Regaining my stitching mojo

Well things have been a little quiet around here (by which I mean here on my blog, my homelife has been anything but quiet as you can imagine)

Since having Jake it has taken me a while to get back into the swing of things craft-wise. For a few months he seemed to be in my arms 24/7 (when you are breastfeeding you never seem to put your baby down!) so there really was no time for crafting. Then things started to calm down a bit and I found I had my evenings back.

So where have I been?

.... well there was the small issue of motivation; I just didn't have any, after a day of looking after Jake I was tending to flake out in front of the telly with a large glass of wine . Until one day I was on Facebook (probably whilst breastfeeding, again) and I clicked into a link Mr X-stitch had posted to his blog, I spent a bit of time there and then revisited all my usual haunts in the crafty blogosphere. I realised how much I missed it and that, cheesy as this sounds, it was time to be 'me' as well as 'mum'.

So I picked up a UFO that had been languishing in the bottom of my craft box for ages- this Mitch O'Connell pattern from Sublime Stitching (I'd stitched the outline a long time ago and then lost interest). It might not be the best thing I've ever done but boy, does it feel nice to be stitching again! Crafty mates- I have missed you- it's good to be back :)

baby jake is here!

Just thought I'd show you all why my blog is neglected of late. Baby Jake arrived on 6/6/09 - 11 days overdue.
We are all loved up in our house- he is such a cutie!
I won't leave it so long before I post again- who knows, I may even find time for some embroidery at some point!
xox

IYP swap

Here are the bits and pieces I made for Amyracinrose in the Craftster Invite your Partner swap:
A sailor Jerry framed embroidery- I've wanted to stitch this sassy showgirl pinup for a while.
A doll house tea set necklace- I wish I had an action shot to show youand my favourite; a Mitch O'Connell poodle tea towel (or bar towel)- I wish I had a creepy-cute pink poodle who drank martinis - if I did I'd call her Talullah or maybe Roxy...I was so pleased with how her 'fluffy' bits came out (that sounds a bit wierd doesn't it?)
Anyhows, thanks for stopping by- my baby bump is progressing nicely (baby crafts progressing less well), I'll post some pics soon :)
x

Flight of the Conchords

I am patiently waiting for FOTC season 2 to appear on British T.V - why is it taking so motherflippin long?! I am just managing to resist the urge to watch all the new songs on youtube. So to fulfil my need for a little bit of FOTC action I thought I'd share some things I made for the FOTC swap last year:


Jemaine ' business time' paper-cut clock (of all the swap items I've ever made this was the hardest to part with!)
boom boom necklace:

and embroidered tote bag;

FOTC + embroidery = happy soph .... I so need to make myself one of those bags
x

little stitches

For the Invite your partner swaps I did two minature embroideries that I put in the back of handbag mirrors. They are both based on old tattoo flash designs.
Because they are tiny I was able to do each of these in just an evening each- making them an ideal craft for my current pregnancy-addled state. The cross stitch kit I've started for the baby's room is not going well, I can only cope with it for very short periods of time and am regularly distracted by Alien like goings on around my midriff!

IYP- the amazing Lily!

Lily did this incredibly detailed embroidery for me in the Invite your partner swap. She's so beautiful and just my style. The stitching is just perfect- I love the stripy trousers.
And that wasn't all she also sent me this tote- very apt for the English weather!
so cute!

In other news Amy has recieved her package so I'll post pics soonish...
see you later x

Invite your partner swap

I was lucky enough to snag Lily (Lilyvanilli on Craftster) as a partner for this swap. She sent me an awesome package- which will feature in my next post (I have yet to take photos) but if you can't wait to see the amazing goods you can see them here . Fellow Craftsters take note- next IYP be brave and ask someone you admire to swap with you- it is well worth it!
This is what she got from me in return:
ready for your close up?

Somewhat predictably it is based on an Angelique Houtkamp image (well her artwork is amazing). So much fill stitching- I like how the shading on her dress turned out. Her hair is done in lines of satin stitch to add texture- you can't see that on the photo as it's black so you'll have to take my word for it.
I also made an embroidered handbag mirror - which I'll post pics of at a later date and these little extras;
Lily has been a great partner (as you'll see when I post photo's of the beautiful embroidery she sent me) and this has been a fun swap, and guess what the best thing about the swap is? It's not over because I was greedy and signed up with two partners! I'm also swapping with Amy from SwellStitches (Amyracinrose) so there are more of my crafts to post once she receives (don't want to ruin the surprise).
Thankyou Lily- it's been fun we should do it again some sometime!
Night all!
x

because every little boy needs a spacesuit...

busy busy

I'm stitching up a storm at the moment. I'm in the middle of the 'Invite your partner' swap and have two great people to craft for. I have a couple of items nearly done and looking at them am beginning to wonder how much of my life is spent doing fill stitches! Am pleased with how they have turned out though- don't want to say too much and give the game away to my swap partners!
Other than that am wondering about trying to knit again as various family members are knitting away for the baby and I feel I should get in on the action. Me and knitting haven't got on so well in the past so if anyone has any ideas for an easy baby project let me know (by suggesting ideas you are volunteering to be my knitting mentor and I need a lot of help!).
Oh and as I'm craftin' for two these days I've also picked up a winnie the pooh cross stitch kit for baby's room- I don't usually do kits but this is sooo cute (my brain is turning to baby mush- too much baby shopping). My Mum has chosen a cute birth memento cross stitch to do for the room too- we are quite the crafting family- my dad is even talking about making some wooden baby toys as he's into his woodwork and woodturning. Nursey design craftster style!
So no new pictures to post right know but expect picture heavy posts once I've sent my swap packages, and if I pluck up the courage to get those evil knitting needles out I will post in progress pics of what is bound to be a knitting disaster.
x

Inny ansome? (that's Cornish for isn't he handsome)

that's my boy x