Testing, 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!

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.

Band Sampler by Susan Haverson, taken from SANQ:

I'm currently working on the penultimate band of the final part on this one, stitched on 40ct linen using the recommended DMCs.

Elle Brode des Lettres Carmin by Reflets de Soie taken from The Gift of Stitching Magazine:

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.

HAED Mini Tears of Yesterday, artwork by Zindy Nielsen:

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.

Miss Cherry Blossom by Mirabilia:

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!

Alice by Aury TM:

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!

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!

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.

Happy Stitching!

Red is finished!

I spent my Saturday beading and adding the finishing touches to Red by Mirabilia.  She was my New Year's New Start for 1 January and I was stitching her as part of the Mirabilia SAL going on over on Flosstube.  Last year I named three charts that I was desperate to start in 2015 as they had been on my wishlist for ages and Red was one of them as I adore fairy tale themes, costumes and dresses (incidentally the other two designs were Plum Pudding by Glendon Place and A Flamestitch by Scarlet Letter).  As this year I am having a moratorium on Chatelaines and HAEDs (HAEDs turned out to be very easy to give up!), it means that all my stitching time can be dedicated to all the other designers' charts I have sitting in a drawer that I've wanted to stitch for ages!

So here she is, Red - my first (and probably my last!) Mirabilia and fifth finish for 2015:

 

 

Red is stitched on Crafty Kitten's Winter Skies belfast linen and I am so pleased with the way she turned out on that fabric.  I was going for a "Winter Wonderland" feel rather than an "Enchanted Forest" feel :).  I stitched her skin over one and although it was a bit of a killer (I'm naughty and don't use a magnifier!), I think it was worth it!

 

The part I enjoyed the most was actually the beading which surprised me.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE beading - just not beading with Mill Hill seed beads, I've been spoiled by the Delica beads of Chatelaines!  I was feeling a bit meh about her until I added the beads, they really made the design for me.

 

 

 

I think if I'd stitched my first Mirabilia a few years ago, I would have gone crazy and stitched a fair few, but after stitching Chatelaines it's hard for other designs to measure up for me sometimes.  As the majority of my finishes end up in The Finished Drawer, the enjoyment of stitching is all in the process for me - picking my own colours, the threads I use, the different techniques and stitches required etc - and not so much about the finish (I will add at this point that I am a stitcher that has NO UFOs!).  So although I may not stitch another Mirabilia myself, I will continue to enjoy seeing others stitch them up as they are beautiful designs - that is the great thing about stitchers sharing their work, you get to stitch vicariously!

 

Now I get to play with my stash and pack away my Red threads and pull new ones out for my two Operation Threadporn projects for February.  The desk in my craft room is covered in threads that need to be bagged and tagged so as I'm a bit stitched out after finishing Red, playing with stash is the next best thing to stitching!

 

And what's next for Red?  Well she is destined for The Finished Drawer, but don't worry she'll have Celtic Spring and Joan Elliott's Medieval Lady to keep her company and show her the ropes .............

 

Happy Stitching!