TUSAL March 2014 # 2

As my GBs would say "amazeballs" ~ I have remembered to post my TUSAL for the third time on the trot!  Well, I am only a day late.
There are many additions to my ORTs this month ~ I don't feel like I have done that much stitching but perhaps this little heap tells a different tale!

I still haven't got a new jar ~ so I brought this gorgeous pot into play for showing my ORTs ~ this was a present from my lovely friend Carol and it usually sits on our hearth storing my various sets of headphones, somewhere the GBs would not know to "borrow" them from!
Last week the LM was really quite poorly ~ I had to bring him home from work ~ he spent several days in bed and was eating like a sparrow.  Usually, the LM battles through most things and never, and I mean NEVER, goes off his food.  I'm happy to report that normal service has been resumed ~ this makes me extremely happy.

Kate

TUSAL March 2014 #1

I'm not too sure how I have managed to remember today's new moon ~ whatever the reason here I am to show you a picture of my ORTs.

Unfortunately I haven't got round to finding a new jar yet and they won't all fit into the tin without being squished too much ~ so my latest ORT's are unceremoniously dumped in a pile on the desk!
However, they are reported and on time too.  I'll try to sort out something more appropriate for storing them before the next new moon.
Our weekend is mostly about getting things done ~ I have an hair appointment this morning and then the chores begin.  If I'm efficient enough I may get to stitch all day tomorrow ~ but I'm not counting on it!
Have a fabulous weekend.

Kate

 

TUSAL 2014 - January

I'm back on the case of The Totally Useless Stitch Along this year ~ hosted by Sharon we basically save our ORTs throughout the year and each new moon we post a picture of them ~ see, totally useless!

I missed the first new moon of the year on 1 January ~ I only had about 3 scraps of thread at that point and we were ensconced in a cosy cottage in the Lake District with Sis2 & McBiL, reading, watching movies, dozing, drinking champagne, playing Trivial Pursuit, eating delicious food and enjoying the company.  We are so lucky to be able to spend time like this together ~ it's food to my soul.

So back to TUSAL, I haven't decided on a jar yet so my Orts are currently homed in a small tin ~ not the most beautiful of recepticles but they aren't in danger of being mistaken for rubbish by any of the other residents here and removed to the bin!

 

 

Bit of a washed out photograph due to being taken before it was light yesterday.

 

The last day of January has arrived as quick as a flash as is it's way ~ I feel like I've hardly had time to draw breath.  I am, however, pleased with the sewing & finishing I have completed and also that I have managed to stick with my resolution to do something stitch related each day.

 

LM is off to Amsterdam later for a friend's stag weekend so it's just me and GB2 for the next few days ~ I'm hoping that I can catch up on some housey jobs, sewing and sleep, not necessarily in that order.

Happy Friday

 

 

Kate

 

A Few Firsts

Some great firsts have been recorded throughout history ~ my firsts for the beginning of 2014 are perhaps just a wee bit less noteworthy.

My first post ~ and hopefully not my last!
I have had things to report however with life being busy in the run up to Christmas, work, collecting GB1 from university etc my posts were sparse to say the least.  I guess I also got a little lazy ~ having the benefit of my ipad makes access to the Internet/social networking/emails etc very easy.  What I do not find easy is posting via blogger, either via the app or the net ~ in fact I find it a hugely frustrating event, am I the only one?  I can't manage to master uploading photographs as I like to have them, text decides for itself where it will reside and which font.  So the laziness comes in when I start to think about having to fire up the PC ~ which is in the conservatory ~ or dig out a laptop.  And to add to the frustration when I did get a laptop out on Wednesday night because it hasn't been used for so long it required 91 Windows updates ~ which I did ~ and then it decided that the version of IE was too out of date to be of any use.  I packed it away and went to bed!
This morning we have laptop #2 ~ which so far seems to be working ok!

First TUSAL
Was actually 1 January 2014 ~ I had about 3 orts to show ~ please see explanation of laziness/ipad frustration above for why I did not share.
The next new moon is 30 January and I will curb the laziness to share a picture close to that time.  If you have no idea what this SAL is about you can read about it on Daffycat's Blog.

First 2014 Start ~ definitely not the last!

This is Home of a Needleworker from LHN ~ my New Year's Day start.  I'm stitching this 1/1 on 28ct Gingerbread Brittney fabric from Kate at Sparklies with the recommended DMC threads. The couple of threads on the LH side are actually my meagre pile of orts.




First IHSW
 Is this weekend and I have a date with a chair and my stitching bag ~ I hope to work on Home of a Needleworker, La Pensee Positive ~ a beautiful SAL from Nathalie at Jardin Privee (I have the last part to complete), Needlecraft Haven's monthly challenge which for January is a gorgeous freebie from Laura at The Little Stitcher.  I think that is plenty to keep me out of mischief.

In other news I signed up for this


which Mel at Epic Stitching is running.  The title says it all really ~ we do have a monthly budget available for supplies however I am going to try and steer clear of spending on any stash ~ as you may imagine I do have a fair bit squirrelled away to work with.  Wish me luck!





Aside from stitching I have a couple of housey jobs to complete and unfortunately the LM is poorly so a good dollop of TLC is in order.  The really bad news is that GB2 needs the rocket up the derriere again in terms of cleaning/tidying his room ~ oh boy!

Whatever your weekend brings I hope you enjoy it.

Kate

 

TUSAL & A Birthday Gift

Firstly my ORTs for the year so far ~ looking a wee bit boring at the top of the heap due to piecing a small quilt/play mat for a friend's little girl.  There really hasn't been too much stitching going on at all for me for several reasons ~ lack of time/holiday/illness etc.  I'm hoping that is going to change as I have many things to get on with ~ some with deadlines.

 Next is the birthday present ~ for Heather from Tuesday Stitching Group.  This was stitched last year however events took over the finishing and it got left for quite some time.  It's from Chez Elisa and was a really quick stitch ~ the hardest part was the finishing.  I finished it as a small wall hanging by making a cord and adding a fabric yo-yo to the back.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

I'm way behind with just about everything but I'm hoping to be back soon with more news & stitching updates.

Kate

Even later TUSAL Report

I have resorted to adding reminders for all the new moons into my phone for the remainder of the year ~ and yet still I manage to be almost a week late!

Hopefully the picture says it all.

Kate

TUSAL Report

And only 1 day late!

These are my ORTs for March

And year to date

Kate

ORTs, Travelling Pattern & Secret Quilting

First ORT report of the year and I'm late ~ it's been that kind of week though!
So these are mine ~ current ones on the left obviously ~ I decided to keep going with another Christmas bauble, also pictured is last year's full bauble which I plan to somehow stitch 2011 on a fabric scrap to keep inside.  I'll do the same for 2012's collection.  It doesn't look like much stitching has been achieved when you look at the wee pile.
Last week I was the lucky recipient of the Travelling Pattern - Count Your Blessings by Shakespeare's Peddler.

This picture was taken earlier in the week ~ I'm stitching on linen band which I bought in France while on holiday last year.  I've counted (twice) and it seem to be 35ct, I've been waiting to use it and it seemed perfect for this project.  I had all but two of the recommended threads in my stash ~ I'm trying to stitch from stash only, so I just substituted a couple in their place.  I'm hoping to be finished this piece over the weekend so if you would like to be the next stitcher check back.

I spent the day at Just Quilting on Saturday and these are the fabrics I was playing with ~ can't share what I've made yet, it's for Sis2 and although she doesn't read me I'd like her to see it first.  Sis2 & her DH are visiting the North East for the weekend, staying with the Pater, so I will get to give her birthday present to her in person ~ last time that happened was 5 years ago! 
I'm off now to complete my shopping online, although less work it's still a pain.  I expect we'll be busy all weekend, I have a pile of ironing that is starting to resemble Ben Nevis so obviously I'm really looking forward to that......  and to top that there's more laundry too, lucky me!
I'll be back soon with a finish to share, hopefully two, ironing permitting.

Kate

I've Been Meaning To Post

Actually I've been meaning to do many things.
This week between Christmas & New Year should have been an hive of activity.  I had lots planned ~ stitching, quilting, sorting out my stash together with clearing the ubiquitous piles of assorted "stuff" that I manage to acquire.  In reality I have done very little ~ much of my inactivity has been related to feeling well under par, thankfully this is now starting to pass.

We made a family visit on Tuesday ~ my only trip out.  It was lovely to see the assorted clan, many of whom we don't see often enough.
I painted this a while ago for the most recent member of the family ~ we meet Isla Rose for the first time on Tuesday, what an absolute sweetheart she is.  She cooed and gurgled away contentedly while we all had cuddles. 

Talking of angels, this one was stitched quite a few years ago.  It was a kit that I received as a birthday gift from a friend.  All that was left to do was to finish had stitching the binding and adding a hanger ~ I borrowed a cropodile which punched the holes and set the snowflake eyelets, a bit of wire was added secured with a couple of polka dots buttons. I'm very happy that I have finally finished this.

 

My final TUSAL of 2011 and the complete year of ORTs in my Christmas bauble ~ that's a lot of old ragged threads!  Not the best pictures.

I have spent the last couple of days stitching yet another Christmas piece!

This is Ho Ho Ho in a Row by Lizzie Kate ~ I have the buttons to add to the wreath and the colour blocks to add to the bottom border and it's done.  I'm debating whether to change the colour blocks from the charted pink, red & green to filling them all with the blue ~ can't decide, which is why it's not finished. 

I have a few other ornament finishes that have not been revealed yet ~ perhaps I will show them during the dark days of January.

I would like to thank all of you for reading me here, and for all the lovely comments that have been left over the past 11 months.  2011 has been a year of both great joy and great sadness for me, in some ways I am sorry to see it close, but close it must.  Here's to a bright, happy & healthy 2012.

Kate

A Spot of Painting & TUSAL

Our Tuesday Stitching Group have our next meeting at The Crafts House this week for our Christmas project ~ I'm really looking forward to it, I have an idea of what we will be making but you will have to wait and see.

 This is our last project from back in September - a cute row of gingerbread men in a frame.  We always have a great time with Sandra and I'm sure that Tuesday will be as enjoyable as ever.

I have also been spending some Sunday mornings painting with the Diary Dames ~ this snowman with his mug of hot chocolate was one of my recent finishes.  I have a couple of others to share with you soon ~ they just need some final titivating before they make an appearance.

 I will leave you with pictures of my ORTs ~ at least a couple of month's worth as I have missed posting, together with the year so far in the Christmas bauble.  Check out the crocheted flower pin cushion too ~ a gift from the Lovely C

We're almost back at Monday ~ again!  Hope you have a good week.

Kate

I'm late, I'm late .........

and other white rabbit happenings.  How can it be August already?

I'm back in the unenviable position of being behind on everything again hence the title ~ I don't think I'm actually late per se, more agitated that I'm not finishing things. 

 First up is my unofficial TUSAL reporting which was due 30 July ~ yeah I guess I am late for this!  I took the photographs to take my mind off other things on Saturday but didn't get round to posting them till now.

There seems to be quite a lot considering the small volume of stitching that I have achieved for July.  I have so many things at present which I'm sure would take just moments (relatively speaking) to complete, I'm just missing the inclination.  And I'm sure you know that trying to finish something when you're really not in the mood to be doing it can spell utter disaster ~ so things have been left.

Secondly, I joined a summer biscornu exchange on the Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group and this is the lovely one stitched for me by my partner ~ isn't it gorgeous?  There was a lovely note enclosed with it and it arrived super quick after partner's details were issued - Mouse clearly has smokin' needles.  Thanks so much Mouse, yours is almost ready to mail out, I should manage that this week.

Next is my top secret project which is coming along ~ slowly!  Part II arrived in the mail last week ~ there isn't as much stitching as in Part I but still I am behind.  No photographs just yet.

Then we come to the summer holiday exchange on Needlecraft Haven ~ I have started this but it hasn't had much time devoted to it and there are no pictures ~ these need to show me working on the project. 

Now, blog reading, groups & emails ~ waaaaay behind.  Housework, laundry etc ~ waaaaay behind.  Bit of a theme really and not one I care for too much! 

A new month has arrived and I'm hoping that I shall manage some catch up.  It will be a busy month ~ LM has a few business trips coming up, the GB's are off for a few days to a wedding.  I have applications to follow up and interviews to attend, the GB's have exam results to collect and digest and we have family matters to discuss and plans to be instigated. 

I won't tell you about the rat incident..... 

Till next time.

Kate

TUSAL, New Starts & Shopping

 

Firstly TUSAL ~ left shows my ORT's for June and right shows the first six months of this year in a christmas bauble.  You can see there are many colour changes ~ for me there are just a few too many fuzzy bits!

I have a number of new starts ~ unfortunately I can't show any of them here yet.  There should be one that could be pictured if only I could establish where it is!  It's a freebie from The Primitive Hare called Merry Yule ~ my Christmas Ornament for June.  It's still a WIP at the moment ~ I will show it once I can find it and get a photograph.  The others are all birthday gifts for Tuesday Stitching Group which should be finished and re-homed soon.

I bought these fabrics from Michelle who was having a bit of a de-stash ~ I love the colours, especially the green.  I have plans for at least one of them but at the moment I'm not sure about the others ~ they will be found a use!

I also bought the new book by Mandy Shaw from Dandelion Designs ~ Stitch With Love

It's full of gorgeous stitcheries and things to make such as cushions, bags, blanket a Christmas wreath and gift tags, aprons and the fabulous sewing tidy pictured below. 

Hope you're enjoying the weekend.

Kate

A Trifle From A Friend ~ and other news

A wee while ago I took part in a Spring Pincushion Exchange on the Friendly Stitchers Group ~ unfortunately I did not receive my pincushion from my partner.  So Mouse took it upon herself to stitch one up for me so that I did not miss out - how kind was that?
The design is A Trifle From A Friend by Plum Street Samplers.  Mouse has stitched it on hand dyed linen and used Crescent Colours Blooming Crocus for the stitching ~ topping it off with a lovely double ribbon bow.
The wording from the design is stitched on the back too.

Mouse also included a gorgeous Gloriana silk thread ~ Hydrangea.  This is my very first Gloriana thread and it is fabulous ~ so soft, can't wait to stitch with it.  Thanks so much Mouse.

I have managed some stitching over the last week ~ almost caught up with my 2011 Christmas Challenge stitching.  I now have April & May ornaments stitched and will be making them up this week ~ pictures to follow soon.  In addition to ornaments I have 2 Tuesday Stitching Group birthday gifts almost made up ~ hopefully they will be with their new owners next week, obviously no pictures until after re-homing.  I have two more gifts planned/started and 1 further where I am seeking a suitable design.

It was reveal day on Needlecraft Haven on Sunday for the May Stitching Challenge - mine was stitched and I had a trip to Just Quilting on Saturday with the Lovely C to get finishing fabric as my stash was lacking on that front ~ purely for this project I might add, not quantity!  I had planned to complete the finishing on Sunday morning however my head had other ideas!  The most horrid headache took up residence and I was only fit for sleep ~ so no stitching, or anything else for that matter.  I hope to complete it at some point this week.

If you are a regular reader you will know that I am usually late in posting my unofficial TUSAL update.  Yesterday was the prescribed day so I feel less guilty on this occasion!  I was pleasantly surprised when I decanted them for photographing as with the lack of stitching I hadn't expected to have much to show ~ I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing!
I hope that you all enjoyed the long holiday weekend ~ Saturday was spent fabric shopping and attending our monthly EG meeting.  This month's speaker was Katie Chaplin from Japan Crafts who talked us through Japanese dressing protocol with the aid of her trusty model Dolly.  It was a very informative and enjoyable afternoon.   Sunday I was wiped out with that nasty headache.  On Monday we had a lovely visit from my WP's ~ it had been planned for a little while and originally I was to collect them, however Sis2 was down to stay with my Dad for a few days so she brought them along.  It was lovely to spend time with them and a huge bonus that we also got to see Sis2.  The birds graced us with their prescence while we sat chatting in the conservatory ~ Dad was delighted by the goldfinch & bullfinch which he said were to be seen in great numbers when he was young.
I feel that time is passing by so quickly at the moment ~ how can it be June already?  Tuesday saw the regular meet of our stitching group, yesterday the Lovely C & I had our usual trip to Quilt Group ~ not that we did any quilting ~ I was back-stitching Christmas ornaments! It was a good evening though with a few giggles and some dubious translating of the words on C's french sampler.
The LM is planning his trip away with military preciseness, he's trying to be surreptitious about it but failing ~ I can "see" his thought processes!  I have many things I would like to get done during the time he is away, stitching, organising etc but the list will be fluid ~ if it happens great and if it doesn't there's no harm done.
I'm progressing with the weight loss ~ ½ stone down so far which I am really pleased about, plenty still to go!  Hopefully LM will have time to give my bike a mini service before he departs as I would like to take advantage of the light mornings and nice weather to get out there before work.
The weather has picked up here today and the day has started bright and warm ~ long may it continue.
Not long until the weekend arrives.

Kate

ORTs and More.....

Yes I know it's almost a month since this should have been posted ~ good job I'm only following the TUSAL unofficially!
Offerings to 3 May followed by my year to date all neatly tucked into a Christmas bauble.

 

A few weeks ago I did a little trade with Michelle who was de-stashing and I bought several skeins to boost my GAST collection.  They arrived all neatly labelled in their little floss away bags ~ great trading with you Michelle ~ Thanks!

Here's a quick update on Grace ~ The Sampler Lady ~ she's almost complete!  I only have her face, hands and collar to finish ~ unfortunately the other night at Tuesday Stitching Group I mis-placed some stitches on her face so I have a wee bit of frogging to do.
I have some new starts but can't show them at the moment as they are secret stitching ~ a couple of gifts and also the latest monthly challenge on the Needlecraft Haven group.
Another long weekend is almost upon us ~ it's our monthly EG meeting Saturday and apart from a visit from my WP's we have nothing else planned.  Enjoy whatever you may be doing.

Kate

Can You Guess & TUSAL

Do you know what this is?  Could you hazard a guess?
Answers on a postcard please to:
Perfectionists Department
Kates Flossbox
Blogger
Netland






Yesterday was the TUSAL reporting day ~ yes, I am late again! I took the photographs and then the time just ran away from me. Don't you find that weekend time goes much faster than weekday time?

Here are my meagre offerings for this month - including the raggy pile from above.

And below is a picture of my year to date ORTs

The raggy pile at the top of the page used to be "Needleworker" on my Sampler Lady ~ did you guess?  I couldn't classify my mistake as personalisation in this instance so yesterday afternoon I sat down with my quick unpick and ripped it out ~ literally!  It's now re-stitched and I'm much happier ~ update photographs later in the week.

Our household were back to school and work today ~ LM set off at stupid o'clock for Preston and is currently travelling from there to London.  GB1 is serving coffee to the shoppers of the NE and GB2 is skillfully avoiding any life responsibility ~ oh to be 14 again!
I'm off to seek stash to embellish my patchwork heart and to work on the finishing of a bookmark for an exchange on Needlecraft Haven ~ who knows I might even get two finishes tonight.

Happy Monday.

Kate

ORT to have shown this before now!

Here's a picture of my ORT's for my unofficial TUSAL - this should have been shown 4 March but I forgot!

February's offerings - the small glass bowl was a charity shop find.

Year to date - Can you see the colour change from the previous month?
I've put the combined months into one of those Christmas baubles that can be used for display.  I think I may need to find a larger receptacle!

Kate

Unofficial TUSAL

So yesterday was the reveal day for TUSAL which runs on Daffycats blog - my posting is "unofficial" as I missed the deadline to join. 

Here are my ORTS collected between 1 January and 3 February - slightly longer than the official SAL.
I have been collecting them in my pincushion/ORT bag which sits next to me when I stitch but is not the most attractive way to display for this purpose.

So, this pile of gorgeousness was evicted from it's usual home of the glass lidded jar above in order to obtain a pleasing image of ORTS!  Don't you just love buttons and beads? 



GB1 missed school yesterday due to sickness but is back larger than life, this being a relative term as he stands 6' 3" and at 16 doesn't really need to be any larger!  Sleep & fluids were the required medicinal compound ~ does anybody still remember Lily the Pink? ~ which saw him back to school today.
Appointments and errands filled my day yesterday, however I did manage a visit to The Hill to see Sandra and her apprentices ~ inspiration is always available in this special place and yesterday was no exception ~ minature bear quilt and hanger, new shape of the month, deck of art.  There's even a picture of our Tuesday stitching group and one (welcome) interloper during the workshop Sandra organised for us prior to Christmas.
I have a couple of stitching finishes to show which will have to wait until next time as poor light thwarted the production of any decent photographs.

Enjoy your day ~ the weekend is almost here.

Kate