Lizzie*Kate Exchange Blog: Exchange C

In May I joined the Lizzie*Kate Exchange Blog and promptly joined in with the first exchange open to me. I had a really hard time deciding on which chart to stitch, and an even harder time figuring out how to finish it. I mean, my stitching is good, but I don’t have a lot of finishing experience since I haven’t been particularly adventurous when it comes to finishing off my stitching. To tell you the truth I was getting really anxious about the whole thing, especially as the standard of finishing amongst the rest of the blog members was really high. I finally decided on a pattern, Plant Love from issue 28 of The Gift of Stitching, which stitched up quickly. I used 32-count natural linen, and floss from my stash, a mixture of DMC, GAST, WDW and Dragonfloss.

Then I had it lying around for a few weeks before I figured out how to finish it. By coincidence I had picked up some paper mache boxes at a store near us, and had the bright idea of trying to mount my stitching on top of one. How hard could it be, right? As it turns out, not too hard actually, provided you have the right tools of course.
Before mounting it I painted the box in white, then I attached the stitching to some mounting board, together with some wadding and finally used my dinky new glue gun to attach it to the box top. I trimmed the bottom of the box with some adhesive ribbon and trimmed around the top with some purple cord. All in all I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it looked, one of the favorite things I’ve made so far.

Judge for yourselves 🙂

My partner, Conny, got it without any problems, and I think she liked it.

Not long after I sent mine off I got a package of my own through the letter box, containing this beautiful ornament from Angela P

It’s so beautiful, and it really inspires me to keep trying new finishes, I’m determined that a few of my Christmas ornaments this year will be made up using this flat finishing. After all, with this perfect example how can I go wrong?

Round D is getting close to send off dates and I have of course signed up, so hopefully you’ll get to see pictures from that in the beginning of October.

Cross Stitch Finishes – Lizzie*Kate Forgive Quickly

This is one of the first finishes I had after we moved. I had some how managed to leave all my WIPs and all my fabrics behind in Liverpool, and all I had here was some charts and fabric. But after some eBay retail therapy I had more than enough to get on with some new projects and as I said this was my first finish back in May.

I love how this design combines traditional and modern, it’s so different from their other designs, but still very Lizzie*Kate-ish.

I stitched it on 28-count antique white cashel linen using Polstitches Dragonfloss Sweetheart, I left out some of the design on the borders as I was running out of floss but I think it looks nice like this, definitely my own.

Eventually I’ll make this onto a cushion or frame it for the bedroom

Stitchy Saturdays – Some Finishes

As you know I had promised my mum that I’d make her a wall hanging mail organizer (surely there must be an easier way of say that!), in any case I finished the stitching with only a few hiccups, but really struggled when it came to finishing it off.
In the end I cheated, I found this beautiful place mat at John Lewis and since the dimensions were sort of what I had in mind I just attached the stitching as a pocket on the place mat. I had already bought a hanger from the RICO Collection and to attach the place mat to the hanger I made some loops at the top using some suitable ribbon. I’m really pleased with this one, probably one of my nicer finishes, in fact I might make one for myself.

Here is a closer look

At the end of March I signed up for a bookmark exchange with one of my facebook groups. I decided to stitch a Lizzie*Kate pattern I received from a friend, it’s called Peep. I found some hand dyed evenweave (28 count I think) from Polstitches and matched the floss I had as closely as I could to the charted DMC colors (I was missing a couple). After I finished stitching I mounted it on some white self-adhesive felt, but I forgot to take a picture before sending it off. Here it is though before I mounted it on the felt.

Here is a closer look at the cute chick 🙂

I also finished April’s Christmas ornament. I stitched one of the Little House Needleworks (LHN) ornaments from 2010 – Frosty Flakes. I didn’t have the charted colors so I matched them up as closely as I could. For the scarf I had the suggested dmc floss, but I wanted it to look more like the hand dyed so I used two different colors together. I think it turned out rather well. The ornament was stitched on 32-count DMC raw linen, one of my favorite fabrics.

I stitched the snowman in white together with some Kreinik blending filament (pearl), and his yellow nose is stitched in Madeira silk

Lastly I stitched up these Mackintosh Roses, the charts were out of one of my Zweigart booklets (the Rose one). I used the same fabric as i did for the bookmark, but quite a subtle part of it color wise. And I stitched the roses in Victoria Clayton HDF silks Victorian Mauve and Tigerlily. I loved stitching with them, they didn’t tangle or any thing. I’ll make it up into a card, not sure who for yet though.

While stitching I definitely thought the purple Victorian Mauve looked best, but looking at it now I love the different colors in Tigerlily.

Stitchy Saturdays – A Finish and Some Progress

I thought I’d take a leaf out of my friend Kell‘s book blog and instate Stitchy Saturdays here at Wikkid Woman. All in the name of getting some structure into my blogging and life 🙂 So for this first Stitchy Saturday I have a finish to share with you and some progress on other pieces.

My finish was started on Day 12 of the Crazy January Challenge, Lizzie*Kate’s All You Need Is Love. I stitched it on 25-count fuchsia lugana evenweave, and used my own floss choices, you can see them below:
Brown text and cupcake and heart outline – Madeira Silk 2008,
Cream on cupcake and inside heart – Madeira Decora 1523,
Flowers – Dragonfloss 201 Sweetheart,
Leaves – Dragonfloss 206 Wood Elf,
Variegated text and swirls at bottom– Dragonfloss 115 Hugs with Stitches,
Framing the A and bottom square– Dragonfloss 113 Greetings.

Now I just need to find the perfect frame, I know what it looks like in my head I just have to find it in real life 🙂

As for my progress, the one I have worked on the most is Raise The Roof – Sleepy Hollow Sampler. I just LOVE stitching this one, it’s so sketchy and atmospheric. I started stitching it on Day 5 of the challenge and have finished most of the middle motif now. I’m really enjoying the specialty threads, the GAST seems a bit wooly (maybe that’s just me, but I love the texture) and the WDW is just lovely too.

Another piece which has seen a little progress is the wall hanging I’m making for my mum. I finished the motifs on either side of the text and started a flower border thing at the bottom, but then I decided I don’t like the houses on either side and I’m gonna frog them and just have a flower border above and below. This was my first start of 2011 and it’s one I need to finish pronto so I’ll be picking it up again shortly.

First cross stitch finishes of 2011

I have my first two finishes of 2011. The first one is a long time coming, I’ve spent almost exactly one year on it.

It is of course the Emily Peacock ‘HUG’ cushion.

It still needs to be made up into a cushion, but I’m leaving it until the hot water bottle cover and wall hanging is stitched so I can have a finishing day with Paul’s nan and get them all done. I haven’t actually bought fabric for it yet, in the instructions they use pale pink cotton, but I was thinking maybe a fuchsia silk fabric (I was eying some up at Abakhan the other day). I’m so relieved it’s done, it’s been hard going from start to finish really, the big stitches and the block colors really drove me crazy, it made it so boring to stitch. It looks great finished though, and once it’s a cushion it’ll look even better. Now I just need to finish ‘KISS’ so I have a match set, that thought is the only thing which will make me finish it. As mentioned before, this was stitched on 11-count aida using the charted DMC floss.

My second finish was far more fun, and quick. I started it as part of the Crazy January Challenge, it was my day 6 project I believe.
It’s a Lizzie*Kate design called Time for God, which I stitched over one on 32-count linen so it would be the perfect size for a bookmark. I had seen a fellow Crossstitchforum member do it, and was immediately inspired. It will be a gift for my SIL’s mum, who will be 60 in the next few weeks. She is the only person I know who is christian (not just Christmas and Easter), so I just knew I had to stitch this for her. I used the charted Weeks Dye Works with this design, and the fabric was DMC 32-count Raw Linen.

I have a couple of other finishes too, but the pictures for those will have to wait until they arrive at their new homes.

I’m off to do my Happy Dances

2011 WiP List

I thought it might be a good idea to list my current WiPs now that my 15 projects from the ‘Crazy January challenge have been started.

I’m listing my quick finishes first, once they are out of the way (most of them only need a day or two really)

1.Lizzie*Kate ‘Time for God’

2. Valentine’s Biscornu

3. Snowflake Biscornu

4. Christmas Ornament (Sampler Girl freebie)

5. Emily Peacock ‘HUG’ cushion

6. Wall hanging mail organizer

7. Lizzie*Kate ‘All You Need Is Love’

8. Blackwork Lady

9. Solo Brode SAL ‘En attendant l’été’

10. Hot Water Bottle Cover

11. Wedding Sampler

And here are the bigger projects:

12. Jungle Scamp

13. Sleepy Hollow Sampler

14. Emily Peacock ‘KISS cushion’

15. PINN Stitch ‘Tranquille Valley’

16. Panda Baby

17. HAED ‘QS Rose Dreaming’

18. Stitcher’s Sampler

I’m thinking week long rotations once I’ve finished the deadline ones, one of the big project a week plus one small one for distraction. Of course the Christmas Ornament and Snowflake biscornu will be replace with by a new biscornu for February and a new ornament as well.

For now I’m focusing on finishing the Time for God bookmark and biscornus.

What’s Your Goal?

You might have noticed I didn’t bother with New Years Resolutions this year. Last year’s were ok, I kept to most of them, but didn’t want to do it like that again this year. For 2011 I’ve decided I want to go with monthly goals. On the 1st of each month I’ll post my goals, some will be the same month after month, others will be month specific. On the 1st I’ll also post a summery of how I’ve done on the month just gone, just to keep score.

I realize we’re almost at the end of January, but I really think I should post the goal for this month, after all one should start as one means to go on.

Every Month:

1. Post on my blog at least once a week
2. Post picture of my TUSAL jar on each new moon
3. Stitch a biscornu for my Basket of Biscornus (I haven’t bothered joining the official blog, I’m just gonna do it on my lonesome)
4. Stitch a Christmas ornament
5. Plot 3 new stories/plotlines
6. Write 10,000 new words (either on existing novels or new stories)
7. Read 4 books a month, and write reviews for them

January Only:

1. Start and complete the first 15 days of the Crazy January Challenge 2011
2. Finish Emily Peacock ‘HUG’ cushion
3. Start and finish Lizzie*Kate ‘Time for God’ design as a bookmark
4. Start c25k (Couch 2 5k) training plan

I’m sure I had a few more, but those are the ones which came to mind. Please come back on the 1st to see February’s goals and so how I got on with this month’s list.

Do you have any goals for this month, or this year?
Tell us about them!

Crazy January Challenge 2011 – Day 12 and 13

A little bit late in posting this, hubby has been hogging the mac lately (too be fair, it is his work computer). For day 12 I decided to start another Lizzie*Kate design, ‘All You Need Is Love’, I was somewhat spurred on by the arrival of my lovely new stash, and as I didn’t have the specialist threads needed i decided to pick ones from my stash. Mostly I’ve gone with Dragonfloss, although I’ve used some of my Madeira as well. For anyone interested, here is the floss I used.
Brown – Madeira Silk 2008, Cream on cupcake – Madeira Decora 1523, Flowers – Dragonfloss 201 Sweetheart, Leaves – Dragonfloss 2-6 Wood Elf, Variegated writing – Dragonfloss 115 Hugs with Stitches, Around the A – Dragonfloss 113 Greetings.
I stitched it on 25-count Fuchsia Lugana, 2 over 2. I think the Zweigart evenweaves must be my favorites to stitch on. I stitched most of this on the 12th, but picked it up again today to do some more. It’s just so much fun.

For my 13th project I made a change to my list. I had originally planned on stitching hubby a card, however I found a perfect one in the shop so didn’t need it. Instead I’ve decided to add another biscornu, I’ve signed up for an exchange so need to stitch it asap. It’s Valentine’s Day themed so I’ve gone really pink with this one. I’m stitching it on Polstitches Love and Kisses (I think) aida, and have so far used Pomme de Pin Pimprenelle and Pomme de Pin Evanescence. Didn’t get a lot of stitching done, just the middle part.

Revised List for Crazy January Challenge 2011

Made a couple of changes (changes or additional info in bold) so provided I get my new stash in time this is it now, I have until Day 9 before I need any of the supplies though so it should be fine.
Starting with item 3 today, my mother’s wall hanging. Will give you an update at the end of the day. Now it’s bed time though, so nighty, night!

1. ‘Jungle Scamp’ by Maria Diaz from Cross Stitch Collection February 2010)

2. KISS cushion by Emily Peacock

3. A cross stitched wall hanging mail organizer (is there a better name for them?) My mom wanted one so I’ve found an alphabet I liked along with some motifs.

4. Blackwork Lady from WOXS Summer 2010

5. Baby Panda by Pollyanna Pickering from Cross Stitch Collection June 2010

6. Wedding sampler
Stitching this freebie (scroll down a bit for Coeur), and adding the names and date inside the heart.

7. All you Need Is Love by Lizzie*Kate

8. Snowflake biscornu by Faby Reilly – Decided I want to do a Basket of Biscornus this year so it’s a good a time as an to get started.

9. 2011 Christmas Ornament – I’m planning on doing one a month so a great time to kick start this
The Sampler Girl – Christmas Eve Flight Freebie

10. Tranquil Valley by PINN Stitch

11. Sleepy Hollow by Raise the Roof Designs

12. 2011 Birthday Cards – will try and do better this year with cards out at the right time etc.
First up, hubby’s birthday I’m thinking this one, but over one on evenweave to make it smaller

13. Time for God by Lizzie*Kate

14. Hot water bottle cover – will be stitching this straight on to fleece using waste canvas. Going to use a few different monochrome motifs, winter themed.

15. En attendant l’été by Solo Brode
This is a SAL I signed up to Summer 2010, I ended up not having the time to stitch it then so though this would be a great time to stitch it. Plus my list needed something summery.

Crazy January Challenge 2011

In a fit of madness I’ve signed up to the Crazy January Challenge 2011, masterminded by Minna.

The rules of the challenge are as follows:

1. Start stitching a new design every day, from January 1st to January 15th. So by January 15th you have 15 new WIPs to stitch!

2. Finish everything you started stitching during the year 2011.

3. Show photos in your blog if you have one, in January and during the whole year while you stitch.

4. Have fun stitching!

I have a few projects I want to start so this is the perfect excuse, I haven’t quite put 15 together yet though, but I’m sure I’ll have it sorted before it’s time to stitch it. Will just stitch the sorted and kitted out ones first.

So here is my almost complete list:

1. ‘Jungle Scamp’ by Maria Diaz from Cross Stitch Collection February 2010)

2. KISS cushion by Emily Peacock

3. A cross stitched wall hanging mail organizer (is there a better name for them?) My mom wanted one so I’ve found an alphabet I liked along with some motifs.

4. Blackwork Lady from WOXS Summer 2010

5. Baby Panda by Pollyanna Pickering from Cross Stitch Collection June 2010

6. Wedding sampler
Stitching this freebie (scroll down a bit for Coeur), and adding the names and date inside the heart.

7. HAED A Favour by Edmund Blair Leighton

8. Snowflake biscornu by Faby Reilly – Decided I want to do a Basket of Biscornus this year so it’s a good a time as an to get started.

9. 2011 Christmas Ornament – I’m planning on doing one a month so a great time to kick start this

10. Tranquil Valley by PINN Stitch

11. Sleepy Hollow by Raise the Roof Designs

12. 2011 Birthday Cards – will try and do better this year with cards out at the right time etc.
First up, hubby’s birthday I’m thinking xbox related.

13. Time for God by Lizzie*Kate

14. Hot water bottle cover – will be stitching this straight on to fleece using waste canvas. Just need to decide on motif

15. Undecided