Again a finish, some progress, and lots of gridding

Wipocalypse - August 2012 update - part 2

For this update I was hoping to have 2 finishes, but will have to settle with one.

The final card to the 'Country Trio' is complete:

It only took 2 evenings to do in the end. The problem with this design was that the chart was in the magazine my sister decided to borrow awhile back, and she happens to live on the other side of the country! Eventually she has agreed to scan and e-mail me the chart. [Of course I have now deleted the copy on my computer in view of copyright and all.]

Continuing on the update: this month held little progress on the HAED:

August 2012 - part 1

August 2012 - part 2

then the recent start had a few extra colours stitched:

August 2012 - part 1

August 2012 - part 2

The HAED was a little big and uncomfortable to stitch during the film sessions in the evenings, so I picked something smaller. Or rather had my mum pick. I decided to stitch either 'Venice' or 'Dance Leader' after completing the small card; she chose the second.

Speaking about mum ... I have mentioned last time that she was going away for 3 weeks, so during them I have concentrated on something for her. Since her return I have been working on the 'Handpicked by Fizzy' during my lunch hour at work (which slowed the progress down). I was hoping to complete this project for this update, but still need to do almost all of the backstitching. I might take this project to work on the train to London this weekend.

August 2012 - part 1

August 2012 - part 2

My mum is also in need of some leftover threads for her sketchbook on colour for the latest module of her course. So I have moved on to another project I have begun awhile back:

March 2012

It is a Dimensions kit, which means I won't be able to use the leftover thread for any other projects pretty much. So I just need to complete it now.

August 2012 - part 2

Although it does not look like much extra was stitched (which is true - only 2 hours went into stitching), I have spent quite a few nights gridding ... hope it will help make the stitching go smoother and faster.

Till soon,

            

Progress, a Finish, and a Start

Wipocalypse - August (part 1)

I have finally started 'Handpicked by Fizzy': 

June 2012

Only a little bit though:

August 2012 - part 1

Then a little bit more done on the John Clayton's Venice:

July 2012

August 2012 - part 1

The closeups of the two parts:

Now to the finish! I am very proud of crossing one of the list. So 'does my bum look big in this?' is now done:

before

August 2012 - part 1 - done

closeup

And the HAED progress:

July 2012

August 2012 - part 1

And now to something I am not entirely proud of, a new start ... When I have finished my hippo I was tempted and gave in to a new start:

August 2012 - part 1

closeup

IHSW July 2012

For the weekend of stitching I have decided to put aside my HAED, and stitch on something that has been previously abandoned. This way I wouldn't feel extremely guilty stitching all weekend. So I have picked up the following: 

prior to 21/7/12

And after a day and a bit of backstitching (which I hate) I was very proud of myself. I have finished it!

Done!

And here is a closeup:

closeup

It was an Anchor kit, designed by Judy Rossouw, and stitched on 14bpi white Aida fabric. According to the kit it is 18 x 18cm (7 x 7"), though I haven't checked.

So after this uplifting feeling of completion you ask me - what have you stitched then? Anything else closer to a finish? And the answer is no. I have done something despicable - I have started something new. Having 13 projects in the abyss I chose to start something new. In my defence I have just completed a project ... and went to get the rabbit out of the box to work on but found this one all bright colours and summery first:

22/7/12

It is 'Kiongozi - Dance Leader'. A Fleur de Lis kit, with Anchor stranded cotton. The original art work by the Kenya artist Gakonga. The fabric is 18bpi cream Aida, and it is to be 27 x 8cm (10.5 x 3"). It will go very well with 'Watembea Nyumbani (Walking Home)' I have completed last year, based on the art work of the same artist.

closeup

So I have spent the Sunday gridding and almost finishing two colours. Now it will go into its zip plastic folder that has been vacated by the hippo. I have something else planed for stitching next. My mum is going on a 3 week holiday ... which means it is perfect time to stitch something for her. And whats not better but 3 of my works in progress are/were being stitched for her.


                                                                                                                   

Oh dear ... I have missed some out

I have been tidying up ... and managed to find more unfinished projects .... how is it possible that they keep appearing in the most unlikeliest places.

So the updated list:

1) Handpicked by Fizzy

2) Country Trio

3) Lickle Ted with a daffodil - I have found the unfinished project

4) Xmas Chums

5) Good Heavens

6) Making Lickle Wishes

7) John Clayton: Big Ben

8) John Clayton: Venice

9) John Clayton: Calla Lily

10) does my bum look big in this?

11) A "secret" card

12) The Snowman Card

[and now the added ones]:

13) 'Meet Baby Newton' from The World of Cross Stitching issue 128. I have definitely forgotten this one.

14) Fizzy Moon card kit. Again my backstitching is lacking.

15) 'Tending the Flock' from Cherished Teddies and Friends. A matching pillow hopefully to one in my earlier posts.

16) 'Picture of elegance'. I have started Sara Moon from The World of Cross Stitching issue 181. 

Oh well, I now have a 16 instead of a 12 list ... I guess there is a bigger choice for me to crack on with.

Thank you for the lovely comments on the previous post. Yes, I tend to stitch an entire colour before going onto next, unless they are broken up. Start in the middle and unless there is a massive gap continue with one colour. I guess it will be different with huge pieces that require many many chart pages. That way I can see progress, and will not get annoyed with finding more and more missed crosses of colour.

My New Year Stitching Resolutions for 2012

Well, one of my resolutions should be to stitch less ... after all I have thousands of things that need to be done apart from my lovely projects. 

But even so I want to mark some progress in this year. So my 12 projects - one for each month. This is a rough guide, as they are all different sizes, and would take various lengths of time. Also again my availability to stitch would vary from month to month. So in no order of preference:

1) 'Handpicked by Fizzy'. This is from a Calendar that came with World of Cross Stitching magazine. I have not begun the project yet. But it was in my list to do last year. I have stitched one other design from the 4 in the magazine last November - December. If I were to be honest I'd put all the Fizzy Moon designs I could find on the list to stitch. They are so lovely! I have done one 3 so far. One small card with a rose and another Christmassy were both given to my mum as presents. The third is yet to go up to the blog in March after it will be given as a present.

2) 'Country Trio'. One of three flowers is left to complete. 2 of them have been stitched and given as cards. I do not yet know who will receive this third one. 

The one to do!

3) Lickle Ted with a daffodil. I do not have a picture of this little project ... as I still need to locate it amongst my many belongings. It has been begun half a year ago ... and only needs half the backstitching to do. It is so tiny - I do not know why I haven't managed to complete it yet.

4) 'Xmas chums'. Fizzy Moon again! I have begun it as a present for christmas during summer ... managed to stitch the entire face before realising I have stitched it 10 squares lower than the centre. How silly! I then did not know whether to continue and have the design lower than the centre or unpick everything! I know it is not much ... but I hate unpicking so much. So I have stitched a different project instead.

5) 'Good Heavens'. An Anchor kit I bought on sale. Begun after finishing the walking home women, just to abandon to do the Fizzy Moon for Christmas present rush. I haven't yet managed to talk myself into picking it up again.

6) 'Making Lickle Wishes'. Maybe one of my more ambitious projects. It just seems so huge and scary. I begun it last March or April ... just to put aside to do smaller projects. Starting projects is so fun, yet the novelty always disappears fast, and all is left is annoyance at a blank canvas with its lack of stitches to count by. One has to change threads, and I do like completing colour by colour ... progress that way could be seen more clearly. Oh well ... believe it or not but I have done an entire colour in it - Ecru, and begun another. And this is the progress after quite a bit of work. 

7) John Clayton: 'Big Ben'. This I haven't yet begun, yet have contemplated. So I want to be hopeful that I'd get some time to start it this year.  There are several John Clayton kits I have acquired from eBay ... but decided to only aim to do 14-count. Scared for the others at the moment as they are even-weave, and I haven't yet done any on this type of fabric before. And probably want to buy some equipment to enlarge the fabric ... and not ruin my eyes further.

8) John Clayton: 'Venice". Again yet to begin.

9) John Clayton: 'Calla Lily'. Same as before. The last of John Clayton kits I want to attempt this coming year.

10) 'does my bum look big in this?' I saw this in a shop and just had to have it. Such an amazing morale boost ... I just keep telling myself that I am not fat ... I just look fat in the clothes I might be wearing. Sort of optimistic view of life. As you can probably see I have finished cross stitching it ... only need to backstitch it. The thing I hate most after unpicking! Anyhow hopefully this year it will be done.

11) A card kit that came along with one of the back copies of a magazine I have especially ordered for this card. I only have french knots to do. But again since it is a present it will only be pictured here once it is given - which should be by the end of the month I hope!

12) The Snowman card. I have begun this around last January ... hoping it would be done for the end of year festivities ... but it got put aside due to other more exciting projects. Stitching white on white is one of the things that put me off ... there seems to be no progress with this sort of stitching.

So the entire list is done ... good luck to me. I set off on this adventure intending to complete all of them ... yet as always this might be too hopeful. Fingers cross for success.

Till 9th of January then,

Lija

Finished finally

This project has taken me longer than I have expected to finish ...

'Watembea Nyumbani (Walking Home)' original art work by the Kenyan artist Gakonga. It has been done on 18bpi cream Aida fabric, much more strenuous for the eyes in comparison to the 14count I normally do.

An Anchor kit I bought on sale ... it is also something different to what I'd choose. I am already working on the next one, but again I have picked a rather big project, so might have to update the progress.

It is also slightly askew ... hopefully this will change with ironing. 

Till next time,

Lija

New everything

Well, I have now moved into my new place ... it's nice central and yet near nature. I even managed to make friend's with a local squirrel ...

Constant internet access when needed and not needed is great ... but there as always there is a lot to do with not enough time. Application for jobs amongst others. The need to decide on the future is quite pressing ... oh dear. Aw well and to cross stitch ...

I love Newton bear .. this is my first of the set yet to come ... I have done it during summer. An Anchor kit ... enough thread, but which wasn't very strong unfortunately, it kept pulling apart and ripping. I don't think I have the same problem with DMC though. So whether the other one is just stronger ... or it was me being aggressive I don't know.

Till soon,

When I  have an exciting new project to share,

Lija