SAL update : “Getting Ready” #14

I’ve been lazing around, with my feet up, and stitching in the evening, making quite good progress on “Getting Ready”, a kit by Design Works from artwork by Ronald West.

Last time I was here

And this time, I’m here.

I’ve been concentrating on this area

also adding some backstitch a little bit here and there.  There’s still a fair bit of fabric to cover in order to fill in that bottom left hand corner, but that’s where I’ll be concentrating on for next time.

Now I’m off to see what progress other SAL members have made since 17th June.  We welcome Catherine back to the group after a short absence.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy, Catherine

Our next update will be on 29th July. 

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SAL “Getting Ready” #13

My SAL stitching on “Getting Ready” has been rather eratic these past few weeks.  Rather like my other crafting where I seem to have been moving rapidly from one project to another (all will be revealed very soon!).

Last time, in May, I showed you this photo

I really should have done some backstitch to give the waiter on the left a face, but instead, I just kept threading up my needle with different colours, and stitching a bit here & there.  The result of which looks like this

Not too shabby but still quite a lot to do.

Let’s do some blog-hopping now and see what other SAL members have been up to.

Avis, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi,  Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

And our next update will be on Sunday 8th July.

SAL “ Getting Ready” #12

Hello everyone!  Needle has been flying in order to have some decent progress to show for the SAL.  I worked on “Getting Ready” for a full week, putting in about 2 hours of stitching each evening.  This is a kit by Design Works, and adapted from a painting by Ronald West.

In order to admire progress, here’s a “before” photo from 6th May.

And “after”

Not bad, eh?  I’ve been concentrating on the second waiter but also adding a few other colours when I got bored of stitching with white & greys.  The tub of flowers on the right has a few leaves . . . the vase to the left is beginning to take shape . . . and the green shutters in the middle.  No backstitch added this time as I’d like to complete this big chunk and then bring it to life.

I’m now off to see what my fellow SAL stitchers have been up to on their various projects.

Avis, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi,  Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

Next update on 17th June. 

getting better, and . . . how’s Crafter Granny coming along?

I wanted to say two big thank yous, to two French crafting friends who sent me some post to wish me a speedy toe recovery.

Thank you, to Monique for this lovely card and bookmark . . .

and thank you to Stéphanie who sent a lovely cross stitched card, with a haul of bookmarks.  Neither lady has a blog, but they follow me over on my French blog, and often surprise me with some thoughtful snail mail.

I’ve been making some more crochet progress. Crochet being an easy craft to do, while lounging with both feet up on the sofa.  However it did also require some sitting in the kitchen earlier on, to prepare a small freezer bag with weighting materials, and cut out a cardboard base, to slip inside the bottom. 

My “Crafter Granny” can now stand up, as long as Ducky doesn’t mistake her for a skittle, and try knocking her over!  He’s more interested in the long tail of yarn, waiting for the hair to be attached. 

Anyway, here she is, not looking like much at the moment, since she also needs arms an a pretty apron, but I’m very pleased with her so far.  This pattern, in case you fancy making your own Crafter Granny is a free pattern, generously created and made available on-line in pdf, by Zhaya Designs. 

Just so you know what she’ll look like . . . here is the photo I posted last time.

I am actually toying with the idea of making 2 little aprons.  One in crochet, and one in a pretty cotton floral fabric.  I think it might be fun to combine crochet and sewing in the one project.  What do you think?

“row of cats” – 3 more

My cross stitching followers will be pleased to hear that I’ve put down my crochet hook over the past week . . . and have been cross stitching a little more.

Which means, the four Bothy Threads cats I showed you, not very long ago, have been joined by 3 new playmates.

Well, two and a half really, since one is only a kitten.  I therefore have 7 cats on my aida

plus an extra toy (next to the Siamese).  I’m still hating the backstitch, but am gritting my teeth and getting it done.  Nothing worse than having to go back over an entire project with backstitch at the end.  Much less painful to do it as I go.

So . . . 2 more cats to stitch (to the left) plus a few edible items.  Next time I show you this project, I’ll be having a happy dance!

SAL update – “Getting Ready” #11

Another 3 weeks have flown by!  I feel I made a fair bit of progress this time on “Getting Ready” a kit by Design Works, adapted from the original artwork of Ronald West.

In April I showed you this photo.

As of today, things look like this.

I’ve been stitching all over the place this time:  adding some colour to the right with the beginnings of the large tub of flowers; almost completing one waiter and filling in the second waiter; adding some more detail to the left; and adding some back stitch detail. I’m just over the half-way mark now.

I’m now going to do some blog-hopping to see what fellow SAL members have been up to.

Avis, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi,  Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

And invite you stop by on 27th May for our next update.

“row of cats”

I was looking back over recent posts on my blog the other day, also updating my galleries with photos of finished projects, and realised I’ve been very productive with crocheting of late, but hadn’t been doing much cross stitch.  So . . . I picked up my WIP: “Row of Cats” by Bothy Threads which looked like this in February

and got busy.

Two new cats, and backstitch . . . which means only 5 more cats to stitch. 

One of the reasons I’ve been less than enthusiastic in working on this project is the horrible backstitch detail.  Horrible is the only word which describes it.  The kit came with 16 count aida which really is NOT the fabric adapted to the backstitch involved where lines don’t follow holes, but need to come up as quarter stitches in most places.  On  24 count evenweave it would have been a doddle, but on 16 count aida, even using a sharp pointed needle, adding backstitch detail is extremely laborious and messy.  Another criticism:  the kit comes with several colours in Lana threads, which is like a very fine wool.  The idea being to brush some of the cats after stitching, to make them fluffy.  Again, the choice of supplying 16 count aida in the kit is a bad one.  Instructions say to stitch with 2 strands of Lana . . . but it’s impossible to stitch neatly with 2 strands of this wooly thread on 16 count.  I tried, gave up, and have substituted normal cotton thread. 

A side note to Avis, who gifted me this kit and who will be reading this: don’t take my criticism to heart!  It’s not your fault!  The design itself is totally my cup of tea, and it’s going to look fabulous when I’ve finished!  I am mentioning the negative aspects of the kit here in case there is anyone out there who is about to start this design.  If yes:  I suggest you put the 16 count aida to one side, and prepare a piece of 24 count evenweave or linen.  I will also, be contacting Bothy Threads when I’ve finished, to leave feedback since they supply a “customer satisfaction” questionnaire with the kit.