Day 9.............        
its been a really busy weekend and I have not completed any more sewing.
I have put the Queen in her frame and not resolved that she is not covered with glass, I have started to get the next project ready by looking at the colouring and then I will have to get the fabric our from my stash....

5th day in......... 

So it was a full day of work yesterday and no stitching was done, today has also been a day with some work and I had bought a frame that I thought might work with my queen stitched.... I am still working on the logistics but I think that it works quite well. 
I might need to put it in the frame without glass unless I can think of some way of giving the frame some depth.

The house is continuing and I have got all the three components cut and started to stitch the plastic backing to give it a shape..... still make it by the weekend...... who know's...

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4th day in...........                

Officially back in the world of work..... spent most of the day in front of the laptop; cursing cos it signed me out. Last appt of the day 10pm so no sewing completed. I have however started to cut out the shapes and fix it to the mainframe.... more piccies tomorrow.

3rd Day in.........

yesterday it was the last day of the official hols - so I managed to get a little more done of the house, I can at last see the end. Just a little more outlining of windows and then some red flowers in amongst the greenery and i can start to put it together. I would like to get it done by this Saturday as I eventually hope to make it into a decoration for my Xmas tree. Thought it was about time I started to display my creations in more adventurous methods.

Today I also had to try to get back into the habit of working - I had managed quite well, to not return to the laptop to be pulled back into looking at some work or the other. So I have spent most of today in front of the laptop trying to organise some appointments; try to get my head back into assessor mode..... Look and make 'to do lists' for making sure I hit my targets (try to set realistic targets is always a challenge when working with others.....). 

It was so hard to focus, so I thought I might think of what I intend to do next. 

I was drawn to try and get some of my Cabinet of Curiosity practise pieces completed. Tricia from Thistle Threads is trying to enthuse us students to complete our caskets and she has put up on her blog a mind map to enable us to decide/ plan what we are going to do and to also get started. 

So I looked at the blogs and came to the realisation, that realistically I would like to complete a short casket (its the one within my financial reach), so the 'sew-a-long' starts in the mid summer, so it gives me a chance to complete some of the learning projects first. I will keep you abreast as it goes along. 

Embroiderer's Story is the link and will show you some of the fantastic things that I just can not resist. 

I will also be going back to the Victoria & Albert Museum to look at the Opus Anglicanum exhibition.... If you like embroidery - this stuff is amazing. 

Made in the 13C. by skilled crafts people, it is mainly of a religious theme (paid for by royalty and high ranking church officials that could afford the silks and gold/ silver and precious gems). There are records that show the workshops were predominantly within the area of St Paul's London and they have the names of the men and women that made some of these beautiful embroideries, with skills lost to us for a long time. If you get a chance it is so worth while going... 

2nd day in -

so I was hoping to finish this 'weekend' kit by now - 
on & off for a few weeks. So this is the first one I am targeting 
to finish this month. Weekend Cottages - Stratford on Avon 
by The Nutmeg Company.
I also need to complete another X-stitch that I started last year. She was supposed to be started at the beginning of the year as a project for 2016 - I didn't actually get to start her until the middle of the year. She is a Lavender & Lace project. Angel of Love she is designed by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum who also designed for Told in a Garden & Butternut Road. Its a tricky one my need for perfection has brought me to a standstill at the moment. 

So far this is where I am at with the w/e cottage and with the L&L design.

And I really haven't got much further with the cottage!

But I will keep you updated this is definitely the first to be finished this year and I hope to get it done soon. 

In the beginning;   

So it's the 1st Jan - a new year has begun!

I have decided to keep a record of my sewing journey, as I dabble in trying to finish my 'UFO's.
So where to start; well like all beginnings to figure what to finish we must first look at those UFO's that I have enjoyed but not quite completed yet. Some I enjoyed more than others....

I like to dabble in many disciplines - predominantly embroidery, patchwork & dressmaking. I also enjoy working with beads for embellishment and jewellery. All in my limited spare time.

In patchwork although my stash is quite big I have not yet completed anything, lol.

I have two projects on the go - It's a beautiful world. Designed by Helen Cummings of Hugs 'n' Kisses and a Union Jack cushion.
The quilt was started in 2015 to maintain my sanity and belief in people whilst going through a rough patch. I have completed all the embroidery, just need to put the patches together to complete the quilt. I first saw it at a Patchwork show in Birmingham....

This last year (2016), I have been so lucky to attend a course with Becky Hogg and started some goldwork, part of a group of embroideries I have.

As you can see I started the woodpecker, I have the owl and the fox.

Unfortunately I had started the fox and then stood on the coiled metal (this work in progress will really need some extra work.

I also have joined a group of stitches - Cabinet of Curiosities. It is run by Tricia Wilson Nguyen - she teaches courses on C16 embroidery, my modest pocket will not quite stretch to her beautiful cabinet but I have purchased a short cabinet and hope in the future to work on some stumpwork to complete it.

 Some of the stitchers arranged for a small exchange last year and I challenged myself to complete a small to send - I choose a small thimble holder designed by Carolyn Pearce and printed in my favourite embroidery magazine - Inspirations 

I used embroidery threads and ribbons I had never experienced before and sent it to another deserving  embroiderer in Australia. It was a joy to complete and I am hoping to make another one for myself.

I also managed to work with at the V&A. Completing a little study on Opus Anglicanum work. 

I am hoping to get her framed by the end of the month too.