7 Box of Shame Finishes

Good afternoon all!

I've been a successful busy little bee again this week, rummaging through my and my mum's collection of previously used and/or "might-come-in-handy-one-day" frames and framing a few more of my Box of Shame pieces. It was so nice to find suitable frames and not have to buy any new ones. However, it does mean that all the glass is standard and decent photos were very difficult to get.

Here we go then:

April Showers
I finished this Lickle Ted piece in 2015 and have been procrastinating about framing him since. He looked wonderful with tan and red mounts, but equally good without them. So without them it was! It's a 7"x9" gold-edged mahogany-effect frame which came from a cheapy-bits-and-pieces shop a few years ago for about £3.

Friends Forever
Sam and Peeps were also stitched in 2015 and have finally come out to be displayed. This cheap 5"x7" teal frame was bought from Asda years ago for a massive 97p! I knew it would come in handy one day!

Let's Eat Dessert
I finished this in 2016 but was always wary of how I would frame it given the amount of colours in the fabric. Surprisingly, a gold-edged mid-wood frame looked really good, so that's what I used as that's all it needed.

October Fairy
This was a piece I stitched in 2016 and (obviously) one of a set of 12. I had no idea how I would frame the series but came across this wonderful bright orange 5"x5" frame in Tiger for a massive £1. I can't remember if they stocked colours that will match the other fairies in the series but then I haven't stitched them yet so will worry about that when it comes to it!

Cats In Love
You should recognise this piece as it was a new start and finish last month. I wanted a black frame but found this black and silver 8"x10" frame which came from Poundland. I wasn't sure if it would look right but think it works really well. And it's something different to plain black for a change.

And finally...

Playful Puss 3 and 4
The first two Playful Puss pieces were stitched and framed in 2015. The other two were finished last summer so goodness knows why it has taken me so long to add them into the frame! It's a simple black frame with bright green and pink mounts to match the grass and flowers. Unlike the other this was custom made so not cheap!

So, that's another 7 out of my Box of Shame... but still loads more to go. Hopefully I'll be back with some more finished-finishes soon.

Happy stitching (and finishing!)

Rachel x

Playful Puss 4 - DUCJC 2016 Finish 15/31

Hello again!

I really tried to finish the final Playful Puss WIP before the end of the July but without success. I still had the grass and backstitching left to do, so a few hour's work. But I've finished it now..... just four days later than hoped.

Here's how I left this piece on 6th January after 4 hours of stitching:

And here's the completed project:

Featured in ???

Designed by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct White aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Started - 6th January 2016

Finished - 4th August 2016

Total stitching time - 16 hours 35 minutes

(estimated 15 hours)

It's strange, I'm not particularly fond of cats but I do seem to be stitching or have stitched quite a few cat/kitten projects recently. I guess I'm just drawn to them. My next planned finish is also a cat, but one with a bit more of an attitude!

This finish also marks the halfway point of my January 2016 Challenge pieces. I think I'd aimed to complete somewhere between 25-27 of the 31 new starts by the end of the year so I'm not doing too badly.

Best get cracking on working towards finishing number 16 then.

Take care everybody,

Rachel x

Playful Puss 3 - DUCJC 2016 Finish 14/31

Hello all,

Just a quick post today to show you another finish from my myriad of January 2016 new starts. This is number 3 of the 4 Playful Puss designs I have stitched or am stitching. Here are reminders of number 1 and number 2 (if you're interested) which were finished 15 months ago.

This is where I left number 3 back on 30th January after 4 hours of work:

And here she is completed:

Featured in ???

Designed by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct White aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Started - 30th January 2016

Finished - 22nd July 2016

Total stitching time - 15 hours

(estimated 17 hours)

The final Playful Puss is already on my frames with the aim of completing her before the end of the month. Somehow I don't think that will be a problem!

Back soon, hopefully!

Rachel x

DUCJC 2016 - Day 30 - Playful Puss 3

Morning all!

So, here's Playful Puss out for her last adventure. Being a Saturday I managed to sneak in some stitches in during the day as well as my evening session. Here's how she will look and my progress so far:

Featured in ???

Designed by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct Antique White aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Estimated stitching time 17 hours

Stitching time to date - 4 hours

I had to start with the little kitty and am happy to say she is completely finished. I have also stitched a tiny bit of the fence, although it's more or less white on white so not very visible.

Tomorrow's piece will be the last Christmas Pals Ornament and this time I'll try to stitch more than just the black border! It will also be my last new start and at the moment I don't know whether to feel happy or sad. I'll tell you tomorrow!

See you then,
Rachel x

DUCJC 2016 - Day 6 - Playful Puss 4

Good morning!

Another cutie today but one which may remind you of a couple of little projects I did last year. This is another in the set of 4 Playful Puss designs, the other two having already been stitched and framed here.

Here's my progress for the day:

Playful Puss 4

Featured in ???

Designed by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct Antique White aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Estimated stitching time 15 hours

Stitching time to date - 4 hours

It seemed obvious to stitch the tree first, so that's where I started! The rest was a bonus.

I have had a question about how I calculate my estimated stitching time. To me it's very important to know how long a project is going to take, no matter how big or small it is. So in very basic terms I:

1) work out the full coverage of the chart = 57x59 = 3,363 stitches
2) multiply that by the rough percentage of the chart that is stitched = 3,363 x 65% = 2,186 stitches
3) divide that by a stitching rate of between 135 and 180 depending on how complicated the chart is and/or how much backstitching is involved eg = 2,186/150 = 15 hours (just like the chart says!)

Usually I overestimated the stitching time but I'd rather have that than the other way round.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's chart the children have chosen for me. It's something different again and definitely not a project I would have even glanced at a couple of years ago. It's surprising how some of my stitching likes and dislikes have changed since living in blogland! Does that make you fellow stitchers good or bad influences I wonder???

Until tomorrow,
Rachel x

Box of Shame Finishes - My Treasure and Playful Puss 1 and 2

Hello all!

Thank you for all of your lovely comments regarding my finishing and framing of Polar Bears. It's nice to know I've done a good job! Now, how about these.....

I have a confession to make - whilst I was visiting the ezeframe.co.uk website the other day to purchase a frame for Polar Bears, I just happened to design two more frames which "accidentally slipped" into my basket. Well, it wasn't worth just ordering one frame was it?

First up was My Treasure, a free chart from Dragon Dreams Inc which was my 27th February Challenge piece. Although only small (3.75" x 3.75") I wanted him out and framed, not scrap-stitched. I had green mounts and a gold frame in mind and found exactly what I was looking for. So my dragon now looks like this:

The frame is 15mm Gold Foil with mounts of Damascus Green (top) and Mid-Green (bottom).


Second up were the first two Playful Puss designs by Lucie Heaton, stitched as the 12th and 30th January Challenge pieces. I knew these were going to be more difficult to frame as I wanted fun mounts to match the fun designs. I dabbled with green, lilac, pink and yellow mounts until satisfied with this combination. As long as you like pink I think this really works:

The frame is 13mm Dark Grey Stain with mounts of Pink and Bright Green.

The other two spaces will remain empty as a reminder that I need to stitch numbers 3 and 4 in the set. Soon.


That's it for framing. Only 18 more pieces in my Box of Shame (at the moment) to frame, scrap-stitch or make into ornaments!

Talking of my "Box of Shame" Tina is adamant that it should be renamed and I sort of agree. I need a phrase that reflects I am shameful I have not "finished" the finishes but also proud that I loving stitched each piece. I've thought of the obvious "Treasure Chest" or "Treasure Trove" but they're not quite right. Any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

Happy stitching everyone!
Rachel x

Challenge Finish 8

Good morning all!

I have another Challenge finish to show you!

Playful Puss 2 from 30th January is the companion to my previous finish. Well, once I'd finished the first one I just HAD to finish the second. This time cute little kitty has obviously worn herself out from mischief-making and is having a little nap. At least she hasn't squashed the flowers too much!

Playful Puss 2

Featured in ??? by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct Antique White Aida 2 over 1
Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Started - 30th January 2015
Finished - 19th April 2015
Total stitching time - 15 hours 45 minutes

I don't know when I'll get round to stitching the other two in the set. Perhaps next year.

8/59 Challenge pieces down, 51 to go!

Love and hugs,

Rachel x

Challenge Finish 7

Hello all,

Firstly, thank-you to everyone who continues to leave lovely comments. They are being read and will be replied to eventually. Secondly, I am way behind on blog reading again (about three weeks I think) so many of you will be missing comments from me. I promise to catch up next week. Right, housekeeping over, now down to business.....

I didn't think I'd have any more finishes for a while so it came as a bit of a surprise when I randomly picked up this piece and stitched on it until completed!

It's Playful Puss 1 from 12th January. She's such a cute little kitty with eyes full of mischief! I wonder what she's been up to in the garden before finding the watering can? I bet there's a trail of mess in the greenhouse and potting shed!

Playful Puss 1

Featured in ??? by Lucie Heaton

Stitched on 16ct Antique White Aida 2 over 1
Stitch count 57 wide by 59 high

Started - 12th January 2015
Finished - 9th April 2015
Total stitching time - 15 hours 25 minutes

This was an easy piece to stitch and I even enjoyed the backstitching! I also like the "messy" look of the backstitching over the whole stitches. It adds that extra bit of character I think. And to top off the fun, there's another small $4 SFS bonus to add to my pot.

On another note, if you aren't aware, my mum lives with my family and I am her full-time carer. Although practically bed-ridden she is not hard work but it does mean I hardly ever get a break (outside carers and care homes are not an option). Well, this weekend for the first time in over five years I am going away on my own with no family members in tow. Just me! I won't say anymore now, except that I am really looking forward to a weekend of chatting, fun, food and spending - I might even *gasp* exceed my SFS budget!

7/59 Challenge pieces down, 52 to go!

Love and hugs,

Rachel x

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 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