Happy Halloween

Just a quick post to say Happy Halloween!  

This was the first year that I have carved the pumpkins so I found a template for my daughter and a template for my son, I think they turned out ok...

First I made a Hello Kitty pumpkin for my little girl.

Hello Kitty Pumpkin

Lit up Hello Kitty Pumpkin

Then the second pumpkin was Lightning McQueen from the Disney  Cars films. 

Lightning McQueen Pumpkin

Lit up Lightning McQueen Pumpkin

Needless to say I had two very happy children today.  Actually I had one happy skeleton and one happy witch.

Big Swap Goodies

I took part in the Sprite Stitch "Big Swap" in the Spring. Unfortunately no one had heard from my "swappee" or get in contact with her, which was a shame, but the guys on the forums were great and I know a fair few people offered to make something.   Well you can imagine my surprise when a box arrived from America! Unfortunately it took a little longer than that to actually get the box because it was stuck at a ParcelForce depot for a couple of weeks while I tried to argue against the extortionate import charges I had received, considering it was a gift.  Hubby kindly paid in the end and I finally got my Big Swap!!!YAY!!!

The box from America!!

All was forgiven!!!

The first thing I saw was this sweet photo on the top of a note to say sorry for being so late.

Angry Bird Magnets

I have to keep these on the microwave, out of reach of little hands, who keep trying to steal them!! My 5 year old has already suggested I make some squishy pigs and we play "real life" angry birds....hmmm.....
For the next gift you need to see this image first

Jayne

If you don't know who this is then firstly you need to go watch Firefly and Serenity. Now! As a side note I'm just going to throw it out there that we need to somehow scoop out the ideas formulated by Joss Whedon's brain in case anything should ever happen to him....Geek Rant over.

Jayne The Badass Teddy!

Jayne Hat!

I'm not entirely sure that I can really pull off the Jayne's Hat look BUT it looks adorable on one of my childhood ted's so is now perched atop the telly!

Portal Latch Hook Rug

Having done latch hook I can assure you that the time and effort gone into this would have been crazy! This is definately my favourite! I have been thinking of cross stitching some of the portal logos for a while, but it would never have occurred to me to make them in to a rug! GENIUS!

Yay! Totally worth the wait. It is a shame about the charges though, but I know it has been brought up on the forums since the Mini Swap is now nearly over, there will be a few more parcels arriving and departing with lovely geeky crafty things in!

Exam Week

Child Development ( ED209 course at the OU) has been  fascinating, to me anyway, but I am so glad to have a couple of months break before my next module!!!
I am a bit of a freak that actually enjoys writing essays, but really struggle in exams, and two hours into the 3 hour exam on Tuesday my brain just stopped working. I think it went on strike.  However I am very proud of my first essay, and you can tell towards the end that I have lost focus, as the last essay was barely strung together and probably doesn't make much sense to anyone. So I am going to write this piece of advice here partly so that I remember next time I do an exam and also for anyone else sitting exams in the near future.
DO THE ESSAY PLANS FOR ALL QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU WRITE ANYTHING ELSE. 
This way names/studies/information will still be fresh in your head. 

Me looking very stressed before the exam

Anyway, I have a couple of months break so hopefully images like the above won't be a sight in my house until February.  I can take all the mind maps off the wall and hide the books in a dark room.  

Me not stressed out!!

Strangely enough it has been quite nice this week, we have had some nice bright Autumnal days and I think I might deserve to relax a little so I am going to make the most of it while it lasts.

Also now the Exam is done, I will have more crafty posts coming soon! YAY!

Finished Cross Stitches

During the move, I unearthed cross stitches that I have completed and left waiting to be framed for far too long, so a couple of these have actually been put up, but first, a reminder of why newspaper alone is not enough to save your glass frames when being moved:

The Pink Piano

I love this little piece and it has been on top of the piano since I framed it last year.  However this was the only breakage, so we didn't do too badly, so unfortunately this has now joined the pile of stuff "To Be Framed".
I do have more Popcorn bears up now though.  I finished this piece ages and ages ago, and I absolutely love it because they are ALL so cute! I put it in an old frame we had and found a lovely space for it on the windowsill by the stairs:

Popcorn Sampler

Popcorn Sampler

I am so glad that I have this up now, it is a piece that makes me smile.
Then this next popcorn bear was found in my daughter's room when we packed up (just the fabric, it hadn't been framed then) so I thought that I would save it:

Popcorn bear with sunflowers

I'm pretty sure this little one was a freebie with a magazine but for the life of me I couldn't find the pattern anywhere! 
I really need to do some less "cutesy" cross stitch....oh well.
8 days and counting to my exam, so I should probably get back to revision, rather than looking at cross stitch....
OR I could cross stitch my revision notes!

Studying

I have 14 days until a three hour exam and so I am slowly freaking out a little bit.  I had my last tutorial on Saturday and according to the study style test, I am not organised, but my mind works randomly....I'm pretty sure that anyone who knows me will not be hugely surprised at this, organisation is not really a skill that I have, let alone a skill that I exceed in.  Although knowing that I am random and being shown ways to utilize that for study was quite interesting.  

So a lot of my time recently has been spent with my nose in a book, however it is a good excuse to buy new stationary (I don't know why but I LOVE stationary).
Also I must share a picture with you.  I don't normally share images of stuff that we have bought, but these shoes that we just bought my little boy are so gorgeous and cool that I have to share.

How adorable are these!!! Anyway. . .back to the books. . .