It's not a cheat...

It's not that I've been working on a project other than Celara before I got my page finish, it's more that this project is much more portable and so it goes to craft group with me, or comes out when I don't want to pull my frame out with boxes of thread. And as I've got a room (staircase?) finish, I figured now was a good time to post an update on it. I really need to go back to the throne room, I don't know why I seem to be avoiding it, so, hopefully by next (distant) post on this project will be the throne room finish!

A small spiral

Due to very little free time this week, unfortunately Dragon Rider has had no love, I promise it's a time thing and not that I'm getting annoyed with him. As I don't have anything to show for Dragon Rider, I thought I'd show what little progress I have to show on Cut Thru Castle from craft group a couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll get a bit of Dragon Rider done this week and I'll have some actual progress to show again.

Shock horror!

Two posts in as many weeks, could this be a new leaf for me? And even more shocking, there's stitching involved as well... it's quite sad just how excited I am about this!

And, there's almost recognisable progress as well, the smallest room is now completed, well, the cross stitch is, I accept that there is still back stitch to do.

Anyway, hopefully I'll actually manage to keep this up for at least another couple of weeks, you never know, stranger things have happened!

A stitch or two...

My little castle is progressing... not much I admit, but a bit. A lot of my time this week has gone on the blanket, as the little dude that it was being made for has now been born. But as I'm so close to finishing that I don't really want to post another pic until it's done. So instead you get the couple of hours stitching that I managed to do earlier in the week. Soon other projects will be out.

Oh, and it's Yarndale this weekend, so there will almost certainly be yarn porn pics next weekend as well :-)

Lots of Wee Bits

As per usual, the title says it all... This week (month? - I honestly am trying to get better at that) I have a little bit of progress on lots of little things. First is my Cut Thru Castle, if you want a clue it's some additions to the room on the right that have been added this week. It did only get about an hour and half in craft group this week, so the fact that I've got anything to show is actually a miracle. 

Secondly I have some bunts, which I've decided is the singular of bunting before they're strung together to make bunting, and there is a chance that I've already made that joke three times today. These are the first things that I've made with my own dyed yarns, and I intend to make lots of little bunts from different dyes so that I can show them all off together. I got the train to Manchester and back to meet friends today, and these were made on the journey, much to the fascination of the teenager sat across the aisle from me, I kept catching her watching me. 

And here is the blanket of doom, the baby is due this weekend, there is absolutely no hope for that, and look at all the ends to darn in, this upsets me so much. I know full well that I should have done it as I went along, and I didn't, because I'm an idiot, so now I've got them all to do at the end, I'm such a fool! 

And finally, ooops, new start. can you guest what it is yet? To be fair, I know what it is, and I wouldn't have been able to guess, the colours aren't quite what I was expecting!

I suspect that next weeks progress will be similar to this week, lots of little bits. I'm hoping to have quite a crafting day on Thursday, but am then working all of the bank holiday weekend, so boo to that!

Hello my dears, sorry I've been so poor at posting again just recently, work continues to be manic. I think it is slowing up slightly, but not so much that I actually have free time, and what free time I do have has exciting new challenges in it, but more of that later... I have managed a little bit more stitching, Cut Thru Castle continues, as does my sense of impending doom as to how my friend will react when I present her with a gift for her daughter which definitely contains a man on the toilet. 

Second, the continuing crochet, this is not as much as should be done, and I have no real excuse (other than the exciting new challenges), this is portable, I should be able to do another one whenever I have ten minutes free, but I'm lazy, and quite tired at the moment, see earlier manic-ness, and all I really want to do when I get some is lie on the sofa. But I need to start thinking about that deadline pretty soon, so I have started to be a bit more dedicated again this week.

 And this is the excitingness, I've started experimenting with yarn dyeing. I'm quite enjoying it and have many ambitious plans, but it is rather time consuming. This was my first attempt, when all I had was some primary colours to play with and my attempt at mixing purple did not go well.

This is my second attempt after I'd gone out and got some new colours... yes, there are mistakes, yes, I don't think I'd be able to replicate it, but this was a second attempt and when you consider that I'm pretty proud of these.

The one second from the left has potential, I wanted the pink to be more vibrant, and I think I know why it isn't, so I'll try that again. The same with the one in the middle, that and the fact that it came out lighter than I intended.

The one on the right was also meant to be more vibrant, again, I think I know what I did wrong and I think a different technique would work better, so I'll try that again. The one on the left was just dunked into an un-exhausted dye bath and actually turned out kinda pretty. The one second from the left was the last one I did and pretty much playing with what I had left, and I love it, and will have to try and find a way of perfecting it.

There will come a point when my yarn dyeing lives on another blog, but at the moment, sorry guys, you're stuck with it.

Pottering along

This is amazing, second time in as many weeks that I have actual progress to show, I'm so proud. Cut Thru Castle is progressing, you can even see the beginning of what this room is starting to look like, and the shape of the next room. I meant to do this one room at a time, but I wasn't concentrating properly when I started highlighting the chart for the yellow, and then realised that I was flowing in to the next room, so I went with it. And the next room is only a wee room (literally) so it'll give me something to work towards and have two rooms done before you know it (hahaha! Got to love the optimism). 

And the blanket is progressing as well. I finished my target of all the green (again, so proud), and have started on the purples as well. I intended to get a big chunk done today, but we've got my family staying next weekend, so it occurred to us that we probably ought to do some housework, so that's how today was spent instead. Now I remember why I hate cleaning the kitchen, especially the oven... my hands feel horrible now because they've been submerged in water and cleaning chemicals for half the day.

I'm not sure how mum time I'll have this week and so I may not have much progress to show next week, but I'll give it a shot. Happy crafting all!

Stitching, actual stitching!

And here it is, there has been actual progress on Dragon Rider, I'm so happy! I meant to have the tail and above done, but didn't take in to account just how much those colours appeared further down the page as well, if it hadn't been for that I would have managed it. I had meant to have this page finished by the end of the month (there's a chance that I have a new start planned for July, ooops), but I don't think I'm going to manage that... however after several months of not stitching at all I'll take this much as something!

It's probably quite sad just how happy being able to do this made me my week... I forgot just how much stitching is my relaxation until I did some and was suddenly just so much happier again!

Second up, my Granny Starbursts, I wasn't going to post on this this week as I didn't really have much progress to show, however I went round to a friends to watch a film tonight and she was very understanding about me turning up with my crochet so I managed to get another 21 greens done and suddenly made my showing for this week much more respectable. My target for next week is to have all of the greens done and to be moving on to the purple, then before long I'll be trying to work out whether I'm doing the final rounds and then sewing together or if I'm going to try and master the join as I go method. 

And finally, I may have had another new start (and have another another new start planned), but I can justify this one and my another another one as well, these are both intended as presents for people, and I don't quite know what my deadline is on either of those so, wish me luck basically. I will still try and get some time in on my rotation pieces (as I am loving actually being able to stitch again), but these two and the blanket at the main focus pieces for a while, just because they are all time based gifts.

In other news, I'm planning on trying my hand at yarn dying in the next few weeks... I'm quite excited and quite nervous all at the same time... it'll probably be in a couple of weeks time, but I promise I'll put some pics up, no matter how successful or unsuccessful it is so that you can cheer me on or laugh hysterically!

This feels look over due, but I don't think it's as bad as it feels!

I have an F word! I have an F word!
That is pretty much all!

For those who want information rather than just gloating, this is Animal Fayre by Bothy Threads!

Half way

As the title says, I am now half way, back stitch and all, and it's turning out rather cute! Especially the little bumble bees who I don't think I'd even noticed when I originally bought the kit, and it's lovely happy couples, so generally I'm pretty happy with this this far.

So, random question, every week, day, whatever we post pictures of our stitching on our blogs. What do you do with your pictures once you've posted them? I keep all my progress pics until I've completed a project, then I delete them all and just keep a photo of this finished piece. I like to scroll through the pictures from start to where I am so that I can watch my project grow in picture form. Am I the only person that does that, and if so is it a bit weird? It just gives me a sense that it is actually growing, especially when I'm talking about a BAP like a Tilton, HAED, Paine Free or Love Thy Thread. It gives me motivation.

I've been pretty good at working on my stitching at the moment actually, because I've got so many new starts that I want to be started that I've got a pretty good mentality of 'well, I'd better work on some of them hadn't I?'

Happy stitching all!

It's been a while...

 Firstly Animal Fayre by Bothy Threads. I was hoping to be half way through by the end of this weekend, which means completing all the background at the bottom, as you can see, this hasn't happened yet but I do still have a couple of hours left this evening. I am enjoying how bright and happy this is, lucky really seeing as it's intended as a christening present for a small person.

Secondly is Together Forever by Love Thy Thread and on Polestitches fabric. Three pages done now, and while there are technically 9 pages left, 6 of those are partials and even the full pages left aren't that full, I'm looking forward to seeing this one come together, and I also strangely excited about the lovely had dyed thread that I have for the second balloon. Basically, everything about this project makes me strangely happy, as does the fact that it's intended for a good friends wedding, just as soon as they get round to setting a date!

And finally, the urge for a new start is definitely going to get the better of me some time soon. I've got a nice run of days off in about three weeks time so I'm promising myself that if I get good progress on both of these by then then I get a new start then when I can settle into it properly. The only question is which new start I have. The ones that I have kitted up are:

• One of the Aimee Stewart Bookshelves, either World or Steampunk
• Rendezvous, also by Aimee Stewart
• La Soiree by Golden Kite
• In Her Room from Tilton Crafts
• Vanity by Marta Dahlig

What do people think? It'll probably be one of the Aimee Stewarts or maybe In Her Room. I am in no way guaranteeing that I will be affected by other people's thoughts, but I'm still interested to know what people's opinions are!

Starting to look like something

The title says it all really, it's finally looking like something, I've almost got a train! I think I must be nearly a third of the way through this now, which is nice, it's coming together and that makes me happy!

The presents grow

I've done a fair bit on this one know, enough that it's actually starting to resemble something... gotta love the back stitch on Bothy kits, it's simple to do (unlike some I could name *cough* Tatty Ted *cough*) and it makes such a difference to the project, suddenly everything comes together and looks so cute!

Secondly is Together Forever, which is lovely, I'm enjoying working on it but I wish I could get a decent picture on it. I had to use the flash for this one and it bleaches my lovely fabric and the lovely hand-dyed thread on the balloon and her flower as well... I'll have to get a picture on bright midday sunlight at some point and see if I get anything better.

In other news, is anyone having problems with blogger at the moment? I go on to read all the blogs that I'm following, and it only shows me one blog, it doesn't matter how many times I click read more, only one pops up!

Actual progress

This week I am mostly blogging about projects that I'm working on as gifts. First up is Animal Fayre by Bothy threads, which, thanks to the trunk, is starting to actually look like an elephant. I have to admit that I've had to force myself to work on this, not because I'm not enjoying working on it, I always enjoy bothy projects, it's more because I'm really enjoying the other project that I've been working on this week 

Which is this one. This is Together Forever by Love Thy Thread. The chart is only designed to have two colours in it. The outline in black and the balloons in red. While hunting out some fabric for this I found some pretty hand dyed threads so I decided that they'd make really cute balloons instead.The light isn't great and the colour in her flowers has come out looking a little grey, it's actually pale blue fading into pale pink. I'm hoping that will be more obvious when I work a larger area of it for the balloon. My second balloon, held by the groom, is a much bolder colour, so I'm not worried about how that one will come out at all. It looks lovely in life, it just doesn't photograph very well!

And finally...

Check it out, I finally managed it, I finally got my page finish, and I'm very happy with it, because I can suddenly see it coming together, I can see the plant pot and the beginning of flowers. I know that floor looks a little grainy at the moment, but lets be honest, this is a tiny part off the whole picture and isn't designed to be looked at this close. I love this piece, the shading and colours are beautiful, but it's now going away so that I can work on something else for a while!

 Next, I realised that I've managed a fair bit on Noah's Ark since I last posted, although this still isn't a page finish. There's some lovely sparkles on this page, but it's almost impossible to get a good picture of sparkles!

And what do we have here? A new start? Oops! Once again, I can justify it. Some friends have recently announced that they're having their second baby, and I did a sampler for the first, so I can't not do something for the second. Doesn't look like much yet though does it? It'll be lovely and bright and quite cute eventually though!

Does this really deserve a post?

I don't know if such a tiny amount of progress actually deserves a photo. There is a difference, but you really need the pictures side by side and really good eye sight to see it. Thankfully I've got some time off next week and (once again) some rather (over) ambitious plans of what I'm going to achieve, so hopefully you'll be able to see the difference next week. If all else fails I'll just finish the black on the tyre, that'll be really obvious difference!

Thankfully I haven't posted on Noah's Ark for a couple of weeks, so I have the appearance of the beginning of giraffes to make it look like I have stitched something this week... It's all an illusion, I've barely stitched at all, but at least I've got something to show now!

Happy stitching all, and hope those that celebrate it have a lovely Easter!

Page finish - woohoo!

 I finished the page, I've officially finished 2 columns of Dragon Rider, which as there are seven columns all together, I am officially over 25% of the way through! He now has wings and a tail, with any luck the next column (which I'm optimistically hoping to finish this year as well - yeah right!) will start to have a body and a motorbike and all the part of the picture will join together... it's sound how excited I am about that! At the moment the tree and the castle are the focus point, next column and the dragon actually becomes the focal piece instead!

 Noah's Ark, my progress on this is kinda slow, because it only gets about two hours every two weeks at my stitching group. I probably ought to spend more time on this project, but at the moment this isn't a priority because it's an emergency Birth Sampler, as opposed to having a deadline. I am enjoying working on it though, although it doesn't look like much at the moment!

And finally, can you guess what it is yet? A new start (which I really needed), which I am, so far, really enjoying to working on, although I admit that I don't have much to show yet. I'm working on the first two pages together, but even when they're done there won't really been any of the focus of the piece on show!

Happy stitching all!

Wingy goodness

Once again, not a massive amount of progress to show, but because the wing starts properly on the row that I've done this week it does show a more obviously difference, because something has actually changed between this week and last. This page seems to be stitching up really slowly. I think it must be because there's been a bit of confetti and I've had to start a lot of new colours this row. I'm hoping that with a lot of those parked for the next row that one will stitch quicker and I'll feel like I actually have something to show next week. 

Secondly, it was stitching group this week, and this is my current stitching group project. Seeing as it only actually had a couple of hours spent on it, there does seem to be noticeable difference, I think that's part of what's so nice about the bold colours of Bothy Threads.

 

Hope everyone has had a lovely stitchy week!

Not much to show

I don't seem to have much to show, especially considering that I didn't post at all last week, and that's because, for some reason, I don't seem to have had much time to stitch the last week, but I don't really know why. I have been working long hours about work, but that's about the only excuse that I have. Anyway, here's what little progress I have on Dragon Rider 

Followed by what little progress I have on Noah's Ark, which is even less than I thought it was... how sad. Hopefully I'll be able to have more to show next week, must get my head down and work hard this week, especially as I'm suffering from major start-itus at the moment, so many projects are just pleading with me to start them, especially after Aimee Stewart's Large Version World Bookshelf was released last night! It's practically begging me to buy and start it, I can actually hear it!

Happy stitching all!

Hibernation Progress

So, on Friday I said that I was going to hibernate and work on Dragon Rider this weekend, and posted a picture of where I was starting from. On Saturday I couldn't pick dragon Rider up for some reason, just kept found myself doing other things, so I cured the itch, with a new start. Ooops! I know it doesn't look like much at the moment, but please welcome Cut Thru Noah's Ark from Bothy Threads. This has been calling to me for a while (I do love Bothy kits, and have wanted to do a Cut Thru for ages) and I can mostly justify this as a new start. In my New Year targets I said that I would start either an emergency birth sampler or an emergency wedding gift to try and get ahead of the game when friends start announcing things. Welcome my emergency birth sampler, and it's just so pretty and they're such fun to stitch, and I need portable projects for craft group, and I'm very much aware that I'm trying to justify this but I like it and it makes me happy so nyah! 

And it did do the trick, today I have been working on Dragon Rider and do actually have some progress to well, so I have managed something on the intended design as well, albeit possibly not quite as much as I had hoped. But it's given me a kick up the arse to get on with it and hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be able to show off a page finish. There are lost of nice blocks to black to work on so the last bits of this page will hopefully whistle through.

Right, I'm back to work after a week off, so I'm off to make as many hot water bottles as I can find (I was so cold last night) and actually try and get a decent nights sleep.