Baby Patchwork as of 27.05.12 - Happy Dance

Well I am delighted to say that yesterday I stitched the final stitch on Baby Patchwork.  I still have to stitch the baby's birth details but I won't be sharing the pictures here once I've done that.

So here are all the pictures of my progress ending up with the finished piece.

I started stitching this on 21.12.11 and finished on 27.05.12 - just over 5 months stitching on and off with other pieces.  It is stitched on 14 count cream aida 2 over 1 full crosses.

I've really enjoyed stitching this piece.  The simplicity of the design makes a change from what I normally stitch as do the vibrant colours.

Baby Sampler as of 20.04.12

I've been working on the Baby Sampler by Cinnamon Cat and am pleased with my progress so far.  I've now stitched 7,665 of 11,068 stitches which means this project is now 69.25% complete.

I also picked up my Lizzie Kate Living with Charm from the framers and I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.  I'd definitely recommend anybody in the UK to try Maxim Picture Framing in Cleveleys.  I found them extremely friendly and professional to deal with and they turned my project around very quickly for me.  I'll definitely be going back there to get future projects framed.

I've made a new start as well - I know the last thing I need is a new project but hey ho I am a serial starter after all.  My latest project is Rules for Life by Kincavel Crosses.  I'm going to do the border and symbol stitching in DMC 4215 and then do the words in solid colours complementing the variegated thread.

Baby Patchwork as of 14.03.12

I'm trying out this new way of rotating where you work on a project for 10 hours at a time.  My focus project at the moment is Baby Patchwork so I will work on this every alternate 10 hours.  This is my progress after this rotation.

Top half completed without backstitch.

And with backstitch.

I love how cheeky this little giraffe looks.

Here's how far I've got with the bottom half.

I have completed 1,388 stitches since my last update which brings it to 6,499 of 11,068 which is 58.72% complete!

Baby Patchwork as of 5th March 2012

I've been concentrating on Baby Patchwork as my friend's baby is due to be born in the next couple of weeks. I've done another 922 stitches since my last post which makes it 46% complete.  I'm really enjoying stitching this and planning in my mind how I will set out the baby's name and birth details.

I don't know if you've noticed but I've set up a new page which is my "Stitching Journal".  I'd seen a lot on other forums about people keeping track of their progress with a stitching journal and I thought I'd utilise my blog to start one of my own.  Basically it's just a small entry (nearly) every day detailing what I've stitched that day and anything else I want to keep a note of.  Mainly it's for me but of course you're all welcome to read along with me.  I've also spent some time going through my "must do" projects and these are now listed on my "Current & Future Projects" page.  I've grouped them by size (stitch count) and my intention is that when I finish a small project I can add a new small one and if I finish a large project and can add a new large one etc.

Anyway I'm rambling now because it's the middle of the night and I am up with my little boy who unfortunately has chicken pox.  Very tempted to do some stitching but don't know if my sleep deprived brain and tired eyes could really make much progress!

Here's a couple of pics of my poorly (yet still cheeky) little boy.

Piece finish Happy Dance for Nativity as of 29.02.12

I'm really pleased with the progress that I've made on the Nativity.  I'm  keeping up with stitching one piece a month and have now completed the largest piece.  So doing a small happy dance for a piece finish.  I have now completed 16.7% of this project.

I've mainly be concentrating on the Baby Patchwork Birth Sampler as the baby I am stitching it for is due to be born mid-March and I want to get it finished as soon as I can after he is born.  I've completed 1,232 stitches since my last update which now makes it 37.9% complete.

WIPocalypse - 09.01.12

So here's my first WIPocalypse update.

Cinnamon Cat Birth Sampler - started 21.12.11 - 2,957 of 11,068 stitches - 26.72% complete

Gerbera Daisy Cushion - 23,726 of 28,224 stitches - 84.06% complete

Hickory Dickory Dock QS - 20,344 of 26,775 stitches - 75.98% complete as of 02.01.12

Living with Charm - Part 9 complete as of 03.01.12

Secret Project 1 - I won't be able to publish any pictures of this project but will update my stats - 11.49% complete

Secret Project 2 - I will be able to post pictures of this later this year -  not yet started

Six Fat Men - 3 out of 6 complete

Forbidden Doorway SK SAL - not yet started

Baby Patchwork as of 07.01.12

I've been stitching on Baby Patchwork for the last few days and have now completed 2,957 of 11,068 which is 26.72% complete.  On the original pattern the name and birth details are done in cross stitch and look quite bulky.  I've decided to stitch the whole background in white and then back stitch the details, I think it will look better this way and will also enable me to fit more information in.  So here's the progress picture.

I've also completed part 9 of Living with Charm which makes it 75% complete.  I now have a deadline to finish this project which is spurring me on.

 I also had a lovely surprise this morning.  I received £100 of Hobbycraft vouchers after entering a competition in Cross Stitcher Magazine.  I had only said to a friend of mine yesterday that I sometimes wondered if anyone actually won these competitions - well I guess someone was listening and decided to prove me wrong.  The ironic thing is I took my Christmas money to Hobbycraft a few days ago and bought everything I needed so I guess the vouchers may have to wait awhile before I spend them.  I can't decide whether to splurge on a couple of big items or just keep myself in threads and needles for a while.

Baby Patchwork as of 26.12.11

A good friend of mine is pregnant and I asked her to choose a birth sampler for me to stitch for her little boy.  She chose Baby Patchwork by Cinnamon Cat which I started on 21.12.11.  I have done 1,600 stitches and it is now 14.5% complete.  It's stitched on 14 count cream aida, 2 over 1 full crosses.

I was a bit unsure of the colours when I first started stitching it but I think they come together really well.

I've also finally got round to framing my Home of a Needleworker which I finished earlier this year.

I'm really pleased with how it looks and I'm hoping it will be hanging on the wall before the end of the year.

I had a lovely Christmas.  My little boy is 2 in January and he was so excited with all his presents.  He was even more excited when he got up the next day and they were all still here, I think he thought he only had them for one day!