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

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.