5 O’clock – Ink Circles

 At last I can share my fully finished secret stitch with you.

You may recall I mentioned that when I first saw this chart I knew I had to stitch it for a very special friend, Sandy by way of a thank you for all the times she took to hospital appointments after my hip surgery in April.  

Also, her partner, Derek is our bar person when we have get-togethers and he mixes up a mean cocktail, so this couldn’t have been a more appropriate stitch.

I made one small change and made the Martini at 10 O’clock into an Expresso Martini, which is my favourite tipple, and I’ve added some coffee beans.

The 12 x 12 frame was a picture that I purchased from ‘The Range’.  I removed the original picture and used the pinning method to mount my stitch. and then used some 'old gold' rubbing wax to add a little bit of shine to it. 

Chart – 5 O’clock by Ink Circles

Linen - 32ct Evenweave from Coffee Craft fabrics

Threads – Called for DMC and some substituted Anchor threads

Started - 22^nd May

Finished - 25^th June

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

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Strawberry Faire – October House

This week’s stitching for ‘Cross Stitch Camp hasn’t gone without the dreaded visit from the frogs………..it must be all that water around camp that attracts them!

But on the up side, I do have a finish.

This is where I put it down, the last time you saw it.

And this is it finished, I just want to crochet some trim and then I can FFO it.

I think I mentioned last time that I love the pretty colour pallet, and the detail in that strawberry is just something else.

That’s the reason I’m looking forward to starting ‘Honey Faire’ as next months project.

I made a fair bit more progress on ‘5 O’clock from Ink Circles too, but can you spot my mistake?

I picked up the wrong dark green for the edge of the clock and now I can’t find the bobbin for it.  I don’t know what number it should be because I subbed it for an Anchor thread, but as it goes, I actually like the lighter shade better, so I’m thinking I might just frog the bits I’ve already stitched in the original thread, we’ll have to see.

I also made a start on my 12 in 23 Christmas Ornament for June but again I’ve stuffed up, because I decided to stitch my first Prairie Schooler Santa and now I’m thinking he might be a little too big to be classed as an ornament.

So this one is the ‘Santa Revisited’ from 2004.

There’s a lot of stitching in that red, so for now though I’m sticking with it, and later in the month if time permits, I’ll stitch another ornament.

I’m off to sit on the patio and enjoy this wonderful hot weather now, before the threatened thunderstorms arrive.

  

Happy Stitching

Sue

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The End is Nigh!

 It really is, but in a good way, but before we get to that I would like to wish everyone a bright and sunny June.

Over the last month I have made ‘Oh Holly Night, Nativity’ a bit of a focus piece, seeing as it’s my second oldest Wip.

During May I was able to work on it for 16 evenings and all I have left to stitch is a small piece of the border and the back stitching on the last section.  Oh and there are a few beads to stitch on too, but I can see the end coming into sight, hence 'The End is Nigh'

This is where I left it last time.

And this is where it is now.

I also started and FFo’d my 12 in 23 Christmas Ornament for May.

This is Windows of Joy, designed by Liz Gorski of Primrose Needleworks, that I came across in a 2007 copy of ‘The Gift of Stitching.

I substituted the called for threads for Leo & Roxy  Rudolph,  and Crescent Colours Antique Lace and Hazelnut, adding some beads to give it a little sparkle and stitched it on a scrap of 36ct Cookie Collection Linen from Nicholas Flamel Design (on Etsy)

And while I had my finishing materials out, I got stuck in and FFo’d my Ornament for March  too, which was 'Home for Christmas from Teresa Kogut.

I  had another new start in May too,  5 O’Clock from Ink Circles.

This is a bit of a secret stitch because it's going to be a gift for someone, so I can’t post about it anywhere else at the moment, but I pretty sure they don’t read my blog, so I think I’m safe here.

As soon as I saw this I know I had to stitch it because my friends make the most wonderful cocktails, especially my favourite, an Expresso Martini.

 I’ve been stitching on this in the mornings, before breakfast.

The fabric doesn't have a name, but it's 36ct Evenweave from Coffee Craft Fabrics and I'm using a combination of called for DMC's and substituted Anchor threads.

All in all, May was a good stitching month, with four new starts, four finishes and a couple of FFO's............and now I'm all ready for  June and Cross Stitch Camp!

Happy Stitching!

Sue 

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