Friday 20 April 2012

PROJECTS: Current and Completed

So I waste my mornings on the internet, working on my blog and catching up with everyone else's while checking up on our eBay auctions and generally poking things while thinking about thinking about doing the housework. On my afternoons I productively waste my hours either reading or crafting. So I thought I'd show you a little round up of what I've been making lately;

FINISHED;

This was an embroidery transfer I picked up on the cheap from JoAnns featuring dog roses, butterflies and dragonflies. I ironed the transfer onto some linen which possibly wasn't the best material to be doing it on, I think evenweave may have been a better choice. I couldn't get the hang of doing "proper" embroidery on this material so I made up my own version, doing mostly back stitch outlining everything then adding some lazy daisy chain stitches in the butterflies and French knots in all the flower centers. It's not the best sewing project I've ever completed but it's pretty all the same and I even managed to frame it myself again. 

WHAT I'M SEWING NOW;
Sewing


What I'm currently working upon is a circular flower piece which I brought over from the UK. It was once my grans which appeared without any colour guides or threads so I've made the colour choices as I've gone along. Because of it's size I'm figuring the canvas was probably intended as a cushion cover but after cutting it down I'm using the printed canvas as what's known as waste canvas to cross stitch the design onto a piece of fabric. Although the design is really simple I'm hoping sewing it onto fabric will add a little something and I'm aiming to frame it in a sewing hoop.

STARTED BUT SOMEWHAT FORGOTTEN;
Crochet blanket


After finishing the first crochet blanket I really wanted to make us another to throw in the car to use for picnics when we go out on our drives. After getting really into it I stumbled back into cross stitch and it's sadly taken a back seat returning back in my knitting bag. I think I'll have to befriend it in the forth coming weeks seeing we have some plans for BBQs in May and being summer soon I hope to be outside a lot more, although it's way off being finished.

STARTED BUT COULDN'T FINISH;
Sewing

This was a freebie needle case from Cross Stitcher magazine with roses and leaves in blue and red, I was really excited about this because I needed somewhere to store all my needles and what's better then a freebie?! Said freebie didn't include enough thread, so as the image shows it's come to a halt. A few emails back and forth with the magazine and some threads are on their way over to the states. Fingers crossed. Saying that it's the first project I've done sewing onto felt through soluble canvas which makes it a little tricky to know if your restitching into the correct hole.

LINING UP THE NEXT PROJECTS;

Another design from Cross Stitcher magazine which I'm longing to start. I'm constantly attracted to dragonflies after having one tattooed on my shoulder [they are a totem symbol for good luck]. The actual pattern is called Libellule which is French for dragonfly which is so cute! I love the simplicity of this piece and I have all my materials lined up with some sandy coloured aida and metallic brown/red thread. Now just need to finish off everything else first!

I'm also saving up all the glass jars we come across while cooking for storing our home made jam [or jelly as they call it in the States. My mum makes strawberry and raspberry jam throughout the year and it's something I'm determined to do myself especially because the boy loves a good peanut butter and jam/jelly sandwich. Plus home-made jam always tastes so much better especially when all you're using is the fruit and sugar.

What are you all busy crafting at the moment? 

19 comments:

  1. I miss doing cross stitching. As insane and precise as it is I love the beauty of it at the end. I'm trying to clean out my yarn stash and making sampler knitting patches.

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    1. Sampler knitting patches sounds very interesting! I'm trying to grow my craft stashes so I love the excuse of needing to buy more goodies for projects but I do love adapting colours to the threads I already have and creating my own colour schemes!

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  2. Waste your hours? WHAT? I don't think so! You have such talent, Rachael! I really like the butterfly embroidery, and I'm really excited to see you do that dragonfly one. It's adorable.

    At the moment, I'm not crafting anything. I know, sad. But I have been feeling the need to catch up with my reading!

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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    1. I'm really excited to start the dragonfly project, although it's a really simple pattern and idea I think it's really beautiful. I wish I could read and sew at the same time, i'd be storming ahead!

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  3. I love that you shop at JoAnns too. They have such great cheap stuff. Working on several things, but my main project at the moment is a baby blanket for my bf's best friend who just had his first, with about 2 dozen other little projects I've started as well :)

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    1. JoAnn's really does make crafting affordable especially now that I'm finally getting my coupons through the mail. There's no excuse not too!

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  4. How sweet! Wonderful job! I started some butterfly /flower piece at Christmas time, it is sitting in my basket unfinished! You make me wanna finish it! :D Enjoy your weekend Rachael! x

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    1. I can get like that but i'm going with my sewing craze for now.

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  5. Your crafting is lovely. Im a cross stitcher but i get into it for a few weeks then it gets left for months - i have so many unfinished projects! Scarlett x

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    1. Thank you Scarlett, I use to have loads of uni finished things, I go throw fits and starts with projects normally but I think because I can frame them myself rather cheaply and we have lots of blank walls its sparing me on.

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  6. I have no patience for cross stitch unfortunately, I don't know why, although I haven't tried it for years now. I love the blanket :) I keep meaning to make one myself, I'm just running out of space to store all the bulky stuff that I make!
    Charlotte

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  7. They're all so pretty, I love the first one

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  8. The ones you've done are SO pretty, can't wait to see the dragonfly one :-)

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    1. I can't wait to start it but I keep telling myself I have to finish everything else first!

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  9. Ahh you know how to crochet?? Gah I'm SO incredibly jealous of you. That blanket is turning out beautifully! It looks like you've almost finished it too. I know how that is though, I always do that too, start one project and then get into another form of craft and never get around to finishing the first project. Story of my life! Those cross-stitches have turned out absolutely beautifully as well. Great job Rachael!

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    1. I'm a self taught crocheter too, although it is very easy to learn once you have the right guides to learn from. I think I might spend the rest of the week crocheting seeing i've just finished my sewing off. Will be nice to have a change.

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  10. gorgeous work! i wish i had the patience for hand work ;)

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    1. It always chills me out and I love how I can multitask it with just watching the TV or listening to music.

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