3 Box of Shame Finishes - Silhouettes

Good morning!

Today I have 3 more Box of Shame finishes to show you.

These are Milk Train, The Lock and Canal Crossing from the Silhouettes range by Heritage Crafts, which I finished in April and August last year and April this year respectively.

I had originally planned on purchasing just a simple wooden frame, but I played around with mounts and decided I preferred them with mounts rather than without. They are 13mm mahogany frames with mushroom top mounts and black bottom mounts. I think they're perfect!

Milk Train

The Lock

Canal Crossing

They're quite small too, measuring just 17cm square. I must have done a good job as my hubby even commented how effective they look - and he very rarely comments on any of my stitching, finishing or framing! Here they are all together:

Goodness knows if I'll ever stitch any of the others in the series; I do hope so but they'll first have to fight their way to the top of my fairly long to-stitch list and battle it out with other much stronger contenders. So we'll see...

Take care,
Rachel x

Canal Crossing - finished

Hello all,

Here is this month's customary finish from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (DSDUCJFC) 2015. This is Canal Crossing and finish number 29 of the 59 starts.

This is how you last saw it at the end of March:

And all finished:

Canal Crossing from the Heritage Crafts Silhouettes range

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 68 wide by 68 high

Started - 10th February 2015

Finished - 10th April 2018

Total stitching time - 27 hours 45 minutes

This now completes the three projects I started from the Silhouettes range (although I still have about another dozen on my to-do list!) I'm not so keen on this one as it contains greys rather than just sepia colours, but it still looks very effective and I'm definitely pleased with the result.

I already have the frames for this and the other two Silhouettes, Milk Train and The Lock, so you should see them emerge from my Box of Shame in all their framed glory in the next few days.

Take care,
Rachel x

March Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month has flown past already so it's time to check in with my stitching for March on my outstanding WIPs started back in 2015/2016. Remember that my aim is to finish one and work on two more each month. So, how did I do?

Well, I finished Spring Alphabet by Lizzie Kate (posted previously) and worked on:

Canal Crossing by Heritage Crafts
started 10th February 2015; last stitched on last month
filled in the top and then worked in from the bottom right
(big blocks of colour ensured rapid progress)

Spotted Owls by from the Young'uns collection by Gloria and Pat
started 21st February 2015; last worked on October 2015 (was it really that long ago?!)
stitched the branch, some leaves and started their tails

In April I should be able to finish Canal Crossing and make further progress on Spotted Owls and another project from my remaining WIPs.

Take care,

Rachel x

February Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month has flown past already so it's time to check in with my stitching for February on my outstanding WIPs started back in 2015/2016. Remember that my aim is to finish one and work on two more each month. So, how did I do?

Well, I finished Spring from The Four Seasons (posted previously) and worked on:

Spring Alphabet by Lizzie Kate

started 22nd January 2016; worked on last month

completed fifth and half of sixth rows

Canal Crossing by Heritage Crafts
started 10th February 2015; last stitched on 26th April 2015
worked my way down and across from the top right

I also ripped out and re-stitched the green I was not totally happy with on the Spring Alphabet. I chose the best brightish olive green match I could find so now the 'wrong' green...

has been replaced with a better green (particularly noticeable in the trefoil):

Much better, don't you think? I'm certainly a lot happier and think it was definitely worth the additional 5 hours it took to rip and restitch these sections and a few more odd bits.

In March I should be able to finish Spring Alphabet and make further progress on Canal Crossing and another project from my very slowly shrinking bag of WIPs.

Take care,
Rachel x

The Lock - finished

Hello all,

Here is this month's customary finish from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (DSDUCJFC) 2015. This is finish number 23 of the 59 starts.

This is how you last saw it at the end of July:

And now:

Heritage Crafts Silhouette

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 68 wide by 68 high

Started - 17th February 2015

Finished - 12th August 2017

Total stitching time - 28 hours 30 minutes

Like the previous Silhouette, I knew that this would look like a mush of colours whilst being stitched. And I was right! Thank goodness the picture is clearer from a distance. The colours are really soothing and the blended threads gives a lovely effect. It's amazing what can be created with a few shades of brown and cream.

I have the frames for this one and the previously finished Milk Train so hope to frame them soon.

Take care,
Rachel x

July Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

Time for another month-end round up on the progress I've made on my Challenge WIPs. By now you know what I'm going to say about my plans and how successful I was!

I finished Cream (posted previously) and worked on:

Red Foxes from the Young-uns Collection by Gloria and Pat
started 14th February 2015; last stitched on June 2017
finished stitching the first fox and backstitched some of the fox, leaves and rocks

The Lock from the Silhouettes range by Heritage Crafts
started 17th February 2015; last stitched on June 2017
continued working my way down

Pretty Little London by Satsuma Street
started 5th February 2015; last worked on 26th May 2015
reached the bottom right and continued working left

Another satisfying stitching month for me there then.

I have now recommenced working on all of the Challenge WIPs I hope to finish this year so there will be no more to show over the coming months - only more progress and finishes.

In August... surprise surprise... I intend to finish one, The Lock, and continue making progress on three more. With it being the school summer holiday, and therefore not having to work for the whole of August, I hope to have a little more stitching time and be able to work on a few other projects too. Who knows what might sneakily slip into my plans?!

Take care,

Rachel x

June Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

Time for another month-end round up on the progress I've made on my Challenge WIPs. My plan for June was to finish one piece and work on three more. And, true to form, I succeeded yet again!

I finished Gryffindor (posted previously) and worked on:

Cream by Toni Goffe for Heritage Crafts

started 9th February 2015; last stitched on May 2017
continued the background and stitched some of the spilled cream

Red Foxes from the Young-uns Collection by Gloria and Pat
started 14th February 2015; last stitched on May 2017
actually started the first of the red foxes and really did not want to put this one down!

The Lock from the Silhouettes range by Heritage Crafts
started 17th February 2015; not stitched on since then
filled in some of the sky at the top and the lock on the right

So overall another month of keeping to my plans and making good progress.

July plans are to finish Cream and work on three more (again). I really do sound like a broken record but why alter plans that are giving me the monthly finishes and progress I crave?

Take care,

Rachel x

The Milk Train - finished

Hello all,

Just a quick post today to show my latest finish from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (DSDUCJFC) 2015.

I started this for day 55 of the Challenge and finished it a couple of nights ago. This is the 19th finish out of the 59 starts.

This is how I left it at the end of March:

And now:

The Milk Train

Heritage Crafts Silhouette

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 68 wide by 68 high

Started - 24th February 2015

Finished - 8th April 2017

Total stitching time - 29 hours

(estimated 34 hours)

I really enjoyed stitching it (no surprise there) and am so pleased with the result as it looked like a square of mushy colours whilst I was stitching it! The use of blended threads definitely highlight the subtle colour changes when looked at from a distance. All I need to do now is find a simple brown frame for it.

If I seem a bit quiet on the posting front at the moment it's simply because I've got nothing to blog about! I may soon reach the 10 hour mark on a new start, which will involve a post, but other than that I'm just beavering away on WIPs which will appear in my month end update.

Oh, and of course I'm failing to keep up with blog reading again. But I should be able to catch up over the Easter holidays.

Take care,
Rachel x

March Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Back again!

Another month, another progress report on my Challenge WIPs. True to my hopes for March I finished Coffee and worked on three more.

These were:

Dreaming of Dolphins from Cross Stitch Collection March 2001

started 7th January 2015; last stitched on February 2017

finished the third dolphin and started on the final one who has both the tip of his nose and tail

Gryffindor by Theworldinstitches (etsy)

started 4th February 2015; last stitched on 22nd August 2015

started the red background

The Milk Train by Heritage Crafts

started 24th February 2015; last stitched on February 2017

continued working my way down and left

If things continue to go to plan, April should see me finish The Milk Train and again work on three more WIPs. Fingers crossed.....

Take care,
Rachel x

February Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Good morning everyone!

Another month and another progress report. I'm sure that it's not going to seem like five minutes between these monthly postings.

For February I decided to carry on with one piece from January then pick out two different pieces for the rest of the month. I think that working on neglected pieces last month made me feel a little guilty that others also need to feel loved.

Here are the projects I chose to work on:

Dreaming of Dolphins from Cross Stitch Collection March 2001

started 7th January 2015; last stitched on 4th June 2015 (shame on me!)

almost finished the third dolphin - the pattern, fabric and blues are all lovely to work with

Little Black Cat Coffee by Heritage Crafts

started 2nd February 2015; last stitched on in January 2017

continued working my way down - so close to finishing this one

The Milk Train by Heritage Crafts

started 24th February 2015; not stitched on since then (shame on me again!)

continued working my way down, then in from the right as I needed a change from the really pale colours!

During March I am hoping to finish Coffee and stitch on three more WIPs. I already know which three they will be but you'll have to wait until 1st April to find out!

Back in 31 days with another month-end progress report.

Take care,
Rachel x

April Progress on DSDUCJFC 2015 Pieces

Hello all!

It's the end of the month again so it's time to report about progress on my remaining 53 DSDUCJFC 2015 pieces.

During April I had 3 finishes which I have already posted about.....

* Playful Puss 1 from 12th January
* Playful Puss 2 from 30th January
* Christmas Quacker from 2nd January

.....and I worked on 5 pieces:

Pretty Little London from 5th February

stitched the rain cloud, more of Big Ben and some of Tower Bridge

Ravenclaw from 18th February

almost completed the name banner

Autumn from 15th February

stitched the tree and some of the sky

Canal Crossing from 10th February
added the aqueduct and some foliage





Winter from 22nd February
started the tree and continued filling in the sky
(the aida is actually white, not blue as in the first picture!)

In May I aim to finish one Challenge piece and work on at least four more. As yet I have no idea which ones these will be so if you have any preferences please leave a comment and, who knows, I may go with your suggestions!

Love and hugs,
Rachel x