2014 Round Up

At the end of the year I like to go through my blog and see what I have accomplished over the last 12 months.  Here are my projects be they WIPs, UFOs or finishes that I worked on at some point in 2014.

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework - WIP

Shades of Orange - Northern Expressions Needlework - FINISH

Holly & Hearts Mystery Sampler - Lizzie Kate - FINISH

Seaside Mystery - Chatelaine - WIP

Valentine Peacock - KLT Charting - FINISH

Heart Tree - Jodyri Designs - FINISH

Stained Glass SAL - Love Thy Thread - WIP

Together Forever - Love Thy Thread - FINISH

Celtic Banner - Butternut Road - WIP

Chinese Symbol Love - KLT Charting

Doodle Heart - Jodyri Designs - FINISH

Twisted Band Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework - WIP

That makes 7 finishes for the year!  A lot more than I thought I had had.  That's why I like this look back over the year as it reminds me what I have done.

I'm joining in again with the Stitch from Stash challenge for 2015 so I hope you will all follow my progress through 2015 and see if I can actually stick to it this year.

I wish you all a wonderful New Year and hope it brings you health and happiness.

Keep stitching and smiling

Twisted Band Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework - 28.12.14

Another progress picture for the Twisted Band Sampler again this week.  I plan on stitching on this until next year!

I was very pleased to finish the band with the norwich stitches in as I really struggled with those.  For some reason I just couldn't find the right holes to stitch in for them.  But I got there in the end although they are far from perfect.

Stitching Plans for 2015

As this is going to be my last post for 2014 I thought I'd put down some plans for 2015, to share with you and also to be able to look back on myself and see if I managed to stick with them.

In 2015 I am going to be participating in three SALs.  The first is Stained Glass by Love Thy Thread which carries over from 2014 as I am sure most of you are aware Bev has unfortunately had to close down Love Thy Thread and she has sent out all the pages of the SAL to the members.  However I am hoping to carry on stitching one page per month until I have completed this.

The second SAL is the Alessandra Adelaide Christmas Mystery SAL for which we get the first page on 5th January (I think).  Again hoping to keep up with this one but I will only be able to stitch on it for one week a month so it depends on how big the sections are whether or not I can keep up.  However as long as I finish it by Christmas 2016 I will be pleased.

The third SAL is just between myself and Mrs Milkybar Kid.  We are both going to stitch Plum Pudding by Glendon Place.  I don't yet have the materials for this so I may not be able to start it in January but when I do start again I will spend one week a month stitching on it.

So those three stitch a longs take three weeks out of my stitching month.  To start with I will spend the fourth week stitching the Twisted Band Sampler as I would love to finish that and get it framed as soon as possible.  If there is a fifth week in the month I will stitch on Seaside Mystery by Chatelaine and once I finish Twisted Band Sampler I may put Seaside Mystery into the four week rotation.  

I am also participating in Stitch from Stash again this year and am really hoping I can stick with it for the whole year this time.  The rules have changed slightly from last year but I can't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to stick with it.

I have an order with Crafty Kitten which I paid off with my Christmas money which contains all the materials I need for Plum Pudding and I also caved in and got everything for the Lizzie Kate Mystery Things Unseen so I will probably want to start that when I see it too.  This will be my last (hopefully) big stash splurge for a while.

Anyway those are the plans for now no doubt they will change rapidly over the coming days/weeks/months.

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

Keep stitching and smiling

Twisted Band Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework - 20th December 2014

Been stitching on the Twisted Band Sampler this week and absolutely loving it.  I finally got my head round Norwich stitches after having to frog them more than I care to remember.  I think I'm just going to stitch on this now until the New Year when I have two new SALs to take part in.

Stained Glass SAL - Page 7 completed - 11th December 2014

Still managing to keep up with this SAL and still enjoying it.

Rotating back to Twisted Band Sampler.

Keep stitching and smiling

Chinese Symbol Love - KLT Charting - FINISHED 6th December 2014

It's been a little while since my last post but I have been busy stitching.  Wanted to show you today my finish.  I only started this a little over a week ago so it's my fastest finish in a long time.

Kim at KLT Charting has started doing hand dyed fabrics and I couldn't resist when I saw the colour Kira's Call.  So I had to start straight away and this is what I stitched.

I love how the black symbol stands out against the colours of the fabric.  Very happy with my finish.

I'm going to stitch the next page of Stained Glass from Love Thy Thread next and hope to be back posting weekly.

Keep stitching and smiling

Together Forever - Love Thy Thread - FINISHED - 13th November 2014

Happy dancing for a finish on Together Forever I just need to add the bride and grooms names and add the date of their wedding.  Stitched on 20 count white aida 2 over 1 full crosses.  Silver balloons stitched with Petite Treasure Braid PB58, blue flower stitched with Sulky Metallic Thread and outline stitched in black silk from Thread Pickerz Silkz.

Keep stitching and smiling

Stained Glass - Love Thy Thread SAL - Page 6 completed - 9th November 2014

I completed page 6 of the Love Thy Thread SAL today.  Still love how this one is coming along and also that I am keeping up as each page is released.  Here's the before and after pictures.

Before

After

I will be stitching on Together Forever next and hoping to maybe get a finish of the main design before I add the wording to it.

Keep stitching and smiling

A Fantastic Giveaway - Victorian Motto Sampler

Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler is having an amazing giveaway here.  Please head over an enter.

The winner will be drawn on November 30th.

Keep stitching and smiling

Celtic Banner - Butternut Road - 7th November 2014

I had a new start this week with a project I have wanted to stitch for quite a long time.  So far it has not disappointed.  This is what the finished design will look like.

This is my progress so far.

I am stitching over 2 on 28 count Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten in Oatmeal.  It's a nice easy stitch but it is going to be a very long term project - the fabric I had to order was 12 inches wide by 60 inches long so probably the longest piece I've ever stitched.  I am already thinking about ways I can finish it that won't mean I have to remortgage my house to get it framed.  

Received some gorgeous new stash over the last few days.  The first was my bead storage container.  Having seen quite a few Floss Tubers having purchased these I knew I had to have one and I have to say I am really not disappointed.  It is an amazing product and has been designed by someone who really understands what crafters need.  Here's mine with my bead stash in it - I have a few empty boxes to expand into.

EDITED: This is a link to where I purchased my bead storage http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Wards-Container-Storage-Tray-/dp/B00DV8YERS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415507520&sr=8-1&keywords=tiny+bead+storage

I also decided it was time I rejoined the Jodyri monthly fabric and threads club because I just can't get enough of the pretties.  Unfortunately I put my threads away before I took a photo of them but this is the October Limited Edition fabric called Trick or Treat.

I also ordered some hand dyed silks from Jodyri in Brighton Beach which I am planning to use for Northern Expressions Needleworks Twisted Band Sampler.  I am still not completely decided on what fabric to use for this but I did a little test stitch on Pearl Grey - I am thinking a slightly darker fabric would look better.

The next page of the Love Thy Thread SAL came out a couple of days ago so I'm stitching on the next page of that next.

Keep stitching and smiling

Together Forever - Love Thy Thread - 31st October 2014

I've been working on Together Forever this week and have finally got all those metallic stitches done in the balloons.  I have to say though that petite treasure braid is the easiest metallic I have ever stitched with.

Here's my before and after pictures.

I'm really pleased with how much progress I've made and may even have a finish the next time I stitch on this piece.  I am also going to add the bride and grooms names and the date they got married and a verse so thinking about it I may need two more weeks on it.

I didn't do a post last week as I was stitching on a piece I designed myself and I want to wait to put the pictures up until it is complete.

The next piece I am going to stitch on is a new start.  It is a piece I have wanted to stitch ever since I saw it.  I really struggled getting hold of the chart and I was extremely lucky when a reader of my blog called Kim said she would send it to me as it was a chart she didn't think she would ever get round to stitching.  I've just gone back to the original post where she commented and unfortunately she doesn't appear to have a Blogger profile any more.  The piece is Celtic Banner by Butternut Road and I can't wait to show you some progress.  Kim if you are still reading my blog I'd love to hear from you.

Keep stitching and smiling

Seaside Mystery - Chatelaine - 17th October 2014

I've worked on this for a couple of weeks as I was enjoying it so much.  I decided I wanted to try and use all the threads called for so I could get some idea of the finished piece.  Here's my before picture

And the after.

I love the colours of this piece and really can't wait to see it grow more.  I have however been disappointed with the pattern.  It was only on comparing one section from a part released to the same section in a later part released that I realised it was shown in one part to be done in cross stitch and another part to have some sections completed in rhodes stitch.  Mrs Milky Bar Kid mentioned in one of her videos that she would never stitch a Chatelaine as each part is released but would wait until all the sections are released.  I have to agree that I will also be taking this route with any further Chatelaines I may stitch.  Had I completed the section in the earlier part with the rhodes stitches I think I would have been very disappointed especially if I had to unpick them as the section is stitched in one of the most expensive silk used so any wastage would have been a real disappointment.

I've started stitching a new piece which I designed myself and I am very pleased with how it is coming on.  I will of course reveal all in my next post.

Keep stitching and smiling.

Stained Glass SAL - Love Thy Thread - Page 5 finished - 5th October 2014

Page 5 of the Love Thy Thread SAL came out on 1st October and I started stitching it on Friday night.  Here's the before and after pictures.

Before

After

It is stitched on 20 count pearl grey aida with thread from Crafty Kitten March 2014 Ltd Ed - 2 over 1 tent stitch.

I am so pleased that I am managing to keep up with this SAL it's the first time I ever have.

As this piece was scheduled to be on my rotation for the week I have been thinking about what to stitch on until Friday.  I have swayed between starting something new, picking up a UFO or carrying on with a WIP.  In the last half hour I have decided to spend the next few days stitching on my Chatelaine Seaside Mystery.

Keep stitching and smiling.

Together Forever - Love Thy Thread - 3rd October 2014

Here's my before and after photos for Together Forever this week.

Before

After

I had hoped to get more than this done but didn't get as much time to stitch this week as I would have liked.

The next page of the Love Thy Thread SAL came out on 1st October so that is what I am rotating to next.

Keep stitching and similing

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework - 26 September 2014

I am so pleased with the progress I have made with the Learning Sampler this week.  I have managed to complete parts 4, 5 and 6.  They were all part done but still feels great to get some parts finished.  Here's a picture of where I had got up to when I picked this up again.

The next photo is where I'm up to now and then there are a few close up pictures.

Part 4 - cross stitches and diamond eyelets

Part 5 - Smyrna Crosses and Double Leviathons

Part 6 - Letters F,G,H,I,J and K - cross stitches only

I received some new stash this week.  The first package that arrived was from European Cross Stitch and contained the beads for the Chatelaine Seaside Mystery.

I can't wait to get to the point where I can start stitching them on.  I'm very undecided at the moment as to whether to stitch them on as I go or to wait until the end.  I've chatted about this with a couple of experienced Chatelaine stitchers and they both wait until the end so I think I will do the same but I can't wait to see what a difference they will make.

I am also saving up for a bead storage container after seeing Mrs Milkybar Kid talk about it on one of her floss tube videos.

I've purchased a couple of charts from KLT Charting.  

Advice from the Ocean

Celtic Butterfly

I also received a delivery from Sew and So with some more floss away bags and some DMC threads.  I ordered the threads I am going to need for the Alessandra Adelaide Christmas Mystery SAL so I'm all ready to go in the New Year now.  I have to say I cannot fault the customer service from Sew an So.  I placed my order on Wednesday and received it on Friday.

Rotating back to Together Forever by Love Thy Thread now I going to stitch on it every other week until it's finished as I want to get it done as quickly as I can.

Keep stitching and smiling.