Happy Canada Day!

There are times when I wonder if the Hermit misses his home country. And then there are conversations like this morning's when I realise he doesn't ...

We were talking about Canada Day, and I asked him - because I'm merely an ignorant colonial oppressor - what the National Anthem of Canada was. Apparently it's something called - strangely enough - O Canada. And then the Hermit started to sing. And managed two lines. This is the man who knows albums-worth of obscure lyrics off by heart....

Happy Canada Day, eh!

Another knitting weekend away...

Whilst a heap of my friends and colleagues are at Glastonbury for the festival (fingers crossed for good weather for you!) I'm off to deepest Shropshire with my knitting group to make acquaintance with a large pile of Jacob's Sheep fleece and some spindles...

I'm also - in case I turn out not to be a natural at this spinning lark - going to take some knitting and stitching with me, so hopefully there will be progress - and pictures!

Normal Service Has Been Resumed ... and May Goals Review

I'm sorry I've been so quiet, but between work-work and university work, I've been very busy and when I've had a spot of free time, I seem to have wanted to do nothing but chill out. I've barely picked up a needle!

Anyway, all my Uni deadlines have been met, exams taken, and I get my results at the end of the week. And work is going well, too - I secured some more projects, and organising those has been a bit time consuming, but it will be worth it. I've had to work a few more hours the last couple of weeks, to catch up from the weeks where I worked fewer hours to accommodate my Uni stuff, but hopefully, from now on I can do my usual 24 hours a week and have some time to myself :o)

I have been reading blogs, even if I haven't been commenting, and I've really enjoyed seeing other people having finishes and having fun :o)

I didn't have many goals for May:

• Birthday Card for The Tot (my niece) - I made this with craft foam, it looked not bad
  
• Birthday Gift for The Tot - I knitted a small rabbit
  
• Birthday Card for Dad - nope, he had a store bought one this year :o(
  
• Block for Patchwork Quilt - nope.
  
• Pair of Socks - done!

So - not too bad. But two family birthdays in a tough month for Uni stuff (and it will be for another three years) is either going to need better planning from me, or learning to live with the guilt!

I didn't make goals for June, which is just as well, as I haven't really achieved much so far!

May 2009 Goals

My May goals are few, because I have quite a lot of University work on:

• Birthday Card for The Tot (my niece) - I may make this with felt
  
• Birthday Gift for The Tot
• Birthday Card for Dad
• Block for Patchwork Quilt
• Pair of Socks - already on the needles!

My niece's birthdya is next weekend, and I have a cunning plan ...

These are my goals for Uni until the end of the semester (12 June):

• 300 word article for new faculty newsletter - due Tuesday!
  
• 6 minute multi media project, to play as a DVD - due Wednesday!
  
• 2000 word commentary and critical analysis of the above - due Wednesday!
  
• 1000 word reflective learning piece on museum project and presentation
• revision and preparation for examination
• 2000 word essay on Romanticism

So, if you see me online much in the next month, and you think I may be getting distracted, do tell me to get back to work!

April Review

I actually managed to stitch a bit in April - yay! Here are my goals:

• Woodland Exchange - DONE - it's been received, so I will post pictures shortly.

• Baa - The Bold Sheep - Cushion Cover - NO - I had some fabric picked out, and then found some more, and now I can't make a decision!

• Bookmark Exchange - DONE - I'm waiting to hear that it's been received, it should have got there by now :o/

• Courthouse Steps Quilt Block - NO - I'm really struggling to get back to the quilt, I don't know why, as I love the colours.

• Log Cabin Quilt Block - NO

• Moonshadow Sampler - Shepherd's Bush - NO. This was in my UFO pile, and on bringing it out again, I have decided that I don't want to finish it. I was wondering, if I put it up for a drawing if any one would be interested?

• Pair of Socks - DONE - my first socks which weren't just plain stocking stitch! These were in a corded rib stitch
  

I also managed to finish

• Pair of Socks - knitted in a bamboo yarn, and garter rib pattern. Like the style, not so sure about the yarn.
  

• Petites Lettres Rouges - Blackbird Designs - for the freebie competition on the blog. I didn't win, but I had a lot of fun stitching the piece.

• Holly Berry Sampler - Bent Creek - this just needs the buttons stitching on, and they are on order.
  

So, all in all, not too shabby a month. And I'm getting caught up on posting to this blog too, which is even better - thank you everyone who reads, and especially those who leave feedback, it's always nice to have your opinions - and praise :o)

Petites Lettres Rouges - Blackbird Designs

Design: Petites Lettres Rouges
Designer: Blackbird Designs - freebie available here
Threads: Stef Francis Fine Mercerised Cotton - Colour 41
Fabric: 28 count evenweave (jobelan) - antique white

I think I ought to rename this Petites Lettres Arcs-en-ciel, because of the rainbow of colours in it :o) They haven't come out very well, as it's a very dull and rainy day here today, and I wanted to email the picture to Alma and Barbara.

I loved stitching this, because using my great grandmother's name triggered many happy memories - she was so much fun, and always full of mischief, even when her health failed and she developed Alzheimer's. I've misplaced a CD of family photos, so I can't share any at the moment, but there is a classic one of granny pinching sweeties ...

My sister has a very strong resemblance to my great grandmother as a young woman. My grandmother too looked very like her mother. And my sister's child, my niece - bizarrely, given that she was born almost twenty years after the death of little great gran - has some of her mannerisms - and way of walking ;o)

I have to say, I look more like my other maternal great grandmother, but in character I think I'm more like my little great gran - I try not to take myself too seriously, certainly!

The Drawn Thread Exchange

Design: Spring Keeper
Designer: The Drawn Thread (freebie available here)
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: 28 count jobelan, antique white

I stitched these for Marie for an exchange on the Friends Through Threads exchange board (where there are better pictures, Marie is a better photographer than I!) I did most of the stitching on a lovely spring weekend I spent in York.

I made one into a scissor fob, and then using the same method, made the other into a floss ring.

Marie was also my sender, and she took my breath away with this piece - it has been beautifully mounted onto a photo album which co-ordinates perfectly! The design is taken from Brown Ranch Sampler chart. Marie also kindly included a Prairie Schooler chart, thread, fabric, buttons, tassels ... lots of goodies in my favourite colours - there's a good photo on her blog of everything, and a better photo of the album!

This was a fun exchange - thank you Marie!

Winter Quaker Exchange

Designs: Quaker Needlework Accessories
Designer: With My Needle (Ellen Chester)
Source: Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issues
Threads: House of Embroidery, Touch of Grey (27A and 27C)
Fabric: 28 count jobelan, antique white

I stitched these for Laurie for the Hooked on Exchanges Winter Quaker Exchange. I thought using the designs from the Christmas Ornament issues would be appropriate, but I wanted to make the designs wintery, and not Christmassy, and the House of Embroidery threads seemed to talk to me of grey and icy winter days! House of Embroidery threads are lovely to work with and the colours are gorgeous!

I finished the swan as a pincushion (I think the original called for a needlebook) and beaded the edge with one of my last purchases from my now-closed LNS.

The reverse has mine and Laurie's initials stitched over one in a fairly random placement, using the alphabet from another design in the series. I like to think of the flowers as snowdrops, carrying on the winter theme.

The scissor fob was tiny - just over an inch square - and manipulating the fabric to bead the edges was tricky! I think it was worth it, though!

This time, I just put Laurie's initials on the reverse.

One day, I will stitch the entire series for myself ...

And I'm so pleased my new camera takes decent pictures :o)

End of the week update

My Happy Sock is coming along nicely - I'm currently on the toe decreases, only a few more rounds and the dreaded grafting to do and then it's done! I'm already planning my next pair, I love having socks on the go, they are so portable!

And only one more band to do on the Antique Hearts Needleroll too, although of course there's quite a bit of hem stitching needed at this point. The picture is 'fresh off the hoop' - I'll iron it next time!

Somehow - probably because it got stuffed in my bag - Petites Lettres Rouges met with either ink or eyeliner ...

However, with my trusty bottle of Stain Devil and a cotton bud ...

I'm very relieved, because it really is a pretty piece. I've also washed it in dish detergent and warm water and the colours stayed absolutely in place, which is always a relief when dealing with hand dyed threads!

So, hopefully this weekend, in between completing a Uni assignment, I will have at least one happy dance!

September Sampler Accent - Periwinkle Promises

Design: September Sampler Accent
Designer: Periwinkle Promises
Threads: Silks as charted (provided in kit)
Fabric: 28 count Glenshee linen

This was a quick construction to make the sampler accent into a little mini pillow to co-ordinate the others I have made from this designer. I didn't make the little tassels for the corners as I think the design is busy enough as it is!