Cross-stitch cafe 2010

kezbabybabe

Thanks Louise for explaining and showing it so clearly! It's certainly made a difference to my stitching as I'm able to make use of the whole area, though it feels strange to do so.

Last week of work for me this week, as I'm off to Gwithian in Cornwall on Friday night for a week. I'll be taking a cross-stitch with me, but I'll be taking a break from the internet during my stay away.

sweetcarer

I have used in the well for a while now - even tho I use a frame. I think it helps keep your work cleaner too. This is from floral alphabet (my previous big stitch) - still to be framed. Need to win lotto soon




Kez - my mum has parkinsons too.

Just jumped on here for a sneaky peak before work - this time next I will be having a long lie - off for a week. We are not going any where (maybe a day trip here and there). We have to sort out the garden - grass is yon height and the weeds are everywhere. It is not easy for us to keep it up - him working night shift me on day shift - its a two person job. We just want to keep it tidy - not growing much tho I would love to grow sweet peas as they are my favourite flower and you can't buy them in the florists.

Kind wishes to all

sweetcarer

shelly

I too now stitch 'in the well'. Happened purely by accident for me when putting fabric on my frame one day and I turned the roller bars the wrong way but couldn't be bothered to change it because I had got the tension just right.
When the fabric had gone loose last week I tried going back to not stitching in the well but didn't like it! :rotfl:


Today I had another look at my home sweet home UFO (the one that got thrown in the stash box when I went wrong) and I have decided I am going to start it from scratch.
I decided to start afresh mostly because I feel that carrying on with it will be making the best of a bad job and I don't want to feel like that about a project that I really like.
Also there is a problem with the threads that I had forgotten about When I first came to sort the threads I sorted most of them but I have now remembered that I found myself with 1 too many shades of green, a coral colour that isn't on the chart at all and I seem to be missing a shade of terracotta!
For me it's too much of a headache to work around it so I am going to modify it and use less shades of colours.....so basically 1 or 2 shades of browns and greens as opposed to the 3 or 4 shades the chart currently uses.

Now for the fabric.....I don't want to use Aida again because the design has got alot of quarter stitches. Is it linen that's easiest to use when doing fractional stitches? What would you recommend using?

Thanks ladies! :A

Mags_cat

shelly wrote: »

Now for the fabric.....I don't want to use Aida again because the design has got alot of quarter stitches. Is it linen that's easiest to use when doing fractional stitches? What would you recommend using?

Thanks ladies! :A

I always use evenweave when there's lots of fiddly little quarter stitches - less "stabbing" through the middle of the fabric like Aida.

chickywiggle

argggg - monday is hubby in the pub night and i curl up in bed to do my stitching/ watch tv and slob out for the night. except the flippin light bulb has died and I can't reach to change it :mad:

June update:
No 12 Chickywiggle To complete my "4 letter word" kit --> got a bit distracted with my kitties one last couple of weeks, gonna pick up 4-letter now and do a little bit more.
start on stitch/ stash. --> not gonna get done for a while, have to start my parents anniversary stitch in July (anni in September but they up in August so want it done for then.
complete the quilt squares. --> done - must remember to wash/iron/ post.

Bubbles911

Hi guys. Sorry for being awol, all I seem to do these days is apologise on here! Im on yet more drugs for my bipolar and constantly feel dreadful. Spending 20 hours a day sleeping. I really miss this place and being able to talk. I haven't even contemplated stitching anything since fathers day (I used the evenweve Ruth_Honey, I loved it!) I will post pictures of what I made up soon. Going back to the doctors tomorrow as feel like a zombie who spends a lot of time spewing. Im really sorry for being crap. oh and when I came on I had an email from WOXS on the 21st (just shows how long since I have been online!) saying they have finished the article. They have changed it quite a lot but overall I am happy about it and they didnt take out the MSE mention so your all in it with me.

Your story:

In September 2009, unaware that she was suffering from bipolar disorder, a mental health illness, Susan experienced a nervous breakdown and attempted suicide. Luckily, she was interrupted and admitted to hospital, which was where she began to receive the support of the charity, Crisis, who were about to help her more than she knew. Susan tells us more: “I found it hard to look to the future, I could only look from one day to the next and not commit to anything. So one of the Crisis workers suggested I try sewing as I might find it therapeutic.” Susan’s mum reminded her that she’d enjoyed cross stitch until she lost the bug as a teen, but Susan wasn’t sure at first. “I went through months of living in limbo until I saw issue 162 of The World of Cross Stitching when I was out shopping one day and decided I would stitch my mum one of the Mother’s Day cards in there as a surprise. After that I really caught the bug again,” she says.

Delighted with the sense of purpose that stitching gave her, no sooner than the cards were finished, Susan’s thoughts had already turned to her next project. “I spoke to my Dad about wanting to stitch a larger project and asked if he could buy everything needed for me to make a special design for my mum’s birthday in June. He agreed that he would buy the equipment and I would stitch it, then it would be a joint present,” says Susan. All that was left to do was to find the design, something that didn’t take long at all. “When I came across ‘Angel of the New Dawn’ by Mirabillia it seemed ideal as it could symbolise a fresh start from everything we had been through and New Dawn is a rose, which is also my mother’s name,” says Susan. Unlike the small card design she had stitched before however, ‘Angel of the New Dawn’ measures 33x48cm (13x20½in) but that wasn’t going to put Susan off. In fact, she even gave herself extra challenges along the way. “The design was in blue and we didn’t have a room the colour would fit in with but I had my heart set on it. So I decided to do something risky. I read up on how to convert colours on the Internet and changed all the blues to shades of red. I had no idea how it was going to turn out but it just felt right,” she says. Armed with her newly converted chart and materials, Susan didn’t waste a second in getting started. “I was so scared and intimidated when it all arrived, yet I also felt an excitement I had forgotten existed,” she says. It was 2 March 2010 when she began, and her mum’s birthday was looming just over three months away on 12 June, so the clock was ticking. “I would often be up until 2am, sometimes 5 or 6am, and I put every ounce of love I had in every stitch,” she says. And all the while, stitching was having exactly the desired effect as Susan found herself feeling more relaxed and positive thanks to her new hobby. “I started being able to see past the angel, able to list things I wanted to stitch, even planning to stitch coasters for everyone for Christmas. For the first time in a year I wanted to be here – and that was because of stitching the angel,” she says.

On 15 May, in plenty of time for her mum’s birthday, Susan completed her beloved angel with mixed feelings. “As I added the last bead I felt proud and happy but I also felt sad,” she says. Fortunately though, some new stitching friends were on hand to pick her up. “I posted a picture of the angel on the Money Saving Expert forum and one member said that she didn’t normally like angels but that there is something about this one and that every stitch glimmers with love. I like to think that’s true and if I ever find myself feeling such despair again I will just go and sit in front of the angel and remember how she made me start hoping for the future, and how I’m so lucky to have a real angel in the form of my Mum,” says Susan.



Im gonna go and lie down now before I throw up. so sorry for letting you all dwn with the list.

chickywiggle

ohh Bubbles, hope the dr's can help. you're not letting us down at all.

TBH I prefered YOUR story, much more heartfelt, yet it still does bring tears.

Emzy81

Bubbles Sorry you aren't feeling well, glad they are still doing your story, are you using the photo of yourself that you use for the other craft forum?
Try not to worry about people seeing it, I imagine more people will have seen it on the internet forum than will see it in the magazine (if that makes sense??)

Shelly Id use evenweave too, a lot easier with 1/4 or 3/4 stitches

Louise Its looking great

Ericsmum Sorry you're feeling down, Its a shame that they know you suffer from depression but still do not make an effort to help. In my opinion you have 2 options, have a serious talk with them and tell them its making you feel more ill in the hope that they will suddenly realise they aren't doing enough or like Louise said you may have to accept they aren't going to change, but at least you will know you are doing the right thing and they will be the ones with regrets.
Its so hard when things like this happen and seems to happen so often.....big hugs to you xxxxx

Chickywiggle can you safely stand on a chair or something to change it? Have you got a step ladder you can get to easily?.......Phone him up and tell him to pop home and change it lol

DoraHope your hand feels better soon

Kez Ive book marked that frames site, thanks I bet it will be nice for you when you've got them all framed

Sorry if ive missed anyone....hugs to everyone who needs them xx

Emzy81

Bubbles I forgot to say do you see a CPN or a psychiatrist? They should be able to help with the medication issue....the psychiatrist more so.
My psychiatrist was the one who prescribed my meds, unfortunately my illness went past GP care but I have to say the psychiatric team were heaps better....probably because they are more experienced in that area than a GP.

chickywiggle

ohh emzy i wish i could.......... its right above the middle of the bed (kingsize), can't move bed anywhere. i actuakly tried standong on piles of pillows and clothes but the bed was tooo wobbly and bouncy and i almost fell off it :rotfl:

tell you what stitching white on white with 2 table lamps (dull) is soooo entertaining!!