Back from Holidays. Time for WIPocalypse Update!

Hello readers and in particular, new followers! I am delighted to see I have 10 newbies following me since I last logged in.

I hope I haven't disappointed you by being absent but we have been on an Easter break. It is the end of first term here in Australia so we took ourselves off to Melbourne for a 5 day trip. Mary danced in the Champion of Champions of Australia Highland dancing competition on Easter Saturday and Sunday so it was fun to extend the trip by a couple of days. She came home with a fifth overall trophy for her section which delighted us all.

L-R clockwise Mary dancing the Sailor's Hornipe; Mary dancing in a reel; Mary holding her 5th overall trophy

The holiday highlight was booking tickets on the oldest steam train still running in Australia called Puffing Billy. Tom is mad keen on trains at the moment so he was bubbling with excitement as we hung our feet out of the train and headed to an old village for a cafe lunch.

I have two main projects for WIPocalpyse 2014 which are the Bothy Threads Cut Thru Castle and Promises Kept by Dimensions, a version of a Noah's Ark. This is my April update although I am late by 10 days - sorry!

Over the last month I have completed the fifth page of the castle so I have started stitching the top left corner of the castle which is the tower.

Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle

I haven't spent as much time on Promises Kept unfortunately so must knuckle down and stitch on it more this month. The progress I have made has been on the elephant.

Dimensions Promises Kept 

The question for the WIPocalypse challenge this month is: How do I keep my stash organised? I have a large cupboard in my sewing room which holds my projects. I keep all of my WIPs in separate fabric bags so the threads, pattern and fabric stay together and are not mixed with other projects.  I have a large pile of cross stitch patterns in my cupboard also that are piled up high. Kits that I haven't started yet are also piled together. Now that might all sound very organised but there is some chaos in there and its not all that neat.  It's not photo worthy LOL.

Happy stitching...

                           Jan x 

Turtle Trot April 2014

Hello happy stitchers.

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  This is my April update. It is a few days late but I had a special Craft weekend to attend with four girlfriends.  I spent the evenings cross stitching so I had a ball. 

Since March 10th, I have made progress on six of the ten projects on my list.  

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
More stitching on the sun this month. I should finish this block by the May update.

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After:

2. I Love London
I stitched the red L this month.

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After

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
More little buildings and sheep adorn the hill.

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After:

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau - I found it hiding in a bag in a cupboard- hoorah!  I have stitched the letters "i" and "e" this month.

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
I have started some curtains on the room below. The bedroom isn't quite finished as I need to match up some green thread.

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6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug - no progress this month

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet
I have spent a lot of time stitching the B and C letters this month.  By the May update I will have finished C is for Cow and have started D is for Drum.

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8. Country House Needleworks Santa's House- no progress

9.  Bucilla Touch of Gold- no progress

10. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch- No progress

I am happy to have made progress on 6 of my 10 projects. It's hard finding the time to stitch on all 10! Maybe next month.

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

Happy Tuesday everyone! I have finished my fifth page on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle. I will move across to the Dragon's Lair now in the lower central part of the picture. It sure stitches up fast. My needles are flying through the Aida.

 Also I have done Pirate Wednesday and stitched more deck. I am about to stitch upwards and create the sails.

What cross stitching kits and patterns are lurking in your cupboard? I have decided to share my stash in a video on my YouTube channel. I hope you enjoy my goodies if you watch the video.

  Well that's it for today. Happy stitching... Jan x

Autumnal April...

Hello dear readers,

Autumn is slowly fading into our lives here in Tasmania, bringing with it a sense that Winter is not far off.  Reading a book, adorning a scarf and clearing away the Summer crops .  If you are like me, a good book is never far away. Elizabeth Gilbert's book The Signature of All Things is a delightful read telling a story filled with horticulture and botanics in a bygone era.

Autumn also brings with it an urge to stitch, stitch and stitch.  May I present, B is for Blackbird, a letter from the Prairie Schooler Alphabet.  Such sweet little pictures make up this letter.  I am stitching it in Zweigart Natural Linen 36 ct using two strands over two threads.

Next up, is C is for Cow. Happy stitching…

                                                              Jan x