Smalls SAL - May 2018

Good evening everybody!

I'm a little late with this month's Smalls SAL, run by Heather of Stitching Lotus, as I've been pondering whether to post or not since no link-up has been posted for this month or last. I hope that our host is OK - does anybody know?

I've had a lot of Hooties on my wishlist since I first discovered Pinoy Stitches on etsy a few years ago. They've been in and out of my basket numerous times as I made a decision to buy them and then decided I couldn't justify the purchase because I didn't need any more stash, until one day I just thought stuff it, I rarely treat myself to anything, so on to my to-do pile they went!

This is the first one I decided to stitch:

Yellow Patchwork Hootie by Pinoy Stitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Tangerine over-dyed aida from sewitall.com 2 over 1
Stitch count - 42 wide by 41 high
Started - 1st May 2018
Finished - 6th May 2018
Total stitching time - 7 hours 45 minutes

I changed the colour of the spots (not that you can see them in the photo) for more of an orangey-yellow (743) rather than the charted pale yellow (445) but think I should have gone a bit darker. Nevermind, I love him anyway!

And, as is now my tradition, here he is all made up into a little hanging ornie:

Who can fail to love that backing fabric? Thank you ebay!

I'm planning to stitch only one more Hootie this year, but eventually(!) I'm hoping to have my own little Parliament. Until then the Gouldian Finch and Cockatiel, stitched earlier this year, are keeping him company.

Next month, something a little more summery.

Take care,
Rachel x

Smalls SAL - April 2018

Good afternoon everybody!

It's the last Friday of the month again (well, Saturday really) so time to check in with the Smalls SAL run by Heather of Stitching Lotus.

This month I stitched a second Australian bird to match the Gouldian Finch I stitched in February:

Cute Little Cockatiel by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Stormy Sea over-dyed aida from sewitall.com 2 over 1
Stitch count - 38 wide by 30 high
Started - 1st April 2018
Finished - 4th April 2018
Total stitching time - 4 hours 35 minutes

For the time being he's the only other Australian Bird I will be stitching but as a tease here's the link if you want to see the other birds in the series.

And, yet again, he's been finished off into a little hanging ornie:

I think he turned out rather well.

For next month's Smalls SAL I'm going to have a hoot!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - February 2018

Good afternoon everybody!

It's the last Friday of the month again so time to check in with the Smalls SAL run by Heather of Stitching Lotus.

I have a colourful Australian tweety for you this month:

Gouldian Finch by FuzzyFoxDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Summer Sky over-dyed aida from sewitall.com 2 over 1
Stitch count - 39 wide by 30 high
Started - 1st February 2018
Finished - 3rd February 2018
Total stitching time - 4 hours 50 minutes

He's one of a number of little Australian (and other) birds available from FuzzyFoxDesigns. I have a few of the charts but only one more is planned for stitching during 2018.

And, in the hope of adding no more pieces to my Box of Shame, he's been finished off too with really bright completely over-the-top backing fabric and coordinating barley twist cord. Talk about the perfect match!

As a fun fact my finished ornament weighs 16g - 4g more than the little tiny finch himself!

I hope you like him.

Next month... a second piece of cheeky fruit.
Rachel x

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

Five New Starts and Four Finishes

Hello all.

Long time, no see! I really enjoyed my blogging break after the madness of April but thought it was about time I returned - with an apology and a long post to make up for my absence.

The apology is for being way behind on reading and commenting on your posts (again). Due to family circumstances I am having to cut down on the amount of time I spend on the blogosphere. I shall continue to read each post I follow but it is likely I will be leaving and replying to fewer comments for a while. Sorry. but I know you all understand that family has to come first.

Anyway, as the title of this posts suggests, I have lots to show you from the last three weeks.

First up are two new starts and finishes stitched as gifts for Ingrid and Justine. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of the actual finishes but can at least show you how they looked before being made into little hanging cushions. Although they are the same design they do have subtle differences so I'm going to show both:

 

I Solemnly Swear and Mischief Managed by stitchedupbyleona (etsy)

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

Stitched with Threadworx 1033 Ice Tea

Stitch count 133 wide by 107 high

Started - 20th March 2016

Finished - 3rd May 2016

Total stitching time - 20 hours 45 minutes

Plus 7 hours 30 minutes to finish off

Harry Potter fans among you will of course recognise these phrases as those that open and close the Marauder's Map. The words on the original chart were not backstitched. However, the Threadworx thread I chose as a substitute for the original colour did not show up as much as I had hoped so I had no choice but to backstitch each letter. The extra time and effort was definitely worth it and, let's face it, this kind of backstitching is quite easy!

Information as above except:

Started - 30th April 2016

Finished - 11th May 2016

Total stitching time - 19 hours 35 minutes

Plus 4 hours 15 minutes to finish up

The fronts and backs of each one were stitched together into a cushion using whip stitch. The cushion was stuffed, brown braided cord attached as a hanging loop and around the edges (as per my Christmas Ornaments) and a Harry Potter charm added as a finishing touch. The first one took much longer to finish and was not to as high a standard as the second (learning curve) but each recipient was happy.


Next up is another new start and finish which I have called Summer Bird:

Bird by Hobikolik (etsy)

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

Stitched in Threadworx 11511 Jam Rock

Stitch count 80 wide by 80 high

Started - 14th May 2016

Finished - 17th May 2016

Total stitching time - 7 hours 15 minutes

I had the inspiration to stitch this design four times in seasonal colours as a good excuse to experiment with some hand-dyed threads. Hence I have matching fabrics and threads ready and waiting to stitch Spring (lilacs/pinks) Autumn (browns/yellows) and Winter (blues/purples), although goodness knows when that will be. The colours have turned out quite "blocky" but then there are very distinct colour variations running through the thread. Spring and Winter should be more subtle and Autumn somewhere in between.


Then we have a little Lizzie Kate start and finish:

Boo Club - Ghost

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

Stitch count 78 wide by 38 high 

Started - 13th May 2016

Finished - 22nd May 2016

Total stitching time - 9 hours 10 minutes

The ghost was stitched in glow-in-the-dark E940 instead of the recommended pale cream to give it more of a spooky feel. I also had to swap out the black buttons as the ones provided had minute holes for which I did not have a small enough needle. I'll swap them back one day.


Finally, may I present my last new start:

Ocean Critters - Seahorse by Janet Morningstar

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

Stitch count 98 wide by 122 high

Started - 15th May 2016
Stitching time to date - 6 hours 50 minutes

I have had my eye on this rather cute design, and the matching Dolphin, for quite some time so was not surprised when I finally bought them (there are also a crab, turtle and octopus in the collection but I'm not so keen on those). I doubt you will have to wait long before you see this one finished and/or the Dolphin appear as another new start (stitching plans for the year be damned - if I want to start something new I jolly well will!!) This colour fabric has to be one of my all time favourites.


And that's all for now. Thank you for making it to the end of this post!

Take care everyone,
Rachel x

Final New Stash of the Year!

Hello one and all!

I intend to join in with Stitch From Stash next year, so as I still have some birthday money left over (and I know my mum wants to buy me some stash for Christmas) I decided to have a final splurge on charts before being tied down to a budget. Also I have a stinking cold and feel awful so the retail therapy has been good medicine for my recovery!!!

I naughtily bought:

Rabnann (ebay)

Elephant Herd

Stitch count 248 wide by 174 high

theworldinstitches (etsy)

The Four Harry Potter Houses

Stitch counts 95-97 wide by 117-118 high

UAHomeMadeStudio (etsy)

Winter Owl

Stitch count 88 wide by 87 high

UnconventionalX (etsy)

OMG Tigger is Out

Stitch count 162 wide by 200 hig

This is the most expensive single chart I have ever bought. I just love the realistic-looking raindrops and the sadness of the cat so it had to be MINE! It is definitely going to be started once I have completed my latest stint on Dolphin Ruins and it already has a WIP progress bar waiting to be filled!

Gloria and Pat

Young'uns

Stitch counts 71-149 wide by 73-124 high

How cute are these?! They are not as small as I thought they would be, measuring about 100 x 100 but I don't care. I love and want to stitch them all!

Love Thy Thread
Lyx
Stitch count 170 wide by 170 high

So that's it! I certainly don't NEED any more charts. I just have to force myself not to look ever ever ever ever ever ever again!

I hope all of your Christmas preparations are going well. We've still got the tree and a few more decorations to put up but there's plenty of time yet. We tend to do a little bit each day rather than all at once as it gives the children something to look forward to when they come home from school.

Until next time.....

All the best and

Happy stitching :)

Rachel x