A little more to show.

Just a little update, but I thought it's better than no update!
So here it is ...

It is straight, it's how I've got it pulled about on the frame that makes it look wonky!
I want to try and get this finish fairly quickly as I'm keen to do one of the others as well.  If only we had more hands or more hours in a day!

Anyhow, I'm off to bed now and hope to get a little bit of time on it again tomorrow night.

:)

With faith in our hearts.

So here is my new project. :)
I did consider going back to my other larger ones, but I think these will be relatively quick to do and if I'm honest, I just couldn't resist!! 

I've made a start. This one has other threads, not just DMC, so I've had to pick my own colours really as I couldn't find reliable conversions for them.
I can't resist a bit of bling, as some of you already know, so I have included some metallics, which are already driving me mad! LOL.  Can't resist though. I just love them so much.

Anyhow, here's the start of it:

It doesn't show up well here (using phone again ... must make the effort to get camera out!) but the stem and small green blocks are light effects and some of the pink is pearlescent effects.  The light effects is the harder one to use and of course, there is going to be ALOT of it!
Typical me to make things harder for myself. I should have just used rainbow gallery petite treasure braids.
Anyhow, I'm doing it on 28count over 2 and really enjoying it so far.

I haven't been able to get back to my sewing machine yet but I'm trying to pluck up the courage to buy some fabric to make kitchen curtains with.  Can't spend much at the moment, so am looking on ebay for bargains. Don't know of anywhere reasonably priced locally.

No change with Steve's job, we are waiting until the end of this month to see what happens. We've been told it doesn't look good though so whether this is going to be it or whether something else is going to happen, who knows?

Anyhow, I have an hour to myself, so I'm off to do some more on my sampler now.
Take care every one.  And just wanted to say a BIG thank you for your comments. I really do enjoy reading them. 

:)

And then there were FOUR!!

Yes, all four are finished.
I'm pretty pleased with them and I like each one, even though I thought I'd favour some more than others.
They all need to come out of the coasters again and have a final press, but for now here they are.

Here's the pink one finished.

And all four together:

There was also a light pink and a peach in this set. I might do the peach one at some point but not the other one as I think the light pink would be too light for me.

So now I have another project ... Can you guess which one?  It's one I've shown you before.

:)

Slow growing rose.

Just a little more of the two lighter pinks left and then I can get onto the leaves.

The colours do look alot nicer 'in real life' on this one.

Hope to get this finished fairly soon though. I really want to start one of the other designs I showed you previously.

:)

Reversible tote.

So I had another chance to get on my machine last night.

I looked around you tube and found a tutorial for a reversible tote bag, but they used the same material for the straps for both ways, whereas I wanted mine to each match the tote colour. So I fiddled around until I worked out how to do it.
I don't really have any fabric yet, so I cut up another one of my mum's old skirts and I also cut up a pair of my old kitchen curtains.

The results:

One side

 The reverse side

So I now have a little tote to carry my WIP cross stitch round in.  :) 
I know it's not exactly professional, but I can't believe I've actually made something I can use!

When I am able to get some nice fabric, it would be nice to make a little bag embellished with some stitching, buttons, or something fun.  I'm also itching to try some curtains and some more cushions in nice material, plus making them a bit more fancy maybe.

Anyhow, I've been looking in the charity shops, but nothing fabric wise has turned up yet. 

I hope I find some soon!  Otherwise everyone will be in fear for their wardrobes, wondering what might disappear out of it as I have another idea for a project!

:)

It's growing ... albeit slowly!

It's been a few days since I've blogged.  I haven't really done much to show you, so just a small update again this post.
Thing is, it's been a bit up and down here again.
We've now found out that Steve's job is actually only safe until the end of this month. Also, that they are looking like they will lose their redundancies packages.  It's all very complicated, so I won't bore you with it all.   It's so hard for him right now though. He just doesn't know where he is and there are lots of hush hush dealings. Morale is very low and people are losing trust.

My mother in law had another fall at the weekend. Face down on concrete. She's not too bad considering, but has a big lump and cuts and grazes all over her face. The bridge of her nose is cut and her glasses are damaged.   Father in law goes away for a week on Friday, so we are going to have to be keeping a strict eye on her!  My mum has an awful cold and on top of damaged ribs (can you believe she fell as well, out on the main street) she's in some pain.

So all in all, not alot done here but I do at least have a small update for you.

I really like some of these pinks.  They don't show up here really, but some are really pretty.
This was the colour I expected to like the least but it's lovely in real life.
Hopefully I'll have a bit more to show you next time though. 

:)

Update with pictures.

Today is a busy kind of day here for me. I'm waiting on the new washing machine being delivered. It'll be wonderful to actually be able to get all my washing done properly once Steve has plumbed it all in tonight.
:)
(Am I going mad? How can I be getting excited to do washing???).

I also have to run Tom and one of his friends to college this morning and then take him and 2 others onto a painting job this afternoon.  I've given the delivery people my mobile and asked for an hours notice before they come so that I can make sure I'm here, as I also have to go and clean for Steve's parents Friday lunchtimes as well.
So can't see me getting any 'fun' time for projects today. :(

I do have a little to show you though.
I made another envelope cushion cover.  This one went perfectly except in one place where it pulls slightly. The annoying thing about it is that I felt there was a problem as I was sewing that part, but rather than stop and recheck, I carried on and now am really cross at myself.

Here they are, versions 1 and 2.  Can you tell which is which?  I don't have enough material to center the design, so I'm not worrying about that at the moment, but shape wise, can you see a difference?

Front view:

Back view:

I also tried a table cover with another skirt I cut up. 

These are only for practice of course, but if it were staying there, I'd want to add a cream crochet lace border round it, to finish it off.

Then I  got a bit carried away and pulled an old navy blue top out of the ragbag (note creases) to see how it would look 'refashioned'.
I altered the neckline as it had ribbon there originally that was now pretty much worse for wear and got some bits of lace and a few buttons out and had a play around.
Keeping in mind, it's all just pinned and was only to get an idea of the sort of thing that's possible, I was quite pleased with it really.
Of course the neck lace part would be properly cut to fit and shaped. On here it's just roughly pinned to get an idea. The front lace would be measured out and buttons proportioned properly.
This was just a play around really.

Before:

After:



I think it could be alot of fun to do things like this.  Mind you, whether they'd be wearable in public at the end of it, is probably debateable! Ha,ha.

And my poor little pink rose has been sadly neglected, so I'll show you where I was with it and hope to get a bit of time on it this weekend. I can't wait to see it finished. Some of the pinks in it are really nice.

So just to keep you up to date with my happenings ... My cooker broke, my washing machine broke and last night my iron broke!!!
What is it with me?  I hardly dare touch anything now.
Good job Steve has got that 12 week extension at work, I'm off to buy a new iron this weekend as well!

Take care everyone!

:)



A few answers.

Haven't felt much like stitching this past few days, we've been more concerned with what will happen over Steve's job. At last though we have a few answers, albeit a bit late in the day! Tomorrow should have been his last day, so they've not been quick to let us know what's going on.

Anyhow, they have a temporary extension until the end of June, which has been a relief. They plan to try and sell them off, which if it comes off, means, hoping he gets kept on by the new company, he will still have a job, but this will mean he loses all his years of service (been there since he left school) and redundancy terms.
So as you can imagine, everyone there is feeling unsettled, unsure and unhappy.
This is also going to happen right as Tom leaves college and so we lose his money at that point as well (that's going to hurt) and with employment the way it is, it's a worry what will happen for him as well.

Well, no point worrying, can't change it, so am going to get back to my stitching and will hopfully have an update for you all soon.

Hope all is good with you all! Take care!!

:)

Three's company?

I'm off out in a minute to look at washing machines, but while I'm waiting to go I thought I'd quickly do an update.

Toni's rose is now finished and in it's coaster!!

I like it :)

Here's the three together.

Nice?
I am really pleased with them I have to say.  I've made a start on the pink rose now, but I didn't have time to take a picture to show my progress.  There isn't really alot to show at the moment anyhow.

Hopefully I'll get an update for you on that soon and also I can then get caught up with your blogs, I want to see what you've all been up to!

Have a lovely day, whatever you're doing.

:)



Toni rose and projects to come!

I got a little done on my Toni rose yesterday, so a small update for you all to see.
At first I wasn't sure of the browny yellow, the darkest colour, but I think as the greens are going in and I look at the overall design, it adds definition, so I'm happy with it.

What do you think?

I should hopefully get some more done on this tonight.  I can't wait to see the whole set completed.

I have a few more small projects that I have lined up waiting before going back to my larger ones. I know I keep putting the larger ones off, but I think I'm just having that much fun with these smaller finishes at the moment, and they don't require the amount of concentration that the larger ones would, so it's better for me at the moment.

Poor Steve still has no idea of his job situation. As things stand at the moment, he has 8 days left of employment. The contract ends on 31st of this month and they were meant to be getting a one year extension until March 2012, which would allow time for things to be sorted out with what would happen to the employee's. Now they can't agree terms for the extension, it could all be over.
I just wish we knew either way, the not knowing is the worst part.

Anyhow, to keep things on a brighter note rather than being a down, I'll show you the patterns for my next little projects. Sorry for the rubbish pictures, but you'll get the idea.
:)

I'm so excited to start on these.

:)