New blog...

So after almost a year of complete silence on my part, I decided for a new start on a new blog: You can find my new blog here: http://catssilverlining.blogspot.dk/

I hope to see you there! :-)

Finally another update on Snowdrop!

So, I've done quite a bit on Elliott's Snowdrop Fairy during the past couple of weeks. She finally has a face (though no eyes yet, which does make her look kinda spooky). I've yet to do the backstitching and beading in her necklace and headdress.

Joan Elliott's Snowdrop Fairy, the 23rd of February 2013

Close-up of spooky Snowdrop Fairy

 In this month's issue of Cross Stitch Collection magazine there was a nice preview of Elliott's next historical lady: This time around we'll some Victorian fashion. I absolutely love this design (much more than the Medieval Lady, actually), and I definitely intend to start stitching her once I recieve April's issue of Cross Stitch Collection!
This does mean, however, that all of my stitchy goals are going out the window, since I simply do not have the time to work on both the Elliott designs and the Heaven & Earth Designs at the same time. Oh well - anything for the Victorian Era, I guess :-)

Preview Elliott's Victorian Lady

Happy stitchings, everyone!
- Cat.

Another update on Snowdrop Fairy

So, when I'm not correcting my students' essays I'm working on Snowdrop Fairy. Here's my current progress:

Snowdrop Fairy, the 6th of February 2013

Not bad, eh? You can now see her upper body, which I intend to finish over the upcoming weekend :-)

Happy Stitchings!
- Cat.

January IHSW

A late IHSW update from me :-) But better late than never. I've worked on Elliott's Snowdrop Fairy:

Before IHSW

After IHSW

So I got quite a bit done this weekend :-)

My fingers have been itching for yet another start though. Cross Stitch Collection Magazine just came out with Elliott's latest design and start of a new series: The Medieval Ladies.

I think she's gorgeous, and I hope I'll get started some time in the future - for now there'll be no new starts however. I need to finish at least one of my projects first.

Happy Stitchings
Cat!

2013 New Start

I've made some progress on QS Sapphire (not a lot though).

I finally received my hand-dyed fabric and beads so I could start Joan Elliott's Snowdrop Fairy, which was featured in December's issue of the Cross Stitch Collection magazine.

I've chosen to stitch it on the aida fabric called Aphrodite from polstitches.co.uk. I am a bit surprised it turned out to be so dark, as it did not seem to be as dark in the finished photographs I've seen of this design. Nevertheless, it'll only let the white beads stand out even more.

(I apologize for wrinkly fabric).

QS Sapphire

Elliott's Snowdrop Fairy

And here's a picture of Snowdrop Fairy all finished and framed. As you can see, it'll take some time for me to finish. This is also my first time working with Kreinik thread and beads, so I am interested to see how this one turns out.

Joan Elliott's Snowdrop Fairy.

Happy Stitchings!
- Cat.

Last update of 2012

I've been working on QS Sapphire during the holiday. Here are some before and after shots :-)

QS Saphhire

QS Sapphire progress, the 16th of December

QS Sapphire progress as of today, the30th of December

So this is this year's final update. I hope to have a page finish on QS Sapphire soon to show off :-)

Happy stitchings
Cat.

A short video of my latest cross stitch project!

I collected all of the photos of "Beloved Child" and made this short video of my progress on this design. Enjoy :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy stitchings everyone! :-)
- Cat.

Finally a finish!

I finally got "Beloved Child" framed - it was given to our very good friends who are expecting a baby boy in January.

Framed

Our very good friends, Sofie & Jens

 I also managed to finish the first (partial) page on QS Sapphire - I felt like the confetti stitches took forever, and I had a hard time pulling myself together on this one. However, I do love the level of detail the confetti stitches have provided.

QS Sapphire as of the 16th of December 2012

I've already started on the page right above the one in the photo - hopefully I'll have some progress to show off soon.

Happy stitchings
- Cat.

Lots of updates - lots of pics!

And I have once again managed not to blog for almost a month! Well, it's not because I haven't been stitching. I've done quite a bit over the last few weeks actually. So here's an update (I apologize for the wrinkly fabric, I simply did not have the time to iron the fabric this morning):

Beloved Child:
It's finally finished!! I'm going to get it framed over the next week or so. It is so good to see the final result - and so good to return to my other projects. It took just about two months to finish for me (not counting the one month I spent in World of Warcraft):

"Beloved Child" at the last update

"Beloved Child" today - finished!

 

Envy:
After the finish I picked up on Envy once again:

"Envy" by Marta Dahlig

"Envy" at the last update in August 2012

"Envy" today - second page finish

Mini Citrine:
After the page finish on Envy, I picked up the Mini Citrine, which I have not worked on in ages! This is also my first full row finish on a HAED!

"Mini Citrine" by Rachel Anderson

"Mini Citrine" at the last update in June 2012

"Mini Citrine" last page in progress (partial page)

"Mini Citrine" full row finish!!

QS Sapphire - NEW START:
For my birthday (the 23rd of Nov.) I received materials from the hubby to start a new cross stitch design. I chose to start QS Sapphire by Rachel Anderson, simply because I think the colours are stunning!:

"QS Sapphire" by Rachel Anderson

"QS Sapphire" progress as of the 26th of November 2012, bottom left corner

That's it for this time around. I'll be working on QS Sapphire for a while now (until the first full page finish).

Happy Stitchings!
- Cat.

Another update - sooo close to the end!

I stitched quite a bit last week, and I am very pleased with my progress. I have to have the project done and framed by the 15th of december, and I think that should be doable :-)

However, this week is extremely busy due to the fact that I have to correct something around 90 essays, 30 tests and give grades to 100 students - that will be so much fun! Or something.

Here's my progress since my last update:

As of October the 30th

As of November the 5th

Right - so back to work for me!

Happy stitchings!
- Cat.

Long Time No Stitch...

Alright,
so I didn't exactly stick to my plan about stitching every week and making a weekly post. I've had an extremely busy month work-wise AND an expansion for World of Warcraft came out, so my time was spend on anything but stitching!

I picked up "Beloved Child" again last week, when I realized my friend is giving birth in no more than three months! So I better hurry.

Here are the before and after shots:

"Beloved Child" at my last update

"Beloved Child" as of October 30

 Hopefully I'll stitck to the weekly-update-thing - but you never know what might happen in real life :-)

Happy Stitching
Cat.

September IHSW update

I worked on Beloved Child (again) during this month's IHSW. I have to admit, I am getting just a tiny bit fed up with this picture now and its colours. Expeciallysince I bought a bunch of new Rachel Anderson charts my fingers have been itching to get started with one of those instead. They're so beautiful and colourful.

But I made a promise to myself: No more new starts before Beloved Child is finished. I need to get this picture done for my friend. She's over halfway in her pregnancy, so I need to finish soon.

Here is my progress over the last week (and weekend):

Beloved Child at my last update, September 10

Beloved Child before IHSW

Beloved Child after IHSW

I am almost done with the mother's hand, so I'm getting closer. I still have to stitch the mother's face and the fading in the background.

Until next week! :-)
- Cat.

HAED Appreciation Week (another picture heavy post!)

Soooooo, we have entered Heaven & Earth Designs Appreciation Week! For those of you who do not know; Heaven & Earth Designs make some of the most beautiful cross stich designs known to man (well, at I think so), and they're currently having financial issues. Apparently not enough people buy cross-stich charts. So if there's a chart you've had on your wishlist for some time, pop over there and buy it! :-)

As some of you might know, I was not much of a "stash'er". All of the charts I own are the ones I actually stitch, so I've never had any charts waiting to be started. Well, that has changed now! I think I might have enough charts for a lifetime now - lol!

And I can't really decide whether I buy all of these charts for charitable reasons ("HAED might be closing, I better help out") or for purely selfish reasons ("HAED might be closing, and I still need all of these charts!"). Nevertheless, I bought even more charts today, and as you can probably tell from the selection I am a huge fan of Rachel Anderson's work.

Mini Amethyst by Rachel Anderson

Mini Emerald by Rachel Anderson

Mini Garnet by Rachel Anderson

Blue Topaz (full design) by Rachel Anderson

Ruby (full design) by Rachel Anderson

Mystique by Rachel Anderson

Titania by Rachel Anderson

Seraphina by Rachel Anderson

Vanity by Marta Dahlig

Sloth by Marta Dahlig

 Happy Stitchings and remember to sign up for this month's IHSW here!
- Cat

Beloved Child and New Stash Tab! (Picture Heavy)

As I wrote in my earlier post, I did not have as much time to stitch this past week. But I did manage to put in a few stitches:

"Beloved Child" as of September 3

"Beloved Child" as of September 10

Since it is Heaven & Earth Appreciation Week I have also bought new charts. I bought these charts in advance of the appreciation week though. I intend to buy more charts by Rachel Anderson and Marta Dahlig this week.

I have made a new "Stash" tab at the top of my blog, which will be updated whenever I buy new charts.

Here are the new additions:

QS Aquamarine by Rachel Anderson

QS Sapphire by Rachel Anderson

QS Diamond by Rachel Anderson

QS Pearl by Rachel Anderson

QS Peridot by Rachel Anderson

QS Sapphire is by far my favorite. I love those blue and purple colours!

Since I've bought all of these new charts, I had to come up with rules to prevent myself from starting all of them at once. I will not be allowed to make a new start before I've finished "Beloved Child" (it needs to be finished in four months anyway - that's when my friend will give birth to her son!).

Happy Stitchings Everyone!
- Cat.