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]

Bosses are bosses because they're not smart enough to do the jobs their employees do. True fact.

While losing weight is an admirable goal, thee must be better ways of getting exercise in hot weather than taking long walks out in the heat...

Yeah, I stitched some lovely ones for her, and she loved them, but there were so many more I planned to do. We just thought the stuff would only be in storage for a few months...

Cowboys are my weakness, as the song goes!

If I had a chart for an elephant with flowers I might do it, but I haven't seen one. I've got one with an elephant blowing bubbles... I don't think it's quite good enough for a 60th birthday card though.

[lexxiescott]

Very true, and also the reason for this icon. :-)

I told Rich you agreed with him about the walks in the heat and he started laughing before agreeing with the both of us. I honestly don’t know how Rich manages it. The heat would be the death of me. It almost is some days anyway. Rich often jokes that Lisa is just after the insurance.

That’s how it always goes with any sort of repair and storage. I’m glad so many of your magazines survived storage. Did I ever tell you I framed the little pug card you made me for my birthday a few years ago? It’s on one of my movie shelves in my bedroom.

Mine too - at least for four certain cowboys. I love my Riders. :-)

I wonder if google would have something if you just can’t find anything you really like for her?

[bk_forever]

Poor Rich, I feel for him!

Thankfully I put all my magazines in plastic bags before boxing them up so they came through okay. Don't know what I would've done otherwise! I have hundreds, and still a big stack to go through. I'm sure I'll find something I like. Trouble is, most I've looked at and considered possibles have got fractional stitches, which I don't do. I have trouble seeing them on the charts and on my stitching so I lose my place and get in a mess.

Disaster struck with my cross stitching tonight! I'd just started the third of the designs when I dropped my yogurt... It went all over part of my stitching, the magazine, my desk, and my trousers *headdesk. I cleaned it off the magazine as best I could and I'm hoping that won't go moldy. I rinsed my trousers but they need washing and I don't have anything else dark to wash. Also rinsed my stitching but I'm not sure I got all the yogurt out of it, so I had to cut another piece of fabric and start again. Wasted over an hour of stitching time! =(

[lexxiescott]

I do, too.

I'm glad the plastic didn't leak on you. That would have been horrible! I know what you mean about having trouble seeing stitches. I can't do a counted cross-stitch at all, my count is always off and ends up a bit like a Dali painting. *sighs*

Oh for...and yogurt to boot. >.< It's probably safer in the long run to start it over so you don't end up with mold or worse showing up later on, but that sucks. Is this one of the fiddly designs that you've been battling with?

[bk_forever]

Counted cross stitch is all I do, but I have to be careful with the counting, and I do make mistakes that require unpicking from time to time.

Yes, it was, although I'd only just stared the third one. Would have been far worse if it had been almost finished. As it is, I'm making good progress with the new version. Finished the leaves and some of the flowers today.

Also found a possible candidate for my sister's birthday, an art deco lady's head in profile, with a rose and butterfly border. It's very pretty, and made even more desirable by the fact that the fabric is already cut and prepared, tucked in the magazine. It's another on 20 count though. Then again, her birthday isn't until April next year, so plenty of time! I sill might change my mind if I find something I like better, I have lots more magazines to look through, but we'll see.

[lexxiescott]

Sorry, went down with a migraine last night. That's five days with a headache and I don't know what to do.

It sucks when random stuff ruins our projects. I think ink might have been the only thing worse I can think of to spill on a cross-stitch - or notebook.

That sounds pretty. :) And dignified, which would work well for a 60th birthday. Sounds like if you can start it by January you'll be okay to get it done in time for her birthday.

[bk_forever]

I might stitch it before then, but I have to do Collin's first because his birthday is December.

He helped me put the last lot of wall shelves up yesterday and I have them half full of books now, just got to un-bury the rest of my boxes of books and see what else will fit. I've also, this morning, dug out the rest of my cross stitch magazines to look through for things to stitch. Plus I'm still in the process of clearing so my blanket box full of cross stitch fabric can be put at the end of my bed so I can get at the contents. So much to do.

We had a bit of rain last night, but today should be dry and quite warm so I've got a load of laundry out. I washed my yogurty piece of fabric. It frayed at the edges, but if I can flatten it out I should still be able to stitch it =D

[lexxiescott]

Have you come across anything fun for his birthday that you want to stitch?

Oh, yay on the bookshelves!!! That'll bring the clutter down a small bit on the inside. It sounds like you've got good, solid plans in mind that you can put into play. It's always good to be able to get to the important things quickly.

I'm glad the yogurt came out. :) That's one of those things that just come out of nowhere and annoy us horribly.

[bk_forever]

There's the cowboy and cowgirl design. I might do that one. Got a few more magazines to look through, maybe 70 or 80, so I still might find something I like better, but I'm not counting on it.

Trouble is, it all involves so much moving stuff around. The blanket box is currently in what I'm still hoping will eventually be my craft room, but there's lads of stuff piled on top of it, plus stuff all over the landing that I'll have to shift out of the way... *sigh* And I can only do a little it at a time.

Yeah, I'm glad too, but I might have to iron the fabric, or wet in again and lay it out flat to dry because it's got a crease across the middle now.

[lexxiescott]

That one does sound cute. :) You never know, there might be one lurking just waiting for you to find it and fall for it.

Yeah, I know what you mean. But even that little at a time gets there in the end. I'd say as Collin, but given how he is in the garden, I don't know about shifting things inside.

It might take both. Those creases can be stubborn depending on the exact type of backing you're using. I'll hope one or the other works out for you though.

[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.