Tokyo Olympics New Start #14 - Shell Cottage

Hello again!

Another day of great sports yesterday - track and field, diving, skateboarding, and even a bit of rock climbing which, although I didn't find very interesting, was miles better than watching golf!

My new start was the fourth of the planned Harry Potter themed snow globes. This is Shell Cottage where Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour lived after their marriage. It's also the location of Dobby's grave :(

Shell Cottage Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 91 high

Started - 5th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

For a bit of variety I thought I'd better start on a part other than the outside, so here's a little bit of the cottage itself. Without any backstitching it looks a bit like a spooky castle!

Fun Olympic Fact

In the inaugural 1896 Athens Olympics there were 241 competitors. By Rome 1960 that number topped 5,000, and by Atlanta 1996 10,000. In Tokyo 11,090 athletes were registered, slightly down on Rio 2016, but that was only to be expected. With so many athletes participating across an increasing number of sports, no wonder the Olympics has become so expensive to host!

Now to start counting down the final three days of Olympics and the final three new starts. And I'm looking forward to them all!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #12 - Privet Drive

Hi all!

So we're into the last few days of the Olympics now, no doubt a blessing for those who are fed up with the coverage and me harping on about it every day!

My new start today was absolutely tiny, 17 half stitches to be precise, and hardly worth showing, but I had a very good excuse - I was cradling one of my feather-babies until the end, something which was very important for me to do. After that I didn't feel like stitching.  :(

This is Privet Drive, another of the Harry Potter themed snow globes. For those who don't know, Privet Drive was where Harry lived with his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin, until he went off to Hogwarts. He occasionally returned during school holidays but was never welcomed, nor wanted to return, so it was better for all if he spent his holidays elsewhere.

Privet Drive Snow Globe my MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Swirl Grey over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 82 high

Started - 3rd August 2021

Stitching time to date - 5 minutes!!

Such a small start it's hardly worth showing, and I think it's my worst new start ever! But as people have said before, a start is a start!

Fun Olympic Fact

The Tokyo Olympics is the first time that the number of events for females and mixed teams has surpassed the number for men. In the first Olympics in 1896, no events for women were held. It took until Montreal in 1976 for female and mixed events to reach 25%+, then Atlanta 1996 to reach 40%+, and now Tokyo 2020 to reach 50%+. Guess the world has finally realised women deserve equal footing on the sporting stage.

I don't know about you, but I enjoyed watching the mixed relays in swimming, running and the triathlon. Yes, men are usually going to be faster/stronger/etc. but there have been mixed events in things like badminton and tennis for a while, so why not more sports?

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #5 - Godrich's Hollow Snow Globe

Hi!

Goodness me, these days are flying past and the Olympics seem to have continued without major incident, weather excluded. Love them or loathe them, I think the world needs this inkling of normality.

So my watching of diving, and swimming continues, as does catching a bit of rugby sevens - totally not my thing but at least it's less violent than usual rugby!

My accompanying start was another Harry Potter snow globe, this time depicting Godrich's Hollow, the village where Harry was born.

Godrich's Hollow Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 92 high

Started - 27th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours

I started with the outside of the globe again but this time carried on and completed the stitching of the stand. It doesn't show up that well but will once the backstitching's been added.

Fun Olympic Fact

The women's Olympic Triathlon, consisting of a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle ride and a 10km run, was won by a Bermudan, making it Bermuda's first ever gold medal and only their second ever medal in Olympic history (the other being a boxing bronze in 1976). Not bad considering they're a tiny nation and only sent two athletes this year. Go Bermuda!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #2 - The Burrow Snow Globe

Me again!

Day 2 of the Olympics involved me watching mainly archery, gymnastics and swimming. To accompany my armchair participation I started this lovely piece, one of a set of eight Harry Potter themed snow globes. This is The Burrow, home to the ginger-haired and rather numerous wizarding Weasley family.

The Burrow Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 83 high

Started - 24th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 3 hours 15 minutes

For this one I stitched the outside of the globe and then started filling in from the top. I'm again really happy with the amount stitched so far.

Fun Olympic Fact

South Korean women totally rule the archery - they have won every team gold medal since 1998 and all but one individual gold medal since 1984 (compared to the men who have won only 5 and 2 respectively). I guess each year there's more and more pressure to keep up the winning streak, and they started this Olympics well, winning the inaugural mixed team event. 

Day 3 tomorrow and another dragon :)

Take care,

Rachel x

Christmas Cat With Present AND Snow Globe Tree - finished!

Hello again!

Bearing in mind I will be starting 17 projects over the next four months (yes, I know I'm completely, utterly and insanely mad!) I spent the last few days of March trying to finish off a couple of WIPs so that there would at least be two less in my tottering pile.

And I succeeded! In fact I almost finished three, but not quite.

The first finish was Christmas Cat With Present, This was finish number five from the seven new projects which made up last year's Summer Of New Starts.

When you last saw her she looked like this, the cat herself obviously being too shy to make an appearance!

Here she is before the backstitching:

And now all finished:

Christmas Cat With Present by Lucie Heaton (etsy)

Stitch count 55 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct white with silver lurex aida 2 over 1

Started - 31st August 2019

Finished - 24th March 2020

Total Stitching Time - 13 hours 45 minutes

She's one of a set of four but I have no idea as yet when the other three will make an appearance - perhaps during the Spring Into Summer New Start Binge? Who knows?!


My second finish was Snow Globe Tree, finish number six from last year's seven Summer Of New Starts. I left it like this:

And now it's all finished:

Snow Globe Tree by Lucie Heaton (etsy)

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct antique white aida 2 over 1

Started - 20th July 2019

Finished - 28th March 2020

Total Stitching Time - 18 hours 35 minutes

I made a couple of small changes, using beads for the baubles and white Etoile for the snow. The Etoile gives the snow a greyish appearance, as opposed to being pure white, but I like it; I think it reflects the weather as being cloudy as opposed to sunny.

So that's 12 finishes so far this year and two more WIPs crossed off my list. I would say only 45 more to go but that won't be true in a few weeks' time! Nevermind... I've only myself to blame (and I've got some lovely projects coming up so don't regret this decision at all).

Take care,
Rachel x

Summer Of New Starts #1 - Snow Globe Tree

Good morning all,

So this weekend saw the first of my seven Summer Of New Starts. I was feeling in a Christmassy mood so chose a Christmassy project - not that I got far enough into it to stitch the Christmassy bit, but the thought was there!

I must say I really really enjoyed stitching a new project and, as a result, made a fairly good start on the sky:

Christmas Tree Snow Globe by Lucie Heaton (etsy)

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct Antique White aida 2 over 1

Stitching time to date - 3 hours 25 minutes

There are four in this set and this is what they'll look like when (eventually) finished:

This project now gets put away, but when it reappears I plan to stitch the snow and the tree in the new Etoile thread and use beads for the baubles. I think you'll agree there's no harm in a bit of bling at Christmas?!

I'll be back this time next week for the second of my Summer Of New Starts, but between now and then I've plenty of other stitching I need to do!

Take care,
Rachel x