Starry Blight

So excited to show you all this. I now have a sewing corner, so welcome to XXXStitching HQ

I'm over the moon. I got thinking seen as the cot has been gone from there for a few months that the space could have been better used and well who needs a bedside cabinet anyways lol

It means now I don't need everyone out to have the sewing machine out as it has a table. I do keep it in the bag still at the moment in case of naughty fingers and the pincushions and scissors have a high shelf but easy to hand still. I think it's just more inspiring to have some bits out to look at every day, with the little ones I have to be careful to pack most stuff away.

It's certainly starting to feel more festive the last few days.

Especially thanks to seeing the lights switched on at the green last night.

We also made handprint angels at playgroup.

Kind of quite excited to look at getting the decorations out soon.

Now I've been back on with Starry Night. But I have struggled this rotation. I'm not sure if it's the fact it has been stashed for so long or if its the confetti.

Here us where it was

And now:

Most of the left is filled in now. It has felt like a slog and I have wanted to start on more of the design than just finishing the page. But as hubby put it I'd just have more confetti to do at the end. I have struggled to get a rhythm going, I think matching the gaps with the chart after such a break hasn't done me any favours. Hopefully next rotation on this I can finish the page and then it will be like starting fresh to do the next one.

I also finished this mini stitch

Keep stitching...

In arms of an Angel update

Feels nice to be back into the proper business of my rotation. So without further ado, here's my progress on Lavender & Lace In the Arms of an Angel:

Before

And now:

Just beautiful. And beautiful to stitch. I always thought Lavender & Lace looked complicated but really it hasn't felt like that. I think the beauty of the shading and detailing make it worthwhile. Also I find charts that you can stitch in focused sections always make the progress more marked.

Weather's starting to get colder which means more time indoors for the munchkins, so we turned our hands to some baking. 

Don't think they have got the measuring down lol. Plum and Apple pies and made some saltdough with the spilt flour

I am starting to feel quite festive. Especially seen as Santa had left his reindeer outside at Christmas fair at the  nearby stadium.

How cute. They were very friendly too. I think I was more excited to see them than the kids!!

I'm on with a massive stash sort. So far looking nice.

Keep stitching...

Crazy January 2012 Hangover

Wow.....my 100th post!!!

Since finishing Joan Elliot's Madonna I have been having a bit of a sort and tidy.

I finished my memory angel

And I started this:

This will be for my Christmas memory angel to hold but I didn't have enough of the green on the bobbin. The perils of a project that uses three strands.

So it's on hold for now along with Thimble Fairy until I sort out ordering supplies. But with Christmas coming and wanting to get the monies worth on the postage I'm just collecting a list together to make an order.

I have then had a look at my rotation list and have got this:

1. In arms of An Angel- continuation
2. Starry Night - that I have had stashed for a while now, I think it got put aside for Crazy January 2012
3. Christmas Houses - I don't think that there is too much to finish on these but I didn't open the packet so we'll see when I get there.
4. Gingerbread houses - I started these when I did crazy January 2012. I am really excited to see what the 3D cross stitch turns out like.
5. Tapestry Cat - I am determined that this time it will get finished. I'm going to have to work out probably to fluff the mistake (check the labels to find the previous posts on this) I just don't think after all the time that the mistake has been there and how much frogging it would take to remove. I don't think I can feasibly do it without destroying it.

I normally stick to four in the rotation but the houses aren't massive projects so I think that it is workable.

I still can't believe I'm still catching up with the fall out of Crazy January 2012 it wasn't a good option in many ways.

To recap I joined a SAL which in January 2012 which was to start a new project every day for the first 15 days of Jan. Then spend the year trying to finish them off. In all fairness this is what sparked the move from being a one at a timer to doing a rotation which has been a fantastic introduction to my stitching experience. But let's have a look at my Crazy 15.

1. Little Fairy - finished 2012

 

2. Royal Guard - finished 2012

 

3. Gift Tags - finished 2012

 

4. Winnie the Pooh - finished 2012

 

5. World of Sarah Kay - finished 2013

 

6. Middle Earth (1page) - hmmm

 

7. Felt Baubles - abandoned due to all the pieces of aida in the free kit had been cut skew

 

8. Christmas Tags - finished 2012

 

9. Christmas Ornies - no progress

 

10. Gingerbread Houses - no progress but in rotation now

11. Madonna and Child - finished 2013

 

12. Kingfisher - no prgress

13.Flaming June (1page) - no progress

 

14.Reindeer Cake band - no progress

15.Christmas Angel (1page) - no progress

 

So that's 7 finished, one abandoned, one in current rotation and 6 none movers.

 

Getting there I suppose and I have done other projects that have crept into my box over the course of the time. Maybe another year and I can have the crazy January hangover put to rest.

 

Keep stitching...

Mother of all finishes

I've done it!!!!!!

 

Joan Elliot Madonna and child are finished. It took an absolute mile of backstitch and tons of French knots and plenty of beading to finish. So just in need of a bit of a wash from the coffee staining which I'm so glad and lucky that it has come up a treat.

 

 

I can't wait to see her hung next to Father Christmas. I'll post when I get them together, but he's with the Christmas decs so won't be coming for a little while.

 

It was my father's birthday recently, the boys and I had fun making our own wrapping paper. It's turned out great. I think they will be on gift wrapping duty for Christmas.

 

 One of his gifts was this book mark.

 

I had finished it a little while ago but I have had to wait for posting the picture until now.

 

I finally got the finishing touches to the first two memory angels, made with Grandma's clothes and stashed bots and bobs.

They have now flown off to their new homes. I just need a few finishing touches to mine and I can start all over again as I have orders coming in for more.

 

So with all these finishes I have tidied my work box up and I'm sorting out my stash for new pieces to come into rotation.

 

 

 

Keep stitching...

Lost in miles of back stitch

Hi I haven't got lost. It's been a while since I posted but I have got derailed off my rotation by back stitch.

I've got plenty to share but seen as it's been a little while I'll do the pics in date order.

I did get round to carving a pumpkin for the boys. Vincent is mad on angry birds and it was an easy one to achieve. I got plenty of pumpkin out as well with it being nice and ripe, so leaving it until last minute was worth it. Freezer full of pumpkin pies...mmmmm

The 3rd of November I achieved this...

All cross stitch completed...hooray! I had decided before I'd stick with any project to finish the back stitch hence the going missing this one has a ton. 

I finished this cute freebie kit. And this little Easter bunny

Yes I know it's nearly Christmas. But I let the boys pick as they were hanging about when I was getting a new mini. They seem to like looking at the pictures and thought this bunny was cute.

So here is a sneak peek of where I'm getting to on the back stitch but like I say there's miles and then French knots and beading so it'll be a while longer.

I also got a mention in cross stitch collection for the disaster that this very project suffered, if you all remember. 

I'm enjoying getting some big finishes going this year and I seem to be not doing shabby in the mini kit department either.

Keep stitching...