A Foray into Cross Stitch

Cross Stitch is something that i used to do a lot of when i was younger, but then i stopped - i can't remember why. When i was back at my parents house recently, i was clearing through some bits and bobs and i found all my Cross Stitch goodies including these:

Sorry for the slightly blurred image...the light in my house is absolutely shocking for photographs, especially in the evening. Anyways. My Mum has this brilliant book by Jo Verso which is used to use a LOT. I really love all of Jo Verso's designs, and was very sad to learn recently that she died a few years ago in a car crash.. 

This book contains all sorts of pictures and motifs of animals, flowers, 'things' and people in all sorts of hobbies and professions and around the world. I cannot stress enough the awesomeness of this book, i really must get my hands on a copy of my own sometime. It is the perfect basis for designing a sampler or for taking little designs for cards etc. When i was last home i dug out this book and chose a little graduation motif to make my Mum a card for her PhD Graduation, which is tomorrow. And here is the finished card!

My Mum is graduating from Loughborough and although there was a list of robe colours on the website i could not find an actual photograph, so the colours are a bit of a guess! I will find out tomorrow how close i am. Also, you amy be thinking that the hat does not look like a traditional mortar board - well, you would be right! They wear floppy hats at Loughborough apparently. My PhD robes were relatively traditional, but i know that some universities have them in all crazy colours!! I'll find out tomorrow just what these ones look like in the flesh (or should that be, in the cloth??). 

I have also started work on baby cardigan number 2! The last one took me about 5 months to completes, but i am feeling more optimistic this time...here is the progress in just under a week...

Not bad methinks! I am absolutely in love with this wool, it is actually a lot deeper blue than it appears in the photo, and is possibly the softest wool i have ever felt. I am meeting it's intended recipient for the first time in a few weeks and would love to have it completed by then...we shall see!

In other news, i am very excited to announce that i will very shortly be welcoming a very special guest to my blog! He is small and furry and has been making his way around the blogoshpere raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Can you guess who it is yet? All i will say is that i hope we have a most EXCELLENT time together...still nothing? Well, you'll just have to watch this space and all will be revealed very soon!

Knitted Square Count: 15

K xx

P.S - If you have a spare moment pop over to Ashley's blog at Jellybean's Odds and Ends...she is having a fantastic giveaway where one lucky winner can choose a pattern of their choice! What would you choose? I have my eye on Colette Patterns Crepe dress at the moment!