WIPocalypse Check In

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I updated my blog but here I am finally with an end of year round up for December's WIPocalypse.

I've just checked back and I haven't updated since September!  No real excuse except work has been crazy, I have not been in my usual routine and I'd rather be stitching than blogging when I have some free time.  I had a week's holiday last week so managed to catch up a bit at home.

So, where was I last time?  I'd been working on Bamboo Fan and Treasure Hunt Bookshelf.  Here's when you last saw them.

And here's where I am now.

 

I haven't done much on Bamboo Fan lately.  One of my goals for this year was to get it finished but it hasn't happened.  Maybe next year!  I did meet my goal for Treasure Hunt Bookshelf though!  I wanted to be halfway through by the end of the year and I've done more than that.  I finished row 3 last Friday and I've started on the 4th row now.  I wanted to average 500 stitches a day so if I can get 3000 stitches done on this page by next Tuesday (which will be a year from when I started) then I will have achieved that.  I'm so pleased with how this is turning out, I love it, every page is like a new start.  If any of you watch Stitcherista on Flosstube you may have seen her mention my progress in her latest video - what a surprise that was!!  

My other goals for 2016 were to get some FFOs.  I've failed here too!  I wanted to get Forest Walk and Pretty Little Hong Kong framed but I've not done them.  I did get my reindeer finished last week though.  I've turned him into a cushion.

Here's the FFO

I'm so pleased with this!  I bought some material at the NEC in November and followed Carolyn Mazzeo's tutorial on Flosstube to make the cushion.  It's not perfect but for a first attempt I'm happy.  It's currently on the top of my sofa, no-one is allowed to sit on it!

 

 I have another small finish, I made another jute bag last week.  This is the 3rd one of these I've made this year.

It's not a great photo but it's a rooster.  I made the sheep and the dog earlier in the year.

I'm giving the sheep to my Mum for Christmas and the Rooster to my Mother-in-Law.

Briefly, my plans for 2017 are to finish Treasure Hunt Bookshelf and Bamboo Fan.  I'm going to start Evil Queen Storykeep by HAED on 1st January for their challenge to finish a page by March. I will also try to get them fully finished along with PLHK and Forest Walk.  I want to stitch every day again, so far this year I have stitched every single day even if some days it was only a couple of stitches.

Well, that was quite long - sorry!  I look forward to seeing everyone else's 2016 round ups.

Merry Christmas to you all and a very happy 2017 x

Add Some Glitter at Unicorn

Hello crafters, it's time for a new challenge at Unicorn.  Our theme this month is add some glitter.

I've made some sparkly snowmen!  They are coloued with promarkers and dusted with angel whispers glitter - and so am I!  I don't seem to be able to amke a glittery card without covering myself.  The background paper is from The Snowman paper pack and the felt snowflakes I got in Hobbycraft.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 30th December to link up your creations.  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Winter Time at Craft Rocket

Good morning crafters, it's challenge time again at Craft Rocket. Our theme this fortnight is Winter time.

I've had some fun this time with a kit I bought from Inkylicious back in the summer.  I saw it again at the NEC earlier this month being demonstrated so finally decided to get it out and have a go.  It took a couple of tries to get it right but finally I'm happy with this version.

I've used a Versacolour white ink pad to do the white background on the kraft card and the leaves in the corners.  The image is stamped with an indigo Versacolour stamp.  The stencil is outlined with a white Gellyroll pen and the snow on the cabin is also done this way.  The kit came with some puffy stuff but I think I need more practice with it as it didn't look right.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 6th December to link up your creations.

White on White at Craft Rocket

Good morning crafters.  It's time for a new challenge at Craft Rocket.  Our theme this time is white on white.

I found this a tricky challenge, I love white on white cards, they're so elegant but coming up with a design of my own was hard!

I finally settled on using some embossed card from my stash and butterfly die cuts.  The pearls and sentiments are also from my stash.  I'm quite pleased with the result.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 22nd November to link up your creations.

Snow or Snowflakes at Unicorn

Good morning crafters, it's challenge time again at Unicorn.  Our theme this month is snow or snowflakes.  

I've made a card using some die cuts by All Occasions using mirror and glitter card.

This is layered with mirror card and embossed card from my stash with a sentiment from JJD.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

 Thanks for visiting today, please come on over and link up your makes by 25th November.

Pretty Pinks at Craft Rocket

Hello again everyone, it's challenge time again at Craft Rocket.  Our theme this fortnight is Pretty Pinks.

I've made a card using a Fizzy Moon decoupage kit - isn't he cute!  

I've used some pink mirror card from my stash, to make the stars, the paper came with the kit.  The sentiment is a stamp by LC designs.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 8th November to link up your creations.

Happy Birthday at Craft Rocket

Good morning crafters, it's time for another challenge at Craft Rocket.  Our theme this fortnight is Happy Birthday.

I can hardly believe our challenge blog is a year old, where does the time go?!

I've stitched a Happy Birthday banner using a chart from a magazine.

I've layered it on some purple card and stripy glittery paper from my stash.  The pegs and gems are also from my stash.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 25th October to link up your creations.

Pretty Pinks or Halloween at Unicorn

Good morning everyone, it's challenge time once more at Unicorn.  Our theme this month is Pretty Pinks or Halloween

I've made a kokeshi doll from a cover kit from a magazine.  I don't really do anything for Halloween so I've gone with the pink theme.

The foiled card and sentiment are by Hunkydory and I've added some pink trim, flowers and pearl from my stash.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 29th October to link up your creations.

Ribbon and/or Lace at Craft Rocket

Good morning crafters, it's time for another challenge at Craft Rocket.  Our theme this month is ribbon or lace.

I've used my All Occasions letter dies to make a sentiment, layered it on some blue and white card form my stash and added ribbon and pearls.  Quite simple but I liked it.  The card blank is 5x5 inches so smaller than I'm used to.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - Anything goes + sentiment

Thanks for visiting, you have until 11th October to link up your creations.

Wipocalypse September

Hello everyone, It's WIPocalypse time again.  

I've been working on Bamboo Fan and Treasure Hunt Bookshelf.  Now that my son and husband are back at school I have been able to get back into a bit of a routine and pick up Bamboo Fan again on Tuesdays.  I haven't been able to get as much done on THB as I would have liked as I am so busy at work.  The company I worked for sold part of the business and I am now working for a different company.  Although I'm in the same place with the same people doing the same thing it's been hard work getting used to new procedures.  I hope it will settle down soon as we all get used to it but until it does my hours are all over the place.

Anyway, here's where I was last time.

And here's where I am today.

Our question this month is to talk about the journey through a finished piece.

I can't remember the exact name of this one but I know it's a Dimensions Gold kit.  I started it on holiday in Cornwall in August 2005 which seems appropriate as we have just been to Cornwall this year on holiday, the first time we have been back.  I remember that we stayed for 2 weeks in a cottage and had a brilliant time sightseeing.  I finished it in December 2007 just before our son was born.  It took a long time back then as I would pick up stitching for a few weeks then put it down again for a few weeks or months and I was working full time so didn't have the time for it.  I wanted it done before the baby came as I knew I definitely wouldn't have time for it then!  I started my maternity leave in the October and had plenty of time to finish it.  I'd already chosen a birth sampler to do for the baby which I just managed to start before he was born.

It took another couple of years before I got round to framing them both though!  Now I am looking at my 3 pieces that need finishing and feeling guilty, I really must get them done this year.  Does anyone have any recommendations for online frames in the UK?

That's it from me for now, happy stitching until next time!

Mostly Blue at Craft Rocket

Good morning crafters, it's time for another challenge at Craft Rocket.  Our theme this fortnight is mostly blue.

I've stitched a Kokeshi doll from a magazine cover kit using the materials provided.  She was very fiddly to stitch as there are lots of fractionals and french knots and the aida was very stiff.

I've used blue card, flowers, pearls and ribbon from my stash.  The foiled card and sentiment are by Hunkydory.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, you have until 27th September to link up your creations.

Happy Birthday at Unicorn

Good morning Crafters, it's our first birthday at Unicorn Challenge so our theme this month is Birthdays!  I can't believe I've been designing with this great team for a year already, where does the time go?!

I've stitched a little scottie dog from a Mouseloft kit.  I've layered him on some tartan papers from my Lili of the Valley Classic Christmas pad and green card from my stash.  The button, bakers twine and sentiment are also from my stash.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts - Patterned paper
Crafty Cardmakers - Layer it up 
Crafting When We Can - Happy Birthday

A Gem of a Challenge - Ribbon, lace or twine

Thanks for visiting today, please come on over to Unicorn and link up your creations and see what the very talented DT have made to inspire you.  You have until 30th September.

Anything Goes at Craft Rocket

Good morning Crafters, it's time for another challenge at Craft Rocket.  We have a nice easy theme for you this month - Anything goes!

I have made a Christening card for my friend's son.  The chart is from World of Cross Stitching Magazine which I bought from Ebay.  It's really hard to find Christening charts!  I stitched it 2 over 1 using the recommended DMC threads on some evenweave that I had in my stash.

I found the gold aperture card in a scrapstore when I filled a bag with bits for £2 - bargain!

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Scrappers Delights - Anything goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting today, please come on over to Craft Rocket and link up your creations and see what the very talented DT have made to inspire you.  You have until 13th September.

IHSW and WIPocalypse August

Good morning everyone, I'm combining my posts again for both IHSW and WIPocalypse.  Although the weekend isn't over I want to post now while my husband and son are still home so when they go out later I can stitch without interruption.  They're off to Beaulieu to look at supercars - not really my thing!

I've mostly been working on Treasure Hunt Bookshelf.  I took Bamboo Fan on holiday with me to Cornwall but we were so busy I didn't get as much done as I thought I would and I haven't picked it up since we've been home.  I think I'll find it easier to get back into doing it on a Tuesday once my son and husband are back at school and we're all in our normal routines.  Here it was last time you saw it.

And here it is now.  I've just done some of the flowers at the bottom.

Here's Treasure Hunt Bookshelf last time.

And here it is now.  The 2nd row is finished and I started on page 19 on 9th August.

I managed to get quite a bit done in the 2nd week of my 2 weeks off work.  Our cat is diabetic and needs twice daily insulin injections.  He was fine for the cat sitters while we were away but had a hypoglycaemic episode the day after we got home and spent 5 days in the animal hospital being stabilised.  So while we were waiting around for vets to phone and each day thinking he might be able to come home we didn't do very much or go very far.  He's fine now and his blood test results are better than they've ever been so we're hoping that continues.

In other news I have finally found the Stitch Maynia group on Facebook.  I've heard it referred to in lots of flosstube videos and I'm now a member.  I've had a quick look through the posts and it certainly seems a very friendly group.  I've joined a couple of SALs for later in the year and am looking forward to seeing everyone's progress.

That's all from me for now, happy stitching!