Free to a good home

Hi folks. 

A friend was having a clear out and sent me lots of cross stitch charts from UK magazines. I've kept quite a few but already have these as I subscribe to the magazines. They're from cross stitcher, crazy and WOXS. 

There are several different themes so if you would like any of them I'll be happy to post them out to people. Must are If several people want them I'll pop names in a hat. Some piles have 3-4 charts others just one or two. 

Themes are

Animals (mainly cute)

Christmas

Retro/Scandi 

Oriental

Beach/seaside 

Floral (one set of charts)

Give me a shout if you want any, I won't be offended either if people want to pass  

On with the stitching (said in a firm way to try and motivate me as my stitchy bug is refusing to play these last few weeks)

Time for a little competition.

Hi friends,

I've not run a giveaway on my blog in a long while so when my lovely giveaway prize came from Christine today it gave me a little idea. To win Christine's prize I had to guess the number of finishes she'd have along with the number of books read and shoes purchased over the course of the year. So here is my competition:

To win random mystery prize you need to guess the answers to the following and comment on my blog with your answer and what your favourite colour is (to help with what I decide to do for prize). I will draw the prize in January 2017. (By which point you wil have totally forgotten that you entered this!)

The questions:

1.How many biscornu and little stitcheries in my bowl?

2. How many biscornu will I stitch this year? (I mean standard 8 sided ones)

So pop your answer in the comments (something like 10 in the bowl and 125 stitched in 2016, favourite colour green) As you can tell that answer is totally wrong but you get the idea. I'll close the competition in the middle of March. 

Happy guessing 

The 4th Winner...Eventually

Just a very very quick post to share the winner of the last giveaway.

So the prize was this...

And the lucky winner was Joan!!!! I've got your details, so I'll be in touch.

I'll be back soon to share makes for Laura's recent visit and my awesome giraffe.

Happy crafting. x

2nd Blogversary giveaway #4

Hi everyone

So the kids are back to school and my daughter starts pre school tomorrow. She's doing my work days so I won't have time to miss her or have a peaceful house. 

Autumn seems to be here and there is a distinct nip in the air in the morning. Time to get the woollies out. 

So here is the winner of giveaway #3 

Steph!!!!!

Congratulations to Steph and I'll be in touch.  

So on to the last of my 4 giveaways to celebrate my Blogversary. This one represents my quilt so is a little quilted bookmark, made with 2" hexagons and backed in felt with 2 little 1" hexi's hanging from the bottom and hand stitched with gold thread. Talk about trying to big up a bookmark! I'm also going to include a small charm pack of fabric and a bag of buttons and charms.

So the usual rules apply and I'll pick a winner after about a week. 

Thanks for reading

Kerry

2nd Blogversary Giveaway #3

Hi everyone.

A little later than planned but here is the winner of the Rhodes Butterfly biscornu.

Random name generating child picked a winner out of the pot and it is....(Drum roll please)

Kaisievic!!

Well done Kaye, I'll be in touch!!

So here is the third of the giveaways to celebrate my blogversary. I've had a look in my rather large box of kits and picked out 2 card kits and also a bookmark kit that isn't pictured as small child has hidden it! It is a pretty little Anchor kit with a pond and dragonfly.

So if you would like to win these kits just leave a comment in the post below and I'll put the random name generating child to good use again. It's a good thing there are only 4 giveaways otherwise he'll be demanding payment for his services. I'll close this one and launch the last giveaway in about a week.

Good luck.

2nd Blogversary giveaway #2

So time to draw the winner of the charm bracelet and to launch the second giveaway.

It was lovely to hear all your answers and I'm looking forward to making the bracelet and sending it to the lucky winner who is....

Christine

I've got your email addy so, I'll be in touch.

So on to the second prize...It wouldn't be right to have a giveaway on Ramblings of a Biscornu addict without giving away a biscornu.

I stitched this Kincavel Krosses design in my favourite thread Luna Park by Dinky Dyes, with a border of seed beads and a little silvered charm.

So to win the biscornu simply be a follower and comment on the post below.

Thank you so much for reading my blog over the last 2 years. All the lovely comments really mean a lot and keep me crafting. Thank you to for the friendships. I've made some very good friends through blogging who are so kind and generous in many ways.

Good luck everyone. xxx

2nd Blogversary Giveaway #1

Hi everyone,

Today is my 2nd blogversary and to celebrate this I'm having a series of giveaways each with a different prize.

I've made a few charm bracelets recently and I really love making them. Jewellery was one of the first real hobbies I had and I still like to dabble. Taking part in the travelling box has renewed my enthusiasm for it as it isn't so time consuming but you can create some beautiful things.

The first prize is a charm bracelet in my blogversary extraganza. Here are some ones I've made recently so you can get an idea of what you can win.

It will be a made especially for you and feature a couple of charms that make it personal to you. To win the bracelet please comment on this post with the following:

• Favourite colour
• Favourite animal(s)
• Main craft hobbies - (crochet, stitching etc)
• Any other hobbies - (reading, baking etc)

This giveaway will run for a week and close at midnight (GMT) on 16th August I will use the random number generating child to pick a winner.

Please feel free to share this on your blog if you wish.

Good luck everyone

Hexagon Quilt Kit Giveaway

I'd completely forgotten I had a giveaway running to win a hexagon quilt kit until a flash of something hit me and I remembered to draw a winner. I used the random name generator also known as Thom to draw the winner. So this was the prize...

So without further delay the winner is...

Angela CG

From Stitching in the Zoo.

So Angela please email me your postal address and I'll get the kit in the post to you.

My blogversary is only 60 days away  now so I'm planning a series of giveaways to celebrate that, so If you didn't win today there will be some giveaways coming up soon. In the meantime Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a lovely giveaway so check it out.

Bye for now. xx

Hexagon quilt kit giveaway

Many moons ago I promised a giveaway for a kit to start a hexagon quilt. I really wanted to do this as I was given a kit by Laura (who also has an excellent tutorial here on how to do it) so to pay it forward I wanted to give one away too. You can see my progress here  in case you missed it yesterday.

Here is the kit you could win, It has two reels of thread, a selection of cotton fabrics to make the hexagons as well as a few made up. There is a packet of papers (I cheat and buy mine from the quilting shop) but you can use one to make your own template and make your own as Laura suggests in her tutorial. I've sewn 3 hexagons together to start you off too.

So to win the kit you need to do two things...

1. Be (or become) a follower
2. Comment on this post telling me what piece of fabric you would put into your quilt that most represents you? I have a couple of giraffes and lots of green in my quilt to give you an idea.

The winner will be drawn at random on Sunday 9th June

Good luck and thank you for reading my blog.

Ps don't worry if you don't fancy the quilt kit, It's my blogversary soon so I'll have another giveaway then!

Giveaway prizes

Hi everyone,

Here are the prizes I sent out to Lauren and Laura following their wins.

Lauren received these charts, a bag of bits, bobs and ribbons and I made a little scissor fob and mini hug cushion (pattern from Steph)

Laura had these kits, a simular bit and bobs bag, scissor fob and a bookmark with a CS Lewis quote. I don't seem to have a picture of the bookmark close up, oops but it says "You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough for me"

I'll be launching my hexagon quilt giveaway in a couple of weeks so watch this space, but in the meantime you can check out these giveaways around the bloggersphere.

Drum roll please...

Thank you to everyone who has entered my Stash Busting Giveaway.

I used a random name generator otherwise known as the children to pick the winners. The two winners are...

Lauren and Laura

Ladies I have your addresses so I'll pop your prizes in the post this week.


Thank you to all those who entered. I was overwhelmed by the response. I'm preparing my Hexagon quilt kit giveaway so I'll launch that soon.

A little finish, Hexagon quilt and more

I've yet more followers, a big welcome to you!! I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

I've a little finish to share. I wanted to stitch a bookmark each for my Bible study group friends. I found a fab chart on Etsy and here is the first one of the 4 that I've done. I'm doing the same design in 4 different colours.

Nancy at the Victorian motto shoppe is having a giveaway to win one of 5 kits she sells. Click here to enter. She has some beautiful kits. I love the Hare one and the Hope one too. There are so many giveaways happening at the moment - McKenna has a great list here , and is doing a weekly round up on a Wednesday of various giveaways happening. A fair few have finished but there are still some to enter...You never know!! I was very lucky to win McKenna's giveaway and I'll share what I won when it arrives (Excited squeal!)

The blackwork sampler is coming on really well and I'm loving stitching it. Not much more progress at the moment, I've jarred my back so it's been a bit uncomfortable to sit for long. I also sat and did a couple of hours on my quilt too as it's a bit easier to move position, so here is the latest pic, still a very looooooooooong way to go though. If anyone would like to be part of the quilt and send any small scraps of fabric, I'd love to make you part of the story. I have fabric from a few friends already and it's lovely to be able to say "that bit is from..." The left column and the bottom row are the latest additions.

Despite being on my stash bust at the moment, I did have a little splurge friday and brought this lot from here. A lot will be used for my giveaway or for makes for the travelling box. It's a great shop for charms and bits and excellent service, I ordered Friday morning and it was here the next day.

Another little purchase was this beautiful brooch from Steph, this is a custom design as I wanted it to go with a couple of outfits - one was the cardi it is pinned to. It's called Star of Wonder.

You can see others here on her blog and in her Folksy Shop .Steph also included a little bag of bits. The beads spell out THANK U. How sweet is that, (although it took me a couple of mins to work out!) I did get something else but it is hubby's valentines present (or part of).

Today is the drawing of my stash busting giveaway so I'll be back later with that. (another excited squeal!)

Blackwork Sampler update

Hello Friends,
Welcome to my new followers. Thank you to McKenna for posting my giveaway on her blog, I have a feeling that some of my newest followers may have come to me that way! There is still time to enter if you haven't yet, it's here if you need the link.

I've been busy this morning putting Rice Pudding into the slow cooker for pudding later. It's the first time I've ever cooked rice pud, let alone doing this recipe in the slow cooker so fingers crossed it turns out nice. I LOVE rice pud so I'm looking forward to this already! I've used the slow cooker 3 times this week - a record for me!!!!

Right I said blackwork progress so This was the first picture I showed you taken on Thursday morning after one evening on it. Only a couple of hours as we were watching Bake Off - Did you see it? W3asn't it good fun!

Here is the sampler where I left it last night, Well that's not strictly true otherwise I'd have to take a photo of the gap down the side of the sofa, but this is where I got to with the stitching.

I'm glad the gold has shown up as I spent an hour or more fighting with the metallics last night. I tried 3 different ones and ended up setting for a DMC light effects one. It wasn't the recomended one, I've looked for that and it is rather expensive for what I need when I can make do with something 4 times cheaper. I'm trying not to buy stash when I can make do or do without. I can't help buying fabric scrap packs for my Hexagon quilt so I need to avoid spending in other areas.

Well we're off to the library in a bit so time to get a move on! I'll be back on Wednesday with the January round up for Theme-a-licious. I finished a bookmark Thursday, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait until April to see this one as it's for the travelling box.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Ta-dah!

Hi Everyone, Have you begun to thaw out if you're in old Blighty?

So here is the final biscornu before it was stitched up.

a close up of the top.

And ta-dah!!! all stitched up. (Probably should of turned the flash off, but the light is so poor at the mo.)

The design was one of Steph's designs. Just click on the freebie treats bit in her blog. Her designs are a joy to stitch and I would highly recomend them for anyone looking for a quirky stitch or a biscornu pattern. You can also see her fabulous art work of the Wee Witchies and the gorgeous wild women brooches. I've got 4 more of Steph's charts printed out ready to do inbetween bigger projects. (now I've got you guessing Steph!)


I can now say I've completed my basket of biscornu challenge. Here are the 12 together (well 13 but the two crochetted ones count as 1).

And here is my Biscornu bowl as it I can't believe this dish is almost full too.

I'm planning on writing a little letter to the cross stitch mags about this challenge in the hope I can get it printed and then I'll be able to tick another off the 101/1001 things list.

There are several giveaways floating round in blog land at the moment. Mine is open until the 2nd Feb and you can find it here. Most of these below close on 1st Feb. Sorry if I've missed anyone off.
McKenna at Chic Crafting is having a giveaway of a very cute Ami Octopus
 Jo at Serendipidous Stitching is offering a chance to win some charts
Astrid at Dragon Stitching is offering a mystery prize
Heather at It's geek to me has something handmade and more goodies to giveaway
Xstitch Librarian has a goodie bag waiting for one lucky commenter
Christine at Alchemy Stitchcraft is offering a pretty corsage.
Mii at Mii stitch is offering 2 lucky winners one of two kits

Well I think that is enough to keep you busy for now!
Happy Stitching

2 down one to go!!

I hope you are all wrapped up warm if you are in snowy parts at the moment. Hubby took the kids out earlier on the sledge and they've had a play out. I've got go sledging on my 101 list so hopefully we can do it tomorrow, I did specify a particular hill we used as kids, but I might mark it as complete as long as I sledge down any hill not just the 'top ten' as it's known. I've no idea why it's called that, but it is!

So as discussed and thank you to those who helped me make the decision here are the Christmas and November biscornu. The links to them can be found on my January Theme-a-licious check in post. So here is the November Poppy top and bottom and then the December Christmas one top and bottom

Thanks to all of you who have entered my giveaway already, who'd have thought so many of you would want a few cover kits that I just wouldn't stitch! Anyway it's open for another 2 weeks yet and here's the link - Stash busting giveaway

I started preparing the Hexagon Quilt Kit too ready for my next giveaway too. I think I've cut round 50 hexagons so far, got tacking and sewing threads and some hexagon papers. It should be a good kit and certainly get the recipient off to a good start! I'm not sure when I'll launch it but it'll be soon. If you're wondering about what a hexagon quilt look like when it's slightly larger than a place mat check out Strawberry Mouse crafts. Laura has kindly let me use her tutorial along side this giveaway when it is launched.

Stay warm folks!

Stash busting giveaway

I had a huge sort out of my stash over New Year and I’ve decided to have a giveaway… of stash!

There will be two prize bundles which will include: cross stitch patterns, cover kits (with charts) thread, ribbon, embellishments (stickers, buttons), and a little handmade something from me too.

Here's a sneak peek of the start of the two bundles...

If you’d like to enter, just leave me a comment on this post by Saturday 2nd February and I’ll draw the winners sometime on the 3rd!


I thought a stash share might be fun- and also help me to make some room in my ever expanding craft boxes!!

I'll be back tomorrow to share my two biscornu, but now I'm off to sort out another giveaway for another time which will be a hexagon quilt kit!

Thanks for stopping by.
Kerry. x

Christmas Giveaway winner

Just a very quick post to share the winner of my giveaway. It was.....

Jo (aka Threadbear)

So  congrats to Jo and I'll be back to share what I sent her when she gets the parcel.

Keep warm friends!!

Kerry

Welcome to Advent and my GIVEAWAY!!!!!

So has everyone opened their Advent calendars today? We have 8 would you believe! The children have a lego one each, the 4 of us have a chocolate one...mine is Hello Kitty. We also have a wooden one where you decorate a scene each day and finally we have an Advent candle. Phew (we won't mention my Mr Men Advent calendar at work). We'll be at church in the morning for the lighting of the first advent candle.

So on to my my giveaway. I was going to show you the prize but I've decided to keep it a surprise. I will say it contains no less than 5 makes, a couple of bits I've picked up when I've been out and about, some festive stash and treats too.

So on to the rules:
You need to be a follower
Please leave me a comment with a telling me about a Christmas tradition in your house or something you like to so each year.

For me it's about certain gifts I give... everyone gets socks and and a chocolate orange (or in my mums case coffee creams)

On Christmas morning the kids come into our room sit on the bed and open their stockings, we go down have breakfast and then open some more presents. We then go to church and after that to my mums for MORE presents, a huge roast and a mountain of washing up!

I'll close the giveaway Friday 7th, so hopefully even if you are not in the UK it'll still get to you.


If that isn't enough festive cheer for you, Jo is hosting the advent blog hop. You can find all the details here and Steph at Show and Tell is also having a giveaway here.

Good Luck everyone!

500th comment prize and winner

Hi friends,

I've been wittering on about my 500th comment for a few posts now and I'm excited to say that my lucky commenter was...

Mii

I decided not to make a biscornu for this but to do a note book cover instead. I found the quote somewhere I can't remember as soon as I saw it knew I wanted to chart it into some sort of stitching. Now I have the most basic of basic computer software for designing, but I'm a pencil and paper girl at heart so out came the graph paper and as an insight into my rather scatty mind here is how I got to the finished piece.

It was fun to stitch and not at all taxing by any stretch of the imagination so here is the finished result. I stitched it to some yellow felt, partly because I couldn't decide what colour to do it so when I found a piece of yellow felt in my fabric box that hadn't been cut up, decision made as I was not up to venturing in the garage at midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning. A migraine on Friday put me in bed most of the day so when I got up my body clock was all to-do, so I was happily stitching until 2am. Whether I was getting delirious by then or just in a bit of a mad mood (due to a very random, bear with... text conversation about Miranda with Laura!) I had come to the conclusion whilst blanket stitching it, it was a bit like a yellow duster! Such Fun!

It wouldn't have been a complete parcel without some whatnots.

Well before I decend once more into a state of randomness tinged with madness, a big THANK YOU to everyone for sticking with me, to those who have been with me from the beginning, and to my more recent followers. Welcome too, to Ali.b, my newest follower! Oh if anyone would like a squizz at Mii's blog you can find it here.

I'm off to make a biscornu for a swap now...Ta ta!

And we have a winner (or two)

Morning Friends,

I hope you've had a lovely weekend. I put my children to good use this morning and got them to pick winners for my blogversary giveaway. Being a traditional kind of gal, the names went into a tin.

Thomas picked out the first winner who was...

Cucki

Lottie picked out the second winner and it was...

Sarah

They both have lovely blogs and you can find Cucki's here and Sarah's here. Ladies I will email you for your addresses. Congratulations!!

Thank you to all of you for entering, please continue to comment on my blog as I've got another giveaway for my 500th comment. Don't forget to go in for the travelling pattern too, the link to the page is here

Have a great week folks, I'll be back towards the end of the week with a biscornu and a little feltie make too. 

Happy Crafting. xxx