Pandas - finished!

Hello all!

And another too long-neglected WIP bites the dust!

Pandas was started on 28th February 2015, the final project for Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge. I last worked on it in December 2017, leaving it here with just the lower bodies to fill in, the grass to stitch and, of course, all the backstitching to add:

So now those have been done here it is in its entirety (with a much more accurate fabric colour):

Pandas from the Young'Uns collection by Gloria and Pat

Stitched on 16ct Kelp over-dyed aida

Started - 28th February 2015

Finished - 9th February 2023

Total stitching time - 60 hours 15 minutes

The backstitching, which for once I didn't leave to the end, took a mere eight hours but was nice and easy as it followed the squares of the aida. I often 'cheat' by using long stitch but this chart was definitely designed with the square-by-square outline in mind. It might have taken a long time, but was actually really therapeutic.

As for the next finish... I think it's time for the final Winnie The Pooh to join the other four, don't you? Back soon then.

Take care,

Rachel x

A Tatty Friend - finished!

Morning all!

Not having any plans means that all year long I can delve into my my WIP boxes (yes, plural, I have three!) and pull out whatever I want.

First out was this little project, A Tatty Friend, which I started for Day 13 of Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (i.e. a new start each day for two months) way back in 2015. I last worked on him in September that year, spending more than an hour backstitching around his head alone. It was the thought of many more hours of backstitching that kept him as a WIP for so long.

But I felt ready for him. Sort of. The backstitching was intense and, although I didn't follow it exactly, I could not do more than twenty or so minutes at a time; it was the type of backstitching that splits threads and overlaps itself in order to give that tatty look.

But small steps lead to big things, and after four more hours of backstitching, plus taking out some of the grass on the right so I could miss out an additional flower, and adding a few pink petit beads to the flower instead of french knots, here he is all finished; he only took me a day under eight years!!

A Tatty Friend (magazine project) by Dimensions (using DMC conversions)

Stitched on 16ct white with silver lurex aida

Started - 13th January 2015

Finished - 12th January 2023

Total stitching time - 14 hours 30 minutes

It feels really satisfying to have completed something started so long ago that I'm now itching to finish more WIPs. Watch this space for which one jumps out next!

Take care,

Rachel x

Daisy Hugs - finished!

Hi all!

Yes, it's another finish, and the second this month from WIPs started way back in 2015. Go me!

After finishing Daisy Umbrella a couple of weeks ago my heart was set on finishing this one too. It's finish number 37/59 for Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge, and probably my last finish of 2020.

Here's how you last saw the hugging mice (well, the daisy at least!) back in March 2015:

And now finished:

Daisy Umbrella (my title) by Margaret Sherry

Stitch count - 45 wide by 62 high

Stitched on 16ct antique white aida

Started - 6th January 2015

Finished - 15th December 2020

Total stitching time - 23 hours 45 minutes

Due to the number of fractionals, and thread splitting for the backstitching, I think this will probably be the last time I stitch a Margaret Sherry on aida; I say 'probably' because I know I've started two others on aida and will have to decide (when I eventually get to them) whether to carry on or restart hem on evenweave. Luckily they're both small, and I haven't stitched that much, so abandoning/restarting them won't be too wasteful.

Take care,

Rachel x

Daisy Umbrella - finished!

Hi all!

Back in 2015 I started 59 projects during the first 59 days of the year in what was named Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge.

Up to now I've finished 35 of those projects - 17 in 2015, 9 in 2017 and 9 in 2018.

This year's to-finish list contained a further six but, mainly due to a lot of new-startitus, my good intentions haven't quite gone to plan - at almost the end of the year I've only just finished the first one!

Here's how I last left it:

And now, as finish number 36 of 59:

Daisy Umbrella (my title) by Margaret Sherry

Stitch count - 45 wide by 62 high

Stitched on 16ct white aida

Started - 21st January 2015

Finished - 4th December 2020

Total stitching time - 22 hours 40 minutes

I remember that this was one of my first Margaret Sherry designs, and I regretted using aida because of the fractionals. But it wasn't too bad in the end. The backstitching - all three hours of it - was probably more frustrating as it involved lots of thread splitting. But, again, it wasn't impossible, and well worth it for the effect.

The centre of the daisy was charted for french knots but I used beads because I don't like doing french knots!

I know exactly how this will be FFOd, so it will hopefully be ready for the 10th.

Wonder how long it will be before I finish another from this ages-ago Challenge?!

Take care,

Rachel x

November Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

This will be the last time for a while that I post a report on the progress I've made on some of the projects I started for Debbie's Challenges back in 2015/2016. I was actually wondering whether to post this, seeing as there's only the one project to show, but why not?

During November I finished and framed Winter Alphabet (posted previously) and made progress on the one remaining piece I am hoping to finish this year:

Hufflepuff by theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 11th February 2015; last worked on last month
finished the name and the outside of the crest

As you can see, I've not got much left to stitch now. Once I've finished my piece for the Smalls SAL, which I'm currently working on, I shall get straight back to this one and return with a finish soon.

Take care,

Rachel x

October Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month gone and another month of steady progress to show you on a couple of projects I started for Debbie's Challenges back in 2015/2016.

During October I finished and framed Pretty Little Paris (posted previously) and made progress on:

Winter Alphabet by Lizzie Kate

started 26th January 2016; last worked on last month
continued alphabetically (the gap is for a picture which covers two rows and three columns)

Hufflepuff by theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 11th February 2015; last worked on August 2015 (oops!)
finished the top section and started on the name

In November I plan to finish Winter Alphabet and make further progress on Hufflepuff, the last Challenge piece I will be stitching on in 2018.

Take care,

Rachel x

Pretty Little Paris - finished and framed

Hello all!

So here we have this month's finish from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge 2015. This is finish number 34 out of the 59 starts and is, of course, Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street.

At the end of September I had made this much progress:

And now with final additions of Sacre Coeur and the Montgolfier Balloon:

Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street

Stitched on 16ct Apricot Sunset hand-dyed aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Stitch count 111 wide by 104 high
Started - 19th February 2015
Finished - 9th October 2018
Total stitching time - 39 hours 15 minutes

And, continuing my fully-finishing-off streak, here it is framed. I really wanted a blue frame to bring out the Eiffel Tower but my usual frame supplier, easyframe.co.uk, didn't have the right shade, so I opted for the same as London - a 13mm red stain frame with non-reflective acrylic glazing.

Here are London and Paris together:

As it turned out, the two frames are slightly different in both colouring and texture, even though they are supposed to be the same. I guess, like most things, different batches are not exactly identical. Not that it bothers me; it was never my original intention to frame them as a matching pair anyway.

I really enjoyed stitching both Paris and London this year, watching landmarks take shape in weird in wonderful colours. It's no wonder the Pretty Little Cities are popular although, having said that, I haven't seen any around for a while.

I have a few others Pretty Little Cities I would like to stitch 'one day', the first of which will be  Toronto. But don't hold your breath waiting, I am fairly certain it will be quite some time before it makes an appearance!

Take care,
Rachel x

September Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month gone and another month of steady progress to show you on a couple of projects I started for Debbie's Challenges back in 2015/2016.

During September I finished and framed Tea from the Little Black Cat range (posted previously) and made progress on:

Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street

started 19th February 2015; last worked on last month
finished the bridge and added the Arc de Triomph

Winter Alphabet by Lizzie Kate

started 26th January 2016; last worked on in March 2016
continued alphabetically, adding two more rows

In October I plan to finish Pretty Little Paris, make further progress on Winter Alphabet and bring the final Hogwarts House Crest, Hufflepuff, out to play. If all goes well, all three pieces will be finished by the end of the year.

Take care,

Rachel x

Little Black Cat Tea - finished; all 4 Little Black Cats framed

Hello all!

Another month and another finish to show you from DSDUCFC 2015. This is finish number 32/59 and the final Little Black Cat to accompany the previously-completed Coffee, Cream and Sugar.

At the end of August I still had the bottom third to stitch:

Which has now been completed to look like this:

Little Black Cat - Tea

Heritage Crafts designed by Toni Goffe

Stitched on 32ct Light Blue Murano evenweave 2 over 2

Stitch count 68 wide by 68 high
Started - 23rd February 2015
Finished - 11th September 2018
Total stitching time - 31 hours 15 minutes

Here are all four Little Black cat pieces together:

But that's not all... they have all been framed too! It took a while to find the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement, but may I introduce....

Cream

Cream and Coffee

Cream, Coffee and Sugar

Cream, Coffee, Sugar and Tea

And in their frame:

The frame is from my usual easyframe.co.uk and is a 13mm black paint frame with a black bottom mount, sun red top mount and acrylic anti-reflective glazing. It wasn't easy choosing mount colours for these designs, as creams and blues also looked very effective, but somehow this combination stood out to me as more fun than the other options. I really really like it.

So that also means four less pieces in my Box of Shame, not that Tea actually made it in there since he was finished, ironed and framed almost immediately!

More finishes and framing still to come in the last few months this year...

Take care,
Rachel x

August Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

So we're now 2/3rds of the way through the year and I'm slowly but surely keeping up with making progress on some of the pieces I started for Debbie's Challenges back in 2015 and 2016.

During August I finished Summer from The Four Season (posted previously) and made progress on:

Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street
started 19th February 2015; last worked on last month
finished Notre Dame, added the trees on the left and started the bridge
(much better representation of fabric colour)

Little Black Cat - Tea by Heritage Crafts
started 23rd February 2015; last worked on in December 2016
filled in some of the background
(much better representation of fabric colour)

In September I plan to finish Tea, make more progress on Pretty Little Paris and bring the final Lizzie Kate Seasonal Alphabet out of its bag for some much needed attention. Fingers crossed.

Take care,

Rachel x

Summer - finished

Good morning one and all!

This month's finish from my DSDUCJFC 2015 WIPs is Summer from The Four Seasons - the last season to be completed, and finish number 32/59.

I left it like this at the end of July:

And now all finished:

Summer from the Four Seasons

Designed by Maria Diaz and featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue ???

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct white aida 2 over 1

Started - 8th February 2015

Finished - 10th August 2018

Total stitching time - 20 hours 40 minutes

And to celebrate, here are all four seasons together:

It took me ages to choose how to frame them, procrastinating over whether they should be together in a multi-aperture frame with a white mount or individually with mounts coordinating with each season. I thank goodness that my usual online framing shop, easyframe.co.uk, has a design gallery where pictures can be uploaded and framing options saved so that they can be viewed side by side and for as long as needed with no salesperson pressure.

Once I'd made my mind up I placed the order so you should see them framed soon.

Take care,
Rachel x

July Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month, another progress update on a couple of pieces I started for Debbies' Challenges back in 2015 and 2016.

July was another successful month, finishing Lizzie Kate's Summer Alphabet (posted previously) and working on:

Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street
started 19th February 2015; last worked on last month
finished The Eiffel Tower, stitched The Pompidou Centre, The Louvre and a bit more of Notre Dame

Summer from The Four Seasons
started 8th February 2015; not worked on since then
worked down one colour at a time

The gaps I've left are because I've found a mistake on the chart! I don't know about you but this is quite rare to me. Here's the original chart and as you can see the gaps should be stitched in a creamy-peachy sort of colour.

But this is the colour given on the chart, which I have a slight inkling is not quite right!

Actually, I think it's a simple typo and it's supposed to be 3771 not 3371 but seeing as I rarely pick up my stitching until after 10pm it's not something I can correctly check in artificial light (even with a daylight bulb).

If I actually remember to check during natural daylight hours, Summer will be finished in August (which means that all four seasons will have been completed) Pretty Little Paris will grow some more and the final Little Black Cat will make an appearance.

Take care,

Rachel x

Summer Alphabet - finished

Hello all!

This month's finish from my Challenge WIPs was Lizzie Kate's Summer Alphabet, the third of the four seasons I've now stitched and the 30th finish out of the 31 pieces I started for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2016.

At the end of last month the alphabet looked like this:

And now complete with the charms and buttons attached:

Summer Alphabet by Lizzie Kate

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Lemon over-dyed aida by sewitall.com 2 over 1
Stitch count 112 wide by 158 high

Started - 12th January 2016

Finished - 18th July 2018

Total stitching time - 36 hours 55 minutes

As usual I want to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Samplers and alphabets are definitely not my thing but with each letter or picture feeling like a mini-finish there was a real sense of how quickly it was moving along. And it was nice to branch out from stitching 'cuties' for once!

Here are the finished Spring, Summer and Autumn together:

So that just leaves Winter to finish later this year and then I can frame the complete set. I'm not sure yet whether to go for matching frames or the same frame in different colours. I'll have to see what's on offer from my framing shop.

Take care,
Rachel x

June Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Time for another progress update. Let's see how I did in June on those many WIPs I still have left from the projects I started back in January/February 2015 and January 2016.

During June I finished Sugar (posted previously) and made progress on:

Summer Alphabet by Lizzie Kate
started 12th January 2016; last worked on last month
continued alphabetically (gotta love the little pink fishy!)

Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street
started 19th February 2015; not touched since then
more of the Moulin Rouge as well as parts of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower have appeared

So far this year I have kept up with my plans; very slowly but surely my Challenge pieces are being worked on and finished. Fingers crossed that will carry on during the second half of the year too.

Frustratingly, however, my stitching time has been down by about 1/3rd for the last three months so I've hardly worked on the Haunted House Bell Pull. Even if I don't make much progress on it in July I am determined it will be finished during August.

Take care,

Rachel x