It's my Blogaversary

 🎉🎉🎉 Happy Blogaversary 🎉🎉🎉

My blog turns into a teenager today ... it's unbelievably 13 years old. It has changed quite a bit over those years both in design and in how/what I post. 

The table cloth is still in use although it has had a few repairs. The cover for my school diary is somewhere, I retired in 2013 so it hasn't been seen for a while. 

Here's the link to my very first post https://aimetu-clare.blogspot.com/2008/03/

Blogland is such fun and a fantastic way to chat with my stitching friends, it is also a super record of all my crafting. 

Huge thanks to everyone who has visited my blog over the 13 years, especially those who have left a comment, and hello to all who will call by in the future. 

WIPocalypse - March

 

WIPocalypse is all about stitching we want to do before the End of the World. Measi hosts this great idea at Measi's Musings. As well as sharing our stitching Measi asks month there is a question too, you'll find my answer later on in my post.

So how did my March stitching go? Here were my plans: 

• French Hens by Jardin Prive and Plum Street Samplers 
• JCS ornament 
• Easter Exchange with Needlecraft Haven 
• Spring Challenges with Needlecraft Haven 
• A gift for Apri

I have stitched both my French Hens pieces, they're not yet finished. I am trying to finish them each month in time for FFO the following month, so far so good. 

I have stitched my JCS ornament for March, it's Snoelle by Linda Jeanne Jenkins. I'll be finishing this tomorrow so I can post up on the Facebook SAL before the month end. This photo was taken straight from finishing so it's not ironed.

My Easter Exchange for Needlecraft Haven has been completed and is with my partner ready for opening day next Sunday. I have not yet started any of the spring challenges for Needlecraft Haven's Seasonal Challenge but I know what I will be making them into so I'll be starting them soon.

I have finished the gift for April, it's wrapped and waiting to be given but as that will not be until nearer the end of the month I will not be able to share for a while.

This month's question is: What is your process for working on WIPs? Are you a one-at-a-time stitcher, a rotation stitcher, or something else?

I'm a one at a time stitcher. I like to complete a piece before moving on to the next, that said these days I tend to stitch small items. In the past I have stitched large pieces and have then used a rotation so all my projects were completed.

For me my stitching has to have a purpose, I need to know why I am stitching it and kit up the finishing items when I sort my fabric and threads. This is partly so my lovely Hubby doesn't have to get my stash boxes out from under the stairs too often. Imdomsee many many charts I'd like to stitch, or other people's stitching that I am tempted to do but I find that once I have sorted my planned stitching I don't actually have time to add in any more. I do however have a few items stitched not finished .... but that is another story! 

All told I'm very pleased with my March stitching. I keep a record of my finishes on a separate page, you'll find the tab at the top of my blog. I'm amazed that I have already stitched 18 items this year so far, and even more amazed that most of them are fully finished.

My April plans are: 

• 12 Days of Christmas - Calling Birds by Jardin Prive and Plum Street Samplers 
• JCS ornament SAL - Rejoicing Reindeer by Blue Ribbon Designs
• Rainbow name tags for a friend
• Spring Challenges with Needlecraft Haven 
• December Flip It

March smalls

 

Mary at Mary's Thread hosts the Smalls SAL. On the last Friday of the month we share our small stitching items that we have completed but not necessarily fully finished. Mary has a link up post on her blog so we can pop over to see everyone's work. 

My first two smalls are my 12 Days of Christmas: Plum Street Samplers and Jardin Prive. I'm enjoying these, especially as I am linking in with the SALs at Needlecraft Haven and on Facebook. The photos are not quite the right colour as I took them in electric light  it's amazing how artificial light changes things isn't it,

My next small is my November Flip It, just one to go. I have lost a little interest in these as my original plan for them has changed. I do seem to stitch better for a purpose. I have an idea but it needs more thinking! 

This small is an unexpected but very enjoyable project. My friend's sister is getting married and had asked her if she could stitch some name tags for the guests gift bags. There will only be twelve people at the wedding including the two brides. My friend asked for some help to plan the stitching, she does stitch but was unsure about plotting the names. 

I made this as an example, it isn't attached to the backing, my friend loved the idea. I have all the materials in my stash so it seems natural to offer to stitch them up. They don't take long, I've done four already and it's fun to stitch with the variegated thread. 

My final small is a late entry as I only finished stitching last night, hence it is not ironed. This is for the JCS SAL on Facebook. I used DMC Satin Floss for the main lettering, it gives a touch of shine.

I'm late posting this and will therefore be late with my WIPocalypse post ... life does that sometimes but it all gets done eventually.

Spring is here

It's the Spring Equinox and it does feel like there's a change in the air ... for the better. I have my spring stitching on display, it is only a few items but it's nice to put them out. 

This is a beautiful biscornu stitched for me by Justine for an exchange a few years ago, the colours are my favourite and the bunnies are so cute.

My Spring pillow is one of a seasonal set I stitched for the Seasonal Challenge with Needlecraft Haven again a few years ago. As you can see it is again purple, my favourite. 

My Jardin Prive seasonal tree for spring has been in the frame since March 1st. I have all four trees that I swap for the seasons; summer 1st June, autumn 1st September and winter 1st December. 

I love the way the trees are the same but have changes in their leaves, blossoms and fruit. The  spring design is so cute with another bunny.

Talking of bunnies my super Hubby popped to the local supermarket today, just for a few essentials as we try not to go often at the minute and have a main online delivery every 10 days or so. Anyway he came home with this absolutely adorable bunny. 

My final bit of spring is one of my Partylite candle holders, a hanging bird table but I don't hang it. Instead it sits nicely on the mantle and compliments my vase of daffodils which I make sure has blooms in from March 1st until Easter.

I'll leave you with my hyacinths, they are over 10 days old and as you can see a little droopy. I have trimmed the stems and they are in fresh water so they may last a few more days, I couldn't throw them out as they smell so lovely. 

Wishing you all a blossoming spring with good health, stay safe, stay well. 

March's Gifted Gorgeousnesses

 

The 15th of each month means it's Gifted Gorgeousness time, the time each month when we share our latest gifts. These can be gifts given or received, or any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted.

This great idea is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching,  if you visit her blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts. 

I'm so happy to share this with you, I stitched it for our daughter's birthday which was mid February. She lives in Cardiff which is a couple of hours' drive away. They, she lives with her boyfriend, have been working from home for the last year, not easy in a one bedroom flat. They have a small balcony and go out for walks but lockdown has been tough. We last saw them at Christmas but we have video calls, a lovely one yesterday for Mother's Day. 

It was the first year ever that I could not bake her a birthday cake, quite an odd feeling as for me that's a big part of being a Mum. So we sent her gifts to do with tea and cake, including a cake band that I stitched for her.

The band is backed with baking paper so it is wipeable, hopefully next year I can bake a cake and the band can be used. The photo shows the band wrapped round the new cake tin we sent her.

I can now share the Valentine's Exchange gift I sent to Julie. I really enjoyed stitching this and was delighted to find the hearts in my button box fitted perfectly in the corners. 

You can see the exchange gift I received in my February's GG post. I do enjoy putting the exchange parcels together, it's our Easter Exchange next.

Thanks Jo for hosting another GG, happy stitching everyone, stay safe, stay well. 

Happy Mother's Day

It's a strange one this year with all the restrictions. Our son lives at home, whilst our daughter and partner live in Cardiff. We haven't seen them since Christmas, I'm saving up my hugs until we can meet again; it's nice they can visit his mum and grandma today, even if it is a chat on the doorstep. 

Dispite the different way we now live my family have surprised and spoilt me. My fabulous Hubby put together a super hamper, he's been buying bits when on his walks ... sneaky! 

The doorbell went early this morning, a beautiful Mark's and Spencers bouquet of spring flowers from Hubby.

Our son has eagle eyes as he noticed that when I get cold in the afternoons I sit under a blanket which means no stitching or reading. His gift is just perfect, a wearable blanket. It has two arms, you put it on like a backwards cardigan .... and there's a front pocket ... I can't wait to feel cold and put it on. 

Deliveries have been vital this last year, no more so than special occasions. Our daughter sent me a rose from M&S, it's just branches just now but the flowers will be pink peony like roses, something to look forward to in the summer. 

She also sent a large flat parcel from the National Trust, very intriguing. It was a bird feeder, we had to attach the dish, it looks great in the garden, for now we haven't added any food as we don't want to encourage the squirrel. Maybe the birds will use it as a water table. 

Later today we're having a buffet tea just the three of us and a family video chat playing games. A different Mother's Day but one to enjoy ... my family have certainly made me feel special ... I love them so much 😍

Fully Finished Objects in March

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, is the host of Fully Finished Objects for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. These are the pieces I finished in time for this month's check in, and ones I can share without spoiling any gift surprises.

My first finish is for one of the Winter Challenges with the members of Needlecraft Haven. Each season we have a Christmas Challenge and a Seasonal Challenge. I can't share my Seasonal Challenge but this is the Christmas one, a freebie from Gazette 94. 

The design was a bigger sampler and I chose to stitch just part of it. I think these Santas are so cute.

My second finish is for Jo's Facebook SAL for the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Magazine 2020. The design for February was Santa Claus by Autumn Lane Stitchery. 

I like to use a frame again and again, especially by swapping designs throughout the year. I have Jardin Prive's seasonal trees that I change in the same frame every change of season. 

I have a lovely frame with a Love design in but it only comes out on show in February. My Santa Claus fits perfectly so will be a swap for my frame and it will be seen in December now too.

I didn't finish my Santa Claus as an ornament as Justine stitched it for me for the Needlecraft Haven Christmas Exchange, isn't it lovely!

My final two finishes are for both Jo's Facebook 12 Days of Christmas SAL, and Needlecraft Haven's 12 Days SAL. The first is Jardin Prive's design, the white doves do not show in the photo but they do in real life. My other design is from Plum Street Samplers, I had many frog visits with this one but it has turned out ok. 

I have two other finishes, they are upcycled birthday cards. You can read about them in my previous post here. 

Thank you Rachel for hosting another super FFO month.

A bit of upcycling

For my birthday last September I received, along with many others, two beautifully stitched cards. A lovely ABC sampler from Mary and super flowers from Gill. 

It seemed a shame not to use them so I did a bit of upcycling. We have a digital photo frame that has a permanent collection of family photos but for each special day I am putting together a collection of relevant photos to show. I'm saving them on SD cards, so far I have one for our daughters birthday and over the next week I'll be making one for Mother's Day. 

I have an old Pandora box (I keep any useful box) which is just perfect for storing my SD cards and USB pens. It looks like a book when stood up, I thought Mary's sampler was just perfect. I used bits from my stash for embellishing, the gold edging had a bit of a twist in it but I think it looks ok. 

I had a new mug that came in a lovely box with a lid which was so nice and like I said I keep old boxes, Gill's flowers match perfectly. I'll be using this to keep my lip balms and hand creams in, it looks great on my side table.

Thank you Mary and Gill for your beautiful stitching. I'm so pleased I'll be able to see your stitching in the lounge, better than being shut in a drawer.