Autumnal Abstract - 130 hour update

Hello again!

As you can see, I'm back with Autumnal Abstract. Dolphin Ruins may be calling me - loudly - but I just can't tear myself away from this project. The right half is completely finished so I'm on the home straight working down to the bottom left corner. Here's my progress over the last couple of days:

After 120 hours

After 130 hours

The school half-term holiday has allowed me to stitch during the day as well as at night, hence quicker progress for this ten hour stint. It's a bit naughty but the children don't mind me disappearing for a couple of hours here and there as long as I'm on call and they get fed at the appropriate times!

Back soon(ish) with another update.....

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

PS for those that celebrate (we don't!) Happy Halloween!

Autumnal Abstract - 120 hour update

Good evening all!

First of all I would like to say a very warm welcome to my new followers over the last month or so. I hope you are enjoying my blog and accompanying ramblings. :)

Secondly, thank you for all the lovely comments about my birthday stash. When I was updating my Current Stash pages I realized just how many charts I had. So from now on the purchasing of (or asking for) any more cross stitch charts is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (yeah right!!!) Perhaps that could be a challenge for 2015 - just how long can you survive into the year without purchasing any new charts or kits? I don't think I'd last a month and I'm not sure some of you folks could even last a week!!!

But I digress, so, on to Autumnal Abstract. My enthusiasm for this project has still not waned one bit. This is probably the longest time I have stitched on one project without needing or wanting a change of colour pallet. I'm so proud and believe that finishing it before the end of the year is now a strong possibility, although I'm not going to rush to get it done. So, here it is:

After 110 hours

After 120 hours

I know what you're going to say - I've done a lot in 10 hours. But, remember, there are large blocks of colours!

I've just about resisted the temptation of starting Dolphin Ruins because I'm enjoying this one so much. But, the threads are in their box, the fabric is on the scroll bars and the place of the first stitch has been counted and marked! I don't know how much longer can I hold out though - it's still calling to me!

So, when I return next time will it be with Autumnal Abstract or Dolphin Ruins I wonder?

Until then,

All the best and

Happy stitching :)

Rachel x

New Stash - well, it is my birthday!

Hello fellow bloggers!

I've been a very naughty girl and, as the title states, received some new stash for my birthday. Note I said received, not bought, as these were presents from my mum, daughter and son (bless 'em!). So all of the following, which I just had to share with you, can be justified, can't they?? Of course they can!!

Lizzie Kate 

Monthly Flip-It Stamps (2005)
Stitch counts 47 wide by 47 high

I've noticed a lot of stitchers do Lizzie Kate projects so had to look at the website to find out what all the fuss was about. I'm not into samplers but fell in love with their 2005 Flip-It Stamps set. They will definitely be one of my 2015 WIPs. No offence to all American bloggers out there, but I am going to substitute the November Thanksgiving design for fireworks as that's much more English!

Satsuma Street (etsy)

Pretty Little London and Pretty Little Paris
Stitch counts 123 wide by 110 high and 111 wide by 104 high

All of Satsuma Street's city designs as on my wish list but as London and Paris are the most relevant to me those are the ones I decided to ask for first. The unusual colours should make them fun to stitch.

FluffyFuzzyPatterns (etsy)

Owls In Love
Stitch count 250 wide by 152 high

Oh my goodness... how cute is this??? There are only three shades of grey in the whole design and lots of unstitched areas so it should be really easy to do! Gorgeous.

EvasDesignsBg (etsy)

Dragon Eye
Stitch count 180 wide by 135 high 

This is a fantastic representation of a dragon's eye and I immediately knew that it was hypnotizing me to 'buy me or else'! So I did! There are only 11 colours in this design so would be easy to convert to a different hue if I wanted. Hmm... thinks firey reds/oranges perhaps?

Rabnann (ebay)

Dolphin Ruins
Stitch count 223 wide by 288 high

This design not only jumped out at me when I saw it but has also jumped to the very top of my to-do list. I don't know how long I will be able to resist the temptation of a new start but I doubt it will be long! I love the underwater mysterious lost City of Atlantis effect and the rippling on the dolphins' backs and marble columns. I hope the stitched picture is true to its mock up. Oooh, my fingers are itching already!!!


So that's 17 more projects to add to my to do lists - but in my justification, most of them are small. Anyway, aren't birthdays and Christmases specifically made as a reason/excuse to further increase our stash piles?? Good. I'm glad you all agree!!

As always,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Autumnal Abstract - 110 hour update

Hello all!

I love being able to do regular postings on this piece and thank you again for all your kind comments, including how quickly I stitch. But I'm not actually that fast a stitcher. This pattern has blocks of colours throughout with very little confetti stitching, so it's very easy and quick to follow as the needle isn't jumping around all over the place and only a small amount of counting is required. Couple that with the fact that I now stitch for a good 2-3 hours each night (and possibly sneak in some stitching at the weekend) and... hey presto... progress looks quick. Once I return to more complicated designs you will see my progress rate drop quite rapidly!!!

So, onto the usual pictures:

After 100 hours

After 110 hours

No doubt I'll be back within the week with another progress report! It's half term for the children but as we've got nothing definite planned I might be able to do some additional stitching whilst they relax on their computers.

For those interested, the sleep limiting is still working well. I'm regularly on 5.5 hours per night but ask hubby to leave me to wake up naturally at the weekend when I tend to have about 7-8 hours. I may have the odd snooze during the day but only for 10 minutes or so, so it's nowhere near as bad as the heavy sleeps I used to need to keep me going. I'm much more awake and so happy at being able to stitch regularly. Yippee!!

Big hugs to all,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Autumnal Abstract - 100 hour update

Hello fellow stitchers!

Yes, that's now 100 hours completed on this design and I'm still going strong. I'm averaging 2-3 hours per night and love being able to see visible daily progress. I've made a lot more progress in the last 50 hours at home than I did during the 50 hours at the Cross Stitch Club (more stitching less chatting!) and estimate about another 80 hours to go.

So, here are the usual pictures:

After 90 hours

After 100 hours

I've reached the bottom right hand corner and have been able to stitch all of the design without having to roll any of the actual stitching, which I'm really happy about.

A few people have asked when/where I purchased this kit as they having been looking for it. Well, I bought it about 10 years ago from an internet shop and know that it has not been available for quite some time. So..... when I have finished stitching the whole design I shall be giving away the original chart to one lucky blog follower. If you're interested then just watch this space for a final post and instructions on how to win!

Until next time then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

PS Forgot to wish my son, Toby, a very happy 11th birthday for Sunday. Love you loads!

Autumnal Abstract - 90 hour update

Hello all!

My stint on Autumnal Abstract continues to go at lightning speed and I'm still loving it!

So, without further ado, here are the usual pictures:

After 80 hours

After 90 hours

I'm continuing to stay with this project and have even put the thought into my mind that there's a possibility it could be completed by the end of the year! However, with Christmas getting in the way I am not setting my hopes too high.

I'm still receiving lovely comments about this piece, so thank you all very much. It's a joy to stitch and I'm thinking that in the future I may stitch it in a different colourways - there are only 24 colours so converting them into, for example, blues, lilacs and purples, would not be difficult.

In the meantime, work continues behind the scenes for something I will share with you at the beginning of December - aren't I a meanie?

So until next time,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Autumnal Abstract - 80 hour update

Hello fellow stitchers!

Thank you for all the lovely comments you have been leaving recently. I still haven't caught up with commenting on your blogs, but am enjoying reading your progress reports and snippets about life.

Another ten hours stitching Autumnal Abstract have rapidly passed by so here are the latest progress pictures:

After 70 hours

After 80 hours

I'm still enjoying this project and putting in the unsociable hours. All this and staying on top of housework and looking after a house full of family and animals too! Fab!

For those who are following me and/or experimenting with sleep-limiting, keep in touch about your status. Obviously we are all wired differently and what works for one person might not work for others. But as one stitcher commented, anything that allows more stitching time has to be tried, hasn't it??!!

See you soon.

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Autumnal Abstract - 70 hour update

Hello again!

Oh boy, am I whizzing through this design or what? I was very naughty on Sunday, putting housework on the back-burner in order to stitch. Coupled with the late nights, this 10 hour stint went very quickly! And I don't feel too guilty as it doesn't happen very often!

So, here are the progress pictures:

 After 60 hours

After 70 hours

The fact that most of this design is in blocks makes progress very obvious. I love it!

Some of you have commented on my sleep-limiting pattern so, to update you, I have to say that I am feeling full of energy, very refreshed and raring to go. If I compare this to the last five years, when daytime sleeps and early nights were often a necessity, I realize what a totally different person I am! How bizarre does that seem!!!

Right, back to housework..... I've got a bit of catching up to do!

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Autumnal Abstract - 60 hour update

Hello all!

I hope you are all well in stitchy-blog land and getting along with your various projects and SALs etc. I have been reading but not commenting on blogs recently so apologise and will try to catch up soon.

My progress on Autumnal Abstract has been very quick so far. This is due to a lifestyle change which now involves me limiting my sleep to under 6 hours per night and therefore having more stitching time in the late evenings. I have moved my daylight lamp and frame into our snug lounge and can now lock myself away and stitch until the small hours with just the guinea pigs and DVDs for company. This is the "me time" that I have been craving for years and has dampened the bitterness I have been feeling for a long time about caring for everybody else and not feeling as if I receive any care in return - ahhh! So, looking forward to stitching from 10pm to 1am (ish) every day, along with limiting my sleep, has given me a whole new lease of life. Rock on!!

Anyway, back to Autumnal Abstract. Here's where I left it back in July 2006:

After 52 hours

And this is where I am now:

After 60 hours

I love the blocks of colours and the colours themselves so plan to stay with this project for quite some time! If my new regime continues to work I should find myself updating this blog much more often!

Take care everyone!

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Star Trek TNG - finished and framed!

Hello fellow stitchers!

It may have taken another two weeks to finish the last character but, yes, it's finally happy dance time again! Star Trek The Next Generation is finished and framed and looks like this:

Pixel Power
Stitched on 16ct Navy Blue Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 115 wide by 89 high

Started - 26th August 2014

Finished - 9th October 2014

Total stitching time - 25 hours

The black frame is just a standard 10 x 8 from Wilkinsons. It isn't perfect but as I didn't want to spend a lot framing this piece it'll do for now, although, as the photo proves, it does need non-reflective glass!

Now (and I'm aware I also said this after finishing Hang in There) I MUST return to my big projects and try to reach some more targets for 2014. But... I'm still not in the mood for starting Mini Space Traveler (or any other new project for that matter) nor in returning to my current WIPs. So I have pulled out Autumnal Abstract, one of my Suspended Works in Progress which hasn't been stitched on since I stopped going to my Cross Stitch Club back in July 2006! The colours are perfect for this time of year and I can see myself not putting it down for quite some time.

Until next time then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

PS Happy 13th birthday to my daughter Heather. You're extra special and I love you loads!