add existing stock to the site

Marketing through magazines

Newsletter

Facebook page

Research new stock lines

Liquidity: What would I like my

2011-06-17T00:36:00.006+01:00

Obit to say about me?

That I was a good mother, preparing my children for life, supporting them when needed but allowing them to develop as individuals

That I was a good partner, a help-mate, supporting Alan's ambitions and dreams

That I whatever I did, I always tried my best even if I didn't succeed

That I ran a fabulous needlework & craft shop there was bringing cross-stitch in particular to lots of new people and encouraging new designers and artisans (fabric & thread dyers)

Liquidity: What 3 things...

2011-06-17T00:09:00.005+01:00

would you do if you won the lottery?

1. Build the house of my dreams (probably somewhere warmer than the UK)

(I have a thing for wrap-around porches so it might look something like this one!)

2. Travel - I have a long list of exotic places I want to visit (I could do this whilst my house was being built)

3. Open my Cross Stitch Shop

Liquidity: What do you consider essential ...

2011-06-16T15:05:00.003+01:00

for you to do in your life?

That's a big question - I guess I have to work and do a good job as I get a great deal of personal fulfillment from that. I know the job I'm in right now doesn't suit me but that doesn't stop me doing my best in that role.

I think even if I didn't need to work, I probably still would as the idea of being a stay at home, or lady who lunches would just bore me stupid.

I'd love to do a job that I love, and I like meeting people so my ideal job would involve interacting with customers on a face-to-face basis.

The other essential for me is to be creative - I love making things, I like crafts and hope one day to have a craft room (when my daughter moves out, her bedroom is to become my craft room if we are still in this house - the room is only small -almost 7' by 9' - but it would be my special space)

My ideal would be to combine the two, my job and crafting.

I'm a people-pleaser, I work best in a positive environment - one where my efforts have been recognised and rewarded. I think the only way I'll get that is if I am my own boss!

Magicas Puntadas SAL - Parts 4 & 5

2011-06-16T13:26:00.005+01:00

This week is Stitch-a-thon week over on Cross Stitch Crazy and I've been doing my best to contribute. It helps that I'm signed off work with my shoulder as I've worked out I can stitch using just my right hand if I use my floor stand.

I completed Part 4 about a week ago but didn't take a picture until today:

And I finished Part 5 yesterday:

I'm really enjoying this and for the first time I'm keeping up with a SAL or almost :) Now I just have to get part 6 and complete it by 10th July.

Wheeeeee.......ls!

2011-06-03T20:20:00.002+01:00

And the pink bow on the top just sealed the deal! This is my very own car. It's an automatic, done 70,000+ miles, is 12 years old, not been parked with the greatest of care in it's life... but she is all mine.

Now she just needs a name... Suggestions welcome.

Bath-time...

2011-06-02T23:32:00.006+01:00

Started the day at the Jane Austen Centre with a talk followed by tea and cakes in the "Georgian" tearoom on the top floor.

A Bath Bun in Bath, and a delicious slice of lemon drizzle cake - very naughty but nice!

Me, enjoying my Jane Austen blend of tea

Cat, having enjoyed her Curious Cola - which tasted just like fizzy cola bottle sweets and not that much like Coke

I put this pic in just because it caught us both at just the right moment!

From the Jane Austen centre we walked South to the Pump Rooms (a social highlight in the Georgian era) but as it's been turned into a restaurant we didn't go in. It was next to the Roman Baths but that was left for another trip when we'll take a dip. This little piggy was found outside Bath Abbey - he's called "Sulis" - more about King Bladud's Pigs can be found here

These two handsome chaps were pulling a carriage, you could pay a princely sum to tour the city the old-fashioned way - we didn't but did admire them from a distance

Hehehe.. now if I ever ran a bar, I'd have called it Fubar!

The Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon - small shops line either side of this bridge

I didn't make a note of the name of this pig - but he was at the Assembly Rooms

Inside the Assembly Rooms, one of the great social arenas of Georgian Bath. Dances would be held here for the great and the good. In the basement of the Assembly Rooms is the Museum of Fashion which was full of gorgeous and quirky clothes from the 1600s onwards but most of the pics came out blurry :(

Outside one of the most prestigious addresses in the UK - Royal Crescent, Bath - there was this tasty little number. Always had a thing for sporty ones!

And on the way home the bridge was up over the Kennet & Avon canal, I have only seen this up a couple of times before and this time we had a camera to hand.

Thank you Alan!

2011-05-23T21:17:00.002+01:00

For putting up with me for three years and giving me this gorgeous bracelet to celebrate it with. You are awesome!

It's from Pandora and there are three beads that he chose, one for each year of togetherness. I look forward to many more beads being added to this in the years to come <3 - I love you baby!

Design A Coaster Competition!

2011-05-22T16:01:00.007+01:00

On Cross Stitch Crazy there is a new competition to design a coaster to fit the outline below. Closing date is 15th June 2011 and the vote for the winner will run until 30th June 2011.

I've put together a quick design to get the ball rolling:

You can win some yummy threads and fabrics - go here to take part

(and if anyone visiting here wants to stitch my design, feel free, just send me a link a picture - the above design is (c) Ankh Designs)

Cross Stitch Crazy - the board has a blog now!

2011-05-18T19:14:00.002+01:00

So you can check out what's happening on the board quickly and easily

Cross Stitch Crazy Blog!

and don't forget the Cross Stitch Crazy Recipe File

Honeymill English Rose - Rosie

2011-05-09T21:51:00.002+01:00

Brand new Suffolk Punch foal - Rosie - on my friend Jo's smallholding

Bride's Tree Ornament for March

2011-03-27T14:42:00.003+01:00

March - Flower or Flower Basket (Good wishes, beauty in the home)

This was a free design from Tokens & Trifles

Magicas Puntadas SAL 2011 - Part 3

2011-03-27T14:31:00.001+01:00

I've finished my Part 3 before Part 4 is released on 10th April. This was a big instalment, particularly the green part on the left.

February Friendship Exchange

2011-03-27T14:24:00.002+01:00

You may remember this piece that I stitched and sent to Ruby:

Well I've finally gotten around to taking a picture of the piece I received from Venessa. It's a cute hand towel - I can't put it out in my house as my grubby teenage son will just ruin it but when this house is teenager-free I'll be putting it out on display (or perhaps in my craft room when just one of them moves out and I get my own crafty space!)

Thanks Venessa!

Not for those of a nervous disposition...

2011-03-22T20:47:00.003Z

I have the long-awaited endoscopic pictures from my shoulder ligament repair in September.

This is the xray taken before my MRI, they used this to inject the contrast fluid in. You can see the contrast as the dark patch behind the top of my arm. The very dark spot on the top is from three failed attempts to get the contrast into my joint. Later that day and the next day I began to react to the contrast and had kidney pain and felt awful. This lasted for three days and was rather unpleasant!

Below you can see one of the endoscopic picture taken during the surgery. The tear in my posterior ligament can be clearly seen - the ragged edge a the top should be joined to the other ragged edge in the middle.

7 things I'm good at...

2011-03-12T18:30:00.003Z

More Liquid Thinking...

1. Sarcasm
2. Reasoning
3. Perservering
4. Open-minded
5. Working Hard
6. Customer Service
7. (still thinking)

7 Things I love to do...

2011-03-06T18:43:00.003Z

I've been doing some Liquid Thinking and one of the first exercises was to decide on 7 things that I love so here's my list:

1. Seeing new places and travelling
2. Cross-stitch
3. Reading
4. Walking and/or running
5. Knitting
6. Spending time with my family
7. Learning new things

Farewell to February...

2011-02-28T21:04:00.002Z

My goals for February:
Finish Bride's Tree Ornament #2
Finish Magicas Puntadas SAL Part 2
Finish Midsummer Night's Fairy

and I achieved them all plus managed to get some stitching done on a very long-standing WIP - Earth Dragon. I guess that means February was an excellent stitching month, as was January... let's hope this continues into March. The finishes will definitely be fewer for the rest of the year as a lot of projects I have started are huge and I haven't achieved much on them.

so my goals for March are:
Finish Bride's Tree Ornament #3
Finish Magicas Puntadas SAL Part 3 (released 10th March)
Get Earth Dragon to 30% complete

Wish me luck!

Magicas Puntadas SAL 2011 - Part 2

2011-02-20T22:47:00.003Z

I've completed Part 2 of this and can't wait for Part 3 on March 10th...

Bride's Tree Ornament for February & Scrabble

2011-02-20T20:13:00.003Z

I've finished my February ornament. I'm not making these up until I've made all 12 because I want to use fabrics that work together to finish them. This is a free design but I can't remember where from.

And this morning I was playing Scrabble with Alan when this combination of letters turned up. Erf!

Middy - Finished at last

2011-02-14T22:16:00.003Z

It took three days to add all the beads but she looks beautiful and I'm so pleased with the finished result!

Birthday Presents

2011-02-14T22:03:00.003Z

A sparkly chocolate cake - it was delicious - thankfully not with the correct number of candles, I don't think I could have blown out that many in one go!

The jar of retro sweets from my daughter, complete with personalised message.

Here's the goodies that were crammed into that jar!

I haven't taken a pic of the Kindle yet or the stitchy charts!

Oh no... another started project crawled out of a hole

2011-02-06T00:42:00.002Z

... yet another one I'd forgotten about - Stargazer Lilies by The Silver Lining, which in my insanity I decided to stitch over-1 on 28ct jobelan. I think I've only put a few stitches in but I'm too scared to open the packet to see just how few!!!! Added it to the sidebar and I will get around to it sometime I just have no idea when.

It's my birthday!

2011-02-05T17:40:00.002Z

I'm another year older but not necessarily another year wiser. My fabulous other half bought me a Kindle 3 (and snazzy red leather case for it) and I've been playing with it today. I'm thinking of applying for some jobs in London and this would keep me occupied for the 50 min train journey. I also got some french stitching charts from Alan's visit to Paris and some sweets in a jar (with a personalised message) from my daughter.

And just to make my day even better I managed to sew the last bead on to Middy and will be taking pics later after my birthday supper :)

January Stitching Round Up & February Goals

2011-01-31T21:34:00.002Z

I had a great January, though mostly because I picked projects that were close to being finished. The rate of finishes will slow down significantly for the rest of the year. The good news is that I only have two more projects that I wanted to finish before the end of the year - Middy - and that one could (I hope) be completed by the end of February and - Magicas Puntadas SAL 2011 which is coming out in monthly parts so can't be completed until November.

Under my self-imposed restriction of one start for every two finishes I can add another piece to my rotation once Middy is complete - Companions by Teresa Wentzler is the next piece to be started. Though in practise I haven't started some of the pieces I've added, they've just been tagged on to the bottom of the column of progress bars! At some point I will re-start my rotation and not be working on just one project at a time so they'll all get some attention, but I think that will only happen when there are just 5 or 6 projects on the list.

A round up of my 8 finishes:
Bride's Tree Ornament #1
Blackwork Chessboard
Debbie Bliss Knitted Bunny Toy
Emperor Penguins
February Friendship Exchange
Funky Sox
Autumn Sox
Herbie the Hermit Crab

I also finished Part 1 of the Magicas Puntadas SAL 2011

My goals for February:
Finish Bride's Tree Ornament #2
Finish Magicas Puntadas SAL Part 2
Finish Midsummer Night's Fairy

An update on Middy

2011-01-31T21:29:00.003Z

I haven't stitched on this piece since midsummer last year. Here's a couple of pics to show where I've gotten to. I hope she'll be finished in February but there's still a ton of beads to put on her. I'm suffering my way through a bad cold at the moment so stitching is going quite slowly.

The linen I'm using has become very creased so I'm hoping it will smooth out when I press her at the end.

Herbie!

2011-01-24T22:05:00.002Z

I won some vouchers at work when I won employee of the month and I spent my £10 on book vouchers. One of the books I purchased was Amigurumi Knits by Hansi Singh. I've now completed my first project from this book, Herbie the Hermit Crab. He isn't called Herbie in the book but I had to give him a name.

He isn't perfect, but I love him and he's going to go into work to be my desk buddy.

Socking it to ya!

2011-01-23T00:34:00.002Z

The second pair of socks is finished, here being modelled by Alan. My 7th finish of the year and I'm now able to start a new project. Only 16 WIPs remaining...

My next focus project is Herbie the Hermit Crab - another knitting project.

January Stitch-a-thon Day 4

2011-01-21T00:08:00.002Z

A bumper 2055 stitches today and I'm onto the heel flap. This sock might yet be finished by the end of the Stitchathon.

January Stitch-a-thon Day 3

2011-01-20T00:18:00.002Z

It's just past midnight so here's my end of Day 3 snapshot. 1800 stitches knitted in about 3 hours. This picture is closer to the actual colours but still not right! Underneath is the first sock of the pair completed a number of years ago.

January Stitch-a-thon Day 2

2011-01-19T18:24:00.004Z

Much better than Monday's "nil points" - 720 stitches knitted in a couple of hours.

The beginning of second sock for another pair of socks, this one with a much more autumnal tone than the last pair. The colours in the picture aren't quite right as it's not so purple and more subdued. I hope to get this sock finished as part of this Stitch-a-thon and then I'll have two pairs of groovy bedsocks!

Well that was a rubbish start

2011-01-18T20:33:00.003Z

I didn't so much as cast on a single stitch last night as part of the Stitch-a-thon and tonight isn't looking too positive either as I still have dishes to wash-up and prep to do for a presentation at work tomorrow.

Wish me luck as I'm not hugely comfortable standing in front of people and speaking and tomorrow my audience will consist of several senior managers as I'm applying for accelerated training and this is part of the selection process.

I had a job interview at work today and it went much better than the last one. Whether I have the job or not I can't say but the feedback is certainly going to be valuable.

Ah well dishes are yelling my name...

January Stitch-a-thon

2011-01-17T19:54:00.004Z

started today on Cross Stitch Crazy. If you think you're crazy enough to join in the fun, pop along to the message board and join in.

I'm planning on knitting and not cross stitching. I'm making my other "second" sock, this one in more autumnal colours. I'll be sure to post an update when I take a picture.

Alan is in New Jersey until Thursday. He's hoping to visit Roosevelt Island this afternoon after her arrives (he doesn't have to work until tomorrow) - I expect that will be a bracing walk! Can't wait for the pictures of the aerial tramway and from the Octagon Tower.

Funky & Finished

2011-01-17T00:32:00.001Z

This is the first pair of socks I've knitted so I know they're not perfect but for wearing in bed and keeping my tootsies toasty - they are perfect!

Funky Sox

2011-01-16T00:33:00.002Z

I've picked up another knitting WIP - this is a pair of bedsocks that are so bright they are guaranteed to make me smile when I get up in the morning. I had knitted one of the pair several years ago (maybe 5?) and had never started the second sock. Here's a progress picture of the second sock which is almost half-finished. The tricky bit of make the heel gusset is saved for tomorrow and after that it should be fairly straightforward.

Vintage design - help needed...

2011-01-14T22:20:00.004Z

I don't like to give up on projects - in fact I'll finish something even if I think it will end up in a drawer because I no longer like it. I don't know why but i just can't throw away something that I've started. However in this case I might have to admit defeat. I picked up this design from Alan's mum as she is no longer able to stitch and suggested I might be able to finish it. Except I can't as there is no chart and no threads. The chart I can get around as the photo is reasonable and whilst it would be slow to work from, I can just about make out the individual stitches. The threads are a whole different issue. I can't match them to any of my DMC threads (I have them all) or my Anchor threads (I have about half of these) so I am stumped.

Does anyone know what brand of threads were used in Golden Bee kits?

I've looked on Ebay and there are quite a few vintage Golden Bee kits but not this design (#60445) - does anyone have this design hidden in a craft room or closet, I'd be more than willing to purchase the chart or borrow and return once finished.

What the design should look like finished

The work in progress - complete with very yellow masking tape - I think this may have been put away ten years ago or perhaps even before that.

Magicas Puntadas SAL 2011

2011-01-14T20:27:00.005Z

In a rash moment I signed up for this stitch-a-long but you can't get the next part until you've shown you've completed the previous one. As I usually have fabulous intentions but don't get very far with most SALs this could be a problem for me. Nevertheless I signed up and have managed to complete the 1st chart of 2 sections.

I umm'd and err'd about colours and fabric and in the end sought inspiration from a tea light holder that I really like and choose some colours that were wildly different to the ones selected by the designer Angie.

The colours I'm using are DMC 471, 3808, 3809, 807 & 3811

Part 2 is out on 10th February and I'm on annual leave that week so I'm hoping to get that part completed quickly too.

Friendship Exchange

2011-01-12T19:29:00.006Z

For an exchange on Cross Stitch Crazy I chose to stitch this design as it fitted the theme of friendship so well - it's from Brittercup Designs. I changed the colours and used threads from my stash.

And this evening I made the design into something "finished" - I settled on a simple lined bag that would be perfect for keeping a small travel project in.

And I have to say I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

January Finishes

2011-01-11T20:15:00.007Z

A fabulous start to the new year - I've now finished 4 crafty projects.

Emperor Penguins - Originally started for my son when he was totally obsessed with penguins.

Knitted Bunny - Debbie Bliss design - I can't remember who this was intended as a gift for, I found the pieces in a bag in the crafty cupboard and decided it really should be made up. I'm not thrilled by the way it turned out, the intstructions for making up weren't great (no pictures, just text) and I struggled with sewing the head and neck area together.

Blackwork Chessboard - an project inherited from Alan's mum, this was almost complete, I just had to do about three quarters of the chess pieces. As this has been folded and in a bag for more than 10 years the fabric is discoloured. I've gently washed it but the marks are still there so I'm thinking about the possibility of properly distressing it with a spray with a dye. I had thought about tea-dying it but this is acidic and the fabric would disintegrate over time. I will do some tests on some spare fabric to see what happens.

January Stitching Goals

2011-01-11T18:50:00.003Z

On Cross Stitch Crazy we have an annual theme, the one voted for 2011 was to "WIP yourself into shape" - the idea to clear out some long-term WIPs. I have been doing this quietly on my own for the last couple of years and thought I had made significant progress and then....

I sorted out the crafting cupboard and saw my list of WIPs grow hugely (erf) - I have realised I will be working on the two finishes for one new start for at least this year and probably next as well if I am to continue WIP-ing myself into shape.

With this in mind I set some January goals:

1. Finish Emperor Penguins - achieved 8th January
2. Tidy out the crafting cupboard - achieved 9th January

As I completed these goals much more quickly than I'd expected I added to the list a few more goals...

3. Finish Debbie Bliss knitted toy - achieved 10th January
4. Finish Blackwork Chessboard - achieved 10th January
5. Finish Poppies
6. Finish Part 1 & 2 of Magicas Puntadas 2011 SAL
7. Finish Friendship Exchange piece - achieved 11th January