HAED Freebie SAL 2011 - QS Terra Fairy Sprite

This year I decided to join the HAED Bulletin Board Freebie Stitchalong. We had a choice of 6 quickstitch patterns, and I chose Terra Fairy Sprite by Brigid Ashwood.

It's not something I'd normally stitch, but the other patterns really didn't call to me. I admit I do like the tattoo on her arm, almost matches mine. :)

It's a year-long stitchalong, where I get one page of the pattern every 2 months. I have a ton of other projects on the go, so I don't expect to get too far on this, but I have committed to finishing at least the first page before Christmas.

I was originally planning on doing this in petit point on 32 ct silk gauze, but one thread wasn't enough coverage and 2 threads was so squishy that I couldn't tell the stitches apart (which is a problem since you need to count stitches in counted cross stitch - go figure!). I then bought some 32 ct lugana and tried 1 thread and 2 thread tent stitches, both of which I hated. I then tried 1 over 1 full crosses on the 32 ct and still hated it. For my last ditch attempt (keep in mind I stitched 200-300 stitches each time I tried this), I tried 1 over 1 full crosses on some 28 ct jazlyn fabric. It's doable, but it's not my favourite.

Since I had so many false starts, I really haven't gotten very far on this yet, but progress is progress.

Spur of the Moment Stitching

I saw a few people on CrossStitchForum.com stitch up this freebie pattern called Brushstroke Butterfly, and I just couldn't resist! (I will admit that I altered the pattern just a smidge.) I'll be framing it myself (maybe tomorrow) and sending it off as a surprise for my mom. This was the first time I used a DMC varigated floss, and I really liked using it. I think it stitched up really well.

And now it's framed by me:

HSH - Page 2 Finished!!

Look at me go!! Hurray for progress! Page 2 is done!

I seem to be able to finish a page of this in about three weeks. So I think I'll still aim for 1 page a month, and then use the last week or more of each month to work on any or all of my other projects. I swear I'll finish one of them soon ... maybe.

Stash Check ... Oh My!!

I often frequent a forum (crossstitchforum.com) to read and discuss stitchy stuff. One recent thread asked to see everyone's stash, just cause stash is fun to look at. I decided to lay out all of my stash this morning and take pictures. Oh my ... maybe I shouldn't have done that. I have WAY more stash than I thought, and the pictures below don't even include the 20-30 charts I have saved on my computer.

These are all of my kits:

I'd love to start/finish some of the really small ones so I could have some decorations for my apartment. They are so cute and really ... what woman doesn't like flowers once in a while?

These are some of my charts and the start of my magazine collection:

I'm just dying to stitch some of these charts, particularly the Alessandra Adelaide and Ink Circles ones. (As if I don't already have 5 projects on the go. Am I insane?)

And finally, my fabric and thread collection:

A lot of the thread is already sorted into boxes for particular projects I want to start, but my general collection grows frequently. The fabric I love. I don't have plans for most of it. I just couldn't resist buying such gorgeous pieces. One day I will find a use for it all!!

New Year's resolution: no more stash buying unless it's for a current WIP (work in progress). Let's see how long I can stick to it. (My bet is a week ... maybe less.)

Blackwork SAL - Jan 2011 Update

There's a Blackwork SAL meeting next week, so I thought I'd put a little time and stitchy energy into this project. I've now completed all of the fill patterns (except for the contrast colour and the beading) and I still have to do the border. I might just get this done by the last meeting in March! I must admit I love this colour - so vibrant, so rich!

It's funny - any of the fill patterns on the right hand side I loved stitching, and those on the left hand side I hated doing. There's something about octagons that doesn't agree with me apparently.

Well, it's back to the HAED for a bit I think.

HSH - Page 1 Finished!

Over the holidays I managed to finish page 1 of my HAED Home Sweet Home. It took me about 3 weeks to stitch, though at the end I was stitching 5-6 hours a day since I was on holidays.

While at my parent's place, I remembered to take pictures of the framed AAN tree that I stitched for my brother.

Like the Layers of an Onion ...

I've been working on the Thread & Eye Mandala SAL for the past 3 days. This design solidifies why I love geometric patterns. As I slowly add each new colour and shape to the project, it's as if I have a whole new piece in front of me. (I'm not exactly a pink person, but the darkest shade is a wonderfully rich berry colour and it is stunning.)

I keep thinking that I should stop and just leave it as is because it's beautiful.

I must add in a pic that showcases how small stitching over 1 on 25 ct really is:

Couldn't you imagine this design as an ornament? Picture it in icy blues, whites, and silvers .. what a snowflake it would make!!

Each element adds something exciting ... I love watching as the design unfolds. This project in particular is exciting because I chose my own colorway, and since I'm not the most visual person, I can't picture in my head the way the colours will come together in the design, so it's a constant surprise for me. A delight to stitch!

Then I add the next part and it's even more perfect then before.

December Update on the Blackwork SAL

I was supposed to go to my LNS last night for the Blackwork SAL, but alas the snow put a stop to that. Instead I used that time to work on my blackwork project at home. I must admit I'm not enjoying this as much as I thought I would. I already know I don't like doing backstitch on other projects, but I thought that if the backstitch was the focus of a project (like it is in blackwork) I might like it better. Sadly no.

I'm stitching it 1 over 1 on 25 ct lugana. It's small. Very small. Keep in mind my scissors are only 3.5" in length.

And a close-up of the fill patterns. Some I really like, and others I really do not.

Home Sweet Home - One Week Later

Actually it's only been 6 days, but who's counting, right?

Well, I've finished almost half a page, or roughly 2500 stitches. I've had a very difficult time putting this piece down. While I'm not exactly loving the colours I'm working with at the moment, I feel like I need to stitch like mad so I can get to the good parts. I love seeing the wonderful (and sometimes wacky) colour combos and shading that is in this design come into view. Right now some of it doesn't seem to work when the piece is 6 inches away from my face, but I think it'll work when the bigger picture is viewed from a respectable distance.

HSH will have to be put aside for a few days though. I have the Blackwork SAL at my LNS this week, and I haven't touched the project since last month. *looks guilty* I don't think I've put up any pictures of my Blackwork since the first one of the blue cross stitch border. I'll rectify that in my next post. Time to get busy stitching!

My First HAED - Home Sweet Home by Lierre Foest

I have finally found/made time to start my very first HAED. I have chosen Home Sweet Home because it's funky and the colours are just crazy! There are 11 shades of orange and 22 shades of green in this design. I love it!!

I've had the materials for this project kitted up since July (though I have changed fabrics three times in the interim) but I always had other, more pressing projects on the go.

I love the look of all the floss laid out, just waiting for me to start stitching.

And painstakingly wound on bobbins ...

I started to grid my fabric (25 ct antique white Lugana), but the tediousness of gridding wore down my limited amount of patience rather quickly. I gave up after gridding the outline of the first few pages (which took me the better part of two hours). I bet the gridding will be ripped out shortly once it gets on my nerves enough. The next photo shows how big the fabric is for this project. The Q-snap on it is an 8" x 8" one. The finished piece will be 16" W x 22 1/2" H, which is ridiculous really. It's going to take me years to finish this. :) (Sorry, the lighting is terrible.)

I managed to put in about 250 stitches so far, all of which are the most hideous colours. Ick! I can't wait to get into the richer oranges, blues, greens, and pinks!

And a close up of my stitching (sorry lighting is terrible ... again).

I can't wait to stitch some more tomorrow!!