Seasons Greetings

Just a short post sharing three small decorations I have made this month.  I bought the wooden ornaments from Etsy and then made my own design to stitch on them.

I hoped that the design would remind the recipients of the Poinsettia as this is something that I associate with our family Christmases.

I used some overdyed floss from my stash - I can't remember which ones I used unfortunately as I put them away!  I used the full six strands for the satin stitch to get the coverage.  I then glued some fabric to the back to finish them.  I gave them to three of my relatives and I think they liked them.

I have two more blanks which I intend to stitch the same for myself at some point.

This is definitely my last post before the Christmas season so I will wish you all well for the festive period.

Keep stitching and smiling

November & Beginning of December 2016 - Catch Up

These are the projects I have been working on since my last update.

I had a new start on Royal Orchid - Tiny Treasure Diamond - Mill Hill - as kitted.  This is what it will look like when finished.

This is the progress I made - not very much at all.  I cannot stitch in hand except for on plastic canvas or perforated paper so I need to get myself a little hoop to put this in - the fabric is only 5 x 5 inches so it will need to be a little hoop.  Also the finishing instructions on this are wild - it's going to take some concentration to work those out.

Another new start was Butterfly Lace from Cross Stitcher magazine.  I am stitching it on 28 count Jazlyn in Mushroom from Zweigart with the charted DMC.  Here's what it will look like then it's finished.

And my progress

My third new start was A Year at Hawk Run Hollow from Carriage House Samplings.  I am stitching this 1 over 1 full crosses on 20 count Bellana in Wild Porcini from Jodyri Designs.  I have stitched the border in a hand dyed thread called Nevermore also from Jodyri Designs.

I worked on Learning Sampler from Northern Expressions Needleworks and am really pleased with the progress I made.  I now have the first 9 bands finished!

I worked on Stained Glass from Love Thy Thread.

I also worked on Nautical Year from the book Sand Sea and Cross Stitch.

I had a finish - Needleworker from Little House Needleworks.  I started this on 1st June 2016 and finished on 4th December 2016.  I stitched this on 32 count Belfast in Light Sand.  This was my first time working on linen and although I didn't love it I didn't hate it either.  It is stitched with the charted floss.

I also had a second finish!  Twisted Band Sampler from Northern Expressions Needlework.  I had such a small amount left to stitch on this that when I pulled it out I couldn't believe I hadn't finished it before.  It was the Queen stitch band that had stalled me though but I pushed through and got it finished.

I don't know if I will get another post in before Christmas so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Keep stitching and smiling.

Nic

xoxo

October 2016 Stitching

These are the projects I've been working on over the past month.

In This House - Love Thy Thread (No longer available) - stitched on 22 count Oslo in Nebula from Crafty Kitten with DMC Variations 4025 - 3 over 1 tent stitch.

Before

After

Spring Mandala from Ink Circles - no before picture as this was a new start.  Stitched on 20 count nougat aida with DMC conversion - 2 over 1 full crosses.

Tango Owlet - Mill Hill - finished on 02.10.16

Things Unseen - Lizzie Kate.  Stitched on 28 count Jazlyn in Just Peachy from Crafty Kitten with charted threads.

Before

After

Nautical Year from Sand, Sea and Cross Stitch.  Stitched on 18 count cream aida using a mixture of DMC and threads from my stash.

Before

After

The Towpath from Gecko Rouge - stitched on 18 count aida with kitted threads.

Before

After

12 Days of Christmas from Satsuma Street - another new start.  Stitched on 32 count Murano in Ivory.  Border stitched with Dinky Dyes Silk in Shiraz.

Spirit of Christmas - Lavender and Lace - stitched on 20 count aida in nougat with DMC 2 over 1 full crosses.

Before

After

August from Cricket Collection - stitched on 28 count Brittney in a custom dye from Jodyri Designs with charted threads.

Before

After

So that's all the stitching from October.  I'm really pleased with the progress and variety.  Also I think I will blog this way from now on summarising the month unless I have a finish when I may do a stand alone post.

Keep stitching and smiling

Catching Up - 26.09.16

The first thing I need to tell you all about is that I have had to give up working on the KLT Frog SAL.  Unfortunately my stitching time has become more limited than I would like and I couldn't guarantee that I would be able to keep up with the schedule for getting the frogs stitched.  It's not something that I gave up lightly as I don't like to let people down when I have made a commitment but unfortunately due to health and work issues something had to give.  The project has been passed on to another model stitcher so I am sure you will still be able to see update pictures in the KLT Charting group.

I've been working on a few different projects over the past weeks and months that I haven't posted about here, so I thought I would do a quick round up with before and after pictures.

I'll start with the new projects I've started which obviously won't have before pictures.

Tango Owlet by Mill Hill - stitched on the perforated paper in the kit

Harry Potter Pillow Sampler by Clouds Factory - stitched on a 32 count Pearl Grey Murano

The next ones were WIPs I continued to work on.

Nautical Year from the book Sand, Sea and Cross Stitch - stitched on 18 count cream aida.  I have substituted some of the charted threads with hand dyed cottons and silks from my stash.

Before

After

Pumpkin Passport from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - stitched on 28 count Opal Jazlyn in Nimbus from Chromatic Alchemy

Before

After

Angel of Love by Lavender and Lace - stitched on a custom dyed piece of 28 count Brittney from Jodyri Designs.

Before

After

Sleeping Beauty's Castle from Chatelaine - stitched on 28 count Jazlyn March 2012 Ltd Ed from Crafty Kitten.

Before

After

Keep stitching and smiling

Mystery Frog SAL - Frog 6 - KLT Charting - FINISH 29 of 2016

I was again lucky enough to be asked to model stitch the Frog mystery SAL for KLT Charting.  Being asked to model stitch means I also get to see the whole chart before the participants and I have to stitch each section before it is released to the participants.

I have permission to release my pictures of each part of the design as they are released to the participants of the SAL.

If you would like to join in with this SAL you can do so here.

I am stitching this on 18 count January's Boy dyed by KLT Charting.

Frog number 6 is filled in with Peacock Feathers from Jodyri Designs.  As with the Owl SAL I did earlier in the year I am counting each of these frogs as a finish so this is finish number 29 of 2016.

And here's the whole frog family so far.

Keep stitching and smiling

Halloween Mystery SAL - Jodyri Designs - Part 4 - FINISH 28 of 2016

I was again lucky enough to be asked to model stitch the Halloween mystery SAL for Jodyri Designs.  Being asked to model stitch means I also get to see the whole chart before the participants and I have to stitch each section before it is released to the participants.

I have permission to release my pictures of each part of the design as they are released to the participants of the SAL.

I am stitching my design on 28 count Brittney in Toxic Potion with the letters stitched in Witches Brew and the motifs in Nevermore.  The fabric and threads are all available from Jodyri Designs.  I backstitched down one side of all the letters with Nevermore to help them stand out against the fabric.

Here is part 4 of the SAL:-

Keep stitching and smiling

Six Fat Men - Lizzie Kate - FINISH 27 of 2016 - 11.09.16

So way back when in October 2011 I started this project from Lizzie Kate.  I stitched it on 14 count opalescent aida in Dragon's Eye from Crafty Kitten and I stitched it with the DMC conversion.

I've no idea why it took me a further 5 years to finish it apart from the fact that I have startitis but it's finished at last.

Keep stitching and smiling