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Friday, January 16, 2009

Celtic Winter Finish



Well she's taken 6 months to complete but she will shortly be sent to the framers. Here she is, fully beaded and ready to go - Ladies and Gentlemen I present - Celtic Winter!
And here is a close up of her.

As you know I got my bargins on the thread packs for Celtic Spring and Celtic Summer - so the question is, which one next!

I plan on doing some more of my HAED design today and over the weekend so hopefully there will be something to show by the end of the weekend.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Happy Dance

Here he is, I've done it. I've finished "Tempest". He was a pleasure to stitch in the end. I did have my doubts to start with, what with all the blending and half stitches, but I think he was worth it.

I did make a start on the HAED design. I managed to put in about 600 stitches but it is so small, and the colours are so simillar that I really don't think it would show in a photo, it would just look like a black blob. I've loved what I've done of it, but it does take real concentration and plenty of day light. I've got a light that I stitch by but it's just not good enough for the job, I may have to invest in a daylight bulb. Anyway, I'll have another go at it this Friday and see if I can't get a picture then.

Happy stitching.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

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.

Monday, January 5, 2009

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.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

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.

Friday, December 12, 2008

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.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

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!