SpriteStitch Swap

My Swappee got their gift this morning, so I can finally show you all what I've been busy doing!
I have absolutely loved being part of this swap, as it is the first that I have taken part in and Sprite Stitch is a really great little community.    
Firstly I made a needle book, with embroidery on the front and cross stitch inside:

This was quite an easy make, but looks good. This was all hand stitched, as my poor sewing machine is holed up in the corner at the moment, feeling very unloved.  I was initially going to do the whole thing out of felt, but decided that a fabric cover would be better.  I quite like the effect of mixing different fabrics and textures and I think I've pulled it off here.

Secondly I made a Pokemon Pincushion! Which I am actually really pleased with because it is soo cute! (What more can you ask for - cute and practical?!)

This was quite difficult to make, and is quite rough around the edges, but I don't think my swappee minds.
After I get all my making for Christmas out of the way I think  I am going to have to make myself the needle book.  But at the moment it is just going to have to go on the To Do pile which is getting a little bit too big for my liking.

Salt Dough Christmas Decorations

It is coming up on THAT time of year again, and with the kids off on half term this week I thought we should make a start on Christmas Crafts.  I love salt dough, as it is ridiculously easy to make and the kids love it, so I thought I would share the 'recipe'.

Salt Dough Recipe

160g salt

160g plain flour

125ml water

• Preheat the oven to about 130c
• Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix
• Knead until it forms a dough
• Play (We rolled it out and cut shapes out but you don't have to)
• Bake in the oven for 2 - 3 hours

We've cut shapes out and made holes with pencils so that we can string them up to the Christmas Tree but you can make anything you want really out of the dough.  Or you could add a drop of food colouring, or double the recipe to make more.

We used it plain, as we are going to use another weekend to paint them and sprinkle glitter on, to add a Christmas feel : )

Salt dough stars

Decorated

My daughter also had a brilliant idea of her own.  Using her Princess Tiara, she made an imprint of the 'jewel' onto the stars:

Salt Dough Christmas Star

Which just goes to show that sometimes you need a Four Year Old about!

Stitched Map of Middle Earth

I am going to stitch a map of Middle Earth. But first I needed to get the image across to my fabric, and I can announce that Middle Earth is (finally) on linen! Given the amount of time it has taken me and my better half to get this far I dread to think of the total man-hours that this project is going to require. However it is looking really good, if not somewhat big.

To put this into perspective, I had to stand on a chair to get this photo, and the linen and paper map cover my dining room table completely!
I am going to completely embroider Middle Earth before deciding on a border style although I am debating whether or not to make the border circular and repeat the elvish inscription from the One Ring as a border. However I think I may be biting off more than I can chew:

Inscription from The One Ring

I am going to leave any final decisions until I can see how everything looks stitched.  Which will probably be quite a while as
the detail involved in this map is ambitious to say the least.It does look rather impressive close up though:

Mordor

I am currently trying to figure out how to start the gargantuan task of stitching this wonderful map.  Due to it being such a large scale project, I am trying to decide whether to stitch it section by section or whether to stitch say all of the lettering, or mountains or lines in order.  Most probably I will sit down and decide what I want to stitch as I go, as I'm not normally the most organised person....

Middle Earth

If you look closely and compare 'my' map to the original, then you can see where some parts have been somewhat squashed into place. It has been quite difficult to keep lining everything up and keep everything in place.  If this had been a smaller image, I could have found a way to keep everything in place, or at least lined up with the image below.  Luckily though I don't think I know anyone that knows the map of Middle Earth off by heart, so it should be alright. So, just to start stitching......

Apologies and Pumpkins

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my absence, it has been due to multiple illnesses.  What with my eldest just having started school, I think it was inevitable that we would all catch something. So I haven't got much done recently.  (Well nothing substantial anyway.  I have read the entire library of Sookie Stackhouse Novels in the past week. Which is an impressive feat but not very constructive.)  
So I come bearing a link gift.  Halloween and Bonfire Night is just round the corner and it is one of my favorite times of year. Lots of excuses for curling up with a book (or 10) with warming treats such as soups and stews. Yumsk!
Now last year we (My Husband) carved Spongebob into a pumpkin: 

SpongeBob Pumpkin Pants

So this year I share with you the link where we got this template, with instructions and plenty of other templates if Spongebob isn't your cup of tea.  
Happy Halloween! 

Pendle Stitches

Long before I started my ramblings, my lovely Aunt had been keeping us all up to date with her beautiful creations over at Pendle Stitches.  She started it to keep family up to date with things, due to the fact that we were spread all about the company, but in time it has become just as much about her passion for all things crafts, and to celebrate her 400th post she is giving this beauty away:

 So hop on over to her blog and leave a comment to be in with a chance to win this gorgeous Shawlette!

Time for Tea in Cross Stitch!

Being an English gal, I love my tea! Nothing gets better than stitching with a cup of tea and homemade cookies or cake! So when I saw this beauty over at The Making Spot I had to post it!

How beautiful and simple is this! Also with Christmas coming up, I know a certain someone who would love this little stitch.  
Speaking of the C word (Christmas of course) I am busy getting ready, which does mean that I can't post what I'm up to! However it is safe to say that many people will be getting home made pressies this year.  Either done by myself for some of the bigger projects or done by certain little hands for simpler projects. I am also now nearly ready to send my items off for the Sprite Stitch challenge. So much to do, so little time that can be dedicated towards crafts  : (