Review - Crazy January Challenge 2014

So, I think we can all be honest and say 2014 has not been my greatest stitching year. But that's ok, 2014 has been a big busy year for me so I am still quite pleased with what I did get done.

Over the next week or so I will be overhauling my blog in preparation for next year and the new SALs I will be taking part in, but first I think it's only right that I should review the ones I took part in this year to see just or successful (or not) I was.

First up is the Crazy January Challenge. Basically I had to start a new project every day for the first 15 days of the year and aim to have them all finished by the end of the year.

So did I manage to complete the challenge...?

Nope!

Sadly some of these projects still remain as WIPs in my stash pile. However out of the 15 I started I did manage to get 8 done - I don't think that's too bad...right?!

So here are my completed stitches for the challenge

Breast Cancer Bunting - Completed 05/01/2014

Vintage Rose - Completed 11/01/2014

Christmas Card - Completed 12/01/2014

Tropical Bookmark - Completed 09/02/2014

Rory Raccoon - Completed 16/02/2014

Festive Hoop - Completed 05/10/2014

Blue Tit - Completed 07/10/2014

Home Sweet Home - Completed 10/11/2014

I enjoyed all of these and it was nice to get a few small finishes in this year and thin down my freebie pile that I get with magazines!

However I have decided in 2015 not to take part in this challenge again, I really want to try and finish off some of my current projects and I don't think adding another 15 to my WIP pile will be such a good idea.

Did you take part in this challenge this year? Did you manage to complete it? Or are you taking part in 2015?

Emma xx

Another Small Finish, Hooray for Trains!

Good Morning!

I hope you are all well. Over the past week I have worked on a couple of projects and I am please to say and even managed another small finish from my Crazy January Challenge.

First, I worked some more of Bothy Threads Sew Dinky Gingerbread house.

Before:

After:

As you can see I now have the outline of the Christmas tree and a small orange present waiting underneath it just waiting to be opened! :) I am still enjoying this one very much so fingers crossed I should have more to show you this week.

Last Thursday I took a trip back down to Yorkshire as over a year ago I bought tickets to see John Bishop with my Mum for her birthday, little did I know that in 12 months time I would be living in Scotland!

Our View, before the show began!

I have to say he was very funny and we both enjoyed it, if any of you are near to Leeds he is doing another show at the arena this Thursday (13th), although I don't know if tickets are still available.

The good part of this meant I had a 3 - 4 hour train journey (I go the cheaper route, changing at Carlisle via Settle in case any of you are wondering why it took so long) on my own so it was ideal stitching time! I decided to take one of my smaller projects just for the ease of it, and I was pretty sure I would be able to get near a finish on the journey there and back.

Tada!

This was the very first project I worked on this year, I only managed to complete the door and it hadn't been touched since. But now it is done, and another off my list! Making it 8/15, however I am not so sure if I will get the rest done in time!

Until next time,

Emma xx

Another CJC14 finish!

Well, what can I say the stitching bug is well and truly back with me - hurrah!

I decided to pick up another of the projects I started for the January Challenge - it would be nice to get all these complete, as I still count them as WIPs even if they are only small.

This is how this sweet little chap looked the last time I showed you, way back on the 6th January this year...

Here he is now, he didn't take that long at all. I have no idea why I have been putting this one off as he is so sweet :)

So that makes it 7/15 done on all the new starts I had at the start of the year. Not too bad I guess!

Emma xx

Emma in Stitching Shocker!

Yes, you read right this past weekend...I STITCHED! Woohoo! *Dances*

Even better than that I even had a finish! Ok, so it was a small finish, but a finish is a finish :)

This was a project I started waaaaay back in January, for the Crazy January Challenge, on the tenth day.

After that it was never touched again until Saturday night. I thought to myself "enough is enough lets do some stitching!". So while watching Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version) I stitched to my little hearts content.

Yesterday I finished up the back stitch and left it to soak. This was my first time using soluble canvas and I have to say I am quite impressed, and would certainly use it again.

So there you have it. My CJC14 challenge currently stands at 6/15...wonder if I can get the rest finished before the end of the year...?

Until next time!

Emma xo

Small Crazy Jan Challenge Finish!

Good evening!

So the weekend is coming to a close, and it is almost time to head back to work again, however some good news is I have another finish!

This was my day 11 start of the Crazy January Challenge, so that means out of the 15 I now have 5 complete so 10 still to go...a third of the way there! I don't think that is too bad to say we still have 10 months to go!

This cute little chap is Rory Raccoon who came free with Cross Stitcher issue 268, I have to say I enjoyed stitching him a lot, I think he looks great in his little frame too :)

Not sure where he will live now he is complete, but I will figure that out later!

Emma xo

Sunday Round Up - plus another Crazy Jan Finish!

Good afternoon!

I hope you have all had a pleasant weekend and those to the south of the UK and Ireland are coping in the battering storm that seems to be going on the moment - here further north we have had some wind and rain but nothing too bad.

This week has been a pretty good week stitching wise, I worked on some secret stitches at the start of the work which I can't show you at the moment, sorry, but once I can I will :)

Then I continued to work on Row of Cats by Bothy Threads, and today I added the backstitch to my first cat Chester. I think he looks great!

Then, once that was complete I pulled out one of my Crazy January Challenge pieces and managed to complete that too! This is the Tropical Bookmark which came free with Cross Stitcher issue 269.

I just love the bright colours in this and it's another of the 15 done! Hooray!

In other news the slimming is still going well, I lost another 3 1/2lbs this week, so since joining Slimming World two weeks ago I have lost 10lbs! Added to the weight I lost on my own last year I am now 23lbs lighter. I'm very pleased but still a long way to yet :)

I will be back tomorrow with another post as it is Turtle Trot time, I haven't managed to work on all ten projects but the ones I have I think I have made good progress, so I am happy.

Until tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Fifteen - I DID IT! :D

Well here it is, the final installment of the Crazy January Challenge.

Number fifteen, the third and final Reindeer card which came with Cross Stitcher issue 259.

Hurray!

So a quick round up..

• First 15 days of January 15 new projects started
• Of the 15 3 are already complete
• Leaving me with 12 projects to complete by the end of the year

I think that is pretty doable, most have a fair amount of progress on them and I think these will be great to pick up in between my larger projects when I need a quick fix!

So there you have it, my first attempt at the Crazy January Challenge! I am glad I did it, but also glad it was only with small projects, and I can't complain about three finishes already this year. It just goes to show what I can achieve once I put my mind to it :)

So the question now is, what do I stitch tomorrow?!

I'll let you know as soon as I do! ;)

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Thirteen and Fourteen

Good evening!

I have today and yesterdays new starts to show you, but sadly, they are rather boring photos as both days required white stitches. So these are possibly the most boring photos you have seen all year! :D

Yesterday the new start was the Birthday Bunny freebie which came with issue 200 of World of Cross Stitching, only a small start as I was very tired.

Today, another small start. This time it was the third and final Christmas Card that came with Cross Stitcher issue 272.

Well, tomorrow is the final day! I won't lie, I am now looking forward to going back to one of my projects and working on it for a few days running at least!

Plus this weekend is IHSW hosted by Joysze! If you haven't already sign up then join in the fun and stitch the weekend away! :)

Until tomorrow, I will be back with my final Crazy January Start! Yay!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Twelve

Another day another new start!

However happily today's project turned in to a finish too! Huurah! My third finish of the year :)

Today it was the turn of another Christmas card which came free with Cross Stitcher issue 272.

I think this is so sweet, and I love the little bell on the collar, and hey, I'm super organised for next Christmas with my first card complete, hehe :D !

Before I go, I also want to share a new project I am working on at the moment, I have decided to start a reading/book blog as it was one of my aims this year to read more. If you would like to take a look and perhaps follow my new adventure you can find my new blog here.

It is still very much a work in progress so please bear with me :)

Don't worry, my stitching blog will still be getting plenty of my attention! It has to with all these WIPs I have!

Until tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Eleven & a Finish!

Good afternoon!

I hope you are all ok on this chilly Saturday afternoon?

I started my next new start this afternoon, this time it is Rory Raccoon, which came free with Cross Stitcher issue 268.

This is sweet stitch, I like the bright colours of the flowers compared to greys of Rory!

In the early minutes of this morning (00:02 to be precise) I finished one of my Crazy Challenge projects!

This was the vintage rose keyring which came free with issue 264.

It was a fun stitch and turned in to a pretty finish! I just need to decide on a way to cover the back, I'm thinking a piece of felt or something to hide the stitches.

Well, we are almost at the end of the Challenge, and I will admit now I am starting to look forward to it, who would of thought that I would have enough of new starts?! It will be good to get stuck in with a project and stick with it (for a few days at least!).

Until tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Nine and Ten

Good evening!

Just a quick post before I settle for the night with the last two days of new starts. I had a busy evening last night so didn't get chance to stitch until after ten, so not much got done.

This is my small start on Hedgerow Wildflowers, only a couple of the leaves done. Anyone else who has stitched this, have you noticed that the picture on the front is upside down to that of the pattern? Odd!

Today was another start, with a little more progress done! This was also my first time using soluble canvas, which came with the kit, so I am interested to see how this one will turn out.

This is the festive hoop kit which came free with Cross stitcher issue 271.

That's all for now!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Eight!

Evening!

Must admit I did think twice about sitting down and stitching tonight, I am so very sleepy and knew if I did anything fiddly I would end up having to frog it.

So instead I worked on one of the Christmas Card Set which came with Cross Stitcher issue 272. I opened the kit and was most confused...four bits of aida, two needles, three bells and four ribbons...hmm...at least it is extra stuff and not the other way and I don't have enough!

Here is my teeny progress on the Christmas tree.

Well progress is progress right?

Oh, and I had my first purchase of the year (eek!) but it's ok, was only a little spend and I have updated my Stitch from Stash $ checker accordingly... :)

Until tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Seven

You know the drill by now, another day another new start! Although I am surprised it took me to get to the 6th before you started to call me crazy :D hehe!

Lets just say I am glad that I am only doing small projects for this...the idea of starting a HUGE project every single day...nope! Not for me, I will stick to my easier version of the challenge :D

Today it was the turn of another of the Reindeer Cards which came with Cross Stitcher issue 259

I've managed to get quite a bit done so early today as I was home for early afternoon...I woke up in a bad bad mood this morning and the thought of sitting at work all day...urgh...So I went in and booked the afternoon off, came home, made some rocky road (yum!) then had a Grey's Anatomy Marathon (sssh no spoilers, only on season two!) and stitched away :)

I've also just seen I am a winner of Stitcher Anon's giveaway :D Woohoo!

Have a lovely evening!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Six!

Good evening!

I am very excited tonight! I just logged on to find I am now over 200 followers! Woohoo! I shall have to hold a giveaway soon! I'll have a think and see what I can come up with, so keep an eye out for that... :)

Now, on to the topic of the post, my day six start.

Not too much done today as it wasn't the best day at work so wasn't in the greatest mood to sit and stitch, but hey, I made some progress!

This is the Blue Tit free kit which came with World of Cross Stitching issue 204. He is a very sweet chap to stitch :)

Until tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day 5...a Finish!

Hello!

So the weekend is coming to an end, all the children are back at school tomorrow around here meaning all the parents will be back to work too. I guess Christmas really is over for another year!

Today it was the turn of the Breast Cancer Bunting kit which came free with Cross Stitch Crazy issue 181. This was a fun stitch with three individual motifs to stitch up, and today I managed all three! Hooray!

First there was the flower...

Followed by the bird...

And finally, I think my favourite of the three the butterfly!

These cute little designs cheered me up, and got me looking forward to spring and more than a few hours of daylight again! Here they are all finished up as bunting. I have my Christmas bunting I made in 2012, perhaps I should look out for some more and get one for every season?!

So there you have it, my first finish of the Challenge, and also of 2014! Not bad going!

Untill tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Four!

Hello!

Another day, another new start! Today it was the turn of the Tropical Bookmark which came free with Cross Stitcher issue 269.

Not bad I guess, just three more birds and backstitching! I love the bright colours in this one, they are very cheery when I'm stitching on a dark, damp January day!

Until tomorrow!

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day Three!

Well it's another day and that means another new project! So far I am enjoying this, but it is only day three! But I must say I am glad I only picked smaller projects to do it with, I think I would get bogged down otherwise.

Tonight it was the turn of one of the Reindeer Cards that came free with Cross Stitcher issue 259...hey it's never too early to get started for next Christmas ;)

Have to say I am glad it is the weekend now, fingers crossed I will make some good progress on tomorrows project...whatever that may be!

Until tomorrow,

Emma xo

Crazy January Challenge - Day two!

Good evening!

Well it was back to work today and all the decorations at work were taken down, which always makes me a little sad...the ones at home will come down at the weekend.

Once home from work I picked my second project for the Crazy January Challenge, tonight it was the Vintage Rose Keyring Kit which came free with Cross Stitcher issue 264.

A nice amount of progress tonight with only the background to do! I did mess the two darkest shades of pink up a little, but I guess mine will just be unique instead :P

Until tomorrow, happy stitching! :)

Emma xo

Happy New Year! Day One of Crazy Jan Challenge!

Hello!

I hope you have all had a nice start to the year?

I just want to say thank you for all the birthday wishes yesterday, I had a lovely day and evening.

Once I got to my friends house more presents were waiting for me! There was certainly a theme going on...!

First, my dear friend Hannah treated me to a Cath Kidston travel sewing kit, how sweet is this!

Then, my wonderful friend Rachael indulged my love of stitching with this gorgeous Cath Kidston Stitch book! Ohhh there are so many things I want to make in this :)

Finally, my lovely friends Adam and Katherine treated me to a Cath Kidston Mug, along with a cookery book for all different kinds of cup cakes and a set of baking utensils!

Very spoilt indeed!

As ever Hannah's cooking was delicious - homemade Lasange followed by a homemade birthday cake, banoffee YUM!

We had a great night, and it went very fast, before we knew it it was almost time to watch Big Ben and the Fire Works on the tv.

Today, after sleeping off a headache (read hangover) I made a start on my Crazy Jan Challenge.

I picked the Home Sweet Home kit which came free with issue 188.

Until next time!

Emma xo