Cross Stitcher's Diary

To the person trying to grab this blog's password

2007-08-10T14:24:00.000Z

Don't. I may not be adding to this blog but that doesn't mean that it is dead. I'm just having a hiatus, getting my life in order and having a well deserved holiday in Italy. Once I get my head straight I will start blogging again. Of course having just gained a place on a part-time MBA course might mean that the going will be slow for a while.

Out of Hospital

2006-08-31T11:35:00.000Z

I'm out of hospital but I'm still not back at work. It's giving me a chance to catch up with lots of stitching and knitting. Last night I went to meet up with the City Knitty crowd which was a really good night out and I did some knitting there because the City Cafe is too dark for stitching. I'm spending my afternoons in the Beanscene at Haymarket where I can stitch and watch the world go by in a really relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. With all the time I have to spend on stitching I'm catching on the schedule for the "Rose" cross stitch, but with all the aggravation, I am so far behind that there is no way it will be finished by the deadline. I hope my friend doesn't mind her birthday present being late.

Temporary Break

2006-08-20T20:47:00.000Z

Due to Jan being in hospital there is a temporary break in service. We hope to restore this service as soon as possible.

Eta
Rathgild's Husband

Grand Prix

2006-08-06T09:57:00.000Z

I'm making another attempt to watch the motor racing and stitching at the same time. It doesn't help that I have the live timing running on the laptop next to me. This of course is the same screen that everyone in the pit lane gets to see so my husband finds it funny when I say a driver has gone into the pits and then a few seconds later the one of the commentators repeats what I've said.

I'll let you know how I get on.

UPDATE

It was great motor racing - really exciting, first time ever that there was rain on race day in Hungary, first time in over a year that there had been a race in wet conditions, so it kind of levelled the field a bit, lots of really close racing, and at the end Jenson Button finally won his first race in F1.

On the stitching front, however, I think I managed FOUR WHOLE CROSS STITCHES. Yes that's four actual crosses of floss on the linen fabric in two hours. Motor racing and stitching do not it seems mix.

August Goal

2006-08-02T08:56:00.000Z

Notice the singular in the title. I have one goal this month, which is to complete the arch, the flowers and the front of the skirt of "Rose". I need to have this finished by the end of September so it's full steam ahead.

I'm also still waiting for the materials list of the Chatelaine Online Class which is due to start on the 1st September so I can start shopping for fabric, floss etc (that's the smell of my credit card melting).

But at the moment I'm in the must keep stitching mode and I have all day every day to work on projects as there is still no news as to when I will be allowed back to work.

I'm an idiot

2006-07-30T14:23:00.000Z

I thought that it might be a good idea to do some stitching whilst the German Grand Prix was on. Wrong! I now have to unpick the pitifully small bit of stitching that I managed because I can't count threads and lust after beautiful red Ferraris at the same time. It still looks as though it will be weeks rather than days before I'll be allowed back to work so it's not as though I don't have the time to get this completed.

"Rose"

2006-07-27T22:10:00.000Z

I managed a huge amount of stitching on "Rose" today, I've completed her hair and I've started work on the flowers that she is reaching up to. I still need to complete her other arm but I keep putting it off as there are fiddly half and three-quarter stitches. Of course, the bit of the arch I'm stitching is fiddly because there are lots of colour changes, but once I'm past the flowers it should get easier (I hope). I'm getting to the point where this is the ony piece I'm stitching, purely because of the limited timescale I have to finish this piece. Hopefully there will be a materials list for the new Chatelaine design soon so that I can start shopping.

Another start

2006-07-26T16:01:00.000Z

misty
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

Today was a busy day for me. I had a medical appointment this morning and then we had an appointment with the couples councellor this afternoon. I didn't want to take a complicated piece of work with me as I knew I would likely be stopping and starting etc. I took this one which is a very easy piece to do, plus as this is so like my neighbours' dog I'm going to adapt it to change the name and give it to them as a little pressie for being so nice.

Progress

2006-07-25T22:09:00.000Z

I actually did some stitching today! I was bored sitting in the apartment alone, so I bundled up a couple of knitting projects and some needlework into my big tote bag and caught a bus into town so that I could go and sit in the cafe at John Lewis. The coffee there is good and the staff aren't as rude as Starbucks. Found a table in a quiet corner and took out my stitching (I'd taken "Rose" with me). It seemed that very quickly my quiet corner became to focus of every old dear in Edinburgh as lots of lovely ladies came up and commented on the work I was doing, how fine it was, how neat, how skillful I was. It gave me a real boost but the small talk was a bit wearing on my frazzled nerves and of course it slowed down how much work I was doing. Anyway, I have the face and one arm complete, the other arm is half finished and I need to finish a little bit of her back and her hair, at which point I can start on the motif at the top of the arch. It's been good to stitch I feel as though I have done something positive in comparison to all the failures I've faced in trying to get my life in order, particularly with work. I am seriously wondering if I'm going to be allowed back, particularly after I told my line manager that I didn't trust her. I don't think that she understood where I was coming from so I'll probably need to invite her for coffee or something and try to rationalise a very emotive issue.

Still no stitching!

2006-07-21T23:18:00.000Z

At the moment I feel like I am fighting to save my job. I've been sent home as unfit to work even though my doctor says that I am fit to work, that work would be beneficial, and I'm not likely to do anything whilst at work. Given that I will still be paid (I hope) I could stay at home and stitch for a living, but that isn't what I want to do. I want to do the financial year end. I want to finalise the first year results. I want to be in my office doing my job because it gives me some satisfaction and focus rather than sitting at home whilst some catbert decides that they are more qualified than my GP to assess my mental state.

Personal Blog

2006-07-20T07:54:00.000Z

I'm sorry to the people who have been looking at stitching blog and getting upset at all the personal stuff here. I am only giving the barest details to say why I haven't been stitching. I really do want to try to keep the two separate but as with most things there are times when one thing or another dominates.

That's another day wasted

2006-07-19T00:06:00.000Z

If I carry on like this I won't have "Rose" by it's deadline. Of course, the overdoses and other suicide attempts are rather getting in the way of stitching, so it's not surprising that I'm already well behind on the targets for this month.

Must try harder.

Still no stitching

2006-07-17T23:21:00.000Z

I was at the hospital for most of the day after taking an overdose - the whole sorry saga is here. I've hit a point where nothing interests me and yet I want to do something. I'm also going from being fairly normal to hysterical tears and back to fairly normal at the slightest provocation. My husband can't cope with how depressed I am, and because this is all started from his having an affair he is shouldering all the responsibility, which in turn is (metaphorically) killing him. I can't remember the last time he was so unhappy, but at the same time I have to acknowledge that his infidelity is the cause of my unhappiness. It's all a mess and I can't see any way out of it.

2006-07-16T15:24:00.000Z

Following on from the last post I'm still really depressed over things that are happening, but I'm going to try to get some stitching done today to see if that will have any effect.

Bad Week

2006-07-15T08:56:00.000Z

I've had a really bad time this week as can be seen in my personal blog, so I really haven't done much stitching at all. On the plus side I've received the materials pack for the Chatelaine Medieval Town Mandala from the European Crossstitch Company which are beautiful. It almost seemed a shame to spoil the packaging but the temptation was too much. I've seen photos of this piece that people have been stitching and the colours looked lovely but having seen the threads in real life I have to say the the photos don't do them justice.

I'm away now to make pasta for a lasagna so I need to get the breakfast bar cleared as it the best place for rolling out the pasta into thin sheets.

Mackintosh Chair - Cross Stitch Completed

2006-07-11T19:44:00.000Z

Mackintosh Chair - Cross Stitch Completed
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

As I said bookmarks are quick to complete. All this needs is for the ends to be trimmed and hemmed and the backing felt to be attached.

Shopping

2006-07-09T01:25:00.000Z

Shopping
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

I decided that despite having more projects than I will ever have time to complete I needed more stash. So here is the latest haul.

To see more photos of the individual kits click on the photo to go to my flicker account.

Tree of Hope for New Orleans - 3 July 2006

2006-07-07T06:35:00.000Z

Tree of Hope for New Orleans - 3 July 2006
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

As can be seen, instead of doing the top right corner, I've been stitching the branches of the tree. I've also been doing the fiddly bits of wrought iron work that shows through the branches at the top. Even if I say so myself it's looking really good. I bought this pattern from Martina Weber purely because of the $12 it cost to buy $10 was to be given to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but this has been so nice to stitch that I've bought more of her patterns.

However, I need people to jump on me to remind me to stitch "Rose" because that's a birthday present and must be completed by mid September, and at this rate it will never be completed.

GOALS FOR JULY

2006-07-05T11:54:00.000Z

Last month was a complete disaster in terms of keeping to the plan, so most of last month's goals are being carried over to this month.

1. Stitch "Rose of Sharon" 3 days a week (complete torso, head and top of arch - not the skirt that I keep doing)
2. Stitch "Tree of Hope" 2 days a week (complete top corner motifs- not the tree which I keep doing)
3. Stitch "Chalk and Cheese" 1 day a week (alt with 4)
4. Stitch "Scoot" 1 day a week (alt with 5) (complete patchwork in top right corner)

I've given up looking through boxes for UFOs. I know that they are there and I know that they aren't going anywhere so why add to the burden of what needs to be done.

Graduations

2006-06-23T12:10:00.000Z

Yesterday we had graduations, followed by a wine reception, followed by going to the pub.... I celebrated with the students (as you do) and as a result was ever so slightly tipsy by the time I got home. Didn't stop me from stitching though. Progress was slow, not because of prior alcohol intake but because I was watching the highlights of the world cup football matches. So yet again I have to report that I haven't finished that corner on "tree of hope" but I have managed to get most of the top branches of the tree complete. I've come to the conclusion that I instinctively want to stitch with the lovely rich silk fibres rather than the usual stranded cotton. I'm on holiday for two weeks so I'll be able to do lots and lots of stitching.

2006-06-22T14:04:00.000Z

I've added a promote button for a list I've started on Yahoo groups. I know that there are lots of groups on Yahoo for needleworkers, but I have problems with some of them for various reasons. Firstly, yes it's really great to see various finishes and to know how projects are going along, but then to get 100 "wow that's lovely" posts followed by 100 "thanks" posts is a little too much. Secondly, I don't like being told off when I complain about my husband complaining about my stash - sometimes even the most loving husband is anything but darling. I also don't like being in environments were one religion of another is being given preference, if I wanted people to offer me prayers I'd join a Christian list, if I wanted energy sending I join a pagan list etc. There are a lot of lists out there that encourage practices that are in breach of copyright and I really don't approve of that either.

Anyway if you want a list where you can vent about disasters with people who understand please think about joining the list. I've made it easy for you by putting a link in the sidebar on the left.

2006-06-19T23:56:00.000Z

I work at a University and tomorrow I'm going to be so rushed off my feet with the exam board that I decided tonight I was just going to put my feet up and stitch. Remember I was going to finish the torso and arm of "Rose", well all I can say is that this is the piece I was stitching. Trouble is I spent the time stitching more of the skirt. One of these days I will stitch to the plan. "Tree of Hope" is coming along nicely. All the special stitches in the top edge of the frame have been completed. The left top corner has been completed with the exception of the beadwork and I've done a bit more of the top right corner.

There is one other major problem. Martina Weber of Chatelaine has given the preview of the next online class, due to start in September and I've signed up already. I know I'm a masochist but the design is wonderful as can be seen on the bulletin board here. I want the materials list so I can get everything ready to start.

Bookmark - Finished Piece

2006-06-18T17:28:00.000Z

Bookmark - Finished Piece
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

A short happy dance for this little finish. I need to get a tassle for the bottom and sew on the felt backing.

Detail of Corner Scrollwork - 15 June 2006

2006-06-15T19:55:00.000Z

Detail of Corner Scrollwork - 15 June 2006
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

Here's a closer look at the top left corner of "Tree of Hope". There are still a few little bits to complete on this - a couple of special stitches, a little bit of back stitching in gold braid and some beading. I'm determined that I will complete this and the other top corner by the end of the month and I will, if only I could stop stitching the tree!

Tree of Hope for New Orleans - 15 June 2006

2006-06-15T19:45:00.000Z

Tree of Hope for New Orleans - 15 June 2006
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

This is the "Tree of Hope" that is trying to take me away from "Rose of Sharon". The threads are really lovely and the varigated silk that is used for the Rhodes stitches in the border is absolutely stunning. By the end of the month I want to have the top right scrollwork as complete as the top left and the top edge of the frame complete. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

2006-06-15T11:24:00.000Z

So much for the targets!

I've stitched quite a bit of the "Tree of Hope" but only a very small amount of the "Rose of Sharon". I'm on a tight schedule with "Rose", but "Tree" is more satisfying to stitch right now. Last night I didn't do any stitching as I was too tired after work, but earlier, during my lunch break, I did about half of the backstitch on the Celtic jewel bookmark. Hopefully, I can complete that during today's lunch break. Tonight I'll take photos of the current work and post them up.

GOALS FOR JUNE

2006-06-04T21:51:00.000Z

As I'm getting tardy with what I stitch and when, I've decide to set myself some goals, so here goes

1. Stitch "Rose of Sharon" 3 days a week (complete torso, head and top of arch) Failed miserably
2. Stitch "Tree of Hope" 2 days a week (complete top corner motifs) Failed but did a whole lot of the tree
3. Finish "Celtic Jewel" bookmark Done
4. Stitch "Chalk and Cheese" 1 day a week (alt with 5) (finish one mouse completely) Only just failed
5. Stitch "Scoot" 1 day a week (alt with 4) complete patchwork in top right corner) Failed miserably

That seems to be enough to be going on with. As we go though the boxes that are still to be unpacked after the move I'm finding other UFO's so I'll be getting those bundled together and adding them to the rotation.

WIP - Mirabilia "Rose of Sharon" 11 May 2006

2006-05-15T09:00:00.000Z

WIP - Mirabilia "Rose of Sharon" 11 May 2006
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

This is a new piece that I started on 7th May. I've done a fair bit already and you can start to see the definition of the bodice and the bustle. The centre point guides are now pretty useless so these have since been taken out of the fabric.

WIP 1-May-06 - Julie Hasler Needlepoint Cat

2006-05-03T00:15:00.000Z

WIP 1-May-06 - Julie Hasler Needlepoint Cat
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

This is the Julie Hasler Cat Cushion I've been working on. As you can see it's almost complete. The main area to be finished is in a single colour and there are a couple of odd stitches in the tail and paw that need to be filled in.

2006-05-02T08:32:00.000Z

I've been so busy stitching that I haven't had time to update. However I do have some more photos of Chalk and Cheese, which is coming along nicely, and I have almost completed one of the needlepoint cats. I'm in the process of uploading photos from the camera so there should be more to see soon.

Chalk & Cheese WIP After 8 Hours

2006-04-20T20:00:00.000Z

Chalk & Cheese WIP After 8 Hours
Originally uploaded by Rathgild.

Here's an update on the Chalk and Cheese cross stitch kit. I've spent about 8 hours on it at this point and have most of the body of one mouse complete. The weird gap in the darker shade on the back is where the nose of the other mouse will be stitched.

The background fabric is white but I took this picture without flash under artificial light so it looks quite orangy. There are some other pictures taken in natural light on my flickr site where you can see the natural colours.

2006-04-15T01:34:00.000Z

It's taken a long time but I'm now stitching again. Nothing particularly big as I want to get some finishes fairly quickly.

I've bought this Chalk and Cheese kit from Sew and So and I'm taking a picture after each hour's work to chart my progress.

2005-06-14T19:48:00.000Z

Sorry to say I've not been doing any stitching. My mother died of lung cancer and I spend the last days of her life sitting with her around the clock and stitching. Every time I pick up a piece of work I start crying. Bear with me, I'm sure I'll get over this at some point.

2003-11-15T22:30:00.000Z

Well I'm stitching away. I have started four other projects. The first one is a small picture that I'm doing as a christmas present. It's at 18 count so is quite fine. One of my friends said it was a large picture masquerading as a small one. There were times when I though she was right. The second is an even smaller picture as the same count, so again it's actually a bigger project than it looks. That was finished and is waiting to be framed, again it was done as a gift for someone. The third project is a head of Buddah. This is a kit from a Thai company but after starting I found that some of the threads were missing so I am waiting to get replacement threads from the company before I do any more. Finally the fourth is a rather large piece of needlepoint done on 10 point canvas. The nice thing about this one is the way it builds up quite quickly and the fact that being larger makes it easier on my eye, so it makes a nice break from tiny cross stitching.

2003-09-10T13:03:00.000Z

Oh My God!

I just realised that I haven't updated this blog in over a year. That was very naughty of me I know but there has been so much going on in my life that it has honestly been the last thing on my mind.

I need to do a review of what I have done in the line of stitching and all the stash I have bought. I've started a community on Livejournal which I will add into the links page when I get a minute.

I promise I will get on top of this but it takes me away from my stitching (well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).

2002-09-09T13:34:00.000Z

Sunday was a good day's stitching. I've still not completed the left wing, but I have completed a large section of the cape on the left side.

I keep promising myself that the next time I pick up the stitching I will complete the wing but there is always another bit that looks as though it needs to be done first. I know that I am just putting off the inevitable, and I will get it done some time soon.

I also keep thinking that I should make an attempt on some of the other pieces, but perhaps I should wait till I get bored with my angel.

2002-09-03T15:54:00.000Z

Okay I confess I still haven't completed the other wing, but I have done a large chunk of it. I've also completed most of her face and hair. The incomplete bits will be finished off in beadwork, when I get around to doing that, which will probably be one of the last jobs I do and there is a long way to go yet before I'm at that stage.

2002-08-26T13:52:00.000Z

My partner has been for a visit this week and because he needs to gain access to the computer to check his email and the like it gives me time to stitch where I would otherwise be looking at the screen. I have managed to complete a section of the neckline on the Angel of Love gown. This in turn has allowed me to start working on the other wing. If I carry on like this I anticipate that I will have both wings complete by the end of next week. Of course, then it will start to look as if I am getting somewhere with this one even if I am only doing small amounts each time.

This does, however lead into the debate of how to define complete for beading. Do I bead a section after it's stitching is complete or I wait until all the cross stitch is complete and do all the beading together?

Decisions. Decisions.

2002-08-16T15:53:00.000Z

I am going to a beer launch tonight straight from work. I usually find that when I am at these events I get a good chance to do some stitching because people want to speak with the brewers and I am just there as moral support for the brewery. With a bit of luck I'll get a free drink too.

2002-08-13T16:06:00.000Z

I spent a bit of time today on Angel of Love. The error has been unpicked and a few more threads worked in. I have very mixed feelings about this piece. In one respect I really like the challenge of doing such a complicated piece but on the other hand I am frequently only working three or four stitches in one colour before I have to change thread, not to mention that there are whole sections that will be finished off in bead work, that I'm currently stitching around.

It will be beautiful when it is finished.

2002-08-06T11:25:00.000Z

Angel of Love is coming along quite nicely though I am going to have to undo some stitched because I have misaligned them by one threads. It's only four or five stitches so it's not too much hassle. I hope that I will be able to get a photo to keep a record of how fast (or slowly) I am working on this one.

I have had a disaster. Some of the unused wools for the tapestry cushion have gone missing. For some colours this is not a problem as the areas are separated, so slight colour variation won't show. However, the ground colour is the main one to go missing and as a result there may be a lot of unpicking and restitching. I'm going to have to have a serious sort through the stash box to see if I can find the wools before I do that though.

I'm spending time at work stitching now and it's amazing how much you can do in an hour if you get some peace and quiet. Of course, when people get used to coming into your office at certain times and find you are stitching you suddenly find that they start to give you the peace and quiet anyway, they just start asking you about the stitching when you are trying to get on with work, which is much nicer.

2002-07-30T15:47:00.000Z

Never underestimate the power of a long train journey to get you stitching. I managed to get about three hours work done on the Angel of Love, though it didn't actually look as though I had done much because I think most of the time was spent finishing off one thread, finding the next colour and starting the new thread. Each colour was only used for a few stitches so it was fairly hard going.

I should know better than to take fiddly patterns on train journeys.

2002-07-19T19:36:00.000Z

Well it is 8:30 pm and I am still at work so I doubt very much that I will be doing any stitching tonight.

So much for getting my butt into gear.

Ho hum!

2002-07-18T17:09:00.000Z

This is not so much a blog as a diary of what cross stitch work I am doing. I hope that by having to update regularly where I am upto with my projects that it might actually encourage me to get some of them completed. However it is also possible that pigs will sprout wings and fly first.

I have several projects on the go at any given time. Currently the main projects are:

A tapesty cushion of a siamese cat, for Julie Hasler's "Needlepoint Cat" Book

A counted cross stitch of Lavender and Lace's "Angel of Love", and

A counted cross stitch of Lavender and Lace's "White Lace".

These are all fairly big projects that I expect to take quite some time.

I also have a number of smaller projects that I sometimes work on it I am travelling on a bus or train, where a larger piece would be inconvenient.

It is unlikely that I will be doing any stitching tonight because I am in the process of upgrading the various computers, but I will fully describe each piece as I record the work I do on it.