WIPocolypse January 2012!

It's that time already and I have made some progress on my WIPs for the year - yay!  You can see my (ever-changing) WIPocolypse list by clicking on the tab above ;-)

I got a new camera for Christmas, so here goes with the first progress photos:

1  SAL Bookend Kitty (HAED) 

I started this yesterday, a little behind the scheduled SAL week on the Board, but I was into another WIP and didn't want to stop and prep fabric.  A bit messy, but I've got a few stitches in.  Stitched on 28ct Almond jazlyn, two over one, tent stitch.  Yes a bit of a change for me - not my usual jobelan (which I am regretting slightly as the holes seem a bit harder to see on the jazlyn) and tent stitch!  Controversial I know, but I decided to give it a go after using it on my Chelsea square.

 

2  Mini Masquerade (HAED)

I started this on Christmas Day as a present to myself lol!  Well the kids were in bed and DH was asleep on the sofa - what else was I supposed to do eh?

Stitched on 28ct light lilac jazlyn (again although the holes are easier to see on this colour) and again two over one, tent stitch.  This is my first mini from HAED and I have to say I was a little concerned when I first started, I really couldn't see any detail and was sure that it was going to look a blurry mess.  But of course I should trust in the charting (as always) and look there you go, I have daffodils!  Again looking a little messy but I have literally taken it off the Q-Snap to make a start on Kitty then I think I will go back to it.  My first 'black and white' too - just a few colours, so amazing how much detail there is!

Well that's me this time round.  Happy stitching everyone :-)

With head hanging in shame ...

... I blog today :-(  I have been absent from blogging for too long.   I missed IHSW in December and I've still not updated my wips or sorted out my goals for this year and we are already a few days in!!

But worse, I have still not stitched Cucki's travelling pattern, for which I can only apologise and say that life really did in the way in December with organising Christmas, the end of the school term and DH returning from an 8 month stint in Saudi :-(  I am hoping that now things have calmed down - ie. the kids have gone back to school - I can sit and stitch it this weekend. 

So keep 'em peeled for another update very soon!  I PROMISE!

December IHSW

It's that time of the month already - yay!  Hermit and stitch for all you are worth :-)  I'm hoping to get some major stitchy time in as DH isn't home yet so it's just me and the girls.  Just click on the hermie link to the right and that'll take you right to where you need to be!

Happy hermitting everyone! 

... and the blogging is still behind!

I don't seem to be getting the hang of this, do I? ;-)

I am waaaay behind with my stitchy questions and I have now received the travelling pattern and a really lovely Christmas card from Jo.  I really must get my stitch on with that pattern!  Life has rather got in the way with school finishing and Christmas coming but I am very conscious that I need to get it done - sorry everyone!  I am still in two minds what to do, whether to follow the pattern or go for something small and different - I think something different might win.

Anyway back to the questions for now:

Day 5: How long did it take from the time to learned to stitch, to finish your first project?

eeek, can't remember how long that first piece took me .. it must have been a few weeks.  Well it was 20 odd years ago and didn't make a note then of how long things took me.

Day 6: What is your favourite piece that you've stitched?

It's a toss up between the birth sampler I did for my DD2 or my HAED finish, Porthole of Fantasy.  The sampler for sentimental reasons and the HAED, well because it's a HAED!

Day 7: Your least favourite?

Well, it's one of my UFOs.  It's a picture of Valentino Rossi on his bike that I decided to stitch for DH for our wedding anniversary about 4 years ago.  There is 27 different shades on blue and it's on 14ct aida *shudder* needless to say, that's why it's a UFO! 

Advent Calendar 14 December 2011

Hello everyone joining in the fun with the blogging advent calendar!  Today is my turn and I have chosen a picture of a cushion I completed last year to add to our Christmas decorations.  He was really quick to stitch and the pillow came ready made but I think he looks great!

Our tree has been up for some time, my three girls couldn't wait.  Since then our two kitties have been making whoopie with my ornaments - luckily the precious ones at at the top :-)

As the girls are still quite young, we are still 'developing' our traditions.  Some things that I have continued from when I was are a present at the end of the bed (keeps them quiet for a bit in the morning) and waiting until they have eaten breakfast before opening presents - mean I know but let's face it once they get started it all seems to be over in minutes!

Best wishes for the Christmas season to you all!

Ok Ok .. I know

I've been AWOL again, and I haven't kept up with my question of the day either :-(  BUT I have got some news to share ... I will be the next recipient of the travelling pattern!!!  You can see it on Jo's blog here and check out how gorgeous Jo's version of it is!  I'm looking forward to its arrival :-)

Hopefully normal service will now resume, and I will try and pick up where I left off on the questions ... well I'll try anyway lol

Hasn't worked very well, has it!?

The whole point of these questions was to try and encourage me to blog everyday.  Well .. uh .. nope, that ain't happened!  Here we are on 4 November and I've missed three days' worth already .. oops!  Right, catch up time.

Day 2: What is your current stitching project?

At the moment I am working on one of my HAED projects, Tranquility.

Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs?

Seriously, is this a loaded question or what lol !  Of course I have other WIPs, or should I call them (slow)WIPs?  I have - actually I am not going to say how many - other HAEDs on the go and also some kits that are in my 'deep storage' that really ought to be finished at some point.

Day 4: How did you learn to stitch?

I bought a kit and followed the instructions!  So totally self-taught as no-one in my family, or none of my friends come to think of it, were stitchers.  My Nan used to knit and crochet and my Mum can knit and is great with a sewing machine, but at the time she wasn't a stitcher (although I have now turned her to the dark side, along with my sister!).

Not really much else to blog about today and, most boringly, no photos :-( I've been making steady progress on Tranquility and had hoped to have half the page done by now but I'm not quite there yet.  Hopefully I might get caught up a bit over the weekend, children allowing.

We've had the final page for the SAL today too, so I really ought to do some more on Curl Up as I think I am a couple of posts short of the requirement to qualify for the remainder of the SAL charts.  I  also need to do some more work on Ice Wind, but I just can't seem to tear myself away from Tranquility.  On the plus side though, I have met - quite unintentionally - some of my yearly goals on the HAED BB!  Yay, go me!

Trying to get back in the blogging groove ...

I've been in a bit of a blogging blackspot for a while now so, finding inspiration from my fellow stitcher and blogger Kerry, I am going to try and answer one stitchy related question a day and what better day to start than the first of a month?  Thanks to Kerry for the questions - you can find her fabulous blog here and if you want to know what other questions there are, you can check them out in the "Coming Soon" section of my blog.

Although I may not have been blogging, I have been stitching, and got a page finish on Tranquility which I am very excited about.  It took me exactly four weeks - not bad considering that the little bit of butterfly was a confetti nightmare!  Still, it was mostly lots and lots of blue - disappointingly I haven't been able to spot the butterfly shapes that are apparent in the background of the original art. Perhaps they will become more visable as I move through the next page.

I've been having issues with iPhoto and can't get photos from my camera to my lappy which is frustrating to say the least.  I shouldn't complain as this is the first problem I've ever had with my Mac - perhaps Mr Jobs is having the last word ;-) RIP - such a cool guy.

So, here is a picture but it was taken on my iPhone so you will have to excuse the quality :-(

I have moved on to page 2 which is lots more blue and a whole butterfly this time.  I'm hoping to get through it quickly because I want to get to her face on page 3!

Finally, today's question of the day :-)

Day 1: What was your first finished project?

It was actually my first start and my first finish (I obviously was a lot more disciplined then lol) a Country Companions kit of Tom Mouse and he wore a stripey jumper and wellies.  Luckily it was lots of blocks of colour and I stitched it as a present for my Nan.  I framed it (very badly) and it hung on her wall until she died and I think one of my cousins has it now.  If I looked hard enough I could probably still find the chart in my stash!

IHSW

I had a great hermitting weekend!  Despite the girls being around and DH not going back to work until Sunday morning, I got loads done :-)  I worked on one of my HAEDs - Tranquility by The Vintage Angel.  She is being stitched one over one, full crosses on 28ct bone jobelan.

The only problem I have now is that iphoto has let me down and just crashes everytime I try to import a photo :-(  I have taken one with my phone and have posted this for the meantime, so sorry no before shot just yet ..

There has been an awful lot of blue but bizarrely I have enjoyed stitching it.  You will see that one of the butterflies is starting to appear at the bottom :-)

It's almost that time again ..

.. so don't forget it's International Hermit & Stitch Weekend starting this Friday.  All you need to do is click on the crab at the top of my page and you can sign up.  It's a great way to meet new blogging friends and is the perfect excuse to sit and stitch all day long - like we need an excuse, right?!

I'll be back later in the week with a proper stitchy update but in the meantime, a big "hullo"! to all my followers, old and new - I can't believe 65 of you read my blog! Thank you!


** edited to add that I've been having blogger issues - it took 5 attempts to get this published and I think that the comments section may still be having a crisis!  If you cannot post a comment to this post, please let me know by commenting on my previous entry and I will try and sort it out! **