Theme-a-licious update for June

Well this month I have stitched predominately on Helen and Kev's wedding sampler. It is finished but I am not going to post a picture until after they have received it. It's only fair that they get to see it before everyone else does!! I cannot possibly think of a story to tie this one into the theme so it will just have to be a 'fail'.

I also stitched on Luke's cushion - it has grass in it and some animals eat grass - that's my theory and I'm sticking to it!!

I finished part one of ATWi80S and have to say it looks absolutely awesome! Not a word I use often but it does!!

I managed to make a start on Cinderella which my aunt asked my mum to ask me if I would stitch it for my cousin! Nothing like going around the houses to get something done is there?

I have also made some progress on Two Little Love Birds (Love Thy Threads) which is coming on a treat. It is a lovely easy stitch and it is so nice to have a decent size chart to stitch from without first having to blow it up to work out what the symbols are.

On a non stitching front, the exam didn't go as well as I thought it had - well at least I don't think it has.  I have to wait until 3rd August to get my result.  I have lodged a complaint with the OU regarding the paper along with many other candidates.  32% of the mark came down to knowing 4 pages of the course materials.   I was revising a full lever arch file, 3 books, 2 DVD's and the UNCRC. Fingers crossed I have done better than I think...but I doubt it!

Bad blogger...that's me!

In fact at the moment I am a bad blogger, bad stitcher, bad everything.  My whole life at the moment revolves around cramming enough knowledge into my head so that I can pass my exam which is on Thursday.  YIKES! Colin took the kids to his parents so I have had child free time to study which has been good and it's rained the whole time here which is also good as I don't feel like I was missing out on doing something else.

I have done a little stitching this month but not a lot.  The camera battery is dead so I can't show any pictures until later on but I have finished off the licquorice allsorts design which is then going out as a RR. I have done a bit on Helen and Kev's wedding sampler.  This is going to be focused on once the exam is out of the way so that they do finally get it!  If you see me stitching on anything else, shout at me.

Around the World has 1 heart completely finished other than beads.  I will work on that too once the exam is out of the way but of course not until I have finished the wedding one.  I have also put a few stitches into Two Little Love Birds but not many!

My cousin has asked me if I will stitch a design for her.  Now why I didn't find out what design it was first before I said yes, I don't know.  So I have now got the fabric to stitch JE's Cinderella from Cross Stitch Gold.  I did warn her that I was not the quickest stitcher and not to expect it for a good while.

I think that is all the news on the stitching front.  Nothing much else to say unless you want to hear all about my revision...as I don't really, I'm sure you won't...lol.  I have been reading the odd blog between studying but I haven't left comments.  I do feel really bad about that, so please accept my apologies.  Normal service will be resumed very shortly.

And finally....welcome to my new followers, I'm really pleased you're here. x x

Theme-a-licious mid month update

Ha! Late again!  Nothing new there, is there?

I have been really good and worked exclusively on Helen and Kev's wedding sampler...apart from yesterday when I really wanted to work on Around the World in 80 stitches.  So I did!  The first heart is finished apart from the beads.  I have done the backstitch outline of the second heart but that is all.  I'm really annoyed because I have misplaced one of my Q Sanps.  I have my small one but can't find the other one anywhere...grrrr.

This is my pathetic attempt at some arty type shots.  Maybe I should read Colin's camera manual properly!

Apart from stitching there is very little news other than Rachael finally got her music exam result from 28th March.  She passed her Grade 1 with distinction.  WELL DONE RACHAEL :)

Oh dear...who forgot their WIPocalypse update?

Yes that would be me!

I have only stitched on Cotswold Village this month as a WIP and as a photo of that was posted for my Theme-a-licious update, I won't bore you with another.  I am going to focus on my wedding sampler for Colin's sister and hubby this month.

This week's progress

This week has been a bit on and off for stitching.  I hurt my back earlier in the week - by getting washing out of the machine.  How ridiculous is that?  Honestly, who injures themselves sorting out laundry!  I have tried resting it and gentle exercise and so far neither have made much difference.

Colin took the photos for me this week and you can have a guess as to which one he described as "that's probably the most boring photo I have ever taken in my life".

I have worked on my RR piece this week which is now going to be the remainder of the Zodiac cats RR.  As it is just a blob of white on white, I spared Colin having to take the second most boring photo of his life too!"

I have worked on  started CCN "She sells seashells" but haven't made an awful lot of progress on it so far.  I am stitching it on Kiwi Illusions 'bourbon' which is gorgeous and has a lovely feel to it (I think it is Jazlyn).  It does look slanted on the photo but it's not really.

Possibly the most boring photo Colin ever took!
CCN - She Sells Seashells
Fabric - Kiwi Illusions Bourbon
Threads - CC called for

There has been some progress made on the Wedding Sampler this week but not a lot!  This design is really growing on me the more I stitch it.  It's still not something I would want for myself but I am enjoying it a lot more than I was.  Interestingly it made me realise the other day that I never stitched anything for our wedding day or for either of the children being born!

Helen and Kev's wedding sampler
Janlynn - Married this Day

Whilst blog hopping recently, I have seen loads of lovely "Tree of Stitches".  I am in love.  Thankfully Abi Gurden who runs/moderates/designs The Stitch Specialists yahoo group let me in!  I have made a start on my Tree of Stitches and so far I'm loving it.  I chose to go for a dramatic, contrasting look and am using a piece of  Sparklies fabric in 'fire' with The Thread Gatherer silk.  I am using another silk but the name escapes me at the moment.

Tree of Stitches - Abi Gurden - The Stitch Specialists on Yahoo
Fabric - Sparklies Fire 28ct lugana
Trunk - GAST Blackcurrant
Leaves - The Thread Gatherer Blue Violet and HDF unknown

Progress this week

I have been concentrating on the wedding sampler for most of the week although saying that I haven't managed to get a lot of stitching done.  This is my progress so far.  There are constant colour changes in this - 3 or 4 stitches and I'm snipping the threads again.  It does seem to be stitching up quite quickly though once I get in the flow of it.

I mentioned previously that I was going to participate in a RR again for the first time in ages.  As there was only going to be 3 of us in the group, I chose a trio of sunset designs from World of Cross Stitch  magazine which are gorgeous!  We have now had another lady join us to make a 4 so it is back to the drawing board - what a hardship to have to go stash fondling!  This is how far I had got with stitching my part of the designs.  The colours are so vibrant and are a real joy to stitch.  I must make sure this doesn't become a UFO.

Last night I fancied a complete change from the wedding sampler and decided to root through the WIP/UFO box. Roots to grow, wings to fly caught my eye so I managed to put a couple of lengths of thread in that before needing an early night.  I can't for the life of me remember what the fabric is but it is absolutely gorgeous to hold as you're stitching.  Might be a Silkweaver possibly but no idea which one.

WIP update

I have been working on the wedding sampler all week - on and off, in the hope that it may be finished soon.  It is driving me mad though with all the colour changes every few stitches.  The design isn't really my cup of tea (it was chosen bySIL and hubby) which I don't think is helping matters.  Still it's getting there slowly! If you compare it to the Wip's page it is possible to see progress.

Helen and Kev's Wedding Sampler

I have recently joined a RR group on facebook and will be starting that in September.  It is ages since I have been involved in a RR so I am really looking forward to it.  I haven't decided on a theme yet though so need to get my thinking cap on!