An update of sorts.

It’s been a few weeks since I published my last post, so thought it was about time I posted a new one, just in case you were worried that I’d vanished off the face of the earth. ;-)

After completing the Blackwork birthday card, I started work on a cross-stitch kit that I’d purchased at the International Craft and Hobby Fair in March. I’m currently unable to say anything about it, other than the fact I have finished the cross-stitching, and am part-way through the back-stitching.

In addition to the above, I have been busy with non-stitching projects. At the beginning of the year, I enrolled on a Level 2 ITQ course with Learn Direct. ITQ (Information Technology Qualification) has replaced ECDL, which stands for European Computer Driving Licence. All being well, it will lead to an internationally respected, vocational qualification in basic personal computing skills. If I am to stand a chance of getting myself a job working as a Data Entry Clerk, I will require that qualification.

Before Easter, I completed and passed the Microsoft Word module. On the whole, I found it relatively easy because I was familiar with using Word. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t learn a few new skills, because I did. I am currently part-way through the Microsoft Access (database) module, which I have until July to complete. My knowledge of Access is limited, and I’m not ashamed to admit that after an hour or two of studying, my brain feels fried, and I’ve had enough. I find that I have to make a lot of notes, and repeatedly go over what I’ve already studied, in order for it to sink in.

I have also been keeping myself physically active by doing some long-overdue weeding, which has included uprooting some unwanted trees, or at least they would be trees if left to grow (The circumference of the tree trunks is smaller than the circumference of my wrists). Unfortunately, the soil I am working with contains a lot of heavy clay, so I’ve had to use a mattock to break it up, in order to get down to the roots. To complicate matters, there are concrete foundations getting in the way. Obviously, I don’t want to intentionally damage the foundations, but I have to say that they are an absolute nuisance.

Blackwork Birthday Card

I’m pleased to announce that I have completed the 80^th birthday card for one of my dad’s cousins, featuring Jeanne Dansby’s blackwork Flower design.

In my previous post (In Stitches), I had reported that I needed to add some final additions to the design. After completing that task, I had hoped to add some stitched text to the design, but unfortunately discovered that there wasn’t enough space. I briefly toyed with the idea of purchasing a larger-sized card, with a larger-sized aperture. However, because the Flower design is quite small, I decided that a larger-sized card wouldn’t do the design justice.

I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could add text to the front of the card. If I were skilled in the art of calligraphy, it would have been one option to consider. Eventually, I decided to stitch the text, using pink and silver thread, so that it would tie in with the colours used in the design, and then adhere it to the card itself. I was incredibly lucky as I literally had just enough silver thread. I must remember to purchase some more.

Below is an image of the front of the card. If you click on it, a new tab/window will open displaying a larger-sized image.

Front of card

I placed a blank insert sheet inside the card, and used Microsoft Word to add a suitable message. All I can say is that I’m glad I recently passed my ITQ Word exam, as I was required to draw upon my recently acquired skills. The first step was to measure the width and length of the insert, and then change the Page Setup to reflect the dimensions, and change the page orientation to Landscape. Next, I inserted a borderless table (for the text), which was great fun (Not!). I think it took me three attempts to get the position of it just right.

In Stitches

Whenever I visit my blog, one of the first things I usually do is check to to see if any of my blogging friends have posted anything new. Well, I was in absolute stitches when I read the latest post by Eglantine Stitchery, which included an extremely passionate rant about whipstitching. I had never previously heard of whipstitching, and can safely say that I hope I never have cause to try my hand at it!

Anyway, as it's been a while since I last posted anything, I thought it was about time I brought all of you lovely people up to speed on what I've been doing (stitch-wise).

Here in the UK, we celebrated Mothering Sunday on April 3rd, and my gift to my mother was a couple of bookmarks. They were both magazine freebie kits, although I have to confess that one of the bookmarks was actually a very belated gift, which I had intended to give my mother for her birthday, almost a year ago! As the saying goes, better late than never. Lol.

Belated gift for my mother

Mother's Day 2011

I made the tassels for both bookmarks, and have to say that I felt rather pleased with them. I had decided that I wanted the tassels to be quite chunky, unlike the tassels I had made for the Dimensions Elegant Bookmarks.

More recently, I tried my hand at a simple blackwork design by Jeanne Dansby, called Flower. It's not finished yet, but because I'm such a jolly nice person [cough, splutter], I thought I'd treat you to a sneaky preview.

Flower by Jeanne Dansby

I was inspired by Eglantine Stitchery, after seeing her Metallic Monarch Variation, which I consider to be absolutely stunning!

My intention is to add silver seed beads to the centre of the yellow flowers, and also to the four small squares near the centre of the design. In addition, I need to add some filling stitches to the petals of the centre flower. There will be another picture to follow, as soon as this project is complete.

International Craft and Hobby Fair (UK)

Several weeks ago, I was asked by my good friend Rainy Day Crafter if I fancied accompanying her to the ICHF at the NEC in Birmingham. As I had never previously attended anything like that, but have always wanted to, I jumped at the chance.

The plan for the big day (last Thursday) was that I would catch the train at 08:45, and Rainy Day Crafter would board the train a few stops further down the line. Unfortunately, I overslept, so it was a matter of me having to meet Rainy Day Crafter at the NEC itself, by which time her feet and legs were aching, and in dire need of a rest.

The ICHF was vast, with plenty to see. The tickets allowed entry into three separate events, all under the same roof (Hobbycrafts, Sewing for Pleasure, and Fashion Embroidery and Stitch). Because my incredibly late arrival had given Rainy Day Crafter plenty of time to look around, she was able to point me in the direction of a couple of stalls that she thought I might like.

The first stall I visited had a selection of gorgeous blackwork kits on display. There were so many that I liked the look of, and I felt frustrated that my funds were limited. After much thought, I treated myself to BW194 Dancing in the Dark by designer Jill Cater-Nixon (Classic Embroidery), and BW210 Lady and Dog (Holbein Embroideries).

BW194 Dancing in the Dark

BW210 Lady and Dog

I then had a look at the Michael Powell stall, and was thrilled to see the man himself. I had to refrain from shreiking, "It's you! My mother loves your work! Please can I have your autograph?" Lol.

Later, after spotting the Itch to Stitch workshop by the Cross Stitch Guild, Rainy Day Crafter was shown the basics of blackwork on Evenweave fabric, and I was shown how to improve my French Knots. Afterwards, we were both given a sample of Evenweave fabric, a selection of different-coloured threads, and a basic blackwork pattern. From a distance, we also got to see the stitching goddess, otherwise known as Jane Greenoff.

The ICHF was absolutely crammed full of people, but I did manage to take some photographs of items made by members of the Quilters Guild.

 

 

 

Aside from the fact that I arrived late at the NEC, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and would very much like to attend another ICHF event. Ideally, after I've had time to save up a considerable amount of money!

Irish Hang-Up & St. Patrick's Day Greeting Card

At the beginning of last month, I had a brainwave of sorts (yes, I do get them occasionally). I have a friend living in Ireland, and I thought it might be a lovely surprise to stitch a St. Patrick’s Day card for her, especially as I had never previously stitched anything for her. I looked on the internet to see if I could find a kit, or a pattern, but was unable to find anything that took my fancy. However, I persevered, and eventually found a pattern on the Arts and Designs website for an Irish Hang-up. The design was bright, bold, and cheerful-looking, and just the sort of thing I had been looking for. In addition, it looked incredibly simple to stitch (no fractional stitches), so I went ahead and ordered it.

I was approximately half-way through stitching the design when I realised with horror that I had overlooked some important information in the instructions. When I had cut my piece of Aida, I had allowed for excess, but not as much as I should have done. I put what I had stitched to one side, and started afresh with a larger piece of Aida.

Below is the picture of the Irish Hang-up, which is on the cover of the pattern leaflet. As you can see, ribbon has been secured to the felt, which has been tied in a bow.

 

Irish Hang-Up designed by Diane Arthurs

 

I decided against using ribbon, and instead opted to use a hanger, even though I had never previously stitched anything that had required me to use a hanger. Anyway, as luck would have it, I happened to have one stored away, which had been a freebie with one of my stitching magazines, and seemed perfect.

Before I could progress to using the hanger, I had to secure wadding to a piece of card, place the design over the wadding, and then secure the excess Aida to the back of the card. I found this to be quite tricky, and in hindsight think that I should have used thicker card.

The next step was to cut a piece of felt, remembering to allow enough excess to secure it to the hanger. I then had to secure my stitched piece to the felt, and trim the felt with pinking shears, which I also found quite challenging.

As you will see from the pictures below, the hang-up I made looks far from perfect, but not too bad for a first attempt.

Front of the Irish Hang-Up

Back of the Irish Hang-Up

You may be wondering what I did with the stitched piece I had put aside. Well, after completing the design (minus the wording), I made it into a St. Patrick’s Day card, but this also proved challenging. I had wanted to use a double-fold card with a rectangular aperture, but had been unsuccessful in finding anything suitable. Therefore, it was a matter of having to use my initiative and make one.

I opted to use A4-sized glossy photo card, folded in half. I used an image I had found on the internet, and printed it on what was to be the front of the greeting card, before cutting the aperture. Having positioned and secured the Aida, I then secured white card to the inside of the greeting card, to conceal the back of the Aida. 

St. Patrick's Day Greeting Card

Believe it or not, I've had this blog entry saved as a draft for just over a week. Because I didn't want to risk spoiling the surprise for my friend, I wasn't prepared to publish the blog post until I was sure that she had received it. I'm pleased to report that it arrived today, in time for St. Patrick's Day.

 

My mother and Rainy Day Crafter were both in on the surprise, and although they had seen photographs of the hang-up, I don't think they had seen one of the card.

By the way, if you click on any of the images above, a new window will open displaying a larger image.

80th Birthday Dilemma & WIP

I am currently experiencing something of a dilemma. My dad has a cousin who will be celebrating her 80^th birthday during the Easter weekend. We don’t have a close relationship, and I seldom see her. However, I’ve been invited to a birthday ‘do’, and because it’s such a milestone birthday, I have been thinking that perhaps it would be a nice gesture to make a stitched greeting card.

During recent days, I have been looking on the internet for a suitable pattern or card kit, but just cannot seem to find anything that leaps off the page at me, and makes me think, “Wow!” As I have a vast collection of Cross Stitch Card Shop and Cross Stitch Crazy magazines, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to find something that takes my fancy.

Putting the above aside, my latest WIP is Dimensions Gold Collection Petites – Golden Puppy.

Dimensions Gold Collection Petites - Golden Puppy

 

It is being stitched on 18-count ivory cotton Aida, and consists of full cross stitches, half cross stitches, and a couple of French knots, in addition to back stitches. For reasons that I cannot fathom, the masking tape I’m using (to attach the Aida to my No-Sew Roller Frame) doesn’t seem to want to adhere to the Aida. I’ve not experienced this problem previously, so I’m completely stumped. I even tried using double-side adhesive tape (in addition to the masking tape), which proved to be a waste of time. As a result of the problems I’m experiencing, I fear it could be a while before my WIP is completed.

All being well, I will be posting another blog before the end of this week, about a couple of items that I recently completed.  As the saying goes, watch this space!

A visit to Betty Stitchkit

Since I finished the Tatty Teddy project, I’ve been working on four more projects, but am currently unable to say too much about them, as they are all being stitched as gifts.

Two of the items are from a pattern I ordered from the Arts and Designs website, and the other two items are kits that were magazine freebies.

At least one of the items needs to be backed with green felt, and I realised that the piece I’d purchased from Betty Stitchkit last week wasn’t going to be large enough.

Today, my mother took me back to Betty Stitchkit, so that I could buy a larger piece of green felt, and some more DMC thread. I had taken along the piece of felt I had purchased last week, in order to ensure that I purchased a larger piece in the same shade of green.

The DMC thread was 60p, and the large piece of felt (which is plenty big enough) was £3.45, but Sharon (the owner of the shop) said I could have it for £3. She then said that if I wanted to, I could return the original piece of felt. Instead of paying a total of £4.05, I ended up paying £3.10, so left the shop feeling very happy.

My mother had opted to wait for me in the car, and although I had told her that I wouldn’t be long, she was somewhat taken aback when I returned to the car after a matter of minutes. I love visiting Betty Stitchkit, as there are so many items to browse. Today’s visit will go down in history, as it’s the first time that I’ve resisted the temptation to get carried away, and treat myself to a carrier bag full of goodies.  After a previous visit, my dad had commented that it’s not the sort of shop I should visit frequently, because there are far too many items I like and want to buy.

Aside from the usual things, such as thread, felt, and cross-stitch kits, I have recently treated myself to a few must-have goodies. Having previously used Siesta Interlocking Bar Frames, I thought I would give their No-Sew Roller Frames a try. I now have a “mini” No-Sew Roller Frame kit, which includes a pair of 6” rollers, 9” rollers, and 6” side bars. It’s perfect for small projects such as bookmarks, bell pulls, and cards. In addition, I have a kit with 12” rollers, and 9” side bars. Over the years, I have tried various frames and hoops, and can honestly say that the Siesta No-Sew Roller Frames are the best I’ve used to date. They are easy to assemble, do an excellent job of keeping the fabric taut, and I would recommend them to any stitcher. In addition, all one requires to attach the fabric to the rollers is masking tape. What I would really like to invest in at some point, is a kit that will enable me to convert my Siesta No-Sew Roller Frames into a lap stand.

Bexfield Cushion-Soft 8½" Multi-Use Scissors

Siesta No-Sew Roller Frame