More Garden Birds

This is another pattern from 'The Country Diary Collection' entitled 'Wren and Hedge Sparrow.'

This is the third pattern that I've stitched from this collection. I shared the 'Willow Warbler Feeding Young' last year. 

I have a plan for all three and I hope to show you the finished article soon (wrist permitting). 

White Throat and Nest

Here is another picture of my completed cross stitch. This one is taken from 'The Country Diary Collection' and stitched in DMC threads on Aida.

Two little cuties!

These little cuties have been taken from a pattern published by Textile Heritage for a Bluetit Bookmark.  

I've used them before but I love them so much I couldn't resist stitching them again. 

These two will form the front and back of a lavender sachet. I have a pile of dried lavender from the garden drying in the conservatory and just waiting to be used! 

Winter Wonderland

I stitched this little picture a while ago and I'd forgotten all about it until I uncovered a stash of completed stitching recently. 

It is entitled 'A Winter Wonderland'. It is part of a set of four designed by Julia de Medieros and it can be found in Cross Stitch Collection 99 (December 2003). I fell in love with the snow drops, berries and web. 

My other news is that I now have some good days with my wrist which means that I've just managed to finish the curtains for the lounge. I'm also thinking about my next project - my first Roman Blind. I'll be using my sewing machine for most of the stitching.

Sadly I've not been able to do any cross stitching yet.

Injury

Gosh, has it really been this long since my last post? Apologies. 

The reason for my silence is that I've been diagnosed with an RSI injury to my right hand. Yes - I am right handed. 

The RSI (repetitive strain injury) means that I am unable to use my right hand without pain. It is proving to be a real problem because it means that I am struggling to work and perform day-to-day tasks let alone typing and sewing. 
My doctor has prescribed pain killers and I've been told to rest the hand. 

Sadly this has meant no sewing and no jewellery making for months now :0(. My craft room is sitting empty and my curtain making has gone on hold. It is intensely frustrating. 

I am currently considering resorting to machine sewing so that I can at least finish my curtains. Normally, I use a mix of hand sewing and machine sewing when I'm curtain making as I prefer hand finished edges.  

The good news is that I've found a stash of stitching that I've completed and never shown you so I'll be posting some pictures of that soon.

Beading Madness

I've been reading about the '40 hanger closet' and I've decided to give it go! Now I love clothes. To say that I have too many clothes is an understatement. Pre-move I had more than three double wardrobes cram packed with clothes. I buy classic styles and I look after them and now I have enough suits to wear a new one each day for a month. Add to that blouses, jumpers, casual wear, evening wear etc. and the closets are soon full! 

Post-move I have only one double wardrobe available....:0(

I've looked at each item as I've been unpacking to decide whether it has a place in my new regime. I've tried things on to check what fits nicely and to decide what 'feels' good on. It has been particularly hard to decide what to do with my favourite items. What is it that they say? 20% of your clothes get worn 80% of the time! It is so true! 

In the midst of this activity I rediscovered this evening dress. It is a beautiful dress but the silk is looking very sad in places. It wasn't in a condition to sell or give to charity.

It just seemed such a waste to throw away all of those beads so before I retired it, I thought I'd harvest the beads for future use. Little did I know that it would take me eight long evenings to remove them! 

 Now I have a large tub of black, gold and pearl beads available for my next beading project.

Free Craft Storage

Recently, I rescued this empty can of nuts from the recycling box. I thought that it was a nice size for craft storage. It even had a transparent plastic lid.

Now I'm not the sort of person that could just use it 'as is.' I wanted to remove the print but how? I tried a variety of products and methods without much success.

I thought about covering it with paper or fabric but I liked the plain silver as it fits with some of my existing craft storage boxes. 

I became obsessed with how to remove the print from the can. After a bit more trial and error I found that the print comes off when it is rubbed with an old fashioned wire scouring pad. It takes about ten minutes to completely remove the print from the can. The longest and most difficult bit is the lip below the lid. Underneath the tin is silver and gorgeous!

I already have three new storage containers for the craft room. The great thing is that the lids have an overlap which means that the cans can be securely stacked on top of one another. 

There's another flavour which comes with a red top. This picks up the Poppy theme in the craft room!

Now I  just have to eat more nuts and design some labels!