Sampler Catch-up & Crochet Block

I've been busy on my genealogy work over the last couple of weeks, hence not much happening on the stitching side here. I have made a great headway on one particular small branch of my tree, and I always get a lump in my throat when certain discoveries pop up in my research. It is so interesting to discover new people in my tree.

But now I've actually got some stitching things done again I can show you what I've been up to.

The Embroidery Sampler has two small simple stitch bands added.

(sorry the photo seems blurred)

....and here is the full sampler so far.

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BAMCAL 2017

The12" Block Seven for my Blues Blanket is That One Sister

Again, I have adapted the pattern to suit my personal preference (the freeformer in me always wants to take over, lol).

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And....... tada!!!!

This is a sneak preview of a pattern that will be released soon.

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So the only 'finish' that I can add to my YOP (Year Of Projects) is the 12" crochet square.

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Tony & I have been out for a couple of coastal walks, all close to our home.

The first photo is Opunake beach from the cliff top (looking north across to Middleton Bay), and the second photo is the walk past Opunake lake and heading south to the next bay.

Two very different coast views and an enjoyable couple of days adventures.

See you next week when I hope to have more of the sampler done, and another 12" square, 

plus whatever else takes my fancy.

Wooohoooo - lots of stitching

 Lots of projects got to spend some quality time with me during the week.

The 'Long on Colour' freeform challenge made an appearance. I think this is going to be a cowl.

Earthy and autumnal colours with a pop of black and white. 

And we had such a lovely day yesterday that I was stitching in the back garden in the shade with my kitty companion.

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My BAMCAL 2017 Blues Blanket has two more 12" blocks made.

Block Four is Kaleidoscope Blossom Square by Chris Simon

Block Five is Marigold Mandala Square by Dorianna Rivelli with slight adjustments in the outer rounds as, once again, I 'do-my-own-thing'.

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The Summer Brights Blanket has four more 6" blocks.

This is Window Box Granny by Lisa Mauser

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The ¾" Hexagon Quilt

The darker blue has been added to the rosettes, and lots of yellows prepared ready for attaching.

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Weaving Project- My Garden, panel 2.

This panel starts with a band of regular weaving at the bottom which is the same yarn as Panel 1, and then gradually incorporates freeform weaving as it progresses. 
Multiple weaving styles and texture will be added to this.

So that was my week. Very productive, and I even got to empty and clean out the fish pond (as the two last fish in there disappeared last weekend, probably to a kingfisher or new stray cat that I've seen hanging around).

Crochet and Roses

Two 6" blocks finished for my BAMCAL blanket.

And that is all I can show you of my stitching week!

Other 'things' are being made but I still can't show those at the moment.

I've been doing a fair bit of gardening earlier this week, and here is a lovely bunch of roses trying to peer in my lounge window. 

I'm so glad I took this photo a couple of days ago because we have just had about 48 hours of strong winds and heavy rain, and these poor flowers do not look like this any more.

BAMCAL - YOP - FO's - AYIS - MYIS

Oh boy....... I've done it again..... started lots of projects.

And just in case the title of this blog is reading like a foreign language to you, let me translate it for you here.

BAMCAL = Block-A-Month Crochet-A-Long

YOP = Year Of Projects

FO's = Finished Objects

AYIS - A Year In Stitch

MYIS - My Year In Stitches

2017 BAMCAL is a Ravelry group in which we are given a choice of 3 blocks each month to crochet as we wish for our chosen project. I am going to see if I find enough time to do all 3 blocks, as I would like to make at least two afghans and a tunic/poncho.

My first 12" block is finished - Floral Kaleidoscope Afghan Square by Julie King.

I am using yarn from my stash for this project.

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While I'm showing you FO's, here is a Free Form Ball that I finished for a CAL in another Ravelry group. 

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A Year In Stitches is all about making stitches every day for a year and in a random, freeform style.

I have chosen a colourful printed fabric to randomly embellish with stitches.

And here is the start - Day 1 stitches.

Just a little bit more each day.

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My Year In Stitches is a different project. It still incorporates a little bit of stitching each day, but this one is slightly more organized. It started off life as a patchwork wall hanging that I made a few years ago.... but.... I never really liked it the way it was, so I have decided to spruce it up with a whole heap of stitching to make it more appealing to me, and hopefully, I'll enjoy it enough when it's finished to actually hang it up instead of hiding it in a box.

The green stems are what I have stitched today, and there are quite a lot more of them to stitch too, so I might not share photos again until I get onto something more interesting to see.

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This has been another YOP blog post.

Happy New Year to you all, and Happy Stitching.

Cyra

Freeform Down by the Seashore

Week one of the Freeform K/CAL Down by the Seashore has started with a Gastropoda inspired shell (or shells)

This K/CAL is on Ravelry here

Mandala Madness part 11

Here we are with another part of the mandala completed.

Mandala Madness Part 10

I have finished Part 10 of the Mandala Madness CAL.

The popcorn and diamond motif was the part 10 addition and a bit of a challenge, but very enjoyable.

Love how this is turning out.

Only 8 more parts/weeks to go on this, lol. 

It should be a lovely tablecloth for my round Ercol walnut table when finished.

Mandala Madness part 9

Part 9 is complete. 

The 6 rounds of Part 9 starts above the long white stitches on my mandala.

And I am half way through Part 10. Up to round 66, which is quite labour intensive with all the changes of colours and multiple repeats, and is causing quite a stir with others who are in this CAL. Personally I quite enjoyed this challenging row, and hence was singing along to the song of a similar name. 

But I have a few rounds to go until Part 10 is complete, so on to it.

And Part 8 of Mandala Madness

Part 8 of Mandala Madness is complete.

And here's a close-up of the outside edge.

Those long 'spiky' stitches were a bit on the fiddly side to keep in place.

I have been in the garden a lot lately and have started a new wild-flower area that I hope will be a great show of colour in a couple of months.

Also, have been working on my vegie patch.

One other thing for this week.

We have been adopted by Billie. Her previous owner lived in this house, and Billie wants to stay here.

We renamed her Billie because her original name was Furry, which seems rather 'non-personal' to me. The name Billie came about from Billy Fury (hahaha).

Mandala Madness CAL - part 7

Mandala Madness crochet along - part 7

Part 6 - with a pink blush

Mandala Madness - Part 6 added

Complete with a 'blush' of peachy-pink and with an orange glowing edge as the sun sets once more on another beautiful day.

We are told that the 'points' will curl a bit at this point in the proceedings.

And another MM round

Another round on the Mandala Madness CAL bites the dust.

Part 5 complete.

I'm calling it 'Summers End' because that is where we are in this part of the world (NZ) at the moment, and my colours, so far, resemble the glow of the sun on the lower arc as it rises from behind Mt. Egmont every morning, and then sets over the beautiful white surf sea in the eve. 

Not sure where I want to go with my colours next though. Will ponder on it some more.

Mandala Madness Part 4 - Summers End

Mandala Madness Part 4 complete.

Summers End

Mandala Madness Part 3

I'm still playing catch-up with the Mandala Madness CAL.

Here it is with Part 3 added. 

Love the yellow addition to my neutrals here. I wasn't sure if yellow would work with the other colours, but I needn't have worried.

Onwards and outwards - part 4 awaits me.

Mandala Madness CAL part 2

The next couple rounds are complete now, and I am about to start with Part 3 soon.

Catching up slowly. I don't know how so many of the other CAL crafters are managing to get two or even three of these mandalas done each week.

I expect that things will get even slower when the 'rounds' get larger as it will take an awfully long time to complete just one round.

But for now, we are given a few rounds to complete each week.

Did I mention that this is a mystery CAL too, so we don't know what the finished Mandala will look like.

Here is mine so far -

  Coffee, Cream & White Chocolate

And I made a Ruffled Hexagon before I began on the mandala, and I am thinking about what border I want on it.

It needs blocking yet but I can't find which of the million packing boxes my pins are in 

(I may have to buy more pins)

Here it is -

Mandala Madness Crochet Along

I've joined in on the Mandala Madness CAL (Crochet-A-Long)

I'm a bit late starting it. I only managed to get rows 1 - 10 done so far, which is only about half way through Part One. 

Part Two and Part Three have already been posted.

Here is the link to the CAL.

http://www.crystalsandcrochet.com/crochets/mandala-madness-cal-2016/

Not a great deal of stitching has been done in the Lewis residence as the gardens have been taking up most of my time,