Finishes – Page 9 – Feather Stitching

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Paw Printings, Prairie Schooler, Shepherd's Bush

Into the Night

3 June, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

Thanks to Shepherd’s Bush sending me replacement threads recently, I managed to put the final stitches into one of my favourite projects tonight. Sadly, though, the photo is totally washed out thanks to a late night photo taken under the bright Ott-lite lamp – I’ll try to take another photo next weekend during daylight, if I remember.

“Into the Night” by Shepherd’s Bush (kit)
stitched with kit fabric and threads

During the last week I’ve also managed to start and finish a couple of other small projects … I think perhaps my stitching mojo is returning properly … it’s certainly been helping me to keep my sanity in recent weeks.

“Penguin Hugs” by Paw Printings
stitched on 32ct hand-dyed Jobelan
with recommended DMC threads, but without the Kreinik Blending Filament
(this is the 2nd time I’ve stitched this one, and still love it to bits!)

“Duck” by The Prairie Schooler from the leaflet Fall Fields
stitched on 32ct Shell Belfast linen
with recommended DMC threads

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Needle Maid Designs

Short stitching nightmare is over!

27 May, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

Before heading out to the Supernatural Convention I managed to get a wee bit of stitching completed over the last few days – I can’t show the first finish I have, as it’s likely to be used for my upcoming exchange piece (I can’t decide yet so I’ll stitch one or two more and then decide on the final one to be sent). The subject heading, though, is in relation to my next finish – while this one glistens and glows in the light due to all of its metallic floss and shiny gold beads (MH 02011), it is a real PITA to stitch … actually I should clarify that statement, and say that the DMC metallic floss was a total PITA to stitch!! Geez I really hate that stuff, how it shreds and frays – and I used a bigger needle to try to cut down on the friction and rubbing. Sadly I couldn’t find my Thread Heaven to help out, but I think even that wouldn’t have made the stitching any more enjoyable. Unfortunately I didn’t have any Treasure Braid or Kreinik in the same colour green to use as a substitute … oh well, at least it’s now all finished! And I have to admit I really love it now it’s finished, while it sits all sparkly and shimmering gold in the light of the daylight bulb – in saying that, though, I never want to stitch it again!! 😉

“Golden Partridge and Pears” by Needle Maid Designs, Inc
(from 1998 JCS Christmas Ornament issue)
stitched on 28ct white Jobelan
with recommended DMC threads (cotton floss and metallic floss) and MH beads

I was originally going to send this as my exchange piece, but I opted not to do so in the end … now it’s time to settle in for another few episodes of Supernatural on DVD while I stitch another possible choice for my exchange – after yesterday’s experience I’ve had the urge to go back and watch all 7 seasons again, starting with Season 1 😀 Photos to follow from the convention first though 😉

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Works in Progress

I’ve been Framed!!

26 May, 201226 May, 2012 Anne S

Well actually some of my projects have been framed!! 😀 Last weekend I had some of my old energy levels back again, and I put it to good use doing some old jobs that have needed to be done for ages … one of those jobs was to get some framing completed.

There was lots of this happening last Sunday … lacing, and more lacing …

A couple of home-made frames were put together ready to be filled (but not done yet, as I need to cut mats for one of them and it was getting too late at night to do that safely):

Then a few el-cheapo bought frames were given a lease of life with some projects popped inside of them … first up my Tiger Reflections piece – it took me ages to decide between a black frame and a brown wooden one, but in the end I decided the brown one brought out the tiger colours the best – this now sits next to my stitching chair in the lounge.

Next up was a well overdue project – Katie’s Christmas present from 2010 (oops!) – it finally became officially finished in this plain black frame that I picked up in recent sales at Lincraft. Katie is moving out of the flat in about 6-8 weeks time, so I thought I’d better hurry up and finish it so she can take it with her because I probably won’t see much of her after she moves out (not that I really see much of her nowadays even when she still lives here).

Next up was a frame that I bought from a framing shop a while ago – it wasn’t big enough for the project I had in mind for it, but then as I was picking through my finishing pile I came across “Gold” by The Victoria Sampler and it seemed to fit perfectly. Unfortunately the photo doesn’t do this one justice – it just glows with all the metallics and the frame suits it beautifully.

Lucky last were two more small projects popped into simple cheap plain black frames … a great pair of finishes to top off the framing session – I especially love the Halloween one!

Then today I managed to fix up one of Mum’s lovely stitched ornaments – she’d accidentally missed one row of stitches in the border, so I grabbed the 3371 and popped the last row in to allow this to go into the finishing pile. That also means that I also score it t go onto my tree – that’s my payment for finishing it into an ornie haha.

I also stitched another Christmas ornie myself this week, but it’s likely to be used for an upcoming exchange, so I can’t share until I decide on the project that I’m going to send away. Lucky last I’m currently stitching another ornie that I swear will be the death of me – it’s from the 1998 JCS ornie issue and uses that dreadful old DMC metallic floss (DMC 5282 and 5269) – it’s seriously doing my head in, and I’m amazed just how long it’s taking me to stitch this one little ornie (the entire day today, and I’m still not finished). I was determined to not put it down until it was finished, but I think it’s finally got the better of me tonight, and I’m quite grateful it’s now bed-time so I can forget about it for a while. I’m sure I’ll love it when it’s finished, as it really does glow and sparkle in the light of my Ott-lite already, but I just wish it was already finished!! Just all the metallic leaves left and then all the beading and it’ll be finished … eventually …

And on that night I’d really better switch off and get some sleep, as it’s almost midnight and I have to be up relatively early tomorrow to head to the Supernatural Convention to listen to some of my favourite character actors from the show (Jim Beaver as Bobby Singer and Misha Collins as Castiel). The Convention is being run by Hub Productions once again this year – which is where I borrowed the below screenshot from. Feel free to visit their website for further details on the convention.

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Halloween, Ink Circles

Halloween finish

20 May, 201220 May, 2012 Anne S

It’s been a challenging week this week, so I’ve tried to make an effort to put a few stitches into fabric when I can in the evenings – I came across this ornie kitted up in my suitcase (which I still haven’t finished unpacking – oops), so it’s had a lovely trip around the world and back … I decided to just stitch it up rather than trying to find space for it in my WIP/kitted up ready to go pile.

“By the Full Moon” by Ink Circles
stitched on 32ct Pearl Grey Belfast linen
with GAST as charted, with the exception of Onyx being substituted with Anchor black

The rest of my day today was spent doing the laundry (my normal Saturday chore), and cooking up a big pan full of beef stew, along with a little batch of Chocolate Banana Brownies (of which there isn’t much evidence left – my elderly neighbour had some and I made a huge dent in the rest … more-ish doesn’t remotely cover it!!).

And on that note I’m starting to go cross-eyed with tiredness, so it’s time to fall into bed for the night – I have loads of things in mind to get completed tomorrow so I’d better rest up to have some energy to tick that list off!

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Lizzie Kate

A teeny tiny finish

13 May, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

I seem to have got my old energy levels back once again today … I started the day off with spending an hour chatting to Mum on the phone for Mother’s Day, which was a wonderful start to the day. Sadly, though, the phone call revealed that Dad has had another turn, and possibly has had a mild stroke, but we’re waiting for test results from his recent overnight trip to the hospital before we know 😦

The main part of the rest of the day has been spent doing housework – starting with the dishes, then cleaning the bathroom sink, bath and shower grouting … then I popped across the road to pick up some milk and basic essentials after dropping the bags of rubbish off to the bins. While I was as the shops I noticed a huge cauliflower for $1.99 at the local fruit and vege shop – that sent me on a mission to make a very cheap meal … I ended up spending the rest of the night making a nice pot of Cream of Cauliflower Soup, which I just sampled for dinner … mmmmm, yummo 🙂

During the day I also managed to put a few stitches into a new start in-between cooking phases, and managed to get another little freebie chart finished up, with the final stitches going into it this evening after dinner. I’m enjoying doing a couple of really quick stitches before going back to my larger WIPs … actually it’s been really wonderful getting my stitching mojo back in general!

“Peace Joy Love” freebie by Lizzie*Kate
stitched on 32ct Flax linen
with Crescent Colours Spinach and Apple Fritter and DMC blanc

This freebie is still available on the Lizzie*Kate website here.

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Prairie Schooler, Stitching Smalls

Mini finish

13 May, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

Over the last two days I’ve managed to start and finish a small freebie called Coffee Break – such a cute little design, that’s for sure! It’ll eventually be turned into a scissor fob when I have a finishing frenzy weekend … some day …

“Coffee Break” freebie
stitched on 32ct Lambswool linen by Wichelt
with recommended DMC threads

The freebie is still available from Cross Stitch Happy blog here 🙂

I also managed to find my ornie photo on my laptop, so I can update with that too 🙂

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Exchanges, Finishes, Prairie Schooler

Prairie Schooler ornie received

12 May, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

For the life of me I can’t find the photo I took of the “finished” ornie, but at least I have one of the stitching to hand – Margaret has let me know that it has arrived (albeit very very late) safely across the oceans, so I can now reveal my other stitching finish for April.

“Santas and Snowmen” leaflet by The Prairie Schooler
stitched on 32ct Pipi linen by Countrystitch
with recommended DMC threads

Bent Creek, Cross Stitch, Finishes

Walking in a Winter Snapperland

9 May, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

Just a quick drive-by to update with my latest finish – as the final stitches were put into place tonight. That means one more WIP is out of the WIP/UFO list and placed into the finishing pile.

“Walking in a Winter Snapperland” by Bent Creek
stitched on 32ct Parchment Lugana
with recommended threads (GAST/WDW) except for the white where I subbed DMC 3865

Cross Stitch, Dimensions, Finishes

Tiger Reflection finish

25 April, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

It’s been an interesting week with a few GP visits – one which ended up with me having a CT chest angiogram at a local private hospital to rule out blood clots in the lungs. Thankfully that came back clear, but it did confirm that I have managed to contract pneumonia … which explains why I’ve been feeling so crappy still. After going into work yesterday morning just to attend a training session that ended up being cancelled, my boss sent me home and told me I don’t have to think about work duties this week, just to take time to get better. It felt strangely exhilarating and soothing to know that I didn’t have to concentrate on anything ‘real’, but could just chill out at home and relax and concentrate on getting well again (at least until I have my cortisone injection on Friday, yikes).

So, what was the first thing I opted to do yesterday when I got home? I pulled out 4 plastic tubs of kitted up charts to start stitching something new to cheer myself up … but then I glanced over at my current WIP and realised I only had about 9-10 hours of stitching left to go (I’d had a big stitching weekend where that’s all I did all weekend, sat up in bed in my jammies!). In the end my WIP got the better of me, and I put aside any new starts … and I spent the entire afternoon in the lounge stitching. I managed to put the final backstitches into the piece today, so I can cross this off the WIP list and move it into the Finishes list (it’s very lonely on that list this year!).

“Tiger Reflection” by Dimensions
stitched on black aida fabric and thread from the kit

As for what’s up next? I have an exchange ornie to do, so I think I’ll be kitting an ornament or two up to be stitched … then I may start something new that’s a smallish size … before I return to another of my WIPs – I don’t know why, but all of a sudden it’s bothering me that I have so many unfinished projects floating around the place and I’m almost becoming a “one project at a time” person again. Knowing me, though, I’m sure that’s a short phase I’m going through LOL.

I get really tired on the computer, so still no updates from our trip written up yet … I’ll get around to it at some stage, I’m sure 🙂

And now it’s time to go and braise some beef to make a huge pot of soupy stew to keep me going over the next few days … and to dig out the next stitching project 🙂

2012 WIPocalypse, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Works in Progress

April WIPocalypse update

10 April, 20126 April, 2014 Anne S

Just a really quick drive-by posting for my WIPocalypse update for April – sadly, due to illness, long working hours and our trip to the other side of the world my stitching was almost non-existent this month … I managed to put a few hours into this WIP, but that’s all (and it’s a really dreadful photo, sorry):

Since then, however, I’ve managed to do some more stitching on this one thanks to picking up a dreadful flu bug thing on the flight home, so at least I’ll have some more progress to show next month! 🙂

Other than my WIP pile, I did manage to start the following freebie on my 2nd to last night in Paris, and have managed to finish it off as soon as I got home while getting over the jetlag (and letting those flu bugs slowly fester and take hold).

And now I’m heading back to the comfort of my stitching chair with my Nurofen and Ribena – will post an update about my whirlwind trip at some stage soon! 🙂