First up on the rotation

This New Year I have decided to re-instate the rotation, and stick to it!  So for the first full week of the month I'm going to stitch something with a Halloween theme. I have chosen to do the Lizzie*Kate Halloween Rules Double Flips.  I am going to stitch these all together as one piece as I have the frame for it, a gift from Father Christmas in 2011.  These are being stitched on 32 ct Chestnut linen with the recommended over-dyed floss.  Wast week I managed to complete three of the flips.

I have included the scissors in the photo because when I have seen this project on other blogs it has seemed much bigger than it really is. My next dilemma is what to do about claiming a finish? Do I only claim a finish when all twelve flips are completed or do I claim each one or do I claim two flips as a finish as this is how you buy the charts?  Suggestions please!

At weekends I'm often away from home for one reason or another so I usually take a small project away with me.  This weekend's one also had a Halloween feel, the Creepy Pin Cushion from Shepherd's Bush.

On the rotation for the second week of the month is something from The Drawn Thread starting with the Winter Arbor so progress pics of that next time.

White Nights came back from the framers and is now on the wall.  This is not the best picture but it shows you how big it turned out!

Happy stitching!

It's finished!!

On Sunday afternoon I put the final stitches into White Nights!

At last, it has taken the best part of three years to complete this project.  Although the last stitch was put in on Sunday it has taken me three evenings add the crystals.  Here are some more shots.

The details, this was stitched on 32ct opalescent linen with a mixture of DMC, overdyed silk and Rainbow Gallery metallic threads, as recommended. Basically, the solid colour silks, NPIs, were substituted for their DMC equivalents. The beads and crystals were the recommended ones.

So what next?  Well, you know me, I have a number of other projects on the go, five at the last count, so I'm going to finish them off first and then have a fresh start in the New Year, well that's the plan.  Thanks for all your supporting comments with this project over the last three years they have been much appreciated.

Happy stitching!

White Nights Part 11 is finished!

Yesterday I finished part 11, complete with crystals. The crystals have still to be put on the rest of the piece but I will wait until all of the stitching is done.

I have also made a small start on one of the corners.

This is the project in its entirety, well at least as much as you can see!

I have had a few weekends away from home and have managed to finish Autumn from the Maggi Co's Village range by Jardin Privé. This was stitched on 32 count opalescent white linen with the recommended DMC floss.  The only alteration is that I stitched this with one strand of floss rather than two.

I have also made a start on winter.

I'm off to do some more on White Nights. The end is getting nearer!

The final countdown or roll up!

Yesterday I finished the border, mentioned in my last post, after another weeks worth of no stitching in the evening.  An early return from 'The Railway' meant, a last, that I could get some quality stitching time.

So the final few stitches were put in, the beads were stitched in place and then it was time for the final roll up.

The bottom part of this design has not seen daylight for over twelve months!  I was able to put a few stitches in to the border.  The end really is in sight now!

Three weeks later

It's been three weeks since my last post, three weeks back at work, which probably explains my lack of posting and my lack of progress. Don't get me wrong, I have made some progress but I was expecting a little more. Hopefully things will settle down at work and I wont need to be coming home and working until nine o'clock for much longer. Anyway, here is the latest White Nights progress pick.

So, what is left to do on this section? The Algerian Eyelets on the left followed by some gold backstitch around them, eight gold cross stitches and then, the beading, probably two good quality evenings worth.  Then it's the big roll up!  When this happens I will take a photo of the whole project so far. Mind you, given the quality of my photographs of late, well, what can I say? You might be able to make something out.

Someone who does take fantastic photos is Maisie Moonshine.  If you are interested in stuff other than stitching pop over to her blog.  Here is a photo of her latest project, I want one!

and a close up.

I'm off to make the most of a school free evening.

Happy stitching!

The last full day!

I have spent the last full day stitching on White Nights. There are still two weeks of the school holidays left but we have a big holiday planned, amongst other things.  I'm really pleased with the progress I've made over the last three and a bit weeks, the end really is in sight!

This is actually the top of the design! Not the best photo but it gives an idea of progress.

This is the top, again the wrong way up because that is how it is on the frame.

Happy stitching!

What a difference a week makes!

These are my latest progress pics of White Nights.  Even I can't believe how much progress I've made in a week, and that doesn't include Saturday or Sunday as we were at 'The Railway'.  This is of the top left hand corner,

and this the top right hand corner.

This is a closeup of the corner section.

Finally, the whole thing, well as much as you can see!

Fingers crossed for just as much progress next week.

Happy stitching!

Relocated

Last Friday morning I packed up the car and drove across the Pennines, from Lancashire to Yorkshire, to my husband's house.  The first thing to be unpacked was White Nights.  On Friday afternoon, before I had unpacked anything else, I completed a substantial part of the boarder, the right hand upper pointy bit on the next photo.

We had visitors at the weekend so not much got done.  First thing on Monday morning it was time for a roll up on the frame.  These are photos of my progress before that happened.

I stitched on Monday and today (Tuesday), alongside doing other stuff around the house and in the garden, more of that later.  I am really pleased with my progress over the two days.

Both parts of the border are finished.

Mind you with a stitching view like this

and a nice patio area where I can sit and stitch,

I'm not surprised I'm making good progress.  Mind you the patio yesterday morning was not quite so nice.  Most of the flower beds were full of the plant in the top corner so after a trip to ASDA, for some tools, B&Q for some plants, two and a half hours of digging out and twenty minutes replanting, the above was the result!

I'm hoping that this good weather we are having, at last, holds out so I can spend many more hours outside stitching away!

Pre-packing update

Tomorrow is the last day of term!  At last I might be able to spend some quality time stitching.  Here is a picture of my latest finish, well not quite, as it needs to be finished off. It's 'The Wedding Quadrielle' from The Sweetheart Tree.

I have managed to do some work on White Nights, but not as much as I had hoped.

This summer I am hoping to finish this off, hence the post title, as the whole project frame, floss etc is about to be packed up and moved to my husband's house, which is where I am decamping to for most of the summer.


Fingers crossed I finish it! Then what next, what will be the next big project? Might need to have another poll.


Happy stitching!

A finish of a different type!

This weekend I finished my jumper. It is based on Sarah Lund's one from the TV series The Killing.

This is the first thing I have knitted in a long time and I really enjoyed doing it. So much so that I have another project on the needles.  This time a scarf.

I had a lot of school stuff to do last week so very little was done on White Nights, but every stitch is progress.

I have a couple of projects packed for the next two weeks, one of which is a new start, but with 'Our Big Day' only five days away now who knows how much I will get done!

Happy Easter to everyone. 'Our Big Day' pictures next time.



Spring is here!

It's been two weeks since my last post and quite a lot has been going on on the stitching front.  Firstly, I finished Spring by Jardin Privé.

This was stitched on 32ct opalescent linen in the recommended DMC floss. The only change I made was that I used one strand of thread not two for that more delicate look.

Last week was the turn of White Nights. I was quite pleased with my progress the main buildings and border on the left hand side are finished, there is still some way to go on the right hand side though.

I also managed to do a little more on Joy to the World, which is back on the rotation this  week.

Last weekend I took the Heirloom Wedding Sampler to The Nimble Thimble to be framed. Whilst I was there I indulged in some stash enhancement, a Shepherd's Bush kit and Official Crazy Cat Lady from Raise the Roof Designs.

I stitched this on the train to and from Edinburgh, as this weekend it was my Scottish Hen Night. This involved doing something crafty, and hopefully, I will be able to show you what was created by five of us next time.

Happy stitching!