Warm Hearts Ornament & O Holy Night Framing

These last few days, I've stitched another Christmas ornament on plastic canvas - Warm Hearts. I started it on Thursday night, stitched for most of Friday and finished it off tonight. Friday was a public holiday in Australia for ANZAC Day - I almost think this is more of an Australian holiday than Australia Day (Jan 26). It commemorates the First World War battle fought at Gallipoli. Next year is the 100th anniversary of the first landing. There are numerous events and services during the day, but personally, I think one of the most moving things is at the Collingwood vs Essendon AFL football match, played on ANZAC day since the 1990s. Before the match, they have a ceremony and a minute of silence in remembrance - 90,000+ people in the crowd and you could hear a pin drop - it is very moving.

Here is the finished ornament (since it only took 2 days, there wasn't much point in doing progress shots)

I'll put some backing card on it tomorrow and some cord to hang it with.

And this morning I picked up O Holy Night from the framers. I am very pleased with the result and it should match the others from this set quite well.

I've got another ornament pattern which I picked up from The Fox Collection when I visited the shop in Sydney earlier this year. I think I might do that before I start something a little more involved...

I've also done little movies of O Holy Night and Prayer Changes Things which I will post next week.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

O Holy Night #28

Last night I finished off the doves and started on the V block.

Today, I've started all my holiday jobs - vacuuming, steaming the floors, dusting, tidying up and so on - so much fun! (not!) Then I decided to take The Triplets alphabet to the framers and use the framing money I got for Christmas. I should be able to collect it in about 2 weeks.

I also decided to finally hang the framed European Bistro and Paris Market in my spare bedroom. Sure, no one uses the bedroom except on the [very] odd occasion, but they look nice above the bed so that's where I'll leave them for now...

I also made a yummy ANZAC slice for my lunches later in the week when I return to work, but I suspect it might not last that long!! 

Now I have to take Clarence for his walk, so until next time...
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

European Bistro & Paris Market Framing

Almost forgot to share this with you all... I picked up the framed European Bistro and Paris Market on the weekend as well and I am super pleased with them. They really look like paintings until you get up nice and close. They have been done in matching frames and mats and look great:

 Sorry for the flash reflection...

The frame is a dark wood with a pale gold inside line - it looks brighter in the picture than it does in real life. The mats are a bright cream with a dark grey inside. The mats go right up to the edge of the stitching which I quite like too.

At the moment they're in my hallway where my Fish City and Noah's Submarine used to be. It is taking a bit of getting used to having these smaller designs in those spots but I'm sure it will be fine once I get used to it. That also gives me another dilemma, where do I now put my under-water designs? They're on the floor in the spare room at the moment but I'll have to get around to putting some hooks in the wall next weekend (hopefully!).

Well, I hope you all like them as much as I do...

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #33

Well, it is finished! Back-stitching and french knots all done and it is now ready for framing. Very pleased with the final results. I will hold off framing it until I've done another similar design and get them done together so they match... The bottom of the design is actually straight, it just curled a bit when I took the picture.

Started 31 Oct 2012 

Finished 21 Mar 2013 (including a lengthy delay waiting for extra threads to arrive)

Dimensions Gold Collection kit - European Bistro

We're off the Aireys Inlet again tonight for the weekend which will be great - that means it's back to The Triplets design for a couple of days...

 

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #32

Hooray - my additional threads finally arrived so I can finish off the European Bistro! I managed to get a little done last night but I think I'll need 1-2 more nights to get everything finished completely. Very excited about finally having it almost done...

Additional threads came neatly on these little cards.

 

You can see I've still got the bike and a little bit above one of the chairs to do, plus a bit of back-stitching. Shouldn't take me too long to finish off though...

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #31

Well, I've done all I can now until I get some additional threads, so there'll be no more updates for European Bistro until they arrive...
 

 
Now I can start some of the Christmas stockings ornaments I recently ordered to decorate my new tree later in the year.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #30

Not too much left to do before all I can do is sit and wait for the extra threads to arrive, but it's getting there. I am very pleased with the results.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #29

I made good progress over the weekend, but I can't believe how frustrating it is not having enough of the colours I ran out of. Didn't realise there would be so much left undone until the additional threads arrive. Oh well, there's still a bit to do with the remaining colours and it's getting very close to the end now. Maybe another week or two and it could be done which will be exciting. Then it will just be another couple of days when the additional threads turn up.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #28

Only a little progress last night - we went out for dinner and I had a delicious chicken and mushroom risotto, but I was so full afterwards! I had to wait a while after we got home before I could start my stitching.

My husband thinks it is funny that I almost always order risotto when we go out for dinner. My reason is that I love risotto, and I don't make it at home very often, so why not enjoy it when I go out and someone else has to make it! He thinks I'm not very adventurous, but I have vegetable risotto, chicken risotto, seafood risotto, any sort of risotto... ;-)

[Note: I do order other things as well, it just depends what's on the menu...]

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #27

Slowly getting closer to the finish...

And yay! - part of my recent order has arrived. More! Tiny Stockings from Bucilla has arrived. I got a new Christmas tree in the Boxing Day sales so I decided I would decorate it with new hand-stitched ornaments this year. They are quite small so they should be quite quick to do. Might do a few of them once I finish European Bistro.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #26

Now that I have to leave the bits in the colour I've run out of until I get more threads, I realise there will be quite a bit left undone, which is unfortunate. Not much I can do about it but wait, so I'll finish up what I can and complete it fully when the extra threads arrive. Hopefully they won't take to long to turn up. I am very pleased with how it is turning out and I look forward to doing a companion kit and getting them framed so they match. I might do something not quite so involved before I start out on the companion piece though.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #25

Got back into European Bistro last night and made some good progress...

 I am starting to get excited as the end is in sight! I'm already thinking about my next project, but I have to restrain myself and get through this one first. I've run out of one of the colours so I have contacted the manufacturer for some more. That may delay the finish a little, so I'll do everything else but that and just wait for the threads to arrive.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #24

Well, despite the heat and taking care of 2 beautiful Golden Retrievers, I did manage to get some stitching done last night. I think the heat knocked the energy out of the dogs as well!

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #23

Another good night of stitching last night. Might not get much done today as it is going to be 36 degrees (C) and we're going out for dinner. Plus we're doggy sitting Clarence's best friend, Cheese (both beautiful Golden Retrievers) - having 2 excitable dogs will surely take most of my attention tonight...

This weekend we'll be heading off to Aireys Inlet on the Great Ocean Road for a few days at the beach house. That means I'll be back to doing my holiday stitching on The Triplets Alphabet (see post on 29 Dec 2012) for a couple of days. Pictures to follow after the long weekend.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #22

I am very pleased with my overall holiday stitching progress. Here is last night's effort...

It was a busy day back at work today, catching up on emails and postal deliveries - although I do love getting the mail on the first day back from holidays as it is the day when there is the most. A few things I'd forgotten I had ordered arrived which was a nice surprise.

Also today, I placed my next order for 2 more cross-stitch kits from The Fox Collection. I buy a lot of my cross-stitch kits from them and they are very good... When they arrive, I'll post some pictures.

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

European Bistro #21

Here are last night's efforts - very pleasing.

Now it's back to work tomorrow for 3 days and then a long weekend! (Thank you Australia Day)

I've had a great day stitching today as well, but that pic won't go up until tomorrow - still a few hours of stitching to get in before I take the photo at the end of the night. It's really coming together nicely now.

European Bistro #20

Great progress made last night. One and a half more day of holidays left so I'll be trying to get as much done as possible before I go back to only stitching after dinner each night.

European Bistro #19

This second half of the design seems to be coming along much quicker than the first half - but I don't mind at all. It means I can finish it quicker and get onto the next one! I'm someone who likes to finish a project before starting the next one so I force myself to get things done if there is another I want to start. It is only recently that I started a second design at the same time to be done at my holiday house, for the simple reason of not needing to pack up the current design if there is one there all ready to go.

European Bistro #18

Welcome to my new followers - how exciting to have you along for the journey!

I've been having the best last few days of holidays this week - nothing but stitching all day! We went out to celebrate my nephew's 3rd birthday so no stitching last night, but luckily I got heaps done during the day... It's almost like 2 separate designs coming together in the middle now but it is great to watch it evolve into a beautiful piece.

Two more days of holidays to go after the weekend and then back to reality and only stitching at night time.

European Bistro #17

Still being on holidays has enabled me to get heaps done on European Bistro. I've still got a few more days of holidays to go so I should get some real progress on this design over the next few days.

And welcome to my first follower, Emma. I hope you enjoy my blog!