Cross Stitch and Craft Cafe 2020

Charly27

We well done Coxy the Christmas Pots looks amazing. I can’t see a mistake either. I love the idea of creating something which is enjoyed every year as part of the Christmas ritual. £57 seems like a good price for framing. Mine still isn’t on the wall. Maybe by the end of next week when DH is on holiday  Managed a little stitching everyday over the weekend but progress feels slow ATM. Right back to work after my coffee break. . . .

Coxy11

Thank you for the comments on Christmas Pots. Who would've thought it would take a pandemic to shift my backside into getting through my craft stash lol! I have a few Christmas designs which come out every year and ring the changes from our usual pictures. 
I've been getting on with the Dune crochet blanket. Have now completed 43/100 (68/200) rows. Have worked out I need to do 2 (4) rows a day, every day to have it even close to finished by 19 September - eeeek! Did 1 (2) rows this morning  before work - every little helps! May have to send it on to DD lol!
The exams fiasco continues with the school assessed grades received today - BBD - so she was downgraded in every subject (received CCU). Waiting for an announcement (due at 4pm) from BJ and chums. Utterly shambolic. Oh and to add insult to injury, I work for PHE and there will be an announcement tomorrow about our future. Great!!! 
Thanks for the info about Palmers nmm - may give it a go as I'm very fair skinned and never tan, only ever burn!
Have a good evening all!
Coxy xx

Coxy11

Quick Dune blanket update - I've now done 51/100 (102/200) rows. Have been doing 1/2 rows before starting work this week, and then trying to do at least 2/4 rows in the evening. Doubt very much it will be finished in time to go with DD but that will give me an excuse to visit her at uni (lovvvl). In other news, PHE is being broken up and there's a lot of confusion about what will happen to my part of the organisation, including reports in the broadsheets of mass redundancies. I just need to keep calm and see what pans out. 
Hope you are all going well.
Coxy xx

C_J

The Christmas Pots framed picture is gorgeous (I couldn’t spot a mistake either!). What a lovely heirloom that will become.

I decided last week to start making lots of gift bags from my stash of Christmas fabric (I’m aiming for a paper-free festive season), and am now cross stitching dozens of name tags to go on the fabric gift labels. Well, some are full names, but for the immediate family I’ve just done initials. It’s a lovely project because they stitch up so quickly, and I can easily fit in ten minutes stitching between other things and not lose my place the way I do with a larger project.

Charly27

Coxy you sound very focused. Send some my way please. We’ve decided to drive to my mum’s today rather than ride on the MB so I could take cross stitch with me now. My end of August deadline, all self imposed, is looming but I’m back in work on 1st September and I know I’ll be busy and of course waste two hours a day in a car! C_J those tags sound amazing. Best wishes with the work situation too Coxy, my DS is a Section co at M&S so I worry for him. Stressful times, take care all x

Coxy11

Hi all,
Ooh C_J the fabric giftbags and tags sound lovely - photos please!! 
Charly - Good luck with your deadline. It was really shocking to hear about M&S last week. I did my bit at the weekend by kitting DS2 out in a suit, ties, shoes and belt for sixth form at M&S (he already has shirts, barely used from year 11!). Hopefully your DS will be okay. We are waiting to hear what's next for us....
I had a phone call this morning from an old pal who's KnK I used to attend before going back to work FT 4 years ago. Her 18yo grandson was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of lockdown. Thankfully he is responding well to treatment, but I did worry when her name flashed up on my phone. She is such a lovely lady and I really miss seeing her and the other group members. We may try to fit in a morning KnK at the beginning of September, socially distanced at the church hall #excited.
DDs blanket took a backseat this weekend as I spent Saturday afternoon in A&E with another mahoosive insect bite. Need ABs every time I get one which is really frustrating. Spent yesterday hobbling about cleaning the house with DH. Also managed some gardening but wasn't out there long!
Hope to crochet tonight.
Have a good evening all,
Coxy xx

nmm

C_J, the fabric bags sound great, good luck with the stash busting.

Coxy, you must be very tasty for the bugs, hope the AB's work and its on the mend soon. I miss our K&N, we did manage quite a few via whatsapp during lockdown but it seems to have lost momentum recently. I still visit one of the friends i made there and we have our own little crochet session with cake of course Still no crafting done, my sunflowers are slowly dying off but the bees and butterflies are still visiting them so i'll leave them a while yet. 

Coxy11

Good morning everyone,
The end of another week and whoohoo it's BH weekend - apologies for those that work non-office hours. I am pleased to report it's the last day of ABs and leg is much much better. Swelling went down within a few days but the itching was still there yesterday. I have even managed to run this week - Weds and today - so I'm happy with that.
In craft news.... I've managed to complete 59/100 (118/200) rows so over half way, although the border is 4 rounds as well  
We are viewing 4 houses with DS1 tomorrow. The house he and GF had offered on/had surveyed, has fallen through as the vendor has lost his job and can't now move. Annoying but can't be helped. DS GF is having to get a C-19 test as her sister has symptoms!! We will go along to the viewings for moral support! Also need to return some suit trousers to M&S (for DS2 6th form suit), buy birthday gifts for MIL, BIL, DDs BF plus do food shop. We are at SIL on Sunday for a socially distanced family BBQ. It's all go!
Work has been testing this week so I will be glad to switch off laptop and have a few days not having to think about it.
Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope it's a good one!
Coxy xx

nmm

I managed an hour on The junction, i've not posted an update in a little while so this is what it looks like just now. Have a good weekend all, happy crafting

Charly27

Hello all. Thanks for your wishes for DS and M&S. At least he is in good health, what awful news for your friend to receive Coxy. Those insect bites are so debilitating, glad the AB’s have helped the swelling. 

We returned from the North West yesterday. So lovely to see my Mum and managed to see one of my sister’s too. One of my sunflowers went down in the winds we had in Norfolk and neighbour had to rescue her gazebo from our garden whilst we were away. I keep finding tent pegs! 

I’ve kept my work phone off all week and resisted all temptation to peek. I’ll catch up on BH Monday before I return on Tuesday. I’ve done quite a bit of stitching since I got back. I finished the little elephant and working round the border. 

The Junction is looking good nmm. I’ll post an update after weekend. Enjoy your weekend however you spend it.