Progress!

Don't you just love those pouty lips?!

I've been working on Dark Cherry and The Encounter too but just haven't got around to taking up-to-date progress shots yet. It is SAL weekend for Dark Cherry so I will wait until that's finished before taking another pic.

Ruth asked how it is that I find over one stitching to be soothing - lol. I honestly don't know :) I get into a zone where I can just leave everything behind, be it a crappy day or worry over a family member or friend, and head off to daydream land for a couple of hours. If something's bothering me I've usually thought out a solution after a stitching session too :) And, it always amazes me that after hours of stitching tiny little crosses, it will take just one and suddenly an eye or a mouth, or a turret of a castle or a tiny little flower or leaf, will appear.

Or it could be that I'm just bonkers - lol!

Quick Stitchy Update

Have a few things to blog about but have only got time to quickly upload some HAED WIP updates at the moment. Normal (and hopefully regular!) blogging to resume shortly!!

I've recently gotten back into my HAED stitching, I'd forgotten how soothing I find it and it has helped me get through these last few weeks.

First up is a new start, QS Dark Cherry by Ching-Chou Kuik. This is my yearly challenge SAL piece on the HAED BB with monthly SALs on the second weekend of each month. This is what I managed for the January SAL and given that I had family here didn't think this was too bad an effort :) Stitched on antique white 25 count lugana with DMC and PB10 for the sparkles. Started on 10 January 2009.



Next up is my current progress on QS Plum Gothic by Caron Vinson. I was hoping to finish this last year but with one thing and another that didn't happen. This year!



Lastly, my current progress on The Encounter by Ed Beard Jr. This is a full size HAED (36 pages, which is not as big as some). DS chose this chart and wants me to stitch it up for his birthday. He didn't specify which birthday but I'm estimating I may have it done in time for his 21st - lol! Stitched on 25 count white lugana with DMC and PB10 for the sparkles. Can't remember when I started this - early last year I think.

WIP Updates - Pic heavy!

I grabbed the camera this afternoon and took some pics of my current stitching WIPs.

First up, Violet Eyes by Rachel Marks & HAED. I pulled this out earlier this week and stitched a little more on the eye area. According to my photo records I haven't worked on this since November last year. There's lot of white and sparkles in this one!



Close up of the eye area I've been working on.



Next, some more progress on Plum Gothic QS.



This is my current progress on the Wiehenburg Quaker Mystery 2008 SAL. I haven't stitched a lot on this WIP in recent times due to the holidays. I usually work on this during DD's tennis and tap dance lessons. Activities start back next week so it will start to see some action again :) Oh, and I finally managed to get a more accurate pic of the fabric colour this time!



Next up, my start on LHN's Princess and the Pea - sorry about the creases, I didn't feel like climbing upstairs where the ironing board and iron are located to iron them out :)



Last but not least, my before pic of Dream of Purple for the HAED BB Challenge SAL weekend starting tomorrow and running through Monday. I'm hoping to get a fair amount done but that will depend on the painting!



Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!

More Plum Gothic QS

This is what I managed to get done during the HAED BB Background SAL last weekend. Not too bad considering it was a busy weekend.

She is still on my stand so I will probably continue to work on her when I can this weekend although I do need to squeeze my March ornament in there somewhere!

Thank you for dropping by and leaving such lovely comments, especially on my previous Plum Gothic post. I'm hoping to get back to stitching and blogging normality next week!!

QS Plum Gothic

The Fourth Weekend Themed SAL on the HAED BB starts today and the theme for this month is Background. I've pulled Plum Gothic out of hibernation in an effort to meet my goal of getting her finished this year!

Sorry I haven't been blogging much recently - as well as DH being away and having visitors (which is sapping what little energy I have lately!) today has been the first time I've been able to get on to any Blogger sites in the past few days!

I've managed a little bit of stitching but have packed most of my WIPs away for safe-keeping while the in-laws are here so no photos as yet. The in-laws are going to spend a few days with my sis-in-law next week so I'll get them out and photograph them then :)

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter!

Made My Day :)

I was surprised and flattered to find that the lovely Kim over at KiP thought my blog made her day! Wow, thank you, Kim :)

Now I'm supposed to award another 10 bloggers who inspire and make me happy about blogland, and given the amount of blogs I have in my Google Reader, it is going to be a difficult task! So many of you out there in blogland inspire and motivate me! I'm running short of time right now so I'm going to have to come back to this after some thought :)

Lots of comments on my Plum Gothic progress too - thank you!! Welcome to new readers and, Sally, of course it's okay to add my blog to your Google Reader :)

Plum Gothic QS - Page 2 Finish :)

It was a UFO/SWIP themed SAL on the HAED BB this weekend and although I have older HAED WIPs I could have chosen, I really want to finish Plum Gothic this year! Preferably in the first half! I have neglected her woefully and I have made a pact with myself that I am not going to start another Quick Stitch until she is done! Mmm, we'll see how long that lasts - lol!

Anyway, I spent most of Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon stitching away on her and put the last stitch in page 2 late in the afternoon. There is still today to go in the SAL but I probably won't work on her now until Wednesday for the Quick Stitch SAL :)

HAED BB Quick Stitch Wednesday SAL

<- Before


-> After



I didn't get as much time as I'd hoped on this last night so progress isn't very noticeable but at least I managed to put some stitches in before my eyes grew heavy and I had to go to bed! I really had hoped to finish Plum last year but it wasn't to be. She will most definitely be finished this year though and hopefully in the first quarter!

Just a quick post from me today - January's edition of the HAED BB 2008 Challenge SAL starts tomorrow (I think - must check) and I will be working on Dream of Purple this year instead of Verdure.

Before the SAL starts however I want to put some stitches into my New Year's start. Because I was away I obviously didn't get to start it on 1st January 2008 but today, rather conveniently, marks the start of the Islamic New Year so I get another chance :)

The chart/design? Well, I am in the Heaven & Earth Designs Birthday Club and whilst scrolling through my wishlist trying to decide on what chart to get, DS spotted this one. Am I insane?! Quite possibly :) DS said he wanted it for his birthday (which is in July). However, he didn't specify which birthday so I told him he may get it for his 21st, or if he's lucky, his 18th - lol! That gives me six to nine years to stitch it up :)

On that note, I'd better get to it! I shall report on my progress tomorrow.

Some Progress

Here's where I got up to with Verdure over the weekend. Blogger Photos is down so I've had to use Webshots.



As I predicted in my last post I didn't really get a whole lot of stitching time. Well, actually I could have spent pretty much all of Saturday stitching away as the kids were out all day but I ended up washing and ironing instead! Need to work on my priorities!! Anyway, some progress is better than none, right?

Next up is my progress on QS Plum Gothic:



I had plans to work on her yesterday for the QS SAL but was tempted away by my Mystery WIP (which shall remain unnamed for now). I'll try to spend some time with my Plum girl over the weekend, and maybe get that second page finshed.

Quick Stitch Wednesday

This is Plum Gothic before I start working on her for the HAED BB Quick Stitch Wednesday SAL. I have spent the last couple of days working away on her and I'm really pleased with what I've achieved. It might be a bit ambitious of me but I'm going to see if I can get the second page finished. I'm not sure that I will but hopefully I'm come close :)

This upcoming weekend is the HAED BB Yearly Challenge SAL for October and Verdure will come out to play. I'm hoping to get a fair bit of progress done on her too :)

And now for something completely different ...

a stitchy update!!!

First up, my progress on Plum Gothic QS. One full page is complete and I've made good progress on the second. I have put her aside for now. We head off on holidays in a couple of days so I probably won't get to her before we go. I shall pack her in my suitcase and hopefully I'll get some time to work on her while we are away - depends on the lighting in the holiday apartment too I guess.



Next, is my progress on Verdure. It was the monthly HAED BB Challenge SAL this past weekend so it was her turn to get some attention. The SAL runs until midnight tonight and although I didn't get any stitching done on her yesterday, I am hopeful of getting some in tonight. Entirely reliant on whether I have gotten all the jobs on my list for today done or not though!!



Speaking of today's list, back to sorting out clothes to pack!

PhotoHunters "Colourful"

London cabbies aren't just black anymore - check out the bright pink one on the right!

A big thank you for all the wonderful comments about Snowflake - they are very much appreciated :) I spent a couple of days working on Fairy of the Sea but will wait until after the next time I work on her before sharing a progress pic. I picked up Plum Gothic yesterday so will spend a few days with her now.