24,000 - 22-28 December

India-
I have completed the word “Strong”, now working on “2019”, the date is at the bottom of the whole arrangement.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.
I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 42

This would have been the last of the year, but there were a few weeks this year I didn’t do these Saturday posts. So, We have a few more weeks of treasures to look at.

I have several lovely glass paperweights.

This is the first one. I was given it by my friend Joanne, who let me live with her and the girls when I was in Bible College.

A good one for this time of the year.

Some sewing related pressies

Aren’t friends and family so thoughtful?

Some books, fabric and other sewing related things have come into my studio.
Not to mention the chocolate!

Note books and eco- dyeing materials

And notelets from a very good friend.

Thank you so very much everyone!

Lovely Christmas

Some time ago I realised that Christmas is a lot more lovely if you make it up in your mind that it will be ...and that you will accept what it is as lovely.
So, although I am still full of cold, and haven’t much energy, that has been a good thing since I haven’t had to do allll the things I normally set myself to do!
And you know, it has still been lovely 😊! Those things not actually missed. Plus other people joining in to help.

One of the things I did do was make serviettes for friends. All of it from fabric I have acquired so it wasn’t tossed. Of course I forgot to take photos! Except for these I made to add to my own collection, since the others were getting faded. They can still be used, but now I have a better posh set and practical set.

24,000 - 15-21 December

India- 

I have nearly completed the word “Strong”. This time the word is at the bottom of the whole arrangement so the word is facing out, so to speak, to make it easier to read. 

one more Sunday for posting, but a couple days left. Beyond that. 

Still thinking about finishing off.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.

I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 41
I love chimes. This chime belonged to my Mother in law.
I was given it when she died.

At the moment it is against the wall in the kitchen.
It has a beautiful sound.

********************************

Apologies for the state of the wall. For some bright reason, the people who lived here before us artexed as many bits of wall they could reach.
The bumps collect dust and you don’t realise. I am not good at the dusting thing. It is hard enough to remember to dust the treasures, let alone the wall!

A very cool thing!

Today we got a Christmas card from a relative of my husband in Scotland.

Sequins!

Then trying not to damage anything...

Ha! It is a piece of sequinned fabric!

How cool 😎

Designed for WHSmith 

Something (meant to be) on Saturday

I have had a head cold and Saturday got lost in falling asleep.
So, anyway.

Treasure 40

A decorative warming pan given to me by my mother in law. I don’t know if there is a story behind it.

24,000 - 8-14 December

India-
I have nearly completed the word “Stand”. This time the word will be at the bottom of the whole arrangement so the word is facing out, so to speak, to make it easier to read.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.
I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

Last Sunday

Last Sunday my friend went off on the Reading Toy Run. 
Each year she takes part in the charity run with her bike dressed up for Christmas.

 Although this year she moved away, she traveled back just to go on the run.

This year her theme was Brussels Sprouts.

I think it is wonderful how she is committed to doing this whatever the weather.😊

25 million stitches

making progress  on the second panel. Because I used a circular embroidery hoop on the first one, I thought I would use a somewhat square hoop from one of my machines. That wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. 😅
So I decided it would be ok to draw light lines with a pencil. So the second attempt looks a bit better. Keep going... I am going to try a few different designs within the shapes.

Good news related to my India bead project

India-
in related news: here is a good thing!

Five Indian Christians wrongfully convicted of the 2008 killing of militant nationalist leader, Laxmananda Saraswati, which sparked horrific anti-Christian violence in Orissa (now called Odisha) state, were ordered to be freed on 26 November by India’s Supreme Court. They had been sentenced for life, 2 others were released earlier in the year.
Although a Maoist Naxalite group claimed responsibility for the attack almost immediately, but extremists blamed Christians instead and turned violently against them.
In the ensuing persecution, around 90 Christians were killed and thousands were injured. More than 56,000 were left homeless as houses were looted and burnt, while nearly 300 churches and many other Christian properties were destroyed.

This should be an encouragement. I hope more cases of imprisoned believers will reviewed.

24,000 - 1-7 December

India-
I have nearly completed the word “Attack”. I have miss counted the level these letters were to sit on. So I have had to adjust the last couple letters. Perhaps I should have made the T letters thinner.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.
I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 39

This treasure is actually my husband’s. It belonged to his dad. One of those Loch Ness souvenirs, given him because he was Scottish. This one held whiskey.

 I  know if it was brighter when new. I know it was displayed in a windowsill for years by my Mother In Law.

24,000- 24-30 November

India- 

I have nearly completed “Faith”.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.

I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 38
Another sewing machine

I recently found it again. Probably packed away when things were all upside down in my studio.

Unexpected Loveliness

Saturday a friend gave me a little gift. How lovely!

Even the wrapping paper at the top!

And then there was a parcel from Empress Mills when I got home.
With a bit of sparkle

And a fat quarter

How wonderful! Just the thing to fit with some of the work I do. 🤗

25 million stitches

I posted a few weeks ago about a hand stitching project I am taking part in called 25 million stitches,

A new public art engagement project that aims to raise awareness about the global refugee crisis. (it could quite easily be more, depending on the source, but that is the number they are going with.)

I have finished the first length of fabric, they call them panels.

Trying to show you closer with a video. Pardon any wobbles! I haven’t done much with closeup videos.

I like working with the variegated crochet cotton.
The circles are inspired by my hoop.😁 I don’t usually use a hoop, but this is one layer of fabric, so I knew the stitches would not stay flat if I didn’t use a hoop.
I have started another panel. I am working with a more colourful variegate crochet cotton now. I have a squarer hoop this time, but I’m going to have to work at it more if it is going to look good enough to do not quite squares all across the length.

24,000- 17-23 November

India- 

I have nearly completed ”India”.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.

I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

24,000- 10-16 November

Well, last weekend was very busy, though I did get all the week’s beads stitched and even photographed. Then, through the week, I was working towards a deadline whilst preparing for doing a presentation at TVCT, so the posting of photos sort of went by the way. And besides, I started getting a chesty cold.

So, excuses out of the way, Here is the bead project from last week.

India- 

I completed “24,000” and started “India”.

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.

I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

Now, catching up on the past week!

Something on Saturday

Treasure 37

This is a rather tatty trinket meant to be a fridge magnet. But it’s ok for my little collection. 

Something on Saturday

Treasure 36

Another little trinket

Autumn colour

Found these in the car park near our house.

They glowed with the sun on them.

24,000 - 3 - 9 November

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.
I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.


I have finished the main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

‘One Year’

starting ‘24,000’

Something on Saturday

Treasure 35

This was a little trinket I bought when we had a trip on a canal boat.

The Bull at the Gate

The other day I was at South Hill Park. I noticed the sculpture at the front entrance.

I love this bull who has driven his horns through the brick wall and is caught.

This photo and the next two are from 2016

In 2016, I took part in an art event. My intervention was hanging red flags along the spine...Red Flag to a Bull. The Bull

The Bull at the Gate was made by the sculptor, Marcel Baettig.

As I came out of the entrance, the shape of the ivy caught my eye.

It is well on its way to growing into the shape of a bull, How fun!

24,000 - 28 October- 2 November

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.
I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.

Last week I showed the finish of main part of the project, the 300 days that were made of 10 beads in each square 8 x a day. Now I am working on some words to go round the star which will say a bit about the meaning. This will fill out the remaining 65 days of this year, since the bead project is daily for a year.

Here is a closeup. No, it isn’t very clear, but I kind of like the idea that the words take time to decipher.

I started lining up the words ‘one year’ at this section, starting from the bottom because It was easier to line up.

However, when I put it on the back of the settee to photograph I could see a better layout. So I took out the beads which started ‘one’ and have changed the position.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 34

This was a present from my mom. Just a resin painted form, but I like it. 

You can put things inside. There are some pretend bits in there.

More Stitches

I recently heard about another stitching project. 25 million stitches. ONE STITCH FOR EACH OF 25 MILLION REFUGEES

Jennifer Kim Sohn asked What do 25.9 million people look like? and then set out to answer as she grappled with the enormity of the world’s refugee crisis. 25 million people across the globe have been forced to flee their homelands as a consequence of genocide, war, poverty, natural disasters, targeted violence, and other grave threats.

Sohn began asking volunteers to hand stitch on fabric panels. thousands of embroidered panels, each representing 100 refugees. The final result will be displayed in a 2020 exhibit that will coincide with World Refugee Day on June 20. 

The two objectives of the project are:

1. To engage as many people as possible to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis and

2. To amass 25 million stitches to visually represent the sheer volume of this astronomical figure of refugees.

So, as this is also something that is heavy on my heart, I decided to join in on the project. Something that can keep my hands occupied, as well as helping to raise awareness.

Shoeboxes

A couple photos of our shoeboxes which will be going to Samaritan’s Purse for Operation Christmas Child.

We have collected over 30 boxes...some still to come.

24,000 - 21 -27 October

India-
Day 300- 24,000 people noted.
Each bead stands for 1 person.
The 24,000 is complete!

 The next 65 days (as this is my daily project) I will be using beads to spell out words like India, Faith, Christians, etc.

I didn’t crop this photo because I wanted to give you a sense of scale. 

I tried to get a bit more of the sparkle in these photos. 

This work acknowledges 24,000 individuals - Indian Christians who were physically attacked in one year because of their faith.
I have stitched 80 beads each day for 300 days - 10 beads in each small square eight times.