DUCJC 2015 - Day 31 - the end..... ???

Hello all!

My final January start was also my most complicated (as in thread changes and backstitching) but I fell in love with this little chap and am glad I chose him as one of my new starts. Being a Saturday I was able to stitch quite a lot - oh dear, what a shame!

Little Green

Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue 121

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

So, that's it, I've done it and successfully completed the Challenge. I have loved starting and stitching every single one of them, although the four Elemental Dragons and Dreaming of Dolphins are definitely my favourites.

Your company along the way has been fantastic. I have gained some new followers (welcome) and received hundreds of wonderful comments. I really appreciate the time you have taken to follow, read and comment, some of you daily. Thank you all so, so much!

Now all I've got to do is work on and finish these 31 projects.....

.....or is it?

You see, when I started Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge I thought that 31 projects would be more than enough to keep me going for years, especially considering I have four large focus pieces on the go too. I also thought that starting a new project every day would be boring and tedious. But how wrong could I have been?

So..... SURPRISE..... (and I have found this VERY hard to keep secret) .....

Only 6 days into January I had an insane thought..... how realistic / stupid / crazy would it be for me to extend Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge into Debbie's Ultimate Super Duper Crazy January February Challenge? Answer... not that difficult if perhaps slightly (very) insane!

My justification was that:

1) there are so many charts on my to-do list that I would like to stitch
2) I had planned to start about half of them during the year anyway
3) I have almost all of the fabric required (just needed to buy evenweave for four starts)
4) Most of the charts would count towards Stitch From Stash
5) I would not need to or allow myself to start anything else for the rest of the year (apart from the planned Lizzie Kate Monthly Flip-It Stamps, Owls in Love and Dragon Eye) - scout's honour!

So, decision made then!

It was really easy to choose another 28 charts but, for variety, I wanted to ensure they would different to January's selection, i.e. no more Solo, Margaret Sherry, Lickle Ted, Nelson or Tatty Teddy. For that reason, most of them are bigger projects with only a few "cuties".

Unlike January, I've decided not to release the February pictures in advance so you won't know until the day itself what I've chosen. However, as a tease, all of them are on my Small Charts and Magazine Charts tabs and some are in sets. Therefore, once you see one you should be able to guess its siblings.

So, you haven't got rid of me yet. I'll be back tomorrow and daily again for the rest of February!

See you then..... if you're not too bored of me already.

And many, many, many thanks for sticking with me. :))

Love and hugs,
Rachel x


PS  I'm also taking part in A New Stitchy Start 2015, hosted by Tammy. If you're interested my January posting is here but I'm afraid it's not a happy one.  :(

DUCJC 2015 - Day 30

Good afternoon!

I'm a bit late posting today. Hubby decided to drag me to the gym at 8am and then change the graphics card in the computer which has all meant I couldn't post until now.

My penultimate January new start was a second Playful Puss design. I couldn't resist the little kitty going sleepy-bye-byes in the flowerpot! I wonder what mischief he'd caused first??

Playful Puss 2

Featured in ???

Stitched on 16ct Antique White Aida 2 over 1

It's the final January new start tomorrow!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 29

Good morning!

I started this one at just gone midnight! I couldn't sleep so thought I might as well do something productive. I stitched the clouds before my eyes gave in, then the rest in the evening.

A Windy Day

Featured in Cross Stitch Collection January 2013

Stitched on 16ct Enchantress hand-dyed Aida by Sugar Maple Fabrics 2 over 1

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 28

Morning all!

I love Lickle Ted designs and thought that him holding his bunny was just irresistible! Here's my progress of 1 1/2 bunny ears!

Lickle Snooze

Featured in The World of Cross Stitching issue 174

Stitched on 16ct Clay over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 27

Hello again!

Back to the lovely silver lurex aida today for another wintry Tatty Teddy design. Again, I thought I'd start with the colours to give the fabric a bit of depth, so both teddies have most of their hats. The missing sections require white with Kreinik blending filament but, given the fabric, I'm not sure if I want to add any more sparkle so have left them out for the moment.

Winter Hugs

Featured in The World of Cross Stitching issue ???

Stitched on 16ct White Aida with Silver Lurex by DMC 2 over 1

I notice that DMC now have the license to produce Tatty Teddy. I've looked at some of their releases and have to say that they are not as good as the Anchor ones. The colours are simpler and they don't have the backstitching that give the teddies their furry look. However, they would be much easier (and certainly less frustrating) to stitch!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 26

Good morning all!

First things first..... I'm way behind on reading bogs, leaving comments and replying to mine so please bear with me whilst I try to catch up. Thank you.

I like this chart a lot and was glad I chose it as one of my January starts. It's really delicate to stitch as the whole of the background is in one strand. I didn't get as much done as hoped but it has still been an absolute joy so far.

Good Morning Nelson!

Featured in The World of Cross Stitching issue ???

Stitched on 16ct Fairy Forest hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 1 and 2 over 1

Tatty Ted tomorrow.

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 25

Hello bloggers!

This is my final Margaret Sherry start for January and accompanies those of days 5 and 15. I've started 8 MSs altogether and apart from Book Worm they've all been mice! It wasn't intentional, but obviously I'm drawn towards her cute mouse designs. Sorry!

For a change I thought I'd work on the circle of flowers first. I didn't get much done but even stitching just two buttercups was enough to satisfy my daily addiction!

I Love Butter

Featured in Cross Stitcher August 2009

Stitched on 32ct Antique White Opalescent Evenweave by Fabric Flair 2 over 2

I'm going to enjoy the next chart so hope I can cheekily fit in more stitching time!

See you tomorrow!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 24

Good morning!

Yesterday was the last of the Elemental Dragons, a set which I love and to which I will immediately return once the daily new starts come to an end. As is so often the case at weekends a Top Gear Challenges DVD went on and I had hours of pure uninterrupted stitching in the company of my son.

Dragon of Water

Free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc.
Stitched on 16ct Nebula hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Us DUCJCers are now entering our final week of new starts. January has simply flown by!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 23

Hello friends!

More Margaret Sherry on more Aida with more fractionals!

This one is so me (and probably most of you out there too!) I'm desperately trying to be good with my eating habits but stitching this has given me an appetite - and not a healthy one!!! But isn't the saying true - when all else fails, there's always chocolate!

Choc-A-Holic

Featured in Margaret Sherry 2008/2009 Calendar
Stitched on 16ct Crocus hand-dyed Aida by Polstitches Designs 2 over 1

A yummy project about a yummy topic on yummy fabric. That's contentment!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 22

Good morning fellow bloggers!

Back to Solo the cat today. I couldn't resist this chart of the little kitty giving Solo a piggy-back hug! You can just about see some of Solo's face but it's not that clear..... yet!

Cuddly Feline Friends

Featured in The World of Cross Stitching issue 139
Stitched on 16ct Clay over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

I can't say enough how much I enjoy working on this Fabric Flair fabric. It's not too soft or hard, the threads run through it like a dream and the marbled effect is just about right. I've only found one shop in the UK that sells it (sewandso) and it's not cheap at £8.55 for a piece 18" x 19". But it's worth the price I suppose. Lucky Americans!

EDIT - I've now found that celticroseneedlecraft.com in the UK also stock fabric by Fabric Flair, although only in 14 and 16ct Aida. They call it "Cloud Effect" and it is available with or without sparkles and in bigger sized pieces. It doesn't appear to come in quite the same colours as those on the sewandso.co.uk website, who also stock evenweave, so I might give some a try when my SFS budget allows!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 21

Good morning!

Wow! I was overwhelmed with your responses to yesterday's wintry Tatty Ted design. It seems as if you all like him and the fabric. Thank you so much for such wonderful comments!

Day 21 brought another Margaret Sherry design which accompanies my day 6 start of two mice hugging under a daisy. If you remember, I thought that without the backstitching the daisy resembled icing on a cupcake, so with that in mind I tried to create another iced cupcake. I didn't quite manage it but at least with some pink it doesn't look too much like a fried egg!

Daisy Umbrella (my title)

Featured in Summer Fun free booklet with Cross Stitch Crazy issue 167
Stitched on 16ct Antique White Aida 2 over 1

Back tomorrow!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 20

Good morning all!

Two-thirds of the way through the Challenge and I'm still loving each and every day!

I would like to say another big thank-you to all the wonderful comments you have been leaving. I've not been replying to many recently but you are on my to-do list!

This very cold looking Tatty Ted was very reminiscent of the weather outside whilst I was stitching him. I'm glad he is wrapped up warmly against the elements!

Christmas Wishes

Featured in Cross Stitcher October 2007
Stitched on 16ct White Aida with Silver Lurex by DMC 2 over 1

As you can see, I started with the blue as I wanted to put a colour rather than greys onto the white fabric first.

Back tomorrow!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 19

Hello again!

My original intention for this chart was to stitch the sections individually and frame it as a triptych but, as you can see, I changed my mind, partly because the pictures tell a story and partly because it would be cheaper to frame as one piece! I aimed to try to complete the leaf, which I did.

All Aboard the Walnut Shells

Featured in Cross Stitcher July 2007
Stitched on 16ct Lagoon over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 18

Good morning all!

Another cutie today I'm afraid. Stitching was limited as it was a "do housework" day but I did manage a good stint from 9pm. I love the subtle colours in this one, especially on my chosen fabric.

Lickle Ted - Flower Power

Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue 82
Stitched on 16ct Sunshine over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Heather had a good time at Frost Camp, surviving the cold by wearing eight layers on her top half and four on her bottom half! Although she's got waist-length hair, long fingernails and is a vegetarian she's not a girly-girl at all and was proud to have done the more bloody and gory survival skills that made some of the boys squeamish! I won't go into details, but YUK! Girl power!

Back tomorrow with another Margaret Sherry.

Love and hugs

Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 17

Hello All!

I woke up this morning to the harshest frost of the winter and a tiny flurry of snow. Pity anybody who's out in this weather camping - like my daughter! Well, her camp is called "Frost Camp" so if it was warm it would kind of defeat the object!!

These dragon charts are really addictive and my plan of sending the boys out for the day sort of worked in that they stayed indoors but left me alone to stitch for quite a long time. I made a lot of progress and for once thought I would not leave all the backstitching until last!

Dragon of Fire

Free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc.
Stitched on 16ct Nebula hand-dyed Aida by The Crafty Kitten 2 over 1

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 16

Me again!

So here some of us are, continuing the Challenge into the second half of January. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun!

Once again I would like to thank all of you who read or comment on my postings. I really enjoy what I do and I'm glad you enjoy following!

For this project, and a bit of variety, I decided to stitch the background first. It made a nice change from stitching heads, something which I have been doing quite a lot recently! Strange how the blue section looks like an owl!

Cookie and Cream

Featured in The World of Cross Stitching issue ???
Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Tomorrow is another Elemental Dragon. Yippee! Also, daughter's away camping - yes, camping (in minus temperatures) with 500 other scouts for the weekend so I'll encourage the boys to have a day together and leave me alone to stitch! Cheeky but worth a try!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 15

Yo bloggers!

I love this chart. I love this fabric. And I was determined to finish stitching the mouse, no matter how late I had to stay up! 'Nuf said then!!!

Trouble and Squeaks - Dandelion Time

Featured in Cross Stitcher August 2009
Stitched on 32ct Antique White Opalescent Evenweave by Fabric Flair 2 over 2
(I'll try to get a better picture in daylight)

For some of you your 15 days of new starts has ended and you are probably glad that you can now concentrate on working on them and your other WIPs. Congratulations on getting this far and completing the CJC! Give yourselves a big pat on the back. :)

As for me, I'm really happy to be carrying on to the 31st so you'll have to suffer my daily posts for a while longer. Sorry! Back tomorrow then.

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 14

Good morning!

I thoroughly enjoyed this new start, another where I watched the head come together colour by colour. I didn't want to put it down, but bedtime called and (for once) I was tired enough to obey!

Friends Forever

Featured in The World of Cross Stitching
Stitched on 16ct Tumbleweed over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

Back to evenweave tomorrow and another Margaret Sherry.

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 13

Morning!

Today was my first Tatty Ted design. At the moment, and without any backstitching, it looks like a big splodge of greys, although you can at least make out the shape of the head. The Anchor to DMC colour conversion has one of the greys looking a bit green but I won't know for certain until I see it in proper daylight. If I'm not happy I may frog that colour. I've got some bigger Tatty Teds lined up so need to be happy with the colours before I start them.

A Tatty Friend

Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy
Stitched on 16ct White Aida with Silver Lurex by DMC 2 over 1

Another magazine cutie tomorrow. Hope you're not getting too bored of the same sort of cute designs appearing daily.

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 12

Hello dear things!

I couldn't resist the allure of this playful little kitten, the first in a set of four, two of which I am starting for the Challenge. The charts contain only full stitches so have that slightly "messy" feel where partial stitches overlap the backstitching. I could have adjusted for fractionals but I actually quite like the messy look; it somehow makes the kitten seem more mischievous!

I would normally stitch from the top but, for a change, fancied stitching the watering can first then working around it. Luckily I had enough time to finish the pinks, which was my aim for the day.

Playful Puss 1
Featured in ???

Stitched on 16ct Antique White Aida 2 over 1

Next up..... the first of my Tatty Teds.

Love and hugs
Rachel x