Stitching ?

Apparently I didn't post since last June.... I blame it on new technology, where you can  share your pictures and progresses on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with one button. So what about Blogspot? Apparently it got lost on the way. Who still read blogs these days? Not me, I'm an Instagram enthousiast.

So this post is for whoever remains, and also serves as a journal entry.

From 2001 to 2008, I was an avid cross stitcher. Then life changed, and I also wanted to make stuff I could use, and not just pretty pictures. And here came crochet. Then knitting, tatting, and other things. Last December I made an attempt to go back to cross stitch, but then I opened the folder where I had stached all the finished pièces and got depressed. So many beautiful pictures with no use at all....

But here comes Christmas. Early this year as DBF decided to make the Christmas tree last Sunday. So I stitched little Archie here. I think I will make a mini cushion.

About the project itself.... It's a Margaret Sherry design from an old CrossStitcher magazine, from a time they had one Archie design per month. I used DMC threads. And I was glad to stitch it on 14 count aida when came the moment to do the backstitch. Very challenging as non go through the holes, but I love the sketchy final result, so it was worth it.

Next: more Christmas stitching.

Tinkerbell finished !

I know, I didn't blog about the progress on this one, but I had to keep stitching and stitching, and stitching some more...

I used navy blue aida, and I had to convert from Anchor to DMC, and I wasn't really satisfied with the web conversion, so I improvised.

The wings are done with blending filament in the mix. She looks a lot better in real life because it's all very subtle...

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Je sais, je n'ai pas montré de progrès sur ce projet, mais j'ai du broder, broder, jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit finie !

Après la conversion Anchor à DMC que j'ai du rectifier, il y a aussi du blending filament sur les ailes pour faire briller.

Evidemment ça a l'air mieux en vrai, car tout est très subtile en fait.

Carole, merci pour les précisions sur les magazines, personne n'avait répondu, effectivement !!!

CrossStitcher issue 196

Yesterday I bought CrossStitcher magazine. I suppose that's why it's raining lately. But I couldn't resist the Margaret Sherry cats.

Because the magazine blog displays nice pictures, I won't bother with taking some more, and will just "review".

Let's face it, I only bought the magazine for the MS cats freebie. Nothing else of interest (in my tastes). It's mostly modern/deco type of designs. I like the blackwork bears as well, but I don't know what I would do with them.

Now, the freebie... It's quite a big design. Regular size design for a Margaret Sherry cat, like the ones published in the magazines as chart.

So loads of colours provided (and the threads seem to be of the regular kind again, not just the chinese ones), and the fabric is big. there are also laods of fractionals, so we can feel attention to details.

But beware, the threads on the sorter aren't exactly in the order of the key list, so check and plan in advance. I had the problem with a previous freebie...

Otherwise, they want to finish it as a bellpull, but of course they don't provide the top thing. Once again, you would have to buy from Debbie Cripps. Apparently they have a deal with her or something... Of course you can finish it as you want anayway ;)

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Hier j'ai achete le magazine CrossStitcher, ca doit etre pour ca qu'il pleut en ce moment. Mais je n'ai pas su resister les petits chats du kit offert.

Comme il y a deja les photos sur le blog du magazine, je ne vais pas en remettre ici... et donc je vais juste donner mon avis.

En fait, je n'ai achete ce magazine que pour le kit, car le reste est trop moderne et oriente deco a mon gout. J'aime bien les petits ours, mais je ne saurais pas quoi en faire apres, alors...
Le kit est un grand kit. Comme le projet est aussi grand qu'un margaret Sherry habituel, ca veut dire plus de couleurs (avec des fils qui ne semblent pas provenir de Chine comme d'hab), et un grand tissu...

Mais si vous vous attelez a ce projet, verifiez les fils, car ils ne sont pas dans l'ordre de la liste !

CrossStitcher December 2007

Not so long ago I decided to unsubscribe from magazines. And of course, stop the magazine reviews the way I used to make them. I was less and less interested in what was in UK magazines, and reviews were becoming more and more grumpy and not so nice to magazines and designers.

And I personally think it's unfair to make negative reviews when some people with different tastes than mine might enjoy the magazine designs. I think a bad review has more impact than me simply saying "I didn't like any of the designs in this magazines, so I don't buy it".

So from now on I will make the occasional reviews, on things I like. Remain on the positive side, and leave the negative on the personal taste level. And we will begin with the review of December CrossStitcher, because I think it's good ;)

Freebie: teddy Christmas kit from Andree Langhorn. This kit in itself justifies to buy this issue. Not only is the design lovely and delicate, but there is also metallic thread and a star charm. Not to mention the mount.

The only thing is that the threads provided are the crappy looking ones from China. Meaning you will have to be careful not to waste them, because you won't find a replacement in your DMC or Anchor collection. And there is also a weird orange "light mahogany" looking very different from the model pictures...

First we have a Sheila Hudson orchid. If I'm not found of those big flowers, I like the way it's mounted, like a painting canvas. It gives it a modern look. She also made purple cushion with flowers and butterflies. And a dragon.

Then we have a cake band sleigh from Joanne Sanderson. Each individual sleigh might make a nice ornament, or together as a banner, but... on a cake? But don't worry, there are other ideas... I like the mantel piece garland, where you can hang cards on.

Next we have the 4 seasons kitties from Margaret Sherry. I like the idea of sewing them on a bag, even if I won't do that. I feel like stitcher the Autumn one, with the fallen leaves.

Lesley Teare has made a flowers and butterflies bed linen and cushion set. It's very delicate, but it's not to my taste ;)

Jenny Barton made Christmas cards with words. Then we have an Hello Kitty pattern from DMC. This would be a great idea to start a little girl stitching...

"Walking in a winter wonderland" fron the Historical Sampler Company is a radical change from the rest of the designs, more traditional. I like it.

The ABC is things from the sea, and the Margaret Sherry "one letter a month" is "M for monkey". Come on. M for mice? where did that go? Things are really going nowhere...

Zoe Patching made pet bowl designs. Original idea for a gift for a dog or cat owner, but it won't come cheap, as the bowl for insert is 10 pounds !!!!

Helen Philipps made a family tree, very cute and rustic.

Diane Machin made "get well soon" cards.

There you have it. I might stitch the freebie and the MS cats.