Snowman lantern

After I finished the peacock I picked up the snowman lantern from Threadabead that I’d been working on for a few months when the mood grabbed me.

I took this pic before 8am on Feb 6th, I then joined them together and made a start on the top of the lantern.

I was called to the hospital at 18.37 that evening, my Dad had been taken in seriously ill with COVID.

My world fell apart and I spent the next 10 days working madly on it while I coped/ started to deal with the loss of my Dad.

I finished it a few days ago and it will always hold a special place in my heart

Not only did I lose my Dad to this awful virus but my Mum is still in hospital recovering from it and until Monday I was self isolating after a positive test although I had no symptoms.

Please everyone do as your asked and wear a mask, wash your hands and sanitize them when your out and about

This year’s family ornaments

 It’s a damp, breezy day in November as I write this post and set it post today.

I can’t have the post go live as soon as it’s written as at least 2 of the recipients of these read my blog occasionally.

Earlier today I finished the last of the ornaments for family.

I’ve been making ornaments for my parents and both daughters for a few years now and I always try and make sure they are similar 

This year I went with this stocking set from Threadabead

Had a few hiccups along the way with them, like spending an hour looking for one of the oranges in the snowman’s nose and giving mum a call with the long shot of having lent it to her for something even tho she’s not beading right now and finding I had!  To using the beads I’d set side for the hanger on Santa’s secret book and having to find something else I could use.

But I’m really happy with the way they turned out and will eventually get round to making a set for my tree.

Santa’s secret book

I finished this a few weeks ago and it took me until a few days ago to get round to taking pics of it!

The design is from Threadabead

I added the hanger so I can put it on the tree 

Winter Scene Christmas Drop Ornament

Another recent bead finish that I didn’t share!

This is as the post title says Winter Scene Christmas drop ornament and it’s from Threadabead

I’ve had the pattern for years and thought that while I’m in the mood to make ornaments I’d get it done

 

Apologies for it being a bit dark

Christmas bracelet

Almost everything that I've stitched or beaded lately I can't show yet but this one I can :)

For a while now I've wanted to make myself a bracelet to wear over the festive season and I finally got round to doing just that a couple of weeks ago.

The pattern is called Christmas trees on Red and it's from Threadabead.

I started it at beading group and finished it there as well, the clasp was added the following day and I've worn it ever since.

Snowman Parade completed

I tried again today to get pics of the completed ornament and although they didn't turn out fuzzy it is a bit dark :(

But here it is and I have to say it was great fun to make and at some point I'll make it again for me

Snowman parade ornament

A couple of months ago a post appeared on the local Facebook group about a teenage girl who is sick and wanted to raise money for Alder Hey children's hospital.

She was planning to organise a Christmas party and was asking for help.

I offered to make an ornament as a raffle prize and my offer was accepted.

It's not finished yet because I had to wait for the bead fair today to get the facets needed but here it is so far

The complete train

As promised pics of the completed train

it's about 10 inches in length

there may well be more carriages next year, people have been asking (inc me) 

The goods for the goods carriage

First I made the Candy cane (thread heaven lid for scale)

then I made the present (well guessed Jo)

and lastly I made the lollipop

here they are in the goods carriage

What I forgot to do was take a pic of the entire train but I will

The goods carriage is finished

I did the last few rows of the outside body 

then finished off the insert

Joined the 2 pieces together and added the wheels

Now I'm working on the goods to go in it 

Carriage update

The sides are complete I do have a little more to do on the top but wanted to stiffen the sides before I did that

So I started on the insert,  I've got another 6 rows to do on this which I should get done tomorrow

Goods carriage

The next (and currently last ) carriage has been released and mine is well underway.

This one is the goods carriage, next week threadabead are releasing the goods to go in it.

I'm almost to the top of it now but it has a smaller version that sits inside in which I will hopefully be able to start tomorrow

Carriage finish

I did finish the body of the carriage on Sunday morning

Monday morning I did the bottom piece and attached and then did the wheels 

The other side 

and the door into the carriage (it's the same on the other end)

And the completed train so far

Carriage 3 is underway

The pattern for the next carriage of the train was released on Sunday but I couldn't start it until Monday with being out for the day with Mel enjoying lunch and adding to my bauble hoard :)

I made a start on the roof Monday morning and finished it off on Tuesday at beading group

Then I added the gable ends

And here it is on Thursday morning 

Friday morning

and this morning

If all goes well I'll finish the body tomorrow and then I'll just have the base and wheels to do 

Carriage finished

Here it is in all it's glory

And with the engine

The only thing I've added this time is some bells in the cubes

Train carriage progress

Friday morning the first of 3 carriage's for the train was let loose into the world and I was one of the ones constantly refreshing Threadabead until it appeared!  That makes me eager, sad and needing to get out more or just plan excited :)   Ok maybe not sad as I've not finished mine yet but one lady finished with 24 hours!

First you bead the top of the carriage 

then you add the gold then work the sides so you end up with this

I've also completed the bottom of it and stitched the 2 piece together but that's just a plain black rectangle and not really worth a pic.

Next job is the wheels then there is just the cubes to do so with any luck I 'll be Thursday or maybe even Wednesday depending on how soon my bum going numb

I have a train engine :)

I was right it was finished well before the last update post went live :)

Roll on Sept 1st when the next part is released 

I made a few minor changes to bead colours but otherwise it's all the called for colours

More train

Carrying on from where I left off last time :)

The next stage was to join the boiler and cab together

Than add the skirt

The base for the train came next

Then 2 large wheels at the back

and 2 small ones at the front.

This is the point I left it at on Monday morning and by the time this post goes live I will have done the last 2 bits and my train engine will be complete :)

My train has a boiler

The next part of the train is complete now and it will always be a very special part of it for me.

I was working on the this part while Teejay was here and he helped me with it :)

First day he just picked up beads but every day after that he also added them to the piece although he did struggle a little with the black.

Stitched together

The front of the boiler.

I've made a small change here, the pattern calls for a 4mm facet but I wasn't happy with the amount of thread & space showing between it and the gold so I've used a 6mm

And the back of the boiler.

Again a small change,  I added an extra couple of rows because I didn't like the hole that was left

Next came the base the the boiler to sit on

And that was stitched to the boiler

The next stage is also completed but that can wait till next time :)