I'd rather be stitchin': Beading

Showing posts with label Beading. Show all posts

17 Jun 2026

FFO Frenzy

During my last post I said that my sewing machine was coming out and that I would be ffo’ing some of my finishes over that weekend.

Well that didn’t happen for one reason or another and since then I’ve had some more new starts and finishes, so yesterday I eventually pulled out everything I needed and got stuck in at long last.

First off, I did the quick and easy finish of the Mill Hill Ornament ‘Angel with Lantern’, by making a beaded hanger with the left over beads and then covering the back with some sticky backed velvet.

The next ffo was also a simple one because it was going into a frame that I’m going to change out each season.

That was ‘Floral Etchings 2’ from Heart in Hand.

It involved lacing three flat pieces.

And they have been put into this frame for the Summer season.

This was Spring (Floral Etchings)

The third thing I had waiting to be ffo’ed was ‘Patterned Pretties’ by Jeanette Douglas, which was a Christmas gift from Stasi, over at Bee-mused and Bee-stitching.

It was a kit which came with the wool backing fabric, and I added some cream cotton lace around the edges.

Then, I as I was looking through my bits and bobs from my scrapbooking days, I came across a little oval frame that I thought might look ok on the back, with my stitched initial in it.

Then it was onto the three finished panels of ‘ Beach Rules’ from Primrose Cottage,.

Beach Rules

Soak Up The Sun

And 'Ride the Waves' which I had just started and mentioned in my last post.

With four more panels to stitch, last night I finished another new start, ‘Build Sandcastles’, so that's already in the pile to ffo with the next batch!

Here’s my little display so far

My final new start and ffo was my Cross Stitch Camp piece for JUne, ‘A Stitch for all Seasons’ from the summer 2026 edition of Just Cross Stitch.

Originally I was thinking I would make all four panels into pillows and I may still do that with the other three but when it came to the Summer panel, I decided to make a thread bed.

I still have to stitch this year’s camp badge and will be doing that with the same threads that I used for my June project, so until next time…

Happy Stitching!

Sue x

5 Jun 2026

May = Cross Stitch Mania

As I look back over what I stitched on last month and my stats, I’m very pleased that I completed everything I had set out to do, and that was to have five new starts – one for each weekend in the month.

In actual fact I did better than that and managed 6, five of which were finishes.

I also stitched on one of my wips too, not bad when you consider that I also had a four day break away and for the first time in ages I didn't take any stitching with me, so I only stitched on 27 day this month.

You have already seen the progress on my wip – Bluebird of Happiness from Cottage Garden Samplings.

You have also seen the first of my new starts, which was also a finish.

’5 Gold Rings’ , one the panels from Bothy Threads, ’12 Days of Christmas’.

New start and finish No.2 was Floral Etchings 2 from Heart in Hand Needlecrafts,

I’m calling these the summer panels, and when they are

ffo’d they will be swapped into the gold ornate frame which currently has Floral Etchings 1 in it.

New start and finish No.3 was the first of the two Christmas ornaments that I stitch each year for my goddaughter’s two girls.

This is the Jim Shaw kit ‘Angel with Lantern’ which is a Mill Hill Kit from 123 Stitch.

The final 3 new starts, two of which were also finishes, were panels from Primrose Cottage, ‘Beach Rules’ ,

that will be ffo'd into pin pillows.

Beach Rules,

Soak up the Sun,

And a small start on 'Ride the Waves'.

I’m hoping to get my sewing machine out over the weekend and try and get some of this little lot ffo’d!

My next new start is already lined up and ready to go because now we are into June and that can only mean one thing…..

Cross Stitch Camp 2026, hosted by Sheri, Colorado Cross Stitcher.

As always, Sheri has designed a free camp badge which I will

stitch and add to my camp project bag.

As you can see, I've participated in Camp for a good few years now and the back of my project bag is full, so this will be the first badge on the front.

Our task for June is to stitch a chart from a magazine and I’ve decided to stitch ‘A stitch for All Seasons’ from the Summer 2026 issue of Just Cross Stitch.

I thought these little quilt inspired pin pillows were so cute and I think I will eventually stitch all four of them, but for now I’m going to stitch the summer (blue) one.

I’m using a piece of 14ct unknown Aida and various thread from stash. Some are the called for and others are substitutes.

See you all by that camp fire!

Happy Stitching!

Sue x

22 Apr 2026

Four Calling Birds – Bothy Threads – 12 Days of Christmas

On the fourth day of Christmas my truelove gave to me……..

Four Calling Birds.

and this prompted another letter from Emily to her sweetheart Edward:-

Dec 28
Dearest Edward,
What a surprise! Four calling birds arrived this morning.

They are very sweet, even if they do call rather loudly - they make telephoning almost impossible - but I expect they'll calm down when they get used to their new home.

Anyway, I'm very grateful, of course I am.
Love from Emily.

You'll notice there are some beads on this panel.

I continued to stich on 'Patterned Pretties' again

last week too ………

and boy is that some intense stitching!

I have one final thing to share and that’s some photos from a day out I had last week........I do love a good day trip!

My cousin and I visited Arundel castle, down by the south coast, near Brighton, for their Tulip Festival and what a beautiful day we had.

We had heard reports about them being very worried about the unpredictable weather we have been having lately, because the wind and heavy rain flattens the tulips, which are blooming about two earlier this year.

We were very lucky though and it stayed dry but cold while we were walking around.

Just to be clear, it was very busy and there were loads of people there but with the aid of some AI editing, I was able to remove them from my photos, so please don't think we had the castle and grounds to ourselves, Lol!