Monday, March 28, 2011

Gift Revealed, Gift Received, Life & Stitching Progress

The weekend before last I finally got my finger out and finished the giveaway prize that Jane won back in December! I sent it off on it's way to her last Wednesday and I had an email on Friday I think it was to say she had received it and loves it, thank goodness!The design is Needles & Pins by Raise The Roof, stitched on a 28ct Silkweaver Solo which is a mottled pale lilac, using various hand-dyed threads in some of Jane's favourite colours. I also included a mother of pearl thread holder, a skein of HDF silk, and an Aero Lamb (well it is spring now and everyone needs chocolate don't they?!). This is the first time I've tried a beaded edge finish and although I found it fiddly at first I was really pleased with the way it turned out, and will definitely do it again.
Postie brought me a gift last week as well which was so welcome. Ranae recently stitched Homespun Elegance's Holiest of Nights and I had commented on her blog asking what the design was called and who by as I immediately fell in love with it and wanted to add it to my wish list. Anyway, as she had been RAK'd the chart herself she was very sweet and offered to send the chart onto me! I'm not sure when I will get around to stitching it, but when I have I will be sure to pass on her generosity.After finishing the gift I didn't stitch for a few days as I was feeling a bit out of sorts. I still am actually, but figured that stitching usually relaxes me so I should get back to it. I've got my first consultant visit at the hospital tomorrow afternoon to see what they can do about my painful coccyx. From recent doctor visits and examinations it's thought that either it is fractured or there is an old fracture around which scar tissue as formed, which means that it hurts me to sit down in certain positions and is VERY painful to get from sitting to standing after being sat for any length of time. The plan is, if all goes well tomorrow, that I will be having an operation to manipulate the coccyx and break up the scar tissue, and then steroid injections to help it heal. I'm really scared about going to see the consultant tomorrow, although I know it needs doing. I just know that the examination is going to be very painful, I'm scared of hospitals so nervous of being there, and already getting terrified of when I have to have the operation itself.
Anyway, in an effort to try to forget my worries I've pulled LHN's Winter Band Sampler back out and put in some stitches the last couple of days, and have actually really enjoyed it, so I'm glad I did. I was going to pull something else out today to stitch on, but I think I'm actually going to keep going with this while I'm still enjoying it.
That's it for now I think, hope you all have a great week ahead. Thanks to everyone who reads my wafflings and especially to those who take the time to leave me a comment, they always give me a smile.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Garnet Progress

I've finished the front of my gift but can't show a pic so you're going to have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid. I'm hoping to get started on the back and then making it up soon, then it will be winging it's way to it's new home, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.
I can however show an updated pic of my HAED QS Garnet which I'm stitching using HDF silks. I'm so frustrated with the pics of this I keep taking, they make it look all blocky and like the colours are totally wrong, but in real life I'm loving it and it's really starting to take shape this week.No other stitching to show I'm afraid, but hope to be back soon!

P.S. Heather, the JBW Designs A Very Merry Spring is stitched using a Hand Dyed Fibers silk called Pastel Rainbow.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Better Photos Update

Last few posts have been done from my phone so the pics haven't been great.
Thought I'd take the chance today to get some pics with the proper camera of everything I've been working on recently and get them on here.
Here is HAED QS Alisha after the last 5hrs in rotation on her. Need to grid the rest of the page before I can stitch anymore, but really loving this at the moment and the colours.
Here is LHN's Winter Band Sampler after it's slot as well. Still not wild about this I'm afraid. I'm sure it's that it's because it's 2x2 on 28ct which I really don't enjoy much anymore after my 36/40ct addiction began lol, plus I think I've had my fill of xmas/winter stitching for now, but I'm going to persevere with it til it's finished.
This is my Nouveau Encore Designs Personalised Sampler. I decided to move down a page and work from right to left this time, and have most of the border finished on this page now.
And finally is my UFO slot! I'm stitching on this for 1hr in between my 5hrs each on all the other slots. It's HAED QS Garnet which I started way back early last year, and I'm stitching it in HDF silks which are lovely to work with. It will get another hour's attention after I finish my 5hrs on my new wip, then I will decide whether to keep it out, or choose another UFO to work on next round.
And talking of new wips, I started one last night which is to be a gift, so can't show any pics I'm afraid until it's stitched, finished, sent and received, but hopefully it won't be too long!
Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Winter Band Sampler

Just a quick update. Realised I haven't updated in 2 weeks!
Here is my LHN Winter Band Sampler after just finishing it's slot in my rotation. I'm now just over the halfway point and will be moving down to the house next round.