Cyra ~ Working in miniature again

Last week our power got knocked out by Cyclone Gita, hence no post last week.
We survived the storm with little damage to the property thank goodness, just a few large tree branches came down. More firewood to give to the neighbours, lol.

Working on the miniature items for the dolls house is so much fun.

This small blanket/afghan for the bed is finished now and on the bed that I have shown you in a previous post. It is crocheted in embroidery threads, and each block is about 1" small. In real life the granny square blanket would be bigger, but as this is for decoration purpose only, I want the underneath bedding to be seen too.

Construction of the house has started at last now that Tony has cut me a base board to work on.

One downstairs room is almost complete.

And the kitchen table was a new start for this week.

Today is an embroiders guild work day and I shall be stitching on the miniature rug.

See you next time with more miniatures

Happy Stitching

Cyra

Cyra ~ Crochet Squares & Mini House Start

I have finished two 12 inch crochet squares. These are already winging their way across the seas to US, where they will be included in two different afghan blankets for a charity auction.

One blanket called for warm colours, and this is my square for that blanket.

The pattern is Marigold on Ravelry

And the second blanket called for neutral colours, and this is my square for that blanket.

The pattern is Dahlia on Ravelry 

(I do not recommend this pattern for novice crocheters as the pattern isn't easy to understand and I had to 'fudge' my way through it in parts).

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Pilli Pala mini house.

I cleared half of my work table ready to start on the 1/12th scale house. 

But after measuring up the approximate size of the house, I found out that this space is way too small. So I've had to clear the other half of the table too, so now the whole table is just for the house build. 

Sorting through the first 6 parts of the set, I realize that this house is not going to be a top-notch sturdy house like the dolls houses my dad used to make. So I need to find a base board big enough for the house and hopefully it will help to keep everything straight.

Meanwhile, I got started on what is called a Sleigh Bed.

This first pic is the footboard. The laser-cut pieces have to be removed from the sheet of wood, and this is what it looks like.

Before

I don't like the rough and rugged edges, so I gave it a thorough sanding to round off all of the edges.

This is it after sanding.

After

Much neater. I am happier with this look even though it took a big part of my day to gently sand all of the parts for the bed.

Anyway, on to the painting, 

(it can be stained instead, but I want a painted bed).

Primer done and drying. Top coat to do tomorrow after another light sanding.

I have more information about my miniature house set on my blog here.

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So that was my week. Hope you had a good one too.

Happy Crafting

Cyra

Two weeks worth of stitching

I completely forgot to post here last week  (senior moments are getting more frequent, lol)  so here follows two weeks worth of stitching fun at my place.

I've been playing catch-up on my Embroidery Sampler.

I've now completed Band 7 

The background looks rather 'washed-out' on these pics, it is a much better green in real life.

And the sampler so far.

And if you are counting only 6 bands... yes you are correct. I missed one out simply because I just didn't feel like doing it, lol.

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The crochet scrumbles from two weeks ago turned into a pillbox hat (or is it 'pillar box' hat?).

One of my sons suggested that I add some spike-like bits to the front top of it, then it would look like the Statue of Liberty's head piece, lol.

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My Rhapsody In Blues Blanket - 12" Block #6 

Pattern is Picture Frame by Lisa Naskrent

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A seahorse finger puppet. 

I designed this in response to a Scavenger Hunt request on Ravelry.

And a Catghan nonogon. Approx 16" across.

Nonogon = 9 sides

Catghan = Cat blanket or rug

(Will be donated to a cat rescue home when I have a few of them made)

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On the non-stitching side of my life - we have added these girls to our paddocks.

Eenee, Meenee, Mynee & Mo

That is the sort of lawn-mower that I like best, hahaha.

Cyra ~ A productive week

Lots of projects got to spend some quality time with me during the week.

The 'Long on Colour' freeform challenge made an appearance. I think this is going to be a cowl.

Earthy and autumnal colours with a pop of black and white. 

And we had such a lovely day yesterday that I was stitching in the back garden in the shade with my kitty companion.

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My BAMCAL 2017 Blues Blanket has two more 12" blocks made.

Block Four is Kaleidoscope Blossom Square by Chris Simon

Block Five is Marigold Mandala Square by Dorianna Rivelli with slight adjustments in the outer rounds as, once again, I 'do-my-own-thing'.

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The Summer Brights Blanket has four more 6" blocks.

This is Window Box Granny by Lisa Mauser

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The ¾" Hexagon Quilt

The darker blue has been added to the rosettes, and lots of yellows prepared ready for attaching.

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Weaving Project- My Garden, panel 2.

This panel starts with a band of regular weaving at the bottom which is the same yarn as Panel 1, and then gradually incorporates freeform weaving as it progresses. 

Multiple weaving styles and texture will be added to this.

So that was my week. Very productive, and I even got to empty and clean out the fish pond (as the two last fish in there disappeared last weekend, probably to a kingfisher or new stray cat that I've seen hanging around).

Cyra ~ afghan blocks

Two 6" blocks finished for my BAMCAL blanket.

And that is all I can show you of my stitching week!

Other 'things' are being made but I still can't show those at the moment.

I've been doing a fair bit of gardening this week, and here is a lovely bunch of roses trying to peer in my lounge window. 

I'm so glad I took this photo before the heavy rain and strong winds arrived here because  these poor flowers do not look like this any more.

Cyra ~ Another blue square.

Sorry I missed my usual 'time' here. I completely forgot what day it was.

One more blue afghan block made this week.

The circle pattern came from a book, but I had to design my own 'squaring up' for it so that I could use it in my afghan.

I think it worked ok.

I have started another quilt, but forgot to take photos. It's a hexagon quilt that will keep me busy for quite a while I think. My own design. I'll try to remember to take photos for next week.

And I have been doing a little bit of embroidery too, but again, forgot to take photos.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Happy Stitching.

Cyra ~ BAMCAL FO AYIS MYIS

Oh boy....... I've done it again..... started lots of projects.

And just in case the title of this blog is reading like a foreign language to you, let me translate it for you here.

BAMCAL = Block-A-Month Crochet-A-Long

FO's = Finished Objects

AYIS - A Year In Stitch

MYIS - My Year In Stitches

2017 BAMCAL is a Ravelry group in which we are given a choice of 3 blocks each month to crochet as we wish for our chosen project. I am going to see if I find enough time to do all 3 blocks, as I would like to make at least two afghans and a tunic/poncho.

My first 12" block is finished - Floral Kaleidoscope Afghan Square by Julie King.

I am using yarn from my stash for this project.

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While I'm showing you FO's, here is a Free Form Ball that I finished for a CAL in another Ravelry group. 

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A Year In Stitches is all about making stitches every day for a year and in a random, freeform style.

I have chosen a colourful printed fabric to randomly embellish with stitches.

And here is the start - Day 1 stitches.

Just a little bit more each day.

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My Year In Stitches is a different project. It still incorporates a little bit of stitching each day, but this one is slightly more organized. It started off life as a patchwork wall hanging that I made a few years ago.... but.... I never really liked it the way it was, so I have decided to spruce it up with a whole heap of stitching to make it more appealing to me, and hopefully, I'll enjoy it enough when it's finished to actually hang it up instead of hiding it in a box.

The green stems are what I have stitched today, and there are quite a lot more of them to stitch too, so I might not share photos again until I get onto something more interesting to see.

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Happy New Year to all, and Happy Stitching

Cyra - I'm a Duodenary

The yarn events at Ravelry have finished. Here are my latest event finishes.

Sock-put event - Bootie Slippers

Afghan Marathon event - Afghan Blanket/Comforter

Hat Dash event - Pink and Purple headband

Bag Backstroke event - A Freeform Project-Holder Bag

Household Heptathlon event - Basket to hold my Threads

Household Heptathlon event - A Star Coaster for my glass of wine (or gin)

Household Heptathlon event - A woven and crocheted bookmark for my favourite book of poems

And with the 5 previously posted events:
Sweater Triathlon event - White baby cardi
Sweater Triathlon event - pink pullover
Toy Toss event - Hug-a-monster
Frogging Trampoline event - Frogging thing
Garment Polo event - Toddler skirt

12 finishes altogether over two weeks.
That makes me a Duodenary, lol.

Ravellenics ran from the 5th to the 21st August.

I would officially like to thank my DH for going away for the two weeks.
While the cat's away the crocheter will play, lol.

Cy - Unpacking my machine

I enjoyed crocheting the crib/cot blanket that I showed you last week, so here is another crochet afghan baby blanket in pink & lemon this time.

There is a big possibility that there may very well be others to follow, lol.

Doing a happy dance..... and enjoying myself again this week. 

My sewing machine was packed away ready for the move, but I was so lost without it that it just had to be UNPACKED again for a special Crazy Quilting 'playtime'.

18" Cushion made in two afternoons.

Back to the packing.......... I really DO have a lot of stuff.

Cy - My Productive Vacation

Here are three weeks worth of creations all in one post, as I haven't posted what I made while I was away (hiding from the world).

 Afghan blanket 

At the moment this is still in three main parts and cannot be seen in full as I have not yet decided which part goes where, lol. But this is the pile of work on the afghan so far. 

 Cot/Crib Blanket 

This is finished.

And, of course, I have done some more work on the Building Blocks Quilt, now renamed: 

 "Party At My Place" Quilt 

The hand sewn English Paper Pieced hexagons are a great scrap fabric buster, a great project to travel with, and great for working on while in the caravan.

All in all, it was a very productive vacation.