Crafty Recap of 2025

I wanted to talk about my crafty finishes in my last post, however it became too long with my life updates. So lets do it now . 

2025 was year I restarted crafting and blogging and I'm quite happy with what I achieved .

First finish of the year was this cross stitch wedding sampler I stitched for an Instagram snailmailing friend whose wedding I couldn't attend due to work . 

The wedding was in Feb 2024, I was able to send her before her 1st wedding anniversary. I love the vintage look of this project and quite happy with the framing too.

Second finish of the year was this Knitted scarf , gifted to Instagram snailmailing friend. I wasn't sure about the color, I thought it was gaudy. To my surprise , everyone on IG has liked the color.

Some more knitting gifts , which I showed here 

These cards were finished in May .

40th Birthday gift for my penpal, I was late only by 1.5 years

My next finish is a freebie from Silvercreek Samplers which was a SAL with a Instagram friend. This one I'm keeping for myself.

Knitted washcloths were my next finish, gift for husband's colleague

Husband asked for gloves, I knitted mitten because they were easy :)

My last finish of the year was this ATC I stitched for ATC swap organised thru Instagram

I entered 2026 with 3 cross stitch WIPs and 1 knitted WIP . The knitted WIP was finished last night. Hoping to finish the other WIPs soon(read in 2026)

I will add details of each finish on my finish pages if anyone is interested in pattern names.

Which one do you like most?

First 45 days in a new country-What I have been upto ?

Well people, Today is the 45th day of being in beautiful country of Scotland...How has time flewn by.

It was summer when I landed , so enjoyed few warm days of sunshine . The first 2 weeks were fun , we just had a bed with mattress and some utensils for cooking. Funny how we manage with bare minimum when we are willing. We bought a pair of sofas and some storage units within a week.

Our air shipment arrived on 15th August and then the house was full with clothes, furnishings and most important my hobby stuff.

My husband's colleague had rented a car in August and they were kind enough to take us around for some sight seeing /short day trips.

Sharing some pics here

Devil's Pulpit at Finnich Glen

Devil's Pulpit at Finnich Glen

I had carried two cross stitch projects with me in luggage and rest of the stuff was sent via Air shipment. The first day I picked up cross stitching was on World Cross Stitch Day. I stitched on a SAL piece I started  with a stitcher on Instagram for a Silver Creek Samplers pattern on 1st June.

I loved stitching this as Heart and pink color are my favourite things to stitch. I used Anchor variegated floss for this project.

Next weekend we went to visit the historical town of Culross. It is Scotland's most complete example of a burgh of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Sampler spotted at Culross Palace

Culross Palace

Tapestry/needle point spotted at Culross Palace

I finished the SAL piece on 24th and asked hubby to click some aesthetic pics 😅. I have been foraging thru charity shops for a heart shaped frame to fully finish this.

Another weekend we walked to a historical place in the city. Spotted this sampler there.

Holmwood House, Glasgow

That day I walked 8.9 km , so proud of myself.

I realised I stopped sharing pics of my cooking adventures on my blog, so I'm starting that now. New recipes I tried in these weeks -baked brussels sprouts, celery and broccoli soup, stir fried edamame , no pictures were clicked though.

The only one I clicked a picture is baked butternut squash rissoto:

I have started a new project, a DMC kit I will convert to a baby sampler by adding name and date on top and bottom. Lets see how this customisation goes.

Last friday , we rented a car and have been exploring places in 2 hours driving distance. Hope you enjoy the pics.

The Dunmore Pineapple

Rhu Point

Oh this has become a picture heavy post . I hope my blog friends are well and doing what they love.