24 Projects in 24 Weeks - Week 6 Update - Unicorns Don't Care

Here's my project for last week - a day late! Oops!

I've had a summer cold this past week, which means that life has been spent either at work feeling sorry for myself, or at home curled up with tea and cross stitch.

The style of this kit was a little different for me - but I loved the retro font - and the Unicorn attitude of course! It's another one from The Geeky Stitching Company. I'm finding them to be the most relaxing projects ever. I've got another three kits stored up to complete, and about another 10 designs on my wish list!

I've been doing lots of thinking whilst stitching this week - about priorities, goals, what I want to do next with life - you know - the little things.

I do love crafting for providing some decent thinking time. I find that I never worry while I craft - instead I tend to quite calmly work through things in my head.

I haven't decided what project to complete for this week. I'm working through the rooms in my house at the moment and doing little bits of DIY and tidying/ turning out as I go. I'm hoping that will give me some inspiration on what to make next.

A friend has also lent me her sewing machine - so I'm going to be brave and try to use it. For all the crafts I've tried, sewing machines still terrify me!

Whatever your week brings, I hope it's a happy one. And remember - if you feel stressed - be like a unicorn.

Bye for now.

Sunday Best - The Black Cat Edition

Thursday 17th August was Black Cat Appreciation Day. I definitely appreciate my little black cat, Bob, who loves sitting in cardboard boxes. He hasn't been very well for the past week (which involved a visit to the emergency vet last Sunday (ouch...expensive but worth every penny!). He's much better now though, and is getting lots of love and adoration.

Apparently animal rescue centres struggle to home black cats which is such a shame. Bob is my third black cat and I absolutely adore them. They all have amazing characters and life is a much better place with a little black moggy wandering around the home.

In honour of these amazing felines here are five of the best black cat items on Etsy at the moment...

Kate Broughton is always a favourite for me - and these black cat nail transfers are no exception.

This absolutely adorable pin from GlitterPunkJewellery  is on my list of pins to buy (I'm rationing myself to two per month - it's a killer).

The ilikeCATSshop is another regular favourite of mine on Etsy. I love the style of this print...and the combination of flowers and vegetables is just extra amazing.

Black cats are definitely lucky - and this hoop by CrimsonPins is a gorgeous way of celebrating that fact.

And lastly, this print by PrintsofHeart is so cute...and so right...I've had kitties of all different colours in my life...and the black cats have definitely always had the most chilled and cool little personalities.

I hope your Sunday has brought with it some loveliness. I'm full of a cold so I've used it as an excuse to hide under a blanket and craft while watching my way through the Star Wars movies in order (still not finished...I have a feeling it may carry over to next weekend!).

Bye for now

xx

24 Projects in 24 Weeks - Week 5 Update - The Cactus Cushion

Soooo...I'm not so sure about how I feel about my project for this week. I've felt a bit like giving up on it a few times, which probably isn't a good sign. My project for this week was an embroidered cactus cushion, which I made using a kit from Flying Tiger Copenhagen (I bought this kit a while ago so I don't think it's in store anymore...sorry!).

The kit itself was easy enough. The instruction were some super-vague pictures, but with a tiny bit of embroidery experience I could work my way through what I needed to do.

My biggest gripe was that I ran out of both of the green threads so had to raid my stash for something similar. I found an okish match, but it's always going to bug me that some of the cactus spines are a different colour to the rest!

My hand-sewing skills to sew the two sides together were also slightly lacking so it's ended up a weird shape at the top! I'm always really really critical of my own work but for this challenge I'm trying to silence my inner critic and post the projects anyway!

Still...it's not keeping my parrot cushion company in my snug. Although my dog has taken a bit of an interest in it...so it may end up being a dog toy!

Anyway...back to cross stitch this week I think...or maybe an embroidery hoop project. Decisions, decisions!

What are you making at the moment? Is it too earlier for Christmas crafts? I'm seeing them pop up everywhere and am so tempted to start because...you know...Christmas.

Bye for now!

xx

24 Projects in 24 Weeks - Week 4 Update - Succulent Cross Stitch

Life is keeping me busy at the moment.

To help me relax and give my brain time to download each evening I've been keeping up with my crafting and I've loved getting back into cross stitch so much. It's definitely my go-to craft.

My project this week was another kit from Geeky Cross Stitch. It was a joy to stitch and for such a simple pattern the final effect is gorgeous. Oh, and don't even get me started on that pompom trim (which comes with the kit) ... amazing.

I know succulents are the go-to trendy plant now, but my love affair with them started at age 10 - when I realised they were the only plant I could keep alive! I loved stitching this pattern to celebrate their amazingness.

Geeky Cross Stitch have a couple of other succulent themed kits - and I've ordered both of them - they're just too lovely, and will look amazing as a set. The presentation of the kits, and ease of use was just perfect - and they come with your own personalised sticker, which is so cute.

So my goal for this week is to keep crafting...but also get back to blogging! I have a day off work and think it might involve lots of tea, some mellow tunes and some serious catching up in the blogosphere!

Whatever you are doing, I hope you have a lovely week ahead and don't forget to keep making time to do the things you love!

Bye for now.

xxx

24 Projects in 24 Weeks Week 3 Update & Geeky Stitching Club Review

To say that my project for this week has been a joy to stitch would be an understatement. The weather where I live has been terrible, and so stitching this pattern was like stitching a bit of sunshine back into my week (which was a week off work - I really know how to pick them). The fact that I do love stitching a good pun also added to my enjoyment of this kit. Aloha Beaches. Brilliant.

I received this pattern as part of the Geeky Stitching Club , which is organised by the Geeky Stitching Company. I found the club through facebook and was quickly in love with the cure and quirky designs so decided to sign up. This was my first geeky stitching club box and it was really fun to receive and make.

Here's how the subscription box looks when you open it - super cute graphics and pretty colours (and a sweet) - so it definitely won my heart.

Inside the box was everything needed to complete the main pattern - a hoop, fabric, needle, threads, instructions and the pattern itself (which was super easy to follow). I've been travelling around a bit this week and being able to just pick my kit up in the box and carry it around with me was perfect.

There were also some extras in with the kit - two bonus patterns, a piece of fabric (which is so pretty - t had dots!) and a skein of thread for future use.

I'm definitely a fan of this subscription box - the presentation of everything, cuteness of the designs and how flipping easy everything was to follow (right down to having the skeins of thread pre-organised on a card in the order the colours are listed on the pattern) really did mean this kit was a joy to make. I'e ordered a couple of other kits (themed around my favourite plants!) so there will be more to come as part of my 24 projects, I'm sure!

Have you finished any projects this week? I'd love to hear about them if you have.

xxx

Collection Crush - Wrendale Designs

So this isn't the first time Wrendale Designs has featured on my blog, and honestly - it won't be the last. I think I'd buy pretty much anything and everything if it featured the gorgeous art work of Hannah Dale.

I'm very happy that one of the latest releases has been a collection of scarves as now I can wear my love of adorable creatures with pride. My only issue is which design to buy (must...not...buy...them...all).

I've picked my four favorites above and if you'd like to see some closer images check them out at the links below (clockwise from top left)

Pink Ladies Flamingo Scarf

A Waddle and a Quack Duck Scarf

Some Bunny Scarf

A Dog's Life Scarf

I can see at least a couple of these featuring in my autumn wardrobe.

Bye for now.

xx

...Hello August

I'm looking forward to August. For the past few weeks I've been in a really negative headspace and I've lost touch with the things I need to do in order to be able to focus positively on situations. Positive thinking is something that doesn't always come naturally to me - I'm definitely a bit of a pessimist - so it's something I need to be aware of, practice and learn from the times when I can't see the wood for the trees.

I've got some plans for some little crafty projects for the month ahead, and to focus on family, friends, my health and home. I thought I'd share the goals I've set myself for August to try and keep myself on track.

1. Meditate every day - I feel about a thousand times calmer when I take a few minutes to meditate each day - it really helps calm the pessimist in me and to focus on what is important. I've resubscribed to Headspace so I have no excuse. I'm going to re-start with their beginners programme from today so I'm interested to see how I'm feeling in my post at the end of this month

2. Walk 70,000 steps each week. This is fairly self explanatory - my aim is to get out and about walking more often, and to take photos as I go.

3. Finish 4 crafty projects - because I'm loving the sense of calm I get when I craft - and the accomplishment of finishing a project (no matter how small!).

4. Spend less time on social media and more time with the people I care about - I think that social media - particularly facebook - is kind of bad for me. I'm going to stick to just looking at instagram for August and see if being away from Facebook helps to free up some time for far more important things.

5. Get organised at home - my home is in desperate need for some organisation, and some low-scale DIY projects at the moment. August is definitely the time to get started on them.

Have you got any goals for August? Whatever the month holds for you I hope it includes doing lots of things that bring you happiness - whatever they may be!

Bye for now

xx