Finish or Fling? - Christmas Ornament

I know I started this when I was working in my last full time, permanent job. So 2004 or 2005, and I've done the odd little bit since. Although I like the colours, I don't like working with the metallic floss - and I'm not totally happy with how the French knots look.

Pros:

• Not a lot of work to do
• Would look great in the basket in my bathroom

Cons:

• Working with metallic floss - and aida
• There's a ring mark which I'm not sure will come out, which will limit finishing options

So, finish or fling? This is going to be a close run thing...



Verdict: finish

Finish or Fling? - Christmas Cards

There are two designs in this kit, and I've only started one of them. And barely done that - just traced the design onto the fabric and made a few stitches.

The kit finishes these designs as card, but I think they would make cute pillows.

Pros:

• Not cross stitch, so something different
• Not huge designs
• Like the designs
  

Cons:

• I don't find freehand embroidery as relaxing as cross stitch
• Orange? for holly? Yuk.
  

So, finish or fling?



Verdict: I think I will fling these, certainly the one I have already started, and use the buttons etc for other projects.

Spooky - San Man Originals

Design: Spooky (a subscriber freebie)
Designer: SanMan Originals
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: 28 count evenweave, Amsterdam Blue (I think)

This project was my Hallowe'en Exchange piece over on the Hooked on Exchanges blog, and stitched for Olga in Louisiana. Initially, I didn't know what to stitch, as I don't really do a lot of Hallowe'en stitching, and it took me a while to settle on something from the mass of freebies I have in my stash. I'm so glad to hear she likes it!

The original design was a little deeper and made into a candy roll, but I didn't have a huge border left over so I decided to make it squarer and into a patch for a trick or treat bag. The bag is made of felt and hand sewed together. The handles are trimmed with black buttons back and front - pretty but they probably wouldn't hold too many treats LOL



Here is a picture of everything else I added to the exchange - I particularly liked the dancing skeletons fabric!

Crewel Vase - DMC

Design: Crewel Vase
Designer: DMC
Threads: DMC Crewel Yarn
Fabric: Pre-printed linen

This was a kit I acquired off eBay, and I quite liked it when I started it. Then I went off it, and finished it through gritted teeth and now that I've made it into a mini pillow, I quite like it again - I think!

I used slightly different stitches and fewer strands than the design called for and overall I think it's okay. My trouble with freestyle embroidery with wool is that it can look scruffy (that might just be me) and I like the regularly of cross stitch and counted thread work. When I'm normally not the world's tidiest person, it soothes me that my stitching can be very neat :o)

Another Bloom - Lizzie*Kate

Design: Bloom - freebie available here
Designer: Lizzie*Kate
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: 14 count aida, tea dyed

This was my first version of Bloom and I made it into a little softie for a softie exchange. The front and back are made from felt - just the ordinary store bought stuff, not felt I've made myself! - the back is a peachy colour to match the tulip. The buttons came from my stash - the ladybug is hiding a little wrinkle where I stitched the flower closed after stuffing :o)

I was pretty taken with this finish, it was hard to part with it!

Freebie Exchange

Design: Bloom freebie available here

Designer: Lizzie*Kate

Threads: DMC

Fabric: 28 count evenweave (quaker cloth)

My freebie exchange for a recent Hooked on Exchanges exchange went to Laurie in the USA.



I so enjoyed this freebie that I stitched it twice - once over two as a pin cushion, and once as petit point over one to make the scissor fob.



Each is trimmed with a butterfly charm from my stash. I used the DMC conversions and some evenweave I had in my stash. The tassel on the scissor fob is made with threads pulled from the left over fabric.

You can see the rest of the exchange over on the HoE blog

Crazy Exchange to Edda

I've heard from Edda that the Crazy Exchange Isent has arrived, so I can now show you pictures.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you might recognise the design - it's a small sampler by Brenda Keyes, which I've stitched before, but this time, I've stitched it in my favourite DMC varigated red (DMC 115). I've also personalised it by adding mine and Edda's initial and the year, before making it up into a pinkeep. The fabric I chose for the backing can be seen in the middle picture.

Little and often...

One of the reasons Celtic B became a UFO was that I was bored of all the backstitch. I really don't like doing backstitch once I've finished cross stitching - I like the shapes to stand up for themselves. And that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it...

Anyhow ... I decided to make a start on the back stitch, as I'm up against a deadline on this which can't be missed, and I'm working on Celtic B as my travel project. I only have a short commute - less than 25 minutes each way on the bus, including waiting at the stop - and I've discovered that the backstitching is totally tolerable when broken down into such small bites, but the fact that I'm doing it twice a day is really making inroads into it.

There's probably a moral there somewhere... LOL

I popped into the LNS in town today, to pick up a skein of DMC. Why is it that the colour I run out of is never one of the spares I have on hand? Anyway, I saw the new "Satin" range from DMC. Looks just like their old rayon threads to me - am I missing something?

Talking of DMC, I was speaking to the owner of the very-L LNS on Friday (I was buying card mounts and peel offs, didn't realise I needed the thread...)Apparently, DMC have shut their long established warehouse in the UK in order to rationalise and save costs, so all stock is now coming from France, hence longer lead times and more out of stocks. Looks like DMC are just sorting themselves out to be here for the long haul, there's no need to start hoarding yet!

I've sorted out the projects I want to stitch for both the freebie exchange and the biscornu finishing challenge, I've been awfully organised this month :o) Once Celtic B and these two projects are finished, that's all my goals for the month done!

Meme's Quilts - Rooster Strut

Design: Rooster Strut
Designer: Meme's Quilts
Threads: DMC
Fabric: 10 count Tula

I should have pressed this before I took the photo - let's say it adds to the rustic charm, okay ;o)

This stitched up quickly, as it was done using three strands of floss on 10 count fabric, and I left off all the back stitch outlining - I don't think it needed it, and it's not something I enjoy doing.

I'm going to make this up into a little pillow - any excuse for a trip to the fabric shop :o)

Jewelled Bracelet - DMC

I don't, as a rule, like stitching with metallics, but this little kit was so attractive I couldn't resist when I saw it in my LNS sale. In "real life" the colours are a little brighter, and the stitches stand pretty proud - in fact, DBF initially though it was a beaded piece when he saw it lying on the PC desk.

It stitched up pretty quickly, and as for finishing - there wasn't any, as the fabric was pre-overlocked, and the bracelet clasp already attached! The threads were reasonably well behaved, although I had to knot them into the eye of the needle. I couldn't find my "Thread Heaven" but I really didn't need it.

Design Details

Fabric: 14 count aida, black
Threads: DMC Light Effects metallic threads
Designer: unknown
Kit Details: Light Effect Bracelet - Jewel - DMC (c) 2005
Stitch Count: 6H x 75V
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch
Threads Used: DMC Light Effects in E3849, E703, E718. Two strands used throughout.
Embellishments: None
Modifications Made: None