Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2020

Today I’m linking to Jo of Serendipitous Stitching for her annual Trick or Treat Blog Hop. (Find out more on Jo’s blog)

DH and I have never really celebrated Halloween ..... much ..... I could tell you about the year when our Halloween decorations almost set our porch on fire, tee hee, but we’re here for some stitching and a little crochet I couldn’t resist making this year!

Previously I’ve watched Jo's Blog Hops and collected a few Halloween cross stitch patterns, and this year  I stitched - Boo, a free pattern from Happiness is Cross Stitching.  Unfortunately I ran out of time and haven’t managed to make it into a “flat fold” ..... yet! I made one tiny change from the pattern though and stitched the little ghost in grey as I don’t think he’d have been visible at all!

On Instagram @chaicoffeecrochet I found this cute little witch - Zena! She is such a sweetie! There is a free pattern and you can find her and others on the blog Chai Coffee Crochet - here 

(Zeena is approximately 4.5" tall)

Zeena 

And I just couldn’t resist making this little guy:

Howl 

There was a competition on Instagram but as my Howl didn't really meet any of the categories I didn't join in.

The free pattern for Howl can be found here at Cafe del Craft!

Zeena and Howl had great fun,
messing around at the photoshoot 

Oh, and one more thing, of course, the letter you’re looking for is: (and just imagine this bit is centred, because I can't find the centering thingy!!!!)

“S”

If you are taking part in the Hop, the next blog to visit is: 

https://lifeoutsidethewashingbasket.blogspot.com/

Thank you for popping in. Have a great Halloween!!

Stay Safe and well!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

WIPocolypse - 2019 and a couple of finishes!!

Hello dear friends!

Oh dear, since my last WIPocolpse post I keep missing the link up date. And I've been dying to show you a few things I've been making. I haven't finished much from the list this year and I'll have to try harder next year!

WIPocolpse is an easygoing SAL to help us with some of those projects we want to finish before the end of the world (see my list at the end of the post), for more info about WIPocolpse go HERE.

This is the main cross stitch project I’m trying to finish, and this was where I was up to last time:

since then I've worked on .....

..... worked on the header band, adding more turquoise

and stitched lots of little motif's in the borders

I have taken my cross stitch along to my handicraft group a couple of times but somehow something always stops me actually stitching it! Like last time I forgot to take the threads along!!!! I found some thread in the cupboards there but when I got home I found the colour I'd used wasn't the same as the one I'd intended using, so I'll have to frog it!

I finally made some shoes for my doll Izzy (shoe pattern from Ann Woods)

Izzy says she would like a bag next! Funnily enough I've been wanting to make one for ages! (She'll have to wait a little though, but don't tell Izzy, tee hee!)

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One more reason why I haven't kept up with my cross stitch is that I keep finding books I just can't put down!!!!

First of all I'd just finished reading "Tombstone" by C J Sansom (I just love his books, they whisk you back in time and tell you all about an era you never knew about, well, I didn't anyway! ..... this one is set in 1549) and then I was at a loss as to what to read! 

I'd ordered my next book by Anne Perry from the library but I had to wait almost two months before the book became available!!!! In the meantime I was scouring the donated books at my local train station (books which have been donated for charity). We buy them for a £1 or two and the money goes to a cancer charity.

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First was: "A Noise Downstairs" by Linwood Barclay ..... I thought it would be good as I'd read other books by him, and I wasn't disappointed! It kept me guessing to the end.

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Then, after reading the flyleaf, I couldn't resist reading this book either:

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena 

"Why would you run scared from a happy home?

You're waiting for your beloved husband to get home from work.

You're making dinner, looking forward to hearing about his day.

That's the last thing you remember.

You wake up in hospital, with no idea how you got there.

They tell you that you were in an accident; you 

lost control of your car whilst driving in a dangerous

part of town.

The police suspect you were up to no good. But your

husband refuses to believe it. Your best friend is not

so sure. And even you don't know what to believe ...."

One of the reviews said "hard to put down" and I think this must be the first book I've ever read in two days! It wasn't my usual choice of book but I found I really wanted to find out whatever had happened!!!

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I ordered the next book on line as I'd already been introduced to this character by Vickie of  "A Stitcher's Story". This is the first of a series of books about Maisie.

"Maisie Dobbs" by Jacqueline Winspear

Which was introduced as:

 "The "British counterpart" to "Alexander McCall Smith's 

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by The Associated Press.

The story starts in England in 1929 as Maisie 

has just opened her own detective agency.

but I don't want to spoil the story, so you'll have to get the book to read more, tee hee!

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I've been working on some new projects too. Last year I bought wool to make a hat, but I couldn't find a pattern I liked. I eventually found one and here is my "finished" hat.

This was my main reason for posting btw!

(might make a bobble for it) ..... for details of the pattern visit me on Ravely as "Knittybarbo".

This is how the bobble from the pattern looks, but I'm not sure it's what I want! I might make an  ordinary style bobble ..... what do you think?  But then, what size do I make it?

I've just finished making a door stop. Pattern from Mollie Makes. There were a couple of little niggles with the instructions - the measurement for the handle wasn't long enough and I had to add fabric at either end. The zip too really needs a little fabric at either end before attaching to bag to "sit" nicely when finished, but even so it looks quite nice.

Doorstop -
Tee hee, it doesn't live on the window sill!

Oooh, I'm a little bit excited ...... I've joined Instagram this week! I know, I said I never would, but have you noticed they are more or less forcing you to if you want to actually look around over there?!! So, I've taken the plunge and slipped in, tee hee! You'll find me as "Flashinscissors". I haven't a clue  how it works yet, so don't be surprised nothing is happening so far!! No photos yet! But I'll be trying to find all my friends there!

I aim to be back very soon with some more Christmas things, but you know how it is, it's so busy this time of year!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

Anyhow, this is the list of projects I really, really want to finish, but each one is waiting for it's own reasons!

Updated WIP list:

Progress - blue ink
Other projects rediscovered since original list - orange
Finished - purple

Cross Stitch:

1. Camper Van - started last year -  finished 2019.
2. Bee needle case - started last year - still needs FFO.
3. Etoilé thread sampler - framing.
4. Easter cross stitch piece - framing.
5. Polka Dot Lady quilt - finishing.
6. "Stitches" - unfinished.
7. Night time - finishing.
8. Tatty Teddy - back stitching and framing.

Quilting:

1. Polka Dot lady
2. Dormouse
3. Laundry day
4. Name badge - finished 2019
5. Plus two others - block painting

Other Miscellaneous Projects:

1. Goldwork picture
2. Stitch sampler bag
3. Crewel Work - needs framing
4. Luna 
5. Izzy (doll) - who wants a bag and maybe a hat !!?!!

WIPs (Work In Progress) and a Catchup

Hello Dear Reader,

Do you remember me saying that I've been making pincushions for Bea's Pincushion Swap - well not strictly a swap as such, more a round robin I suppose! 

I sent three pincushions to three stitchers and received three from a different three stitchers. 

I was late ... ish with the first, later with the second, and Well Late with the third!! 

The third hasn’t been received yet so I can’t show what I made  .... can’t wait to show you, as I enjoyed making it so much!

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This week I 've been working on these WIPs, trying to turn them into FFO's:

I stitched this little chap quite some time ago and hadn’t decided what to do with him .....

see more .....

A Catchup!

Hello friends, old and new!

So pleased you could drop by.

Thank you again, all those who commented on my previous "post" - I'm pretty sure I've replied to everyone, but please forgive me if I haven't, I do aim to visit you all regularly.

I can't believe where the time has gone since my last post! I've been wanting to say hello and share some photos for a while now, so I hope Amy won't mind me joining in a little late with my Five (on Saturday)

1. WIP - Cocoa Sampler:

Previously

And now:

Now!

I have almost finished stitching the mug and milk bottle, but am leaving the white stitches until last to stop them getting grubby. 

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2. The Splendid Sampler blocks

I've been stitching some slow embroidery on "Measure Twice, Cut once..." by Jane Davidson:

Stitching slowly, so far....

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3. Quilt Now - Free Gift

And, this isn't an advert, but I felt I had to say, I don't normally buy magazines, but the other day I bought a copy of Quilt Now!

I'm always tempted by the offer of a free gift - and this had a 2.5 x 5 inch quilter's ruler, how could I resist it! After all, it can replace the 2.5 square inch measure I seem to have misplaced!!!!!

So useful when piecing
 squares, it's much quicker to use to check
seam measurements!

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4. Izzy's walk in the woods.

A couple of weeks ago, on a bright, but chilly day, DH and I took a walk to the bluebell woods, accompanied by Izzy, for a photo shoot!

The bag Izzy is dangling from was one of the first things I ever quilted (and appliquéd too!) from a pattern in a book by Chuck Nohara.

A few bluebells!

5.Tulips

And whilst we are looking at Izzy, on my rucksack, I would like to mention Chris, of  UK City Crafter, who linked to a tutorial for making Tulips a few weeks ago. Seeing how Chris made her own Tulips, of course, I couldn't resist having a go myself, and here are mine on my bag alongside Izzy! 

This was a nice little handmade project which whiled away some time on a few train journeys. I also made a tiny tulip for Izzy (from Chris's blog) too, but she really needs a bag to carry the tulip!

By the way, Chris took part in a Stitch Craft Create blog hop this week, making and creating with Tilda Candy Bloom fabric, she made a very pretty quilt with the samples she received from Stitch Craft Create.

Thanks to Chris I visited the blog hop and was very lucky to win some 10" square samples of Tilda Candy Bloom fabric, and found a few more interesting blogs to visit.

I was intending to use my prize to make some mini bunting for our street party, and found a great tutorial on mini bunting over at Josie's blog, Sew for Soul - but now I can't decide whether to make the bunting or a quilt like Chris's ..... I guess the quilt would be more useful, maybe......

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But back to our walk, and there were quite a few gates en route ...... I think they are quite picturesque. I've seen blogs where people link up their pictures of gates, and if I remembered which blog maybe I could have linked there too!

We also passed our local pond, and it was great to see the pond must be healthy as there were quite a few tadpoles and small fish. I couldn't get any pictures of the fish as they were really quite small - about an inch long, and bright orange .... perhaps they were cast off goldfish!

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I am off to visit at Amy's next, hope to see you there too!

I trust you are all keeping well!  Have a great weekend!

I will be back soon with a little quilted project.

Barbara xx

Rag Dolls - Izzy - A Finish

Hello lovely blogging friends, and welcome if you are here for the first time,

Thank you to all of you who left such kind comments on my previous post.

I am linking to Amy's Love Made My Home with Five points about Izzy, and also linking to Crazy Mom Quilts with Izzy's dress, my latest stitching finish!

I finished making Izzy a little while ago, and today I am celebrating the completion of her dress just yesterday, which took me a little while to get round to making! Izzy was made as a handbag decoration, which is why there is a key fob hidden in her hair from which to hang dangle her.

Izzy

If you would like to make your own variation of doll, each of the following posts has links leading to the fantastic tutorials I found, and used, from the Web.

1. my first doll - Bella - and the inspiration for continuing - here
2. experimenting adding hair for bella - here 
3. making the base cap and latching Izzy's hair - here
4. stitching Izzy's face, finishing her hair, and putting her together - here
5. how I started making Izzy's dress - here

Wrong side

Izzy's dress is completely hand stitched, decorated with chain stitch and french knot embroidery, ric rac at the neck, and recycled lace to finish her skirt.  I followed Runos instructions for making up the dress.

My finish today!

Et voila, one dress completed!

Of course, every girl needs a bag and shoes ...... something for another day ..... I'll have to get onto that!

But for now, I'm off to read some lovely blogs over at Amy's Love Made My Home and Crazy Mom Quilts, I hope you will pop over to see what is going on too!

Have a super weekend!

See you soon.


Barbara xx

Izzy Gets a Dress / A Sweet Little Breakfast Guest

Hello Dear Readers

I am sorry I haven't visited and commented on as many blogs as I would have liked to recently, but unfortunately our window replacement is not progressing anywhere near as quickly as it should, due to a few hiccups that I won't bore you with.

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IZZY GETS A DRESS 

I have started making a dress for Izzy, which will be completely hand stitched, and so today I am linking to Super Mom - No Cape.  Thank you Sue, for hosting this party.

Once again I have looked  to Runo's amazing blog: Nuno Life, for ideas for Izzy's dress.

I introduced Runo's blog on a previous post with reference to making Izzy's eyes, but although I used Runo's shape for the eyes I "borrowed" Pickled Okra's idea for embroidering the pupils and irises. (Go here to see how I made Izzy's hair.)

Runo's dress pattern was a good place to start. Runo doesn't give measurements (other than seam allowance) you estimate the size for your own doll.

I started by placing my doll on a sheet of paper, and drew, with a pencil, around the shape of the doll onto the paper. I added approximately 0.25" for seams.  I then extended the arms to form sleeves (black outline).

The pencil lines on the "Front" are the lines I drew around Izzy

I traced the front onto tracing paper, folded it in half and drew round that to make the "Back" and added 0.5" for the "interfacing" on the back seam.

Ready to start stitching the bodice.

 In the order Runo suggested:

1. pin front and back pieces at shoulder, and stitch,
2. seam under arm,
3. gather skirt and stitch top onto skirt,
4. fold sleeve cuffs, and stitch,
5. fold neck edge under, and stitch, 
6. sew gathered lace to neckline,
7. attach snaps.

A SWEET LITTLE BREAKFAST GUEST

We had just sat down to eat breakfast on our terrace, when hubby suddenly noticed this cute little guy dozing in the sun next to him.

He must have been there about 5 or 10 minutes, I think he thought we should go away and leave him to the sunny spot he had found!

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Today we have been more than a little worried, as it has been raining quite heavily here, and we discovered our windows are not as waterproof as they should be yet.

After two frantic telephone calls from my husband, plus emails with photographs, they have now been sealed more thoroughly this afternoon, and a planned date has now been given to complete the work fully.

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I will show a little more of my cross stitch next time, as it hasn't grown very much more at the moment.

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Have a lovely week everyone, and don't forget to pop over and have a look at the other blogs linking to Super Mom - No Cape.

Barbara xx

Rag Dolls - Izzy

Thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments on my last post, I really appreciate them!  It was so nice to hear from you all!

Today I am revisiting Izzy, who you may have seen loitering at the bottom of my side-bar, annotated as a "Work in Progress". I decided she had been there way too long, so in between visiting other blogs, commenting on them, and some housework, I have added a few more stitches. 

Izzy was an experiment, and I am very pleased how she has turned out. 

I stitched her brows, eyes and mouth in stem stitch, her irises are satin stitch, with a black french knot in the centre, with two little running stitches, in pink, for her nostrils.  

She now has a face, at last!

If you look at this in close up you can see where the
 hairs are attached.

The white patches on her arms is where they were turned through

The little brown circle is a stuffed Sussex Puff which I
stitched onto the back of her head to add height to her hair.

Izzy thinks she is very trendy with coloured streaks in her hair!

I attached a clasp to the top of her head with a ribbon
so that I can attach her to a handbag - yet to be made!

If I made her again these are a few things I would do differently:

1. make her limbs a little wider - they were awfully difficult to turn through!
2. add a neck as part of her head.
3. her face looks a little wobbly around the chin because she was hand stitched, another time I would machine stitch her.

She isn't quite finished. I need to tie her hair back, and I intend to make a dress, some shoes and a bag. Perhaps I might be getting a little carried away!

Did you manage to get any crafting done this week?

I hope you have a great weekend!

See you soon.

Barbara xx

I couldn't resist showing you this photograph of a pollen laden bee!