Max the cat

Max the cat number two is finished.....all except for the back stitching!

Such a lazy looking kitty.....just like my own Smokie (which is why I chose to stitch this design!)

Since I had finished the second part of Max, I decided to squeeze in another quick stitch before proceeding with the third and last part of Max....

 ...another free kit...

.... a cute Margaret Sherry design....

 ....that came with a printed card.  Doesn't it look great?

Such a cute design......and perfect for so many different occasions....another one to add to my stash of finished cards.

So all in all, it feels like it was a very productive week!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Lots more of Max!

Max number 2 is coming on quite quickly....that's what happens when you binge watch Netfilx all weekend! Here's where I left off last week.....

....and here's where I am now.....

.... a great weekend of stitching accomplished....too bad about all the chores that were on the to-do list!


Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

A little card design....and Max (of course!)

My supply of cross stitched cards is getting quite low, so I decided it was time for some quick stitch designs for making in to cards......

I have already stitched one of these geisha girl designs and decided to stitch another one, as they are quick, easy and fun!

Unfortunately, I can't find the last few strands of the light green that I need for the french knots in her hair and for some details on the bottom of her kimono. I think the cat might have stolen them :) 

And speaking of cats.....here's an update on Max.....

I seem to have made quite a bit of progress on this one....feeling quite happy about this!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Max, mice and housework

As I was sorting out the pictures to post here I was thinking how busy and productive I've been this week.....then I realized that it was actually two weeks worth, since I didn't manage to post last week! Duh!!!

First on the list of things to show is Max the cat.....

I'm well under way on the second panel of Max....and still enjoying working on him.

Then there's a finish! Lizzie Kate's 'Housework' didn't take long at all.....

I'm sure I will stitch this design again (it's a great quick stitch gift idea!) but next time I will alter the colours from the DMC colours suggested as I'm not too sure if I like them or not. (Also it's more fun to change things up a  bit!)

I've also managed to get quite a bit of crocheting done as it's easier to crochet while watching TV rather than stitching....and when it's ice hockey season, I'm watching the TV! So here's how my afghan looks all rolled up in my work basket.....

....of course, I'm almost finished it now that the warm weather is arriving and I will have no need to use it....at least it kept me warm while I was working on it!

There's still quite a bit to go to get it to the length that I think would be best and then also an edging to be done, so it's going to be sitting on the work basket for quite a while yet.

I also picked up a design that I started last year and didn't get done in time for Christmas....always my problem...... but I'm sure it will be done in time for this Christmas!

If only every week could have so much progress made, it would be wonderful!


Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

One of those weeks...

Last week was not a good week at all. So on Friday, I decided to come home early and just stitch. No housework, no phone calls, no cooking....nothing but stitching.....yay, how to make the week better in one easy move!

So while driving home, I'm thinking about what to stitch.....yes, a crappy week deserves  a cup of tea and a new start :) Ohhhh....and I have a new set of q-snaps to use too......the week may not be so bad after all! A quick trip to the library to pick up a DVD to watch while stitching....perfect! 

Except......the kettle's on the blink, the q-snaps (cheaper craft store brand) clamps are so tight that they won't come off......and to top it all....the DVD is French with English sub-titles.....arghhhhh! How on earth can you stitch and read subtitles? Yup, definitely that kind of week.

Anyhoo.......this is what I started...

Lizzie Kate's 'Housework never killed anyone' ....seemed appropriate since I wasn't going to do any housework :)

This is how it looks so far using the recommended DMC threads. A great design that isn't complicated and doesn't require too much concentration to stitch......great if only the movie had been in English!

Hope you're having a better week than I am!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Baby feet!

Finally, I was able to finish the baby feet birth sampler! Baby Ricardo made his appearance into the world on April 12th. Both mum and baby are doing well. I made the little birth sampler as a wall hanging....

....baby feet are always so cute....

Now to get it parceled up along with some other baby gifts and posted to the proud new parents :)

This week has been a rather hectic week  with not an awful lot of spare time, but I did manage to get some stitching done on Max....

.... and a little bit of back stitching is bringing the face to life.  Hopefully, he'll be even more alive looking by next post!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

Goldilocks eyes

Ahh, good old Max the cat and the tale of getting the eyes 'just right' ! 

For those of you who haven't been following along with the tale of Max the cat, this is a Dimensions kit which I chose to stitch as it looked so like my lazy cat Smokie.....except for the eyes. Max the cat has gorgeous yellow eyes, but Smokie has misty green eyes and I wanted to stitch the design to be Smokie, sooooo..... time to break out the thread collection and match Smokie's eye colour. Not as easy as first thought :)

Too weird a colour....

...too green...

....getting closer...

....success! Even though blogger keeps rotating the picture!!!

 And here he is (or really it should be she, as Smokie is a female!).......

Woohoo....Max is now officially Smokie! It was worth all the hassle of picking out thread combinations and all that unpicking to get it just right. Just the other two cats to do and the dreaded back stitch!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

Zombie cat!

Poor old Max the cat still hasn't got any eyes! I loved the fact that many of you wonderful readers thought he looked like a zombie......I have to agree, he does a bit! 

I'm going to change the colour of the eyes to more of a pale green colour instead of the yellow of the chart so that it looks more like my kitty. 

Hopefully, I'll get round to picking (and stitching!) the right shade of green this week. Fingers crossed that next time you see him, poor old Max will look less creepy!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona

Max the cat.....

......has a bit more of a face!

I'm afraid it's been one of  'those' weeks, and I didn't get nearly as much stitching/crafting time that I had hoped for. Still, each little X finished means a stitch closer to completion.  Maybe this week I will be able to carve out some time for myself.....fingers crossed!

I do have a fun project to share with you....this is from this month's World Of Cross Stitching magazine, which has literally just arrived. I've been looking forward to seeing my little fishy designs all stitched up....and here they are....

....do you remember playing this game when you were young? Back in the day (haha!) we played it with paper fish with a paperclip attached, and then little magnets to 'catch' the fish. I remember making the paper version of it for my children to play and they always had so much fun. 

A cross stitch version of the game is perfect....and a bit more long lasting than the paper ones!

Cute huh?


Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

It wasn't my fault.....

....she made me do it! Yes my terrible daughter has become a stitcher and she encouraged forced me into buying new stash. Isn't she dreadful? I just don't know where she gets it from. Hee hee. 

This is the new stash that she forced me to buy....she really did have to twist my arm....

My daughter bought the wedding sampler to stitch for her friend and since she was paying postage for one chart it seemed silly not to add one or two...or three...or more.... charts ....makes perfect sense, doesn't it?!!  I also have to confess that there's one more design that isn't in the photograph....don't know how I managed to miss that, but I did! It's a beautiful design called Leap of Faith and you can see it here.  Isn't that gorgeous? 

Now my only problem is which one to start first? What a wonderful problem to have!

Until next time....happy stitching!
Rhona

Kokeshi doll

Do you ever get those longings for a quick stitch, just so you can have a finish to feel good about completing something? That's the way I felt at the weekend.....soooo...this month's World of Cross Stitching mag to the rescue with their fab free kit....

Although these cuties came with threads and fabric (and everything else you'd need) already in the packet, they are a great way to use up those left over threads that we all have saved, so they can be stitched many times. I also love the fact that you can change out the different patterns/hairstyles etc and make the designs really unique.

As you can see, I decided to alter the colours used in this design. It shouldn't take too long to make this in to a card.  

So that was my quick almost-a-finish for the weekend!

I haven't neglected Max the cat either! He almost has a face now....

....can you tell why I wanted to stitch this design? My very own real life version (times two) of Max!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona

Baby feet!

Poor old Max the Cat has been put on hold.....again! I have a perfectly good excuse for putting Max to the side.......stitching for the birth of a baby :) My son's friend and his wife are expecting their first child in a few weeks times, and what better excuse can you get for having to stitch something ?!!!

As you can tell, they're having a boy! I'm not so keen on the teddy in the picture so I'm going to leave it out and rearrange the lettering and make it into a wall hanging (easier to post than a picture!) I just love those little baby foot prints.....you can almost smell the baby powder!  

So this was quite a quick little stitch, although a bit boring! I just have to finish the border and wait for  baby to make his appearance into the world so I can complete names, dates, weight etc!

I have been working on my crochet blanket/afghan and making progress with it, although it doesn't seem to be growing as quickly as I would like....

The gorgeous yarn bowl was a present from my daughter....

The spring weather seems to be approaching rather quickly.... so I had better get crocheting so that I an get some use out of the blanket before it's too hot to use!

Until next time....happy stitching!

Rhona