Finishes 2011

The year 2011 was a turning point in my life. I finally got onto a medical trial that 5 years on is still working. I passed college with distinction and was awarded Student of the Year. I was able to work full time (and get paid for it) for the first time in 8 years as my condition was finally manageable. After 3 months in my new job I was made a permanent member of staff; another 3 months later I was promoted to a position I thoroughly enjoy.

Unfortunately long hours equal less time to devote to my stitching!

Yes...another one!

This hangs in my office to remind me of my climb back up

HAED (Heaven and Earth design) Angel of Love.  The other 3 in the series are in my stash to-do pile along with bespoke hand dyed evenweave to match each design.

Finishes 2010

I moved on from volunteering with school children to being a police support volunteer and in the autumn returned to college to update my qualifications.  I was now spending 3-4 days each month in hospital so had a lot of insignificant finishes, usually made into cards.

Another stitchalong were these leaves. Not the best photo, but it was an opportunity to try DMC variegated threads.

My biggest stitching achievements were The Human Torch and Ghost Rider for my two sons, and winning Stitch Factor:

Finishes 2009

A new craze hit ACN...Ink Circles.

My favourite is Bramble and Rose. We stitched this design as a 'stitchalong'. We all did our own interpretation, mine being in red Caron threads.  Other members did gold thread, variegated greens or blues. I had mine made into a firescreen.

This triangles version hangs in my inlaws' sunroom.

And the original Circles we have in our sunroom.

I had an unusual commission - a ring cushion in lilac featuring The Stig for a friend's wedding.

My sons had a stocking each.  Although I did the cross stitching, I can't take the credit for the making up - Thanks Colly!

ACN has a long running UFO page (unfinished object).  It's a great way to dig out those long forgotten pieces that have been started and then put aside as something else takes your fancy.  A few members are serial starters and joined the UFO section to work on one project, once a week for say a month, before moving onto the next project for a month etc. 

This lion was started by one member but she didn't want it any longer so I adopted it and finished it for my husband's grandad.

This is another stunning Mystic Stitch design 'Peaceful Morning'. I love the richness of the greens.

I learned how to make a book fold for an exchange.

Hellboy was a secret stitch for my husband's birthday.

And a couple of fob exchanges.

I don't have many UFO's in my stash as I am usually very good at finishing each project before moving onto the next one, but this one was hidden away for about 5 years before completion.

Finishes 2008

As more members swelled the ranks on A Crafty Natter we had meet-ups twice a year and exchanges became a regular feature.

We did a huge Christmas advent exchange. There were 24 small gifts and one larger gift that had been on the recipient's wish list.  It was a lot of fun putting the exchange together, but trying to keep it a secret was hard. The revelation was on Christmas Day with the main gift.

There were coaster exchanges...

Biscornu exchanges...

And more besides.  A fantastic way to get to know one another.

Quilting was added to my repertoire. I managed two Christmas wall hangings, but another member finished the others for me.  I know my limitations!

Cormyr. Another dragon for hubby

I started my first blog - for A Crafty Natter specifically to share step by step tutorials on how to finish cross stitching. It features work by members of the chat site from how to create a biscornu to lacing up, ornaments to tissue boxes.

I learned how to make a bellpull and made each of my moderators a little thank you bookmark using hardanger and drawn thread.

My husband and his friend raised money for charity by taking part in Jailbreak. They had to get as far away from the starting point (a Victorian jail in the Midlands) in just 36 hours using none of their own money. We contacted Virgin Trains who kindly gave them the run of their rail network. They bribed a rail guard to use the regional train to get to Birmingham airport.  They'd set up a local company to pay for flights. They rocked up at Schipol airport with hubby sporting a long blue beard that he'd grown and dyed especially for the event! It helped to highlight the charity along the route.  The next leg was a flight to Rome. Once there they bartered with a tour bus guide for free passage to the Colosseum.

They raised well over £700 and won the competition! 

Oh yes, the point of this tale is the hardanger design I created above and sold to members of A Crafty Natter to assist the fundraising.

I taught our sons to cross stitch.

Broken Halo. 

The ACN members came together to make squares for a quilt or two for charity. One was made in secret as one of our friends was having her first baby...and then featured in a British cross stitching magazine!