Summer Sampler Finished!

Summer Sampler by The Prairie Schooler.

Stitched on 32ct Jobelan 'Mystic' by Polstitches.

I am really happy how this has turned out!

Thank you so much Lynette for lending me the chart, very much appreciated!

I am now going to try and finish up Midnight Enchanter next.

March Tusal

This months TUSAL seems to have come around quick!

Lots of different colours in the jar!

Lots of Updates.

I forgot to update my blog last week so this entry is rather picture heavy.

I finished my bookmark for the exchange in my ILCS group. I will post a picture once my partner Lyn has received it.

First up, Midnight Enchanter:

A close up of the area I am working on:

Slowly but surely it is getting there lol.

Next up Summer Sampler:

This is nearly finished and it would of been finished except I didn't have one of the colours to do some of the alphabet but I am going to pick it up in town tomorrow, if I remember!

Next up Dragon's Lair:

I am stitching on this here and there but will devote more time to it when Midnight Enchanter is finished.

Last but not least my HAED, Spirit:

It is starting to look better now that the design is beginning to take shape. I am giving it a rest this week and stitching on my other HAED, The Green Man.

Yesterday was Mother's Day here in the UK and I got very spoilt.

I did have four boxes of chocolates but I ate one yesterday lol.

It is official now that Colin is being made redundant at the end of April, we thought it was May but they moved it forward a month. Can't say I am looking forward to it but hopefully, somewhere down the line he can find another job.

HAED SAL

I wanted to join a HAED SAL on Blogger but the two I have come across are full as you can only have up to a 100 people posting per blog. So, I started a SAL Blog and we have quite a few members now.

If anyone would like to join, just click the HAED SAL tab at the top of my blog which will take you to the SAL blog page, and on the right hand side bar is the info on how to contact me to be added to the blog.

Mystic Stitch stitchers are also welcome to join.

Updated Post.
If your not currently stitching a HAED or Mystic Stitch or do not want to join the SAL, we would love you to follow the blog and encourage all the participants in their magnificent work. Thank you!

Weekly Update

Last Saturday was my groups virtual stitch in on ILCS. I managed to get quite a bit done as well as over the week.

First up is Summer Sampler:

Hopefully this will be finished within a couple of weeks.

Next up Dragons Lair:

I did the back stitching on the dragon which took me longer than I thought it would. The back stitch lines on the chart are not that clear. I have another three of these to do as well as the main dragon.

Last but not least my Spirit Storykeep by HAED:

I just can not seem to take a decent picture of it, this photo just does not do it justice.

I also started Lynns bookmark for the ILCS bookmark exchange as well as a Geisha bookmark for myself.

Oldest UFO Monthly Update

Here is my monthly update for Evalina's Oldest UFO Challenge.

This is a before photo:

This is what it look's like now:

And here is a couple of close ups:

I put the rest of the feathers in and backstitched the dream catcher.

The top block of stitching is completed.

Weekly Update

First off HAED Spirit Storykeep. There is now 7200 stitches done.

A few nights ago, my 14 year old twin boys took an interest in my stitching and both asked if I would stitch something for each of them for their bedroom.

Joshua chose this from my stash:

This is what I have done on it so far:

I just love the bright colours. I have been looking for an excuse to stitch this one for a long time. It has a lot of beads, blending and metallics.

Ashley chose this one:

I have not started it yet as I need to get the blue aida for it.

February Tusal

It is a few days late but I have just signed up for it.

It is looking quite full now. I had trouble trying to get a close up as the flash was reflecting on the glass.

Here is a link for the TUSAL (Totaly Useless SAL) for anyone wishing to sign up.

Weekly Update

I am a few days late updating as I normally do it on a Monday or Tuesday.

First up is Midnight Enchanter:

I did some back stitching around the head and cape area, the mauve metallic up top, which there is still a lot to do and some stitching down the left hand side.

Prairie Schooler Summer Sampler is coming along nicely. I have run out of thread for two of the colours and need to get into town to get some more so I shall be putting this on hold for a few days.

I have also stitched on both HAEDs but will update them when it looks like something has been done on them lol.

Last Sunday was  the Old Town Preservation Parade in conjunction with the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras (sp).

Section 5 Drummers were asked to lead the parade.

I'm on the left with the red wig and top hat.

Colin, my partner, and me. Yes I know, smoking and all. Colin gave up and now I am going to attempt it too when my current bacca has run out.

I do not smoke in the house but in the back garden. Haven't been smoking too long, gave up years ago and restarted last year. I have children and grand children to consider hence a smoke free home.

Yiotas XStitch

I was contacted by Yiota who produces cross stitch kits and she very kindly offered to send me a free cross stitch kit of my choice, if I was to do an honest review for her. I was very flattered and said I would love to do this.

I picked out 'Nymph in Woods', and true to her word, Yiota sent me out the linen version of the kit.

The kit turned up in an envelope with a cardboard back so the kit did not get bent whilst being handled by the Post Office. This was a nice touch as many places send charts out in ordinary envelopes which can end up being delivered in a bad state.

Here is a picture of the kit as taken from the envelope. Nicely packaged in a cellophane bag.

Picture of the back.

The chart came in two pieces of A3 quality paper with easy to read symbols. Full instructions are given which are easy to read and very descriptive including for a novice stitcher. All stitches are whole stitches and no fractional.

The linen is a nice quality one and very generous. The design area is 8.3 inches by 11.8 inches and the linen measured 19 by 17 inches, so more than plenty  for framing. A needle is also included.

The threads are already wound on quality stiff card bobbins and numbered so that's more time for stitching as no thread sorting! The thread supplied is Madeira but the chart also shows DMC numbers in brackets for anyone wishing to substitute their own DMC threads. Also all designs are available as chart only.

Full contents view.

www.yiotas-xstitch.com

So would I recommend these cross stitch kits? 

100% yes! I think it is very refreshing to receive a kit where everything is presented with the cross stitcher in mind. When I purchase a kit, I just want to stitch on it, not have to spend ages sorting threads etc so to have a kit where you can just sit down, open it and start stitching is fabulous!

Yiotas Cross Stitch is based in the UK and is a small family business and they ship internationally. The site also includes a Freebie Page with some really nice designs on it.