A Happy Dance in the Present

Becca from Finding Flapjack has come up with a great idea for blogging prompts.  Here is the current one:

It's been said that to be happy, you have to live in the moment. Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not? How well do you think you live in the moment and why do you believe that?

"Living in the moment" is very much the philosophy of this year, Mindfulness is the "buzzword" with many new books being published on the subject.  It's all to do with savouring the here-and-now instead of wishing your life away hurrying to be in the future or living in the past dwelling on past mistakes or past happiness and not appreciating what you have right now.

As well as selling several books about Mindfulness we have also stocked a wide range of "Grown-up Colouring Books" (that is colouring books for adults as opposed to Adult Themed Colouring Books which we have also sold!)

Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford

The idea being that as you colour in the gorgeous pictures you are focusing on creating something lovely and achieving "flow" through that activity.  What is "flow"?  

"In positive psychology, flow, also known as zone, is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity." Source - www.wikipedia.org

Most of us will recognise that state from our stitching (or knitting/crochet/crafting) but we probably call it the "Just One More Stitch" Syndrome!

So back to Becca's question - I would say that I am indeed very happy when I am in a state of flow with my stitching.  I am naturally a planner, a worrier, an over-thinker, I plot out difficult conversations in my head (usually when I am supposed to be going to sleep!).  Having my stitching and my blog does at least give me something positive to focus those thoughts on.  That's why I am always planning Blog Hops!  Ironically, my stitching is one area of life I do not worry about; I stitch what I want, when I want and so what if there is a big pile of WIPs and unstarted projects?  Their time will come, it just gives me choice.

I do get a lot of pleasure out of looking back through my blog and through my life.  I can clearly remember being the Large Boy's age (I am blessed with a highly retentive memory for experiences) and enjoy thinking about what I was doing when I was 12.  Was life better then?  People look at the past through rose-tinted glasses, my husband is always moaning that the boys don't play out like we used to.  But that's because there is so much more available to them in organised activities and in home entertainment.  The Large Boy's friends have a huge range of sporting and recreational groups they can go to, not to mention the room full of toys, Lego and computer games.  Their parents have much more disposable income than our's did.  Probably because both parents tend to work now.  My son has definitely seen less bullying, less poverty, less violence, less hunger and worry than my generation did.  His worries and concerns, and those of his peers, are listened to and taken into consideration.  OK, it's not perfect and there are still problems for many children but there is not the systematic bullying we experienced and were powerless to prevent.  As he gets older, the Internet will become more of an issue but on the reverse side, he will be able to make contact with more like-minded people than he could ever meet in our small town.  Maybe even start his own blog!

I am conscious that he is on the cusp of teenagehood and will change soon.  Harry Enfield has a brilliant sketch on this subject - Kevin Becomes a Teenager.  So I am trying to live in the moment and enjoy the days where he is happy to cuddle up on the sofa and watch a film with his Mum.  Yesterday's choice was Jack Black's School of Rock.  Very funny film.

And while we were watching, I was stitching!  I completed On The Beach by Madame Chantilly.  Here it is in all it's glory followed by a few close-ups.

On the Beach by Madame Chantilly

Stitched on Kynance evenweave by Sparklies

The fabric is especially dyed by Kate from Sparklies.  I made several colour changes, the blues are 798/799/800, the starfish are 950 and the shell is 842.  The dark tips to the seagulls are 3799, the charted black was just too harsh.  Albert is my cousin's baby.  Yes, old man names are back in fashion!  I can't wait to get this framed and to go visit them to present it in person.

Finally, we are approaching Easter, the weekend 3rd - 6th April.  I will be hosting my Annual Easter Treasure Hunt again.  Each participant posts a picture of something stitched on an Easter or Spring theme along with a letter I allocate to them.  Over the Easter Weekend everyone hops around like a bunny, finds the Mystery Phrase the letters spell out and reports back here with it.  Prizes for the lucky winners chosen at random.  If you'd like to be a Picture Poster please drop me an email.

Here is the link to last year's Treasure Hunt if you are wondering how it all works - Easter-treasure-hunt-blog-hop 2014

February D.E.S.I.G.N. SAL

The idea of this Blog Hop is to choose a different designer each month and do a post focusing on a piece of their work you have stitched on during the month.  Last month I focused on three very well-known designers;  Nora Corbett (AKA Mirabilia), Joan Elliott and Teresa Wentzler.  For the rest of the year I am going to concentrate on less well-known designers in the hope of spreading their fame across the Blogosphere.

The hosts of D.E.S.I.G.N ask us to answer a few questions on our chosen designer.

1. What designer are you talking about this month?

The month is the turn of Madame Chantilly, I am not sure where I discovered her but it was probably on someone's blog.  She has a blog here and an Etsy shop here.  Her patterns are available as paper charts and as PDFs.  I don't think all designs are available in both formats yet but it's worth asking.

2. Have you stitched a project by this designer before?

"On the Beach" is my first Mme.C design.

I am stitching this on a fabric by Sparklies called Kynance after Kynance Cove in Cornwell.  It is dyed to order so you can specify landscape or portrait and also where the division between blue and yellow is placed.  I have changed a few of the colours so they are a little bit brighter than the charted ones.

3. Would you buy/stitch a design by this designer again?  Why/Why not?

There are a set of landscape designs which co-ordinate with On the Beach.  I have already bought Hallowe'en Town and would like the Roses and Reindeer designs too.

There is also this rather nice Advent Calendar, I am very partial to Advent Calendars!

4. What made you choose this particular design/designer?

My cousin had her first baby last year and they decorated the Nursery with a nautical theme because Daddy is in the Royal Navy.  So of course this little design was perfect for the baby.  I am hoping to finish and frame it by Easter as I would love to travel to see them and present it in person.

5. Did you notice anything that distinguished this designer from others?

Madame Chantilly only uses whole stitches in her work, no beads or metallics or other embellishments.  They are charted for DMC and the occasional hand-dyed.  However you could easily use more hand-dyed threads and add charms, buttons or beads.  On the Beach has little crabs and shells along the bottom which you could substitute buttons for the stitches.  The designs have a definite European feel to them, which they should because Madame Chantilly is an Italian designer!


Finally, I saw this idea on someone else's blog and as a lover of statistics I couldn't resist!  This little pie chart shows the proportion of time I have worked on each project this month:

(I am assuming I will stitch On the Beach tomorrow.)

(I am also not including the one length per evening on Trick and Treat, only if I work on it during the day)

Gifted Gorgeousness February Link Up Post

The first link up was an enormous success with 40 people linking up to share their Gorgeousness.
I thought there were alot of generous bloggers out there and this confirms it all.

  

For newbies, this is my first year long SAL.  Click on the picture above for the full details.

We will be posting and linking up on the 15th of each month, because it is 2015.  Should be easy to remember.

In January I was also taking part in the DUCJC in memory of SoCal Debbie so I have many projects to show you!

Day 15 - Gifted Chart and Fabric

Just Nan - Haunted Pumpkins Tree

Day 16 - Gift for someone.

Joan Elliott - Believe

Day 17 - Not GG project!

Day 18 - Gifted Chart

Teresa Wenztler - You Were Hatched

Day 19 - Gifted Chart and threads

Nora Corbett - Little Snowy Gray Cottage

Day 20 - Gifted kit for someone

Jannlynn - Gathering Honey

Day 21 - Gifted Fabric

Joan Elliott - Faces SAL

Day 22 - Gifted chart

Just Nan - Winter Typography

Day 23 - Giveaway prize chart

Stitcher Anon - Marley was Dead

Day 24 - Gifted Chart

Shepherd's Bush - She Tends

Day 25 - Gifted Chart

Shepherd's Bush - Mulberry

Day 26 - Gifted Chart and Threads

Dragon Dream - Dragon of the Winter Moon

Day 27 - Gifted Chart and Fabric

Prairie Moon - Thine is the Trick and the Treat

Day 28 - Gift for someone

Anchor - Kingfisher

Day 29 - Gifted Chart

The Sweetheart Tree - Tudor Rose

Day 30 - Gifted Chart

 

Nora Corbett - J is for Joanne

Day 31 - Gift for someone

Madame Chantilly - On the Beach

Of the above designs, two have been stitched on in February - Prairie Moon and Madame Chantilly.

And now over to you - Here is the place for you to link up so we can see what Gifted Gorgeousness you have been stitching so far this year.  Please use your name or your blog name in the field NOT the words "January Update" so I can easily see who has linked up this month.  And link to the actual post, not just your blog.  Thank you.  I can amend links if you make a boo-boo though.

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Finally, we have a little Gifted Gorgeousness Giveaway this month thanks to the Gorgeous Gillie!  When I announced the GG project she sent DMC threads to me and to Jacquie, she also did a draw and sent threads to Sheila.  This time she is donating a wonderful chart just for the GG link-ups.

Earth Sampler by Primitive Needle

All you have to do is link up your GG post above AND leave a comment here clearly indicating that you wish to be in this GGG (Gifted Gorgeous Giveaway).  The words "Yes please, include me in the draw" are recommended as clear and non-ambiguous LOL.  One name will be drawn at random on the 1st March when the link-ups are closed and announced on next month's post.   Good Luck!

Back to Normality

or what passes for normality round here!

Now the DUCJC is over I have been enjoying concentrating on just one or two pieces.  This past week I have been stitching On The Beach by Madame Chantilly.  Not literally "on" the beach as it is far too cold for that.  But a design entitled On The Beach.  My cousin (who is actually my second cousin and my godmother's daugher so my godsister (possibly?)) had a baby last year and decorated the nursery with a nautical theme.  I thought this design would be perfect for them.

The fabric is by Sparklies and is called Kynance after Kynance Cove in Cornwell.  It is dyed to order so you can specify landscape or portrait and also where the division between blue and yellow is placed.

The other main project this week is Prairie Moon's Thine is the Trick and the Treat:

This seems like a good time to show a few things I have not blogged about before.  First up are a couple of gifts which couldn't be shown until the recipient had them.

The lovely Ewa got married to Thomas last year.  Formerly known as HHB (Handsome, Helpful Boyfriend) he was promoted to HHF (Handsome, Helpful Fiance) and is now HHH or H3 ((Handsome, Helpful Husband).  I bought a lovely little teabag holder when we were on holiday last year because I knew I had the cross stitch chart for the same design.

Stitched on 32 count Antique White linen

I stitched the words freehand

Backing fabric

Made into a little bag to hold a teabag.

The next item is a Birthday card for a dear friend, can you guess who?

Margaret Sherry

Mice for Mouse of course!

This was a cover gift from Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.  It was a set of eight Christmas designs but without the green wreath this is perfect for a Mouse Birthday.

I also received two gifts I haven't shown before:

Gift from Anne of Doll's Musings

Gift from Riona of Oubliette.

She also sent me the Dragon of the Winter Moon chart and special threads too.

Finally, this is the final call for the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Bloh Hop.  Due to take place on Valentine's Day.  I have quite a few photos already but would love more.  All you have to do is send me a photo of something suitable to send to a fellow blogger to celebrate love and friendship.  I email the photos out randomly to the participants who post one on their blog.  Then we all hop around to discover who got our photo.  I need photos by 10th February please. 

WIPocalypse February 2015 Stuck in a Rut?

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

The focus of my WIPocalypse will be my "15 in '15"which are 15 charts I want to stitch in 2015 (following on from my "11 in '11", "12 in '12", "13 in '13" and "14 in '14" - imaginative, eh?)

Obviously taking part in the DUCJC meant I stitched on every single one of the 15!  You will have seen them all already throughout January but here are small pictures of them once again:

Joan Elliott – Diary February WIP

Just Nan – Winter Typography WIP

Frosted Pumpkins – Hallowe’en Town WIP

Joan Elliott – Faces Mystery SAL WIP

Just Nan – Haunted Pumpkins Tree WIP

Jannlynn – Gathering Honey WIP

JBW – Rocking Horse

Teresa Wenztler – You were Hatched

Kingfisher for school

Dragon of the Winter Moon from Riona

Joan Elliott – Believe for school

Nutmeg Cottage from Susan

Since the DUCJC ended I have actually worked on three of the pieces.  Trick and Treat has continued to be my bathtime focus piece, one length of thread per evening.  On the Beach is my OAAT piece so I can finish it for my cousin's baby.  And the Hallowe'en Blocks are one a month, mostly on a Sunday.

Praire Moon – Thine is the Trick and the Treat WIP

Stitched on hand-dyed 40 count linen

Primitive Hare – Hallowe’en Cubes

 

Stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

Madame Chantilly – On the Beach WIP

Stitched on 32 count Kynance evenweave by Sparklies

I have changed the colours quite a lot for this piece.  The charted ones just did not look the same as the cover picture.  Weirdly, the two rocks are stitched with the same colour but from two different skeins.  Big difference in old and new DMC there!

Measi also sets discussion topics for each month:

February
How do you overcome that feeling that you’re in a rut with a particular project?

On the Beach is actually a good piece to illustrate this.  The lighthouse is blocks of plain colour.  Not very exciting, just /// and \\\ like a typewriter.  So to keep me motivated I have been stitching one block of it and then a little motif along the bottom.

I find rotation is the key to not getting in a rut in the first place.  If you have like I do, a large focus project, a small or two and a monthly target there will always be something from your Goal List you can stitch on and not feel you are "cheating"!  I personally don't like stitching long repetitive borders so find the one thread of border followed by one thread of something more interesting works for me!

Finally, I will be hosting the annual Valentine's Day Blog Hop this year.  See this post for more details.  Just send me a photo of your lovely stitching to be sent to another blogger on Valentine's Day,  I've added the Heart to my sidebar, please feel free to copy it onto your blog to link back here.