Shy Fairy Embroidery and Potions, Brews, and Spells

Hi, everyone! I hope you are enjoying the week so far. In Alabama, at least in the Mobile and Baldwin counties, we are enjoying a break from work for Mardi Gras. I have been crocheting and stitching on my break :)

I started my Shy Fairy embroidery project last Friday as my Frolicking Friday project. The kit came with some lovely soft DMC colors. Last Friday I was able to finish stitching the little fairy.

Yesterday was my 'Frolicking Friday' since I wanted a full day of stitching on my day off instead of my normal Friday of maybe two hours of stitching total.

I was able to finish up my Shy Fairy embroidery. She turned out quite cute :) I need to go by the craft store and buy a wooden hoop to display her in.

I'm sorely tempted to buy the other kits by Tamar Nahir-Yanai, but I know I have some small cross stitch patterns that I could kit up to work on when I can't see to work on my main WIP, Potions, Brews, and Spells.

After finishing up my Shy Fairy embroidery project, I stitched a bit on Potions, Brews, and Spells. I finished another row of the letters, stitched up a row of specialty stitches, and started on the motif around the word 'Halloween'.

I tried to practice the queen stitch to no avail. I just can't wrap my brain around it for some reason. It just looks wonky no matter how many times I stitch it.

So my plan is leave that stitch alone until the end......if I still can't get it, I'll just think of some other stitch to put in its place.

I hope everyone is having a good time Frolicking this week on their projects :)

Until next time ^____^

My Seventh Frolic for 2017...

.... involved a little bit of creative timing because, as seems to be the case so often, I was quite busy on Friday.  There were lots of errands to run during the day and in the evening TraderVic and I were off to see the first Heidelberg Theatre Company (HTC) play of the season, "Australia Day" (which was quite funny and satirical in parts).  So, I fudged a little and started my FF on Thursday and then snatched a little bit of time on Friday arvo.

I also fudged as to what I stitched because despite having lots and lots and lots of WIPs and UFOs that need attention my needles felt the pull of this LHN new start....   (no, this is not my finish - this is the sample photo).

Here is mine:

After Friday Frolics.

I am stitching it on 32 count grey and white-spotted fabric using my own choice of specialty threads.  

I then kept stitching on it over the weekend and managed to get quite a bit more done.

So, hoping to have a finish on this one very soon.

hugs, Kaye

Bohemian Finish and a Halloween Start

Hi, everyone! I finished my Bohemian Paisley embroidery last Saturday. I tried to wash the fabric to get rid of the ink, but alas it is permanent. My next project is Potions, Brews, and Spells by Cherished Stitches. On Sunday I had ironed my fabric and stitched two numbers to get started so when Friday rolled around I wouldn't have to fuss with getting the fabric ready.

By the end of last night's stitching, I had stitched an entire row and was hoping to complete the queen stitch between the 'T' and 'Z' row, but I'm hopelessly confused on how to stitch the queen stitch despite the diagram at the back of the Just Cross Stitch magazine that has this pattern in it.

I think two factors are aiding one another to thwart me: the high stitch count (35ct....which is high for me as I usual stitch on 32ct or less) and the dark color of the fabric. Neither of the photos show the color exactly. It's 35ct dolphin by Week's Dye Works.

How do ladies/gents work on higher stitch counts than 35?!?!? It boggles my mind!

After stitching yesterday I realized that despite my Ott light, I need to invest in a magnifier because I am having a hard time seeing the stitches. Also in order for me to figure out the queen stitch, I need to pull out a scrap of linen with a lower stitch count and practice......a linen I can actually see! LOL

Anyway, I hope you guys had a good Friday Frolic :)

Until next time ^___^

My Sixth Frolic for 2017

Well, despite having to snatch some time in the afternoon to stitch (in between coffee with the girls and then a fun shopping expedition and lunch with the girls at Greensborough Shopping Plaza - most successful!) and a double date with my dear friends, Linda and Terry (dinner and a movie, Fences), I actually managed to get lots done on this week's randomly selected WIP/UFO.... 

Singin' in the Spring.....

Before photo (sorry about the very picture the lighting was very poor):

After (this photo is much better and the colour is truer):

Well, that is all from me for this week.

Hugs, 

Kaye

P.S. I am hoping to steal more time this weekend and maybe have a finish by Sunday evening????? Fingers crossed!

Barbara from The Flashing Scissors 2017 #2

Last Friday night I stitched a few projects!

I worked on a small Tote bag for me - for my knitting - which I am aiming to write about soon over at my place! I had wanted to finish the bag as a "Friday Finish", but when I realised I had totally missed the target I picked up this Rosebud pattern again. 

This was where I started again this year:

"Rosebud" - from Jane Greenoff's book -

 "55 Country Cross Stitch Charts"

Once again, I've been tempted by another gadget ..... which is now helping me to stitch a tiny bit quicker!

Previously I had been using a basic circular hoop, but I found gripping the frame, and turning it back and forth as I stitched, was making my hands and wrists hurt!

I'm really pleased with this new hoop (I expect most of you will have seen one before). It is attached to its own stand, and is the type you place on your seat, and sit upon ..... then hence have both hands free, which makes such a difference ..... the frame turns back and forth easily (but not too easily!) when needed, as one pushes the needle through the fabric!

Since my previous post I've finished the blue flowers, and started stitching the leaves around them, and made some progress on the leafy area above the rose! 

Are you joining in with Jo's "Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop"?

During the week I've been working on my project for the hop, which I can't share yet, of course ..... (for details about Jo's blog hop click HERE). I had meant to post this sooner, but Jo needed to receive our photos today, and I only just made it!!!!! so I didn't have time for blogging this week.

I'm looking forward to seeing who is joining in at the Blog Hop on Tuesday! See you there!

Happy Stitching everyone!

Hugs,

Barbara x

Noni's February Post #1

Where did January go?  February is 6 days in already... oh my goodness..... time is speeding away as usual!

I am back again today to show you what I was stitching on for Friday night.  I had planned to bring out my Faces of Joan Elliott again... but I got side tracked by the Frosted Pumpkin's Happily Ever After SAL!!

I managed to get a little bit more of the side border done and more of the pussycat.  I have changed the border to a Dinky Dyes thread called "Kalamunda".  There is a sentimental reason for using this thread... but you will have to read about it on my blog :o)

February's square is out now and is quite a small one so hopefully I will get both January and February done this month!

Til next week... happy stitching!

My Fifth Frolic for 2017...

Hmmm! Not as much progress as I would have liked yesterday, as TraderVic and I went to a Twilight concert at the Zoo to see the Hoo Doo Gurus, a band from the '80s.

It was a perfect evening for sitting listening to fun music, with good friends and a glass of prosecco in hand!

As the evening drew in, a colony of bats flew overhead - rather spooky!

(Sorry for the poor quality of the video - it is better if you enlarge it)

Anyway, here is my Friday Frolic piece.... 

The Village Alphabet by Cross My Heart Inc.

I last posted about this on my main blog, Kitten Stitching in June last year, when the pattern first arrived from an online needlework shop.

 Cross Stitch Stash, who specialise in Vintage, Out of Print and Hard to Find charts.

So, this is where I was up to ....

... and my progress after some Friday afternoon stitching...

Any stitching is good stitching, I say, and I am planning on stitching some more on this piece over the weekend.

Have a great stitching weekend, everyone,

hugs, Kaye