This will be my third year of following 'Fettle those Finishes' with Mini Archie the Wonder Dog and Helen (aka BC). They organise the link-up party and send *Tuts* *Pokes* & *Prods* to encourage working on The List and to update progress every month.
My own little stitching daemon, Miss Lizzie (in her fine fettling frock with the perfectly pointy prodding stick) has been joined by twin sister Miss Penny Mouse and three small mouselet trainees with their very own special prodding sticks, now they too can join in the prodding... The 'Prod Squad' use their sticks along with the *hard stares* to make sure there is no slacking throughout the year.
When a finish is fettled there are, of course, big *Waves* *Pom Poms* *Jigs* & *Hurrahs* from everyone.
Come back every month to see how my projects are progressing:
Monthly Update: End of April 2024
A small set of Hurrahs, Waves Pom Poms, and Does Jigs this month. Miss Lizzie has redeemed herself this month. After washing the Easter chocolate off the faces of the junior prod squad, she suggested that I get on with finishing number 1 on The List - the lack of progress on the 100 circles has been bugging me for quite a while. JUST GET ON WITH IT said a verrrrry stern voice armed with a perfectly pointy prodding stick!. She was right of course. and so I did, and it only took secen days to work the border all the way around the edges, pad and stitch to the mount board, and I already had a frame that fitted perfectly. What is even better many of the patterns of the circles are similar to the the window patterns of the Ushaw chapels - so double pleased as it can go on display at the exhibition. Super Big Jigs for that one!
Some progress on small pieces for the travelling books - number one and two are completed and number three will be travelling with me. The first page is supposed to be me starting a new journey, following a winding path that leads to new adventures... Number two is inspired by the tile patterns from Ushaw Historic house and chapels. This small collage uses Markal paint sticks through stencils to create segments of pattern on eco-dyed fabric. Simple stitch, lace, buttons and beads add an embellished touch. Part of the many practise pieces proir to the small piecces being entered for the exhibition. AFter feeling very down this month it was good to complete the two pieces before I went away. Small jigs and hurrahs!
Lots of thinking time for the next big project - I need a piece of textile art for our dining room, and something that develops my own creativity (rather than the following existing patterns). The walls have been bare since kitchen renovations last year, so it really is time I produced a suitable piece of work to add a bit of interest. I am using the Gwen Hedley course (no.12 on the list) as a starting point. There has been lots of painting of fabrics, several attempts at layering and joining ripped pieces back together. Not much to show as yet, but it feels good to thinking about something different and unique.
Unfortunately, while tidying up a drawer I found two old UFO's, one started in June 2021... Number 25 and 26 have been added to the list. the Bobbin project from Anne Brooke, a snippet roll of fabric, applique and stitch in varieties of white- this needs finishing. The second was started at a TAS-2 mini-workshop in March 2023 led by Deb Cooper. This is a variation of a snippet roll. Plain neutral coloured fabrics, threads and yarn are used to applique and stitch on to a length of fabric. When done it is tightly wrapped with rusty objects and immersed into a 'dirty pot' and left for a couple of weeks. So another thing to get on with...
May TAS-2 will see me starting another small project led by one of our members. So Numer 27 has been added to The List....
It's a short month as there is a holiday to be had...
Border & mounting completed for 100 circles project
Page 1 of the new round of travelling books completed
Round 2 of travelling books for Andrea
Come back next month to see if my enthusiasm has returned and if there is progress on the next little project.
For more and larger images of my recent work, click here to go to the
The List of outstanding projects and works for 2024: Projects completed have been sent to the bottom of the table...
Description of Project
Date added to list
Expected delivery
Date completed
Fettling Points
-3-
TAS-2 Travelling Books, 5 postcard sized pieces (receive a new book per month). My book will be returned in September.
April (Penny ✓), May (Andrea ✓), June (Ros), July (Kathleen), August (Gillian).
Jan 2024
finish September 2024
April (✓)
May (✓)
June
July
August
2
-5-
TAS-2 Project - four mixed media pieces based on windows (for Ushaw 24 Exhibition)
November 2023
Mid May 2024
-6-
Cat & Bird pillow from Tilda's Quilts book
October 2022
-7-
4 x 4" Appliqué coasters
September 2022
1,2,3,4
-8-
4 x 4" canvas work samples
June 2021
1,2,3,4
-9-
Elizabethan Sweetie Bag in Red work (Inspirations magazine)
June 2021
-10-
Luna Lapin meets Jane Austen - Make Wilhelmina Woodmouse & a.n.other
special box with two complete outfits
May 2023
-11-
#roxysjournalofstitchery, snippet roll of fabric collage & slow stitching - bits of it now being used in the travelling books...
June 2022
January 2023 (expect 6 months for working)
ha ha ha
-12-
Gwen Hedley course - Contemporary stitch - a revised idea to make this as a hanging for our dining room
January 2023
on hold
-13-
Outfits for the existing Chums
Erik's svarlbardian duffle coat etc
2 x swirling dress for Luna & Clemmie
purchased Feb 2023
-14-
10 Cool Crafting Baby Bunnies with ChrissyMouse outfits (table decorations for Hannah)
October 2023
by end of November 24
-15-
The 'Dickens' Box from Cool Crafting. Four mousies based on A Christmas Carol
November 2023
-16-
Hamish the Highlander+ outfit
(from Sarah Peel's - Cool Crafting book)
February 2023
-17-
Ziggy the Hedgehog + outfit
(from Sarah Peel's - Cool Crafting book)
February 2023
-18-
Ernestine the fox + outfit
(from Sarah Peel's - Cool Crafting book)
April 2023
-19-
More Mousie Outfits (1 each for 9 mice??)
Jan 2024
-20-
25 Hand Made ChrissyMouse Cards
Jan 2024
by end of November 2024
-21-
Another set of 12 days of Christmas tree ornaments
Jan 2024
by end of November 2024
-22-
TAS-2 project from Lesly Wood's mini workshop 'Something Fishy! Printing and Stitch
March 2024
by end of November 2024
-23-
An unknown Green Stitch project for later in the year
... 2024
by end of November 2024
-24-
Handmade Greetings cards
Ongoing
Sunny Sunflowers - February
A touch of spring - March
2
-25-
An old UFO found in a drawer while tidying up - a Deb Cooper workshop - Using a 'dirty pot' to rust dye a snippet roll - snippet roll to be completed first...
March 2023
-26-
A very old UFO found in a drawer while tidying up. A lockdown stitch along from #HanMadebyAnne (Anne Brooke) - the bobbin project, mine is supposed to be a white snippet roll...
June 2021
-27-
TAS-2 Project 'Quilting with Hardware' a mini-workshop led by Victoria MacLeod
May 2024
-1-
Complete border for 100 blackwork circles and framing (finish the Steady Thread 100 day project from 2022), for entry at the Ushaw exhibition Hurrah - it's completed at last
January 2023
border startd 1st April 2024
All completed 6th April 2024
1
-2-
Chloe Redfern Birds Designs- 6 x 6" hoops (hand embroidery). These have been on the list for a verrrrry long time and originally just for me, but now destined for the TAS-2 Ushaw '24 exhibition... Hurrah - that's the set completed
