Sarah Youde

Beautiful Cherub Cushion

Look at this beautiful cushion that my Mum made for my newly decorated bedroom.  The cross stitch is the Angel Heart design from A Mon Ami Pierre and the colour Mum has used is perfect for my room.  She has made this lovely cushion and backed it with some gorgeous William Morris fabric, I love it so much!

 

Photos from Mum's blog.

Thanks Mum.

I have been trying to a bit of stitching this week but I haven't managed to find the time yet, maybe tomorrow night!  The problem is that if I can't sit down to do my stitching right at the beginning of the evening I just don't get around to picking it up.  I need to organise myself to make sure that as soon as tea is cleared away and the kids are in bed I am free to sit down.  It just never seems to happen like that!

Craft Room - One Year On

I was looking at the pictures of my craft room here on my blog the other day and realised that there have been a few changes over the last year.  It's the same with anything new, you find things don't quite work for you and so you move things around, add things in and re-organize.

I know from my blog stats and emails that I receive that quite a few people come to my blog just to look at my room so here is a little update that may interest some of you.

I finally got blinds up!  Yay, this took me about ten months but it had to be done because crafting or using the computer was impossible during the afternoon because the sun streams in the windows.  This is good in one way because it makes the room lovely and bright but it can be blinding particularly at the specific times that I have free time to 'do stuff'!

I went for venetian blinds because they are narrow, look nice and do the job well.  It looks quite stark in the photograph but my room looks so much more cosy now, it's lovely.

 

The most exciting item that has been added to my room is my new scrapbooking island.  I had got so used to scrapbooking whilst standing at the kitchen worktop in the years before I had my room that suddenly having to sit down and scrap seemed a bit strange.  We had bought a 4 x 4 Expedit unit from Ikea to house the kids craft boxes some time last year so that was already in the room.  One day Mark added some wheels to the unit so I could move it around and use it as a work surface and then my step-dad Geoff gave up his Sunday a few weeks ago to make me a melamine top for it raising it to work top height; Viola!  I have a place to stand and scrap that I can move into the middle of the room or push back to the wall when I need some space in my room.

 

I moved the kids boxes onto my larger expedit and used the four spaces in the island for cardstock, stamps and a box of paper and card scraps.

The other side has a little shelf on top which is perfect for holding a trimmer, Martha Stewart scoring board and my tape gun.

A couple of months ago Tesco were selling these really cute little metal drawer units for about £4 each so I got a couple for my desk, they are great for holding all sorts of bits and bobs.

 

I bought a metal bucket at Hobbycraft for my Prismacolor pencils :)  I just wanted to add this pretty picture!

 

Of course, in true scrapbooker style, one of the additions to my room is a pile of boxes under my desk waiting to be sorted out!

 

I did have a worktop height area in my room last year but the position of it made it difficult to use so I asked Mark to move it around so that it would be easier to get to.  Now I have set it up as a little stamping /  die cutting station and I use it all the time!

 

The little banner hanging from the scrapbook frame isn't supposed to be there.  I just need to get some little cup hooks so I can hang it on the wall.  It is a Lizzie Kate cross stitch that I did years ago but I think it will look really cute in my room.

 

Finally, Amy still has her little corner and can be found there beavering away at something (and bugging me to draw a cat / baby / dog) most days :)

Mark has come home from work with Chicken Pox (Chicken Pox at 39!), so although Amy is now over her chicken pox I have Ben, Charlotte and Mark with them!  I just hope that I don't get them, Mum informs me that I haven't had them and I certainly can't remember having them.  I had shingles when I was ten though (doctor was very shocked about that) so hopefully that will make me immune to the pox in the house.  Seriously, I am going to put a red cross on the door until we are all clear!

Have a great weekend!

My Stitching Treasures WIP

I have recently picked up Jeanette Douglas's 'My Stitching Treasures', I started stitching this years ago and then I discovered scrapbooking.  Ooops.  I am determined to finally finish this project especially as Mark ordered the accompanying wooden box to mount it in from America for me (I think it cost him about £340 all in all and was a total surprise so I think I had better do it!).  I absolutely love stitching this, the variety of stitches and the one over one stitching make this not only interesting to stitch but it is also a joy to watch it grow - it is so gorgeous!

This is where I am so far

 

 

So I still have quite a bit to do!  I can't wait until it looks like the image on the front of the chart booklet and when I have mounted it in the box (which is currently wrapped in bubble wrap in the top of my wardrobe).

Did you notice the gorgeous scissor fob in my photograph?  I have been meaning to show this on my blog for some time, Mum made it for me, it is all real silver and Swarovski crystals, just utterly beautiful in real life.  It is the perfect fob for my favourite Wasa embroidery scissors.  Here is a close up of her cleverness!!

 

Also, I think, when I have finally finished 'My Stitching Treasures', I will need to get the matching chart to stitch all the smalls to go inside the box!  I may finish it all by the time we retire.

I have been very busy scrapbooking this weekend.  I had a very tight deadline for Design Objectives so I have been permanently covered in glue since Thursday.  Fortunately, it was the monthly Plymouth crop on Sunday so I spent some of the time chatting to friends :)  I was sent the new range by Stephanie Dyment to work with and it has been my favourite commission for Creativity magazine so far.  Seriously, the papers and embellishments are so pretty and I am very happy with the samples I have made for the magazine, can't wait to see these ones in print!

Did you see Kirsty Wiseman on Create & Craft a few weeks ago?  I thought she did a brilliant job promoting her CD.  Mind you, the CD speaks for itself the little people she has drawn as digital stamps are adorable and there are so many other elements included on the Colour My World disk, it's amazing!  I created some samples for her to show on Create & Craft and Ben and Charlotte were amazed when they saw the cards that 'used to be in my craft room' on the TV!  Although not quite so amazed as when they saw a few layouts of themselves pop up on QVC a few years ago lol.

I will leave you with a layout I created for Kirsty using her 2nd CD 'Fanciful Things',  see they are not just for cards :)

photo source: Kirsty Wiseman Printables

I pinched the image from Kirsty's printables blog as I hadn't taken a picture of it before it was sent off.

A Stitching Finish

Wow, I am on a roll!  Not only have I finished knitting the first Sack Boy (see last post) but I have also got a stitching finish to share!  This is a design that my sister completed a while ago and - being a stitcher - I just loved it.  I have also been dying to have a go at making a mattress pin cushion (although I was originally going to make a needle case with this design but it was bigger than I thought).

This design is by Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin and was featured in the April 1999 issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine.

Carol has kindly lent me the chart for a little scissor fob that matches this so that may just be my next little project.  I should really be carrying on with my WIP's as I have done two (and a half) of the three Michael Powell Tuscan Garden Trilogy, part of a Plymouth Sampler and about a quarter of My Stitching Treasures :)

ETA:  I completely forgot to thank Allie Pettigrew who gave me the chart for this piece of stitching - thanks Allie :)

The Scrapbook Magazine Issue 45

It's out!  I was thrilled to be asked to create a cover layout for this issue, I think it looks really nice.

 

I don't normally scrap with orange very much but I don't know why because I really enjoyed making this layout and the Making Memories papers are, of course, gorgeous paired with the Hero Arts Heart Winged Butterfly stamp that I adore!  I think I have a sketch and a layout in this issue also but I don't have a copy yet so I am not certain about that. 

I have been really busy for the last couple of weeks, Mark has re-painted the front door and decorated the bedroom which in turn meant that I have been doing a lot of cleaning and sorting out.  Geoff has laid our hallway floor and that also looks great, it's such a relief that I don't have to worry too much about the kids getting their shoes off in our tiny vestibule before messing up the carpet, now we can walk right through to the kitchen and sort out the mess later - bliss.  I have also sorted out every cupboard and drawer in the house and am feeling quite smug at my organisational prowess!

I have been doing a bit of cross stitch again which is lovely to get back into and I have some great plans for getting that sewing machine stitching something other than paper again!  I have been looking on the internet at the Bernina Aurora 440QE sewing machine computer, it is a dream machine but the £1,395 price puts it right out of my league unfortunately - my sister Carol has one (or one very similar), you can really go off people can't you? 

I still have to finish knitting Sack Boy (from Little Big Planet) for Ben and Charlotte, they were supposed to be in their stockings at Christmas but they are still unfinished in my knitting bag, althouth I have almost finished the first one.  Oh well, now the house is sorted out again I may sit down and get some of the things done that I want to.

Ben and Charlotte had a play at school this week and it was brilliant.  The play was retelling the Easter story but was called The Sonflower.  Ben told me that he was a sunflower in the play and I knew that Charlotte was in the choir however, Ben failed to tell me he was The Sonflower!  He was amazing and Charlotte's was singing at the top of her voice with such joy on her face that I was almost in tears watching them both despite being sat on a child sized seat in a packed hall with a (very heavy) Amy wriggling around on my lap.  It was the best school production I have been to and I didn't even take my camera!!  It started straight from dropping the kids off in the morning and it is so manic getting them out of the house for school I didn't even think about picking up the camera - gutted!

The Last Project....

...for Scrapdreamie.  I decided to leave Scrapdreamie a few weeks ago and this little frame was my last project.

It was my birthday on Wednesday and I had a lovely day.  I was woken up by Ben and Charlotte (all showered and cleaned by Mark) singing happy birthday and holding cards and presents, bless them.  I was so excited to get the Sex and the City boxed set of all the episodes ever made!  As soon as the kids were at school I sat down and watched the final three episodes to prime myself for going to see the film in the evening.

Lunch time I went to my Mums to spend the afternoon and my sister Carol came over.  I had lunch and Carol had made me this gorgeous little pinkeep (sorry, I pinched the photo off your blog Carol!).

I wonder where she got those scissors, I love scissors and I want them!

In the evening Mark and I went to see Sex and the City at the cinema and had a bite to eat at Nando's.  I loved the food and the film was brilliant - I was crying with laughter at times!  I think they did a brilliant job with the film because it could have turned out really naff.  Even Mark laughed a few times so it wasn't too bad for him to sit through - it was nice of him though because he has never even seen an episode of Sex and the City.  I have the Sex and the City theme as my ring tone on my phone (and have had for years), I said to Mark that I knew it would come back in fashion again - now I am a hip and trendy 38 year old - well, maybe not.

School Holidays Again!

Ben and Charlotte are on their school holidays for two weeks so, as usual, every day is taken up with keeping them entertained and stopping them from going mad in the house.  I have already read them the riot act (twice) about running in the house, throwing things and generally annoying each other.  I am sure they think it is a playground in here! 

Yesterday Mum and I took Ben and Charlotte into town because Nanny and Grandad had bought them both Build-a-Bear vouchers for their birthday and they were so excited about getting a bear made especially for them.   As soon as they entered the shop they were jumping with joy about choosing the perfect bear each.  Ben chose a traditional teddy and Charlotte just HAD to have the Hello Kitty bear (which would have been my choice too!).  The bears are gorgeous and, of course, Mummy had to get them outfits to wear.

As soon as we got home the bears were dressed in their new clothes and I took a couple of snapshots before the children and the bears trotted off to bed.

Here are some layouts that I have just received back from Craft, Life and Home.  They were for the issue that never actually materialized in the end but I am so happy to have my stuff back, it has been gone for about 7/8 months, I did this work in August last year!!

I also got this back.  It is a door hanger that I made from felt using the skull design from the Doodlebug halloween papers as a template (I scanned the paper and enlarge the image of the tiny skull to use as a template for my felt version).  Ben loves it!!

and finally, here is a layout that I have done a little more recently with some of the gorgeous new My Minds Eye papers.

I finally put some of my beadazzles to use by using them to decorate the center of the Prima flowers.

and REALLY finally this time, I can't resist posting this picture of Charlotte with her new Bob and the one where Ben is showing the new gaps in his teeth because I know that their Nanny and Grandad will love to see them :)

Cheezers!

Ben was talking to me the other day about Cheezers.  I was a little confused about what he was saying, I thought he was talking about cheesy crisps or something and was just saying 'oh yes?' and 'was it?' to encourage his conversation.  All the while I was thinking 'What IS he talking about?'.  Then he was talking about Cheezers being in heaven and I was VERY confused.  It became clear (eventually) when he started to tell me (with some frustration at Mummy's stupidity) that Cheezers died on the cross for everyone and then he came back to life!  I think they have been studying Easter in Year 1 recently!  I was in fits of laughter and even Ben was laughing when I explained to him that it was Jesus with a 'J' and not Cheezers with a 'Ch'.

This layout was created with the gorgeous Bella's Boudoir kit from Bellaboo, there is nothing I like better than pink and black so this kit was right up my street!  It is great value too because for £10.95 you get a full pack of alphabets and a full pack of rubons as well as papers, card, ribbon and bling!

I went to the Plymouth crop at the weekend and amongst much chatting and browsing the lovely stampin' Up catalogue I managed two layouts:

I love the Rusty Pickle Chubby Alphabet chipboard that I have used on this layout (covered with the patterned paper).  Also, after completing the layout I masked off the photograph with a piece of card and sprayed it (rather bravely I think!) with glimmer mist in iridescent gold and it looks gorgeous but you can't see it on the photograph.

This layout of Charlotte was quite a quick one but the foliage around the photograph was cut from some KI Memories lacy cardstock and coloured with silver, pink and turquoise inkpads (brilliance) to match the Making Memories Noteworthy patterned papers.

Mark has carried on decorating and he has painted my lovely red kitchen in warm beige, whilst I loved the red I have to admit that the beige looks cleaner and makes the kitchen look a lot more spacious.  The lounge also looks gorgeous now it is all put back together.  Next the hallway!

I also finished the Shepherd's Bush scissor fob 'In My Garden' - it is so cute that I can't stop looking at it. 

Now I am stitching a 'Sarah' tree by M Designs.  Carol bought this chart for Christmas a couple of years ago and amongst all my stitching stash I completely forgot about it so I was really excited when I found it.

Now I am really getting excited about attending the Stitches show at the weekend so if you are in the NEC on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday pop over the Scrapgenie stand to say 'Hi' to Tracie, Anna, Debbie and me!

As Promised...

I finished stitching all the beads onto Judy Dixon's Fairy Dust last night.  It has turned out really pretty, I will probably make it into a little pillow.

I have been scrapping with those gorgeous acrylic albums today.  Photographs will follow but here is a little sneak peak of todays creation.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!  Mark is off out tonight so I can watch whatever I want on TV!  I may even do some more stitching.  I have decided to stitch a little scissor fob next - it is called In My Garden and is by Shepherds Bush.

This and That

Well firstly I apologise for being a bad blogger!  I can't believe that it has been so long but it has been a busy couple of weeks.

Ben and Charlotte have been prancing around the house singing songs from their upcoming school play :)  I can't wait!  It is Charlotte's first proper play and it will be lovely to see them both up on stage together.

I have been busy scrapping :)  Last weekend was the Exeter crop and Mum and I love to go there.  The girls are all sooooo lovely and it was so great to see everyone because we have had quite a long break since the last one, I think it is about 6 months!!  We spent most of the day chatting (like you do!) but I had taken supplies with me to make the cutest little ATC album.  I saw the instructions by Jane Dean in Papercraft Inspirations , this album is gorgeous and so enjoyable to make.

As we do each Christmas at the Exeter crop (and this was our Christmas crop) we all made a Christmas card to take along as inspiration for everyone else.  I made a pop up card with papers from the English Paper Co.

I also took instructions from the Bad Girls Kits Christmas Workshop to make Tina Sue's beautiful christmas tree but by the time I got the cone base to look right is was time to go home.  I definitely want to finish this though because it is so nice.  I haven't had chance yet because I have been getting things ready for this weekend's Crop n' Craft workshop.

I am so excited about travelling up to Tracie's tomorrow and finally getting to meet Anna.  The workshop is going to be brilliant.  Here is a sneak peak of my class.

I have been busy crocheting flowers for everyone to use for my class.  I also made the cutest little pin cushions as a way to include a needle in the kit for the stitching part of the class.  The hearts are only just over an inch in size.

So, I am off to get ready to take that drive to Barnstaple tomorrow.  It may sound silly, it's not that far!  But, I don't like driving!!!