The Finishing Touch

I am pleased to say that Betty has finished the cushion and here is my Mum posing with it. Betty has done a lovely job and the braiding and surrounding material really show off the shells.

Cross Stitch Comeback

Cross stitching has never gone away just like anything its popularity fluctuates - but I just found this link to a whole new world of cross stitch - how about stitching a Twitter saying or do you fancy stitching the Sistine Chapel's ceiling - it will only take you 8 years and 3,572 hours! There are amazing skills out there in the cross stitch world - wow takes your breath away:

http://www.shelterpop.com/2009/07/08/cross-stitching-makes-a-comeback/

Seashell Cushion - Complete

It's done, it took about two months, roughly two weeks for each square. I love the bright colours and the outer border in purple and the variegated blue sets it off well. Now it needs to go to Betty, a friend of my mother who is wonderful with a needle and thread I am going to ask her to add the finishing touches and hey presto I will have a cushion for our bathroom. I will post a picture when its ready. I am now working again on my Humphrey Bogart picture I think that once I have done a little more I will post it here I am unsure of how I feel about it I'm not sure about the colours but have been encouraged to continue so I will.

My next big project I am going to do as I said below stitch on evenweave I have picked out a great project called Discovery of the New World with Columbus' ship Santa Marie as the main focus surrounding it will be clouds, the moon and sun and globes representing the world as it was seen in 1442. It looks a striking piece. I am a little nervous about using evenweave so have chosen a small project to get a feel for the fabric first. Let you know how I get on.

Shell Cushion

I have completed half of the shell cushion, this side will not need anything else doing to it all the backstitching is complete. I estimate that it will take about a month to stitch the remaining half. This photo doesn't show it but in fact the fabric is a lovely ice blue colour which I think looks much nicer than just plain white. This is intended to go in the bathroom as we have a seaside theme. It is much easier to do the quarter stitches than I thought it would be and the variegated blue thread is a nice touch. As it's name suggests the thread changes its shading as you stitch so it is best to stitch each complete cross so the colour is consistent.

Update - About Time!

I started this blog with the intention of posting about my hobbies particularly about my cross stitching projects but sorry to say it has fallen by the wayside but I thought it would be nice to start posting again. My main problem is that I have so many other interests in addition to cross stitch that although I have fairly regularly kept at least one project going I do tend to progress rather slowly. Anyway here are those projects I have completed recently. I am really proud of The Magnificent Seven but have to say my favourite is the sleeping elf which now hangs over my bed. I am currently working on two projects one of Humphrey Bogart for my Dad and the other a cushion with sea shells of which I have already almost completed one quarter of. This one is coming together quite quickly. I am already thinking about what to do next! Am considering trying to stitch on evenweave fabric which I have never done before but apparently people say once you start using evenweave you don't want to go back to aida. That is enough for now but hopefully I'll keep up the posting a little more often from now on!