Caring Stitcher

January progress & February goals

2012-02-01T23:14:00.000Z

For Jan I said

UFO RR Done

Pick a new TW Monday project I went with The Castle

Pick a new weekend project Scary Book won this one

Not start more than 5 GFJ projects I started 7 projects altogether but have finished 4 of them (3 in Jan and one today)

For Feb I'd like to

UFO RR

Stitch an Ornament

Get my exchange project done and mailed early

The fob from Needle and Thread would be nice

Birthday card for DBF's DD

I stitched every day in Jan with a total of 90 hours 12 minutes. I had 7 new starts and 4 finishes 3 of which were new starts.

Current PHD total - 34

Needle & Thread finish

2012-01-31T23:52:00.000Z

Last week I gave in to the quiet pleading of Needle & Thread from Little House Needlework and stitched it over a few days.

I have no idea what the fabric is and I used the called for Crescent Colours.

There's nothing listed for the eyes and beak of the owl so I used Hickory Sticks for the eyes and Tufted Yellow for the beak, 2 strands of each and I wrapped twice in case your interested :)

When I bought my chart I was lucky enough to get the bed as well (very surprising for my little corner of the world) so this morning I sat down and put it together.

Now I just need to do the scissor fob which I'll hopefully manage in Feb.

Scary Book

2012-01-30T23:34:00.000Z

Here's this weeks progress report

Scary book

2012-01-26T23:34:00.000Z

I just realised that I've not shared my progress on Scary Book for a couple of weeks so before Saturday arrives and I pick it up again here it is.

UFO RR

2012-01-25T23:53:00.000Z

This time round I worked on Cat's Christmas Angel.

As she arrived

As she left me

She's really pretty but I struggled with the chart (colour symbols) so didn't do as much as I would of liked

First and Last

2012-01-23T23:27:00.000Z

First off here's my TUSAL jar on 31 Dec before it got emptied and washed.

And here it is this morning.

Since Jan 1st I've added orts from 4 Seasons Sampler, Chrissie The Cross Stitcher, Red Dragon, Carousel Horse Card, Scary Book, Normal is a setting, The Castle and the current UFO RR

All last year I had a little bag at DBF's for my ORT's there and would bring them home every few visits to empty it.

This year I've left a jar there them but unfortunately I've not been down for a few days so I don't have a pic of that one yet but I'll post it when I have.

Legs!

2012-01-22T23:29:00.000Z

I have a new pair of legs :) (I wish, esp if they work properly and look good lol)

Thought I'd share the project I started while I take a break from the Dragon box.

If I worked the way the instructions say you'd be looking at a bodyless head but given that I don't like doing face's until the end I started with the last bit and will work backwards so I can put it all together when I'm done.

The pieces

Assembled, the first one took me well over and hour to put together between the learning curve and not getting the beads lined up right on the back, the second one went much quicker

They are the same length it's just that some beads are hiding on the right hand one

And while I was taking pics of them I was struck with the urge to take one of my beading work space.

The single piece on the left is the start of the arms

BTW it's the Teddy Bear from the current issue of Jill Oxton (#85)

It's a tree

2012-01-19T23:02:00.000Z

You might remember way back on December 14th when I posted about my finished cracker there was another project lurking in the background that just needed a star on the top.

Well a few days ago I added one, I had been looking for a star bead to go on it but when looking through a pile of patterns I came across the one for a star that was one of the first things I learnt to make!

So I sat down, made 2, stitched them together round the sides and put them on the tree.

Today

2012-01-18T23:40:00.000Z

I was planning on posting about the Christmas tree today but that was this morning before something more interesting came along in the form of firemen :)

Over the road from me is a large area of what can only be called waste ground and today the land agents decided to do something about the fly tipping that's been going on but instead of doing the sensible thing and removing it the guys they hired to do the job decided to set fire to it.

So one of my neighbours called the fire bridgade out (they bet me to it)

This is just after they put it out and I wish I'd grabbed my camera earlier afterwards to show how high the flames were and how bad the smoke was

The burn area ran from where you can see it in the pic to past the end of the pic, it was big!

Mel came in my bedroom to talk to me while I watched the clear up and she lay down on my bed to play a game.

Rosie decided that Mel looked like a comfortable place to lie down and go to sleep

She looked so content

Then this evening she did it again only to DBF this time when he lent over the sofa to talk to Mel and Dan

I'll come back tomorrow with the tree

Dragon Box update

2012-01-16T22:17:00.000Z

A quick update on the Dragon box today.

It's been put away for a while now, not because I don't want to work on it but because I get sore fingers pulling the fireline and they need a rest for a while esp this time as I managed to cut my finger right with it!

It'll be back in a week or two but until then I've started a bear

TW Monday

2012-01-12T22:57:00.007Z

I decided that this year I would concentrate on the Castle for TW Monday so here it is as I pulled out off the drawer

And after a few hours stitching

And just in case you can't see what I did, I worked on the rocks to the right of the tail

Weekend Stitching

2012-01-11T23:12:00.000Z

It was time to find a new weekend project Saturday morning and for a while now Scary Book has been quietly stating it's case in my ear as I sleep so I gave in and pulled it out.

Saturday morning it looked like this

Sunday evening it looked like this (I spent some time at DBF's so not alot of progress was made but I did have a finish there which I'll post in a day or two)

First finishes of 2012

2012-01-08T16:51:00.029Z

First up is Chrissie The Cross Stitcher.

She's an old Heritage kit that was lurking in my stash and on Aida so ideal for working on at DBF's.

Started on Dec 15 and finished Jan 3

Next is Red Dragon from Mouseloft

Started Jan 3 and finished Jan 4 he's my first Dragon on the year to be finished.

I've played in my stash and found several kits I can take to DBF's where the lighting isn't so good to work on inc some larger ones which means by the end of the year I may be able to get all my kits in one drawer again and not have them spilling over into my finishes drawer (I should of made that one of my goals for the year, it's something I've been trying to do for a couple of years!)

Jan 1st start part 2

2012-01-07T16:51:00.000Z

This time it's my stitching start :)

This is the 4 seasons Band sampler from last year's JCS.

I'm stitching mine on 28 count fairy dust, I would of preferred a higher count but I didn't have anything large enough for it other than some 40 count that did nothing for the colours when I did the floss toss!

Jan 1st start part 1

2012-01-05T23:56:00.000Z

I started 2 new projects on New Year's Day, 1 beading one and 1 stitching one.

I've not done much on the stitching one yet as I've spent most of the last few days at DBF's and have different projects for there but here's the beading one.

This is the Dragon box from Julia Pretl's Little Bead Boxes book, well the bottom of it at least! I decided that for once I'd put feet on my box and the book reckons it's easier to do before you start to build the sides so that's what I did.

2011 Goals report & 2012 goals

2012-01-02T22:49:00.001Z

For 2011 I said

Finish a TW I finished Basket of Apples

Finish a Silver Lining No and I didn't even work on one!

Stitch an ornament a month and finish it as well I got all the ornament done that I needed to but not monthly

Get my PHD number to below 30 I got to 31

For 2012 I'd like to

Finish a TW
Finish Mary Wigham

Stitch an ornament a month and finish it

Stitch or bead at least 12 Dragons in honour of 2012 being the year of the Dragon

Keep up with the TUSAL

Get my PHD number to below 25

In 2011 I stitched for a total of 1027 hours 28 minutes!!

I had 31 starts and 36 finishes and 1 UFO RR completed. Of those 36 finishes 27 of them were new starts and the other 9 were PHD's.

December Progress & January Goals

2012-01-02T22:37:00.000Z

For December I said

Get the last couple of ornaments stitched Done

Get the ones that are stitched and not made up, made up Done

UFO RR Done

Finish as many projects as poss this month I finished 8

For January I'd like to

UFO RR

Pick a new TW Monday project

Pick a new weekend project

Not start more than 5 GFJ projects

I stitched for 89 hours 7 mins in Dec, had 4 new starts and 8 finishes and I stitched every day

Last Finishes of 2011

2011-12-31T17:23:00.000Z

I finished Joyful Summer on the 29th

And my last beading finish of the year took place yesterday when I added the last bead to MAGIC! Pocket Dragon panel

All that's left is for me to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

May 2012 be happy, healthy and stash filled.

TW Happy Dance

2011-12-28T23:43:00.002Z

Started in 2008, worked on all year as my TW Monday project and finished yesterday which means I've met one of my goals for this year.

Basket of Apples from September/October 1988 issue of JCS

Mum's Christmas present

2011-12-27T17:18:00.000Z

I stitched Papillion by JBW for Mum on a piece of Sparklies out of her 'off cuts' tub at Harrogate and one of her solitaire threads which is very similar to Morning Glory

And Sparklies patchwork fabric was used to make it up into a cushion.

Also at Harrogate I picked up this Humbug Bookmark kit from Sunken Treasures to do for Mum.
I've never made a humbug before and I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out.

Last ornie's of the year

2011-12-26T23:57:00.000Z

I couldn't share these until today as most of them were given as gift's yesterday.

The first two are both freebies from here and were the Needlecraft Haven Challenge for November/December

This one I gave to my parents at Krampus

This one went to my parents Neighbour

Christmas Tree Cat from this years JCS ornament issue for DBF

And lastly Maya's Panda for Dan (Mel's BF)

Also out of JCS ornament issue but I failed to note which year!

As ever the fabric it's resting on is the backing.

Last TUSAL of 2011 (sort of)

2011-12-24T23:54:00.000Z

My last official TUSAL post of 2011 (I'll do a final pic on 31 Dec)

This time there are orts from UFO RR, various ornaments, Joyful Summer, Mum's Christmas present and various colours of KO/nymo

Merry Christmas to you all

UFO RR

2011-12-21T23:46:00.000Z

I was checking the pics of Dan's car (Mel's DBF) after their accident earlier this evening and came across the one's of the last round of the UFO RR and realised I've not shared them, so here they are.

Kathy's as it arrived

And as it will leave me in the new year.

Both Mel and Dan are generally OK but they do have soft tissue injury's. Mel has a bruise appearing from the seat belt and Dan has a sore neck, both of them will be stiff and sore in the morning.

A cattle truck pulled out in front of them and they didn't see it until it was to late as the road is poorly lit and the street light was blocked by the truck and the hazard lights on the side of it were hidden by the hedge.

Some beading finishes

2011-12-14T23:14:00.000Z

In the last week or so I've finished a few beading projects starting with the second cracker from the class I took.

Now the eagle eyed among you will no doubt wonder what the project in the background is so before you all ask it's a tree which is as good as finished. I just need to either find or make a star for the top of it.

This last weekend was Krampus and since we give small gifts to each other I made Clown Fish earrings for Sheena who is ever so slightly obsessed with Nemo.

I started this tripe bead peyote bracelet at beading group last week once I'd finished the earrings and took it to a different group on Monday to work on when I got fed up with the tree.

It was so quick to do I'm thinking of doing more in different colours

Doro Theos finished

2011-12-13T23:09:00.000Z

Another weekend project bites the dust.

I finished Doro Theos on Sunday evening, later than I hoped I would but I was away for the weekend and didn't get much stitching time on Saturday.

Doro Theos

My Big Toe Designs

36 count Light Sand Edinburgh linen and Dinky Dyes silk

Started 31 Jan 2010

Finished 11 Dec 2011

Weekend project update

2011-12-06T23:32:00.000Z

I was hoping given how much I got done last weekend that I would have a finish this weekend but to wasn't to be as I wasn't well and so not in the mood to stitch :(

Still I will be done this weekend so I better start thinking what's up next so I can pack it ready for spending the weekend in Wales for Krampus

It's a cracker

2011-12-04T23:11:00.000Z

I finished an old class project a few days ago and I'm still working on the other one I started during the same class.

It measures just 3 1/2 inches in length, is done in brick stitch using Delica's and has a bell inside and just to state the obvious it's not meant to be pulled.

Excuse the glare on this one but it does show the bell hiding inside quite well

Ornament Exchange

2011-12-02T22:51:00.000Z

Yesterday was reveal day for the ornament exchange over on Needlecraft Haven but with it being the funeral of my friend I couldn't face anything to do with Christmas so I opened it this morning.

This beauty is from Julie and what more can I say other than I love him and will treasure him

To answer recent questions......

Terri Yes it's in Delica's I'm using 10, 42 and 602
Rachael over on Ink Circle Stitchers asked how heavy it is, well it's currently 59grams now that doesn't sound alot and it's not really but when your holding it after while it is!!
Jules I really can't remember where I got Scary Book from I've had it for so long now, not much help I know

November progress & December goals

2011-12-01T22:15:00.001Z

For November I said

Get at least one ornament esp since I have an exchange one due I got the one for the exchange done and one of the NH monthly challenge ones stitched but not yet finished

UFO RR I did work on it but still have some to do

Finish at least one project I finished 4 in total

For December

Get the last couple of ornaments stitched

Get the ones that are stitched and not made up, made up

UFO RR

Finish as many projects as poss this month

I stitched for 75 hours and 16 minutes last month, had 2 days when I didn't stitch (although I did bead), had 2 new starts and 4 finishes along with a few beading finishes.

Current PHD total = 36

Pocket Dragon PHD's

2011-11-30T22:56:00.000Z

A little while ago I made myself a peyote ruler and then put it to use.

The project that's started on it is Magic! and it's much further on than this now

And Scary Book, one of my GFJ starts last year and the mostly likely candidate to replace Doro Theos at the weekends

Mad Idea update

2011-11-29T23:06:00.000Z

It's been a while since I last posted this and I have made progress on it lately so thought I'd better prove I'm still working on it.

It's still not at 1/3 done but I am loving it even it's a little difficult to hold at times.

New weekend project

2011-11-28T23:09:00.000Z

With finishing Quaker 6 last week I had to go and root around in my PHD's and pick a new one for the weekends.

I wanted one that I stood a chance of finishing before the end of the year and Doro Theos from My Big Toe fit the bill perfectly.

I only managed to put a few stitches in on Saturday night with being in Harrogate all day but Sunday was a different matter.

Doro Theos when I pulled it out

And on Sunday evening

It looks like it's going to stitch up much faster than I thought it would so I should get it finished in a few weeks time

Bracelet finish

2011-11-27T22:57:00.000Z

As I said earlier in the week I've finished a bracelet to with the 3D necklace and earrings and here it is.

It's a little longer than I wanted it to be but it doesn't fall past the widest part of my hand so it's fine :)

Harrogate

2011-11-26T23:04:00.000Z

I've been in Harrogate today at the Knitting and Stitching show helping man Sparklies stand.

I did get chance towards the end of the day to escape and do a little stash enhancment.

Some of these are for Christmas presents or for me to stitch as presents

TUSAL time

2011-11-25T23:06:00.000Z

Here we are the new moon once again which means it's time to post my TUSAL.

This time there are orts from Nova, Winter Wonderlan, Mary Wigham, Quaker 6, Celtic Knot coaster, Basket of Apples, CdC, 2 ornaments and of course various beading projects

More triangles

2011-11-24T23:23:00.000Z

I decided to make a pair of earring to match my necklace

I've also made a bracelet but that can wait for another day :)

Oh and if your in the UK and going to Harrogate on Saturday stop by the Sparklies stand and say Hello

Basket of Apples

2011-11-23T23:20:00.000Z

I've not really got much left to do on this so hopefully another few Monday's should see it finished and I can add another completed TW to the list :)

Quaker 6 finished

2011-11-22T22:54:00.001Z

As promised yesterday my finished Quaker a 6 mains.

It's on Lakeside Linens Navy Bean (40 count) and I used DMC variation 4120

Started 18 July 2008

Finished 21 November 2011

Sad day

2011-11-21T22:23:00.000Z

I have finished Quaker 6 but won't be posting it today.

A good friend died this morning so I'm not exactly in the right frame of mind to be happy about it

TW # 14

2011-11-20T23:39:00.000Z

This time it's Geometric and it's the second time I stitched it.

It appeared in JCS way back in June 1988 and I have no idea when I stitched it!

It's on lurex linda and used DMC

Sorry about the bad lighting, I've not been home in daylight this weekend so had to use my daylight lamp to take it

TW # 12a

2011-11-19T22:18:00.000Z

In case your wondering why 12a...... I don't like writing that number between12 and 14 if I can avoid it so I use 12a instead.

This is Christmas Teddy he was published in Cross Stitch Monthly way back in December 1988.

I finished him on July 16 2002

3D Tetrahedron finish

2011-11-18T17:18:00.000Z

I finished putting the 3D tetrahedron necklace together today.

It's should have them all the way round but I decided not to do that mostly because you don't see the back of it once it's being worn and my hair would hide it anyway!

So I decided to do a bit of spiral rope instead

TW # 12

2011-11-17T23:35:00.000Z

I've had to give in and fall back on posting a completed TW carrying on where I left off last year with Square Mosaic.

Stitched on lurex Linda with an Anchor multi-coloured thread but I can't remember which one and it was completed on June 6 2002

Rosie

2011-11-16T23:16:00.000Z

A couple of days ago when I was taking the pic of Quaker 6 Rosie decided to roll around on the sofa so having camera in hand I took a few pics.

Basket of Apples update

2011-11-15T23:47:00.000Z

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted about Basket of Apples!!

My last update on it was back on August 7th and as you can see I have made progress since then.

There isn't much more to do on it and I'm tempted to make it my weekend project once Quaker 6 is finished and I don't think it'll take more than one weekend to finish it

And I just realised that I've made it to the middle of the month without posting a completed TW (this one is a TW but doesn't count really as it's not finished)

Weekend project update

2011-11-14T22:54:00.000Z

More progress on Quaker 6 this weekend, fingers crossed I'll get it finished this coming weekend even though I'm in Llandudno for the Celtic Fayre

Few small finishes

2011-11-13T23:02:00.000Z

You know how we all end up with loads of little kits in our stash from different places well I decided that I was going to leave some of them at DBF's to work on there and these are the first few

Thank you for the get well wishes, I'm feeling better today but not yet 100% hopefully that will come tomorrow

Nothing to say

2011-11-12T23:22:00.000Z

I've not been well the last 36 hours so don't have anything to post for today but at least saying I don't have anything counts as a post!

Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T11:11:00.027Z

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

Couple of firsts

2011-11-10T22:46:00.002Z

While at Mum's today I made a Parkin for the first time ever.

And before anyone says anything it's supposed to sink in the middle

And at home this evening I tried my hand at Shortbread, it turned out well and Mel's DBF found it very hard to keep his hands off it which is why there are a couple missing

And a follow up to yesterday's post about the hats.

The regional TV station went and filmed a piece for the news today which they broadcast this evening so if your interested you can watch it here

Hats For Heroes

2011-11-09T23:17:00.000Z

Since July my local wool shop has been collecting knitted hats for our troops in Afghanistan.

I've lost count of how many I've done now but the good news is that as I've opened my email up tonight there was a newsletter update with the absolutely fantastic news that they have now collected 1500 hats.

Granada News is going there tomorrow to record a news item for broadcast tomorrow evening and I may try and get down there for that along with the hat I've got here to hand in.

You can read the article from the local paper back in July here

A few beading finishes

2011-11-08T21:21:00.000Z

These have all been finished in the last month or so but I just haven't gotten round to posting them :(

First up is Night Mare.

I'm not normally one for horses but this just spoke to me when I saw it in issue 83 of Jill Oxton

I made quite a few of these last month

Another couple of Albion Stitch flowers, the purple one was half done and I decided to I may as well do the last one I had a rivoli for while I was at it

And I made another Tetrahedron.

One of the other ladies on the class didn't have her magnifier with her so did alternate rows to make it easier to see and I like the result so did one the same

Blu each one takes approx 500 delica's to make and a side takes me around 30 minutes.
Julie I'm really tempted to do just that only making it a little bigger so I can put a bell in it

Weekend Stitching

2011-11-07T23:20:00.000Z

I'm really pleased with my progress this weekend and I managed to get 3 motifs finished

I should be finished later this month so I better start thinking about what's next

Mel's Pass out parade

2011-11-06T23:37:00.000Z

We attended Mel's pass out parade today, she is now a fully fledged adult instructor in the Cheshire ACF and she has her stripes back

Here are just a few of the pics I took today

Well done Mel I'm so proud of you

CdC update

2011-11-05T23:20:00.000Z

CdC got a little love last month, both of them did but I've not got a pic of the beaded version to share because I forgot to take one so I'll fix that in the next few days

3D Tetrahedron class

2011-11-04T23:21:00.001Z

Yesterday I did a class at the bead shop with the lovely Sue Clark who also taught me how to do the reversible triangles (I really need to finish that!) and the open triangle.

I finished one during the class

And made a start on the second so I thought I'd walk you through putting one together.

You start off making 4 triangles

Stitch 2 together

Add another one

And then the last one

Then stitch them together

Ta Da your finished

And then you stitch them together to make your necklace when you've made the amount you want (I just placed them together for the pic which is why they are leaning on the scissors)

UFO RR

2011-11-03T22:30:00.001Z

A new round of the UFO RR has started, I do enjoy these and I get to see a wide variety of projects while mine is being worked on.

This is Karen's Queen Anne's Lace as it arrived

And as it left me

Weekend project update

2011-11-02T22:55:00.000Z

Here's my progress over the weekend on Quaker 6, one more motif to go on the right and I'll have reached the bottom

October progress & November goals

2011-11-01T22:50:00.000Z

For October I said

Get at least one ornament done Done, I did DBF's

UFO RR Done

A finish would be nice Done

For November I'd like to

Get at least one ornament esp since I have an exchange one due

UFO RR

Finish at least one project

I stitched for 92 hours 47 minutes last month, had 5 new starts and 5 finishes 4 of which were new starts

Current PHD Total = 36

Rock making

2011-10-31T00:03:00.000Z

Yesterday Mel, her DBF, my DBF and I went off to Blackpool for the day and we came across a rock shop that did demo's and we caught one of them just after they had started.

The start of a stick of rock, there are two colours there but the darker one is hard to see.

To the right of the man (out of sight) is the machine that adds in the flavour, we were at the other end to him and there was a brick wall in between it and us but we could hear it :)

Keeping it moving

Making the letters

All the letters made.

Those white lumps are the mix with the flavour added

Wrapping the letters up

Adding the outer layer, it then going in the machine in the background which keep the main lump moving as he works the smaller bits.

Starting it off

Cutting sweets which were put in a bucket and passed around the crowd watching

The piece I got, it was still warm and chewy

Making the lengths

A better view of the lump being drawn out

The lengths

Cutting the lengths into sticks of rock

Sticks of rock

The measure/ scissor thing used to cut the lengths.

All the lengths were then put into boxes to go off and get wrapped

For Mum

2011-10-27T23:26:00.000+01:00

These have been my recent projects while at DBF's.

The coasters Mum asked me to do a couple of years ago and it took me far too long to get round to them

Every year my parents would take both girls to Northampton for the balloon festival and one year she bought this card to stitch herself.

A few weeks ago Mum was having a sort out and came across it and asked me if I'd stitch it for her so off it went to DBF's to be done as soon as the coasters were done.

TUSAL time & weekend update

2011-10-26T23:27:00.000+01:00

Here's my update for the new moon.

This time there are orts from Birds & Bees, the coasters I worked on at DBF's (need to post them), Winter Wingding, Quaker 6, Winter Wonderland, Basket of Apples, UFO RR, Nova, Hot air balloon card (another at DBF's project that I need to share), Mary Wigham, an ornament for DBF and of course various colours of KO and nymo from beading.

I know it's almost the weekend again and I'm only just posting last weeks update, bad blogger!

Pendle Witch country

2011-10-23T23:13:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday I went on a coach trip with the WI to Lancashire for the day.

First stop was at Boundary Mill then we headed across the car park to have lunch and in the entrance was a huge fish tank so I took a couple of pics.

Then we got back on the coach for the tour of Pendle Witch country.
It was a wet and miserable day so I didn't get many decent pics :(

Pendle Hill

Replica of Malkin Tower, home to one of the witches

The display in the Discover Lancashire centre back at Boundary Mill after the tour

Pendle Hill from the cafe over a coffee and scone

Weekend project update

2011-10-17T18:23:00.002+01:00

I completely forgot to post a progress pic last week so here it is.

Quaker 6 progress Oct 8/9

And from this weekend

Some finishing

2011-10-11T17:48:00.000+01:00

I had an unexpected day at home last week so I took advantage of it to get a few things finished finished that have been hanging round for a while and I've not really had time to do.

First is Chocolate Covered Cherries, this was an exchange project over on Needlecraft Haven over the summer and although I finished the stitching almost on time and did most of the finishing it took me until last week to put the ribbon on hangs head in shame

It's a freebie from Casey Buonaugurio and the backing fabric is in the background

Then I mounted my Christmas Carousel Horse in the card it came with, now I just need to remember to get a frame for it

Then I framed my Sunflower finish from earlier in the year.

And lastly I stuffed and closed this pincushion, I finished the stitching on it years ago and it spent the next couple of years in the bottom of Mum's work box waiting for her to stitch it together on her machine because when I finished it I wasn't friends with mine!

And lastly I want to Thank all of you that took the time to comment or email me about Toby.

R.I.P Toby

2011-10-05T22:21:00.000+01:00

Toby left us yesterday to cross the rainbow bridge

Snowman Bauble HD

2011-10-04T18:54:00.001+01:00

You may remember me finishing the panels off here here and here and last week I finally got my butt into gear and put them together.

It wasn't until I went looking for th epics that I realised just how long it's been half done, I know it was over 12 months since I finished the last ones but I didn't realise it was 2 years since I started it!!!

So I went from the seperate panels in the links to this

to this after I'd done the netting round the top.

When I took it show Mum and told her I wanted to get some of that stuff you drape on the Christmas tree to put in the bauble because it didn't look right she handed me various bags with angel hair in so I used up the last bit of the gold she had and it suits it perfectly don't you think.

Weekend Stitching X 2

2011-10-03T19:06:00.001+01:00

Last weekend after finishing Kaleidoscope I decided it was time to work on one of those PHD's that turned up when I was looking for something else last year and I know it was easily doable in a weekend even with travelling home from Wales and unpacking etc.

So Christmas Carousel Horse went from looking like this when I found it

To a handsome fella all finished.

I just need to mount him in the card that came with him now and hopefully I'll get that done this week.

With finishing him off that meant I needed to decide on another PHD to work on and so I spread out the likely ones on my bed and got MEl and her DBF to help my choose.

In the end we settled on Runekeeper as it was one of the oldest I have and I could see me finishing it by the end of the year.

Only it didn't work out that way :( when I came to get to get started on Saturday I couldn't find the tin with all the mettallics in for it and after an hour of searching I gave up and accepted that it just wasn't Runekeepers time yet.

So back I went to the drawers and in the end I went with Quaker a 6 Mains.

I started this when we moved to this house in July 2008 and it's been worked on a few times since then.

The most recent pic I could find of it is here but even that was out of date, I'd finished most the alphabet when I picked it up.

Here it is after 7 hours over the weekend.

Fairy Falls

2011-10-02T21:52:00.001+01:00

When we got out of the car and looked at the info board we saw several walks and the shortest one was to Fairy Falls so we decided it was worth a look.

So from the bottom up we go

Looking down that hole seems to be quite deep

I can't figure out how I managed to move this pic over to one side!

The Falls. If you follow the link above I took this pic from the bench you can see in the first pic

We spotted a bridge over the river when we turned round to head back down so we went up on it and got rewarded with this view.

I hope you've enjoyed your quick visit to one tiny corner of Wales :)

The rest of the holiday we either hung round the caravan, went in to town or wandered round a market but no matter we still had a lovely time (and I finished Kaleidoscope but you already know that)

September Progress and October Goals

2011-10-01T22:40:00.000+01:00

For September I said

Finish at least one project besides the map I finished Kaleidoscope and Christmas Carousel card which I have yet to post

Get an ornament done Not unless you count the Carousel

For October I'd like to

Get at least one ornament done

UFO RR

A finish would be nice

I stitched for 95 hours 31 minutes last month, had 4 finishes, 1 new start and a couple of beading projects (one of which I need to post!)

Current PHD total = 36

Trefriw Woollen Mill pt 2

2011-09-30T22:06:00.000+01:00

After we'd done the tour of the mill we went to the turbine house.

When you walk in the door your greeted with this loom which unfortunately wasn't being operated the day we went :(

A closer look at the bedspread being woven

On the wall behind the loom is an array of samples from over the years

Believe it or not this turbine was running

Each one of these straps runs a piece of machinery in the mill

The pump that controls the flow of water

And lastly the Weavers Garden that you see as you arrive and as you leave.

Every one of the plants in can be used in some way in the production of cloth.

Trefriw Woollen Mill

2011-09-29T23:06:00.000+01:00

We spent an afternoon in Trefriw and visited the Woollen Mill

DBF had a go at weaving (so did I but he wasn't quick enough with the camera to take a pic)

Then after a brew we did the tour of the mill

One of the shuttles being reloaded but it also shows the colour of the cloth off really well

Another bobbin being filled ready for a shuttle

Conwy

2011-09-28T23:28:00.000+01:00

Last week DBF and I went on holiday to Wales (are you surprised. lol) and we spent some time in Conwy.

First we visited Aberconwy House, the oldest and only medieval house in Conwy

If you stand on the corner as I did to take that pic when you turn round you get this view down to the quay

We walked the walls and because I did them last year with Mel I only took a couple of pics.
This arch is at the railway station and close to one of the access points for the walls

The view down to the quay from the highest point on the walls

Then we walked the suspension bridge, built by Thomas Telford

The links look like they haven't been there that long but they are actually getting for 200 years old

The modern road bridge that replaced it in the 50's

The Toll house, it's much bigger than it looks and a family of 4 lived in it at one point

Looking back towards the castle

I love this gate by the toll house

It's that time of the month again

2011-09-27T23:01:00.000+01:00

Time for the ort report :)

Since last time I've added orts from Chocolate Covered Cherries (Which I've just realised I've not posted!), Kaleidoscope, Cheshire Map, Christmas Carousel card, Birds & Bees and various colours of nymo/ko thread and some smoke fireline.

Kaleidoscope HD

2011-09-25T23:40:00.000+01:00

Told you the next time I posted Kaleidoscope it would be finished and true to my word here it is :)

Started 12 July 2007

Finished 23 September 2011

It's my 20th finish of the year and the 5th for the flippin' crazy challenge

Cheshire Map finished

2011-09-21T14:40:00.000+01:00

Woo Hoo I put the last stitches in a little while before I had to leave for my holiday on Saturday!!!

Cheshire Map

Heritage Stitchcraft kit

Beaded Box finish

2011-09-17T14:40:00.000+01:00

I've been working on this on and off for a few months and I finally finished it a couple of days ago.

It's the Kaleidoscope box from Julia Pretl's book Little Bead Boxes.

Map update

2011-09-14T23:08:00.000+01:00

Thought I'd share a quick update on the map although it's now out of date after 4 1/2 hours on it today.

More Kaleidoscope

2011-09-12T15:22:00.000+01:00

Not much progress again this last weekend but that's because I spent most of it making Snowflakes in a field aka I was at Malpas Yesteryear rally in the craft tent :)

You won't get an update next week as I'm on holiday and this is the last time you'll get a progress report on Kal as well because it's going with me and I'm plan on finishing it while I'm away

It's Cheshire!

2011-09-07T16:54:00.000+01:00

Well part of it anyway.

I'm stitching this for a customer of the local shop yarn come stitching shop (the same one I did the bellpull for earlier this year)

I've not yet got to my hometown but see Malpas down the bottom? Well I'll be there this weekend for the Yesteryear rally.

I've added a for sale page here and have put a few things on there to start with I do have more to add as soon so keep checking when you remember :)

More UFO RR

2011-09-06T08:41:00.000+01:00

I've realised that I never posted pics of the last round of the 2010 - 2011 UFO RR so here they are.

This is Measi's Smokey Mountain Cats and it was a joy to work on and brought back memories for me as I stitched because I stitched it for myself many, many moons ago.

As it arrived

And as it left

I've signed up for the next one starting on the 12th of this month and I'm almost certain I'm going to send out the tiger again to get it finished.

Kaleidoscope update

2011-09-05T23:06:00.000+01:00

Here's this last weekend's progress on Kaleidoscope, it's getting there slowly

August progress and September Goals

2011-09-01T21:30:00.000+01:00

For August I said

Finish at least one project I finished the Blackwork Trellis

UFO RR Done

Get an ornament done No, failed this one

Finish my tassel Done

For September I'd like to

Finish at least one project besides the map

Get an ornament done

In August I stitched for 71 hours 10 mins, had 1 new start and 1 finish and 3 days of no stitching but I did knit or bead on those days

Kaleidoscope update

2011-08-31T22:15:00.000+01:00

It's getting there slowly

TUSAL time

2011-08-29T17:13:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it's TUSAL time again it doesn't feel like 5 minutes since I posted the last one!

Anyway here it is and this time we have orts from Kaleidoscope, Blackwork Trellis, Cheshire Map, Joyful Summer, Mary Wigham, UFO RR, the project I'm working on at DBF's and some KO from beading

And just for a change a view from the top of my ort jar (that's more of a vase)

Tassel Happy Dance

2011-08-28T20:29:00.000+01:00

I put the last finishing touch to my tassel this afternoon and to say I'm pleased is a bit of an understatement :)

Of course with it being circular showing you all of it isn't easy so I settled for 2 sides of it

And a close up of the bottom decoration.

No matter how hard I tried I could not get a pic that shows just how much it catches the light

My UFO came home

2011-08-23T22:40:00.000+01:00

You might remember back in February my original UFO RR came home completed so I had to pick a new one to send out and I went with a Tiger for Mel.

Here's how it went out

And how he arrived back home last week. Isn't he a handsome fella.

I've signed up for a new round starting next month and I'm tempted to send him out again to get him finished otherwise it'll take be ever more and a day to get it done!

Couple of updates

2011-08-17T23:32:00.000+01:00

First up is Kaleidoscope, I didn't manage to finish the black off but that's because I spent most of the weekend at DBF's and I can't work on this there.

And next is my tassel.

It's a little further on than this now and the next time you see it it'll be finished :)

All about Fred

2011-08-16T23:31:00.000+01:00

If your reading this in the UK then you have more than likely heard of Fred Dibnah and if your not and are wondering who he was follow that link or this one to find out about him

Fred was a man that was very, very passionate about steam engines and at Chelford on Sunday the engine he worked on most of his life was there along with the one he toured the UK on shortly before he passed

Chelford Traction Engine Rally (very pic heavy)

2011-08-15T23:12:00.000+01:00

Yesterday DBF, Mel, her DBF and I went off to a traction engine rally and had a blast.

Here's just a few of the photo's from the day

This engine has only recently been discovered and its the first time it's been out on display for 40 years

I sat watching this monkey for a while as I sat and listened to one of the organs playing

These are all animated

Right at the end of the day Mel wanted to have a go at rock climbing so off she went

A finish

2011-08-13T17:28:00.000+01:00

Back in May at WI craft group we started this little project with the aim of it taking it a couple of months to finish.

Me being me I didn't finish it at the same time as everyone else did and only got round to it last week but at least it's done now :)

It's one of 35 small designs printed in World of Cross Stitch in 2010 and designed by Elizabeth Almond.

Our group leader was in touch with the designer to make sure it was OK for us to use as a group project and she was.

I used a piece of Colour Blooms (the original stuff back when it was owned by Silkweavers) in Rainforest with good old black DMC and the galvanized gold delicas (410)

Kaleidoscope update

2011-08-12T15:40:00.000+01:00

I've done it again and not posted my weekend progress early in the week and instead have left it until the last minute to (well almost)

So here you go last weekends progress, this weekend I'm hoping to finish the black outline off

July's ornament

2011-08-11T23:00:00.000+01:00

I went with Lizzie Kate's Cozy Christmas Wishes freebie last month for my ornament on a scrap from my stash and it's backed with the fabric it's lying on

July updates

2011-08-07T16:02:00.000+01:00

I did say I was behind in showing stuff from July and that includes stitching :(

I worked on

Basket of Apples

CdC had a little love

And this is Kaleidoscope as I put it down last Sunday night but I've been working on it this weekend so it's further on now.

I did manage to get an ornament done in July as well but have yet to get my butt into gear and take a pic of it for you, maybe tomorrow.

Star Wars Lego (pic heavy)

2011-08-06T09:20:00.000+01:00

As promised yesterday I'm back with the Star Wars lego models today

Lego models (pic heavy)

2011-08-04T23:04:00.000+01:00

When I went to Southport with DBF a couple of weeks ago for the Air show we had a look round the marquee that was there and came across these lego models of aircraft.

Some of them must of taken hours and hours to build

I couldn't not get pics of these now could I? Dragons and a Carousel my two favourtite things together!

I completely missed getting pics of the trains running round the tracks which were also lego

On another table was an array of Star Wars models but they deserve their own post so check back tomorrow for those if you interested

July progress & August Goals

2011-08-01T23:06:00.000+01:00

For July I said

Finish My Earth Done

UFO RR Done

Get an ornament done Done

For August I'd like to

Finish at least one project

UFO RR

Get an ornament done

Finish my tassel

I stitched for 78 hours 37 minutes last month, had 2 new starts and 2 finishes one of which was a new start.

Current PHD total = 40

UFO RR

2011-07-31T18:45:00.000+01:00

I'm a bit behind in posting a few things and will hopefully catch up over the next few days so here's the first of them, the latest round of the UFO RR.

As it arrived

And as it left

TUSAL time

2011-07-30T23:31:00.000+01:00

This time there are orts from Birds & Bees, My Earth, Cheshire Map, Basket of Apples, UFO RR, Kaleidoscope, Joyful Summer, Cozy Christmas Wishes, Mary Wigham and of course some KO thread from working on my tassel

Southport Air Show

2011-07-28T23:05:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday DBF and I went off to Southport for the air show and had a fantastic day.

Here's just a few pics from the day

We went to more than anything to see the Lancaster Bomber

And the Vulcan one of my favourite aircraft along with thousands of other people, she's known as the peoples aircraft and if you follow the link you'll be able to read all about her.
It's the only one flying and they are fighting to keep her in the air

I borrowed my parents video camera so have her and the Lanc as well as The Red Arrows I just need to figure out how to get it off the camera and posted on here!