Update on Stitching - 29.06.15

I haven't been updating as regularly as I wanted to so thought I would do a post rounding up where I am with everything at the moment.  I've had a few new starts over the past weeks and wanted to share them all with you.

Firstly I had some happy mail this morning.  My monthly threads from Jodyri plus a few extra silks I couldn't resist.

From top to bottom these are - Citrus Spritz, Oil & Smoke, Tropic Blooms, Raspberry Lime and Nile Princess.

From top to bottom these are Blue Juniper Silk, Hibiscus Silk, Pansy Silk and Pink Elephants on Parade the June 2015 Limited Edition.

I've been stitching on Shades of Olive which is a model for Northern Expressions Needlework.

I am also stitching a model of Tribal Hummingbird for KLT Charting.  This is stitched on 18 count aida in Bring Me Sunshine also dyed by KLT Charting.  The thread for the outline is a DMC and the centre is called Cha Cha Cha by Jodyri Designs.

I've started a photo conversion of my son which Michelle from Jodyri Designs converted for me a while ago but I've only just started.  I'm not going to post a picture of where I'm up to as I've only done about 100 stitches and it doesn't look like much but this is the photo used to create the chart.  It was taken when he was about 18 months old (he's now 5!)

I've also started a Love Thy Thread chart called In Our House.  I'm stitching it for my sister as she is getting a new house and it will be a sort of house warming present - although it may not be finished before her 1st anniversary in the house!  This is stitched on 22 count Oslo in Nebula from Crafty Kitten with a DMC variations thread for the letters.

I am also going to start stitching on the Santa's Village charts from Country Cottage Needleworks for the Cross Stitch and Discuss Christmas in July SAL.  My intention is to stitch them individually and then hang them like bunting for the festive season.  The bonus to this is that if I have one finished by Christmas I can just put it on my tree until I have all 12 completed.  I'm starting this on 1st July so will update when I've made some progress.

I'd like to encourage you all to read this blog post 

In the past before I knew about copyright infringement I will admit that I made mistakes.  I was publically outed for making those mistakes and will never forget the shame I felt at the time.  Since then I have learned from my mistakes and have built up a trust again (I hope) within the stitching community to the point that I now model stitch for a number of designers.  I am going to start adding details of my purchases to the photos I take and put on Facebook, Instagram and here on my blog.  I hope you will join me in helping fight against copyright infringement in the stitching community.  We all want to help the designers we love stay in business for a long time and we can only do that by supporting them.  I would also like to say that if someone does make a mistake I would hope we would all give them a second chance like I was given by some.  We can only learn from mistakes and move on from them.

Thanks for sticking with me and reading this extra long post.

If anyone has any questions about anything I've written here please feel free to message me.

Keep stitching and smiling

Floral Star - From Nancy's Needles - FINISHED - 21.06.15

On 23rd May 2015 I had my 40th birthday and received some money from relatives.  On 24th May I placed my order with From Nancy's Needles for the kit for Floral Star and what I thought at the time was my first counted canvas project.  I then went on holiday for a week and when I returned on 6th June my parcel was waiting for me.

I looked through the pattern and ummed and ahhhed about how to start.  I found a Facebook group for counted canvas and got some very useful tips from the people in there about how to go about starting.

I pinned the canvas to my stretcher bars and decided to take the plunge.  After that there was no stopping me.

I was advised to add more tacks to hold my canvas securely in place.

Once the first stitches were in I was loving every stitch.

The best thing about a project like this is once you've completed one section you can stitch the rest by referring to what you've already stitched.

It just kept growing and I didn't want to put it down.

Today I finished it.  I made one change to the charted design in that the inner border should be stitched in the metallic purple but when I was using this thread it was hurting my fingers pulling it through the canvas so I decided to use the Easter Eggs thread which was used for the tulips.

I don't think it looks too bad myself.

After I'd started stitching this my mum showed me a few pieces I had stitched when I was young and it turns out this was nowhere near my first counted canvas piece.  I will try and get some pictures of my past projects and post them here sometime.

So I can see a lot more counted canvas projects in my future.  However I think in the future I will just buy the charts and choose floss from my stash to stitch them with.  The nice thing is that I could see myself stitching this design again in the future with different threads and coming out with a completely different project.

Hope you've enjoyed my journey with counted canvas.  I'd love to hear if you've branched out into any other crafts needle or otherwise.

Keep stitching and smiling

Floral Star - From Nancy's Needles - Counted Canvaswork - 8th June 2015

Well I took the plunge and made a start on my first counted canvas work.  What can I say except I love it.  I can see this is going to be another thing I need to get lots of stash for.  Just a short post today to show you my first update.

Now I really must put this down and get some stitching done on one of the models I'm doing otherwise I'll be getting myself in trouble!

Keep stitching and smiling

Plum Pudding - Glendon Place - 5th June 2015

I've been stitching on Plum Pudding for the last week.  I've been on holiday and had hoped to get more done but I am pleased that I am now over half way.  Here's my before and after pictures.

I also had a couple of items of stash waiting for me when I got home.

The first is a chart I have coveted for a very long time.  I have tried various avenues to try and get it in the past but never been lucky enough.  However I posted on a Facebook group recently and a very kind lady told me about a site which seemed to stock it.  I still wasn't sure I would get it as I have ordered it in the past and then been informed it's no longer available but once I opened the envelope and had it in my hands I finally believed it.  It's called I am a Stitcher by Cherrywood Design Studio.

EDITED TO ADD - here's where I go the chart from - http://www.ceciliassamplers.com/charts/cherrywood.asp

I also ordered a kit from Nancy's Needles for Floral Star.  It's a needlepoint kit and is something I have wanted to try for a long time.  I was not disappointed when I opened the package and saw the gorgeous floss colours.  

I now have the difficult decision of wanting to do two new starts but also wanting to get a finish and I have a commitment to stitch two models in the next couple of months.  I've also told my mum I would stitch a Lavender and Lace pattern for her that she has had for years and has now decided she will probably never stitch.

I have so many ideas going round my head as well for charts I have that I want to stitch.  I have the Country Cottage Needlework charts for Santa's Village and I have decided I want to start stitching them this year.  My hope is that I will finish them as ornaments but then hang them like bunting during the festive season.

I am glad to say that I am finally starting to feel better for which I am very grateful but this means I will be back at work soon and my days of endlessly stitching will be over.  I am however grateful for my health and can't wait to get back to normal doing other things.  I am going to endeavour to get back to blogging at least once a week but may start posting more often when ideas pop into my head about what and how I want to stitch something.  Hopefully by recording it here it will take it off my mind and enable me to get some stitching done and also sleep better at night.

Well that was a longer post than I was expecting to do.  

Keep stitching and smiling,

Jodyri Mystery SAL - Part 4

Sorry it's been so long since my last post.  Life has been tiring to say the least recently and blogging unfortunately hasn't made it to the top of the list.  I thought I might try and put more photos on instagram but I haven't even got that far.  If you do want to follow me on instagram my user name is Xstitch23.  Anyway back to business ...

The latest part of the Jodyri Mystery SAL was released today.  As I am model stitching it for Michelle I completed my part a few weeks ago.

Here is part 1:

And here is part 2:

And part 3:

And finally part 4:

I will try and get back to publishing more regularly but for the time being I hope you will bear with me until I get back on track.

I should also mention that I've dropped out of Stitch from Stash again this year as I didn't keep up with tracking my spending.  I had a birthday in May and have made some stash acquisitions with the money I received which I will hopefully be able to share with you soon.

Keep stitching and smiling