SAL “Share” – Merejka happy dance!

It’s time to link up with other SAL members to show progress and I’m having a happy dance this time.

I could probably have given linen a quick iron before taking photo lol, but here it is complete with wrinkles and hoop marks.  I need to put my thinking cap on to decide what I’m going to do with this now it’s finished.  In the meantime, since Avis and I both finished our current SAL project in time for today, we’re going to begin a new project for next time.  We’ve agreed on a design we both like, and will therefore be working on the same design, as from next time, but in different colours.  My supplies are all prepped.  I’ve gone for Christmas reds, greens and a gold on white aida. You’ll have to wait until next time to see what we’ll be stitching – oooh the suspense!.

Here is the complete list of links of all SAL members.

Avis,  Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, 

Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Next update on 23rd August.

SAL “Share” – Merejka #3

Three weeks ago, this is where I was with my cross stitch project for the SAL.

I’ll admit to having been slightly distracted by other crafting projects since, and cross stitch hasn’t been high on my agenda.  But, knowing there was an update due, that spurred me on to knuckle down and stitch the section I had decided on for my next stage.  Which means, we have a second fairy!

The overall picture looks like this.

Now it’s time to visit the blogs of other SAL members and see what progress they made since last time.  Here’s the complete list of members.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, 

Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

And we’ll be back on 2nd August!

SAL “Share” – Merejka #2

Another 3 weeks have whizzed by!  Last time, I showed you  the beginnings of a new project by Merejka.

Only a smallish design, that I hope to stitch in 4 stages.  For my second stage . . . one of the chubby and very cute fairies has taken control of the Smartphone, complete with some backstitching, so I don’t have to do it all at the end..

Here is the list of SAL members.

Avis, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

We’re an international group, and all work on our own choice of projects at our own pace, meeting up every 3 weeks to show progress.

Next update will be on 12th July.

 

SAL “Share” – Merejka #1

Three weeks ago, I had a happy dance, with “Sugar Skull Panda” by Lindashee, a design that kept me happily stitching over eight SAL updates, so a total of 24 weeks.  For my next project, I had a rummage in my kit stash, and pulled out something different.  Something a lot smaller, and that should only take a few stages to complete . . . but also something on 32 count linen, so it’s a little tricky on the eyes.

I bought this little beauty in the January sales 2017 on sewandso, before they closed shop, so this is a stash-buster project too..  Actually bought two kits in the same series because I think those blue faires look so cheeky!  Anyway . . . here is what I’ve accomplished so far.

Let’s do some blog-hopping and see what other SAL members are working on.

Avis, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Sherrie, Helen

And we’ll be back, in 3 weeks time, on 21st June.

 

Indian Brave & Maiden

Only people who’ve been following me for a very long time will recognise the above photo.  A cross stitch kit I stitched way back in 2013 although I probably bought the kit as far back as 2004:  Indian Brave & Maiden, design by Roger W. Reinardy.  I did the cross stitching of these two very proud Indians 7 years ago . . . finished pièces were folded and put in a drawer . . . but did get pulled out of said drawer in 2016 when I set to creating a patchwork border for both.

For some reason (no idea why) I didn’t actually get on with the next stage and they were folded and put back in the drawer.  Until, last week, when I finally sat down to do the proper finish.

Luckily, I had folded them away with the solid red fabric for the binding but couldn’t remember what I had planned as backing fabric, so I used some bedsheet.  I kept quilting very simple: orange thread stitching in the ditch.

I’ve finished them as wall-hangings. You can’t see in photo because my pattern matching is almost invisible lol, but I cut two 5″ squares in bedsheet, folded into triangles and sewed them to top corners on the back of both so I can slip a wooden rod into the pockets for hanging.  Each Indian finished up at 29″ x 16″ (74cm x 41cm) so I now need to find a suitable wall to hang them from!  Am rather surprised, now they’re done, that I didn’t get them finished sooner.  I reckon these will go down in history as my longest WIPs.

“follow your heart”

I fancied an easy quick stitch project the other day, and it just so happens that I subscribe to Cross Stitch Crazy magazine, which drops in my letter box once a month and always with a lovely freebie kit.  I therefore picked  up the following

 

It’s a design by Emma Congdon.  Only problem was . . . when I looked at threads & chart, the “light turquoise” in the kit I received (supposed to be DMC 158) seemed very dark compared to the magazine photo.  I checked it up against my DMC thread colour card and it was a few shades darker.  Luckily, a quick rummage in my own thread stash and I found a skein of DMC 158 so I frogged, and stitched that colour again.

Much better!  Anyway, since the kit came complete with the blue hoop AND the pink pompoms . . . I followed instructions and did my finish the magazine way, which is quite unusual for me.

This isn’t the kind of design I would normally stitch, but I love the lettering and colours, especially the backstitch detail makes the word “Heart” so 3-dimensional.  I’ve now got this cheerful little piece on display in my sewing room.   A quick & easy project, but it felt good to have a little happy dance with minimal effort.

SAL “Sugar Skull Panda #8

I’m having a very colourful happy dance, with “Sugar Skull Panda” a design by Lindashee.

Last time I was almost finished, and showed you this photo.

I hope you’ll be able to spot the difference today, after a lot of attention to detail such as backstitch and beads.

The plan is to frame this lovely piece, but I’ll need to wait until shops reopen.

In the meantime, I’ve already picked out my next project for the SAL . . . but you’ll have to wait until next time to find out more.

We’re welcoming Helen back to the SAL.  List of links to all members below.  Please feel free to click and visit.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Sherrie, Helen

And next update, on 31st May.

SAL “Sugar Skull Panda” # 7

It’s SAL update time again!

Three weeks ago, I posted this photo of my current SAL piece, which is a design by Lindashee.

For this update, I’m pleased to say that all cross stitch is done, so Panda is looking like this.

Not finished yet though, as I now need to go back over the whole piece adding backstitch, seed beads and French knots.

We welcome a new member to the SAL this time: Sherrie.  The complete list of members is below.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Sherrie

And we’ll be back on 10th May with another update!

SAL Sugar Skull Panda #6

Another 3 weeks flown by means it’s time for a new SAL update.  I’m still having fun stitching the Sugar Skull Panda, design by Lindashee.

Here is where I was last time.

and here is progress for today.

That’s quite a lot of ground covered for this stage.  And now it’s time to link up with fellow SALers:

Avis, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda

Next update on 19th April.

SAL Panda Sugar Skull # 5

Although I’ve been very busy with knitting needles of late, I did find time to sit down and cross stitch too, in order to keep up the pace I’ve set myself for the SAL project:  Sugar Skull Panda, a design by Lindashee.

Last time I was here

And for this update, things look like this

Outline is all done, as is second ear.

It’s now time to do some blog-hopping . . . and welcome two new members to the group: Laura & Cathie, as well as a welcome back to Linda.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda

Next update will be on 29th March.