Progress at last Joan Elliot UFO

 

Things have calmed after last weeks stash gremlin. I managed to find the DMC colour match for the missing green after some rummaging. So I was able to continue on with the Spirit of the Season.

Here it was as when I rescued it out of UFO orbit:

 

And now:

 

Not bad restart. I do like the colours and I do always find Joan Elliot's designs are a pleasure to stitch. I have no idea why it was UFO. But then again I'm sure no one ever really intends on making UFOs, they just happen right.

 

I also finished on another one of the reindeer cards so that only leaves one left to finish and that's another one finished from my pile of free cover kits.

 

I have found a new lease of life for these minis for during the day as they are a nice small size to keep in check while small fingers are about. Although it is a bit hard when the dinosaur takes a fancy to your threads and sits on your chart.

 Keep stitching...

Flying

This week has been flying along. So sit back an relax there's plenty to report, stitching and otherwise.

The weather has still been hot and sunny only a few storms. I think this year us brits can't be moaning we've not had a summer.

Firstly on with the stitching. I've finished a rotation on Sarah Kay.

Before:

And now:

Decent progress and its a nice summery picture to have been stitching this last week. I have been enjoying it more than I have on previous rotations so maybe it's grown on me.

This weekend was Sunderland international air show with it being on the doorstep and free...well apart from all the stalls, games, food vans etc,  so it'd be rude not too. It was it's 25th anniversary. I remember going to airshows as a little un, I got Vincent far to excited telling him from the Friday we were going to see the aeroplanes and on Saturday as soon as he was dressed he was at the door asking for the keys, flying didn't start for it until 1pm but the boys really enjoyed it.

Vincent is having a language explosion this last week, full sentences, he's now babbling on about aeroplanes and we went to a museum in Newcastle to see some lifesize inflatable whales, dolphins and sharks. Vincent is big into fish at the moment and now has learnt loads of marine words.... I was so proud when he actually told grandma he saw a whale. It was also the first time Henry has been out of the pram on his reins, he thought he was amazing being a big boy. People aren't kidding when they say they grow so fast.

I had applied to be a stitched for Crossstitchermagazine but I wasn't successful. However the letter they sent with my returned stitching was nice mentioning my neatness in my work.

I also received prize for having my letter printed. How nice was it to receive this in the post...drool. all the most beautiful variegated colours. I do have an idea that they would be perfect for but I am trying to stay focused...yeah right...bets on showing before I crack lol

I got some time when hubby took the boys out to work on my memory angels.

 

They now are fully stitched and the clothes have been cut out from grandma's clothes. They are just pinned but they look amazing so far.

 

I have one for me, one for my dad and one for my sister and the red one will be a Christmas one. 

 

For mine I had been given a little hat grandma had knit...best is she used to love wearing the same type of hat all the time so makes a perfect addition for my memory Angel.

 

 I also realised that the clip on earrings she had loads of make brilliant brooches for them too.

I just need to get some sewing machine time to fix the clothes together and get the wings sorted. Then its just hair and face. They also have hold of items in the book they are from. So I'm thinking a roses for most of them and probably stitch a pillow with Noel on it for the Christmas one...Grandma used to sing that all year long.

So all in all I'm rather pleased with all my stitching progress and non stitching progress too. I've even managed to be collecting plenty on my thimbles. So I've got that blog to be updating too. And on with the next rotation.

Keep Stitching....

There and back again

Happy Easter everyone!

Here's the boys Easter hats for the competition at playgroup. We had great fun making them. Sticking all the things in the flower arranging foam was huge fun to my 2 year old. We made the pinwheels from paper the boys painted and the flowers from tissue and straws, I bought the eggs on sticks from the pound shop and got some Easter stickers. Loved the moment I said to my eldest will you stick this sticker on your brother's pot for him....followed by my eldest nearly sticking the sticker on his younger brother's head!! That's kinda what I said lol too cute.

And yes boys it's the taking part that counts....but yippee we won we won lol!! We got a prize for the larger one which was my eldest's.
Wow the weeks are just flying by. We all got rid of our rotten colds only to replace them now with an even more rotten cold. Oh well we solider on. And what is with this weather, I'd expect Easter to be starting to warm up but instead we have snow and freezing conditions. All the kids Easter activities have been planned with this thing called Spring in mind. Sigh. Last Monday decided to wrap up warm and venture out only to find the event had been cancelled due to the weather. Hoping it warms soon and we can get out to the parks and seaside and the likes.

I've still been working on baby hearts as my new nephew is due in may and seen as my sis in law was in hospital with a false alarm the other day so I'd best get a wriggle on!!!!

Today we sent the boys to grandma's and settled down to finally watch the Hobbit. Being a childhood favourite and probably the source of my love of fantasy novels I was really excited to see it but having not had the chance with the little ones so we watched it at home and this meant a couple of uninterrupted hours of stitching....in the daylight! I'd forgotten how lovely it is to stitch in sunshine seen as I have to wait till little fingers are in bed nowadays.

Here was last time:

And now:

I've got the top heart done and just need to finish the bow and background. The stripes meant there was a lot of white on white stitching to do. Which was slow going as white on white is soooooo boring lol.

I got really excited to get to stitch this months free kit from cross stitcher magazine

but I'm staying focused on what I'm doing as like I say I need this to be in the bag finished ready just to add the name etc. I have to say though having been a one at a timer before I started this blog. I am finding the staying focused on this project a bit hard and I really crave the swapping over.

So I guess I'm officially no longer a one at a time stitcher.

Keep stitching and eating chocolate :)

On the door mat

 

Hearing a thud on the door mat always gives me a thrill as it usually heralds the arrival of one of my cross stitch magazine subs.

 

 

 

I can't wait to thumb through cooing I'm gonna stitch that and that and that!! I have a huge stack of back issues all with things just waiting to be rediscovered - oh yes I was going to stitch that wasn't I.

 

I think the best thing about them arriving is not the new additions to my to do list but the renewed vigour that it gives me for getting on with some serious stitching. I think its the thought of more to do that makes me think right best get cracking on.

 

I do tend to go through them whenever I get the 'I must stitch a card or something for X' bug or like my current project I knew I wanted to do an afghan and just going through the pile of magazines found the perfect designs for it.

 

 I know I'll always be daydreaming and stash increasing through reading them but I really wouldn't change having them thump through the door only to end up in the pile with the rest of them next month.

 

I haven't any progress to show its not very impressive - more like 10 stitches than 10 hours. Seems when one cherub is sleeping the other is fussing lol

 

I did find a little time to do my yearly pumpkin carving with a bit of hubby help so he's my vehicle pumpkins for my two boys!!! Just gotta find time to make the pies now.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

Keep stitching



More stitching time please!!!

Well I've had a right week of it hence the tardy update.

To sum it up,

• I've had a bad cold,
• Problems with noisy neighbours,
• A burst heating pipe - which resulted in a day of men lifting floorboards and messing up my house to find where the leak was, which was made all the more stressful by a toddler who wanted to get in the thick of it and had missed his nap due to everything going on, thank god in laws were free to take him out for a bit 
• OFSTED inspection at work,
• My son falling and bashing his face/ eye on a wooden toy resulting in trip to A&E to get checked (he's fine just bruised a bit) 
• Feeling a bit sidelined at work - but guess that's due to me not going to be there soon.
• Starting to feel my size - and all this muggy heat is not kind to me and my fat belly lol
• My son fussing due to teething but we still have no new teeth to show for it - he's 16 months and still only has 4 teeth. I think they must be growing from his toes lol
• Getting side tracked with some reading

Most of which all adding up to make me feel rather miserable and not much stitching time which is probably adding to the melancholy.

I have since my last update managed a measly 7 hours and have made this progress on the baby afghan blanket.

Its the Margaret Sherry Frog from a cross stitcher magazine. The colours are substituted to fit with the DMC colours I had in but its coming along ok. I'm happy with the progress for the time, just not that its took nearly 2 weeks to get the time normally I manage 10 hours in one week.

I'm hopeing to find some more time and put the week behind me and I'll update you when I get the rest of this rotation done. Having said that I've got the new furniture for the boys room coming tomorrow which means a big shuffle round but means I'll be able to get organised for baby number 2 which is super exciting.

At least I've only got 2 more weeks of work then its the summer holidays so that's one less thing to have to deal with and then I'll be on maternity leave. Can't believe how fast this is come around!!!

Anyway hope everyone else is well I've been catching up on blogs as well.

Jubilee Heart Finish

I've had a productive week even if I have gone off track but I couldn't resist doing a Jubilee related stitch while watching some of the coverage on the telly. Vinnie was so cute as he enjoyed waving back at the Queen. Shame we got typical British bank holiday weather for it all but great excuse to be curled up with the stitching. We did have some sun on the Monday which was good for a kids Jubilee party we had invites to and the kiddies got to run around the field outside!

So here is the free Jubilee Heart kit from the latest Crossstitcher magazine issue 253.

It's the first time I've had a go with the soluble canvas. It was easy to stitch with once it was fixed in place as its a bit slippy at first. I have somehow muddled slightly and stitched the crown a touch too high I'm sure I centred it properly but I mustn't have as the little cross jewel at the top didn't fit but it doesn't distract from the finished piece. I was going to add the dates and initials on the back but seen as I had a little extra room at the bottom has worked out just great to add them underneath.

I was a bit nervous about soaking it to dissolve the canvas as I was always lead to believe that felt shouldn't get wet.

The canvas dissolved fairly easily in the warm water took a while and I did give it a bit of a rub as it turns into a sticky residue and I changed the water a couple of times.

It took a few days to dry out and unfortunately did go a bit stiff and cardboardy so guess I was right about felt not washing well.

It has gone together fine though maybe lost a little shape in stuffing with the front being a little stiff but otherwise I'm happy with it.

I have made a start back on the rotations with Motherly Devotion while I was waiting for this to dry so watch this space for an update on that next.

Keep stitching....



Fun in sun and Xmas stitching

I had finished these the other day but have been in such a stitching zone I didn't stop to update! That and enjoying the glorious weather with my little boy - with a little bit of moaning about the heat lol it's just not kind to bumpy women. Not even a touch of mist on the beach spoilt our building sandcastles today - well hubby and I built them tot squashed them.

my boys emerging from the mist lol

This was the view out to sea but a turn of 180 to inland it was bright blue skies!!

Also over the last few days we've had picnics in the garden, the paddling pool out, seen the sailors from HMS Ocean parade through our town, and ate lots of ice cream - it's been great!

Anyway back to the stitching. I have completed my stitching for the second batch of free Cross stitcher Christmas tags. These were part of my crazy January 15.

Here's where I was after the day in Jan:

And now all completed:

I did have stuff left over to do more but the magazine said it should be enough to do about 6 so that is what I had set out to do. Plus its all in metallics and after a while it does get to you. I normally stitch with the 2 ends through the needle and leave a loop at the bottom to fasten with but I do the opposite for metallics making it loop through the eye and knot the ends otherwise it slips and slides too much.

I have found however that the kit contains a random extra brown metallic thread.

It's not listed in the key or appears in any of the designs - how strange - it had me looking for ages thinking I was just missing something but its no where to be seen.

Here's a closer look at all the tags;

The designs themselves aren't very difficult it is the metallics that add the fiddle to these.

I'm gonna have some handsome dressed Christmas presents this year.


So I'm slowly knocking stuff off my crazy jan list - 4 down and 2 in current rotation but think I'm gonna need to get a move on to get them completed before the end of the year. Think I'll replace this with another smaller kit from the crazies list.

Keep Stitching....

slow and steady wins the race

After last weeks lack of stitching I have made up for it this week. As you know I gave in and ordered the afghan to stitch for when baby 2 arrives. I couldn't wait to get it into rotation and I have been working on it. So here's where I got to:

I thought Margaret Sherry designs were perfect baby motifs for the blanket. I have stitched the tortoise from her alphabet series in Cross stitcher magazine as Tortoise is what this bumps nickname is.

It is complete apart from the top - I ran out of 666 sigh. I have then had a bit of a run around trying to get some. I normally go to my local arts store when its just for one skein seems pointless paying the same postage for just one as you would for a handful. It mostly has framing stuff and card making but does have a DMC stand but it was totally out of 666. Shocking considering there are 2 pegs for this colour - surely a sign that its a common colour and needs keeping stock in.

Apart from that there isn't anywhere nearby that a non driver like me can get to so I'm eagerly awaiting delivery of my skein of 666 and a couple of charts I snook into my basket to make the postage worthwhile lol.

But while I wait I've moved on to my next rotation - another free Xmas tag kit from my crazy Jan pile.

Keep stitching....

HELP!! Frog or Fudge or F*@x???

Arrrrgggghhhhhhh..........

After success on my rotations I have hit a huge snag and could do with your advice on what I should do. I'm trying to decide what is going to be best. I have been back on with Tapestry Cat and I got so far round and have found that the border has raised by one block somewhere along the top.

I have discovered this from where I have got to on the fill just above the cat's head. Here's a couple of close ups

On the one above just left of the green that swirl is down by one block from the bit before that. I have counted the green connecting and this is correct. It is the other side that is definitely up by one as I have added another green connecting piece in on top left (see top pic) and this doesn't join by the one block. So I have counted the side and can't for the life of me find where it is out - I'm not kidding I have put hours in on this counting no stitching so frustrating.

Normally in this case I would give up and fudge round it. However this is the border and it needs to be straight!!! My mam reckons to fudge it too due to the leaves distracting from the lowered border. I have thought on that further and that solves the bottom edge but the top would have to have an extra row of beige yellow to bring it into line.

So this leaves frogging but as I can't find the mistake I don't know where to frog?? And some of this stitching has been in this for years so I'm thinking that it would do more damage than good to frog much.

Any bright ideas guys???? I'm at a loss as to what is the best plan.

Anyway I'll leave you with the good news before I started this I did work on the Christmas tags and in a couple of hours I have finished the last two tags.

So that is the whole of that kit finished yippee!!

Keep stitching and I'll keep scratching my head while I await your comments - only kidding I'll go and find something else to stitch lol

Al fresco stitching

Been a busy week this one with the end of term but I have managed to complete the rotation on the Christmas tags. I had hoped to have already moved on to the next project but it just wasn't happening with how busy I was at work oh and Vinnie cut another tooth so has been a struggle to get him down at bedtime. But I'm done for 2 weeks Easter holidays (woop woop) so hoping to fit in some more stitching amongst all the other plans I'm hatching!!

Anyways how lovely is the weather at the moment I'm loving it. Wasn't at the beginning of the week when I was stuck in my office lol. So I have jumped at the chance as soon as I could to do a spot of al fresco stitching.

The little enjoyed playing in the garden too with his sand table. Although at the moment it's mostly trying to stop him eating everything!! We are planning a good garden sort out not that that'll stop him trying to eat sand lol.

I've got another 2 tags finished

The one with the holly I had to trim to less than a block of aida from the design to get it to fit on the tag. It must be wider than all the others as they trim easily to a couple of blocks either side of the design. I'm pretty sure I didn't go off anywhere.

Here are all the ones that I have completed together

I'm going to have some pretty looking Christmas presents this year!

I have made a start on the fifth one as well

So I'm nearly there with complete all 6 in the set. But I'm happy with that I'll get them done on the next go round the rotation.

We also had the Easter party at playgroup yesterday and there was a Easter bonnet competition. We didn't win anything but here's mine and Vinnie's effort

I did do most of it with Vinnie only being 1 he's not really up to much crafts yet. Its a paper plate and some foam cut outs from the pound shop. But I did stick to materials that he could use and help a little with. Some of the parents had clearly spent ages on some of the hats there as they were impressive but quite clearly not touched by a under 3!!

I'm looking at starting my next project in my rotation sometime today. So watch this space.

Keep stitching

Spring Xmas stitching and TUSAL

Loving the fact that spring has sprung! The sun is shining - great light for stitching :)

Well I've been sticking to my rotation although I nearly caved last night at picking up Motherly Devotion but after last night things are going well and I'm going to keep going a little longer. I have still a few hours to do on this one but I'm used to fitting in a weekly post so I'm just going to stick with that rather than wait till I'm done.

I've set myself this one then something else and then I can go back to Motherly Devotion. This means its not so long and I get back to the beginning of the cycle. I can build on that then if it starts to work for me.

So I've been working on Christmas tags from Cross stitcher magazine. I know funny right stitching Christmas when its nearly Easter but that's just the way it goes lol.I spent most of the summer last year stitching Father Christmas so why not!!!

Any way I have finished 2 completely

and I have one in progress

There are 6 in the set so going well. Think that they are coming together lovely. I see to have lost the red thread that was in the kit. I know there was some more it probably stuck to my butt and dropped off somewhere lol oh the times that has happened! Hopefully its a colour I have in the stash if it doesn't turn up!

Here's my TUSAL post think I have forgot the last few times. Doesn't look much for the amount of stitching but maybe that's a good thing not too many frogs and less wastage lol. I have took the picture with my lovely books I started collecting some of my favourites in nice hardback editions and they look rather smart on my book shelf.


Keep stitching...