DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 59 - THE END

Good morning all!

Well, I've done it! I've completed Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge 2015. This is the chart I finished off with and it just happens to also be the largest of my 59 starts.

The Panda
Featured in Young'uns by Gloria and Pat

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

I must say I have enjoyed every single day and every single one of my new starts. There's not one that I won't look forward to returning to, which is good.

I definitely have my favourites starts - Dreaming of Dolphins tops the list followed by the Elemental Dragons and the Lickle Teds from January and the Four Seasons, Little Black Cats and Pretty Little Cities from February. All the others aren't that far behind though! I don't know in which order they'll reappear as I'll just stitch whatever theme or colours take my fancy at the time.

I agree that I have been mad to start 59 new projects, but none of them will go to waste. I don't intend any of them to become discarded UFOs sitting in a box collecting dust. Afterall, I need to whittle them down before starting another 15/31/59 next year!!!!

I want to thank all of you who have stayed with me throughout this adventure, especially those who have commented daily (Justine, Katie, Linda, Mii) I really appreciate the time that you have taken to do that. This Challenge has meant more to me than just starting project after project knowing that I've got support out there, even if it is accompanied by being called bonkers, crazy, insane or certifiable in the process! Thanks - I think!

More importantly, I did it all in Debbie's memory and hope she would have smiled at my achievements. I only knew her for about a month before her passing but even so her love of stitching and serial starting obviously infected me - badly!

I am now giving myself a well-earned posting holiday. I shall still be reading and commenting on blogs but it may be a while before I post again. And who knows what that post will be about - progress on a BAP or perhaps a finish (or two!) but DEFINITELY NOT a new start (although there should be a rather large restart if all goes well!)   :)

Happy stitching and cheerio for a while.
Crazy Rachel x

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 52

Good morning!

Not a lot of progress for the day on this new start. The children are away with the Scouts again so hubby decided that we should sort out the kitchen cupboards! What? That's more important than cross stitching is it?? He needs to get his priorities right!! Still, we did get rid of a lot of stuff we never use so it was well worth the time and effort.

Spotted Owls

Featured in Young'uns by Gloria and Pat

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

 I hope it's not too long before I return to this piece as it's just so cute!

Happy stitching
Crazy Rachel x

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 45

Hello!

I have adored stitching this so far, even if it's only been some leaves and rocks. I think this will be one that I return to quite soon after all the new start challenge madness is over.

The Red Fox

From Young'uns by Gloria and Pat

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

Happy stitching
Crazy Rachel x

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 38

Good morning!

This is one of my few February cuties. I just couldn't resist starting these adorable Polar Bears with their cute little eyes and button noses! As with most baby animals (and children actually!) isn't it a shame they have to grow up?

Polar Bears

From Young'uns by Gloria and Pat

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

If you like cute baby animals I would thoroughly recommend downloading the Young'uns booklet from the Gloria and Pat website here. All of their animals are really well designed and you get a massive 32 charts for $12.50. You can't go wrong for that price, even if you only like a few of them. And, no, I'm not working on commission, just passing on a link!

Happy stitching
Crazy 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 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 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 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 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 8

Hi all!

Today's start was just meant to be.....

I decided a couple of months ago the order in which the Challenge charts would be stitched. So it was ironic that, having got drenched on the school run (mainly thanks to passing motorist and big puddle!) I came home, got changed and settled down to stitch an umbrella! Up to now most of my Challenge stitching has been browns, creams and blues so it was nice to pull out some cheery pinks and reds for a change.

April Showers

Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue 110
Stitched on 16ct Iced Coffee over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1

See y'all tomorrow!

Love and hugs,
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 5

Hello all!

So much for schools starting back Monday - daughter's school was closed because of heating issues! But I didn't let that interfere with my stitching!

This was the new start of the day. The original was stitched using Anchor threads. Obviously the chart I used to convert Anchor to DMC was rubbish as the browns are not even close to the Anchor colours! Maybe I should have used my own eyes and converted them myself. But I suppose I don't really mind. (S)he's still really cute!

I squeezed in 3.5 hours of stitching again..... naughty me! I might hang my head in shame, but there's still a big smile on my face!

Trouble and Squeaks - Loves Me... Loves Me Not...

Featured in Cross Stitcher August 2009
Stitched on 32ct Antique White Opalescent Evenweave by Fabric Flair 2 over 2

I had to choose an evenweave for this project as there are so many fractionals. I can't say I'm looking forward to stitching the circle of daisies but I know that it's needed to enhance the central design and I'm sure I'll be pleased and proud once it's done.

I'm really enjoying watching all of your new starts too. It's great to see so many people have taken up the challenge.

More Margaret Sherry tomorrow!

Love and hugs

Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 4

Good morning!

I'm afraid to say that (after packing away all the Christmas things) a second Top Gear Challenges DVD went on yesterday afternoon which meant another three hours of solid stitching in the company of my son. Oh dear, what a shame! This brought the stitching total for this project to 3.5 hours.

Solo the Cat is charted by Anchor so I converted the threads to DMC. This has resulted in him (apparently it is a male cat) being a little more yellow than cream. But I still love him and hopefully the rest of the colours will look more natural once added. If not, I don't really care!!!!

Feline Groovy (not stitching flowerpot)

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

Everything now returns to normal with hubby back at work and the children back at school. It would be nice to think I could continue to stitch for 3 hours every day but that is unlikely.

Next up is my first ever Margaret Sherry design. I'm very excited as (s)he is just sooooo adorable!

Until then,

Love and hugs,

Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 2

Good morning!

Yesterday I managed to stitch for a total of 2.5 hours on this little cutie. The duck's very similar to my daughter's "Snuggle Chum" which has been (and... shhhh.... still is) her constant companion since she was 7 months old.

I decided to stitch the snowball first and get the white-on-white out of the way. To my credit, it's also the first time I've EVER stitched on evenweave! This fabric is particularly soft so it took a bit of time for me to get the tension right, but here's the result. Hope you like it.

Christmas Quacker!

Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy

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

See you tomorrow!

Love and hugs
Rachel x

DUCJC 2015 - Day 1

Good morning all!

I was so excited to finally make a start on my first project, managing just over 3 hours on and off during the day. Although I stitched some sky and part of the dog it looks like a load of brown and blue splodges! But that's the joy of cross stitch - watching it all come together.

Friends For Life

Featured in Cross Stitcher July 2009

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

Until tomorrow.

Love and hugs
Rachel x