Monday, April 29, 2019

Small projects...

This week I decided to work on some smaller projects so that I could have some finishes under my belt! Sometimes you just have to do something (anything!) to make yourself feel good! Having a small finish made me feel good...


This was a freebie kit with the World of Cross Stitching magazine and since I had lost my old cross stitch bookmark by leaving it in the book I returned to the library, the timing couldn't have been better. And being bird watcher, the design was perfect too.Each little bird cage is done in cross stitch and the back stitching is done in one and two strands...




 Aren't the colours wonderful?

The only thing I changed was the lilac thread for back stitching - I used a slightly darker shade from my stash so that it would show up more.  It shouldn't take to long to finish this off into a bookmark and hopefully I'll have it finished for you to see next week.

I also started another freebie kit from this months World of Cross Stitching magazine. I need a card for my son-in-law's birthday later in the week, so another fee kit that landed at my door just at the right time!


As you can see, just the back stitching to be done! I do love those quick to stitch kits.

So now it's time for an apology. I love reading your comments (please keep them coming!) but when I went to respond to them, they were nowhere to be found! I've checked both emails that I have for blogging but nothing is showing up. Maybe I missed some important news from Blogger about emails while I was away? So for all of those of you who were kind enough to take the time to comment, I'm sorry I can't reply to your comments but thank you for making my day by commenting.

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona






Monday, April 22, 2019

Finished, framed and gifted!

And best of all....loved!

After a little mad panic by me the day before the bridal shower  - who knew that Michael's couldn't cut a mat for your stitching without having three days notice (and charge you $77 if you didn't have a coupon!) - everything ended up being fine.  With a little extra work on the stitching I managed to make it fit the frame that was also a last minute purchase....yeah, I like living dangerously!






As you an see in the picture above, the design had the swirls being cut off, but since I couldn't get the mat cut to the right size and, of course, the frames weren't the right size either, I ended up adding the top part of the swirly bits to make them complete. I thought it looked better that way....



 A plain-ish black frame and it looked  wonderful! And best of all....the bride-to-be loved it.

So let me give you the details of this design....

  • Kit by Dimensions
  • Ever After Wedding Record 70-35361
  • Stitched on 18 count Ivory Aida
  • Finished size 5 x 12 inches (30.4  12.7 cm)
  • Large colour symbol chart
  • Stitches used - whole cross stitch, long stitch, french knots and lazy daisy stitches

The kit had more than enough threads to complete the design as you can see by what's left over....



I marked the key with the DMC equivalent threads colours as this design is one I would definitely stitch again.

After gifting this, I realized that I should have recorded on the stitching or on the frame who had stitched it.....something for future generations to know. Of course, I always come up with these ideas when it's too late to actually do anything about them. I had a look on Amazon etc and there doesn't seem to be anything to add to a frame to note the name of the stitcher. There are some lovely labels that you can personalize with your name etc  that would look nice on cushions or small ornaments etc......and you just know that some of them will be making an appearance in my amazon cart, don't you?!!! Anyway, my question to you today is.....how do you record who stitched the piece when it's in a frame like this?

Until next time....happy stitching!


Rhona

Monday, April 15, 2019

Loving the back stitching!

Hello again, dear readers. It's wonderful to be back blogging and reading the lovely comments so many of you left for me on my last post. Thanks you....they mean so much to me. 

Since the bridal shower is coming up fast....eeek..... I'll have to get cracking and finish the wedding sampler really quickly. Last week's post I had shown it to you with the cross stitching finished, so this week was a case of bringing it to life with the back stitching.....


As always, the difference is incredible....you'd think we'd get used to the difference after stitching for a long time, but no, each time I'm always amazed at the difference...


This design included lots of french knots...


....luckily for me, I love doing them....how about you? Love them or loathe them? Do you swap the out for beads instead?


All the back stitched swirls make the calligraphy come to life...



I just have the 'after' part of the design to do and the happy couple's names at the bottom, then I can get it matted and framed - hopefully in time for the bridal shower! 

I guess I should go and find that turbo charged needle!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona


Monday, April 8, 2019

Helloooo!

Yoo-hoo! Anyone still there? It's me....I'm finally back. 

What was supposed to be a two week break over the hectic Christmas period turned into a longer than intended break. Turned out I really needed some 'me time'. So now I'm back a raring to go :)

So what have I been working on since Christmas.....well it turns out to be quite a bit. I'll start with the cardinal cross stitching that you last saw like this.....


I decided to really push on with it as it was fast becoming one of those pieces that's relegated to the bottom of the stitching basket and ends up as being yet another UFO. Here's what it looks like now..


You'll have to excuse the poor quality pictures, but it's a rainy miserable day here and I couldn't get enough light to take pictures with my camera so the cell phone came to my rescue!

This has been put to the side (and not to the bottom of the sewing basket!) to work on some other projects that had/have firm deadlines.  Stepping out of my comfort zone I decided to make a couple of rag quilts for some newborn babies. The great thing about making quilts for babies is that since they are for babies they don't have to be too big and are therefore much more do-able for a newbie quilter like me. After searching on Pinterest I decided to do a rag quilt....great for anyone new to sewing and not sure about their skills with a sewing machine. The first one I made was for my friends daughter....and I totally forgot to take a picture of it! That's what happens when you're out of the habit of blogging! The second one I made is for my daughter's friend....this one I did remember to take some pictures......


I never realized just how difficult it is to take an interesting picture of a quilt....until now. Here's the quilt with the little bunny that was made by the amazingly talented Helen Phillips. You can check out her blog here. The bunny is staying with me and not a gift for the baby but just used as a kind of prop to make the picture a bit more interesting.

To make a rag quilt you have to do LOTS of snipping to make the rag edging (obviously!) It's tiring work, but well worth the effort. I invested in pair of spring assisted scissors which I would highly recommend if you ever decide to make one of these rag quilts. 



The rag quilts on Pinterest had the edge of the blanket snipped, but I thought it looked kind of unfinished, so I decided to add an edging which I think really pulled it together and finished it off nicely.



The baby shower is next weekend, so I'm feeling good about having this finished in time.

And the last piece I have to show you today is a wedding sampler which has been such fun to stitch...


I have the stitching finished and now have to do all the back stitching which is a big part of this design. I loved all the colour changes in the flowers....so many bright colours that don't really show up well on the photograph....


This has to be done in time for the bridal shower (first one I have ever been to!) in a couple of weeks time. Fingers crossed that I can get it finished and framed in time!


Well, that's everything that I have been working on....time now to go and visit your blogs and get caught up with what you have been working on!

Until next time....happy stitching.

Rhona