Chatelaine - Butterfly Lace Mandala

 She’s back from the framers and she’s a bit of a big beast!

I knew she was going to be large, but I hadn’t taken into account the extra width of the three mats, which I don’t usually bother having. 

She just a smidge under 29 inches square! 

On this occasion they really add something to the piece and also keep the art glass from resting on the crystals.

Just in case you missed the stats before, here they are again.

Started 9th September 2021
Finish 31st August 2024
Total of stitching days = 109
Total beads & crystals = 3414
Total cost (unframed) £253.47

The framing was done by my usual framers,  Frames of London and cost wise, let’s just say it cost significantly more for framing than the project cost, and leave it at that, but worth every penny I might add.

You can go back and see the  previous pictures  here.

I plan to start Humming Bird Mandala on New Years Day

Designer - Martina Rosenberg - Chatelaine
Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White
Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid
Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

Happy Stitching!
Sue
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Butterfly Lace Mandala – Chatelaine Designs

 I’m doing a happy dance this morning and celebrating ahead of time because impatience got the better of me.

What am I talking about I hear you ask?

Well I’m talking about finishing my Butterfly Lace Mandala, nine days before the goal I set myself of finishing it on my 68^th birthday.

I stitched on it every day throughout August, leaving all the beading until the last and for a split second, I did consider leaving the large flower crystal that goes in the centre until the 9th, but I couldn’t bring myself to wait, Lol!

So, it was started on 9^th September 2021 as my 65^th birthday start. (It had to be something special for that milestone, right) and I have gone from this little lot

to this over the last three years,

but it really only equates to picking it up and stitching on it for 109 days in all.

I’m not going to lie, it was a bit of a challenge because of all the speciality stitches, most of which I had never encountered before and  although I’ve beaded many times, on things like my Celtic Ladies from Lavender and Lace and Mill Hill Kits, this was by far a much bigger task. 

There were  3414 Delica beads and Swarovski  crystals on this baby!

 There was also more 1 over one stitching in this project alone, than I have ever done in the whole of my cross stitch journey.

As anyone who partakes in this beautiful hobby of ours, we all know it’s not for the faint hearted when it comes to cost, especially over the last few years, as prices have risen.

Also added to that, we in the UK often find ourselves having to purchase many of our supplies for overseas , especially as we find ourselves bewitched by all the new goodies from across the pond that we see on floss tube…….talk about get enabled, Lol!

I have no guilt about what I spend on my hobby. 

My money is my own, I don’t drink or smoke and I get hours of enjoyment from the process, love what I achieve and especially love to share my  passion.

Having said that, I did keep a note of what this ‘not so little’  project cost me and it’s not for the faint of heart. But please note, I’m not complaining here, it’s just info.

The chart was the most expensive pdf I have ever brought, coming in at a whopping £25.60.

The specialist threads, and beads came from the European Cross Stitch in the US. and the fabric was from 123 stitch also in the US.

My DMC threads were purchased from Hobby Craft, here in the UK but they are way more expensive over here for some reason, so that bumped up the total.

The overall total for this project was a whopping £253-47  and that’s without the framing, which I know is going to be eye watering too I expect, but in my opinion this project was worth every penny and every second that I spent working on it, because it’s beautiful, even if I do say so myself.

This was my first Chatelaine and I’m sure it won’t be my last, in fact I’m already eyeing up the supplies for Hummingbird Lace Mandala, so watch this space.

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

 

Butterfly Lace Mandala

Started 9^th September 2021

Designer -  Martina Rosenberg - Chatelaine

Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White

Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid

Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

Still on track - Butterfly Lace Mandala

Good morning all, It’s been a while since I joined you but in reality I’ve had nothing much to share, despite my needle still flying behind the scenes.

As a consequence of concentrating on my Chatelaine this month, I’ve had to pass on Cross Stitch Camp for August and skip my 12 in 24 Christmas ornament, but I'll try and catch up with that one later, so I'm not one short come December.

Anyway, the last time you saw my Chatelaine,  I had just started working on one of the big 1 over 1 butterflies, which is now finished.

I then worked on the final butterfly and the corner ornament, meaning all the actual stitching is finished.

At this point I was beginning to realise that I could never be a permanent monogamous stitcher.  I was getting withdrawal symptoms and was longing to pick up all my other wips.

I’m being strong though and haven’t given in. Lol!

For the last eight days I have been doing the beading, adding even more sparkle.  I am nearly at the half way mark so should be on track for my September finish, all being well.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

 

Butterfly Lace Mandala

Started 9^th September 2021

Designer -  Martina Rosenberg - Chatelaine

Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White

Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid

Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

Butterfly Lace Mandala – Chatelaine

 The reality is just beginning to set in, as I realise that if I want to meet my goal of having this finished on my birthday this year, I only have 6 weeks left to do it in!

In the scheme of things, it doesn't really matter if I doesn't get done, but I’m keeping everything crossed because if I can do it, that would mean it will be 3 years to the day from when I started it.

So, with that in mind, I’ve been a monogamous stitcher this week working on my Chatelaine.

This is where I left it the last time you saw it.

Since then it’s had 12 more days of stitching, where I’ve been concentrating on that top right-hand corner

and then a further 3 days for last weeks ‘Chatelaine Weekender’ where I worked on the large blue 1 over 1 butterfly.

I was aiming to get that finished but I didn’t quite hit my goal.

 Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

 

Butterfly Lace Mandala

Started 9^th September 2021

Designer -  Martina Rosenberg - Chatelaine

Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White

Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid

Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

Step back in Time to Tudor England.

 I think I spoke too soon last week when I said that summer was finally here.   I take it all back because this week has been wet and cold with temperatures around 14 to 15 degrees, when this time last year it was around the 26.     I need some sun!!

I’ve not done very much stitching over the last week because I have been on a very enjoyable three day stay at a historical estate in Wiltshire, with a group of extremely good friends. 

We call ourselves ‘The Golden Girls’ (& Boys) and all the girls except me have known each other for more than 60 years, since junior school. I met them because one of them is my cousin and I have known them almost as long.

It’s always a good laugh when we all get together and we are now

planning our next big adventure for next year, when four of the girls hit 70………..that’ scary to say, especially as I’m only a year behind them!!

Anyway, here’s few photos of Littlecote House, the Grade 1 listed Tudor House, that was built in the 1500’s and it’s 113 acre estate.  You can actually stay in the historical rooms if you don’t mind sharing them with the ghosts of a murdered baby boy and his mother, but we stayed in the newer part of the building.

There were a few tapestry’s but not many I could get close enough to take any decent photos of.

I took some stitching with me, but I’m limited to what I can do when traveling.  I need my big light and magnifier, so usually take a Mill Hill kit or very occasionally something stitched on a larger count Aida.

As I still had to start my 12 in 24 Christmas Ornament for June, I pulled out the ‘Gingerbread House Globe’ from Mill Hill and made a small start on that.

The week leading up to going away I was concentrating on my Cross Stitch Camp piece, Black Sampler 2021 from Whilst Iris Naps and was happy with the amount I got done,

and also got one evening in on my Chatelaine.

Happy Crafting!

Sue

x

Black Sampler 2021

Designer – Whilst Iris Naps

Fabric – 36ct Millstone – Legacy Fibre Artz Linen

Threads – Silky (Black) Roxy Floss Co (Fresh Cut & On Holiday) Classic Colorworks ( Weeping Willow) The Gentle Art (Cranberry)

Butterfly Lace Mandala

Started 9^th September 2021

Designer -  Martina Rosenberg - Chatelaine

Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White

Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid

Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

Summer at last! (And the weather has finally got the memo too)

 May is behind us now and I’m set for a summer of stitching, but I can’t let it pass without a quick round up of the month’s work.

I stitched every day but one and in total, I worked on seven projects, of which three were new starts and had four finishes all of which I have already blogged about.

I also had three projects that I got around to fully finishing, so not too bad if I say so myself.

Two of the FFO’s were the Prairie Schooler Santa’s,

that I’ve been stitching as part of the 12 in 24 Christmas Ornament sal,  that Carol from  Stitching Dream Blogspot  hosts.

This is the 1995 Santa, that was my April Ornament

And this is the 2001 Santa,  that was my one for May. 

The other FFO was my Cross Stitch Camp Badge which I stitched onto my camp project bag.

As you probably already know, cross stitch camp started on 1^st June and the challenge is to add a pop of colour to a single colour pattern or take a colourful chart and stitch it in just one colour.

I decided to go with the first option and have chosen to stitch ‘Black Sampler 2021’ which is an original design from Whilst Iris Naps Designs.

I’ll be stitching it on 36ct Millstone from Legacy Fibre Arts Linen, with Black Silky thread and pops of Red and Green curtsey of Roxy Floss Co, Classic Color Works and The Gentle Arts threads.

I worked on Butterfly Lace Mandala for the Chatelaine Weekender again and have hit the top right-hand corner. Here’s where it was on Friday

And this is where I am now. 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

 Project Details

1995 & 2001 Santa’s

Designer -  Prairie Schooler

Fabric – 18ct Aida – Tea/Coffee Dyed by myself

Threads – Called for DMC’s

Butterfly Lace Mandala

Started 9^th September 2021

Designer -  Martina Rosenberg - Chatelaine

Fabric – 28ct Jobelan Evenweave – Antique White

Threads – Called for Silks, DMC and Petite Treasure Braid

Beads – Swarovski Crystals and Delica Beads

 

Black Sampler 2021

Designer – Whilst Iris Naps

Fabric – 36ct Millstone – Legacy Fibre Artz Linen

Threads – Silky (Black) Roxy Floss Co (Fresh Cut & On Holiday) Classic Colorworks ( Weeping Willow) The Gentle Art (Cranberry)