Moving address!

It's been such a long time since I said hello. Over 4 years has passed and life has been turned upside down since I last posted. So I've finally decided to start over and hopefully you'll hear a bit more from me at my new place. 

Find me here at These Messy Moments Join me for my unique mix of life, faith, stitchiness and all the other random stuff I throw in! :-)

My new found love!

Funnily enough, even though I've been horrendously rubbish at updating my blog gone lately, I do spend a vast amount of time on the internet/laptop in general. Which is also why I've no cross stitching news to speak of at the moment! My main occupation on Facebook is one game in particular which I have a slight addiction to. However my latest love is Pinterest. I have found so many fabulous ideas and so much inspiration! 

Now I thought, I just need to cut down the time I spend online and actually get some of the things I pin done... so here's my first Pinterest project! I saw this school supplies cake tutorial and thought it was pretty cool. We don't usually do this kind of thing in the UK but I still thought it would be a pretty cool 'thank you teacher' gift. After some help from my best bud who is a teacher, and a lot of shopping I eventually came up with this. The hardest bit was getting the right proportions on each tier.

I know the photo is really poor. The tissue paper and tulle flower was another Pinterest find. Check out this brilliant tutorial. This was for a nursery class teacher so it included all together:-

• Stickers
• Pencils and biro pens
• Highlighters
• Anti bacterial hand wipes
• Smarties, small boxes of Roses 
• Options flavoured hot chocolate sachets

I wish I had remembered to get a final photo. I took it to a florist and had it wrapped in cellophane and a ribbon bow to finish it off. I was a bit nervous about how it would be received but I did get a very nice call from the teacher who was over the moon with it because it was so personal and unique. So I was relieved and happy she liked it!

My next Pinterest project in progress is this menu planner. So watch this space!

A finish framed at last!

I finally got this finish back from the framer today and she has done a fabulous job! 

Shame I couldn't put the other one in to frame. I realised after my last blog post that it didn't look quite right and after comparing it to the pictures of this one, realised I'd made a mistake. Now I have to frog and re stitch all the bottom part. The worst thing is I'm sure I put all the colours I used away and have no record of them. What a disaster! :(

A long catch up!

So I got a little behind with everything and I am only now getting to update so this may be a little long but lots of pics so hang in there ;)

First the Lizzie Kate exchange. Here's what I eventually sent...

...and Vicky sent me this gorgeous plaque which is now hanging in my living room. 

Thank you!

I haven't been to pick up the finish I left at the framers but I have finished the next one I wanted to frame the same. What does everyone think? I wasn't too sure when I first changed the colours to red but I think it's turned out okay...

I started on Sophie's sampler too which is the matching one to the framing dilemma one.

I haven't got a whole lot done really but it's better than nothing. I've got some sewing projects to fit in as well. Altering school trousers since Seren is starting school in September and I could only get smallest age 3 and I need to take about 4 inches off them! I bought her some new bedroom furniture to make her room a bit more grown up and I got lined curtains half price too. They were too small but I've taken one curtain apart and intend to make a roman blind with it and the other one I'm going to make some cushions and bunting. Sounds fab but I am a novice so watch this space for the eventual finishes if I get that far LOL!

Happy stitching everyone :)

A new plan of action

Since I got my stitching bug back I've been trying to juggle quite a few projects. On Friday I finally gave in and went back to the same framer I used before to get a project framed that's been around the house for over a year. Since she is going on holidays and I was in no rush anyway I've got 5 weeks before I pick it up. Then I thought if I finish the others I want done before then all the better. So I sat down and made a list of priority projects which went something like this...

• Feathers & Friends (5 blocks a week)
• Baby Boy Sunshine Line
• Birth sampler - Poppy
• Birth sampler - Sophie
• Find 2 more birth samplers for Francesca and Daisy

I decided to try and finish Feathers & Friends for my parents wedding anniversary but at 5 blocks a week it might not happen though I have been working on it.

Baby Boy Sunshine Line is for my nephew who is already over a year old. I've done a little on this too.

I started the sampler for Poppy, well the papercraft part of it anyway when she was born. I wasn't sure about doing it but while we were on holiday I actually got to meet Poppy and her mum and now know it will be appreciated so I have done quite a bit of the stitching since. It is the same pattern as the one I am having framed so I'm hoping to finish it in the 5 weeks then if the framed one looks good then I'll have that done too. I changed the colours from pinks to reds for Poppy and am hoping it looks okay!

The sampler for Sophie is the matching one to the finished one I was having the framing dilemma over. I've decided I'm going to lace them up to the foam core myself and take them down with the frames and get the framer to cut a narrow mount for them. Possibly. :D

As for Francesca and Daisy...I already done this beautiful project for Francesca's older sister...

and just can't find something as nice and unique for her. The project currently at the framers is for Daisy's older sister and looks something like this...

and I can't decide whether to do a matching one for her (maybe in pale yellows instead?) or a different one.

So there's my plan of action LOL!

Stitching the night away

I finally decided on some fabric for my Lizzie Kate exchange and made a start on it. I've actually spent quite a few evenings stitching which has been a nice change from normal. Then I spent a few evenings doing ironing and other boring but necessary stuff. Then last night I realised the deadline was coming fast and I better get a move on. So tonight I'll be up late finishing it and in the morning I can make it up and hopefully get to the post office before it shuts!

My next project is a wedding anniversary card to be stitched and posted by the 19th. Usually I buy cards but I found a nice chart while I was re organising my stitching corner the other night and remembered I planned to stitch one this year.

Then I will have to tackle the birth sampler I think and make a decision on the framing. I have at least another 2 birth samplers to finish yet too. Plus I found this gorgeous learning numbers chart in one of the magazines I bought. Now I got back into stitching I've that much to do or I want to do and not enough hours in the day!

Decisions, decisions...

I haven't got any stitching done this week yet. Mainly because I've not been well but I've suddenly got a load of projects and things to do and I don't know where to start. I got the chart to do my Lizzie Kate exchange but I went through my entire box of fabric and still couldn't decide what to stitch it on. I pulled all the threads for it so at least that was something. I found my working copy and leftover threads from my birth sampler that I need to stitch a 2nd of, I even cut out the fabric needed since I'd got the box out anyway. That was as far as I got. I still can't decide on the framing though my foam board arrived so at least I can lace it up.

I have been on a little spending spree on Ebay and got one or two magazines though. One was on my wanted list and the other was an issue I had fancied and didn't buy. Since I was in a proper newsagents at the time I decided to buy a professional childcare magazine instead (not often I get the chance). Wish I had bought it though so I looked online and landed up paying nearly double the retail price on Ebay. No backorders available so it was obviously a much sought after issue. I got my eye on one more but that'll be my last.

What I really need is a night (or a few) in front of the sewing machine. I've a whole heap of stuff that needs doing. If I would get myself off the computer one evening it may actually happen. I may even get some stitching done!

Shopping and framing

So my hubby offered to take me shopping to Aberdare yesterday so although I felt rough I couldn't possibly pass on the opportunity.  Usually I have to drag him there! I managed to pick up a load of things I needed for the house plus some extra bits for some craft activities I'd been wanting to do with Seren.  I also got 2 picture frames and an idea.

Normally I have my finishes professionally framed but I've had these 2 birth samplers in my house for ages now because I was quoted stupid prices for doing them and/or couldn't find the right frame.  One of the samplers will have to wait because it really does need a box frame but the other one is for Faith who is now 1 and a half years old and has just got a new baby sister, who I am going to stitch a matching birth sampler for.

The frames are not exactly what I had in mind. I wanted white frames but I thought maybe these would still look nice. I wanted them to look good so I asked my trusted experts on my cross stitch group for a framing tutorial and voila! they found me a brill one!

I'm discovering recently that it is much easier and cheaper to get random things I need from Ebay so I managed to get a sheet of A3 foam board (foam core - US) for less than the train ticket to the nearest decent stationers. Then Craig made me look for a new car aerial - got that for way cheaper than the car part shop across the road lol! When I commented to Craig about the amount of stuff you really can buy on Ebay he said I should find an aeroplane. No way! says me - but sure enough there are aeroplanes and helicopters. What about an Ariel Atom car? Yep,one of those too. Well, he said, I bet they definately don't sell a Bugatti Veyron - probably the most expensive car in the entire world...  I nearly fell off my chair - I could not believe my eyes - as there were 2 listed!!! Unbelievable! That cracked me up all night LOL :D

Anyways......

This is a rough version of my finished piece in the frame. I can't decide whether to frame it as it is or buy the next size frame up and get a light pink mount as well.

So what does everyone think? I'd really appreciate any comments bad or good.

Making some small changes...

I'm importing my personal blog into this one bit by bit so some old/new posts will pop up here from time to time. It's hard to keep general life and stitching apart really and I don't have time to update two anymore! :)

I'm still here...

Well, we moved house and have more or less settled. Today I finally got the all important letter - I've been approved as a Registered Childminder. Yay me!! And so starts a new chapter of my life I guess... the adventure of being self employed! As for stitching...well let's just say it hasn't been my top priority lately. I've done small bits on Baby Boy Sunshine Line but mainly because I realised it was the intended baby's first birthday last month and I'm no where near finishing it!

I caught up with my e-mails and signed up for a Lizzie Kate exchange on my cross stitch group so I'm hoping that will kick me back into action. Meanwhile, here's the last picture I took of United in Love.

The couching with the perle cotton is turning out real nice even if it is rather fiddly to do. I'm very pleased with the way it is turning out so far. I think maybe it will be laid aside for now until I finish my exchange and Baby Boy Sunshine Line though.

I've got my stitching bug back :)

It's been a long while since I couldn't wait to get some stitching done but the last week or so I've spent more time stitching than on the laptop. Now that's an achievement for me! The reason...well I made some money on Ebay and finally bought the thread and fabric I needed to start our wedding sampler. We'll be married 4 years this March so it's been a long time coming.

I'm stitching an out of print Dimensions kit called United In Love. I first saw it in a magazine review when I was still in school and I still have that ripped out page! When I finally wanted to stitch it and couldn't find it, I managed to get hold of the chart and instructions. The rest I've had to make up myself. Converting the threads to DMC  from Dimensions, getting the right fabric and finding out about candlewicking thread. I couldn't get hold of any but read that I could use perle cotton instead so we'll have to see how that works. 

You can't really tell from this picture how detailed all the white stitching is. Up closer it looks like lace. 

This is the first time I've ever started a piece from the bottom left rather than the centre. Even though there's lots of white I'm really getting into it.This was one of my stitching goals to start this but I'm changing that to finishing it by our 5th anniversary - 31st March 2011!!

My first finish of 2011!

Finishing this was one of my stitching goals for the year. It's a Country Companions cover kit called 'Tom Mouse' and comes with a little mount to frame it with. It is cute but I don't really want it - I just needed to finish it LOL!

So as promised this is free to a good home. Please leave a comment below if you would like it sent to you. I will draw a name a week today so make sure you check back! :)

Now, what to stitch next.....

February TUSAL

So I couldn't find a jar and decided on this little glass instead. It's not entirely accurate though because I did have more ORTs that didn't make it into the glass.

This is my most recent WIP. It's a Tom Mouse cover kit I've had for years unfinished. I haven't a lot left to do on it now.

Cute but not for keeps so watch this space for the finished item cos I'll be giving it away :)

Elsewhere, our house looks like a bomb has hit it...

 

...electrical appliance graveyard :( ...

...cleaning up the kitchen...

The good news is the insurance company has settled our claim in cash so we're just waiting for the cheque. I sense a shopping spree coming on! :D Also, my parents put an offer on a house and it was accepted so as soon as they complete on the house, we get to move in. Hopefully this time it will be new house, new start, no more problems (with landlords at least)!

A little progress on everything!

I've actually managed to get more stitching done than I expected but not enough to warrant pics since I've been switching between projects. I also kitted up a magazine chart into a kit for a dear friend. I must put it on my To Do list because I love it too! I found some stash I fancied today on someone else's blog. These are called Lavender Tumbles and I found them on the Cross Stitch Guild website. Can't decide which colour I like best.

  

Then while I was searching for said Lavender Tumbles on Sewandso it came up with this kit which is also quite pretty. It's Lavender and Snow Pearls Biscornu kit and I think it was Polstitches. Bit out of my price range though at £13.50!

I also really like the Embroideress but 1) the whole kit is way out of my price range and 2) I don't think I'm quite that skilled with a needle yet!!

Maybe one day....

As for the house, the kitchen ceiling is finished but we don't know what is happening with the floor. The landlord hasn't spoken to us and we've banned his father from coming to the house because the last time he just walked in and proper laid into the gas man who was fixing the boiler and then had a go at me on the way out. I'm not putting up with that! I'm surprised the gas man came back to finish fixing the boiler. We've started cleaning up the mess now but the insurance isn't going very quick.

Anyway the good news is we may be moving out so watch this space for less stitching and more packing :((  Poor us our married life has seen us through 4 addresses now. My packing record is the whole house in 5 weeks! And we said we wouldn't move again until we bought a house...damn useless landlords!!

A little bit of stitching

In between everything that's happened lately I managed to get a little stitching in. I stitched a bit on my Summer Sampler before I ran out of a few colours and since I wasn't at home to refill I started back on Baby Boy Sunshine Line. I finished off the beading and backstitch on the boat and the giraffe. I can't see me getting much stitching in for a while anyway but I want to try and get this project finished.

While we were spending the holidays with Craig's parents (a once in a blue moon opportunity) some pipes burst and our kitchen ceiling collapsed, flooding the kitchen and playroom. What made it worse was because we were painting the livingroom we had been living downstairs and moved everything to that room. So we had to cut our holiday short and come home. Well, my parents home since we had no electrics, heating, kitchen....

We've moved back to our own house now but don't have the use of the kitchen or basement room. We have a makeshift kitchen on the livingroom windowsill and are going to my parents for food and laundry. The insurance claim for our contents is progressing well at least but the landlord is a bit slower on his part. The kitchen ceiling is nearly finished but the downstairs floor needs replacing.  I've got so much to clean and wash including the kitchen from floor to ceiling.

I am worried about the whole thing since the landlord's father has done most of the fixing work and I don't trust the man as far as I could throw him. I'm not sure what is going to happen with the floor. I am also awaiting the all important phone call from the CSSIW for my inspection since I am in the process of registering as a childminder. At the moment there is no way I am ready for that!

A Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long

I had noticed while reading some blogs recently that a few people had joined this TUSAL and thought to myself I wonder what that's all about then?! Today I finally found a link to the original founder and decided to sign up.

The basic priniciple is that as you spend the year stitching, you collect all your thread ends in a jar and then you post a picture of your progress every new moon. It's a bit crazy but I think it'll be fun plus it'll be good to see what my jar looks like when I've finished the year! Now I would be off to find a jar but seems well that my home is still out of bounds it'll have to wait til we move back in. :(

Welcome to 2011!

Thought I would share this funny video I recently discovered. Made me laugh anyway!

Stitching Goals 2011

I'm hoping to stitch a lot more this year now I've got back into doing some again. I really need to get some WIPs done out of the way so I can do some real nice stuff for myself. I definately want to finish Baby Boy Sunshine Line for my nephew Freddie and Feathers & Friends for my mum. I've also got a lot of little projects that are ancient that I want to finish and get out of my project box. I'm thinking I will actually make a start on Monopoly and our wedding sampler United in Love too. I'll probably work on some other WIPs too but these are my main goals at the moment anyway.

• Baby Boy Sunshine Line
• Feathers & Friends
• Peacock bookmark - to make up
• Teresa Wentzler bookmark - finish and make up
• Bluetit card cover kit
• Tom Mouse cover kit
• Country Diary cover kit
• Start on Monopoly
• Start on United in Love

Thank you!

I received my Sock it to Me exchange goodies from Shelley. I got some 'Stitching Girl' socks, a little notepad and some emery boards, GAST threads, some fruit teas and John James petite needles - I LOVE these they're just the perfect size I want!

Just had to share!

Don't ask me how I came about this Facebook page but WOW is this lady talented! It's called Ayarina Buttons and she makes handmade buttons but also crocheted items like these:

Cherry Baby

Lady Bug Set

Aren't they just the sweetest, cutest things you've ever seen?! And if you like these you'll love her buttons! They are FAB! Anyways just wanted to share a good find. Now I just need to find some unsuspecting babies/toddlers to buy them for LOL :D