Giveaway and more Baby Swing

First things first - Bev has moved her Wee Stitchy Blog to Wordpress.  I can't say I blame her, it's been over a month now and Blogger still isn't right plus there is Radio Silence from the officials.  Anyway she's having a giveaway to welcome people to her new home here.

Here's the latest on Baby Swing:

There's one more leaf to go in at the end of that liana on the right and the flowers need some long-stitch on top of the cross stitches.  Then I have some metallic backstitch to do in apple green (or the closest I have in my stash). And finally the swing ropes.  These are tricky!  You take 4 strands of 2 different colours, come up at one point then a long straight stitch down another, then you fix them using a "surget point" in a 3rd colour.  At the rope ends you cut all 6 strands off on the front of the fabric to make a frayed rope end. The instructions are half in English and half in French so you have to read very carefully and look at the picture ALOT.
The symbols are quite confusing too, there are a set of symbols for DMC in 2 strands and a different set for DMC in 1 strand.  However the wings are stitched in 2 strands but half stitches and sometimes the symbol is found in the 2 strand section and sometimes in the 1 strand.  The half stitches are clever, the left hand wing they go \\\\ and the right hand wing they go //// which is a lovely effect.
I also substituted the flesh tones, they suggest 3825 and 3856 which frankly are orange.  I subbed 758 and 950 which usually go with 3064 and 951 on most other skins I've stitched.
The designer was very helpful when I emailed her to ask what colour the metallic No 25 is, so when I've finished stitching I'll email her a pic with my comments.  And hope she's not offended!!   It really is the most beautiful stitched piece and I know my friend will love it.  My only problem is - she has two other children!  I'm teaching her to stitch so she can make them something too.

Thanks for the comments on my previous post, it's so nice to know other people are extroverts who need to be alone sometimes!  I learned about this on a course I took, the tutor was explaining people are not simply introvert or extrovert.  Some introverts get depressed if they are alone too much and actually need people around them to thrive.  Not all extroverts are the "life and soul of the party" type, you won't find me dancing on the tables or doing karaoke.  But I had to speak in the school assembly yesterday to 250 children (and a dozen teachers) and I was nervous beforehand.  We'd organised a competition to find which was the greenest class in their method of travel to school (eg walk or bike or scooter).  The reaction when I announced the competition winners was worth it though!  The winning class were so excited even before I told them what they'd won.  They got a certificate each, a sticker, a pencil and an extra playtime - you'd think I'd sent them to Disneyland from the excitement!

It's International Hermit and Stitch weekend this weekend so of course I'm out on a meal tonight!  It's Father's Day tomorrow so not sure how much I'll get done - have to make sure the boys spoil their Daddy.