Castle Progress. Almost there!

Progress over the last week:  the before photo is on the left and after photo is on the right

Great news. I have finally joined Instagram. My account name is: threadgarden  I have been posting lots of videos over at "FlossTube" (aka YouTube) also.  My channel is called: "Thread Garden".

How's your stitching week been?  

                                                  Jan x

Hello readers,

My anticipation is high this week as I come towards the end of cross stitching the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle.  Only a small section of the final page remains. I will of course have to tackle the back stitching then but that shouldn't take too long.

To remind you, it is stitched on light blue 16ct Aida.  Last week saw me add fish to the moat, water (in a pretty variegated thread) and seaweed.

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

Happy Saturday stitchers! My Saturday has suddenly had its plans all changed. Instead of scrapbooking with my friends I am stuck in bed with a virus and fever. Never-the-less I will enjoy the rest from everyday life and hopefully bounce back onto my feet soon. I have uploaded another stitching progress video to my YouTube channel, thread garden. It shows progress on my Bothy Threads Cut Thru' projects and the Prairer Schooler Alphabet. Enjoy! I stitched more on B is for Blackbird on the Prairie Schooler Alphabet with my friends on Thursday night. The top half of B is stitch heavy so hopefully it won't take so long to stitch the lower half.

My friend, Samra, agreed to let me post a photo of her project. She is stitching it on Antique White Zweigart 36 count linen, two over two. She is stitching 4x letters across by 7 rows. She has stitched the letter box (which is usually the last block but in this case her first), D is for Drum and E is for Embroidery. Don't you just love her blocks. Isn't her first block with the stitcher in the centre so pretty?

I hope you all get lots of stitching time in this weekend, Jan x

Weekly Roundup of cross stitching progress...

Big news here! I have finally bought a Qsnap needlework frame, the 11 inch size, after reading about so many stitchers using them.  I tried them for the first time on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle last night and I could see why everyone was raving about them.  I love how the frame holds the fabric taut and that I can rest it easily on my body to stitch two-handed.

Despite a busy week with daughter Mary's birthday and sadly a funeral, I have made stitchy progress on some of my cross stitch WIPs especially in the last 48 hours.  You can see my progress "LIVE" on the link below if you love videos:

YouTube Weekly Roundup #4 video link

Shepherd's Bush 2007 stocking
18 ct linen

On the Shepherd's Bush Christmas stocking, I have added the wise man's bottle of myrrh (I had to look up how to spell it LOL) he is holding. 

And I have completed the border on the Little House Needleworks "Bringing Home the Tree" Christmas ornament.  I only have a few details left in the main picture and it will be ready to sew up into an ornie. 

Little House Needleworks
Bringing Home the Tree
40ct linen

Thanks for wandering through my garden (with an umbrella as the weather is showery today)...

                                                                                    Jan x

Pre-Christmas Cross Stitching and Video!

Remember on my last post (here) I promised I would tell you about a new stitch I have started. Well here it is! 

My husband is the only family member without a Shepherd's Bush cross stitched Christmas stocking so I have started one. 

I have chosen a King/Wise man.  The colours are rich burgundy, greens, and golds adorned with delightful charms that include a sun, crown, whale, fish and beads.

I have just uploaded a Pre-Christmas video on YouTube you can view on the link below:

thread garden YouTube video

During the filming of this video Three Year Old Tom had lots of fun playing with his Shepherd's Bush Christmas stocking.

You can buy a similar pattern from this link here. I have stitched this one and love it!

Enjoy your weekend. I hope you have a happy one!

                                                                           Jan x



Weekly Cross Stitch Round Up with Video...

Hello Happy Readers,

How's your weekend treating you? I hope it is filled with lots of happy moments and time for you.

My hubby and I have been working happily in the garden this weekend. Now that it is Spring there is lots of weeding and mulching to be done. Being in the sun again has been good for our souls.

I have been making steady progress on three projects over the last week. So here are some piccies and a video link.

Shores of Hawk Run Hollow Block 1 is slowly growing. Since my last post here, I have added more rocks.  I am about 2/3 of the way through this block. 

I have finished one page of the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' castle and started backstitching.  I have also started another page which sits above the King's Chamber and shows the wall outline of the castle.  My heart does a happy dance whenever I stitch this. The pictures are just so fab, colourful and cute.

 

Last but not least, I have stitched more leaves on The Prairie Schooler Alphabet, L is for Leaves.  I am in total love with the stag!



Thanks for walking through my flower garden...

                                                                          Jan x

Bothy Thread Cut Thru Monday SAL...

I have made fabulous progress over the last week with my Bothy Threads Cut Thru' castle.  A big thanks to Linda for hosting this SAL!!!

As you can see I have stitched below the King's chamber and the Dragon's Den is forming including the Green and Red Dragon himself! What a fun picture is developing.  This first page of the pattern is almost finished. Due to your advice dear readers, I will attempt to backstitch as I go, hence I will backstitch this page once I have finished the cross stitch.

If you happened to miss my YouTube video from 10 days ago about my collection of Bothy Thread kits click on the link below:

 

thread garden's YouTube Video link

 

Have fabulous weekend! I am off to sunny and warm Sydney escaping the Spring cool of Tassie. Not much stitching will be had. I will have a lovely time with my husband who is attending a special awards ceremony to acknowledge the completion of specialist doctor training in obstetrics and gynaecology. Much work and sacrifice has been had to complete it over the last 7 years.

 

                                                                                                                                 Jan x

 



Cross stitch stash video!!!

Hello readers,

My 12 year old son, Jack gave me the most unusual but fabulous birthday last week - my own YouTube channel complete with a logo and music he had produced himself.

I cannot embed the video into this blog post for some reason so instead I will post the link if you want to view it:

    Click video link here!

 

I have never made a video using Movie Maker before.  It has taken me all day to make and edit it with lots of help from my children (who seem to know so much more about IT than their parents).

But I had lots of fun learning a new skill. 

I have based the video on my stash of Bothy Thread cross stitch kits.  The kits are fun and quirky so they are a good talking point for a novice video maker.

Featured in the video is the latest update on my Bothy Threads Cut Thru' castle which I am stitching as part of Linda's Bothy Threads Cut Thru Monday SAL.  I have made good progress on the page with less than a quarter left to stitch. The Dragon's Lair room is coming into view under the King's chamber.

 

 

I hope you get a good laugh out of my video. My husband and I cracked up at many points when watching it. I definitely need a more interesting backdrop next time and will have to practice talking without "ums" and "aahs" so I don't have to edit so much.

 

Thanks for visiting...

                           Jan x