an unexpected finish

I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd got my crafty motivation back.  I had a few days off work sick (just a really bad cold, but I was falling asleep as I drove to work so I turned round and headed home again) and I managed to accidentally finish a project.

I inherited this from Wonderful Mum.  The pattern is by Satsuma Street and it's Pretty Little New York.  New York is special to our family.  Mum and dad visited back in the 90s and loved it, so for mum's 50th (1999) he took her to New York again.  On her birthday, he took her for a walk to Strawberry Fields in Central Park where she found me and my brother sitting on a bench!  We all loved the city so much and have been back a few times since.

I got it just like that, she had been working on it before we lost her.  It was all kitted up with the threads cut to length and threaded on cards.  I knew I wanted to finish it, but it took me ages to get on with it.  I'd put a few stitches in here and there, but the first day I was off sick, I picked it up again.

And this happened!  I haven't ironed it yet, and I hope the hoop mark comes out ok.  I should really have taken it off the hoop but I have difficulties with mum's stuff sometimes.  I get over emotional and can't look any more.

I loved working this and I love the finished pattern.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.  I should probably add mine and mum's names before I frame it.

Works in progress - a feltie and New York

I had a little spare time at the weekend and, instead of painting or decorating as usual, I actually sat down and did a little crafting.  Not much, but a bit!

I was sent this book to review on my blog and I finally made a start.  I'm working on one of the projects.  I've only got as far as cutting out the pieces, but it's a start, and it's a nice in-front-of-the-tv project.  Can you guess what it is?

I can't remember if I've shown this before.  This is a Satsuma Street design.  Most of what you see was stitched by my mum.  We both loved New York and both bought a copy of this pattern.  I hadn't got round to starting mine, but mum did.  She fully kitted it too, so I have everything to hand.  I've probably added about an hour's worth of stitching to this piece so far, just filling in some blank spaces.  It came in the hoop but I think I'll have to swap it for Q-snaps as I keep losing the tension - my main bugbear with hoops (and yes, the inner ring is bound).

Watch out for some progress soon!

Cross stitch bird in tree

This little kit is on my 17 kits in '17 list.  It is, despite it now being July, the only thing that I have touched this year from the list!

I had made a mistake on the border, about halfway through, so I had to do quite a lot of unpicking to sort it out!  You can see the mistake in the photo above, the left hand side of the top line.  I was going to leave it but it bugged me, so out it came!

The stitching is now finished... now to make it up into a pincushion.  I think I'll schedule that for 2021 at my current rate!!

17 in '17 update

I haven't been very good at linking up my finishes for the 17 in '17 challenge hosted by Anne and Meredithe, and this month will be no different!  Except, I have made some progress on one of my kits!



I decided to do 17 WIPs and 17 kits in '17 (and it's not going so well so far!).  You can see my 17 kits in '17 at that link.  This is 4. Pincushion, Christmas present from my parents.

I've made a reasonable amount of progress as I've only stitched on this for about 3 evenings.  Since I became single, I have developed a rocking social life and I'm not in to stitch very much any more!

I stitched the border round from the bottom to the top left, then round from the bottom to the meet that point.  Oooops.

That was NOT a good plan!  I've fudged it, but it may well come out.  I found the mistake, it's near the bottom!!

Meridithe and Anne, I hope you don't mind me joining in with this?  I will have a WIP update on Sunday as it's time for the SAL check in and the piece I'm working on is one of my 17 WIPs.

You can see my 17 WIPs in '17 here, yes, I know I've only completed one of them in 3 months!!

tiny kit finish

Remember I'd listed 17 kits for '17? Well I finished one!  OK, it's the smallest kit ever and took about 4 hours...

It was a cover gift with an issue of CrossStitcher magazine, in 2016 I think.  I'm not sure what I'll do with it, possibly add a ribbon loop and hang it on a drawer handle.

One down, 16 to go...

a bookmark and a bunny

I must have finished this at the beginning of January.  I know I was planning on showing it to mum when I next saw her, but then I never did.  I think now that mum has gone, you really are the only audience for my makes as very few people are interested!

This is a Michael Powell design, I bought the kit from his stall at Harrogate.  I've always wanted to stitch one and so I went with a bookmark as that was within my budget.

The two pictures above show the bookmark with all the cross stitch done.  Doesn't look great, does it?  All you need to do is add a little magic... i.e. backstitch...

Much better!  The kit included the tassel to add to the top, and the felt for the backing.

I just carefully stitched this in place so it was neat on the front, not so neat on the back, but considering no one will ever see it, it doesn't really matter!

I bought a panel and a layer cake of Thicket a while ago.  I finally got round into making one of the bunnies up into a simple little stuffie.

I used my Sew Together bag to give you an idea of scale, because of course everyone has one?!?

And here's his back side.  Thankfully clean, unlike poor Harry's.

Christmas cross stitch

Happy Christmas Eve!  It makes a change not being at work on Christmas Eve!  Last night I finished off my last Christmas card. This year I made and sent a grand total of 3 Christmas cards... to be honest, I'm amazed I made any at all the way the past three months have been.  But things are looking up...

Some of you may have seen this work in progress on Instagram.  I got it finished...

Then I made it into a card.  Unfortunately, the photo was on my phone and my phone just inexplicably died on Tuesday.  I can't remember if there were other photos I hadn't uploaded to Photobucket, so I may be missing others.  You'll just have to imagine it!

I made this one whilst spending a lovely 3 days with my parents at my brothers' house with him, his wife, stepdaughter and my 4-year old nephew.  I added eyelets to the corners and a simple peel-off greeting.  All the designs are from issues of CrossStitcher (the UK mag), but I can't tell you which ones as I don't keep the magazines, just the patterns I like.

This one took AGES to stitch.  I didn't think I'd get it done in time.  The backstitch went on forever!  Luckily it's for my parents so I can take it round today.

I'd like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas, or, if you don't celebrate, have a lovely weekend.  Thanks for all your support over the last few awful months.

Princess Bride #2

Three weeks have passed since I showed you my progress on the characters from Princess Bride, a cross stitch pattern by Wee Little Stitches, so it's time for another update.  Here is where I was three weeks ago:

And here is where I am now:

Oh!  Well I seem to have finished it!!  Once I got started stitching on this I didn't want to stop and worked on it solidly most evenings for a couple of weeks.

Well that was a short, but sweet, SAL project!  Looks like I need to find another one for the next update.... maybe something a bit bigger this time!


I'm sewing along as part of a SAL, you can go and see what the other participants have been up to here:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Susan, Kathy

More finishing things off

I did a post a few weeks ago about some languishing UFOs which I'd finally finished.  Well I've finished some more.

This bead embroidered pendent was made in October 2015, you can see the original post here.

When I was putting pendents on chains the other week, I tried this one on a chain, but it wasn't right.  it needed something different.  I thought I'd try a beaded rope so I got out some suitable seed beads and my copy of Seed Bead Stitching by Beth Stone.

The photo above shows the samples I made.  On the left is a spiral which just didn't look right, I can't remember what the middle one is, and the one on the right is a peyote tube.  I really like the peyote tube but it was too big for this pendent.  Instead I chose a tri-stitch from Bead Play everyday, also by Beth Stone.

I didn't take a close up of the beaded chain but it is quite delicate.  I've worn this a few times recently.

I can't find the origins of this project.  It was cross stitched a long time ago, at least 4 years I think.  All it needed was stuffing and the turning gap sewing up.  I'd neglected it so long as I'd cut the linen too close to the seam and it was fraying.

I put lavender in it and sewed it up as best I could.  It now lives in my knicker drawer so I don't suppose the messy seam matters.

Finally I have this rather strange bunny to show you.  Again, I can't find a post about him, but I think I made him before my nephew was born and he's 4 now.

I made the pattern up myself, I have no idea where I got the idea for such a weird bunny from!  The pink bits on the ears are appliqued and I embroidered a face, but I used a pale pink so it's barely visible.

All I had to do on this fella was stuff him, sew up the turning gap and sew on his tail.  There were three different pompoms with him so I selected the one below.

I wasn't sure what to do with him, I was just pleased to get him out of the UFO basket (or rather drawer, though I do have UFO baskets, and bags and piles...) so he lives with my Jellycat bunnies in the bedroom.

I've got to keep on top of this finishing off, I must have scores of UFOs... 

Princess Bride #1

Welcome to the three-weekly SAL post where I'm tackling my cross stitch and embroidery UFOs one by one.  Last time I showed you that I'd finished my Hardanger project, so it was time for a new one.

I pulled this out of the drawer by the sofa.  It's the start of a Pixel People cross stitch bought from Wee Little Stitchesof the characters from the Princess Bride.  It's Mr CA's favourite film.  I bought the pattern at the same time as I bought one of Wesley and Buttercup which I stitched up and gave him for our anniversary.  He was so underwhelmed I didn't know if I'd bother with this one, but I'd started it so I decided to get it done.

This is where I'd left off.

And here is where I am now:

I think that's pretty good going!

I'm sewing along as part of a SAL, you can go and see what the other participants have been up to here:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Susan, Kathy

Viennese Waltz - update 12

Good morning everyone.  Another 3 weeks has passed since I last showed you my large cross stitch project.  I'm stitching Viennese Waltz by John Clayton which is a Heritage kit.  Here is where I was 3 weeks ago:

And here is where I am now:

No, your eyes do not deceive you - I have finished!!  I finished this on Saturday morning before I was to venture out for the first time in a week.  I've been bed ridden for the last week with a horrible chest infection.  I would have thought it would have been the perfect opportunity to get some sewing done, but I didn't feel like it and spent the entire week watching TV and sleeping.  I'm still not better now.

As this WIP is now finished, I'll be starting another project for the SAL in 3 weeks time.  It's not actually a new project, I'm going to pick another UFO so stay tuned to see what it is.

I'm sewing along as part of a SAL, you can go and see what the other participants have been up to here:

Claire, Avis, Gun, Carole, Alison, Jule, Elizabeth, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess and Jacqui

Viennese Waltz - update 11

Another three weeks has flown by and it's time for an update on my Viennese Waltz cross stitch.  Here is where I was:

I have to admit to barely touching this since the last update.  I've been so busy at work I don't leave until 7, and I have yoga on Tuesday nights and silversmithing classes on Wednesdays - I'm not sure if I told you about that?  On top of all that, I'm reducing my very high dose of anti-depressants as I can't cope with the side effects and think I can cope emotionally on a lower dose.  The withdrawal symptoms are horrific.  Enough about that, on to the update.  Here we are:

I have added a bit to her skirt on the right, and I've started the ground/shadow underneath his foot.  Better than nothing!  I really need a final push and I can get this done. When I've finished writing and scheduling blog posts tonight (it's Saturday evening), I'll get on to it, if the world stops spinning long enough.


I'm sewing along as part of a SAL, you can go and see what the other participants have been up to here:

Claire, Avis, Gun, Carole, Alison, Jule, Elizabeth, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess and Jacqui

Viennese Waltz - update 10

It's time for the update on my Viennese Waltz cross stitch.  I didn't post last time as I had nothing to show.  Here is where I was before Christmas.



and here is where I am now

So I didn't quite reach my target of having this finished by the end of 2015!  It's time for a push to get this done, but I've just started a beading project which is taking up my sofa time...

I'm sewing along as part of a SAL, you can go and see what the other participants have been up to here:

Claire, Avis, Gun, Carole, Alison, Jule, Elizabeth, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess and Jacqui