I have no idea how November came around so quickly, the days, months and years are going by faster than ever, must be an age thing because time never seemed to go this quickly when I was younger, It's scary when you stop and think about it.  I try to be busy every day and fit in things I love doing too.  

I haven't crossed stitched much at all this year but I did enjoy stitching this little pillow ornament.  It's an older Lizzie Kate design, I stitched it on 28 count blue evenweave with the recommended threads and used chenille for the trim.  I think it came out cute, It won't be staying with me so I hope the recipient likes it.

The crochet granny square blanket Is nearing completion, I finished putting all the squares together last week and it has now been passed on the other woman, (Chelsea), to work the boarder.  You may remember from my last post that we were both making this for someone who's blanket had been destroyed by a neighbours dog.  Hopefully the recipient will have his blanket very soon, I hope he likes it.

Yesterday we made the most of the dry weather to do the leaf collection and tidy the garden.  We filled our green bin, (the council green waste bin), toped up the open compost bin and filled our compost dalek bin AND made a leaf pile in a corner of the garden for any critters that might be around.  It took about three hours with the two of us working on it, you could clear from one section and five minutes later it was covered again, that's how fast they are falling at the moment.  Needless to say the garden today looks like we did nothing yesterday!

This morning's view after yesterday's leaf clearing

It's a thankless task but I'm not as fussy about leaf collecting and a tidy looking garden as I used to be, I've finally realised that It really doesn't matter In the great scheme of things.  I still like them collected up a few times a week, we would be knee deep if we didn't and the grass would be ruined, but It doesn't bother me as much as it used to.  

I took a few photos while we were out there, still some colour to be seen and the Autumn colours look lovely in the sunshine. 

Even the things that are dying back look pretty when the sun shines.

I'm glad we spent time outside yesterday, today has been wet and not very bright at all.

-X-

Some finishes and a start, all from stash

 This first pair of socks I cast on for Christmas in July but didn't actually cast them off until sometime in August.  I used a Christmas yarn from Crafthouse Magic that had been in my stash for a couple years at least, it's called fairy lights, so pretty with the different coloured flecks.  For the contrast cuffs heels and toes I used a West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply, again from stash.

The flecks do remind me of the lovely multicoloured vintage fairy lights.

Another pair of socks was completed in September, this time in an Autumn colourway from Biff Sugar Yarns called Maple, (or Maple Leaf?  I've misplaced the ball band but I'm pretty sure it mentioned Maple). Again I used a West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply from stash for the cuffs and toes. 

You might have spotted my third finish in the photos above.  It's a baby blanket.

Knitted because I wanted something easy to pick up and work on that I didn't have to think about.  I haven't washed or blocked it yet but it's already a decent sized crib blanket. 

The pattern is the Western Hills Blanket by Julia Stanfeild, and is a free pattern on Ravelry.  I used a Batik Swirl in the colour forest which was again from my stash and I used up the whole 200g ball.  Great pattern and very easy to memorise.  

I've been pretty good this year about not adding to my yarn stash, it feels good to be using what I already have.

On Sunday It was the Quarry Bank stitchers day retreat.  I haven't been stitching recently so thought a new start might kick start my mojo, but I wanted something small that I could get a relatively quick finish on.

This is what I got done at the retreat, and I have to say I really enjoyed making those little x's again.

Everything, chart, threads and fabric was from stash.

I'm feeling rather pleased with myself that for the last few months I've been making things I love and using what I have. 😇

-X-

Two from February

 I forgot to take photos of the socks and the stitching I completed in February, better late than never eh.

 The socks have been sitting on the blockers since I finished them but I've put them on tonight as it's gone a bit nippy.

These were always going to be house socks, I wanted them slouchy, I think I ticked that box.

I think the yarn is a Paint Box one, I lost the ball band so not certain.

Whenever I see people knitting socks they always seem to knit 64 or 68 stitches, these are 72 stitches on 2.5mm needle.  Now, either I have a very large foot, although I don't think shoe size 7 Is that big, or I knit very tight, but I wouldn't say these were particularly big on me.  If you are a sock knitter what would you cast on for size 7 shoe? and what size needle do you use?  

My stitching finish was a Lizzie Kate, chart,  Dear Santa We've got Cookies.

A fairly quick stitch, although I'm not sure how to finish it now it's done.

I've had a pottering around day today, I sorted and tidied the cupboard where I keep all my threads, fabric and other bits and bobs.  Some stuff ended up in the charity bag and a few things put on one side to list on ebay.  I should have taken a before photo, I didn't think but trust me, it looks way better than it did.

knitting and crochet notions on the top shelf

Buttons on the middle shelf

Threads and some finishings aids on the third shelf

More threads on bobbins on the forth shelf

Fabric and a few finished pieces waiting to be framed on the fifth shelf

Ribbons and trims and some Christmas themed finishing items on the six shelf

At one time my aim was to have all my craft supplies in this one cupboard, ha, ha, we all know how well that went! There is a Kalax unit by the side of this which is also full of craft related things, It too needs a good sort through, I will show you when I tackle that.

-X-

3rd December - Ornaments for the boys

 You may have seen two of these ornaments when I was stitching them in Jolly July but I don't think I have shared them fully finished.

Oliver requested a reindeer for this years ornament.  I had bought a magazine chart off ebay a while ago, it was quite vintage looking, a round finish in a hoop with Santa in the middle and all the reindeers around him.  I chose to stitch Rudolf on his own and finished as an oval.

Isn't he cute?  I think this is one of my most favourite stitched finishes and Oliver loved him when he opened him this afternoon.   I may have to stitch another reindeer this year too :-)

I chose a snowman for Arty.  This is Frosty Flakes by Little House Needleworks.

I think he came out really cute too

Arty has two ornaments this year because being a bad nanny, I didn't finish his for last year.

I think this is a Lizzie Kate one, although I can't find the chart now so i'm not certain.

This was all stitched up last year but I didn't like the trim so this year I took the trim off and replaced it, I think it looks much better now.

I've fallen behind with finishing and still have Bonnie's and Jacob's to make up, hopefully I can do that at the weekend.

There are some lovely goodies in todays advents.  I opened a Mr & Mrs Rabbit Yarns one today which included a lovely lavender sachet and an angel charm, along with the one from Jo and Lisa.  Jo also included a little container of bulb stitch markers.  I do love the bulb ones, thanks Jo.  The tea light is from my candle advent and is a Winter spice, very nice.

There was also a little recipe included in with the lavender sachet and angel.  It sounds lovely.

I might give this a go nearer to Christmas.

It's been so wet and dull and dreary all day today, I really don't mind the Winter months but I prefer a cold crisp day over rain.  We have more of the same predicted for tomorrow as well.

See you tomorrow

-X-

Another Jolly July catch up and a couple of days out

For the second week of Jolly July I had said I wanted to have another three or four new starts. 

That didn't happen.  Instead I had one new start and three finishes.  It suited me much better to finish the small starts than add to a pile of stitching.  So here they are.

Gingerbread House No. 3

Frosty Flakes

My First Christmas by Lizzie Kate

My First Christmas was my only start in week two, but I'm happy to have started and finished three ornaments.  You may have noticed that it says 2nd Christmas.  Well, this is for Jacob, he was supposed to make his arrival in the first week of January and this Christmas would have been his first, but as you know he arrived a few days before Christmas last year, with everything that was going on I didn't have time to make him an ornament, so we thought this would be a talking point in the years to come 😆

The year is supposed to be stitched over one, no way that was going to happen on 32 count!  The fabric is a light blue, which is not showing up on this terrible photo, but trust me, it looks cute.

Jenny's partner, James, is serving in Afghanistan now until the beginning of November so we are helping out with the boys to give Jenny a break at the weekend.  We took them, along with Bonnie on a woodland walk on Saturday.

Arty likes to collect things along the way, sticks, pebbles, flowers, he picks up things until he can hold no more.  He's dissecting a buttercup here!

The Saturday before we took them to Bewdley.  This lovely market town is about twenty minutes drive and makes a nice change for a walk but the river, oh, and they have Teddy Gray's ice cream so worth the drive 😉

The boys really need a hair cut but Jenny hasn't been able to get an appointment yet on a day she's not working.  70's throwback, lol

I went to Bewdley again last week, this time with Joanne, Bonnie and Jacob.  It was nice enough for us to sit and have our lunch in the park, and of course another ice cream later.

Can you see Bonnie has her gloves on?  It was really warm but she insisted on putting them on :-)

That's me all caught up with the happenings here for now.  I hope you are all still staying safe and well and enjoying a little more freedom, if you are able.

See you soon

-X-

All the UFO's, well stitching ones anyway

There have been a lot of posts on Instagram this last week about tidying up your crafty space.  I don't have a craft room as such but I have been able to re-claim our smallest bedroom for storing all things crafty since Oliver is not sleeping over now that Jenny isn't working late's.  

It was slowly turning into a dumping ground though, as rooms that are not occupied have a habit of becoming, so this week I've made myself go in there for at least half an hour each day to sort out drawers and boxes. 

I found out all my cross stitch projects, UFO's and finishes not "fully finished" and also two projects that I really don't think I want to finish the stitching on.

So here we go....

The stitching is all finished on this one but it was too large for an ornament and I didn't know what else to do with it. (any suggestions would be welcome).

This is a Lizzie Kate stocking and I didn't know how to go about finishing it!

 (you can see how old this one is!!)

Pear Tree is a very old finish, older than the one above but I remember that I cut the fabric too close to the stitching and I was so annoyed with myself that I just shoved it in the cupboard.  Every now and then I get It out and still don't know what to do with it.

This Carriage House Samplings piece has been in the cupboard for a couple of years too, I just need to take it to be framed!  

I remember I was putting off taking it at the time of finishing the stitching because I knew it was going to cost probably £50 plus to get it framed.  

It's more than likely going to cost me more than £50 now, but I really should take it in.  

I have two more of these 'Girls' to stitch and I know they are not everyone's cup of tea, but I do love their quirkiness.

Prairie Schooler Santa's waiting for minimal stitching to get them done.

All the backing card and fabric is all cut out ready to finish these.

 I started the one below in 2017, LHN 'Snow White' I just lost motivation with this one, but I do still like it so it will get done sometime.

Remember this one?

I have no idea why this one didn't get finished for Christmas, it was so close.  I even had the frame all ready for it too.  Perhaps I can get this one done in February.

These next two are really old, old projects, so old I can't remember what this one is called, lol. I forgot to look when I pulled it out yesterday, I do know that it's supposed to be a pillow and it's still on the scroll frame.

I still quite like it so perhaps someday I will finish it 

This one was started as a SAL with a fellow blogger, Judy, who lives in Canada.  Judy no longer blogs but we do speak on Instagram, I'll have to ask her if she ever finished hers.

Sampler Game board by The Drawn Thread

 I do want to finish this but I'm not keen on the fabric, it's very 'floppy'

This is how it would look once finished

The next two projects are the ones that I no longer want to carry on with.

 The first one is Elizabeth Jackson by Samplers Revisited

I like it but I haven't got the wall space and the colours really don't go in my house anymore

Homespum Elegance Summer Patches

This is stitched on the called for cushion, not much stitching left to do, but again, won't really go in my house now.

I am looking to sell the last two partly stitched pieces because it really would be a shame to leave them stored in bags.  I have listed them on ebay and on a FB group, but If you know anyone that would be interested in buying either of them then do let me know, my email is in the sidebar.

So that's my Stitching UFO parade It's not as many as I thought and certainly no where near as many as some people have on the go but I would still like it to be less.  

I'm going to try harder this year to keep more focused, and now that I've sorted these out you never know I might decide to work on the ones I want to keep and fully finish the ones that are stitched. 

Have a great week

see you soon

-X-