Monday, January 17, 2011

Crazy January Challenge Day 15 - A finish!

Hi all

Well there was no stitching done after the wedding. Don't know what I was thinking but drinking wine & stitching do not mix, lol!! Anyway, I started my 15th new start on Sunday the 16th instead and as it was still on the q-snaps I thought I might as well finish it! So without further ado, here's my 15th start for the year & my 1st finish! Please excuse the wrinkles as I haven't ironed it yet!

Little House Needleworks - Peppermint Twist
Stitched as charted with DMC & Crescent Colours
28ct Flax cashel ( least I think it's flax!)
Started January 16th, 2011
Completed January 17th, 2011

As I still had a bit of stitching time yesterday I pulled out one of my starts and got a bit more done it, it should be finished later today as all that's left to do is a candy cane & reindeer and then add a charm :) Here's my progress on Homespun Elegances December freebie



Well that's all for today, look for another finish real soon!

Happy Stitching

hugs

Amanda

Friday, January 14, 2011

Crazy January Challenge Day 14

Hi all

Here's my 14th start, started January 14th.

Jeanette Douglas Designs - Spring Stitches
36ct sand edinburgh linen
accessory pack - gloriana, NPI & kreinik silk mori

This is the 3rd in the series, after this I have Summer Stitches to go. As I'm stitching all 4 on the same piece of fabric I've included a pic of where Spring fits in :).

Had an almost disaster while stitching this which is why there isn't more progress. I spilt my cup of coffee and a bit splashed on this project. Luckily none got on the stitched parts so I will be able to rinse the small part of the fabric carefully. Unfortunately the chart didn't fare quite as well and ended up with a bit of a soaking!! It has come out ok as it was cleaned up pretty quick but the chart is no longer in the best shape!

Well I have a wedding to attend in a couple of hours, my DH is the best man. It should be a lot of fun as it's the 2nd wedding for both parties and as the bride has small children, they have hired a jumping castle and there will be a pool for the kids to swim in! I'm hoping I'll still be able to meet my goal and start the 15th and final project this evening when I get home, if not I'll start it tomorrow instead.

Thanks for looking
Happy Stitching
Amanda

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Crazy January challenge pics so far..

Hi all

Here are the pics of my starts so far, apologies as this post will be pic heavy!
Start #1 - started January 1st
Victoria Sampler - Christmas Treasures
28ct taupe cashel linen
threads as charted (Gloriana, NPI, Kreinik Mori, Caron Waterlilies)
Pathetic start on this but I was at my parents house & couldn't find my tape measure so had to start in the middle rather than on the border. The lighting was awful too as I didn't have my stitching lamp.


Start #2 - started January 2nd
Mill Hill - Charmed Santa Faces - Series II - Father Frost
perforated paper
DMC & mill hill beads

Start #3 - started January 3rd
Just Nan - Tulip Time
32ct lilac belfast
DMC
Another pathetic start but my girls insisted we go to the beach!

Start #4 - started January 5th
Shakespeares Peddlar - Sampler Roundy
28ct cream cashel
GAST & DMC
What can I say, vacation locations are not ideal for stitching. I started this one at my friend Shelley's house & there was a lot more talking than stitching happening!

Start #5 - started January 6th
Lizzie Kate - Snowman '10
32ct tea dyed monaco (I think) - unlabelled fabric from stash
Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works & DMC


Start #6 - started January 9th
The Cat's Whiskers - What A Hoot!
32ct Sandstone linen
DMC
Start #7 - started January 9th
Ink Circles - The Huddle
40ct kit linen
Carries Creations hand dyed silks

Start #8 - started January 10th
Lizzie Kate - 2008 Christmas double flip-its
28ct Vintage Country Mocha cashel
Weeks Dye Works & DMC for border
Start # 9 - started January 11th
Blue Ribbon Designs - Autumn Leaves & Sunflower Seeds
36ct antique white lugana
Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks

Loved this one, it was hard to put it down. I am using 1 strand of silk over 2.
Start # 10 started January 11th
Homespun Elegance - Blessings to all
32ct Sand Belfast
GAST, Weeks Dye Works, DMC
Start # 11 - started January 12th
Shepherds Bush - Halloween Grins
32ct Cream Belfast
Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works, GAST & DMC

Start #12 - started January 12th
Just Nan - Frost on the Pumpkin
28ct Sage cashel
DMC threads
Start #13 - started January 13th
M Designs Floral Sampler
32ct Vintage Country Cream Belfast
DMC & Gloriana hand-dyed silks & ribbon

So I am now back on track with 2 more starts to go. Today will be Jeanette Douglas Designs - Spring Stitches and tomorrow I'll start my last piece, one of the LHN ornaments from last year, I'm leaning towards "Under The Tree".
If you've stayed with me this long, thank you! That's all for now.
Happy Stitching
hugs
Amanda

Friday, January 7, 2011

Catching up!

Hi all



I hope the new year finds you all healthy, wealth & wise and that you all had a wonderful Christmas (if celebrated).

I guess I have no real excuses for being absent so long except for work, home etc being extremely busy leading up to Christmas and then I've been away as well visiting my parents in Victoria. I also got to meet up with a fellow stitching blogger which was a nice surprise! Hi Jo! http://josxsblog.blogspot.com/



I decided that I would participated in the crazy challenge that a lot of people are participating in, 15 starts in 15 days to be completed by years end. As I usually partake in guilt free January this will work well for me. The challenge was to start a new project each day for 15 days, I have missed a few days as was busy with family activities and driving home from Vic (10 hours) was not conducive to stitching either so I am a few days behind already. The 15 will be started by the end of the month though! Here's my list so far:



Victoria Sampler - Christmas Treasures (started Jan 1st)
Mill Hill - Charmed Santa Faces - Father Frost (started Jan 2nd)
Just Nan - Tulip Time (started Jan 3rd)
Shakespeares Peddler - Sampler Roundy (started Jan 5th)
Lizzie Kate - Snowman '10 (started Jan 6th)
Lizzie Kate - Christmas Spirit
Ink Circles - The Huddle
The Cat's Whiskers - What A Hoot
Blue Ribbon Designs - Autumn Leaves & Sunflower Seeds
Just Nan - Frost on the Pumpkin
M Designs - Floral Sampler
Shepherds Bush - Halloween Grins
Homespun Elegance - Christmas 2010 freebie (Blessings to all)
Jeanette Douglas Designs - Spring Stitches
LHN 2010 monthly ornaments (I have 10 more to do and will start at least 1 but haven't decided which one it will be yet)



I finished up my Jan 1st 2010 piece just before I left on my trip, Just Nan's Needle In a Garden, fitting that it was both my first start & my final finish for 2010. Here's a pic, sorry it's not the best as it's from the scanner, I'll post some close-ups later along with pics of my challenge new starts:


Well I must go as have some chores to do but look for another post soon with some more pics and a round up of my 2010 stitching. I'm on holidays now for 3 more weeks so should have some time on my hands for a change!

Happy Stitching all

Amanda


Saturday, November 20, 2010

November catch-up

Hi all

Well it's been a bit longer between posts than anticipated but I have some pics to share! Not as many as I thought I would though as I have had a touch of vertigo this past couple of weeks which has not made it easy to stitch! Anyway, here.s some pics of what I managed this month so far.

First up I finished my wip of The Trilogy - Family
Stitched as charted on 28ct bone jobelan with DMC, WDW & GAST. Stitching completed November 4, 2010

Next up was an ornament for an exchange I'm in. I decided on La D Da's 'Tis Red from the 2010 JCS ornament issue. It's even "finished" now too!

Stitched as charted on 28ct antique white monaco with DMC #4210. Stitching completed November 12,2010.

Here's a pic of it "finished" which I did yesterday. Hope the recipient likes it!

I also finished a couple of other items yesterday, here's some pics:
JBW Christmas star 2010 JCS ornament issue. Finished as a pillow ornament.
This pic shows the backing fabric and glittery gold ric rac I used for both ornaments. Love this ric rac!! Need to find some more!

I also finished my Just Nan Horrified into it's whimsy frame. Here's a pic:

I did get the sewing done on a couple of other items but need to add trim & hangers to them yet, so no pics just now.

Last night I finished another ornament. LHN's Happy Skater and I plan on starting the companion, Merry Skater tonight. Here it is:

Little House Needleworks - Happy Skater. 2010 JCS ornament issue. Stitching completed November 20, 2010. Stitched as charted on 32ct raw belfast with DMC. Mill hill beads 00557 substituted for gold dmc stitches.

Well that's all for me today. Once again, thanks for reading my blog, please leave a comment if you have a spare moment.

Happy Stitching

Amanda

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The final spooky finishes

Hi all

Well I guess it's fitting that today being halloween I post pics of what is no doubt my final spooky finishes for this year! I also managed to finish a wip and an ornament too! So here's some pics of what I have been up to since my last post.
Lizzie Kate Hocus Pocus Stitched with DMC, GAST & WDW on 28ct hand-dyed lugana. Stitching completed October 2010. I had to get a bit creative with this one on the bottom border as I mis-counted.

Just Nan - Horrified Stitched as charted with DMC on 32ct cobblestone linen. Stitching completed October 2010. Will be put in a whimsy frame.

Shepherds Bush - Halloween (from House Haunting leaflet)


Stitched on 32ct sand belfast with DMC & GAST. Ghost button to be added on tombstone row. Stitching completed October 2010. This one was fun to stitch, it was charted for 20ct fabric. I swapped out quite few of the colours on this. The border was supposed to be black and the words orange, I felt it needed some purple!



Jeanette Douglas Designs - Heart Collector

Stitched as charted on 32ct antique white belfast with GAST, WDW & Needle Necessities. Stitching completed October 27 2010. This was my wip from Valentine's Day this year, thought it was about time I finished it!

JBW Designs - French Country Star Stitched with DMC 4210 1x1 28ct ant. white monaco JCS 2010 ornament issue. Stitching completed Oct 2010. This one was fun & quick to stitch! I started it and finished it on the same day, doesn't happen for me much lately!

I'm currently stitching on another of my wips that has been languishing for far too long, Trilogy Family! For such a small piece it sure has been a lengthy process, think I got bogged down on the mountain but as that's now all done the rest should go fairly quickly. Here's a pic of how I left it the last time http://ausamanda.blogspot.com/2010/03/finish-some-wip-pics.html, no new pic yet as I hoping the next pic will be a finished one!

Well that's enough for me today.

Happy halloween to all

hugs

Amanda

Monday, October 4, 2010

Some more spookiness & a tiny finish

Hi all
Been a while, totally forgot about posting last weekend, darn facebook games! As a consequence not much stitching has been happening but I did manage a couple of small finishes and yesterday took advantage of the long weekend and got some finishing done on a few other pieces.

Here's my latest spooky finish, this was a fun piece to stitch. I started it and finished it the same day. Plan on doing the "finishing"on it today

Lizzie Kate - Eek! scissor fob Stitched as charted on 28ct hand-dyed lugana. Stitching completed September 20, 2010.
Next up is another little finish (which will also be "finished"later today)
Just Nan - Winter Violets Stitched as charted on 32ct opalescent lugana from silkweavers.
Stitching completed September 2010.
Here's the results of my finishing spree:Just Nan - Fraidy Frog pillow ornament,fabric in background is what's on the back.

Blue Ribbon Designs - Perched On A Pumpkin. Felt backed flat ornament

Hillside Samplings - Come In For A Bite - pillow finish
Plum Pudding Needleart 4 Bats & A Cat.
Biscornu finish with pumpkin bell embellishments. For some reason blogger keeps posting this pic sideways. I tried uploading it 3 times but each time was the same result, guess you'll have to turn your head on the side to see it properly :o)
Last but not least, here's Shepherds Bush - Scaredy Sheep Scissor Fob, finished as per kit instructions.
Well that's all for me for today, I'm currently stitching on Lizzie Kate's Hocus Pocus and hopefully it will be done soon. Also want to get some more finishing done as the finished box is getting a bit full! Christmas ornaments might have to be next on the list!
Thanks for looking and happy stitching!
hugs
Amanda