Summer Holiday Unwind

Cor, blimey. 

It's been a while since I posted!

I am very much here, and stitching but the blog is pretty much in its summer hibernation mode as is my website and Etsy store. That being said I thought I would give an update...

I've working on the new quilt project, called 'Gossip in the Garden' it's by Hatched & Patched. It was tea related and had bees on it, so I had to do it. This weekend I managed to get all the appliqué completed for block A, I just need to finish the small patchwork block detailing before I move onto the next block. 

What's been nice about this project is the opportunity to use up scraps, and that it's forcing me to start making some sort of dent into the rest of my fabric stash. It's also been nice to do as it's making me stop and think about colour and print combinations too. Getting the old noggin working!

Lots of fiddly needle turned appliqué. 

When I haven't been playing with fabric, I've also been making a bit of a dent on my jewellery making stash. It was high-time I broke out the Swarovski Crystals. A made a rainbow inspired bracelet, see below, a long chain necklace and updated another long chain I picked up recently in the summer sales. 

Also celebrated Hamish the Hamster's 2nd Birthday. Still going strong my little ginger furball. He's currently on vacation with my Best Friend. 

And I've taken a small break from eyelets but it's coming along rather nicely. I can't quite decide whether to go all the way round or keep it to one side of the oval shape, a crescent of eyelets. But post my break I'm sure I'd have made my decision. 

And that my friends, is where I am currently at. I'll be back in proper blogging mode in September!

In which I attempt Crochet....and new idea.

There are many things I want to try out and sometimes I actually make an effort to do them, basically pull my finger out or have a sudden urge to do something new. It was a combination of the two that made me finally get round to trying crochet again. I didn't particularly enjoy learning how to do crochet the first time round, years ago, in fact I gave up pretty quickly because I found it awkward and wasn't particularly inspired. At that time I jumped to learning knitting and got on with that...

But the other day my copy of Mollie Makes landed on my doorstep and I was rather taken with the crochet flower garland tutorial. And so several online purchases and a couple of days later I found myself attempting crochet again.

I actually rather liked it.

I perhaps should have started with a granny square, learn each stitch in turn over a period time till I perfected but this is me I am talking about and frankly I'd much rather try a pattern I like the look of and just keep trying. 

I did comprise on this though as I knew I didn't actually know how to hold the hook or thread, frankly had any clue where to begin, so I did a scan round the net, and ended back at Mollie Makes. There they had a very handy little online tutorial from the Making Spot that teaches you how to make a wee little crochet flower. I spent about two nearly three hours last Friday watching and rewinding the little video and attempting my very own flowers, needless to say I got a bit carried away.

So cute....

I certainly found stitching in the round easier than the row, and I found myself not quite content with making thousands of the little flowers, I wanted to try something a bit more complicated and would allow me to try different stitches. So back I went to Mollie Makes...I didn't initially just look there, I did a good search for interesting flower crochet patterns and it led me back, and they have a Flower Crochet Coaster pattern which was rather sweet and I tried out. My attempts are far from perfect, and the one on the right in the image below was my first go and it's not only small but it's uneven a wee bit messy. The second go was a bit better, slightly bigger so it's getting closer to being able to actually use it as a coaster, but still it's not quite right, and I hit a stumbling block at one point where I think I counted wrong. So I shall just keep on trying!

Anyone else attempted anything new lately? Got any good tips or patterns or vids I can try out to keep me going?

Before I succumb to the warmth of my couch and quilt, I have been working on an idea of a stitch along, a project of unknown length at this time, which will show you how to work a variety of stitches but not in the manner of a traditional sampler something more modern.

But I have a question are there any stitches out there that people would like to know? I have some ideas such as:

• Trailing
• Chain stitch
• Satin Dots / Padded Satin
• Eyelets / Padded eyelets

I also have an antique stitch sample book which have a number of older style stitches that might be of interest.

At last!

I've finally, and I mean finally finished the pink quilt. 

You have no idea how thrilled and relieved I am that it is complete. It's been the longest project in progress I had hanging about, years in the making. That's what you get when you have it in your head that your going to hand quilt, whilst trying to do several other things as well. It certainly has been a labour of love but I don't regret the hours, and hours of time it took to get it complete. Sure there are parts of it that I am not totally thrilled about but you know what it was a learning process, I had never put together a quilt, technically I hadn't actually put the blocks together, but I have done that before, it was the actual hand quilting I had never done. I wasn't even sure or certain how you actually achieved a good finish, especially on the back (which I won't show....)

Still it's done, and it's ready to be used in the new place, which you'll be pleased hear is progressing, slow as hell but I know these things take time.

With it finished, it means I can get back to a couple of other works in progress, and really need to get finished. I don't want another wip to take years. Ha, though I say that and I just remembered there are a couple of projects that have been gathering dust for years,  a knitting project and a complex cross stitch...I am not sure I'll actually finish them. Should probably do something about that...possibly.

 

What else have I been up to this weekend? Pottering about mainly I started the buttons for the private commission did one test button to see how it would turn out and they are looking good, I couldn't stitch the others as I am low on one of the threads so I prepared the fabric and put it to one side. I could have worked on a few other things to stitch but I wasn't actually in the mood so instead I got out some paints I was given at Christmas and decided to colour some project designs. 

KOH-I-NOOR HARDTMUTH watercolour paints. Highly recommend them. 

A good little set of great colours. Nice to use too.

Such as the one below. I almost forgot how much I love painting and I really need to get back into the swing of it. And if your looking for a good set of paints, that also don't take 

Painted it, now to decide when to stitch it.

Now I must dash as I am off to have lunch with my mum. But before I go, I thought I would leave you with a few lovely things to look at, or to do. Enjoy!

A pretty watercolour of a squirrel.

Peekaboo, I see you.

Can't turn down a slice of pie.

Back Stitching and THE Quilt

It's the end of my hiatus where it comes to working on new things for this year. After the numerous weeks of saying/teasing what I might be doing for new lines. I've finally pulled my finger out and got down to some stitching. Rather great to get back into it again, though I have to admit I am not 100% on the quality of work this week or the design I have started to play about with.

In progress, I used silk thread for this sample. Chain Stitch, and padded Satin.

Two things I am looking at for inspiration at the moment is Heraldry and Cartography, which has prompted me to do a lot of doodling lately. Last night I was playing around with the Luther Rose, how I would want to work and colours, if any. I am a bit mixed on it to be honest. I think the reason why I am not too sure on it is that I have worked the sample on the calico so it does nothing for it. I'll whip up a silk one later, and see how it goes. 

You might wonder why the heck I didn't just work it on the silk to begin with, well mainly because I don't want to waste the remaining silk stash I have, and secondly I'll admit I can be a bit of a muppet. I also just realised looking at the second sample (at the bottom right) I missed out the cross in the middle. 

*rolls eyes* 

Ah well, anyway, might as well show you the progress of the long talked about quilt. The last post where I showed photographs of it's progress was back in 2011. The rest of the time was a mix of me promising to finish it. Oh, how I laugh. Well in December I made a push to finish it, I put the bias binding on, and carried on with the hand quilting. The Quilt is still on my sofa, just behind me, I've had it there because it's been making me do a spot of hand stitching of an evening, just an hour at a time. Rather cathartic. I am going to put it out there that I might actually complete at the end of the month. Okay, I have put it out there...I will finish it. There I said it.

You can slap my wrist if I don't.

The reason for wanting to finish it is so its ready for the new place, because fingers crossed I'll be out of my flat by March. Oh gawd, I hope so. Be the best birthday present ever.

On Wednesday, I'll give you a catch up on the Photo a day challenge that I decided to get involved with. So far, so good.

Right time to crack on with some stitching, spot of lunch first.

Oh before I go, I've been pinning some cracking recipes on Pinterest. Click here, and prepare to drool.

Stitchin Saturday

Before I start today's blog allow me to introduce myself, hi! 

Today has been a rather good day have managed to complete a good couple of projects and still have time to return back to my old faithful of a project, the Quilt. Which almost sounds like a really bad horror movie...I suppose the synopsis would be a quilt becomes animated and smoothers people in their sleep, starting with an unsuspecting little old lady......Sounds horrifying but cosy at the same time.

And here is the stitching then, above is a clock I have just completed for my little baby nephew, Leo. For his brand new look nursery. I get to see him tomorrow, so lots of squidges to him. Below is a clock I have just completed for my friends young boy. The only thing I am not sure about this is the silver wave, I might do some post surgery and remove them, and see if I have something pirate like that I could sew in its place. This could be a little difficult as it's now been mounted...the other option is to sew a few more waves at the top and bottom of the clock to balance it out and stop it looking weird. I shall leave it tonight and come back to it later. 

Finally this is how the quilt is looking these days, you can't see much from these images but I have done the centre, the first ring round that square and now on the next row...if that makes sense? Anyway, soon as this blog post is completed that's what I'll get back to doing. I hope to god I can get this completed by Christmas. It would be nice!!

Tell me what projects your doing?!

Another WIP is done!

It's done! 


Finally finished the little quilt, and look here it is!


I have yet to list it because I want to spend a bit more time taking photographs of it, the camera I am borrowing at the moment isn't very good, and so I will fit with it next weekend, when I can take the shot first thing in the morning. Afternoon light is a bit shocking at the moment.


So what now you ask?


Good question on to the next ninety projects I have whizzing around my head varying from the extreme like finishing the large pink quilt. One thing at a time. To another clock. Was up in town yesterday and a few textures I saw have made me want to do more, things like layering and tarpunto (sure I spelt that wrong). Anyway, things of that nature.


So lets not waste time by sitting here and idling away the hours staring at a computer screen I do enough of that at work. Time to sit down and actually stitch.

Hibernation

So the store has closed for another year, and I find myself now feeling the Christmas spirit a little more each day. Though I think that might be on account of the snow that has hit Guildford, I always think the weather plays a key part. I hate it when it's sunny or mild this time of year. It's winter therefore in my head it should be cold, grey and potential for snow. My wish has been granted.

View from my livingroom window

Now because of the weather it does make me want to do some stitching, and nothing beats curling up on the sofa stitching a quilt, especially when you don't really know what your doing and your going with the flow. No pretences as to the outcome. Bliss. The only thing I have settled on with this Quilt aside from everything being hand stitched is that there will be more buttons on it. Yes so help me button god there will be more! Sounds like a threat.

Quilt in progress

Now I am just having my first cuppa of the day and then it's getting on with a few household chores before I can even consider snuggling down on the sofa and stitch the day away bliss. My mind though does think on next year, and what I hope to create, but my mind needs a little rest before I can contemplate this.

Little spot of Christmas in my little flat

Hope your safe and wrapped up in the warm.

Sunday

Is it me or do Sunday's come round way to quickly, and then before you know what's hit you they are gone and your back to work? I am starting to feel as though its a conspiracy theory.

Aside from my usual grumbles about time going by too quickly I am back to my usually weekly amount of stitching whilst watching a box set. I have been progressing my latest freestyle piece and hope to have it done or at least at a stage that I can decide what to do with it. Mini Quilt/Art wall piece. I need to be more creative on the end result. Normally I know what I want to make or the end piece then work backwards. Though this process seems to be more organic. 

I will and must finish my Tilda kit and start thinking about getting the fabrics together for my Christmas tree decorations. Granted I don't have a tree yet, not that I want to get one yet it's still only October. Are you making decorations? If so what's your theme, if you have one, colours...style? I'd love to know what your working on. Show me links to your work if you wish.

It feels like an age since I made something from scratch and finished it, and not only that listed it to my store. So I feel a smidge proud by the items I listed today, I set out to finish it and list it and I've achieved my goal. Small as it might be.

I would love to get some feedback on the small quilts that I am starting to make, I am not totally abandoning my past ideas of clocks, needlecases and tissue holders, etc, I will get back to them I am just enjoying working with my fabric scraps of which I have way to much. I should consider doing some more scrap packs to sell. I hope you like it as much as I do but thoughts about it, good or the bad would be most useful to me.

Available to purchase today $79.00

New WIP

Feels good to be doing random stitching, I think this is the way my work is slowly heading, gone are the days of the pre-planning the working out everything single step, stage, stitch and material you name it. Sure I will still sketch, and have perhaps a little idea of what I want to make but I think owing to a new line of work where concentration and a 100% focus is needed I need to be able to switch off, and this is where these little projects come in.

I hope you enjoy the progress of this little quilt as much as I enjoy stitching it.

Picture Postie

A small post, only in the writing sense, just to say I've finished my mini quilt project, and would love now to have a bit of feedback. I keep wondering if there is more I should do to it, add more tana lawn, more actual quilt stitches? Just before I decide to send the images off to Liberty.


Thoughts appreciated.


Ps. you can see larger images of these on my Flickr account.

What a Week!

It might not have gotten on top of all the sewing projects I totally wanted to crack on with,....(SORRY JENNY! Lunch bag will be made soon x) However I have a good reason for having a busy week, I've been sorting out my work life, and pent most of the week preparing for an interview, and then got the call back yesterday that meant I have a second interview next week. So more worrying and preparing. So fingers crossed for that.


However, I've managed a wee bit of stitching, the mini quilt as it helps to relax of an evening, and is easier to pick up and put down. Love to know what you think of it? I'm getting towards the point where I need to stop with the quilting and consider working on the binding. Otherwise I'll never get it finished in time.

And to finish look at this totally cute box, I had to get it and I might have to consider getting one or two more in a different colour.