Bead embroidery

Happy New Year's Eve everyone, or, depending when you're reading this, Happy New Year.  I have such high hopes for 2014, first off that everyone stops calling it "Two Thousand and Fourteen", I mean, we didn't call 1914 "One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fourteen", did we?  Well, the French did, but that's different.  Secondly, I hope 2014 does not turn out to be the horrendous, disastrous, soul-destroying year that 2013 did.  Fingers crossed.

I considered doing a look back at the year, but it was so crap that I don't want to, I'm so glad it's nearly over.  Instead, my long overdue post about the Bead Embroidery class I took at The Bead Shop Nottingham.  I was planning a post about the fantabulous crafty presents I got from my bloggy friends this year, but I have yet to take photos and the weather outside is dull and cloudy and raining.  Blurgh.

So, bead embroidery.  Wow, loved it!

We made brooches using Swarovski navettes which are sewn on to Bead Foundation with ordinary sewing thread.  I outlined the navettes with size 11 red beads, including a picot edging.  I then bordered it with size 15 hematite beads (which I always call Hermaphrodite much to my mum's horror).  The centre is a Swarovski bi-cone crystal with a ring of the size 11s.

We were given a small square of Ultrasuede to finish off the backs at home.  I cut mine roughly to shape, then started sewing it on to the back with the size 15s as decoration.  I was cutting it to shape as I went.  After a petal I found a nicer, neater way of sewing on the 15s so undid it all to start again.  Well I couldn't!  See the black shape above?  How on earth did that ever fit on the back of the flower???  I'm waiting patiently for my order of Ultrasuede to turn up so I can finish it!

I hope you all have a wonderful 2014 and I look forward to catching up with you all in the New Year.

upcoming in 2014

There's always so much going on in Blogland and I know I miss a lot of it.  I've put together a list of all the things I can find going on at the beginning or throughout 2014. I welcome any additions, so if you know of or spot any challenges, themed linkies, QALs, SALs, CALs, BOMs, anything at all, let me know and I'll add it.  Any and all crafts are welcome.

I'll start with the three things I'm planning on joining in with next year:

Needlequest challenge
Elizabeth at Sew In Love with be announcing monthly topics for anyone keen to improve or expand their needlework skills.  It's a drop in when you can kind of challenge, so perfect for people like me who get very busy.

Sew Kitschy paper piecing bom
I joined in the And Sew On BOM that Kristy of Quiet Play ran last year and learnt to paper piece from scratch.  A free pattern is released each month, but it's only free for that month, so get in fast.  Well-worth the effort for new paper piecers and advanced alike.



Bag of the Month Club
Not free, but well worth the small charge, this is a monthly exclusive bag pattern from one of 6 fabulous bag designers.  They'll be sharing tips and techniques along the way and if I know any of these ladies, they'll all be willing to help if you run into trouble.

Challenges

I joined in Wipocalypse 2013 and it's happening again for 2014.  You can sign up for Wipocalypse here.  All you have to do is make a list of your WiPs and work on them.  I believe there will be prizes for joiners-in.

Fiona at Celtic Thistle Stitches will be continuing her New To Me challenge, linky on the 25th of the month for any thing new you've tried that month.

Le Challenge will continue next year, a theme is announced each month and you have to make an item to that theme and link up by the 15th of each month for a chance to win a prize.

Live.Create. is hosting a Craft Book Along, she's calling it a sew along, but it can actually be any craft.  Starting in January it'll last all year and there will be a monthly linky with a giveaway.  I've just added this one to my "joining in" list!

No UFOs?  Join in the NewFO at Cat Patches blog.  Just start a new quilty project each month and link up for a chance to win a prize.  You do not have to finish the item, just start it!

Overwhelming stash?  In need of a fabric diet?  Join in a 6-month diet at The Elven Garden

It looks like there will be a Bead Journal Project for 2014... I don't know the ins and outs, it's one that I'd love to join in but don't have the time or skill for.

There's also a Crazy Quilt Journal Project for 2014, you must sign up by the end of December, but I'm not sure that you need to sign up to Crazy Quilt Journal along.

Chezzet Cooks is hosting a Quilt-Along/Challenge involving using your quilting books.  You can pick the number of projects and have a year to do so. Join the Library Project to be eligible for the prize.

BOMs

Sign-ups for Michelle at Raspberry Rabbits Fellowship of the Flowers start on December the 27th.  Not free, but good value for the fab patterns you'll get - all 50 of them.  Michelle has her own brand of style - Folk Art Fusion so go and have a look.

2014 will bring a free paper piecing BOM at Miss Loreen's School House.  It starts in January but there is a free block on her blog now as an extra.

There will be an "In the Garden" paper piecing BOM at Quilt Art Designs starting in January.  Each month the pattern will be free, but only for the duration of the month. 

The talented Val Laird has announced she will be doing a free BOM next year.  I don't know what it will be but I have no doubt it will involve some of her gorgeous stitchery designs

Two Sisters and a Quilt are running a free BOM in 2014 called "At Grandpa's Pond".  I have only just found their blog and the BOM for 2013 was bunnies in baskets!  I hope I'm still in time to download them.

Free Quilt Patterns are hosting a free mystery BOM designed by Pat Sloan.  You can see a sneak peek at that link.  Starts January.

Homespun Hearth is running a mystery pattern of the month, starting in January.  The free mini quilt patterns will be released each month and kits are available.

Pile O'Fabric is running another Skill Builder Quilt along, it's not free, but it's a pretty cool pattern.

-Alongs 

Sew Much 2 Luv is hosting an After Christmas Sew Along 2014, starting on the 6th January and lasting all month.  You can sew anything you like and there will be prizes.

In 2013 Pins and Whiskers ran a One Christmas Item a Month sew along.  I joined in a few years ago and it was a great way to get the present box filled.  I'm not sure if she's hosting again in 2014, so keep an eye on her blog. 

Sewing with Squeak will be starting a Big City Bags Sew Along in January.  You will need a copy of the book and the plan is to make one bag a month.  A different blogger will host each month and there will be prizes.

There will be a Pillow Pop Sew Along over at ThreadBias where they choose 2 pillows/cushions a month and you can sew one or both.  You will need a copy of the book. 

Good Earth Quilts is running a Crazy Quilt Along.  Although sign ups are full, it's a free event so I think you can join in anyway.

There's a Block a Month Crochet Along going on on Ravelry, find the details here.

You can join in a Knit-Along on Ravelry, it's a Mystery Sampler and costs $8.

There is a Just Nan Stitch-Along for cross stitchers going on for fans of the designer.

Cross stitchers can also join in a Smalls Stitch-Along, stitching a small piece each month, adding your post to a linky with a chance to win a prize.

The Stitch from Stash group is encouraging you to keep to a small budget for new supplies each month and use what you have.  There is a prize at the end of the year.

Daffycat is once again hosting the Totally Useless Stitch Along (TUSAL), which involves keeping your ORTs in a jar and sharing a photo once a month.

Find a Barn Door Quilt-Along over at Sarah Quilts, this is happening in January.



Themed Linkies

Wool on Sundays
Rainbow Hare Quilts runs a weekly linky party on, yes you've guessed it, a Sunday, for all kinds of wool crafts.  Great inspiration.

Christmas

Ladies, I've completely failed to get any photos of the piece I made in the bead embroidery class, so I'm going to call it a day.  I will be back after Christmas but I think it will be quite quiet round blogland for the next week anyway.  I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Poor barren blog...

I've been so rubbish at posting lately!  I blame Christmas, Santa, it's all your fault.  I've got a couple of photos to show you, I finished the cross stitch I was doing for my dad, but that's about it.

I did go to a bead class last week but I still haven't taken photos.  I'll try and post at the weekend, but that will be it for before Christmas.  Between Christmas and New Year I'm writing a post about what's on in blogland and I need your help!  Let me know anything that should be included, it can be any craft - year-long challenges, shorter challenges, Quilt/Crochet/Sew/Whatever-alongs, block of the months, specific linky parties (i.e. not just a general link up what you've made linky), anything at all!  Please leave me a comment or drop me an email.

So, here's the cross stitch I finished.

This is from the Silhouttes range by Heritage Crafts and this is The Oast Houses.  My dad loves his real ale so this was very suitable.  It matches the one I made for his birthday which you can see here.

and yes, I do have another one planned, probably for Father's day!

Secret Santa

It's Saturday, I've finished all my Christmas shopping and all my obligational makes.  So I'm free.  I decided to do some sewing.  I went up to my sewing room.  An hour later I came downstairs having had a right good tidy up and rearrange!  Now I'm failing to make anything again!

I don't have much to show you.  I'd got tons to show you and in my wisdom was posting every day, I really shouldn't have as now I've run out of stuff!

There's just this...

This is very hard to make out as it's crocheted in black yarn.  It's a bear hat.  An adult bear hat.  For a man.  We had our team's Secret Santa on Wednesday and I picked out the name of one of the loveliest blokes on the planet.  He's a really good sport and every year everyone eagerly awaits his Christmas jumpers, hand appliqued by his wife!  Clearly I needed an item of clothing to make him look daft!  I didn't use a pattern, just crocheted an adult sized hat and added ears.

I couldn't leave it there though.  He had to have a Christmassy hat.  Ta dah!  I really hope you know what this is... everyone in the office did.  He was delighted and put it on straight away, then wore it on and off all afternoon. Sadly our office is about as hot as hell, so he couldn't wear it all the time.

I made the pattern up, alternating between white and brown yarn to make the cream pouring down the sides.  The berry is a pompom and the leaves are crocheted following a free pattern by Lucy at Attic24.  

I think I'm in love.  Is it possible to be in love with a Christmas pudding hat?

Linking up to: 

felt star

This little fella is from Stitched with Love by Mandy Shaw.

I used ordinary craft felt rather than the wool felt called for.  I can't see it makes a difference with something like this.  

The cute little motif is actually from the Christmas tags section, the star is from the tree decorations.  I blanket stitched around and kept to the red and white colour scheme as I think it looks festive.

He's naked on the back.  I used red floss, so does that mean this is redwork?

How to be a hooker

Last year for my birthday I got a latch hook kit.  I think this is called Looker Hooking in the US?  It's of a Union Flag and it's been sitting waiting for me for ages.  I kept putting it off as I knew I'd have to read the instructions.  Well that took all of 2 minutes!  Sometimes I just don't understand how my brain works.

I found it a little tricky at first, but soon got in to a rhythm.  There's about an hour and a half's work in there, so this is going to be a long job!

It's comes with a pre-printed canvas and lots of pre-cut strands of yarn.  You also get the tool.  It took me a while to fathom out how the hook worked as I wasn't following the instructions correctly, it's actually really easy so I thought I'd show you too.

Here's the yarn you get with the kit.  You could of course buy a latch hook, some yarn and a piece of canvas and make up your own design.  There may be freebies on line too.

You hook onto the horizontal bars, not vertical which I'm cunningly showing you in this sideways picture above that makes it seem like I'm lying!

The hook goes all the way under a double "thread" and the hook is open.  The movable part of the hook needs to be on top of the "threads".

Wrap your yarn around the hook...

Then put the two ends of the yarn under the hook.

Then simply pull through.  It will form a little knot like this.  There's a name for this knot but it escapes me.  Pull the yarn ends to tighten and move on.  It gets a bit painful on the hands, not from the action of hooking, but where my hands are rubbing on the canvas.  It's a lot easier when I've got some done and can rest a hand on it.

Hoopla.... again

Yep, I've had Hoop-la! 100 Things to do with Embroidery Hoops by Kirsty Neale out again!  This time I tackled the applique bunny.  I say tackled but it was really easy.  The hardest part was choosing the fabrics.

I went for blue on red as they're my favourite colours.  I realised after I'd finished that I'd made a mistake.  One of the ears is supposed to flop forward, but I'd taken the pattern upstairs to cut out the bunny and fuse him to the background fabric without reading the instructions.  That'll teach me!

I LOVE the way Kirsty adds crochet to her hoops so I followed her pattern.  I made my foundation stitches too small which meant I couldn't get the right size hook through and couldn't get two stitches in each as the pattern required.  As I'd already laced the bunny into the hoop at this point, it was too late to pick out the stitches and start again.  So I persevered.

See how the edge sticks straight up rather than out?

So I blocked it.  I pinned each scallop outwards and soaked it with water (a bit too much water!) and they lay correctly.

It's sitting on my table waiting to be added to my gallery, but each day the scallops lift up a little more!

Counting reindeer

One little reindeer - quite a happy chappy...

Two little reindeer - the second slightly amused...

Three little reindeer - the third ate all the pies...

And who's this?

It's a really strange and slightly freaky looking Santa.  Of course.

Hoopla

After admiring the book Hoop-la! 100 Things to do with Embroidery Hoops by Kirsty Neale each time I saw a blog review, I finally splashed out and bought it.  It is a lovely book, full of ideas.  It also features 2 bunny projects.  This one is called Hipster bunnies and I was disappointed to find out it's not a pattern, but a photo printed onto fabric.  That wasn't going to stop me though, I just traced it!

I painted a hoop in blue to frame it, when I came to do the framing, I discovered I'd painted the wrong hoop!

This is the right hoop!  It's 3" x 3".  The bunnies are appliqued and then outlined in 1 strand of black embroidery floss.  I love them.

I think it must be Colin and Ellis in this picture.  Ellis is a pretty lady and Colin... well Colin is my lovely Colin!

I laced the back but decided I couldn't be bothered to sew on a circle of felt, after all, this is for me and will be on the wall so no-one will ever see the back.

I've got another hoop bunny project in the works, then I just need one more to make my four bunnies...

Beaded Robin

I had a little kit for a cross stitch which came with a 3" plastic hoop for framing.  I didn't much like the project so had a quick look in my books for a different design.  I found one in Picture It in Counted Beadwork.  This little fella is made from size 11 seed beads.  The book said to use Mill Hill beads but I had Mikiyaji and they seemed to work just fine.  I've never done counted beadwork before, but it was simple.  I used 14 count Aida to go with the size 11 beads and it was simply a case of doing a half cross and threading on a bead.

Yes, I know, that hoop is not plastic, it's felt.  I didn't like this design in the hoop, not sure why.  Rooting through my drawers (of the chest-of-variety, I don't keep craft supplies in my (UK) pants) I found this felt frame that must have been free with a magazine.

Mr Penguin looks quite happy to be in it.  I did a running stitch round the circle and then blanket stitched round the edge.  It took forever.  Well, about an hour.

I wasn't watching my stitches on the back, but I think they blend in well enough.

Sick of Christmas decorations yet?  Tough...