Beaded Heart Biscornu

Here's my finished stitching on the biscornu - I need to get going on the finishing so it doesn't languish in the 'to do' pile...

Beaded Heart Biscornu

I've been doing a little stitching too - here's my progress on the Polstitches Beaded Heart Biscornu:

Another old finish

And it's another Sue Hawkins

This time it's a biscornu.  The sides use two identical thread colours but alternate the highlight colour:

An old finish

I realised I have one or two finishes that I never got round to posting so here's one:

It's a Sue Hawkins pin cushion

Birds of a Feather finish

So I tried taking pics outside today given the weather was glorious and they're better than my usual efforts but I think the main problem is that the camera is just sooooo old!

Anyway here's the pics (the fabric colour is quite washed out - it's a lovely lilac IRL):

Both sides of what will end up as the bag:

A close up of the stitching (you can see the sequencing on the birds)

Please don't comment on the date in the stitching LOL.  I was considering unpicking it and putting this year but I just couldn't face it - I was so sick of the repetition on the piece by the end but I'm pleased I stuck with it and got it finished.

A Finish!

I had a night in with a mate yesterday watching The Breakfast Club and St Elmo's Fire (I think my impending birthday has kicked off a serious nostalgia vibe) and I stitched like crazy and finished the Dilly Bag.

I can't tell you how happy I am - it's a lovely design but it's repetitive and extremely dull after a while.  It only uses four colours and I made it harder on myself by deciding to sequence the birds in it - ie I stitched every bird with the same colour sequence on the thread so they all look identical.  I'm glad I did it but it wasn't exactly a fun process.

No pics as yet - my photos are bad enough when taken in daylight so taking one at midnight would be pointless LOL.

I'm thinking now to focus on the Noah's Ark quilt and get that done and out of the way then the birth sampler so I get rid of the obligation stitching.  Hopefully neither will take me too long and then I might pick up one of my more neglected WIPs.

Stitching for Me!

Well Spooky Spots is now officially my second finish of 2010. Of course I don't have a picture yet but I will take one soon.

I've never been a particularly organised stitcher - to begin with I just stitched whatever I fancied, mainly finishing things before starting something else, but then, as my stash expanded rapidly so did my WIP list until I ended up with over 40 WIPs, some with literally no more than 30 - 40 stitches in.

So, at the beginning of last year I wrote myself an extremely strict rotation that was designed to reduce my WIP list dramatically and, for the first six months, it was working perfectly. Then I got pregnant. To be fair, I didn't increase my WIP list in the second half of the year but I didn't reduce it much either.

I now have a little over eight weeks before baby arrives so I am determined to just stitch on exactly what I want in 2010, new project or WIP, whatever I fancy with the only rule that anything new has to be completed so my WIP list doesn't grow. Given I have already finished one WIP from my list this year I'm pretty much guaranteed to end the year with less WIPs than I start with as long as I'm careful.

Why am I wittering on about this? Basically as justification for picking up the new Just Nan Winter Hearts Humbug as a new start last night rather than going through my WIP pile...

I am stitching!

Here's my finished Michael Powell Mini Snowy Chapel:

And here's my Shepherd's Bush Spooky Spots WIP (almost a finish now, I've made a lot of progress since I took this pic!)

Both of these were kits in my stash - the Michael Powell was started last year so is officially a WIP off my list and the Spooky Spots is a new start this year - I'm only allowed new starts this year if they are also going to be finishes too which means small projects only. I'm also mainly going to pick up small kits in my stash so I don't have to worry about any floss or fabric I don't have. See, all in the name of stash reduction!

I've also finished my second book of the year too. But I also caved in and used my christmas book token (what can I say, it was burning a hole in my pocket LOL) so three more books arrived in the house (I just can't resist a 3 for 2 offer).

Also, I had a lovely stash parcel arrive today - everything included was either a commitment or some stash additions for projects I already have but it a relatively large parcel so I'm not yet feeling that virtuous with my clearing out. It included the first Just Nan Humbug, SamSarah Alphabet Baubles N and O, a part of The Big Round Zipper, a cut of 20ct linen and a button pack for Shepherd's Bush Halloween Night and several skeins of weeks and gast.

It was a lovely thing to receive on a dull and gray Tuesday morning!

Noah's Ark Baby Quilt

So here's my progress on the Noah's Ark stitched quilt. I've been working on this pretty much any time I have free and it actually stitches up pretty quickly. I wouldn't say it was a fun stitch though, the pre-quilting means it can be a bit of a bugger in places as I chose not to have threads showing on the back so I'm stitching only through the top two layers. In some places the pre-quilting is so tight that this can be a real struggle!

I also don't like how it looks stitched with the blue still showing but that's just be being daft and once it's all done the blue markings will disappear with a wash. Sorry it's a bit of a naff photo but I'm just going to have to face the fact that I'm crap at getting good pics!

My Framed Happy Haunting

I've had this for about a month now and only just got round to taking the pics. Badly. I apologise for the flash mark but at least you can see the mounts and framing which are absolutely superb!

And just as a reminder here's the completed stitching

My mojo was obviously just hiding

Last night for the first time in about eight weeks I picked up a needle and did some stitching! It's not on a current WIP, it's a new start for the baby - a pre-quilted, stamped baby quilt from Dimensions. I bought it about three years ago for a different baby entirely and never got round to doing it (I think said baby got a quilted quilt instead). To be honest I'd actually forgotten all about it until my recent stash inventory but it's lovely and it 's quite an easy-on-the-brain stitch too.

Here's a pic of the finished quilt - all I did last night was the face of the male lion but it was a start. I have no idea if I'll get it done in time for the baby's arrival but I have six months so finger's crossed.



I also had the urge to do some quilting last night too! The problem was though that I'd packed things away in the kitchen to make room for all the after school visitors today and I couldn't face getting them out and putting them away again. I can't see it being long before I do get stuck in again though. I have about three projects I want to make for the new baby, a quilt and a birth sampler to make for my new Great-Niece and of course the two bags for my Mum and MIL.

All in all it's just as well the mojo has returned!

Boo!

I've been pushing on with this one to get it finished this month and here it is, Lizzie*Kate's Boo Club stitched on 32ct Lugana 'Monet' from Picture This Plus using the charted Weeks and GAST:

The Great Maple Syrup Hunt

Well I totally failed to find the skein I thought I had, I obviously dreamt it's existence but one of the two skeins posted to me by my lovely stitchy friend was a match so I'm now a happy bunny once more.

I'm sure you'll all sleep better knowing that!

Spot the Difference

So is it me or does the Dog design look wrong? Don't get me wrong, I like it, but I'm a bit confused as to why it's different to the rest.

I'm working on the Cupcakes this month and I'm thinking that I'll skip D and wait and see if any more are the same when they're released. I'm sure I can rechart the dogs heads to fit them into the same style as the others but I don't want to do that and find there's another design later that can't be altered. On the whole I'd rather have them all the same or with several different, not just one different from all the rest.

It offends my sense of order LOL.

Last finishes of 2008 and first of 2009

Here's pics of my last 2008 finishes:

2008 Christmas Quilt:

Bargello Quilt:

Sue Hawkins Thread Keeper:

And here are my Just Nan 2008 tins completed:

Initial Stitching:

Four Tins:

Sizzle Tin and Pinwheel

I did the tins on New Years Day when I also finished Joyful Summer:

I did cheat a bit as I did quite a lot of stitching on Joyful Summer on New Years Eve but it's my first official finish of 2009 and my first Rotation success! I left off the French Knots and backstitching on the flowers as I don't really like it - apologies that the pic is a bit washed out, the fabric is a nice bright blue IRL.

I still have the 'In the Tin' projects to make up for the other three tins but I intend to slot them in soon.

Thanks for all your encouraging comments about my rotation and 2009 plans, your support is very much appreciated. Talking of which, Lindsay, your offer of a SAL for 4 Wishes is great but it's only scheduled for 1 week of attention from me this year so I think I will decline for now.

A Big Big Happy Dance

I finally finished Bent Creek's Big Zipper. To be fair, it's not my fault it's taken so long - they released the first part early last year and the last part a couple of weeks ago!

I'm pleased I finally finished this one as I didn't feel I could start another large Bent Creek design till it was done. I may well start Snapperbets in the New Year now.

Finishes and WIPs

I'm so happy because I finished Lavender Hearts Sampler last night and it's now at the framers, it'll be ready to pick up next week - a whole week before it's scheduled to be gifted. Not cutting it fine at all!

I've remained faithful to the charted colours and just changed the words 'Lavender Hearts' for my Sis and BIL's names and then included the dates of the two years at the top (it's for their 40th Wedding Anniversary if you hadn't worked it out)

It's a bit washed out, the colours are much richer IRL, but the light here is just awful for getting a good picture (and I'm crap with the camera).

I've never done pulled thread or hardanger before (nothing like jumping in at the deep end) and I really enjoyed it although wrapping all those bars was a bit tedious and some of my Dove's Eyes are a bit wonky LOL.

As usual I had lots of other things to take pics of so here's a couple more finishes:

Red Santa from Shepherd's Bush (minus his nose as I've lost the button so will have to replace it)

And Ho Ho Santa from the Silver Needle's Secret Needle Night, finished as a box (my first one!)

And finally some WIPs

Happy Haunting by Shepherd's Bush

Sorry about the line across the middle, I was too lazy to take it off the frame

Cirque des Cercles - see I am working on it!

A new start - CCN's Joyful Summer

I'm going to spend the weekend working on things for me - I have the latest part of The Big Zipper to do and I'm also going to do one of the Just Nan 'Over the Top and In the Tin' designs, 'Sizzle'.

A Great Weekend

Despite the weather LOL.

L, a fellow stitching and quilting addict joined us for the weekend (I won't link to her blog because she hasn't updated it in MONTHS - hint hint) and on Saturday we went to Swindon to meet up with another friend for lunch.

We visited a local craft centre on the way which wasn't that fantastic as a lot of the shops have closed down but we did get a few bits and pieces including a fab Charlie and Lola bag for Lia and also a cute toy watch for her as she's obsessed with telling the time at the moment. We also went round the Designer Outlet Centre after lunch and I splashed out on a new pair of shoes (well they were 50% off and very comfy).

Sunday we had planned to go to Legoland if the weather was okay so when we woke up to a wet and windy day we were very disappointed. However, it didn't take long for excitement to take over from common sense and we talked ourselves in to going anyway... We had some vouchers for bogof tickets which is the only way I'd contemplate going as one adult ticket costs £35!!!!

Great fun was had by all, DH and L went on more rides than me because Lia was 4cm too short for some of them - I'm not complaining as I have a tendency to get sick on rides anyway. We did go on the really slow boats as a family though and here's a pic of us in our attractive rain gear - yes DH and Lia were having a bit more fun than me!

Lia then had a go on the mini cars driving area - she was really getting into the whole thing but she was terrible at steering - she had to be rescued about five times as much as any of the other kids.

She took it all very seriously but she was also a lot more interested in what was going on around her than where she was going. Still she had an absolute blast and she got her driving license at the end of it.

We did have a period of around an hour and a half where the sun came out and we dried off and warmed up enough to sit down and have an icecream. Unfortunately I chose to add some jelly tots to Lia's icecream and we had our first experience of her high on E numbers. Around 15 mins or so after she finished it she turned into a total brat who was ignoring us, yelling and crying and then, when we got home she was totally hyperactive. Initially I put it down to her being tired but back home in our normal environment it was like she'd taken drugs, she was hyper, absolutely deaf to our attempts to calm her or tell her off and basically just bouncing off the walls.

She very rarely has sweets of any kind but she will definitely not be having anything like that again.

Here's one final pic of her (thanks for all the pics to L, our official photographer for the weekend). Lia and Neh No

The weekend ended with us glued to the TV watching the Wimbledon Final. I'm a big tennis fan and I love Roger Federer so was disappointed that Rafa won, but what a match! I don't remember ever being so on the edge of my seat for every single point. Fair play to Nadal, he has worked so hard to raise his game over the last three years to get to the point where he can beat Federer on grass and he does play sublime tennis but as John McEnroe said this week Federer is the 'most beautiful tennis player God has created'.

Stitching wise I've been working on my Cirque des Cercles again as it finally got round to shouting at me louder than my other WIPs. No pics as yet but I'll get something before the end of the week. I'm going to keep on with it this week and then devote the next couple of weeks to getting the Victoria Sampler design finished so I can get it framed for my Sis and BIL's anniversary at the beginning of September.

I am going to spend some time quilting this week too - I hope to get some projects finished off so I can start some new ones with less guilt!

A lovely time was had by all...

After the hectic madness of our Greek trip a week in Devon was just the relaxing break we all needed. We stayed at Villavin Farm Cottages and I highly recommend them (even more so if you're a quilter as Jo has a quilt shop just next door to the cottages LOL).

It's not a huge farm - their main business is the cottages and the quilting shop - but they have a couple of Shetland Ponies and 12 sheep that Lia fed twice a day. She also got to help feed the chickens while I was choosing fabrics in the shop.

The farm is in Holsworthy and is close to lots of lovely places to visit - the closest town to it is Bude, a 15 min drive, which has fantastic sandy beaches and we also went to Clovelly, Appledore, Boascastle, Tintagel, Bideford and Torquay. Oh and a fantastic place called The Big Sheep which has bottle feeding lambs, sheep racing, sheep sheering, horse whispering, sheepdog trials and a great indoor play area - it's probably a bit boring for older kids but for Lia's age it was great.

Here's a few pics

Lia having just put back the sword in the stone ;)

Lia breaking the sound barrier to get to the sheep and feed them

The sheep being fed

Lia sitting in a wall in Boscastle

DH up a rock at Clovelly

Lia looking at DH up a rock at Clovelly

Daddy's girl

As well as getting out and about we spent a good amount of time at the cottages as there is a play barn and an outside play area so Lia had plenty to do. DH took his kite and spent several hours perfecting his skills and I had my stitching and Wimbledon on the TV!

I managed a finish while we were away - Bent Creek's The Red Thread. I stitched their original snapper series when it came out (the one that has 'January Snows', 'February Glows' etc) but haven't done anything with it because it's such an odd shape. Now my fininshing skills are better I'm thinking to do the both of them as cushions.

Here's some pics - it's 33 inches long by 4.5 inches high (hence the problem of how to finish it).

Finally, some pictures!

DH has been hiding his camera's memory card for the last few days but I finally managed to get some pics of my WIPs and finishes.

Here's a couple of reindeer that I made from a kit DH got me for Christmas (with some prompting from me of course LOL). They are called Simply Pooped Out and Jingle Your Own Darn Bells

It's kind of a tradition for those of us who have the weekend GTG to have something to stitch as a reminder - this year it was a sampler with the poem composed by me and the design by Kate from Sparklies:

Here's one of the Heart to Heart 2 quilt tops I was talking about in my previous post - I finished putting it together today

And here's a couple of WIPs - The Big Zipper from Bent Creek

And Happy Haunting from Shepherds Bush

We're off to Devon tomorrow so hopefully I'll get a bit of time to stitch while we're away.