WOYWW 605 - Twelfth Night

Good morning and welcome back to the blog, and another week of WOYWW.  All the details can be found on the glamorous Ms Dunnit's blog here.  Do go and check it out if you're new here, and join in if you can!

This week has been a quiet one.  The decorations came down on Sunday, and whilst the house looks bare, we seem to have much more room again!  LOL.

For Christmas I bought Mr Morti a canvas from Frome - these are made using a piece of software that plays the film and takes the average colour from each movie (correction, scene), and puts a line of colour on a canvas to make a picture.  Can you guess which film this is?

In return, Mr Morti bought me an all singing, all dancing record player.  He has some notion that he can connect it to our old cinema surround sound system, so has bought an amp and we'll see how that goes!

 

The saga of our dodgy builders continues.  We had discovered that our new guttering was leaking, and we needed to fix it ASAP so prevent a repeat of the problem in the bedroom, where years of water pouring down the wall had destroyed the plaster indoors.  So, outside, he climbed up the ladder and took a look at the offending join. He discovered that not only had they cut the guttering an inch too short, the seal at that joint was missing.  A quick trip to B&Q and £2 later, a new joining piece was purchased to enable the seal to be taken out and put into the section.  The picture below also shows how wonky they put up the downspout!

The desk has seen no action other than to have all the Christmas cards we received dumped on it.  The bog standard printed ones will be turned into gift tags for next year, the handmade ones put into a box to be stroked at a later date, or used for inspiration, and the personal family ones kept.  

I always keep the ones we've sent each other, out of sentimentality.  Also, with my memorial jewellery making I am all too aware of one day it being the last card we receive from certain people, and having an example of their handwriting may come in useful.  The necklaces I showcased on last week's blog are a case in point - the Nannie in question went from fit and relatively healthy on a Monday, to no longer with the family by the Friday of the same week, one of the earliest Coronavirus victims. Not only could the family not see her, nor visit, nor be with her when she passed, they were unable to obtain a fingerprint impression which meant I had to be sent her handwriting from greetings cards in order to make the pendants.  Having known the lady since I was 11, it hit home rather hard, and I must confess to them being some of the emotionally hardest pieces I've had to make.

Anyway, onto lighter news.

The 2020 SAL was finally finished! Here it is in all its glory...

The fabric for the 2021 SAL finally showed up yesterday, and it's rather stiff and unyielding so will need a wash and press before it goes on the frame.

The moose hasn't moved on at all, but with good reason.  I have at long last framed up the fabric for my giant Heaven & Earth Design (HAED from now on), Siren's Lament by Anne Stokes.  This piece is being worked on 25 count (the number of holes per inch) evenweave fabric, and the grey gridwork on it identifies it as what is called "easy count".  (Finger in picture for scale!)   

I'm working full crosses in two strands over one thread (we'd say 2 x 1)  - so that will be 24 stitches per inch, or about 9 per cm.  I have made a start on the stitching for it, and at the moment I'm not overly happy with the way it's coming out as the stitching is looking a little bumpy and uneven.

However, I've taken some advice from my fellow Vampire clan members and they've said that I need to increase my tension and it will sort itself out.  So, I'm sticking with it.  It'll be interesting to see how long it takes me to do as this is two evening's work - although I hasten to add that I don't work on it for more than a couple of hours at a time, I'd go blind!  

I've also decided what I'm going to do with my Medicine Spoon Memorial piece, but I really need to get onto that!

That's it for the moment.  I'm also trying to figure out my YouTube channel.  We Geminis are mercurial butterflies who like to try all sorts of things, and have so many interests, and my channel kind of reflects that.  It's (going to be) a mixture of home renovation, hobbies, travel and being a Goth, which I know isn't a recipe for success (you should really do a consistent single thing) but it's me all over....

Speaking of YouTube channels, if you fancy a bit of escapism I can really recommend watching NickiPositano - her vlogs are about life as an expat living in Positano and are actually really rather good. A gentle, simple life with amazing scenery and some fabulous characters.  She's been vlogging for the last 10 years, but has really ramped up her vlogs and posting over the last year and is now looking incredibly professional.  I can see big things in this lady's future - she'd make an excellent travel TV presenter.

So on with the hop!  I'm terrible at getting round to everyone but I will endeavour to make more of an effort in the future.... so much to do, so little time.

Happy hopping!

WOYWW 604 - Betwixtmas again...

Good morning, Lovely WOYWWers!  Welcome to the Wednesday blog hop, hosted by our equally lovely Julia.  You can find all the deets and other desks here.  Do join in if you haven't done so previously!

This week my desk is dull, much like the weather down here in Cornwall.  Nothing to report as being "in action" on it so to speak.

This year I will be re-instigating "Rudolph Day".  I'm painfully aware that some folks didn't get a card from me at all (hangs head in shame) let alone a handmade one (hangs whole of body in shame) and this is partly due to the year we had and the state the office/craftroom has been in.  Equally of importance is the complete lack of inspo and simply being out of practice!  I did manage to make a whole four cards for my Vampires (my Myth & Magic Stitch Wars team mates) and I think most of them have arrived by now but as two were going to the States, and they are having terrible postal trouble out there, I've a feeling at least one is still in transit.

I did two different designs...

Sorry, I digress.  Rudolph Day.  What this basically means, for those that haven't heard of it before, is that on the 25th of each month in 2021 (December excluded) I will sit and make a handful of Christmas cards, ready for Xmas 2021.  I know.  Terribly organised of me!  I do however feel that it's the only way to be organised enough as I can get far too easily sidetracked.  My patronus is a Sloth, you know.

I've even started a Christmas journal - not for diary keeping but to keep a record of to whom I've sent cards, who I've received from, what presents I bought for people.  Oh, and what we ate.  That way, next year I've got a record to look back on and to help ensure I don't double up on gifts.  And that at the very least, everyone who sent us a card gets one back.  Especially if they didn't get a card this year! oops.  I know that's not necessarily the spirit of the whole thing - no-one expects a card in return for sending one, and I certainly don't, but that's just how I roll.

I was going to say that I didn't receive a single item of craft related goodness this year, but I've just realised that is a lie.  Kat, one of my Vampires, sent a skein of Caron Wildflowers thread as a little gift.  It's rather poignant though - it came from her Grandmother's stash which Kat inherited, and she's said that she'll never use it all and thinks her Grandmother would approve of it being passed to another stitcher.  I've decided I'm going to make some simple blackwork Christmas ornaments with it.

Speaking of blackwork - the 2020 sampler is almost done.  I'm just finishing off the border which is now more than half complete, and then it can be washed and framed.  Peppermint Purple are doing a companion SAL for 2021 and I ummed and ahhed over whether or not to do it but have been duly enabled by Mr Morti to join in.  I'm just waiting for my fabric to arrive, and can then start it.  I'm going with purple thread for 2021.  There's a surprise.... hehehehe.

The Barn Owl was finally framed....

.... but I was unable to deliver as anticipated on the 20th December.  Essex was one of the areas that was placed into Tier 4 on that day, and our Round Robin trip to Essex and other areas in the south east for drop offs and pickups had to be very much truncated to just Exeter and Bournemouth for dropping off presents. It did mean that we didn't have to leave until about 9:30am, instead for 5am, and we were home by 10pm rather than 2am!  Rather civilised.  However, we still need to do the run as aside from the Barn Owl, I completed the silver memorial jewellery and that also needs dropping off, and we have a large oak overmantle to collect and pickled onions to deliver.  Santa ain't done yet...

The jewellery I made.....

There were 5 in total - the other four said "Nannie", and each had the deceased's birthstone alongside the recipient's birthstone, as a Swarovski crystal.

Morti Jr also got an Arctic fox charm, handmade by yours truly...

I did start another cross stitch in the run up to Christmas - A Christmas Moose, by Panna.  Haven't got very far but I will continue working on him so he's framed and up next year.  

What it’ll look like when done...

I also finally finished Morti Jnr's jumper.  It's taken me a good couple of years, but it's done.  It's also waaaaay too big, but she has professed that she likes a big slouchy jumper.  

I think the wool I used was more stretchy than that in the original, and I've never much been one for a tension test.  LOL.  I have different wool to crochet one the same for me, but I think I'm going to wait awhile on that.  Too many other projects on the go!  However, I will be doing a tension square with that wool...

So, that's that for now.  I think this is plenty long enough without boring you on all the current plans for the next year.  Watch this space for more crafting loveliness!  Also, I wish you all a most excellent 2021, although the dreaded C***d isn't going away so please do all take care of yourselves...

Happy hopping!

WOYWW 393 - it's beginn...... I SAID NOT YET!!!

Happy WOYWW fest everyone!  Another Wednesday has rolled around and here we are,.  Yup.  Three weeks on the trot for me.  I'm trying really hard to make sure I do the things I enjoy doing, and this is one of them.  I didn't quite manage to get round everyone last week (in fact, I think I only managed about four of you!) but I'll try harder this week.  Panto gets in the way...

 

If you've not been here before and are wondering what on earth WOYWW is, I'll let the Amazing Mrs D explain it all to you here as she'll do a much better job of it than I.

 

I'm trying to avoid Christmas a little bit.  That's not to say I'm ignoring it, oh no.  I feel that self-righteous smugness that comes from being a tad organised and knowing that all bar three Christmas cards have been posted (and those others will be written and done tonight), and the resigned feeling of not having a brass cent in my bank account so what's not been bought yet won't be until Christmas Eve.  We have even scheduled in a present wrapping session for Sunday (while Lil Miss B is at work in the tea rooms), so that we're not up until 1am on Xmas Eve frantically trying to wrap gifts.  I want to enjoy this Christmas as much as possible... bearing in mind we have all the parents with us.  Whose bright idea was that??!!!

 

Anyway, I digress.

 

Onto the desk.

 

Not much has happened.  It's all been shuffled around a bit. 

 

 

I'm no further along with the noses.  I think that may be because I know I have to do some sanding, and it'll make a mess.

 

I did finish sanding and firing the silver charms though.  Well, two of them.  The other two I wasn't happy about before I started sanding, so they're in the rehydration pot to be reworked.

 

 

 

Here they are close up.....

 



 

I can see there's a few scratches on them so might need to go back to the polishing stage and rework a bit, but as the "love, Dad" one is for me, I'm not too worried!  Don't they look nice and shiny!?

 

So, there you have it.  I did want to take a pic this morning of the newly decorated ornaments in the lounge - seems they've gone out and bought themselves some Santa hats, but it was too dark to get a decent photo this morning!

 

Hope you have a lovely day/week and I'll see you in a comment box somewhere near you shortly!!!  

WOYWW 392 - it's beginning to.....shhhhh..... not yet.....

Greetings fellow deskers!  If you're not already a desker, what are you waiting for?  Join in, do!  The details are here, at the Wonderful Mrs Dunnit's blog....

Short and sweet from me this week.

The sparkly star decoration hasn't actually progressed any further - nor has the project life album for that matter.  Where did the last 7 days go, that's what I want to know!!!

Mind you, we did spend the weekend doing various other bits and pieces, including decorating a certain house ready for a certain holiday.... 

So here's the desk.  It's in its usual cluttered state....

It's in the middle of some silver charm manufacturing.  I'd like to say they were all orders, but they're not - it's display stock.  One of which is also a piece for myself - the heart.  I made one for my sister and gifted it to her.  It's our Dad's handwriting, from a letter he wrote to me.  He wrote quite a lot, telling me about the dolls houses he was making.  Towards the end of his life he was making a particular dolls house for me, which he only half finished, but that is another tale for another time!  The silver charm will simply say "love, Dad x".  I will show you the finished item when it's done.

The other pieces are a very simple rectangle with a footprint (miniaturised), a teddy bear with a tiny handprint taken from a child, and the four-petalled flower actually has a hoofprint on it.  They're samples to show prospective customers what I can make, and so they can feel them in their hands rather than look at a big picture.  Much nicer!

There's a few more noses on my desk as well.  I will need to finish them this week and frame them.  A couple are for display, a couple for a gift, and one to keep for ourselves!

Oh?  You want to see the tree.....?

Ok then!

See you in a comments box near you - happy hopping!

WOYWW 391 - the post crop post!

WELL!

How much fun was that?  I'm not going to bore you all silly with yet another post about crop.  The measly couple of photos I took pall into insignificance next to everyone else's, and none of mine were as interesting as all the others.... However, it was an amazing day, far too much cake was consumed and it was wonderful to catch up with old and new friends, and generally have a blast.  I got the tissue box finished!

So, lets move swiftly on to this week's desk, for the rounds of WOYWW (see Mrs D for details)...

This week I'm in two places.  The dining room table:

 

And the main crime scene upstairs:

 

 

A closer look at the table reveals Project Life cards - I'm doing the first year of my gorgeous Great-Nephew's life:

 

Hiding underneath that lot is some beading I'm doing for Christmas, that I started at crop:

And really bizarrely, on the main desk upstairs, I'm casting noses!  This belonged to a rather gorgeous black lab called Shadow.  It's a bit warped where the owners might have squished the mould a bit before it set, but each dog's nose print is unique, so it's still a special thing.... I just need to finish it and mount it for them.

 

So, move along, there's not that much that's interesting here!  See you in a comments box near you.  And I'm very sorry I didn't get around to commenting last week!  oopsy....