Summer Breeze

Another new WIP:

This is Leisure Arts Summer Breeze by Paula Vaughan. I had problems with this at first and had to unpick everything I had done and re-start. It wasn't helped by the fact there are a load of fractional stitches in it! I hate fractionals!!! There is also a lot of backstitch (which I also hate) so I am planning to do it as I go along.

I am going to start 'The Master' next which is a male lions head and I can't wait. I love lions!

Day 2 of Celtic Winter

Here is my progress on Celtic Winter after my second evening of stitching:

The white is wisper thread. It is the first time I have used this and I was surprised how easy it was to stitch with. Although I have to remember to keep the lengths shorter than normal otherwise it is bald before I reach the end, not quite the effect I am after.

I have started with the silver thread and think it will look good on the finished piece. I was going to use gold as charted, but with the blues of the cloak thought the silver would look better. I decided to use Petite Treasure Braid as I find this stitches up easier than other brands I have used in the past. It is more 'sparkly' than it looks in the photo.

Day 2 of Sleigh Ride

This is my progress of Dimensions Sleigh Ride for the second Monday night stitch along:

Although it still looks like a blob you can see the trees at the top left of the picture developing if you know what to look for - honest. I think another one or two nights of stitching will get me to the start of a roof and that should look a bit more interesting.

Tomboy Update

Tomboy by HAED is my focus project and I am planning to stitch on this in between my other WIP. Here is my progress so far:

I didn't get as much stitching time this week as I started an exciting new project for the business and this is taking more of my time than I thought it would. The story of my life! I will give details of the project when it is closer to being finished.

Stitch Along 2

I am stitching L&L Celtic Winter as part of a stitch along on Tuesday evenings. This is my progress so far for one evening:This is the original Celtic Winter version with the cloak added. I wish I had more time to stitch as I wanted to carry on with this as I am really enjoying it.

I decided to start at the bottom this time for a change. I want to stitch the cloak first and then see how the original chart fits in with it.

Stitch Along 1

I started Dimensions Sleigh Ride last night as part of a stitch along with the "International & UK Round Robins" ezboard. We are working on this design every Monday evening. My progress so far:

New Year New Start

This year I am working on being organised.

I am updating both my blog and my personal website http://www.jthanson.co.uk . I still have loads to do.

I spent ages working out a layout for my cross stitch WIP gallery pages and am pleased with the result. I am receiving good feedback for it already which is great. To see what I have done go to: http://www.jthanson.co.uk/tomboy.htm

My cross stitch goals for 2007 are to have started:
Ladies
1 HAED - Tomboy
2 WOCS - Regency Lady
3 L&L - Celtic Winter
4 L&L - The Quiltmaker
5 HAED - At First Sight
6 HAED - Pink Rose
7 HAED - A Favour
21 Solaria Gallery – Girl from Alhambra
Christmas
8 DMC - Home for the Holidays
9 Dimensions - Sleigh Ride
10 Diane Graebner - Christmas Eve
11 Waxing Moon - Bring on the Snow
12 Diane Graebner - Home for the Holidays
13 Lizzie*Kate - Winter Boxer
Animals
14 DMC - Tiger and Cub
15 CNSC - The Master (Lion)
16 CNSC - The Visitor (Fox)
Scenic
17 John Clayton - Mountains and Lakes
18 Mystic Stitch - Evening Lights
19 Leisure Arts - Summer Breeze
20 New Stitches - Highland scene

I have made a webpage on my personal site for my rotation with links to the gallery pages to show ongoing progress. To see it go to: http://www.jthanson.co.uk/rotation.htm

My progress so far:

HAED - Tomboy

HAED - A Favour

WOCS - Regency Lady

HAED - The Pink Rose

Two Week Cross Stitch Progress

I have finished two coasters since I last posted:

This is the top part of the Lizzie*Kate chart "Think Spring". I stitched it on a pearl fleck Aida which looks very pretty. Unfortunately it doesn't show up in the scan. The second coaster is a daffodil from the "Little Ones" range:

I am now stitching a lamb which completes the four spring theme coasters.

My main stitching project this week is HAED - "Tomboy":

This is what it looked like when I picked it up on Sunday. At the bottom of this page I will get to some ivy which is growing over the wall. I can't wait, although it is doubtful if I will get to it this week.

Last week I stitched on the "Pinn" kit "Japanese Beauty (Reading). This is where I got to when I packed it away:

Next week I am adding to my rotation. I am sticking to every other week on "Tomboy" but the other weeks I am going to do a random rotation on four projects: L&L Celtic Autumn (my own colour conversion); Jill Oxton's Giraffe; Lizzie*Kate Winter Boxer as well as Japanese Beauty (Reading). These are the four main projects from my 101 Tasks in 1001 Days list.

A Favourite Quote:
"A mistake is simply another way of doing things."
Katharine Graham

Over-dyed SBQ

My answer to the SBQ:

Do you or have you stitched with over-dyed threads? (Weeks Dye Works, The Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Six Strand Sweets, etc.) If so, what is your opinion concerning them? If not, why not?

I have tried them but didn't think they were worth the extra cost. Also they don't suit my method of stitching. I use one strand folded in half and use the loop start. I find this much quicker and neater. Also I have been told that you are better not to wash the stitching once completed and I prefer to be able to wash items.

If I found a project that really would benefit from them I would try again.

I do like looking at them though - some of the colour variations are very pretty.

OK, as I am typing this I am gradually convincing myself that I should give them another try.

A Favourite Quote:
"Never test the depth of the water with both feet."

Birthday Flip-it Completed

I have completed #69 off my 101 Tasks in 1001 Days list. The 'birthday' flip-it is now ready to be made into a quilt with all the other Lizzie*Kate monthly and holiday Flip-it's:

I was anxious when I started stitching it, but think it has turned out well. I adapted the 'Birthday Blessings' chart.

I also made good progress with the Pinn Japanese Lady at the weekend:

It will be good when she gets a head!

A Favourite Quote:
"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes."
Oscar Wilde