Green Man Cernunnos

I have worked exclusively on this over the last week.

Here is a before photo:

I managed to finish page one:

This is what it looks like now:

It is so nice to get onto the actual foreground instead of doing all the background!

I have not decided what I will be moving onto next though.

Over Due Update

I have not stitched as much as I would of liked over the last several weeks, in fact some weeks I did not get any stitching done due to ill health and personal issues. I am hoping to be able to get back into a routine.

First up is Natures Vision:

It is slowly coming along ;-)

Next is Spirit HAED:

Next is Dragon's Lair:

Not too much left to do on this one accept

 for all the beading.

Last up is Humming Birds Scissor Fob:

Thank you for looking and any comments are hugely appreciated :-)

Dragon Moon and Autumn Wreath

I have managed to get in 1600 stitches in my 10 hours of stitching on HAED's Dragon Moon.

The moon is stitched in Petite Treasure Braid instead of Kreinik. It is much nicer to work with.

This is what it will look like when finished.

I have also started Mill Hill's Autumn Wreath. It is supposed to be done on perforated paper but I have used a piece of Polstitches fabric for it instead.

The photo does not do justice to the fabric though.

On Saturday the 6th of October we drummed at Eastbourne Carnival and had a great time.

Gone are the nice girly clothes and make up as it is the Bonfire Season. Unfortunately I missed my home town procession due to ill health. Rather gutted over it as it is one of the largest processions in the bonfire calender.

Here is a video montage Colin made of six of us lol. And we were all SOBER!

Natures Vision Update.

I have got three quarters done of the first wing. I am really liking how this is turning out. It will look even better once the back stitch goes on.

I have started a Mill Hill kit which I have had for some years called Autumn Wreath. It will be 5 x 5 inches when finished. I have swapped out the perforated paper for a nice bit of overdyed evenweave.

I am really peeved off to say the least as Webshots is closing and reopening as Smile. That means now no more streaming my photos from there to my blog which means ALL my blog entries that have photos on, the photos will disappear. I have emailed Smile pointing this out and have yet to have a reply from them that's if they can be arsed bothered!

It is now Bonfire Procession Season for Section 5 Drummers so out goes all my lovely lady garb and in comes jeans and tail coats and not to mention the face paint eek! It's a bugger hard to get off. I also had to strip my top hat down and take off all the veils as it's a fire hazard with the flaming torches, so in place goes  a big skull and other odds and ends plus lights.

My fellow drummer Roz and myself.

Colin trying to look scary and not succeeding lol.

Dragon's lair and Green Man

First up Dragon's Lair by Black Swan Designs:

Here is a close up:

It is looking really colourful now don't you think?

Here is a before of Green man Cernunnous:

And what it look's like now:

I was going to keep stitching on it until I finished the page but after 10 hours boredom was beginning to set in. When I get to page two it won't be so bad as the detail starts :-)

I was going to start Angel of the Sea by L&L but I don't have enough bobbins for the threads so I need to get some. I have moved on to Natures Vision.

HAED Spirit Update

I haven't been able to stitch as much as I would like to have lately, so here is my 10 hours on Spirit.

Before picture:

What she look's like now:

You can see most of her face now :-)

I have started a new project, but won't be able to post pictures as it is a surprise for someone, until they have received it. ;-p

I am currently working on Dragon's Lair, which is next in my rotation. It is slower going than what I thought it would be due to constant colour changing and blending. I will be leaving the three packs of beads till last!

UFO-WIP and Updates.

Here is my progress on Dragon's Lair by Black Swan Designs:

A couple of close up's so you can see the pretty colours better.

Next up is Dragon Moon by HAED:

Not too much done on it but it is stitching up quite quickly where there are not too many colour changes, so far!

UFO to WIP

I was sorting through my UFO's when my son saw Natures Vision. He has asked if it can be for him. So I have decided to go back to a ten hour rotation and I started with this project.

Here is a before:

And this is a now picture after ten hours stitching on it.

I am really enjoying stitching on it even though it feels strange to be stitching on aida again.

My rotation will consist of:

Natures Vision

Spirit (HAED)

Dragons Lair

Green Man Cernnunos (HAED)

A new WIP, but not sure which yet

Dragon Moon. (HAED)

Big Post!

I have been so busy lately that my feet have hardly touched the ground. Some things good others not so good.

My son Ben and his wife and the four kids up and left Hastings moving about 200 miles away without telling any of the family until they had moved. None of us were impressed to say the least. Not that they had moved but the way they did it. We did not get the chance to say goodbye to the kids. Ben and I was so close. Since he has been married he has tried committing suicide, so I don't think the move away from all his family is a good idea. I know it was his wife's idea and what she says goes apparently. I can see Ben turning up on my doorstep sometime in the future!

On a positive note, I am going to be a  granny again. My daughter Rebecca, (Doullies mum) is expecting between Christmas Day and New Years Day.

On to some stitching.

I am finally getting some where we Joshua's dragon. The picture does not do it justice where the colours are concerned.

Next up The Green Man:

I have finally finished the Celtic symbol. To look at it, you wouldn't think there was so many colours changes in the symbol. It was confetti stitching on a grand scale!

I also stitched my ornament for the exchange on my ILCS Yahoo group but will post pictures once Denise has received it.

I received my ornament from Denise, it is truly lovely!

And I just love the cute owl purse!

Thank you so much Denise for such a wonderful exchange!

WORLD RECORD BROKEN.

Hastings absolutely smashed the Guinness Book of World Records for the most massed pirates. 14,231 pirates to be precise. We held it two years ago then lost it to those scurvy dogs from Penzance last year. But shiver me timbers, we got it back! It was a very long day because apart from drumming I was also marshalling, by helping people to get into the site where the record took place. It was a brilliant day topped off by a display from the RAF's Red Arrows Display Team.

What a motley crew Section 5 Drummers make!

My drum chum Sarah and me taken by a professional photographer.

This last Sunday was the Opening of Old Town Carnival week so we did a parade with the Carnival Queen.

Colin decided he was not going to wear face paint and wore a morph suit instead the plonker lol. Looks like he is resting his belly on the drum.

Taking a break outside the pub lol.

With our Town Crier. Unbeknownst to me, the other ladies gurned (pulled faces) whilst I smiled away the buggers lol. It was as much as I could do to breathe and smile seeing my corset is steel boned and weighs 4 lbs!

Friday I am drumming at a funeral as unfortunately one of our bonfire society members passed away on the beach on pirates day. The sea came him and drowned him whilst he was sleeping. He was only in his 20's.

New BAP

Other than my HAEDs, I have no large projects on the go since finishing Midnight Enchanter.

Edie sent me Angel of the Sea by Lavender and Lace and I had just the right fabric for it sitting in my stash.

Here's one with the floss toss:

The fabric is not as dark as that called for on the chart but I think it matches in well with the colours.

It is Rue Green 32ct Belfast linen.

I am going to start a second BAP but I can not decide which one so I might hold a poll if I do not pick one lol.

Midnight Enchanter Finished!!!!!!!!!!

I can not believe that I have actually finished it! Not including my HAEDS, it was my only current BAP.

The chart is by Dimensions and out of print now.

It was stitched three threads over two on 28ct cashel linen. The fabric is 'Night' by Sugar Maple Fabrics.

Here are some close ups:

The top portion is all purple Kreinik.

The loop for the keys is hand made cording that I did.

As you can see, Kreinik everywhere.

The bookmark is cording as well.

All around the sash is heavy braid which had to be couched. ( Laying the braid and then small stitches over it in Kreinik to keep it in place).

It feels really weird now it is finished where I have been working on and off it for a few years now.

I am not going to start a new BAP straight away. I am going to do my ornament for my ILCS groups Summer Ornament Exchange. Then I need to finish my son Joshua's dragon and then start my other son Ashleys wolf. But I do have to say I am having a good year when it comes to my stitching as I have finished quite a few current WIP's.

Last but not least, I would like to thank each and every one of you who have encouraged me to get this project done, I really do appreciate it. There were times when I couldn't even pick it up lol. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Teaser Shot and Update

I will start with the teaser. So many people keep asking if Midnight Enchanter, my HUGE BAP, is finished yet. Well, it is not finished but getting very close. I am working on the back stitch and then the couching. So, here is a teaser shot.

So many stitchers have expressed how much they like this piece. In some ways I will be sorry to see this finished as I have been working on and off on it for a few years. The fun part will be starting a new BAP.

Next up is Friendship Tea Time Sampler:

Sorry about the photo quality, it came out a bit dark.

Last but not least Spirit by HAED:

It is starting to get more exciting as her head is slowly appearing lol.

Small Finish and The Green Man

This was a freebie with The World of Cross Stitch Magazine:

I enjoyed stitching it and it made a change to stitch on something small.

Next up is The Green man Cernunnos:

I am over half way done with page one now :-)

I am currently stitching on 'Spirit' HAED.

The weather here in the UK is glorious. It makes such a welcome change to see the sun after weeks of torrential rain.