20 Minuters 1 Year On.

Hello luverly, luverly bloggy friends.

::

Yes it has been a whole year give or take a day or two, since I mentioned those 3 little words...

NEWS YEARS RESOLUTION

and behold

was created!

If you're new to my blog and wondering what the 20 Minuters is all about, you can read my blog post that started it all here, who'd have thought!

::

Shall we see how we got on?

I say 'we' as right from the beginning I wasn't alone on this one.

No fewer than 67 of you scrummy bloggers asked to join in the fun!

We have our own Flickr page with 40 contributors. (Just click on the link on my sidebar to check out all the stitchy, hooky goodness, make sure you have a cuppa and a piece of cake to keep you going thought as there is plenty to see.

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The top 5 contributors are

Pearly Queen with 206 photos

Marmaladerose with 92 photos

Green Rabbit Designs with 70 photos

Harmonie and Rosie with 64 photos

and

Handmadehappiness with 48 photos
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I myself have found this hugely rewarding especially all of the kind comments and encouragement from you lot out there,

THANK YOU!

It feels like a huge pair of hands gently cajoling and pushing me forward.

It's not all been plain sailing though. I have to admit there have been days when I've not managed to squeeze in that 20 minutes. There have not been many of them though, but sometimes things happen, things quite out of your control.

Life just gets in the way!

::

I lost my job in 2010.

I was offered another job which fizzled out 5 weeks before Christmas.
But all this, plus the support of my wonderful man and good friends (I include you blogsters out there) has given me a kick up the bum and made me open my Folksy shop. (Something people have been urging me to do for a long time) So things are looking brighter and I'm hoping that this year my job WILL BE my Folksy shop. Fingers crossed!

::

So what have I achieved this year

Are you ready?

In no particular order

I've made

a snowman lap quilt

a crazy nine patch chair pad

pieced a patchwork hexagon quilt (ongoing)

several drawstring bags

Milkchurn Cottage applique picture

3 applique shed pictures

wheat bag covers

applique lavender bags

fabric cupcakes (shed loads)

crochet bunting (several)

crochet blanket (still needs the ends stitching in, lol)

5 pairs of crochet mitts

recovered wonderful mans work chair

crochet hangers (oops! no picture)

patchwork hearts

Castle Bolton felt picture

a picture for Tilly Rose (embarrassingly still ongoing)

embroidered linen bunnies (lost count)

wheat filled lace hearts

lavender hearts

a gokart toy

housey key fobs

Maisie Pickles rag doll

5 fabric Xmas puds

a fabric wedding cake

Xmas garlands and

12 hand bags

Not a bad year!

But there's no time to put my feet up...

I'm on my second cushion cover of 2011 wooohooo!

::

Although there won't be an official 20 Minuters list this year, I hope you will all carry on with your 20 minutes crafting each day and of course keep uploading all of your beautiful items to our Flickr group. I know it's almost become a way of life to me now.

::

And lastly if I missed adding you to the 20 Minuters last year (things where a bit frantic and got on top of me occasionally) then please accept my apologies and please join in and upload your work this year, all are welcome.

::

love Fi x

::

PS Thank you Mrs Bobobun for taking the time to help me with mosaic making, I hope your back is better soon sweetie.

20 Minuters

Hello and welcome to our not so little group of bloggers who have asked to join me in my New Years Resolution, which is...

to spend at least 20 minutes every day sewing.

(everyone will be indulging in their own craft, some knitting, some sketching, some crochet etc.)

We need lots of encouragement so please take a look.

Fiona at http://www.marmaladerose.blogspot.com/

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hthttp://twiglet5.blogspot.com/

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Jennifer at tp://theprairiegirl.com/

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http://lyn-everydaylife.blogspot.com/

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Gerry at http://gerryart.blogspot.com/

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http://kcscourt.blogspot.com/

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Jane at http://marigoldjam.blogspot.com/

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http://wonderwoman-wonder-woman.blogspot.com/

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Pomona at http://littlecottagecomforts.blogspot.com/

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http://tallistawk.blogspot.com/

.

Serenata at http://thebalancingkiwi.blogspot.com/

.
Bekimarie at http://bekisbloggybits.blogspot.com/

.

http://mrshomesweethome.blogspot.com/

.

http://salssnippets.blogspot.com/

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Christy at http://lilbitbrit.blogspot.com/

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LuluLiz at http://lululizinlalaland.blogspot.com/

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http://devonstitching.blogspot.com/

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Lynnie at http://jonsies.blogspot.com/

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Penny at http://violet-white.blogspot.com/

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Lynne at http://bunmountain.blogspot.com/

.

http://lalabibaby.blogspot.com/

.

http://whengoodpeoplegettogether.blogspot.com/

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http://joanneshappyeverafter.blogspot.com/

.

Bertie at http://bertiemeadows.blogspot.com/

.

Poppy at http://poppycottage18.blogspot.com/

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Jodie at http://jodiesamatteroftime.blogspot.com/

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Wipso at http://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/

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Spring at http://www.thewaysofmyworld.blogspot.com/

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Clyder at http://clyderspenni-clyder.blogspot.com/

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Alisonb2 at http://alisonb2.wordpress.com/

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Pipany at http://www.pipany-poltiskofarm.blogspot.com/

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Louise at http://louiseainsworth.blogspot.com/

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http://chickensinmykitchen.blogspot.com/

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http://pebble-dash.blogspot.com/

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http://indigo-blue-designs.blogspot.com/

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http://kidscakesandcobwebs.blogspot.com/

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Tracey at http://traceyscrafts.blogspot.com/

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Jo at http://jojodesigns-jo.blogspot.com/

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Kate at http://harmonyandrosie.blogspot.com/

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http://vickislittleworld.blogspot.com/

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http://myeastcoastlife.blogspot.com/

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JanJan at http://serenityserendipityandstitches.blogspot.com/

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Rachel at http://contented.typepad.co.uk/contented/

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Country Bliss at http://blisscountrylife.blogspot.com/

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Jude at http://cariadincrete.blogspot.com/

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Suzanne at http://suzannart.blogspot.com/

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Val at http://blog.bellabag.co.uk/

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http://theworldoftwiggypeasticks.blogspot.com/

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Szarina at http://feather-heartglow.blogspot.com/

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http://karbee.wordpress.com/

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Wendi at http://feltsilly.blogspot.com/

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Neet at http://everythingneet.blogspot.com/

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Barbara at http://vintagebunty.blogspot.com/

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Carolette at http://bleuchocolat.canalblog.com/

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Vivienne at http://greenrabbitdesigns.wordpress.com/

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Julia at http://shoeboxsally.blogspot.com/

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Sue at http://stitchinginthekitchen.blogspot.com/

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http://poohsabode.blogspot.com/

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http://calicokate.blogspot.com/

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http://planetpenny.co.uk/

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http://valreaves.blogspot.com/

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http://misstracianderson.blogspot.com/
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http://hookinwithlaalaa.blogspot.com/

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http://www.timetocraft.co.uk/

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http://ajourneythatstartshere.blogspot.com/

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http://thepatchworkheart-heather.blogspot.com/

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http://dawnscreativecrafts.blogspot.com/

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.http://annsquiltingjourney.blogspot.com/

.

and not forgetting

Annie who also has no blog but I think could maybe persuaded to start one, she's crocheting squares and doing embroidery.

.

and Neen who's blog appears to be private.

.

If you would like to join us and be added to this list, please leave a comment saying so on my main blog page

http://marmaladerose.blogspot.com/

20 minutes a day.

Hello all.

Today I thought I really must mention all the lovely bloggers who have asked if they can join me in my New Years Resolution. The answer to this question of course is YES. How lovely to have a little group of people all encouraging and checking up on each other.

.

Now I must make it clear that there are absolutely no rules to this NYR. YIPPEE! Nope, not a one! No pressure at all.

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The aim is to spend a little time every day crafting.

Simple!

Now this can be as little as 20 minutes or 20hours it's up to you, but you need to be consistent and do something everyday.

.

As to what you do, well that's up to you too.

For me it will be mostly sewing but you are more than welcome to knit, crochet, paint, draw, sketch, finger paint what ever your passion is. It's just important to make that time every day to do it.

Hopefully this will become a habit, a way of life, expanding and developing our skills; enriching our lives in the process. (I don't know about you but I get listless and unsettled if I haven't done something creative or crafty for a few days.)

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Now I'm sure there will come a day when I go to my attic and sit in front of my craft table and think, "Hmm...I don't know what to do today, I'm not in the mood."

Well on this day I shall just sew a straight line.

But I WILL sew.

And the next day if I feel the same, I will sew another straight line. I may use a different colour thread, or thickness. I may make my stitches longer. I may alter my tension and do tight little stitches that pucker the fabric, but I will sew. In the end I may have a handful of strips of fabric with different straight lines on them, but here's where the positive comes. I may then stitch all these together and create something new that WILL inspire me once again.

So what I'm trying to say in a rather long winded way is that by just 'doing and doing' things happen and... creating, creates creativity.

.

Phew! I'll shut up now and introduce you to my fellow '20 minuters'. Please drop by to see what they are doing and give some encouragement.

And

If you would like to join us, please don't hesitate. As I said, no pressure, it's just a little promise to yourself.

hthttp://twiglet5.blogspot.com/

Jennifer at tp://theprairiegirl.com/

http://lyn-everydaylife.blogspot.com/

Gerry at http://gerryart.blogspot.com/

http://kcscourt.blogspot.com/

Jane at http://marigoldjam.blogspot.com/

http://wonderwoman-wonder-woman.blogspot.com/

Pomona at http://littlecottagecomforts.blogspot.com/

http://tallistawk.blogspot.com/

Serenata at http://thebalancingkiwi.blogspot.com/

Bekimarie at http://bekisbloggybits.blogspot.com/

and not forgetting

Vivienne who has no blog but will do a little knitting or crochet every day as "it's good for the soul".

.

Better go and do my 20 minutes after jawing about it eh!

Fi x