Star Wars Sampler Finished and Other Photos (Donna Nook and from around the Estate)

Well here is the Star Wars sampler by Cloudsfactory finished:

Original stitching

I thought I'd try out one of the effects of my camera - colour pop! I love how vibrant the colours are :)

Colour Pop effect added

I'm back to working on the JE SAL...hoping that I can get one more finished.

This week, I'm going to start prepping for planned projects next year so that it's all ready to go, I've gotten half way but have come across a snag. The fabric for the owl project is big enough for the design but not enough for framing, instead of 3 inches of fabric there's 1.5.

Here are some photos of the field trip to Donna Nook, it was great to see seals up close but damn they are lazy animals!

We had snow a couple of weeks back so I took a walk around the estate and the fields behind it...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas for those that celebrate it and I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Cross Stitch Crazy 2016 and other plans

Hello everyone ^_^ I've decided that I'd like to set out some clear goals for next year.

Cross Stitch Crazy 2016

1. HMS Victory
2. Map of France
3. Field of Remembrance
4. Trio of Owls
5. Lady on the Balcony
6. Page of a HAED
7. Hollyhock Cottage
8. Vegetable Basket
9. Page of Dark Force
10. Little Frogs

I haven't decided on the other 5 yet so will update this post when I have.

Most people work on each project for the first 15 days of January but I'm going to do something different (as usual :P). As the first 5 on the list are gifts for birthday presents next year, I'll work on one of those each week of January and will write a post at the end of the week. Then how it goes after that will be random.

I'm running my own SAL next year - Daily Cross Stitch SAL. There will be a post on the last day of each month for this. I've set up a facebook group as well for those that don't have blogs but do have facebook.

I'm also taking part in a mermaid SAL on facebook and for this I'm going to work on the mermaid that I purchased for the Love Thy Thread SAL that or one of Joan Elliott's mermaids.

Small stitching update

Wow, I've got 61 followers...when did that happen? Thank you everyone!

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I had done some secret stitching and here it is:

L*K Good things...

I stitched this for Steph's birthday using 28ct evenweave that she dyed for me. I asked for a huge amount of fabric for a big project so there was plenty left over once I omitted that piece.

For some reason I decided it would be a good idea to participate in a couple of exchanges/challenges...maybe not such a good idea with uni in full swing. I did manage to do the stitching for the exchanges, I just need to make them up now. The santa below took me two weeks to do!

Just Nan

I didn't get the Star Wars sampler done in time but it is looking good...4 more characters to go! I'm just going to put it out there that I think Battlefront is a fab game!

I treated myself to a new camera, I've been wanting one for a month or so now. Mainly because I have some field trips coming up in the next half of the year and wanted to take photos. We'll be going to Donna Nook next week to observe specific behaviour in Grey Seals. It just so happened Curry's had a deal on a few including one of the ones I had bookmarked. I got the Nikon D3300 and it came with two lenses 18-55mm and 55-200mm.

I've only used auto mode for now and the photos are beautiful but I'm going to read around and start messing with the settings. Here are some photos that I took using the new camera :)

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral

Durham Castle

Bucket List Friday - Never visited vacation destinations to see before you die

I'm sorry this one is so late, it's been half written since last Thursday. There's not much to say so I'm sorry if it's lacking.

1. Canada

Probably Ontario. To be honest some of the things I've read and seen, I wouldn't mind living there never mind just visiting!

2. Italy

I'm open to going anywhere in Italy.

3. Cornwall, UK

It looks so beautiful and peaceful there, it's just a bit of a trek from the North East.

4. Yellowstone National Park, USA

I'm studying Biology so this would relevant never mind fascinating to see!

5. Galapagos

I struggled for a fifth destination but then I thought about all of the nature documentaries that I have watched and decided on this. It would be such an experience although I'm not sure I could handle all of the creepy crawlies.

Bucket List Friday - Vacation Edition: Revisiting Places

Hi everyone! I thought I'd join Keebles this week on her Bucket List topic.

1. La Rochelle, France

 If I could live here I would. It has honestly captured my heart. There's a little spot we go to that no matter what is going on, I feel relaxed. I can't wait to go back.

2. Nazaré, Portugal

I spent a wonderful 3 weeks here in the summer and would more than happily go back. Even on the overcast days we could sit out on the balcony or go to the beach.

3. Norwich, United Kingdom

This is where I met my other half 5 years ago and we were sad to leave but we were moving closer to my family and we both got into Durham University (granted I started there a year after we arrived back in the North East but my other qualifications were not enough). We are planning an overnight stay there some time in January.

4. Disney World/Florida

I was there just last year but it feels like so much longer. It wasn't the best holiday it could be due to some of the company we had but I'll not go into that. I'm looking forward to the planned star wars and toy story lands.

5. Berlin, Germany

It was such an experience to visit here but as it was a school trip we had a strict itinerary. Hence, I'd like to go back and explore without constraints and spend more than a week there.

I've reached 15!

Technically, it's 16 finishes this year but one of them is a secret for now.

I'm sorry he hasn't been ironed but I was just glad to get him finished. You may remember that I stitched two companion pieces back in 2012/13. I started this guy around then as well but as it wasn't finished in time, it was put in a box and forgotten about! 

I've also finished another trolley duffel from StudioCherie. This was one of the two that I had planned to start last summer but have just got around to finishing it now. My pockets have certainly improved but I still have trouble setting the sides in neatly. 

Here are my WIPs:

JE SAL

Star Wars

I did plan a new start but it was meant to be Mumma's Boy by Paine Free Crafts, not the Star Wars chart by Clouds Factory (oh well!). I decided it would be a good birthday present for my other half especially as he'll also be getting the Star Wars Battlefront game - which looks amazing.

Crafting will probably slow down as uni starts up again next week :)

2016 Daily Cross Stitch SAL

As I have so many Daily Cross Stitch charts, I've decided to start a SAL in 2016. The idea is to stitch one of their designs each month* with posts going out on the last day of the month.

These are the 12 that I will be working on (not necessarily in this order):

1. Ain't nobody got time for that
2. Balloon house
3. Brick game
4. Cute-zilla
5. Gingerbread zombie
6. Nautical design
7. Nomnom cookie
8. Unstoppable
9. What the fork
10. Tea rex
11. Colourful phoenix
12. Cute chameleon

I can tell you that it was hard choosing 12 out of the hundreds I have saved to my laptop!

I hope some of you will join me :) Here's the link to the facebook group.

* You are free to choose the designs you would like to stitch.

I'll make sure to visit everyone and to mention all those participating on my blog posts. You can link up to your blog here:

I will provide a link up on each relevant blog post so that you can link directly to your post for that month.