Ta Dah! Mini mystery stitch #1

Here we have one of the many posts I wrote over the summer that for one reason or another never quite made it to publishing. Instead it has been sat languishing in the notes app on my ipad, written but picture-less for several weeks months. So if you can, forget the rain beating on the window outside and cast your mind back to the summer...

At last, a little ta dah - my mini mystery stitch that I've been working on whilst travelling between Dorset and Sussex every week (I last wrote about it in this post here) No one guessed what it was, so I am proud to reveal that it was this little guy... Mr Bumble.

I'm not a massive fan of backstitching on such small designs as the spider's web of lines on the chart can often be quite hard to translate into real stitches. But, despite a few little corners (copied from the chart I swear!) I was actually pretty pleased with my backstitching efforts - especially the stripes. Three stitches on each side of each stripe. Of course it was a happy accident entirely intentional on my part and planned in advance (ahem).

It's also the first time I've attempted french knots. I'd heard so much dislike for them that I was a little apprehensive, having always opted for the seed bead option instead. But, after two failed and unravelled attempts I got the hang of it. They came out a little bigger than intended, but I think it gives him a rather cute boggle-eyed look which adds to his character.

He's from the free stitch kit that came with issue 252 of Cross Stitcher magazine and belongs in the same set as my poor incomplete strawberry...

...except the poor incomplete strawberry is incomplete no more!

I couldn't face unpicking the whole thing to start again with a different red and didn't want to throw my work away, so I decided to buy a skein of anchor in the shade specified in the key. I was resigned to the fact that it would be blatantly obvious I had switched threads, but as the birthday I had intended to make it for had already passed in the meantime I decided to go with it and just keep it for myself.

As you can see it wasn't actually that bad a match though! If you look closely and you know what you're looking for then you can see it - the anchor is slightly brighter, has a bit more of a sheen and is much nicer to work with, but apart from that its similar enough. I'd never give it away to anyone because I'm a perfectionist, but I'm sure I can find some use for it somewhere. At the moment it's acting as bookmark in my philosophy of psychology textbook!

Happy Wednesday,

aLittleBlonde xx

 

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Instagram - A month in pictures

I am now on Instragram! You can follow me at @alittleblonde1 to see what I'm up to, click here or on the button in the sidebar to find out more. (By the way, isn't that followgram thing cool? I have a QR code!!)

Since joining instagram I've found myself taking a lot more photos which is a nice little bonus in my book. If only my poor old iphone didn't struggle so much to open the camera app every time I want to take a photo. It really is a little frustrating to have to wait about 90 seconods every time you want to take a photo, especially when the subject in question is poised to run away and moves at the last minute...

This little guy (there is a squirrel in that bin  promise you!) was so cute and patiently sat still for so long whilst I waited for my camera to boot up. You can't really blame him for getting a little camera shy and diving for cover at the last minute really, can you? I don't know what it is, but there seem to be even more squirrels than usual on campus at the moment. Anyway, I digress...

I would like to announce a new feature to aLittleBlonde - monthly instagram mosaics! So here we have it- this is what I've been up to in the days since joining instagram...

Running from the top left: a Bakewell tart complete with heart shaped cherry l peppers harvested from the garden l my version of burger and chips l my new parsley plant on the kitchen windowsill l rainbow seen from y bedroom window l portobello mushroom burger with pesto & mozzarella l a little photo shoot with a very squishy doggy l they make Percy Pig Juice! l my house mate made enchiladas for dinner l Gloria chilling again l a little shopping trip into Brighton by train l this dog could sleep for England

I apologise that it's taken me until the 11th to post these up, as opposed to doing so at the beginning of the month. However, as you may have seen I was a little preoccupied with all the loveliness!

Are you on instagram too? If so feel free to comment with your username or a link and I'll give you a little follow back.

Happy Thursday, 

aLittleBlonde xx

Twenty-One

This week I've celebrated a bit of a mile-stone birthday - the big two-one. Well, when I say celebrated, I mean more attempted to ignore it. 21 really was not a birthday I was looking forward to, in fact I have been dreading it for the last couple of weeks. However, 1 week in and I can confirm that the world did not indeed end as I thought it would. Indeed, being 21 and 1 week is not actually that much different from being 20 - who's have thought it? I would even go as far as saying I like the idea of being 21 (just as long as I don't get any older!) it's got a little grown-up sparkle to it that I quite like.

Anyway, I had a lovely time at the weekend with the 'surprise' party my Mum and Auntie Flute threw for me. 'Surprise' because I accidentally let myself in on the secret several weeks beforehand, but that's another story.

There was much bunting, cake and an abundance of embarrassing photographs and lovely people there to share it which made me a very happy girl. I have also commandeered the decorations and photographs for safe keeping, just in case.

The beautiful rose from the top of my cake which I'm saving

Whilst I'm telling you about it I would like to take the opportunity to say a big, well earned thank you to my Mum and Auntie Flute (and of course my Dad!) for arranging such a lovely surprise. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone, especially my Mum and Dad for giving me such lovely presents - I feel absolutely spoilt rotten!!! This year was definitely the year of the craft/cook book which will keep me amused and well fed for years to come. I really cannot wait to share some of the amazing books I received this week with you, but for now I shall just leave you with a couple of photographs unearthed from this weekend...

See, I was a cutie once...I wonder what happened!

Happy Tuesday,

aLittleBlonde xx

Edit: I just worked it out, turns out I'm only really 18 plus VAT :)