Frederick is on the wall

I finally managed to frame Frederick, and he is hanging on the wall (on the staircase). I can't believe it, my signature reads '01-2007' - did it honestly take me more than 2 years to have it framed? And more to the point, since this, I haven't really finished anything, apart small stuff and Sara's wedding sampler last summer.
It took a while to find a frame, and this still isn't perfect. I always have problems with the framing, well, don't really have the money to have it done professionally, and while I'm ok doing it myself, the standard shops just never have the frame size I need, or my pictures never seem to fit the standard frame / mount sizes. And that's all I can do with - the standard sizes. Maybe I should invest in a mount cutter...

I received a Christmas surprise from Marlies, containing 'Printen' (which is a German Christmas type of biscuit) - I've all gobbled them up already.... And this beautiful card, it doesn't show up on the picture, but is really pretty, stitched on fine Linen.

We've had our Office Christmas Party on Thursday. The venue was a pub called 'The Doggetts' , overlooking the Thames - it was really pretty. Not a lot people came though, all sorts of excuses valid and not, never mind, I enjoyed the food. Got a nice secret Santa present - a kitten calender and a dish with a fat candle - this is rather spooky as I wanted to buy both those things for myself but I'm sure I haden't mentioned it to anyone in the office - so well done Secret Santa! The (very quite) party came to an end at about 23:oo hrs - so no wild falling out of pubs stories with our parties.

This is a small box i did as a Christmas present for my friend Rachel. it was a kit, and really easy to do, it took me approx. 2 hours to stitch and to fit it all together, it looked stunning and I was well pleased with it - wanted to keep it to myself actually LOL - Oh no, Rachel, hope you enjoy it of course.


I went to see Rachel yesterday with Imran and Ruby. Imran wanted to go and see her because of the dogs - she's got 6 poodles. Oh, they are ever so nice and cuddly, so very different from the cats - I always come back from Rachel's wishing I could have a dog, but with all of us working, the dog would be on its own most of the day, and not to mention what the cats would say... Well, one day, when I'm retiered, I will most definitely get a dog.

A few finishes

First I have to show of Ruby! She did this sampler..ish tablerunner at school in needlework club and I am so very proud of her. It's a garish pink 11ct Aida and stitched with cheap wool, but it is for sure the prettiest piece I've seen for a long time - and isn't it strange, it means more to me than many of the big cross stitch pictures I did. I shall treasure it and show Ruby her tablerunner in 20 years LOL


Here is the Christmas picture from the Bucilla kit. I enjoyed it at the end, and there is much more work in it than the small picture suggests. However, again, I feel I am let down by my 'finishing' skills. I re-did the framing (on adheasive paper) several times, and re-did it, and re-did it - and still it is not centred properly, the back is all bulky - oh, just looking at the picture here now makes me upset - it clearly is loop-sided, maybe I'll just have to try again.


I also framed two small pictures, I finished stitching those in September I think. I like the heart best, it really does look so pretty and I'm pleased with the framing. It is stitched over one.

This is a smallish Christmas picture I started last year. But as I only stitch Christmassy in December, I'd put it away last January, and finished it off now (almost, only a bit ob BS and French knots left. The kit was supplied with a (cheap) red plastic frame in the shape of a house, which actually does not look too bad

And this is the other Christmassy piece I'm stitching at the moment. Its from Heritage Stitchcraft, John Clayton 'Holly'. I received this kit as a secret santa present in an exchange a few years back, and loved it, only slightly annoying bit is the 14ct Aida - never mind, as it is going to be completely stitched out (even the background) I guess it shouldn't matter.

Apart from this, I am trying to get some studying in. My results for D315 came back - I've passed my exam with a 'Pass 2' - as this is a level 3 course, this result really matters and I'm quite glad.

My material for the new course DD307 'Social Psychology' has arrived, and I started to work through the first block.

Chapter 1 Social Psychology - past and present

Chapter 2 Methods and Knowledge in Social Psychology.

Today is Ruby's Christmas play and I took the day off - bliss. I'll try to work through the books this morning, and hopefully get plenty of stitching time in later on. Back to work tomorrow, but the week before Christmas is hopefully a bit relaxed, trains will be hopefully less crowded, but with regards to our line of work it will unfurtunately not make a difference - if anything, it is more dreadful to deal with death around Christmas.

This is the present I stitched for Margarethe - I toroughly enjoyed it, and I practices my Ebenseer technique on it. Ebenseer is a stitching technique where on the back of the piece, all the threads go vertical, it looks pretty neat but takes some efford. I would say, realistically, its only possible when you stitch with a single colour.

And this is the present I got from Sabine. Both and stitched picture (snowman) and the patchwork star are now displayed here in the house. Thanks Sabine!

I finished the rosebud heart from Elisa Tortonesi-Siess. It is done 'over one' , and I enjoyed it enourmously. Might try to make a pincushion, or put it into a small frame. it was done so quickly, and is just so stunning.


And here is the update on the cat picture - my rotation from last week. yes, I have picked up my rotatiib again. After hating the cat picture (because the black does not cover the fabric properly, it shines trough), I sort of made up my mind of just continuing with it anyway, and it seems to turn out ok. I'm well into my cross stitch at the mo, no more studying until January, plus my new lamp makes it such a pleasure

Oh Boy, were shall I start, it has been a busy week.

Ruby managed to chop one of her fingers off!! She was at Casey's house, and Casey shut the door on her. Her finger was on the side where the metall hinges are. she came screaming down the road, I nearly collapsed! Once in,Nafees quickly told her to close her eyes and she calmed down. All I saw was finger hanging off, and I was frozen. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we first went to Darenth Hospital (very unfriendly!!) , and we were transfered to Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead which has a special plastic surgery unit and specialises in hand/finger plastic surgery. She's had surgery were they managed to sew it all back together again. She's been so brave, can't believe it. Now she seems to enjoy the bit of attention she's getting. I took her to Alexandra Palace (Knitting and Stitching Show) yesterday, and everyone asked what she's done with her big sling! I'll write more about the show later, maybe tomorrow.

We've got to go back to East Grinstead on 23.10. to remove the bandage and see how its all healed. My boss Tracey had given special leave this week (without even me asking), so that was second to none and I'm very very grateful. Ruby went back to school today for a few hours, and I hope to go back to work on Monday.

I also had my exam on Wednesday! at the end, I just wanted to have it over and done with, I knew as much as I would ever know. I did Questions 1 (crime), 8 (the realists) and 12 (shaming). I would guess that it is enough for a pass, but at what grade -- no idea. Have to wait for 14th December to get the results!

Ok, I'd like to show of my latest finishes. The 2 trees are from Fremme, one was done already and the other I stitched in hospital last week. The autumn leave heart is from Elisa Tortonesi-Siess and stitched with Tentakulum overdyed thread, it's such a pleasure to stitch. as you can see, I decided to take a break from my big projects to finish some smaller designs. the rosebud heard is also from Elisa and I;m doing it 'over 1' thread only - its the first time I'm stitching 'over one', enjoying it but it won't become a regular thing I guess. But it looks so fine!

I'm up to mm neck in revision - and procrastinating! Yesterday, Dan was on the laptop in my bedroom, Iwent upstairs and just sat on the bed to wait for him. Well, that was it, I fell asleep and next thing I know it's 5 in the morning and time to get up! I did some revision on the train though in the morning.

For those on the D315 course - this is what I am revising ( and sort of hope this is sufficient):

1. what is crime

2. media and stats

3. positivism / radical / realists

4. dynamics of shaming (Braithwaite/Katz etc).

Cross-stitch wise - I finished the Langenzenn sampler - it will take it's place next to the one from 2005 to remind me of the fab time.

I am halfway done on the Autumn Leaf freebie from Elisa Tortonesi-Siess. It's only small, and I should have finished it ages ago, but.... see above! It is fun to do. I feel a bit unsure about Elisa's designs, because she does not colour-code, so you have to / can chose your own colours, which doesn't always come very easy to me. However, I have used varigated thread (Tentakulum - German brand)

And here is the picture I stitched for Sigi. I stitched like a woman possessed in the first week of my holiday - I'd already missed Sigi's birthday, and we met up at Barbara's house during my holiday - finally another opportunity for a stitcher's meeting! Glad you liked it Sigi!

Finish Cross Stitch

I finished a WIP today!! The pansies tablerunner is done. I bought this a few years ago on holiday in Germany, when I forgot to take my cross stitch with me (how could I?) and quickly bought something in the local supermarket (No LNS where my mum lives...). I did about 2 of the flowers on holiday, and it quickly turned into a UFO - mainly because of the longstitch. Once I got it out again a few weeks ago it was finished quite quickly acutally. But I won't do anything in longstitch again if I can avoid it.

The good thing about a table runner is that it doesn't need framing, sewing or whatever - it is ready to be used straight away. Mind, I won't put it up in my house, not with 3 children (4 if you count DH), and the cats. It is probably going to be a gift for my mum (don't worry, she can't read this, she's got no Internet connection).

And this is the new project in my 3-weekly rotation: a medium sized cat project. I don't want to add anything to big into the rotation, as I've got Natures Home Afghan coming up! So, tonight, it's sorting threads and sewing the fabric borders. I find this part exciting, starting a new project. Don't we all!! Anyway, the chart calls for the black (the cat) to be stitched with 3 strands, probably to make the cat stand out more, but I don't think I'll do this, I don't like it too chunky. The fabric is 14ct Aida.