4 Box of Shame Finishes - The Four Seasons

Hello all!

So having finished the Four Seasons I had to frame them straight away. If you read my last post, you will recall I had a difficult time choosing whether to frame them together or individually. After much procrastinating I decided on together and, having now framed them, don't think I made a mistake. The frame measures 11x11 inches and is 13mm Walnut Stain with a snow-white mount and non-reflective acrylic glazing from my usual easyframe.co.uk.

I originally started this set back in January 2015 hoping to finish them and give them to my mum that Christmas. Well, 2015 came and went, as did 2016 and 2017, but finally in the summer of 2018 she's got them! Luckily she didn't know I was stitching them for her so it was a nice surprise rather than a very long wait.

My only small niggle is that yellow is a major colour in three of the seasons but not present at all in the fourth, so they look a little ... lopsided if you see what I mean. It doesn't mean I like them any less, just wonder why the colours weren't changed more for each season. But then I'm not a designer, so maybe it was tried but didn't work. Who knows?!

The Autumn piece was the oldest finish to have been sitting in my Box of Shame so it's also been pleasing to have removed that.

And for those of you that like the Box of Shame progress bars... they're continuing to fill up! I'm now seriously wondering if I can get get them completely full by the end of the year, but only wondering; I'm not quite up for it being a challenge!

Take care,
Rachel x

Summer - finished

Good morning one and all!

This month's finish from my DSDUCJFC 2015 WIPs is Summer from The Four Seasons - the last season to be completed, and finish number 32/59.

I left it like this at the end of July:

And now all finished:

Summer from the Four Seasons

Designed by Maria Diaz and featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue ???

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct white aida 2 over 1

Started - 8th February 2015

Finished - 10th August 2018

Total stitching time - 20 hours 40 minutes

And to celebrate, here are all four seasons together:

It took me ages to choose how to frame them, procrastinating over whether they should be together in a multi-aperture frame with a white mount or individually with mounts coordinating with each season. I thank goodness that my usual online framing shop, easyframe.co.uk, has a design gallery where pictures can be uploaded and framing options saved so that they can be viewed side by side and for as long as needed with no salesperson pressure.

Once I'd made my mind up I placed the order so you should see them framed soon.

Take care,
Rachel x

July Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month, another progress update on a couple of pieces I started for Debbies' Challenges back in 2015 and 2016.

July was another successful month, finishing Lizzie Kate's Summer Alphabet (posted previously) and working on:

Pretty Little Paris by Satsuma Street
started 19th February 2015; last worked on last month
finished The Eiffel Tower, stitched The Pompidou Centre, The Louvre and a bit more of Notre Dame

Summer from The Four Seasons
started 8th February 2015; not worked on since then
worked down one colour at a time

The gaps I've left are because I've found a mistake on the chart! I don't know about you but this is quite rare to me. Here's the original chart and as you can see the gaps should be stitched in a creamy-peachy sort of colour.

But this is the colour given on the chart, which I have a slight inkling is not quite right!

Actually, I think it's a simple typo and it's supposed to be 3771 not 3371 but seeing as I rarely pick up my stitching until after 10pm it's not something I can correctly check in artificial light (even with a daylight bulb).

If I actually remember to check during natural daylight hours, Summer will be finished in August (which means that all four seasons will have been completed) Pretty Little Paris will grow some more and the final Little Black Cat will make an appearance.

Take care,

Rachel x

Spring - finished

Good morning one and all!

I have this month's finish from my DSDUCJFC 2015 WIPs. This is Spring from The Four Seasons; a companion for Winter which I finished last month and for Autumn completed in 2015. It's finish number 28 out of the 59 starts for the Challenge so I'm very nearly half way there!

At the end of last month I left it like this:

And now completed:

Spring

Designed by Maria Diaz and featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue ???

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct white aida 2 over 1

Started - 1st February 2015

Finished - 7th February 2018

Total stitching time - 20 hours 50 minutes

And with the other two:

I will be finishing Summer this year, although not for a few months yet. Maybe that was bad planning but in the meantime I've lots of other lovely (in my opinion anyway!) pieces to work on and finish.

2018 has been good for me so far, stitching and finishing wise, and I don't often thank you for the wonderful, positive and encouraging comments you have been leaving. So, thank you one and all! Towards the end of last year I was seriously contemplating giving up on my blog... I'm so glad I didn't!

Take care,
Rachel x

January Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

At the beginning of each month I like to post the progress made during the previous month on the WIPs started in 2015/2016 for Debbies Ultimate Crazy January/February Challenges. Although I was still stitching towards the end of last year, I failed miserably with these postings but, you know, new year, new start so let's try again.

My aim with my WIPs is to finish one and work on two more each month, culminating in 12 finishes by the end of the year.

During January I completed Winter from The Four Seasons (posted previously) and worked on the following two pieces:

Spring from The Four Seasons

started 1st February 2015; not touched since then

completed down to the horizon

Spring Alphabet by Lizzie Kate

started 22nd January 2016; last worked on March 2016

almost completed third and fourth rows

I'm a bit annoyed at the Lizzie Kate greens again - I had an issue with them when stitching her 'Green' series and should have remembered. On the picture below, look at the border around d, the letter G and the right half of each trefoil leaf - the recommended green I used (bottom picture) certainly doesn't look like the olive green shown, even taking into account the colour variations between the two photos.

So it looks as though I may be doing a bit of ripping and re-stitching with a better match. It's annoying but at least it's not a major problem. There are a few other bits sewn in the 'wrong' green (mainly leaves) but I'll probably leave them. We'll see...

During February I should finish Spring from The Four Seasons, make further progress on Spring Alphabet, and work on another project from my WIPs.

Take care,
Rachel x

Winter - finished

Good afternoon!

So here we have my first WIP finish for 2018 and finish number 27/59 from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (DSDUCJFC) 2015. This is Winter from The Four Seasons and a companion for Autumn which was completed in June 2015.

Here's how you last saw Winter way back in December 2015:

And now finished:

Winter

Designed by Maria Diaz and featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue ???

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high

Stitched on 16ct white aida 2 over 1

Started - 22nd February 2015

Finished 7th January 2018

Total stitching time - 20 hours 20 minutes

And next to Autumn as a reminder:

The winter colours were so soothing to work with and actually brightened up the gloomy rainy winter days on which I was stitching this project!

Both Autumn and Winter will remain in my Box of Shame until I have completed the whole set so that I can frame them all together. Spring and Summer are both planned finishes for this year.

Back soon with some actual finish-finishes.

Take care,
Rachel x

December Progress on DSDUCJFC 2015 Pieces

Good morning all!

Last post of 2016!

During November, I hardly stitched on my Challenge pieces so aimed to rectify that in December. After I had finished my LK Stamp for the month and a couple of small Christmas pieces I dove straight into my Challenge pieces and as well as finishing one piece, April Showers, made the following progress:

Friends For Life from 1st January

finished the clouds and stitched a little of the dog

Little Black Cat Tea from 23rd February

finished all but the background stitching

Little Black Cat Sugar from 16th February

stitched the cat (minus eyes) and continued with the sugar

Winter from 22nd February
finished the tree and stitched down to the horizon

I had intended to stitch on more pieces, but once I'd picked up April Showers I couldn't put it down so that took up most of my time.

I don't expect many of my remaining 43 Challenge pieces from 2015 will see much daylight in 2016, given that I will be starting another 31, but I really hope that's not the case. I still love and want to finish each and every one of them. I suppose I'll have to see where my mood takes me!

Tomorrow I'll be posting my stitching plans for 2016 - another long and boring post - then there will be daily posts from 2nd January with my 31 new starts. Hope you don't get bored of me!!

Keep stitching!
Rachel x

November Progress on DSDUCJFC Pieces

Hello all!

Oh dear - my Challenge pieces were very neglected during November. In fact, I only picked up one piece and that was for just a few hours. Note to self - must do better! But progress is progress. Here are the before and after photos:

Winter from 22nd February

continued with the tree and sky

With me desperate to finish Owls In Love, along with all the preparations for Christmas now in full swing, goodness knows how much stitching I will do on my Challenge pieces in December. I'm not holding out much hope but have got a couple which could be potential finishes. We'll just have to see how it goes.

Take care everyone,
Rachel x

Challenge Finish 12

Hello all!

I hoped to have a Challenge finish in June and have just about squeezed this one in!

This is Autumn from The Four Seasons. I started all four seasons during February but, with the exception of a couple of hours on Winter, have only stitched on this one since.

Autumn

Designed by Maria Diaz and featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue ???

Stitch count 56 wide by 56 high
Stitched on 16ct white Aida 2 over 1

Started - 15th February 2015
Finished - 25th June 2015

Total stitching time - 20 hours 40 minutes

I love the yellow and khaki hues and, as usual, really enjoyed stitching this piece. My original plan was to stitch and frame all Four Seasons for my mum's birthday at the end of July but as that's not going to happen I'll set Christmas as my new target. I'm sure I can manage to finish the other three by then.

12/59 Challenge pieces down, 47 to go!

TTFN
Rachel x

May Progress on DSDUCJFC 2015 Pieces

Hello fellow bloggers!

It's the end of May so time for another Challenge progress update.

At the end of April I set myself the task during May of finishing one of my remaining 50 Challenge pieces and working on four more. I also asked for suggestions as to which pieces you would like me to stitch. Replies included Dreaming of Dolphins, any of the Margaret Sherry mice, the Harry Potter crests (especially Ravenclaw), Friends Forever and Pretty Little London.

With all that in mind I set about my May stitching.

I surpassed my targets because I finished not one but two pieces during May.....

* My Treasure from 27th February
* Friends Forever from 12th January

..... and made progress on another seven:

Ravenclaw from 18th February

finished the section above the banner

Autumn from 15th February

completed the sky

Hufflepuff from 11th February

continued with the outside of the shield (mostly)

Tea from 23rd February

finished stitching the teapot

Pretty Little London from 5th February

finished the top of Big Ben and continued with Tower Bridge

and the buildings on the bottom right

Dandelion Time from 15th January

backstitched the mouse where possible

(I was not enthused about stitching this one)

Dreaming of Dolphins from 7th January

started the second dolphin

I really enjoyed the additional challenge this month of trying to stitch on as many projects as possible, as suggested by my lovely commenters. I won't ask for suggestions for June but probably will again for July.

My June Challenge targets are again to finish one piece and stitch on at least four more. I've already decided which ones I'm going to work on but you'll have to wait until the end of June to find out!

I hope Debbie would have been proud of my commitment to and progress on her Challenge. :)

TTFN
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