May = Cross Stitch Mania

 As I look back over what I stitched on last month and my stats,  I’m very pleased that I completed everything I had set out to do, and that was to have five new starts – one for each weekend in the month.

In actual fact I did better than that and managed 6, five of which were finishes. 

I also stitched on one of my wips too, not bad when you consider that I also had a four day break away and for the first time in ages I didn't take any stitching with me, so I only stitched on 27 day this month.

You have already seen the progress on my wip – Bluebird of Happiness from Cottage Garden Samplings. 

You have also seen the first of my new starts, which was also a finish. 

’5 Gold Rings’ , one the panels from  Bothy Threads, ’12 Days of Christmas’.

New start and finish No.2  was Floral Etchings 2 from  Heart in Hand Needlecrafts,

I’m calling these the summer panels, and when they are 

ffo’d they will be swapped into the gold ornate frame which currently has Floral Etchings 1 in it.

New start and finish No.3  was the first of the two Christmas ornaments that I stitch each year for my goddaughter’s two girls.

This is the Jim Shaw kit ‘Angel with Lantern’ which is a  Mill Hill Kit from 123 Stitch.

The final 3 new starts, two of which were also finishes, were panels from  Primrose Cottage, ‘Beach Rules’ ,

that will be ffo'd into pin pillows.

Beach Rules,

Soak up the Sun,

And a small start on 'Ride the Waves'.

I’m hoping to get my sewing machine out over the weekend and try and get some of this little lot ffo’d!

My next new start is already lined up and ready to go because now we are into June and that can only mean one thing…..

Cross Stitch Camp 2026, hosted by Sheri,  Colorado Cross Stitcher.

As always, Sheri has designed a free camp badge which I will

stitch and add to my camp project bag.

As you can see, I've participated in Camp for a good few years now and the back of my project bag is full, so this will be the first badge on the front.

Our task for June is to stitch a chart from a magazine and I’ve decided to stitch ‘A stitch for All Seasons’ from the Summer 2026 issue of Just Cross Stitch.

I thought these little quilt inspired pin pillows were so cute and I think I will eventually stitch all four of them, but for now I’m going to stitch the summer (blue) one.

I’m using a piece of 14ct unknown Aida and various thread from stash.  Some are the called for and others are substitutes.

See you all by that camp fire!

 

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue x

Sad News Today

Almost 15 years to the day this little boy came into my life.

Not only was he a sweet little chap, he was pretty rare too, being a male tortoiseshell  –  Apparently only 1 in 400,000 are male and he very nearly made it to his 17^th birthday, which would have been on the 1^st of December.

 Formally known as Jack, he was living at the Chestnut Cat Sanctuary, in Thornwood, Essex but I was lucky enough to become his new mum.

I re-named him BoJangles and over the years he has given me so much pleasure, due to his sweet nature, but sadly today he had to cross Rainbow Bridge after having been treated for an overactive thyroid for many years which finally ended with tumours in his liver. 

You will be missed so much BoJangles  but I have so many wonderful memories to treasure and you will never be forgotten

Rest in Peace little man. xxxxx

The Nativity

 Having searched for some time to find the perfect Nativity set to knit or crochet  for my God-Daughter's two girls, I finally settled on this one from Knitables .com and downloaded it.  

I made a few little changes to the original, adding more Gold trim and beads on the three kings and an embroidered blanket, complete with tassels on the camel, but  I decided to omit adding the feet to the figures, as I was having trouble getting mine to stand….they looked like they had been at the ‘Christmas Spirit, Lol!

The pattern said to put a circle of card in the bottom of each of them but I found that wasn’t heavy enough, so after some thought  I added circles of air dry clay, which seemed to solve the problem.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  

 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said unto them, “Do not be afraid. I bring good tidings of great joy for all the people. 

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”    So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

  

  The stable was made by the girls Granddad and the girls set up the scene, but I'm not quite sure why the shepherds are standing on the roof.

Please stay safe in these uncertain times and

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

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Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

 

Time for the ‘C’ Word

 Yes, it’s finally time to get down to some of my Christmas crafting.

While I was searching for preemie baby patterns during the summer, I came across the fabulous website   Kerry Jayne Designs.  

I think what drew me to the site was the beautiful colours that Kerry Jayne uses for her designs and the way all the different collections mix and match with one another.  I also loved the convenience of being able to download the patterns immediately, which is perfect when you’re as impatient as I am to get started once I’ve decided what I’m going to make.

I hear you asking what all of that has to do with the ‘C’ word…….

Well, as well as her patterns for the baby clothes, she also has patterns for Homeware, Halloween and Christmas…..there, I got to it!

 A friend of mine had also been browsing the site, came across the Christmas Collection and asked if I could make the Santa Bunting for her.

The pattern was downloaded immediately, but sadly I still had to wait for my King Cole, Big Value Chunky from The Wool Warehouse  to be delivered.  

Fortunately they were as efficient as always and I had it within a few days and made a start.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I hate waste, so with some of the leftover yarn a made this little angle using a free pattern from Oombawka Design.com

And then I used up the Red and Cream by making two Poinsettia Candle Holders, using a free pattern from Highland Hickory Designs.com, adding some Green wool from my stash.

Please stay safe in these uncertain times and

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

 

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

Family Hero’s, every one of them!

 

As we approach that special time of year, when we remember the brave people who fought so bravely for our country, it’s all the more poignant that due to the current situation caused by Covid 19 they are unable to march so proudly at the Cenotaph.

It’s important that, with the old veterans unable to be out on the streets selling poppies due to social distancing, that we remember to donate on line, as I have done already.

Craft wise, I decided to show my support by taking down the Rainbow coloured bunting that has been hanging in my bedroom window since March, in support of our NHS and replacing  it with some Poppies, so I made this.

I'll try and write the pattern and add it later.

Please stay safe in these uncertain times and

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

 

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

 

No Excuses!

Having had so much time on my hands over the last few months, I’ve absolutely no excuse for not updating my blog.

Unfortunately I’ve been unable to do any cross stitch. (my first love). 

Because of complications during an operation to remove a cataract back in 2018, I was left with double vision in my Left eye and awful glaring from any bright lights.

I did try to work on ‘A Heart Full Of Gratitude’ from The Songbirds Garden series, which I started back in May, but it's worked on 36 count linen and I have to work with a magnifier and lamp.

You can guess where this is going!

The glare from the lamp and the tiny stitches were proving to much of a strain on my eye, so I finally had to give in and put it away, but the good news is that last week I finally got to see a consultant and they are going to do laser treatment, which hopefully will improve things.  Fingers crossed I don’t have to wait too long for the appointment, although, with another lockdown starting next week, who knows.

Anyway, on the upside, I’ve still been able to knit and crochet and have been continuing to keep busy.

Firstly I wanted to use up the oddments of wool left over from making the rainbows at the start of the first lockdown back in March………I hate waste!

I made a bunting to hang in my window, consisting of crochet, padded hearts and pompoms. 

Then it was back to knitted and crocheted items for the NICU at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow and I was able to send them a largish parcel of clothes, a bunny, 3 blankets, and some Octopi (or Octopuses if you prefer) back in August.

I’ve still more to catch up with, so don’t forget to pop back.

 

Please stay safe in these uncertain times and

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

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Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

Lockdown Lifting

After isolating for 15 weeks and only venturing out for shopping once every two weeks or so, things are finally getting back to some sort of normality at last.   

If I’m honest though, I’m not really in much of a hurry to mix with too many people and am happy to keep my distance, but having said that, it was wonderful being able to meet with some friends at the weekend and celebrate a special birthday for one of them.

With so much time on my hands, I’ve been busy crocheting more little outfits for the NICU at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow in Essex.

For most of the items I’ve done my own thing but while searching the internet of inspiration I came across the beautiful patterns from Kerry Jayne Designs.

This first set is called Bobtail.  

Sadly the smallest size finished up being too big for the preemie size I was looking for, but I’m sure the unit will still be able to use it.

Preemie Peach Lace Cardigan, Hat and Booties.Lavender Shell Jacket, Hat and BootiesYellow Cardigan and Hat.White and Blue Cardigan, Hat and Booties.Pink Daisy jacket, Hat and Booties.Beanie Hats.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

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Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by.