Back into Cross Stitching!

I thought it might be time to introduce another craft onto my blog. I can't always knit and I find my blog posting schedule is suffering for it as I don't have much to show!

I adore cross stitching, I've only done a few hours worth in my life but the artwork is stunning. I can spend hours browsing other peoples handiwork!

I think I could look at making my own patterns in conjunction with my tattoo designs and artwork, it would be so  much fun!

So here is my afternoon in pictures with an old cross stitch magazine and some free threads! I had to pop into town to get a tension ring and some needles as I'd lost everything but after that I settled down with some Downton Abbey!

I highly underestimated how useful my iPad would be when it came to digital magazines! I get the issues straight away, a couple of quid cheaper and I can follow all the cross stitch patterns on there! I was browing for inspiration while I stitched this tiny teapot.

This is around 2 hours in, seriously, I'm so slowwwww! But I adore the little squares and watching it grow colour by colour is addictive.

R.I.P kitty cross stitch. This was the first one I tried to do over a year ago and I think I was a little over ambitions. I still have around 15 colours from the kit that I haven't used and I've lost the pattern now, so I'll have to think of something else.

The pattern in the magazine, I got some lovely pastel coloured threads free with the magazine that work well with all the designs there.

Finished this evening! Sorry for the poor lighting but there wasn't much left at this point! The colours aren't quite right (check out that yellow!) but I didn't have them all in the free threads. Still think it looks okay though.

I'm officially addicted. If you know anyone who has a cross stitching blog that still updates, I'd love to read it!

Today's Outfit!

I really enjoy browsing through most types of blogs, and fashion blogs in particular fascinate me, purely because I find it so difficult!

I was  never into clothes and fashion until I was about nineteen... (two years ago!) As I was always a bit of a tomboy and put more time into hobbies than I did clothes. But people who can put outfits together and look good in unusual and striking outfits just amaze me. Its almost like a  new skill I'm trying desperately to learn!

As most crafters go though, the majority of my money goes into art supplies, yarn, threads... anything that isn't clothing! I am hoping this will change though.

I do enjoy wearing and buying clothes nowadays and I'm hoping that recording and blogging about them will give me motivation to put more time and effort into it! Who knows, maybe I can look back in years to come and see a massive improvement!

I have a love affair with maroon right now, and I love a slouchy cardigan (especially after a week of junk food!) It was pretty warm on the day so I didn't feel like wearing jeans or shorts. I decided on a light dress and woolen tights incase it got cooler later on. Knowing the british weather you have to be ready for anything!

 I went for a pulled back pony tail as I have very thick hair and can get too hot on sunny days! I decided on matching my lipstick with my dress and heavier eyebrows to give a more dramatic look!

Dress and belt is H&M
Slouchy cardigon F&F for Tesco
Studded ankle boots are New Look

Ring is New Look and the wrist cuff was given to me by a friend. I don't usually wear jewelry as I wear gloves so much for my job!

Thanks for looking, let me know what you think of this feature as I hope to continue it now and again!

New Project! WIP Candle Flame Scarf

Finally managed to put some photos together for a new WIP I've been working on recently! My older project Susette is currently stalled at the stage where I'm joining the sleeves and body together, I'ts become above my skill level and I've ripped back several times. So it looks like its sitting in the bottom of my knitting drawer, and I'd rather start on new projects to keep my blog nice and active.

So here we go! I've done around a foot or so now, a lovely 24 row lace pattern, the yarn is James C Brett Cotton on and is loooovely and soft. Although I didn't think about how it would block, being part acrylic. I just hope it does!

The pattern, I can't wait to see how the lace blocks out, I love it how it is but I hope it will look even better afterwards!

My beloved Signature Needles. By far the best I've ever used. If you like using magic loop this will give you the most stress free experience!

More Signature Needle love

Only around 12" long currently, much more to go.

Lovely easy pattern consisting of a few YOs and KTOGS, otherwise it's standard Knit and Purl. I recommend this to everyone including beginners who are trying out lace for the first time.

As always, thankyou for reading, I really appreciate it! I'll hopefully start having some more projects to blog about soon, and maybe introducing a few new topics.

PinPicks: Favourite Pins of The Week!

I browse Pinterest daily, whether its in between appointments at work or in the evenings before I go to bed. It seems to be very popular in the blogging community and is a great way to share your own interests to your readers! I figured I could post a few of mine every now and again, as my knitting progress is rather slow and so my posts have slowed somewhat!

I will be posting up pictures of a new project I've been working on tonight, Ive gotten everything ready to take pictures and realised my camera is out of battery!

Anyway, here are a few Pins that have caught my eye.

Chinese Waitress Cast On by Knit Freedom

Beautiful Lace heart tattoo by MikeyC

Birdy Floral backpiece

This makes me want to learn to crochet! Little camera bag

I love all things grumpy cat! I'd love to cross stitch this or make it into a sweater!

That's all for now :)

No knitting!

I feel pretty bad, I got so motivated with this blogging and once I'd started a project that overwhelmed me, I couldn't carry on with it! I'm very much a starter and not a finisher, although I was trying to change that.

Instead of waiting 6 months to finish this current project I've just started a new one, and hopefully the other will get done in time. So then I'll get to blog about my smaller projects.

As I've said on here before, I'm a tattoo artist, and I've got heaps of work to show those of you who are interested! (If tattoos aren't your thing then that's completely fine with me - feel free to skip the rest of this post!)

These are a selection over the past couple of months, I'm super proud of some of the work I've done. I've been concentrating on my artwork and not on my knitting, and I feel I should be able to balance both, so more work is needed!

I have a little lace scarf project on the go right now, so I'll post about it in a few days once I've got partway through it!

Thanks for reading!