My Cross Stitch Blog

A Finish and an Update

2011-08-30T02:51:00.000-07:00

I wasn't supposed to start any new kits until I had finished a few of my works in progress, but this one was so sweet and small I thought I'd get it done so quickly it wouldn't matter!

The cross stitching went to plan, that was finished after a couple of days, but the backstitch was a real pain (not an easy chart to follow at all), so it's been sat in my stitching bag making me feel guilty for weeks now. So I pulled myself together and got through all the backstitching yesterday, and here she is:

Beatrix Potter's Hunca Munca

I've added a page to this blog to show off all my finishes: My Finishes

I've also been working on my QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate, here's how it's looking (no one is getting the chocolate away from that dragon!):

It won't be finished for the HAED August reward program, but I still managed to get a fair bit done. I'm going back to working on my Siberian Tiger for a while now.

Another 30% Sale at Heaven and Earth Designs

2011-08-13T00:38:00.001-07:00

Another 30% sale at Heaven and Earth Designs - this one runs until Midnight 15th August.

QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate Update 10.08.11

2011-08-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Another update on my little dragon!

I love the little tongue sticking out, and his expression is adorable! I'm making good progress, and it'd be great to have this one finished for the August HAED reward program. It's a long shot, but I'll see how far I get. And if not there's another reward program in December...

30% Sale at Heaven and Earth Designs

2011-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

There's a 30% sale currently running at Heaven and Earth Designs.

It's running from now until Midnight 5th August, so get in there quick!

QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate Update 30.07.11

2011-07-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Another update on QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate. Over 1 page done now, and am stitching the face currently:

You can view all of my progress on this design here: QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate

Carrie Hawks - Calicos Mystical Pumpkin - 25.07.11

2011-07-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

I've not worked on this one for ages, having been concentrating on the Siberian Tiger and QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate. But I picked it up again in the past couple of weeks; I was missing stitching it.

Here's my progress as of the weekend:

I'm loving how the pixie cat is turning out - those lovely big eyes!

View all my progress to date on this design on my Calicos Mystical Pumpkin page

More Stash

2011-07-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

I've not updated for ages, I've not been stitching much recently but have got my stitchy bug back so will hopefully have some progress to report soon.

But not stitching was no reason not to add to my stash!

I've bought a couple of items from ebay; a very sweet chart of a mother and baby elephant, and a kit by Design Works called White Tigers (obviously I've not been put off by all the blues and greys of the Siberian Tiger!). Here's a photo of the kit:

QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate - Progress 01.05.11

2011-05-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

More progress to report on my QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate:

I've been steaming through this one this week, but I've either run out of or misplaced one of the colours needed. I know I could stitch around it until I get some more, but I don't like working on a design knowing I'm missing one of the shades needed! So it's back to Siberian Tiger until I get some more in.

25% Mother's Day Sale at Heaven and Earth Designs

2011-04-28T01:09:00.000-07:00

There's a 25% sale at Heaven and Earth Designs.

The sale ends at midnight on 9th May 2011.

QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate - Progress

2011-04-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

I've been working on this one again - I needed a break from Siberian Tiger!

Here's my progress, I'll be working on him some more this week so will hopefully have more progress to report later.

Butterfly Card - Finished

2011-04-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here's the finish for the Mother's Day Card that I stitched last week - Mum loved it!

The chart is here if anyone would like to stitch it.

Siberian Tiger - Progress

2011-04-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

This is another one of my many works in progress, and one which I've really been concentrating on recently (despite me being itching to get back to my QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate!).

I'm stitching this for my other half, Ian, who has been not-so-patiently waiting for about 3 years for it to be finished.

I restarted it a month or so ago, because I'd made a couple of mistakes and the stitches were looking frayed in places. So this is my progress on my new start - 25% complete. I'm stitching on 28 count ice blue brittany evenweave, which is lovely and soft.

Here's the progress picture.

I'm working across, so will be stitching the rest of his face soon.

25% Sale at Heaven and Earth Designs

2011-03-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

A Spring Sale has started at Heaven and Earth Designs!

It's 25% off all charts, running until midnight on 17th April 2011.

I have about 20 charts on my wish list, which I seem to add to every time I pay the site a visit, so I'm sure I'll be making at least one purchase before the offer ends.

In particular, I have my eye on Afternoon Tea, Sea Beacon, The Scarecrow and Armada. But I may still pick something completely different - too many charts to choose from!

Butterfly Chart for Mother's Day

2011-03-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday is Mother's Day, and with that in mind I've designed a little butterfly pattern to use for a card for my Mum (I'm not counting this in my resolution not to start any more kits until I've got my WIP's down - it'll be finished by this time next week!). I'll be stitching it on 16 count light blue aida.

Here's the chart should anyone else like to stitch it:

Bunny Sat in Grass - Finished!

2011-03-19T01:43:00.000-07:00

Just finished this morning - the added border to hide the rip in the fabric meant it took a bit longer to do, but I'm pleased with the effect it's made.

Little Bunny Chart

2011-03-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Spring is on it's way, so here's a little cross stitch bunny I designed.

I hope you like him! Feel free to stitch him,just don't lay any claims to having designed him ;)

Repairing Ripped Fabric

2011-03-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

One of my current projects has been on the go for about 15 years now - I've lost the insert for it so I don't know the name or designer but it's a little grey rabbit sat in some grass. It's not a large design (especially compared to most of the others I'm stitching) and it's full cross stitches only, so I don't know why it's taking me so long! But I'm chipping away at it and hope to get it finished relatively soon.

Unfortunately, I'd nicked the canvas with my scissors. I've had this happen before, and a couple of posters at the cross stitch forum I post on kindly explained how I could repair the damage, so I thought I'd share it here as well.

Here's where I'd got to (the rip isn't very noticable in this picture but it's about halfway down the design and by one of the leaves to the left of the rabbit):

To repair a rip, you need to find a scrap of fabric that matches that of your design. Pin it underneath the damaged area so the holes in the fabric match up.

Back of Design:

Front of Design:

Then stitch through both pieces of fabric.

This is straight forward enough when the rip is in the middle of a patch of stitches. But the rip in my rabbit design was in a spot with no stitches to be done. So I decided to add an internal border and repaired the fabric that way. It means a bit of extra stitching, but at least I can carry on and finish the design now.

Repair Work Front:

Repair Work Back:

Actually, I quite like the effect of having the border - so all's well that ends well!

QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate progress 03.03.11

2011-03-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

This is my most recent start, the Heaven and Earth Designs Quick Stitch of "Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate".

I've started in the top left corner and will be working across. I'm stitching on 18 count aida which I've not used before, two strands over one stitch, full cross stitches.

Here's my progress so far:

This is the finished design: QS Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate

It's a very enjoyable stitch so far, and I can't wait to get to the little dragon's face (he reminds me very much of one of our cats, who just happens to be a greedy little thing as well!).

New Stash! Endangered Species Cross Stitch Chart book

2011-03-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

Seems I'm not allowed to start any new projects until I get my numbers of works in progress down I have to appease the hording side of my personality rather than my starting new things side. I've picked up quite a few bargains from ebay (like my Some Enchanted Evening cross stitch kit for £2.50 including P&P).

So I logged in just to see what was on there and noticed a cross stitch chart book called "Endangered Species" by Cross My Heart. No bids, with less than a minute to go, and starting bid 50p. It seemed too good a buy to miss it so I snapped it up (total came to £1.50 including P&P).

Here's the link to the Amazon page: Endangered Species

Another bit of stash to add to the growing pile - more incentive to get some finishes in!

Free Floss from Rosace

2011-02-22T10:59:00.000-08:00

Rosace, based in Spain, are giving away 3 free skeins of floss. You don't need to give any credit card details, just your address and email address. And there's no postage and packing either, so there's no charges at all.

The colour references are the same as DMC, prefixed by 00. So DMC 310 (black) would be Rosace 00310 (black).

The limit is 1 offer per household.

My freebies are on order, so hopefully should be arriving soon. I've not used this brand before, but if it's free I think they're worth a try!

Click here to go to the website: Free Floss Offer

Updated post to add: The floss arrived a couple of days ago and seems to be decent quality, considering the price!

Peacock Tapestry

2011-02-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

This is one of my many works in progress, and one which I'm spending a bit more time on at the moment: Peacock Tapestry

It's designed by Teresa Wentzler and it's the first TW pattern I've attempted.

I'm stitching it for a friend at work who bought it years ago, stitched a small patch and then gave up on it.

I'm finding it a challenge (I don't blame her for setting it aside!) but it's also very enjoyable. There's a lot of blending and a special instructions so progress is slow going.

Luckily there's no rush to finish it for her.

There's a few freebie designs on the Teresa Wentzler website, including a "Peacock Tapestry Ornament", which is a sample from the pattern I'm stitching.

Too Many Works in Progress

2011-02-20T01:33:00.000-08:00

I'm terrible for starting a project, working on it feverishly, then getting tempted by a new one shortly afterwards. This has led to me having 15 projects on the go at the start of 2011.

Now I agree a bit of variety is good when stitching; being able to rotate to a different size or style of project can help keep your interest. But 15 was just getting embarrassing!

I'll be bringing my number of works in progress down in stages.

First of all, my goal is to get down to 9 before I'm allowed to start any more (which would make the total 10, a nice round number).

After that I aim to get down to 4 before I can start any more.

This way I'll have no more than 5 works in progress at any time. It will feel manageable and I won't have a pile of unfinished pieces playing on my conscience, all vying for my attention.

Adding to my stash in this time is of course completely allowed, or there just wouldn't be any fun!

I've already decided on the next project I'll be starting when I hit the magic 9:

British Bulldog

My other half, Ian, saw this and decided he'd like me to stitch it for him. It's ready and waiting in my bag of stash kits.

Welcome to my Cross Stitch Blog

2011-02-20T01:21:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to my blog!

One of my favourite hobbies is cross stitching and this blog is dedicated to all things cross stitch.

I'll post updates on my works in progress, tips I come across, my favourite cross stitch websites and anything else I think will be of interest.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog, whether you're a cross stitch old timer like me, or completely new to the hobby.