Freebie Fairy

I know how much people love freebies, especially with the economy being the way it is so I wanted to share this one with you.  It's a little fairy that has been created by my good friend Jennidee:

If you would like to get this chart, just head over to her blog: Tapestry Moon and send her an e-mail and she'll post you a PDF chart of this lovely fairy.  It's only available for the rest of July so better do it quick!

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend - July

Hope everyone had a good weekend and got lots done!  It was a fairly quiet weekend, watched lots of sport and stitched so managed to get a fair bit done. 

I worked on QS Clara, I plan on doing all the black outline first then colouring it in.  It does get a little dull doing the black and I really want to see some colour but it works well when rotating!

This is before:

and the after:

 

I'm really happy with how it's taking shape, I just wish I stitched quicker.

I've just decided to pick up Endless Dream again, so hopefully there will be a little progress for you to see next time!

 

WIPocalypse July

I'm happy to report that I have a lovely finish to show you.  I've already posted this as I managed to finish it during the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW), so I apologise if you've already seen this, but here is Henry VIII and his 6 wives:

Next up is my Celtic Fanciful Fairy:

April

July

She's coming along nicely and I'm loving stitching on the 28ct Jazlyn, which I've not used before.  I'll shamelessly advertise the online store I bought it from which is Crafty Kitten.  The picture doesn't do the fabric justice as it really is beautiful.  Dawn at Crafty Kitten has great customer service and has a really great range of fabrics.

Next up is QS Clara:

June

July

I've not done too much on her but there is a little progress.  I'm planning to stitch all the black first then colour her in as it looks fun to do it that way.

I've not done any progress on my other projects as I've been working on a exchange picture for an exchange.  I'm not going to post pictures of it, despite being really happy with it in case the person I'm stitching it for sees it.

Thanks for reading and I'd be thrilled if you could leave a comment!

HAED Sales & willpower

I have no idea what it is with Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) sales that reduce my willpower to resist to zero.  There was a 50% off sale recently that totally got me and I caved and bought 11 charts!  I won't share all of them with you at it will be photo over load but this is a few of them:

Alicia Aliana - Lynn

Snow White's Fall - Nielsen

Princess Izzy - Lynn

The Ghost - Sinz

Black Rose - Kuik

Portrait With a Spiderling - JBG

I chose a really varied selection with different artists and muted and bright colours.  I've no idea how I'm ever going to get everything stitched that I want to, especially when Michele keeps bringing out such new and beautiful charts!  I need to learn to stitch faster!

Also, this week I found out that my cousin is going to be a father and so that means another birth sampler!  Just when I thought I may be able to get a nice run of stitching for myself I have another sampler!  It took a while to find one that I liked and that him and his partner would like, but I finally chose this one:

It is both cute and modern with nice bright colours and I don't have to wait to find out if they are having a boy or a girl to complete most of it!


As a final note, for those of you who aren't aware, Heaven and Earth Designs are having a 25% 4th of July sale which lasts until 9th July, I doubt my willpower will hold out until then so expect more new purchase pictures!  Even if you don't fancy stitching something so big, have a stop by just to look at the beautiful artwork.  

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend - June

Sorry I'm posting this a little late but I was so close to a finish I just wanted to hang and and get the last little bit of beading done!

So after being a UFO for 5 years or so, Henry VIII is finally finished!

I'm so happy to get this done and it feels so good to see it completed.  I have to say I'm not 100% happy with it and I know that there are a lot of people who could have done it much better, but it's not too bad.  It's going to be going to my mum, who has loved it from the day I bought it as she was with me.  She's going to get it framed herself so that she can choose the right frame for her.

Thanks very much for all the encouragement that kept me going when it was close to being thrown back in the cupboard!

WIPocalypse - June

Sorry this is a day late but at least I made it eventually!  It's been a fairly productive month and I have a finish!

First up, TT Violet Sometimes:

Feels great to have a finish and I think it looks pretty good for my first HAED project, I even managed to frame it myself!

May

Next one, Henry VIII:

April

 

June

This is nearly done now.  All the main stitching is done so just a small amount of back stitching to do as well as the beading.  I've never actually beaded anything before so fingers crossed it works out!

Now for SK Blue Moon:

April

June

I'm really struggling with this, the amount of confetti is crazy but I am determined to get it done.  It may only be a few stitches, but it's a few stitches nearer the finish line!  It may take me a while, so you'll have to bear with me on this one.

I haven't done anything on Endless Dream or Fanciful Fairy this month but I've been a little naughty and made a start on QS Clara - Hannah Lynn.

June

I've not really been struck by her artwork before, then I spotted this and it really grabbed me.  Since then her artwork has really grown on me and now I have an even bigger list of charts I HAVE to do!

Just to keep you informed, HAED are having a 25% off sale until 11th June, this time it includes the minis.  Sadly I've been banned by my OH from visiting the site....I've spent far too much in the recent sales and I stitch far too slowly....although if you don't tell him, he'll never know!  Michele is too naughty and keeps adding such beautiful artwork that I just NEED to stitch.

That's it for now, thanks for reading.  Please feel free to leave a comment, it's always nice to read your thoughts.

TT Violet Sometimes - Framed

Just a short update to show you my framed finish.  I framed it myself as it was a smaller sized project and I'm really pleased with how it looks.

I also caved and bought more HAED charts!  As well as the other Winkler charts I mentioned in my last post, I also added these:

Faces of Fairy 185 - Jasmine Becket-Griffith

Suzanne - Fred Winkler

I really need to start getting more stitching done and do less stash enhancement!

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend

Well I've had a really successful International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW)!

I managed to finish TT Violet Sometimes!

I'm really happy with how it turned out, but I feel a little guilty calling this my first HAED finish as it's a small chart so feels like I'm cheating.  Thank you to everyone that has provided such supportive and helpful comments along the way, it's very much appreciated!

I also managed to put a few stitches into Henry VIII but not enough to really notice any progress.  This will be my next focus piece as it's so close to a finish it makes sense to push on and get that last bit done.

I also have to tell you how lovely people in the cross stitch community are!  In the past month I've been lucky enough to be gifted 2 HAED charts, Mini Memory (Nene Thomas) from Sam and QS Snap Dragon Fairy (Jasmine Becket-Griffith) from Liz.  I really cannot express how much this kindness is appreciated and I cannot thank you enough.

 

Mini Memory

QS Snap Dragon Fairy

Just as a final note, one of the HAED artists, Fred Winkler is being retired at the end of June.  He's an amazing digital artist and I love his works, thanks to Michele for the "head's up" so that we have a chance to snatch up his charts before they are no longer available and if you are quick, there is a 50% off sale just to help you a little.  Although I have enough charts to last me a few years, I'm still going to purchase a few of Fred's as they are lovely.  These are a few of the ones I like, it may prove to be expensive!

   

WIPocalypse - May

Well it's that time again and I can't believe how fast this comes around!

This month I've tried to focus on TT Violet Sometimes as it's so near to being completed, this has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated.  For some reason, now that I am near to finishing, I've completely run out of steam and seem to spend more time sitting and looking at it rather than stitching on it!  This is where I'm up to:

April

May

I did manage to get a little time to work on Henry VIII and have a little progress to show:

April

May

 







I was also a bit naughty, when I should have been working on SK Blue Moon, I started a new project!  It is the Fanciful Celtic Fairy From CrossStitcher Magazine (Issue 227 - July 2010) that I had kitted up and had ready to go and I just couldn't help myself!  It's my first Joan Elliott design (the first of many though) and my first time using the lovely hand-dyed Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten, I went with Dawn Blush for this project.  If you haven't shopped there before I strongly urge you to take a look!  I'm not very far yet but this is my start:

So no progress on SK Blue Moon....again

This month I've done some MAJOR stash enhancement and I promise to post next week when the last of it arrives to show you what I've bought, although I am a little scared to see it all together!

Thanks for reading!

IHSW - April

Well I actually managed to remember that it was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW) and I managed to get a fair bit of stitching done as I was watching the F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain.  I won't go into the politics of whether it should have taken place, but it was a good race.

I've managed to get a fair bit of stitching done on TT Violet Sometimes and I've decided that instead of rotating, I'm going to stick with it until it's completed....well that's the plan anyway!

I have to apologise for the poor quality photo, I couldn't find the batteries for the camera (OH "tidied" them away) so I had to take the photo with my phone and that camera sucks.

Hope you all managed to get some stitching in and I can't wait to stop by your blogs and check the photo's out!