I have to admit that I haven't been getting a lot of time to craft lately and it has been showing. I have finished another biscornu (no picture yet) and have been working on some small baby blankets.
Today I went and picked up some linen so that I can work on a 25th anniversary piece for some friends that are celebrating their anniversary this summer. Now I just need to sit down and actually start working on it so that I can get it done in time.
Tonight I have spent the evening crocheting and working on some small baby blankets that will be sent to Sick Kids Hospital. These blankets are used to keep babies warm after they have had surgery so they are only 12"x17" and quick for me to make. I am hoping to be able to finish one or two more this weekend but will see what I actually accomplish.
I am still working on items for the soldiers as I would like to have lots of items to drop off in August. I am currently working on some slippers and want to make some cool ties and even some hats before August but will see what I actually accomplish.
I know that I haven't posted any pictures lately of my cross-stitch progress as I haven't worked on it lately. Also what I have done looks really boring as I have been working on the border instead of the border and motifs. I hope to be able to get back to working on my bell pull soon so that I can get it finished. My goal is to have it completed by a retreat next April so that I can show it at the project parade.
Well off to try and finish one blanket tonight and then see what the rest of the weekend has in store.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
A Major Accomplishment
Before anyone says something this post has nothing to do with crafting but with a personal goal that I had set for myself and achieved this morning.
Over the last 6 years I have been helping organize a charity run/walk for allergies and never had a chance to actually do a walk. This morning my husband and I participated in our very first charity 5km walk and am happy to say that we completed it without any problems. I do have to give my husband a lot of credit as he stayed beside me most of the way due to a hill at the end that I was a little concerned about. I do have asthma so didn't know how the lungs and the legs would handle the hill. My husband did complete the walk a few seconds ahead of me so that he could take a picture of me finishing.
Last week we did a 7.2km walk and it took us 78 minutes so I figured that I should be able to complete this 5km walk in 55 minutes considering the hill up at the end. Now I didn't do much training for this event other than my normal walking so am extremely happy with the final time.
My time for this 5km walk was 49:39 minutes which is more than 5 minutes under what I had set for my goal. It's hard to explain how I am currently feeling other than extremely happy as I proved to myself I could do it and do it within a good time.
We did see someone that had participated last year at the run that we were race directors at and of course he won the 5km run event today. When we were talking he asked me my time and when I told him he was happy that I had done it in that short of time.
Now to put my feet up for a while and enjoy some well deserved crafting time.
Over the last 6 years I have been helping organize a charity run/walk for allergies and never had a chance to actually do a walk. This morning my husband and I participated in our very first charity 5km walk and am happy to say that we completed it without any problems. I do have to give my husband a lot of credit as he stayed beside me most of the way due to a hill at the end that I was a little concerned about. I do have asthma so didn't know how the lungs and the legs would handle the hill. My husband did complete the walk a few seconds ahead of me so that he could take a picture of me finishing.
Last week we did a 7.2km walk and it took us 78 minutes so I figured that I should be able to complete this 5km walk in 55 minutes considering the hill up at the end. Now I didn't do much training for this event other than my normal walking so am extremely happy with the final time.
My time for this 5km walk was 49:39 minutes which is more than 5 minutes under what I had set for my goal. It's hard to explain how I am currently feeling other than extremely happy as I proved to myself I could do it and do it within a good time.
We did see someone that had participated last year at the run that we were race directors at and of course he won the 5km run event today. When we were talking he asked me my time and when I told him he was happy that I had done it in that short of time.
Now to put my feet up for a while and enjoy some well deserved crafting time.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Cross stitch time
Yes I still owe you the rest of the retreat write up but tonight I am going to show you what I have been working on. I have been working on a TW Designs pattern called "Celtic Knotwork Crosses" and I am doing the bellpull. It is going to be 5.5" x 22.5 " when it is finished. I started this project just before the retreat so that I had something easy to work on while I was there. I did get quite a bit of back stitching done there.
This is what I had done before I went to retreat.
I got all the back stitching I could get done completed while at retreat and actually did a bit of cross-stitching as well.
I then decided to spend today working on this instead of doing everything else that I should have been doing. I am happy with what I accomplished today and now to see what I can do this weekend as I would like to get the back stitch on the motif completed.
I am looking forward to actually writing about the rest of the retreat as there were lots of laughs but it really did go way to quickly.
This is what I had done before I went to retreat.
I got all the back stitching I could get done completed while at retreat and actually did a bit of cross-stitching as well.
I then decided to spend today working on this instead of doing everything else that I should have been doing. I am happy with what I accomplished today and now to see what I can do this weekend as I would like to get the back stitch on the motif completed.
I am looking forward to actually writing about the rest of the retreat as there were lots of laughs but it really did go way to quickly.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Great Retreat
I am currently sitting in my hotel room and figured I would update everyone on how the weekend is going. GREAT!!!! is an understatement for sure as everyone is having a great time and getting to know everyone else.
The retreat last night started with a pajama party and it was a lot of fun and a great way to get to know everyone. Between the interesting pajamas, slippers and playing getting to know you bingo everyone got a chance to talk to each other even if it was "how can you help me?" That was a common question being asked during the bingo game.
This morning started with a Buffet breakfast and then off to a workshop for the morning. The workshop went very quickly and then off to a Buffet style lunch. The staff has been great at the hotel and the food amazing. The afternoon was spent stitching but still not a lot to show yet so hopefully tomorrow I will take a picture of it. Currently getting changed and then heading down for a Banquet dinner and then back to stitching.
Hope to be able to tell more later and tonight the award for the best name tag is going to be awarded so we will see what happens. Don't know how I will do with the name tag contest but will let everyone know how it goes.
The retreat last night started with a pajama party and it was a lot of fun and a great way to get to know everyone. Between the interesting pajamas, slippers and playing getting to know you bingo everyone got a chance to talk to each other even if it was "how can you help me?" That was a common question being asked during the bingo game.
This morning started with a Buffet breakfast and then off to a workshop for the morning. The workshop went very quickly and then off to a Buffet style lunch. The staff has been great at the hotel and the food amazing. The afternoon was spent stitching but still not a lot to show yet so hopefully tomorrow I will take a picture of it. Currently getting changed and then heading down for a Banquet dinner and then back to stitching.
Hope to be able to tell more later and tonight the award for the best name tag is going to be awarded so we will see what happens. Don't know how I will do with the name tag contest but will let everyone know how it goes.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Name tag
For those of you waiting to see the finished name tag, I am happy to be able to finally show it off.
The rules were it was to be 3” x 4” and it had to have our name on it. I met both of these and actually made it into a small pocket to hold items such as a room key and I can hang it around my neck.
It was a challenge to figure out what was going to finally be on the name tag and what wouldn't work this time. What I was trying to show on this was some of the various parts of me as well as my love of various needlework techniques. The fabric is 32ct linen and the border is over 2 stitches. There are beads on the edges of the name tag as well. Now to try and explain each block.
Mittens (cross-stitch over 1 thread) – I knit and crochet for charity and mittens are one of the items that I make.
Computer (charm) – what part of my work is as a document writer and trainer.
Yarn basket (specialty stitches) – I have a large stash of yarn and would love if my stash fit into a yarn basket.
Name (cross-stitch) – I used over-dyed floss to show that I am not one dimensional and there are various parts to me.
Specialty stitches – some of the stitches that are used in needlework.
Cat and scissors (charms) – the cat or kitten refers to my nickname of Craftkitten and the scissors are something that a crafter that knits, crochets and does needlework requires.
Spools of floss (metallic threads) – some of the threads that I use when doing some of my needlework and also how I enjoy wearing brighter colours sometimes.
Deer and trees (cross-stitch and specialty stitches) – this is the view that I see out of my in-laws dining room window (aka Wildlife TV) and it also shows my love of nature.
Flowers (petit point) – I love taking pictures of flowers and the design is by Kathrin who taught me how to petit point.
Life is too short
I have been doing a lot of thinking over the last couple of days and have really realized that life to too short to not enjoy it.
This weekend is the Cross Stitch Retreat that I have been looking forward to for the last four months. Hard to believe it's finally here but have to admit that I am extremely excited about it as well.
Last night we were talking to a friend while having dinner and I mentioned that a couple of times I had thought about not going to the retreat even after I signed up. His comment "You're going and that's it!" He continued to tell me that you need to do things that make you happy and not just do things for everyone else.
OK I listened and am now packed and ready for my weekend of stitching and walking to other cross-stitchers. It is me time and yes doing something that I love to do and leaving all the other pressures sitting in my spot on the couch. I can find the pressures on Sunday evening once I am home but for the next 56 hours I am walking away from them.
Enjoy your weekend and watch later for another post about my name tag.
This weekend is the Cross Stitch Retreat that I have been looking forward to for the last four months. Hard to believe it's finally here but have to admit that I am extremely excited about it as well.
Last night we were talking to a friend while having dinner and I mentioned that a couple of times I had thought about not going to the retreat even after I signed up. His comment "You're going and that's it!" He continued to tell me that you need to do things that make you happy and not just do things for everyone else.
OK I listened and am now packed and ready for my weekend of stitching and walking to other cross-stitchers. It is me time and yes doing something that I love to do and leaving all the other pressures sitting in my spot on the couch. I can find the pressures on Sunday evening once I am home but for the next 56 hours I am walking away from them.
Enjoy your weekend and watch later for another post about my name tag.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Good week
I have been busy working on a cross-stitch that I will be taking to the retreat I am attending this coming weekend. I have started Celtic Knotwork Crosses Bell Pull by TW Designs. I don't have much done on it so there is no picture to show yet but hopefully after this weekend I will have something to show.
Another nice thing happened last week and this is what it was, the Sunshine award.
The rules of this award are:
So that is all that has been happening in the last few days so now to get ready for my retreat this weekend. I hope to have lot to tell you early next week about the retreat and pictures of progress on my cross-stitch.
Another nice thing happened last week and this is what it was, the Sunshine award.
The rules of this award are: - Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
- Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.
So that is all that has been happening in the last few days so now to get ready for my retreat this weekend. I hope to have lot to tell you early next week about the retreat and pictures of progress on my cross-stitch.
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