No Reply Bloggers

This is kinda a rant but not in the direction a lot of you probably think I'm going. I love blogger and I really like being connected to my google+ profile I find it opens out a lot of other options BUT the moment I change anything there or here it doesn't want to connect my email properly. I've noticed for the last couple of months that I wasn't getting many replies to comments but I went into my profile and made my email public and thought nothing of it. BUT for some reason google+ doesn't connect the email on that profile to my posts here no matter how often I try! I've spent an hour searching the web tonight looking for solutions because I'm not happy being unconnected I think I will end up needing to connect back to my blogger profile and manually upload my posts to google+. Since it's all google why can't they all talk to each other nicely for once?? I think they're just trying to encourage everyone to have a google+ profile and share through there with the blog as the side medium but I'm not going to play. I'm sorry to all those people I've sent comments to and they've seen the no reply blogger status and just scream. I know I do it but now I feel more annoyed at google because it's their fault not mine. To end on a happier note I am going to be a replyable (is that even a word?) blogger from now on unless google really stuffs me up! Ohk End Rant :D Happy Stitching, Caitlin

Scout Blanket

With this grow your blog thing I find that I'm meeting and finding out so many interesting things about other people. One of them happened to be a lady named Melanie that has two daughters who are active in scouts (you can check out her blog its nice). That is music to my ears. In Australia scouts is very different to over in America we have boys and girls in the same troop. I've been in scouts since I was 6 and it's always been a big part of what I do.

I wanted to share something that I think you guys will like. I collect badges. Scout badges, travel badges even Disney badges :D I enjoy having reminders of places or people I have met through the years. I also hand sew all the badges on which I find kinda soothing while sitting in scout leader meetings.

For those that don't know a scout blanket is typically a wool blanket (so it can't burn around the camp fire) also known as an army blanket. And you collect badges and sew them on until you fill the blanket. It's that simple and that complicated.

Now for some photos. Please excuse the bad light we've had on and off rain for the last week so nothing takes a good photo at the moment.

 

I'm not really sure how many badges I have altogether but I have one of the old biscuit tins FULL of  badges. My partner sighs every time he sees it out because it doesn't have biscuits in it :D

 The last time I went to a scout activity the queensland badge club was there and I managed to snag some Canadian district badges. Plus other ones. You can see the badge in plastic is one from the war memorial its an army patch.

I love the fact popeye is on a BADGE!

Though on the subject of Canadian badges the one above was got for me by my sister. She was back packing through Europe and ran into a scout who had it in his hand luggage. He'd lost everything else on the flight but he still had that badge. So it's a Canadian scout district badge got I think from Egypt. (or over in Europe I can't remember which) It's funny how scouts brings the world together kinda like crafts. I was so happy she got it and I love the story. 

 

 When I started this blanket I was only about 8 or so and my mother crocheted around the entire edge in three colours of cotton. That is one if the best parts about this blanket.

Now I will show off some other badges because I can. :D

 I am not a purist when it comes to my blanket, I will have any badge I find that means something to me. Which could just be I managed to swap it and it has pretty colours. But above is a good example, my dad's tenpin bowling badge, a Cuboree cub camp badge set, Weipa North Queensland tourist one, and a couple of other camp and touristy ones. It is a mix of colours and badges that mean different things.

 This one is important. When I was 12 I went to an Australian Jamboree. I managed to swap/buy/collect ALL the contingency badges which means a badges from every state/territory in Australia plus New Zealand. So above is the photo of them sewn onto the blanket I put them kinda in the position that the states are but it's hard when the badges are all different shapes. ACT (the big red one) is meant to be in the middle of the NSWs one so it's kinda hard to put them in their correct place.

 Just to point out it's not only scout stuff. I saw this at spotlight (one of my favourite craft stores) while shopping with my mother and she got it for me for Christmas!

 You can't really see it but all the stitching on this badge glows in the dark. It's a special order district badge that I managed to get a hold of at one camp I went on. I also have their original badge somewhere too but that isn't as pretty :D


I hope you have enjoyed this kinda random post. If anyone wants to swap district badges with me please give me a bell. My old district badge (which I have about 10 to swap) looks like this

I haven't bought any from my new district yet but that is in my plans for sometime this year. So you could end up with a couple of badges from Australia if you want to swap (I would be willing to swap for a couple as my friends would kill me if I didn't get them badges too) Well not literally but if I managed to get them cool badges they would do anything for me. It's nice like that.

Anyway,
Happy Stitching,
Caitlin 

Happy Australia Day :D

Ohk so I'm a day late with my Australia day post because I wanted to show you a finish but didn't manage to get it done in time. So now I have finished it and finished the pattern and it's going to be up on Etsy very soon!

I am so excited to present to you...

Katniss Everdeen from Catching Fire!

I say catching fire because that is where the outfit is from... I just love the knit cowl. I will have to work out how to make one for myself... eventually... there are patterns appearing everywhere.

This is bigger than the angels pattern, a little over twice as high so I can add a lot more detail. I'm currently in the middle of making a set of disney princess patterns because I can't resist and more from catching fire. It was really quick to stitch it up. The longest part seemed to be the border because it kept going. Though I love how the orange pops against the green fabric.

I am so excited to make my own patterns I hope you enjoy this one. I am going to disappear into Winter Fairy for a while though so hopefully I will have some good progress on that one to show you soon. We shall see, the kids go back to school tomorrow so I'm feeling very hopeful but I need to get my assignment done!

Happy Stitching everyone,
Caitlin

Grow your blog 2014

I wanted to use this as an opportunity to introduce myself again. I haven't really updated people for a while. Its been a crazy year last year. I'm also trying to grow my blog and get to know some new blogs around the place. I always like to read new stuff.

About me

Hi my name is Caitlin and I live in Brisbane, Australia. I turned 25 last birthday so I can finally be called an adult though that doesn't mean I need to grow up yet. 

 

I'm a trained primary school teacher but worked out last year that teaching really wasn't for me and I wasn't helping the kids or me by pushing it. So I'm currently looking for work.

While I'm not working I am finding that I have a lot more time to craft and I'm taking advantage of it. I live with my partner and his two kids which is an adventure more often than not. It's only 4 days until the end of the school holidays ... not that I'm counting or anything...

My dream is to run my own craft shop and make money from what I love doing but we shall see how that turns out. Lots of things need to change to make that work, but in time I should be able to.

When I'm not crafting I also play softball during the summer and I'm a trumpet player in the Moreton Bay Symphonic Orchestra. I love the chance to play in a group again since I hadn't had a chance since I left school.

Why I Blog

I started this blog as a way to show off my finishes and encourage me to finish more and find it a constant inspiration. I love seeing other people progress so I can. Since I started this blog I find that it drives me to want to make progress so I can show you that I have actually done something. It is good to want to finish stuff.

I also find that I enjoy documenting what I have done and when I have finished something. It helps me keep track of everything. I'm very eclectic so I do things that tickle my fancy.

I love the people you meet that say I don't have the patience or the will to craft. Its always possible no matter how young and patience has nothing to do with it will does. If you want to you can.

My crafts

Sometimes with me its more a matter of what craft don't I do. I love to make anything though cross stitch is my main love. I have a couple of big designs going (two HAEDs, a Joan Elliott, and an ink circles design) you can find pictures for these in previous posts and a tonne of smaller ornaments.I started a pile for the crazy January challenge last year and finished only 4. 

I have also started designing cross stitch, I did a pile of little Christmas stuff but now I'm expanding to bigger stuff (check out my etsy store if you want). I'm having fun with Katniss Everdeen from Catching Fire. I love the knit cowl she wears but I'm too lazy/not sure how to make one for myself. So instead I decided to make a cross stitch of her wearing it. The words will be Let the Games BEGIN! There will also be an orange border. I am looking forward to finishing this for myself.

I also knit and crochet though mainly toys and small projects. I often have one or two knitting/crochet projects on the go to mix up with my cross stitch and to have a break. They're less strenuous counting. I currently have a simple scarf, doily and a couple of toys in various stages. I need to find them all again. They are buried somewhere with all the wool. 

My small doily I finished before Christmas. I just need to block it.

To top that off I also sew and quilt but not quite as often. My grandma is teaching me to make clothes. It's going alright. But I have to find the time without the kids. It will happen soon very soon.....

 

I used to do a lot of beading but I kept dropping them everywhere so I gave up. I think I just like to be able to make things and explore what is possible. 

Happy Stitching everyone,
Caitlin

My secret stitching

Well I have been hinting at a new start on the stitching front but never managed to get any good photos. That and I wanted it to look half decent before showing it to you.

I finally after a couple of years started baroque by Ink Circles. I had this ready and kitted up to start towards the end of 2011 but never managed to start it. I kept starting other projects and putting this off. I wanted to start this year on a new project. Something simple but didn't want to buy one, or do any of my smalls.

Here is what it's meant to look like after being finished. But of course I have changed the colours quite a lot!

I'm using plain old DMCs but I'm using 32ct opal Lugana - Sunset by Colours of the Outback. A lady over in Perth who hand dyes her fabrics. The fabric is so sparkly I wanted to keep the colours simple but I am mixing it up a little.

 I'm not doing it in one colour I'm doing the nine squares different browny/green shades. The middle is 814 so a browny red. The colours just pop on the fabric.

I'm hoping it will look all earthy when it's done. Only half the middle motif to do before I can do another colour. I am loving working on this piece but it will probably go down when I finish the middle and I will work on winter fairy. She hasn't had any love for a very long time. I will have to find a hoop or something for her as she doesn't fit on the millenium frame I bought for her ( that's the other reason baroque is on the frame now)

I was silly when I bought the frame. I bought 3 different sized stretchers but only one set of the winding things. I may need to put in another order of some more stretchers but the postage is so expensive, and the exchange rate is stupid at the moment. Everything from overseas is expensive again.

Oh I wanted to show you the other reason I haven't got much stitching done lately. My grandma promised to teach me how to sew clothes on my machine as she used to spend a lot of time sewing and has a lot to teach me. Since I'm not currently working and have days free I have been heading to my mother's to use her sewing area for Grandma to teach me. We're starting with a dress.

Being me the dress is purple. I'm testing the sizing here and couldn't resist a photo. I have sewed the panels together But we were testing the height of the dress here so the colours are being held together by tacking and grandma's hands she's hiding behind me so she can hold the dark skirt. I love how this is turning out and it will be a wonderful summer dress. I can also see it looking awesome in this pattern in something a little bit stiffer as a work dress. When I finally have some work! I really need to get a job soon I'm going stir crazy!

In job news still no good on the resumes but I'm halfway through my second unit and passed both tests which is exciting.

So this is full of a lot of stuff but if you're still reading I will have some knitting to show as well. I'm doing a lot of random projects at the moment. It feels great.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin