Biscornu exchange with the Biscornu expert!!!

Isn't that a funny title ? Well if not, at least it gives you the hint who my exchange partner was...

Kerry had commented on my last exchange post that she will be interested in a exchange if time is suitable in future. Well who thought I will get the opportunity so soon...travel to London for work.

We decided to keep the exchange a simple one with only one cross stitched item, which of course was a biscornu. E-mails were exchanged to understand each other's likes and dislikes and we were set for the exchange.

Here is what I received from Kerry. A big box of goodies all individually wrapped up in this lovely floral paper....Look at what she sent me

A postcard and magnet from where she lives, chocolate, DMC variegated threads,loads of hand made jewellery: a bracelet, ear rings, key ring and a book mark. She let me choose the cover kits you see in the pic which she was giving away, how thoughtful of her. The biscornu is amazing , a peacock themed pattern - perfect for me . The personalization with our names is lovely . I like the use of metallic thread as well.

Kerry I didn't know you are such a talented jewellry maker apart from being a biscornu expert. I have never seen such a bookmark before.

Thank you so much, the goodies will be treasured and put to good use.

A picture of the biscornu I made using some of  her favourite colors.

It was so much fun participating in an exchange with you Kerry.. I hope we do more in future.

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL July Update

Hello Friends,

It's that time of the month when we show what gifts we have been working on or/and what crafty gifts we have received. If you don't know what I'm talking about , check Jo's blog for more info.

Not much to show this time , also I'm really short of time as I'm flying out for a business trip tomorrow and I have to start packing..oops

First is a Giveaway win - I won this Lizzie Kate chart  thru Tiff's blog giveaway in March. Thank you Tiffany for the chart.

While we are talking about giveaway, let me announce winners of my first blog giveaway:

Winner is Khristine from http://cross-stitching-mama.blogspot.com/ 

Winner is Sherry from https://countrycrossstitchersmusings.wordpress.com/

Please send me your address at my email address :minizinbox@yahoo.com or if you are connected to me thru facebook or Instagram, send me personal message.

I stitched a small design on this pre-sewn pouch in December for keeping some tit bits for babies. This will now be gifted to grandson of one of my colleagues. The design is from a magazine gifted by my friend Tammy. I will add details of the design later, if anyone is interested.

That's it my friends for this month, I will be back with a post on another exchange I'm participating in.

WWKIP day 2017

One month back on this day, I was running around , trying to be a good organizer..the occasion

3rd Edition of Kuwait WWKIP day

Worldwide Knit-in-Public Day (WWKIP Day) was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes as a way to bring knitters out of isolation.  What started out as a very small movement (with only 25 local events taking place that year) has grown substantially with Knit-in-Public (KIP) events now taking place all around the world.

The KIP Day slogan of “better living through stitching together” reinforces the well-documented benefits of crafting, such as alleviating stress, anxiety and depression. It is really about showing the general public that crafting can be a community activity in a very distinct way.

Each KIP event is solely organized by volunteers. I found out about this event in 2015 shortly after I joined my current craft group Kuwait Crafters . Though I didn't that time, I thought of celebrating the day to get a chance to meet new crafters. It was the first time Kuwait was registered for the event. You can read about it here. A small write up on 2016's event can be found here.

This year I wanted to have a bigger event with some fun activities. We have had new members joining the group which means more people know about a crafting group in the country where usually the information isn't available.

Preparations started well ahead in time with looking out for venues, sponsors , number of attendees. We came up with idea of giving door prizes to everybody who attends the event. Registration and publicity were the main tasks to ensure we reach out the intended audience.

This is how the invitation looked like

What came as a surprise was how the small hand crafting businesses stepped up to the occasion when big LYS refused to offer any assistance. Door prizes were made by the members of my craft group. Last two years I made small souvenirs/badges to mark the occasion, this year I thought of going big and got the badges printed . The badges were liked by all and worn during the event.

Doilies made by Z for door prizes

Door prizes for all

Contents of the door prize bag

We used social media like Instagram, Facebook and event websites to spread the word.

I still can't believe that we had turnout of 40 crafters from Kuwait, almost 70% were/are not the existing members of my group. The event was so much fun , with lucky draws for which the prizes were sponsored by Needles & Yarn, Whiskers & Yarn , Zephyr and Made by Mrs Q.,yarn swap and a freebie table at the venue.

Picture credit Nida Khan

It was a wonderful to see how crafters of different nationalities, race , religion came together to celebrate the love of craft. I feel so proud to say that this year we outdid the attendance by 5 times of last year. This success wouldn't have been possible without all the hard work put in by fellow crafters.

The cherry on the cake has been the coverage we got in the media this year, two national newspaper in English , two in Arabic published article about the event .For more pictures , check out the link below for work done by official photographer of the event,a fellow crafter :

            https://salsphotographie.com/2017/06/12/wwkip-kuwait-2017/

I'm adding a link to the articles published in local papers if anyone is interested

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/2017/jun/21/24.pdf

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/pdf/2017/jun/14/p30.pdf

First blog giveaway

Hello Friends,

Its time for a giveaway..first one on my blog.

Apparently 30th June was my my 6th blogaversary ...hard to believe. Only 3 posts in first 3 years though.What started as a diary to write my travel experiences , then as a cooking journal is now mainly a cross stitch/ crafting blog.

22780 page views, 38 followers , 870 comments(including some replies by me) later, I think its time for a give away..First of all thank you to all my blogging friends who follow,comment and visit , like my work and encourage to blog .

I have 1 chart and 1 booklet to offer

Item 1 :St. Paul's Cathedral chart by The Heritage Collection Designer Susan Ryder

Item 2 : A Stoney Creek Sampler Collection, Book No. 105 Contains 9 sampler patterns . This is front view of booklet

Item 2 : A Stoney Creek Sampler Collection, Book No. 105 Contains 9 sampler patterns . This is back view of booklet

Both these items have been bought from a charity shop in Scotland so I'm guessing they are pre -loved. However both are in good condition.

Here is what you need to do:
1. Be a follower.
2. Comment below which item would you like to win: Item 1 or 2.
3. If you are a no reply blogger, leave your email address so that I can contact you. If you win, send me your address within 3 working days.

Giveaway closes on 14th July and results will be announced thru next Gifted Gorgeousness post.I will be mailing the item(s) in a simple A4 envelope.

I would appreciate if you could spread the word.

Happy stitching.

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL June update

Hello lovelies,
It's that time of the month when we show what gifts we have been working on or/and what crafty gifts we have received. If you don't know what I'm talking about , check Jo's blog for more info.

First, baby blanket which I'm knitting for my friend's baby due in Aug, however the target is to finish by next week. It seems almost impossible now, even though I have been knitting it every free second of my time. I carry it in car to utilise the 15 mins of commute to office, at least I'm trying.
This is how I look it after 26 days....

DH and I have joke where we say "oh it looks like its grown to 15 inches" and find it to be always shorter by 2 inch of our guess 😁. Any guesses how long is it now?

I had to think very hard what else can I show you for this post and I remember that I missed showing some gifts I gave and received like the next two:

Presenting my first ever design....ok I know its pretty simple and is not a big deal for many of you, however for a person who doesn't have a single creative bone, it is a big deal!!

One day strolling thru one of the dollar tree equivalent shops in Kuwait , I spotted blank luggage tags. I bought a few to stitch something and insert in it. I gifted this to Expat Panda , fellow Kuwait expat bloggers who is an avid traveller.

My friend Z also an avid traveller brought this cute traditional ornament from Ukraine for me, she knows me well..addicted to cross stitch.

I'm lucky to have friends who bring me gifts from their travels..like this magazine CrossStitcher , Issue 317, my friend Tammy bought from Jordan .

Thursday I started reading the magazine with a motto to select designs which I can stitch in future. Of course ,first is the cover kit designed by Susan Penny.

Next is the cushion design called "Floral Fancy" by Emma Congdon.

The magazine has started new series of four house pillows , one for every season designed by Becky Spencer. This is the Spring one

This unusual design caught my attention, good for people who like word puzzles.

Next not a theme I would usually stitch but very appropriate for a cat crazy friend of mine.Designed by ThuHA Designs.

Again not my style but this birth sampler is cute and I may stitch it someday. Not too primitive or vintage ..Designed by Faye Walsh, Little Dove Designs.

Last but not the least, a design by Becky Spencer again , such beautiful use of colors.

What I liked about this issue is how the magazine have provided patterns by new designers. I don't buy many magazines however from various internet sources I find that magazines these days are publishing patterns by 3-4 designers with single issue containing multiple patterns by same designer. I don't have anything against these popular designers but it makes me wonder what happened to the designers who were popular a few years back.

Have you heard of these new designers I mentioned? While writing this post, I started thinking how many different designers have I actually stitched? I will try to get this number for my next post, join me and let me know how many have you stitched in your next post as well.

That's it my friends for this time, wishing you all a happy and relaxing weekend.

Lovely exchange with Preeti

Good morning friends ,

New day and a new month... where is the time flying.

I'm still recovering from my amazing holiday in the Himalayas , living in cottages overlooking rives/valleys , eating simple local food and soaking in the peace of the mountains away from internet , mobile etc.

One of the added advantages of travelling outside Kuwait is sending and receiving goodies to friends and fellow crafters.

One such goodie bag I received was from Preeti , we have been talking about an exchange since long, however the timing never clicked. I have been persistent and asked Preeti this February  again for the swap. This time it did work out.

Here is what Preeti sent me

We agreed on 2 handmade+ 5 extras for the swap. Look at the beautiful bird cross stitch Preeti made for me, so pretty and colorful (and  big as per swap standards). Lesley Teare is one of my favourite designers, and Preeti chose a perfect pattern to stitch for the swap.

As Preeti and I do crochet and knitting respectively in addition to cross stitch, we added items made using these crafts.

Goodies sent by Preeti include burlap ribbons, cookie cutters, crochet diya hanging -very appropriate for Diwali celebrations,  buttons ,easel and a postcard.

Thank you Preeti, I love everything in the package and the cross stitch and heart hangings are already adorning the walls of my house.

You must have seen what I sent to Preeti on her blog, just a quick round up here

I made a biscornu for the cross stitch handmade , my first and I'm pretty happy the way it turned out. I have always been intrigued and intimated by biscornus , so I decided to  come out of comfort zone and try making one for the swap. Biscornu expert Kerry was consulted in the process and the result is here.

Pattern by Faby Reilly

The design called for beads, which I didn't have but I think it looks good without beads . What do you think?
For the second hand made I made some knitted coasters , again a first for me.

For the goodies I added some linen, backing fabric, Mill hill kit , needle minder, scissor fob, stationery to the package.
I'm happy to say that the gifts have been well received .

The easy part about the swap with Preeti was that we have similar tastes and choices of what themes we don't stitch or make. As we both are from same cultural background it was easy to understand what the other person likes.Not that I don't like swapping with my crafty friends across the globe 😁

Preeti , thank you for the wonderful swap . I throughly enjoyed making these little items for you and I look forward to more such swaps in future.

May crafting report

Hello friends,

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post, I'm glad you liked the "Mini me" as much as I do.

In case anyone noticed, I have been away from blog land for a month now. Nothing to worry, just a short break from the daily routine. Yesterday I came back from an amazing trip to Himalayas and I'm charged up to spend few more months in this hustle bustle before I take another break.

I have been crafting, however not much to have separate posts for GG and Theme-tas-stitch SALs . This post is my check in for both SALs.

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL is hosted by Jo. For this SAL, we show what hand crafted gifts we made or receive every month.

I received a wonderful package from Shami in Dec 2016.However their was a bit mismatch in timing , so the package was at my parent's place since then. I collected the package last week during my visit to India .

Shami sent me two cross stitched items,Anchor metallic and variegated threads, fridge magnet and postcards. I love the goodies , specially the flower cross stitch. Thank you Shami!

I started a new gift for a friend's baby due in July- a knitted baby blanket. I'm having difficulty in concentrating on cross stitch and have had regular frog visits. So I decided to start a project which requires less counting.

Here is my progress so far:26 rows knitted . The yarn is Indian Ice Batik .I would like to shoe horn this as my entry for Monochrome May -Theme-tas-stitch 2017 hosted by Kerry. Well this is all I made in May with single skein of yarn ☺

My next post will be about a swap I participated in with a fellow blogger.Stay tuned.