Finally some progress!

Well, I had a relatively decent bank holiday and have had some time to get some stitching done!!!

I finished the Disney ATC for CSF and my recipient was very happy with it which is great. Here it is in all its piglet-ty glory. Stitched on light blue 16 count aida with Anchor threads and finished on card with borders using Anita's sticky ribbon.

I've also made some progress on Persephone, although not as much as I'd have liked. My shoulder is still causing me problems, and I don't want to push it too hard, but I still managed a good ten hours on her.

Here she is at 35 hours

And where I left off at 40 hours.

I figure I'm on target for finishing the second page in another 20 hours, going on that it took 30 for page one, although it may be less as the majority of the blank space is now just black, but there is some confetti in the bottom right so that may slow it down. We shall see. I'm still enjoying stitching her and watching her take shape, and I'm determined that she will be my first ever HAED finish. When exactly that will be, I have no idea! I'm going to work on Majesty for a bit next and I'll be doing my bookmark too (which I've started.) And of course, I'll post progress as and when I have some :o)

TTFN

Stitching slow...

Wow, it's been a month since my last post and sadly, I'm still no further ahead on any of my main stitching projects, I did take some stitching on holiday, but didn't have time to do anything other than actually be on holiday! I've kept myself stimulated and such by continuing with one of my re-found loves, letter writing, but I'm really missing stitching. I'm taking part in a few exchanges over at CSF - a Disney character ATC, a bookmark exchange and a halloween biscornu exchange, and I really hope I can get them all done. When the kids go back to school and Cheeky starts nursery, I'll try my hand at stitching a bit during the day and see how it goes, I just hate that after so long away and how much I loved getting back into it, that now I'm stuck in a rut again because of my shoulder.

Anyway, good news! My exchange partner for the mini biscornu received the second one I sent, so I can now post pics! Here it is:

Front

Back

I was quite happy with how this one turned out - moreso than the first (because I nailed the stitch together on this one!) They are very pretty, and I may do some Christmas themed ones nearer the time as gifts for friends and whatnot. I think they'd look lovely as ornaments, given the right design...

TTFN

Shoulder & Biscornu Issues

I still haven't done any stitching - again - my shoulder has been playing me up something chronic for pretty much the last month, and the doctor's advised rest, so my stitching has suffered for it unfortunately. I went to see my consultant on Tuesday and he said they could operate, but the chances of my EDS interfering with the success of the operation long term were too high, so the operation is a no-go. I can see his point, but I still think that it even being better in the short-term would be preferrable to the amount of pain it can cause me. But the buck, so to speak, stops with him. So it's rest and pain killers...

The mini-biscornu I did for the exchange at CSF never arrived in Australia so I'm currently working through stitching another one. Hopefully I'll be able to post it to Toni this week. Here are the pictures of the one I orginally sent

I'm really disappointed that it never arrived because I was really happy with the result even though it was a pain in the butt to do (being only 20x20 stitches) and I'd never done one before. I kinda threw myself in at the deep end. Still, can't do anything about it now.

Hopefully my shoulder will be feeling better after another week's rest and I'll be able to get some more stitching done on my main pieces. I miss them terribly.

TTFN

Giveaways Galore!

I haven't been stiching much at all the past couple of weeks. What with hubby's back, my hip, my daughter's drama production and a teething six month old, as well as a stubborn toddler and an eight year old prone to whining tantrums, I've not had time to do much of anything! Hopefully this week will be more productive - but isn't it always the way that when you have loads of things you want to do that you don't have the time to do them?!?

I've caught up on pretty much all my blog reading (I think) and I've found some wonderful giveaways in the process, and here they are:

Stitching Devotee is having a Quaker Chart Giveaway. The drawing is on July 23rd.

Eat, Stitch, Love is holding a Christmas in July Giveaway  for a gorgeous pair of Gingher Mia 4" Embroidery Scissors. The drawing is on July 25th.

Cindy is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100th follower. The drawing is on July 31st

Therapy by Thread is having a Biscornu Giveaway to celebrate her 100th follower too! The date for that drawing is also July 31st

Hanging on by a Thread is holding a Giveaway for a gorgeous hand sewn Poppy Pincushion. The drawing is on August 18th.

Don't forget to enter before the drawing dates to be included in these wonderful giveaways!!!

TTYL

:o)

Persephone - Page 1 - Done!

As you heard in my last post the past two weeks have been a bit crazy here. Hubby has been off work with a bad back so I've been spending my time literally looking after everyone (hubby, 4 kids, two cats and a dog) and haven't had time until this week to get some stitching done on this. Thankfully, this week hubby's back seems to be a bit better and has gone from being agonising pain to an extremely annoying ache, and I've been able to stitch while he's gone to bed earlier (it's a sure sign he's bad cause he went to the doctor and actually took the advice to rest!)

Anyway. I've done 30 hours altogether and I've managed to finish a whole page! I'm so chuffed cause I'm still really enjoying it (confetti, colour changes an' all!) when I'd finished the section I turned to my hubby and said "look, look" There's the corner of the cavern!!!" and he looked at me like I was completely insane!

Here's my detailed progress:

15 hours

18 hours

21 hours

30 hours

So that's it for now. But watch this space!

TTYL

:o)

Loopy Lou - Hearts & Flowers Biscornu & Fob

Well, what a mad couple of weeks it's been! I've not been able to do much stitching on anything until this week. Hubby's been off sick from work - he put his back out so I've had very little time to do anything as I've been a nurse for the majority of the past fortnight. Still, I saw this gorgeous biscornu kit and had to get it. It's Hearts & Flowers from Loopy Lou Designs. I ordered it from Sew & So and it turned up, so while the kids were at school and hubby was in bed resting, I gave it a go. I've only ever done one biscornu, and that was a minature one for an exchange on CSF (and because of that I can't post pics yet as the recipient still hasn't received it.) Anyway, I enjoyed doing it although it was challenging being as how it was 20 x 20 stitches, so I thought "why not, I'll do a large one!"

Here is what it will look like:

I am a complete idiot...

It arrived and I started stitching. I got to the stage where I was doing satin stitch hearts and algerian eyes and I was all "Jeez, this is so hard!" And then I started thinking "well, I'm sure it should be bigger than this, shouldn't it?" And guess what? I was right. Turns out that I'm a complete idiot and I was stitching over 1 instead of over 2 - on 27 count Linda!!!!!

I felt like such a fool, I put it away and couldn't even look at it without squirming for a few days but now I've decided I'll use this "error" as the front of the scissor fob, and the actual scissor fob design for the back of it! And I'll re-start the biscornu over 2 and hopefully I'll find the speciality stitches a little easier!!!! Hopefully I'll be able to re-start at some point this weekend.

Here's the "error" piece (including progress) :o)

 

 

 

 

Watch this space!!!!

Persephone - Update

I've been working on Persephone since Saturday and I'm absolutely loving it!!!! I had a bit of a hard time with the tent stitch at first (having never used it before) but now I've got myself into a rhythm of sorts and I'm getting quite into it. I'm extremely happy with the coverage (and the speed!) and even though there have been a fair few colour changes (there's 19 on the first half page and I've used 16 so far) I've plodded on and enjoyed seeing the subtle shading take shape.

I can't believe I'm nearly half way through the first page already and I still have over a week left on this rotation!!!

Here's my detailed progress:

5 hours

9 hours

12 hours

I'm off to bed now, and I'll be stitching some more tomorrow!

:o)

TTYL

Persephone Stash!!!

The rest of my threads for Persephone arrived yesterday, so I spent all evening winding bobbins. I've double checked the coverage using 2 over 1 tent stitch and it looks fine, so that's what I'm going with. I'm starting her just shortly after posting this, so watch this space!!!

Here's the stash:

 

 

 

I'm so excited!!!


TTYL

Winter's Majesty Update

I've not managed to get an amazing amount done on this since the last update, but I am most definitely getting there with her. Nearly half way through now, and hopefully when she comes on rotation again (which should be two weeks unless I decide to do Endless) I'll finish off this section and start on the next half!

Here's how she's looking now:

 

TTYL

It's A Doozy!

Today has been a mad, crazy day. Hubby did his back in cleaning up yesterday, and thought that it would be better by morning. Wrong. He could hardly move when he woke up, so we went on a trip to the doctors surgery with two kids in tow. He's pulled something in his back which could take weeks to right itself. So it's off work for him, and lots of running round for me. Which is something I could do without (seeing as how I'm not in that good nick myself) still, this sort of stuff happens, and that's really all there is to it.

I've not done much stitching, though I did do some on Majesty, but my hands are seriously giving me grief and my fingers are badly swollen. Top that all off with a terribly swollen ankle and aching hips and I've had a doozy of a day.

On a good note, 30 skeins arrived this morning, so I'm a little closer to getting all the stash for Persephone. Hopefully the other 100 will come with the postie tomorrow.

I'm going to try and do some more of Majesty tomorrow - provided I don't get over excited if the rest of my threads arrive and start stitching Persephone straight away - which I might very well be tempted to do.

I've also got to finish the other side of my first - and what I expect will be the smallest - biscornu I've ever done (20 x 20 stitches) for an exchange at CSF.

Tomorrow is going to be so fun.

TTYL

Update

I haven't done much stitching today, though I have done a little on Winter's Majesty. I will post progress pictures on Friday because by then, hopefully, the threads for Persephone will have arrived and I will have started stitching.

I did have a lovely evening with friends and have managed to get my soon-to-be sister-in-law stitching again after ten years - having given her a Tatty Teddy chart for her birthday:



She's really enjoying it, which I'm glad of, and is nearly half way through, which is great.

I'm really chuffed that she's got back into it after so long.

My material for Persephone arrived this morning, and I'm hoping my first 100 threads will arrive tomorrow (there's 88 colours, but 132 threads required) so I can make a start!

I'm in quite a cheery mood.

TTYL

HAED - Persephone

I've not done much stitching tonight, as I had my friends over for a birthday bash (she loved her card!) But I did go browsing on the HAED site and found my latest stitch there. I've loved this image ever since it appeared on Marta Dahlig's DeviantArt Page , it's called Persephone.

In May, I emailed Michele at Heaven & Earth asking if it was going to be charted, and she said it was expected some time in June. Lo and behold, what should I find today while browsing but this gorgeous design that I promptly added to my shopping cart! I've got my floss list ready and material on order (I'm doing it on 25 count lugana evenweave in ivory) and I just have to wait for it to arrive and then I'll be making a start.  It's a whopping 16" x 24" but it'll be so worth it. And I know just where it's going to go in my front room. I can't wait to start. Another piece added to my rotation!

Here she is in all her glorious beauty:

I'm so excited it's ridiculous, but I've loved her forever, and I can't wait to stitch her....

TTYL

Majesty, Majesty

I think I've done fairly well with stitching this week, especially since I've been having issues with my fingers swelling and whatnot, so I'm happy with how much progress I've made. After some advice given to me earlier this week, I decided to wash the project before I carried on with it, even though I'd been stitching bits and pieces since the weekend. I was so worried about rubbing the dirt in, but now, I'm quite chuffed with it. It's still not amazingly clean, but will most certainly do until it's done and I wash it through with liquid detergent.

I'll be working on Majesty, along with some charity cards for CSF for the next week or so, and then it'll be back to Endless. I'm hoping to switch things up a bit with a few more designs I've seen and want, or have and am determined to do, and I really have to sort out my charts, but I need folders and plastic wallets and lots of labels before I do that. And the time. And the inclination. I'll get there in the end!!!!

Here's my progress:

 

 

Thanks for all your comments, and thank you to those of you who have started following my mad ramblings!

TTYL.

Birthday Business

I've been fairly busy since Monday night - busy stitching! I've done some more Winter's Majesty, and also managed to stitch up a little birthday card. I'm posting them separately because of my tags system (yes, I'm really that OCD)

 

Considering it's one of the first "fancy" ones I've done (I usually do ones with aperture frames, so there's no need to worry about messy back/attaching things and whatnot)I think it's rather good!!!

TTYL

Stitchy Stitchy!

Well, I've spent some time this week trying to finish off this sampler, and now all I have to do is add some beads and find a way to finish it off. I was thinking about perhaps putting it onto a folder to keep my patterns in, but knowing me I'll probably just frame it!

Here's how it's looking now (and some progress pics):

 

I've also been working on my Summer ATC for CSF and have finished that. Now there's just a mini biscornu to do for the 15th, and once I've put the beads on the stash sampler, I can start Winter's Majesty!

Here's the ATC:

TTYL

I Stitch, Therefore....

Well, it should be I Stash, but in this instance, I'm gonna say, I Stitch, therefore I Stitch. The only problem is, is that I don't stitch what I'm supposed to be stitching!

One of the members over at CSF saw a gorgeous stitching sampler in Cross Stitch Crazy (Issue 139) and a few of us decided to get together and do a SAL (stitch-along) of it. So Winter's Majesty took a seat on the back burner again over the last week, and I've been working on my sampler. It seems none of us have kept the original colour scheme so far. Kell has let the magazine know what we're doing, and they're looking for a spot to feature us in a future issue!!!

So, this is my detailed progress, up til last night.

 

 

 

I've  been really enjoying this so far, but I can't wait til it's finished. Winter's Majesty is calling me (plus, mum keeps on asking me if I've started it again yet!)

TTYL

Stash Update

I've added a page detailing all my stash, because there was a thread over at CSF and once I got started on taking pictures, I did lists as well. The only thing that's incomplete is the chart list. Which will take a while.

I haven't stitched anymore Endless Dream, and haven't started Winter's Majesty as of yet - but it will get done. I'm planning on starting it tomorrow, and making my procrastinating butt promise that it'll happen.

TTFN

Endless Dream - Progress

Well, it's been a fairly eventful week regarding stitching, and I've been having a blast. I've managed to do roughly 3 hours of stitching each night, which is very good for me. The pain in my shoulder has been bearable and has hardly caused me any after problems, though I did have a break over the weekend.

I'm quite pleased with how much I'm getting done of this design, and can't wait to start my Winter's Majesty  tonight!

Here's my up-to-date progress:

 

I'll really look forward to getting back to it, but Winter's Majesty is going to be a very welcome break!

TTFN

HAED - Endless Dream

Back in 2008, when I joined CSF, I was overwhelmed when I found out about Heaven & Earth Designs. These beautiful cross stitch charts are absolutely fantastic to look at, and although they seem a little scary, there was no way I couldn't go and browse the site. I did, and I found a fabulous design that Hubby purchased for me for the Christmas. I got my threads together, the chart and material arrived, and they've sat in a bag in a box for the last two years.

Now that I'm able to stitch again, even though I can can only do a few hours at a time before it gets to be too much, I decided to start it.

The design is called Endless Dream and this is what it'll look like once it's complete:

So far, I've worked on it for 18 hours, I've used 4/50 colours, completed nearly two rows on page 1/24, and made approximately 1,800/151,650 stitches! Here's my detailed progress.

 

So far, I'm really enjoying it, and I'm really looking forward to watching it take shape.

TTFN