And so it continues...

I can now share with you the biscornu I made for Heather, as she received it a couple of days ago. I stitched this one on 14ct Aida using Caron Wildflowers threads. I used four different colours, Carnival, Parfait, Celadon and Confetti. The design is yet another one of my own. I'm really happy with the result and I'm so glad that Heather is happy with it too.

I've been working on Watermelon Eater from Misty Dreams (find the link later! lol) this week and am really pleased with the results so far. I haven't actually got any progress pics yet. I also need to start working on the layouts for our RRs which I'm organising on my Yahoo! Group - Ryan is working on his at the moment, designing the borders on his computer. He's choosing colours to go with the fabric he's already chosen - DMC Aida, colour 3747. His theme is garden birds. My theme is fruit and I chose the designs available free from Charles Craft Inc. I haven't got a clue what fabric I'll be using, suppose it all depends on what I've already got that will fit the designs. There are only four of us taking part (we only have 8 members so far anyway lol).

I hope everyone is having a good week so far! Happy stitching!

Biscornu Fever

I know they said these things were addictive, but did I believe them? Not for a minute. Except that here's proof that they are just that! These two are mine (peach) and Ryan's ones for the EMS Biscornu Exchange that I organised. I can show the pictures now because they have been received by our partners - both in France. So far, the exchange is going quite well. I only have a couple of members causing me concerns mainly due to their lack of communication, but I'm hoping this will be a minor glitch. I've never organised anything like it before and I just want it to run smoothly. I hope that's not too much to ask for.


Both sides of the biscornus are the same design, but just used the two colours the other way around. I designed both of these on my computer and I always love to see how my own designs stitch up. I'm quite pleased with our efforts on these. I had to do the finishing as Ryan thought it was a bit tricky for him. Here you can see how I chose to finish mine - with beads in the seams. I'm really happy with this way of finishing them and have since made another one which is for the EMS Dutch Valentine Biscornu Exchange. And it's another one of my own designs.


I've had a lot of fun working these designs. This is the first one that I've actually put a ribbon on though. It's also the biggest one I've made at 9cm diameter. I have plans for a much bigger one, and now all I have to do is find the time to stitch it. I have a lot of other things on the go at the moment. I really wanted to finish some of the larger projects I've got on the go, especially Little Friends, a Permin kit of a Teddy Bear with a Kitten asleep on its lap, both in a wicker chair; it's a gorgeous design and I'm not quite halfway through it at the moment. I've had it for about 4 years now - a must-finish!


Here you can see a couple of other items I've stitched recently. The little golden bear is 24K gold plated and was a gift from a friend in America. I used Anchor multicolours cotton perlé and half cross stitch to work the stitches and Ryan was so happy when I gave it to him. The needleroll is my smallest one ever - it's just 6cm in length. It's worked on 32ct over 1 with a thread I dyed myself and a pattern I designed myself. It was originally meant to be for another EMS exchange, but I liked it so much I've decided to keep (and use) it. I'm going to do another one for the exchange.


I just love this design. I bought it from DSL about 18 months ago as a kit, but had never got around to stitching it. This month, the exact same design is featured in Cross Stitcher magazine and it just spurred me on to look it out and stitch it. It only took me about 3 evenings and I just love the way it's turned out. I don't know how I'm going to finish it yet, but have the idea that it would make a great little mattress (pincushion that looks like a mattress!) I'll probably have a go at making it up once the exchange is out of the way. Didn't realise how much paperwork they create!

I have stitched one more piece since this one, although I can't show it yet because I'm still waiting for Heather's address! Another one of my own designs and very colourful is all I'm going to say! I did do a bit of stitching this morning on Misty Dreamz's Watermelon Eater. It's looking good so far, but I haven't got any photos of it yet. I'm working it on 28ct Monaco fabric and it's lovely to do. Lots of detail, but not too many areas of confetti stitching. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. I did think about having a rotation, but I need to stitch on whatever 'speaks' to me at the time.

I did have a little catch-up with a few blogs earlier and it's good to see you all coping with the awful weather that's been lashing the country. I only have a broken fence post, but waiting for the housing association to come and fix it could take a while. It only backs onto a 60 mph road so it won't do any damage if it blows over will it?...

First post

of the new year! Happy New Year to everyone out there in Cyberspace. I hope it is good for you.

I know I've been slacking in the posting department again, and it's been ages since I looked at all my friends' blogs, so please accept my apologies. I've been laid up with a bad back which I pulled out at the end of last year. My own silly fault, but nevertheless a darned inconvenience.

My son had his birthday last week as well, can't believe he's 11 years old already! Where does the time go? I know, most of mine is spent stitching! In fact, I've been doing quite a bit as it's pretty much the only thing I've been able to do whilst laid on my back! Here are the tree ornaments I made before Christmas. I'm quite pleased with the way they came out. Dragon Dreams fans will recognise most of them as the Christmyth series. They were fun to make and they were well received too. I backed them with some lovely cream Christmassy fabric and a couple of them are edged with beads. I was impressed with the way the beading really finished the designs off and I'm thankful that I already have a lot of different colours of beads and found the ideal ones to match the threads I used.

I'm trying to finish a few designs this year, but it's going to be tricky since I have also committed myself to a RR on my group, and so far at least one exchange at EMS. There's also a lot of stitching for babies going on but I can't say too much about that just now. I've just challenged my sister to a SAL as well, since she has never stitched anything for me in the 14 years since I showed her how to cross stitch! It's about time I think! No idea what design we will be stitching yet, I thought I'd leave the choice to her as she isn't like me - I'll stitch anything that takes my fancy, she usually sticks to huge designs! We'll have to wait and see.

Anyway, I hope you all had a good Christmas and that this New Year brings you all you could wish for.

Thank you, also, to everyone who wished Ryan a happy birthday, it really made his day!

A new finish....

Wow, twice in one week, maybe my computer luck is changing slightly. And not just my computer luck either. I've been doing some stitching too! I put my latest free design up on my Yahoo! Group yesterday and my friend challenged me to stitch it over 1 - I have just finished it! Here's the Festive Tree of Love. I actually designed it to be stitched in several different shades of green, graduating from light to dark, top to bottom. But when I came to stitch it, I realised that I didn't have the colours I'd charted so I used DMC Colour Variations 4030 instead. I really like the effect of this thread. Each heart was stitched individually although in places it looks like it was done in rows! That's what I like most about variegated threads - their total unpredictability. I also charted gold thread for the heart on top and the little stitches in between the green hearts, but ended up using Kreinik 001HL with the threads removed (I just used the really shiny bit). The fabric is 28ct cream Monaco and it's really nice to work over 1 on. The tree stands a whopping 6.7 cm (2 5/8") tall. It's likely to end up as a tree ornament or maybe a card, I'm not sure yet. I'm just happy to have managed to finish something!

Long time, no see!

I can't believe how quickly time is passing at the moment. I'd forgotten how much time I spent on the internet, visiting my friends' sites and blogging to my own. I've been very sadly lacking in that department since I started having problems with my ISP and then the computer. Neither of which are solved yet. I'm just snatching a bit of time while things are working properly.

Well, my stitching goals went completely out of the window. All of the things I was going to get finished for Christmas are now on the back-burner and will probably now end up as birthday presents next year! I just couldn't seem to get 'into' them and time just ran away without me, I'm afraid. I've just got time to stitch a couple of little ornaments for people who aren't expecting to receive anything from me. I've come to the conclusion that I much rather like giving to people who don't expect it. Those that do expect gifts are usually not as happy as I would like them to be with their gifts. Whereas those who don't expect anything are far more surprised and pleased with what they receive. I'm happier giving to people like that.

Anyway, I'm hoping to be around a bit more soon, but I don't think Santa will be bringing me the new computer I so desperately need now.

SBQ

This week's question is about Christmas. Since it's looming large on the horizon now I guess I ought to start thinking about finalizing a few projects!

Do you stitch Christmas ornaments? If so, how many do you stitch each year and for whom? If not, why not?

Well, I do make at least a couple of ornaments each year, depending on how many exchanges I've entered into. So far this year it's only been one. I don't know if any more will be made this year as I have chosen (rather too late) to stitch every family member's presents. No easy task when they're not satisfied with small things! Maybe next year I'll be a bit more organised.

I did make a lot of ornaments for the Christmas of 2002. With my Mum's help in finishing them we made 43 altogether. They went to all the children in my son's class at the time, plus all the teachers and helpers in the whole school! I have to say they were incredibly well received and worth all the effort we put into them. I also know that all the ornaments I have made for people in the past are still being put on trees each festive season. There's no greater joy than knowing your hard work is appreciated.

Great day!

Well, it's been a happy mail day both here and in Finland today! The mini biscornus must have crossed in the post as they both arrived at their new homes this morning. That's what I call perfect timing!

This is my little treasure from Outi. Isn't it beautiful? You can read some information about it on her blog. Ironically, it has turned out to be exactly the same size as the one I sent her! There is definitely some sort of affinity between us - strange coincidences etc.

And this is one side of the little biscornu that I made. I am really happy with this as I'm never quite sure how one of my own designs is going to look once it's stitched up. I designed both sides of this and am really happy with the way it's turned out. I'm also happy to say that Outi is rather pleased with it as well!

I'm ashamed to say that I can't remember the name of the fabric colour, it's a Polstitches hand-dyed 28ct evenweave, a sort of lilac colour. The thread is DMC 333. I made the tassel using a tiny wooden cotton reel which I wound with the
same thread and the beads are a metallic mauve. There are little glass beads on the bottom and in the centre of the biscornu. I thought I'd photograph it with my scissors so you can get an idea of how big the biscornu actually is - it's a whole 4cm x 4cm!

I'm surprised that this was actually quite easy to make up. I had been dreading it, but despite having crossed eyes by the time I finished sewing it up and barely had room to stuff it, the end result is lovely. And now I'll stop crowing on my own behalf! :D