Mini One - 30 hour update

Hello everyone!

Good grief! I've just noticed it's nearly three weeks since my last post. My stitching pace seems to be varying so much at the moment. Yes, I have a busy life looking after the house and its menagerie of humans and pets, but (touch wood) it's not hectic or problematic so I don't really understand why it's so erratic. Hmmm, needs looking into...

Anyway, as usual, the posting title gives away what I've been working on and for how long, so without further ado here are the 20 and 30 hour pictures:

After 20 hours

After 30 hours

I've finished the first colour across all three pages in the top row and have made a start on the second colour. The two are quite similar but there is enough of a difference to see the subtle shading. I love it! But Mini One is going away for a while because...

I've now received and sorted all the threads I need for HAED's Mini Space Traveler. However, as I promised myself I would not start it until I have finished QS Hang in There, that is what I am moving on to next. I haven't worked on HIT since the beginning of February because I lost my enthusiasm for it, as you do when you get close to the end. But the itch to finish it is back now and the little kitty is on the frame ready and waiting to go.

It's also confession time - I was a very (x lots) naughty girl as, at the same time I ordered the threads for Space Traveler, I ordered the fabric and black threads for HAED's QS April Fairy. I've been following Pull The Other Thread as she colours in Clara and this nudged me into wanting to stitch the black outline of QS April Fairy, another chart which I just HAVE to stitch! So, with 16ct Light Pink Aida and 13 skeins of black 310, she is also ready to go (but not for some time yet - cough, cough!). No, honestly, I must have another finish before she is started. Trust me!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the World Cup! I'm definitely not a football fan but my son is, so when it comes to a tournament like this, if you can't beat them, join them! Actually, it's not that bad and it means I get lots of long cuddles!

I'll be back soon with an update on Hang In There so until then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

Mini One - 20 hour update and Bar Covers

Hello dear things!

I'm back very quickly with another update. It's school half term, so a couple of late nights and - hey presto - this stint was quickly finished.

So, here's the update of the 10 and 20 hour pictures. It's pretty boring to look at as it's still only one colour but at least progress is obvious!

 After 10 hours

After 20 hours

I'm staying with Mini One to finish off this colour on the left, then start a second colour top right until my 30 hours is up, by which time I'll probably want a change of project anyway.

I'm still waiting for some threads before I make a start in Mini Space Traveler but am now fairly certain I will complete QS Hang in There before starting it. This way I can keep to 10 WIPs and achieve a finish this year. Sorry, Crafty Princess, but this time temptation has not got the better of me and I am going to remain true to my targets! Stitching wise, there isn't actually a lot left to do on Hang in There but I was getting bored with the colours and trying to discern the cat from the background. However, wanting to start Space Traveler has now given me the impetus to finish it, so it's all worked out for the best.


I've had some fabric lying in the cupboard for many months with the intention of making something specific. However, having not got round to it and with my daughter being a dab hand with her sewing machine she did it instead and this is what she made:

Not much to look at until you see this:

She made me some bar covers for my 27" (pictured) and 30" bars.

On the Millennium Frame my fabric is always rolled inwards so that any rubbing or touching around the bars is on the underside. But I was still cautious of the transfer of dirt or grease from skin or clothing so after seeing many Q-snap covers decided these were the best idea. I feel much more comfortable stitching now that these are on, knowing that my fabric is staying really clean. I just need Heather to make a couple more pairs for my other sizes of bars (for a fee, of course!) Perhaps she ought to start a production line!

The children are away cub/scout camping this weekend (yippee!) so I hope to be back with another update shortly. Until then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

New Start - Mini One by Heaven and Earth Designs

Hi everyone! Long time no see!

This last ten hour stint has taken ages to complete as I had two weeks with no stitching at all. My fingers were itching but I was so tired in the evenings that I just couldn't concentrate. Hopefully I'll be back to regular stitching soon...

This is my latest new start - Mini One by Heaven and Earth Designs. She reminds me of my time spent in Swansea as a University student where I would regularly walk along or sit on the beach and watch the tide come in. I started in the top right and in ten hours have stitched just one colour using exactly one skein of thread. This is not boring at all as progress is fast and I can stitch without having to concentrate too much! I am going to work left and down, stitching the sky colour by colour before descending below the horizon.

Here's the first picture then:

Mini One by Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1
Stitch count 225 wide by 318 high

Started - 1st May 2014

Stitching hours to date - 10

I hate to admit it, but I have (not too badly as yet) been bitten by the "Crafty Princess" bug. For those of you who follow her blog you will know what I mean!! She is responsible for potentially throwing my "only ten WIPs" out of the window! You see, she very kindly RAKd me two charts from my wish list and I would consider myself very rude if I were not to start at least one of them in appreciation!! I love her philosophy on life about doing what makes you happy (i.e. collecting charts and starting new projects) but must remember the necessity of actually keeping this realistic for me (or am I already too late for that?)

My RAKd charts from Heaven and Earth Designs were:

Mini Space Traveler by David Hoffrichter

Stitch count 337 wide by 198 high

 Mini Waiting by Selina Fenech

Stitch count 229 wide by 325 high

I have been gathering the threads and fabric ready to start Mini Space Traveler but don't know quite when it will get its first outing. I should make myself finish a project (probably QS Hang in There) before starting this but whether temptation will get the better of me is another matter. Watch this space (no pun intended!)


And as HAED were having a 50% off sale, I also treated myself to:

Faces of Faery 117 by Jasmine Beckett-Griffith

Stitch count 200 wide by 198 high

Love the steampunk theme and gorgeous turquoise eyes.

Mini Storykeeper by Selena Fenech

Stitch count 300 wide by 433 high

My daughter is a budding author and is currently writing a rather gruesome book about a race whose children have long black hair. So this picture was calling me. However, when (if) I ever start this project it will get cropped to about 225 x 350.

So, that's my stitching news for the last three weeks. Not much to show but hopefully I will be back quicker next time with another progress report. Until then,

All the best and
Happy stitching :)
Rachel x