Sunday progress....

... once again it is Sunday and time to show some stitching progress. I finished today the second part of the "many years ago" sampler that I am stitching as a SAL in my German stitching group.

I just love this colour combination. 

This sampler is part of my 10-hour-stitching-rotation. But since the individual sections are released every two weeks and each section is stitched in much less than 10 hours, it kind of messes up my rotation plan. I decided to squeeze the new parts in as the come.

Beside this sampler I have also worked a little on "On travel with Jane Austen". 

I truly love this sampler. It is so much fun to stitch.

Start on a new SAL

I did it again. I started a new project. In this case it is another SAL that is running in my German stitching group. The design is a mix between a band- and a patchwork sampler. It is called "Many years ago" and is designed by Gudi Kolden.

as usual I changed the colours of this design. I am stitching on 32ct. Murano in Granite grey with my own hand overdyed threads in earthy shades.

I also tried to re-arrange my my 10-hours- rotation.  I thought, now that most of my due date projects are finished, I will have the time to work on my WIPs. But just then more due date stitching is popping up. Luckily this time they are all small and can be stitched very quickly.

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Anyway, as far as my rotation goes, I will be working mainly on:

- Alphabet 1900 (Riesenmustertuch)

- Fruit Wreath

- many years ago Sampler

- On travel with Jane Austen

-and one new project: the Heluna milk jug from Arabia

my new threads from Nina

It has been hot here in South Finland lately and I didn't feel sitting in front of the computer. Not much in the mood for stitching either. For some reason I am most active stitching in Spring and Autumn. 

So for today I only have only one new thing to share. A few weeks ago I've ordered some skeins of hand-dyed thread from Nina. They arrived already last week and I have wanted to take pictures right away but I thought it would be nicer to show you how the floss looks in a stitched project.

So here's the start on a new SAL called Petit Sampler by Claire Findley. 

I am stitching on 40ct Newcastle linen with Cherry Cola hand dyed thread from Nina.

Stitching up-dates

I've been stitching lately on my Sticklounge Sal projects in rotation.  The 3rd parts of both Alphabet 1900 (Riesenmustertuch) and Old European Sampler are ready now. Being up to date on the European Sampler I do have a lot of catching up to do one Alphabet Sampler.

I have also started a new project within the Sticklounge group. It is called Heart Note Alley designed by Kathy Bungard. Here's a link to her blog.

Alphabet 1900 - Riesenmustertuch

Right after finishing the first part of my Old European Sampler (see previous post) I've continued stitching and finished the second part of Alphabet 1900 or Riesenmustertuch (Giant Sampler) as we call it in my German cross stitch group. I really love how elegant it looks like. To bad that you can't really see all it's beauty in this crappy picture.

As you can see in the picture I've continued already with the third part. Some of the SAL stitcher are already working on part 9 or 10, so I have some catching up to do.

I am ready!

Hi everyone! 

I finally finished my See the Star project. I placed the last few crosses last night. 

Now I am wondering if I should tea stain the finished piece a little. Just to get a little more aged look. I have stained fabric before, but never after stitching and that makes me a little nervous about it. Does anyone of you have experience in staining an already stitched design?

I think for this design I will go with a nice dark brown squared frame, thou it will take a while to get it actually done. I'd like to use an antique frame for this one and will look at local flea markets for one.

Part one is ready....

First of all, I'd like to thank my dear blog readers for always leaving such kind comments. Even after being away for such a long time, there a still people reading my rare posts. And yes, it is good to be back. I can't tell you how much I missed stitching and blogging.

Here's a picture of the first part of my Giant Sampler. The Border is completely stitched in DMC ecru, as well a few of the letters. The inner borders and most of the letters are stitched in different shades of light sand colours, some are more yellowish and some have a blush of pink in it. But I guess one can't really see it in the picture.

New project

As I already pronounced in my post yesterday, today started the huge alphabet sampler SAL. I have been stitching all day long and like to show you my so far progress.

It is not much yet, but the patterns isn't easy either. I am stitching this one in Petite Point with mostly ecru. I really love the way it looks like. Will now continue stitching for a few more hours, while watching a movie or two.

Pla-a-a-a id

It is finally done! I finished the plaid sheep by Casey Buonaugurio after working on it for several month. Yes, month! Isn't it unbelievable? I don't know myself how it could happen that it toke that long.

I thou know how I managed to finally stitch it up. I was already for quite a while very disappointed with my stitching progresses. I just couldn't manage to stitch as much as I wanted even with having so much more spare time than I used to have before. Whenever I sat down to do some stitches on one project I thought: "Oh no, I rather work on the other one", so I started something else and then again: "But that one would be so much more fun now". This basically went on for the whole day and before I noticed daylight was gone I barely placed any crosses.
So I worked out a rotating system. I read about it on a few other blogs and I though, what is working for so many other ladies might work for me too. I started working out my rotation system on Friday and so far it is working. Well let's see how long I can stick to it, but I want to try at least until I worked down my pile of WIPs.

I also managed to finish the 4th part of See the Stars. I like this design more and more.


Oh! One last thing that I almost forgot. I am going to get a parcel with lots of more stash. My aunt send me an email today letting me know that she send a package full of DMC thread. My aunt has an attic half of the size as my apartment packed with Cross Stitching supplies. Most of the things up there belonged already to my Grand mother. There are kits with floss, floss without kits, charts without pictures, pictures without charts and lots and lots of fabrics and threads. A while ago my aunt started to organize everything, but already mentioned that it is time to clean out a little, because my aunt isn't one of the youngest anymore she decided to give most of the stash to me. I just shouldn't tell my Mr. that there are packages already on their ways. I do have quite some stash myself already and we are literally running out of space. My living room nearly looks like a craft store. There are big bags with knitting yarn spread on every single chair and sofa and boxes with fabrics, charts, etc. not to mention all my cross stitching project.

Another finish!

Juhuu! I made it. Here's my finished stitching of Cheryl's Bouquet. The original is meant to be stitched in only one color. I instead stitched it in no less than 9. At some point while stitching I thought it might get to colorful and restless, but now that it is finished I kind of like it again.
I decided to finish this one into a nice tablecloth for our living room table. Next Saturday is a hand craft exhibition in Wanha Satama in Helsinki and I am planning to go there. Maybe I'll find a nice fabric to finish it up soon.

Totales Mysterie is stitched up!

Can it be better than starting the first post of the New Year with a finished project?

I just finished the last stitches of the SAL "Totales Mysterie". I stitched this SAL along with a bunch of other woman in the German Yahoo-Group Marquoir. The design is an exclusive design for this group. I still don't know the name of the designer, but will add it as soon as I know.

I thought I will finish it up as a sofa pillow by adding some bright orange or turqoise fabric, cause these are two of the colors in my livingroom furnitures. But I'm not sure yet. I guess I will go ahead with washing the piece first and than deside what to do with it.

Cheryl's Bouquet 27

Here is a little update on one of the SAL projects I am stitching in a yahoo group. It was already the 27th part of Cheryl's Bouquet. I am a little bit behind the rest of the group due to the holidays, but I am almost 2 more weeks on vacation. I have no doubt to catch it up. And now there are only two more rows of small parts to go. I am so excited. Can't wait to see it all finished up.

Totales Mystery part 16

Time to show you again something from the Mystery Sampler I am stitching in one of my Yahoo stitching groups. Round 16 is stitched up and while checking my emails this morning, I saw that round 17 already arrived. I'm very excited about this round, because we are getting to stitch now some of the corner pieces.
Alright, I'm off for stitching now.

Half way through!

On this rainy Sunday morning I finished stitching the center piece of the Cheryl's Bouquet. Now that I'm half way through I'm very excited to stitch the second half and finished it up. But that will take another 18 weeks. I would love to finish it up faster but that would be against the SAL rules. So I practice myself in patience and stitch on some other projects instead.

SAL stitching

Here is an update on one of the SALs I'm stitching in the Yahoo Group Marquoir. I have been asked lately what I am going to do with the finished piece and it made me thinking. I came to the conclusion either to attache some nice fabric on the outsides and make a table cloth for my coffee table or work it as a pillow, though I have already tons of pillows. I'm not quite sure about it yet, but I still have some time to thing about it. The SAL is only half way finished yet.
If one of you have a good idea, feel free to comment me and make a suggestion.

Cheryl's Bouquet

Though that I haven't posted any pictures of this SAL lately, I still continued stitching on it. Now this is how my Cheryl's Bouquet looks by now. I am still in love with my chose of colors. This is going to look so great when it is completely finished.

Totales Mysterie Part 10

I finished this morning the 10th part of my Totales Mysterie SAL. Now it is half way done. About 10 more rounds and it will be completed.

Cheryl's Bouquet

The 7th part is ready. Due to stitching this design as a SAL I'm making quick progress. If I'm able to stick with it, it should be ready in about 31 weeks.

Cheryl's Bouquet

The 6th part of Cheryl's Bouquet SAL arrived today a bit earlier than usual. I took my change and stitched it right away. But now I have to wait again until I can continue.

Totales Mysterie part 9

Round 9 of my Mysterie Sampler is ready. There is still a lot more to stitch, but you can get already a slight idea of the pattern.
I like it more and more with every little field I'm stitching