tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10028260764458842242024-03-06T04:19:00.945+00:00Mrs Milkybar Kid's MusingsMy adventures with needle and threadMrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-16210846939572006992018-07-25T09:00:00.000+01:002018-07-25T09:00:33.885+01:00Testing, Testing 123.........So something extraordinary has happened - I've picked up a needle and thread again after a long hiatus. Even stranger is that since April, I've started a HAED, a Mirabilia AND uploaded not one but two videos to YouTube - three things I never thought I'd hear myself say again!<br />
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Blogging seems to be on the decline, but I see the hardcore stitching bloggers are still in action! Being short on time, I find Instagram a faster way to chart my progress and to connect with stitchy friends, but I thought for old times' sake I would attempt a blogpost as an update to what I am stitching on currently.<br />
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<b>Band Sampler</b> by Susan Haverson, taken from SANQ:<br />
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I'm currently working on the penultimate band of the final part on this one, stitched on 40ct linen using the recommended DMCs.<br />
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<b>Elle Brode des Lettres Carmin</b> by Reflets de Soie taken from The Gift of Stitching Magazine:<br />
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I've actually completed the bands started in the above photo, I just don't have an up to date photo, but this one is stitched on 40ct flax linen using AVAS Soie d'Alger and Soie de Paris and some silk ribbon.<br />
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<b>HAED Mini Tears of Yesterday</b>, artwork by Zindy Nielsen:<br />
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I was after an easy mindless stitch to take my mind off things, so I opted to start a HAED of all things! Love stitching on her though and she is currently a few rows further along as she is the piece I have out at the moment. Stitched on 28ct evenweave 2 over 1 in continental tent stitch subbing out the kreinik in favour of PTB.<br />
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<b>Miss Cherry Blossom by Mirabilia</b>:<br />
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Stitched 2 over 2 (skin will be 1 over 1) on 28ct Brittney Opal in The Milkybar Kid by Jodyri Designs using the recommended threads and beads, except the kreinik has been subbed for PTB. I checked out any new releases I'd "missed" during my hiatus and this one immediately jumped out at me, so I bought my first stash in over a year and started her straight away!<br />
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<b>Alice by Aury TM:</b><b><br /></b><br />
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My first finish since OCTOBER 2016!!! Stitched on 40ct pearl grey linen using my choice of silks mainly and sparkly threads. I don't think this chart is available anymore, but I loved stitching on her and thanks to Wimbledon managed to finish her after leaving her languishing for a long time!<br />
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Although I don't have anywhere near the time I used to for stitching, I've enjoyed picking up my stitching regularly, even if that has only been once or twice a week for a few hours. It's a battle now between books and stitching, quite often books win. I've read over 50 so far this year which is hilarious considering that I probably haven't read a total of 50 book in the last 10 years combined!<br />
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I will try and update the blog with these current WIPs and any new starts, so I'll be checking in every so often. Progress is slow, but although neglected, my blog is a good way of looking back on what I've stitched and I'd like to keep it up to date for my own records.<br />
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Happy Stitching!Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-74416650854499893842017-03-16T13:22:00.000+00:002017-03-21T06:28:29.833+00:00Spring Destash!Yes I know, it's been a while! There is a very simple reason for my absence - I have not done any stitching since my last post. No you read that correctly, your eyes did not deceive you, I have not picked up a needle and thread since 1 January 2017. With this being a stitching blog, that sort of gives me very little to write about lol!<br />
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I thought I might stitch as January went on, but alas no. February was the same and then I decided to pack away my Lowery and stitching accoutrements, as I was sick of the sight of them sitting there unused. I don't feel optimistic about March either, so maybe April will be my month?! Who knows! To be honest I'm not worried about it, although it feels odd not to spend most days doing a little bit of stitching as I have done for the past 6 years, I have neither the time or the energy for it at the moment. I still have a few projects swimming around in my brain that I am excited about, so I know the desire is there and will surface at some point.<br />
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Ultimately eating away at me is the fact that The Drawer is full to the brim and the spare room littered with poster tubes full of completed stitching - is there any need to add to it with more of the same? Maybe I have come full circle and am back to where I was in my teenage years where it was enough to complete a project here and there as the mood took me once or twice a year.<br />
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Anyway, I hadn't touched or been near my stash in about 3 months and I knew that it might help my lack of stitching if I had a good sort out so that I could see the wood for the trees so to speak. I finally summoned the nerve last week and the result is a little Spring Destash Sale, so if you want to take a look, click on the For Sale tab at the top of the page. (Edited to add: all items have now sold - thank you!). Some of the fabrics I dearly love - but 28/32ct just isn't my jam anymore so there is no point holding on to them. I have kept a few pieces (I could never part with my nom de plume fabric!) but it's mainly all about the 36/40ct these days. Threads are always hard to part with but there are only so many you can stitch with and only so many varieties of the same colour you need!<br />
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If you've reached the end of this post thank you and to all of you that have messaged and emailed me during my stitching hiatus - thank you. I hope that I will stitch again at <em>some point </em>this year, but until then.........<br />
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Happy Stitching - put a few in for me while you're there!<br />
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-46450939440766168312017-01-05T15:35:00.000+00:002017-01-05T15:35:35.552+00:00Hard Habit To Break......Every year for the previous 6 years I have always had a New Year's New Start. With me currently stitching next to nothing, I thought that 2017 might be the end to that little tradition. I've put a few stitches in Band Sampler over the past month, but I haven't looked at any of my stitchy accounts/groups on FB or IG for weeks and have just been enjoying the hour or two I have spent stitching for me.<br />
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So 1st January rolls around and at about 7pm I decided that yes, I will have a new start please and that it doesn't matter that I probably won't finish it until the end of the year if that! It's a design I've had kitted up in preparation for 1st January and one I have had in my stash for five years so it deserved to see the light of day:<br />
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It is Elle Brode des Lettres Carmin by Reflets de Soie
and I have this pattern spread across several issues of GOSM from 2010, but I think it has been <a href="http://www.reflets-de-soie.fr/epages/62027478.sf/fr_FR/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62027478/Products/LettresCarmin">recently re-released</a> by Isabelle. I love samplers, I love anything French, I love fonts and lettering and I love red silk and flax linen so this is pure joy to stitch for me. Despite using AVAS Soie D'Alger on quite a few pieces, this will be my first time using Soie de Paris so I am looking forward to seeing how it compares to other filament silks I've used in the past.</div>
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The stitch count is 250 x 400 and I'm using 40ct, so as it is stitched using only 2 colours of silk (and a bit of ribbon work) it is perfect for me to pick up sporadically as and when the mood takes me - especially as it is an alphabet sampler band sampler. Here is what I managed to do for a couple of hours on 1st January:</div>
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It is a strange feeling to love a piece very much but not feel the need to stitch on it for hours on end taking up all my spare time as I have on other pieces prior to this. I'm not complaining at all - I feel much more balanced than I have for a while. Rather than stitching taking up all my free time, it now occupies a fraction of it, leaving me time for reading (currently reading Julian Fellowes' latest, Belgravia) and other interests that I have never really talked about "publicly" such as diet, nutrition and wellbeing.</div>
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So the blog may be quiet for a while, I will post when I have some more substantial progress to show. Keep your eyes peeled for a destash post soon as I have threads and fabrics that really need to find a new home instead of just sitting in my stash when they could be better put to use in yours :)!<br />
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Happy Stitching!</div>
Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-24987268906791965912016-11-30T13:12:00.000+00:002016-11-30T13:12:04.064+00:00Not Much To See Here.......Just about squeaking in with a November post, but as the title suggests there isn't much to show stitching wise for the passing of November! When I did stitch (mostly last week whilst off work), I finished the first part of Band Sampler and being made up of smaller motives it made for a fun stitch:<br />
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I've made a start on the second part as you can see, but I doubt I will finish this one by the end of the year, especially knowing how little I've been stitching these last few months. It was only an arbitrary thought anyway, so the world will not implode if it gets carries over to next year.</div>
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I did buy a new chart (shock horror!) - it was one I had admired for a while but wasn't available in the UK so I contacted the lovely Karla and <a href="http://www.patchwork-rabbit.co.uk/aurytm-alice.html">she got it in for me</a>.</div>
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I did think about having another stash clear out but have decided to put it off until Spring to see if I still feel the same and don't do anything I would regret later! I haven't lost my stitching bug, I still enjoy it when I do pick it up, but there are other interests that I want to pursue and focus on when I have spare time which would be of greater benefit to me shall we say.</div>
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I'm still looking forward to starting my planned new projects in January - they might be the only projects I end up stitching for the whole of the year, but stitching with AVAS silks on 40ct linen will always be a joy regardless of when I pick it up!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-61043864228640604462016-10-26T18:39:00.000+01:002016-10-26T18:39:12.976+01:00OAAT October <div style="text-align: left;">
It seems that of late I've turned into a OAATer, who would have thought it! I decided to stick with Stéphanie until she was finished, here is what she looked like at the start of October and for most of the month actually as I didn't pick my stitching up for a fortnight......
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After a lot of over 1 darning on 40ct.......<br />
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I was considering having a new start after a brand new chart dropped through my letterbox, but I gritted my teeth and kept on darning.......</div>
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Until the happy event on Sunday evening when she was finally finished!</div>
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I'm really pleased with the finish, considering it is made up of two of the most common and simple embroidery stitches (cross and running) I think the end result is very effective!<br />
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Speaking of darning samplers, I've decided that I am going to part ways with Antje Reints. I still love darning samplers and plan on doing more, it's just that stitching time is short and I need to be stitching on projects that really float my boat. I wondered what I would do with the fabric, as I had started the central darning cross in the middle and then inspiration struck! I will use it as my doodle cloth for next year! At 36ct it's the perfect count to practice any new stitches and I might even make it my practice to add all the different stitches I'll be using, old and new, to it.<br />
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That leaves one WIP left to finish before the end of the year and I will be very happy to get back to it. This is where it stands at the moment:</div>
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I wouldn't be surprised if this turns into another OOATer! While I was off work last week, as well as darning my heart out, I also prepped my projects for my January starts for next year. I have to be in the mood for kitting and cutting so I struck while the iron was hot. I decided to treat myself to AVAS silks for the Darlene O'Steen sampler that I plan on starting, but more on that next time as I think there have been enough photos in this post!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-44542267781238629762016-09-28T13:52:00.000+01:002016-09-28T13:52:12.461+01:002017 Needlework Musings......This is going to be one of those posts that is more for my benefit than my poor readers. So if you aren't in to plans and general rambling, feel free to skip...........:)<br />
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I think it's fair to say that I am one of life's planners! My stitching is pretty much wrapped up for 2016, so that's when I start to think about what I want to do in 2017. <strong><em><u>What</u></em></strong> I want to stitch is easy, <strong><em><u>how</u></em></strong> I'm going to achieve it, well that's another story!<br />
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So as for the what, here's a little selection of next year's projects:<br />
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I'll be stitching projects from both of the books and treating them as "learning projects" as a way of improving my stitching techniques, reading around the subject and generally enjoying immersing myself in a project. I'm looking forward to the Hardanger and using entirely new-to-me-threads that thanks to a specialist lacemaking and tatting shop I was able to source online in the UK. I'm still wavering on which of the samplers in The Proper Stitch to go for. Being a Tudor nut, I'm thinking maybe I should go for the Tudor Rose Sampler but the other two samplers are beautiful too.</div>
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Alongside that will be more samplers including a piece I have wanted to stitch for about five years by Reflets de Soie. It's a redwork sampler to be stitched using the AVAS silks and flax linen in the left hand side of the photo along with a bit of ribbon work. At 250 x 400 stitches, I'm hoping the bands of letters will be a soothing stitch to possibly last the year. Then there are the other samplers pictured which will be stitched on high counts of linen probably using Nina's gorgeous threads.</div>
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Once again it will be stitching from stash which is what I have basically done for the past two years. The only exception would be completing my collection of Nina's silks and cottons and buying linens as and when I need them. My Pinterest board is so full of the many patterns in my stash that I want to stitch that very few on my wishlist make it much further than that these days!</div>
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Now for the how......... I no longer have the time and energy I used to have to stitch. I'm okay with that, after all my life amounts to more that the number of stitches I make and the stash I buy (or don't buy in my case!). This means that when I do get a chance to stitch, the project has to tick all the right boxes - otherwise I feel I just as well sit making random stitches in a piece of linen to no end and to no avail! I've been stitching for long enough to know what I love and what works for me and basically that is what 2017 is all about - quality not quantity I guess. Taking patterns I love and using the stash that I love to stitch them. I see no point in starting a project just because I can, which is why despite the fact that I've been contemplating starting another Chatelaine for a while, I haven't done it because they no longer tick all the boxes for me. I like to have projects that are easy, mindless, soothing stitching and I like to have projects that are challenging and 2017 is going to be a mixture of both.</div>
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Where this leaves blogging I don't know, less stitching means less to blog about - but I'm thinking I should be able to manage a monthly update. I've really enjoyed the bits of OAAT stitching I've done this year (thanks to Justine), so that will be something I will be taking forward to next year. </div>
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I'm really looking forward to my projects for next year and a much more chilled approach to my stitching. By now you know that I'm not much of a "social stitcher" and all the hoop-la that goes along with that side of things - but it's nice to share what I've done in this little corner of the interweb :).</div>
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Thanks for reading.........</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-56080242321700642242016-09-25T16:01:00.000+01:002016-09-25T16:01:55.335+01:00Solo September Success!Yet again I have had success with <a href="http://justinescrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/">Justine's</a> OAAT SALs! Head on over to her blog to see how everyone else has done - I need to catch up too!<br />
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I chose a new start, Alice in Wonderland by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LittleStitcherShop">The Little Stitcher</a>, for my Solo September piece and am happy to report I put the final stitch in her last night.<br />
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I had hoped to stitch her in 100% of Nina's threads, but overcame my OCD about this when it came to the central quote as I couldn't find a colour strong enough for 1 over 2 stitching on this shade of fabric. I figured that AVAS Soie d'Alger would be a silk worthy enough to sit by Nina's beauties, so went with that - the rest are my own assortment of Nina's silks and cottons.</div>
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Thank you for another great solo stitching month Justine! I shall be back with another post next week about my stitching plans and thoughts for 2017 (yes you read that correctly!) and can definitely see myself incorporating a bit more OAAT stitching as it has worked well for me this year. No more stitching for the remainder of September for me, I have a TBR pile that needs working on, so will dedicate some time to that hobby instead!</div>
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I have three WIPs left and plan on working on one for each of the remaining months of the year as well as shoehorning in a new Winter start in the hope of having another clean slate for the start of the new year.</div>
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So until next week........Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-73854386258536290732016-08-31T16:18:00.000+01:002016-08-31T16:18:09.183+01:00Solo September after an Abismal August!I can count on one hand the number of times I picked up my stitching in August, I blame the Olympics! Also I'm not brilliant in the summer with big projects, I lack the concentration! Anyway, here is my paltry progress on my two samplers:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/29362467515/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Stéphanie Desmidt WIP 2"><img alt="Stéphanie Desmidt WIP 2" height="500" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8061/29362467515_467f39c96d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie Desmidt 1844 stitched on 40ct with DMCs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/29328873076/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Band Sampler (SANQ) WIP 1"><img alt="Band Sampler (SANQ) WIP 1" height="333" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7750/29328873076_db4acc38ab.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
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Thanks to my little stash sale, I have been indulging in the other joy of stitching: planning and stashing for future projects! I have the majority of my projects for next year planned out and I'm very excited about them, some of them I have wanted to stitch for years so I am looking forward to 2017!</div>
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On to the matter at hand - Solo September! This is a SAL being officially hosted by Justine and you can join in the fun <a href="http://justinescrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/solo-september-sign-up.html">here.</a> The idea being that you stitch on one project for the entire month, or until you finish it then you may start another but only stitch on that one! I was quite successful in April and July with this idea so figured it couldn't hurt for September. Now I <em><u>could</u></em> have chosen one of the samplers above to stitch on for September, however I felt a new start was necessary to get me stitching again after such a drought this month. So here are my materials for my new start tomorrow:</div>
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Looks quite autumnal doesn't it! The design is by an Italian designer and is based on a classic English children's book, I think the (Disney) thread colours of the main character laid on top in the picture above give it away.......... any guesses?</div>
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I'll put you out of your misery, this is what I will be stitching for Solo September, one of four new starts that I hope to squeeze in before the end of the year:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/29362406825/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Alice in Wonderland by The Little Stitcher"><img alt="Alice in Wonderland by The Little Stitcher" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8218/29362406825_e97fe08b1d_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/185190996/alice-in-wonderland-pdf-digital-cross?ref=shop_home_active_2">Alice in Wonderland by The Little Stitcher</a></td></tr>
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I'll be stitching Alice on 40ct Vintage Country Mocha linen with a selection of Nina's lovelies, silks and cottons probably knowing me :).</div>
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I look forward to seeing what everyone else will be stitching in September!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-59904241320261535402016-08-10T18:11:00.000+01:002016-08-10T18:11:12.213+01:00WIP Update and a Little Destash!After Cinders I was craving my hand dyed threads and 36ct/40ct linens so I picked up Home of a Needleworker which had been neglected pretty much since March! I am happy to report that it was finished last week and I really should get a frame for it and finish it properly!!!<br />
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I've now moved on to Stephanie, who I made a tiny start on back in May, here is a scruffy progress pic of her as I was too lazy to tart her up for the photo lol:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie Desmidt 1844 by Reflets de Soie on 40ct linen with DMC</td></tr>
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The thread colours remind me of cream, caramel and chocolate which is a bit of a shame considering I can't actually eat any of that stuff! I'm going to stick with her for as long as I can and then pick up my other sampler for <a href="http://justinescrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/">Justine's</a> Solo September. I would like to finish my 3 current WIPs and the 4 new starts I have planned for the remainder of the year in 2016. I already have my projects for 2017 pretty much planned out including some projects from <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/2016/08/early-style-hardanger-by-yvette-stanton.html">this book</a> which I am very excited about!</div>
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You may have noticed that there is a new tab at the top of the page - I have had a bit of a destash, nothing too drastic though! I'm running out of room and need to find new homes for a few things. There are some charts, fabric and threads for sale if you wanted to have a gander and you know where to find me if you would like to make a purchase.</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-13206141038843948852016-07-28T12:48:00.002+01:002016-07-28T12:48:30.109+01:00A Successful Just One July!Thanks to <a href="http://justinescrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/">Justine's</a> Just One July SAL, I have finished Joan Elliott's Cinderella!<br />
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She was stitched on 28ct Brittney Opal in Speckled Egg by Jodyri Designs using all the recommended DMCs and MH beads and the metallic were swapped for PTBs. I'll never be a 100% OAAT stitcher, but every so often it's good to stick with a piece until completion to ensure that it does get finished! I love Joan's designs, but one a year would be enough for me and I will make sure I spread out the project for the whole year.</div>
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Eager to get back to my hand dyeds and 36/40ct after almost two months of stitching on Cinders. Also considering having a little destash, so stay tuned..........!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
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Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-6577992462282740652016-07-24T17:30:00.000+01:002016-07-24T17:39:44.069+01:00Just One July So Far.........Stitching is done on Cinders, just the backstitch and beading to go:<br />
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Not sure if there will be a finish before the end of July - but the end is in sight!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-74578916620835668222016-06-30T12:22:00.000+01:002016-06-30T12:22:05.267+01:00Cenerentola marches on!True to my word since my last blogpost I have been working exclusively on Cinders when I have had the chance to pick up a needle and thread.<br />
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Here is where I started with her this month, I hadn't touched her since mid March:<br />
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Here is how far I got with her this month:</div>
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Just the castle, carriage, hair and skin to go and the small matter of miles of backstitching and a few beads! I won't have the chance to pick up a needle now for a week or so, but I'm hoping I can carry on with her in July and at least get all the cross stitching done on her - if not push for a finish!</div>
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Happy stitching everyone and thank you for stopping by and for all your lovely comments and messages!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-48005225003794336222016-06-08T15:35:00.000+01:002016-06-08T15:35:40.284+01:00Sneaks back in..........Whilst I've been silent on the blogging front, I have been stitching up a storm - just haven't felt like yapping on about it, though I always keep my Current WIPs and Finishes tabs up to date.<br />
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So here is a post about it all - brace yourselves!<br />
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Since my last post in April I have had 7 new starts, 4 finishes and now have 5 current WIPs to date, so let's start with the new WIPs that I've added to Cinders and my LHN:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26263437173/in/dateposted-public/" title="Stéphanie Desmidt 1844 by Reflets de Soie - Materials"><img alt="Stéphanie Desmidt 1844 by Reflets de Soie - Materials" height="500" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7588/26263437173_0633a33dcf.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<strong>Stephanie Desmidt by Reflets de Soie</strong> on 40ct, which I decided to stitch using the DMC conversion making it a very economical project stitched from stash - though I must say the temptation to purchase the required AVAS was strong :). Again another darning sampler, I'm having a thing for those at the moment as you will see later......</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26263443743/in/dateposted-public/" title="Margaret Woodleigh Band Sampler by Susan Haverson"><img alt="Margaret Woodleigh Band Sampler by Susan Haverson" height="500" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7224/26263443743_13af3d942c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Another sampler, this one is taken from <strong>SANQ</strong> and is just called <strong>Band Sampler</strong> and is designed by <strong>Susan Haverson</strong>. It's not a reproduction sampler, more an adaptation, but it is based on a sampler stitched in 1656 by Margaret Woodleigh. Another one stitched on 40ct with the DMC as charted all from stash :).</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26076509874/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Antje Reints Darning Sampler (GOSM) - WIP 1"><img alt="Antje Reints Darning Sampler (GOSM) - WIP 1" height="500" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1706/26076509874_cc2366b301.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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The final new WIP is yes you guessed it another sampler, but this is an almost 100% darning sampler. It is taken from <strong>GOSM</strong> and is titled <strong>Antje Reints Darning Sampler</strong>. It's being stitched on 36ct linen with my choice of Nina's gorgeous threads, so another stash neutral start :).</div>
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Now for the finishes! First up were the next parts of <strong>Mabel's Hardanger SAL</strong>, <strong>Rounds Four and Five</strong>:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round Four - stitched with a variety of threads from stash including Jodyri Perles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round Five - my very psychedelic version using Jodyri's Sunshine State perles<br />
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I also started and finished a Dinky Dyes Design that had been in my stash for years. Slight sacrilege though as whilst I did use a few Dinky Dyes silks (from an oops bag so not the named colours called for), I did use a few other brands of silk as well......... <br />
It's <strong>Wave Dancer by Stacy Tippin:</strong><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/27442899642/in/dateposted-public/" title="Wave Dancer Details"><img alt="Wave Dancer Details" height="496" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7539/27442899642_028a553175.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26873724130/in/dateposted-public/" title="Wave Dancer by Dinky Dyes"><img alt="Wave Dancer by Dinky Dyes" height="500" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7532/26873724130_d57a4a812a.jpg" width="354" /></a></div>
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I think the design originally called for one colour of bead and 2 colours of krenik, but I used several different colours of bead and at least 5 different colours of Rainbow Gallery PTB and PSLB!</div>
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The last finish I have to share was completed over the weekend. The designer herself actually sent me the chart as a thank you for talking about her designs in one of my videos. I loved stitching it and was so pleased with my colour choices, although I don't want to see a Greek cross in quite some time! The design is <strong>A Little Victoriana by Loopylou Designs</strong>:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/27371148752/in/dateposted-public/" title="A Little Victoriana by LoopyLou Designs Detail"><img alt="A Little Victoriana by LoopyLou Designs Detail" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7288/27371148752_4c1b976157.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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This one was stitched on 28ct using DMC 3033 and Jodyri Designs antique silk in Brighton Beach</div>
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So that's the scoop on what I've been up to, basically stitching from stash and having a lot of fun doing it! I did purchase a few new blackwork charts from Banu though (Seba Designs) as she was having an amazing sale due to the very sad fact that she has to shut her Etsy shop for a while as Paypal doesn't want to operate in her country. I look forward to picking out threads for those designs though settling on choices might take some time!</div>
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I think for the month of June I will focus on my oldest WIP - Cinders, I would like to get her in the finish pile even if 28ct over 2 isn't so much my bag anymore. I love her, but may fiddle around with the fabric count on the next of Joan's ladies I stitch. If Cinders gets too much and I need a change then I will switch to my LHN which is 36ct 1 over 2 with gorgeous hand dyed threads just to mix it up a little.</div>
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Let's see how much I can get done - though with the weather having been sizzling and gorgeous these past two weeks I'm not sure there will be much progress lol!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-49313101813801387482016-04-20T12:03:00.001+01:002016-04-20T12:03:02.697+01:00Big Berthe!<a href="http://justinescrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/faithful-april.html">Justine</a> and a few other bloggers are committing to stitching on the same piece throughout April and it seems I have unwittingly joined in!<br />
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Here is what <a href="http://www.reflets-de-soie.fr/epages/62027478.sf/fr_FR/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62027478/Products/RDS032">Berthe</a> looked like on 1 April, exactly the same as where I left her mid way through January:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24069444809/in/album-72157663099546346/" title="Berthe Massiet WIP 2"><img alt="Berthe Massiet WIP 2" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1523/24069444809_164f21e3f6.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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And here is what she looks like now:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26472856051/in/album-72157663099546346/" title="Berthe Massiet by Reflets de Soie Complete!"><img alt="Berthe Massiet by Reflets de Soie Complete!" height="354" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1451/26472856051_7549a44bbe.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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All finished!</div>
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As a side note I just have to mention every time I say Berthe I think Bertha, which reminds me of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv50krc-1o4">children's TV programme in the 80s</a> which people of a certain age will remember and then I get the little song in my head..........anyway I digress..........</div>
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I absolutely adored stitching this one on 40ct 1 over 2 with beautiful AVAS d'Alger. For the sake of anyone that has visited this page as a result of searching for info on this piece, I will say that some of the lettering on mine may be in a different colour than charted - only because I was short on one colour of silk (I think it went walk about) so I just used an excess I had of another colour that was in the chart's colour palette. Also of note is that, as is the case with a lot of repro samplers, the border is not symmetrical :). All those cross shapes that make up the border are identical, except for one which has a "leg" four stitches long instead of three - always worth examining the chart carefully!</div>
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I particularly enjoyed working the pattern darning sections, and a few darning samplers have been pinned to my wishlist for a rainy day so there will definitely be more in my future!</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26512947506/in/album-72157663099546346/" title="Pattern darning on Berthe Massiet"><img alt="Pattern darning on Berthe Massiet" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1596/26512947506_a9636b9dab.jpg" width="477" /></a></div>
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I have at least two other Reflets de Soie samplers in my stash which I am now very much looking forward to doing. They are the perfect project for when stitching time is limited as the colours used are minimal and you can quickly see progress being made even if only a letter or two is completed per session. Stitching with 1 strand on 40ct makes for much faster stitching too - no railroading required! A few years ago I'd always thought that HAEDs would be my easy stitching projects, but the thought of stitching one now makes me feel almost claustrophobic - I need my stitches to be able to breathe lol!</div>
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No idea what I will be working on next, I had started LHN's Home of a Needleworker last month so I might carry on with that. Still don't think I can face Cinders just yet, so maybe an entirely new project is in order!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-89204972535888924792016-04-02T10:47:00.001+01:002016-04-02T10:47:58.574+01:00A Change is as Good as a Rest!<div style="text-align: left;">
That is certainly true when it comes to my stitching, as thanks in part to a Bank Holiday weekend, four of the seven new starts I had kitted in my last post are now finished and I even bought some new threads which I haven't done in months and months!</div>
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Firstly I started and finished a small that I just loved the moment I clapped eyes on it - it's a freebie from Hands Across the Sea Samplers which you can find on their <a href="https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/blog/">blog.</a> So looking forward to future releases from Nicola and Sandra, but in the meantime I stitched this little design on some 40ct using AVAS silks from stash:<br />
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though has yet to be actually finished lol!</td></tr>
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Next up was a design I've had in my stash for four years or so, as it was a spring design it seemed appropriate to finally get on and stitch it! Initially I'd picked out Glorianas for this one, but I changed them out for Dinky Dyes silks and Caron cottons as I wanted a softer look to it. The design is <a href="http://www.beesneedleworks.co.uk/spring-basket.php">Spring Basket by Abi Gurden</a>, you can see I changed the original design a bit as I swapped the jessicas for spider web roses to balance out the texture of the basket. Here it is stitched on 28ct soft yellow (would you believe!) linen:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25377871094/in/dateposted-public/" title="Spring Basket by Abi Gurden"><img alt="Spring Basket by Abi Gurden" height="320" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1695/25377871094_63dce8ff39_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I moved on to a band sampler by <a href="http://www.wye.co.uk/cross-stitch-charts-needlecraft/embroidery-charts/alchemy-stitchcraft">Alchemy Stitchcraft</a> (<a href="http://alchymyst.blogspot.co.uk/">AKA Christine</a>) - again another design that has sat in my stash for years - why?! It certainly feels good to get stitching on these! Natasha's Violets was a pure joy to work on, I had forgotten how much I love whitework and pulled threadwork, so I've put projects containing them in the queue for a later date! Again as I am stitching from stash I subbed out the silk serica with a #5 DMC perle and I didn't have the right shade of PTB, so used a strand of DMC with a strand of blending filament to create my own :) :</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26020576711/in/dateposted-public/" title="Natasha's Violets by Stitching Alchemy"><img alt="Natasha's Violets by Stitching Alchemy" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1621/26020576711_c101bb150b.jpg" width="354" /></a></div>
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This chart ticked so many of my favourite boxes: band sampler, purple, pulled work, white work, bargello - needless to say, more of Christine's charts will be making it in my TBS pile.</div>
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Finally another finish that it feels good to tick off my list! The Mojo Sampler by Abi Gurden was a SAL on The Stitch Specialists Yahoo Group back in 2014. I can't link to it directly as it has yet to be put on general sale and only 60 people have this chart - but you can see Abi's version <a href="http://www.beesneedleworks.co.uk/resources/The_mojo_sampler.jpg">here.</a> This design has been buzzing around my brain since its release as I could never settle on my colour choices. Purple was a no brainer of course, but what would I use for the contrasting colour, green, blue, pink? None of them were pushing my buttons until it came to me that I could use purple as the contrasting colour :). So I chose light, medium and dark purple solid Dinky Dyes silk and 2 light and dark HDF purple variegated silks stitched on 28ct lugana and here is my version:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/26158294326/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The Mojo Sampler by Abi Gurden"><img alt="The Mojo Sampler by Abi Gurden" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1459/26158294326_771c32441f.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>So that has been my stitching over the past two weeks - no idea what this month holds stitching wise but at least I seem to be back on track! Hopefully as long as I can get the mix of projects right, size and content (even if it does mean abandoning Cinders for a few months) then business will resume as normal.</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-89336873963429940742016-03-17T10:57:00.000+00:002016-03-17T10:57:28.936+00:00Stash DivingAs stitchers we are all different - some of us stick to kits, others will only use high counts of linen, some stick to crosses, other like to use a more mixed bunch of stitches, whilst others shudder to alter anything about a pattern and someone else just can't leave a pattern without adding their own touches to it! We all know what makes our hobby enjoyable for <em>us.</em><br />
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I think anyone who has followed this blog for even a few posts has a pretty good idea of what camp I fall into, which explains why stitching 3,000+ cross stitches in 3 shades of blue DMC on Cinderella was doing nothing for my creativity and I was losing the will to stitch. I had an inkling this might happen as I had a similar feeling when I was stitching Mirabillia's Red last year. When it comes to stitching, I'm much more about the journey than I am about reaching the destination in 90% of my projects. It explains why I love chopping and changing colours and stitches in projects as it keeps it interesting for me as the project comes to life, all the more so if it means learning a new technique or stitch.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I love Cinderella and she will be finished this year - but I think her stitching needs to be spread out over the year, no way could I go OAAT on her. So here is where I leave her for the moment:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25554721600/in/album-72157663099608486/" title="Cinderella WIP 4"><img alt="Cinderella WIP 4" height="320" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1568/25554721600_8405a61f6d_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I haven't forgotten Berthe Massiet either, although I haven't picked her up since the beginning of January, but I think I can chip away at her whilst stitching on my new projects :).</div>
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I had a day off yesterday, so spent it cutting fabrics and picking threads for 7 new projects all of which have me much more enthusiastic about picking up my stitching again. They range from small to medium-small projects and I think only one is kitted with most of its original colours, everything is kitted entirely from stash of course, some are 100% cross stitch - others not so much! Here is a sneak peek:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25554421320/in/dateposted-public/" title="Spring New Starts"><img alt="Spring New Starts" height="320" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1499/25554421320_918ae8aed5_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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It was nice to be reunited with my thread collection again, so far this year the only drawer that has seen any action is the Caron drawer for Mabel's SAL, so it was nice to get reacquainted with them all again!
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Here's hoping to more stitching taking place at Milkybar Towers!</div>
Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-31389539730443549382016-03-04T21:16:00.000+00:002016-03-05T15:53:02.049+00:00Round Three and Stash MusingsI think my colour choices for this month's Round in Circles definitely shows a longing for blue skies and fluffy clouds - something seriously lacking in our weather at the moment!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25321243732/in/dateposted-public/" title="Round Three - Round in Circles SAL by Mabel Figworthy"><img alt="Round Three - Round in Circles SAL by Mabel Figworthy" height="320" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1550/25321243732_4b7a6619aa_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don't very often use hand dyed fabric for Hardanger, something about having to cut parts of it away just seems to go against the grain with me! I've used 28ct Lugana in In the Clouds by the now long gone Sugar Maple Fabrics, #8 and #12 white DMC perles, three colours of PTB and two different sizes and colour of MH beads. It was lovely to stitch something other than crosses and now I'm back working on Cinderella - once the stitching is mainly completed on her I might treat myself to a new start!</div>
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Speaking of new starts, was anyone else like me and told themselves that they would under no circumstances peek at any of the new releases from the Nashville TNNA Market - but then their curiosity got the better of them and they couldn't help themselves!? So many gorgeous new releases from Gigi R, Plum Street Samplers, Cottage House Samplings, Nikyscreations, and The Scarlett House to name a few! <a href="https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/showimage.cgi?Nashville160PlumStreetSamplers0FrenchWoolens1000">French Woolens</a> has made it right to the top of my list so I expect as soon as Karla at The Patchwork Rabbit gets that one in it will find its way into my shopping basket!</div>
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After stitching from stash for just about the whole of last year, I now find it surprisingly difficult to add to my stash at all, not a surprise where charts are concerned as I was never one for collecting those - but the prospect of new threads just doesn't have the same effect anymore! This last week though I did purchase my <a href="http://cloudsfactory.net/mini-artists-galleries-claude-monet.html">first new pattern</a> in over a year, because when you have the rest of a set you have to buy new additions :). I'm really hoping that Ambra releases a pattern for my favourite artist Henri Matisse one day! I have great plans for this little set that will require a bit of planning, playing and experimenting, maybe they will make good summer projects for this year.</div>
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I also signed up for Abi Gurden's latest SAL, Seasons Sampler (despite it being a semi mystery design) over on the <a href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TheStitchSpecialists/info?yguid=393003779">Yahoo Stitch Specialist Group</a>. Me being me, I won't start it until I have all the parts towards the end of the year even thought the first part has already been released.</div>
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The other reason why I probably won't go mad on new charts is that as well as having the full set of GOSM, I now have the full set of SANQ after ordering the 1991 - 2000 DVD:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25161101969/in/dateposted-public/" title="Complete SANQ Collection"><img alt="Complete SANQ Collection" height="213" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1541/25161101969_239cb3026f_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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There have been lists a plenty made of designs that I want to stitch from them, which has the knock on effect of me wanting to get on and finish my current WIPs so that I can start on something new. </div>
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Last but by no means least, I had an email a few weeks ago from a stitcher that had been looking through my Pinterest Stitching Wishlist. She had contacted me as she had seen a chart on my list that she had in her stash and knew she would never stitch and wanted to know if I would like it - so of course I said yes please! I was very happy when this dropped through my letterbox, especially as it had become hard to find in the UK:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24865324634/in/dateposted-public/" title="Redwork Garden by BRD"><img alt="Redwork Garden by BRD" height="320" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1673/24865324634_dbeeeffab9_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Huge thank you to that stitcher for her kindness and generosity! I'm currently in the process of choosing threads for it, with only three colours required you would think it would be easy, but with so many gorgeous shades of hand dyed red thread available you'd be surprised lol!</div>
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That will probably be it from me until the end of the month, when hopefully I will have something worth showing in the way of progress on Cinderella!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
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Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-60683228745717610032016-02-24T06:54:00.000+00:002016-02-24T06:54:00.059+00:00Flowers of the FieldHey Stitchers! Time and energy have eluded me when it comes to stitching and consequently for the first time in years my stitching mojo is on the wane - my reading mojo has replaced it though, so every cloud and all that!<br />
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However as some of you who follow me on IG know, I finished Flowers of the Field last week, so I actually have something to blog about. It was a lovely design to stitch, but I'm glad I chose 32ct and not 40ct after all that over 1 lettering!<br />
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Here is a close up of the final part:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25029314482/in/dateposted-public/" title="Flowers of the Field Part 3"><img alt="Flowers of the Field Part 3" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/25029314482_a529cee427.jpg" width="354" /></a></div>
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And the whole design completed:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/25147575865/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Flowers of the Field by Eileen Bennett of The Sampler House"><img alt="Flowers of the Field by Eileen Bennett of The Sampler House" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1638/25147575865_cb20d79f60.jpg" width="354" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A terrible photo, but long and narrow designs are so hard to capture!</td></tr>
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I know that samplers aren't every stitcher's cup of char, but I love them - original and repros! I love their deceptive "perceived" simplicity. Flowers of the Field, though not a difficult stitch by any means, contained a much greater variety of stitches than is found in any Chatelaine Design - designs that look very busy and complicated, but are actually quite simple to stitch.</div>
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Difficulty, like beauty, is very much in the eye of the beholder though - which reminds me of a recent article by <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/2016/02/big-beads-little-stitches-and-levels-of-embroidery.html#more-37934">The Oracle of Needlework.</a> There are some reproduction samplers that I would love to attempt in the future that scare me to death, that other stitchers wouldn't bat an eyelid at. In a weird way the difficulty makes me want to stitch them all the more so - much safer to be an adrenaline junkie from the comfort of my stitching chair lol! The designs themselves look simple, but if you are fortunate enough to be able to look closely at an original (or if you are stitching a reproduction), you can see the variety of stitches used and the perfect tension (my personal nemesis!) applied to thread and fabric. The really mind blowing thing though after you've admired such a piece of stitching, is when you realise that the needlewoman that created the original piece was actually only a young girl!</div>
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In the future I would love to stitch a "scary" repro sampler as a learning piece for myself, really focusing on the quality of each and every stitch to produce the best piece of needlework that I can. For the moment though, the closest I can get to that is by stitching vicariously through SANQ, by reading through the last collection of the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159012491X?keywords=sampler%20and%20antique%20needlework&qid=1456295657&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2">final issues on CD</a> that will hopefully be dropping through my letter box sometime today.</div>
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In the meantime, who knows when I'll put another stitch in a piece of fabric.........my next blogpost may be quite some time lol!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-83930827181235922232016-02-10T14:15:00.000+00:002016-02-10T14:15:05.463+00:00Finally a proper finish!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24500939629/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="HAED QS Lady Bug artwork by Ching-Chou Kuik Complete!"><img alt="HAED QS Lady Bug artwork by Ching-Chou Kuik Complete!" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1544/24500939629_054d636c7b.jpg" width="354" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Started 2 January 2016 Completed 7 February 2016<br />
Jodyri Designs 28ct Brittney Opal in Christmas Poinsettia (Dec 2014 LE)<br />
2.5 skeins of Anchor 403</td></tr>
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Thank you for all the lovely comments on my previous post and for everyone that continues to pop by my blog and who emails and messages me. I think Monday marked a year of blogging for me, the time seems to have gone so quickly! Considering I started this blog for myself as a better way of keeping track of my stitching, it's nice to share a bit of what I do with other likeminded stitchers.</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-53166410147389946392016-02-03T13:03:00.000+00:002016-02-03T13:03:32.598+00:00Round Two!Just a quick post! A day off today, so I spent the morning starting and finishing Mabel's second instalment in her Round In Circles SAL:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24673173612/in/dateposted-public/" title="Round in Circles SAL - Round Two"><img alt="Round in Circles SAL - Round Two" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1550/24673173612_231c07d05f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I used a variety of threads, including some #8 Kreinik braid that I used for the whipped backstitch and some of the square filets. I'm not a fan of Kreinik as you know, and the #8 braid is worse than #4 - but it worked well for this project, possibly because it is on 25ct.</div>
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Hopefully I'll be back in a week or two with some slightly larger finishes!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-59343414881870638982016-02-01T06:17:00.000+00:002016-02-01T06:17:32.392+00:00More of the same........As predicted, stitching time continues to be significantly less and time for blogging even more so, hence the lack of posts in January. To be honest, I've been working on the same four projects all month so it would only have been a case of more of the same, so maybe a monthly post is better lol!<br />
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The majority of my stitching time for January was weekend stitching or the odd hour or two grabbed before I leave the house at 7.30am - thankfully the pieces I picked to start off the year are nice and easy for early morning stitching! Considering these pieces of fabric were all blank at the start of the month, I don't think I've done too badly, though I am missing working on more challenging pieces, so I may tweak my "rotation" a bit when these WIPs turn into finishes.<br />
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Anyway, without further ado, here is my progress for January!<br />
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Firstly QS Lady Bug, such a fast stitch this one and I'm sure I'll have a finish in February! All the surrounding foliage you see in the picture below was a Sunday afternoon's worth of stitching whilst streaming The X-Files - hurrah for tent stitch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24311558340/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="HAED QS Lady Bug WIP 3"><img alt="HAED QS Lady Bug WIP 3" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1616/24311558340_e60558d7f2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how far an entire skein on Anchor 403 will get you!</td></tr>
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Next up is Flowers of the Field by Eileen Bennett, I got up to part 2 (of 3) this month, again a great design to pick up when time is short as you can stitch a band or two and see the progress immediately.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24474396412/in/dateposted-public/" title="Flowers of the Field Parts 1 & 2"><img alt="Flowers of the Field Parts 1 & 2" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/24474396412_127aeb5235.jpg" width="354" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Berthe Massiet didn't quite make it to her second turn in the "rotation", but I still managed to chip away at her and complete 1 (of 6) pages:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24069444809/in/dateposted-public/" title="Berthe Massiet WIP 2"><img alt="Berthe Massiet WIP 2" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1523/24069444809_164f21e3f6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Lastly Cinderella, which I very much expect will take me the longest to finish as I think to make any sort of progress she needs to be a weekend stitch:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/24640507521/in/dateposted-public/" title="Cinderella WIP 3"><img alt="Cinderella WIP 3" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1478/24640507521_29e95dd4ef.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I've just downloaded <a href="http://www.mabelfigworthy.co.uk/sal.php">Mabel's February RIC SAL</a> chart, so although I won't get to it until later in the week, at least I can think about colours and it will make a nice change from cross stitch.</div>
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I'm thinking that once these four are finished, I will reduce the amount of WIPs I have on the go to a weekday piece and a weekend piece - with the weekend piece providing me with a bit more of a challenge. I've got my eye on some new hardanger designs and a Ukrainian whitework piece so I may well treat myself to some new patterns
to start once these four are completed.</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-24753529293990415142016-01-04T13:35:00.002+00:002016-01-04T13:35:43.729+00:00A Weekend of WIPs and a Finish!The advantage of starting the year with no WIPs is that you get to have new starts with abandon - well four new starts, which for me is my "rotation" maximum!<br />
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So here they are, with a few hours stitching in on each of them!<br />
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My New Year's New Start was <a href="http://www.casacenina.com/reflets-de-soie/marquoir-berthe-massiet.html">Berthe Massiet</a>, by Reflets de Soie, a pretty sizeable French sampler which is why I choose to stitch it 1 over 2 on 40ct using AVAS d'Alger. It is mostly cross stitch with some pattern darning sections. Here is where a couple of hours got me:<br />
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Next, surprise surprise is a HAED! I haven't stitched one of these for over a year after I decided that their BAPs were not for me, though I have <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/albums/72157633233786991">completed</a> a few SKs, QS and Minis in my time. Every so often I feel the pull of a few on my hard drive, but I know it's more the art than the stitching that I'm attracted to. That being said, there was a nice easy design in my HAED stash (a chart I received in the rewards programme) that I love and would use up a piece of hand dyed fabric in my stash so I thought why not! So here is <a href="http://heavenandearthdesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=604_87&products_id=6742">HAED QS Ladybug</a> by Ching-Chou Kuik, stitched on 28ct Brittney Opal LE Christmas Poinsettia by <a href="http://jodyridesigns.co.uk/">Jodyri Designs</a>, 2 over 1 tent stitch with Anchor black as I prefer the coverage to DMC black:</div>
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Next up I started a design that I've had in my stash since it was released in a magazine back in January 2012!!! In fact it was probably one of the last times I purchased a UK cross stitch magazine and I only do so for this designer's charts - yes you've guessed it, it's a Joan Elliott design. I have her Historical Ladies (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/8726270206/in/album-72157632761205399/">Medieval Lady</a> already complete) and Fairy Tale Princesses in my stash to stitch and I've been looking forward to stitching at least one of them this year. So I've chosen <a href="https://joanelliott.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/1365/">Cinderella</a> as I had suitable hand dyed fabric in my stash for her and the majority of the DMC, beads and metallics used, so just a small order to Sew and So was required :). I've swapped the Kreinik metallics for Petite Treasure Braids as I usually do and she is stitched 2 over 2, except for skin - that will be stitched 1 over 1. The fabric is 28ct Brittney Opal in Speckled Eggs by <a href="http://jodyridesigns.co.uk/">Jodyri Designs</a>:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Majority of materials from stash, just some extra DMCs required</td></tr>
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My final start was from the Fall 2003 issue of SANQ Magazine and is entitled Flowers of the Field by Eileen Bennett (#99 on <a href="http://www.thesamplerhouse.net/original-designs.html">this page</a>) and contains 15 different sampler stitches in 10 shades of Anchor and one metallic (which again I subbed for PTB). Initially I had thought to stitch this on 40ct, but when I looked at the pattern there seemed a fair bit of over 1 stitching so I opted for 32ct Belfast instead to save my eyes a bit!<br />
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Last but not least I had my first finish of the year courtesy of <a href="http://www.mabelfigworthy.co.uk/sal.php">Mabel's Hardanger SAL</a> Round in Circles. Round One was released on Friday and was stitched up within a couple of hours. I opted to go for the same colour scheme that I used for Confetti of Hardanger as it felt suitably January-ish, although I frogged the entire whipped backstitch border so that I could use (the very last of my) petite silk lame braid in white instead to tie in with the PTB pearl I'd used for some of the star stitches. It is stitched on 25ct white lugana using DMC #5 in 211 and white, Jodyri Designs Alaskan Beauty #5 perle, DMC #8 perle, PTB10 and PSL02 and a delica bead in lavender:</div>
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So there you have it, the results of my stitchy weekend! I have no particular order in which I will work my four WIPs, just whatever I fancy at the time. When one is finished I'll add another piece in from the list, or just keep whittling them down until I can have another four starts as I did in the Summer and Autumn/Winter last year.</div>
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I will be back at the end of the month to share any progress I have - I'm never very good at sharing WIP pics unless they have a definite point of closure e.g a page or part finish as I think if I just keep stitching there will always be more to show lol!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-2186448056570250102015-12-31T09:27:00.000+00:002015-12-31T09:27:03.801+00:00I'm Done With Stitching!Well, stitching in 2015 that is!<br />
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A few days ago I put in the final stitches in to my final finish of the year, Catherine Agnes by Indigo Rose, gifted to me by the lovely Dana (you may know her as Parksfarm here and there) and she was right - I loved (almost!) every stitch!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/23730461910/in/dateposted-public/" title="Catherine Agnes by Indigo Rose Complete"><img alt="Catherine Agnes by Indigo Rose Complete" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5684/23730461910_84dc1f9bd1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I stitched this using 28ct Quaker and a mixture of Jodyri Antique and Regular silks (with a Caron Wildflowers used just to outline the cutwork) and it was packed full of speciality stitches (closeups of which you can see <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/albums/72157658096806571">here</a> if you are interested). It did include the stitch that a lot of stitchers love to hate (except the crazy ones that love them, not mentioning any names you know who you are!) and I was very proud of myself that I powered through and did them at great cost to a now very bent straw needle - Bullion Knots, 28 to be exact !!!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not perfect but the best I've managed thus far!<br />
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Now that piece is completed I have the final results of my stitching for 2015! With a clean slate for the start of 2015 I managed to have 50 starts and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/23943649091/in/album-72157650575384922/">50 finishes</a> - more finishes than in the past three years combined!</div>
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I didn't start the year intending to have that many finishes, I knew I would have at least 27: 12 freebie projects, 12 hardangers and the 3 medium size projects I'd picked last year. </div>
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The number of finishes would explain how I managed to smash my Operation Threadporn goal total! At the start of the year I wanted to use 12% - 15% of my hand dyed thread collection in my projects, but was dubious as to whether I would ever manage it! I can now reveal that in 2015 I managed to use <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>26.43%</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">, which I am chuffed to bits with as when your collection is in the four figures that's a lot of different threads! I loved stitching from stash, in the truest sense, as 92% of my finishes were stitched from stash - patterns, fabric and thread, changing threads and fabric to suit what I had already. Of course it helped that I didn't purchase hardly any threads, especially in the latter half of the year - my sister was right, having a percentage as a goal was a real motivator! The last few months I have only bought #8 and #12 white perle, white #9 beads and black AVAS - all needed for current projects. The whole challenge really did cure me of my need to own all the threads - I knew my favourites before, but now I'm really sticking to them, quality over quantity and all that. Consequently I've halved my stash budget for 2016 so as not to be drawn into temptation again!</span></div>
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The other part of Operation Threadporn was to try and fully finish more of the pieces that I stitched, which worked until about halfway through the year, then all I wanted to do was stitch! The fact I told myself I "had" to do something was probably the reason for my rebellion! However on the positive side, the 10 FFOs I did have were 10 more than I would have done last year lol! I'm never going to be a finisher - neither me or my friends that love my stitching have the room in their houses for it to be displayed properly. As much as I love my stitching, I don't have the room for all the things I finish - so they go in The Drawer where they take up far less space as I am not giving up stitching! I'm still trying to figure out where I can display ONE of <a href="http://www.spinelessclassics.com/">these </a>(and I have many that I want!!) as wall space is already scarce in my little apartment!</div>
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The other thing I was keeping tabs on this year was the number of different stitches I used in all my pieces. I gave up counting sometime in September, by which time I had already used 60 different stitches, so my total for the year will come in at around 70, probably 80+ different stitches used in 2015. That pretty much confirms that although I am interested in all types of embroidery, its history and technique - counted threadwork is where my heart lies and where it will settle.<br />
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So having already discussed my (lack of any real) plans for 2016 <a href="http://mrsmilkybarkidstitches.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/2016-stitching-manifesto-marie-kondo_27.html">here</a>, I leave you with four little teaser shots for the projects I've kitted for January - not including Mabel's first piece for her <a href="http://www.mabelfigworthy.co.uk/sal.php">SAL</a> as until I see the design I cannot pick the colours :). One of them is my New Year's New Start for 2016, by a designer that I have not stitched before and the others to be stitched as and when the mood takes me in January and beyond:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Answers on a postcard.........</td></tr>
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Thank you to everyone that has stopped by my blog this past year and to all of you who comment/email/message me and encourage me in my stitching - I hope you are all having fun planning your new starts for 2016!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-4908839143838654742015-12-10T16:01:00.000+00:002015-12-10T16:01:30.919+00:00Autumn Tree of StitchesAfter a lot of cross stitch I was finally ready for some more speciality stitching! Part of the reason why I like to have several pieces on the go is so that it keeps my interest as I find if I have too much plain cross stitch it drives me crazy, as does too much fiddly stitching, so I like to switch between the two!<br />
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Anyway, I've finally finished <a href="http://www.beesneedleworks.co.uk/summer-tree-of-stitches.php">Summer (Autumn) Tree of Stitches</a> by Abi Gurden and I am so pleased with the way it turned out! I've wanted to stitch this for the longest time, it's been sat in my stash since its SAL days. I'm so glad I took this year to actually stitch all those designs that I kept saying I was desperate to stitch but could never find the time in my stitching schedule for some reason.<br />
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I won't bore you with endless pictures of each part (there are 12 parts), but if you want to know more details of threads and stitches used for each part, you can see close-ups of all that stuff in my<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62293849@N03/albums/72157658100772225"> Flickr album</a>. Here is the finished piece:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitched on Jodyri Designs 28ct Brittney Opal Fall Trees (LE) with Gloriana, AVAS, HDF and Dinky Dyes silks, Caron Wildflowers, PTB and delica beads</td></tr>
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I've got a small cross stitch piece on the go from GOSM for easy TV stitching
and hopefully this weekend will finally make a start on Catherine Agnes - ugh I hate starting pieces lol!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1002826076445884224.post-23357166182021897802015-12-01T12:37:00.000+00:002015-12-01T12:37:50.533+00:00Final Operation Threadporn Finish!Before I show my final Operation Threadporn finish, here is an update on the goals situation:<br />
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<li><strike>Finish A Flamestitch</strike> - <span style="color: purple;"><strong>DONE</strong></span></li>
<li>Finish Summer (Autumn) Tree of Stitches </li>
<li>Start and finish my final Autumn/Winter new start - Catherine Agnes by Indigo Rose</li>
<li><strike>Complete October, November and December SOTW Hardanger squares</strike> - <strong><span style="color: purple;">DONE</span></strong></li>
<li><strike>Complete Snow Poem Tree by Erynne Chard (freebie, blog no longer available)</strike> - <strong><span style="color: purple;">DONE</span></strong></li>
<li><strike>Complete Winter Solace by By The Bay Needlearts (freebie from a past BTB newsletter)</strike> - DONE</li>
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<li>No stash spends for the remainder of the year unless I run out of AVAS on Flamestitch - <span style="color: purple;">still staying strong, only black AVAS purchased for A Flamestitch</span></li>
<li>Try and properly finish a few things here and there</li>
<li><strike>Kit up a few projects from stash in preparation for next year!</strike> - <span style="color: purple;"><strong>DONE</strong></span></li>
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So just two projects to carry forward to December, Summer Tree of Stitches and Catherine Agnes to start and finish!<br />
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Here is my finish of Erynne Chards's Snow Tree Poem. In the end I decided to keep it simple with just one colour of silk and beads, but did go with two colours of metallic as PTB15 is one of my faves and I couldn't resist!<br />
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It was hard to photograph as it is so sparkly with all the metallic and AB delicas! The fabric is 28ct Jazlyn Twilight Enchantment by The Crafty Kitten and the threads are Night Smoke 5301 (HDF) and PTB 10 and 15.</div>
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I will write a post at the end of the month on Operation Threadporn, my thoughts and musings on this year long undertaking of mind - including the final tally of threads used for the year of course!</div>
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Thanks for visiting and also to everyone who left a comment on my last post, I really appreciated it!</div>
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Happy Stitching!</div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Mrs Milkybar Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861169947105635404noreply@blogger.com8