My all that glitters swap

A little after Christmas I joined another swap, and I made two small things, a bookmark and a coaster. The name of the swap was "all that glitters" and the idea was to make something usable out of sparkly fabric and thread. I did not use only sparkly thread, because, well, it would look too Christmassy. Metallics come in a very limited palette all very dark and well, Christmassy. Unless you use a blending filament with your regular thread, but I did not have that at hand.

In fact, the bookmark only has regular thread on sparkly aida, but the angel coaster has sparkly aida, sparkly white wings and a gold halo and border. 

I liked them, and I hope my swap-partner did too, she got a small trinket box that glittered with some glittery buttons of butterflies in it too. She said she liked animals and girly things, so I think it fits. at least I hope it did.

The bookmark is from a Cross Stich Crasy issue 159 designed by Rhona Norrie.

The angel is the angels I have made for a while now, and I still love them, taken from  Christmas Cross Stitch Favorites Speial Issue (I am assuming 1) by Lucie Heaton.

I made her a card too.

Here is the gifts I put inside the swap, gifts where not required, but I thought I should put in something else in it since my finishing skills are not that great. The crochet snowflakes are handmade by me, as is the card. The glittery thing in the top left corner is a reflector so that cars see you when you walk about shaped like a star. The gifts were fairly inexpensive and easy to ship to another country.

I really hopes she like it.

Today was Wisp-day

And I did do some Wisp-ing.

This little guy came out of hiding and I did some white on his dress. I am liking this project and I think it will be fun to do the couching on it. Learning a new skill makes me happy. I am hoping to finish this in time for Christmas. And even when he is just occasionally outside I think it is do-able. See, I can make long term goals too.

 Fred! I love Fred. I worked on him yesterday (after I finished the entire page on Henry that I said was my goal, yay, a goal achieved. ) and a bit today. ( Yes, I know today was Wisp-Sunday, but I am allowed to deviate a little from my plan right? ) I have done all the greens and reds on the right side of the picture. :) But I just had a realization, which is, they have been a bit skimpy with the fabric. There is at the lowest 20 holes from the end of the picture and to the end of the aida. Not that much to go on:(  I am pretty sure it is not the wrong way or that I have miscalculated when gridding him. Because every which way I turn him, there is not much to go on... I know that when finished I can sew on more fabric for when I frame him, but I just felt really miffed when I saw how little leniency I had in aligning him perfectly in the middle. Oh, well, I am sure he will look good finished anyway. Even if I have misaligned him a little bit. It is just one of those little things that bug me.

The WISP SUNDAY That forgot it was Sunday

Yesterday it was saturday and just as I was stitching the red on Catherine Parr's dress I noticed something infuriating. Two of the three colours used looked exactly the same... Namely DMC 304 and 816. And I had no idea which of the colours I was using and generally confused myself. In a bit of a hissy fit I threw my project aside. Convinced DMC was the evil of all evils and had swapped colours on me I turned to the cross-stitching forum for help. Naturally they had all gone to sleep and apparently Australia was having a ball and was not at home to respond. So I went to bed quite irritated because my goal for that day had been to finish the red on her skirt.

So, a new day dawned, quite late I might add because of the previous late night and bunny choosing to honor the sabbath had not woken any of us. 

(only day this entire week she has not rattled her cage to wake us and free her). 

I got up, ate and somehow kept thinking of nothing but my unfinished skirt (well, Catherine's anyway), I forgot all about sundays and goals and WISPs and went to the forum to see if anybody had heard my desperateness from across the northern sea. They had, and apparently, I was on the right track, the colours were different just not to human eyes. Someone in the DMC department clearly are aliens or angels or something. ( or colourblind). 

I rushed to the sofa and started to stitch. I persevered with the two identical colours but still, now that I am finished with the skirt I can not tell them apart. If I get abducted I might ask the aliens if they can. When I had reached my goal feeling so happy and good about myself I remembered what day it was. Bunny had tried to tell me all day long she says as she has only been sleeping in her box keeping the sabbath holy. ( another clue should have been boyfriend going to church, but somehow I never quite put the two of them together). So.

 I took out my wisp project, and did the grey on angel number two. Hopefully I will get a little more done today though as this  poor little half angel seem quite sad and lonely, and I really want to start another kit ( another Wisp, that is) But I am being SOOOO good and am sticking to it. 

(But I have been looking, then giving in and buying and so therefore have been stashing,  so I have not been perfect, but so far, just stashing not starting).

 After I have been so good all day and resisted temptation I started to make some pastries thing.

A sort of bun, which since it is Fastelaven (here) today is supposed to be filled with cream and sometimes jelly, but in our house cream is fine. Oh, how we all love our buns and cream. 

Soon, we will eat a late dinner made of porridge and then we will fill our tummys with all the buns you can eat. This batch will make 20 buns, divided to boyfriend and me, and that is quite a lot of buns. Even I with my dyscalculia can see that.

 Yesterday was play day and bunny got a toy. Boyfriend got a book for his class and bunny was over the moon. I put treats in the box and she spent a good hour being good and eating. She is under the impression that moving around is for losers and you should only move and do something if there is any good food in it for her. If not, then she gets into mischief and takes all the hay out of her toilet station and throw it everywhere else as shown in this picture. And then, she has the nerve to complain that it is filthy on her bed-thing. #sillybunny

I have now finished Season 4 of Charmed. And thankfully the day when Wyatt is born looms closer and closer. Pipers pregnancy is soo fuun :) 

Later I will post a pic of the finished buns, right now, grub is on. Boyfriend has been diligent and sweet and made for us.

/Edit/: Here are the buns. I cheated a little and used prefabricated dough and cream, still tasted good. :)

Second Wisp

I made a mothers-day card for my mother, and mistakenly thought mothers-day was today so frantically tried to finish in time for the friday post, but soon realized (my mother told me) that mothers day in Norway is not for another week. Oops, oh, well, I got it finished, didn't I? Never mind that the card is written in past tense, Happy mothers day and all that. (this was a freebie from wocs 199)

 Now, Look, the angel is only missing it's feet, and then only two more angels to go, at this rate I should be done in a month:) (this kit has some weird things, apparently I am supposed to do something called cording which I have no idea what is or how to do)

I Have made some progress on Henry, but not much, I get bored of the colours constantly and I try to fill it in towards the border. I have started on three of his wives now. I have had some friends over for a stitch and soup. It was very cozy, although we didn't get much done.... Hehe.

A bunny Ball. She is sleeping a lot lately, I am guessing it is the weather and the early mornings. We have to get up by nine, or she is furious, preferably by eight or even seven would be best says bunny. She likes a bit of a morning run before cuddles on the sofa and if the mornings start too late she has no time for exercises. 

Boyfriend was eating an apple and someone came to "help" eat it up.

Oh oh, I am so exited, because on my stitching forum I have joined an easter exchange!! I will make a rabbit card and send some chocholate. YAY! I have decided on the pattern, but am thinking of buying some sparkly fabric first..... Decisions, decisions.

Framing myself

Here is what I have been doing the past few days, and, I have actually awoken by myself each morning really early. (which never happens) Between 5 30 and 8. Bunny is thrilled, because she loves cuddles in the morning on the sofa with a little jogging on the rug in-between.

 I did some interior decorating of bunny's toys, needless to say, she was not impressed.

 I framed the "all I want for christmas..." piece. Now I can pack it up for next season.

Here is how far I got on my Sunday WISP. I am loving this idea.

All day I sat stitching with some kinder-egg chocolate and Charmed on the TV. 

(I am now on season 4, Oh, Prue, I miss you)

I framed my Gorjuss piece. Another frame from flea-market this fall, I wanted to go with a light woodcoloured frame from IKEA, but they have stopped making them (I used one here, the Peter one). So I went home and looked through my stash, and found this pretty little frame, which needless to say, I love!

Today is about stars and voyage tea

Can you tell what it is yet? E2 was right, it is the Enterprise. She looks a bit green, but since she is from the 60's series I thought it fitted. I actually love this design, at it is really easy to work on. (just wish the pictures were better, but it gets dark here so fast)

Two of the colours are a bit close to each other, so that proves a bit of a challenge, you can see it in the first nacelle. I solved that by finishing one green colour before starting on the other, as you can see in the other nacelle that is not quite fastened to the rest of the ship. I am actually looking forward to making the one on black aida too. And some nice people at the cross-stitching forum gave me a good idea, just change the colour on the black letters to white or silver. Sparkling of course ;)

 And as predicted I could not find my mistake in this piece, so I just finished it as it were.... I really like it. But have no idea how to finish it neatly.... I want an ornament, or maybe a wall-hanger?

Oh, me and my friends had an idea (mostly me, because I always come up with ideas no one have time for:P)

So we have been looking at some fabrics. ( courtesy of Hanne here ) 

But it is a secret what it will turn into, atleast for a while more:)

Oh, and I just realised, I need more birthday presents.... The ship is a birthday present for my cousin from his birthday in october:S And my mother has her birthday this month and I have nothing for her. The gift I made last year the angel cloth is still AWOL and I can't seem to find it.... I know where I packed it when we moved, and I remember seeing it in storage, and I know it got in the car to our new place, but I cannot remember packing it out. And there are hardly anywhere else to look now.... Maybe my man has to look for it, he and my mother have an uncanny way of finding things I can never find. And since it is a present for my mother I can't think it is appropriate to ask her to come look for herself:P

We are still watching Voyager, and I find it amusing that I keep drinking voyage tea whilst watching the series. I am rather easy to please I guess;)

The stars beneath the angels, or was that above?

Last year I bought this on sale right after Christmas and I thought it would make a lovely Christmas gift. But then, I put it in a drawer and forgot all about it, that is, until some days ago. I was trying to find an advent tablecloth that has been AWOL the last two years. I still cannot find it, but I did find this, and now I do have an advent tablecloth because I scurried to the store and bought myself two(!).

Now this little beauty will probably turn out a lot different than what is says on the picture. ( so we will see the real picture on the revealing of this finished piece, then, just for fun). Because, in all honesty, how many angels do you know that sits on top of the stars? No, the stars should be around them, or over them, but not beneath. And, since I am a bit skimpy on the fabric, perhaps this will indeed become a twin set. I did a small fail, and checked the key on the chart and started with two strands as listed only to find out two halves of two angels in to it that the backstitch was indeed two, but the rest was in three strands.... And I who thought that I was beyond those petty rookie mistakes. Oh, well, just go over with one thread and no-one will notice;)

I have some more things to show, but that won't happen for a few more days;) The computer is a bit pre occupied these days by kareshi and his exams.

Just for You

Some cards again. Unfortunately the glue reacted with the aida on the angel and some colour seeped, but I decided to send it anyway.

And I did find something to do with the kokeshi doll.

For the last couple of days I have been contemplating my future. And most specifically my imminent future, and in it I see some designing of my own. So here it is guys, a little promise to make something of my very own, just for you. I will get right to it!

Anyone remember the sewing I made of a rabbit months ago? This rabbit?

Well, I wanted to make it into an easter ornament. So I will make little easter and rabbit cross-stitches that I can sew next to the finished piece. And hopefully it will turn into a decorative wall hanger.

One day.

Restock and regroup

Another start of a card. I do love the heart fabric, and I hope this will be done by the end of the day. Soon I will show you my finished blanket as well. It is aaaaalmost done, had to restock some yarn though.

It took me a year and a half, but the kokeshi doll is done! Stupid me who started with a type of speciality thread (Antique Effects E310) that I ran out on. And it took me a trip to Bath to replace it. But now, I am DONE.

She looks adorable.

But honestly, I have no idea what to do with her....

I am experiencing a bit of withdrawal because I can't seem to log in to my favorite stitching site.

With or without bow

Yay. My Christmas-letter-hanger-thingy is done! I was arguing with the sewing machine all last night, which resulted in this. As you can see, there is but a little fiddling left, that I have to handsew, and that is the red fabric onto the hanger. But it looks really cute.

What do you guys think, with or without the bow?

Let your voice be heard on the wonderful poll right to the right-hand side^^

Will I jinx it now I wonder?

Another Christmas present. I am getting a good go. I liked this singing angel, and on sale from our favorite sewing store. Sewandsow.

Enda en julegave. Jeg er kommet godt igang. Jeg likte denne syngenede engelen, og den var på salg også fra vår alles favoritt sy-butikk. Sewandso.
Here is the batch I bought. All on sale. And all will be christmas presents. We will see who gets who as it is not yet decided upon. I feel like I will actually be done this year before Christmas Eve;)

Her er det jeg kjøpte. På salg. Og alt vil bli til julegaver. Vi får se hvem som får hva, siden jeg har ikke bestemt meg enda. Jeg tror jeg faktisk kan bli ferdig før julaften iår.

I am well ahead

Actually, not well ahead, but at least I am getting a start on the list of presents;)

This will eventually be a birthday card. But I will not show it after the recipient have got it:)

Dette blir tilslutt et bursdagskort. Men jeg vil ikke vise det før mottakeren har fått det:)

And, done. At least the angels are. Will not show this finished until after Christmas either.

Og, ferdig. Eller, englene er. Kommer ikke til å vise denne heller ferdig før etter jul.

To my mother

My mother was at a flee market, and bought some frames. And we agreed that I would make something to put in them. And, so I did. This is the result.

Sorry about the bad pictures, but I did not have time to take better ones. It has been raining for the last three days and the sun has hardly shown. And now ofcourse, the sun is out, the rain has stopped, and I just gave the pictures away....

C'est la vie

The angel is from the angel stocking I made for my stepmother last christmas. And I added a star. She has a superman pose. I think that is fitting:P

My mother loved them both.

Labyrinth in the Sauna

This is how far I have gotten on the angel. I had hoped to be done with the wings yesterday, but shouganai na.

I have decided not to tell anyone when I make mistakes on my stitching anymore. At least not when it is unnoticeable.

So, I hope to do a little bit more later.

We have been housesitting my in laws house. And played labyrinth. I won the most. Also almost done with the last earth children's book. We also took a sauna. I Love saunas. It feels so good when you are warm through and through. When I grow up, we have to have a sauna in our house.

I would almost forsake my stitching and yarning just for that....

Is there anything you could forsake your most fun hobby for?

Do not fear.

Look, I am making another angel, to make the first one company. A christmas present to my aunt.

I am flipping the image over in my head as I go from the chart. It is not very easy, but really a lot easier than I thought.

And, in the end I will put a bible verse from "The Christmas Evangelium" not sure what it is called in English, please correct me if anyone knows.

Merry Christmas Angel to you!

I am still not done with the Christmas Presents...
But I have until four tomorrow. And the angel is Aaalmost done. ^^

And some of my projects got done. The cat and the hat and one potholder, but then I ran out of yarn, so the second will get it after Christmas. :)

The bees are on hiatus, my mum is getting the rabbit picture instead. And the crochet angels I never started because I couldn't find the yarn. I have been Christmas cleaning, teehee. But this angel will be done by tomorrow. Might not get washed or framed. But the angel will be done. I am thinking since I have the aida to spare to make another facing the opposite way for next Christmas, so by then the picture will be complete? And for next Christmas make a frame too? I am sure my aunt will be pleased.

The purse that has been on hold since last Christmas is still not done... But, it is Christmas, so this is no time to think about all the things that have not been done, but those that made it.
So Merry Christmas indeed

Tadah

The Angel is done, done, done.

I have only the washing and mounting left.

I decided not to make yellow backstitching on the wings. Now it looks softer.

Beading the angel

Look at the angel, she is aaalmost done, what do you think? I decided to use regular yellow instead of gold on the candle.

I have started the beading too, you can see the two different needles I use also.

Some of the details in the original have been skipped. But she still looks good.

Someday I want to make one just like her, but let the wings look a bit like this, a little okami-ish?

Wonder if my backstitch colour should be brown or not.

The snow is falling, get in the spirit

Here is the stocking cross-stitch, now I have to find some fabric and make the sock:P

And me who suck so much at sewing;)

But I will do my best and practice so that making small things will be problem free.

You can see the stitching on the snowflakes, but I don't mind, you have to fasten them somehow, and in stitches is best so it does not fall of, that would be a lousy gift, right?

She is now a lady and I cannot wait until she becomes an angel. But she looks great, right?

I might be able to make a couple more. Maybe.

Should there be stars around her or some kind of background? How should I frame her? Should there be a contrast colour between the frame and fabric? A blue cardboard maybe?

Any ideas? Maybe I have to wait and see and decide when she is done? I have to buy frames also, now why didn't I go to more flee markets? :P

The angel-stocking update

It is finished, now let's see if I can resist starting a new until the backstitching (at least) is done on the cat. Now all that is left is to buy fabric and make a stocking, and I truly fail at sewing.... :S

Someone want to teach me? ;)

Initially I wanted some angels on the top too, but I decided not to. This way it is simpler and cleaner. I think the angels look wonderful, but what the designers were thinking by having a sand shade floss in the hair I don't know, because with white and those two hair colours together looked ridiculous. Needless to say, I skipped the sandshade? But you can still see that the pink angel looks a bit weird in the haircolour? Nee?

But I don't care, I like that they look different, my plan was that the two lying angels on top had black hair. But plans are made to be changed? So, tadah. Finished.