TUSAL, Gifted Gorgeousness and Blogger update - June 2018

Hello everyone,

I am very late for both TUSAL and Gifted Gorgeousness!

TUSAL caught me out ..... last month TUSAL was the 19th and this month everyone else was posting on the 13th June! Eeeek! (It all depends on the date of the New Moon) Anyway, I'm here now, and taking the opportunity of linking to Jo's Gifted Gorgeousness at the same time.




Without further ado here are my ORTs: the little cotton pile you can see in the picture below, is from both of these cross stitch projects; the fabric ORTs are from making up the phone case, plus a few from a quilt I'm making for The Endeavourers. Now the little cotton pile is going to join the rest of my ORTs in this year's jar.

Not sure where the fabric ones are going yet.

Note to self.....  must get round to making a label for jar!

The beach hut picture is from CrossStitcher, Issue 332, and the Flamingo was issue 331. The beach view is another project I was really excited to stitch ..... I know, I'm easily pleased! ..... but this is the one with a "button" depicting a VW van. I'm just a little disappointed that it is a cardboard button! However, CrossStitcher also included a pattern of a VW van which can be added to the stitched piece in the button's place and beads (which was a surprise) for flowers ..... so they're OK guys after all!

Yet again I was trying to be the first to finish stitching the beach hut ..... but alas, yet again, I'm not finished, and the next issue of the magazine is out now. This kit came with a card frame, but I'd like to make  a pouch with it.

There were two free gifts in Issue 332 and I like the second gift too ..... so I've got plenty of cross stitch to keep me busy now!

And here is the Flamingo phone case I was stitching last month, actually “Fully Finished”, Yay!

I added black ribbon around the edge of the Flamingo as my phone case is slightly smaller than the one in the magazine and I was a little worried that the edge of the "evenweave" fabric might catch on things in my handbag. The wrist strap was also my idea .... makes it easier to grab quickly from whichever bag I'm using.

This was a great gift from CrossStitcher, and really "on trend" too as I've seen all sorts of  merchandise sporting Flamingos, from pyjamas to dresses in local stores, and Flamingos on other blogs too. Well done CrossStitcher!

Stop Press.  Guess what, I've just bought the next issue of CrossStitcher and hope shortly to start on the next project - a needlecase. Yes, I know, haven't I got enough needlecases already?!! Yes, but they are all small cases and I've decided I really need to label my needles to be able to track down all the different ones when I need them and I think this will be a good sized case to keep them in.

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Come with me now over to Daffycat's post if you would like to see how Sharon (aka Daffycat) and our other stitching buddies are doing with their TUSALs this month!

And if you pop over to see Jo at Serendipitous Stitching ..... here she has an update on the current blogger problem. I've followed her lead and updated my blog accordingly so I'll be interested to see if your comment emails flood in! Can't wait to see 'em again!

Now I'm off to catch up on my blog reading. See you soon!

Hugs,
Barbara xxx

Next TUSAL July 13.

Next Gifted Gorgeousness July 15

Finish It Off Friday / DrEAMi! and Easy way to reply to Blogger Comments

Hello Dear Friend,

Today I am linking to Amanda’s “Crazy Mom Quilts” for “Finish it up Friday” and Sandra Walker's "DrEAMi!" party as this is a project I just had to Drop Everything And Make It!

Firstly, I was planning on linking this finish next week and then I realised Amanda will be on holiday, so I hope you will forgive me for linking with an "almost finish".

And secondly, this was a DrEAMi! project I just couldn't put down! Sandra, forgive me, I know it isn't strictly quilting, but I did use patchwork fabric so I hope you don't mind if I shoehorn this in as it has quite a few 1/4" seams? and lots of stitches, albeit cross stitches.

The magazine provided the pattern, cottons, evenweave fabric, felt and spotty pink fabric. I have added a lining and will add a strap handle before I'm finished (which is why I'm not quite finished).

Here you can see some of my scrap fabric, cut, ready to make the strap.

My phone is smaller than most, so I was able to cut off a strip of the spotty fabric which I will use to bind the top.

We had visitors today so I haven't been able to FFO (Fully Finish Off) but I intend to stitch the Flamingo onto the phone case using hem stitch, either in pink, or green to match the grass. The pattern said to use a white running stitch to add the Flamingo, but as my case is smaller I think I either need to hem stitch it in place or use some bias binding .... not sure which, because the evenweave is a little rough and I don't want it catching on things in my bag.

Not sure which colour to go with, what do you think?

I couldn't resist stitching this pattern when I saw it in Cross Stitcher. Then, once I had started I wanted to try to be the first to finish! They have a competition where the person to send in the first photograph of their completed project wins a nice pack of embroidery flosses. Well I never really thought I'd be first to finish ..... and, of course, I wasn't ..... but once I started I just had to finish! So, hence this has been my squirrel which I just couldn't drop for any other project!

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While writing I felt I just had to mention an easier way to respond to Blogger comments!!



I do wonder if Blogger will be able to give us back the facility for emails advising when we receive
new comments? Or is the lack of emails caused by GDPR? Either way, Blogger certainly do seem to
be having a few problems at the moment. (Edited: I just read on Jo’s blog that emails should be back
within a week)

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching tells us that after “publishing” your latest post if you comment on your own post and tick “notify” in due course you will then receive notification of any future comments on that blog post, albeit those emails will be “no reply”,  but you can use that email notification to reply to the “commentor”, assuming you already know their email address.


But take it one step further! If you reply to comments on your blog:

1. You keep everyone in the loop, and
2. You get an email to send to the “commentor” with that reply at the same time!
3. Although you will need to reply by using “Forward” as the email you receive will again be “no reply” (Edited 6.6.18)

Seems easy enough to me. What do you think? Does it help you?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter!

Hugs, Barbara xxx

Linking to: “Finish it up Friday”

and              DrEAMi 

Really Late TUSAL/a catchup/and a blogging tip!

Helllo,

Thank you everyone for your kind comments on my last post.

I'd completely forgotten to write a TUSAL post this month, until now!


Catching up

I’ve been so carried away stitching this lovely Flamingo from Cross Stitcher - Issue 331 - it has almost become my "one monthly goal".

I should be stitching my quilt for The Endeavourers but what with hindering helping DH in the garden and popping out shopping here and there I haven't had time to start on the quilt yet.

Most of my ORTS have consequently come from the Flamingo, and similar to the Rose I stitched previously, this pretty Flamingo has five different pinks scattered about the picture, and it is taking me quite a time stitching them.

I’m so glad I used a grid again, as it has really helped stitching the colours in the right places.

Help with Grids

Further to Rosey's comment on my last post I thougt it may help to mention how I used my grids:

I haven't actually read up on grids anywhere but I used individual lengths of cotton loosely stitched in lines (10 squares apart) ..... that way it is possible to push the thread to one side of the current stitch so that the grid lines don't get stitched into the pattern. 

In places I had to pull grid lines out while I added a particular stitch, and put them back after making that stitch! And once or twice I've even had to snip out a couple of grid lines, but it was possible (with great care) without damaging the actual work in progress. I guess that's probably why it's taken a while to stitch.

I'm already eager to start on the latest kit from Cross Stitcher - mainly because of their "Camper van" button. But I will finish the "Flamingo" first!

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Stumpwork

I was so enthusiastic about joining in with Queeniepatch and her Stumpwork faces tutorial but I haven’t got very far!

DH took one look and said “It’s evil”, “I don’t want it in the house!”
Well, it is, in the house, and I'm sure he'll be back soon!

However, I’m not sure what part to stitch next! I wanted to add a necklace, but I couldn’t even thread the beading needle, the eye is so small my needle threader wouldn’t pull the thread through! So it’s all fallen by the wayside, for now.

Stumpwork

I’ve chosen fabrics for clothes but haven’t started yet.

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Hope you don't mind me sharing a couple of photos from our garden: 

One of my favourite all time plants! Not sure of its name ..... never can remember names! that's why I call him DH!

This is the plant that inspired my first mini quilt for The Endeavourers. It has lots of really pretty berries later in the year which is the reason I won’t let Hubbie prune the bush until the birds have eaten all the berries, and consequently he has a job to prune the bush before the next season’s growth starts, and it is now becoming a tree!

The flowers open from the outside of the cluster first, and the centre florets(?) are really tiny. Oh dear! it's taken me so long to write this post most of these lovely flowers have already turned quite brown!

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Apologies to those of you that really hate snakes, 'cos this isn't, it is actually a legless lizard I'm about to mention!

The other day on our way home from the shops we spotted a Slow-worm on the pavement next to a busy road. Luckily I had a beaker in my bag (as I'd been to my stitching group that day) and DH was able to pick the critter up in the beaker ..... not before it lost its tail, but then that's its way of escaping ..... jettisoning the end of its tail which then wriggles frantically, the Slow-worm then discretely slopes away whilst the predator  is fascinated with the wiggling detatched section. More about Slow-worms HERE.

DH virtually took his life in his hands kneeling at the edge of the road as the Slow-worm tried to escape from him by wriggling off the footpath, over the kerb, onto the road's edge, and the crazy drivers raced past as close to us as they could, even though we could both be clearly seen!!

As soon as we got home we popped the little chap into a corner of the garden where we had seen Slow-worms previously. I do hope they get on with each other!

Here's another one we saw recently in our garden:

In our garden, next to our "vegetable plot"

and a close-up

Slow-worms are very good for the garden ..... they are reputed to eat slugs! Not sure how true that is as despite our many, many Slow-worms we still seem to have an inordinate number of slugs in our garden!!

This is one reason why we don't use slug pellets in the garden ..... as it would get into the food chain of the Slow-worm.

Another of my favourite plants, always makes me think
of tiny fairy shoes hanging on a line.

Couldn't resist this pic either ..... an Alium (new to us this year)

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Of course I can't sign off without mentioning GDPR! 

I know many of you, like me, are wondering what we need to do with our blogs now to stay legal!

Luckily though we have a few lovely blogging friends who are already dealing with this on their blogs, and once I finish this post I will be off to see what I need to do.

I'm sure they won't mind me mentioning them:

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching - advised us that we won't be receiving notification of comment emails, and suggests a way around it HERE.

Mia of Craftartista has written a whole page HERE.

And Shez of  "I am" has added a page to her blog too HERE.

I know I am already missing all those friendly comments appearing in my mail box ..... already feeling lonesome!! ..... but I'll be checking the "Comment" facility in the left hand margin of my Dashboard everyday! .... well, most days!

Oh, and if you are still with me this is my tip: 

Don't know if you've had this trouble, but I've had a lot of trouble trying to "Publish" comments when I've been visiting buddies blogs ..... I've found that it is necessary, when you finish writing your comment, to make sure you place the "cursor" within the text of your message before hitting "Publish"! So next time you are stuck remember and try this out!

Hope you still comment,

Hugs to you all,

Barbara xxx

Gifted Gorgeousness - May 2018

"GIFTED GORGEOUSNESS" is a monthly link party run by the wonderful Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, where we post about stitching gifts we have received or given, or indeed anything related to the word "gift". Link runs from the 15th until the end of the month. If you would like to find out more and maybe join up go HERE!

Read all about who's joining in with the May GG HERE (on Jo's blog).



Not much stitching to show this month ..... I've mostly been working on my quilt for The Endeavourers. And after this post I will be settling down to working on my next one.

Vintage Rose:

Yipee! I have a finish!

This was a free gift from The World of Cross Stitch (Issue 267)

"Vintage Rose"

Don't forget, if you can't see the photos clearly enough just click on them to see the magnified version.

Wow, I'm amazed I finished this with only very minor visits from the froggy, and I put that down to using a grid. It was so much easier to keep my place on the pattern, despite the colours being so similar. And when I had finished stitching there was only one grid line that wouldn't pull out but it was easy enough to snip out.

Flamingo Phone Case

Last time I wrote I mentioned this as my latest start.

It's the free gift from June's Cross Stitcher Issue 331. I only started this last week and have mainly been stitching on our train journeys. I was a little confused with the colours (there are five different pinks) and before I started stitching I emailed Cross Stitcher to make sure I was using them in the right order. I had a very quick reply from them and was able to get on with stitching straight away.

I've only worked on the tiniest project ever in evenweave previously and was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to follow the pattern keeping the crosses lined up. Then, when I had been stitching for a while I realised I was happier with grid lines to keep track. I started from the centre and each time I had a few pattern stitches in place I was able to count where the grid lines would go. And, so far, there's been no visits from the frog!

I can't wait to finish! The case is made from pink felt and covered with a pink spotty fabric, topped with the pretty cross stitch. If you want to make one there might be copies of this magazine on sale still ..... the next issue comes out on 22 May .... so you'd probably have to hurry. I'm only saying this because I think its a lovely pattern .....  my opinion, and I'm not even being paid to say this!

Flamingo Phone Case
Cross Stitcher issue 331

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BTW, have you ever fancied making stumpwork faces? For a tutorial on "How to" pop over to visit Queeniepatch on her lovely embroidery blog: Queenie's Needlework.

I've barely started mine, and I'm not sure it will look any good, but I was really excited to see Queenie's tutorial as I have long admired her stumpwork pictures.

Slow start - Stumpwork Face

Easter Blog Hop:

I don't think I showed you my finished Easter stitching:

Wish I'd had it finished for the blog hop but that border took waaaay longer than I expected!

Anyhoo, I'm off now to see who else has linked up to Gifted Gorgeousness ..... why not come along too, maybe next month you might want to join in too!! Oh, no, I've just realised I forgot to take a photo of my ORTS!!!!!

Hugs,

Barbara xxxx

Endeavourers / WIP

Hello friends, old and new,


On 1st of May my blogging friends at "The Endeavourers" shared their interpretations of "Changes/Transformation", do have a look at their wonderful quilts.

I'm afraid I was a little late and hadn't finished mine but I joined in with my "Unfinished Changes".

I don't mind admitting I hadn't finished because that's just one of those things, life happens, as we all know! And I'll tell you a story along those lines while I'm thinking of it ....

One of my friends at our local handicraft group was recently debating the best way of attracting new members to the group and said that she had been chatting with a friend who crafts and told her she couldn't understand why we weren't getting new members ..... the friend said that she had thought about joining "but the standard was too high"! 

What can you do? Surely that's all the more reason for joining, find out what those people do, and put it into practice yourself!

So, I don't mind admitting I'm not perfect and have much to learn, for surely half the fun is seeing what others are doing and then joining in! Or is it only me that thinks that way?


Anyway, I digress!

You can read  about my "Unfinished Changes" here, on  The Endeavourers blog.

Unfinished Changes

And this week I painted another row of colours - the one starting from Emerald Green! One row took around an hour to paint and started my back hurting again, so I won't be painting any more until my back eases a bit.


Over the last week I was working on a couple of tiny sewing projects: 

Luckily hand stitching doesn't aggravating my back! So during a quiet spell I made this little bag from some scraps of muslin and a few embroidery threads left over from my Easter Blog Hop cross stitch project. Eeek, I've just realised I haven't shown the finished stitching yet, and I finished it over Easter too!! Oh well, I'll have found the photo for my next blog post.

I used french seams with an extra scrap of fabric to reinforce the base, and a double folded hem as carrier for the ribbons. The chain stitch flower didn't work very well, and once the bag was used in the shower the flower sadly looked no more than spokes on a wheel!

Its nothing grand really and I hadn't intended to show it on the blog, but I liked it when I'd finished!

Then I've started another travel project:

but I was confused as to which threads were which - you might guess it's a kit from a magazine - I'll explain more when I return with "Gifted Gorgeousness" on 15th May.

Oh, yes, DH went to an Open Garden at the weekend (on his own because I felt it would be too much walking for me as my back is still not right) and he bought these home for me:

The Open Garden is for charity, and amongst other items they had these covered rocks for sale! I've seen people making them before and always admired them, and I couldn't believe they were only asking 10p for each!! Don't worry, he's not a meanie, he also bought a plant for £7 to go towards their charity.

And a photo from our garden to finish with.

This was one of  the most beautiful tulips we had this year, and as they are now rapidly disappearing I thought it would nice to see it again here.

Do have a look at  The Endeavourers' amazing interpretations of "Changes/Transformation":

Catherine

Janine

Nancy

Carol

Barbara (me)

Ruth

Gwen

Martha

Julie

Maureen

Tonia

Kay

Fiona

I hope you are all keeping well, and don't forget to make time for some stitching!

See you soon.

Hugs,
Barbara