The World of Giveaways, Exchanges, Wipocalypse, and Extravaganza

It is a very long time since I have posted ... missed an entire week's worth of Extravaganza, but hopefully my excuses are good enough to warrant lack of blogging/stitching.

I have now officially graduated! And here is proof:

me outside the Cathedral

So now I am a Master of Mathematics with a 2:2 in the subject from Durham University. A little disappointed in the grade, but it is life and there is nothing I can do about it now. Things could have been worse after all. I missed my offer for the graduate course at Newcastle University, but they gave me an interview and decided to take a chance on me. So I am going to study for another year in an    ex-Durham college. (Newcastle used to be part of Durham, but have gained independence sometime in the past.)  

I have now also moved out of my Owengate room:

my old room

I am going to miss it very much, along with the view out of my window:

view of opposite roofs

to the right

to the left

and to the right again

And there is even the Durham Cathedral in the background.

From my room photo you can guess that I have lots of things. More than 3 car loads ... and since I haven't managed to convince anyone to help me move I had to hire a van. Two hours and bit later I had moved out (though it took an entire day to pack). And sadly now I cannot find most of the things that I own. Since everything is packed up in bags. Luckily I have located my camera and some of the stitching, but not all.

Giveaways:

First of all a thank you to Thea of the Gizzimomo's Stitchy Place for a wonderful gift I have won on her 200 followers giveaway. I wanted to include a photo, but the gift is packed away. It was a 'My Memories Suite 3' software, which I am excited to try out ... once I manage to clear out my poor little MacBook from the junk on it. Fairies, and Angels cross stitch booklets, fabric, cross stitch kit, a knitted pincushion and some stitching bits and bobs. This the first blog giveaway that I have won, so I was very happy to receive the package.

When I was showing off my gift to friends over lunch, someone pointed out that it is now my turn to return a favour and do a giveaway myself. I think I'm going to make myself a promise to do one once I reach 100 followers, but that is still in a distant future.

Exchanges:

I have participated in a Margaret Sherry's Summer Exchange. Which is what I spent stitching most of my free time... but I am unable to share it since it is still in the post to its final destination.

But I can share with you what I received from Marcinha (a big thank you):

front

back

I love the snail so much! I have seen it previously on MSherryLovers blog and was planning on getting a chart myself. I haven't decided yet on what I will use it for. I will probably need to unpack everything before I can decide what this will be used for.

Extravaganza: 

My HAED stitching is still stuck on the first page:

part 3

So I have finished almost all dark blue (I now realise I missed a little) and started purple. This was the progress I was meant to post last Tuesday for the Extravaganza update ... but miss located camera etc ... and now the stitching too ... so one update short:

part 4

And finally onto ...

Wipocalypse:

The progress on the HAED:

June 

July

And then as I lost it in the move I have picked up John Clayton's Venice:

June

I was a little annoyed that the stitching is at the top and bottom, so far way, but if I want to wind up on bobbins the leftover thread I should stitch all the combinations of it first: 

July

And the closeups:

I have furniture arriving today ... so maybe a little more unpacking and I can find more stitching.

Until next time,

                     

June and Wipocalypse

Two things have downed on me recently. When I was creating my brand new tab for Wipocalypse I have realised the following:

- I tend to pick one and stitch, with some projects still lying stored away.
- I only have 2 out of 18 complete. [next update marks half a year of stitching and this is a very sad number]

So something might have to change. Maybe a rotation (like I have noticed some of you bloggers do). And definitely more finishes are in order.

Thinking this, I have pulled more of them out and now have two finishes, two starts, and small progress on a few others ... so read on.

1) 'Handpicked by Fizzy' - I have provided some 14 count aida to aid my motivation. 

June 2012

... and then it went back in the box.

3) Lickle Ted with a daffodil is now done

before

June 2012

I have braved the hatred of backstitching and finished this little fella.

4) Xmas Chums: Remember my dilemma about this one? Probably not ... it was so long ago. Well, the stitching is 10 squares lower than needed.

before

after some frogging

I will remove the stitching and start again with this one. Almost ready to begin afresh. Then maybe gridding.

Last month I have bought some easy count gridding for my new HAED. So I went a little crazy with making my life easier with smaller projects ... which saw my first attempt at using the stuff for:

8) John Clayton: Venice

June 2012

and behold an entire colour complete already.


12) The Snowman Card - a little progress ...

before

June 2012

13) 'Meet Baby Newton' - my second finish that I am very proud of:

May 2012

June 2012

Notice ... all the backstitching done too


18) HAED This is a new addition to the wips. It will take a long time to stitch, so I thought it deserved to be added to this list. It is also something I am stitching for the Summer Extravaganza (with an update due tomorrow - I highly doubt there will be anything added to make a difference). Nonetheless here it is:

June 2012

I am stitching it on the 18 count aida ... I think I will not name the design for now.

Well that is it for now. I have a summer exchange to concentrate on, and go crazy with my HAED in the spare time, so I envision a shorter update next month. 

Until tomorrow,

Lija

John Clayton and meet baby Newton progress...

The current moon's progress on Wipocalypse

The progress since last moon:

John Clayton: Big Ben:

before

May 2012

Quite a bit of progress can be observed since the last time this was posted... all the sky/blues are finished now! But there is an error which stopped me stitching ... I just hate the unpicking. The dark colour in the water reflection should not be there, and have light beige instead. The two colours have almost an identical symbol for them ... hence the error of judgement.

So this project was cast aside for something more exciting ...

Meet Baby Newton:

There was little progress on the stitching in general before now. It was begun during the summer just after a finish. A little stitching of one colour, but was quickly cast aside ... at the time I had only one or two shades required for the project. Since then I have bought the needed skeins of thread, but did not pick the stitching up until last month.

before...

Now the cat and Newton are almost done, and hopefully I will finish this one in the next two months (next moon might be a bit of wishful thinking).

May 2012

There are still some small finished cards to post ... but with shortage of time and possibly one of the most busiest 3 weeks of revision coming up ... the stitching needs to be packed up into boxes.

Lija

John Clayton Calla Lily finish...

An exciting Wipocalypse update for April 2012... 

I have a finish of one of the works in progress (and increased the leftover bobbins in my box of thread ... a picture of which I promise for the next update). It is the 'Calla Lily' by John Clayton, which was a Heritage kit I bought from eBay. It was a small distraction from when I was working on the Lickle Ted stitching a few months ago, but somehow it has got completed first. Unfortunately, there is no progress to report on the Lickle Ted and bunny stitching. This is how the work looked a moon ago:

March 2012

 And now this is how it looks complete:

April 2012

I absolutely adore the design for several reasons. For one there is almost no backstitching (only one stitch!) The colours are gorgeous, and the image begging to be displayed. But before that can be done I will need to complete the other 7 flowers in the series, as I personally feel they should all go together and I love all 8 of them. Not certain on how yet. Maybe 2 frames of 4 flowers per frame. Once I stitch a few more it will be clear.

As a reward to this completion, and while still on the hype of John Clayton's beautiful images (paintings) I have decided to start one of the other kits I had on the Wipocalypse to do list - John Clayton's 'Big Ben'.

April 2012

I did not get far with stitching when a realisation hit me ... it is almost April. A month of all birthdays it seems. Not only mine (that is the birthday of the least worries for a stitcher) but of three friends and 2 coworkers (stitched cards is a new thing for me and I have not yet introduced them to the work aspect of my life - but having been invited to attend a birthday meal and knowing that it is rude to show up empty handed ... it is the perfect time to start). So far I have created only 4 birthday cards and now I need 5 for one month ... to stitch in less than a month. I thought I was off on a good start when I have competed a beautiful one of a rose (which has taken me days!) only to be pointed out that the person I have made it for is colour blind. 

My progress on this to follow ... as a hint I am working on some designs in the current issue of the World of Cross Stitching magazine, one back issue of the same magazine, and have completed the unfortunately rose on the problem of which I am still pondering.

Till soon,

Lija 

WIPocalypse March 2012 update

There is not much progress to report this month. Mainly due to several deadlines, and me forbidding myself to cross stitch.

Firstly a finish:

This is one of the two cards I have made this month in relation to birthdays. Surprisingly it took much longer than expected to do. But it is done and posted ... slightly belated.

A new start ... so I guess a new WIP since it will take a while to do this one. This is the Dimension's project I was unable to resist buying and starting ...

The progress on current projects:

First the lilies. You can see a tiny bit of progress in the bottom part:

before

after

The Lickle Ted has very small progress on the grass:

before

after

 Well I hope I will do better for next month. No distracting with knitting ...

Till then,

Lija

Lickle Ted further progress, a finish, and a new start ...

A quick note on the progress on the Wipocalypse:

(brief as I am a little busy)

The finish is the card I haven't mentioned before. It was done for my sister - a get well after her trip to hospital for an operation. 

 The progress on the Lickle Ted ... 

before ...

 I have finished the bear and the rabbit and have started on the green. I think it is shaping to be very pretty!

now ...

A new start to give me a bit of diversity in the stitching, but I have got slightly carried away with it... 

So till next time,

Lija

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