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sammy_kaye18

Debrak said:

All finished. Santa’s Christmas Supper by Charting Creations- 218,350 stitches took me 4 1/2 years

That spun me out then. 

I was looking at the picture and thinking where on earth have I seen that? My MIL always has jigsaw puzzles in progress on her dining room table and before Christmas she was going through them all again to make sure they were complete before she donated them to charity and this was the one she had just completed! 

Charly27

Thanks for the compliments on the Cactus. Need to find a cheap frame for it now. Sammy where did you get yours from? It’s lovely.
What gorgeous updates everyone.
Coxy I’m loving the haberdashery shop, I really like her character. Hope your DD (and DAL’s DD) find another job. Such a worry.
Debrak that is simply stunning labour of love. I really like the fabric and the opalescent thread on your other project too. Really effective.
Sammy the robins are so cute, I’d be delighted to receive them as a gift. I’ll be looking on Amazon next. When buying (which I’m not obviously) I buy from Lovecrafts, Etsy (love the PDF patterns from Satsuma street), Historical Sampler Company, embroidery from Hawthorn Handmade (as DAL said), Bothy Threads,  Caterpillar cross stitch and I have bought a couple of books from the Works. I’ve picked up small kits in CS’s sometimes too.
Nmm seascape is progressing nicely. 

I’m about half way through the mini masterpiece-mother has the yellow hair at the top, child has the dark brown hair at the bottom. It doesn’t look like much at the moment! Hoping it will look better once it’s stitched up with the backstitch.

Drawingaline

Savannah sunset update. Havent been very well the past week, so alot of sitting and stitching. Really wsnted to get it done by the end of feb, not sure i will quite manage it, but hopefin the next week or so.

Also framed the great wave. Not very happy with the frame, should have got a bigger one, but its up on the wall now, so will see if it grows on me where it is. 

sammy_kaye18

Charly27 said:

Thanks for the compliments on the Cactus. Need to find a cheap frame for it now. Sammy where did you get yours from? It’s lovely.

Hopefully this works.....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frame-Company-Watson-Range-Picture/dp/B00D924PVG?pd_rd_w=MbaOl&content-id=amzn1.sym.e9c30756-181a-4068-ac3a-74afd7f110a2&pf_rd_p=e9c30756-181a-4068-ac3a-74afd7f110a2&pf_rd_r=67JQHMDBT5A61AERP400&pd_rd_wg=i8I3G&pd_rd_r=5f90c81e-e3d7-4b1e-ba0d-cc0c23292e72&pd_rd_i=B00D924PVG&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_t&th=1

This is the frame I got for the robins. Not expensive but looks lovely in person. I used the RUSTIC one but there are different colours and styles too. 

Also thank you for the places to look for a new kit. I will have a good look through. 

I do have colours left from the robins and in the process of mounting them I had to cut some of the aida away at the sides which is just about thick enough to turn into two bookmarks - I probably wont gift those though but I can make them for myself :-) 

Drawingaline

Just realised that I have misstitched a chunk of the savannah sunset. I have not been impressed by the symbols used as a key in this kit at all. Luckily it isn't too obvious. I have also managed to miss a column out somewhere. Again, not obvious, but is requiring a bit of fiddling in the middle where the tree trunk will be. Hopefully I have managed it! Am hoping another two weekends on it and it will be finished. 

Been watching some more YouTube videos on marking out the aida with grids before a project. The next ones I have are pretty big ones again, so think it will really help me. Might make it quicker too! And stop me miscounting as much as I seem to. Will pop a progress pic up on Sunday eve. 

Drawingaline

Spent two hours stitching this grid. Think i may try doing it with a pen next time! But hoping it will help speed up my stitching.  

daisy_1571

that is such a great idea Drawing.  It would be quicker initially to just do a few lines around the centre but as you get further out your future self will thank you for doing the whole lot now.
  
Do you envisage pulling the threads out or just ensure you go over them all as you stitch?

Daisy xx 

Drawingaline

Pulling them out, and it means I have started in the corner for a change, which will be much easier for this pattern. But have triple checked the grid and pattern, so feel confident it will work, not starting in the centre!

nmm

Lovely updates everyone

Charly, great start, it will really pop with the BS

DAL, loving sunset, i'm sure only you will notice any mistakes we will see a great finish For the marking out i do a running stitch every 5 stitches, see the blue line at the top of seascape. I much prefer starting in a corner on big projects. You can also buy pre-gridded aida called Easy Count which washes away when you're finished.

Latest update on Seascape, we have mountains, haha.

Charly27

Sammy thanks for the link to the frames, I will probably frame the cactus not sure about the other. 

DAL we definitely won’t notice any mistakes on the sunset - no one else ever does. I’m tempted to grid my next project but was going to just do running stitch which I only usually do in the middle but it’s got to be an investment of time. Less time spent frogging! Some designs just feel too scary starting in the middle.
Nmm I’m going to be looking for gridded Aida now, brilliant idea.
Hopefully post an update before end of week, have a good one all.