Jo's Journal has moved!

Jo's Journal has moved to:

http://johannauk.wordpress.com/

As some of you know I have been having trouble with Blogger since changing computers, and it has been a real chore trying to post. I wanted to be able to blog regularly, and just moved to a new home today, see you there!

September WIPs

This month I wil be concentrating on 4 projects - 3 samplers, and a long time UFO.

My main focus will be on the latest stitchalong at Stitch Clubs - Rachael, Jacky and myself (and hopefully a few others), will be working on the Quaker Gameboard Sampler from Papillon Creations
My progress on Day 5:



I will resume stitching on Red Velvet this weekend - I have fallen a long way behind on this stitchalong (also with Jacky and Rachael), and hope to get in a good few hours work. It will become my regular weekend project.

Next up, sometime over the next few days, I will restart the ABC Red & Blue mystery sampler - another stitchalong with the girls from Stitch Clubs - I misplaced the piece I previously began, so will pick out new fabric and floss over the next few days, aiming to start again next week.

Finally - in between the samplers, Iwill be working on a piece I started stitching for my Gran several years ago - I put it down because I don't enjoy working on it, but have picked it back up as I dearly want to finish something nice for my Gran, who is always so interested in my stitching.



The design is Sonatina Rose, from Heritage Stitchcraft - and is about 3/4 complete...I really dislike working on florals, but it is a pretty design, and will be lovely when it is finally finished.

the big knit - innocent smoothie hats

Sorry I haven't been around much on the blogs lately, look forward to catching up and seeing what's new! I have still been doing a little craftwork - a few fluffy scarves, baby hats, and a couple of stitchy projects for a swap.....will try and get some piccies soon.

The 2007 appeal from innocent smoothies has begun - with a new name, the big knit - this years goal is to raise £200,000 - a total of 400,000 hats will be needed to reach this goal, I am going to aim for personal target of 100, and will try to get a pic of each and every one on here :)   

I have been playing catchup with a few things lately so haven't had much time for blogging and stitching lately. I have managed to finish the black parts of my Celtic Ferret Knot - from now on it gets even easier, it is just 'colouring in'

I also completed these two biscornus for the Biscornu Beginners Swap, hosted by Jacky. I really enjoyed making them (though I am disappointed to notice after mailing I missed a few stitches on the orange side of the first one!! Hope my partner won't mind..) Will post pics of the ones I receive in the swap when they arrive. I want to make more now, think I could become hooked! One of the girls at Stitch Clubs mentioned the idea of making biscornu Christmas ornaments...what a wonderful idea, I am going to make a few! We are also thinking of doing an ornament swap, would be great fun!

Oooh, I'm a slacker!

I haven't blogged, stitched, or done much of anything these past weeks! And for once, it's not Big Brother to blame, I am just not feeling very motivated. When I do pick up the needle, I have been working on the knot - which is still great fun, I just can't seem to sit still and stitch for very long. I do have an update pic, but not as far along as I'd hoped to be by now:



With only 4 colours to this design, it will be an easy, and fairly quick stitch, and will no doubt be my first WWS finish :)

Celtic Ferret Knot

My latest order from White Willow Stitching arrived on Saturday - I couldn't resist starting the Celtic Ferret Knot - it works up super quickly....I think I may actually finish a WWS! Also included in my order were Isis and Osiris Portrait, and Does He Bite? to add to my large and growing collection!!

Just Jo checking in!!

Haven't had much chance to get online for a while - was visiting my sister in Southampton this week...my hotel room could just about pick up a broadband connection but it was shaky, so I just got online to keep up with email and of course a game of Scrabble with Jacky and Rachael...couldn't leave the girls waiting all week!! LOL

Took a trip to Portsmouth to visit the Blue Reef Aquarium - that was great, I keep tropical fish, so have a keen interest in fish and other underwater life anyway. Great fun coming face to face with sharks, rays, and an abundance of other creatures!



And not taking any crafts with me, meant I actually found half an hour or so each night to read 'The History of Love' - about halfway through, not got this far through a book for months! LOL

Farcus Wafflebubble checking in...

Saw this on 1-2-3 Stitch today, it's silly and very funny....I have edited out a few lines as I don't like to insist that it is sent to x amount of people blah blah blah...

I can't wait to hear what your new name is. This just takes a minute and will make you laugh. MY NEW NAME IS IN THE SUBJECT.....DON'T LAUGH UNTIL YOU FIND OUT WHAT YOUR NEW NAME IS..

We all need a little stress-reliever! This only takes a minute. Sometimes when you have a stre ssful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. Follow the instructions to find your new name. The following is excerpted from a children's book, Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot Professor Poopypants, by Dave Pilkey, in which the evil Professor forces every one to assume new names... So:-

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your New first name:

a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dinky
z = zippy

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:

a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to de termine the second half of your new last name:

a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = bubble
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = bum
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

(I also edited the final s, as 'fanny' doesn't translate well for us Brits!! LOL)

Grated fingers! LOL

Well, I managed to grate my knuckles cleaning a cheese grater this afternoon.....that's what you get for preparing a nice healthy salad, I swear chocolate is safer ;-) So no stitching for me today, too sore to bend my fingers, but I have managed to cast on some knitting, so have made a start on another bear for Teddies for Tragedies. Also, putting my stitching aside has meant I finally sat down with a book. I am reading The History of Love by Nicole Strauss along with a friend at Stitch Clubs. It is the first time in months I have sat with a book for long enough to really get into it, and I realised just how much I miss reading - maybe I should put down the crafts and the laptop just once in a while...

A sampling of samplers

Ooh, I haven't blogged for over a week? So what have I been up to? Well, I finished the Passion des croix freebie sampler:



Then on Friday night, I picked out another chart and made a start....stitching with 1 strand, I was able to complete this one by Sunday morning. I do really enjoy working with 1 strand, and these samplers give me the chance to do that, and to use up some smaller pieces of fabric. The aida is much more yellow than it looks in the pic, and the thread is DMC 312.



Although I vowed I'd wait to choose a third, I picked out one more last night and am about to start on grey aida, using DMC 3802 (purpley red). This time, the chart is an oval shape, featuring boats. All of these designs can be found at:

http://passiondescroix.com/passiondescroix/composition/grillesdecompositions.htm

I am also still plodding along with Red Velvet, and will post a pic when I am up to date :)

Teddies For Tragedies

Teddies - "Made with love, to show that someone cares..." - what a lovely sentiment at the Teddies for Tragedies website. I just sent this little fella on his way, I hope he will go a little way to showing a little love and happiness to the child that receives him.

I HATE that frog.....

Well, I had a major visit from the little green monster today....I had to stitch the same part of my sampler three times today before I finally got it right - all that ripping left obvious holes where the stitches had been pulled....with a bit of teasing with the needle and a wash and press I hope it won't be too noticable. Anyway, here is the result, and despite a disasterous day, I am really happy with this sampler, until this it has been a really fun project to work on, and I am sure tomorrow will be a better day...

Passion des croix

May 1st saw the start of a stitchalong at 1-2-3 Stitch - we are stitching our own choice of the Passion des croix freebies. I chose the September design by Amandine Jebrode, and this is where I am on day 3. Members of Stitch Clubs are also sharing progress here.

Speaking of fish....

I just got this snap of a few of my tropical fish exploring the new addition to their tank - this ornament was a little pricey at £12.99, but it does make a charming addition to the aquarium - in fact it is now the main feature of the tank. Looking at this pic I can see the gravel needs cleaning, but until then, the weed just adds authenticity (at least, that's my excuse!)

Something 'fishy' about this sock....

I finally plucked up the courage to try my hand at sock knitting - only to find that knitting on 5 needles is not as hard as it looks - in fact, it's a doddle so far!! Okay, I still have to get to the heel yet, but I'll worry about that when I come to it. The yarn is 'Opal Rainforest - 'Fish'. I am taking part in a sockalong at Stitch Clubs, and it just so happens that Angel Yarns are also including Opal Rainforest in a current sockalong. My family will probably be relieved, something different than scarves this year for Christmas ;)

Bargains galore!

Last month, my local 'Wool and Needlecraft Shop' sadly closed it's doors. I guess it's true that every cloud has a silver lining, I picked up some great bargains - the yarns were all 50p per ball, and will be great for the various charity groups that I knit/crochet for. The aida fabric was £1 per piece - the blue-grey being 12X18 inches, the navy & red both being fat quarters...and I had an additional piece of red that is now the setting for my Red Velvet WIP. The little kit was 50p, and I picked up the little spangles at 25p per packet...not sure what they will be used for yet, but they looked pretty ;)

Sweet Success!

I had a busy day yesterday - after realising I hadn't sent my part on an exchange on Swap-bot, I go to work on 6 crochet squares - 3 each for 2 partners. When those were done, having also realised the deadline was near for the Gingerbread House, I got to work on a few little pieces....the wrapped sweet was knitted some months ago, but yesterday I knitted the little flower, and the cupcake from the patterns provided - and after a little searching online, found patterns for a liquorice roll, and an iced chocolate bun...which is my favourite piece so far, love how that turned out. Having emailed the project co-ordinator, I found these are due by the end of May, so I have about 5 weeks to get a few more sweet treats made up - they really are a lot of fun!

Today it is back to my Red Velvet - coming along slowly but surely, the 'I' is taking shape. And in preparation for a sockalong, I ordered a sock kit from Angel Yarns - I chose a Petticoat Cotton...the kit contains the yarn, pattern, needles, and 2 hand-made stitch markers....really looking forward to it - I have put it off for so long as I have never used double pointed needles before, let alone 4 or 5 of them!! But it will be a fun challenge, look forward to sharing progress on my very first sock soon!!

Giant Knitted Gingerbread House - needs your help!

Being assembled for events in aid of North Devon Hospice and Great Ormond Street Hospital, this project desparately needs your help - in particular, knitted gingerbread men are needed....if you think you could spare some time, please visit for more details and a free pattern:
Knitted Gingerbread House

You SHALL go to the ball...

I worked for a few hours on Cinderella last night for UFO Tuesday - looking at the backstitching there is on this piece, I decided it wouldn't hurt to put a few stitches in now...stitchalong progress on Red Velvet permitting, I will continue to stitch her this week, as I would like to get her mailed asap. I don't usually really enjoy stitching Disney designs (though I love to watch the cartoons!! LOL), but I do think this one is a beauty!

Friends To Seniors blog

I added to my sidebar, a mini version of the new blog of the charitable stitching website that is closest to my heart - Friends To Seniors. The manager of the project, Sylvia, will be writing updates to the blog, which you will be able to read right here at Jo's Journal (to read the whole entry, clicking on it's title will take you to the main blog ). You can also grab this 'widget' for your own site or blog - the more exposure the group gets, the more elderly people that can be reached out to, and the more helping hands the group can find. You can also grab the widget code for my blog if you like ;)

'J'

A little behind target, I finished the 'J' motif on my Red Velvet last night - really enjoying this stitchalong!

I put a few stitches in on 'I' this afternoon, but now it is time to make way for Cinderella....tonight is UFO Night at Stitch Clubs - I really want to get as much of her finished tonight as possible, hopefully she will be ready to send to Cuddle Cushions this week.

I am finally going to give sock knitting a go soon - all being well this week..just need to get a set of needles, then I'm off. Wish me luck!

No Act of Kindness..

I completed this sampler today - designed by Robin Busch, and offered for download at 1-2-3 Stitch, 'Kindness' is a wonderfully versatile design - a group of stitchers have worked on this in various colours, each as beautiful and unique as the other.
I really enjoyed this design...as I was determined to finish this today, I will be playing catchup tomorrow on Red Velvet. I have an empty house 'til Monday, so my only distarction will be the laptop. And the cats. And the housework - nah, that can wait LOL

Have a great weekend!

A sunny Wednesday.....

...and I'm inside stitching. What another beautiful day it is here in Devon. Not a bit of breeze, I could probably take my stitching outside quite safely - but then I couldn't spread everything out and have my laptop easily at hand!! LOL

A couple of updates - I made some more progress on Cinderella last night for UFO Tuesday:

I have found a home for her when she is finished - she will go to a group called Cuddle Cushions - who are making cushions for children in an Australian hospital.

And I have an updated pic of Kindness - not as far along as I'd like to be, but still hopeful that it will be finished this week. I pulled out the purple centres of the motifs to replace with a bright yellow..which will also be used for the wording:

When this is done, I have another stitchalong lined up (surprise, surprise!! LOL) - myself and some of the girls at 1-2-3 Stitch will be working on various Passion des croix - starting May 1st.

Samplers in Progress

For one who 'doesn't like samplers', I seem to be sttiching them more and more these days - they have certainly grown on me in recent months, and two of them as you have seen are my most current WIPS...and I have just suggested a sampler stitchalong at 1-2-3 for the Passion des croix freebies.

My progress as it stands on Kindness:

I hope to finish the border this weekend, and the whole sampler by next weekend. This lovely freebie designed by Robin Busch, is now available for download at 1-2-3 Stitch

And Red Velvet - I have now completed both the L and K sections, will move onto J tomorrow:


And if I fancy a break from samplers in the week, I will be working on this freebie from Cyberstitchers - it will be sent to the Cross Stitching For Charity group, to be made into a quilt for Friends To Seniors.

Half a century

My Mum reached her half century this week - she insisted on not having a party, so instead went out for the day with my sister Sophie and I. We went for dinner in Lynton at the Cliff Top Restaurant

I'd never visited Lynton & Lynmouth before, it was a lovely day out, but poor Mum had worn the wrong shoes for walking and her feet were very sore by the time we'd finished walking.

I left it late ordering a cake for her birthday, and my decorating skills aren't up to much - I was able to order this pretty little cake 'last minute' from Botham's of Whitby :

One of the yummiest fruit cakes I ever tasted, would definitely reccomend them!

'L'

The first motif of my Red Velvet is completed - I have moved onto K today. Hope to get this week's section done quickly as I just signed myself up for a square for a Friends To Seniors quilt via Cross Stitching For Charity - and would also like some time to work on Oriental Beauty..I would love to get her completed in the next few months.

If I was born in 2893....

If You Were Born in 2893...

My Name Would Be: Reunn Uaro And I Would Be: A Prophet

If You Were Born in 2893

Well, now I know!

Good Friday

Seems like AGES since I last blogged, and it's only been a little over a week. My sister is visiting from Uni so I haven't had much chance to get online recently. My sister and Mum are visiting family in Somerset today, so with an empty house, I should get plenty of time for catching up today. Thought I would begin by updating with some of my recent stitching....

First up is an updated pic of 'Kindness' - the pic is very dark, will make sure to get one in better light next time!!



Sylvia of SOLAK and FTS mentioned that we were getting low on logos to be used in the cards that are sent out with each quilt - we jumped in and got busy, should be good for a few months now. Below are the two that I stitched:



I also made some progress on 'Oriental Beauty' - I am loving this piece more and more while I work on her, the colours are so perfect for spring, especially now the sun is shining!



And last but not least - I made a start on the 'Red Velvet Inscription Sampler' - I have stitched most of the first motif since this picture was taken, and will update before moving on to the next one.



If you want to join our stitchalong at Stitch Clubs, we are aiming to stitch one motif each week.

Well, I am going to make the most of my 'freedom', and hopefully get in plenty of stitching...then I thought I would surprise my sister with some of her favourite snack...little raisin-fairy cakes, and of course I will have to sample one when they are finished baking, just to check they are okay....

If I don't get back on before hand....have a lovely Easter weekend everyone!

Grannies and Cosies

A few finishes ready to go in the mail....3 granny squares for the 'Love them for what they are' exchange at Swap-bot - these will go to 3 different partners, and I should soon be receiving 3 from my own pals. There is a similar swap, 'Scraptastic' taking signups at present - you need to be a member of Swap-bot to take part.

The three little hats, are in fact egg cosies, covering 3 little Cadbury eggs. One will go to a winner in a contest I recently ran, the other 2 will be received by an exchange pal at Friends To Seniors. Thanks to Jacky for help with the size of the cosy patterns!

Westward Ho!

It was my birthday yesterday, and my Mum treated me to dinner. We decided to pop down to one of our local seaside towns, Westward Ho! It was a grey day, so not great for taking pics....not so bad if you cut out the sky ;)
We then decided to gamble some pennies is the arcade - okay, not a lot of risk involved in the penny machines, but the fun of watching them all drop down is just the same. Almost. Now I just need to tear myself away from the new addition to my Sims game...Seasons...so that I can finish all the projects that need to go in the mail this week!

Kindness

My progress so far on 'Kindness', by Robin Busch....if anyone is interested in stitching this design - featuring the border as shown, and the wording 'No Act of Kindness, No Matter How Small, Is Ever Wasted' - Robin has kindly given permission for this design to be shared. It is a pretty piece and lends itself nicely to a stitchalong - which is exactly what I am doing with the ladies at 1-2-3 Stitch. It will be fun to see the different effect using different fabrics and threads.

If anyone looks at the slightly enlarged view of this pic, try to imagine there is no cat hair......

Busy crafting week ahead!

Well, I have set myself up for a busy week of stitching....as well as my 'Oriental Beauty', I also have plans for a few other projects. I have an RR to get finished and mailed by March 31st...my chosen theme is cats, and I have yet to pick a design!! Think it'll have to be something very quick and easy!! LOL. Currently sharing space on my lap with the laptop, is a large piece of aida with the beginnings of a new project...I couldn't resist signing up for a stitchalong at 1-2-3 - I love to stitch a design that is so versatile, and really looking forward to seeing different colour variations on this one. My own is being stitched on black, main colour DMC 3804 (pink). It is quite large, but very quick to stitch, so I hope to get it done before our big one at Stitch Clubs starting April 1st - Red Velvet Inscription Sampler from Blue Ribbon Designs. Not to mention of course, a set of knitted egg cosies for an exchange, thoguh they will only take a few hours.

So, hopefully lots to share with you this week, but it'll mean less time at the PC!!

Oriental Beauty

When I was tidying up my WIP album the other day, I came across this pretty piece that I haven't worked on for a while - it is 'Oriental Beauty', by Joan Elliot. You probably all know me well enough to know that I have a HUGE amount of WIPs, and that I will no doubt put this one away again and not get close to finishing...but it'll be fun trying ;-)

The sun is shining, I should be making the most of a beautiful day, but I REALLY want to stitch!! LOL. I could really do with a nice conservatory or summer room right now - reckon my landlord would take on the request? LOL

So, with three cats for company, a large mug of coffee, and of course, my trusty laptop....I settle down to a day of stitching!

A few more FTS finishes

I finished a few more squares for Friends To Seniors this week. Pics are lousy...they really are all stitched on white aida!! LOL



I am going to give the quilt squares a break for a few days and concentrate on some of my own stitching.

Stitchers' Galleries

I made some updates to the Stitchers' Galleries yesterday - as well as making posting to message forums/blogs easier by adding 'Get URL' capabilities to the images, I also added some new themes and frames to make albums even more customisable. The galleries offer 30MB of space to all users, in a community of like-minded people...with thousands of other images to browse!

I also updated my own album with some of my recent finishes and WIP updates.

A few finishes for FTS

Finished a few squares this week for Friends To Seniors last week - they will all be used on quilts for the Universal Beneficent Society - an organisation which helps some of the poorest elderly people in the UK. Our association with the UBS has meant that we are able to reach out to many more people than before.

A new look

I thought I would give my blog a facelift - I finally found something that really suited me, hope you like my new look!

Back on the Early Shift

UFO Tuesday once again prompted me to pull out 'Early Shift' for another session. I was able to get in a good few hours stitching, and at the end of the night, the result was this:

I am enjoying this piece more and more each time I work on it!

Ah - this is the life

Couldn't resist this snap of my eldest cat - Kitty....she has been curled up like this all day on my in-progress crochet blanket - put paid to my plans for the morning!! LOL. Cats look so contented in their sleep don't they - I wonder what they dream of?




A couple of stitchy pics to share - this lily I finished yesterday....it was mostly done, just needed backstitching:

And this one was finished some months ago, and was sent along with the lily to Friends To Seniors: