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

[lexxiescott]

There are many days I would happily track down software designers and force them to use their creations. I’m glad you were able to get a block on the download. I actually have an IT push security update on my work computer that has been failing to install for a MONTH and freezes up my desktop twice a day. *sighs*

I’m always so impressed with how well you can tell a story in few words. That’s a gift not many people have. I certainly have trouble with it.

[bk_forever]

Automatic download are a menace. I have my compute set so I can decide what windows downloads to accept now, but I was on to windows support for hours to get the blasted IE 10 blocked. The support tech was great, though. I have to say he worked really hard to rescue me. This was a few years ago now, while mum was still alive.

Thank you! I prefer writing short pieces because then I don't forget what I wrote in previous chapters and have to keep checking. I got a lovely comment today on my latest Buffy double drabble about how I'd packed so much emotion into 200 words =)

I did better on Contest Week today, wrote 4 fills for Day 2 and I've already done one for Day 3, which I somehow managed to write while watching the Supervet. Amazing man, fixing people's pets, performing lifesaving surgery and repair work. So I'm on seven now and joint first sort of. I'm actually in second place on day 2 but my one piece for day 3 brings me level. I want to write at least 4 tomorrow, but I have lots of great prompts to choose from. Just a matter of writing.

[lexxiescott]

That’s the best way to do it. A good support tech is a wonderful thing. Wish I had one of those at work. *sighs*

Isn’t that always the best pick-me-up? I love readers that take the time to leave thoughtful reviews. I’ve made several friends that way!

Sounds like really good progress. I don’t know if I could watch Supervet. I cry during baseball games. Animals sick or hurting makes me break down and crying gives me a headache. He does sound like an amazing guy though. :-) The world needs more people like that.

[bk_forever]

I'm up to 18 fills with three days to go, but I usually get 40 or more fills and this time I'll be lucky to reach 30. It's a struggle and I feel crap today, which isn't helping.

I've made good friends that way too. I miss the days when people always commented if they liked something, and they were long comments. These days, people just want to click a like button and move on.

There's a lot of owners crying on the show, and a lot of hugging, but Noel Fitzpatrick, the bionic vet, is amazing. He's developed so many procedures and prostheses for dogs and cats, knee replacements, hip replacements, even bone replacements within the legs, not to mention feet similar to those that human amputees get. Seeing the animals pain free and able to live out there lives that way after surgery is incredibly uplifting.

[lexxiescott]

Only ten off when you’re feeling sick and unfocused (I’m guessing because that’s usually one of my symptoms) is doing pretty well. It’s frustrating though and I totally get what you mean.

Uh huh, the better the internet gets, the less people actually want to engage. The only conversation comments I get anymore freak me out because the tone is almost obsessed and I find myself not wanting to engage or encourage them.

That’s so awesome :-) It’s so wonderful animals have someone in their medical field that cares for them so much.

[bk_forever]

I'm up to 25 now and need to write at least another five today to get back in the lead, but I have a headache which is not helping one bit, and I'm so tired.

I have one like that, active on both LJ and AO3, I get massively long comments, with a lot of gushing, but also a lot of disturbing stuff. This person identifies as Christian, and thinks it's okay to be gay as long as you don't give in to temptation and have sex with someone your own gender, that gay men should either be celibate or marry women *rolls eyes* and that's just the tip of the idiocy they spout, their was something about finding the whole concept of souls disturbing... When they comment I don't read anymore, just say Thank you. @_@

Noel is a hero. The surgery costs a lot, the prosthetics and implants have to be custom made, but he works miracles. He has a huge practice, with many vets working for him, and people travel hundreds of miles to being their pets to him. Surgeries are often carried out late into the night because the days are mostly for consultations. Amazing man. And now he's opened a cancer and soft tissue clinic so his team can do even more.

[lexxiescott]

Good luck getting through them!! I don't have a headache, but my stomach isn't happy with me - and it was stress. I have - or had - a little bedtop desk that I keep next to my bed with my computer, mouse, and a little notepad to help keep the computer from overheating. Mum went to the shop and left my door open for the dogs. I had to shower before the afternoon storms got here. When I got out and went to pick up my computer, I found that the dog had come in, got stuck, panicked and voided his bladder on top of the computer. >.< So I had to clean up the mess, take my sheets off the bed to be washed, and jope that none of the liquid got into my laptop. All my novels and other writing is on here. So far, so good, but my stomach is still rolling.

Readers like that sort of freak me out a little. It's like that picture of the cat I shared in a funnies post that says "I killed a mouse for you...I'd do anything for you." I tend to either not reply or just do what you do and say thanks.

That's amazing. We definitely need more men like him and more people like he has on his staff. I don't think I'd be able to watch the show, but I love him from just what you've told me. :)

[bk_forever]

I succeeded! I'm up to 32, but my opponent is only two behind. Still got tomorrow until about 4, but my friend does too, so I still might not win, but I've done way better than I expected. Headache has eased off but my stomach doesn't like me now.

On no! No wonder you're so stressed. I hope your computer is okay. *hugs* That's why I back everything up on an external hard drive and a memory stick. Safe that way. I have close to 400 unposted stories thanks to Contest Weeks. So are up on the challenge communities, but I've edited most of them since posting.

They really are creepy, my heart sinks every time I see a review from this one.

The surgery scenes are blurred out, but Noel does describe what he's doing and talks the owners through their options. What I love is seeing the animals afterwards. They can bounce back so fast, spinal surgery and up and walking within 48 hours, pain free after being in so much pain they could barely move. I think he's a tough boss, but the animals are all that matter to him, and his team are just as dedicated.

[lexxiescott]

YAY!!! That’s awesome. Good luck tomorrow. You’ve definitely done your best in this one

So far so good. I think the two things that saved the computer are Macs being sealed up tighter than Fort Knox and the little desk was angled. I’m still livid, but at least it’s working. I don’t know what I would have done if it had died. All my notebooks were missed, somehow. But I feel like I shouldn’t have to block off parts of my room because of the dog.

I know what you mean.

I’ve not seen humans recover so quickly. :-) I’m glad the animals have him and his crew.

[bk_forever]

Thanks! My opponent is only 2 behind and hasn't posted yet today, so I'm not sure what I'm up against, but I'm definitely wanting to write a few more. I'm doing good on word count though, a lot in the 700 to 1000 range and only a handful below 600.

Tomorrow I might be able to get back to some cross stitching!

That's a relief about your computer, but still a really annoying and stressful thing to happen. Good thing the notebooks were missed too.

Animals just seem to be amazingly resilient.

[lexxiescott]

Sounds like you’re doing wonderfully with everything in spite of the stress and other crap you’ve been dealing with. Keep it up!!

Are you still doing easy projects or have you moved to a new fiddly one?

I’m so relieved the computer is okay. I’ve left my door shut today so no one gets in there when I’m not around. Mum I don’t mind, but I can’t risk the computer again.

They really do. Humans could learn a lot from them.

[bk_forever]

I finished on 38 to my friend's 35, so this time was my turn to win =) Over 31k words too! I've only been aiming for a minimum 35k per month!

Got one more of the easy ones to do, then I'll start something that'll take a bit longer. Can't start Collin's card until I can get at my fabric. I'm still doing the rose as well, I've done a bit of the first leaf and that's it. Also got another set I'm doing the borders for during auctions.

Yes, animals and computers don't really mix.

My neighbours just got a new puppy! She's a Maltese Terrier/poodle cross, adorably fluffy =)

I'm watching Cookie the Springer Spaniel have hydrotherapy. She was born deformed and has just had two hip replacements and replaced hind feet and she's scampering around like crazy!

[lexxiescott]

*tosses confetti* Congrats! That’s awesome! That’s pretty close to what you were hoping to do, right?

Flowers can be a pain to manage. The big piece I did as a teen had flowers in the ribbon border, and I didn’t do them. >.< Fortunately you can’t tell they’re missing. Sounds like you’ve got a nice mix going on there.

Speaking of the auction, I’m a bit put out with Vanessa, or whoever put the shipments together a few weekends ago. My four crystals were just put into the envelope loose and the orange phantom calcite is in pieces. I know shipping is risky, but still. It’s not up to her usual standard. My other three, including the geode, are damaged from lack of any packaging.

Awwwww, she sounds adorable. Fluffy puppies are too precious.

Another success. I bet little Cookie will have a great life thanks to the vet. :-)

[bk_forever]

Thank you! It's more than I expected to manage, but number of fills was close to what I generally do (low forties), ad wordcount was higher than most months due to me writing longer fills for the most part.

Flowers are one of my favorite things to stitch, especially big ones. I've done other, bigger flower designs in the past.

You should send Vanessa a message about that, it really is careless. There's no excuse for not wrapping things in bubblewrap. Carole never would have done that. She always took great car with the wrapping.

Fluffy pups are the best. I bet she'll be just as cute when fullgrown.

Cookie will definitely have a great life now.

[lexxiescott]

I’m glad you were able to get close to your normal count. :-) It’s even more impressive because I know how much stress you’ve been under.

Flowers can be fun, but when they’re tiny and fiddly, even with my hoop in place, I couldn’t manage mine *grins* Have I ever showed you that piece. It’s a cat, ribbon, and text piece Mum got me when I showed interest in embroidery.

I’ve never seen such carelessness with crystals before. It depressed me. I’ll shoot her a note. I hope that it’s a one time thing. The palmstones from Julie came today. Well wrapped and protected. The Jasper I got for you is stunning. I can’t wait for you to see it. :-) My raspberry adventurine looks like one of my lighter leipidolites. It’s pretty awesome.

[bk_forever]

It gave me something to focus on, which was a blessing.

Yes, like with my last set, lol! So fiddly! I don't use a hoop. I use a frame for bigger pieces, but the small ones I don't use anything, I roll the fabric if it's too unwieldy.

No, you've never shown me that piece but I'd love to see it.

I had that with one of mine when Vanessa was just starting, and told her about it, so she said she'd be more careful in future. I know she's been away at a family wedding recently, in the middle of nowhere, so it's possible someone else did the packing this time...

Aventurines have that twinkle in them the same as lepidolites have, though I think it's mica in lepidolite and pyrite in aventurine. I love aventurines of all colours.

I shall look forward to it! *bounces*

[lexxiescott]

It’s always good to have something that will take your mind off things, especially stress.

I’ve never used a frame and have only done one loose. The cloth available for projects I’ve done has been too floppy to not have something for support.

That’s what I was thinking happened, if only because she’s never done that for anything international before. I’m just bummed about the orange phantom calcite.

I’ll have to take a picture of them next to each other. I started giggling when I saw it.

[bk_forever]

Distractions do help.

Floppy fabric doesn't bother me. I could never get the hang of a hoop. It's all about what you're comfortable with.

It's sad because that was a lovely one. You shouldn't have to pay for something that arrives broken.

I'd love to see it. They've each found a new friend =)

[lexxiescott]

Distraction is usually a good thing for stress. I’ve started putting on an anime in Japanese to listen to without captions to see how much I can understand. Right now it’s Hetalia.

I couldn’t get the stitches the same length. I haven’t done any type of stitching in a year or two. Time just runs away from me.

I almost cut myself on the broken bits. I have to remember calcite is super sharp when broken. My little spirit quartz came today and had almost ripped through the envelope. *sighs* At least it’s in one piece.

[bk_forever]

How's that going? can you follow the storyline?


I don't seem to have that problem, but then cross stitch fabric has ready made holes. If I tried to do the other kind of embroidery I know I'd pull stitched too tight.Yes, Calcite can be razor sharp, you really have to be careful with it.

Note to Vanessa - Must do better, especially when posting overseas. Bubblewrap isn't hard to get. *iz annoyed*

[lexxiescott]

I can, for the most part. I like to watch things in Japanese to try and follow along. I think I understand more than I speak.

I’ve done both and like the kind with holes better. But I am fond of the one I did as a teen. I’ll try to take a picture this weekend to share.

The calcite tried, but I won that round. I was worried some of the pieces might have dropped on the floor that could hurt the animals, but so far so good.

Especially for multiple crystals. I think the geode was already damaged before it shipped because there were no fragments that color mixed in. I think I’m lucky it didn’t collapse and break.

[bk_forever]

I can't understand other languages, so kudos!

Cross stitch is the only kind of sewing I really like. Mum could do anything.

It's just such a shame they're damaged, that's not what you paid for. Careless packaging. =(

[lexxiescott]

I’m to the part where France and England are fighting over America. Their fights are pretty epic in this anime. *grins* They even have their own fighting island. I doubt I’ll ever be able to really read Japanese, but speaking and understanding are more important for me. Of course, using anime as a learning tool has its hiccups. One thing I’ve learned to say is “I’m holding pasta in my left hand and a white flag in my left hand”. Not really practical.

My mum is really good too. Maybe it’s something from their generation. I have to be in the right mood for sewing or any type of craft. But I do enjoy them.

Yeah, you’re right. Common sense is becoming less and less common. *sighs*.

[bk_forever]

LOL! Yeah, not man practical applications for some phrases!

I 'learned' needlework and to use a sewing machine at school, but it did me no good because the machines broke down every time I touched one and I ended up way behind. Mum used to make clothes for us. I still have some western style shirts she made for me =)

Common sense will be extinct once our generations have passed, I think.

[lexxiescott]

When my parents were learning Russian for my dad’s job, the only full sentence Mum knew was “the big blue dog is on the ceiling” and I have no idea how she learned that one.

Sewing machines are temperamental at the best of times. There has to be some trick or magic touch that can’t be taught >.< That’s awesome you have the shirts. I outgrew everything Mum made me because she quit sewing when I was ten or twelve.

I think you’re right. Actually, working around an Emergency Room, I know you’re right.