Been gone SOO long!

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flosaxby
Posts: 216
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Dalkeith, Scotland

Been gone SOO long!

Post by flosaxby »

Hi All,
I didn't realise I'd been gone so long but apparently my last post was in 2014!
So to catch you up....
I successfully graduated from Napier University with an MSc in Biomedical Sciences in October 2014
I then started at Queen Margaret University studying to become a radiotherapist but once we began the work experience part in the summer of 2015 I realised that I was just not physically able to do the job. I suffer with constant 24/7 headaches and the medication that I take to minimise the pain has the side effect of making me feel a little dizzy which is not great when you're rushing in and out of the treatment room every 10 minutes.
So I was left in October 2015 not in education, no job and not knowing what I was going to do with myself.
While I looked for paid employment I began to have an idea for a business and Flo's Stitches was born. I now make bracelets, brooches and pendants using cross-stitch, ribbon embroidery and crochet. It's not making much money yet and I need to get out to more craft fairs but here's the link to my Etsy store if you're interested - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FlosStitches.

I was also volunteering for Citizens Advice whilst applying for what felt like every job under the sun and finally got a paid job in February this year at Registers of Scotland (Basically the land registry for Scotland so I update records every time a house is sold).

AND I haven't stopped stitching in general either. Here's some of the things I've made since I last posted here. I hope these links work. I couldn't remember my photobucket account so I'm using my dropbox account to share the images.

1. A wedding sampler that I designed for my friends based on the design of their invitations and using the last line of one of their readings around the edge - https://www.dropbox.com/s/t2b7sxnx6feolmj/IMG_1013.JPG

2. A wedding sampler that my friend asked me to stitch for her to give to her cousin - https://www.dropbox.com/s/s1mduvh2lyr9rdz/IMG_1114.JPG
Another wedding sampler that the same friend wanted to give to her friends. They are goths and she knew that they would have black flowers at the wedding so we adapted bits of a pattern to create this sampler - https://www.dropbox.com/s/rurn7in564p4541/IMG_1145.JPG

3. A Lizzie Kate design that I made for my cousin's christmas present - https://www.dropbox.com/s/76pzrnu9i275soa/IMG_1225.JPG

4. A wedding sampler for my cousin - https://www.dropbox.com/s/2hvicwn2r3e7om9/IMG_1348.JPG
5. Another wedding sampler that I designed for friends, again inspired by their invitation design - https://www.dropbox.com/s/pxbqwmzac3ktnm8/IMG_1376.JPG

6. A baby sampler for another cousin - https://www.dropbox.com/s/26uotvsjijs6vvh/IMG_1488.JPG
7. A baby sampler for a friend - https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ha1ufhb8ncv81n/IMG_1637.JPG

8. A present for my mum's 70th Birthday last year - https://www.dropbox.com/s/o8echbqwptsbaay/IMG_1726.JPG
9. A 40th birthday present for a friend - https://www.dropbox.com/s/lo5htkhwbgu9yho/IMG_2029.JPG
10. A 40th birthday present for another friend (and also my first hardanger!) - https://www.dropbox.com/s/n1kvy1zqnonzkl3/IMG_2548.JPG (sorry don't know why it's upside down).
11. A 40th birthday present for yet another friend -https://www.dropbox.com/s/crklejznzxfrk0l/IMG_2455.JPG

12. A housewarming present for my auntie (which took ages partly because I kept putting it down to do wedding and baby samplers but also because it was 60 different colours!) - https://www.dropbox.com/s/k6i7rf21qb2v271/IMG_2544.JPG

13. A 50th (Golden) wedding anniversary present for my in-laws - https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ewuzulwcyshqy0/IMG_2580.JPG
14. A 45th (Sapphire) wedding anniversary present for my parents (and my first attempt at button art) - https://www.dropbox.com/s/b5b27cbnyepwtxd/IMG_2584.JPG

15. A Christmas present for my father-in-law - https://www.dropbox.com/s/31qvrt7e98d8ykg/IMG_2612.JPG

And I have been working on my Starry Night with Tardis but I'll update that on the other thread.
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fccs
Posts: 9458
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:10 am
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by fccs »

Welcome back. You've been busy! Your work is fantastic - both your stitching and your bracelets.

And yay for the job.
Debby

(main) WIPs
Angel of Love
Book of Mythical Creatures
Cache la Poudre
Past Present Forever
Fishing Friends
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poppy
Posts: 2145
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:26 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by poppy »

Oh my goodness, so much happened and you stitched so many projects ! :shock:

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on graduating and also for the new job :balloons:

I really like all your stitching but the housewarming present for your Auntie is my absolute favourite.
Hélène

Finished: Joan Elliott. Rainbow Fairy
Fit Kit by Peter Underhill
The Choir by Peter Underhill
Angel Of The Morning by Lavender & Lace

Best of Friends by Mabel Lucie Attwell
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Squirrel
Posts: 16821
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:33 am
Location: exChristhcurch NZ, now Brisbane, Australia

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by Squirrel »

Good on you for keeping going through all the ups and downs of life and all that wonderful stitching too. Love your Etsy store as well full of pretty items
It is great to have you back on the forum and I hope to see more of your work. :)
Sally in Brisbane Australia

WIPS
Christmas Stocking from World of Cross Stitching mag. 262
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Serinde
Posts: 18793
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:46 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by Serinde »

So glad to see you back! :dance: :dance:

Gorgeous stitching! And you've been busy -- education is never wasted, and you have reminded me that I never did do the land registry thing when we paid off our house. :oops: (Yipes!) Years ago I looked at a possible job at the Land Registry -- seemed so interesting -- but couldn't face the trek to Edinburgh every day.
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wendywombat
Posts: 13546
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:03 pm
Location: Scottish Borders

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by wendywombat »

Welcome back! Good to see that you've not been idle in your absence! :lol:
Your Etsy page has some really nice and different things! :applesauce:
At least you've now found work that suits you, so not all bad! :dance:
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kingfisher68
Posts: 514
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2016 8:16 pm
Location: UK

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by kingfisher68 »

Hello glad you have found your niche. The things you make are very pretty & look forward to seeing more :)
Izzi

Believe you can & you will


WIP
DMC Pleasant Row Cottages
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rcperryls
Posts: 32992
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:36 pm
Location: SC, USA

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by rcperryls »

You have been soo busy!!! Lots of pretty work and congratulations on your new job!!! And so glad to have you back!!!

Carole
:dance:
WIPs
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
flosaxby
Posts: 216
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Dalkeith, Scotland

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by flosaxby »

Hi All,
Thanks for the warm welcome back and all the compliments. :) I really think the stitching is what kept me sane these last few years.

@Serinde it only costs £60 to change the record on the land registry. ;)

The great thing about Registers of Scotland is it's part of the Civil Service and the flexi-time arrangements are great so I'm hoping to be able to build up time and take the occasional Friday off to sell Flo's Stitches stuff at a craft fair or 2. :)
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Ajay
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:37 pm
Location: Avondale, Az

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by Ajay »

Well uh welcome back!. your stitches are lovely! Can't wait to see what you share with us next. !! Your job sounds interesting, I wouldn't mind being able to do something like that here. I'm curious are the Land records public like they are in the US??
If anyone uses Whatsapp, pm me to connect.

WIP
Woodland Enchantress-----She's not talking to me
Frederick The Literate-----I have upset this cat somehow
Jolly Trio Stocking-----Not ready to think of the C word yet
Frosted Pumpkin MSAL 2017
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karen4bells
Posts: 21817
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:53 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by karen4bells »

:applesauce: :applesauce: Awesome projects!! Love your bracelets and other items you have in etsy. Welcome back!!!
Work in Progress
Dimensions Passion Flower Angel
Tempting Tangles Welcome SAL
Various small designs


flosaxby
Posts: 216
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 11:18 am
Location: Dalkeith, Scotland

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by flosaxby »

Ajay wrote:Tue Mar 28,
Hi Ajay.

Yes it is a public register. Though they do charge a fee for providing the information.
There are currently 2 registers - the old Sasine register which is 400 years old this year and is based on written descriptions of the property and the newer Land register which is map based (began in 1979). At the moment only about 60% of Scottish property is on the land register as it mostly only gets moved from the Sasine when someone sells it but there is a push to get it to 100% by 2019 which is why they're taking on new staff like me.
The corporate website is quite easy to use if you're interested - https://www.ros.gov.uk/about-us/our-history
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AlwaysGoofy
Posts: 1266
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:04 pm
Location: North of Seattle, Washington, USA

Re: Been gone SOO long!

Post by AlwaysGoofy »

Welcome back! It sounds like you've been busy and had a few ups and downs over the past couple of years but have found a place in your life where you are happy. I look forward to seeing you around the forum more. :D
AlwaysGoofy's Blog with Cross Stitching, Quilting, and My Love of All Things Disney: http://goofinoffaroundtheblock.blogspot.com/
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