By the Sea #3

Very happy with my progress over the weekend on this design. I've just got one more skinny house, some sky, some wording under the waves and a couples of rows under that and I'm done. A very quick, but effective design. Only issue is the pattern has a number of blue blocks representing the colours and it is quite difficult to tell a few of them apart. My only adjustment to the design is to include the white (actually it's ivory) in the stitching. The original is stitched on white cloth so you probably wouldn't need to stitch it in, but since I've stitched it on sand canvas, I think it needs to be defined.

I also picked up some frames for the latest Mill Hill designs that I purchased when I was away on our trip earlier in the year. I have framed and set up the Snowy Owl next to the Covered Bridge one. I have a polar bear one to do at some stage but I've got the frame for it, so when I do get around to doing it, I can finish it completely.

 Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Candy Cane Santa Stocking #19 & some hanging

Only doing half cross stitches really allows you to get a lot done in a short amount of time. Most of this third window frame is half cross stitches representing the tree leaves.

And I finally remembered to bring my hammer to work today. I've hung the 4 framed sayings in my theological library and I think they look great. No one has mentioned the other designs I have hanging in the library, so I doubt these will get noticed either (which is a good thing since I hung them without specific permission). Hopefully, they provide just a little bit of inspiration to the students...

 

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Candy Cane Santa Stocking #15

I had a good stitching weekend, but a lot of stress as well. I'm a bit worried about this stocking, given it dosn't look like there is enough fabric left to do the bottom part of the stocking. I've measured it against my other stockings, and it looks like it will be OK, but to the naked eye, there just doesn't look like enough fabric left... time will tell. Nothing I can do about it now, I'm not puling out the whole stocking, that's for sure!

Our footy team, the Western Bulldogs made it in to the AFL Grand Final next week - it was a very stressful match as the lead changed a number of times, but in the end, we were in front. On Sunday, we went to the VFL (seconds) Grand Final and that was an exciting match too. We won that so hopefully the seniors can do the same next weekend! First time in 55 years our team has been in a Grand Final, so it's about time!

Forgot to stick in a pic of the framed Robots ABC which I collected on Friday afternoon. Very happy with the result! Also got the 4 small sayings but I'll wait until I hang them before I post a photo.

 
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Washing Machine Drama, Clarence update & Framing

Today we had another household appliance decide to play up - our washing machine got stuck on fill and overflowed, flooding the laundry, hallway, into the dining room and even through the walls into the main bedroom wardrobe! 
We often go out after we put the washing machine on, but we won't be doing that again. If we hadn't been home when it happened, the whole house would be under water! We stopped it as soon as we could but unfortunately, we have floating floorboards in the hallway and dining room so it looks as though they will need to be replaced. We've got big, loud industrial driers on the carpet in the wardrobe and in the dining room trying to dry it and the walls out. Our insurance company has been pretty good with the whole situation so far, hopefully that continues.
Isn't it said that these sort of things happen in threes - I hate to think what's going to die next.

Clarence survived with his socks throughout the weekend but I will definitely need to put some gaffa tape inside the sock where his nails are. They need a trim as well. The 2 socks we've gone through both have huge holes at the tips of his foot so he obviously needs some extra protection on that part of his foot. Hopefully that will help it not to wear through so quickly. Luckily, he seems to have gotten used to the idea that he has to wear the sock.

We're both home again tomorrow for the Australia Day public holiday which will be nice - gotta love an extra long weekend. We might go looking for a new washing machine - the one we have has lasted over 17 years so it's done pretty well.

Oh, I almost forgot - I picked up the framing that I put in before Christmas and I'm very happy with the results. Sorry about the reflections in the photos...

The elephant ABC has a dark grey and dark purple matt with a plain white frame. This matches all the other ABCs I have framed in one of my spare bedrooms. This one will join them.

The Stitching ABC is very pretty. It has a distressed dark brown wood frame that looks really good with the browns in the design. I am very pleased with it and it will most likely go on the wall in my other spare bedroom.

The final frame I picked up was for Footprints and I think this is my favourite of the three. It has a pale, sandy wood frame with pale cream and blue matts. I am very happy with this one. This will most likely go on the end of one of the rows of books in my theological library. I might put it right across from my desk so I can look at it every day. I can't believe this has been sitting waiting to be framed since 2014! I think it was worth the wait.
They were all framed by Framing to a T in Hallam, VIC.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stitching ABC #10

 

Friday night started with picking up the 'Walk This Way' Pooh design from the framers. I am very pleased with the result - a simple white frame really make the colours in the design pop. 
Then I bought a new doona cover for my bedroom. It was on sale, very cheap, so it's not the highest of quality, but I wanted something a bit brighter as I always pick very bland colours & designs. I'm quite pleased with it, my husband is still making up his mind!

 

Then onto stitching. I had quite a productive weekend on the stitching front so you should notice quite a difference from the last post. I'm onto the P block now. I can't finish off each block completely because there are always stitches on the adjoining blocks, meaning I can't do the back-stitching until I've started the next block.

 

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Enchanted Ornament Stocking #21

You can now make out the reindeers in the second ornament - just needs a bit of back-stitching. 

On Friday night, I collected the missing threads from my Robot ABC design so I started to fill in the missing spots but I forgot to take a picture. I'll be continuing with it on the weekend when we go to the holiday house at the beach. It's supposed to be very hot on Saturday, so nothing to do but put the air-conditioning on and stitch away!

I also collected my final 3 framings from the Heartfelt Series. I am SO pleased with how they've turned out - I just can't wait to get permission to hang them in my theological library... (hopefully permission will come soon or I may just have to hang them and wait to be told to remove them).

 

 

I think my favourite is this last one. The bright green and aqua just really pop.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Footprints #12 & Heartfelts framed

 Here are the final 3 Heartfelt designs all framed up. I'm very pleased with the overall results and am sure they will look great together on the wall. When I get them set up, I'll post a photo of them.

 

 

 And below is the progress shot for Footprints...

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Footprints #9 & Heartfelt Framed

Here they are - the 2 framed designs from the Heartfelt series. I have chosen a very simple plain black frame and I am very pleased with the results. The only thing I would have done differently is possibly enlarged the frame slightly in the 'Have Faith' one as the fancy bit under the word 'faith' is a little blocked off - but the frames are 10" x 10" which is what the kits say the designs are, so I can live with it. I pick up the other 3 in matching frames this weekend.  Now I just have to work out where and how to hang them. As I've said previously, I want to put them in the theological library where I work as they'll fit in just perfectly, now it's just about getting permission to do so!

As for Footprints, I've almost finished off the first big block.

 

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Footprints #8 & Elephants ABC #5

I picked up 2 of the Heartfelt series from the framers on Friday but I was rushing this morning so I ran out the door without them. I'll post some pics tomorrow...

I got a good amount done over the weekend on the Elephant ABC (finished off the S and did the X, Z and balloon elephant).

 

Once we got home on Sunday, I did some more Footprints, and I'm almost finished the first big block...

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Footprints #3 & Framing Update

Hello all,
Another productive weekend on the stitching front, in between snoozes on the couch and cooking up a storm in the kitchen!

I took the 5 completed Heartfelt designs to the framers on Friday after work, but when I put them down on the white bench, there were small hoop marks on 3 of them. So I left two to get framed and brought the other 3 home for a wash. I'll swap them over next Friday when I pick up the completed ones.  I've washed them twice and I can still see the marks, or I think I can. I'm not sure if they have actually washed out and I'm just seeing things because I know where the marks were... or if they are actually still marked. I've done what I can so I'll be getting them framed on Friday, marks or no marks. This all just means that I simply HAVE to buy a new large hoop to replace the timber one I've used since I started stitching... Oh well, some things can't be argued about!!

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Be Joyful #7 & Footprints #2

Last night as I was preparing my Heartfelt designs for taking to the framers today, I noticed I hadn't actually finished one because I'd run out of black and hadn't done the beading. Lucky I picked it up, so I was able to get it finished and ready for framing later today.

And once I'd done that, I managed to get a little more of Footprints done too. A reasonably productive night last night!

And another update on the Heartfelt series - thanks to a few comments, there are now 3 new designs I wasn't aware of before so I have ordered those - thank you Teresa and Jacqueline.

 

There is Give Thanks, Oh Sing and Hope Lord. If anyone knows of any others I haven't stitched or ordered yet, please let me know about them!

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

Promises of God #10

 

 I got a reasonable amount of the flowers done over the weekend so I am pretty happy with that.

 

Here is my Dinosaur ABC all framed and on the wall. At first, I wasn't sure about the green mat that matches the colour of the cloth I used, but the bright blue inner mat really picks up the bright blue in the design. It is growing on me...

Happy Stitching,

Kerrie

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 #35 & The Triplets#15

Friday afternoon I was able to pick up the framed The Triplets and I am very pleased with it. When I first walked away from the frame shop after selecting the matts, I wasn't convinced, but now it is done, I really like the colours and I am quite pleased with it.

Originally, I was going to go with strong colours for the matts to match those used in the design, but now I think the paler colours work better as it would have been too much with bright matts as well. I'll try to make a little movie of the progress tomorrow and post it when it is done. I'm still deciding if this will go on the wall in my spare bedroom at home, or in the bedroom at Aireys since that is where it was stitched.

As for O Holy Night, only a small amount of progress due to the continuing heat we are having here at the moment...

This J block seems to be taking forever to get through, but I'm not stressing about it.

The King King show we saw yesterday was interesting. I haven't seen the King Kong movie and didn't really know the story so it was all new to me. It had some quite scary moments in it which really freaked the kid next to me - he ended up sitting in his mother's lap and they didn't return after interval - poor kid asked if it was based on a true story! I can't say it was the best stage show I've seen, but it was good. The way they did the King Kong was amazing - it took about 10 people to make him move and lots of ropes and pulleys but the effects were fantastic.

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

Give Us Lord - Framed

Here is the final product, now proudly hanging in my theological library. I am super-pleased with the results. I'd have never picked the green mat myself, but it really brings it to life. It is, of course, much more vibrant in real life.

The frame is a timber frame with a rougher, darker edge so it's not too country. It was framed by 'Framing to a T' in Hallam, Victoria.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie