This kit was sent to me free of charge from Riolis a while ago.  I hadn't stitched on it since I started it in July 2016.  When I got all the supplies out of the folder I wasn't looking forward to stitching on it.  The chart is in colour and there are a variety of different styles of stitch - half stitch with 1 strand; cross stitch with 1 strand, 2 strands and 3 strands; and back stitch.  I had almost decided to give the project up for adoption but decided I would stitch on it for a few days and then see how I felt. For some reason I really struggle with the colour chart ..read more

Today I reached the point on the secret project I am working on which I had wanted to and decided to move on to my next project. You may remember from my last post that the project I would be working on next was Hanging Loose - this was a set of charts from Cross Stitcher Magazine from November 2011. Here's where it was the last time I worked on it. So I pulled the project out.  I looked at it - I looked at the ornaments I hadn't stitched yet.  I looked at some threads and thought about how they might work together and I made a decision. I am retiring this as a WIP, I'm callin ..read more

Once I picked this piece up I was surprised at how close it was to being finished.  So I decided to stitch on it until I had completed it before spinning the wheel. This was stitched on a piece of hand dyed silvered aida from Jodyri Designs and all the threads I used were also from Jodyri.  I designed this piece myself and this is what I always used to say to my son at bed time and I couldn't find a chart that had exactly those words.  I have to say stitching on the dark silvered aida wasn't easy and I had to use my magnifier to stitch most of it.  I'm very pleased with ho ..read more

For the past 10 days I have been stitching on Perpetual Calendar from Samsarah Designs.  I decided that I would stitch on each project for 3 days before spinning the wheel.  For this project the "Stick/Spin" wheel landed on stick twice so I continued to work on it for 9 days - I added the 10th day as it was more convenient to stitch on this project than switch today. So I'm bringing in a new rule for my wheel spinning decisions.  Once I have stitched on a project for 9 days then I will definitely switch to a different one. I am not stitching these in the called for colours.&n ..read more

My first new start for 2019 was Roses of Provence my Mirabilia.  I am stitching her on a 28 count evenweave called Smokey Rose from KLT Charting, unfortunately Kim has stopped dyeing fabric so it is no longer available. I take a photo of my stitching each day at 7pm and post on Instagram.  Here is my progress over the last three days. So tonight I spun the wheel to decide first of all whether to stick with this project or switch to another one.  The choice was switch. I then spun for the type of project to work on.  Originally the choices on this wheel were WIP, Ca ..read more

As the New Year approaches I always find myself thinking about setting goals for my stitching and for life in general.  I also find myself almost compulsively drawn to buy a new diary/planner - I also get this compulsion in August when the Academic year diaries come out!  I am trying very hard to resist another purchase this year. I am thinking of setting myself some stitching goals and what better place to do that than here on my stitching blog. Goal number one is to work on all of my WIPs even if it's only one stitch during 2019.  I currently have 66 WIPs! I would also like ..read more

A couple of weekends ago we were due to go away for the weekend to a caravan.  So when I was picking a project to work on next I wanted something I could work on easily without all my usual stitching tools. I picked Darth Vader from StitchLine which is a monochromatic piece.  I am stitching it on 28 count white evenweave and after about 12 stitching days I finished it! Keep stitching and smiling ..read more

I'm happy to share another finish for the year.  Gingerbread Emporium which is part of the Santa's Village Series by Country Cottage Needleworks.  I am stitching these with the charted threads on a 20 count aida. Keep stitching and smiling ..read more

The March block for the Into the Jungle SAL was a Red Eyed Tree Frog.  I completed this block and added another two columns to the top of the project.  I am really enjoying the colours and simplicity of this piece. Keep stitching and smiling ..read more

This months block was for the Herbology class.  We see pictured a mandrake and some fanged geraniums. The back stitching on the geraniums is not as charted I just freestyled it and I think it looks ok. Keep stitching and smiling ..read more