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Saturday 12 March 2016

Nearly All Nearly All Finished.

Nooooo, not all my projects, just nearly all the ones I've been working on this week!  Does anyone else find that they don't want to show a photo when a project is very close to completion?  They'd rather save it until the next post?  Or is it just me?

Anyway, Lizzie*Kate Sampling Easter is nearly finished.  I've been stitching that one in my lunchbreaks at work.  I usually get 20 minutes break because I only work 5 hour shifts which is time for a coffee and a sandwich.  But as I've done four full days over the last week I got four full hours for lunch.

The L*K is stitched on 14 count aida.  I KNOW!  Aida!  The thing was, I wanted a nice bright yellow and didn't have any evenweave or linen of any shade of yellow other than pale lemon.  It's stiff and hard but the colour redeems it.

I'm using a Jodyri thread called Crystal Seas for the letters and random threads from my scraps bags for the motifs.

I have had my scraps bags organised since 2011 when I blogged about them.  So I guess some of you won't have seen them before.  Here's what I said back then:

These are my "scraps bags".  When I finish a kit I always have loads of thread left over and I just used to put it all in a large bag.  This year I spent time sorting it into colour groups and putting into individual bags.  Each length is on a piece of cut-up thread sorter.  I use spare cardboard as DIY thread sorters if the project doesn't come with one.  Even the threads which claim to be DMC colours go into this bag as I learned early on that things-are-not-always-what-they-seem-to-be.
Now when I need a thread for a small project I just go to the relevant bag and select a suitable colour.  There's usually only one length of threads from cover kits but from larger kits there is often half a skein leftover.



I have been stitching away on Just Nan's Counting Bats too, that's been my bathtime stitch.  I didn't want to take it into work because of the silks.  I proved myself right by accidentally leaving the L*K project bag in the staff room on Saturday,

Yesterday was the second Friday in the month which means Christmas stitching, specifically the Christmas Cubes by Primitive Hare.


I didn't stitch much on that one because I've been obsessed with Nora Corbett's E Fairy.  She is so close to finishing I am definitely not showing a full picture of her!  Here's a teaser of part I worked on during the day on Friday and another showing some of the beading I did on Saturday:


stitched on 32 count Murano Love-in-the-Mist from Crafty Kitten

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Many of you know Kim from Wisdom with Needle and Thread.  She does some lovely stitching and also make the most beautiful dolls, really they are more china figurines than "dolls".  This year she is celebrating a special Zero Birthday and has decided to do the same number of RAKs for followers of her blog.  So if you don't already follow her, click on the vintage birthday card above and find out what it's all about.

I've also got a special Zero Birthday this year, although not the same one as Kim.  Once the Easter Blog Hop is over I'll tell you all about my plans.  Clue - they involve you all participating!

Talking of the Easter Blog Hop, there is still time to sign up.  Just leave a comment saying you want to be a Picture Poster, that's all you have to do now.  Closer to Good Friday I will inform you of your letter which you post on your blog with a photo of something Easter or Spring themed.  There will be a list of participants here which everyone can follow to discover the mystery phrase the letter spell out.

Easter Treasure Hop






27 comments:

Vickie said...

That is EXACTLY how I think! I wait to show a picture when a finish is almost there. Your LK stitch is looking great.

Ariadne said...

The Fairy is gorgeous. Can you please clarify what's bathtime stitch?AriadnefromGreece!

Kerryp77 said...

Ooh that beading looks beautiful Jo, I always want to post pics when I'm close to a finish. I'm hoping the piece on my lap now will be done for GG. I keep the left over threads too, mine only end up in an icecream tub though and mostly unlabelled too.

Bea said...

Like your left over thread organization - most of mine are in little bags scattered through a few totes. Need to pull myself together! Love the letter fairy and your little hints.

Barb said...

As usual on your blog, lots of great stitching. I prefer linen too, but that yellow is just right for the design!

Anne said...

I know exactly what you mean about not mixing threads even if they are the same colour number! Hope to see the finished Fairy soon! Happy Stitching! :)

Mini said...

Yes I would also wait for the project to be finished and show a picture.I haven't worked on many kits,however I'm starting to save the threads of the few I have done.
Lovely stitching on the fairy piece.

Heather said...

Wow jo lots of great progress! I also have a big zero birthday coming up in...3 weeks? Eek!

Linda said...

Lovely stitching Jo.

Linda

Justine said...

Lovely update Jo - your yellow aida is nice and bright! I like stiff aida for a smaller stitch, I think it makes it easier to handle.

Preeti said...

Beautiful stitching!!
Not only when the project is nearing completion that I hate showing but even so for any kind of update. But when I have large projects running, I need to show the progress, else I won't feel motivated to stitch.

Julie said...

Lots of lovely things you have been working on this week. Lots of people seem to have zero birthdays this year.

Christine said...

I like your orphan thread storage system, mine are all just shoved in a bag together.
looking foprward to the big reveal on the E fairy

KimM said...

I'd rather wait until my design is done before I post anything. Thank you for posting about my birthday party. Looking forward to how you plan to celebrate yours!
xxx

EvalinaMaria said...

All looks good dear Jo. I would love to be part of your Easter blog hop.
Evalina, This and that...
and Random Act of Stitching Kindness

Jan said...

Yes I'm the same way when it comes to posting something that's almost done. If it takes me a couple extra hours or even days I'll wait till it's done. Zero Birthday?!?! You've got my curiosity peaked. ;-)

Rachel said...

Ooh, so close to finishing another NC letter - I'm eagerly awaiting the finished picture now! What a good idea for left over threads. Whenever possible I try to buy charts instead of kits but when I do have threads left over they get put on bobbins and into a box for my cockatiels to play with. Hours of fun! :)

Katie said...

Oh I can't wait to see the complete E. Just the pics you shared were gorgeous! Love your other stitching too. Great idea to sort your threads that way.

D1-D2 said...

I do the same when I'm nearly at the end of a project. Which is why sometimes my blog posts end up getting published towards the end of the week instead of at the beginning. Good tip of leftover threads from kits. I have noticed the same with pearl cottons from class kits. So I always put those aside and use them for small finishes.

jocondine said...

Nora Corbett Fairies are all gorgeous, the effect of transparency of wings is always so well done. I'm emailing to sign up for Easter Blog Hop right now. Bisous

Keebles said...

Great progress and yes, I do the exact same thing when I'm very close to finishing.

Lili said...

The yellow aida is really pretty! Beautiful stitching progress!!

Brigitte said...

I have a nice tin box where I keep all the leftover bits and pieces of threads from kits. And I use them all for my smalls, and as threads are so expensive here I use them up completely - up to the tiniest bit, lol.
Some lovely stitching has been going on here. And now I'm very curious to see your latest projects finished :))

Leonore Winterer said...

Great progress! I completely understand, I often postpone posting to just finish this one thing before...love the preview of your next fairy, can't wait to see her finished!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Beautiful stitching! I can't wait to see the "E" Fairy :D

Tiffstitch said...

Yes, I definitely save showing an almost-finish until it's finished unless I'm posting on WIP Wednesday. I love the sneak peeks of E and I hope to see the finish soon. Congrats on getting so much stitching in and I'd love to help out with the Easter blog hop. I emailed you instead of commenting I think.

Elfie said...

I love those fairies! Fairies and angels - I can never get enough of them. Yours are so beautiful.