The Suddenly Kate Show

It’s the last day of February and I think I am ready for tomorrows start of my own personal March Madness, at least I thought I was. I have a box (see pics tomorrow) full of 31 projects, and each is numbered from 1-31, this was the hardest part or at least would have been if I had left it to my own choice. In the end, I put the numbers in an envelope and randomly pulled a package and a number and that was how I got to have the order that I do. I apologise for the lack of glamour of my project box – hehe.
I was feeling really pleased with myself at having got 31 projects and all numbered and ready to start, but when I checked my electronic patterns (a mix of free patterns (quick stitches) and larger HAEDs) I realised there was possibly others I wanted to stitch on! I have decided that should I finish any – highly unlikely this month – but if I do then I can replace it with one of these that I have waiting. My plan after March is to take April off (stitching only if my mojo demands it…

Hello!

Well.. thanks to all those who commented on my SAL suggestion blog...I can announce that I subscribed to the 'abc' and the Frosted Pumpkin 'Passport Pals' and the hardanger stitch along.

I am also pleased to say that I have started the abc and passport pals...I wanted to start the hardanger but I need to order the fabric so that is on the to-do list.

I started the 'abc' first whilst I waited for the first part of passport pals to be published, and I don't know what i was thinking!

I chose the fabric based on it looking the right colour (I have no idea of count or where I purchased it from) and began to stitch...2 over 1...thats right...2 over 1...I don't know what I was thinking...it is actually quite nice but very small and I am debating redoing this 2 over 2...I might as well as its not quite finished...but here is how far I have gotten.



Then whilst I waited for passport pals...I opened the christmas kit taht I was given, its a design based on …

Ok, so...I have projects that I have started...and I was even given a kit (L.S.Lowry design) for Christmas...but...you know what's coming next right? None of them are grabbing me right now.  I do have to start knitting something for my cousins baby boy (due in March) but I want to stitch too.

I did join in with the Christmas Ornament SAL for three months until I had no time in which to stitch...I currently have a snowman with a head and no body!

I did find that it was a good project to have to stitch on and it motivated me and so I would love to take part in one during 2016. I am about to go off in search of one...currently I've only seen the frosted pumpkin passport SAL so far (which is nice) but wondered if any of you knew of any that were open to anyone (some of these groups can get quite cliquey) or if you were keen on starting one that I could join?

Lemme know! I'm all ears...I would also like to take it along to stitch this weekend at the second meeting of the group …

My plan was simple...devote IHSW to stitching for the Christmas Ornament SAL...and then this happened...


I couldnt resist starting him and well....he ended up finished...and he looks so happy with his friends...


Which means this weekend I have to decide...more work on an existing project or something new! Decisions decision!
Next month the theme is angels and I will be stitching the angel roly-polie that is part of the set.

Hi All!

Well, I thought I would have a little catch up with you all.

The last two weeks I have been in my new job and after a slow first week I finally feel like I am settling in a bit and the work is ok, it helps that the people are really nice.

The first week there I took the Indian Lady to work to stitch on at lunchtimes and a little in the evening if I could but my hours have changed and I am still adjusting to the evenings and how short they are now!

Anyway, I was really pleased with the progress and continued to enjoy stitching on it but I did decide that the next week I would switch projects.

Here is an up date on where I was when I announced I had started the Indian Lady:



 and here is where I am after a week of stitching on her:


As you can see I didn't do too badly!
Then last weekend was the first of my BWABWA weekends (Party of 1) and I spent most of it umming and ahhing about which book to read - next month I shall be reading Middlemarch by George Eliot so feel free to j…

Helloooooo!

So...where to begin...ok, so...you still reading? Good. I shall continue...

I have decided to try an audio book and shall get that downloaded to the relevant device for starting next week and I shall reveal my choice then...its was a very scientific selection process...so...yeah....

I have also decided that I do need to read books more and so I am going to try for the next twelve months to dedicate the first weekend of every month to be my BWABWA. This is where I will try to read as much as I can during the weekend and report in on the following Monday with my progress. Feel free to join me...Oh! and if you are wondering what the catchy BWABWA stands for...

Buried With A Book Weekend...the A is just to make it easier to say...try it? Its fun, right?

Also, yesterday I had the lovely task of deciding what to stitch next, I had a day or two off and was raring to pick up my needle. I recently rediscovered some WIPS (Oooh! Aaaah!) that I thought (hoped?) were lost forever but on…

Hi all!

Well...here is the final Frozen picture in a frame...i have plenty of issues with this but I just keep saying that ebony likes it so its ok! She said that she was giving me lots of love and kisses for her lovely Frozen surprise.

I forgot to take a photo of her holding it but here it is...


and here she is!

Can you tell who is her favourite?
Anyway, today is the last day of August and my last chance to successfully complete the Christmas Ornament SAL for August! I made it just in time. 
Here is Santa...

and here he is with his missus...

The next months theme s trees/presents so I will be stitching the Bear from this same Joan Elliott Roly-Polies series.
Well, that is all for now, I have some blogs to catch up on and some work clothes to sort out as back to work I go in the morning! Eek! 
I hope to see you all tomorrow for Top 10 Tuesdays: 10 books to read in the next 12 months.
Bye for now!
Kate x

Good Afternoon!
Update time...lets start with Frozen shall we?  As you know  had stitched some blue, and I stitched some more blue but I did make a mistake and whilst I was considering whether or not to frog, I decided to consult with my manager and client! (Ebony)
Me: Ebony...do you want the blue background or would you be ok with it just all being white? Ebony: Erm....I do like the blue...but I think that might take you a very long time! You can just make it all white for my surprise on my birthday and then after that you can add the blue. Me: Ok, thanks.
So she granted me a stay of execution! and today whilst out I came across the perfect frame and so I have unpicked the blue and just need to give it a wash and iron and frame it. Monday I will post the birthday girl holding the finished product!
I have also stitched on my santa ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL but have only about a quarter done. This weekend I will be focussing on the remaining three quarters. I have noticed…

Morning!

Some of you were probably hoping that I had finished, right? I know I was.

Sadly I have not yet finished, its like walking through sludge still, but I have almost finished Anna and Elsa leaving me with just the blue background. By the end of today I should be able to carry on with the blue, so thats something at least.

So, here it was on Friday...


and fractionally more....today!


Now I shall skip off to check out everyone else's progress. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow for the Top 10 Tuesdays (this weeks topic is fears).

So, a couple of updates...I know! Who can have updates when they haven't written or stitched since the last update just several hours ago.

Well I actually do....

Update 1...

I was give an Amazon voucher when I finished my previous job and I decided to buy a cross stitch kit with it...who knew? I really like the design, and some of you will already know that I do have a thing for ethnic inspired designs.

Well, it came today, and I love it and am really excited to start it...I am one of those who loves new starts and so I was tempted, that was until I made the mistake of asking Ebony if I should start it this weekend....

Me: ooh! Ebony look! Shall I start this this weekend, its beautiful isn't it?
Ebony: Erm, yes it is but you haven't finished my surprise yet.
Me: Oh!
Ebony: ...and you have to finish my surprise first or you won't get anything for your birthday!

So...I took these photo's and put it up on the top shelf...and stitched a little more on Frozen, then disco…

So, IHSW part two is this weekend, and I know you are all sick to the back teeth of my current project but here it was midweek:


and here it is as of this morning...


I can see that if I knuckle down I could be very close to a finish by Sunday night! 

Ok, so you probably don't need to see a mid-week update on Frozen, but I wanted you to see Elsa and here evil face before I stitch it all away...

So here is the update...enjoy!

Before...


After...


Fingers crossed that you can all see the after pic now?? Let me know if not.

Hello and good morning!

Yes, I am still unemployed and it is very frustrating, I kind of miss the routine. However, you would think that I would have extra time for stitching but this project has been hard going since I returned from Germany. I think its more me than anything, the only thing that keeps me plugging away at it is Ebony reminding me I should be stitching! Its just one of those projects where you stitch and stitch but seem to get nowhere fast.

I did try as best I could to stitch as much as I could over the weekend...

Here is where I left off...


and here is where I am now....


I think I am going to have to really knuckle down and get it done in the next two weeks. I also have a Santa ornament to finish! I started him but at the moment he only has a bit of his coat done.
I also posted about Top 10 Tuesdays (see the page dedicated to it above) and currently its just me and Tiff at Tiffstitches, so come join in the fun! 
I have yet to announce tomorrows theme due to the IHSW b…

Morning All!

So...this is where I am at...unemployed :(

I should be job hunting I guess and I will but I always find it difficult to do as I find all sorts of industries and job roles interesting. As it is day one on the job hunt front, and I really need to brainstorm and make some decisions today, I have decided that its probably best to get my procrastinating done early!

So here I am!!

I have been thinking about the stitching that I need to get done.

I have exactly three weeks until Frozen needs to be completed and framed and ready for Ebony.August has begun and so has the Christmas Ornie SAL, I have put about three stitches into Santa.My HAED has been having an extended rest. In addition to these three things, I keep thinking that my stitching life would be better off if I stitched a Chatelaine! So if you have, what would you recommend as a good beginner piece? Obviously, I will not entertain this idea until September at the earliest.
My intention is to stitch the ornament during IH…

Last night of holiday in Germany and so little stitching was done :(
Will catch up soon! Although I have been reading posts when I can :)

Morning all!

Well....wouldn't you just know it...I started to get excited about my upcoming trip and in a moment of weakness told a real life work colleague about it...within the hour I was called into the office and told that my contract would not be extended....I finish tomorrow!

Ok, so that reads like the two are related - and I feel that they only are in that the universe is laughing at me! Teaching me a lesson for daring to have any hope of enjoyment in my immediate future.


They aren't related. Originally my contract was due to end at the end of July and that is why I had not booked a holiday, but about three weeks ago I was told that they wanted to extend me...and the process had begun...until yesterday when I was told that some team reshuffle meant the budget for me was being spent on someone else.


I am angry that they left it so late to tell me but not surprised, they have a habit of doing this, but I am also upset because my two good friends here are both on leave thi…

Hello!

'tis I....

I started stitching on the Frozen project this weekend and in all honesty it was like wading through mud!

I was also unsure about the colour choices but decided to go with it and see how it looked. I am quite happy with it, even with the darker colours, and I figure when it has been on her wall for any amount of time it will fade. Also, from afar it looks pretty good even if I do say so myself!

I hope you all managed to put a few stitches in this weekend too.

Here is my progress...


and a reminder of the target...

Now I am off to see how you all got on!

Morning,

Well I am having a weird day, on one hand I am really pleased that I made a decision about my trip next week, and on the other hand I am really annoyed with people at work who made minimal effort to decorate a friends desk this morning for her 50th!

Lets start with the negative...my friend is 50 but luckily for her she doesnt look it...today is her last day at work until her birthday and office tradition is to decorate that persons desk (special ages only).

I first met her eight years ago when I started here and we got along well, we both have the same working style and a silly sense of humour and have no shame in not acting our age! Although I have since moved about the University and have worked in the same department as her on occasion, we have stayed in contact via emails & IM at work. I consider her a really good friend. As an employee she is hard working, conscientious and reliable. She is never off sick, never late, and never takes more than her allotted lunch time…

So I left off here last Monday...


I managed to stitch for a couple of evenings but didn't get any done at the weekend, but am making steady progress, I will put this down till IHSW this weekend and probably start on Frozen tonight.

Here is my progress...