Part 2 completed. Check....

I have accomplished my goals for 2012. I'm so glad that there were really only two major ones that I had to focus on, because with the way this year has gone, if there were too many more it wouldn't have happened.

The first three pages on QS Curl up with a good book are finished. I will put the final three on my goal list for next year. Speaking of which, I must make another for the new year, I think I will keep it simple again and have just a couple of "Must Do" projects and then a separate list of "Would like to do" projects.

Until next time, happy stitching

Part 1 completed. Check....

I have been MIA for a while but life has settled enough for me to become interested in stitching again and thought the best place to start would be with the goals I had set myself for this year, so here we go.

I finally got SK Masquerade completed. It has taken a little while, approximately 2 1/2 years. OMG!!! I didn't even realize it had been that long. Anyway that's enough prattling on, let's get down to business. Here she is:

Started: August 25, 2010
Stitched on: 28ct Lavendar Lugana using 1 thread over 1, full cross stitch
Finished: December 3, 2012.

That is part 1 of this years goals completed. I am off to complete my second goal before the end of the year. Good thing the list wasn't too long.

Until next time, happy stitching

2012 May WiPocalypse update ....

Masquerade is really close to being finished. Hopefully I will get it completed for next months update.

Until next time, happy stitching

New Addition ....

I have been caught up in life and because of that I have been missing. Hopefully things will settle a bit and I can get back into both blogging and stitching.

Our daughter had her second child on Tuesday 24th April, 2012. Our second grandson, hopefully no more for a little while as it is possible that this little guy may have Cystic Fibrosis. We are waiting on the doctors. So, fingers crossed that all is ok.

 My two pattern choices for this month were Couch Dragon by Randal Spangler and QS Pick A Pumpkin by CC Kuik.

I decided that I would go back to University at the beginning of 2012 to get my degree. The way the economy is, its proving difficult to find work, and besides I would like to do something different. Since I decided to make this decision, it has affected my stitching. I'm half way through the 1st semester and I haven't had any chance to get to my stitching. I am trying to get time to work on at least one of my projects. I guess I thought that I would still have some free time, but that hasn't eventuated yet. 

Until next time, happy stitching

2012 March WiPocalypse update ....

Time for my next update. Didn't get as much stitching done as I wanted to this month. But this is what I did get through ....

 

 SK Masquerade

 

 QS Curl Up

 

QS Teddy Bear Tree

Until next time, happy stitching

Please help me ....

I officially have more HAED charts than I would be able to stitch in my lifetime. So I really need to not buy anymore, (well for the next month at least), taking baby steps is a good way to start, that way it won't seem so hard.

My present from my family to buy two charts per month for the year has been completed, thanks mainly to the 50% off sale that HAED had for Leap Day 2012. So the two charts that I have earmarked for March are Seven Hearts by Jim Warren and QS Duckling Discovery by Hannah Lynn.

I will continue to look at the new charts, and probably add more to my Wishlist, but that doesn't mean I have to buy them. Does it?

I was going to show you all the most recent update of MSK, but with the 2012 WiPocalypse coming up in a few days I've decided to put it off until then. There is only the bottom half of page 3 left and I have enjoyed working on this again, maybe because I know that it is coming to an end, and when it is completed I can bring another project into the mix. Hmmmm??? What to do? What to do?

Until next time, happy stitching

2012 February WiPocalypse update ....

I wasn't sure how I was going to do my updates but I think this could be ideal. I have a few projects that I want to make progress on, so they are all in my monthly rotation.

SK Masquerade

QS Curl up with a good book

QS Crabby Crush

Eldar

QS Teddy Bear Tree - New Start

Until next time, happy stitching

2012 January WIPocalypse - I just had too ....

I was allowed to start a new project once I had completed page 2 of SK Masquerade and this is it. QS Crabby Crush by Hannah Lynn from Heaven and Earth Designs.

From what I have seen so far Hannah's (paintings) designs are beautiful. I have always loved the vibrant colors that I have seen in the WIP photos of other stitchers that have worked on her designs and I took this opportunity to try one for myself.

I am really loving the way this pattern is working up. I also tried something new and began this project in the bottom left and I'm really glad I did because this is where the crab happened to be and it is so nice to start a project and actually see something materialize rather than have background or just an indistinguishable blob.

So page 7 is completed and now I just have to decide if I am going to work up the right side towards the top or just continue along the bottom row.

Until next time, happy stitching

Happy New Year!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to say Happy New Year and I hope that your Christmas was full of wonderful blessings for you all.

I have a couple of updates to share and I will add those over the next few posts. In the meantime I have managed to complete 3/4 of page 7 on Eldar and here is a before and after shot.

I get so caught up in working on my projects that I forget to update you all on my progress. Since I got my new smartphone though I have been so much more proactive about taking the update photos, but I haven't been present to do my show and tell for you all.

But there is no time like the present to make a start.

 Until next time, happy stitching

Roses Friend ....

I completed the first quarter of page 7 and now I am going to go back and finish page 1. I am stitching background and there is a lot of it, but it is rather enjoyable when you are able to mix it up with other projects that have a lot more color changes in them. Not really that much in the way of progress to show but next time she comes out I might get a whole further.

Until next time, happy stitching

An ice wind blew through ....

I decided to work on my SK Stitch-a-Long "Ice Wind". I was surprised that I managed to complete the top half of page 1. I put this project away back in August and it never really yelled loud enough for me to grab it and stitch.

But I thought it needed a bit of TLC. It really is beautiful to look at. Interesting, I was not really "that happy" with it when I first started it. I actually regretted putting it away at the end of November. But, I had too, it was somebody else's turn. Next up is Roses Friend again.

Until next time, happy stitching

Rotations could be a good thing…

My stitching has suffered a lot recently, because I haven’t had the time or the willpower to get on with it. This has mostly come about because of personal stuff, but because of that I have not had the strength to step away from it and do something for myself. But it is now time to get on with it.

We are in a new month and it’s time to get back into the swing of it. I dug out “Roses Friend” by Molly Harrison for Heaven and Earth designs. This is a good place to start because I am working on the background, so lots of blocks of color. I didn’t manage to finish the 1600 stitches that I would have liked, but I was pretty close.

I like to divide the full pattern page into 4. That way I only concentrate on a small area at a time. So far I have completed half of page 1 and almost 1/4 of page 7. I am planning on working left to right in half page sections. It seems that with this particular piece I have decided that I would prefer to cross country stitch, but things might change once I get to the central design.

This Saturday I plan on changing to my next project which is the 2011 QS Stitch-A-Long “QS Curl up with a good book”. I really love this piece, my children got me that full size pattern for Christmas last year and I know that I will probably not get around to stitching it, but this way I can make a smaller version.

Until next time, happy stitching

Every stitch is worth it ....

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with my stitching goals for 2011. So, I think I need to prioritize, but before I do that, here are a couple more updates.

I have always loved Dragon Luck since I saw it as a Storykeep, but I wasn't head over heels in love with Heaven and Earth designs when that freebie was available, so, when I found the Quick Stitch that the Storykeep had been cropped from I couldn't get it started soon enough for my new grandson, (he is growing so fast where did the last 5 months go???). I have just managed to get half of page 2 done and this little guy is looking so cute, now I only have to finish page 2 & 3 on this to complete one of my 2011 goals.

I also have an update of another dragon Eldar and I am close to finishing half of page 7 which will mean that the first five columns of this are finished, yipee I can't wait. I really like working on this, but because I love all my other projects the same nothing is getting the TLC it "truly" deserves.

So this week, I want to get 600 stitches completed on QS Curl Up, so I need to go to get a more on.

Until next time, happy stitching

Curling up to keep warm ....

It's winter here in New Zealand and all I have wanted to do is curl up in front of the fire. But, alas that was not to be. I did get a fair bit of stitching in though. I have made progress on page 1 of QS Curl up with a good book, just looking at this little guy warms the soul. Maybe I will get page 1 completed in my August rotation.

I have added a few more stitches to my little fairy "Roses Friend", but as it is all background I decided that I would wait until the page was finished before adding another update photo and Masquerade SK finally has her face completed, I will take a picture of the whole project when I take it off the QSnaps. This project has become my nemesis, it is just sitting there constantly taunting me, but I figure that any stitches that I can get completed on this are a bonus. I hope to get back with another update over the next week so here's hoping.

Until next time, happy stitching

Time for a catch up ....

This is what I managed to accomplish all the way back in May!!! I couldn't believe how much I had done until I sat down to write this post.

1. Eldar - 400 stitches done
2. Storykeep Masquerade - 400 stitches done
3. QS Curl Up with a Good Book - 400 stitches done
4. Polar Bear Fun - 400 stitches done
5. Roses Friend - 400 stitches done
6. QS Dragon Luck - 400 stitches 250 stitches

June was a complete washout, and now we have reached July. This month I plan to work 600 stitches on all my current projects and I also have a new start because I couldn't help myself. I joined the 2011 SK SaL on the HAED BB, (what was I thinking!!!).

Here she is in all her glory. This is Ice Wind by Linda Tso. So, I have gridded up my fabric and I just need to get a couple of extra threads. I have decided to work this one on 22ct Hardanger, mainly because that is what I had in my stash, and I haven't actually cross stitched a piece on Hardanger before. I am looking forward to how this will work up.

I won't be able to make an actual start on this though until later in the month, but first up in my rotation this month is QS Curl up with a good book, so I should have some progress to show you next update.

Until next time, happy stitching

May Goals ....

Here we go! It's the beginning of the month again!

1. Eldar - 400 stitches
2. Storykeep Masquerade - 400 stitches
3. QS Curl Up with a Good Book - 400 stitches
4. Polar Bear Fun - 400 stitches
5. Roses Friend - 400 stitches
6. QS Dragon Luck - 400 stitches

Until next time, happy stitching

I survived, and made a new start ....

I've reached the end of the month. Woohoo!! I survived the NO BUY challenge that I set myself. It was really difficult, so many beautiful new releases came out and my fingers were itching to make them a part of my stash.

This is my latest new start. It's called Roses Friend by Molly Harrison and charted by Heaven and Earth designs. I saw this and immediately thought of my Aunt. She was also my Godmother and I was her "Namesake". She passed away 17 years ago and this is the first time I have come across a design that reminded me of her so much.  So I am making this in her honor, much missed and loved by me and my family. This is my progress on her so far. I am stitching the background, and finding it really therapeutic, because not as much concentration is required.

I'm ending this month by working on QS Curl Up with a Good Book. It had been a nightmare for me until I restarted on 18ct and it seems to be working out for me.

Okay, so, from what I achieved last month, I am really glad that I did do a rethink on my rotation. I feel so much happier about the progress that I have made with all my projects and I've been able to decide which projects are a priority and give them the time that is needed to get them finished quicker. Last but definitely not the least I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my musings. I appreciate all your comments.

Until next time, happy stitching

Rotation rethink ....

I really needed to do this because I had other projects that I wasn't getting anywhere with. So I have decided to work on each project in rotation for four days and then work one day on either of my two focus pieces. That way I may be able to get some progress on everything. I might even be able to post updates more often

.

So here is an update to Polar Bear Fun. This was the first chart that I brought from HAED. I got it because my husband loves Polar Bears and this is one that really appealed to me. Very slow progress, because I haven't worked on this since August of last year.

Until next time, happy stitching

Update time ....

Here we are at Day 25 and I still haven't brought any more HAED charts. Woohoo!!! It's been difficult, but I'm ever hopeful that my children will come through. If not, oh well, it's okay. It's not the end of the world.

So, now it's time for some updates and I have a few so I am going to spread them over a couple of posts. First off here is QS Dragon Luck. I haven't worked on this in a while. I've been busy listening to all my other WIPs screaming for attention and this one got neglected. But I brought it out again and I have made this a regular in my rotation.

Next up is Masquerade SK. This is one of my goals for this year and I need to make progress with this. I'm excited because she finally has two eyes (well almost) and I'm getting close to being half way finished.

Until next time, happy stitching