Thank you

Thank you all for your nice comments about "Walking in a Winter Wonderland".



Wendy - it's from issue number 194 of CrossStitcher and is designed by the Histocial Sampler Company. I think they sell the chart as well so you could try that if you can't get hold of the magazine.

I've done some more work on Tempest and am now on the backstitch of this, so he hopefully won't be too much longer.

I hope to start my HAED design on Friday. Actually, that's a slight lie - I've already made two starts on it, this will be my third. I started off doing 2 over 1 on 25ct fabric. I did about 300 stitches but it all looked a bit too tight and close together. So I decided to try 1 over 1 on the 25ct, but this didn't give enough coverage, you could easily see the white fabric through the dark threads.

So I made a big decision and decided that I liked the 1 over 1 coverage I had on Celtic Winter so have bought some white 32ct fabric. It is on this piece of fabric that I will start on Friday. So I'm about 600 stitches down with nothing to show for it. Oh well, it's a decision best made now rather than later on.

Happy stitching everybody.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everybody!

We've had a busy Christmas period, lots of friends and lots of fun which is what it's all about.

I had a huge list of stitching things that I asked for for Christmas but actually only got one - a lap stand. And I'm loving it. It really makes a difference not having to hold the hoop.

So, I know Christmas is officially over, but I thought I would show you a finish I did for last Christmas (2007). I wasn't blogging at the time so haven't had a chance to show you. Anyway, here is Walking In A Winter Wonderland which was a chart in CrossStitcher.

I've been quite busy on Tempest and he is definately coming along well.

Crazy or just stupid?

I've done it! I've gone and bought a HAED design! It seemed like a good idea and now I've printed it out and OMG! There is so much of it. And the chart is so complicated you can't tell which page is what part of the design! Gulp! I chose Enchanted Flute . That's a big descission in itself, they have so many lovely designs to choose from.

Oh well. Off to check what threads I need, then I'll order them and some fabric, although a start might have to wait until after Christmas.

Storm in a Tea Cup

Well, I did it. I made it back here before Christmas, what do you know!

I thought I'd post an update on Tempest for all to see. It's slow progress but he's coming along. I'm really enjoying him. There is a lot of thread blending and I did say never again after The Wave but, hey, I guess I'm just a sucker for punishment.

I've had a bit of a hic-cup with HDYGG. The fabric I've used isn't long enough! Nightmare. I'm going to have to improvise somehow. I knew that it was going to be tight when I selected the fabric - it was an off-cut from something else, but I thought I would just about get away with it. How wrong was I? If you've got the pattern and have any brigth ideas they will be gratefully received. Here's my problem:-

At the bottom of the dark green stitching there should be another large flower mirroring the one at the top in the picture below. There is obviously no space for this. So, I don't know. I may just do as many of the other flowers that will fit and leave the bottom one completely.

Where does the time go?

I really can't believe it's been a month since I've updated the blog. What can I say. Only that life is hectic - all in a good way I'm glad to say. DH's new job is keeping him very busy and currently working from home so I don't get much of a chance to get near the computer. I guess the two things have conspired to prevent me from updating this.

Firstly, I would like to say a big and belated thank you to Rachael for my lovely prize. I took part in a draw on her blog and was lucky enough to be one of the winners. She very kindly sent me some hand died fabric and threads all in blue - one of my favourite colours!

I promise to do them all justic Rachael. Thank you.

What else it there to tell you? Well I've done quite a bit of the beading on Celtic Winter. I'm using invisible thread to do this. I love the result of this, however, it is exactly what it says and very difficult to use in artifical light. As I don't get much time for daylight stitching, this is being very slow progress.

I've found myself another bargin though! I was in hobbycraft buying some Christmas presents when I came across the speciality threads pack for Celtic Summer - in the sale. The original price was:-

But this was reduced to:-

And for this price I got:-

That's six packs of Mill Hill Beads, four bobbins of Petite Gold thread and twelve skeins of Needle Paints threads. Ohhhh! I do love a bargin.

There has also been some progress on Tempest, he is now sitting in half a cup! I'll sort a picture another day. And I've been stitching on HDYGG. I've now on part 11 and I've chosen and started some of the beads. So things are happening slowly.

Now, I have every intention of posting again before Christmas - but they way things are, who knows. So I know it's early, but just in case - Merry Christmas everybody, hope you all have a good one!

Tempest

Here is my progress so far on Tempest. I'm really enjoying it as it's a small design and is taking shape quite quickly. I've only had to frog about 3 parts so far!!!!!! I've really not spent much time on it as we had our sofas cleaned on Monday and they're still wet so I've nowhere comfortable to sit. I spending too much time on the computer instead.

One Small Stitch

Celtic Winter is continuing to progress. I've restitched her face and hand one over one. Rachael was right, it does look very odd when you start out but I'm really happy with the result.

I've now finished all the stitching on her so it's just the beading to do now for a finish.

I've also decided to do a Teresa Wentzler design. It's a freebee from her site called Tempest in a Tea Cup. All the goodies were delivered yesterday.

I've made a small start but not enough to show you just yet. I'm loving the colours of it although there are a lot of fractionals and colour blending, but it's only a small piece so I'm sure I'll be fine as long as I concentrate.