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 ;)