Review of the Year

This was another busy year! My work hours increased on a regular basis to 24 hours a week, and I have another little freelance gig on the side. The marks in my Uni classes now count towards my final degree classification, so I'm also taking them a little more seriously. Fortunately, I didn't have a major MS flare or other spell of illness, so all in all, I seem to be managing!

I'm still entranced more by knitting than stitching at the moment, and I appear to have discovered that designing cross stitch is as much fun as stitching it - and an awful lot easier to 'frog'!

Anyway, so I can wipe the lists from the sidebars and start with my "Year of the UFO" project, here is what I completed in 2009:

Stitching Finishes

• 30. B is for Blackbird - Prairie Schooler - 28/12
• 29. C is for Cow - Prairie Schooler - 24/12
• 28. Purple Penguin - Casey Buonaugurio - 06/12
• 27. Sew Dry, Set Wet - Prairie Schooler - 04/12
• 26. Autumn Leaves Fob - Heart in Hand 22/09
• 25. Fall Needleroll - Heart in Hand 22/09
• 24. Sew and Sew - Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin 10/09
• 23. Derbyshire - Heritage Stitchcraft 27/08
• 22. E is for Embroidery - Prairie Schooler 23/08
• 21. Neat Country Stuff - Homespun Elegance 22/08
• 20. A Little Sea Bathing - The Sampler Girl 21/08
• 19. Home is Best - Lizzie*Kate 29/07
• 18. Antique Hearts Needleroll - Shepherd's Bush 13/07
• 17. Quaker Strawberry - Blackbird Designs 30/06
• 16. Petites Lettres Rouges - Blackbird Designs 26/04
• 15. Holly Berry Sampler - Bent Creek 13/04
• 14. The Squirrel - Full Circle Designs 13/04
• 13. Sheep in the Meadow - Shepherd's Bush 13/04
• 12. Spring Keeper 2 - The Drawn Thread 26/03
• 11. Spring Keeper 1 - The Drawn Thread 22/03
• 10. Quaker Bird - With My Needle 15/03
• 9. Quaker Swan - With My Needle14/03
• 8. Spring - Prairie Schooler 15/02
• 7. Valentine Flip It - Lizzie*Kate 09/02
• 6. Bloom Where You Are Planted - The Victoria Sampler 08/02
• 5. Fredde's Bookmark 07/02
• 4. Oh Christmas Tree - Prairie Schooler 29/01
• 3. All You Need Is Love - The Drawn Thread 25/01
• 2. Heart Throb - The Drawn Thread 20/01
• 1. How Does Your Garden Grow? - Lizzie*Kate 20/01

I would be hard pressed to name a favourite amongst these, but I think it would be a Prairie Schooler. I have a new obsession!

Finishing Finishes

• 37. Purple Penguin - Casey Buonaugurio - Ornament - 06/12
• 36. Sow Dry, Set Wet - Prairie Schooler - Floss Tag - 4/12
• 35. Trick or Treat - Lizzie*Kate - Mini Pillow 16/10
• 34. Autumn Leaves Fob - Heart in Hand - Floss Tag 22/09
• 33. Fall Needleroll - Heart in Hand - Needleroll 22/09
• 32. Sew and Sew - Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin - Needlebook 16/09
• 31. Happy Stitching - Elizabeth's Designs - Pinkeep 02/08
• 30. E is for Embroidery - Prairie Schooler - Pincushion 23/08
• 29. A Little Sea Bathing - The Sampler Girl - Pinkeep 21/08
• 28. Hardanger Motif - Mary Hickmott - MP3 Cosy 20/08
• 27. Amethyst - Classic Embroidery - Scissor Pouch 01/05
• 26.French Country IV Pumpkin - JBW Designs - Framed 02/08
• 25. Easter Cracker Sampler - Bent Creek - Framed 02/08
• 24. Bird in Tree - Historic Needlework Guild 02/08
• 23. Alphabet Ribbon Sampler - Historic Needlework Guild 02/08
• 22. Winter - Trail Creek Farm - Scissor Fob 02/08
• 21. Miniature Sampler - Cathy Bussi - Pinkeep 02/08
• 20. Hardanger Square - Mary Hickmott - Pinkeep 02/08
• 19. A Merry Tree for Thee - Full Circle Designs - Pinkeep 02/08
• 18. Home is Best - Lizzie*Kate - Pinkeep 31/07
• 17. Antique Hearts Needleroll - Shepherd's Bush - Needleroll 13/07
• 16. Quaker Strawberry - Blackbird Designs - Strawberry 06/07
• 15. The Squirrel - Full Circle Designs - Bourse 19/04
• 14. Sheep in the Meadow - Shepherd's Bush - Bookmark 13/04
• 13. Spring Keeper - The Drawn Thread - Floss Tag 26/03
• 12. Spring Keeper - The Drawn Thread - Scissor Fob 26/03
• 11. Quaker Bird - With My Needle - Scissor Fob 15/03
• 10. Quaker Swan - With My Needle - Pincushion 15/03
• 9. Spring - Prairie Schooler - 28/02
• 8. Bloom Where You Are Planted - The Victoria Sampler - Biscornu 09/02
• 7. September Sampler Accent - Periwinkle Promises - Mini Pillow 08/02
• 6. Flower Garden - Pincushion 08/02
• 5. Rose Garden - Pincushion 08/02
• 4. A Maze Garden - Pincushion 08/02
• 3. All You Need is Love - The Drawn Thread - Mattress Pincushion
• 2. Heart Throb - The Drawn Thread - Scissor Fob
• 1. How Does Your Garden Grow? - Lizzie*Kate - Pillow

 New-to-me finishes this year were floss tags and bourses. I love how reading blogs gives so much information and inspiration!

• 42. Pink Sparkly Legwarmers - 19/12
• 41. Kaffe Fassett Socks - 13/12
• 40. Mini Cable Rib Hot Water Bottle Cover - 13/12
• 39. Garter Rib Hot Water Bottle Cover - 12/12
• 38. Tardis Dishcloth - 11/12
• 37. Mum's Christmas Socks - 26/11
• 36. Narvik Beret - 22/11
• 35. Cable Hot Water Bottle Cover - 15/11
• 34. Cortina Socks - 14/11
• 33. Chunky Wristwarmers 3 - 14/11
• 32. Chunky Beret - 13/11
• 31. Chunky Wristwarmers 2 - 12/11
• 30. Waterfall Scarf 2 - 10/11
• 29. Simple Man Slippers - 31/10
• 28. Chunky Wristwarmers - 24/10
• 27. Waterfall Scarf - 24/10
• 26. Tonks Socks - 17/10
• 25. Innocent Smoothie Hats x 74
• 24. Mini Cable Socks - 02/10
• 23. Blanket Buddy 2 - Lion Brand - 19/09
• 22. Blanket Buddy 1 - Lion Brand - 18/09
• 21. New England Stole - 17/09
• 20. Striped Baby Mitts - Sirdar - 30/08
• 19. Striped Baby Bootees - Sirdar - 29/08
• 18. Poetry Society Letter - 29/08
• 17. Striped Baby Hat - Sirdar - 26/08
• 16. Striped Baby Sweater - Sirdar 11/08
• 15. Clapotis - Kate Gilbert 07/08
• 14. Elongated Corded Rib Socks 29/07
• 13. Hourglass Dishcloth 13/07
• 12. Feather and Fan Scarf 25/06
• 11. Welt Fantastic Socks 20/05
• 10. Bubby Rabbit 10/05
• 9. Garter Rib Socks 25/04
• 8. Corded Rib Socks 08/04
• 7. Regia Stretch Wool Socks 26/03
• 6. Golden Luna Moth Shawl 22/03
• 5. Wool Cotton Socks 28/02
• 4. Speedy Cable Beret - Pink 07/02
• 3. Kiri Shawl 07/02
• 2. Luna Moth Shawl 15/01
• 1. Opal Plain Socks 13/01

I think 2009 can be called "The Year of the Sock". In 2008, I knit my very first pair, and now I have a basketful - and my friends and family are beginning to get them as gifts too. I also knit a number of accessories, which I am wearing with pride now the weather is chilly!

So, how does 2009 compare to other years?

2009 - stitching finishes 30, finishing finishes 37, knitting finishes 42. Total = 109
2008 - stitching finishes 65, finishing finishes 59, knitting finishes 25. Total = 149
2007 - stitching finishes 58, finishing finishes 55, knitting finishes 0. Total = 113

Okay, so it's down, but this year, I've finished some big projects, I've started having my pieces professionally framed, and I've blogged more - a lot more. So I'm happy.


Now to tackle the project for 2010 - The Year of the UFO!

Happy Stitching - Elizabeth's Designs

Design: Merry Christmas (Happy Stitching)

Designer: Elizabeth's Designs. Freebie available here

Threads: DMC (my own conversion)

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, cream

Finish: Pinkeep

I stitched this for an exchange on Hooked on Exchanges. I think it's an appropriate design to display today!

Merry Christmas to all my online friends - I wish you all joy, love and peace now and for 2010!

A Merry Tree for Thee - Full Circle Designs

 

I chose this ornament from the JCS 2002 edition for Cathy on the Friends Through Threads Exchange. Cathy does some lovely work and I though she might like this tree as it's not just cross stitch. I used the fabric you can see in the picture to make this into a pinkeep style ornament. The colours in the picture above are a little off because I took it under artificial light.

 

 

This is much more accurate!

Design: A Merry Tree for Thee
Designer: Full Circle Designs
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: unknown linen
Finish: Pinkeep

Trick or Treat - Lizzie*Kate

 

Design: Trick or Treat from Halloween Sampler

Designer: Lizzie*Kate

Threads: DMC as charted

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, colour unknown

This little mini pillow went to Chris H, a fellow member of the Hooked on Exchanges blog. I love doing Lizzie*Kate designs, which is something back a few years I'd never thought I'd say - I thought the designs too simplistic, too childish ... and now I love them - well, most of them! I think initially my thoughts were because I was trying to find my own 'style' in decor, having always lived in shared houses or furnished places. Discovering my own particular way meant that actually, simple and quirky was 'me'.

It's interesting that my own designing style doesn't appear to be the same, perhaps I'm just being over cautious not to plagiarise?

 

I had great fun putting together some 'treats' to go with the package, I think the UK is really beginning to embrace Hallowe'en now.

Sew and Sew - Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin

Design: part of Sew and Sew (an old freebie)

Designer: Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin

Threads: DMC

Fabric: 28 count evenweave

I stitched this for Goldie on the Friends Through Threads blog. Our theme was 'Needlework' and I thought this design fitted it to a 'T'.

I decided to experiment and make a needlebook in a way I'd never tried before. I wasn't quite as smooth as I anticipated, but I think it worked out okay in the end, and Goldie loved it, which is the important thing.

I used the ingredients above - card, fabric, felt, eyelets and ribbons - and made a 'loose leaf' needlebook, so hopefully it can be added to if useful. It's all tied together with a big bow

 

 

I also sent Goldie some goodies, following on the ribbon theme :o)

Hardanger MP3 Cosy - Mary Hickmott

Design: Hardanger Motif

Designer: Mary Hickmott

Threads: Anchor Perle 5 1349 Stormy Seas

Fabric 22 count hardanger, pale blue

The Hermit got a new MP3 player for his birthday, but it didn't have an anchor point for clipping on a lanyard. So, I thought I would make a little case for it. I was going to use felt, but then I saw this little piece in my finishes box, and thought it would do. I don't know why I stitched something blue, it's really not a colour I like, but as it's The Hermit's, he was happy...

A little bit of folding and pressing, a tad of stitching, sticking with a bodger and finally a wallop with a hammer to set in the eyelet and ...

It can safely hang from a lanyard, and there's enough room in there for the earphones to be stored neatly.

Bird in Tree - Historic Needlework Guild

Design: Bird In Tree

Designer: Historic Needlework Guild

Threads: unknown, came with kit

Fabric: 28 count linen, antique white

Another 2007 finish. I thought that this would make a nice pinkeep and although it might sound like blowing my own trumpet, I was right :o) I think cording is good on these, it lies nicely in the groove between the mounted pieces.

Winter Fob - Trail Creek Farm

Design: Winter (freebie - link seems broken)

Designer: Trail Creek Farm

Threads: DMC (my choice)

Fabric: 28 count annabelle, pale blue

I stitched this for an exchange which was going to a Southern Hemisphere partner - and I realised that it was actually summer there, so this got set aside and I mailed something more suitable! I've backed it with co-ordinating pale blue fabric and it's stuffed with polyfill.

Alphabet Ribbon Sampler - Historic Needlework Guild

Design: Alphabet Ribbon Sampler

Designer: Historic Needlework Guild

Threads: Unknown - from kit

Fabric: 28 count linen, antique white

I finished this piece back in August 2007 but made this piece up in August this year. I gifted it to Tammie for her birthday as she was my partner on the Stitching Bloggers Birthday Club.

Miniature Sampler - Cathy Bussi

Design: Miniature Sampler

Designer: Cathy Bussi (freebie kit from an old issue of Cross Stitch Collection)

Threads: DMC

Fabric: 18 count aida, antique white

The sharp eyed among my blog readers will have spotted the date on this. For those of you who don't read blogs through a magnifying glass, the shameful secret is that I stitched this in 1996. Yes, thirteen years ago, and only now have I done something with it! Okay, to be fair, it was a little small to frame but still...

It was a trifle fiddly to turn into a pinkeep, but I managed, and I think it looks very cute! Not really 'me' these days, but it's pretty. Perhaps when The Tot can be relied upon not to stab herself with the pins, she can have it for her bedroom, which is very pink!

Hardanger Square - Mary Hickmott

Design: Hardanger Square

Designer: Mary Hickmott (from First Steps in Hardanger)

Threads: Caron Watercolours, Burnt Toast

Fabric: 22 count hardanger, antique white

Backing fabric: Silkweavers quilting cotton

Another old finished piece - this was a practice piece, but I decided to 'finish' it because I wanted to practice backing hardanger. I'm happy with the backing, but I think I should have used more pins to hold the trim, or possibly used a different trim - what do you think?

Thank you everyone who comments - I do appreciate it, and I will do a gathering up of comments that need a reply to very soon!

Home is Best - Lizzie*Kate

Design: Home is Best

Designer: Lizzie*Kate (a very old freebie)

Threads: DMC Color Variations and DMC

Fabric: 28 count evenweave

I stitched this for Lucy on the Hooked on Exchanges blog - the theme was 'Summer House' and as at the time Lucy's blog was all decked out for the Fourth of July, I thought she might like a piece with the Stars and Stripes - it turned out she did :o)

I backed the pinkeep in blue fabric with little cream hearts in it, and the pins pick up the colours of the threads I used.

Neat Country Stuff - Homespun Elegance

Design: Neat Country Stuff (plus a bit of inspiration from the Sheep Button Sampler)

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Threads: DMC as charted

Embellishments: vintage button and snap from stash

Fabric: 28 count natural linen

This project, because of the colours used, got subtitled 'The Sludge Monster', although my darling Ma used another word beginning with 'S' to describe the colours! I love my Ma,  but she is a bit of a one woman crusade for 'keeping your feet on the ground'...

I started this last year, and really tried to finish it, but there was always something more exciting going on. So, when my Stitch n Bitch group went away for the weekend in August, I packed this with the firm intention of getting it complete! And it worked - my motivation came back, and I only had the last square to do when we returned.I've left the start date on it though, I couldn't face the idea of frogging and restitching!

I love that this sampler contains two of my favourite motifs - beehives and sheep - as well as bunnies and blackbirds, of which I'm also rather fond!

The last square was always going to be more work. I really disliked the charted sheep in the original - I thought it looked more like a pig, so wanted to replace it with something else. The designer had produced a Sheep Sampler, but that sheep was too big for the space... so, out came the graph paper and pencils, and I shrank a sheep, kept the bird from the original, and now I know I genuinely have a unique sampler!

The button used is a vintage one from my tin - it may have come from my gran, but I think it's more likely from a charity shop or car boot sale. The big black snap I used (in place of the four small buttons the chart called for) on the other hand did come from my gran's stash, which I was given when she died. I rather like the idea of having something of hers in a piece that I've worked, as she did treasure the stitching I made for her.

The finished piece is framed now- I found a suitable frame in a charity shop, and my friendly framers stretched the piece and cut a mount to fit at a very reasonable rate. I'll try and remember to take a photo of that one day...

Antique Hearts Needleroll - Shepherd's Bush

Design: Antique Hearts Needleroll

Designer: Shepherd's Bush

Threads: DMC - mostly as charted, beads, lace, ribbon and charm from stash

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, bone

I really like the Shepherd's Bush needlerolls  - and if anyone has charts from these needing a new home, I might be interested in buying or trading! I find them a good way to explore specialty stitches without getting too bogged down in a big project - and they do look attractive in a basket with other smalls.

This was a bit of a 'stash buster' project, as I used decorative pieces from my hoards of such things. I do seem to acquire pretties, and then not use them...

The big task with these needlerolls is the construction - I use a French seam, and I stitch and hem all by hand, it seems to take almost as long as the embroidery itself!

The Squirrel (part) - Full Circle Designs

Design: The Squirrel (out of print)
Designer: Full Circle Designs
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: 28 count evenweave
Finish: Bourse

I stitched this for the Woodland Exchange over on Hooked on Exchanges. I took the centre portion of The Squirrel chart and used it for my project. I think I had hopes of stitching the squirrel as a matching scissor fob but making this took a lot of time!

I backed the piece with this fabric from my stash and folded the corners back. I secured them with stitching - the buttons are purely decorative!

I added ribbons in two colours, and the design hides itself away cleverly when they are gathered.

But it can be opened up and sits like a bowl when needed for storing bits and bobs.

This was my first bourse, and I enjoyed making it, although I don't think I got the proportions quite right.

I promised...

Don't let it be said I live in fear of Anna the Stitch Bitch, but I think she was expecting an update on my finishing weekend!

So, without further ado, here it is...

So, here we have two framed finishes, six pinkeeps and a scissors fob!

I confess, I used Spraymount and double sided tape rather than lacing, but I think I redeemed myself slightly by stitching up the sides of the pinkeeps rather than go for more glue. Glue and I don't get on. Spraymount and tape are about my limits...

This is a design by JBW Designs, French Country IV - Pumpkin. I love the colours of autumn, and I will possibly display this most of the year round as it goes with my living room decor.

The frame was a charity shop (thrift store) find, complete with double mount - it had a dull cheap print in it and it would have cost me less than £3 (US$5). Of course, I'd stitched the pumpkin on a piece of fabric a little too small for this, so it took quite a while to centre it up and to make sure the edges were hidden! The ripples you can see I think are from the glass, as the piece is actually smooth in real life!

This design is Easter Cracker from a kit by Bent Creek. I finished it last year but it's been sat in my drawer ever since. So only a year or so - that's not bad going by my standards!

The frame is another charity shop find, even cheaper. It was destined for another piece, but when I tried it against this one, it seemed to go so well to me that I can't now remember what I originally had planned for it!

Lack of fabric wasn't an issue with this, but it still took a while to centre and square up!

I'm so lucky to have four charity shops within a ten minute walk of the flat, I have come across some great finds.

I'll show you the other finishes in another post, time is getting on and I'm supposed to be getting dinner ready...