Freeforming!

At last I have finished this beautiful necklace which I began at Koala Conventions in July. I did the workshop with Prudence Mapstone and finished all the flowers, buds, pods, and leaves soon after but it has taken me ages to get the motivation to block the necklace base and stitch on the shapes. I think because I have had a sore wrist and hand and James has told me to give the crochet and embroidery a rest to let my hand heal. I don't want to end up with RSI as 4 of my friends have done recently. Anyway that has been great in a way because it has encouraged me to finish some projects that just needed a bit of time spent on them. This is the first. I have finished 6 projects this year!

This necklace was crochet in a Japanese fibre called Gear Linen made by Habu. It is slightly stiff and so the shapes can be moulded and shaped. It is really nice to work with and goes with the broach which I finished at Koala.

This weekend I am doing a workshop at the embroiderers guild with Margaret Light. It is the Jacobean Crewel Jewellery Roll on black linen in fine wools.

Next week I am working at the Craft Expo for Prudence Mapstone so I have a busy time coming up.

Tree of Life Part 1

I can't believe that I have finally finished this crewel embroidery. I took the class with Margaret Light last October and just put it aside until about June this year. I worked on it a bit in July and then put it down again. In August I finally decided that I had to finish it as I have booked in for Part 2 and I didn't want this to be another expensive unfinished project! I worked on it every day and it it took so much longer than I thought it would. You look at a flower and think "I'll get this one done tonight and it takes 3-4 days. Also the light during the day was by far easier to work in than the evening where all the colours look different and even with the magnifying glass the stitches are harder to see. Anyway I am so proud of myself to have finally finished!! Part 2 starts at the end of October and if I can I will try and finish it straight away as I want to have the 2 pieces framed as two panels.

Good Golly Miss Molly!!

What a week! We have a new staffy pup. Her name is Molly and she is 9 weeks old. We brought her home a week ago and it was love at first sight for her and Harry our 18 month old staffy. They are so funny together and it is a joy to see. Chloe is keeping out of the way but is not as stressed as when we brought Harry home as a puppy.
Because I am settling in a new puppy I haven't been out much this week so am ploughing ahead with my Treee of Life Part 1 and have booked in to do part 2 at the end of October. I think that I will be finished before then.
I am also crocheting in the evening in front of television Prudence Mapstones "not your grannys blanket". Made in 16 different colours in Frog Tree from Bolivia. Gorgeous soft alpaca wool which hardly sheds. The nicest alpaca wool I have ever knitted or croched in!

A Gorgeous New Cushion!

After a crappy week where I didn't really want to see anyone or do anything I indulged in some retail therapy on the internet to cheer me up. I logged on to Etsy and found Renate Kirkpatricks' shop. Renate is a fabulous freeform artist and whist her pieces are similar to Prudence Mapstones, they are different in that she uses some felting techniques as well. Renate is another Queenslander, like Prudence, who lives on the Sunshine Coast. I am thrilled with the cushion cover and keep changing it around from room to room as it looks good in so many different places!

I have finished this months Debbie Abrahams Mystery Quilt and as I'm only 2 months from the end will begin blocking the pieces this week.

Rest in Peace my Ginger Boy Basil

I have had a horrible week. I had to have my darling boy Basil put to sleep on Monday evening. He was nearly 14 and such a faithful loving affectionate boy he was. Always near by either on my lap or on a chair in the same room and on the bed at night. He had lost so much weight and had not eaten for 4 days. The vet had given him some medication to try and stimulate his appetite but his poor kidneys just didn't want to work properly anymore. I always though that Chloe my other cat would go first as she has had kidney problems in the past. She misses him and Harry, my staffy keeps looking for him in his basket. A sad week and when his ashes come home next week he will sit next to Poppy ashes. I hope they are together in heaven.

I Think My Yarn Is Breeding!

Yes that's right! I bought some beautiful Tilli Thomas yarn the other week in luxurious purple chenille. Was a bit slow as I only bought one skein and the lady had 4. She sold the rest pretty quickly and I was kicking myself! I went back to her yesterday and bought 2 beautiful skeins of pink silk chenille with a silver fleck through it. They were the only 2 she had and another white silk with some sequins dotted through. I also bought some green ribbony yarn for freeforming.

So much for paying off my Visa card. I sold 2 pairs of jeans on ebay and spent half the funds on yarn. Not too bad really coz I did pay off some of the card with the other half.

Last week was spent doing my crewel embroidery of Margaret Light's Tree of Life. It's coming along well and it is another project which I am determined to have finished before the end of the year.

Also this week I have continued on with Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket and I am almost up to date. She has said that August' parcel will be a week late so that suits me as I only have 2 squares of July to finish. When I am up to date I can't wait to get back to some freforming!

Had time on my hands this week as I had planned to spend the week with mum and dad as dad was to have had an operation but it has been postponed. Love a quiet week as I don't have to make up excuses to do my crafts!!

James Birthday

Last Wednesday 21st July it was James 26th birthday. We usually go out for dinner but because James doesn't live at home now he just wanted to have a home cooked meal and was definate about lasagne and pavlova for desert. That suited me just fine. We had a lovely evening at home just the 5 of us.