15! FIF...TEEN!!!!

15?  15 what I hear you ask. See if you can guess before you read any further.

15 little itty bitty Christmas finishes that need FFOing.  Well! Luke is away on a college residential to the Lake Distric next week so I could get the sewing machine out and leave it on the kitchen table all week!! So, watch this space!

I got my Around the World in 80 Stitches out during the week as it fitted most of the Stitch Maynia Olympic challenges.  I didn't do much - it was the last week of term which is always hectic as we have to fit EVERYTHING in that doesn't want carrying forward to next term into it.

To add to the Christmas shame...I finished another design yesterday.  In my defence, it is almost FFOed.  All it needs is some felt on the back to cover up the stitching mess that is there. Snowflake Tree by Mill Hill stitched on perforated paper.  It was my first time using the stuff and I am still undecided whether I like it or not.  It is a really cute design and will be lovely on my little ornie tree this year.  This was one of the projects on my focus list for the year which means I have now finished 3 projects off that.

Mill Hill - Snowflake Tree

In other news, Luke brought home a trip letter from college this week.  I think I prefer the good old primary school days when a trip letter meant finding a tenner to pay for it.  This one is a 'psychology' trip to New York for 5 days.  A mere £1000!!!  Sorry, I shouldn't exaggerate, I do get £15 change from my £1000.  Still they are packing in absolutely tons of activities in the short time they are there so it will be well worth it - especially since it will be the first time he has ever left the country!  I wonder if I could get him to go cross stitch shopping for me???  Hmmmm...

WIPocalypse update

Another rubbish update on these

Cinderella?  Yes, I was plugging away with her slowly, but have lost the love for her at the minute.  I am feeling a bit of an itch to stitch her though so hopefully there could be progress on her next month.

Around the World, Cut Thru Stable, Honeysuckle Courtyard and Santa's Village are all sat next to me, on the bookcase, gathering dust!  I did actually put a couple of stitches into Around the World.  I won't give you a spot the difference, just where I am now! This is part 7 I think.

Papillon Creations
Around the World in 80 Stitches

WIPocalypse 2014 - January

This is my list of projects that I am focusing on as my WIPocalypse stitching.

Cinderella - Joan Elliott

Around the World - Papillon Creations

Cut Thru Stable - Bothy Threads 

Honeysuckle Courtyard - Patricia Ann Designs

Santa's Village - CCN

There is no photo of Honeysuckle Courtyard as it's not started yet.

For anyone who doesn't know me...I am really Sharon, 44 years old from Manchester, UK.  I have 2 kids - Rachael, 14 and Luke, 12.  They are both amazing (most of the time) and I am so lucky that they are 'mine'. I also have 2 demented cats - Biskey and Smudge who rule the roost.  Biskey is a soppy so and so and loves to be curled up on someone's lap.  At night, he sleeps on my feet although he often has more of the bed than I get!

I started stitching in 1995 when I wanted something different for my then boyfriend (now hubby) for our first Valentine's Day together.  I walked past a cake decorating shop every day going to and from work and noticed these cute little cross stitch cards they had.  I went in and the rest is history.

There was no charting for the initials in the middle.  I just decided to do them myself.  Thankfully my stitching has improved a bit since then!!

One thing that I am looking forward to this year is finishing my degree which will then free up around 20 hours a week for housework and jobs round the house stitching.  I am going to make up for the last few years where the coursework has stopped me from enjoying myself.

I have loads of favourite designers so won't bore you with them all.  Just have a look through my WIP's/UFO's list on the right hand side of my blog to see what I am into!  Favourite fabric is jobelan by a mile and discovering Sparklies, Crafty Kitten and Steph's Fabby's has greatly enhanced my fabric stash. 

One thing that I really love doing is being online and reading lots of different stitchy blogs.  There are several people that although I have never met them, I class as friends now who I have met through blogging.  One day I would love to meet up with them all!

Anything else you would like to know, just ask!!

Look at these!

Recently Linda of Stitching with my Furbabies introduced me to a new blog Pickle Barrels Designs.  Nancy was having a lovely giveaway where she was offering either a set of Christmas charts or Halloween charts to a follower and someone they introduced.  Me and Linda were lucky enough to win. Well actually, for some totally bizarre reason we were the only 2 people who entered.  I can only assume there was a total internet blackout directly after we entered until the closing date :)

As Linda introduced me, she got first dibs and chose the Christmas designs.  I therefore got Halloween and they are gorgeous.  There was also the Sullivan's threads required, some fabric and the cutest EVER halloween bag.  Look at these charts, aren't they lovely?

Thank you Nancy for offering such a lovely giveaway.  I would highly recommend a visit, so click on the link above and have a look.

And in other news...I have done a little bit on Papillon Creations Around the World.  This is part 8 (I think).

The second part of Positive Thinking has been released, so I have made a start on that too.  I have done a little more than it looks here as tonight I have stitched 2 more words.

Sneaking in the back door...

Well the study is still going full steam ahead with 5 assignments written and 1 more to go.  Then all I have is the final project which is due on 19th September.  My next course will start on 28th September so there won't be much of a break.

I have done a little stitching, but not much  :(

I have added a blob of 3371 to the bottom left corner and a bit to the lower middle area.  Just telling you in case you can't tell!

Sweet Pea - Nora Corbett

Cinderella has a little bit done to the tops of the steps.

Cinderella - Joan Elliott

A small amount has been stitched on the Stable.

Cut Thru Stable - Bothy Threads

Can you spot the difference here?  Don't worry it's only 4 stitches!

Santa's Village - CCN

 I did finish part 7 of Around the World AND make a start on part 8, woohoo!

ATW - Papillon Creations

Part 7 - upside down!

 Rachael has been bitten by the cross stitch bug too and decided to make a leaving present for her form tutor who is off to London.  He has been an amazing form tutor and looked after her so well, especially with diabetes issues so he will be missed by us both.  She rooted through my magazines and came up with this design.  I haven't a clue which magazine she chose in the end but she personalized it by putting the 'E' on his chest which is his surname.

With a little help from me, she turned it into a cube finish and I made the bow for her which she was happy with.  What do you think of her first attempt?  I didn't help her at all with the stitching after explaining how to read the chart and to start the thread off.  I think she did brilliantly.

Mr E was pleased with it apparently.

WIPocalypse

And here we are for the first 2013 check in post. For those of you who don't know me...

I am Sharon, 43 and from Manchester, UK.  I am married to Colin and have 2 gorgeous kids - Rachael, 13 and Luke, 11.  We are also owned by 2 demented cats - Biskey and Smudge, who enjoy terrorising the Danios in their aquarium.  I work as a special needs teaching assistant in a primary school, mainly with year 3, 5 and 6 children.  (For US readers that is 7-8 year olds, 9-10 and 10-11 depending on where their birthdays fall.)

I have been stitching since 1995 and have too many WIP's and UFO's to mention here but they are on the right hand side of my sidebar if you want to take a look.  I would like to finish them all one day.  As you can see from the list I have a varied taste in size and style of things I like to stitch.  Among my favourite designers are Mirabilia, Lizzie Kate, LHN, CCN and Papillon Creations.

This year I have joined loads of organised SALs to try to give me the kick up the rear I need.  I am a butterfly much too often when it comes to stitching and with having so many lovely designs on the go tend to switch between them to frequently.  I am getting better though as I have put a rotation in place which I do mainly stick to.  So anyway, this year I am doing WIPocalypse (obviously!), Theme-a-licious, Turtle Trot and a LK 6 Fat Men SAL. Hopefully this will mean some good progress on lots of projects.  Further information can be seen on the pages at the top of my blog.  Turtle Trot has the 13 projects I intend to focus on this year.

On to stitching progress. I have worked on the following projects recently.  Firstly, I have worked a little on Confetti of Hardanger. I am working on the eyelets with a bit of blanket stitching round the outside of light relief.  I am finding these 2 stitches quite tedious so am only doing a little at a time.  I am looking forward to getting to the cutting and filling stitches.

Confetti of Hardanger - Abi Gurden
progress as of 27th January

Around the World is now only 3 parts behind.  I have finished part 6 and moved on to part 7.  I am really struggling with the maltese cross stitch.  I hate it and think it looks tatty.  I suspect that is down to me.  So far I have restitched it 4...yes FOUR times.  I tried it the way it should be 3 times first of all with the yellow thread wrapped around the metallic but it just looked awful.  I reversed the colours and it still looks awful!

Around The World - Papillon Creations
progress as of 27th January

This is a close up of part 6.  I found the stitches round the cutwork bit difficult until I realised what I was doing wrong...oops!

Part 6 of Around the World - Papillon Creations

 A little more progress has been made on Garden Tools, but not much!

Garden Tools - Fleur de Lys
progress on 27th January

 Cinderella is coming on nicely.  I really enjoy this project when I pick it up.  The fabric feels divine and the colours are so pretty.  I would like to do this for myself at some point and there is a beautiful pink conversion on Joan's facebook group.  Of course I may change my mind once I start adding all the back stitch.

Cinderella - Joan Elliott
progress as of 27th January

 And finally we have the first part of Santa's Village which I should be stitching on this weekend.  Sadly though, I can't put Cinderella away so it will have to wait for next weekend which should be a lot quieter than this week has been.

Santa's House - CCN
progress as of 27th January

Theme-a-licious update

Here is the progress on my Jardin January so far.

I started off by getting in the mood and giving my 'Garden Tools' a little loving. It's actually stitching up really quickly (for me) now I am getting into it a little bit. It's stitched on 18ct aida which is definitely NOT my favourite fabric.

Garden Tools - Fleur de Lis
progress as of 13th January 2013

Next is Around the World which has had some attention, although not much as I was doing more frogging than stitching.  Really part 6 shouldn't take too long...unless you're me :(

Around the World - Papillon Creations
progress as of 13th January 2013

 And of course, where do you build a snowman?  In a garden!  So it still counts as jardin January.  This is the progress on my 6 Fat Men.

6 Fat Men - Lizzie Kate
progress as of 13th January 2013

MIA - back again!

Gosh, what a long time since I have blogged!  Well I managed 15 days of NaBloPoMo which is much better than my paltry 3 last year!

Hard to see in this pic but Luke's nose is very swollen
and bruised.  He has been a real star about it though!

The last couple of weeks have not been good health wise in our house which is why I haven't blogged or stitched much.  A quick run down is 2 bouts of tonsilitis for me with 2 different courses of antibiotics of which I am still taking the second lot.  A quick question - when you have a throat that feels like someone has shoved a couple of golf balls down it, why do doctor's insist on giving you the biggest tablets they know how to prescribe?  Colin has had some mystery bug that actually caused him to have a day off work and to admit that he shouldn't have gone in the next day either.  Rachael has had a bad cold and injured her back - not together!  Poor Luke found out today that football boot + header = broken nose.  The poor lad currently looks like he went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson!  The hospital said it is too swollen to tell if it is broken and to come back in 10 days when the swelling goes down if it looks mis-shapen.  We are keeping him dosed up with Calpol and Calprofen so it doesn't hurt too much at the moment. So all in all it's not been great although thankfully everything is minor in the grand scheme of things :)

On to stitching news...

I signed up for the Santa's Village autoship from The Patchwork Rabbit.  Karla was really pleasant to deal with and I got the first installment this morning.  It looks even cuter in real life and I will be sorting out some fabric for it later.  Once I finish Nicola's 'thing' (not giving anything away!!), I will stitch the first part.

The first installment of Santa's Village!!!

In terms of actual stitching I have worked on an exchange piece which is winging its way 'somewhere' in the world, so I can't show that.  I am working on Nicola's 'thing' so can't show that either.  I have worked a few stitches on a RR which is shown below and a little of Confetti of Hardanger which hasn't seen enough progress to make it worth a photo - 3 more eyelets, that's all.  There is a little progress on ATW but again not a lot. Cinderella got a little progress too.

RR stitching

ATW - part 5 completed

ATW - so far

The other night Biskey and Smudge were curled up on the sofa.  So cute...

Biskey and Smudge....awww
Smudge is black and white

I have been very lucky recently with winning 3 giveaways.  First up was Cath at The stitchin' chicken and below are the lovely goodies she sent me.  I love the scissors - they are compact and cut well.  I have been having a nightmare lately and have had to chop great chunks out of my Confetti of Hardanger.  I love these JBW designs so was fantastic.  The scissor fob is SO pretty and goes well with the new scissors.  And of course it is impossible to have too much fabric or too many threads...hehehe.  I was thrilled to bits with everything.  THANK YOU CATH!!!

The lovely goodies from Cath (The Stitchin' Chicken)

Then only a few days later I was fortunate enough to win again.  This time it was from Gaynor Stitchers Anon.  Below is the picture of all the gorgeous goodies she chose for me.  There were some gorgeous threads both metallics and variegated.  A gorgeous piece of fabric which is called Sage and looks absolutely nothing like how I have photographed it.  She also sent me one of the charts from my wish list - it's the 2012 LK Santa.  There is a beautiful, beautiful little pillow which has lovely stitching and amazing finishing, I wish mine was so neat. And finally...so rick rack in 4 fab colours.  Thank you SO much Gaynor!!

The lovely goodies I received from Gaynor

The third one was just the other day and was from Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  I have been lucky enough to win her giveaway for Home of a Needleworker.  I think she took pity on me and my dust!!!

Anyway enough of my good fortune and on to the stitching progress.

First up is the absolute bane of my life at the moment.  Confetti of Hardanger by Abi Gurden is gorgeous...well it is to look at.  I am having real problems in placing each part.  I had to give up on the flowers as they were just too hard for me.  So I thought I would move onto the next part which is a simple kloster block 'border'.  How easy can it be?  Hahahaha...wrong.  I have restitched the entire border 4....yes...4 times.  It was frustrating to be polite!!!  I am really hoping that the outer kloster block border won't give me so many problems.  Fingers crossed.....

Confetti of Hardanger - Abi Gurden

 Henry VIII caught my attention one night and had a little more stitched on his coat.  I am really enjoying this one and should give him more time.

Henry VIII and his 6 wives 

 When I was sorting through my stash during a stitchy slump a few weeks ago.  I found this from years and years ago.  I did the over one stitching for 'scissors' and put it away again!

LK scissor case

 I really like stitching this one!  It's Horse Racing by John Clayton and the grass is a lovely big block of mind numbing green!  I can stitch away for ages without looking at the chart or rummaging for a new colour.  The darker green is the start of a shadow for one of the horses.  Once the green is done, I will have stitched around 25% of the design, maybe slightly more.

Horse Racing by John Clayton

 I have worked on ATW a little too. Part 3 was finished and part 4 is now half done.  I am enjoying it but can only stitch it when I can really concentrate or I make mistakes!

Papillon Creations - Around the World in 80 stitches

 I worked on Two Little Love Birds by Love Thy Threads as well but ran out of a thread colour and need to go and get some more.  It is a lovely design and would make a cute wedding or anniversary design for a young couple.

Love Thy Threads - Two Little Love Birds

 And finally....we have Cinderella.  I love, love, love this.  I love the fabric, the thread colours, the design....how am I ever going to give it up?

Cinderella - Joan Elliott

And that's it.  Not much to report really and not much stitching for how long it is since I blogged last.  Thank you if you are still reading!!

I am way behind on reading blogs so I am sorry that I haven't been visiting.  I will get caught up again - honest!!

I'm just a butterfly

The title says it all really.  At the moment I don't seem to be able to settle to any one design so this update is photo heavy as there is a little progress on a few different things.  Before I get on to stitching, if you leave a comment can you mention whether the word verification thing is on?  I am sure I turned it off but just want to check.  I find that I am leaving less and less comments for people as I just cannot be bothered to fight with putting the random words in 2 or 3 times before I get it right.  If I used to comment on your blog but haven't lately this is probably why...but don't worry, I'm still reading!

Ok...on to stitching news...first up is Lizzie Kate's flip it series.  This is January and is either the 2003 or 2004 designs.  I have done a few of the outlines for the blocks but this one is the only one with actual stitching in it.

I have also worked on Papillon Creations Around the World.  I am only on part 2 and I am finding it really tricky.  I have lost the ability to count and read stitch instructions.  On the top tulip the big purple diamond should be all white with the middle in purple and the yellow heart in the bottom one should be white with a yellow middle.  I am trying to decide whether to pull it out or leave it.  It is a three layer stitch and it I take it out I am worried that the fabric may be distorted beyond use and also I really like the effect in real life.  On the other hand though will the colours be too bold to suit the piece further down the line?  I think I may leave it for now and see how the rest of the design pans out.  I can always change it if it starts to annoy me.  Part 2 isn't finished yet so I may pull it back out tomorrow to work on and yet done.  Hopefully part 3 will be easier!  (I am doing the cut version btw).

A happy dance!!!  I have finished Abi Gurden's The Great Escape.  I am really pleased with how it turned out and how most of my specialty stitches look considering most of them I haven't done before.  The colours have worked well I think.  I particularly like the little moths which have a string of beads for the body.  In real life they don't look crooked like they do in the photo.

I then picked up Abi Gurden's latest SAL which is Confetti of Hardanger.  There are already 2 parts out and some of the ladies who have posted their progress have picked amazing colours.  As you know I am a rubbish photographer and the fabric I am working on is nothing like the picture.  It is actually lavender with DMC perle 211 and 554.  The fabric is pretty much DMC 211 itself and looks gorgeous.  This is my progress after part 1.  I had a terrible job with the counting - apparently counting is beyond me at the moment - and have unpicked nearly as much as I stitched!

Another project I have worked on this week is CCN's A Place We Call Home.  I am really hoping that I have enough Cidermill Brown to complete the words.  I think I have but if I need to unpick it, I may not.  I do have another one but it is not a perfect match.  The fabric is really nice to work with and it is nothing special, just a piece of DMC evenweave in ivory.  This was another design that I lost the ability to count on.  The base of the house is 11 stitches and I only stitched 10.  I unpicked the pointed bit of the roof several times before I discovered it was actually the bottom that was wrong and that I had missed out a row.  

Here is where I am up to with Cinderella.  I love stitching on this one and the colours are so pretty.  I know I have to put it down though or I will get bored and never go back to it.  As it isn't for me, that would NOT be good!  In this picture the colours aren't far off being true.

During the week I pulled my sewing machine out and managed to make this.  It's a Q Snap cover in case you're wondering.  I found the instructions HERE which were clear and easy to follow. I only used a cheap piece of fabric that I had in my stash and had to adapt the design a bit as the fabric wasn't long enough.  I am pleased with how it turned out overall and will definitely make some more.  Whilst the machine was out I also took the opportunity to run a hem round all the fabric for my WIP's/UFO's so they won't fray.  I used to ALWAYS do it by hand years ago then switched to masking tape and then finally just didn't bother at all.  Now they all look neat and tidy and it was good practice at sewing in a straight line on something that didn't matter to much if it had a little wobble in it.

And to finish off with I have included a few pictures from the garden.  This is one of my favourite roses which has lost it's tag so I can't tell you what it is called.  It has the most wonderful scent as well as looking very pretty.  Then we have 2 of our gladioli followed by possibly my all time favourite plant, a fuchsia.  It tends to swap between fuchsia's and sweet peas as to which are my favourites!  I have quite a collection of fuchsia's although my best one died about 3 years ago and I have never been able to find a replacement.  It was a small bush type with salmon middle and cream outside called Anita.

Anyone who has made it to the bottom of this mega long post deserves a medal.  Congratulations and please leave a comment to let me know!