Big Eyes Kitty - 40 hour update

Hello everyone!

Ooops! I'm back already with another update on Misty. I had a very late Saturday night (or should that be early Sunday morning) when I just couldn't stop stitching, hence such quick progress. Here are the 30 and 40 hour pictures:

After 30 hours

After 40 hours

I've definitely got to stay with her now until she is completed, something I haven't done with a project for ages. Despite being just creams and browns the colours are sumptuous to work with and not at all boring. I'd like to get her finished before school breaks up for Easter on 4th April but realistically I can't see that happening (or can I?!)

By the way, I'm really enjoying this blogging lark and sharing my progress with you. I've had some lovely comments and discovered many new blogs through these and various other links. I try not to make my posts too repetitive but am probably a bit boring at the moment! I promise I'll work on that one!!

Be back soon with another update.....

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Big Eyes Kitty - 30 hour update

Hello everyone,

Well, despite having a very busy week spring cleaning the house I still managed to fit in my ten hours of stitching! Misty now has a bed to lie in and some fur around the outside of her head. I think I'm about on schedule for the 60-70 hours I estimated she would take. She is still a pleasure to stitch so I am going to stay with her for yet another 10 hours and work my way towards the centre of her face. Here are the 20 and 30 hour pictures:

After 20 hours

After 30 hours

In other news, my son had a fantastic week away with the school at Calshot Activities Center near Southampton. He came home exhausted having done climbing, skiing, cycling, archery, trawling, orienteering, a river study and video making, as well as various other team-based indoor and outdoor games. And all in just four days - phew! Unlike some children, he actually returned home wearing different clothes to those he went in and had showers whilst there! But a bath was still the first necessity that evening!

On the job front I didn't have any success. I was obviously disappointed but not surprised as the position applied for was full time and I could only offer part-time hours due to caring for my mum. It was a cheeky application, but if you don't try you don't get. I was, however, informed that my application was "very impressive" so I was pleased with that.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with another update and a cute kitty face appearing. Until then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Big Eyes Kitty - 20 hour update

Hello again everyone!

Here's the second update of Big Eyes Kitty. It's so nice to have a piece that stitches up quickly with only a few colours and little confetti. It means I get the satisfaction of seeing progress without having to concentrate too hard! I'm enjoying stitching "Misty" so much that I am going to stay with her for another 10 hours. Here are the 10 and 20 hour pictures:

After 10 hours

After 20 hours

On a personal note, I've been very, very lucky for the last ten years and not had to work, instead spending the time bringing up my children, looking after my mum and doing voluntary work. However, this week the perfect job appeared and I actually applied for it! I'm not going to say anything more (yet) but please keep your fingers crossed for me. It would be the type of job I would quite gladly do for free, so getting paid for it would be a bonus!!! Let's hope I get called in for an interview.

My son's away next week on a school residential trip so I'm not sure how much stitching I'm going fit in over the next few days. With the weather warming up it'll be a good opportunity to fling open the windows and spring clean his room and the rest of the house if my enthusiasm lasts (which it probably won't!)

See you soon with hopefully some good news, a cleaner house and a third progress picture.

All the best and

Happy stitching :)

Rachel x

New Start - Big Eyes Kitty by DMC

Hello fellow stitchers!

First of all, I have to say a BIG thank you to all the people who have visited my blog and left such lovely comments. I've had over 30 hits already and certainly feel inspired to carrying on blogging! I'm not sure if it's good enough but I've added a "Follow by Email" icon so that those who wish to keep up-to-date with my posts can. If you know of a better link to follow a blog please let me know!

I've been a bit of a naughty girl this week and started another project although, to be fair, there is space for it in my annual targets. Whilst setting up my Current Stash and WIP pages I realised that all of my current WIPs are fairly large and I really could do with stitching something smaller. The temptation was just too great, so after much pondering out came this little cutie. With only ten colours and 9,216 stitches I'm estimating about 60-70 hours work.

Progress so far has been quick as it's all one colour!

Big Eyes Kitty by DMC

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1
Stitch count 96 wide by 96 high

Started - 4th March 2014

Stitching hours to date - 10

I've decided to stay with "Misty" for another 10 hours so that I can finish stitching the dark brown background and make a start on her blanket. It's been a nice change to stitch a project where progress can be seen so quickly! See you soon with another update.

All the best and
Happy stitching! :)
Rachel x

New Blogger on the Block!

Hello fellow cross stitchers and welcome to my blog. This has been a long work in progress for me, having been inspired by a certain blogging cross-stitcher who knows who she is. Thank you for silently encouraging me to share my work with others.

Over the next few days you will (hopefully) see various pages appearing as I publish them one by one. They will include "Me and My Stitching", "Works in Progress", "Current Stash", "Completed Projects" and "Wish List". Three further pages are also planned for "Projects which I like but would never get round to stitching", "Projects which I liked so much I actually bought the original pictures" and "My Family and Pets".

I hope you will take time to view my pages and leave a comment if you wish. I will read them all and reply if necessary.

All the best!
Rachel x