Hand sewing – A box of allsorts

Catching up

Wow, it’s been a long time! I’m not really sure why I ended up having such a long break from my blog but I suppose life just got in the way for a while and the longer the break went on, the harder it seemed to write that first post again. It’s been about 7 months since I last posted and i feel I should catch you up a little on what’s been happening in that time. Nothing major that should have stopped me from posting really but as i look back at the photos I’ve packed quite a lot in to this year, so it’s no wonder if not found the time to post!

If I was to tell you about everything that I’d done in the last 7 months I’d be here all night, so here is the condensed version with pictures.

There has been a lot of gardening. Our garden produced so much for us this Summer, I really am thankful! We had a huge amount of courgettes and green beans. We tried to use them as we went along but there were so many, our freezer is now full of zucchini soup and green beans. We also had plentiful tomatoes, raspberries and so many beautiful sunflowers.

There has been lots of running, including 3 half marathons and of course the all important bling!

There have been plentiful family times including a wonderful caravan holiday in the Summer where we were able to catch up with family and dear friends who we hadn’t seen for a while. Special memories were made and shall be cherished for a long time to come!

Alongside all the other goings on there has, of course been a lot of crafting. Never quite as much as I’d like but when I look back on the last 7 months I do wonder where on earth I’ve fit it all in. Over the Summer months I did a lot of embroidery for gifts as a number of friends sadly moved away. I forgot to take photos of all the finished embroidery but here’s a snapshot of what was made:

I have also done a fair bit of crochet but I haven’t got a lot to show for it as yet as it’s been for a couple of long term projects that still aren’t quite finished. I did however finish 3 children’s poncho’s recently (1 for little miss and 2 ready for Christmas gifts) and earlier in the year I made a baby blanket

I have a few ongoing wipes and lots of projects just waiting to be started.

current wips:

1. A bright squares rainbow 🌈 blanket for Little Miss:

I’m onto joining the rows and hopefully will have it finished in time for her birthday in a couple of weeks.

2. I have a stash of purple grey and white squares just waiting to be joined and made into a blanket. I plan to start joining them as soon as I’ve finished the blanket for Little Miss.

3. As if I needed another big project I felt the need a couple of weeks ago to start making large granny squares out of left over yarn and so a ‘happy scrappy’ blanket is now underway too.

Waiting in the wings to be started I have a bag full of chunky yarn which I just couldn’t resist a few weeks ago. Im pretty sure that’s going to become a blanket in the near future too but hopefully this one won’t take to long to do as it’s super chunky yarn with a 20mm hook!

At the same time I found the chunky wool, I also found a beautiful bright variegated yarn which I also failed to resist (just when streamlining had been going so well!). I quite fancy making some sort of funky shrug with that but we’ll see.

Just in case all those projects weren’t enough I’ve also got 3 more zenbroidery pictures ready to start and the Autumn Box from craftpod which hasn’t yet been touched, plus a hundred more ideas floating around in my brain, waiting to come to the forefront. If only there were more hours in the day…

Hopefully I’ll have some more finished projects to show you soon…watch this space!

Karen x x

Zenbroidery Mandala

I finally finished it…

It has taken me a long, long time to finish, almost a year on and off and has taken a lot of hours but I thoroughly enjoyed it, even the French knots which I’ve never been a huge fan of.

I didn’t start with a colour scheme or particular stitches in mind, I just chose the colours and stitches as I went along but I think both have worked out well. I love how its bright without being too gaudy.

Dark green is one of my least favourite colours (from having to wear it every day at high school!), so I did surprise myself by choosing it but it fits right in.

I have 3 more zenbroidery waiting in the wings, one of which is another mandala and I’m itching to get started on them. I’ll let you know which one gets picked.

Are you working on any embroidery projects at the moment? If so, I’d love to see them.

Karen xx

All the jobs and a bit of crafting

The first week of the Easter holiday was all about getting jobs done, in and around the house. Usually, if you asked me if I enjoyed housework, you’d be met with a very emphatic no! We have a cleaner come once a week as we both work long hours and if it was down to me we’d have a window cleaner too but since Mr O bought a window cleaning gadget (that doesn’t smear…honest!!) we have to do it ourselves! As Mr O has been very busy with the garden and putting up another shed for the garden tools, its down to me this time. I’ve been looking at those dirt smeared, streaky windows for a long time and finally set about tackling the worse windows downstairs. It wasn’t that bad to be honest but it does make me very cross when I cant get them perfectly streak free! I needn’t have worried though because, less than a week later, the hall window has marks on it again at cat level, the kitchen window has splatters from the washing up and the back door is once again full of smeary little handprints. Grrr!

As much as I have moaned about doing the jobs, I might actually have enjoyed them a teensy bit. I think its because I’m usually so busy that giving up any precious free time to do housework is quite frankly hateful. Last week though, because little Miss was still in kindergarten and I had a bit of extra time (admittedly, I could have spent it crafting!) doing the jobs weirdly made me feel a bit more connected to the house, like cleaning, tidying it, showing it a bit of love and tending to the garden somehow brought me closer to it. Does that sound bonkers? The whole house was tidied, hoovered and floors steamed. I tidied and sorted the craft room a bit more and finally got around to moving Little Miss into the bigger bedroom that used to be my craft room / spare room. There are more jobs to follow this week, including recleaning those blasted windows and cleaning the ones I hadn’t yet got to, cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, including all of the kitchen cupboards (I’m not looking forward to this one, I will admit), weeding and cleaning the balcony (another yucky job I keep putting off) and several admin jobs that have been lingering for a few weeks, hovering over me like evil little spiky clawed gremlins!

In amongst all the jobs, there has been a little time for crafting, although not nearly as much as I would have liked.

I finished off this little fella:

I managed to do a little more on the rainbow squares blanket for Little Miss and I love how its taking shape. Joining the squares together is proving to be a labour of love but it will be worth it when its finished. 3 columns down, 10 to go!

I decided to get all the remaining squares off the floor so that I could clean the floor and Mr O suggested putting them onto knitting needles. I love love love the look of them like this, they look like colourful crocheted kebabs. I almost don’t want to use them as they’re adding so much colour to my craft studio lined up like this.

I also managed to snatch a bit of time for some embroidery in the sunshine whilst little Miss played in the garden …

Last week I was a little bit naughty and for the first time this year, I broke my self imposed ban on purchasing any more crafting goodies.

I ummmed and aaahed but they reminded me so much of the tablecloths my grandma used to embroider and nostalgia got the better of me, I had to have them. I know its yet more embroidery bits to add to my stash but they sparked joy and will continue to do so and bring back happy memories as I sew. I don’t think these will linger in my stash for long though as I am just itching to get started on them.

A fair bit more crafting went on over the Easter weekend but I’ll post about that separately in a day or two.

Happy crafting

Karen xx

June project goals

Every month I consider whether to write a ‘project goals post’ as its really just a list of what I’d like to achieve and invariably I don’t complete everything on the list and other things not on the list tend to creep in too when they catch my eye. However, I have decided to keep doing it as it does help me to organise my overloaded brain and gives me a chance to organise the zillions of ideas that are tumbling around my head into some sort of order.

so, project goals for this month are…

Finish spring embroidery sampler
Make spring embroidered linen project bag
Finish crocheting ‘mystery project’
Start zenbroidery mandala
continue ‘ripple blanket’ which I just couldn’t resist starting last week…oops! this is for s present so there’ll be no pictures until its finished.
BRING THE SEWING MACHINE OUT OF RETIREMENT. Now I know I have been saying this for such a long time but since my course with Sophie of Huxter kids a couple of weeks ago with I have renewed enthusiasm and confidence. I fully intended to start today on my day off but I had reports to finish off for school 🙁 (I have cleared the desk though and there is now space for her, so it wont be long til she’s back in action …)

She’s an old bird bless her but she still does a good job. I just need to see if I can remember how to thread her up and then we’re off!

7. Sew in ends on the itty bitty squares. I think it’ll be a while before I start joining them but at least if the ends are sewn in they’re ready to go.

Right, I’m off to finish the spring sampler, happy crafting!

Karen x

May project review

Seeing as it was almost half way through May when I actually posted my project goals for the month, it probably comes as no surprise that I didn’t complete everything I had planned to. However, I am happy with what I have achieved.

I did finish the winter berry embroidery and am very pleased with how it has turned out:

I started the spring craft pod box embroidery projects

I started out by tracing over the design on to the fabric with washable pen, changing a few little bits on the way. I just love the fact that with my new washable pens (fully tested on a spare piece of fabric!) I can make tweaks on the design and know that it will just wash off…genius! I have to say I am absolutely loving becoming reacquainted with embroidery and reminding myself of some of the stitches that I used to know quite well. I really cannot wait to get started on the zenbroidery mandala and I keep gazing at it longingly but I am absolutely determined to finish these 2 embroidery projects first.

The itty bitty squares are still sat in my craft room patiently waiting to have their ends sewn in.

My mystery project has grown a little and really shouldn’t take too long to complete but it was a little too bulky to take away with me last week on my trip back to England, so it shall still remain a mystery for a little while longer.

Any ideas what it might be?

Whilst back in England last week I did attend the sew your own jumper workshop with the lovely Sophie of Huxter kids where I made little Miss a jumper. I really think it deserves its own post though so watch this space for that later in the week.

Happy crafting

Karen x

May project goals

I’m all too aware that yet again I’m super late with my project goals for the month but bet late than never! In ‘normal life’ I’m actually one of these people who is always ready stupidly early for things and end up wasting so much time twiddling my thumbs waiting, so I don’t quite know why I’m always late with my blog posts. My excuse is that I’m always so busy making things that, much as I do enjoy writing my blog, I have to tear myself away from making things to write. Not a bad thing I suppose as I’ve always got something crafty to share.

anyway, here are my project goals for (what remains of) May:

Finish winter berry embroidery. This was from Winters craftpod box and although its not really the season for these colours now, I just want it finished and hung up in my craft room. This is as far as I have got currently so shouldn’t take too long to finish.

2. Start spring craftpod projects

I’m really itching to get started on these, especially the botanical sampler. Looking at some of the stitches on there brings back childhood memories of seeing my Grandma embroider tablecloths and later having a go at embroidery myself. I’m very excited about having a go at chain stitch and French knots again. I have to admit that the colours don’t really grab me so I may go a bit ‘freestyle’ with this one and substitute some of the colours for brighter ones that I already have in my sewing box.

Whilst I’m on the topic of embroidery, this week I stumbled across something called ‘zenbroidery.’ I spent hours pouring over different pictures deciding which one to order (yes, yes, I know I’ve a lot of other projects on the go, but I just had to have one!) Basically zenbroidery is a detailed picture printed onto fabric. The pictures are very similar to the adult colouring books that you get and the idea is that you ‘colour’ the picture in with thread. This is right up my alley! whilst I do have a colouring calendar and I do enjoy a bit of therapeutic colouring in, its not something I would ever frame and display, so it seems a bit of a waste of time. However, just imagine, a picture ‘coloured in’ with thread, that definitely deserves wall space! You don’t order them as a kit, as you choose your own colours and your own stitches so each one becomes an individual work of art. I cannot wait to have a go but I’m determined to be patient and finish my other embroidery projects first. Here is the one I’ve ordered….eek!

Anyway, I digress, back to the goals…

3. Sew in the ends on all 240 of these colourful itty bitty beauties…

4. Finish my mystery projects. I don’t want to say what this is going to be just yet as I’m really not sure how it will turn out but it should be finished by the end of the weekend…

As well as all the projects I have on the go, I will be flying back to England for some of half term week with little Miss. Whilst I’m back I’m very lucky to be taking part in a ‘sew your own jumper’ workshop with Sophie Bell-Carr at Huxter. If you have never seen her work, do go and have a look at her website. She makes the most amazing clothes for little people (and adults) and I’m very excited to have the opportunity to learn how to make a jumper for little Miss. Hopefully, using the sewing machine again will get me back into machine sewing and give me the kick up the backside that I need to get the bunting finished that’s all cut out and ready to be sewn see here. I will dedicate a whole blog post to the workshop once I have been and let you all know how it went.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Karen x

April project round up

Ok, ok, so I know we’re into May already but it has been a very busy week and all I’ve wanted to do in the evenings has been crochet or sleep, so in my usual monthly project review fashion I’m a few days late!

I’m actually sitting here with a very big smile on my face because for once I very very nearly completed my project goals for the month.

It gives me tremendous pleasure to say that the bright stripes blanket is now finished after approximately 6 months. Here’s a sneaky peak but it will have its own post very shortly, once I’ve photographed it in all its glory.

I have now made well over 200 itty bitty squares for a blanket for Little Miss and am getting ready to start the joining process…eek, exciting.

The Winter berry embroidered hoop is halfway through but I’m not too worried that I didn’t finish it as planned as it hasn’t really been the weather to stitch a wintry scene so my heart hasn’t really been in it, at the moment I want to be surrounded by bright colours that reflect the beautiful weather we’ve been having and all the gorgeous shade of colour that can be seen outside at the moment.

I’ve also done a couple of other makes that weren’t on the list. I went a bit Mandala mad see post. Since then I’ve made another one from the beads that were left over and I think this is my favourite:

I also made this Scrabble tile picture for my husbands 5oth, I couldn’t let him get away without having something handmade for such a milestone birthday.

As the weather has been so glorious here on and off throughout April, I’ve done lots of outdoor things too (post to follow). All in all it’s been a productive month with lots of fun family time and I’m happy with that.

Karen x x

April project goals

Just a quick post to record my project goals for April:

This WILL be the month I FINALLY finish the bright stripes blanket! Here it was before I sewed in the ends:

To reach a total of at least 200 itty bitty squares in the bright colour way,

(I currently have 137 and have calculated that I need 288 to make a single sized bed blanket but with my track record recently I’d be pushing it to try to reach that in a month!)

Finish the winter craftpod berry embroidery
Finish iron bead mandalas: these should be finished tomorrow, I’m very excited about them!

This month I am determined to complete everything on my list!! Hmmm, where have you heard that before!

Karen x

Thank you 2017, welcome 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I know its a couple of days late but hey ho, its the thought that counts!

New year is a time where we like to look forward to the year ahead and what we hope it will bring, along with our goals to achieve. Whilst I do like to do this, I think its important first of all to look back at the last year and to give thanks for all the good times it brought.

2017 was, on the whole a good year for our family. Of course there were some difficult times, especially the loss of a dear relative just before Christmas. However, lots of good times were also had and what better way to celebrate than with pictures:

January brought with it a fair bit of crocheting, mostly in the form of hats:

February marked the first of our holidays, with a trip to Holland and the start of the granny stripe/ mojo blanket :

March was all about the flowers and lots of crafting with little miss:

April marked the second break of the year, a few days away in Oberhausen and not forgetting my first half marathon of the year:

May was the month in which I was introduced to a lovely little ceramic studio and the start of my addiction to ceramic painting. There was also a visit to England, including running the Liverpool half marathon:

In June I ran my third half marathon of the year, took part in a charity 5km run and had a few nice family local days out:

July was the only month in which I didn’t post anything here but it was a busy month with 2 trips back to the UK for weddings and a visit by my lovely Mum and Dad and 2 of our nephews and nieces.

What a relaxing month August was with a 2 week holiday in the caravan at the Norfolk broads:

In September I ran the Berlin marathon for the second time, raising over £500 and also finished making the squares for the eclectic mix granny squares blanket:

October finally marked the completion of the eclectic mix large granny squares blanket and some heart bunting :

November was all about organising my craft room and completing the granny stripe/ mojo blanket:

December was a busy month. Crafting wise it was all about making Christmas cards. It was also the month our little girl turned 4, we went on Santa’s steam train, visited Christmas markets, had snow, had a visit from dear friends, had some more snow and topped the year off with a fabulous Christmas with family back in England:

Looking ahead to 2018

I tend not to make too many ‘resolutions’ as I think we have a tendency to start the year off setting unrealistic expectations for ourselves and setting ourselves up for failure within the first couple of weeks of the new year. With this in mind I have just set myself a few goals which I hope to achieve this year:

Build up my blog readership (I’m not certain that anyone has actually been reading my blog for the last year and a half. If you read it regularly, please do let me know, so I can stop singing “All by myself…” Bridget Jones’ style as I’m typing )
Assign more time to crafting (my Fridays off are going to be dedicated to crafting and building up new crafty skills)
To make items to sell at a craft stall (I’ve been meaning to do this for years and have just never got round to it but I’m determined that this will be the year!)
To start machine sewing again (the poor sewing machine hasn’t seen the light of day in the last 2 years!)
To build on my photography skills and find my way around my new Camera (a Christmas present from my lovely other half).

As well as the above, there may be a bit of running squeezed in with possibly a few half marathons (I’ve got to keep feeding my medal addiction!) but absolutely no full marathons this year!

Have you set yourself any goals you’d be happy to share? I’d love to hear them.

Here’s to a fantastic 2018 and most of all… happy crafting.

Karen x

3D heart bunting

I actually made these hearts a couple of years ago, inspired by an episode of Kirsty Allsops handmade Christmas programmes. I got a bit carried away with making lots of hearts but never actually got around to doing anything with them until now. In the half term holiday I had a look through my wips and decided that I was going to try to steadily work my way through them, so many of them being so near completion. So, I set about sewing loops onto the hearts and then sliding them onto a length of ribbon and sewing them in to place to stop them slipping. It literally took me about an hour, I’ve no idea really why I didn’t get around to it before 🙄 But as with all wips that stay wips for a while, other crafty makes just seem to come to the forefront.

Anyway, here is the finished bunting 😀

Here is how I made the hearts:

1. Draw around a heart shape twice on the reverse of the material and cut out.

2. Draw around the same heart on bondaweb and cut out.

3. Iron the bondaweb onto the reverse of one of the hearts and remove the backing.

4 Pin the hearts with reverse sides touching ( if you want to sew any buttons or embellishments on do it before pinning)

5. Using embroidery thread sew a running stitch around the heart, leaving a small hole for the stuffing. Don’t tie the thread off and leave enough for a couple more stitches.

6. Stuff the heart and finish the running stitch. Not on the back of the heart or if possible hide the knot inside the heart.

7. Iron around the edges of the heart to seal the bondaweb to the second heart.

Im really pleased with how the bunting turned out and although it hasn’t been hung up yet is almost certainly going to be an addition to my craft room. I’ve still got lots of 3D hearts left and even more cut out ready to make so there may be more bunting to come soon.

Karen X