‘Not So’ Ugly Bug Ball

November 2011

Here are my latest set of squares for the  The Kid’s Company Project   and quite a few of them this month are little bugs. 

I know kids like creepy crawlies but these one are really rather cute and colourful, see what you think.

Panel #48

Panel #49

Panel #50

Panel #51

Panel #52

I’ve also stitched a few random ones for the boy including a pirate, car and a football related one.

Panel #53

Panel #54

Panel #55

And then another couple of odd ones for the girls.

Panel #56

Panel #57

Well, that’s it for now. 

 I’m not sure how many squares I’ll get done next month as it’s going to be quite full on leading up to Christmas. 

 I’m also away for a few day in Germany visiting the Christmas markets and I’ll most definitely be looking out for some nice craft shops while I’m there.

Chart a Photo

October 2011

I’ve been thinking it’s about time I started on another large project as I’ve not done one for some time.

If you’ve been a reader of my blog for a while, you’ll know that back in 2002 I stitched a picture of my little cat Emily and won a prize for it.

Well for some time now I’ve been meaning to do a cross stitch of BoJangles and have this lovely photo of him.

Looks like butter wouldn’t melt doesn't he,  but don’t be fooled…..this little man is a cutie but he has real attitude!

Anyway, when I did Emily’s picture I charted it myself on my computer but for some reason the program’s not working now, so I’ve had it charted on line by a company called Photo2Stitch.

You can either just have the chart from them or they will put together a kit that contains the chart, Aida in the count you prefer and all the threads.

I have to say I was really impressed with the company.

I liked the idea of the kit but I wanted to stitch mine on Evenweave fabric so I email them and asked if it was possible to have just the chart and threads, which they were happy to do.

I then just  emailed them the photo, told them the size I wanted it cropped to (I want the finished piece to be the same size as Emily’s picture) and I asked them to remove the background, which they did.



Once they had charted the picture and removed the background they emailed me a picture so I could see how it looked before I had to pay for it and a couple of days later this little lot arrived in the post.

I’d also already ordered my Evenweave fabric from  Sew and So,  and no sooner than the kit popped through my door I had started to stitch.

More Boats

July 2011

Carrying on with the boat theme from last month I’ve stitched a few more squares to send to Nicki for  The Kid’s Company Project.   

Panel #48

Panel #48

Panel #48

Panel #48

We Are Sailing

June 2011

I’ve only managed one panel for the   The Kid’s Company Project  this month and it’s one for the boys.

Panel #47

The Culmination of a Year’s Work

22^th June 2011

Today was always going to be quite a hard day for me, but tinged with the sadness that today would have been dads 88th birthday, there is also a good and happy feeling too.

You know, the kind of feeling you get when something you’ve been working on for a very long time is finally finished and you can sit back feel proud of what you and some very special friends have achieved.

So this morning myself and my two brothers, Keith and Michael went back to St Clare Hospice in Hastingswood, Essex to present them with the nine quilts and twelve cushions as a thank you from Dad and the family for all the care and consideration they gave dad in his final few weeks.

I honestly don’t know how we would have coped without their tireless help at the end.

Anyway, as mentioned in previous posts, dad came up with the idea of the quilts and almost exactly a year to the day I started stitching the very first square, here we are delivering them.

Right to left - Essie, one of the nurses who spent an awful lot of time with dad, Michael (middle brother) Keith (eldest brother) and me. (didn't realise just how White my hair is now)

The nursing staff were overwhelmed with the quilts and cushions and we spent a lovely hour on the unit catching up with the staff who looked after dad.

Thanks once again girls for all your stitching and for making a very personal project so very special.

Sue

x

Updated at Christmas

I have an old friend from work who does voluntary work at the hospice and she tells me that the quilts are being well used and that everyone comments on how beautiful they are and how much work has gone into them.

Thanks for passing that on Judith. x

Just Look What Arrived This Morning

13^th June 2011

I Can’t tell you how excited I was when there was a knock at my door this morning and the postman was there with an enormous box.

At first it didn’t register that it could be the quilts because there had been no email from her to say that the last quilt was finished, let along already in the post………Naughty Nicki!


Well, to say I cried as I opened out each individual quilt is an understatement. 

It was breath-taking to see them all laid side by side on my sofa and it was only then that I realised the amount of work that had gone into making them all……….and I couldn’t have done it without the help of such wonderful friends………Thank you girls!

Just feast your eyes on this little lot.

Just so you don’t miss out, here are the close up pictures of the final two quilts.

2nd Brown Quilt - motifs stitched by the ladies in Holland (Logo stitched by me)

Gerbera Quilt – motifs stitched by Sharon and myself

I’ve also been in touch with the hospice this morning and they say we can go up to the hospice on the morning of the 22^nd to present the quilts to them. 

It’s such a shame that Nicki, Sharon Marge and Marie-Therese  can’t be there too but I will be there with my two brothers and we’ll take a few pictures to share with them.

The Final Motifs are on their way to Switzerland

May 2011


Yes, it’s with some sense of relief that I’ve posted off the final squares to Nicki along with a very pretty lemon duvet cover for her to make up the last quilt.

And I know that Sharon has posted her squares off too.

I think it may be cutting it fine to get the last one finished and everything back in England in time for dad’s birthday as it’s only about four weeks away and I know that Nicki is very busy at work at the moment. 

I’ve said that it really doesn’t matter if we don’t meet that goal but I think she is still aiming at it, so it will be fab if it comes off.

Keep everything crossed for us!

Just One Quilt To Go

April 2011

The original eight quilts are now finished but I have no pictures as yet from Nicki of the final Brown one.  As soon as I have them I'll pop them on here.


The only quilt that is still in progress is the Yellow Gerbera one that Sharon has been working on and because I’ve now got it in my head that it could feasibly be on the cards to present the quilts to the hospice on what would have been dads 88^th birthday on the 22^nd of  June, I’m going giving her a hand to get all the motifs finished a bit quicker.

I’ve done these few already.

And I've done the logo for the back

I can see clearly now the rain has gone.

March 2011

Love that song..............but it’s actually my eye I’m talking about, not the weather.
   
I had my cataract operation on the 18^th February and I’m pleased to say it was a success.  I can’t believe how well I can see out of that eye now but I still need to sort out appropriate glasses or contact lenses once the swelling has gone down and it’s had time to settle down.

The good news is that I’ve got back to some stitching this monthat long last, but only done a few squares for the  The Kid’s Company Project  as I don't want to over do things too soon.

I found these bright and colourful charts in a copy of The World of Cross Stitching and knew as soon as I saw them that they would be great for the kid cushions.

So far I’ve stitched four out of the six.


Panel #43

Panel #44

Panel #45

Panel #46