Nancy's Give-Away!

Just a quick post to tell you about Nancy's amazing floss give-away!  She's very generously giving away 25 skeins of her beautiful floss and it really is lovely, I've bought a lot of it and they are very generous skeins of 20 yards as well!

You have until the 25th December to enter and I recommend you do....what is there to lose?!

Click here to enter!

Also, check out the other amazing items she's giving away too!  As a hugely generous gift, she's offering a $50 gift certificate for her ebay shop. 

Click here to enter! 

Mystic Garden Completed

I've actually managed to finish the HAED 2013 Bulletin Board SAL before the end of the year and I'm thrilled!  It's actually turned out pretty well and I'm really happy with it!

Since completing it if been in a "post finish slump" and haven't wanted to do any stitching at all, however the bug is slowly creeping back.  I've managed to finish the second part of the Lizzie*Kate Mystery SAL, although I've not taken a photo.  I'm now making a slow start on the last part and hopefully it should be done before the end of the year.  I've also stitched a little bit of the birth sampler that I started for my Cousin's baby, who was born last December, bit not enough to see any real change as yet!  I will take a photo once I've got something to show.

Hope you are all enjoying getting ready for the festive period.  I've had to be prepared early as I've got a few parcels to be sent overseas.  They aren't all wrapped yet, but I've got all the gifts made and bought, so they should be ready to go out early next week.  I then have to start shopping and crafting for the friends and family nearby!

A bit of a catch-up!

Well it's been while since I posted last but as tends to happen, life got in the way a little!  I'll not go into detail (mainly as it's boring) but things are now getting back on track.

I have managed to get a fair bit of stitching done though so at least I have some things to share with you!

In September it was our 1st wedding anniversary and I stitched a present for my husband that represented how I lucky I feel to have met such a wonderful man!  It's a Design Works kit (designed by Joan Elliott) called Happiness Bears.

I've also joined in 2 different SAL's with 2 FaceBook groups.  I apologise that neither of these have been pressed so they may look a little crumpled.

The first is An Important Flower - Alessandra Adelaide Needlework (AAN) Stitched on 28ct Deep Teal Jazlyn using Sulky Blendables thread in Baby Soft.

Next is a design by Love Thy Thread that was created specifically for this SAL called Halloween.  I stitched on 18ct Aida in Moondust from Crafty Kitten using DMC threads.

 

I've joined the Lizzie*Kate Mystery SAL and I've made a start but not very much to show of that as yet and I'm still steadily working through the HAED BB SAL and I promise I'll take a picture next time I move my Q-Snaps!

Hope you are all doing well and I'll catch up on your blogs.  I may not post comments on all of them but I do enjoy reading them!

Just as a final note, my thoughts go out to Pumpkin's (Cathey) friends and family, as she lost her fight with cancer.  Her wonderful heart and spirit will be missed.

Birthday Stash!

It was my birthday at the end of July and I did a little bit of stash shopping!  As most of it was online, some bits haven't arrived as yet, but a few have and I thought I'd share it with you!

First up, a lovely selection of fabrics from Crafty Kitten:

Some of the very cute Whiskerkins designs by CM Deisgns, also bought from Crafty Kitten:

A couple of Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks charts:

Some of the lovely threads from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe:

The lovely cake that hubby bought for me:

Also, I was very lucky to win a giveaway of a chart, threads and fabric from the Jodyri Designs group on Facebook.  If you haven't heard of them I strongly suggest you check out her website:

Last, but definitely not least,  I was gifted a lovely chart of QS A - Tamara Newman from Heaven and Earth Designs by the wonderful Nikki:

I'm currently looking for the perfect fabric to stitch it on now!

I feel really lucky to have a few special friends and a wonderful hubby that made the day really nice for me!  Hubby even encourages the stash buying too!

WIPocalypse - July 2013

It's a couple of days late but here I am with my WIPocalypse update.  I don't know where July went as it only seems like I was doing June's update a few days ago!

I've been working on QS Clara and haven't done much more since I posted my IHSW update so I haven't bothered updating it!  I won't repost it as it's in my last post (and on my WIP page) for those whose want to see!

I do have a new start to show you, it's the one I planned to start earlier in the year and never got around to it.  This is The 3 Fates - Jasmine Becket-Griffith (HAED):

Not much to see as yet as it's just a bit of background but it'll take shape soon!


Next up, Pyramid 4 - Ciro Marchetti:

June

 

July

The scarab is complete now and I'm making some progress on the Pharaoh now.  This is fun to work on, the fact it's a pyramid just makes it more fun!


Last up is the HAED Bulletin Board SAL piece, QS Mystic Garden:

June

July

 

 

 

 
There's been a bit more progress on the tiger and on the fountain as well, slowly taking shape.  I may be a bit behind but I'm pleased with how it's going so far and I'm enjoying stitching it, which is the important thing!

Considering how hot it's been over the last couple of weeks in the UK, I'm really pleased with my progress, we're just not used to it!

IHSW - July

I hope everyone is doing well and hey to my new followers, lovely to see you!  It's really hot in the UK, whilst it's nicer than freezing, it hasn't been great for stitching.  I have done some this weekend but not a great deal.

I decided to work on QS Clara - Hannah Lynn (HAED)

Friday

Sunday

As you can see, I've done some of the background, it's not too much but it is progress so I'm happy!

Hope you all have a great weekend, I'll look forward to seeing your progress pictures!

WIPocalypse - June

I've been a little naughty and completed a few things that weren't planned, I just felt like doing some small things to break that feeling of not getting anywhere on large projects.  I do have to say that it worked and I've been able to go back to my Pyramid slightly refreshed!

This was completed for a charity that makes quilts for sick children:

It was a design I found online from Passion Creative blog and I changed the colours slightly to fit with the threads I already had.

Next was a design by Ink Circles that I've had for a while and kept meaning to do called Aventail.

It's stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen called Evening Magic from Crafty Kitten using a Dinky Dyes thread called Merlot.  I really love the way it turned out and I have lots more planned!

Next up is a small kit that I've had hanging around for ages that my niece wanted me to stitch for her.  I finally decided that I'd better get it done as it was a fairly small design I knew it wouldn't take long!

It's Fairy Girl - Bang on the Door DMC kit stitched on the white 18ct aida that it came with.  Once I find a nice frame I can finally give it to her :)

I also did a little work on the HAED BB SAL piece, QS Mystic Garden - Marchetti

May

June

Not a massive amount of progress but anything is a step closer!


Last up is Pyramid 4 - also by Marchetti:

 

May

June

I kept thinking I hadn't done that much, but you can definitely see some progress so I'm really happy.

I'm really happy with what I've completed this month and having a "time out" and doing a few smalls definitely helped spur me on with my larger projects!  Hope you guys all had a great month and I look forward to seeing all your progress pictures!

IHSW - June

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I had a fairly busy one but managed to get a good amount of time for stitching too thankfully!

I worked on Pyramid 4 for the whole weekend and managed to get some of the nasty confetti bits of the scarab done.  It was nice to be able to stitch something other than brown!

Friday

Monday

It's quite funny, whilst you are stitching you think you really haven't made any progress, it's only when you put the photo's together that you really see it starting to grow.  Still a very long way to go, but I'm happy!

WIPocalypse May (just!)

I know it's a tiny bit late but here's my WIPocalypse update for May!

Let's start with QS Clara!  I've done pretty well, I've now completed the black outline and have started on the colouring in.

April

May

May

I had to start with her face, those eyes are lovely!

Next is QS Mystic Garden.  I've not made much headway from last time, but there was some progress.

April

May

It's slow but steady, but I'm enjoying it and will be picking it up again tomorrow as the next page is due out!

My last update is on Pyramid 4.  Again, not masses of progress, but definite steps in the right direction!

April

May

I was thinking of stitching the brown border of the pyramid first then doing the detail in the middle, however, stitching brown is very dull!  Next time it comes around, I may well be abandoning that idea!

It's been all HAED stitching so far this month, although I have spent the last few days stitching a Hello Kitty quilt square for charity!

I'm looking forward to catching up on everyone's blog in the next couple of days and I'll try to comment on as many as possible!

Yiota's Xstitch review

I know it's IHSW this weekend I'll be posting an update about that tomorrow, however I thought I'd share with you a bit of information about a new company that I've come across - Yiota's Xstitch (www.yiotas-xstitch.com).  This isn't a company that I'd heard of until recently so thought I'd share my thoughts with you as I know there is always some trepidation about trying a new company.

The website is lovely and colourful, easy to navigate to find something specific or just to browse through, with a varied selection of kits and charts in modern and traditional styles.

As I'm a fan of fantasy, I chose this design based on the artwork of Erin Ewer: 

The kit arrived within a few days in a small package that easily fit through the door but was well protected. 

Provided in the kit was 16ct white Aida (you could choose from 14ct/16ct/28ct fabric), needle, chart, instructions and all the thread needed to complete the project.

The thread used in these kits is Madeira, whilst not as widely used as DMC, it is a very high quality thread (not like the awful stuff you get in the free cover kits from magazines) and has more of a shine than Anchor and a similar to feel to DMC.  It comes already wound onto bobbins for ease of use, clearly marked.

The chart itself is in black and white and comes on A3 sheets, using large, very clear and easy to read symbols.

As some of you regularly stitch HAED designs, I would say that a number of these charts and kits just won't have the level of detail you would be used to seeing so may not appeal to you.  As it doesn't have any backstitch and uses just whole stitches, there's no reason someone who knows the basics couldn't jump straight in, however, the size of this kit might be a little intimidating for a beginner.  I do think it would make a great project for those who have completed a few small designs and are looking for something a little more challenging. 

Personally, I thought it was one of the best kits I've come across for a very reasonable price!  I hope that this has been useful for you and it's definitely worth having a look!

Honeymoon trip

It's been a month since my last post but I do have a good reason...we finally went on our honeymoon!  Although we got married last September, we had to wait until April for our trip to the Red Sea, visiting Jordan and Egypt.  As this blog is primarily about stitching, I don't want to bore you with too much detail and a ton of photo's but I will share a few!

Visiting Petra was one of the highlights of the trip and the first glimpse of the Treasury is something I will never forget!

The trip to Cairo was amazing and the Cairo Museum of Antiquities was amazing, I could have spent weeks in there as there was just so much to see.  Sadly you aren't allowed to take photographs in there as the lighting is very carefully controlled but seeing Tutankhamun's death mask took my breath away.

Photo taken from The Times website

Seeing how well preserved some of the mummified bodies were gave a very strange feeling that's not easily described, I guess kind of in awe and a deep sense of respect towards them.

The Pyramids and the Sphinx were stunning, although the experience wasn't as pleasant as it should have been due to the very aggressive nature (and number) of sellers and locals wanting money from you. I have to admit I wasn't prepared for it, also the fact that directly opposite the Sphinx there was a Pizza Hut also meant that these monuments didn't have quite the "awe factor" that Petra did!  However, they are the last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and I feel very fortunate that I have been able to see them in person!

I'm only going to post 1 picture of stitching, which was taken while I was away and is of Pyramid 4 (HAED) - Marchetti at the Pyramids!

I know I missed the WIPocalypse for April but I'll pick up again at the next one as there hasn't been a massive amount of stitching progress this month.

If any of you would like to see more photo's then feel free to contact me :)