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Friday, February 29, 2008

Princess Drama - Finished!

Well here she is - the finished Princess Drama.



I've really enjoyed stitching her and Miss Behave. They both developed really quickly and used such lovely bright colours.

I've joined in a Stitchy Swap on Swap bot that's being run by Jo at Stitch Clubs. It has an Easter/spring theme but the item is a supprise. The swap is open to anybody so feel free to join in. I'm going to have to think about what I'm going to do. Obviously won't be able to say much on here until the swap is over otherwise the suprise might be spoilt.

So, it's on to the March work now. I think I might do the March square tonight - bit of a cheat as it's not March until tomorrow but it's ever so close!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Mother's Day Card


This is it, the Mother's Day card I've been stitching. The picture doesn't do it justice really. There are quite a few beads on it which gives the whole thing a lovely sparkle.


Change of Plan

I had planned to stitch on Princess Drama last night and finish her off but I changed my mind and started a Mother's Day card instead. I will hopefully have pics of that tomorrow.

I also started the March square yesterday. So although there's not a lot to show today there should be quite a few bits coming through shortly.

Oh! and I ache - all over - especially my legs! Who said running was good for you?

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

First Run

Went out on my first training run for the Race for Life. Wow - am I unfit or what? I think Friday's run will be a repeat of today's rather than moving on to the next one.

Stitching - I did more on Princess Drama last night. She is very nearly finished, just a bit more of the boarder to do. Hopefully, I'll have a finished pic posted tomorrow.

Monday, February 25, 2008

A New Week.

Well, it's the start of another week. My plans are


  • Finish Princess Drama
  • Make progress on Boquet for Cheryl
  • Stitch March square from Juggy Bugs
  • Order frame for The Wave
  • Read new issue of Cross Stitcher (just arrived this morning)


This is how Princess Drama looks at the moment so there's not a lot more to do and should be finished fairly quickly.

I might be getting involved in a Blackwork SAL as well. Possibly doing this design Blackwork Challenge 1 from Tams Creations. I've not done any blackwork before and it's supposed to be a teaching piece, so sounds like a good place to start. The SAL starts 1st March, which is also when the Fruit Smoothie SAL starts, but I guess there's no reason not to do two at the same time.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Happy Dance

I've done it! I've actually finished The Wave!



I actually found the last quarter of this really difficult to do. I just couldn't get motivated to do it. I really had to force myself to get it finished. I think that what made it hard was that when you're stitching it it's just a blur of colours, you can't actually see the design, so it takes a lot of concentration.

However, I'm very pleased with the result. Just need to get it washed, ironed and framed now.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Nearly There

I've been working hard on The Wave over the last few nights and am very nearly there. I've finished all the cross stitch and just have to finish the backstitch. Hopefully have a very happy dance by the end of the weekend.


Julie at Juggy Bug designs has released the March square early. It's got a St Patricks day theme, all green and clovers. I ordered the threads I needed (yet again I didn't have any except black and white, but it's a great excuse to buy more) from Sew and So yesterday and they arrived this morning. Very impressive service. So I'm now ready to make a start on that.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Race for Life

Ok, I know it's nothing to do with cross stitch but hey! I've been pursuaded to do the race for life in Bristol again this year. This will be third time I've done it. I managed to run it the first year in about 35 minutes which, as a non runner who just trained for the even, I was quite pleased with.

Last year everything conspired against us but we were determined to do it in memory of my adopted aunt who died last January from cancer. So my adobted cousins, my sisters and I are doing it again this year, again in memory of Auntie Jenny. So training starts next week. Going to try to run (well jog) it again this time.

As far as stitching goes, I worked on The Wave last night. I'm hoping for a finish in the next couple of days.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Wave Update

Last night I looked at The Wave for the first time since I spotted the error. I decided to do it as part of the UFO Tuesday at Stitch Clubs before it truly becomes a UFO and it sits there for months doing nothing.




I did a fare bit of stitiching and still have no idea where the mistake is. I know it will become obvious at some stage. I had also run out of one of the thread colours, but having e-mailed the nice people at Dimensions they have sent me some more.


The finish is so close with this one but I really have to force myself to do it. It's mad (or I'm mad maybe!)

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Happy Dance

Well here it is. My first ever biscornu.



I'm really quite pleased with it although I have learnt a few things along the way. When the instructions warn me not to over stuff it, they still mean a bit more than I used. I think it has too much give and a bit more stuffing wouldn't have gone a miss. If I was to do one as a gift for somebody I think I would buy nice buttons rather than some old ones in my sewing box - but then this was an experiment and I didn't want to buy anything for it.

Another time I would chose a more delicate pattern. I've seen some very pretty ones out on "the net" and, while this is nice, I don't think it's really pretty or delicate. However, I do love the effect where the two halves are joined together. It's amazine how neat and professional such a simple stitch can look.

So my conclusion of the experience? I would definately do one again, choosing a more delicate pattern and really pretty button. So while biscornu comes off my "to do" list, it also goes back on it as "a pretty biscornu".

Monday, February 18, 2008

Boquet Update

Time for an update of the Boquet for Cheryl.



I had actually done most of this quarter but unfortuantely discovered I had done one stitch too many just about where my thread is in this pic, and then I had counted from that one wrong stitch to set out the rest of this quarter. Everything was one stitch too far to the right and had to be frogged last night. Never mind, I'll have another go at it tonight and hopefull finish this quarter of the design.

The biscornu is coming along. I've decided to do the same design again on the back, I just think it will probably look best. Maybe reverse the colours so the lighter one is on the outside.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Biscornu Progress


This is the start of my Biscornu. The photo makes it look much redder than it really is. I'll try to take the next picture in better light. The filling in part is nice "telly stitching" and the outline fitted together really easily. I'm still not sure what to do for the other side. It's probably best to do the same design again, but I'm impatient to start putting it together so might see if I can come up with a quick stitch for the back - not that this is an epic lol.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Start of my first Biscornu

Today is the start of the Biscornu SAL at Stitch Clubs. I've chosen my material and threads:-

And chosen the Heart of my Heart design from Papillon Creations. I'm really looking forward to giving this a go. I've not made one before so it will be a new experiment for me.

I spent a lot of last night working on Boquet for Cheryl and that is really coming on. I've nearly done one quarter of it now. More progress pics soon.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Friday update

Yesterday was spent working on the Boquet for Cheryl and Princess Drama. There is some real progress now on Princess Drama.

I'm really enjoying this one as she takes shape really quickly and doesn't require too much concentration.

I like using the evenweave for The Boquet for Cheryl, although I do find that the black can be quite difficult to find the wholes for the stitches. However, I'm really pleased with the result so far, the colours of the variegated thread really stand out against the black.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Bad Day

Didn't get a chance to post anything on here yesterday as I had one very ill little girl. We've been to the doc's today and she's on penicilin and her temperature has gone down, so she's feeling a bit better now.

On a stitching front, the materials for my Boquet for Cheryl arrived so I have made a start on that. I still haven't looked at The Wave, I just can't face it.

I've chosen a design for the biscornu SAL that starts at the weekend. I just need to choose the colours for it now and some buttons and then I'm all ready for that.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Disaster!

I was merrily stitching The Wave last night when I realised that the two left hand sides are not going to meet up. The bottom is about three stitches further in than the top, and I can not see where I've gone wrong.

The top must be right because I can't have stitched that much and not found the fault, so the problem must be along the bottom somewhere. The plan of campaign is to continue stitching downwards and at some point the top and bottom won't match up and hey presto, I'll know where the mistake is. How I put it right is another matter.

Anyway, once I'd spoted this error I gave up for the night and stitched on Princess Drama instead. I do like stitching this one as it develops really quickly and doesn't take as much concentration as The Wave.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Wave Progress


I spent last night trying to catch up on The Wave. I really want to get this finished now as it's been hanging around so long. The problem I have is that there are so many other things I want to start and I'm just having to control the impulse to get on with them. However, there is definitely progress and I don't think it will take too much longer. Hopefully, I can finish it before the end of the month. Watch this space!


Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Start

I'm currently working on three cross stitch projects. The Wave - which I've been doing since November 2006, the Juggy Bug Designs monthly quilt square (see link) and Princess Drama.

The Wave, if and when it is ever finished, will be for my eldest daughter's bedroom. Princess Drama will go on my youngest daughter's bedroom door (she really is a Drama Queen so very appropriate). And the Juggy Bug Designs - I don't know yet but as it is a mystery design and being revealed one month at a time, I have some time to think about it.

I'm also getting ready to start the Boquet for Cheryl which will be a cushion for the girls play room. I have ordered supplies and am just waiting for them to arrive (hopefully Monday or Tuesday!).