IHSW

Here's the latest progress on Baby Swing:

The pale green backstitch is all in metallic DMC Jewel effect 703.   The flowers on the hat are straight stitches over a cross stitch in 1 base.

Here's the second project I've been working on - edited for internet security!!  I always stitch a small sampler at the end of term for the large boy's teacher/s.  I try to make it tie with their special interests and this year the teacher made it really easy - she's a big Bagpuss fan!  For my international followers who may be unaware of the saggy old cloth cat here's a useful link - http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/bagpuss/

The Bagpuss chart came from an old edition of Cross Stitcher magazine (Aug 2002) and the nice little border was from a more recent issue.  Alot of people have been criticising the magazine just lately for being more about sewing and craft rather than straight cross stitch.  Personally I would rather see more needlework if they want to diversify rather than sewing and felt craft.  I have found there are less projects I want to stitch and the free gifts are not really me but it is useful as a "design library".  This is not a very good scanned picture so doesn't do the patches justice.

The Gift of Stitching Magazine

I've been debating subscribing for this online magazine and this month there is a special offer of 3 issues for US$3 which has made my mind up!  The free sample looked good and for that price there is nothing to lose really.  I was halfway through filling in the form when I saw the "Tell a Friend" space.  Now, I know I first saw it on someone's blog but who's I do not remember!  So the first person to tell me they have the link on their blog (and I will check :-)) will get their name put in that space and get a free month added to their subscription.

Stitching wise it's been Nimue all week, I love this design it's so cute and really quick!  Daytime my project is the saggy old cloth cat Bagpuss for the large boy's class teacher.  His Maths teacher is getting numbers on her sampler.  I gave the large boy a piece of paper and asked to draw the numbers 0 - 9 and the symbols + - X / in a random fashion then I charted them.  He will choose the colours too.  I see a bright future ahead as a Mother-and-son designing duo!