Big Eyes Kitty - Finished and Framed! and New Start Tease

Hello again everyone!

Wooo-hoooo! It's happy dance time!

It took me one hour to finish the stitching on Big Eyes Kitty and another hour to mount and frame her, so here she is - Big Eyes Kitty (or Misty) in her finished, mounted and framed glory! I hope you like her.

Big Eyes Kitty by DMC

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 96 wide by 96 high

Started - 4th March 2014

Finished - 6th April 2014

Total stitching time - 51 hours

I must remember to get some non-reflective glass for the frame. The reflections you can see in the glass are from the spokes of the umbrella I was holding up trying to prevent glare in the glass!

And, as a reminder, here is Misty with her sibling Cottonsocks:

I have three more in this set waiting to be stitched but will not do them for some time yet. I need a break from sepia tones!

So, on to the New Start Tease - I have been waiting a long time to start this chart but still cannot start it just yet for reasons I will explain (rant about) in my next post. But as a tease here are the fabric and threads needed for the project. The fabric is actually a darker brown than the picture shows (but for some reason my camera refused to take an accurate photo of the colour) and about three times the size! The chart is on my Current Stash page, so pop over and see if you can guess which one (of the 90!) it is!

I hope I can provide this chart's first post soon.

Until then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Big Eyes Kitty - 50 hour update

Hi all!

Although only just over a week, this latest ten hour stint seems to have taken ages. I can't remember ever being so devoted to and completing a project so quickly. Here are the 40 and 50 hour pictures of Misty:

After 40 hours

After 50 hours

I'm very excited as the end is so close. I've only got the backstitching left and some threads to fasten off on the back, then she will be framed to match her sibling Cottonsocks.

The children are now at home for the next two weeks, so I don't know how much stitching I will be able to do. I'm hoping to get rid of hubby to his parents for a few days over Easter so may sneak in a couple of late nights/early mornings then!

See you very soon with a completed project and another new start.....

All the best and
Happy stitching! :)
Rachel x

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