An update and a finish!

Spring Queen is needing the end, maybe another 2 or 3 rotation weeks, and than it will be the be only the beading left to do. No rush on it though, as I would really like to get it framed professionally, and need to save up for it. I'm not really good framing myself... yes, I do it on smaller pictures, and I find that my framing skills never do justice to the picture, and it is annoying me. So, especially for the big pieces, I'd rather save up for a professional finish.

And I finished the Glasgow Rose Cat picture. With hindsight, I should have stitched it on much smaller fabric size. This is 14ct Aida, and it comes out so big, the crosses are really big to me as well. I don't mind Aida too much, but in the future, I will probably only stitch on 16ct or 18ct, nothing bigger than that, for a neater and tidyer finish. This picture is rectangle, panel-size and it might be more suitable for a wall-hanging.

Despite the finish, I'm not going to add a new piece to my rotation (*sigh*), as this now leaves me with 5 pieces in my rotation, and that is more than enough. I need another finish before adding on another piece. The new one coming in then is going to be: Giraffe Mother and Child from Sunset. This is going to be for my daughter Ruby's room, she loves giraffes ever since seeing one at London Zoo when she was about 5 years old or so. The giraffe sticked out its long tongue, and Ruby was so impressed and couldn't stop talking abut it. I hope she still likes her room decorated with giraffe pictures, as nowadays she's got High School Musical and Hannah Montana on the wall....

I've finished the cow and it will go on its way to Alda tomorrow. The chart was dreadful though, with only colour squares and no symbols. That's the only cross stitch I did this week, I did none on my planned rotation piece 'Waterlilies'. I'm just always sooo tired at the end of the day during the week, don't feel like going on the laptop, don't feel like cross stitch... I don't even want to think about my exam which is coming up on 14.October! I have started my revision, but did so far maybe..10% of all the stuff I have to cover. I've got no idea how to motivate myself for this.

Nafees is flying out next Saturday to Pakistan, and we have been preparing over the weekend. We went to Walthamstow yesterday in East London. We used to live there from 1993- 2003. It has a huge market, and Nafees wanted especially sewing material for his mum. Walthamstow has a huge Asian population, and material for Asian dresses is really easy to find. Fruit and veg are so much cheaper than here as well. He also bought stuff like lipsticks, shirts, sweets and shower gel as gifts. I've got a funny feeling he will not be able to get it all in his bag, especially as he is only allowed 20kg.

and here, once more, is the framed wedding sampler. Sara was really moved and obsolutely surprised, she gave me a big hug.

I haven't posted my updates earlier this week, so here they are. Unfortunately, can't get a good picture of the Monet picture, especially as it is pre-printed as well.

Done! I finished the wedding sampler yesterday. Now it's only the small matter of framing, which unfortunately is always a big deal for me, as I can only go the Hobbycraft for supplies (or a general store like Wilkinsons), and whatever they have is usually very limited to standard stuff. But it sure is impressive and I hope Sara will appreciate it for what it is - if you know what I mean. I think she is the type to appreciate this kind of gift. It sure was fun to stitch and I think it is very beautiful.
Now this is what I'm currently stitching in the train on my way home every day. It will be a Labrador eventually. I'm that sort of stitcher that I'd like to stitch about things which currently go on in my life, e.g. if I visit the Zoo, I feel like doing a tiger picture ... I started to get into Labrador pictures when we got Bonnie in March (funy enough!), and I'll show my progress every week. It's not a large picture, but I only manage to put in about 3 thread lenghts 4 times a week on the train. (whenever I finish at 2pm)

Today it rained finally after a long time, all the grass and flowers were already really drying out, so we needed the rain. On Saturday I was chased by those big clouds when I walked Bonnie and was glad I made it home in time, but believe it or not, nothing came down - it only started to rain today.

I admit - I haven't been a very good blogger! Life just seems to get in a way... and unfortunately I cannot update the blog at work:-)). So...as I mainly would like to concentrate here on my cross-stitch, I think I just show my updates and try to update more often. As I have to finish the Poodle for Rachel's birthday, I'm working on it 5 days a week, and do my usual rotation only over the weekends.

Sorry about the bad picture quality - not much to see, only a large blob of white - that is the top of page 1 of the poodle. I tried several settings with the camera, this was about the best I could do - sorry, I'm no expert on this. And yes, that really is all just white crosses....

I finished the 2 trees quite a while ago, and now finally framed - they are hanging in my hallway. I think the frames really set the pictures off. The design is from Gerda Bengtson, my alltime fav. designer (Danish)

Another Fremme design - my part in the round robin for Anita. I did the flower on the left. Fremme thread is such a pleasure to stitch.

I worked on Spring queen last weekend. Nearing the end - I can't believe it. Then there's only the small matter of beading.

I have really neglegted my blog in the past few weeks... here is my update on Spring Queen - yes, she is coming along nicely and almost finished. The card is for Beverly from the birthday exchange group. This week, my rotation is the Glasgow rose cat.

I 've had a week off 2nd week of Jan - I was absolutely shattered after Christmas/New Year. Work was so extremely busy and we had only sceleton staff as it is usual I suppose - instead of 10 there were only 3 of us, and often I didn't leave the office until 7 or 8 in the evening (I usually finish at 3.30pm). The week off was bliss - and I managed to get quite a few things done. Finally registered with a dentist (after 5 years!! shame!), Raja had his annual jabs... Hopefully I'm getting someone to come around to have a look at our fence which needs replacing. I feel reluctant to call someone from the Yellow Pages - I know I'm gonna get ripped off with builders and such, as I really haven't got a clue.

Ruby started swimming lessons and I do go regularly again on Saturdays/Sundays. Ruby's lessons - well, I don't know. She is in a beginners class, as she never had lessons, but all the other kids are 3/4 year olds, and lots of the lesson seem to involve simply getting the kids used to water (e.g. splashing about, retrieving balls from the water) -pretty silly for a 9 year old. I payed a small fortune for 10 lessons (each lasting only 30 mins) - let's hope she is eventually learning to swim! oh, btw, I tried to teach her several times but failed, I'm just an awful teacher I'm afraid.

Here is my update from last week's rotation: Monet. I finally took it out of the scroll frame and put it in the Q-snaps in the hope that his could *maybe* increase my desire to work on this project... Not much to see in way of progress, as the design is printed on anyway... It annoys me that often the chart and the print don't mix. It says in the description that you can use your imagination and creativity - well, it just annoys me and I won't be doing pre-printed again (or background printed - whatever!). About 60% done.

This is a card I stitched for Kate's birthday (from the Birthday Club group. it's an adapted design from German designer 'Liebevolle Kreuzstichentwuerfe' (what a name!). There was also a tablecloth which the vase was standing on which I left out (not enough time and I thought the vase in itself was pretty enough. Also, I sittched the flowers in blue rather than black as suggested by the chart - I didn't think black was appropriate for a birthday card, and besides, the blue fits and looks better (me thinks!)

This week's rotation is Spring Queen, and I am making some progress.

I have finished the John Clayton 'Holly' last week - it was fun to do at the end, even the background. I need to find a square frame for it... Sorry for the poor picture quality, I'm still working on 'figuring out my Digi-cam' !
The Christmas stitching has now been put away until December next year, and I started my rotation as planned with the Monet yesterday. I'm doing a weekly rotation, but will do birthday cards on Sunday (as I take part in a few birthday exchanges and would like to stitch cards.

Happy New Year to all!
New Years Eve was a bit of a no-show for us. I wasn't keen to go to Central London for the fire works anyway - I'm not one for big crowds. and I'm 'On Call'... the whole Christmas period working has tired me out so much, I just want to sleep. So I went to sleep about 9pm! Got up again at 11 and waited to see in the New Year, but still wasn't with it. And Nafees has got the flu, so he couldn't even drink!