Update on the Little Pond.

I've spent the last week working on the Little Pond.  As I mentioned in previous posts, it is a much easier project to stitch.  There are blocks of color to stitch, rather than having to change threads after 2-3 stitches like I often have to do with the Hermit.  It's also more fun in some ways because I can see the animals coming together much faster.

With my expanding belly, it is also easier to stitch this one because I don't have to use the large Q-snap.  The Hermit is so large that the Q-snap is resting at the top of my belly/uterus, which can be quite uncomfortable at times.

So, here's the progress photo.  The giraffe is coming along and you can see a little froggy!

As always, thanks for reading!

Another New Project!

I once was a one-project-at-a-time kind of stitcher.

Not anymore.


I currently have 3 projects on the go.  The Hermit, Warm and Fuzzy Kitten, and now a new birth record for baby #3. 

I started Little Pond Birth record on May 14, 2013.  I hope to have it completed before new baby is a year old, so sometime in the last quarter of 2014.  Totally doable, I think.  It's a relatively easy pattern, on 14ct Aida cloth.  It's funny to me how these charts are "easy" for me now after working on the HAED.  It is actually a nice break from working on the the Hermit.

Here is the first photo.

As always, thanks for reading!

Fastest completion to date!

Yes ... you read that right.  I have finished Golden Girls.  Took about 2 days in total, and despite a brutal week of migraines, I still did it.  (Probably why the migraines didn't go away -- oops!).

It was such a fun little project to do.  I'm very excited to get it framed.  I've heard from other friends that there are a few other designs like this one. 

Stars Wars: 

The gang from Firefly:

And ... O-M-G.... X-Files!

God help me.

Anyway... I better not do any more searching.  Here is Golden Girls. 

Golden Girls!

So, after being asked to do a commissioned piece, I eagerly set out to purchase supplies and get started.  Having purchased and downloaded the chart, I had to decide what color fabric would work best.  My friend asked that I change the colours of a few of the ladies' clothes, so I brought my husband with me as he is the true artist in the family and I knew he could help me pick out the proper floss.

Off we went to Mary Maxims.  It is ridiculously silly how excited I get when I'm in a store like that.  In addition to purchasing the supplies I needed for Golden Girls, I also purchased yet another kit.  Actually, my husband found it and suggested I get it.  It's really quite perfect and will hang near our wine cellar (read: basement closet that holds our wine). 

  

But, I digress ... back to the topic at hand.  I found everything I needed and started work immediately on Golden Girls.   At the request of my friend, I am changing three of the women's clothing colors.  From left to right - Blanche will be in green, Sofia stays in red, Dorothy will be in purple and Rose will be in baby blue.  

 

And here is the first night's work.  Ms. Sophia is coming along nicely.  Stay tune for more updates!  (The next one will likely be a completed photo, haha!  This one is easy and so much fun!

 

 

Eeek!!!! My first commission!

I woke up today to a message from a friend requesting a commissioned cross stitch.  I was so flattered!!!  No one has every asked me to do a design so this was such a pleasant surprise.  I was so thrilled, I said yes immediately (well... okay, I said yes after I saw the design). 

It's a small project but I know it will mean the world to my friend.  I am so excited to have a reason to go to the stiching store to buy new floss and fabric.  Yay!!

Here's what I've been asked to do:

It's the Golden Girls!!!  How adorable is this pattern?!   I don't much like the taupe background, so I was thinking more off-white/cream.  Any thoughts/ideas are appreciated. 

Purple, purple and MORE purple!

I am back to working on the Hermit full-time again.  The first few days were tough - after 14 ct Aida, the 22 ct Hardanger was hard on my eyes!  I was also getting some wrist and neck pain from hold the Qsnap again.  Oh, the things us stitchers go through for our craft!  ;)

Hermit is coming along nicely.  I am stitching a page with a LOT of purple - the cloak, you see.  It's boring, but it has to get done.  It's making for relatively easy stitching with few counting errors, so that's a nice change.

Is it crazy that I am looking again at Heaven and Earth Designs for more charts?  I'm a nut, I know.  I am barely scratching the surface of the Hermit and yet looking for more wonderful cats to stitch. I need some help!

In the meantime, here's a progress photo. 

It's Done!!!

Short post. 

I finished Farm Friends on Sunday night.   It looks amazing, if I do say so myself! I can't post a photo though until it's framed and has been given to the little guy for his birthday. 

I started back to work on The Hermit.  Oh my GOD, after stitching on 14 ct fabric for the better part of the last month, the 22ct squares are shockingly small again!  My eyes hurt after only an hour of work! 

I'll post a Hermit update soon!

Stitching like Mad!

I have been working furiously on Farm Friends since I last posted.  I must have it done by the end of the month so I can get it framed in time for the little guy's first birthday in mid-November.

FF is an easy project - 14 ct Aida fabric.  It's an easy design and while it is a bit boring to stitch, it's kinda nice to have blocks of colors to stitch rather than changing threads after only a few stitches.  I do miss the Hermit, though.  I miss it's complexity.  Still, FF is a labour of love for some good friends of mine, so I am happy to do it.

Daughter is enjoying the progress of this one.  "Look," I tell her, "I finished the piggy!"  Well, sort-of.  The detailing comes last, but its nice to see the look of delight on her face when I show her my work. I also started working on the border (lower left side).  From the bottom up - cow, pig, doggy and duck.

Back to Warm & Fuzzy Kitten

With 3 projects on the go now, it's sometimes a tough decision which one to work on.  After starting Farm Friends (herein FF), I felt that Warm & Fuzzy Kitten (herein WFK) was feeling neglected.

It's been several months - okay, 4 months - since I've touched WFK.  It's 14 ct black Aida cloth.  I've never had a problem working with black cloth, sometimes I think it's actually easier, not sure why.  The 14 ct is much easier to work with than the Hermit's 22ct Hardanger fabric.  It almost makes me think I'm stitching a beginner's pattern. Ha ha!

WFK is fun though.  I love watching his body come together, though it doesn't look like I've done a lot, I can see his front paws filling in nicely.  The only frustrating thing is that a lot of stitching requires two thread colours (one strand each of two different colours rather than 2 strands of the same colour).  Here's a photo.

More to come soon!  Thanks for reading.