Scariest thing I ever did!

Yesterday, with a little help and support from my good friend Marg (who doesn’t have a blog…yet), I WASHED THE M DESIGNS PIECE!!!!

I didn’t want to.  There was a major amount of terror in my heart (especially after the week I’ve had), but it took me so long to finish and it IS on antique white linen, it really needed a bath.  In my experience, Needle Necessities Razzle Dazzle Red really doesn’t respond well to being bathed…that tremor you felt in the suburbs of Melbourne yesterday was probably me shaking with fear!

Under the wise supervision of my friend Marg (who doesn’t have a blog…yet) I filled up my kitchen sink with nice lukewarm water, threw in some detergent  and a “colour catcher” sheet, gave it a swish around and laid it on a nice white towel. 

So far so good.  I sat down and enjoyed a cup of coffee with my friend Marg (who doesn’t have a blog…yet), rummaged through a huge pile of sampler charts (as you do) while we waited….and checked…and waited…and checked.

Sure enough, it bled.  All the way around the edges, but not too badly.  So, back into the sink it went with some Dylon Colour Run Remover.  Can every one say “Hallelujah”!!! What an absolute godsend this product is.  Colour run duly removed, M Designs piece all beautifully clean with no runs whatsoever.  This week – it’s off to the framer!

Did I happen to mention that my friend Marg doesn’t have a blog…yet?

I am trying to tempt her into blogland – Marg does the most amazing work and is a sampler lover like myself!  Marg recently finished the French Alphabet Sampler which is just stunning, and is currently stitching Moulin Rouge in black (fondly referred to as Moulin Noire) and this too will be gorgeous when done.  Marg makes fabulous cushions and also has a sampler wall which is coming along very nicely - although it may have to be relocated if she is to fit any more

 

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Done!

Finally my M Designs piece is finished.  It’s two letters (T and W) and two hearts in Needle Necessities Razzle Dazzle Red (my favourite – boo hoo) on antique white cashel linen.

Today I had a very restful day and spent it stitching in between loads of laundry!  I am working on a couple of gifts too at the moment so nothing further to share

Now what to replace it with   So much stitching – so little time.

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A Long Overdue Update

I’ve been flat out, working, being mum, partner, manager, commuter, painter and decorator, cricket supporter, grocery shopper, chef, laundry maid, etc, etc, etc…

I have more than 300 unread posts in my blog reader and a host of unanswered emails for which I apologise profusely! 

Stash wise I’ve managed to find the last three issues of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly that I needed to complete my set and that has made me one happy woman!  This magazine is one of the best – I just love every issue!

That said I’ve done a bit of stitching.  Victoria’s Quaker is coming along nicely although I’ve almost run out of the dark red (Needlepoint Inc Gothic Red – the darkest one).  I am almost down to the big motif that Carol says seemed to take a long time.  The top of that motif is around half way I think.  This is the only stitching that I am making a real effort to do during the week – tired or not I spend ‘some’ time with VQ each Tuesday!  That swan is a finished bird this week if nothing else!

I’ve done a little more on The Workbasket Faith Hope and Love – this is so much fun to stitch and I think it’s looking great in plain old black DMC.  Sometimes the simpler things….

My M Designs Initials are almost done – I need to frog a bit of a train-travelling-boo-boo but I should have those done this week and will wait to post a picture till then.

I’ve managed to complete a biscornu for an exchange so you can’t see that until it’s received by its recipient…perhaps next week.  I tried something different with this one and I’m not ‘quite’ sure if it was successful or not – I look forward to your comments on that one!

Rosemarkie has been given a little attention…but so I can get the M Designs piece finished quickly I’ve been taking that on the train this past week – Rosemarkie will be back traveling with me when that is done!

It’s a four day weekend here this weekend and while I’ve been busy the first two days, the next two are filled with stitching, stitching and more stitching – I am looking forward to it!

Oh and my knitting (shawl and Irish Hiking Scarf) are both coming along nicely – I did knit at cricket but then it started to rain and I had to stop!  Bugger!

Had a quick visit from Mel today with Niamh and Finn (gorgeous kiddies) and I was also lucky enough to see Anne before she toddles off to that place a little north of here (Sydney – ppppfffft!) and finally I got to meet Sharon   Always nice to meet in person!  I’ve not had a ‘bad’ meeting yet!

I had a lovely visit with Marg yesterday and saw her completed French Alphabet Sampler – absolutely stunning!  Marg is the queen of BAPs and her next is Long Dog’s Moulin Rouge in black silk – lovingly referred to as Moulin Noir

The carpet is not in yet so no piccies of the almost finished living area yet!  We did however take delivery of the BEST red rug ever – it’s a lovely long shag-pile rug in a dark red colour and it’s wonderful under foot!  Banjo has taken ownership and is guarding it like nothing else! 

Thanks for all the nice compliments on our choice of colour scheme – I can say that Mother of Mine (MoM) isn’t quite as complimentary!  Hmmmmm.

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Progress Pictures

Today is “An Open Heart” Day so there will be a progress picture of that one tomorrow.

Last week was a bit all over the show due to my hospital visit, however here are last week’s progress pictures.  I didn’t get to stitch on An Open Heart or the needlepoint piece last week.

Saturday is Faith Hope Love (the Workbasket) day.   

 

Monday is “M” Designs…that “W” is coming along nicely.

 

Victoria’s Quaker (A Mon Amie Pierre) after 3 Tuesdays.  This is such a fun stitch.  This shot shows the fabric colour quite well, but not the thread colours *sigh*

 

And because I’ve not posted a picture of Puku in ages….
here she is just begging for her belly to be rubbed

I’ve not started stitching today yet.  I had a lovely visit with Marg and Alison.  Alison bought some of the gorgeous mailart she has received and Marg showed off a gorgeous red and cream blanket that she has made as  a gift for a friend!  Marg is also close to finishing her French Alphabet Sampler too – it’s stunning!

Those keeping tabs on my knitting – I am just starting the third ball on my candle flame shawl…

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Rotation Day 2 – M Designs “W”

 Day two and all is well!  This last initial will stitch up quite quickly
- there’s lots of white space in this one.

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A plan…

 OK.  I am going to have a go at a new rotation of sorts.  There are a few things I want to get finished and a few I want to start so in order to make progress on them I hereby endeavour to stitch on the following items on the following days:

• Monday – M Designs Piece – hearts and monograms (one more monogram left)
• Tuesday – Victoria Quaker SAL with Carol and Karen (starting this Tuesday)
• Wednesday – An Open Heart – DT (about halfway – a previously failed SAL – *gulp* sorry)
• Thursday – Needlepoint – Nancy’s Needle – Desert Star (about 90% complete)
• Friday -
• Saturday – Faith, Hope, Love – The Workbasket (started tonight)
• Sunday -

I don’t think I have set myself anything too hard, and rotations seem to work for others and I’ve never really seriously given it a go…honestly – I’ve said I would try but it never really gets going,  I figure if I start small, I might have more chance of success.   I will try and add something from the UFO pile (Dad’s Sampler perhaps) every second time I finish something and start something new occasionaly too!

I’ve left a couple of free days Friday (because I generally sing that night) and Sunday, so on those days I will just stitch somethign that screams at me, or gifts, or smalls or bead or something.  I will still knit on the train to and from work when I return so I will still get a knitting fix.

All in all – I think this may work. 

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The promised pictures…

 This is the beginnings of the Candle Flame Shawl in 50% wool 37% mohair and some other stuff thrown in for good measure.  I am enjoying it – it’s quite a simple knit and the pattern is easy to remember

Just for good measure – here is a detail of the pattern for your viewing pleasure!

 

The Mead Scarf – same yarn as the shawl – different colour of course

 The Irish Hiking Scarf well over halfway

And just to prove that I do stitch still….if you look really closely you can see some progress on the last initial   I picked this up tonight as I’d like to finish something and this will probably stitch up in a few days

I got a parcel from Dragonflydreams today – it contained Victoria’s Quaker from AMAP (and the needlepoint silks to complete it), Faith, Hope, Love from The Workbasket and the latest issue of Sampler and Anqtique Needlework Quarterly, which I will save for my hospital trip on the 29th August (finally!)  I have decided to start both of these.  I have a lovely piece of R&R Reproductions in Apple Brown Bindy the perfect size for Victoria’s Quaker, and some Jobelan in Caramel for Faith Hope and Love.  I think I will just stitch this in plain black.

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A Mini-Finish

I’ve now completed part 3 of the four-part M Designs piece I am doing. I’ve just one more initial to do in the top right corner! A “W” and I have to wait for it to arrive from Dragonflydreams to do that.

Here is a picture of the “T” all done. I’m using a Needle Necessities overdye (153) for all four squares. I’m really liking how this is turning out!

Now, because I’m having a few days off work (I’ve had all this week – darn girl troubles) and quite possibly once I see the doc tomorrow will still be laid up for a little while longer, I am really getting my stitching mojo back! I am really enjoying putting stitches int o fabric once again.

I ‘d like to do a few more little things to reinforce the ‘finishing’ feeling and then get stuck in to some of the things that have been on the back burner for ages. I wont list them here because I’ve made promises to myself on this blog before (ha ha!) but I think for every two finishes I will allow myself a new start. How does that sound? I mean I don’t have as many starts or UFOs under my belt as ‘some’ people eh Janine

First off the block will be An Open Heart, Then ” the pesky Dad’s Sampler” ( I quite possibly need to get a new magnifying lamp for that one – the over one is killing my eyes!).

Oh and I”ve discovered the “Google Blog Reader” thingy which is really cool – I now just have to figure out how to get my list into this page. I needed somethign because the pesky blogroll thing never lets me know when blogs are updated, so I went hunting for something else THis seems to be working ok and perhaps I will be able to keep up with comments and things now!

I’ve also started aWordpress Blog but I’ve yet to figure out how to get THIS blog’s posts over to there – I know it can be done though – I am sure I’ve seen it! If you have any ideas, please let me know The template I chose over there is really pretty! You can have a look here!

Edited to correct the floss number.

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State of the nation

Last night I started one of the initials in the M Designs project….the letters seem to be a really quick stitch because there’s so much more ‘space’ and less stitches! I should knock over the “T” today. I will need to order the other initial this week I guess so I have it here when I need it!

As an aside – if you happen to have the “W in your stash and you’ve used it already and you want to trade it – let me know

EDIT: Oh I just ordered it from DragonflyDreams so not to worry!

I’ve had a few health issues lately so am having a week off. Going to sit on my butt in my stitching chair for the entire week I think (that’s my plan – but we all know that it is highly unlikely as I need to have medical appts etc….!). Might visit a bead shop or two, visit some blogs I’ve neglected and generally bum around. Might even just stay in my jammies today…we all need days like that sometime!

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A Mini Finish!

Tonight I finished the second of four squares on the M Designs piece. I wont post a picture until it’s completely done now so I don’t bore you

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Some progress pictures…

This is the progress on “Dad’s Sampler”. It is from the “Australian Embroidery and Cross Stitch” magazine and if anyone really wants to know which issue just ask…I will look (I do think I’ve posted that info before.)

I’ve completed all the dividing bands (after much frogging and restitching) and all the lettering is over one – I think the fabric is 32 count Dublin linen but it’s been so long since I started this one – I forget!

It uses DMC threads, and horrible DMC shiny stuff – can’t recall what that is called (edited to add RAYON! ) and while the effect is nice, the stitching is painful! Lots of lovely Thread Heaven put to use for that stitching!

I will endeavour to finish ‘off ragged mountain ranges’ during February…..

EDIT: The magazine is Australian Cross Stitch and Embroidery, Vol 7 No 2. You can often pick these up on Australian e-Bay.

Next is Drawn Threads’ ‘An Open Heart’. I’ve really been enjoying stitching this again. I’ve completed the drawn thread areas (5 and 7) as well and the instructions in the leaflet made that a much easier task than how I would have tackled it. My process would have been to withdraw every second thread and re-weave every second but because the border is stitched over the top of the cut threads, there was really no need to go to all that trouble. I love Drawn Thread charts – the instructions are always pretty clear.

The colours in this one are lovely too and so much nicer in real life. I’m using lovely Heritage linen for this one in Cafe Au Lait.

I’m aiming to finish all the ‘sampler’ during my holidays (’til Feb 13) and then work on the border during February and March.

My M Designs piece in red is coming along nicely too now I have found and fixed the mistake in counting that I made many months ago! I am aiming to finish this square, tomorrow

The Celtic Heart design is one I’ve stitched a few times now as gifts, it is quick and easy to stitch, but so effective depending on the thread and fabric you use As I have discussed before there are initials going in the two opposing squares but I’m just not sure whose yet. I’m leaning towards keeping this one myself.

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Found the mistake!

Last night, after many months of having the M Designs piece screwed up in the bottom of my stitching bag, I sat, and counted, and recounted, and counted again, then frogged, stitched, and re-frogged till now it is right – because I had made an error somewhere and I couldn’t find it!

Yay – I am excited about stitching this one now I have found where I boo-booed and fixed it! The mistake was such that I HAD to find it to continue – it wasn’t one that I could just ‘personalise’ and move on!

It should move really quickly now – as long as I dont make any more errors!

There’s nothing like knowing you’ve made a mistake and not being able to find it, that steals all your motivation away from a piece is there?

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M Designs in glorious red!

This is the M Designs piece I mentioned earlier. I have completed one heart and started another in the diaonally opposite corner. (sorry for the skewed piccie). I’m using Needle Necessities 153 on white linen. The other two corners will have initials but I’m not sure whose yet

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Here is a finish for August :) It is a second M D…

Here is a finish for August It is a second M Designs Celtic Heart – a gift for a friend Off to the framers next week for this one
I really enjoy stitching this design and I have a couple of the letters I want to do for other friends as gifts too. Six finishes in 8 months….That’s not too bad for me! Just wish I could get motivated to finish that fairy….!

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