Saturday 30 April 2016

Finished with a day to spare.

Today is International Jazz Day



Yesterday I  managed to finish April for the Joyful World SAL, I  left it pretty close to the end of the month so was pretty relieved when the final stitches went in.  Hopefully May won't take me so long.


I think this my favourite one so far, although they are all beautiful.  I probably like it the most as it's the first one I haven't had frogs come to visit and there are no mistakes - not that I have noticed anyway.

Landscape has been neglected this week so I will try and double up on the stitch count for the coming week to make amends.

As it is International Jazz Day we are going to go around The Barbican this afternoon to enjoy the jazz events that are being held there.  Weather permitting we hope to be able to enjoy a couple of drinks outside while listening to the music.

Friday 29 April 2016

Cross Stitcher SAL Part 1 complete

Begin each day as if it were on purpose. ~Author Unknown

I'm so happy to report that I have managed to complete part 1 of the Cross Stitcher magazine. It's  a sweet little design despite those pesky French knots around the border.  Oh how I dislike French knots but I persevered and overall they don't look too bad.

The next magazine is due out in the shop's today but I have already heard what the next image is going to be .  I don't know though where the next one will be placed in relation to this one so I  still have an element of surprise.

Now I just need to finish the Joyful World for April. 







Thursday 28 April 2016

Happy Anniversary


Quick, clean and simple is the anniversary card I made for dear hubby to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary. It had to be QCS because I literally left it until Wednesday evening to make it!


Unfortunately I  have to work this evening so we shall celebrate properly on Saturday by dining out somewhere.

Yesterday I took a trip down to see Margaret at Scrapbook Magic which has now relocated to it's new premises.  It officially opens on Friday but it was great to see how the premises have changed since my last visit a couple of weeks ago.

Also yesterday evening I  worked on the Joyful World and only have some flowers and half the border left to stitch.  I have also almost finished the Cross Stitcher SAL so hopefully I should be able to post photos soon and have a couple of happy dances.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Gift stitch reveal

The lovely flowers embarrass me,
They make me regret I am not a bee –
~Emily Dickinson, 1864

On Monday it was Kathy's 70th birthday and so I can now reveal the gift stitch I was working on as one of her presents.  I went with a gorgeous daisy and bee square from the Mini Squares cross stitch book.


I mounted the design onto some chipboard and then added this to a Kraft coloured  folder so that Kathy could use it to hold her small stitching projects - e.g. Joyful World SAL.  Inside the folder there was also a document holder for the chart to be kept in and two zipped plastic wallets, one for fabric and the other for threads.  I also included some other gifts for her to enjoy.

I bought the Kraft folder from Paperchase and it's of  good sturdy construction.  I think I might get a couple for some of my projects too.


Tuesday 26 April 2016

Beautiful sunset



On Sunday evening I managed to capture this beautiful sunset -such wonderful colours in the sky.  Nature truly is amazing.


I managed to add some more stitches to the Joyful World before I went into work yesterday.  I should have a free evening tomorrow so hoping I can get a lot of it done then.  I think this is going to be a close run thing to get it done by the end of the month.  

I only have until the 29th of April  to complete the Cross Stitcher one done as that's  when the next magazine is due out, it's  going to be a busy, busy couple of days for me!

Monday 25 April 2016

Onto the final page




I'm really happy that I met my April target for the Cornwall Cottage Sampler, page 11 is now complete and I even managed to get some of page 12 done too.


I would have like to have got that large motif completed too but my eyes were beginning to feel tired and I didn't want to risk making a mistake.  So my next target for this one is to try and get it completed during the month of May.  Here is how it looks overall.


I now have a few days left to work on the April  Joyful World SAL and the Cross Stitcher SAL, fingers crossed I  can get them both done.


Sunday 24 April 2016

Same design different colourway



Another card using the same design but in a different colourway to yesterday's card.  I also made a 70th birthday card using the same colourway , stamp and punch along with a few other stamps but in a much larger size but guess who forgot to photograph it before posting it!  I was very pleased with the final design and hope the birthday girl will love it too.


I managed to get my quota of stitches done on landscape  which not only completed the top page but also continued onto the bottom page.  I will post an update of that one later in the week. I think doing just a small amount of stitches each week is definitely the way to go for me on this one, it may take longer but at least it's keeping me motivated this way.





Saturday 23 April 2016

Birthday cards



I finally did a little papercrafting this week.  I have lots of birthdays coming up over the next few months.  I've gone with a clean and simple design and made two cards using up scraps of patterned paper and card along with a stamp set and matching punch from SU.  


It was nice to spend some time in my craft room again.


Friday 22 April 2016

Landscape update



I'm not sure how many stitches are left to do on the top half of the page but I  am hoping it's more than the target of 100 and it will be nice to know the top half is complete.  Here is how it looked after lasts week's progress.


Ignore the piece of felt at the top that was a tip from a fellow stitcher to stop the fabric from slipping and it works a treat so thank you.  If all goes to plan then this top half of the arch piece will be completed by next week and i will be steadily be working to finish the bottom half. I'll  also post an overall look of the piece in programs as I will need to one it in the frame to complete it so while its out of the frame is a good photo opportunity.

Thursday 21 April 2016

Adjustment



At our craft evening last night I took along the gift stitch to work on - landscape would have required too much concentration and there is always too much hilarity for that. I have made an adjustment to the original chart as I didn't like the puppy being upside down.


I will definitely be working on landscape this evening as I so want to get back to working on the Joyful World again, my aim is to try and get it finished this weekend.but I can't work on it until I've  fulfilled my stitching quota.

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Tried and tested


denoting something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable.
"a tried-and-tested recipe"

Yesterday I decided to make a couple of lemon cakes when I got home from work - they're a favourite both at home and at work.  While they were baking i decided to re-arrange some of the kitchen cupboards - very therapeutic. 



I also made a start on a small gift stitch - the kit came with the magazine and I knew just the person who I thought would appreciate it.



Today it is out eldest sons birthday and we are going out there for BBQ to celebrate - fingers crossed the Sun will be shining. 

Tuesday 19 April 2016

April progress

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."
-  Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Sensitive Plant 

I worked on the April Joyful World SAL on Saturday afternòon while watching the tennis.   The bunny apart from his eye is stitched and the flowers on the left hand side done.  I am hoping to spend this evening adding some more stitches to this delightful piece - April is racing by so quickly.


Then it will be back to the landscape and I also have another gift stitch to work on.

Monday 18 April 2016

Just a little done




Lots of family time today.  Colette and the children came to visit this afternoon and as it was a lovely sunny day we took them over the park.  Bryan and family came for sunday roast so we also spent time with Harley-Jay.  All of this meant only half an hour to spend on wthe Cornwall cottage sampler today.  I also sustained a minor injury while playing with Max this afternoon which left one of my hands unable to grip the hoop as usual.


There is still one Sunday left in April to finish page 11 can I do it?

Sunday 17 April 2016

A finish and a new start

"BOOKS ARE A UNIQUELY PORTABLE MAGIC" Stephen King


Not stitching but reading material.  Yesterday I managed to finish the second book in The Plague trilogy by Louise Welsh which I found a better read than the first novel.  It will be interesting to see how the story pans out in the final novel.  Not sure if it is available yet so need to do some hunting for it.



My next read is a book that my friend Wynneth has lent to me.  It's called Christmas Fairytales by Nora Roberts another new author to me.  It looks like another easy read so looking forward to starting it this evening.


Not sure how well this post will come out as it's the first time I have tried using my tablet - so fingers crossed this has worked.

Saturday 16 April 2016

I'm all ears



Yesterday I managed to add just a few more stitches to April's Joyful World SAL.  I didn't have the recommended colour to finish off the carrot so made a start on the rabbit.  I managed to get his face and ears stitched.  I am hoping I will get more time to work on it today.


Thank you to everyone who sent me good wishes - I am feeling much better now.  Hopefully I can be a bit more productive this week.

Friday 15 April 2016

Another 100 plus means

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March."
-  Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time, 1926 


that I can now make a start on April for the Joyful World SAL.  I managed to get just over 100 stitches put into landscape before going into work yesterday so I was free to make a start on April.  Only nine stitches but it's a start.  I should get time to work on it over the weekend though so fingers crossed will have far more to show you after the weekend.


I have the pleasure of looking after Harlee-Jay today and I am also hoping to pop round and see Colette and baby Lincoln too. 

Thursday 14 April 2016

Back to my childhood

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

I was looking for books to buy our soon to be 9 year old grandson Connor for his birthday which is on Friday.  The shop had an offer on buy three for the price of two.  As I was looking at the books I found a compilation of books by Enid Blyton that I loved reading as a child and so decided to get that as my free one - a treat to myself.


I loved reading Enid Blyton books including similar books to the above as well as all the Famous Five and Secret Seven books.  I will be able to read this to the grandchildren when they stay over, although I am sure I will be reading it to myself very soon.

What were your favourite books as a child?

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Spot the difference

Spot the difference is a type of puzzle where players must find a set number of differences between two otherwise similar images, whether they are illustrations or photographs that have been altered with photo manipulation.


Can you see the difference 114 stitches make?  In the big scheme of things it doesn't look much but it still took me about an hour and a half to add these stitches.  I'm concentrating on the top centre panel of the window section which is all that is left on the top half of the page.  Fingers crossed I might get that complete by the end of the month!



Still got a bit of a cold but thankfully not feeling as rough as I did at the weekend - hoping this is now on it's way out.

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Fingers crossed.....

Image result for fingers crossed


....that I have counted correctly and put the starting point of the Cross Stitcher SAL in the correct place.  I managed to add a few stitches to this one before going into work on Monday.  The external border was completed for the whole design.


I've also managed to make a start on the border of one of the smaller designs that will fill this space.  It shouldn't take too long to complete this one but before I add anymore stitches to it I HAVE to finish the gift stitch and add another 100 stitches to Landscape.



Monday 11 April 2016

Under the weather



I had hoped to have done quite a bit more on the Cornwall Cottage Sampler this week but unfortunately I have come down with a cold so didn't have quite the same enthusiasm as normal.  I have however managed to complete one of the large motifs but not without making a mistake.  I'd gone to far to be bothered to unpick it so will make adjustments accordingly.



Fingers crossed my cold won't hang around too long and next week I can complete another page on this one.

Sunday 10 April 2016

So close



I have almost finished the gift stitch which unfortunately I cannot show you until later in the month but it's a design from this book that I picked up a while back either at a garden centre or National Trust shop.


I won't be turning the stitching into a cushion, I have something else in mind which I hope the recipient will like.

Saturday 9 April 2016

Imagination and dreams

Image result for imagination poems


Our youngest son and girlfriend have moved into their first home together today so I have been on extended Nanny duties which has been wonderful.  I called in and saw Colette and family today with Harlee so it was the first time Harlee got to see his new cousin Lincoln.  He also got to spend some time with Logan and Savannah who are still on their Easter holidays.  When I first arrived Harlee had fallen asleep in the car so he continued his nap on Colette's sofa - we took the opportunity of placing Lincoln by the side of him as he enjoyed his sweet dreams.


What can two children do with some boxes and a little imagination?  Logan and Savannah had been playing together before I had arrived and they had come up with the idea of building a train and carriages for them to put all Logan's super hero figures in and didn't they do a great job.


I think I will sleep well tonight as will DH who helped out with the moving in of all DS2's furniture.

Friday 8 April 2016

Borderlines


I made a start on the Cross Stitcher SAL before going into work yesterday and managed to add a few more stitches in the evening but didn't quite make it all the way round before tiredness took over.  It took a lot of counting and recounting to make sure I had put the correct amount of stitches in.  I am hoping to finish it today before I collect Harlee-Jay.  Fingers crossed the border will match up.


This evening I must finish the gift stitch only a small amount left to do on this one.  I am also hoping to get the first stitches into the Joyful World for April.

Thursday 7 April 2016

Tag time




Yesterday I took a trip down to Scrapbook Magic and joined in with the bi-monthly tag class.  This time we got to use the new Tim Holtz crayons and Sizzix dies.  Great fun once again trying out the new products and putting together the tags as well as indulging in lots of laughter and cake. 


Short and sweet today as I need to take mum shopping before I go into work.

Wednesday 6 April 2016

I know I shouldn't but....


....... I'm going to start another SAL.  I buy the Cross Stitcher magazine each month and just as I was getting to the back pages I was tempted with their monthly mystery SAL.  It's running from this month until Christmas and from the look of the first chart it is obviously going to be Christmas related.  I do like to do at least one Christmas project each year and this one looks simple enough to be able to keep up with along with all my other projects!  I also just happen to have a piece of fabric which it will fit on nicely so couldn't resist.  Has anyone else seen this in the magazine and going to join in?


The fabric is from Crafty Kitten - it is 16 count aida which means my finished piece will be smaller than the magazines but I would rather use fabric from my stash than buy something new.

I did work on Landscape yesterday evening and managed to exceed my 100 stitch target so anymore stitches done this week will be a bonus.  It also means I can now work on the small projects I have on the go if I want to.

Also yesterday evening I pulled out the threads for April's Joyful World SAL so hopefully I will get to make a start on that some time this week.

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Landscape


I've finally taken Landscape out of hibernation ready to work on this week.  This is where it was left way back.......


Not sure how much difference there will be when I have added 100 stitches but I will update each week to keep me motivated.  I really need to get this one completed and ticked off my list - there are so many other projects tempting me all the time LOL.

Monday 4 April 2016

Phew!


I managed to finish the alphabet on the Cornwall Cottage Sampler but more importantly I have almost finished the internal border and phew it meets up!  I also put in the box where I will add my details once the sampler motifs are finished.


There are quite a few large motifs to work on from now on, my target is to complete one large target  and hopefully at least one small one each week.  There's one and a half large motifs on page 11 and three small motifs which I am feeling very optimistic about getting completed during the month of April.  The end is almost in sight.