Bee Cross Stitch - and a WiP

[bk_forever]

I finished another set of small designs for cards, this time some bees and honey. The two small ones were stitched on 14 count and and the four larger ones on 16 count, because that was all I had that was easily accessible. Most of my fabric is stored in a big old chest that currently has a lot of stuff piled on top it and I didn't feel like moving it all to get at my stash of 14 count.








This last one I plan to post pics of as it progresses. On the left you can see the design as it should look when it's done, and on the right... Well, I've started it, the first part of the cross stitch border is done!

This is tougher than the other designs I've been stitching lately. It's bigger for a start, but as I want it for a card (possibly), I'm making it smaller by stitching on 20 count fabric - that is, 20 squares per inch - with one strand of thread. I cut and prepared the fabric for this and another large design years ago but never got around to stitching them. The design is 96 stitches each way, and will measure 12 x 12 cm when it's done. I'll be stitching other things while I work on this because I need good daylight to see the holes... o_O

Wish me luck!

Comments

[bk_forever]

It is nice, and I think he'd like it, though he never shoes a lot of enthusiasm for anything. Just the way he is.

Collin will help with heavy moving, he's okay if I tell him what goes where, it's when left to his own devices that the problems start!

Think I'll dampen in again, lay it flat, and once in dries a bit, put a weight on it. I've nearly finished the replacement, some back stitch and some lettering to do.

[lexxiescott]

Sounds like my kid brother. It's always hard to shop or make things for men (and women) like that.

I'm glad you've got someone to help with the heavy lifting. That's me for our house, and has been for the last ten years or so.

Sounds like a good plan. *nods* So is that three of the four fiddly ones done? I'll admit, I've lost count.

[bk_forever]

He opens something and just goes "Oh!" *headdesk*

Yeah, I'm not physically strong, I have really skinny arms with very little muscle, so I really need someone to lift heavy stuff for me.

Yep, this will be the third once I finish it. I did a little more backstitch yesterday, but it's very complex and I couldn't work on it during the auction.

[lexxiescott]

I know what you mean. My biggest problem is that I never know if my brother likes what I've sent him because I never get a note. *sighs* I take pride in finding the perfect present for my friends and family, but I need a bit of feedback on whether or not they actually like it.

That's Mum. She tries, but she's going to hurt herself if she's not careful. Which is why she usually leaves the lifting to me.

It's hard to do anything during the auction. I know what you mean.

[bk_forever]

I try not to waste time during the auction, but I can't do anything that requires much concentration.I finished the third of the fiddly ones this evening and started the fourth. Yay, last one - until I try to finish the one that got yogurt on it. I'll leave that one a while though, do something else next.

Collin is just impossible to buy for so I give him money.

[lexxiescott]

That’s where I had the trouble this last week. I lost track of time typing and missed the sphere ending. With the price though it might be just as well.

Oh, yay for finishing the third one! Fiddly projects are fun but so very trying at the same time. I’ll be curious to see them if/when you post pictures.

That what I do for their birthdays, but I keep trying with presents for Christmas. Mum is just horrified at the lack of thanks from my brother. She can go for an hour on how she thought she raised him better than this. *sighs* It doesn’t help that I have all my thank you notes done by the end of the same day.

[bk_forever]

Aww, that's a shame, but you're right, the sphere was very pricey.

I will definitely be posting photos. After all the hard work, I want a permanent record of these!

Mum always made sure we wrote thank you notes when we were kids. Nowadays my thank yous are online or by phone. The only relative left alive that sends me anything is my sister.

[lexxiescott]

It was a nice piece though. Maybe some day. :-)

Don’t blame you a bit! I’ll keep my eye open for them.

I’m with you, I generally text or email a thank you because it’s just easier. My grandma is the one exception, only because she doesn’t have a computer. I just wish I could hear something from my brother on presents. Even if one doesn’t like the present, it’s still proper to say thanks. I always have to turn down food at work, but tell them I greatly appreciate the thought.

[bk_forever]

A simple thank you is polite, even if it's just for the thought behind the gift.

I've finished the leaves on the last one of the set! Now I just have to do the flowers, the back stitch, and the lettering... Think I'll stitch something simple next o_O

[lexxiescott]

Exactly *nods*

Yay!!!! Good luck with the rest of it. :-) You definitely deserve something simple so you can have a bit of a break!

[bk_forever]

Two flowers left to finish (there were nine at the start), then backstitch and lettering...

I've hurt my right wrist. I was pruning this morning, then Collin and I put together a filing cabinet, which involved a lot of shifting things trying to find a certain kind of screw because we were one short. Then we nailed a backing to a small set of shelves so I can put books on it... All too much for my poor wrist. I've applied heat treatment cream and strapped it up. Hopefully that will fix it.

[lexxiescott]

Yay!! Good luck with the rest of it!!

Oh no! Maybe ice it alternately with the heat cream for a day or two. The binding will definitely help with the pain and to get it to heal a bit better. Sounds like one heck of a day for the pair of you. A lazy day, or weekend, is what you need. *hugs*

[bk_forever]

And Collin was having back trouble, but still insisted we get the job done...

Heat cream and the bandage did the trick. I love that stuff. My wrist is fine today =) I've even been shifting stuff around again, without a twinge. Must have jarred it with the hammering.

[lexxiescott]

And back trouble is never an easy thing to put up with. Hopefully he doesn’t need the heat cream.

I’m glad your wrist is doing better:-) I’ll take drilling or hand-sanding over hammering. It’s jarring under the best circumstances.

[bk_forever]

Hammering has never bothered me before, but I guess there's a first time for everything. Still, it's another task out of the way!

Back pain is never pleasant, but he keeps motoring on despite it.

[lexxiescott]

I'm glad it didn't linger. And it's always a good feeling to be able to cross items off the "to be done" list. :)

Never. More power to him battling through.

[bk_forever]

He just keeps plodding along, lol!

Trouble is, there are things I want to put in certain places, but that means moving what's already there and fining somewhere else to put it. I need somewhere for my cross stitch magazines, but they don't fit the cupboards I want to put them in. They're too big =/

[lexxiescott]

I hope it never comes back to bite him. Backs are fiddly things.

I had that problem with some of my books. I ended up laying them on their side with the spines out. It’s a pain to get to them, but at least they’re put away and organized. >.< Getting anything set up just the way you want is a pain in the neck.

[bk_forever]

I'd have to store them flat anyway. Trouble is, lying one way they take up more than half the available shelf space leaving a gap that I don't know what else I could put there, any laying the other way, the cupboard doors can't close. *sigh*

[lexxiescott]

Do you have some odd books or maybe a vase that needs a home? I mean, granted I haven’t seen where you want to store them, so I’m not sure what could fit in there. I’ve just got odds and ends in and around my oddly shaped books, magazines, and scrapbooks.

[bk_forever]

I'm wanting to keep craft stuff together so I'm sure I'll find something, but I've got at least 500 magazines and they're heavy, so I'm always worried if the shelves are even going to take their weight, never mind anything else.

I've finished the last of the fiddly cross stitch set, just got to take photos, maybe tomorrow. Today's been really hot so I feel crap tonight.

[lexxiescott]

Oh heavens, that is a lot of magazines to store. I see your problem with the weight considerations. Still, there has to be a way to make it work out. Is there a way you could stack them to help support the shelf above? Like split them into two stacks or something?

[bk_forever]

They'll be in multiple stacks, supporting the shelves above, in 1 foot square cubes, which is okay unless I need to get magazines out... *shrugs* I'll manage I guess. Of course every month I get a new issue, and I'm still wanting to get the back issues I'm missing... I do love my magazines!

I took the photos today but i don't know when I'll get them posted. Got to upload them and then crop them to a reasonable size. Busy busy!

[lexxiescott]

lol, yeah, getting them out again is always the problem with storing magazines or larger books on their sides. I have magazine sized TinTin books that I love to read, but have to battle to store. Magazines, especially specialty or interest-based, are so much fun. I should show you the book series I’m currently collecting. You want storage issues o_O

Oh, yay! I’ll look forward to seeing them!

[bk_forever]

Things take up space - we both need a TARDIS!

The pics are posted. Yay! I think...

I've started something much easier now - whole cross stitch, no back stitch. Normally I like back stitch, but there was so much on the last set... each one took about 5 or 6 metre long strands of black thread...