Prairie Schooler Alphabet progress...

Hello stitchers,

It is time to update you all on the Prairie Schooler Alphabet cross stitch.  It drapes over me like a "lap rug" as I stitch in hand. That is not a bad thing as it as we are heading towards winter at a rate of knots here in Tasmania. The stitched piece is a biggie. It is currently 90cm wide and 40cm deep. I have a little over two blocks left to stitch on the second row then I will start on the third and final row.

N is for Nest is now completed. Those baby birds are adorable. Tweet tweet.

O is for Owl is complete. The main owl's eyes pop out of the piece. This block has an autumnal feel.

P is for Parrot is almost complete. The parrot's colour combination is heavenly gorgeous.

So here is the whole piece to date...

The Prairie Schooler Alphabet
Stitched two over two on 32t natural linen

Thanks for dropping by my blog...

                                               Jan x

My Slow WIPs...Turtle Trot SAL Update

Howdy lovely blog readers,

Turtle Trot SAL 2014
I signed up for the Turtle Trot SAL (Stitch-Along) run by BAP Attack at the start of the year.  This SAL is about nominating 10x WIPs to work on once per month and posting their progress on the 10th day of each month.  I was religiously doing the SAL every month until June 2014 when I made the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle my focus piece so I could finish it. As I live in Australia I have been posting on the 10th. I didn't realise until recently, there was a spot on BAP Attack's blog, to link my page back to the Turtle Trot SAL. I think this is because I was looking her blog too early living in Australia (it is the 10th when only the 9th across much of the world). So I have missed all of the link opportunities this year so will just have to do it again next year.

Now that I have finished the castle I can give some loving to some of my slower WIPs.  I hope you enjoy the before and after photos.

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
I have continued stitching on Block 2 this month which is an under the sea theme. The fish are very cute swimming amongst the seaweed.

Before:

After:

32 ct ivory linen two over two

2. I Love London by Historical Sampler Company
I have had fun stitching this border while travelling in October through New Zealand. This will be a January focus piece - I hope to finish the border and sew it into a pillow.

Before:

After:

32 count  white linen stitched two over two

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking

Hooray I have a finish! The stocking is now sewn together using a burgundy/black star cotton fabric. Everyone one in my immediate family now has a Shepherd's Bush Christmas stocking.  This is for my hubby. Let's hope Santa fills it with some gifts. 

After:

11ct linen stitched with No 5 Pearl cottons

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
I have shown this some loving recently and have stitched some more of the background. I am treating this as practice for my HAED (Heaven and Earth Designs pattern) I am starting on December 1st in the HAED SAL. The muted colours are so feminine.

Before:

After:

Stitched on 28ct mushroom even weave two over two

9. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch
No progress

10. Promises Kept by Dimensions

I also started stitching the two horses on this project. You can see a grey horse facing it's black horsey friend.

Before: 

After:

Stitched on 16ct Aida

Cross Stitch YouTube Update

It you enjoy FlossTube (cross stitch updates on YouTube) you can see my latest video about my finishes and WIP progress can be viewed here:

IT Help Needed
I am so frustrated with Google Plus! It is constantly converting my status when I comment on blogs. It converts me into a "no reply" commenter which means bloggers cannot reply to my comments as it has unlinked my email address. I am so sick of it I have stopped commenting on blogs as it takes me half an hour to change it back again. Anyone who has a simple way of converting it back please share!

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.

Before:

After:

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

Before:

After

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

Before:

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.

Before:

After:

 

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.

Before:

After:

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

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