Back in Harness!!!

It has been so long since I posted anything - sorry! I haven't been idle though! Still gripped by my stitching demons I've been cross stitching, mainly Un Finished Objects (UFOs) but also some miniatures that I can't show you yet but will in time.

I finished a cross stitch of the 'Tate Baby House' and instead of having it framed have made it into a cushion. Here's how it turned out....

I also finished a 'Victorian Floral Heart'. This one is tinged with sadness as I had stitched it for my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary. Although my Mum saw the stitching finished she passed away before I could have it framed. I don't feel it would be appropriate now to frame it so I unpicked the lettering in the centre and replaced it with a simple 'A', my mum's initial. Again this has been made into a cushion and I've stitched a tiny 'For Mum' into the design although you will have to search to see it!

One cross stitch that made it to the framers is 'Harmony'. I just adore this little girl sitting at a piano. The kit was made by Bucilla who are (were?) the company allowed to reproduce the work of artist Bessie Pease Guttman. Sadly I can't find anymore of these kits so I assume they've been discontinued, shame!

You can see some more of my finished cross stitched projects on the Stitching Allsorts blog. So that's just a wee quick update - I'm starting off on some more minis now as I've swaps to do and my Orchid house is starting to get a bit mardy as I've not so much as looked in its direction lately, so it's off to work I go. Take care x

I've lost three weeks!

I have absolutely no idea where the last three weeks have gone!!!
It's not as if I've been particularly busy, no one has called on my time, no extra hours at work and the house looks much as it always does.
The time has gone and I feel that I've nothing to show for it!
Well perhaps that's not strictly true. My eye is drawn to the coffee table in the living room, a table which has all but disappeared under an avalanche of charts, threads, fabric and frames - ah, yes, now I remember. I was possessed by my stitching demon and I have been totally absorbed in cross stitch over the last few weeks to the exclusion of all other crafts! Not really good for a girl to be stitching so intensly but even sore shoulders and bleary eyes can't stop me when I've got to stitch!
I finally completed a piece of work I started about three years ago. I was never happy with some of the colour choices and kept stopping and starting it so I eventually unpicked the offending part and restitched it. I think it will be made into a cushion front so I'll show you that soon.
And then I thought it would be a good idea to sort out my threads so I bought a load of bobbins and wound, by hand, all the skeins of thread onto them. I've still loads to do. I think I'll need to buy more bobbins!
And finally, I sorted through all the charts and kits I had amassed over the years. The charts are now filed neatly and some have been flagged as new projects but this frenzy also unveiled so many works-in-progress that I'm determined not to start anything new until the backlog is cleared. I think I'll add them to the side of my blog and if you see that there is not much happening with them, would you be good enough to give me a gentle nudge?
Take care x

I Love a Bargain!

Whilst browsing on ebay recently I came across a Janet Granger kit for a stair carpet. Even better, the design matched a rug I had previously made but hadn't decided where it should go. Indecision over - the rug will be going into the entrance hall at 48 The Laurels and a beautiful matching carpet will grace the stairway. Only thing is, the Laurels is a five storey townhouse so it won't be just one stair carpet I need but a total of nine separate pieces! It's just as well I enjoy cross stitching! Here's the rug I've already made...


It's design name is Carole (Jade) and if you've never done any of Janet's kits before, here a link to her website. I have made three carpets, two firescreens and two Christmas stockings all from her kits and would highly recommend them. And of course, once you have the chart you can easily change colours etc. to make even more rugs for your houses!

Allsorts of things going on....

After a gentle prod from miniaturemaid (thanks Rachel!) here's a quick update in the world of miniatureallsorts! I have been working away on minis but real life work is getting in the way and seriously curtailing my fun! After finishing the clear out of my craftroom I'm trying so hard not to mess things up again but it's soooo hard to be tidy. I've been playing around with some new designs for cushions and making cute little tassels from thread and beads. Here are a couple of the new designs...

I've also been putting together a special swap in return for the most wonderful flower kits I received from a member of our swap group. All items are to be displayed in a ladies dress shop but as I don't want to spoil her fun in unwrapping them I will post a photo of all the items when she receives it!

Other than that I've been working on full-size cross stitch projects. The Pako Dolls House is finished, larger than I expected, and added to the rest to be framed. What I like to do is make miniature versions of my finished cross stitched projects so here are a couple that I've made so far.

Promise I'll be back on the ufo-busting bandwagon soon - the plant and flower stall is so near completion that I'm ashamed I've not posted on the grand opening before now!

But before I go may I welcome some new followers to my blog - Marivigano and Angeles - Hi Girls!!!

Be back with you soon x

A new month already?

Woah...where did January go? Can you believe that we are now into February? Anyhow thanks to blogging I'm two projects down and a third well under way, my swaps are all prepared ready for posting and my mini-ing mojo is well and truly back! I'm still working away on Mulberry Cottage, and when I'm not doing that I'm cross stitching furiously. "What's on the Frame?" has changed and here is a cross stitch kit that I started about two years ago.

It's by Pako, I think it's simply called Dolls House and, after all the fractional stitches of the last one, is delightfully easy to stitch. Take care, until next time x

Finally...a finished cross stitch!

Although I love my dolls houses and miniatures, I also have a passion for cross stitching and can find myself still up in the wee sma' hours stitching away. I finished 'Evening Service' and have placed it with the others lying to be framed, one I'm ashamed to say has been waiting to be framed for around 15 years {hangs head in shame} I think I should add these to my To-Do List and finally let them see the light of day. Here's what's waiting to be framed....

Once they've been washed, pressed and stretched I'll replace these with more flattering photos!

Until next time...

Slowly building stock...

A warm welcome back, especially to Rachel and Glenna - so glad you've joined me!

After a couple of days making books I think I now have enough to fill the shelves in Boxroom Books. Just have to think about window dressing now...hmmmm

Meanwhile, here's a peek at "What's on the Frame?" I started this cross stitch just before Christmas and am really enjoying working on it. It's by Cross Your Heart Inc and is called "Evening Service"


Back soon with the grand opening of Boxroom Books!