Stitching Saturday

Today's little stitchy offering is the hoop I made for the Wild Olive Stitch Swap. My partner likes pastels...and a little bit of stalking also told me she likes hot air balloons...and so this hoop was born...

I was happy to find some cloud material in my stash (I have literally no memory of buying it!). It's the most satin stitch I've ever attempted and it was a bit of a challenge at times!

This swap has been so much fun...because you don't know who is stitching for you, so it adds a nice element of surprise!

I don't have any other swaps lined up at the moment so I'm going to spend some time stitching things for my home...and doing some more cross stitch motifs...if you have any requests just comment to let me know!

Adventure Time Swap

This week has still been a bit of a tough one health-wise and I was feeling a bit blue....until I received what was literally the most amazing parcel ever, because it contained these guys...

It's crochet Finn and Jake! I received them from Lucy for the Adventure Time swap over at Craftster. As someone who is (still) struggling with crochet, I am in total awe of Lucy's skills.

Finn and Jake are easily my favourite cartoon characters, so having my very own versions of them is all kinds of awesome.

And Jake's little backpack came filled with rocks from the Candy Kingdom! I'm finishing my project for Lucy today, while watching lots of Adventure Time...happy times! :)

30 Days of lists Day 30 - To my future self - the last list!

Phew, I made it (just!). here's my very last list:

For this list I wrote some instructions to my future self (bets that I never listen to them?). I couldn't resist the 'Don't Blink' reference - Wibbly, Wobbly Timey Wimey and all that!

I've really enjoyed writing these lists. I haven't decided how I'm going to collate them yet - a scrapbook I think, so I can look back over them now and then. One thing I will say is that March has flown by - I mean, crazy fast. I'm not sure that's the fault of the lists though!

I've also discovered a couple of really lovely blogs through the whole process -

Ooh Erin! - the girl with the totally amazing hair!
Unbecoming - written by another Kat - but one with a waaaay more beautiful wardrobe than mine!

30 Days of Lists Day 29 - Songs that make me want to dance

I had fun with this list - although I was cringing as I wrote it! My iPod has a little playlist called 'Kat's Cheese' - containing some seriously awful awesome tunes! Wham! are one of my favourites of all time ever.

I've also taken to blasting out LMFAO's latest album while I'm driving to work - it makes me feel way more happy about the day ahead.

Ok, I'm off to listen to some music with a bit more credibility *cough*

30 Days of Lists Day 28 - My last meal would include

I'm not sure if I'm that in love with any kind of food that I would like it to be at my last meal. The people I'm with and where I am are far more important I think.

That said I do, of course, have some favourites ;) They're not healthy ones really - but hey, at that point, who cares?

30 Days of Lists - Day 27 - If I could do it over again...

If I did this list over again I'd totally pick another colour ink...this is so hard to read (but I'm still obsessing with the coral/ blue colour combo). I try not to think too much about regrets or what I'd do differently. I do know that I'd worry about the unimportant things a lot less - it's a lesson I'm taking forward though. In general I'd do most things again - they've led me to where I am now, which is ok with me.

I would so dye my hair way more colours when I was younger though. I stuck with the basics - blonde, red, black - but have always had a huge love for brightly coloured hair - I think blue is my favourite. I feel a bit too old to carry it off now though :/

On a side note I love these butterfly stickers which I bought at 'The Range' - they only stick in the middle, leaving their wings free to 'flap'...so pretty.

30 Days of Lists - Day 26 - My morning routine

I'm feeling a little bit more human this evening and have actually had quite a fun day - most of which was spent blog-exploring. It's a dangerous past-time, I can get lost for hours!

Here's my list for today. Only one word can explain my morning routine...'urgh'. On week days I always have three snoozes on my alarm before dragging my sorry arse out of bed and into the shower. I then leave myself with about 15 minutes to actually get dressed, and do my hair and make-up, before I have to leave. I need to sort it out, and at least make time for breakfast.

See those little green dudes? I totally look like that in the morning...not a pretty sight.

Rather than spam my blog (can you spam your own blog?!) with pics of all the lists I haven't been able to post while I've been ill, I've posted them onto my flickr here.

Colds and sneezes and coughs..oh my

'And the horse sneezed a sparkling sneeze' by monpetitZouZou on Etsy

It's official, March has decided to kick my bum health-wise. It hasn't been anything serious - just one bout of viral related nastiness followed by another. I'm off work now due to a particularly nasty bug which is causing much coughing and sneezing (none of which contains glitter, I'm sad to report, but how gorgeous is that print?!).

I'm behind on pretty much everything now - catching up with loved ones, home decorating, blogging, crafting, writing my lists (don't even get me started on work!). I can feel the 'oh em gee, I'm sooo never going to catch up' anxiety building, and I'm trying to push it to the back of my mind, because it's not going to get me anywhere, right?

I'm going to rest lots today because:
a) I have to be back at work tomorrow and
b) I'm going to see Noah and the Whale on Wednesday (yayness!)

Be back soon my blogging lovelies.

Snow White and the Huntsman - Official Trailer

This makes me very excited...


I can't wait for this film...totally ticks all my fantasy film boxes, including the giant Chris Hemsworth shaped box :)

Motif Monday - Mass Effect N7 Logo

For those Mass Effect fans currently playing their way through Mass Effect 3 (how will it all end?!) here's a little cross stitch motif of the N7 logo for your stitching enjoyment. It's a simple one, so no key needed :) I'd quite to stitch this onto some PJs.

On a side note...I've started watching Game of Thrones for the first time today...a new addiction in the making I fear!

30 Days of Lists - Day 19

Day 19  - Dear Nick, you can make me happy in the following ways...

- By just being you
- and occasionally buying me chocolate
- that's it

Sunday Best - Feeling Lucky

In honour of St Patrick's Day yesterday...here are some very lucky and lovely 4-leaf clover related items...

Another gorgeous print from the poppy tree...

                                                                                   Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

What's luckier than a black cat in a clover tie?

                                                                                   Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

A cute felt owl carrying some clover...

                                                                                   Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

A beautiful necklace...so pretty!

                                                                                 Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

And last (but definitely not least)...

                                                                              Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

May the luck of the Irish be with you ;)

30 Days of Lists Catch-Up

Phew! Sorry for the blog silence. The headaches didn't go away this week and going on my laptop made them loads worse (I think they were telling me I needed to crash out and relax some...which I've done this weekend and feel loads better, so I'm back...hurrah!).

I've still been listing like a list-crazy person, so here's a catch up...

30 Days of Lists Update

Phew, sorry for the lack of posts. Last week was a bit of a killer...by the end of it I couldn't bear to look at a PC again so decided to take a step away from the internet for a couple of days. I'm feeling loads better now though.

I've still been listing away...here are the 3 lists I've missed posting...

Day 9 - Happy Places

I went for a rainbows colour theme for this list, because y'know...rainbows are happy.

Day 10 - Today was awesome because...

Yesterday was all kinds of awesome...because it was a Saturday. I'm easily pleased, and just having a day to chill out and do 'me stuff' was amazing.

Day 11 - Right now I am...

I may have taken this list too literally. All I could think was 'well right now I am trying to write this list' and then that was it...all creativity left me!

Anyway on non-list related business, I had a truly lovely day with family today, and am now the proud owner of a parrot lamp (eep!!). How was your weekend? Full of happy times I hope!

30 Days of Lists Day 8 I need to say no to...

Hmmm....where to begin.

No isn't a word that comes easily for me. Here's my list for Day 8

Sorry the picture isn't great, my eyes have reached a special level of tired today and seem to be impeding my photography skills! Here's a list close up:

It's a simple layout for today because my body is telling me it's time to say no to being awake ;) The little tortoise is just because I love tortoises really...and seem to me like they would also have trouble saying no.

Hope your Thursday has been a happy one (it's almost the weekend...woo!)

30 Days of Lists Day 7 - I am inspired by

Interestingly I struggled with inspiration for the design of this list! I'm putting it down to the on-going week of exhausting work-related activities.

Anyway, the list itself was lovely to write. The most inspirational thing in my life is definitely my dad...he's the most peaceful and positive person I've ever known.

My list, if it's difficult to read, is:
- My dad's ability to see the good in everyone and everything
- Nature
- A good book
- The creativity I see online every day
- My cat's ability to find a sunbeam to sleep in, even on the darkest day

Motif Monday - Keep Calm and Roll Out

For this week's free cross stitch design I've geeked out with a 'Keep Calm' design with a Transformers twist. Thinking of 'Keep Calm' designs is proving to be lots of fun...my favourite twist on it is still 'Now Panic and Freak Out' (a command I find it much easier to follow!)

You can download the full chart by following this link

Life is still a bit chaotic here but when things calm down (and it's time to roll out!) I'm totally stitching this in white on some red fabric.

If you use this design I'd love to see the finished product!

30 Days of Lists Day 5 - Words to live by

I've never really been a 'quote' or 'motto' kinda gal. I might occasionally stumble by a clever saying on Pinterest which raises a smile or inspires me, but nothing that I live my life by as such. I sat staring at a blank page for a while before I decided to take this list literally and started writing down some random words I believe strongly in.

They're words I feel inspired by, and try to make sure they are a part of my life.

As I started to write them down I was reminded of the word-searches I used to make up as a kid to go in the magazine I used to write for my cat's fan club (yes, my cat had a fan club - it had precisely 4 members - me, my mum and dad, and my best friend). And with that memory (a very happy one, I adored that cat), this layout  for my list was born.

30 Days of lists - Day 4 - Things I'll put off until tomorrow

This list was easy...I'm the queen of procrastination...the hardest part was not putting off writing the list!

They're pretty minor (although my hair is now out of control!) apart from writing my book. I suffer from a massive lack of confidence with my writing (which is why it's a challenge on my first list) and rather than face it I'm good at putting off writing 'until tomorrow'. Definitely something for me to work on.

I went for black and white for this list  because of the picture - I found it in a random decoupage book I picked up in a sale once and love it. The design is called 'The Waiting Room', which is what I feel I'm stuck in if I put off doing too much stuff - like I'm not going anywhere. Luckily I'm getting much better at it (even if my hair tells you otherwise).

Sunday Best - The Book Worm

In honour of World Book Day which happened this week (1st March) here are some book related wonders on Etsy...

For the nerds among us (me!)

Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

My current most favourite book in necklace form...

Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

You know it's true...

Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

Fairy tales + miniature book + necklace = loveliness overload

Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

Gah! Too...many...cute...bookends...can't...choose...favourite

Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

Happy reading book peeps!

30 Days of lists - Day 3 - Recipe for a perfect weekend

Here's my recipe for a perfect weekend...

I found the 'who', 'what', 'when', 'where' card in the middle of a pack of bargain scrap-booking supplies I got at TK Maxx a while back, and thought it fitted quite well here. My most perfect weekends recently have been spent with my boyfriend exploring local shops and finding little vintage treasures here and there (which I need to post about more!). I also treasure quiet time with my kitties. I've become such a low key weekend person these days. Long gone are the all night parties and all day hangovers ;)

Other perfect weekends include spending time with family doing chilled out things and time with friends laughing over random things that probably wouldn't be funny to anyone else.

I also wanted to share a close up of this cute little crochet flower - it was included in the Jar of Whimsies I received in a swap over at Craftster a while back and I thought it was so cute. I reeeeally need to learn how to crochet!

Stitching Saturday - The Hunger Games Edition

My swap partner for the Hunger Games Swap over at Craftster has received so I'm safe to post piccies of the items I stitched...hurrah!

I tried something new for this swap and made some embroidered buttons, which I used to make an arrow necklace...

And some hair grips...

I bought the self cover buttons and the button making tool from http://www.bloomingfelt.co.uk/. I think I might need a bit more practice with the tool but a new crafty love has definitely been born.

I also designed and stitched this 'Keep Calm' picture...

I might have a go at doing some 'Keep Calm' designs for Motif Monday. I realised after I'd finished and framed this that the 'and' is too big...doh!

I also made a couple of non-stitching related goodies...

A 'Girl on Fire' memory wire bracelet (I still love making these...so relaxing)

And a fimo Mockingjay Pin...

I loved crafting for this swap so much...I'm now counting the days until the film is released.

Let the Games Begin!

TFI Friday

How is it Friday again already? Craziness!

I feel like I've been pinging from one thing to another this week and I'm looking forward to a weekend of chilling out a bit. Some of my favourite things from this week have been...

30 Days of Lists starting...I'm totally loving the whole idea, and by day two I've found I love reading other people's lists as much as writing my own.



The total and complete cuteness that is 'Ninja Baby'...I watched this video waaaay too many times this week.

Finally getting a better idea of the colours I want to paint my house...thanks in part to the beautiful colours of the Crown Vintage Paint range. The quest to make over my home will continue this weekend!

                                                                           Source: Uploaded by user via Kat on Pinterest

This pin, which is still making me smile two weeks after originally re-pinning it...street kitty is adorable.

                                                                                Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

I have my swap partner for the Adventure Time swap over at Craftster , and after a day of musing pretty much know what I'm going to craft...and it should be a lot of fun to do!

Hope your week was filled with some happiness too!