Finished TEXAS

I have finished TEXAS. Took longer than expected but it is done. Just needs to be washed, and ironed. Then off to the frame shop when Green Bike in Turquoise is ready to be picked up.

 

Texas Panorama by Bestitched designs by Bev

on Smokey White Zweigart 18ct Aida

Two new starts since this one is finished. First Green Bike by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. This time in red Kreinik thread. Also, a Christmas gift for the other twin. So far I have not messed up this one, and everything is lining up correctly. Fabric is Silvermist Opal 18ct.

Second is Queen Mariposa by Mirabilia. I couldn't stand not working on a Mirabilia. Only two days progress, with limited thread supplies. Next week I will swing by the LNS and get the remaining supplies need for her. I am not sure which is worse having three WIPs or not having a Mirabilia. Everyday I feel each one needs some love. Currently I am doing 1-2 threads then switching. It seems to be working well.

Started Christmas Gifts

Since I have finished three Mirabilia's already this year, I have decided to re-evaluate my goal of finishing five cross stitching's this year. My new goal is to make ten. Five for myself and five for Christmas gifts. Here is my newest start:

This is Green Bike by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. I am stitching it on the Silvermist opal with Krienik #4 braid in my sisters favorite color. This will be her Christmas gift. I am doing the same one in red for one of my other sisters gift. So far, I have used 3 1/2 bobbins of tread. Now I am out and both LNS are out too (because I purchased all of them). They are on order so this has to sit to the side until more thread comes in.

While that is sitting aside I started my Mum & Dad's gift:

This is after one day of stitching. Hoping I can push this out in about a week. After I finish it for them I would like one for myself too. My wonderful husband picked out this fabric while at the LNS this past weekend. It is Zweigart Aida 18 count smokey white. The fabric is so soft and easy to work with. I have enough that I am going to stitch Mirabilia's Red with a purple conversion on it. I picked up the pattern on a facebook group it is called Texas Panorama by Bestitched designs by bev.

Lastly I took the plunge and started The Heir by Terrence Nolan, Pangea by Dimples Designs. Our littlest boy really wants me to stitch this one. He was not doing so hot at swim practice. Not even trying. So, I cut a deal with him. If he swim goods that evening then I will work on 'The Boy Mermaid' as he calls it. If he doesn't swim good then I don't work on it. For the last two weeks it has worked.  I am stitching him on Jaded. Here is how far I have gotten:

This is the HARDEST pattern I have ever worked on. Full of confetti. But it is looking gorgeous. I have taken out the 'crown' that is coming off the back of his head.

For the first time I have more than one stitching going at a time. How do you stitch? Do you rotate? One at a time? Or, Whatever you feel like that day?

Finished Mediterranean Mermaid

Woohoo! Second finish of the year, and it is only the beginning of April. Mediterranean Mermaid by Nora Corbett was a fast stitch. She is very Shinny with all the Kreinik thread and Mill Hill Beads and Treasures. The major conversion on her was her skin and hair.

We have two children that are adopted with darker skin. All of the beautiful pieces by Nora Corbett are fair skinned. I want our adopted children to be able to look at the pieces I have done and see that their skin is beautiful as well. Our daughter really loves this one. I might have to hang it in her room after it is framed. You can find the conversion for her on the Conversion Tab at the top of the page.

Other news: I ordered needle minders for the first time from Gina's Unique Boutique on Etsy. Even though I free stitch, with out a hoop or q-snaps, I am loving these. Instead of holding my needle in my mouth, sticking it in my pants/shorts, or stabbing it into the bead I attach this to my pattern holder and when I need to change thread color it keeps my needle safe. No more coming back going where did I put that needle now?

Mermaid Undine is back from the frame shop. :)

Already found her a home on the wall.

Fabric I need to start Christmas gifts still hasn't come in. So, next project will be a Coral Charms by Nora Corbett. I am going to do the same skin conversion on this one. I think the darker skin will be radiant against the bright colors of her tail.

Not just Diamonds and Gold

Whoever said that all that shines is diamonds and gold never saw the Mediterranean Mermaid in person. I have completed most of the Kreinik metallic thread. I ran out of the lighter green and need to run by the LNS to get more. So far she is only stitched in Kreinik I have not put any DMC or beads in to her tail. She is stitching fairly fast now so hopefully I will be finished soon and can start something on the new fabrics I received. Now I have fabric for four designs.

Speaking of new fabrics I got my package from Chromatic Alchemy. It felt like for ever to get in, even though it was only two weeks. Definitely will be ordering more fabric from them. Worth the wait to come from Europe. Now I really can't decide which one to do next. Might have to toss a coin or let one of the kids pick.

Frost (aida)

Mermaids of the Deep Blue by Mirabilia

Going to change mermaid colors

Antares (aida)

Peacock by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks

Quiescence (aida)

Queen Mariposa by Mirabilia

Finished Skin Mediterranean Mermaid

I didn't get a whole lot of stitching done on Mirabilia Mediterranean Mermaid while the kids were on spring break last week. Go figure. I did manage to sneak in a few minutes here and there and finished her skin and hair. Also, managed to take a good picture of her and the fabric too.

She is stitched on 14 count Zweigart Frenzy.

I am hoping this week to get the file up on my conversion page for this project.

The hair has the dreaded 2 strand blend in it. (You know where you take one strand of one color and one strand of another color and put them together.) On top of being my least favorite thing to do; they are small stitch areas with only 1-4 stitches, then a huge gap. So, you have to end and start again. I save blends until they are the last thing in that area. Sometimes, I will even move to a new area and skip the blends. What is your least favorite part? Comment below.

Update on Mediterranean Mermaid

This week the kids are all on Spring Break not sure I will be able to get much stitching done but I am going to try. I am really enjoying stitching this one. The skin conversion I am making is turning out wonderful. Here is how far I am now.

Again not the best of pictures. I am going to have to go back to using the big camera the little one just doesn't take the same quality pictures.

Happy post came in. (Well mostly happy) Start with a pattern. Received Green Bike by Alessandra Adelaide. I am going to make two of these for my older twin sisters which are both avid bike riders. I ordered the fabric to go with it last night. One's favorite color is red and the other turquoise. I am thinking of using Kreinik#4 floss for them.

Next is fabric. Remember I ordered online for the first time ever. The pieces from Picture This Plus have arrived. First is Gothic. I am going to stitch Mirabilia Startgazer on it.

The other piece of fabric is still gorgeous fabric; I just don't think it is going to work for what I wanted to stitch on it. It is Monet again by Picture This Plus. I was going to do Mirabilia Red and convert it to purple. The way the dye pattern is I just don't see it looking right.

So, I am going to split the fabric and stitch two Nora Corbett's on it. The Rain Queen and Coral Charms.

These will be my next two projects unless the post comes before I finish Mediterranean Mermaid.

Start on Mirabilia Mediterranean Mermaid

I officially have a start. Mediterranean Mermaid by Mirabilia. The picture isn't the greatest, but here she is.

The fabric is 14 count Zweigart Frenzy. This is the first color conversion I have ever done, and I picked the colors. Hopefully her skin will turn out okay and not all crazy.

Finished Mirabilia 'Siren and the Shipwreck'

Just before Christmas I finished Mirabilia's 'Siren and the Shipwreck'. Here she is:

The fabric is 16 count Zweigart Aida Frenzy. This is my first time using hand dyed fabric. When I went to wash and iron it the fabric started discoloring the water. Thank goodness it did not discolor any of the thread. Here is a closer look at the beading on her.

The pattern called for Mill Hill bead 02098 (dark green from dorsal fin) on the bottom of her tail. Personally, I thought it made her tail look like it had green algae growing on it. Instead I used Mill Hill bead 00020 (navy blue that is used in her lower body).  Now she is in line waiting to go to the frame shop, and I have started my first cross stitching of 2016.

 

Still Working on 'Siren of the Shipwreck'

Kids are back in school; this gives me slightly more time to work on cross stitching. The youngest is only four. He is still at home with me during the day. There is still way less road running than during the summer.

I am a one project at a time cross stitcher. Not sure how people have multiple cross stitch projects going on at one time. I get lost just doing a single one. Currently still working on Siren of the Shipwreck by Nora Corbett. The chandelier is finished and I am working my way across and down her tail.

A closer look at the beadwork on the chandelier.

 

A closer look at beadwork in her hair.

 

A closer look at the beadwork in her tail so far.

It is difficult to see the beads in the dark section of her tail.

Hopefully when more is finished to the left it will bring their colors out more.

 

 

Started Mirabilia "Siren and the Shipwreck"

I started Siren and the Shipwreck in the middle of June. My wonderful husband and children purchased all the tread and beads I need for her.

I love this fabric. It is Zweigart Aida Frenzy.

 

Here is a closer look at the bead work so far on the chandelier and her hair.