#34 What a hoot

From being as little as I can remember, I’ve loved a freebie.

I’m talking rooting to the bottom of a freshly opened box of cereal or eating crisp flavours I didn’t even like, just to be in with a chance of winning a prize. I even used to choose comics I wasn’t remotely interested in just because there was a free gift winking seductively at me through the cellophane.

Fast forward 20-something years and why should I be any different?

Cross stitching is, after all, my greatest hobby, I actually enjoy reading my cross stitch magazines and, the cherry on the cake: they all come with a freebie. JACKPOT!

For my personal taste and pattern preference, I find Crosstitcher to have the best monthly gifts, and I thought I’d share the current mini WIP I’m working on at the moment.

A wise owl scissor case and keeper set.

I particularly love the design and colours. It’s bold, bright and fun. I also like that you’re left to do some of the difficult stuff for yourself, namely the cutting and hemming the aida. You’re also expected to back the pattern with the felt provided too.

Though I’ve not got that far yet, I’m hoping to have a little fun with mine and dig some of the many embellishments I’ve got tucked away in my craft cave.

My advice to anyone unsure of starting a mini-craft project such as this: make it your own – that way you can’t ever go wrong and it’s a piece that’s personable to you and one of a kind.

Give this one a go – it’s a hoot!

J x

#33 My Everest Part V: The Summit

I did it.

I finally did it.

Yes, I might have been shattered and broken, I might have had to pull a cross stitch all-nighter – well, up until 2am, up again at 6am – not to mention stitching the full five-hour car journey on the way just to make sure I did it – but that’s not the point.

The point is, I did it.

Perfect Penelope Rose has her Tiny Tatty afghan blanket and I could not be happier to have presented it to her.

And here it is – tassels and all.

For those of you who have followed my journey you’ll know that this has not been the easiest project I’ve ever undertaken. It’s been challenging, draining and down-right nerve-wracking at times.

As I started to pull away at the afghan material to make the tassels I had my heart in my mouth *what if I’ve put all these hours in and I mess it up now* but it went better than expected (finger blisters and rope burns aside).

It sounds like I don’t have anything positive to say about this blanket, but in actuality I’m lost without it.

Mummy, Daddy and Penelope were all delighted with it, which of course, is all that matters, but I have to say I’m really going to miss looking down at those little bears, pastel shades and the excitement I got every time I got to French knot those little eyes onto the faces of each bear – bringing them to life.

Though I won’t be rushing into another blanket anytime soon, it was a real pleasure to make something I know my friend will keep forever and I can tell Penelope about one day when she’s old enough to understand.

I feel like a better cross stitcher for it too, knowing I not only have the skill to complete such a large project, but the confidence and determination to start it and, more importantly, see it through to the end no matter how steep the incline.

So, thanks P, for being a part of my life tapestry.

My empty tension hoop won’t be empty for long as I’ve already hit the craft barns and cross stitch magazines in earnest looking for my next projects.

That can only mean one thing: watch out world, the blogger is back.

J x