Keeping busy over Christmas and New Year

The few weeks before Christmas found me with nothing to do so I found some wool I had bought a few months ago and made myself another virus shawl.  It was once again a quick and easy make and filled in an empty slot!

As I have mentioned many times, I am not one to sit and do nothing!   This is even at times like Christmas and the New Year when there are other things going on - if I am sitting, I have to be doing something!

Thankfully Little Box of Crochet and Craftpod both came to my rescue with projects to fill my time.

The December Little Box of Crochet was a Toft pattern for a delightful little dog.   Not that I am particularly a dog lover or a fan of amigurami, but it kept me occupied!

Even I have to admit he's cute!

The Craftpod box had two 'makes',  The first was an embroidered mistletoe sprig in a hoop which was joined by a felt fox. 

I really enjoyed both of these makes and although I have resisted a subscription to Craftpod, I am usually tempted once I see what's on offer!

Other creations this month

I was a bit late with my Journal Quilt this month.  It was done within September but for the past few years I have been ahead of myself so I felt quite guilty that it wasn't done until the middle of the month.

This month I reached the "blue" month so decided to have something linked to the sea for the gelli printing.   I've made my own print blocks with polystyrene in the past so used this method to create some texture on the plate inspired by waves and using fabric paints, printed some of my dyed blue fabric.  I used two or three different shades of blue fabric paint but once again I found that you don't get the same definition as you do when using acrylic paint.  The results were good though for the task in hand.

For the Log Cabin part of the quilt, I've again used the Courthouse Steps as the basis of the design with a bit of a twist.   For three of the sides I used different shades of my own dyed blue fabric and then the gelli printed fabric for the fourth side and the binding.

For the quilting I used a stitch on my machine which gives the appearance of waves going up and down.

It's time for a change of season so my thoughts turned to ideas for an Autumn hoop for my mantelpiece display.   I love the colours of Autumn - I always think it is because I was an Autumn baby!- so I knew it had to be something to reflect the colours.

My choice was a simple maple leaf (another favourite, particularly at Autumn) and luckily I found just the pattern I needed on the internet.  I've gone back to cross stitch after many years absence and as I enjoyed it so much, I think there will be more.  So therapeutic!

The display in coming together but I want to add some sort of foliage in a vase so am still thinking about that.   The other hoop and owls are from a Craftpod box I did last year when I began my seasonal project.

The garland of Autumn leaves is another pattern from Attic24 which I made using the ends of yarn left over from her Woodland Blanket which I made earlier this year.

Craftpod Giveaway

My two daughters are always entering giveaways and have far too much success for my liking!  Recently I entered a giveway for Craftpod, tagged my daughters who in turn entered and blow me if Clare went and won!

Knowing she was most unlikely to suddenly take up embroidery, I offered to do it for her.  

There were two projects, a hoop of botanical stitching and an embroidered project bag.  Really enjoyed all the stitching, learning a new stitch - catkin stitch.

I added a design to the other side of the project bag so there is stitching on both sides.

I'm always moaning because I never win the giveaways I enter but all this has now changed as I have won two tickets for this year's Festival of Quilts so I know where I am going in August!

Autumn Embroidery

I've had an Autumn box from Craftpod for some time and what with one thing and another, I've only just had the time to open it and do a bit of embroidery.

These little boxes are sent quarterly, one for each season, and have a selection of embroidery and other crafts all inspired by nature and the seasons.   Have a look at their website, particularly if you like embroidery as there's not much out there like this.

This box had a lovely toadstool design set in an embroidery ring to which I had to add some embroidery stitches to give it a hand-finished look.   Just love the finish and now feel inspired to do some more.

The two little owls were also part of the box and the two together make a great display on the fireplace.