Spring Bird - started and finished

Hello all,

In between all of my WIP and Smalls SAL stitching in February I managed to fit in my second new start and finish of 2017.

Back in the spring of last year I purchased some Threadworx hand-dyed threads in seasonal colours not really knowing what I was going to do with them. Then I found a simple bird pattern which I decided I would stitch four times using these threads. Last year I stitched Summer and now I have stitched Spring:

Bird by Hobikolik (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Dried Petal over-dyed aida by sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitched in Threadworx 1006 Berry Nice

Stitch count 80 wide by 80 high

Started - 23rd February 2017

Finished - 26th February 2017

Total stitching time - 6 hours

Here's a reminder of Summer, stitched using Threadworx 11511 Jam Rock on Lime:

Looking back at my records I noticed that Summer took 7 1/4 hours to stitch compared to 6 hours for Spring. Why the difference? Because for Spring I was listening to music, for Summer I was watching TV. It just goes to show how distracting a screen can be!

Like Summer, Spring has gone into my Box of Shame... but... I already have the backing fabric to make them both into little cushions. Watch this space!

I say this about most of my projects, but I really did enjoy stitching this and am looking forward to stitching Autumn and Winter. However, they are not on this year's stitching plans so I'll have to pencil them in for 2018!

Back in a couple of days with a progress report on my Challenge WIPs.

See you then,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - February 2017

Good afternoon!

As it's the last Friday of the month it's time to post my project for this month's Smalls SAL. Thank you once again to Heather of Stitching Lotus for continuing to run this fun little stitch along.

Continuing on from January, this month's small is Durene Jones' February Calendar animal.

February Calendar by Durene Jones

Stitched on 16ct Nantucket from Sewitall.com 2 over 1

Stitch count 43 wide by 56 high

Started - 1st February 2017

Finished - 7th February 2017

Total stitching time - 8 hours 10 minutes

I have to admit the panda this month was not as enjoyable to stitch as the little squirrel last month, but with 12 different animals in total there are bound to be some I enjoy more than others. Here are the two together:

I expect I'll carry on with the calendar and do March next month.

See you then!
Rachel x

6 Box of Shame Finishes

Hello all!

I'm back with more Box of Shame finishes although, to be honest, it's really only one even though I've counted it as six! I started (and finished) these six Lizzie Kate Green Series charts last year as part of Debbie's January Challenge. They were quick and fun to do and I'm so glad they are no longer in my Box of Shame.

Lizzie Kate Green Series
This was a splurge frame which I actually bought last September. I spent a long time deliberating if this set was worth custom framing or if I should make them into ornaments. I decided that, as I would probably never get around to making ornaments, a frame was best. The muted greens and pinks of the fabric were quite hard to match to the available mounts but in the end I opted for a dark red inner mount and dark green outer mount surrounded by a mahogany frame and with non-reflective glazing. I'm absolutely delighted with the result even if it was extravagant for such small pieces.

Shame the photos don't do the pieces justice (the conservatory was too sunny!)

And individually:

I think I've done really well with my Box of Shame finishes so far this year but this one will probably be the last for a while. Apart from the set of six Woodland Folk animals, most of the remaining pieces are for making into ornaments and that is a task I am not overly keen about. I expect I'll keep putting them off and putting them off until one day I get the enthusiasm to start them and have an ornament marathon. Can't see it happening anytime soon though!!!

Take care,
Rachel x

7 Box of Shame Finishes

Good afternoon all!

I've been a successful busy little bee again this week, rummaging through my and my mum's collection of previously used and/or "might-come-in-handy-one-day" frames and framing a few more of my Box of Shame pieces. It was so nice to find suitable frames and not have to buy any new ones. However, it does mean that all the glass is standard and decent photos were very difficult to get.

Here we go then:

April Showers
I finished this Lickle Ted piece in 2015 and have been procrastinating about framing him since. He looked wonderful with tan and red mounts, but equally good without them. So without them it was! It's a 7"x9" gold-edged mahogany-effect frame which came from a cheapy-bits-and-pieces shop a few years ago for about £3.

Friends Forever
Sam and Peeps were also stitched in 2015 and have finally come out to be displayed. This cheap 5"x7" teal frame was bought from Asda years ago for a massive 97p! I knew it would come in handy one day!

Let's Eat Dessert
I finished this in 2016 but was always wary of how I would frame it given the amount of colours in the fabric. Surprisingly, a gold-edged mid-wood frame looked really good, so that's what I used as that's all it needed.

October Fairy
This was a piece I stitched in 2016 and (obviously) one of a set of 12. I had no idea how I would frame the series but came across this wonderful bright orange 5"x5" frame in Tiger for a massive £1. I can't remember if they stocked colours that will match the other fairies in the series but then I haven't stitched them yet so will worry about that when it comes to it!

Cats In Love
You should recognise this piece as it was a new start and finish last month. I wanted a black frame but found this black and silver 8"x10" frame which came from Poundland. I wasn't sure if it would look right but think it works really well. And it's something different to plain black for a change.

And finally...

Playful Puss 3 and 4
The first two Playful Puss pieces were stitched and framed in 2015. The other two were finished last summer so goodness knows why it has taken me so long to add them into the frame! It's a simple black frame with bright green and pink mounts to match the grass and flowers. Unlike the other this was custom made so not cheap!

So, that's another 7 out of my Box of Shame... but still loads more to go. Hopefully I'll be back with some more finished-finishes soon.

Happy stitching (and finishing!)

Rachel x

5 Box of Shame Finishes

Afternoon!

During 2017 I am attempting to radically reduce the number of unfinished-finishes lurking in my Box of Shame. This week I've successfully eliminated another 5.

OK, it's not as impressive as it sounds as all five pieces were simply framed in aperture cards with a little bit of wadding behind them. But at least they are finished and crossed off my list. There was really no need to embellish the cards as the finished pieces speak for themselves.


Puddle Duck and Waterlogged were stitched at the beginning of 2015. I chose bright card colours to reflect the fun element of the designs.

Mr Daydream, Mr Jelly and Mr Happy were stitched for last December's Smalls SAL. Again I chose bright cards which matched their colours (OK, Mr Jelly should be in a pink not a red card but he doesn't look too bad). I wanted to write their names on the cards but didn't trust myself to get them right or neat enough. Maybe one day.....

I've already selected the next batch of pieces of finish-finish but when I'll get around to them is another thing! Hopefully it won't be too long.

Take care,
Rachel x

January Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

Back in 2015 I used to do a post at the end of each month summarizing the progress I'd made on any unfinished pieces which had been started for Debbie's Challenge. In 2016 I had no need to do this as nearly every Challenge piece I worked on in any given month also became a finish.

This year, I plan to revisit some of my 2015 Challenge pieces and will once again be posting monthly summaries. It's a neat way of pulling together all the progress I've made on my Challenge WIPs in just one post.

I finished two pieces:
*  bear
*  polar bear

And worked on:

Little Black Cat Coffee by Heritage Crafts

started 2nd February 2015; not stitched on since then

worked my way down, stitching the background, the cat and continuing with the coffee pot

Slytherin by Theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 25th February 2015; last stitched on 31st August 2015
finished the name banner

Pandas by Gloria and Pat
started 28th February 2015; not stitched on since then
finished the first panda's head and started the second panda's head

Alongside my other stitching commitments, I'm hoping to work on a minimum of three Challenge WIPs each month but I expect there will be times when I concentrate on one and other times when I flit around between quite a few. Whatever the case there should be lots of progress and some finishes to see during the year. Wonder which ones I'll pull out during February? It's not as if I haven't got many to choose from!!!

Happy February everyone!
Rachel x