First Finish of 2012

Ok so last time I ordered some stash from Sew an So this was really cheap in the sale so I got one. A Medieval Herb Garden Bookmark. I really love the finished bookmark but hated stitching it. Most of it was stitched with 3 strands of thread and just felt messy. The instructions for the backstitch was a bit all over the place too so I had to keep double checking the colours/strand amounts. I wouldn't be keen to stitch one again.

My favourite square-The bee hive :)

It was also my sons 2nd birthday this week. We had a lovely day seeing family and he was very spoilt!! Here is a picture of the cake I made him of his favourite soft toy(he comes everywhere with us!), It was rather yummy even if I do say so myself!

Blowing out the candles...sitting on he's Nanny's lap.

First Stitchy update of the year

HAED Pirate Dragon

Progress from last year.

And after about 8 evening I have finished another page, Yay.

I am going to have a week or two's break from it now and decide what to do next week :)

1st Stash of the Year

It feels like ages since I have done any 'stashing'. This was from my Sew and So spree. It is mainly bits for my first ever hardhanger project that I am planning to do this year, I will definitely need to do some practise pieces first though, I had a look through the chart pack and just felt confused! Its the first time I have ever had any hand-dyed thread so was very excited about the Caron Wildflower threads. They are also for the hardhanger project. There is also a Lizzie Kate Chart that I feel in love with and a Herb Garden bookmark that was in their sale.

This week in the UK a new part magazine is out called The Art of Quilting. Each issue comes with the fabric to make a quilt block with step-by-step instructions as well as other projects. (there have been similar magazines out for knitting and Crochet) I have bought the first one as I have been looking into quilting since getting my sewing machine. Here is my first attempt:

I have decided that it is far to pricey to subscribe to the magazine (90 issue in total @ £3.99 an issue plus £5.99 every 20 issues for a binder!!! OUCH) but I will get the first 3-4 that will be sold in WHSmiths just to have a practice. If im any good I may have a go at making both my sons a quilt each, and maybe one for me too :)

Happy New Year

Hi all,

I hope you had a great xmas and New Year!
I didn't get any stitchy related gifts (I rarely do, I think it makes people nervous incase they buy the wrong thing!) but I did get given £30 from my Grandparents-in-law. I have decided to spend some on myself and have spent the morning ordering from Sew and So. It feels like ages since I have done any stash buying so i'm very excited. I shall post a pic once it arrives- YAY!

Hope 2012 will be great for everyone :)

Last Three

The last three makes of the Christmas Challenge,

A decoupage bird
[Awaiting Image]

Little Knitted Stocking. I am still very new to knitting but im really pleased with this little cutie :) I found the pattern free here Here.


The next one is my first ever Biscornu, stitched on 18 count cream aida. I am particularly chuffed with this because I designed it myself too. Hard to see from the picture but it also has some metallic thread. The little charm and button is from Debbie Cripps.

Front

Back

I would love to share the chart but can't work out how to put it on here yet :P

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. I am of to update my stitching diary that I keep of all my stitching projects, to do's and WIP. Its nice to have it all on paper to look through :) I wonder how much of my TO DO'S 2012 I will actually get done and how many other things will sneak in too hehe! 

Happy 2012 to all!

Late Post :(

Sorry I meant to post this a few days ago but William has caught Chicken Pox and has kept me distracted. My husband has never had it and is trying to avoid it so I am not really getting much help (typical!) as William is only four I think he is being a star... I have only had to tell him a handful of times not to scratch. He even has a massive one under his eye which means he can only half open it and he still isn't complaining!

Anyway here is 2/5 Christmas Ornaments from my mum and mines challenge

Salt dough..... I love this stuff. Just incase you want to try here is the recipe:

2 cups flour mixed with 1 cup salt and 1 cup of water. Roll out dough. Use cutters or just hand shape then either leave to air dry for a day or two or bake on the lowest oven setting for an hour or so.

I used acrylic paint once dried but you can add colour to the dough. I added a few bells and a bit of glitter too :)

Here are a few of Mums

Aren't they lovely! I especially love the heart!

Not an Owl

update but a CHRISTMAS post :)

This year my parents threw away there 25 year old Christmas tree for a lovely (non-sagging) new one. Mum wants to mainly go back to traditional decorations. So we decided it would be fun to make our own. I am so excited as although my mum is arty, she has never gotten into stitching, no matter how much I try :( and she rarely makes time for crafts these days so this should be so much fun!

We have set a challenge of 5 'different' decorations. Although we haven't really set any rules it would obviously be really boring to have 5 exactly the same. And I want more than 5 decs at the end so I will be making 2 or 3 of each thing if I can!

So I had a trip to Hobby Craft for some felt and ribbon today and here is my first:

3 little Gingerbead Men. They were so easy to make, I just drew around a cookie cutter for the shape, decorated with buttons and ribbon, then stitched it together using blanket stitch, then stuffed!

Mum hasn't made it to a craft store yet so im not sure what she is planning. But I will give her some felt incase she wants to make one too! I will post pics of here's on the blog too.

And can you see the edge of the sewing box behind the Gingerbread Man? My gorgeous hubby spotted it reduced to £15 whilst I was on my felt finding mission and bought it for me, because I have wanted one for so long-what a star.