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

Halloween Mystery SAL - Jodyri Designs - Part 3

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.

Here is part 3 of the SAL:-

I decided to back stitch down one side of all the letters with one strand of Nevermore and I am really pleased with how it turned out.  It gives them a slight 3D effect and also stops the letters blending into the fabric.

Keep stitching and smiling

Halloween Mystery SAL - Jodyri Designs - Part 2

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.

Here is part 2 of the SAL:-

Ghosts, Goblins, Spooks galore.  Scary Witches at your door

Since completing this section I have gone back and outlined one side of the letters with one strand of Nevermore to make them more visible.

I've outlined the ghost and the bat and filled in the ghosts eyes and mouth with a Rainbow Gallery glow in the dark thread.  Unfortunately at the moment it doesn't show up or glow so until I can see a difference I don't think I will be adding any more of the glow in the dark thread.

Keep stitching and smiling

Halloween Mystery SAL - Jodyri Designs - Part 1

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.

Here is part 1 of the SAL - if you would like to join in the chart is currently available here:-

Keep stitching and smiling

September Stitching

I managed to not post anything at all in September regarding my stitching so will try and summarise it here.

I stitched a little gift for a friends son's 3rd birthday.  It was from Cross Stitcher Magazine and I started stitching it as soon as I got the magazine home.  I bought it on the Thursday and his party was on the Saturday - talk about cutting it fine.  It was originally meant to be stitched on perforated paper and just be the shape of the monkey.  I originally thought about making it into a badge so stitched it on plastic canvas.  Once I started it though I realised it was too big to be a badge so I filled in the background and framed it.  I changed the thread for the body of the monkey to Bitter Chocolate and the jumper I stitched in Genie of the Lamp - both of these are threads from Jodyri Designs.

I made a small start on A Hug of Owls from KLT Charting.  I chose to purchase the full coverage chart and it is extremely confetti heavy.  Kim has also done a black and white chart which utilises long stitch and cross stitch and I may purchase this chart to stitch instead.  I'm going to show you a picture of the finished design and then my progress.

I started and finished Mrs Clause's Christmas Outfits by Shannon Christine.  It is such a sweet design and I can see myself purchasing a lot more of her charts in the future.  I was lucky enough that Shannon asked me to model stitch this design for her.  It is stitched on 28 count opal Regal Peacock from Jodyri Designs.

I put a few more stitches in Plum Pudding from Glendon Place but not enough to post an update picture.

I also made a start on a secret project which I can't post about until after January when the recipient has received it.  I don't think the person I am stitching it for reads my blog but you can never be too careful.

So I think that's about it for September - I will try and post more regularly in October.

Keep stitching and smiling

Hugs - Jodyri Designs - FINISHED - 24th July 2015

I have recently been stitching a model for Michelle at Jodyri Designs.  It is one of a set of three and the one I stitched was Hugs the others are Love and Kiss.  It's stitched on 28 count Wild Porcini and the thread used is called Beach Huts.  This was a lovely stitch and I can see myself stitching it again to keep for myself.

I was asked to keep a record of how long it took me to stitch this project and I was surprised that it took me 18 hours to stitch.  It's really eye opening to keep a record of the length of time it takes to stitch a project and I think I'm going to start doing this for all future projects just for my own information.

Keep stitching and smiling

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

Northern Expressions Needlework Model - finished 4th September 2014

Northern Expressions Needlework - Shades of Orange

I am so proud to say I have finished the model I've been stitching for Nicole at Northern Expressions Needlework.  It's part of a series of charts in "Shades" of colours.  I stitched Shades of Orange.

It's stitched over 2 on 40 count linen.  This was a first for me stitching on linen and stitching on 40 count.  I did learn that stitching in daylight was best when stitching on such a small count.  I have loved every stitch of this project and am now sending it on it's way back to Nicole.

STASH ENHANCEMENT

I mentioned in my previous blog post that I had received some gorgeous new threads from the Silk Mill.  Mrs Milkybar Kid asked in the comments if they were for a particular project.

The ones in the photo below I am going to use to stitch Peacock from Alessandra Adelaide.  I have used the Silk Mill conversion to convert the DMC colours charted.

The other pack I bought is a themed set from the Silk Mill called Wordsworth Country.  I have no idea yet what I am going to stitch with this but I just love the muted tones of this set and had to have it.

So two updates in one day!  Not sure I can keep that pace up.

Keep stitching and smiling

Northern Expressions Needlework Model as of 21.03.14

Very pleased with the progress I've made over the past couple of weeks.  Finished pages 1 and 2 and very close to finishing pages 3 and 4 - getting so close to the centre.  Here's the before and after pics.

Not the best picture but I hope you can see progress being made.

I've also decided to use March as my skip month for the stitch from stash challenge.  Needless to say I had a little splurge this month.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Northern Expressions Needlework Model as of 28.02.14

Before and after pictures for the Northern Expressions Needlework model for this week.

The top photo was taken in artificial light and the bottom in natural light - amazing what a difference it makes.

My small project which I stitched on during the days this week was the Valentine Peacock from KLT Charting, it's stitched on 20 count aida with hand dyed thread called Peacock Feathers from Jodyri Designs.  I am stitching it as part of a joing SAL between Jodyri Designs and KLT Charting.  Here's my progress:

No more stash bought to date so doing well with the stitch from stash challenge.

Evenings next week will be spent stitching on my Chatelaine and days hopefully getting Valentine Peacock finished.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Model for Northern Expressions Needlework as of 21.02.14 & February Stitch from Stash

I've been working on the model for Northern Expressions Needlework this week.  Here's my before and after photos.

I'm going to be stitching on this next week as well but I have decided to change my rotation slightly.

So each month in the evenings I will work on the following:-

Week 1 - Chatelaine
Week 2 - Northern Expressions Needlework Model
Week 3 - Northern Expressions Needlework Model
Week 4 - Learning Sampler
Week 5 (if there is one) - Free choice

Then if I get chance during the days to stitch on a Wednesday and at the weekend I'm going to firstly work on my Lizzie Kate Christmas Mystery and when that is finished I have two small designs from Jodyri Designs and KLT Charting that I want to stitch for a SAL I'm participating in.

My stitch from stash budget this month was £15.19 as I had nothing to carry forward from last month.  I am really pleased to say that this month I've only spent £8!  I bought two new charts from KLT Charting:

Tribal Butterfly

Tribal Owl

I was also lucky enough to be RAKd two charts

Tribal Heart

Valentine Peacock

So having only spent £8 of my £15.19 budget I have £7.19 to carry forward giving me a budget for March of £22.38.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing

Learning Sampler - Northern Expressions Needlework as of 14.02.14

I've had the Learning Sampler on my frame for the last two weeks as I've not really had as much time to stitch as I would like.  Here's my before and after pictures.

I am really enjoying learning the new speciality stitches and hope to incorporate them into lots more projects in the future.

I've signed up to join in with the Stitching Bandits Chatelaine Challenge.  So I'm committed to working on one of my Chatelaines at least one week each month.  I think for consistency and so I remember I will work on it the first week of each month.  I'm going to be concentrating on the Seaside Mystery and look forward to making progress with it.

I'm slowly but surely starting (again!) to make an inventory of all the charts I own so that when I come to start a new project I can see all the ones I have.  I'm trying to categorise them by size and type so that if I finish a small project I can add another small one in it's place so I'm not constantly stitching BAPs!  Will have to see how it goes!

I'm hoping in the next few months we will have sorted things out enough in our house that I can finally transform our spare room into my crafting room.  I'm also hoping that once everything is organised and in one place it will make it much easier to see where I am up to with all my projects.

The next rotation on my frame is the model stitch for Northern Expressions Needlework and this is going to be my focus project which I intend to work on for two weeks out of every month.  I think I may put those two weeks together so I see more progress.

My next update will also include my update on the Stitch from Stash challenge.  We have been given an exemption this month and are allowed to spend an additional $100 dollars.  Unfortunately as much as I would like a splurge there is no actual money in my budget to allow me to do so and I'm just sticking to the original budget.

And last but not least I would love it if you would head over and check out my cousins brand new cross stitching design business.  It's called KLT Charting and the website can be found here and the Facebook page here.  Thanks for looking.  I'll show you in my next post the two charts I bought this month out of my stitch from stash budget.

Keep stitching, smiling and destashing