June WIPocalypse update...

Hello happy stitchers,

My needles are still warm from all of the stitching I have done on my two main projects (my WIPocalypse stitcheries) over the last few weeks. The full moon has come and gone and I am late posting. Sorry!

 The Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle is sporting a tower and staircase (on the left side of the cross stitch). I have almost finished my sixth page so am two-thirds finished.

The Prairie Schooler Alphabet has become my other WIPocalpyse project.  I have almost finished the 6th letter, F is for Friend.  Such a sweet block featuring two ladies holding hands between their neighbouring homes. Only 21 letter blocks left after this one (yes, I can count - there is a 27th block at the end of the alphabet so that it can be stitched in 9x3 format).

 If you would like to see and hear me chat about these two projects, you can view the video below from my thread garden YouTube channel:

 

Measi, who hosts WIPocalypse  posts a question every month to answer on our blog post. This month's question is:  Have you ever been to a stitch gathering such as a retreat or a festival? 
I have been to plenty of scrapbooking and quilting retreats but never a stitching one. Maybe one day! 

Thanks for coming by my garden...
                                                  Jan x

June Turtle Trot update...

I am definately late for this posting! There has been so much on, particularly with my 15yo daughter's  school and future pathway planning meetings about school next year. She will be in Year 11 in 2015, which means a change in school and the studies suddenly become more serious. Yikes! Since when did my daughter get so old?

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  This is my June update.  I hope you like following my progress. This Turtle Trot allows me to focus on a few WIPs each month. 

Since May 10th, I have made progress on three of the ten projects on my list.  I am really happy with the progress (despite only working on 3x WIPs) as I finished Block 1 of my first project, The Shores of Hawk Run Hollow.

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS

Hooray! Block one is completed and I sure do love it. My 4yo boy, Tom loves the lighthouse a lot!

Before:

After:

2. I Love London by Historical Sampler Company
I have stitched up the double decker bus! It is the last picture in this scene. Now for the fun border.

Before:

After:

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
I stitched more on the buildings and the border below the sheep.

Before:

After:

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau 
No progress

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
No progress
6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug
No progress

7. Country House Needleworks Santa's House

No progress

8.  Bucilla Touch of Gold
No progress

9. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch
No progress
10. I movedAlpThe Prairie Schooler Alphabet out of this Turtle Trot into my major project list. 

If you like videos, then here is part 1 of a video I have filmed for my YouTube channel "Thread Garden" which features some of the above projects. Part 2 featuring the other WIPs will be up on my channel very soon.

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

Stitching fun...

Hi stitchers,

I have been working more during school hours over the last few weeks, giving school children immunisations. I have had a less time for blogging as a result -sorry! I am sure the children liked seeing my face at their schools - NOT!

Also there has been no end of drama with our boys in our household recently with Tom (my 4yo) breaking a bone in his forearm (at the supermarket of all places) and 13yo Jack being sick with pneumonia. Luckily both boys are improving now.

I have had loads of fun stitching on both of my main projects.  The Bothy Threads Cut Thru' castle is progressing well.  I love the tower which I am stitching.  A stair well is next up in the tower.  I bought  a washable pen to try marking the 10x10 squares to make it a little easier to stitch (especially so I don't muck up the counting).   I have 3 1/2 pages left and counting (plus all the backstitching of course).

The Prairie Schooler Alphabet has been growing. I have almost finished stitching E is For Embroidery. What a pretty block that one is the a pretty cross stitched embroidery in a frame with a pretty lady, scissors, needle and cotton reels adorning the block.  Just another 2 hours of stitching left then I am starting F is for Friendship.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today...

                                                      Jan x