Before I tell you what I got up to in last night's Friday Night Sew In, I have to tell you about the war with the council. I won! After the interview with the newspaper and having my picture taken I got an email from my local councillor who was looking into it. Then, before the paper even published my story, the Waste Department got back to me and told me they'd deliver a new bin on Monday AND they're revising their policy. Oh yes, I won... think I should run for Prime Minister in the next election?
Now on to the good stuff. After work last night I went to see my parents, then got home and fed the bunnies. That is always the extent of my housework on a Friday night. Tidying up and washing can wait until Saturday (actually, they're still waiting!), so I was sitting down at 8 ready to get started. Considering I went to bed at 11:45 and only had a short break for some carrots and houmous, I didn't get nearly as much done as I thought I would. The plan was to get this done, then do that, then move on to some of them. I got half way through this.
The pattern for this little bluebird came from a recent issue of Craftseller - a new UK magazine. As soon as I saw the pattern, I knew I'd make one, but I didn't have any wool felt and I didn't want to use acrylic felt on this. I got on line and found a wonderful wool felt shop Felt Girl on Folksy. The pattern said I needed a 4cm x 4cm (10inches by 11inches) piece. Well clearly there was something wrong with the measurements there and so I assumed it meant 4 x 4 inches. Clearly I didn't do anything as intelligent as measure the pattern piece! I duly ordered some 8 x 8 inch pieces of felt, they arrived and were too small. So back to Felt Girl for some 12 x 12 inch pieces. It's a great shop, she has a wonderful selection at a good price and delivery is quick.
I sat down to make this from some baby blue felt, cut out the first piece and realised I wouldn't have enough felt! I had to select this turquoise piece and with a bit of folding and measuring, I was able to cut the right amount of pieces. If you have this pattern and intend to make it - you need a 12 x 12 inch piece of felt! Oh, it's an extract from the book Little Birds incase any of you recognises it.
For some reason I'd got it into my head that this was a hand sewing project, in actual fact it would have been a lot quicker to sew the body together by machine and do the rest by hand, but I was settled on the sofa in front of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares (followed by Celebrity Masterchef and Waking the Dead incase anyone is interested in my TV viewing) and so hand sewing it was. Wow, am I slow.
Lots of plans for this weekend. All involving sewing, crafting, making and blogging. And dealing with bunny poo of course. I'll leave you with a couple of pictures to show you my progress on the Mackintosh cross stitch.
Where I was at:
Where I am now:
8 comments:
i love seeing your cross stitch updates. good luck!
well done with the fight with the council... it just needs someone to stand up and argue.... enjoying watching the cross stitch grow and looking forward to seeing the bluebird...
Hugz
We missed you at FNSI down the lane, but we raised a glass of gingerale to you and your struggle with council.
I have that Little Birds book. Have I made anything out of it? No.
Well done on the little blue bird. He is very cute. I am loving that CRM cross stitch too.
As for the bin, amazing! I can see you at Number 10, definitely! BTW, have you seen the movie In The Loop? I see parallels here.
Have a wonderful day.
The bluebird looks sweet - I'd love to see it when it is all done. The cross stitch is lovely too. So, all in all, I'd say you had a good FNSI! I didn't get as much done as I wanted either but I did get one project finished!
Hey Wendy I'd vote for you - congratulations on your most excellent win in the war with the council! Who says you can't fight city hall....wooooohooooooo!
I can't wait to see this little bluebird, it looks adorable so far. I hate when I under measure and don't have enough....your needlework is looking so amazing, girl, that is really beautiful!
Excellent news on the council fight, thank goodness people like you take the challenge on and don't just roll over and pay-up. What a stupid rule.
Loving the cross stitch progress and the start of the bird :) Beth
Lovely cross stitch - those colours are amazing on the black.
Cute birdie, how annoying about the materials!
Enjoy the birdies
Just think - we'll be able to say we knew you way back when ;) Congrats on the win - did your picture get in the paper, or just a story?
Your bluebird looks cute (I know you finished him already, and the finished version is even cuter :D) and your cross-stitch is ow much more do you have to do?
It would have been SO cool if you could have FNSI'd with us - although I bet we wouldn't have gotten so much as a STITCH done if we had all been together, LOLOL!!
Post a Comment