Helen's Hobbies

February WiPocalypse

2012-02-07T19:49:00.000Z

Not much to show on the Duck in the Rain so I'm only posting an update on the Spanish Sampler.

Quick update

2012-01-29T17:03:00.000Z

A little bit more stitched on part 8 of the Spanish Sampler. I've enjoyed this section the least - other sections flowed easily when being stitched but this one seems to be all stops and starts. Not much more to go, though...

TUSAL 2012

2012-01-25T17:44:00.001Z

My first TUSAL post of the year and not very much to show:

Hopefully I'll have stitched a lot more by the next new moon!

Here's the link to Daffycat's blog, which is always worth a read even if you're not taking part in the TUSAL :-) http://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/

WiPocalypse 1

2012-01-10T19:56:00.000Z

Typical that I miss posting on the proper day right at the beginning of the SAL! Anyway, here are the duck in rain and the Spanish sampler (part 8) which are the only two designs I'm working on at the moment.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T15:58:00.001Z

Well, didn't 2011 go quickly?! Christmas flew as well (as usual) and it's back to work tomorrow so no more late nights, late mornings, afternoon stitching or chocolate. I've been very bad with the choccies the last few weeks so my one and only resolution is to not eat any more...

I'll start with an end - this is the culmination of my 2011 TUSAL.

I didn't keep up with posting every full moon but I'm going to try my best this year.

I also did quite a lot of stitching on the Spanish Sampler and finished part 7 on New Year's Eve, so quite pleased with that:

Finally, my stitching list for the WiPocalypse. Not much different to last year and doesn't include any knitting but it'll keep me busy for a while!

1. Spanish Sampler (Periphaeria free 2008 project) (large)
2. Cards/bookmarks to sell for Many Tears Animal Rescue
3. Juggy Bug 2008 Year Sampler (medium)
4. Brushstroke butterfly (http://www.cyberstitchers.com/) (smallish)
5. Duck in rain (medium)
6. Cameo Silk hardanger by Judy Dixon (medium)
7. A Garden in Blue by The Design Connection (medium)
8. Spots of Fun by Debbie Draper (11 stitches in - a long way to go!) (medium)
9. Spanish Rouge by Sampler Cove (1 line stitched!) (extra large!!)
10. Un-named freebie hardanger piece, cutting to be done (small)
11. A Walk on the Beach by Dimensions (smallish)
12. Cottage by Janlynn (small)
13. Blue Waters by Heritage Stitchcraft (medium, but it's got those stupid side-ways half stitches)
14. Hardanger Diamond by Suzanne Parnell (small)
15. Musical Comfort by Janlynn (medium)
16. "B" design for friend's Mum (medium)

I'm going to finish the Spanish Sampler, work on the duck in the rain then start on the B design for Jackie's Mum... that's the plan, anyway :-)

Some Spanish Sampler Seven

2011-12-14T15:57:00.000Z

Ok, that's it for the aliteration... Anyway, I've started part seven of the Spanish Sampler. I doubt very much whether I'll get it all done before 2012 but I'm planning to do a lot of stitching over Christmas so, who knows?!

I've also joined the WiPocalypse - http://measi.net/measiblog/2012-wipocalypse/wipocalypse-faq/ - to give myself another boost to try and stitch more in 2012. Between that and the huge number of UFOs, WiPs, stuff that I want to make for Many Tears and all the knitting I'm planning I need something to gee me up!

Quick Update

2011-11-20T19:08:00.000Z

Part 6 of the Spanish Sampler is finished! Only four more parts to go...

Well, it's about time!

2011-11-13T15:15:00.001Z

So... only about three months since my last post! Things have been pretty busy, especially with fundraising for Many Tears. Jayne and I raised £210 from a table top sale in Pontyberem - lots of work but well worth it in the end. I've been doing a bit of stitching for the rescue as well:

The heart card sold for £1.20 on eBay

but this one hasn't sold yet and may go to a Christmas fete in a couple of weeks time. I've finished another one and with yet another card and a square for Granny's Quilts part-done I've actually been pretty busy stitch-wise.

Beatrix was framed as well, by the framers in Darkgate, Carmarthen who did an absolutely fantastic job:

Finally, on the stitching side, I've picked up the Spanish Sampler again, thanks to the UFO night at Stitch Clubs:

There are four parts left to stitch after this block is finished and though I'd love to get it done by the New Year I don't see it happening somehow :-)

Right, off to watch a repeat of Marple which I recorded last night and perhaps do some more cross stitching... although my knitting is falling behind too...

I'm about to start a new hobby!

2011-08-19T16:52:00.000+01:00

I've just had confirmation that I've been accepted on a quilting and patchwork course for beginners starting mid September :-) I hope that there's enough interest for the course to go ahead. When I was going through the Community Courses booklet I was shocked to see only two foreign language courses offered - French and beginners Spanish - but the crafting section is pretty good - Christmas crafts, flower arranging, knitting etc.

I need to provide my own materials (not surprisingly) and wonder whether I need to get hold of some fat quarters or just various bits of material. Hopefully, there'll be more info once they know whether the course is a definite or not...

I've managed to get hold of a patchwork book on Bookmooch so will have to have a quick read before the course.

Free clipart from http://dlstewart.com/

I really need to get into the habit

2011-08-17T16:46:00.000+01:00

of posting more often! I always start the year full of good intentions but they fade within a few months... At least I have something to post - a finish and a restart!

Beatrix is done - I thoroughly enjoyed stitching this design and very proud of the finished piece:

Now to get it framed...

Next on the list is another UFO - the Spanish Sampler. Here's where I left it last year (or was it 2009?!) and I've already finished the part-done block and about half of the next section. I'd love to finish this by Christmas - not a major problem if not, but it's a deadline to aim for:

I've also started three little designs for bookmarks/cards to sell for MT. I'm aiming to get a few things done for a craft fayre in October - let's hope they sell!

Just finished an absolutely brilliant book - The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It's written as a series of letters from a writer to people who had lived under the German Occupation - it's funny, sad and hopeful and one of the best books I've ever read.

Hallelujah!

2011-06-07T17:10:00.000+01:00

At long last I've done some stitching on Beatrix. With only two large, one medium and four small motifs left to do there's hope that I'll get it done this year! Next on the list is to finish the Spanish Sampler but I'm definitely finishing this first!

March TUSAL

2011-03-07T15:29:00.000Z

Late again and not a lot to show...

February TUSAL

2011-02-03T18:45:00.000Z

Yay! I'm posting on time this month :-) Just blues and pinks so far so looking quite pretty... I forgot to mention last time - a major thanks to Daffycat for organising the TUSAL this year. It's fun and silly but surprisingly addictive. If anyone wants to join then see daffycat's blog (which is always full of lovely stitchy stuff as well) http://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/

Crikey!

2011-01-30T15:54:00.000Z

This is the 5th post in one month - unheard of from me!

Anyway, here's my progress on Beatrix:

I want to get this brushstroke butterfly UFO done as well. I started it last year but I think that doing the pink one has reminded me how much I enjoy stitching this design. I'm definitely going to do more and I did like the one made in all different shades of pink so I'm tempted to do more like that in blues, oranges and purples. That's the plan, anyway...

Both these pictured here are on my Up 4 a Challenge list so hopefully I'll get two done and dusted in the next couple of months.

First finish of 2011!

2011-01-22T14:47:00.000Z

Mid (ish) January and I've actually finished something! This butterfly will be on its way to Love Quilts UK on Monday. Now, back to Beatrix...

I stayed up until 4:30 this morning to watch Andy Murray in the Australian Open - disappointing match as he won far too easily!! His opponent hardly made him break sweat but the next round should be more exciting. I'd love to see him win this Open...

A quick update

2011-01-20T14:10:00.000Z

I'm stitching this Brushstrokes Butterfly in a SAL with some of the girls from Stitch Clubs (see the link thingie on the top right) and I'm killing two birds with one stone because I signed up to stitch a pink square for Love Quilts UK. I was going to stitch it in vareigated pinks but didn't have any - what I had was a bit too orangey for my liking so I'm just using different shades of Anchor pinks instead.

I've also joined the 2011 Up 4 a Challenge SAL (http://up4achallenge.blogspot.com/) where I've listed 15 UFOs/WIPs which I want to at least work on, if not finish, in 2011. Top of the list is Beatrix which I haven't picked up for a couple of weeks. I know I won't finish all of them because some are pretty big with very few stitches in, but it's a start!

Here's my list...

1. Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler (large)
2. Spanish Sampler (Periphaeria free 2008 project) (large)
3. Juggy Bug 2008 Year Sampler (medium)
4. Brushstroke butterfly (http://www.cyberstitchers.com/) (smallish) Not the one above, I've got another one started!!
5. Duck in rain (Cyberstitchers, I think, though I can't find it!) (medium)
6. Cameo Silk hardanger by Judy Dixon (medium)
7. A Garden in Blue by The Design Connection (medium)
8. Spots of Fun by Debbie Draper (11 stitches in - a long way to go!) (medium)
9. Spanish Rouge by Sampler Cove (1 line stitched!) (extra large!!)
10. Un-named freebie hardanger piece, cutting to be done (small)
11. A Walk on the Beach by Dimensions (smallish)
12. Cottage by Janlynn (small)
13. Blue Waters by Heritage Stitchcraft (medium, but it's got those stupid side-ways half stitches)
14. Hardanger Diamond by Suzanne Parnell (small)
15. Musical Comfort by Janlynn (medium)

Ummm... help!! :-)

First progress of 2011!

2011-01-08T16:05:00.000Z

I very rarely make new year's resolutions (and if I do, I never stick to them) but this year I do hope to update this blog more often. So, hoping to start as I go on... here's my latest photo of Beatrix, taken at the end of December and I have stitched a bit more on her.

I also took a photo of the Spanish Sampler which I haven't worked on for a while but hope to finish this year:

My last finish of 2010 was a square for Love Quilts UK, for a little girl called Laura.

I really enjoyed stitching this, even though there are large blocks of one colour. It was a good one to stitch while watching TV.

TUSAL, TUSAL, TUSAL!!

2011-01-07T19:49:00.000Z

Typical me, I take the photo then forget to post it!! Anyway, here's the first TUSAL of 2011. I decided to empty the 2010 one and start again, just to see how much I stitch in a year. Not much so far, as you can see...

This is where I finished off in 2010, next to a cute Christmas card :-)

Oh dear...

2010-10-31T14:31:00.000Z

If I say that I've been far too busy to post, would you believe me? No? No, me either... :-)

Mind you, I have been a little bit busy recently, what with trying to stitch Christmas squares for Granny's Quilts and some to make up into cards for MT's craft fayre next week. I'm also baking like crazy for the fayre and I've been stitching on BPQS and a new square for Love Quilts. Hmmm... maybe I have been busier than normal...

Good news that Mam's now settled in the home, though she's starting to forget me a little bit. I'm more concerned that she's contented in Argel, to be honest. She's chatting away to the staff and seeing as they're around her 24/7 and I visit once a week, I'm happy about that.

Right, on to the pictures. Stupidly, I didn't take any of the cards before I sent them off (and I know that two of them have already sold!) but here's Beatrix as she was about an hour ago...

I'm not too sure about that brighter blue but I'm not frogging it and I'll try to limit its use. Still really enjoying stitching on this, I'm glad to say :-)

Another oops!

2010-07-31T13:44:00.000+01:00

Well, my plan of posting regularly has obviously gone out the window but I'll try and do better in the second part of the year.

Have done quite a bit of stitching on Beatrix, which I'm thoroughly loving:

I've also done a couple of squares for SOLAK, for a quilt that will hopefully go to my Mum! Photos are fuzzy but hopefully show off the leaves. I've stitched these a couple of times now - they're fun to stitch and look really lovely.

Another update

2010-04-23T17:44:00.000+01:00

I'm quite surprised at myself at how much I'm managing to stitch on this piece - shows how much I'm enjoying it!

I'm currently watching Joanna Lumley's program about travelling down the line and I can feel myself getting itchy feet! I haven't been away on holiday since 2005 and wouldn't mind just a few days away to somewhere like Malta or Guernsey, though my dream holiday is an Alaskan cruise. Ah well, maybe when my mortgage is paid in 2014...

Oops!

2010-04-18T14:45:00.000+01:00

I completely forgot about TUSAL so I'll post both March and April here. Wonder if you can see any difference!?

I've done a bit more on the Beatrix Potter sampler, too. Still thoroughly enjoying working on this!

I've actually finished the motif that's part-started on this photo and I've almost finished another. Feeling quite satisfied with myself, even though I'm not stitching half as much as I'd like...

I won!

2010-02-27T18:58:00.000Z

I very rarely win anything, so a big "Thank you" to Viv of Too Busy to Stitch blog who pulled my name out of the hat first :-) I've finally got round to taking a photo:

From left top to bottom - a flip-flops beaded magnet, six Gentle Art fibres in autumnal colours, a pansies bookmark and a snowman bellpull. I love them all but especially the fibres as I have very few GAST threads.

Thanks again, Viv!

Stitching-wise, not a lot has been done over the last couple of weeks though I'm concentrating whatever stitching time I have on the Beatrix Potter sampler and still enjoying it. Tomorrow is update day on the BPQS blog so I'll post a photo here too.

I've done a little bit of knitting, but not enough to really show off. I need to sew up one of the dog jumpers which I finished knitting a few weeks ago but keep putting that off as well...

I've also got big plans to spring clean the house, even if I just do a little bit here and there every day. One reason is that I'm planning a car boot/table top sale for the animal rescue some time in the summer so need to sort out a lot of stuff for that. Considering I've only been in the house for just over two years I really shouldn't have as much clutter as I do!

February TUSAL

2010-02-14T19:38:00.002Z

Not much fuller than a month ago...

More pics!

2010-02-14T15:33:00.000Z

Now for the stitching. I have done more on Spanish Sampler but won't show a photo until I've finished the current part. I've done a bit more on the Brushstrokes butterfly:

The Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler has had a few more stitches in it too, though after taking this photo I realised that I'd missed a bit so had to frog some of the newest motif!

I'll post my TUSAL a bit later...

Some pics

2010-02-14T15:29:00.000Z

First off, my knitting; both for Many Tears. Yes, the colours of the dog jacket are that bright!

This dog blanket was started a few years back for Battersea Dogs Home but it can go to Many Tears now, instead. It's a lovely soft DK and very easy to knit.

Crikey!

2010-02-13T21:23:00.002Z

I hadn't realised that it's been a month since I last posted!

Today has been good and bad - good, because Wales beat Scotland (just!!), bad because Southampton lost to Portsmouth in the FA Cup (sob!)

I also found a knitting UFO while I was half-heartedly tidying up the box room. It's a rust-coloured dog blanket, very simple k4, p4 pattern but it's looking good so far. Another item to be sold for the animal rescue, hopefully. I'll take a photo tomorrow in natural light.

I've done a bit of stitching over the last few weeks, too, including starting a new (large!) project.

Thoroughly enjoying this weekend's Poirot extravaganza on ITV3, even though I've seen them all before - some of them numerous times! How sad am I... :-)

Had a lovely surprise yesterday - I've won a giveaway on the Too Busy to Stitch blog! One of the reasons I was in the box room earlier was to find a couple of items for my own giveaway so I'll have to go back in there tomorrow and hopefully not get distracted by UFOs next time...

Stitching again!

2010-01-16T18:29:00.007Z

It's so nice to have three new photos to show. One thing about not having internet access is that I did stitch more over the last few weeks. I just have to keep that up now!

First is the brushstrokes butterfly that I'm doing in Anchor 1345 for the Breast cancer quilting group. I think that this will be a fun stitch even though I'm not a huge fan of variegated threads.

Next up is a card I'm stitching for the Many Tears animal rescue. It'll be a cute little dog once it's done :-)

And finally, something for me. The Spanish Sampler is now at part 5 (of 11) I need to concentrate on this so that I can get to another of my larger WIPs or UFOs but the smaller designs are so tempting...

I'm going to try and get into the habit of taking photos every Saturday so that'll be incentive to stitch during the week. That's the plan, anyway!

TUSAL01

2010-01-16T17:24:00.002Z

Here's my first Totally Useless SAL piccie - it would have been a bit fuller but I stupidly threw away some yarn which I'd used to knit/sew up a dog jumper :-)

I'll be posting a few more photos of the pieces which caused these threads over the next few hours.

Yay! I'm back!

2010-01-15T22:51:00.002Z

My faithful 8 year old Dell died a couple of days after Christmas so this is the first time I've been able to blog since. I've bought a nice shiny new Acer which is about a third of the size of the old Dell and which boots up in about a minute, unlike the Dell which was taking 10!

I had to order a wireless router from Virgin because they wouldn't be able to support any make of router which they didn't sell but unfortunately they lost my first order (well, I did place it on New Year's Eve!) It finally arrived today and I got the thing up and running fairly easily (though Virgin had somehow mixed up the password which I set up with them a couple of years ago.)

What bliss to be on the net and "meeting up" with friends again :-)

Not much news, otherwise. I ahven't seen Mam for over a week because of the weather though Kevin went to see her on Thursday and reported back that she was better than she'd been for quite a while. She's eating a lot better now... and asking for chocolates when we walk in, so that's a relief. We've got a family meeting with the medical team on Monday so we'll see what they say then.

A few stitchy things to post but that can wait until tomorrow. Ah, it's nice to be back :-)

2010 plans

2009-12-26T15:40:00.003Z

I haven't sorted out any concrete plans yet... apart from one - I've joined the Totally Useless SAL :-) I'll have to find a nice glass container, might mean a visit to the charity shops next week!

The only other plans I have are to try and knit or stitch something every day, even if it's just a couple of rows or a couple of stitches. I also want to finish the Spanish Sampler (part 4 is nearing the end) and to make as many items as possible for Many Tears Animal Rescue so that they can be sold for funds. At the moment, anything else will be a bonus!

I'm still here... just!

2009-12-08T19:05:00.002Z

Well, life has been pretty horrendous since the end of August. My Mum has suddenly developed mental health problems and after spending almost a month in hospital in September - which was a complete waste of time - and two months home with Kevin or me taking time off to be with her she's now, thankfully, in the local mental health unit.

I don't know what the future holds for us but Kevin and I were getting to the end of our endurance and it's such a relief that she's now being properly looked after in the right place. She's suffering from extreme anxiety - not dementia or Altzheimer's - so there is hope that she'll be able to get back to a certain level of normality, though whether she'll be able to come home we don't know yet.

I'm still waiting to hear the result of my full body scan - the fact that I haven't heard anything is optimistic but I'd rather know one way or the other if the tumour had spread.

With all this going on I've hardly done any stitching, knitting or reading though I do have a couple of things to show once I download them from the camera. Hopefully, I'll be in a better frame of mind over the next few weeks and actually start enjoying my hobbies again!

All I can say is, roll round 2010 - it can't be much worse than 2009... can it?

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do...

2009-08-08T15:47:00.005+01:00

I'm really enjoying stitching this and got quite a bit done - for me - this last week.

Reflexology Part 2

2009-08-08T15:12:00.002+01:00

Well, the cutting out of bread hasn't been too bad but I know that I'll fall back to it every now and again. Lunch is the worst because I always had a baguette/sandwich so now I've got to be organised and take a salad into work or have a baked potato (which will get very boring after a while.)

Caffeine is basically gone - just had to drink a couple of cans of diet coke that I had and that's it. Again, I'll fall back every now and again because very few places sell caffeine-free diet coke (and I'm addicted to the stuff!) but as long as I don't drink it every day, I should be OK.

I had my second session last week and although I didn't fall asleep it may have been the catalyst in me taking Tuesday to Friday off work :-) Funnily enough I didn't actually sleep that well but unfortunately made up for it by very long naps on the settee in the afternoons. I'll see how I feel Monday morning as to whether I have another day off...

Reflexology!

2009-08-02T17:44:00.002+01:00

Had my first session with Andrea last Wednesday and it was very interesting - she suggested that I cut out bread (eek!), caffeine (much less of an eek) and cut down on red meat (not a problem).

She also said that I'd gone back to work far too early after the op and would like me to take another month off now!! Ummm... not going to happen, unless I get a paper from my GP! Mind you, as I had a blood test on Friday as well, due to the GP thinking that I'm fighting some infection, then that may be possible. We'll see...

Andrea was great - very easy to talk to and I have a feeling that when I have my first "proper" session Monday evening I'm going to fall fast asleep!

I'd never thought of reflexology before but as it had been highly recommended by two good friends I thought I'd give it a go - and I'm glad that I did.

I always preferred Fozzy Bear!

2009-07-26T18:28:00.002+01:00

Well, the frogging went well and I stitched quite a lot on the SS last night and a bit today. I've now almost got to the end of 3b and I'm really enjoying this piece. I probably won't get much of a chance to stitch this week but will definitely start on part 4 next week.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!

2009-07-25T14:25:00.000+01:00

I decided to stitch on the Spanish Sampler last night only to find - about an hour in - that I was following the wrong part of the chart!! I hadn't marked where I'd left off last time and as it's been so long since I worked on it I'd forgotten.

Ah well, a little time to frog and then I'll start stitching on it again - properly this time!!

New Blog!

2009-07-24T19:36:00.000+01:00

Well, I decided to set up a blog, though after my LJ died a death after just a few months I'm wondering whether this is a good idea!

It'll be full of my hobbies - stitching, knitting, books, TV shows and movies as well as other random ramblings. I won't be posting daily but hopefully I'll remember every few days - fingers crossed!