Hufflepuff - finished; all 4 Harry Potter House Crests framed

Hello all!

So, this is finish number 35/59 from DSDUCJFC2015 and is the last of the Challenge pieces I planned to finish this year. It is, of course, the Hufflepuff house crest from Harry Potter.

At the end of November I left it like this, with only the bottom half of the shield to fill in:

And here it is all completed:

From theworldinstitches (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 97 wide by 117 high

Started - 11th February 2015
Finished - 11th December 2018
Total stitching time - 47 hours 40 minutes

And with all the other crests:

When I finished Ravenclaw back in 2015 I framed it, thinking that I had three more matching frames for the other House Crests. But I didn't; I only had two, and that would never do! So I purchased four standard gold-edged 8"x10"dark wood frames and now have a set of four matching Harry Potter House Crests:

I have to say, I am very impressed with they all turned out. I'm one happy bunny (or should that be lion/badger/raven/snake?!) To me they are still the best charted versions I've seen, although sadly were removed from the store not long after I purchased them.

I've already picked out a wall space for them, so all I have to do is hang them and they'll be ready for everyone to admire (or ignore if the usual is true).

Now it's back to Midnight Manor. I'm close to the 30 hour mark so will be appearing with an update very soon.

Take care,
Rachel x

November Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

This will be the last time for a while that I post a report on the progress I've made on some of the projects I started for Debbie's Challenges back in 2015/2016. I was actually wondering whether to post this, seeing as there's only the one project to show, but why not?

During November I finished and framed Winter Alphabet (posted previously) and made progress on the one remaining piece I am hoping to finish this year:

Hufflepuff by theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 11th February 2015; last worked on last month
finished the name and the outside of the crest

As you can see, I've not got much left to stitch now. Once I've finished my piece for the Smalls SAL, which I'm currently working on, I shall get straight back to this one and return with a finish soon.

Take care,

Rachel x

October Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello there!

Another month gone and another month of steady progress to show you on a couple of projects I started for Debbie's Challenges back in 2015/2016.

During October I finished and framed Pretty Little Paris (posted previously) and made progress on:

Winter Alphabet by Lizzie Kate

started 26th January 2016; last worked on last month
continued alphabetically (the gap is for a picture which covers two rows and three columns)

Hufflepuff by theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 11th February 2015; last worked on August 2015 (oops!)
finished the top section and started on the name

In November I plan to finish Winter Alphabet and make further progress on Hufflepuff, the last Challenge piece I will be stitching on in 2018.

Take care,

Rachel x

Slytherin - finished

Good evening!

This is the very late posting of another finish from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (DSDUCJFC) 2015. This is the 26th finish of the 59 starts and a companion for Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The remaining house crest, Hufflepuff, will be finished in 2018.

The last time you saw this piece was at the end of August:

I didn't make much progress in September:

And forgot to take a picture at the end of October, so this is how it looks all finished:

From theworldinstitches (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 96 wide by 118 high
Started - 25th February 2015
Finished - 23rd November 2017
Total stitching time - 45 hours 10 minutes

I have the frames for both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, but like so many things at the moment, I just have to get around to framing them.

I've got a few more rather rushed postings to make before the end of the year then, hopefully, I'll be able to return to regular postings (and blog reading) in 2018.

Take care,
Rachel x

August Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

It's time again for another month-end round up on the progress I've made on my Challenge WIPs. So, here we go.

During August I finished The Lock (posted previously) and worked on:

Red Foxes from the Young-uns Collection by Gloria and Pat
started 14th February 2015; last stitched on July 2017
stitched the second fox's head and added some more backstitching

Pretty Little London by Satsuma Street
started 5th February 2015; last worked on July 2017
reached the bottom and then continued working left

Slytherin by Theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 25th February 2015; last stitched on January 2017
added the border and most of the snake
(the fabric is not that cream but I simply couldn't get a good photo today!)

I was hoping that the school summer holiday would have allowed me a bit more stitching time but it was not to be. Still, progress is progress and I'm happy with my achievements.

I shall finish Red Foxes in September and work on three more, as usual.

Take care,

Rachel x

Gryffindor - finished

Good afternoon!

So here we have another finish from Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge (DSDUCJFC) 2015. This is the 21st finish of 59 starts and a companion for Ravenclaw which I finished two years ago.

Here's how I left Gryffindor at the end of May with only the name banner left to do:

And now finished with all the boring details:

From theworldinstitches (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1

Stitch count 95 wide by 117 high
Started - 4th February 2015
Finished - 4th June 2017
Total stitching time - 48 hours 50 minutes
(estimated 62 hours)

I like that I overestimated the stitching time so much! I remember doing the same with Ravenclaw and have probably done the same with the others. For some reason these designs obviously stitch up a lot quicker than expected - and that's a really satisfying feeling.

The finished piece has gone into my Box of Shame for the time being but won't be in there long. I've just had some frames delivered so hope to have another framing session soon to further reduce my unfinished-finishes.

As for the other two Harry Potter house crests, I plan to finish Slytherin towards the end of this year and Hufflepuff in 2018 - yes, my stitching plans for 2018 have almost been finalised!!!

Take care,
Rachel x

May Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

It's the end of the month so time for another update on my Challenge WIPs. My plan for May was to finish one piece and work on three more. And I succeeded. Again!

I finished Dreaming of Dolphins (posted previously) and gave attention to the following three:

Gryffindor by Theworldinstitches (etsy)

started 4th February 2015; last stitched on April 2017

filled in the lion, so just the name banner to do now

Cream by Toni Goffe for Heritage Crafts

started 9th February 2015; last stitched on April 2017
worked my way down, filling in the background and continuing  the cream pot
(and I gave the cat his eyes!!)

Red Foxes from the Young-uns Collection by Gloria and Pat
started 14th February 2015; not stitched on since then
finished the rocks and greenery, although ironically haven't started the red foxes themselves!

Once again I'm happy with my progress for the month, finding that finishing one project and changing the others every week or so is really keeping my interest up. For those of you familiar with the term I suppose it's a bit like Turtle Trot..... but on speed!

In June, keeping to my plan, I aim to finish Gryffindor and work on three more WIPs.

Take care,

Rachel x

April Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

It's the end of the month so time for another update on my Challenge WIPs. My plan for April was to finish one piece and work on three more. And I succeeded!

I finished The Milk Train (posted previously) and gave attention to the following three:

Dreaming of Dolphins from Cross Stitch Collection March 2001

started 7th January 2015; last stitched on March 2017

worked on the final dolphin - not much left to go on this now

Gryffindor by Theworldinstitches (etsy)

started 4th February 2015; last stitched on March 2017

continued filling in the background and started the lion

Cream by Heritage Crafts

started 9th February 2015; last stitched on June 2015
started working my way down, filling in the background
(note to self... please give the cat his eyes!!)

In May I aim to finish Dreaming of Dolphins and work on three more WIPs. I may also reach the 10 hour mark on one or both of two new starts, depending on how I divide my time between each project. As always, I have an exciting and variable month of stitching ahead!

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

January Progress on 2015/2016 Challenge Pieces

Hello all!

Back in 2015 I used to do a post at the end of each month summarizing the progress I'd made on any unfinished pieces which had been started for Debbie's Challenge. In 2016 I had no need to do this as nearly every Challenge piece I worked on in any given month also became a finish.

This year, I plan to revisit some of my 2015 Challenge pieces and will once again be posting monthly summaries. It's a neat way of pulling together all the progress I've made on my Challenge WIPs in just one post.

I finished two pieces:
*  bear
*  polar bear

And worked on:

Little Black Cat Coffee by Heritage Crafts

started 2nd February 2015; not stitched on since then

worked my way down, stitching the background, the cat and continuing with the coffee pot

Slytherin by Theworldinstitches (etsy)
started 25th February 2015; last stitched on 31st August 2015
finished the name banner

Pandas by Gloria and Pat
started 28th February 2015; not stitched on since then
finished the first panda's head and started the second panda's head

Alongside my other stitching commitments, I'm hoping to work on a minimum of three Challenge WIPs each month but I expect there will be times when I concentrate on one and other times when I flit around between quite a few. Whatever the case there should be lots of progress and some finishes to see during the year. Wonder which ones I'll pull out during February? It's not as if I haven't got many to choose from!!!

Happy February everyone!
Rachel x

August Progress on DSDUCJFC 2015 Pieces

Hello all!

With the school holidays in full swing it is no surprise that I had a reduced amount of stitching time during August. But I still achieved enough to be satisfied.

Unfortunately I didn't finish a project as my attention was completely focused on the four Harry Potter crests. This is how they currently look (with proper before and after photos now that we have our computer back!)

Gryffindor from 4th February

continued with the borders

Hufflepuff from 11th February

filled in the top right quadrant

Ravenclaw from 18th February

finished the crest border and started stitching the background

Slytherin from 25th February

started and finished the little bit of crest above the name banner

I think that Ravenclaw will definitely be completed in September but I am unsure as to whether or not I shall be working on the other three. I really can't decide which Challenge pieces (if any!) to pick up next so may take a month's break from them. Who knows?!?

But in the meantime it's onto Lizzie Kate September's stamp.

See you soon with a finish... or two!

Take care,
Rachel x