I haven’t decided whether or not to take my laptop with me to Perth … I guess it depends on how much other luggage I end up taking. Anyway, I’ve almost finished my CA Wells projects apart from the fusing of the interfacing and remaining eyelets and miniscule bits of stitching. I have to admit I’ve really detested stitching the Sailor’s Valentine piece and these last few days have been spent doing squillions of over-one stitching … even less enjoyable when it’s a project you’re not enjoying anyway! Every single stitch has been painful, and definitely NOT a labour of love!
Well, I’ve finally managed to finish them anyway … although I noticed I was two threads out on part of the ship panel – seeing as that panel has given me major grief over the last 2-3 days I was sure as heck not unpicking all that over-one stitching and re-doing it, so fingers crossed those two fabric threads on each won’t make any difference! It’s my own fault, I regraphed the whole panel onto my XS computer program and copied them into the wrong place! I must say, though, it was sooooo much easier stitching it from my own chart than from CA’s … much much easier in colour and nice and large on the screen 🙂
I think the thing I really hate about this piece is the dreadful pink thread … the photos don’t actually show the colours up truthfully – in real life it looks more brown and rusty looking – it just looks like ‘dead flowers’ to me, particularly on the Roses panel … oh well, c’est la vie – I’ll probably choose to put this panel on the back so I don’t have to look at it if I have a choice 😉
And don’t get me started on the thread colour for the ship! The model photo shows nice variegated browns and a hit of blue … not pink, green and gold!!! Unfortunately we were given the teeniest skimpiest strand of this silk so I couldn’t even cut it to a preferred blend of colours … by this stage I was so ‘over’ the whole design I couldn’t be bothered hunting through my thread stash for a replacement and just stitched it ‘as is’ … but it really is a bizarre colour choice 😦
Here are piccies of the finished sides (all apart from those final ‘fused’ bits of stitching) – I changed the longitude and latitude coordinates to be from the suburb where I’m now living. There are a couple of photos of the over-one stitching as well (those are clickable, not that you’d really want to see them any more ‘up close and personal’ than what they already are, but the others are non-clickable as a courtesy to the designer.
Tomorrow morning I will be sitting on a plane for 5 hours heading to Perth, then on Wed/Thu this week I will be in the classroom with CA Wells and other luvverly ladies (including one lady who is flying all the way from Japan to be there!). Hopefully the next time you see these projects they’ll be finished (well, the Sailor’s Valentine one anyway – I still have to stitch the rooftop of the cottage, so that one will take a bit longer!).
Now it’s time to start contemplating what I need to pack to take with me … something super simple to stitch on the plane, me thinks, and my iPod loaded up with a talking book – I can’t remember whether they show a movie on the flight or not, so I want to be prepared ‘just in case’ … actually I’d better pack a normal book just in case I’m now allowed to stitch! Rightio, time is a wastin’ … time to get my A into G!!
Feather Stitching 
Enjoy your class.
Well done on slogging through the pre-stitching, I decided not to do this class when she taught it in the UK last year as the valentine just didn’t ‘speak’ to me enough to stitch it.
Have a great time at the classes
I actually think the colours look nice 😉 It’s a shame you’ve not enjoyed stitching it, perhaps when it’s finished you’ll be happier with it. Enjoy your class!
I hope the trip to Perth goes smoothly (and quickly). I agree with Karen in that I do like the colors, but I’m sad for you that they were such a disappointment. Hopefully when the piece is fully assembled, you’ll love it once more!
Beautiful stitching! Enjoy your class, and I look forward to seeing the completed project.
Well, I can see the colours really aren’t you but it does look pretty. Hopefully the class will make up for it. Have a wonderful time! 😀
I must admit I find it easier to stitch CA’s projects directly from the life size coloured scan with occasional referral to the chart. Your pre-stitching looks great,
Have fun at the class
I think it is so pretty! I hope you have a great time at your class!
Have a lovely time in Perth, my sister lives there!
xxx
Honestly, those colours look fine from where I am. Love the little doggy.
Enjoy your trip to Perth. Perhaps you’ll think differently when you have it all made up.
Have a lovely trip and I look forward to seeing all the pieces completed and hearing about your class.
Have a fun trip, Anne! I’m so envious! I can’t wait to hear your tales when you get back!
Oh Anne,
I am so jealous that you are going to Perth. Where are you staying? Will you get to King’s Park? How I would love to wander around the city and just soak up the sights and sounds of the city I lived in so long ago. Have a wonderful time.
I wish you a very nice time in Perth 🙂 . Your stitching is really gorgeous and I really hope you will tell us about your trip when you get back !
Your Sailor’s Valentine looks incredible! I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy stitching it, but I think your efforts were quite worthwhile. 🙂
I almost always give up on things I don’t care for… congrats to you for sticking it out. I think the colors are OK, and I definitely like the ship’s design. I bet you like it better when the pieces are finished.
I’m so sorry to hear that you are disappointed with the piece you’ve obviously spent a lot of time on. I LOVE IT though!!!! I so wish that I could stitch this piece myself.