2015 Cross Stitching Review

Hello all - Hope you've had a very Merry Christmas and looking forward to a happy, prosperous and stitchy New Year!

I've had a brilliant year cross stitching wise, a couple of finishes and one too many starts as well!

My year in numbers:

• 8 current WIPs
• 2 finishes
• 6 starts
• 456.5 hours stitched
• 12 WIPs at the end of the Year!

That last figure is more than 100 hours more than 2014 so I've been very busy! I'm hoping to do around 500 this year linked in with my 10 hour rotation - 50 rotations- but my goals and targets will be in my New Year blog!

So here goes, all the pretty pictures and last year's goal (if applicable) and a before and after picture.

I'll start with my finishes and my proudest Achievement.

Samantha - GOAL - finish by the end of March - COMPLETE 

I was so proud of finishing this since it was one of my longest WIPs and did for the 10 year anniversary of my Nanna's memory.  It was also featured in the World of Cross Stitching magazine.

Samantha by Lanarte

STARTED: May 2006

FINISHED: 24/03/15

28 Count Peach Linen, 2 over 2
Approximately 170 hours (146.5 timed hours plus estimate)

Before:

After 61.5 hours:

Strawberry Ice - No goal as this was started and finished in 2015

I decided to have a new start for the Great British Bake Off as I'm a huge fan and managed to finish it for the finale!

Strawberry Ice by Michael Powell

STARTED:

FINISHED:

14 count cream aida, 2 over 2 & back stitch
19 hours work

Frogs Kissing - GOAL - Start and Finish - INCOMPLETE

Unfortunately this was a design that I initially struggled with and it's not got finished this year, however it will get finished, hopefully next year.

Here's what it looks like so far after 147 hours work:

Moving onto my new starts for this year:

Playtime Kitten

This one was from the World of Cross Stitching magazine and I've really enjoyed using the hand dyed fabric, it's got a hint of sparkle in it too!

15 hours work:

Sammy Squirrel

This was a design I fell in love with from Gecko Rouge which was the first of two SALs this year.

No start picture, but this is what she looks like now:

As you can see I completed page 2 on the last rotation! So happy I made this much progress.

Beverley's Owl

Another Gecko Rouge Design, the SAL comes to an end in February, but I'm happy to make some decent progress on her.

23.5 hours work:

Love Spring

My final new start was actually my Christmas Day new start since my hubby bought me Love Spring which is in the same series of Love Tree both by Bothy Threads.  I'm really enjoying this and have made loads of progress in such a short space of time!

10 hours work:

The tree branches are actually in metallic, but it doesn't show up too well here. What do you think?

Now moving onto my existing WIPs.

Snowy Friends - GOAL Finish Page 2 - INCOMPLETE

This target just wasn't going to happen with all my SALs going on, but I am happy to have made some progress.  Apologies for the quality of the before picture, it really shows the difference on my phones!

Before: 

After: 11.5 hours

Beacon Ridge - GOAL Finish Page 2 - INCOMPLETE

I'm so close to finishing page 2, it's definitely going to be finished next year. So excited about page 3 too - there's a bit of the lighthouse on there! 

Before:

After: 26 hours

Ladybug Love - GOAL Finish Page 1 - INCOMPLETE

Once again a failed task due to the unplanned new starts. However, I'm pleased with the progress.

Before:

After: 10 hours

I love how the detail is coming out and you can see where the lips are going to be and the wings are looking beautiful!

Lakeside Village - GOAL Get Halfway - INCOMPLETE

I've actually finished over a quarter of this beautiful design so shouldn't feel so disheartened on this large design - looking forward to this appearing in my rotation again in the New Year!

Before:

After: 12 hours

Frederick the Literate - GOAL 20 Hours Stitching - INCOMPLETE

Almost did this with 12 1/2 hours stitching complete, but the progress is pretty good!

Before:

After: 11.5 hours

Greek Steps - GOAL Finish Page 1 - INCOMPLETE

I've been stitching this one over the past week and a bit and nearly finished page 1 as you can see! The building is almost appearing now!

Before:

After: 24 hours

Loads of progress, really pleased, maybe a finish next year???

Happy New Year and Happy Stitching all! xxx

2015 Stitchy Goals

Happy New Year all!

As promised, I've had a good think at what my goals should be for this year stitchy wise.

I know I'll be over ambitious and that's fine as on the whole I'll stick to my current rotation which is to stitch whatever is shouting the loudest!  There are a couple of priorities so I'll start with those first:

1.  QS Frogs Kissing - Start and Finish New Start!

This is my Heaven and Earth BB SAL, they didn't do one last year so I'm excited that it's back! There's 6 pages to be do and hoping to have it complete by the autumn.

2.  Samantha - Finish by end of March

I've mentioned this before, but this design s so precious to me since it was bought with my Nanna's inheritance and she passed on 10 years ago in April so I'd like it to be framed and hung on the 15th April.

• Now onto the not such priorities, as they are current WIPs, you know what they look like!

3.  Snowy Friends - Finish Page 2

Shouldn't be too difficult as I'm about half way through that page.

4.  Beacon Ridge - Finish Page 2

Just started this page, but it's all background and blocks of colour so should stitch up quickly.  May do more as can't wait to get to the top of the lighthouse!

5.  Lady Bug Love - Finish Page 1

I've sort of fallen out of love with this one, but I think she still deserves some attention!

6.  Lakeside Village - Finish half way

I think this is possible since it's my comfort design when the HAEDs have got to me!

7. Frederick the Literate - 20 hours complete

I can't pretend that this one will get much attention, so have attached an hour figure rather than an amount.  Maybe it'll grip me and I'll end up doing a lot more!

• Now onto the possibles!

8.  Greek Steps - Finish Page 1

I think this could be done if I'm in the mood.  It's definitely a sunny weather design, so we'll see if we get some nice sunny stitching days this year!

9.  Sweet Shoppe - New Start!

This I got as a reward for helping HAED sort out their data for the new website and I'm head over heels for it.  I really would like to start it, but no targets as such as a reward for finishing Samantha.  Isn't it gorgeous?

10. Loneliness of Autumn - New Start!

I showed you that I'd bought this one in 2014 and have not got all the threads I need and again would like to start it, possibly after Frogs Kissing is done.

The idea is to keep the number of WIPs down and just enjoy the stitching!

It's not stitching related, but I also want to read for at least half an hour every day since I now have over 40 unread books on my book shelf and I want to enjoy all of these that I've coveted for so long!

I'll post updates as often as possible, but at least once a month so that's my other resolution.

Happy Stitching xxx

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!

Another finish & review of 2012!

Hi all, so after my last post, you're probably thinking why has it been so long between posts?  Well here it is:

I got it at the Knitting and stitching show in November, my hubby set me a task of completing it by Christmas! It's called Santa's House IV: Final Preparations Unfortunately that wasn't possible with all the card making and gift wrapping to do, but finished it on the 28th December.

Now onto the review, my first finish of the year was last year's SAL Curl up With a Good Book:

It was a very detailed design so not too disappointed about missing last year's target on this one!

My mid-summer design was A Good Marriage which I've stitched for my sister's wedding next June, granted it still needs a good iron and to be framed, but got plenty of time!

I then moved onto The Travelling Pattern:

I'm still trying to pass this onto the next recipient, but not received the address for them! Lesley Anne Smith - can you please e-mail your address to samantha.long@live.co.uk asap?  In the meantime if anyone else is interested and also has a blog, please feel free to send me a message as I need to get it posted soon otherwise Cucki (the founder) will not be happy! :(

Now onto my SAL piece this year, I got it finished in November so just in time for the deadline! Bookend Kittes wasn't my favourite design to stitch, mainly because of the 'samey' colours, but I'm pleased with the final result!

I also had one more new start, Ladybug Love which I loved stitching, but was started around the time of my 10 hour rotation, which i'm going to start again in the New Year.

I also worked a bit on some other WIPs, including this one, County Durham:

And this, Samantha, both of which I want to finish this year!

Oh and of course, another HAED, I finally finished page 1 of Snowy Friends!

So all in all an interesting year, to be fair I had a very slow start as I got addicted to one of those horrid Facebook games, which I'm never ever going to do again ever!

Happy New Year everyone

&

Happy Stitching!

Snowy Friends Page 1

 

So here is Page 1 of Snowy Friends at last! I managed to get most of the Sulky threads out and whilst I'm still going to use them I'm going to go 2 columns at a time to have better chance of getting them out.

 

I've been working on A Good Marriage as I need to make some progress before I buy ABC of Parenting as my sister is due in December and want to have it ready for their Baby Shower! So busy times, but all fun!

 

Considering buying 25 count magic guide for Think Pink as I've only done a tiny bit albeit gridded the full row!  I don't trust the tread anymore so I think that's what my first paypacket is going on!

 

Happy Stitching x

Disaster!

Well I've been stitching Snowy Friends as you know and using sulky thread to grid, however because I'm using 2 threads over 1, it's proven near on impossible to get the sulky thread out and has snapped!  I can't see it from the front, but it's just annoying!  I think I'll have to find another way to grid the fabric, or make do maybe with shorter lengths.

I'm almost finished page 1 so will hopefully be posting a picture in the next few days.

I've also been doing some work on 'A Good Marriage' as on some of the warm days my fingers were hurting a bit.  But I have to say I love my Q-snap frame! It's wonderful for getting the tension right and am really looking forward to using it on my HAEDs.  You do have to have a good border on it though, but I think I can afford that!

I've been doing my new job for almost 2 weeks now and although there's a lot to learn, I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in.  It's a promotion from my last role and I'm determined not to let my MS get in the way of it so balancing the stress with stitching! It's a win win (plus I'll have extra cash for my stash!)

Happy Stitching!

Well I know it isn't a full page just yet, but I just had to share with you my Snowy Friends progress.  I've not stitched on 25 count for a while, but I have to say I'm loving it!  And the confetti here (in the branches) is mixed with the background making the design more varied than Bookend Kitties and with a lot more to show to the effort!

 

 

However I also have some most amazing news! Yesterday my little sister told me I'm going to be an Auntie! So very excited for her.  So of course I'm thinking - must stitch something for her!  Tehre's no way I can get a HAED done in time for December, so I thought I'd do this Lizzie Kate design having already bought 'A Good Marriage' for their wedding next year.

 

 

I don't really start non-HAEDs anymore, however I think on this 32 count linen it will be a pleasure to work on.  I do however need a way to re-design the word 'mold' to 'mould' to convert it to UK English or I'll never live it down!  I like this design as rather than a gift to the baby, it's one her/his parents will treasure forever (I hope!).

 

Happy stitching!