Cross Stitch Cafe - stitching out of 2012 and into 2013...

mrs-moneypenny

Ailsb wrote: »

Ok on the scrunge - does anyone have any links etc to a small fairy pattern that would be suitable to stitch as a Christmas gift for my cousin. She is 50+ lives alone and isn't rally into anything other than fairies, tarot cards, crystals and dream readings! I thought a fairy might be an idea, but as those who "know" me realise I dont' do fairies so have no patterns. Her birthday is January and her star sign is Capricorn so if anyone has anything suitable or links I would be extremely grateful.

if its any help to you i have a book called fantasy cross stitch by julie Hasler. its full of zodiac signs mythical beasts and mystical characters. it hasnt actually got any faries in but loads of other stuff. if you want it pm me

maria i love your update photo

*Louise*

brednall - I must have overlooked your Q when I did my big post earlier....

I find magic guide fabric is the best but if you already have fabric you want to use, I would use a wash out pen. I have tried stitching the grid lines before and it's a pain when it comes to taking them all out. Do you have a pen already? There is a blue one with a white lid which peeople have had problems with previously when it didn't wash out too well but other pens work fine - I've never had any problems myself and I've been using them for years now

*Louise*

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I have some leave coming up (only 2 days) which I was intending to use to take a long weekend with my OH. He is partaking in a running event so there will be 2 days of travelling (about 6 hours each way), 1 day of event, and 1 day to do as we please. We are staying with friends.

I'm now thinking that actually I would like to stay at home. I suppose if I could magic myself to my friends house, I would go as I don't really like travelling but I can't decide.

my OH is happy for me to do whatever I want but I feel bad at saying I was going and now I'm considering changing my mind.

I'm kind of weighing up a weekend away (albeit with 2 days of travelling) with the opportunity of two solid days of stitching.....

(I was thinking of cancelling leave and tagging it on to another long weekend meaning I would get 6 days away from the office).

I feel a weekend away would do me good but as I've got older, I've become very much of a "home bird" and don't seem to like change/being away from home. so I am kind of scratching my head wondering what I should do and thought I would throw it out to you lovely lot to see what you think.

I'm kinda getting that way myself, the downside is I have to go away a few weekends every year for work. They are trying to get me to go on a weeks course and I keep putting it off because I hate the thought of being away

However - important questions...how would you be travelling? Will you be able to stitch while you are there? (Ie. if I'm visiting my mum she would have no probs with me sitting chattingand stitching - other people could be offended by that)

If it were ME.....I would go with OH for the company and to see friends. On the day of the running event I would let him go off and do his thing while I had X number of hours for quiet stitchy time. Then I would meet up with him afterwards to say well done and go for a drink/meal/whatever.

*Louise*

Maria - You are sounding very organised, and I love all your cushions

*Louise*

Oh - and I have just dicovered on my Project 12 stitch that not only does it have half stitches...it also has quarter stitches (ie. petit point, 1 over 1) for a lot of the motifs.

I am SO glad I bought evenweave instead of using the aida I had in the house.

maria_and_the_imps

Good luck with that one Louise

flowerofscotland

brednall wrote: »

Hi peeps

Can anyone help me with the query I mentioned in my earlier post?

Emma

I think you may get different views. Personally when I grid a large piece of fabric I like to use thread to mark the squares with yellow being my preferred colour if it shows up on the fabric. I use fairly long running stitches and snip these just before I stitch over them and remove all traces before washing the final piece.

I have bought some of the 25 count evenweave with the lines already marked out (they wash out apparently) but haven't used it yet.

But I know that others like to mark their fabric with pens of various types.

Ruth_honey

sk00bie1 wrote: »

Yes I agree it's awful. I did almost laugh in the face of the doctor in accident and emergency who suggested it was bad indigestion :rotfl: she obviously hadn't experienced it and i hope she never has to! I haven't had any surgery yet, ( touch wood I won't need to) I've been ok since the major attack last year. Hoping this is down to improved diet and weight loss. Oh and the reception was fab, I had a lovely time.

Well I've lost over 3 stone in the last 15 months and it's been roughly since I started at the gym that I've been getting the pains. Maybe exercise doesn't agree with me! :rotfl: Ever since I found out it was gallstones, I've been trying to eat low fat, have more fruit, and I'm drinking lemon & ginger tea once a day. I'm fed up, hungry and tired!

*Louise* wrote: »

Ruth - I don't know if we have been paired or if everyone is mixed up, we will need to get Caroline to clarify the rules What are your Halloween plans? I liked your previous Meg and Mog stitch, do you have any of that lovely orange aida left?

The weather was beautiful here yesterday, which was great as we were out and about. The rain has hit us today but it's still quite bright - I was watching This Morning and was surprised how DARK it was out their window :eek:

I have some nice Lizzie Kate charts that are small, so I might stitch one of those for Halloween. I also have a tiny frame that is perfect for halloween-it has a little spider in the corner. It's only 2x2" in size, though...

Weather here yesterday & today has been rain, rain & more rain. The windows of the This Morning studio are tinted, but it was very dark here today. We're about 10 miles east of there, I think. Even DH ditched the motorbike today and went to work by tube.

*Louise* wrote: »

Re. size- I imagine not, and if we make huge cards it's our own cost to post it :rotfl:

Regarding content.....I have no issues whatsoever with anyone writing 'Happy Christmas' or suchlike so whoever is sending mine please don't feel you need to worry about PC-ness and put 'Happy Holidays' if it's not a phrase you use normally. Edit to add: Anything religious doesn't offend me either.

No need to get all 'PC' with my card, whoever has me as their partner! No 'Happy Winterval' needed here. I love Christmas, and although I'm not religious, I love pretty much everything about Christmas. Spending time with family, wrapping up warm in the snow (when we get it!), decorating the tree, eating lots of comfort food, buying & wrapping presents, listening to Christmas tunes (even Slade!) and watching endless films from mid November onwards. I once even had a Christmas in July party! :xmastree:

I tried doing some of my 2012 project earlier. Now I remember why it's a UFO. The blooming thing is stitched on 16 count aida, which I hate. And the backstitch is that annoying type that goes through the middle of the aida square. I know better these days & would swap the fabic, but too late for that now.

flowerofscotland

Still catching up on posts!

caroline Thank you for organising the Christmas card exchange. I've received the details I need for sending the card I make. Not sure whether there has been any consensus on signing the card or not but there is plenty of time before we have to post them.

Laura Very cute

chicky I think the Margaret Sherry 12 days of Christmas is great but it would be a challenge to complete by 12 12 12 (for ost of us anyway). I've stitched a couple of designs for individual cards as they were particularly apt (the 3 French Hens and the 12 Drummers drumming were ideal for 2 of my friends)
Bad luck with all your consumer problems - you could give Anne Robinson a run for her money

JCS WOW WOW WOW - your blackwork ladies are fabulous and far too nice to be stored in a drawer. Could you frame one a month to spread the cost? And then rotate them on display if you haven't got room of all of them?

tellmeitsfriday

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Did arrive at the office to find fire engines outside :eek: but it was for the Bloc&buster store they were attending to, not my office (phew!) Not sure what the issue was but there was no smoke/no fire and I got to see lots of firemen in their uniforms on a Monday morning

Ooo where abouts(ish) do you live... I was on the bus this morning and saw a load of firemen and engines outside blockbuster today....