Newbie, St. George and the Dragon

Hello everybody. I've just joined your lovely group and am looking forward to seeing more wonderful UFO progress. I've read almost the whole blog, you have some beautiful pieces in the works, I've really enjoyed catching myself up. So I'll add mine I guess.

I have a ton of UFOs, I'm one of those dreadful Serial Starters. A few weeks ago I looked at my stash, then at my wish list, then checked out my UFOs...I really have to finish something before the wish list is even considered again! I figured I should start with the oldest one first (and I notice it's not the oldest one on this blog -LOL-).

Here is my 12 year old UFO. This was a 'car project' that I started when DH and I took a five week driving-across-the-US vacation. This piece became a UFO because back then DH and I used to take several weekends a year and at least one week each summer and drive off somewhere and I intended the piece to remain a 'car project'. Well, life happens and we stopped scurrying around so much and somehow I just never picked this up 'at home'. I decided to stitch on this about 3 weeks ago. I have been working on the right hand side border and have advanced that about 3 inches. I'm not sure, I guess I've completed about 75 or 80% of the total. I'm trying to keep the b/s up as I go (except for blending filament) because this piece has so many fractional stitches that you can't see the design without the b/s in place, besides I hate backstitching and there's way too much in this piece to do it all at the end.

St. George & the Dragon (July 1996 - UFO)
Donna Vermillion Giampa
28 ct beige unknown evenweave, suggested fibers
As of August 25, 2009.

One of my BBs has a UFO Tuesday group which I just joined so my plan is to stitch at least some every Tuesday, hopefully I should have weekly updates. I know I'm a slow stitcher and I have never paid the slightest attention to how long it takes to get from point A to point B so I have no idea and wouldn't even be able to guess at a finish date. Getting it finished is my objective, I don't care when. I really do love this piece, so I hope I can stick with it.




One stitch at a time,



My blog Dragon My Needle, home of the Totally Useless SAL, come on over and join the fun.

My photo albums



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Changing UFOs...

I'm afraid I'm going to have to change which UFO I will try and tackle this year...turns out the New Zealand map project got walked on by my cats and the fabric is picked (like a run in hose) in a very bad location. I had not done much, and was thinking of changing fabrics anyway, so that will be a new start in the future as I am retiring the old start. Probably will salvage the linen (a rather loose weave, and not my favorite) for small projects.

I'm going to pull out a tote bag I originally started for my DD a year ago, but now want to keep for myself (I did a different one for her birthday). I will have to take a picture in it's current state, which I will add later. I think starting on the smaller UFOs I'll do a better job of getting at least one done this year!

ETA 9/11/09.....I'm afraid this UFO is also going to the frog blender...by the time I frog every mistake on this tote, there will be little left, and my enthusiasm has waned! Time to dig into the UFO box again!

Henry VIII and all that.

Another one finished another to start. I began this some time ago but really did not like the black dagger which just looked out of place. I unpicked it and was going to fill the gap with the colour of the skirt but someone of Henry's status would have carried a weapon. I have to decide if I stick to authenticity how to stitch the dagger because I did not like the one in the design it just looked wrong. I am going to continue with the rest of the stitching and hope inspiration comes. Perhaps some of you fellow UFOers have some suggestions. I am planning stitching this on Sundays so progress will be slow.

Mystery X or Secret Garden

At last it is finished. I am quite pleased with it. I am not convinced about the use of the crystals. Yes it is very sparkly but the delicacy of the stitched jessicas is lost and they seem a bit clunky in the tracery of the windows. I had ordered them so felt I had to use them. I still have some Chatelaines to start and I will really look hard as to whether to purchase the crystals. The delica beads are lovely and add to the work. I am sure some Chatelaine addicts will disagree with me but we are all entitled to our opinions. Many thanks to everyone who gives such encouragement on this blog and helped me to get it finished.

Mansfield Park Update

I'm making good progress on Mansfield Park--I've finished the verse, and I've started (ok, just barely started!) on the next band, a large floral design. I'm enjoying stitching this one so much, and I'm seeing so much progress, that I really do believe that I'll meet my goal of having this one finished before Labor Day!

Here's a picture of my progress so far:

To recap, I'm stitching this on 35 count undyed linen from Vikki Clayton using the DMC conversion as given with the chart. I'm really enjoying the time I'm spending stitching this one!

I hope you're all having a good stitching week and making great progress on your UFOs!

Ann in Baton Rouge
www.with-my-needle.blogspot.com

Stitch-by-stitch....

Literally, it seems that this piece is just getting done "stitch-by-stitch". I keep pulling this out once/week, so I'm not seeing huge chunks of progress, but when I compare where this piece was last summer to where it is now, it IS growing, VERY slowly. I truly still love this piece...I do, I do!!! Sometimes, I just wish there was a magic "fast forward" stitching button for some pieces! Of course, then we would be denied the joy of creating, wouldn't we? Ah well...ya'all are making some awesome progress!!! Keep it going!! :)
Hugs,
Sharon in FL

3 UFOs

Thanks for letting me join.I currently have 3 cross-stitch UFOs lying around.

I intend to tackle them one at once.

The first is going to be the one in the photo. It's Giraffes from Wild Babies by Mary Ellen Yanich, Jeanette Crew Designs.

I started this last summer, but ended up putting it to one side once the light started to go in the evenings. It is intended to be a birth sampler for a colleague. All those browns are the reason for my putting it away.

I should finish this before the little one who it is intended for can finish it off herself. :D

I will work at least half an hour a day on it in order to get it finished, and will post when I have finished. As you can see, I don't have an awful lot more to do.

Mansfield Park

Here's my new UFO project--Mansfield Park, from The Sampler Girl. It's about one-third complete. I'm stitching it on 35 count undyed linen from Vikki Clayton, using the DMC conversion.

The only reason this one became a UFO (as is the case with most of my UFOs!) is because I suffer from a severe case of startitis!


I hope to have this finished before I leave on my Labor Day weekend vacation.

Happy stitching, everyone!

Ann in Baton Rouge

www.with-my-needle.blogspot.com

Oh, Goody A Finish. . . .

doesn't even begin to tell you how I feel

about finally being done with

this piece of

needlework!

I have worked on it for months and now I can do a BIG

HAPPY DANCE!

YEA!!! YEA!!! YEA!!!

I so want to send Bob an email

and tell him he can keep his Seaside Sweethearts cause I

now have my OWN!!!

Am I bad?

Before I started the sea grass I put my name in ecru

on one side and the date on the other.

Then I started the sea grasses. After each section was done

I took a picture so I have a running photographic

commentary on this piece.

I finished at last and then I sprayed the whole piece with

Zout and put in the sink to soak. About 4 hours later I went

and washed it and rinsed it.

My, was it dirty, you could see the dirt

that had floated up to the top of the water.

Then I ironed it while it was still wet, until dry, and it is

ready to stretch.

I will try to do that tonight but it may

be tomorrow.

Have my frame and mats safely hidden

so they won't be used for something else

like with my Tiger Eyes!

Yes it will be so nice!

I will post another picture when I have it framed. It will look

so much better when I am done with that.

Framing does so much for a naked piece it brings it all together!

I'm done, I'm done and have I told you I am done?

As always thank you so much for looking your

"encouragement"

has meant so much to me and helped me stick with it!

Many Blessings!

A Sunday Finish

After letting this sit to the side, unfinished, and trying to decide on the personalization I'm happy to report that Petites Lettres Rouges (the freebie from the Blackbird Designs blog) was finished on Sunday! Now I'm going to concentrate on my Mansfield Park sampler (from The Sampler Girl) until it's finished, or until I go out of town for the Labor Day weekend. I already know that I'll be taking It's Berry Time from Blackbird Designs on the trip--it's just easier to travel with a monochrome!

One WIP down, too-many-to-think-about to go!


Happy Stitching, everyone!

Ann in Baton Rouge
www.with-my-needle.blogspot.com

Watch Out ! FROGS on the Course (Carousel Horse TW)

Here I am again with my latest up date. I've been back stitching again for about 4 hours just today. The blue parts on the corner fan, head, and the blue under the saddle are all backstiched with Pearl blending filament---ENTER THE FROGS----- I had great problems with the filament it kept shredding and breaking. (Could be its age, as it has been languishing in a cupboard for in the teens of years.)Have any of you out there had this problem? I'm debating on buying some new but as it is not something I use very often so am unsure of what make to get( in case I buy a rubbish type.) It took ages to get out the shredded bits -what a nightmare. Still not to be daunted I did it and soldiered on. Apart from the blending filament parts that section of border is complete. I keep finding bits on the horse that I thought I'd finished but I'd missed so I put them in as I go along.The finished size of this piece is 20" x 16" , it sometimes seems as though it's going to be alot bigger. When I'm doing it now I find myself starting to think about the framing. now that's just got to be a good sign. Anyway onward and upwards to you all Happy stitching.

Peacock Tapestry Update

I've been on holidays for the past two weeks and I managed to get quite a bit of stitching done! Here are update pictures of my progress on the Peacock Tapestry:



Slowly but surely I am getting there!

Loretta

Seaside Sweethearts . . .

Sorry it is so small!

My boss at work took it with her phone.

It is so small, it is hard to see I did the clouds and gulls

on the right hand side.

I also did some of the left hand clouds.

I am determined to finish it this weekend if it kills me.

I want to start on something else for awhile

as I am so tired of this piece.

Thank you for coming and looking ~ the end is in sight and I am soooooooo

HAPPY!!!

I will take a picture tomorrow

and have another CD made

and post from that,

at least it will be big enough to see.

Take care and God keep you safe from harm.

Seaside Sweethearts . . .

Before Tris, my son, and I came from D. C. to

Dallas we took his friend home to East Hampton, N. Y.

We went to the beach the next day, although it was so foggy!

The sea was very rough as you can tell,

and you could not see the sun or the horizon.

We decided we would go home until the sun came out so

we put all the chairs and boogie board in the car

and Lo and Behold ~

Here comes the Sun!!!

So . . . we went back and set everything up again. The sun

stayed out the rest of the day.

Here is my son making footprints for me on that foggy day!!!

I am back from D. C. and my son and I got home safely.

We had a wonderful time and I enjoyed the trip very much.

I got to see a lot of this country, from the interstate, that is.

There were no stops at cross stitch shops,

unfortunately,

but then it would be hard to stop

at something you can't see from the interstate.

Thanks for all your prayers, they helped ~

we encountered a lot of rain.

I have stitched on my favorite project again.

I have the sea done on his side,

I have put most of the sand in

that they are walking on

and now I have only the

bottom left side to finish.

Next I have the sky and gulls and the sea grass

and I will be done, finally!!!

The man's pants had a dark spot, that was shading

so I took the piece to show my daughter

who was home from South Africa.

She said I needed to change the shadow

cause it looked like he had crapped his pants.

Can you tell she still has a child in diapers?

So I did just that.

I think it looks better and that spot did bother me, too

cause it was so dark.

What do you think?

I am so anxious to get it done

and framed I will work on it again ~

tonight!

As always, thanks so much for looking, your comments

are so encouraging!

Update on Judgement Dragons

Well after a week off for holidays (and almost no stitching on the dragons because they were too big to take in the car).
I have put two more nights into them.
I am determined to get page 3 on this project done ASAP so I'm hoping to punch that out really soon.
At any rate here is the latest.
Before:



After:


I know it barely looks like any progress (again!) but let me assure you there is progress there. I promise I stitched it!

Travel Sampler Update

I've made some progress on my personalized Travel Sampler by Nouveau Encore...

Carolyn NC