Cross Stitch – Page 19 – Feather Stitching

Cross Stitch, Periwinkle Promises, Works in Progress

Pinkeep received and latest WIP

22 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

Sharon let me know that my angel pinkeep reached its destination safely – and that she likes it, yay 😀 Sharon has a wee angel collection as she loves angels, and as soon as I found that out years ago that little angel ornament became Sharon’s in my heart … it’s just taken me a few years to finally stitch up the personalisation on the back and decide to finish it into a pinkeep. Sharon re-wrote in her blog post about how we first came to meet – that story always makes me smile! 😀

As for me, I only did a teeny bit of stitching while I was in NZ – I didn’t take my lapframe with me, so had to hold my Qsnap in hand, which apart from slowing my stitching down, it also makes my left hand cramp up. Mum had a good suggestion to buy another one and leave one there, so that she can use it day-to-day, and I can borrow it when I come over to visit … great thinking, Mum!! I now have until October to get cracking and get one ordered from Artisan Design (the Elan lapframe).

At least I managed to put a couple of small bands into the piece, though, and last night I finished the stitching on the zig-zag band of Mosaic stitch. Now I just have a row of snowmen to stitch on the bottom, and two more rows of long-armed cross stitch, then it’s ready for finish-finishing into a wee pillow. Sorry for the crappy photo – I’ll take a better one with close-ups of the stitches once it’s all finished … in the meantime this’ll make do 😉

“January Sampler Accent” by Periwinkle Promises (kit)

The kit came with two pieces of linen – one plain one for the back. As I have a few more of these charts on loan from a friend that aren’t obviously kits, I’m tossing up whether to save the backing linen for those designs instead, and just using the sewing machine to sew a fabric backing on – while it won’t be finished as ‘neatly’ as hand-sewing using a whipstitched back stitch, it might make better use of the fabric???

Today I have a HUGE list of things that need to be done, so I’d better get off the computer and start making headway through it. First things first, stripping my bed and getting my washing started, then I can come back upstairs and start finishing a couple of items off ready to be parcelled up and posted. Although I’m also tempted to sit and finish this project first so I can finish that on the machine as well … oh, so many things to do, so little time … LOL. Perhaps I should just content myself with my gift finishing first, and then do the Periwinkle Promises piece tonight in front of the gogglebox … but then again, I’m very bad at doing things I ‘should’ be doing LOL.

Beading, Cross Stitch, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Trip to The Ribbon Rose

21 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

This visit home was quite rushed, so Mum and I only had chance to visit one shop while I was there, and that was on the afternoon immediately after I arrived (after getting to bed at 2.30am yikes) – we went to The Ribbon Rose in Ellerslie, and I was VERY pleasantly surprised to see it was now twice the size it used to be, and has the best range of threads I’ve seen in New Zealand! I was originally going to do a quick drive-by on the way to The Embroiderer in Birkenhead, but we ended up spending all our time in just the one shop checking out every room, and every nook and cranny – and we ran out of time to head over the bridge to go to Birkenhead.

I asked if I could take a few photos of the various rooms at The Ribbon Rose, so I could show you what a little treasure it is now – I did forget to take a photo of the fabric and quilting rooms, though! The great thing about the line of threads that they carry is that they carry the ENTIRE range of colours – most shops over here carry the odd colour or five of most lines, but you VERY rarely find one that has the whole range (I remember years ago having a disagreement with another shop owner in Auckland that, yes, there were more Mill Hill bead colours – just because that’s all you stock doesn’t mean that’s all that exists – and because you won’t order the stock in, ‘cos it’s apparently non-existent, I’ll find another supplier … ah, memories! – The scary thing about the internet is that often you can be more knowledgeable than some shop owners – it’s nice to find a shop that’s as up to date as you are!). Anyway, if you’re ever in the Ellerslie area in Auckland, I definitely suggest you take a trip out there, it’s worth it!

The next time I fly over in October, I’m going to find out what classes are on – there are some beading classes on regularly, and some of the projects are seriously drool-worthy!!! 😀

I ended up flying home earlier than expected today thanks to high loadings on the flights – because I have to travel on standby, it was safer to take an earlier flight that still had seats showing available than getting stuck and not being able to get home (tomorrow’s flights look dreadful too, and that was my back-up travel day) … but at least I have chance now to have a good sleep and catch up on missing zzzzzzz’s, and I then have the day off tomorrow (instead of travelling) to do my washing for the week, yippee … that also means I just might have time to fit in a spot of stitching as well, although I may just do that this afternoon to keep me awake until a reasonable hour to fall over into a deep slumber!

Last but not least, I was asked by Mum why I haven’t been uploading my Scenic Sunday, Blue Monday and Ruby Tuesday p0sts, as she’s missing them. So, to please The Dragon, I’ll try to remember to keep up-t0-date with them again from now on … starting with a Scenic Sunday post shortly 😀

But before I find a Scenic Sunday post, here are a couple of photos of Mum and Dad’s fruit trees (Feijoas, Plums and Lemons) that I really miss having in my backyard (especially having a lemon tree right near your back door) – alas, it was too soon for the Feijoa season … these are only little baby fruit 😦

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Works in Progress

Small Finish and a Birthday

16 February, 20106 April, 2014 Anne S

Thank you to those of you who have left birthday wishes on Facebook this morning – that’s the only thing that has reminded me it’s the ‘big day’ today. Unfortunately, due to being unwell the last three days (and I have to say I’m still not 100% today), my full weekend of ‘big plans’ didn’t eventuate, which also included not baking myself a birthday cake to take in to work 😦

I am up and showered, though, and ready to try tackling work today – not entirely sure whether I’ll last the whole day or not, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I definitely can say, though, that we won’t be going to the movies tonight, which was going to be my birthday treat. That doesn’t really matter, though … I just hope I’m OK to be flying tomorrow night 🙂

In between sleeping over the last few days I did manage to get a little bit of stitching in – this is something I’d started earlier, and managed to finish … one pair of initials has been removed, however, as this is winging its way eventually to someone who reads my blog, so it will remain anonymous until they receive it.

“Pins & Needles Tokens & Trifles” by Blackbird Designs
Stitched on 32ct Lugana hand-dyed sample by Countrystitch
with recommended Crescent Colours threads

Then late last night I started a new project – one of Periwinkle Promises Sampler Accent kits that has been sitting around waiting to be started for what seems like forever. This one might just end up being taken to NZ as my stitching companion. I’m only there for a couple of nights for Erin’s service, so no need to take anything bigger, I think – and with all the specialty stitches it’s a lot slower to stitch than with just plain ol’ XS.

Other than that, I’ve got my Pin Pillow Exchange piece finally chosen, and the thread all worked out – now I just have to sort out the fabric then I can start on that as soon as I get home again. I was struggling to decide between two different ideas for finishing – and still may change my mind closer to the time – so I may end up doing both ideas and then deciding once they’re finished 🙂

And on that note, I guess I really should finish getting ready to get into that car … and make a new hair appointment … and arrange another day to go pick up my stitching from the Stitching Post (aka Dragonfly Dreams) … and more importantly think about packing! … Just as soon as I get through today, that is! Fingers crossed food doesn’t continue to rocket straight through my system as it has been … a birthday lunch would still be quite nice today if I can manage it! 🙂

Cross Stitch, Erica Michaels, Finishes

Just in time for Valentine’s Day

13 February, 20106 April, 2014 Anne S

I managed to put the final stitches into Random Hearts just before midnight last night – the only thing I changed is to replace one tiny heart with one little red heart button. I have to say I really enjoyed stitching this one, and absolutely love it now it’s finished! 😀

“Random Hearts” by Erica Michaels
stitched on 32ct Lambswool linen
with Carrie’s Creations thread “Scarlet”

Unfortunately overnight I got attacked by a virus that left me with a touch of vertigo this morning, so I’ve been laid up in bed ever since – while I’m not quite 100% at the moment, I’m OK enough to sit up so I thought I’d jump online for a few minutes while I can. Not entirely sure if I’ll risk doing any stitching … I’ll probably just put the goggle box on with a DVD and jump back into bed again – so much for those wonderful finishing plans I had for the day (plus I had to cancel my haircut this morning which is reaaaaaallllllly overdue – I was going nowhere near a car in that state earlier). Fingers crossed it’s a short-term bug, ‘cos I need to be right by Wednesday night to get on a plane for Erin’s service!!

Rightio, time to go find a DVD that’s really long and means I don’t have to keep getting up …

Beading, Cross Stitch, Erica Michaels, scissor fobs, Works in Progress

Final fobs, Thanks, and a New Start

11 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

A quick note to thank everyone that bought fobs from my original request to donate the proceeds of sales to wee baby Timothy – I managed to send almost US$90 over to Coral towards his medical costs, so I thank you for enabling me to do that for them 🙂

And the final group of fobs today are brought to you by the colours Brown, Wine and Purple (unfortunately these ones didn’t photograph as true to the colours, so I think I’ll have to re-do them before I upload to ArtFire).

And to finish off the post for tonight, here’s my new start for the evening while Katie and I caught up on a tiny bit of TV with Criminal Minds, Biggest Loser and Bones … alas I had a frog attack on the left hand side group of hearts and bottom border, but I quickly frogged the stitches and redid them, and I’m back on track once again. If I don’t manage to get this piece finished tomorrow night, I should definitely see another wee finish on Saturday morning 🙂

“Random Hearts” by Erica Michaels
being stitched on 32ct Lambswool linen in
Carrie’s Creations thread “Scarlet”

Beading, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Mosey 'n Me, scissor fobs

New Scissor Fobs and a Wee Finish

10 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

First up is the tiny wee finish I completed tonight – I started this on Sunday night, and did a bit more stitching tonight, putting the final stitches in about 1/2 an hour ago. As per normal at this late hour of the night, without being taken under a daylight bulb, the photo is appalling … but it’s a finish all the same 🙂

“Love February” old freebie by Mosey ‘n Me

It’s also my very first EVER Valentine’s finish … and also the first finish from the pile that I kitted up over the weekend 😀 I almost swapped the cream inner border with the pale pink from the rose, but then decided last minute to leave it … in hindsight the cream really does blend into the background of the fabric, so the pink would have been much much better … but I don’t love it enough to bother unpicking it all. Not entirely sure how I’ll end up finishing this one – perhaps I’ll just add a ribbon hanger and turn it into a hanging ornament … maybe … 🙂

Next up is a bunch of scissor fobs that I put together weeks ago, but never showed. Eventually most of these will be going into my ArtFire shop for sale … when I get the time to upload them all and type up descriptions etc – but that is unlikely to happen for another couple of weeks thanks to my impending trip home. As there are quite a few new fobs, I’ll just upload a few tonight, and add some more over the next few days.

Tonight’s fobs are brought to you by the colours Red and Pink …

Other than that, nothing much happening out here really … I’m heading out to the Blue Mountains this Sunday to pick up all my stitching I’ve had out there on loan for the last couple of years. There are personal reasons for my doing this, which I won’t share on my blog – but I must say I’m really looking forward to having them home again … and those that are still unframed will be framed by me some time over the coming year as finances allow … so watch this space 😛

Cross Stitch, Stash, Wishlist

Thanks … and stash

10 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

First of all, thanks so much for your offers of getting the thread I need for Sapphire Star, it’s greatly appreciated. I have decided, however, to make a small order with Stitching Bits & Bobs as they are showing the thread in stock (or at least they sell it, can’t say it’s actually in stock really). As I have a couple of Rainbow Gallery threads that I need, I thought I’d order the others that SB&B stock plus a few bead kits while the Superbowl sale is still on (at least I hope it’s still on!) … and I just might have to fall off The Wagon for this little beauty, compliments of Nashville new releases … OMG, I’m drooling all over my keyboard!!!

This is Snow Queens Slipper with Accessories by Carolina House Designs … {{sigh}}

I’ve decided that seeing as I’m not really celebrating my birthday this year (although I may decide last minute to go to the movies on my birthday night) I thought I’d make myself a little birthday gift of this little beauty … well, I have to make the postage cost worthwhile right? LOL. Then it’s back on the stash wagon once again (there really is no hope for me, is there?) 😉

Thanks also for your comments about my fabric cutting experience over the weekend – I had a blast, and have started stitching one of the little freebies already. With luck I should get it finished in time for Sunday … maybe … I should show you a list of the other projects that have had their fabric cut up for a while now (when everything went into storage 2 1/2 years ago) – there are some stunning projects in there, and over the last two years with a small number of exceptions that’s what I’ve been pulling my stitching from. There are still loads in there yet (um, probably twice the number of the list I added over the weekend), but some of the projects are quite huge and time-consuming. There are also loads of needlerolls, so I really should get back into gear and start stitching some of those up – I have the fabric cut up for pretty much all the Sweetheart Tree needlerolls, and they’d look so pretty in a basket with my others … ah, so much stitching, so little time …

And on that note, I’d better jump in the shower so I can go do that thing that makes an occasional stitching stash enhancement possible … work!

Cross Stitch

Cut up fabrics galore…

7 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

I now have two piles of new projects that have their fabrics all cut out ready for stitching … I have to admit I really enjoyed the process of getting all the fabrics out of the drawers, picking out a ‘few’ charts, and attacking everything with the scissors. Of course it’ll take me forever to stitch everything, and I already have a few drawers of projects semi-kitted up from when my stash was all in storage … but now there are even more yummy projects to choose from, including some sweet little freebies.

The projects that have now joined the semi-kitted pile are:

Anita Diamond (GoS) – Quaker Flowers Strawberry Emery
Blackbird Designs – Strawberry Garden
Cherished Stitches – A January Box
Cindy Valentine – Arabesque needleroll
Cmon Monde – Ma Boîte à Trésors
Cmon Monde – Trousse aux Fleurs Bleues
Country Cottage Needleworks – Cherry Hill
Country Cottage Needleworks – Little Ballerinas
Elizabeth’s Designs – Hummingbird
Erica Michaels – Random Hearts
Handblessings Patterns – Christmas Tree Quilt Ornament
Heart in Hand – Christmas Bird
Heart in Hand – Valentine’s Bird
Indigo Rose – Four Little Strawberries
JBW Designs – English Plum Pudding
Just Nan – Dragonfly Scissor Purse
Just Nan – Ladybug Santa
Just Nan – Pretty Wicked!
Just Nan – Scream Girls
Little House Needleworks – Acorn Hill
Little House Needleworks – Blossoms & Blackbirds
Little House Needleworks – Gourmet Garden
Little House Needleworks – Moon and Stars
Lizzie*Kate – Christmas Flip-It
Lizzie*Kate – Fall Crazy
Lizzie*Kate – My Favourite Time
Northern Pine Designs – Blue Bayou (canvaswork – although missing one thread again!)
Serendipity Designs – Beaded Easter Egg
Shepherd’s Bush – Christmas Treat Bag
The Cat’s Whiskers – Happy Holidays
The Drawn Thread – Joyous Christmas
The Prairie Schooler – Autumn Leaves
The Prairie Schooler – Boo To You
The Prairie Schooler – Christmas Eve
The Prairie Schooler – Fall Fields (just the Duck one)
The Prairie Schooler – When Witches Go Riding
The Sweetheart Tree – Blackberry Fob
The Sweetheart Tree – Butterfly Scissor Fob
With My Needle – Maidens of the Sea
With My Needle – Quaker Samplings I

Plus a few online freebies and one chart for a gift 🙂

Of course I haven’t put a single stitch into fabric all weekend, but I had an absolute ball, and it was just what the doctor ordered 🙂

One other thing I managed this afternoon was to set up my old TV in my bedroom with a DVR – my old DVR in the lounge died about 6 months ago, and I replaced it a few months ago … the only problem is that it’s the same brand as my DVD player in the lounge and every time we switch on the DVD player the DVR switches on as well, and when we pause a DVD it switches to the other player and it takes forever to go back again … I’ve been wanting something in my room to record those shows that Katie doesn’t watch, so I can watch while I’m stitching in bed, and now it’s all set up and a few shows are ready for taping … The Mentalist, Cold Case, Medium, House, and So You Think You Can Dance – I’ve missed loads of The Mentalist since we didn’t have enough recording options when my last DVR died (and I had no TV in my room), so now I can start watching those old favourites again – yippee!! 😀

And now I’m off into the kitchen to sew on a couple of muslin strips to my little bits of fabric, then dig out the necessary threads, and then I’m ready to start stitching a couple of seasonal pieces of my new semi-kitted stash 😀

Cross Stitch, Exchanges

Exchanges are back in fashion

7 February, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

It’s been a while since I participated in any Exchanges, but I decided to join Becky and her group of followers in a Pin Pillow exchange, mailing date 1 April. I just received my recipient’s name this morning, and the first thing I did was to check out her blog to see what sort of designs she likes and if I could find her favourite colour – anything to help me choose something that he/she is more likely to appreciate.

Anyway, this got me thinking about anyone who doesn’t know me who has my name in an exchange – it would be difficult for them to find the same information in my blog … especially as these days that I’m not stitching as prolifically. So, I decided to uplift some of the information from my RAK Registry post, and tweak it a bit, and have now added that as an extra page here – my “Likes” page. Hopefully this will help any future exchange partners to find the information they need! 🙂

And now I’m off to continue cutting up some more fabrics for the two dozen or so new projects that I dragged out of the stash pile last night … I won’t kit them up with their DMC etc yet, or I might find myself in trouble, but at least the fabric will be cut up ready, as that’s my usual drawback when I’m starting something new … of course it will take me the entire year and beyond to stitch them all, but at the moment for me the fun is in the planning 😉

Canvaswork, Cross Stitch, Wishlist, Works in Progress

Frog stitching

30 January, 201025 February, 2012 Anne S

Well, I finally bit the bullet last night and sat down in front of Dawson’s Creek (over halfway of the whole series now, thank goodness … the end seems so much closer now LOL), and mindlessly frog-stitched Sapphire Star. This is one of those cases when the “before” and “after” pics seem to be so, so wrong! 😛

BEFORE …………………………………………………… AFTER

Instead of starting my stitching on it again, though, I thought I’d wait until I had a day of concentration available so I didn’t cock it up again, and added just a couple of stitches into my other WIP. Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy stitching this one the first time round, and I can’t say why but things haven’t changed much, so it’ll be a long-time WIP I think – even though there isn’t a great deal of stitching, I get fed up with it really quickly … even if I only get an hour’s stitching inbetween other WIPs I think I’ll be happy enough. I’m also disappointed that the purple thread isn’t as dark as my original one, so the bright turquoise seems to be more overpowering, rather than equal in colour intensity … but hopefully when more gets added it’ll be OK.

Ooh, before I forget though, I have to say I’ve just seen yet ANOTHER chart that has gone STRAIGHT to my wishlist … loving everything “Paris” this one just HAS to come to Mama at some stage:

In fact there have been a few designs over recent months that have appealed and probably need to go officially on my wishlist … I’m not sure if I’ve shared these already, but perhaps I will just to share the love and to spruce up this post? Here are many more designs that have tickled my fancy recently:

Blackbird Designs-Summer Iris; Cherished Stitches-Tulip Collection; Bent Creek-July Sings

Bent Creek-Joyous Noel; The Cat’s Whiskers-Noel Natural; JBW Designs-Tis the Season

Lizzie*Kate-3 Blox kit; Dessins DHC-White Christmas; Milady’s Needle-Christmas Elegance

Lizzie*Kate-Jolly Holiday; Rosewood Manor-Ring in Christmas; The Trilogy-Snow Treats!

The Victoria Sampler-Christmas Village; Stitching Treasures-Thistle Stitcher’s Purse Kit; Stitching Treasures-Antebellum Sewing Kit

Chatelaine-Peacock Mandala Mystery; Cross-Eyed Cricket-A Summer Place; Dessins DHC-Laura’s Embroidery

From Nancy’s Needle-Shades of Winter; It’s Fine-ally Finished-Percy kit; Needles Prayse-English Whitework Sampler

Primitive Needle-Witches Hollow; Rosewood Manor-Quaker Diamonds; Stitcher’s Hands-Funky Frank

Twisted Threads-Mini Gingham October Boo; The Trilogy-Halloween Spot; Shepherd’s Bush-We Will Go A-Haunting

Shepherd’s Bush-Spooky Halloween; Shepherd’s Bush-October; Glendon Place-Witching it was Halloween

Heart in Hand-Halloween Markings; Hinzeit-Charmed Peek-a-Boo

Glendon Place-Monster March; Cross Eyed Cricket-Skeleton Crew

Now after sharing a very eclectic mix of designs, I’m off into the HTML code of my blog to yet again fix up the silly sidebars that every so often (after no changes from me, mind you) expand themselves so they drop to the bottom of the page. I wonder if it’s when they do a new ‘refresh’ of WP? Anyway, perhaps this time I’ll learn and do a copy and paste into a Word document of my blog code so I can just copy and paste it back again later when it happens again … ‘cos it’s like the Pantene ad, it may not happen overnight but it WILL happen (again … and again … and again).