The "no frills, no gremlins (hopefully)" cross-stitch cafe

Mrs_T_M

I love everyones updates! I read daily, but don't post often. Instead of stitching, I've been trying to get the thread from those boocoodles of patterns bought from the charity shop organised. My poor little single thread box is nearly full to bursting, and I haven't even made a dent in my threads! Does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy the organiser boxes from for a decent price? We have a hobbycraft in town, but they are so expensive! Thanks in advance!

flowerofscotland

Maisie_M wrote: »

Finished my cross stitches for my terracotta pot embellishments.



Have been really good and have looked out 'let's do wine' as I am not doing anything else until I have finished that. Those dam grapes will get done if it's the last thing I do lol.

Going to have a quick catch up now before I start doing tea.

These look fabulous I love card designs where there isn't the need for lots of hours of stitching for something which may not be kept. The terracotta pot buttons are very effective - like you I have some in my stash. I have used some of them - I recall stitching a design similar to the yellow flowers but using silk ribbon for the petals and the button for the vase.

Re my new project - am very proud of the fact that everything - chart, fabric, overdyed threads and needle charm have come from my stash. And I will probably sell the chart on EB when I've finished with it as I find that US charts sell quite well

flowerofscotland

*BigBird* wrote: »

Some beautiful stitching going on

Ewe are my sunshine looks wonderful b_e_g What colour frame do you think you'll go for?

BD is really coming along nmm How big will it be when finished? What size snap frame are you using? (Sorry for the interrogation, I'm trying to work out what kit I'll need when I start on Kissing the Face of God!)

I love the sewing box JCS1, it looks like such a fun design.

Your cards look brilliant with the little pots on Maisie, they really set off your stitching.

Here is a little update on my Feng Shui irises, they are coming along nicely.

[IMG][/img]

I have a little question for you more experienced stitchers. This is the border design: [IMG][/img]

Would you stitch each square of 4 (The O symbols), fasten off and then start again on the next 4? Or carry the thread over on the back? If I go from corner to corner it wouldn't be carried very far, but I'm not sure if it would show through as the blanks obviously don't have stitching in them? The squares are stitched in a "moss green" colour, so not a particularly dark shade, but not very light either. Unfortunately the backstitching is in a different colour so I can't incorporate that to move around.

You've probably already had lots of answers but here for what it is worth is my contribution:

I would stitch the large back stitch (long stitch?) crosses first and then the green cross stitches weaving the green thread through the back of the back stitch areas IFSWIM.

It probably won't show if you trail the thread and I certainly wouldn't finish off after each block of 4 stitches

Project is looking lovely

flowerofscotland

nmm wrote: »

Thanks maisie, I think I will do Remembrance Fields by Maria Diaz (csc issue 163) in memory of my granda, before tackling my lifetime cross stitch Dreams of Atlantis, I fear it may take 10 years to complete :eek:

I'm another fan of poppies and this design is lovely - I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

Dreams of Atlantis - what can I say? Wow - it will be stunning and I am looking forward to your weekly updates

flowerofscotland

Ailsb wrote: »

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TheStitchSpecialists/photos/albums/368974931

Tried to add this link yesterday. Thought I'd share this with you all. I'm going to sign up for this SAL. Thought others might be interested in signing up as well. There's more information over at the yahoo group page.

Just to be clear I am not involved with the running of the group in any way, just thought the subject matter might interest people.

You need to be a member to see anything and I can't see how you apply to join (I do have a Yahoo account). Not that I need to join another SAL but I could be tempted........

Mrs_ceejay

https://www.flickr.com/photos/101718380@N08/13738523275/
Did these over weekend,
nmm
Dream of Alantis,that is stunning,all those colours,amazing!!
The poppies are just beautiful,my favourite flowers, both of them will test your skill I think
Can't wait to see the updates.
F.o.s.
I was tempted to buy the little plant pots when I saw them in a craft shop but I didn't,wish I had now they look so good.
Louise
Glad you are back stitching,missed you.
Bigbird
Welcome to the cafe,love the irises the colours are wonderful
Have the DGS this week,both of them,so not a lot anything will get done

Ayeshalush

Hi everyone, been reading but ages since I posted!...


JCS1 - your sheep are lovely. Hope it as appreciated even if it wasn't the right breed. The sewing box is lovely and so cute.


nmm - lovely stitching for your mother's day card. I think the Remembrance Fields and Dreams of Atlantis are going to keep you busy for some time! - both very beautiful.


*BigBird* - Hi! Hope you realise that you won't have time for anything else now that you've been bitten by the bug lol! I'm a beginner like yourself and have started a kit that is over several pages, but only managed to do about 50 stitches in several months (I keep getting distracted by smaller projects and crocheting) so can't really help you with the Scarlet Quince designs. If you've got 4 years to do it then I'm sure you'll manage fine. Your irises are lovely. I'll leave it to the experts to advise on your border.


Ailsb - I am so tempted to buy the Henry kit, I keep looking at it but I have enough to be going on with just now, but I do love it ( I have a bit of a Tudor obsession). How's the crocheting coming along? I do love crochet. If you are interested Lucy has a fab crochet blog with lovely, but relatively easy patterns here : (for some reason can't put link in, just google Attic24 and you'll find it).


sweetcarer - I am so sorry your sister is making things so difficult for you.


Maisie M - your cards are lovely. Can I ask where you got the flowerpots?


b-e-g - The anemonmes are gorgeous. I'm sure your mum will love it. I can't believe How quickly you stitched the sheep, it is fab too! Belated Happy Anniversary.


Mrs ceejay - hope you're feeling a bit better and the gold thread isn't proving too horrendous.


Fos - good to hear your grandson loved his superhero name


Coxy11 - stockings are coming on a treat


Emily926 -your Mother's Day card is lovely. I'm sure your mum will have loved it.


emslovesmickey - would love to see some pics of your photo stitch


Louise - hope you manage to get your stitching mojo back soon...I see you've managed to do a little bit, it doesn't take much to get bitten by the bug again lol.




Was wondering if it is worth getting my Golden Wedding sampler professionally framed. That has always been my intention but I am wondering if a smaller piece like that really needs to be laced, etc. What do the experienced stitchers think? I am happy to do so if you all think it will make a big difference.


I've been working on the cat design that was in the diary that came free with WOCS. It was coming along lovely until I started to do the backstitch and it is really messing it up, it's much nicer without it. The problem is that I've now done a little bit of it at the bottom of the cat and it will be very difficult to unpick. I definitely don't want to do any more of it but can't decide whether to bin it (it's only a small piece) or finish it (I still have a couple of branches to do) and just ignore the rest of the backstitching. Very frustrating!!


Hoping to get on with some stitching this weekend. Might try and get a little of Sleeping Beauty done as it's been sitting untouched for ages with only a few stitches completed. Oops.


Ali
xx

Emily926

Alisb - I still have 6 weeks left at work! Still they are going fast just starting to get more tired.

Mrs ceejay - lovely cards

My update of my wedding sampler


image by emp88, on Flickr

mrs-moneypenny

sampler looks lovely emily

Ailsb

Ayeshalush wrote: »

Ailsb -. If you are interested Lucy has a fab crochet blog with lovely, but relatively easy patterns here : (for some reason can't put link in, just google Attic24 and you'll find it.

Was wondering if it is worth getting my Golden Wedding sampler professionally framed. That has always been my intention but I am wondering if a smaller piece like that really needs to be laced, etc. What do the experienced stitchers think? I am happy to do so if you all think it will make a big difference.

Ali
xx

Firstly, re the crochet - I'll have agoogle later and see what I find.

with regards to framing the Anniversary piece yourself give it a go, if you don't like it you can always take it to be framed. I always lace, no matter the size of the piece I frame. Having said give it a go it does depend if you can get a frame you like to fit. Sometimes it doesn't work out much dearer to have it professionally framed and if it's a gift I just think of this as part of the cost of the present.

FOS - I've emailed Abi about a picture of the SAL. If she sends me one I'll post it.

Emily - your wedding samplers looking good.