#43 Frost the Centaurus (1)

Good evening & Happy New Year!

I hope you are all well & have recovered nicely from Christmas & New Year. It’s all back to work now.

Thankfully I was in work apart from the Bank Holidays so it made going back to work on Monday a little easier. I am in this weekend as well so there is no rest for the wicked!

As of January 1st I started stitching my ‘Magical creature’s’ Stitch a-long (SAL) for 2016. You can see the chart here.

So this month I’m stitching ‘Frost the Centaurus’ for January.

“A Centaur or Hippocentauris is a mythological creature with the head, arms & torso of a human & the body & legs of a house. In S. Lewis popular ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, Centaurs are gifted at stargazing, prophecy, healing, and warfare, a fierce & valiant race always faithful to the high king Aslan the Lion”

Centaurs honestly just remind me of Harry Potter… So I’ve renamed my Centaur Bane. I’m thinking Firenze is likely to be taken!

So here is my progress so far, I’m not yet finished!

I love the colour of my fabric I’m using. It’s using hand dyed even-weave from Chromatic Alchemy. Click on the name to have a look at the website. I love the fabrics on this site & would recommend using it if you are looking for something different 🙂 sadly I cannot remember the name of the fabric I picked.

I’m really enjoying stitching this, however it is deceptively bigger than you think! I’m hoping to have this box finished by the end of the week.

I’m trying to be quite strict with my projects that I’m stitching at the moment as I’m aiming to increase the number of unfinished projects I have! Right now I’m wanting to finish my magical creatures SAL first & then I’ll move onto January’s Frosted Pumpkin Passport SAL. which is ready to download on 15th! Once I’m done with that it might be time to switch back to magical creatures, although saying that by that time I’m hoping it’ll be time to finish off an UFP I have like the baby sampler from my last post or the subversive stitch I also started & am yet to finish! (See post #42).

I haven’t set myself any goals this year as it’s a big year with my wedding being in December 🙂 I am however hoping to finish some unfinished projects & a few cards as usual. I was hoping to add an element of Cross stitch to my wedding but I’m not sure what to do yet. Everything seems like a massive task that I would struggle to finish. Any suggestions? Have you added Cross Stitch to your wedding before?

Are any of you taking part in any SALS this year?

Have a great stitchy weekend!

Kim xx

#42 last WIP post of 2015

Hello! 

I hope this post finds you all well… So Christmas is done & dusted already. How on earth did that happen? 

I had 4 whole days off over Christmas which were lovely and quiet which is just what the doctor ordered.With my time off I wanted to finish an existing WIP rather than starting a new one. It took so much self control not to start something new!! (A crafters ongoing battle I know…) Here’s what I got done:

  
I spent Christmas finishing the box at the bottom ready for the baby name, date of birth & weight. I also completed the border & finished the back stitch. This is pretty much done now whilst I wait for my friend to pop! Once baby is born I’ll add in the details & brave the French knots. After so much back stitching I couldn’t face them just yet. I need to psych myself up haha! Is it just me that has a love/hate relationship with French knots??!! 

I’m really happy with how it’s turned out & get an awesome feeling of accomplishment when I admire my work… Finishing something so nice really motivates me to stitch more… It certainly keeps my stitchy bug glowing 👍🏻

Once I was done with this (finished by the Sunday) I thought it would be good to stitch something from a new book I purchased a little while ago. (Subversive Cross stitch- 50 clever designs for your sassy side- by Julie Jackson) see post #36. 

Here’s a sneak peak…

  
It’s stitched on fancy hand dyed Evenweave fabric by.Chromatic Alchemy The picture doesn’t do it justice… It’s all sparkly. ☺️ I’d recommend using this site for colourful fabrics. 💙

I have now finished the wording on this piece & just have the border to do. But I’ll share a picture next week. It did feel odd stitching a swear word… The little girl in me or maybe it’s just the adult was slightly disapproving that I was stitching ‘I fucking love you’ to frame in my house ha. Heyho, we all have different tastes as it seems appropriate for me & my partner as it’s something we shout at each other frequently 😋
How have you all been getting on over Christmas? Stitched much or been too full to move? Hehe

If I don’t post before, I wish you all a healthy & happy new year!! 💙

Kim xx

#41 The Angel of Cross Stitch

How beautiful is this?! Xx

Joan Elliott

JE200 © The Angel of Cross Stitch

Sorry for the delay but here she is…finally!  The Angel of Cross Stitch uses the full palette of DMC six strand embroidery floss, 454 colors! This will surely be a labor of love should you choose to stitch her. It is a wonderful way to dig into your stash and use the left over bits and pieces of floss you’ve been saving all these years. Originally designed in 1999 for the now gone Cross Stitcher magazine in the USA, I have given her an update by including the DMC colors that have been added since that time and deleting any discontinued colors. Even if you do not have all the colors, this design is flexible enough to substitute what you have for many of the stitches. I’ve refined some lines in the face and hands so she has a bit more delicate look than…

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#40 Happy Christmas Adam!

Hello all! 

Happy Christmas Adam! 😊

I’ve got half a day of work & then I’m off until Tuesday! Yay! I hope you are all ready for Christmas & finished work for the holidays.

I’ve been so busy the last few weeks, hence my absence yet again… Sorry about that. Bonus is, I have things to share 😊

First up, I’ve finished my ‘Santa is coming to town’ by Lizzie Kate. Well, finished stitching. I still have the embellishments to add which I’m sure at some point I’ll get round too! For now I’m happy with it & totally done with Xmas stitching for the year. How are you all getting on? 

  
I’ve not decided how to finish it yet? Any suggestions? 

Next up I’ve moved back to my baby sampler for my friend due in January. Design by Lesley Teare. 

  
Really happy with how it’s going! I’m planning to stitch the outside of the box & then alternate between the back stitch & border depending on my mood 😊

What stitching do you have planned over the Christmas holiday? 

I hope you are all having a lovely week. 

Merry Christmas xxx 

#39 All work & no stitching

Hello! 

How on earth am I on #39?? That’s gone so quick! I’ve really enjoyed posting my updates each week & sharing handy tips… I did however break my weekly streak of posting every Wednesday last week 😦 Socialising & work got the better of me! 

This week, I’m back & I’ve made a conscious effort to put up my WIP post! Admittedly this has meant that for the last few days I’ve had to keep asking myself what day it is & remind myself it’s not yet Wednesday! *sigh* 

Finally, Wednesday is here & here is my update: 

  
Just a reminder… It’s “Santa’s coming to town” by Lizzie Kate on linen fabric. 

My first Lizzie Kate chart & I’m loving it! 

I’ve not made as much progress as I would have liked & I have actually done a bit more of the bottom but I can’t take a photo of it as I’m being held hostage by my cat Misty on my lap lol 😉 I’ll make sure I post it over the next few days…

But yes, very busy with work & actual plans that don’t involve sitting at home & stitching 😦 but there you have it. 

I’ve been trying to keep up with all your lovely Cross stitch updates… How is everyone getting on? Is it time to put your Xmas stitching away yet? 

I’m really hoping to get this little one done before Christmas so I can frame it & have it displayed for a week or two but I won’t hold my breath! I do still need to buy the little embellishment pack with the little buttons in.

I hope this post finds you all well…Have a great week stitching guys! 

Kim xx

#38 2016 SAL

Ok, own up… Who put this in my shopping bag?? Frosted Pumpkin 2016 SAL

  
That makes two SALs (stitch alongs)I’m  completing in 2016… I just couldn’t help myself. Id say I feel guilty but I totally don’t haha 😈

Has anyone else given in & purchased this? 

I hope you’re all keeping out of the rain!

Happy stitching! 

#37 Treat yourself

Late as always but Happy WIP Wednesday Stitchers! 

I very nearly didn’t write a post for this week as I didn’t have anything to share again. However, today I decided to treat myself & start a new design. Oh I know! I shouldn’t have… I already have plenty on the go but I honestly thought I deserved it! (Says every cross stitcher) 

My new project is a design by Lizzie Kate called Santa’s coming to town. I started it around lunchtime today. The threads I’m using are a combination of DMC & Anchor as I don’t own any of the weekdye threads. They are certainly something I’ll be adding to my wish list! So Pretty ^_^

  Can you spot the mistakes? 😦 

By the time I realised where I’d gone wrong I’d already finished the thread I was on & it was all tucked up at the back with no way of fixing it without ripping it out. I decided to embrace the mistakes & carry on! I hope they aren’t too obvious!

The design did originally call for the beard & eyebrows to be stitched in White Whisper Yarn but seeing as I didn’t have any in my stash I went for the standard DMC. I posted on a Fb page earlier today asking for advice about whether to stitch with an alternative or make the effort & order the yarn however the majority of responses advised me not to bother! Have you stitched with it before? I hear it’s difficult & if anything reminds me of stitching with metallic threads lol. 

Ahh…This little project really has got my stitchy bug back. ☺️ I’ve really enjoyed stitching & watching Outlander this afternoon/evening. I’m hooked on both!! *swoons at Jamie Fraser*

So yeah…Between now & the new year I’ve told myself I really need to cut down on my stitching time & this will sound geeky BUT it’s because I’m behind on my Goodreads reading challenge. 😳

Reading is a massive love of mine that has taken a back seat to stitching this year & as a result of that it may be the first year I don’t hit my target of books to read in a year. (50!!)

So the plan is to try & divide my time a bit more evenly over the next month to get myself back on track. I’ve got 9 books left to read by December 31st. Totes achievable!! 👍🏻

Anyway I’ll stop rambling on… I probably should get into bed! 

What are you all working on this week? Please share in the comment box! 

Enjoy the rest of your week ☺️

#36 Slow week

Hi all, 

Wednesday is almost over! Which means we’re one day closer to Friday! Yayyyyyyy 🙂 I’m off work this weekend too which is a bonus! 

This week has been particularly busy which sadly means I’ve not picked up my stitching since Sunday. I’m not getting in until 9:30 & I’m usually in the land of nod by 11:30 so yeah… Not much time for stitchy fun unfortunately. 

Last week I posted the progress i’d made on my magical creatures border. Since then I’ve put that down & picked up a much older WIP which is a Xmas stitch I started last October. Some of you may remember it! 

  

Toy Shop by Joan Elliott. 

Yes that’s right I’m back to a good old Joan Elliott pattern. I was watching Home Alone 2 & feeling Christmassy 🙂 

The part I was stitching on Thursday & Sunday was the top left box with the train & globe. I’ll probably complete the back stitch of that box before moving back to my border on my other WIP. 

Here’s a close up: 

  
In other stitching news, I’ve been shopping online again! I have zero willpower I know 😦 This is what I bought:

  
I’m sure I’ll find something nice to stitch 🙂 Have any of you stitched something from this book before? If so, I’d love to see it!! 

Anyway my dears, I hope this post finds you well! 

What are you all working on? 

Happy Wednesday 🙂 

#35 Christmas Owl

I’ve got an hour or so left of WIP Wednesday so I’m still good to share my stitchy stuff from this week! 🙂 

Hello All!! 

I’ve had a surprisingly productive week. On Sunday’s I usually spend the afternoon stitching… This Sunday just gone I spent the afternoon/early evening organising & tidying a small portion of the spare room! Why you ask? Because I wanted an organised spot for all my cross stitch stuff! 

I originally started with a sewing box & it’s just gone from there to the point that I can’t find anything & it’s messy & chaotic. So yes that’s what I did with my Sunday… Some might say I wasted it but it felt so good to put the stitching down & organise things that had slowly been prickling me! 

So, other than get organised I got round to completing my first November goal which was to stitch & put together a Christmas tree decoration for my exchange. 

I’m not going to lie, I had to think twice about joining this exchange because it was a little out of my comfort zone as I worried I wouldn’t be able to find a design, stick it all together & make an actual decoration… But I thought it would be something different so I’ve given it a go! 

Here’s my owl all stitched up: 

  
The pattern is from yet another cross stitch crazy magazine. (I’ll need to check the issue number & get back to you) 

And here it is attached with ribbon & felt: 

  
(Yep, that’s Netflix in the background :D)

What do you think? I’m really pleased with it & hope my exchange partner likes it! I absolutely adore Owls too 🙂 

On to my next goal… The Magical Creatures SAL. I’m due to start the SAL (stitch a-long) in January & this month I wanted to start the border of it. It’s a really intricate border & I’m finding it slow going but I am enjoying it. I’m probably more excited that I get to start my first SAL then actually stitching it lol click Here to see the pattern. 

This is my progress so far:

  
I LOVE the fabric! It’s from Chromatic Alchemy– hand dyed pretty! 🙂 This has probably taken about 8 hours so far! I’m a little sad thinking at my pace it’ll probably take another 24 hours to finish 😦

Here’s the full length of fabric to show you how big it’ll be:

  
It makes me feel a bit better when I look at the full piece 🙂 

So as far as November goes… It’s all go go go! 

What are you working on at the moment? 

If you fancy joining the magical creatures SAL then feel free to join the Facebook group under the name ‘Magical creatures calendar SAL 2016’. It’s a great bunch of people & all the more exciting that we get to share our trials & excitement! 🙂 

Happy stitching! 

 I’ll just leave this here…

  
Kim xx

#34 Waiting…

As I sit here waiting for a bus home… (It’s never ending) I thought it would be a good time to share my Throwback Thursday post of the week 🙂 

Because I’ve talked a lot about cross stitch exchanges recently I thought it would be a good to continue the theme 😛

This weeks TBT post is a coaster I completed earlier this year… Possibly summertime? Here it is: 

  
The pattern is by Michael Powell. Here’s his  Webpage so you can see some of his wonderful designs.

It’s the first of his patterns I’ve stitched before & it was something that definitely tested my patience! In the design the threads at times called for two different colours stitched at the same time. Very fussy to do but I was really pleased by the final affect! 

I’m hoping to stitch some more of his patterns in the future! 

What do you think? 

Have any of you taken part in some fun cross stitch exchanges before? Let me know about your experience. 

I hope you’re all well… I’m slowly on the mend 🙂 Thank you for all your well wishes! 

P.S. I’m totally waiting for the bus still… Good old public transport! *sigh*

Kim xx