WIPocalypse - 31.08.12

Progress was made this time on the gebera daisy cushion.

Before:

After:

Stitched another 20 hours on my secret project.

Made a start on a new project - Welcome Banner by Emily Peacock.

Another new start - Merry Christmas by the Letter by Lizzie Kate

Merry Christmas by the Letter - 23.08.12

I've had a new start this week it's Lizzie Kate's design Merry Christmas by the Letter.  Here's what I've done up to now.  I do love Lizzie Kate designs they are so simple but so effective.  Before anyone thinks I've spelt favourite wrong it's the American spelling and the O is going to be represented with a button which I will add at the end.  I've also changed the colour of the border as it was originally meant to be in DMC 712 which is the same colour as the M and the E and it wouldn't have shown up on the fabric I'm using.

I've been having a tough time in my personal life in the past few weeks.  I've got a history of depression and anxiety and unfortunately it's all flared up again.  I think it's because we are in the middle of moving house and I really don't cope well with stress.  There is also an emotional element to the move which I'm finding more difficult to cope with than I thought I would.  We are buying my grandparents house, my grandma passed away nearly 4 years ago and my grandad passed away earlier this year.  On one hand I am so happy and excited to be moving but on the other hand I feel a great sadness that we are only able to buy the house because my grandparents are gone.

I've got so much I need to do for the house move it seems to overwhelm me and I feel paralysed and end up doing nothing.  I don't even seem to be able to keep up with the normal everyday household jobs like washing the pots and ironing etc let alone do anything towards the move.  Even my stitching hasn't been able to calm me recently.  I just can't seem to settle on a project and I've ended up addling lots more WIPs to my rotation.  It's a complete contradiction when with all things domestic I don't want to do anything yet with my stitching I just want to keep starting new projects.

We met with our solicitor yesterday and went through all the paperwork and there are just a few loose ends that need tying up and then hopefully we will be moving before the end of September.

I'm trying to set myself small goals everyday but find that most days I don't even accomplish half of them.

Welcome Banner - 11.08.12

You may remember in my last post that I asked if anyone knew where I could get hold of Celtic Banner my Butternut Road or if anyone had a copy they would be willing to sell.  Well imagine my surprise when within 5 minutes of publishing the post I had a comment from Kim saying she had a copy that she wouldn't stitch and would send it to me.  I just love the generosity of the stitching community.

After my first 10 hours stitching the Welcome Banner here is my progress.  I've had to change some of the colours as I don't have all my stash of threads available at the moment so just picked colours I had.  Really pleased with how it's looking so far.

Next 10 hours stitching will be done on my secret project and then I'm going to work on my Chatelaine as it's been a bit neglected recently.

Update - 08.08.12

I completed another 10 hours on my secret project and so it was time to look at the poll and begin my new start.  The results of the poll were as follows:

Woodland Guardian - HAED - 37.5%
Emerald Dragon - HAED - 25%
Welcome Banner - Emily Peacock - 18.8%
Mini Irish Sampler - HAED - 12.5%
Celtic Banner - Butternut Road - 6.3%
Don't be ridiculous you've got enough WIPs - 0%

Firstly I want to thank everyone who voted and secondly I was very happy that no one voted for the don't have another start option - just shows what enablers us stitchers are!

I went to my fabric stash box to look for the hand dyed fabric I had planned to stitch Woodland Guardian on and realised I had packed it (I'm in the process of moving house at the moment and unfortunately that box has already been moved to the new house).  I knew the fabric for Emerald Dragon (another hand dyed) was in the same box so I couldn't start those to.

So I've had to go with option three the Welcome Banner by Emily Peacock.  However when I sat down and looked at the threads I haven't packed I realised I was missing some for this design.  However I've decided to swap out some of the colours required for other colours I do have.  As it is quite a simple bright design I'm hoping this won't make too big a difference.

I'm also thinking about changing part of the design so I can stitch our family name on the banner to personalise it.  I can already picture it hanging in the porch of our new house!

I am also really disappointed because I had ordered the chart for Celtic Banner by Butternut Road but had a phone call yesterday to say the company I ordered from no longer stock this chart and are not going to be getting anymore copies.  So I am sending out a plea to all my stitchy friends - if anyone knows where I could get a copy of this chart or has a copy themselves that they would be willing to sell please let me know as I have fallen in love with this design and would very much like to stitch it.

I should also mention that I have been extremely lucky over the past couple of weeks to have received two RAKs of charts from Heaven and Earth Designs.  Firstly I received Handle with Care by Katerina Koukiatis and then I also received Lily by Ching Chou Kuik.  I have sent several RAKs myself and I really can't decide which gives the better feeling giving or receiving RAKs.  I know it restores my faith in human kindness when complete strangers can be so generous.

Handle with Care - Katerina Koukiatis

Lily - Ching Chou Kuik

Sorry there's no pictures of my stitching progress this time but I should be back soon with a picture of my new start.

Keep stitching and smiling.

Gerbera Daisies as of 04.08.12

So I decided to stitch some more on the gerbera daisies rather than starting a new project this week.

Here's gerbera daisies before I worked on it.

And after.  I've now completed 23,848 of 28,224 which means it is 84.5% complete.

As a few people have expressed an interest in seeing my secret project I will share with you that I am posting pictures on another blog.  If you would like details of the blog please e-mail me at obsessivecrossstitcher@gmail.com and I'll send you a link to the other blog.  I can't publish pictures of it on here as I don't know if the recipient reads my blog or not.  

I will be rotating back to the secret project next and then I think I will treat myself to a new start and I'd like you to help me decide.  So below are the images for the possible new starts please let me know which one you think I should start next or choose option 6 and I'll have to stick with what I've already got as WIPs!!

Celtic Banner - Butternut Road

Woodland Guardian - HAED

Welcome Banner - Emily Peacock

Mini Irish Sampler - HAED

QS Emerald Dragon - HAED

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WIPocalypse - 01.08.12

Managed to complete one of my WIPs this month so I can strike another one off my WIPocalypse list.  My finish was Hickory Dickory Dock QS.  This is my fourth finish for 2012.Here's the before and after pictures.

Before:

After:

I've done another 10 hours on my secret project but can't show pictures here.

Also did some more stitching on gerbera daisy cushion but not done enough yet to share a photo.  Here's what it looked like the last time I stitched on it.

I'm hoping to have a finish on this in the next couple of months but my main focus piece at the moment is my secret project as it has a deadline.

August Goals

My goals for July were:-

1. Complete Hickory Dickory Dock - DONE 15.07.12
2. Stitch 10  hours on Ink Circles Secret Project - DONE 24.07.12
3. Stitch 10 hours on gerbera daisy cushion - Not managed 10 hours but did stitch on it.

My August goals are:

1. Stitch 20 hours on Ink Circles Secret Project
2. Stitch 10 hours on gerbera daisy cushion
3. Stitch 10 hours on Chatelaine

Update 25th July 2012

I've spent my last 10 stitching hours on my secret ink circles project so no photos this time.

I can share with you the chart I chose in the HAED reward programme for completing Hickory Dickory Dock.  I chose one of the new Randall Spangler Story Keeps - Cooking for your Dragon.

Just couldn't resist the combination of dragons, chocolate and biscuits.

I also bought myself a new chart in Bob's birthday sale - as well as sending a few RAKs.

The one I bought for myself was QS Orchid Pink Spotted by Nene Thomas.

I don't know what I'm going to stitch on next.  I'm torn between my Gerbera Daisy or a new start.  I guess you'll see what I decided in my next post!

Keep stitching and smiling

My first HAED Happy Dance - Hickory Dickory Dock QS

I am so excited to have just put the final stitch into Hickory Dickory Dock.  I started this in November 2010 and finished today 15th July 2012.  It's also another one I can cross of my WIPocalypse list!

I've loved stitching this design and I think the colours are gorgeous.  It is stitched on 20 count aida 3 over 1 tent stitch.  It's a birth sampler for my niece so I am going to add her name and birth details to the bottom before I get it framed.

I'm so glad to finally finish a HAED I have so many WIPs that sometimes I don't think I'll ever finish anything!  The good news is I also managed to complete it in time to submit it to the HAED reward program.  I've not decided which chart I will get yet but am enjoying looking through all the lovely designs while making my choice.

Here are the WIP pictures and of course the final completed picture.

July Goals

My goals for June were:-

1. Stitch 10 hours on Chatelaine - didn't touch
2. Stitch 10 hours on Hickory Dickory Dock - completed 07.06.12 - 20 hours completed 17.06.12
3. Stitch 10 hours on Ink Circles Secret Project - didn't touch

My July goals are:

1. Complete Hickory Dickory Dock
2. Stitch 10  hours on Ink Circles Secret Project
3. Stitch 10 hours on gerbera daisy cushion

Blogaversary - 2 years blogging

Well it seems I missed my 2 year blogaversary - according to the widget on my site it's my blogaversary in 361 days so I missed my 2 years by 4 days!

Thanks for sharing my stitching journey with me and I very much hope to share my future stitching with you.

WIPocalypse - 03.07.12

Hickory Dickory Dock now 88.83% complete.

Before:

After:

Rules for Life now 28.51% complete.

Before:

After:

Hickory Dickory Dock as of 17.06.12

I managed to get another 10 hours stitched on Hickory Dickory Dock and did another 1,800 stitches which means it is now 88.83% complete.  I really don't want to put this down but I'm going to rotate and do 10 hours on my Chatelaine.

So here's the latest picture.

Rules for Life as of 15.06.12

We've been on holiday to Wales for a week so I wanted to take a fairly simple project to work on.  I chose Rules for Life and here's where I am now up to with it.

I've now completed over 6,500 stitches which makes this project 28.51% complete.

I really struggled to find a comfortable sitting position to stitch in while we were away.  I don't think hubby will be too pleased if I tell him I need to take my reclining sofa away with us next time as it's too uncomfortable to stitch otherwise!

I'm now rotating back to Hickory Dickory Dock really hoping to get it finished before the end of August.

Hickory Dickory Dock as of 07.06.12

It has been a long time since I stitched on this piece but it is now my main focus piece and I am hoping to have it finished before the end of August so I can submit it to the HAED reward programme.

In this 10 hour rotation I have stitched just over 1,600 stitches bringing the total stitches done to 21,960 out of 26,775 which means it is now 82.02% complete.

I'm going to be away for the next week so I am taking Rules for Life with me to stitch on as it is one of my simpler WIPs.

WIPocalypse - 04.06.12

I had another finish this month - Baby Patchwork by Cinnamon Cat.

Before:

After and finished:

With the birth details:

I'll tell you the story behind this birth sampler now.  I have a friend who I've known since school.  She and her husband tried for 7 years to get pregnant and on their last round of IVF she discovered she was pregnant and was over joyed.  At the 20 week scan they were told their little boy had a serious heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, they were told they could end the pregnancy there or they could continue and the baby would have to have many surgeries.  There was no decision to make as far as they were concerned and they continued with the pregnancy.  Matthew was born in March 2010 and unfortunately only lived for 3 weeks it was an absolutely devastating time for them!  Then about 18 months later a miracle happened and they became pregnant naturally with no assistance.  Their miracle rainbow baby Zachary was born in March 2012 three days after his brother's 2nd birthday.  So this is why I've added the name Matthew to the star to remember the precious boy who could only stay with his family for three weeks.

My Memories Digital Scrap Booking - Give away Winner

So for the big announcement about the winner of my giveaway.  There were 9 entries by 4 people so I used a random number generator to pick a winner between 1 and 9 and the number generated was 2.

So the winner is Lou!

You may or may not know that Lou is my sister and I hope no one feels that this giveaway was rigged but I can assure you this was the number the random generator produced.

The good news is that My Memories have informed me that I can hold a giveaway three times a year so in four months time there could be another giveaway here.  I'm going to see what the response is to my digital scrap booking posts and hopefully hold another giveaway in four months.

June Goals

My goals for May were:-

1. Stitch 10 hours on Baby Patchwork - completed 05.05.12 - completed project 27.05.12
2. Stitch 10 hours on Chatelaine - completed 12.05.12
3. Stitch 10 hours on Hickory Dickory Dock - didn't touch

My June goals are:

1. Stitch 10 hours on Chatelaine
2. Stitch 10 hours Hickory Dickory Dock
3. Stitch 10 hours on Ink Circles Secret Project

Bucket List Scrap Booking

The My Memories Blog are having a Bucket List Challenge - create a page to show something you have on your bucket list.  Thought this would be a fun challenge to take part in so here's what I created.

Don't forget about my giveaway - it ends tomorrow at midnight GMT