My first completed cross stitch!

As I have mentioned before I usually leave the cross stitching to my husband as he is quite content with tackling big projects. But I thought maybe it was time to see what all the fuss was about and try a small cross stitch of my own.

I picked up a cheap one from Hobbycraft with the thinking that if I didn't finish it/ couldn't work it out then it didn't matter!

I have a MASSIVE thing about chickens (though I have none of my own... Yet!) so it seemed appropriate to pick a chicken cross stitch...

The thing that always confused me about counted cross stitch was the fact that I never knew where to start...

Thankfully the kit I got showed me where the middle of the aida was and then I got stitching....

The pattern I did is not the same as the one on the design as I added an extra line by accident (obviously trying to do some too late at night!) so it is a slightly fatter chicken than planned.

The sense of achievement was amazing when I finished as I chipped away at it a bit every evening...

I don't know what will happen to him... Perhaps another coaster? Any ideas?

Bunnies and chicks...

The last week has been turmoil.

Not only did we have the onslaught of family and a naming ceremony to survive but we all came down with the lurgy meaning it wasn't possible for me to post on my blog... This upset me greatly but I am now back with many posts to follow.

Easter has always been a family occasion in my house and for the first time simply ages me and my husband will not be travelling down to Herefordshire where my folks live as I need to be back to work quite soon after the Easter holidays...

Instead my father is travelling up to Yorkshire to spend time with me, my husband and his granddaughter along with his girlfriend and their two dogs so I am the host for the Easter feast...

I am not one to do things by halves so I have made sure that there is an Easter theme to our dinner and have made everyone a place card...

The cards themselves came from hobbycraft (although I think any chick card might do!) along with goggley eyes, some Easter paper from my stash and some red for the beak... And then just writing the names of each if the guests across them.

My husband made some little origami bunnies too... They were from www.origami-fun.com...

I think they are very cute and will make a nice addition to the Easter table...

I am rubbish at origami - I certainly feel there is an art to it... My husband has been paper folding since I met him as it keeps his hands busy when not making something or doing a cross stitch or two!

Happy Easter!

Potty about Easter...

I love to try and give something a little different at Easter and, as much as the whole chocolate overload is something I look forward to (especially as I will have just finished the Christmas chocolate treats) I try my best to make something.
 Easter is also time for a bit of friendly completion between me and my sister. One year she had made up some organza bags with fake grass, a couple of creme eggs and a chunk of our respective birth stones - a nice little touch.

 So the next year I made everyone personalised mini flower pots and filled them with mini mini eggs.

The pots (bought through amazon) themselves started off terracotta in colour so I painted them copper with some acrylic paint which gave them a nice sheen.

 The wooden letters I bought from a local craft shop and painted them too (these can be bought through amazon too!) The butterflies were also bought at the craft shop but I have yet to find them anywhere else - please let me know if you know where I might be able to find them again...

 The gold letters finished off the personalisation...

 These were then given out in little cellophane bags with mini chickens on Easter Day...

When's a door not a door?

I have always found Easter one of the hardest holidays to prepare for. It usually falls just when my students are preparing for many many exams and I end up panic buying Easter eggs from the supermarket and none of creative juices are given the chance to flow!

So this year while on maternity leave I thought I would start early and thought I could use up my surplus collection of jars which seemed to be over taking the shed.  I started by buying mini eggs of different brands as my family have very individual tastes when it comes to their favourite egg. I also added a small Lindt bunny for everyone except my husband (he doesn't do posh chocolate!)

I cut out a circle of fabric from my huge stash of scraps and then wrapped silver thread to secure the fabric over the lid. The chick was then glued to the top.

Really simple but nicely effective.

Next year I hope to be as organised as this one!

Quick note: For all of my sewing projects I use gutermann threads. Personally, I have found this the most trustworthy brand and it always comes in an amazing array of colours.

An obsession with history and chickens...

Creativity doesn't stop with me in my house. My husband is also an amazing crafter and a very talented cross stitcher.

During a spell of unemployment (due to us moving up north because of my job) my husband started to get cabin fever in a big way so needed a project to concentrate his mind. My grandfather was a whizz at cross stitching so I suggested to my husband that maybe he should try it.

After being a little reticent he completed a starter pack in minutes and progressing through every small project given to him he needed a huge challenge.

One of our local haberdashers is a place called The Viking Loom in York. It sells crafting bits and pieces for every hobby but also has an amazing array of cross stitch projects. One that they displayed in their window was that of the Kings and Queens of England (designed by Bothy Threads) and we knew this was what my husband should tackle next.

Over the following months we planned our wedding, prepared for a gruelling house move and my husband also started a temporary job in a school teaching biology. He also set a target to finish the project before our wedding... And by golly! He did.
It now sits with pride on our bedroom wall and is used as a reminder that perseverance  pays off.

After the success of the Kings and Queens he completed a few small projects and also decorated our newly purchased house (as I do not enjoy painting walls!)

Early last year I found out I was expecting our first child and this prompted a flurry of activity and the completion of many projects before the impending arrival. And my husband started a cross stitch to keep his mind focused of an evening and it meant that he could hide away with it when I had any hormonal strops!

This project was another by Bothy Threads called Hen Fun. I love chickens and my dream is to, one day, have my own chickens that lay eggs that I can then turn into cake. At the moment it is not going to be possible but the dream is still there. So my husband was doing this one for me.

It was so sweet to see him taking absolute pleasure in making each chicken and even naming each one after a member of our household (including the pets!).

It took him just over 2 months to complete as well as him doing a full time university course (a decision that has made him happier than ever).

The finished piece now hangs in our daughters bedroom and one day will hang in my office (when I have one!) I love seeing it. It reflects his love.

His next project is for our daughter ... I will post again when he finishes it!

http://www.vikingloom.co.uk