Christmas Wreath

I've completed all the writing and the blanket stitch around the five doves, made nine holly leaves (I actually have six more to make - I miscalculated!) and last night while watching TV I tied all the ripped red fabric to the wire coat hanger! I have a shaggy Christmas wreath in the making!

Christmas Wreath

 I popped out this morning to pick up a couple of bits and pieces so I could start making a Christmas wreath for the front door - I generally put together a wreath made from ivy and holly collected from the woods next to the house, but this year I wanted something different!

One and a half doves completed this afternoon.  I think I under estimated how long each one would take, although to be fair I have machined around all five, stuffed and ladder stitched them also!  In my excitement to start a new project I forgot to link up to Kathy's for some slow Sunday stitching.  Do hop over and have a look at what everyone else is working on today!

Ollie the Ele

About a month ago I was asked if I could crochet Ollie the Elephant for my friends grandson (his name is Oliver).  No problem I said but when I read the instructions I knew I would struggle!  But Doreen (my step mum) came to the rescue and offered to have a go and luckily for me (and my friend!) she got all the bits of Ollie made - I think it was a tricky pattern to follow and I believe at one point it might of had six legs!  The only bit I can claim as my own are the eyes and even then I had to look up on YouTube how to make a slip knot, and do a double crochet stitch!!! (yes I know I would never have been able to make him). This evening my friend is coming over for supper and she is going to have a go at sewing him together!!

Pisces

We've just returned from spending the weekend in Oxford and visiting Blenheim Palace (which was amazing!)  I did however want to show my finished Pisces cross stitch (it means I can start Leo next - yay).  It will eventually go into a 6 inch embroidery hoop.

I have linked up to Kathy's slow Sunday stitching where you can see what other people have been stitching this week!

Remembrance Sunday

We timed our dog walk today to be in a New Forest village at 11am so we could listen to the service of Remembrance and observe two minutes silence. The roads leading to the village centre where free of traffic and their was a good turnout of people and the weather was kind - it didn't rain. 

My grand-dad fought in the war and signed up at 14/15 years of age - it's hard to imagine what it must have been like for him!

886,342 troops from the UK, out of a total of 9.7 million military, were killed during World War One. 10 million civilians. As its 100 years since Armistice Day it only seemed right to commemorate it along with many others around the world.

I have finished the little baby sampler for my friends grandson.  It is framed and wrapped ready to give when I see her next week.

I am linking up to Kathy's for some slow Sunday stitching.  Hop over to see what everyone else is sewing at the moment.

Christmas bowl

 In Mondays craft group we made these cute little fabric bowls for Christmas.  It's amazing what you can do with a bit of fabric, craft vilene and some sequins! It was good fun and will get put to good use next month!

Baby sampler

 I have been beavering away at this little project when ever I have had a few minutes to spare and most evenings while watching television and I'm pleased with how much I have got done!  All of the elements are in place which means it is just straight forward cross stitch now which can be a bit boring, especially if it is only one colour, but I am quite enjoying it!   I will link up with Kathy's blog for some slow Sunday stitching later on today (have to walk the dog first). I should be able to get lots done, especially as it's raining so it is definitely a day for curling up and stitching!

I met up with a friend yesterday for coffee (and cake)! She is the granny to baby Oliver and she has been given the little elephant pictured below to crochet for her new grandson (he's called Ollie the elephant - hence the present)  Only problem is she doesn't know how to crochet (or knit, or sew) so Ollie has come home with me to have a go!  My crochet skills are pretty limited - I can crochet a good granny square and I have made a couple of blankets before but not for a long time.  But how hard can it be?  I will make You Tube my new best friend and look up how to cast on and do the basic stitches again and give it a go!!  Watch this space!!

New project!

I started another project on Sunday! And it is rather a rush job because I am meeting baby and mummy in two weeks time.  The project was chosen to fit into a frame I already had along with a piece of fabric that wasn't very large.  I've put together the picture from the book I bought to do the 'Welcome' hoop for my son and is bits taken from several patterns.  That has meant some adjustments and a bit of ripping out when it hasn't quite looked balanced.  I could of course have saved myself quite a bit of time if I had planned it out on graph paper, but too late for that now!!  But so far so good and I'm liking how it looks.