My new frame!

Hello all!

So here's my monthly update as promised and I have a new gadget to show you, here's my long awaited millennium frame with Snowy Friends on it:

I have to say it's the best tension I've ever got from a roll frame. But I did have to wait over 2 months to get it so if you order one please be prepared for a wait!

I've done a bit more on Snowy Friends, but I've been working on Samantha quite a bit recently as she was shouting at me the loudest! So here is the section I'm working on I my easy clip frame:

I'm getting close to finishing this one so if I continue to make such good progress, maybe another finish this year. 

Happy Stitching!

Stitchy Summer Updates

Hello all!

Well I did it again, another long time between posting! I've made a promise to myself that I'll post at least once a month so have set up a reminder to do it the last weekend of every month.

Well, I have had a new start (and finish)! I was tired of stitching my HAEDs so plucked for a cover kit of Rudolph as I felt like doing something for Christmas!

 I think hes super cute and really got me in the mood for making Christmas cards! I'm going to use this as a centerpiece for a larger Christmas card as the mount and frame just doesn't do it justice!

I have also been working on Samantha, Greek Steps and Lakeside Village, but my photos don't want to upload properly, so I'll hopefully be able to add them later.

But I got Snowy Friends out last month and gridded page 2 for it and here's roughly where I left it:

It's not a terribly good photo, but I've finished the first column on page 2 and might get that out today as I'm having a Stitchy Day!

I also treated myself to this chart:

It's called Loneliness of Autumn from Love thy Tread.  It really reminds me of my time in New York so I've ordered some threads from my floss fairy so will have a new start I think before the end of the year!

I've also set up a Twitter account, I'm @ArtySam5 if you would like to look me up!

I'm going to update my Arty Sam blog, but here's a sneaky peek of my latest bespoke design:

I saw these printable images online and I thought they were gorgeous so I got them last week and the person who ordered it loves the card so hope the parents of the twins do too.

So I suppose I better go and stitch, but I'll post more pictures later (I promise)!

Happy Stitching!

An overdue update!

Hello all!

I knew it'd been a long time since I'd posted anything, but February! So sorry about that.

Initially it was due to me focusing on my secret project which took a lot longer than I thought.  I can't share it with you just yet, but I should be able to have a special post with all my WIP pictures and the finished article, plus the reaction of the recipient.

So once that got finished in May, I turned my attention to some of my other WIPs.

I finished page 1 of Beacon Ridge:

So that's 1 more of my annual targets complete! But this is just page 1 of 20, so a long way to go yet!

Next I moved onto Ladybug Love:

  

I'm hoping to have a page finish very soon and then that's another annual goal!

In the evenings I've been stitching non-HAEDs since Ladybug is on one of my big frames and my Husband won't put up with it in bed! lol!

So here's an update of Lakeside Village:

I've finished all the full stitches in the top left hand corner, now I just need to do all the background - there is a lot, but as it's all half stitches, it should stitch up fairly quickly!

I've done a tiny bit on Samantha, but I'll wait until I've done a bit more before sharing a picture with you all.

There, I hope you've had your fix and I promise I'll not be as long before I post another update! 

Happy stitching!

County Durham - Finished!

Hi all,

I'm pleased to say that I've finally finished County Durham!

Classic Embroidery by Angela Beazley

14 count ivory aida

2 over 1, backstitch & French Knots

Started: December 2005

Finished: 8th February 2014

Total number of hours: 79

Looking at those figures, I'm really surprised at how long it's taken me to finish it!  I suppose that's a symptom of having so many gorgeous WIPs!

I'm going to be finishing off those Valentine's cards today and then doing a bit of my secret project - I can't wait to show you it when the recipient has got it!

Then I'm picking up my Summer Olympic new start - Lady Bug Love, which I'm really excited about!  My yearly goal for this is to finish page 1, so I'm going to try and finish that next.

Hope you're all having a lovely day,

Happy Stitching! xxx

County Durham Progress!

Hello all,

As promised, here is an update of County Durham:

Although I didn't get as much done as I wanted to (I wanted to finish it), at least you can see progress.

I'm really hopeful that next weekend I will get close to finishing it, but that depends on the number of valentine's cards I have to make.

I hand make all my own cards and make lots to order too, especially for my work colleagues.  At some time this year I'll finally get some pictures put on my Arty Sam blog.

Happy Stitching! xxx

County Durham Sampler UPDATE!!

Hello all,

As promised, here is my update of County Durham.

I'm really close to finishing this one now, but am rotating it with my Secret Project.  I'm hoping to get it finished before the Olympics start because I'm getting my Olympic new start (Ladybug Love) out which I haven't touched since 2012! 

Following on from my blog party, I'm going to have a giveaway next month if I reach 100 followers!

Happy Stitching! x

Grow Your Blog 2014

This year I'm joining in with the Grow Your Blog event!

Well as you can see from my blog title, I'm called Sam and I love to stitch, mainly cross stitch.  I also create cards and have other crafty projects.

I have 10 WIPs (Work in Progress) at the moment which are listed in my tool bar.  My blog was listed in the World of Cross Stitching magazine as Blog of the Month where the editors thought it fascinating bout how I juggle all my WIPs!  In truth I don't juggle them, I try different rotations and see what feels right at the time.  I think that so long as I'm stitching then it doesn't matter what!  

I'm currently stitching a map of County Durham and will post a picture tomorrow to show all my new followers!

It looked like this the last time I posted here:

I've done a lot more since this picture was taken, so I'd love to share it with you tomorrow!

I'm totally stoked to have you read my blog and I hope you hang around to see what I've stitched and possibly even become a follower!

Thanks for popping by and Happy Stitching! xx