More Progress

After the last few weeks I am in the groove with stitching again.  I did wonder whether or not to move area and make a start on the remainder of Ben's face and get Natalie into the picture but in the end decided to continue where I was and try to get that part out of the way.    However, the dreaded confetti stitches, especially in light colours has not helped my eyes even with my daylight bulb.  



The Gap is getting Smaller

What also did not help me this week, on getting more stitching completed was firstly spending a day or two with my DH, Steve pulling up the hall carpet.  Our house was built in the late 1800's and still has the original cast iron fireplaces in most of the rooms.  We decided that the hall carpet needed to go and were thinking about tiling the hallway.  However, when we pulled the carpet and the underlay we did notice that the floorboards were in really good condition so we have started to sand them down to varnish instead.  A dusty and long job but after the first lot of sanding they are coming up pretty well.  Another problem was contracting conjunctivitis in both eyes and having to rely on eyedrops and bathing them each day.

Nabucco

With regards to my cushions, I have received another 3 orders, a birth, a wedding and a verse one so I am also going to be busy completing them.  Last month I also had a letter published in one of the UK magazines.  Since it started I have been purchasing Craftseller which promotes handmade crafts here in the UK for those who already do so and for those who want to learn new crafts.

No snow as yet? I talked that up!!!

Many of my friends both here in the UK and in America have been experiencing extreme snow conditions.   Until last night, here in Lowestoft on the east coast we only had an 'icing sugar' sprinkling of snow.  Whilst we have had heavy frost (which always intensifies when I am on the school run), we usually seem to be the forgotten area.  This morning I woke up to find 2 inches of snow outside, with 6 kids in 4 different schools and college (in 3 different towns) slowly news trickled in on the local radio.  Checking both Norfolk and Suffolk county websites for school closures it turned out that all of them ended up having a 'snow'day which saved me driving.  Whilst I have driven in the French Alps many times in the winter, I hate driving around Lowestoft in snow.   We also look like having a very white weekend here as more snow is expected especially on Sunday.

Until my next post, I hope everybody stays safe and warm in these wintery conditions xxx

Lisa xxx

Goodbye 2012 ~ Hello 2013

Its now week 2 of 2013 and I haven't written on my blog for a good couple of months now.  Whilst I could say that I have been so busy, that would be a total lie.  For the past year and a half, my beautiful step-daughter has been battling cancer with great courage, however towards the end of 2012 her health started to deteriorate.  Unfortunately, during December Natalie passed away just 6 days short of her 27th birthday.  Although we, as a family had accepted that this was going to happen, it's still been a shock, however we feel blessed everyday that she was in our lives and that her memory will live on in her artwork that is hung around the house.  Natalie did have one quote from Mark Twain that summed her up perfectly:

“Sing like no one's listening,
love like you've never been hurt,
dance like nobody's watching,
and live like its heaven on earth.”

Natalie Barbara Wilson 20/12/1985 - 14/12/2012

For Natalie it inspired her to take each day one step at a time, not to worry about the past or future, to remind her that each day was precious, limited and unique.  When talking in conversation on the telephone to a social worker we work with through our fostering she said she found when people passed away she looked at their qualities in life and has tried to incorporate one into her life.  At the minute, I am still thinking what special quality I will incorporate into my life.

 

Stitching News

 

At the minute I am still plodding on with my big cross stitch, obviously this is going to be more poignant, especially as I still have Natalie's face and body to do.  I have worked out I still have roughly 42,000 stitches to completion and I am going to crack on to complete it. 

 

 

 

In the meantime though, I did complete 2 more cushions, one for an ex looked after child for her new foster carers as a Christmas present and one for my DH as I wanted something special for him and from the heart.  I did have an order from a local brewery, and whilst the majority of it is stitched I have to work out how to make material hops inplace of the usual flowers for them. 

 

 

To my DH,

Almost complete...just need to figure out how to do the hops

 

Belated Resolutions

 

Towards the end of the year, following Natalie's passing, I did post on my online groups some New Year's resolutions.  However, yet again I haven't been able to keep any of them, at the moment, but I am now as I feel more comfortable with them.

 

1 Make time to correspond more to my online groups.
~~~~~~~~~~
 2 Get my big cross stitch on the way to completion of all the kids and
especially get the remainder of Ben and Natalie on material.
~~~~~~~~~~
 3 Continue with making my cushions and start an online shop and, as my
 family keep telling me, to believe in myself and my achievements. 

~~~~~~~~~~
 4 Contact the Louise Hamilton Palliative Care centre which is going to open
 in 2013 at our local hospital and volunteer 2 days a week, putting my social
 work skills into good use. Whats the point of getting my degree if I cannot
 use it, besides I haven't got the time to work full time with 8 of us in the
house.
~~~~~~~~~~
 5 Start posting again on my blog. Especially with regards to resolution No
 2 as it can be my online journal of getting this cross stitch completed. I
 did a rough estimate and worked out I have about 42,000 stitches to do.
~~~~~~~~~~

 

So for now, I have loads to get started on, but will leave with something different from the usual.  Take some time out to listen to the lyrics and have a healthy and happy 2013 xxx

 

Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

 

Been doing some reading and searching

Fine Cell Work

Recently, I read an interesting article in one of our newspapers over here in on how needlework is helping prisoners serving long sentences.  A social enterprise and charity called Fine Cell Work sees volunteers going into prisons and teaching prisoner’s to make intricate needlepoint, quilts, cushions and wall hangings.    There were mixed views on the comments made with regards to the article, especially as the work advertised was on the pricy side, however when putting it into context, the amount of time we put into each completed cross stitch or other needlecrafts, along with the materials would we not be making a justified costing.  The full article can be found on http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/12/women-teaching-cross-stitch-murderers.  

Being a firm believer that cross stitching helps us to become more relaxed and calmer, this must have a positive influence in helping to rehabilitate some prisoners, many of whom have come from backgrounds of abuse and violence in the home, family criminality, substance abuse problems and even living arrangements and experiences of care.  To see some of the work advertised, check out http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/.   Furthermore check out some quotes made by cross stitchers on the therapeutic aspects of cross stitch on http://www.stitchlinks.com/pdfsNewSite/quotes/QUOTES%20IV%20-%20About%20cross%20stitching.pdf

The continuing copyright debate

Over here in England, I have been a regular reader of Craftseller magazine, especially since starting my cushions.  This magazine provides various craft ideas to make and sell which are copyright free for crafters, and with the copyright debate that has been occurring over the past couple of months on various cross stitching groups this month’s edition provided a guide to copyright clarity. 

Steve Wright, who wrote the article explained lifespan terms, trademarks, ways of infringing and using big name fabrics.  For example, its finite lifespan varies from country to country.  Copyright over here in England is protected up to 70 years following the death of the creator, Steve’s example uses quotes and images of Oscar Wilde which can be freely quoted by a crafter.    On the other hand, using his Marilyn Monroe example, anything to do with her cannot be used.

In addition to this, during the summer there was a lot of debate with regards to the use of the Olympic rings and the Union Jack for the 60th Diamond Jubilee for the Queen and the Olympics held over here in the UK.  Whilst the Olympic rings are classed as a trademark, the Union Jack is classified as being in the public domain and can be freely used. 

Finally, with regards to infringement, using my cushions as an example, all the designs are created by me personally, if they are recreated by somebody else, using a recognisable version, that counts as infringement.

Steve did include loads of other examples, however he also included these sites for copyright queries:

1.  The UK Copyright Service: http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright.

2. Official UK copyright Information Service: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/copy.htm.

3. Pick up loads of helpful advice on intellectual property for the creative industries: http://www.acid.uk.com.

4. Copyright issues for card makers and rubber stampers: http://www.sirstampalot.co.uk/copyright.php.  Or

further advice can be obtained at:  http://www.tinyurl.com/5ud3tl6. 

5. UK Handmade offers copyright issues surround upcycling: http://www.tinyurl.com/c8r9mnk.

Stitching news

In the past couple of weeks I have frozen in the cold winds with the kids and Steve whilst we went away in the motorhome, however I did take my cross stitch with me and managed to complete some more.  I also have 7 cushion orders to complete, 1 for a baby due any day now, 1 for a Christmas present for somebody and 5 for a local brewery who wants hops made for the corners in place of the flowers I put on so that will take a bit of research and work. 

I finally did it!!

Last Saturday I finally did it and collected my degree at my graduation ceremony.  The only downside was that I could only take 2 guests with me, so Ben and Victoria attended with me.  Steve stayed at home with all the rest of the kids in the house.  The ceremony was lovely but it was freezing cold with hail outside from time to time.

Thanks for looking and hope you enjoyed this installment xxxx

The family has grown, Meari's surprise & WIP todate

Now we are 8!!!

Since my last blog, things over here in the Wilson household have become extremely busy.  We celebrated Anabel’s 18th birthday in the house and there was a party going on.  One good thing was that it was not as crowded as at her 16th birthday 60 people were invited, this time there was only about 15-20 people.  When I think to all the parties we have held, such as our wedding where we had 26 people sit down in the front room on long tables, and 80 people that night, Anabel’s 16th, her 18th and many, many more life is never dull here.  



Me and the Birthday girl. 




The party in full swing




The morning after the night before, Anabel was in full swing cooking breakfast for everyone



We have also recently expanded from 6 people in the house to 8 following two more young people placed with us and I have to admit it feels like the Walton’s at times all sitting around the dinner table at night, working out logistics on who is using the bathroom both upstairs and down, working out showers etc and the school runs to 3 different schools in 3 different towns.  This has also been harder as Steve has been ill and unable to drive until now.  This Saturday is also going to be busy as I will be attending my graduation at Norwich Cathedral.  Whilst I am looking forward to it I am also slightly nervous and Ben and Victoria will be accompanying me as I can only take 2 guests with me.

Blog giveaway

On my last blog I announced the winner of my very first giveaway who was Meari.  Now Meari has received her prize I can now show it off as I wanted her to see it first.  Congratulations Meari and thank you for your email to say you received it and that you love it.



Like a painting on canvas, material comes alive in stitches



Another baby cushion

Another baby arrived recently and I was asked to make another baby cushion for Imogen who arrived into this world on September 26th.  I am now waiting for a baby boy to arrive as I want to see what it comes out like in blue (hint hint)!!



Welcome to the world Imogen



Update on my WIP

 I have also been working on my current WIP and am getting on with the dreaded wallpaper.  This is slow progress but now we are easing down by getting into routines etc, I am hoping to get more motivated on it.  I wish I could show more progress, however as Steve often says, Rome wasn't build in one day' and once it is done, I will be so pleased with it.

The space is slowly being filled in




Current situation on my progress

On this note, all I can say is thank you for looking and your comments left not only keep me motivated but are extremely appreciated xx

Time has flown by and the blog giveaway winner is....

Time has a habit of going faster than planned.  Everything I had intended to do since my last blog has gone out of the window, due to yet again, the same young person going missing once again.  This Tuesday will see us moving her on to another placement where the main disruption within her life will not be around and she has the potential to turn her life around.  Life would be so much simpler if we could just move the whole house to another location as she is not a bad person, but we cannot help her to move her life forward where we live which is a shame as we will all miss her.

I have been busy though, continuing with my cross stitch, when time has allowed, and whilst not much has been done on it every little bit of time stitching it helps and I do notice a difference, especially when looking back at earlier blogs.

Slow progress

Cushion wise, at the moment I am currently completing a Christmas present, with the wording A horse is an angel without wings, all I have to do is the horse shoes at the bottom and the shadowing and then its complete,  along with one for Steve for his birthday on Tuesday....why do I set myself such short deadlines.   An order came through for a baby girl cushion via a message on facebook, although I am debating on using the Monday’s child rhyme on the bottom as the baby was born on a Wednesday and I do not think Wednesday’s child is full of woe on the bottom will be appropriate. 

A horse is an angel without wings

This leads onto the news I also have a cushion in progress for the lucky winner of my giveaway.  The lucky winner pulled out of the bag by our Anabel is Meari, so congratulations Meari, I do not want to show it on here as I would like it to be a surprise for you.  If you could email your address to lisa.wilson35@btinternet.com the cushion will be winging its way across the pond to you in the next week and I hope you will like the finished piece.

Back from the wilderness

After a six week break I have finally returned to blogging again.  Since the summer holidays we have had Steve’s daughter in hospital for a major operation, a great-niece born into the family and lots of work with a teenager who likes to go missing and a house in uproar.  However, things are changing.  This weekend saw 2 of our looked after children having contact with their families so Steve and I were able to take advantage of the situation and have a night away in a hotel, whilst my mother kept an eye on the other 3 at home.  Just that one night away completely recharged our batteries whilst having some quality time to together, which we are going to have to do more often.  The last time we were able to do this was February last year and then 5 years prior to that.  To top it all, the 3rd series of Downton Abbey has started and I love that program, makes Sunday television something to look forward to!!!

A new arrival

On August 27th we welcomed the safe arrival of Angelina Danielle into the family weighing 6 lb 10.5 ozs, the next generation on my side of the family.  This also meant getting into stitching mode again, with another cushion to celebrate her birth ordered. 



The proud parents Linzie and Dan



 

Angelina Danielle Bessey

My latest cushion creation

 

Celebrating the birth of Nabucco

Due to the success of cushion orders, this also spurred me on to create a page on Facebook to advertise the cushions already made.  The Facebook page is called Nabucco – Personalised Stitches and is building future orders and likes from friends, so take a look and let me know what you think. 

Now life is slowly returning to ‘normality’ (whatever that is) I have another baby cushion to make and 5 cushions for a local brewery with other baby orders on the go and am already planning other creations.  However, I would not have started any of this without the support and encouragement from everyone who did my initial survey back in March and all the great comments I have received on my blog on my cushions.  So, I am going to do my first giveaway of a cushion to a lucky reader.  The draw will take place on Sunday September 30th at 12 noon GMT and a cushion will be made and sent to the lucky winner.  To enter please leave a comment on my blog.

Current work in progress

With all that has been happening here in the Wilson household, I have still had time to continue with my WIP.  After spending time dealing with missing kids, and everything else that has been occurring I forgot how relaxing I find cross stitch and I now feel more motivated and ready to challenge anything.  I have to admit, this is a big project, and I have bitten off more than I can chew, but slowly and steadily the wallpaper background is coming on with the dreaded confetti stitches.  My aim each night is to do at least 100 stitches and watch it grow.   Considering the baby will be 12 on Saturday, I think I need to knuckle down and get it completed.



Slowly coming on, but the baby is a few days short of her 12th birthday!!!



On that note, it's great to be back stitching and blogging again !!!

One holiday down and continuing with the stitching

Well it has been a couple of weeks since I updated my blog, and I have to admit I have been feeling guilty over it.
We spent the last couple of weeks away on holiday in the motorhome, the first of 3 trips away this summer and I have to admit we all enjoyed it.  The weather was also an advantage giving us the opportunity to have water fights, which at first I was not involved in, however after Steve told the kids to get me, with him hiding behind the car it was a case of walking into the camp shop dripping wet and buying the biggest water gun they had and then getting my revenge.  They say revenge is best served cold, and boy the water was!!!!!

Steve and Victoria discussing tactics

Benjamin (above) Victoria with the two crabs caught on Cromer Pier

This Wednesday sees us travelling again to another site for 10 nights and we are hoping that things go well again, both weather wise and enjoyment wise.

I did manage to continue with my cross stitch whilst away, the satellite system in the motorhome was playing up, so we spent a few nights getting Olympic fever in the club house with my stitching in progress.  I have to admit though I did take the big cross stitch and whilst I managed to complete page 4, albeit leaving a corner free so I can put my initials and date of completion at the end in this did cause a bit of a stir from some people over the complexity over it.  Now I am completing page 1 and I dislike this page as the wallpaper we inherited from the previous owners was stripy and this is causing a lot of confetti stitches.  However, each night I was able to complete 100 stitches in 10 x 10 block squares.

Finally one corner completed

and now to complete the dreaded wallpaper

More Cushions to make

Victoria asked me to make her friend a cushion for her birthday yesterday after we traipsed around town unsuccessfully to find something for her.   So on our return home from town I spent last night designing and stitching and managed to complete the cushion this afternoon. I just hope that Cerys likes it when Victoria goes round there tomorrow for her birthday sleepover.  When our kids were younger it was so much easier to buy a birthday present for their friends, but now, especially for 11 and 12 year old girls... I am at a total loss.

I have also been given another 3 baby orders a wedding order and 2 present orders which will mean that I will be busy on the long weekend’s home.  Friends have started putting up flyers for me and orders are escalating.  This is getting as exciting for me and it feels as though orders are speeding up as quickly as the British athletes are collecting gold medals in the Olympics, especially with the limited time at home this month, whilst I can take my cross stitch away with me.......I draw the line at taking my sewing machine away with me.

Hopefully, though my main progess to show when I return from this next holiday away will be my current work in progress.