Around the World Blog Hop and Finish!

Hi everyone,

The lovely Sarah in Stitches nominated me to write do the Around the World blog hop.  I met Sarah online about 2 years ago. She is the first person I have ever known who lives in Dubai.  I love that our cultures, landscapes and weather can be so different but we can still connect through our hobby - cross stitch. We are not so different after all. 

I live in Hobart Tasmania, a small island off the mainland of Australia. It has a harbour and is overlooked by a beautiful mountain covered in snow (even though we are only a month off Summer)! 

The view from my home of the River Derwent with the Tasman Bridge.

What am I working on?

If you have been following my blog and YouTube channel  (Thread Garden") for a while, I know you are going to all immediately say the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle. It seems to be my signature piece. I cannot say I am working on it anymore, as I proudly put the final back stitch in it yesterday. I have to now wash it and then sew on  three gold stars before getting it framed.

Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle stitched on 16ct light blue Aida

So now I am going to madly work on other WIPs before the HAED SAL (Heaven and Earth Designs Stitch Along) and Mirabilia SAL starts in December and January respectively. The  projects that will receive focus are a fairy WIP called Touch of Gold by Bucilla - see below. 

Bucilla "A Touch of Gold" stitched on 28ct "mushroom" even weave

My new signature piece for my blog and channel will be the Prairie Schooler alphabet.

Prairie Schooler alphabet stitched on natural linen 36ct using DMC threads

How does my stitching differ from others?

There are so many different designers and styles of cross stitch out there that my work differs because of the designs I choose. I think I have eclectic tastes loving samplers to fantasy designs, fairies to traditional. I also love typographical designs.  I sometimes change a few colours when I stitch a design or don't follow the instructions 100% so that makes my work unique. Also I might finish them in a different way than the designer might have suggested.  

Why do I create what I do?

Like other women in my family we cannot keep still. I always like to be busy and keeping my hands busy allows my mind to escape and relax. I would find life very boring without cross stitch.. 

How does my stitching  process work?

I stitch for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours per evening. As I am a mum of three children I can only occasionally stitch time during the day (mostly weekends or school holidays). I am a member of two delightful stitching groups so have local stitching friends which is an asset. When I am not working I am often thinking of cross stitching, looking at it online or daydreaming about it. 

Unfortunately I could not find any recipients to pass the banner onto so to speak. If you haven't done this tag consider yourself nominated. If you do it, tell me and I will come over and check it out. 

Happy stitching...

                     Jan x 

A Finish and A Castle Update...

Hi everyone,

I have a finish!  I enjoyed sewing charms and beads onto my hubby's completed Shepherd's Bush Christmas stocking last night. This is the 2007 "Brett" stocking.  It is my fifth SB stocking I have stitched and one of my favourites.  My hubby is delighted.  He enjoys the religious story of Christmas, so stitching a King rather than a Santa was perfect for him.  The robe is stitched in the most gorgeous rich Weeks Dye Work threads.  The stocking is stitched on 11ct natural linen over 2 threads.

I will now take the stocking into my local needlework shop who will sew it into a stocking. I sewed two of them into stockings myself previously, but wasn't 100% happy with the second one I did. I am now happy to offload that part of the project.   When the stocking is complete I will post a photo of it with the others.

It is time for a Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle update also. I am so close to finishing it that it isn't funny. Probably only 3-4hours of backstitching left.  I have been surprised at how much I have enjoyed the backstitching.

There are so many funny characters in this design which keeps me entertained as I stitch.  Like the man reading the news on the toilet, the poor old fellow in the catapult and the bird almost struck by a wayward arrow.

Happy stitching all...
                        Jan x

The First Row is Complete!

Hi everyone,

 The last few weeks has seen my family and I travelling through New Zealand. What fun it was to ski, jet boat and adventure in that awesome land. Snowy mountain peaks seemed to be everywhere on the south island. I adored trekking around the township of Hobbiton, featured in the movie The Hobbit. I want to go back to that place where cottage and veggie gardens and quaint antique garden furniture adorn the little hobbit holes! I have put together a little photo collage of Hobbiton for you. 

Today I have uploaded a little video featuring me on a flying fox at Lake Tekapo in NZ. The video also shows my latest cross stitch haul. I hope you enjoy it!




 I was very happy to put the last stitch in I is Indian today. This is block number 9 of the Prairie Schooler Alphabet. This means that I have finished the first row! I started this project late January 2014. I am hoping to finish it by the end of next year. It is stitched on 36 count raw Belfast linen 2 over 2 using mostly the recommended DMC threads.

The next block, J is for Jack O'Lantern is perfect timing for Halloween! Happy stitching all..

 ...Jan x

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.

Time for a WIP update!

Hello readers,

Since my last post, I received Happy Mail from Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  I won the Easter Blog Hop.  Jo sent me a gorgeous handmade Goody Bag filled with delicious Jodyri hand dyed Thread and a chocolate. Thanks Jo for bringing a smile to my face! I don't have any Easter themed stitching so she enhanced my stash with a delightful Easter pattern also (not in photo).

The Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle is stitching up fabulously. I only have a page and a little left then will finish it with the backstitching. I am trying to focus on this so I can finish it very soon.  I am currently stitching the cellar and the cell.  The prisoner is about to make a jail-break so that will be a fun part of the pattern to stitch! Such a story is told in this design.

The Prairie Schooler Alphabet is going well also! This is an inspiring stitch done on natural 36 ct linen. In the photo I have almost finished G is for Garden (which is now finished).  Next up is H is for Honey. Also pictured below are some finished blocks, E is for Embroidery and D is for Drum.

Gosh cross stitch is exciting! So many patterns to enhance my stash and to start. I couldn't help buying three patterns in the latest Heaven and Earth Designs sale naughty me.  Did anyone else succumb? I have to stop myself.  Right, stitch those WIPs then move onto the next pattern.  I am being v e r y  s t r o n g.

Happy stitching until next time...
                                             Jan x

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

2014 WIPocalypse May Update

Hello stitchers,

 I have decided to include another of my projects in my WIPocalypse list. I am moving Prairie Schooler alphabet from my Turtle Trot project list to WIPocalypse. I cannot stop stitching on it so I figure it is moving faster than a turtle and should be moved up ranks. I have just finished "D is for Drum"and made a start with "E is for Embroidery". This block will be so pretty with a lady stitching a floral embroidery in a frame. The frame is what you can see.

I have had fun adding the tower to the side of the castle in this Bothy Threads Cut Thru'. It's progressing pretty fast all up. I have almost finished stitching my sixth page.

Promises Kept by Dimenesions The Gold Collection is only just clinging to my list as I have lost so much motivation with it. I really must pull my finger out and give it more time! I have stitched more on the elephant this month. I know it is a lovely stitch but I need lots of concentration to stitch it as the colours are blended at times and the chart is hardish to read.

If you would like to view my stitching in more detail, you can check out my video below showing my progress:



As part of the monthly WIPocalypse update we are asked to answer the following questions:What designs or themes do you really wish you could find?  What do you think is missing among stitching designs?  I would more  cross stitch patterns featuring  characters from books, words, typography or maps. I recently purchased this pattern  featuring classic book spines. This style of cross stitch is right up my alley. More like that would appeal to me.

Thanks for viewing and happy stitching...
                                                        Jan x 

May Turtle Trot 2014

Hello lovely stitchers.

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  This is my May update.  I hope you like following my progress. This Turtle Trot allows me to focus on a few WIPs each month. I am one happy girl for signing up to this SAL.

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

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS

I am so close to finishing this block it isn't funny! Only the word "may" and five birds left to complete it. It will definitely be finished by the next update.  Maybe I will make a start to block 2 at my next post also.
Before:

After:

2. I Love London
I stitched the yellow D this month. A double decker bus is next up!

Before:

After:

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
I only managed a small row of zig zag stitching below the sheep this month.

Before

After:

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau 
I stitched some more letters - n, n and e.

Before:

After:

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
I stitched more of the curtain in the room with the Christmas tree.

Before:

 

After:

6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug - no progress this month

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet
D is for Drum is almost finished. Just some stitching left on the drum and some backstitch on the vine then I am onto E is for Embroidery.

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

There you have it - 6/10 worked again this month.  Not sure what month I will find the time to stitch on all ten! 

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x