And a finish! Day 12 of ‘Lockdown’

I’ve finished my ‘Ye Old Crow Sampler’ cross-stich AND made it up into a small pillow, which will become part of my Autumn/Halloween decorations. So, it'll be put away for now ………. that's if I can discover where exactly I decided to store them last year! Possibly in the loft.

I even managed to find a backing fabric and tiny pompom trim to match perfectly.

Did anyone watch the National Theatre Live production of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Corden on YouTube? It was being broadcast free of charge. Boy, it was very funny ....... and who's not in need of a good old belly laugh at the moment!

Cross-stitching (day 2)

Well, I made a good bit of progress this afternoon on my ‘Ye Old Crow Sampler’ by Heart in Hand cross-stitch ..... I’ll never be as fast as Wendy though - she’s a super quick stitcher! I’ve probably nicked the idea for this pattern from Wendy actually - can’t remember, but I’ve been ‘inspired’ by her work once or twice!

And then when I’d had enough of that I decided to have a go at making some ginger biscuits. This time ’inspired’ by Simone. She made some yesterday. Mine though; well a bit of a disaster! I cook and bake regularly, but I’ve never made biscuits before! I didn’t know I needed to leave loads of space between each one 😕 so what came out of the oven was one big square gingernut biscuit. All I could do after it had cooled a bit was to cut it into smaller squares. So not your conventional gingernuts! But, hey, they still taste nice ...... dunked a couple in a cuppa after I’d had my tea. 

Hope you’re all managing to keep busy and well. 

Ye Old Crow sampler

So, all of those ‘to do’ crafty projects will now turn into ‘finished’ projects ………. won’t they?!

And yesterday I decided to start a ‘Halloween’ theme cross-stitch – completely the wrong time of year I know, but just to make sure it’s completed in time J It’s only a small pincushion/pillow, so shouldn’t be a problem. It’s called Ye Old Crow Sampler by Heart in Hand – all done in the one colour, so even easier!

I’m going to try to post more regularly, so will post an update soon ……. 

Ye Old Crow Sampler

I saw this cross-stitch made up on somebody's blog, or Instagram feed or Facebook ...... I really can't remember now, but I liked it a lot and decided it shouldn't be too taxing, as it's small and only one colour thread, so no chopping & changing threads constantly! Actually, I thought I'd seen it on Wendy's blog recently, but I can't see it there, so it must have been somebody else's idea I'm nicking!

Cheap too! The pattern comes together with the three small buttons needed and i only had to buy two skeins of Weeks Dye Works thread. Of course, it won't be ready for this Halloween, but hopefully next year. I'm doing what Wendy said I should do and prepping plenty of craft things ready for my recuperation period after my knee replacement operation .......... next Thursday - it's getting close now!!!

Spooky presents for me!!

Apologies to Wendy (The Quiet Room blog) for being so late in posting photos of the gorgeous Halloween presents she sent to me …….. and they arrived bang on 31^st October – perfect timing, although I think Wendy thought they might not arrive on time! As I told Wendy in an email though, had I been at home the day before, I would have had them then, but instead I had one of those ‘excitement inducing’ cards from Mr Postman telling me there was something ‘too big to go through my letterbox’ waiting for me at the post office depot. And as you can guess, I was there at 7:00am the following morning (on my way to work) to collect!! I seem to have been so busy this last week and/or late home from work, which is why I’m so late!!

And look at what I got

One more pumpkin to add to the collection that Wendy sent to me before – and as she says, you can never have too many pumpkins (Pumpkin Queen she is!! LOL)

And then, two beautiful cross-stitch pillows/pin cushions

Aren’t they just lovely? Look at that quirky green pumpkin face in the 'Trick or Treat' one, and I love the colours in the 'Boo' one! 

They have all been added to my Halloween/Autumn display – can you see the new white pumpkin at the front there?

Thank you again to my very kind and generous friend Wendy – I love my gorgeous pressies.

Happy Spooky October!!!

No sewing this time – I’ve been playing with paper ……. as if I had time for paper crafts when I don’t have anywhere near enough time for my sewing LOL!!!

I've made a little spooky Halloween house using some of this beautiful Graphic 45 ‘Eerie Tale’ papers – it’s almost too gorgeous to cut up, but I was brave:0) 

It’s only a little house, about 4 inches high, but it has lots of detail – layered pumpkins and orange moss inside, die-cut window frames both sides ……. and can you see the trinket hanging down inside (a spooky spider one side and a moon on the other side?

Outside ‘fussy cut’ roses are glued around the windows trimmed with glitter, a tiny glittered bat attached to the side of the window, and on the roof a chain holding another trinket, a bead and a layered card sentiment.

I hope you like it! I believe doing this is classed as ‘Altered Art’. It’s my first attempt and it’s really a practise for something similar I would like to make on a Christmas theme…….. if I get time of course!!

Willa Witch

...... isn’t she cute?!! Witches you see don’t have to be scary – don’t you just want to cuddle little Willa? It’s been ages since I’ve made a rag doll and I’ve been bursting to make my sweet Halloween Witch – so here she is – what do you think?

And here is Willa sitting amongst my Autumn/Halloween display. This is the first time I’ve ever had a display like this, borne purely from inspiration from other ladies out there in cyberspace/blogland. And why not eh? Everyone decorates for Christmas without a second thought, so why not celebrate all seasons ........ bring it on!!!



Take care!