DOWNLOAD STITCHY PROJECT ... DONE!!!

Hi guys!

I must apologise for the lack of updates over the past few months, I didn't realise it was that bad, but the good news is that I am now working again *HUZZAH*  The job is in a local Estate Agents doing admin work.  It's only three and a half days a week (including Saturday mornings).  I have been there almost a month now and so far, it's going well :)

It is quite tiring though and I have been finding that when I get home (or on my days off), I don't want to spend so much time on the computer.  Not only that but Christmas is just around the corner and I am focusing my energies now on festive projects - cards, bunting, dolls etc...

I will try and update where I can, but I will apologise in advance for any longer than usual absences -- I am sure you will all appreciate how annoying it is when life gets in the way of our hobbies :)

Thanks, as always, for your continued support -- it is very much appreciated!

Before I go, I must apologise for not supplying pattern links relating to yesterday's Halloween post.  I wanted to post it before I went off to work but didn't have time to trawl through my bookmarks to find the pattern links.

Anyway, if you fancy making these projects for yourself, here they are:

Pumpkin: Planet June
Spider: Fun and Fang (Spider in a Jar)
Little Witch: Fun and Fang (Amy the Little Witch)

The pattern for the spiders web was in issue 10 of 'Simply Crochet' magazine.  For copyright reasons I am not going to post the pattern here, but I am sure a Google search will bring up some alternatives.

So that's all I have for now.

Till next time ... keep Kalm and cross-stitch :) xx

Download Stitchy Project -- Update

Happy Hump Day Guys!!!!

Over the last week or so, it seems that I have become determined to finish the stitching projects that have been lingering on my frame for numerous months (and even years in the case of 'Gettysberg')!  I just feel I have too many unfinished projects and that I should really get these out of the way before I start new ones.

Remember at the start of the year I referred to a list of projects that I wanted to get finished?

Well the only one still outstanding is the one I started back in 2011!  I shall be making it my priority to finish that over the next month, but first...

My Download Sampler (if you can call it that), that I charted in March and started stitching at the end of June, is almost complete! Here is what I have done since the last update:

I expect this to be finished within the next day or so.  It's been a relatively straight forward design to stitch this one, but the amount of black has been quite trying. I expect that I have gone through several skeins on this!!!

So that's all I have for today.  However you spend your 'hump day' (at work, school or chilling out at home), have a good one!

Till next time ... keep Kalm and cross stitch! xxx

Download Stitchy Project -- Work In Progress!!!

Greeting guys, hope you all had a great weekend.

Apologies again for my tardiness in posting.  As always, life is getting in the way.  You would think that not working would mean I have all the time in the world to spend on here, but you would be wrong.  The last week or so has been pretty hectic, and I still have this wretched cough :(

Anyway, following on from my previous post and the Download patterns I posted, I have started stitching my own Download project:

I combined the Download logo and Download Dawg and added the date and venue at the bottom.  I had wanted to add the names of the three headline bands too, but I was worried about space so I left them off.

I had initially planned to start and finish this prior to Download, but a delay with an internet order I had placed meant that I didn't get chance to start it in time.  In the end, I decided to wait until after I had got back before starting it.

The upside to that is that I can stitch it at a leisurely pace now.

I haven't done much stitching lately, as the heat has been making it difficult to do so (sweaty fingers make gripping needles awkward).  Crochet hasn't been affected the same way so I have been focusing more on that, but here is a snippet of what I have managed to do so far:

It stitches up quite fast and you can see it starting to take shape now.  According to my charting software, this should use no more that 2 skeins of black thread.  I suspect it will actually use more than this.  I'll keep you posted!

So that's all I have for today.  Hopefully, I'll have some new patterns for you tomorrow.

Till then ... keep Kalm and cross-stitch! :) xxx

Rock 'n Roll Madness [part deux]

Well hello guys!

I hope you're all okay.  Here in the UK we are still sweltering!  I wouldn't normally complain (especially after last year's wash-out), but I've been pretty crappy over the last week or so thanks to a nasty cough.  The combination of the heat and the cough has really curbed my enthusiasm for most things over the last week.

Designing, charting and crafting have all suffered, but I have managed to get some new patterns sorted, and there should be some more in the coming days too.

First though, lets stay with the Download theme from last week.  I can't believe that even a month after the event, I am still buzzing about it!!!   It was an awesome experience, I really hope I get to do it again.  before we get to the patterns, here are some more pics from our mad weekend:

The 'White' campsite --our home for two nights

Rock 'n Roll Man!!!!

See, I'm just incapable of posing sensibly!  (Check out the guy in the poncho and the gas mask behind us)!!!

Me and my bro enjoying Iron Maiden's new "Trooper" beer!

After a quick shot of Jager, Cazzy comes away with goodies!!!

*Ahem*

And so on to the patterns!!!  Both of these are Download themed, first up we have the "Download" logo itself:

I've also charted thew Download Dawg logo too:

Some people might say I have too much time on my hands for charting these --- and they'd probably be right too :D  I have uploaded them to BOX.net (look in the 'music' folder) so feel free to "download" them and stitch them.

So  that's me done rambling for today.

Hopefully, there will be some more new patterns for you over the coming week (weather and health permitting)!

Till next time ... keep Kalm and cross-stitch! :) xxx

Rock 'n Roll Madness!!!

Well howdy guys!

Oh my gosh, how long has it been since I last posted on here?  Ahh, I can only apologise for my tardiness of late.  June wasn't the best of months on planet Cazzy.  Firstly I have re-joined the realms of unemployment after my temping job came to a very sudden (and surprising) end.   I don't really want to go into details here, but rest assured, it hasn't come at a very good time!

The only upside to not working is obviously I can spend more time charting and working on new patterns *HUZZAH*

The only positive thing for June was Download Festival!   Those who follow me long term will know that I mentioned at the start of the year that I would be attending the UK's biggest (and best) Rock Festival this year.

It was something I had always wanted to do (ever since the days it was known as the "Monsters of Rock") and me and brother have been saying for the last few years that we would do it.  It was really only when Iron Maiden were announced as one of the main headliners that we knew that this was the year!!!

So we booked tickets, and the line-up just kept getting better and better:

As the festival got closer and closer, we got more and more excited.  I have to admit that I was also a little apprehensive about it too as I had never (in 40 years) been camping.  The thought of three nights in a tent was a little scary.  In the end, we only did two nights, and it was fine.  One thing you learn quite quickly is that you have no chance of getting any sleep as the campsite is pretty much partying 24/7!!!

Actually, my brother's mate brought ear-plugs and they proved to be a bit of a god-send in the end :D

I had thought about posting a diary of events on here but I didn't think you'd want to read all about that!  Those who are friends with me on Facebook will have probably already seen my photos, but for those of you who haven't, here are few:

Me and my fabby brother -- already drinking at lunchtime on the first day!!!

"The RAF Giraffe" -- me in my funky new hat and must have accessory  of the festival, a RAF poncho!!!

Buddies moshing together!!!  Here we all are on the second day getting excited for Iron Maiden
(l-r: Berty (my bro's mate); Me; Simon (my BIL) and Chris (my brother)

We had such a blast that we didn't want to come home, and we've all vowed that we're definitely go again (although maybe not next year).  Highlight of the weekend was the Spitfire flypast just before Iron Maiden's set:

So I think I have rambled on long enough.  In homage to Download, I have been charting band logo's.  I have quite a few already charted and some in various stages of development.  The first patterns to share are for German Rockers "Rammstein".  I have been promising a friend I would post these for quite some time, so  I hope you like them:

Rammstein Logo #1

Rammstein Logo #2

Rammstein were the headliners on the Sunday night.  Their stage set was bit bonkers and they use a lot of pyrotechnics!  When you get past the fact that they sing predominately in German, they're actually rather good.

The final pattern for today is for AC/DC!  They didn't appear at this year's festival, but they did headline back in 2010:

These patterns have been uploaded to the "Music" folder on BOX.net.

So I think that's me done now for today, and kudos if you've stuck with me to the end!

Hoepfully you won't have to wait as long for the next update but till next time,

Keep Kalm and cross-stitch :) xxx