WOYWW 779

No snappy title from me this week.  Not even any photographs this time.  Nor a desk.

The saddest news - on Thursday 2nd May, 2024, my beloved mother finally joined my father in eternal rest. Her passing was not unexpected, not a shock.  We had been expecting it for some time - she was 92, after all, and in September 2020 diagnosed with chronic cardiac failure.  She'd been in and out of hospital since September last year, and the last two months were spent in a lovely care home in Braintree, Essex.

The Friday before, Mum was admitted to hospital again for the sixth time in 8 months, with her heart rate and BP  fluctuating quite wildly.  Ultimately, by the Tuesday she had contracted hospital acquired pneumonia, and at 19:20pm on Thursday breathed her last.

My sister and niece were with her at the end, and she went peacefully and quietly into the arms of her God.

I feel honoured to have known her, let alone be her daughter.  She was not without her quirks, but she was steadfast in her faith, and had love for all (occasionally a somewhat judgy quip too but we won't dwell on that!) opening her heart and her door to many through the years. Grandma to all children - even those not related to her - and as my eldest niece put it when she was a small bean "Grandma from London has sweeties in her bag" generous to a fault.  

Mum was very much a creative herself.  A demon with the knitting needles, she taught herself to crochet much later in life, and took to it like a duck to water.  She wasn't adverse to wielding an embroidery needle, and stitched a few beautiful pieces with enthusiasm if slightly lacking in skill.  Mostly, she was an adept on the sewing machine.  I don't believe she ever had any formal tuition, but her entire life she made clothes for us and costumes for the stage school and amateur dramatic society she ran.  Mum rather jealously guarded her machine, and whilst she - without hesitation - encouraged us to sew and bought me my first machine, it was more than my life was worth to ever risk touching hers! Mum also painted during my childhood, reasonable works of art (though no great master) in oil and she loved Nancy Kominski's tv programmes. A genuine and happy dabbler in most things, card making included.

Mum missed my father greatly, and when the time came, confirmed to us that she was ready to go. She will be so very missed by us all.

Constance Ware (Fenn)

1931-2024

WOYWW 778 - Did ya miss me, briefly?

Ha!  I'm here.  I kind of forgot last week, and didn't have very much to show really.  So I skipped a week but I'm still here.  Heheheh

Today's gratuitous desk shot - more of the same really.  The needleminders all have been resin'd and magnets attached, and the scissor fobs made.  All bar one.  I was short by one solitary 4mm red, faceted, crystal cube.  So naturally I bought a couple hundred.  LOL.  I could have bought a single Swarovski bead for about £4 including postage but imagine if it didn't turn up, or wasn't the right size.... or was the wrong colour?  So I bought two job lots in two colours and the rest will go into stash. I'm sure I will use them before long.

Stitching wise, this month's WIPGO is now complete with 5 days stitched on this Spooky House design by Sandra Parlow, charted by Xs and Ohs. I started this back in 2022, I think, so you won't have seen it before.  Here's a shot of what it looks like currently, and one of what it will look like when done.  The windows and the moon are stitched with glow in the dark Kreinik braid (the devil's floss) and look fab for all of 9 seconds after the lights go out.  A bit of fun nonetheless.

The WOCS SAL moved along and I have completed part three - still three sections behind but I'll be cracking on with those shortly.

The May WIPGO was called and it was three numbers - 5, 13 (spare square) and 19.  For me that means I have two more - and different, for a change - works in progress to work on, The Pirate and Alluring Sorceress, and a new start. The new start will be a blackwork piece which I'll commence on Saturday for Star Wars day. :D

Speaking of May 4th, tomorrow I start a few days' holiday and will be heading up to North Wales for that stitching retreat with friends that I mentioned last post - it's suddenly come around very quickly, and indeed, our Michigan friend starts her journey tomorrow with the first of three flights.  Once in the UK she'll be having to navigate London to get a train up to Chester where I'll be meeting her.  Brave lass!

So, that's my two penn'orth for this week.  I'll say it now, I don't think I will have time to hop around the blogs this week because today is a full and extended working day, tomorrow is shaping up to be manic, and after that I'll be busy socialising (how very dare I?! LOL), so please accept my apologies for not paying you a visit.

I will be making an ATC or two, by the way, although I'll not be able to join the Crop this year, sadly, so do let me know if you'd like to swap ahead of time and I may just get myself organised enough to do them in a timely manner.

Happy Hopping!

Morti

x

WOYWW 776 - On time for a change, early in fact...

 Hellooooo thar....

A quick one from me today because at the time of typing this, I need to be elsewhere doing other things.  Isn't it always the way?  I really do need a clone.

There's movement on the desk this week, there really is.  I'm fairly confident that the folks that shouldn't be seeing this, won't, so I can (mostly) share what I've been up to.

I'm organising a stitching retreat which is due to take place in Wales, in a little over two weeks.  We've referred to it as "Coven: The Gathering" as we're a bunch of stitchers who like spooky stuff.  I think I've mentioned before that one of our number is flying in from the States.  Anyway, there's a card game called "Magic: The Gathering" and so I've *coff* borrowed from that branding to create our own little logo, and from that I've printed onto some shrink plastic and made custom needleminders and scissor fobs.  You'll forgive me if I don't show them in full yet - just in case one of them wanders across here from YouTube or Instagram!

I did have a bit of a moment earlier, when I managed to scatter an entire pack of crimp beads across the back of my desk but fortunately I was able to locate and save most of them…

Anyhoo - gotta dash - see you all on the hop as it were.

Happy Hopping!

Morti

x

WOYWW 775 - Another late one

You know how it is.  On Tuesday you remember you need to do a post and schedule it for Wednesday.  Before you know it it's Wednesday - late - and you still haven't done it and feel like you really should get off the couch and do something.  No?  Just me then?  Alrighty then..... 

Still not a great deal to report on the creative front other than a trial run of some new shrink plastic, the kind you can print on using an inkjet printer.  It's for a little project that's top secret until the first weekend in May. So I won't bore you with a view of my desk because I didn't actually move anything or do anything on it - the printer in question is nowhere near :D hehehe

The stitchalong has crawled this week.  I'm not normally slowed down by backstitch, but this time I have a touch of stitching fatigue.  I really need to do it before I put to one side to do WIPGO.

I'm not sure if I did WIPGO back in 2021, but in case I didn't, it's basically Bingo for your Works In Progress.  On my card I have all but two (well, four now, with the SALs) of my WIPs, and each is set for 5 days' work.  I'll talk about those in more detail next week.  

Throwback to a previous design - the last time I was here I was halfway through the 2021 Peppermint Purple blackwork stitchalong, and as promised, here's a (sorry for the poor quality) picture of the 2021 SAL framed along with its counterpart from 2020.  It was a bit complicated to frame so I had it professionally done  they did a pretty good job.  

SO there you have it.  I'm going to try and visit everyone's desks tomorrow.  I was actually out of the office completely today until almost 3pm, and then in back-to-back client calls.  Sigh.  No rest for the wicked!

Happy Hopping, folks!

Morti

x

WOYWW 774 - The Late Night Edition

It’s been a day…. But I’m here for what’s probably the last link of 774 ☺️

No point in sharing my desk because aside from moving a piece of paper, there’s been no action.

I think I managed to get round everyone last week, and found myself utterly enabled by Angela @ Felix The Crafty Cat, in that I found myself buying the owl canvas kit. 🤭 It arrives tomorrow! I figured I deserved a reward for avoiding chocolate for 40 days…. Hehehe

At some point I’ll give y’all an update on the stitched pieces you last saw 3 years ago. I believe at least two of them have now been framed. 

Here’s what I’ve been working on this week, though. It’s a stitch along hosted by World of Cross Stitching magazine, and it’s a little out of my normal wheelhouse due to the colours in it (moved one of my friends to quote “But… pastels, Morti?”

Here’s what it will look like when finished. 

So it’s not a mystery SAL (heck, I’m two releases behind anyhow) but I like that. The mystery ones can be a bit hit or Miss as to whether or. It you’re going to like the finished article!

So, until next time - Morti signing out - and happy hopping!

WOYWW 773 - all…. wet…on the western front.

Well, I’m here. And definitely feeling g the effects of an incredibly rainy winter. 🙄 I didn't get round to visit any one last week because Google/Blogger was playing up and wouldn't let me log in to comment.  I've had to do it this week from my laptop rather than my mobile.

A bit late, but late is better than never. It’s a bit quiet at Morti Mansions, and to be frank, most of my crafting work is pretty non-existent . These days generally is the stitching. But I am back l! So here is my “desk” as it were for today - my stitching station in the lounge. Currently on it is my stitch along (SAL) from The World of Cross Stitching magazine. I’m a little bit behind by about 2 1/2 months… maybe one and a half, seeing as the latest part was only released last Wednesday. 

The other desk upstairs doesn’t look any different to last week. I dare you to play spot the difference!LOL

I do need to get back into my other crafting so hopefully there’ll be something a bit different to share in future WOYWWs. 

Happy Hopping!

Morti x

WOYWW 772- What's going on 'ere then?

Well, Hi!

So a whole month passed since I blew the dust off this 'ere blog, and I'm only just getting round to making another post.  I mean, I'm not entirely sure what's going on, or why, but it seems I sneezed and then... March. Heh heh heh....

It's also been a Loooooong time since I last took part in any WOYWW shenanigans, so perhaps I should just hand back my crafters hat and.... what's that you say?  I should post?

OK - well - there's not much to show.  The desk is the same as it looked last time really.  Things get moved around and shuffled. Every so often I have a fit of tidying up. Then a fit of crafting.  Then a fit of forgetting to clear up after me. Rewind, Repeat.

Except it really isn't the same, is it?  If you look at my last WOYWW - three years ago, ohhh, the shame.... - it's in a completely different position.  SO yeah, we moved the craft room round and my work work desk is now in what was Lil Miss B's bedroom, she having now moved out permanently, and we have a futon where the craft work desk used to be, that having filled the work work desk space.  It's all good.  Less distracting.  But also I get less actual crafting done. Because I don't see it daily, I'm neither reminded nor inspired. I am however doing even more stitching than ever, and have about 14 WIPs on the go.  Yikes...

So I'll drop a pic in here and call it done for today.  When I have a bit more time (cos I'm on a break from work right now and don't have time to go into depth) I'll start putting in an update for what I've been up to and what work I've completed.  And my designs I've done lately too.... oh yes, this girl is now a bona fide cross stitch designer and I've officially sold a whole six patterns.  LOL

Oh yeah.... the trolley?  That's my stitching "work desk" which sits by my stitching station (aka the sofa) and as you can see, the pile it high mess is the same there too..... 

Toodle pip - happy hopping!

Morti

x

Hello, it's been a while

 How are you all?

Now you've got over the shock, yep it's me.  I'd love to say I'm back permanently but we'll have to see how that goes.  I don't have the best track record, do I, for sticking around.

Lately though, I've been pondering the old blog again and thinking that maybe it's time to resurrect it.  Perhaps update it, refresh the edges a tad.  Have the opportunity to come here whenever I like and do a few bits and pieces.  

The old YouTube channel is going well these days - over 1k subs and growing nicely.  However, the good old YT algorithm means that you kind of have to stick with one topic or it gets all confused and doesn't know who you are, what you're doing, or who is likely to watch.  So this blog would be an opportunity for folks to come read at their own pace, for me to do my thang, share more of life and travels.

And looking at where we've been versus how often I've dotted onto here, we have some serious catching up to do!

So stick around.  I'll be back shortly...

WOYWW 627 - Not so flamin' June - and G7

Hello, lovely deskers!   Welcome back to another round of WOYWW...  that weekly bloghop looking at the underbelly of creativeness, the mess and mayhem that is our desks... LOL.

As I type this, the weather is typically British summer - drizzle but warm and distinctly muggy.  Yuk.  Despite this, we have a major influx of visitors to Cornwall (no surprise there) but this has been augmented and indeed frustrated by G7.  I live about 7 miles from Carbis Bay and Tregenna Castle, and it's causing a lot of trouble.  Road closures - including all the bridges and overpasses for the A30, the main road that runs down the spine of Cornwall - and full accommodation are making things difficult for locals and visitors alike, and we get daily flyovers of USAF Hercules etc.  Don't get me started on the parking issues in Falmouth, where the media circus are hanging out.

Regardless, I'm sat in my cosy little nook, keeping myself to myself, and busy plying my needle through fabric.  They can keep their shenanigans!

The desk this week is suffering a bit from "pile it high" syndrome - I've not had the opportunity to sit and clear it up but my fingers are itching again to get on with it...

I'd also like to say a bit thank you to my swappees for the ATCs - what a lovely little collection!  So thank you LLJ, Ali and Spyder for your lovely ATCs and postcards!  I loved the little folder Spyder sent her ATCs in (and the little spider on one of them - too cute... :D).

Stitching - Siren's Lament lies untouched, with good reason!  Myth & Magic Stitch Wars, round 14, is well under way and there's just too much confetti in it for me to get a good stitch count in a hurry on.

However, The Christmas Moose (why didn't they call it The Christmoose?) has had a significant amount of progress - you can even make out where the roofs will be on that side.  Loving working on this!

Peppermint Purple's SAL is up to date as of last week and today's chart is now out, so I'll be working on that shortly.

Lastly, my Field of... er... Ducks is coming along nicely.  There's good blocks of colour so yesterday evening I churned out over 320 stitches on it which was pretty awesome and very necessary - our clan had been "poisoned" by another clan and had to collectively stitch 1000 stitches as fast as possible to reduce the damage being caused over time.

Note the strategically positioned needleminder!

The "ducks" caused a bit of a hoot over on my YouTube channel last week, and I also coined another phrase, where SAL no longer stands for "Stitch-a-Long" but "Stitch-a-Later".  Seems a couple of folks are going to adopt that now... heheheheh

So that is that, this week.  I found this "funny" on the web this week and had to share it - it takes a bit of thinking about but is v clever...

Happy Hopping!

Morti

x

WOYWW 626 - Flaming June

 Hello again, lovely deskers - welcome back to another round of WOYWW.  Deets here....   I must confess, there's not a lot to show this week!  And I'm much remiss in visiting desks, starting with the best of intentions but usually failing miserably.  This weekend we spent two days tidying, clearing the decks as it were, and cleaning ready for a visit from a family member who we hadn't seen for almost two years, since she last came to our house shortly after we moved in.

Therefore, not much to report!

Here's the desk....

And here's the only stitching I've done all week.  One finished ATC:

and the updated Peppermint Purple SAL

However, to make up for the lack, here's a lovely picture of the dogs on the beach on Monday just gone (t'was a public holiday here, for our overseas deskers), 

and the beach itself - Perranporth, here in Cornwall.  

‘‘Twas a lovely day.... scorching hot with an offshore wind which meant lots of sunburned bodies - mine included  just my legs/feet, and not too badly for me although I’ve got a heat rash on my arms which is a bit disconcerting.

And here's a shot of our peony, finally in bloom.  It's taken the last 7 years for us to nurture it to this point - Mr B had given up all hope but two days ago it popped open - ta dah!  Last year we got a bud (first time ever) but it never opened and there was a weeny hole in it so I think a bug got in and had a feast.

Lastly, figured it was time for another funny....

Happy Hopping, y'all!