Mel's Sunday update - an almost finish ....

Well its been awhile since I posted a Sunday update....

All of my 2007 finishes, including all of the pieces I gave as gifts are all now listed in my finished album.

I've updated and added to my Lust List.

I spent Christmas with my Dad and New Years with my mum and will be going back to work on Tuesday. 

Christmas was quite fun this year.  I received wonderful gifts and lots of cards and threads from my stitching buddies on the BAPXS list.  I received a new microwave from my Dad, a set of really good cutlery, ovenmits and socks from mum.  Jewellery and CDs from Paul. Oh and chocolate, chocolate, more chocolate and two books on chocolate (one from mum and one from my non-stitching friend Alison).

I've been working on a new piece since New Years Eve.  Spotted Butterfly by Szulet Designs.  It was a chart mum had in her stash, and I bought enough fabric (28ct Monaco "Sky" by Dreams with Angels) for both of us to stitch this one up.  When I was at mum's I pulled out her chart, checked I had bought enough fabric for two, cut it in half and then promptly nicked the chart and some of her DMC threads and started to stitch it.

Wasn't planned - just happened.

I brought the chart home with me spent a half day scrabbling around my local Spotlight and Lincrafts stores for a spool of Kreinik #4 Very Fine Braid in 001 Silver.  Finally found one spool in dubious circumstances in Lincrafts.

The plastic casing had been opened and it looked like the thread had been unwound ... possibly some removed ?????  Anyway it was the *only* spool available so I took it to the front counter and explained the circumstances.  No reaction from the staff and no discount on the cost of the spool. I took it anyway as I wanted to finish this item before I went back to work on Tuesday.

I finished all of the cross stitching while watching the cricket yesterday and then ran out of Silver braid (used for the back-stitching) this afternoon.  So no finish yet for me.

It feels silly ordering one single spool of metallic from Karen@Dragonflydreams so I will put this one away now and get the thread delivered with my monthly fabric of the month club in February.

Tomorrow its onto  Gemstone Dragons from Dragon Dreams.  This is needed for an RR to go out so its the first priority.  Then if I have any time left in the week - I might work on my The One.

Especially as I haven't worked on it at all since last July when we started this SAL.

.... or I might have to start Peridot from FireWing Designs. This was a birthday present from Laura that thanks to the vagaries of International Mail arrived a couple of days ago ( 5 months late).

I'll see after I work on my RR ......  time to go and get some dinner now and then relax for the evening.  Tomorrow will spent washing cleaning ironing and doing everything else needed to facilitate an easy return to work the next day.

Back from the Framers

Well it was an extremely busy morning with seeing HR for my exit interview from this organisation, then getting Karen's RAK in the mail (thank you) and then finally picking up two small pieces from the framers on the way home.

Stellar is by Patti of Moonflower Designs and is in my finished album.

Cat Lover was a present stitched by my mum and is in my presents album.

Bird of Paradise - FINISHED!

Well we gave up any and all moving stuff last night and sat and stitched. Mum worked on her bookmark and completely finished it. Including the fraying of the edges and attaching the ribbon.

She then gave it to me saying "here, now you have a piece that's yours instead of you giving all yours away, I've given you one!"

I was quite surprised! But then again it would be like my mum to give me a bookmark right when all of my books are packed!

Mum's stitching

Hi all,

Mum turned up today to help me move. It only took a few minutes before the cross stitching was out and it was show and tell time. Mum hasn't done much stitching lately - I think its too cold and dark where she lives. Anyway, here's an update.

Mum's Third Piece - Bird of Paradise

Hi I, I've been a bit busy to update - see next blog entry if you are interested.

Here is mum's third piece - a bird of Paradise bookmark kit from Cross Stitch Magic.

I've included the original pattern - will change to original cover pic as soon as mum sends me the right scan. I've cropped the pic to remove the legend in the hope it will make the pic more acceptable.

And of course here are her two progress pics.

Hugs
Mel.

Mum's second piece - so far

Mum's second piece - a cover kit from a Cross Stitch Collection magazine. It has lots of shades very similar colours and she is finding this a real challenge. I think so many similar shades on such a small project is an advanced project! She plans to finish it over the weekend! She's been working on it on and off for four nights so far.

Would you believe there are four shades of red, three shades of purple, three shades of yellow, three shades of flesh tone etc ..... I admire mum;s tenacity - I would have thrown it away and done something else by now.