Wednesday, 4 February 2015

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 34

Good morning!

Today's start was appropriate for the weather. We awoke to about half an inch of snow and amazingly the schools remained open and life seemed to go on as normal! Not that I'm cynical or anything but us Brits can't usually cope with such "adverse" weather conditions!!!


Winter Owl
UAHomeMade (etsy)
Stitched on 16ct Misty Blue Aida 2 over 1


I thought I'd start with this little owl's face. I love his nose sitting above the scarf and wanted his eyes watching me as I stitch. I hope you don't find them too creepy!

Also, when I get there, I plan to add Kreinik into the white (or perhaps all of the) snow for an added bit of sparkle.

Happy stitching,
Crazy Rachel x

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 33

Hello blogger friends!

Another day, another start. I don't quite class this as a "cutie" although he is still very sweet and mischievous!


Little Black Cat - Coffee
Heritage Crafts
Stitched on 32ct Sky Blue Murano evenweave 2 over 2


I could have cut corners and stitched him on hand-dyed fabric to avoid spending hours stitching the blocks of background, but decided against it as I actually like the background the way it is - which has got to be a first for me! The evenweave I'm using is gorgeous to stitch on and an absolute necessity as there are all sorts of fractionals involved. This one's definitely not for aida.

Happy stitching,
Crazy Rachel x

Monday, 2 February 2015

DSDUCJFC 2015 - Day 32

Good morning!

Please could I say a big "thank you" to all you would-be doctors, nurses and psychiatrists who have now officially certified me as crazy for continuing this Challenge into February! I'm glad you think so and hope that, in time, I might pass some of my craziness onto other stitchers! Afterall, it's the likes of some of you who gave it to me in the first place (you know who you are!) But I digress.....

The first of my February starts was Spring, the picture in the top left. My mum has asked me to stitch all four for her, so making them part of the Challenge seemed the obvious thing to do.


The Four Seasons - Spring
Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue ???
Stitched on 16ct White Aida 2 over 1


A simple and relaxing tree and hills to ease me into February.

Happy stitching,
Crazy Rachel x

Sunday, 1 February 2015

DUCJC 2015 - Day 31 - the end..... ???

Hello all!

My final January start was also my most complicated (as in thread changes and backstitching) but I fell in love with this little chap and am glad I chose him as one of my new starts. Being a Saturday I was able to stitch quite a lot - oh dear, what a shame!


Little Green
Featured in Cross Stitch Crazy issue 121
Stitched on 16ct Cream Aida 2 over 1


So, that's it, I've done it and successfully completed the Challenge. I have loved starting and stitching every single one of them, although the four Elemental Dragons and Dreaming of Dolphins are definitely my favourites.

Your company along the way has been fantastic. I have gained some new followers (welcome) and received hundreds of wonderful comments. I really appreciate the time you have taken to follow, read and comment, some of you daily. Thank you all so, so much!

Now all I've got to do is work on and finish these 31 projects.....

.....or is it?

You see, when I started Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge I thought that 31 projects would be more than enough to keep me going for years, especially considering I have four large focus pieces on the go too. I also thought that starting a new project every day would be boring and tedious. But how wrong could I have been?

So..... SURPRISE..... (and I have found this VERY hard to keep secret) .....

Only 6 days into January I had an insane thought..... how realistic / stupid / crazy would it be for me to extend Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge into Debbie's Ultimate Super Duper Crazy January February Challenge? Answer... not that difficult if perhaps slightly (very) insane!

My justification was that:

1) there are so many charts on my to-do list that I would like to stitch
2) I had planned to start about half of them during the year anyway
3) I have almost all of the fabric required (just needed to buy evenweave for four starts)
4) Most of the charts would count towards Stitch From Stash
5) I would not need to or allow myself to start anything else for the rest of the year (apart from the planned Lizzie Kate Monthly Flip-It Stamps, Owls in Love and Dragon Eye) - scout's honour!

So, decision made then!

It was really easy to choose another 28 charts but, for variety, I wanted to ensure they would different to January's selection, i.e. no more Solo, Margaret Sherry, Lickle Ted, Nelson or Tatty Teddy. For that reason, most of them are bigger projects with only a few "cuties".

Unlike January, I've decided not to release the February pictures in advance so you won't know until the day itself what I've chosen. However, as a tease, all of them are on my Small Charts and Magazine Charts tabs and some are in sets. Therefore, once you see one you should be able to guess its siblings.

So, you haven't got rid of me yet. I'll be back tomorrow and daily again for the rest of February!

See you then..... if you're not too bored of me already.

And many, many, many thanks for sticking with me. :))

Love and hugs,
Rachel x


PS  I'm also taking part in A New Stitchy Start 2015, hosted by Tammy. If you're interested my January posting is here but I'm afraid it's not a happy one.  :(

Saturday, 31 January 2015

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

Friday, 30 January 2015

DUCJC 2015 - Day 29

Good morning!

I started this one at just gone midnight! I couldn't sleep so thought I might as well do something productive. I stitched the clouds before my eyes gave in, then the rest in the evening.


A Windy Day
Featured in Cross Stitch Collection January 2013
Stitched on 16ct Enchantress hand-dyed Aida by Sugar Maple Fabrics 2 over 1


Love and hugs
Rachel x

Thursday, 29 January 2015

DUCJC 2015 - Day 28

Morning all!

I love Lickle Ted designs and thought that him holding his bunny was just irresistible! Here's my progress of 1 1/2 bunny ears!


Lickle Snooze
Featured in The World of Cross Stitching issue 174
Stitched on 16ct Clay over-dyed Aida by Fabric Flair 2 over 1


Love and hugs
Rachel x