An update at last!

Ahhhh, I'm such a bad blogger D: I've not updated in about a month!

I try to aim to update at the weekends but I've been failing miserably....

A few things happened - I read the Mayfair Witches books by Anne Rice and got all swept up in them again. I watched the first season of 'The Borgias' which took up most of a week. I had to start taking some medication which turned me in to the most tired person ever *lol* so I was sleeping a lot of the time and couldn't really find the energy to partake in the strenuous activity of stitching... and the weather has been so nice... just sitting in the garden and reading ^^;

But I have done a bit of stitching! I have completed the Antique Animal Sampler :D

And here is close-up. I love the frog!

I'm going to find a nice frame for it. I'm thinking of a tarnished gold effect one.

I have also started a new project. Despite buying all those nice Just Nan charts and all those nice cat kits...I decided to go for something completely different... I was tidying one of my (many) stitching areas and putting everything into a nice box when I came across a kit that I forgot I had ^^; It was one that I got from ebay a while back - it is a cross stitch book! There are two stitched 'pages' and you then make a book around it. I'm not too good at explaining but once it's complete you'll be able to see what I mean :) Here's where I'm up to...

The right-hand page (please excuse fingers and my bed cover showing through the aida!)

The border is so pretty! And the metallic gold was actually pretty easy to work with (usually I have epic battles with metallics)

The left-hand page. 

I hope to have the stitching completed this week, then I can start to think about the making up...just reading the instructions is a bit of a headache *lol*

Another problem with not updating my blog is that I have missed not one, but two TUSAL's! Shame on me.

Here is June's TUSAL, featuring a special guest who very nearly didn't make it...

Previously this little bird was horrifically burned in a tragic candle accident. He decided to become my TUSAL mascot and moments before his debut he fell from a great height T___T Luckily I was able to nurse him back to health :3

And now for July's TUSAL, with a change of scenery...

My jar is getting full :D

That is all for this update. Hopefully I'll get back to blogging more regularly. I do read everyone's blogs but I'm bit rubbish at typing on my phone and worry that people will receive garbled comments ^^;

♥ 

Antique Animal Sampler update

Antique Animal Sampler is off the frame so I've been able to take an update photo! (A very crumpled one!)

About half way done I would say?

I feel again like I've done a really poor amount of stitching this week :( But I am pleased with how it's looking - it was very much worth getting the Weeks Dye Works thread.

I was able to customise the design a little too. Below Silly Monster (who is just awesome) there was a space where you could put a dedication or such - I was really at a loss for what to put here! I decided in the end to go for 'grr-rrr' as Silly Monster is chasing that poor little bird :)

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Cats, cats, cats

I love cats. Really love them. Really really love them. They are the best.

So my stitchy purchases this month have mostly been all about the cats.

 =^.^=

So, from the left there are my materials to make a cat bag like the one in the magazine (Cross Stitch Gold). You can buy a pre-made bag, but it was sold out and it wasn't lined...so I decided to buy my own stuff and make it up myself. Then I have a kit called 'Cat Guard' by Dimensions - this is a stand-up kit made with plastic canvas. He is stood on a pile of books :3 Next is a 'Welcome' hanger from Vervaco - as soon as I saw this I needed it *lol* I just love the cats chubby face! It was sold out for quite a while on Sew and So, so as soon as it came back in stock I bought it right away! Then I have a kit called 'The Cat Rules' by  Debbie Mumm Bows (Dimensions). I just thought this was a cute little kit and I like the patterns on the cats. And finally at the top I have 'Cat Sampler' by Heritage Crafts'. Again, I thought this was just a cute design and the verse is very true!

I've been working on my Antique Animal Sampler too - though I'm pretty disappointed with my progress :( I just didn't feel up to much stitching this past week. I have finished the bottom left corner and will be working on the top left corner today. I haven't taken a progress picture as I have my stitching in a really good position in my frame and couldn't bear to take it out! I have had to order more threads today for it as I've ran out of Schneckley and I'm almost out of Blue Jeans :(

♥

TUSAL May 2013

Not too shabby eh?

♥

Birdhouse Sampler complete

Last week I finished the Birdhouse Sampler....ahhh...such a joy to stitch. As soon as I'd finished I wanted to start another one straight away ^__^ The colours are just so soft and pretty...

Stitched on Zweigart 28 count Ivory evenweave using DMC threads and Mill Hill seed beads.

I've also started work on the Antique Animal sampler...

It's coming along quicker than I imagined :)

The Weeks Dye Works threads are lovely...I think I may need to order more of certain colours but I'll see how I go for now ^^

♥

Stitchy haul and a new stitch

I got me some phat loot.

There's three new charts, all Just Nan - Silver Needle, Song of the Needle and Queen of the needle. I've also ordered the Creativity Sampler but it's not arrived yet :(

Also some fabric and seed beads.

And two new kits - a Mill Hill kit to make a cute stitchers' heart and a sampler from Cousines et Campagnie.

So much to stitch!

Because of my indecision over fabric choice for the antique animal sampler, I decided to stitch something else for a little while. Here is the Birdhouse Sampler. Isn't it just dreamy? *___*

The colours are so pretty and romantic! And it's stitched on my all-time-favourite fabric - 28 count Zweigart Ivory evenweave.

♥

Home is where the cat is

I have finished 'Home is where the cat is' ^^

Stitching was completed last night and I did the padding, framing and lace this morning *super productive*

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out. I'm really lazy when it comes to 'finishing off' pieces so I'm quite proud that I've done this with minimal flapping ^^;

There is also a cloth hanger that you're supposed to attach but the material provided isn't to my taste and I like it as it is too.

Here is a photo of my completed Sampler tote-bag..

It's very cool :D 

It was the plan to start 'Antique Animal Sampler' today.... *ahem* turns out that in the space of one day...the fabric that I bought simply won't do ~___~ I ordered a lighter fabric last night so I'll see how that goes...

♥