Some Really Exciting News!!

Good afternoon!

Sorry for another post, but I have some really really really really exciting news to share!

Those who have been following me for a long time might remember that I have been desperate to stitch this gorgeous fellow since I bought the chart way back in 2014. If you need reminding, or are newer to my blog, then let me introduce Scarlet Macaw Preening (aka Sherlock) by Shinysun's Cross Stitch:

He's a very big project - 400x532 - which I estimate would take about 1700 hours to do, so it was always my intention to stitch just the macaw on a suitable hand-dyed fabric and thus eliminate about 1000 hours of stitching the background!

On three occasions I thought I'd found the right background fabrics, only to be unhappy to continue on any of them, but every so often I would browse the internet to see if anything new had appeared, which it invariably hadn't. Until now when my search is finally over because... drumroll please... I have just purchased this 30x36 piece of 18ct aida:

It's from RiverHutDesigns on etsy and a slightly modified version of Autumns Rainbow (it bugs me there's no apostrophe in Autumns so I'm going to add one from now on). It's got more of an overall pale terracotta tinge than the photo, but even with three different cameras (none of which would correctly focus either) and some photo editing I couldn't get the colours to look right. I'll have to try again another day.

Claire from RiverHutDesigns was excellent and I cannot sing her praises enough for both her communication and actually listening to my requirements. OK, it's still not as dark as I would have liked, but I think that's more to do with being used to seeing the dark background on the chart for the last 10 year than anything, and on this fabric Sherlock is sure going to 'pop'!

I can't tell you how excited I am that my 10 year search to find a suitable background fabric has finally ended. It just goes to show, never say never! And, as a bit of a bonus, the fabric has shrunk slightly from 18ct to 19ct, and the holes have closed up a bit, so I should be able to get away with using just one strand of thread.

As for when I start him, well, 2024 is overflowing but plans (which I will divulge on 1st January) but somehow I don't think a little inconvenience like that is going to stop me, do you??!!

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - December 2023

Hello all!

It's the last Friday of the month, and of the year, so here's my final Smalls SAL post of 2023. Thank you once again, Mary, for hosting.

Each month I stitch a small project (or more) specifically for this SAL which doesn't appear elsewhere on my blog.

For December, I went totally overboard!

I started off with something Small and Christmassy; a QR code similar to the one I stitched a couple of years ago. I won't include what it says just yet, instead hope you have an app that can read it!

QR Code by NorthEastStitching (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Holly with sparkles over-dyed aida using ThreadworX 1085 Christmas Time

Started - 2nd December 2023

Finished - 2nd December 2023

Total Stitching time - 2 hours 30 minutes

And then, prepare yourself for more... lots more!

You see, I sort of went shopping on etsy during the Black Friday sales. There is one particular store I have had as a favourite for a long time but never bought anything from, and that is LaSelvaDesign. The store's contents are mostly small cute animal charts and during the sales I gave in and purchased two sets (although I am eyeing up a few lots more!)

Anyway I fancied a quick stitch so out came this little chap...

Front-Facing Dolphin (right) by LaSelvaDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Lagoon over-dyed aida

Started - 3rd December 2023

Finished - 4th December 2023

Total stitching time - 2 hours 45 minutes

...followed by this one...

Swimming Dolphin (right) by LaSelvaDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Lagoon over-dyed aida

Started - 11th December 2023

Finished - 11th December 2023

Total stitching time - 2 hours 55 minutes

...and then the third one to complete the set!

Jumping Dolphin (left) by LaSelvaDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Lagoon over-dyed aida

Started - 16th December 2023

Finished - 16th December 2023

Total stitching time - 2 hours 50 minutes

Bearing in mind the mirror-image charts are also provided with the purchased charts (hence the 'left' or 'right' added to the titles) this isn't strictly the complete set, but one of each pose will suffice for now!

And then, if that wasn't enough, out came the second set!

First up was this one...

Side-Facing Scarlet Macaw (left) by LaSelvaDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Icy Topaz over-dyed aida

Started - 20th December 2023

Finished - 20th December 2023

Total stitching time - 4 hours 35 minutes

...followed by this one...

Front-Facing Scarlet Macaw (right) by LaSelvaDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Icy Topaz over-dyed aida

Started - 21st December 2023

Finished - 21st December 2023

Total stitching time - 4 hours 5 minutes

...and finally this one!

Flying Scarlet Macaw (left) by LaSelvaDesigns (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Icy Topaz over-dyed aida

Started - 22nd December 2023

Finished - 23rd December 2023

Total stitching time - 3 hours 55 minutes

It was a bit exceptionally naughty of me to start more projects when I should have been concentrating on other things, but I think you can see why I couldn't resist them! Anyway, it was the build-up to Christmas and for once I was free enough to be able to stitch during the day. Sometimes school holidays are great!!

So that's all the Smalls from me for this year then. Next year I have the first 12 of yet another set of Advent ornies planned, so let's see what happens.

In more news...

You should have read by now that Mary is handing over the reigns of the Small SAL, and it is me who will be taking them on!

The format will be exactly the same... link up on the last Friday of the month with anything Small you have cross stitched during the month, be it an individual piece, part of a set, or a portion of a big design. What constitutes Small is very much up to you... for me it is a design of about 45x45 stitches, or one that would take under 10 hours to stitch, but if you think 100x100 is Small, then it's Small! I look forward to seeing your cross stitched submissions in 2024.

Finally, all that remains to be said is thank you, Mary, for taking over the Smalls SAL from Heather and hosting for the last five years. Hopefully you'll still drop in, but with the pressure off to stitch a Small each month we all know it will be at your own pace.

See you in the Smalls SAL next year then!

Take care,
Rachel x

Merry Christmas By The Letter - finished?

Hi all,

For Christmas in July 2021 I started Lizzie Kate's Merry Christmas By The Letter. I carried on in December 2021, and again during Christmas in July 2022. Then it got put aside until this month, when I was determined it would become a pre-Christmas finish.

So with trashy Christmas films in the background (most of which tell roughly the same story so you don't actually have to 'watch' them) I set to work.

Here's how I left it in July 2022:

And now all finished after having added the final three letters, the fireplace and the buttons (and having gone through about two dozen trashy Christmas films!):

Merry Christmas By The Letter by Lizzie Kate

Stitched on 16ct Golden over-dyed aida

Started - 6th July 2021

Finished - 20th December 2023

Total stitching time - 76 hours 45 minutes

I made a few subtle changes to the layout, leaving out a row of snowflakes under the 'Y' (although I don't know why!) and moving some letters around a space or two.

The reason I'm questioning whether or not it's finished is because I'm tempted to make some additions. Part of me says leave it as it is but part says it might look better if:

 - the fireplace was extended to make a full hearth rather than just the top half

 - a wreath of beads was added to the fireplace

 - and maybe a small border of holly, with beads for the berries, was added

I don't know. What do you think? If I did make any or all of the above additions they would not be until next year's Christmas in July so I've got six months to think about them!

Take care,

Rachel x

 

Merry Christmas!

Good morning and...

Merry Christmas 2023 everyone!

I hope you are all having / have all had a wonderful Christmas break, in whichever way you were able to spend it. Can't wait to see if Santa left you any stitching goodies!

Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy Twixtmas!

Love and hugs

Rachel x

WIP (BAP) Clear-Out!

Good morning everyone!

Thinking about my plans for next year, and my stitching in general, brought into focus how much more I enjoy small to medium projects than bigger ones. This is good news for the majority of my WIPs and stash, but bad news for the BAPs (a BAP, for me, being one which would take more than 200 hours to stitch).

Most of my BAPs were started about 10 years ago when I thought I was invincible and could tackle anything. Then I discovered etsy, and my preference for much smaller charts led to the bigger ones being put aside 'for a while'.

Well, roll forward almost ten years and not only have most not been touched for many years, the reality is they probably never will be.

So I've had a clear out. It's not been easy but sometimes being brutal is the best way forward.

A few years ago, I got rid of two projects because I knew that I was never going to work on them again.

First was Rainbow Angel by White Willow Stitching (the fabric was saved):

And second was Fairy With A Butterfly Mask by HAED:

That brought the number of BAPs down to 10. And now I've done the same with another five:

1) Emerald Dragon by HAED

I love this dragon to bits, but the confetti is ridiculous and I just can't face it. The threads will be frogged and the 18ct Sandy Pool aida saved, so there is a plus side. Bye bye Emerald Dragon :(

2) Mini Come Softly by HAED

This was started for my daughter who was 11 at the time and heavily into purple and lilac. Given that she's now 22 and has completely different tastes, there's no point in continuing. Bye bye lilac girl.

3) Mini The Owrd Lord by HAED

I absolutely adore this design, but it's another ridiculously confetti-heavy chart so, in all honesty, I'm never going to touch this one again. Bye bye old man.

4) Mini One by HAED

This was the first large project to appear on my blog and, with only 33 colours, is quite easy for and HAED! I still adore this chart and would still like to stitch it but it would be a restart on 25 count. Bye bye lonely girl.

5) Dolphin Ruins by Rabnann (ebay)

I was drawn to this chart because of the 'Atlantis' type feel but, again, it is the confetti which is putting me off, so bye bye dolphins.

So that's five BAPs gone, and a massive 2,400 hours wiped off my 'time to complete everything' calculation. Wow!

So what of my other five BAPs? Well, two of them - Kings and Queens, and The Loneliness Of Autumn - are definite WIPs and, for the moment, the other three have had a reprieve:

1) The History of Chocolate by HAED

This is small for an HAED at 'only' 63x354. I'm not even half way through but believe that, if I put my mind to it, this could be either steadily and methodically stitched a few rows at a time, or completed one colour at a time. It seems a shame to have given up...

2) Mini Bookworm Fairy by HAED

This was another project started for my daughter, and stitched on hand-dyed fabric so as to avoid endless hours of background stitching. It's been reprieved because I'm wondering if I could cheat by making the black more defined and filling in each section with just one or two colours, like a stained glass window. It wouldn't look as good, but the reduction in confetti stitching might increase my enthusiasm for picking it up again.

3) OMG Tigger Is Out! by UnconventionalX

There is no way I am getting rid of this one! I may not have stitched on it for nine years but it's a small(ish ) chart (162x200) and therefore much more manageable. And that's why this little kitty is staying firmly put!

And whilst I was having a clear out I also got rid of:

Tribal Dragon by Thread Geeks

Unfortunately, the fabric for this one has been damaged. I don't know if this will become a restart but if it does it won't be on black (and might be with a modified colour palette given that the stitched colours are nowhere near the cover design). Bye bye dragon!

You know, I feel so much better now! And the amount of threads I have added back into my boxes is quite amazing.

As for the future, well there are still eight BAPs on my 'would love to stitch' list. None of them are as confetti-heavy, complicated or daunting as HAEDs so if they are started they are likely to be finished. But not yet... well, not this year.

I hope the thought of WIPs being cut up and thrown away hasn't caused you too much stress! All of the surrounding fabric (16ct Antique White, Platinum and Light Blue) was saved and can be used for future - and much smaller! - projects.

Talking of future projects, I'm going to end on a high note, as I'm very close to having some exciting news to share with you... but that's for another post ;)

Take care,

Rachel x

Link-up For Fully Finished Gallery SAL - December 2023

Hi all!

It's the final 10th of the month for 2024 so time for this year's final Fully Finished Gallery SAL, the place to show your FFOing achievements since your last link-up.

The link-up for this SAL opens on the 10th of each month and stays open for 10 days so you can join in whenever you're ready.

For the final month of 2023 I have just one FFO again, Snuffles in Lime, last month's Smalls SAL piece. He's been finished the same as all the other Snuffles, with coordinating backing fabric and beads around the edge. The beads are not the ones I wanted to use, which were a darker green, but seeing as I didn't have enough I went for this lime colour instead. There's nothing wrong with them, but you know what it's like when your heart is set on something.

Anyway, here he is:

I've been asked what I do with all my Snuffles and the answer is this - they're all in a basket; a snuggle of Snuffles!!

And there's still room for more!

Now it's your turn.

Please link-up using the URL of your FFG SAL post and not the home page of your blog, adding a thumbnail of a finish and either your name or your blog name as the caption. The link-up will remain open for 10 days, closing at 6am UK time on 20th December.

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And please don't forget to follow other links and support fellow fully-finish-offers!

This SAL will continue running next year, so should go live on 10th January at 6am UK time. Here's the new Logo if/when you want to grab it:

As usual, January's post will start off with a round-up of 2023's FFOing achievements before diving into 2024's. My Box Of Shame needs to be seriously looked at so, for me at least, I'm hoping next year will be a little more productive on the FFOing front. 

See you there!

Take care,

Rachel x

Moonset Ornaments 1, 2, 3 and 4 all finished (possibly!)

Good morning one and all!

For Naughty November I started four new projects, all of which were fairly small and all of which I hoped to finish during the month.

Well, I didn't quite manage it, but wasn't far off; just one day off in fact, finishing the final design on 1st December.

As is usual for my WBTW projects, I made a few small changes...

 - the lighter parts of the moon in all four were stitched using a blend of 762 and C415, and the darker parts using 168 and C318.

 - the Gates and Lamppost have had one strand of normal 3799 replaced with C3799.

 - the Cenotaph and Cross were stitched with the brighter 167, 738, 3823 and 3865 instead of the muted 840, 841, 842 and 3866 respectively.

Other than that, they are stitched as charted!

Ornament 1

Hmmm... compared to the cover picture above, the black cats are a bit lost in the shadows. I'm thinking of frogging the shadows and either stitching them in one strand or subbing for a lighter grey than 3799.

Ornament 1 'Gate' from Moonset by Whispered By The Wind

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Dark Grey Murano

Started - 4th November 2023

Finished - 27th November 2023

Total stitching time - 21 hours

Ornament 2

Even taking into account perspective, this seems a little out of proportion to me... that's one big owl! But at least the Cenotaph doesn't (quite) look like a skyscraper anymore!

Ornament 2 'Cenotaph' from Moonset by Whispered By The Wind

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Dark Grey Murano

Started - 11th November 2023

Finished - 28th November 2023

Total stitching time - 15 hours 5 minutes

Ornament 3

I really love the detail of the cross on this one but, again, the owl looks a little too big.

Ornament 3 'Cross' from Moonset by Whispered By The Wind

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Dark Grey Murano

Started - 18th November 2023

Finished - 30th November 2023

Total stitching time - 10 hours 50 minutes

Ornament 4

Although this is as charted, I think the lamppost needs a base. It's artistic, but looks incomplete. I should have enough spare fabric for another 10 or so rows, so maybe this one isn't complete after all! It's nice to have a little bit of colour though.

Ornament 4 'Lamppost' from Moonrise by Whispered By The Wind

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Dark Grey Murano

Started - 25th November 2023

Finished - 1st December 2023

Total stitching time - 5 hours 55 minutes

So that's all four of my Naughty November starts finished, unless I change the shadows and /or extend the lamppost. It's also another four pieces added to my Box Of Shame; if I don't get FFOing soon, I'll need a bigger box!

Time to focus on Christmas stitching now and, if I'm lucky, another finish.

Take care,

Rachel x