some new updates

Hi everyone,
I have not made much progress recently largely because I have been out too much!  There seem to have been lots of birthdays and other things in the last couple of weeks so I haven't had much time for stitching.  On top of that I was due to have a quiet weekend this bank holiday but my parents were stopping off on their way to a family party in Plymouth.  They stayed on Friday night as planned but then  saturday morning came and my dad's back had gone so there was no way they could sit in a car for 4 hours.  So they ended up staying which was lovely and I always enjoy spending time with them but of course less stitching time.  The only good thing was that we were able to go shopping for stitching stash as mum had left hers behind at home and so needed some to keep her entertained last night-she bought the cut thru noahs ark from Bothy threads.  I was very good and didn't get any but I won't mention the order I placed with Casa Cenina last weekend! Anyway dad's back was better today so they have gone on their way.
So here are my latest pictures...

Firstly the shakespears fairies...it is working quite well on the black so far.  The photo is a bit blurry (why am I so rubbish at photographs?) bt you can see the effect.  It doesn't really look like much at the moment

and then the second piece I have been working on recently is the Chatelaine White Nights in St Petersburg.  I decided to do this on a dark blue fabric and the gates are done in black on the original design. I had thought they would show up enough but when I had done them they looked rubbish so I spent the whole of my stitching time last weekend unpicking them!  Anyway I have started redoing them in white and they look much better..so here is where I am so far.  You can't see the whole lot as I have it rolled on a large frame but I have just about finished the section with the houses on all four sides.

I love this design..it is so sparkly which you can't see on the photo.  I haven't put the beads on yet of course..they will go on at the end.

The other thing I have decided to do is to have a go at framing my work myself.  I am fed up of paying such a lot of money for framing and my mum has had a go and she says it worked quite well.  I have a small piece (the blackwork house) that I think I will try..I want to lace it properly as well which most of the framers never do.  I will report back when I have had a go and let you know how successful I have been!

So off to carry on with the white nights I think.

happy stitching everyone

new stuff that I like

Just had a bit of time for browsing and here are some new releases that I wouldn't mind getting my hands on!

lovely flowers

halloween fun

lighthouses


chinese dragon

..when am I going to win the lottery!

not a lot happening!

Well i seem to have spent a lot of time out and about over the last week or so and so I have hardly done any stitching.  Hopefully I might get some done this week and so new piccies at the weekend.
Still disappointed at the lack of good new designs out there but I do like this
http://www.abcstitch.com/designers_php/feature.php?id=727486

I haven't liked that many of the Mirabilia designs recently..I think they have been very disappointing but I do like these little cottages..very pretty.

So back at the weekend with more piccies hopefully!

a slow week

Hi everyone, firstly thanks for the lovely comments from you :-)
so its been a bit quiet on the stitching front this week..hence not posting.  I went to visit my family last weekend so hardly any stitching done then, and of course back to work this week :-(  Its a shame we have to work but I have to get cash for stash somewhere!  I admit I lost my stitching mojo a bit this week, probably because I did so much over the holidays and then the shock of being back at work.  I have made a little bit of progress on the snapperbets...



You can't really see the effect properly on the photo but I am using the weeks dyes floss which gives a lovely shaded effect to the solid blocks of colour.
I think though I need a new start to get my mojo back (any excuse eh?) and I have decided to start a Mirabilia ..Shakespears Fairies..which you can see here...
http://www.mirabilia.com/crossStitchFrames/md103.html

I really like the colours on this design and it has loads of beadwork on it.  I don't like the green fabric though so I am thinking of making it rather dramatic by stitching on black..what do you think? The setting is supposed to be night so I guess this would work ok.  I have put the flosses on the fabric and it looks pretty good.

Is it me or has there been a bit of a lull in new designs lately?  I get various newsletters but I haven't seen much that really makes me go WOW.  Its good for my purse but a bit disappointing.  Come on designers...get your fingers out!

Off now for a bit of shopping (not stash unfortuately) ..I will let you know how I get on with the fairies