Monday, 20 November 2006

Previous Round Robins


Both of these motifs - the round one was sooo much fun!

Paradise Lost
by Long Dog Samplers

2006. The first part of this album is from a 12 person International Round Robin that was supposed to go for 12 months. My project was finally returned after 24 months and I was one of the lucky ones.

2007 - 2008. The second section of this album is a new UFO RR I'm in with some friends, starting with Claire's piece.

162 comments:

Hilary Syddall said...

Was yours finished when it returned Mel? ie do I stand ANY chance at all of getting mine back!?!

The Dragon

Melissa Hicks said...

Hilary, No - mine had been worked on by 8 of the 11 people. I still haven't finished it off - but as you say - at least I got mine back. As far as I know Ronnee never returned yours or Lyn's. Even when she was phoned and sent postage paid satchels she never posted them back. Apparently there was no-one in visiting distance in the US that could go and physically stand on the doorstep until she handed them over. Hers was the only one I refused to work on. Becky had it the last I heard.

As I mentioned at the time, if you ever wanted to start another one, I would certainly work on it again for you!

Claire EJ said...

So sad when RR's don't make it back. I've always (touch wood!) been lucky. They aren't finished but at least they are home. I still say I plan to tie the miscreant to a chair when I finally get to meet her and make her at least stitch her initials in the empty square:) (Love you Paula).

Donna Williams said...

And now you know why, as fascinated as I am with them, I've never joined one...

Paula Hubert said...

[sigh] I think I'm going to make J take me to England for a vacation just so I can stitch Claire's square and not feel so guilty! (love you too!)

Claire EJ said...

, I just like teasing you now. I love that we are such good friends and hope you would never take offence at the "being held down to stitch" thing.

Mind you, if it makes J bring you over here quicker, I might just keep on LOL

Paula Hubert said...

LOL take offense? It takes a whole lot more than that... besides, then we'd have to find something else to natter back and forth about. But hey - it's on the list of reasons why J *has* to take me to the UK.. so let's keep it for a bit!

Hilary Syddall said...

Whimper I want this again! Maybe I should start this one off again!

Melissa Hicks said...

If you do - I'll work on it !!!

Claire EJ said...

Did Hilary's never turn up???

Melissa Hicks said...

Nope - never seen again - still with Ronnee or Ronnee ditched it or something ......

Hilary Syddall said...

Ronnee promised to send the two or three she had back out to either the owners or Julie and nope nothing!

Melissa Hicks said...

I remember at the time Ronnee dropped out because she had a homicidal or suicidal daughter and she had to put all sharp objects out of her reach - I always wondered if said daughter destroyed the projects and Ronnee just wouldn't own up to it .....

Hilary Syddall said...

Under the circumstances I think if that had happened I would have liked to have known - at least I would have stopped thinking they had been stolen! (as has happened with more projects than just this one)

Melissa Hicks said...

I honestly don't know... My mind went towards destruction rather than theft .... but for no reason other than I couldn't imagine stealing someone else's work.

Hilary Syddall said...

I know - but it has happened to me and the people don't seem repentant at all!

Claire EJ said...

As I've always said, I was dead lucky to get mine back and people do change over the years. The person who held onto mine is now a close and valued good friend. But I don't think I'd do another RR with her even though I do love her to pieces.....

Janaina R said...

I just loved your RR! Congrats! I am also addicted to this! Lol!Waiting for my 1st RR(Margarett Sherry Fun Farm Animals) to get back.Melissa M. already posted it and I am itching to see the final result!

Hilary Syddall said...

Urk meant to put my previous reply next to this pic! blame it being nearly 00.30 hours and a couple of glasses of wine under my belt :-)

Melissa Hicks said...

Hilary !!!! Next you'll be shimmying with those crutches !!!!!

Giggle - good night girl!

Hilary Syddall said...

who said anything about me going to sleep! the ankle is giving me gyp so I will be on-line for a while yet LOL

Hmmm a quick "shimmy on down" well it could happen ...................... LOL

Melissa Hicks said...

Ah the young !!!!! I remember when I was young enough not to fall asleep by midnight - or heck just not fall asleep after two glasses of wine !!!

Hilary Syddall said...

oh come on! I suspect you are younger than me!

Melissa Hicks said...

I turn 36 this year :) :) There! Secret's out!

Hilary Syddall said...

there you go then! you are 6 years younger than me (mutterings of whippersnapper!) I hit Life, The Universe and Everything on March 7th :-)

Melissa Hicks said...

Oh no - the dreaded 42 !!!!!! Now how can I get that into a birthday present .... hmmm know of any hitchhikers charts ??????

Hilary Syddall said...

Not that I am aware of no! of course there are always towels .... a friend of mine didn't tell people how old she was (last year) but the kitchen was draped with towels and only one person got the clue! (it was over in the States and Mark and I couldn't get - we sent her the original TV series on DVD instead :-) )

Melissa Hicks said...

Hmm - I'll have to make sure its got little flowers on it - just like Ford's!

So what's your favourite colour ???

Hilary Syddall said...

Blues and greens LOL - but seriously you don't need to get me a birthday gift!

Melissa Hicks said...

Who said anything about *need* ???????

You didn't *need* to send me a cute chart and fabric last fortnight either !!!!!!

Hilary Syddall said...

ah yes but that was a RAK to cheer you up after the freezer debacle!

Karen R said...

Yeah, definitely like that one better - it's not so heavy & distracting.

Claire EJ said...

Works well and I like the corners.....

Melissa Hicks said...

Thanks ladies !!!!

Mariann Mäder said...

Looks very nice, Mel!

Nancy Murdock said...

Very cute Snoopy, you don't see alot of patterns of this character!!!

Stephanie Flynn said...

I love Snoopy! Well done!

Debbie Lord said...

One very cool dog, love it!!

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

Very cute

Hilary Syddall said...

When are you sending this one round again so it can be finished off?

Jacquelyn Distenfeld said...

Lovely.

kay jones said...

Love this one

Melissa Hicks said...

Thanks ladies - Snoopy is sooo cute to stitch !!!!!

Melissa Hicks said...

Well that's a point :) So when do you want it - let me know and I'll post it off :) :) :)

And don't forget to send me your Zodiac Cats in return!

Hilary Syddall said...

Hmmm after fighting with Snoopy and the backstitching etc on that are you sure you want to get involved with some MS cats on aida!

Maybe I should set up the one you did before and send that round again LOL

Melissa Hicks said...

Snoopy wasn't that bad - you know I like to whinge!

You decide which one you want to send and let me know when. My Fantasy RR can be packaged and posted with a few days notice.

Hilary Syddall said...

Well I will confess that getting some of the ones done that came back part completed ...........

I will have to get working copies of the charts made (hmm I could dig those out this week and get them copied on either Wednesday or Friday!)

Melissa Hicks said...

Well I have to post yours onto Laura week Friday - howabout I pop my Fantasy RR into the mail to you then too. That way I'm only stopping off at the mail once ....

You can do the same thing with one of yours - and yes I like the idea of finishing off partly completed RRs.

Hilary Syddall said...

I like the idea as well - at the moment mine are languishing in my stash drawers whimpering at me!

Shawn Medrano said...

What a wonderful Snoopy!!

Melissa Hicks said...

Thanks Shawn - and Hilary - I've got my Friday flex day *next* Friday - gotta work this week as the boss wants to visit the branch ..... anyway will Post your RR to Laura and my old Fantasy RR to you then. Both leaving here on 8 June.

Hilary Syddall said...

Ok Mel - it will be this weekend at the earliest that I can the Zodiac cats out to you!

Hilary Syddall said...

Wow you got a load done on this one! well done you!!!!!

Mariann Mäder said...

Wow, that's a really lovely bit of progress there! Thanks Mel! And Hilary and Claire :-)

Shawn Medrano said...

It looks lovely so far!!

Pennie Boots said...

Oh, this is gorgeous! Well done Mel!!!!

Nancy Murdock said...

Tons of progress!! Never been involved in a RR before, sounds interesting!

Stephanie Flynn said...

Very neat!

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

Very good progress - I can't wait to join the next one you guys do!

Janine Smith said...

Oh My this is gorgeous. You did heaps Mel.
Janine

Karen R said...

Wow, you got a lot done! This is a great piece - nice fabbie, Mariann!

Mariann Mäder said...

It's Wichelt Evergreen 32ct linen...

I've had quite the number of e-mails with Barb (of Stitches 'n' Stuff - a Canadian site that changed hands after she died in 2000) about the ideal colour for this. The fabric is a half cut, because I'd also like to put Rose Arbor on the same piece. Didn't want a grey background. The colours just pop out on this one, don't they?

kay jones said...

Looks lovely. The fabric is just great

Claire EJ said...

looks fab! Well done, you :)

Mariann Mäder said...

That's a great job, Mel! It did get some great progress, didn't it?

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

Looks great Mel - that's ten hours right?

Denise Hicks said...

Looks good with the three pieces finished

Denise Hicks said...

The compass looks like a fidly piece of stitching, but the finished piece looks realy great.

Melissa Hicks said...

The backstitching was a PITA !!!! But thank you - I hope Claire likes the finished product :)

Lesley Hilliard said...

The backstitching may have been a PITA, but it looks great.

Sisu Lull said...

Looks great Mel!

Anita B said...

Very nice, Mel - looking great!

Karen R said...

In this shot, that looks like an actual key laying on top of the fabric!

Karen R said...

Very nice - this is going to be such a cool piece!!

Mariann Mäder said...

Looks nice so far, Mel!

Nancy Murdock said...

Nice contribution!

Lori M. said...

Great stitching Mel! I love the fabric it's on.

Melissa Hicks said...

Hey you're right! Damn I've been found out .... alright I admit it - I didn't *really* stitch the key, I found an old one and glued it onto the fabric :) :)

Terri England said...

Looks good Cannot see more of this design.

Terri England said...

I can see why it drove you batty

Claire EJ said...

Looks fantastic...well done, you:)

Pretty little compass and that key, you sure you didn't just stick one on there for fun?! LOL

Claire EJ said...

MEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's gorgeous! I love it. Thank you:)

Shawn Medrano said...

You did a wonderful job on the compass; backstitching and all!!! Congrats for working through it!!!!!!

Melissa Hicks said...

Oh phew! That's one weight off my mind :) :)

Claire EJ said...

How could that even be a weight on your mind? It's wonderful and one bit less for me to do!

Laura Landis said...

Looks great, Mel! I had forgotten which piece I would be getting next!!

Paula Hubert said...

Great job! I can't wait to see this one when it's finished!

Melissa Hicks said...

Laura - it was posted out yesterday :) :)

Carolyn Ford said...

Very nice! I love the fabric on this too - what are you using?

Melissa Hicks said...

This is Claire's RR project and it was a Lanarte kit - so the fabric came with it.

Jamie Vander Eide said...

It looks great, Mel! Glad that you have your stitching mojo back, too! :)

Melissa Hicks said...

Awww - thank you sweetie !!!!!

Claire EJ said...

Well said....and talking of mojo....the report with Debbie and Denise...did any of you buy stash??

Melissa Hicks said...

Nope. Mum and I bought threads for BoInk and Debbie bought some needle threaders and that was it !!!!

Claire EJ said...

Good gods...that was it!!! karen has all that wonderful stuff and you barely spent a thing?! well done you....

Melissa Hicks said...

Well she doesn't carry a huge rang of charts in my styles and I wanted to concentrate my money on the items I need right now as I'm still supposed to be on a financial diet ....

I can't answer for the other ladies :) :)

Claire EJ said...

You did good...the abstinence force was with you.

Karen R said...

Very nice!!! This is such a cute piece! What is the varigated used on the letters?

Claire EJ said...

Wahoo. looks fantabulous. Erm, one cat too many though...!

Claire EJ said...

HoE, Fern....

Looks fabulous:)

Melissa Hicks said...

??? Sorry don't get this reference ....

Sisu Lull said...

Very nice Mel!

Mariann Mäder said...

HOE = House of Embroidery, Mel

I *love* it! Greedy Mel took two kitties :-) I think this one will come home finished, LOL. It's really such a lovely piece, I hope you had as much fun stitching on this as I had.

Mariann Mäder said...

And the more I see of it stitched the more I like my colour choices...

Melissa Hicks said...

{whine}
But if I'd only done the bottom kitty it would have been too small .......
{/whine}

Mariann Mäder said...

No problems whatsoever, Mel! If it's one short it means that someone won't have to stitch on it anymore.

Claire EJ said...

House Of Embroidery, Fern...Karen asked what the thread was.

Claire EJ said...

See I whined and pouted too,....and got told to only do the one. I do adore this design...

Mariann,,,,would you possibly let me borrow the chart when it's all finished? I have a friend who has four cats and fosters others. It would be lovely to stitch for her.

kay jones said...

Looks great. I love RRs. Just a pity that I haven't been able to get into any for the past couple of years:((

Sisu Lull said...

Well, if it is finished before the last stitcher gets it, she could stitch one of the little kitties as a scissor fob or something. And if Mariann makes this into a bell pull, the fob could hang on the bottom of the hardware. There is always a way to participate if you want to.

Claire EJ said...

Sisu! That is a great idea...

Mariann Mäder said...

I agree that this is a great idea, Sisu! I think even if I framed it, this could still be done

Julie Nemitz said...

Your kitties are darling Mel. Congrats, you do wonderful work.

Lori M. said...

Very pretty Mel! I love the thread the you've used for the alphabet. It's yummy!

Stephanie Flynn said...

Your part looks like a fun part!

Melissa Hicks said...

It was quite fun - quite simple too :) :) i liked watching each piece grow ... well when I could see it.

Nancy Murdock said...

Looks great for not being able to see!

Claire EJ said...

Ewww the people....they still freak me out LOL.
God stars love for doing the faceless wonders. Love the tiddly quilt and sewing table.

Lori M. said...

Wonderful progress! I think that this looks greast so far!

Frishawn Rasheed said...

Another great start!

Anita B said...

I really like this one - very nice stitching!

Milly Dunaway said...

This is going to be awesome. Love what you've done so far.

Paula Hubert said...

Nice work! This isn't really my style, but I love the colors in it.

Terri England said...

Looks great Mel.

Terri England said...

This is wonderful.

Claire EJ said...

Lovely ! It's such a pretty piece. Shame about the fabric.

Shawn Medrano said...

You did a nice job on your part Mel!!

Lori M. said...

Great stitching Mel!

Rebecca Jankowiak said...

It is so stunning. Love the color. Is the pattern Rose of Sharon? The colors remind me of it. My hours would be about 30 I am a slow stitcher and haven't found time lately. Great job.

Becky J
MI

Rebecca Jankowiak said...

This is just as beautiful as the first one. Great job. Love the material color on this.

Becky J
MI

Sisu Lull said...

Looks good ladies! Thanks for working on this one!

Claire EJ said...

It does look lovely.
So sorry the fabric beat me on this one, pouts:(

Karen R said...

Looks great!!!

Nancy Murdock said...

Nice addition to the piece Mel! What was wrong with the fabric Claire?

Claire EJ said...

Sighs...it's one of those with scratchy itchy fibres and no matter what I tried, I couldn't stop the dermatitis rash from coming up over my hands and arms.

Melissa Hicks said...

Yup - don't know what the fabric is - but certainly is stiff and scratchy. Kit fabric :) :) But that's *why* we are all helping Sisu with this one - afterall she doesn't call it Fiendish Tea for nothing :) :)

Laura Landis said...

Looks lovely, Mel!!

Sisu Lull said...

That is why you all eserve to be sainted. It is horrid stuff. I should have switched it out from the get go, but I honestly thought it would soften up a bit. Nope. Stayed horrid.

Mariann Mäder said...

I could have lived with the stiffness of the fabric, but I had a hellish *seeing* on it... There are fabrics and then there are fabrics, some let me see well, others just not :-(

Melissa Hicks said...

Yep I understand you here. Its one of my problems with PTP fabrics - I love them but I have a hard time seeing the holes - this is why Cirque des Cercles is stalled ...

Claire EJ said...

Such a small yet essential detail, sigh...being able to see the holes and not itching like crazy...sighs...
Sisu, you will know for sure next time if you ever come across that fabric again.
Mel, I didn't realise that was your PTP problem.
I like their fabrics but loathe the opalescents.

Melissa Hicks said...

Well at 37 and stitching with black on a regular basis - I don't really want to admit that I cannot see the holes in *their* light blue fabric ......

I eventually get my eye in sometimes, but it really is a hassle - hence why I've been forced by necessity to bypass their fabrics sometimes - I adore them! I truly do - I just have trouble stitching on them.

Claire EJ said...

I can't do black. I never have been able to at all.
I planned a Donna Vermillion cushion, the holly one, on black.
It still sits there and is waiting for never.

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

I picked a very dark blue/purple for Tuscany - it looks great, but man you girls can imagine the light has to be just right!

Sisu Lull said...

I am lucky that vision wise, I can stitch on anything. Color is not an issue. The most difficulty I had with finding holes in the fabric was a piece of Silkweavers Opalescent. The darn sparkly threads were more loosely woven than the rest of the fabric and were constantly looping over the holes and making it hard to get the stitches even. The end result was lovely, and my brother loves it, but if it weren't for the fact that it was a gift, I doubt I ever would have finished it.

Nancy Murdock said...

I had a hard time seeing on Stellar which was a PTP fabric, for Joyful. I thought it was just me, but sounds like I am not alone. It was 32 ct. though...

Laura Landis said...

Aren't these motifs addictive? Love them both!! Thanks, Mel!

Laura Landis said...

Wow, I can't believe how much is done!! Thanks to everyone for the great progress!!

Karen R said...

Wow - that's cool!! Neat colors in the round one, and love the thistle!! I obviously need to get mine out and take a closer look at it...

Melissa Hicks said...

Laura picked a set of colours and with minimum guidelines let us pick which colours we wanted to use on which motifs. I adored the Peacock thread and it was the one with the most amount left by the time the RR got to me (I'm last before its sent home) so I picked the motif I thought it would look the nicest in.

Laura is right - those motifs are addictive !

Mariann Mäder said...

It's gorgeous so far! I'm sure it looks twice as good in real :-)

Mariann Mäder said...

I left the Peacock thrad alone - it was already used in some motifs around the ones I got to do, so I left it out completely and played with the other colours. The teal one is great, too, very subtle.

By the way, Laura, did you notice that I changed the LJ to LL to represent your initials? (I suppose you have a middle name, but since I didn't know that I just went with the two letters that were there)

Melissa Hicks said...

I noticed that and wondered who did it! What a thoughtful touch Mariann!

Claire EJ said...

Wow, it does look utterly super!
I could see this going round again too....

Claire EJ said...

I think we all enjoyed this one muchly.
Super pair of motifs Mel!

Laura Landis said...

I did, Mariann, and thank you for you doing that! I do have to say, though, that because my initials are 'l's, it kind of looks like a number 11 on there! hehehe It'll have people wondering what significance there is to the number, right? By the way, the middle name is Beth.

Mariann Mäder said...

LOL, yes, I thought so, too, but that's just how it is... They do have the little dash on the bottom though that separates them from being figures 1, so.... Glad you like it :-)

Michele Anderson said...

Ok you all, I don't ever post much but I adore watching RR's progress! What happened to Claire's? And the others? I know Sisu's tea one is home but the others are where and how much more is done on them?

Chele

Melissa Hicks said...

This folder is only MY progress on these pieces. For the story of these pieces AFTER Mel, you will have to go to the actual owner's own site. I know Sisu finished hers. Claire hasn't finished hers and mine is still with mum or on its way to Karen or Kay I think.

Anyway here's the new folder for this year's RRs. http://gothtigger.multiply.com/photos/album/119/RR_-_2009_Round_Robin_Pieces

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

Mine from last year is finished - framed on hanging on my bedroom wall. I hope it will be in a moving box sometime soon though - that means we'll have found a bigger house!

Melissa Hicks said...

Oooh keeping my fingers crossed for you !!!!

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

Thanks Mel - found out though that we are one of five bids they have :-( Kind of decreases our chances

Post a Comment