My WIPs, part 3

 Hello Stitching Friends!

Finally we had some sunny and warm weather for a couple of days, and me and the furbabies enjoyed a wonderful long walk in the countryside.

Sadly the rainy and cold spring weather is back now but at least it's perfect weather for stitching😉.

But first it's time for some more of my WIPs. 

This first one I started last summer for The Spring into Summer New Start Binge 2020. I'd had this chart by Ursula Michael in my stash for a good while, since I fell in love with her various backstitch motifs. 

I wanted to have some fun with this design, so I'm stitching it on a lime green aida fabric which meant I hade to change some of the thread colours too. Even though I'm a bit tired of backstitch at the moment, I stitch a little bit on this one every now and then when I feel like it. 

* * *

This next one is from the period in my life - quite a while back - when I thought I could stitch ANYTHING... As soon as I saw this gorgeous design by Sheila Hudson in Cross Stitch Collection magazine I fell in love! I've always wanted to stitch a fairytale castle...but maybe I shouldn't have gone for one of the larger charts around😂🙈😂.

I don't think I even have to show you my 'progress'...since it's basically non-existant😂. Just stitching the guidelines took forever and I haven't even finished that😳...oh boy.

However, now that I actually pulled this project out of my neglected WIP box and had a fresh look at it, the 'only' problem is the size. Most of the stitches in the background are actually half cross stitches and should be fairly easy to do, and there isn't much backstitching going on either. Handling the project might be a problem though since I always stitch in hand and there's A LOT of fabric to handle😂😱. Like I said...what was I thinking?!!

* * *

This stunning Santa project by CeWeC has a sweet little story attached to it. I was looking for an old fashioned Santa to stitch, and when I saw this project I fell in love, again. But it was a table runner where you stitched the Santa twice, and that would never happen in my nook, no sir😉😂. However, I knew that my mum liked to stitch these kind of Christmas motifs too, so I thought: why not buy it for Christmas and divide all the material into two and give my mum half of it as a Christmas gift?? Then we could stitch a Santa each, and the motif would definitely work as a picture instead of a table runner. So I did, and my sister helped me to photocopy the chart and the front picture so I could turn it into a proper kit for my mum. And I think she was very happy with her Christmas gift.

I made a little start on it after Christmas, but instead of using the 11-count aida fabric that was included in the kit, I decided to stitch it on 14-count aida so I could use the loop start. I'm sure I'll get back to this gorgeous project when Christmas draws nearer.

* * *

When I got back from England 15 years ago and picked up cross stitching again, I wanted to stitch cross stitched gifts for everyone that I cared about. It took me a few years to realize that not everyone appreciated the time and love I put into every cross stitched item I gave away😌. In fact, these days I know that there are only a few people in my family and circle of acquaintances who truly treasures my cross stitched items. 

And this motorbike is one of those items I planned to give away...but then realized that it probably wasn't a good idea.

Maybe there will be a time where I can give away a stitched motorcycle to someone special and know that it'll be appreciated🙏. And whilst I wait for that person this project will remain a UFO...

* * *

Those of you who read my blog last year might remember me working on these lighthouses designed by Cheryl McKinnon. I stitched one of them and gave to my dad (who grow up with boats and the sea in his life just like I did) for his birthday, and my plan was to stitch another one for him for last Christmas.

Sadly I had to change my plans. My wonderful dad has alzheimer's disease 😢 and is slowly getting worse, and when I gave the lighthouse picture to him on his birthday last autumn he couldn't immediately tell which way was up on the lighthouse😨😢. Obviously I realized that there was no longer any point in stitching another picture for him... 

My plan has been to stitch these gorgeous lighthouses for myself too, but at the moment it's all just a bit too sad...

At present my total count of WIPs on my WIP page are up to 35...and there are quite a few left. Bet you cannot wait for the next installment😉😁! All I'm going to say about it for now is that the situation is actually not as bad as I thought😂🙈😂. And if you need more details on any of my WIPs, you can find it on my WIP page.

Hope you have a lovely stitching weekend!

Annie

All My WIPs - part 1

 Hello Stitching Friends!

I'm constantly amazed and impressed with how organized some of you are when it comes to your WIPs and your stash🙌! That is far from the way things are over here in My Little X-stitch Nook 😂🙈. I have a couple of boxes overbrimming with stitching projects in varying stages of completion in no kind of order whatsoever. I have another box with mixed fabrics and yet another box with threads. Sometimes I try to organize the WIPs by removing (ie stuffing in a box or bag) those that I don't feel like working on, but it doesn't take long before various WIPs get dragged out again and the WIP piles on the sofa and on the livingroom table grows out of control and they all get shoved into the boxes again😂. Just pure wonderful and chaotic crafting chaos🙈😉.

One of those overflowing WIP-boxes...and a furbaby!

However, my family recently helped me to replace my old brokendown and scruffy sofa with a new one and now I'm feeling quite inspired to try to organize my stitching chaos which at the moment surrounds my new sofa. And I'm thinking that the first thing I want to do is to count all my WIPs; who knows, it might not be as bad as I'm thinking, haha. And of course that includes listing and recording them all here on the blog under the page named MY WIPs. At the same time I have also removed a couple of other pages that I don't use anymore. 

I tend to keep most of my WIPs in these extremly handy and large plastic zip bags...

...which I buy quite cheaply at our local IKEA store.

So today I have started this organizing process - I'm so pumped😁!!! - and I thought it might be fun to show you a few of those old and new and big and small and just started or almost finished WIPs in the next few posts, at the same time as I add them to my WIP page. You will probably recognize a few if you have followed me for a while, but who cares, right?! All the details of the charts/designers are available in the WIP page.

* * *

This one I started a long time ago, before I got my beagle 9 years ago. The original pattern is from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 137 and designed by Gail Bussi. I wanted to do the words in Swedish which made it a lot harder and I also added the names of my (then) two furbabies. Then I decided to add a couple of flowers (using threads from my stash) but the flower on the right looks awful 🙈😂😩and needs to be frogged...and that's where I ran out of steam... It could be cute though...some day...

* * *

This is an old one too, and from the period in my life where I loved to stitch animals. Of course this one is impossible for me to finish before I get new glasses (because of the black fabric), but I've made quite good progress and one day it'll hopefully be finished and look stunning on my wall.

* * *

This snow globe design by Emma Congdon only needs a day or two more of stitching and I'm hoping to get around to it before next Christmas.

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And the same goes for this beautiful Swedish Christmas scene. The one little issue with this project is that I have to use three threads with the 11-count fabric, which sadly rules out the loop start😒

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So I'm pretty sure you can understand why I chose to start this project😁😍.

It reminded me of my precious furbabies, especially before they got old and their faces turned all white😍💝. I would like to get around to finishing this one too; maybe I'll sew one thread every day like some of you do...🤔?

* * *

This one is probably my oldest WIP which I started when I still lived in London 15 years ago, and it is far away from being finished... All those fractionals and backstitches in the bouquet are really putting me off. However, it does make me smile when I see the LARGE piece of aida I chose to stitch it on😉. I earned a lot of money back then and could afford more fabrics and threads and cross stitching magazines etc. These days I'm always quite stingy with the fabric...😞.

* * *

This Lavender Fairy by Joan Elliott still needs a lot of bling! I've started with the Kreinik braid but there are are also a lot of beads to add and other details missing. Maybe when I get new glasses I can get around to it. It's very pretty though, isn't it? 

* * *

So these projects (and more) have been added to the WIP page for now. There isn't even a dent in my stash though, so I'll be back with many more WIPs soon. Anyone want to guess how many there are in total??? For your information I have no idea myself so I'm enjoying this process with mixed dread and delight😲😂😂😂.

Hope you have a lovely weekend with lots of relaxing stitching!

Annie

A big THANK YOU...and another weekend of Spring into Summer New Start Binge

Hello Stitching Friends❣

First of all, I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to comment on my LAST BLOG POST when I asked you for help and advice on how to deal with laaaaarge cross stitch projects. It almost moved me to tears to see so many experienced stitchers give me advice and cheering me on. I haven't answered you in person this time, but rest assured that I soaked up every word and every advice and that your comments gave me so much positive energy that I'm now determined to finish this project. (And maybe start dreaming of stitching more extra large projects in the future..!)
In fact, I found your advice so useful that I decided to make the post a special feature, a Favorite Post, here on the blog so that it is always easy to find whenever I need a personal pep talk❤💪❣

Your advice suddenly made me feel very motivated to carry on working on this beautiful project (Victorian Street Scene by Sandy Littlejohns and Deborah Lester) so I have spent two afternoons working on it. The first session I focused on the bottom left corner and I went from this...

...to this...

The other session I decided to fokus on one of the christmas trees - there are four in the whole picture - and when I started stitching the tree looked like this:

A few hours later I had added some more shades of greens...

...and it's starting to come together. I have also realized that I have to finish the whole cross stitch before I move on from an area (often I stitch an area of colour with one arm first / and then go back with the next \ later on). However, with such a densely stitched design it is very difficult to later on see what colour I have used for the first part of the stitch, so that is definitely a no-no. I have also decided to pick a particular area or motive to fokus on during each session so it is easier to see the progress, however small it is. AND I will shamelessly post and boast about every progress here on the blog for your enjoyment😉😁!

Over the weekend it was also time for a new start according to the craziness of the Spring into Summer New Start Binge, which is hosted by TIFF and RACHEL. I decided to pick a sweet little
winter/Xmas picture from the Swedish crafting brand Svarta Fåret. In fact the project was so small that I managed to finish it yesterday!

YAY! I'm so pleased with it and it feels great to have a finish for a change👏👏👏!

Before I leave you I want to share a picture of a happy furbaby with one of his beloved squeaky toys!

It seems that summer has finally arrived in northern Sweden and we can once again enjoy relaxed walks and leisurely play dates in the dog park.

Happy Stitching!

Annie

Large projects...how on earth do you do it?!

Hello Stitching Friends❣

This past week I brought out one of my biggest cross stitch projects ever, VICTORIAN STREET SCENE by Sandy Littlejohns and Deb Lester, from Cross Stitch Collection issues 97-99. 

I should think that this stunning design is over a decade old and I fell in love with it when I saw it being sold as a kit later on in the same magazine. My dad gifted me the money for it as a birthday present and the pattern, threads and the fabric became mine. I think that at the time I had an extraordinary belief in my capabilities 😉😂 and I imagined myself stitching all sorts of projects regardless of the size…!

Before I lost my cross stitch mojo around 2016 I had managed to stitch this much:

And in a little bit more of a close-up...

As you can see I started stitching the fun bits. The colourful dresses…

...and festive trees as well as the structure of the buildings in the background.

Now that I'm back stitching again I immediately thought of bringing out this project and making some more progress. However, when I finally did I actually ended up feeling so deflated😔... How on earth am I going to finish this??!! There are sooo many stitches to be added, and sooo much background and several time-consuming areas with A LOT of different colours😳...It just feels impossible..! I still love the look of the finished picture and can just about imagine the elation I'd feel if I ever finish it, but I just cant imagine the work and the time it'd take me to get there...

Still, I spent two days stitching on the left side of the picture, but it felt like the difference is nearly invisible. I went from this...

...to this…

And the worst part was that I didn't really enjoy myself since it almost felt pointless spending all that time stitching and getting nowhere… or so it felt at least.

So I need your help and encouragement🙏❤! I know that some of you stitch HEADs and other super large projects so how do you find the motivation to stick with it? What are your tricks and tips of the trade and for carrying on?! Right now I am desperate for some assistance since I'm finding it VERY hard imagining myself ever finishing this gorgeous project. And I also realize that THAT would be a shame..!

Meanwhile, I'm going to spend this weekend stitching much smaller projects and adding another start to the Spring into Summer New Start Binge.
Have a lovely stitching weekend!

Annie

An Enlish harbour, a reindeer and Swedish summer

Hello Stitching Friends❣

My menopause hormones have really given me hell this week and therefore my stitching has been a bit sketchy. Some days I've really enjoyed my stitching and other days I haven't wanted to stitch a single stitch. 

However, today I did enjoy stitching on Tranquil Harbour by Lucie Heaton. In fact, I think it's my favorite project at the moment...at least for today, haha😊.

I love all the different details on this project. I can switch between stitching a boat and then some water, and then some reflections in the water and then some bright and colourful houses. Since I easily get bored with a project (thus having 30 on the go at the same time😉) I love that kind of variety. 

My Swedish summer project is also coming along very nicely.

I have seen some lovely Christmas stitching on your blogs lately, and it made me really keen to start one of my own Prairie Schooler Xmas designs this past weekend. Especially as I had found a lovely piece of sparkly aida fabric that would make a perfect background for the gorgeous design called Christmas Eve.

However, I didn't realize that the piece of fabric actually was too small for this project until I was going to start stitching on Saturday and the disappointment really threw me, I must say. 

Having no other suitable fabric for the Christmas Eve design I decided to start another Prairie Schooler Xmas chart instead, The Night Before Christmas, but my heart just wasn't in it.

Quite a pityful start actually...

Because I was still desperate to use that lovely sparkly aida with gold threads I decided to use it for an ornament from the Christmas Eve chart instead.

But I ran out of steam with this little cute project too...

Hope that progress on all your lovely projects have been better than mine. Right now I feel like I haven't made any cross stitching progress at all lately. I just can't seem to stick to a project for more than a few hours… but I also know that the crazy hormones and the tummy aches make me more restless and edgy than I normally am😞.

FINALLY… I'm probably the last one to join the party, but I found this amazing CROSS STITCH CALCULATOR when I was trying to work out the size of fabric I needed for my PS charts. It's simply genius! Just add the stitch count of your chosen chart and you'll get the exact size of the fabric you need for your chart. Just LOVE IT!

Take Care, 

Annie

Nice progress on Tranquil Harbour!

Hello Stitching Friends❣

Just a quick visit here to show you my progress today on the beautiful harbour scene Tranquil Harbour by Lucie Heaton.

This is where I put it down after my first session:

And this is where I stopped tonight after stitching all afternoon and evening...

Pattern from Cross Stitch Collection Issue 224

I'm very pleased with myself! I would say that normally I'm quite a slow stitcher, but for some reason - and although I was really tired today - my needle was flying! Now you can make out the hills in the background and more houses including ceilings on the quay. It's so inspiring to work on a picture when you can see it coming alive in front of you!

Tomorrow I have a dreaded date with lots of laundry and a hoover so sadly there won't be much time or energy for stitching… 😢

Hope you're all doing ok. Here we have had more hailstorms, snowflakes and rain the last few days… doesn't exactly feel like spring😳. But at least it's good weather for staying indoors and stitch for hours😉.

Happy Stitching,

Annie

Spring Into Summer New Start Binge: Tranquil Harbour

Hello Stitching Friends❣

This weekend I made a start on a new project, all in accordance to Spring Into Summer New Start Binge hosted by TIFF and RACHEL. I had actually forgotten about this picture Tranquil Harbour by Lucie Heaton from Cross Stitch Collection Issue 224 which I ordered the material for back in the day.

When I went through my cross stitching stash recently I came across it again, and with my present longing for boats and the sea I thought it'd make a great new start. However, the blue aida provided was 16-count which I tend to avoid - just to fiddly for me in general - but I found a piece of light blue 14-count in my stash - which I had also forgotten about - which turned out perfect for this project, yay! It is a lighter shade of blue than the original, but it still works as a good background for this lovely motif. 

Before I started stitching I stitched gridlines with matching sewing threads. Whenever I stitch a larger project I spend a couple of hours doing this; it makes the counting so much easier and saves me time from having to unpick mistakes later on. Whenever I stitch gridlines I am reminded of my grandma Mary (whom I have written more about in THIS POST) who always stitched gridlines on her stitching projects. She stitched amazing pictures and I have one of them on my wall...

This stitched picture by grandma sits high up on the wall above a cupboard

 so it's hard to get a good pic of it... 

Anyway, back to the start of Tranquil Harbour. I spent yesterday afternoon working on it and I started on the quay and stitched two houses. 

Even though it doesn't look like much, I'm quite happy with the progress.

And I have another finish!

I'm not going to frame this sweet picture until I have stitched all three in the series. But I love it and can almost hear the sound of the water hitting the rocks and the sea gulls squawking...

Take Care and Stay Safe💝❣

Annie