Belated update from Ylva

Ok, so here we go...I apologise profusely for being SOOO bad at posting...it just sort of drifted off as I started working and got busy with all sorts of things...but enough exuses...

Starting from today and going backwards as much as I can remember...I have finished a cushion cover (not part of the lists, but still something that has been pending for ages) and am really pleased with it:)

I did do a tiny picture for my pincusion, but unfortunately, by the time I filled a pouch with emery sand and put inside the pot, I realised I had cut away too much of the fabric, so I am going to have to do another picture before I can finish it, but I am halfway there to finish it, which is not really bad going...

I am working on mum's patchwork cushion, but lost my selfconfidence after talking to my sister who is VERY good at patchwork and quilting, and I just feel it is a bit simple...but I AM GOING TO FINISH IT, and then I am going to send it to mum anyway...it is after all the first one I've done... I have been collecting patterns for patchwork, and will look through the fabric I have (most of which is small squares) and see if I can use what I have got...and I am determined to buy some more larger pieces of fabric from the NEC when I go there. I am really interested in getting into it, and will invest in some more fabric and batting and other important bits and bobs...after all I did invest in a very good sewing machine and it would be a waste having it just standing there...

So, I did put down that I had a list of projects I wanted to do...now, if I mention a few, and then show pictures of the ones I have kitted up: Vicki's calendar partwork of course!, Tereza Wentzler's Peacock Tapestry, the Monopoly Board, Thea Governeur's German Shepherd (and all of these are already started on...), and then the rest are kitted up:

February Variegated Finish:)

Ok, so, I have finished my February variegated thread design:) What do you think, Vicki:)


I will be posting it to you as soon as I can so you can decide if you wanna put on your website:)

X Ylva

1 Down! 9 to go!!

OK I have been very slack at posting here, mainly because I haven't got anything done. It's not that I'm not trying, It's just that I never seem to finish a job. Take the bedroom for instance, I'll get it 90% done and then something else needs doing and in the meantime everything descends slowly back into chaos. I wish that I could afford fitted wardrobes.
Ine task I have finished though. On the 25th November my design 'Rosa' is published in Stitch - the Embroiderer's Guild Magazine. It has been a lot of work but I am really pleased and hope that it will be popular and help raise the profile of the business.
Vicki

Project Ylva

So, I asked Vicki to add to her long list of things to do and create a design I got in my head...so she did - good girl as she is:)

Now, I have a lack of funds, so I have to use what I have, and what I have is cream and white Pearl threads, and fabric ranging from a sparkling white Belfast Linen 32count to an oliveish linen and an unbleached dark linen. I am posting the pics here so Vicki can help me decide which fabric is best with the threads...the colors will be red when the design is published, but as it is I am just working on the design to see if anything needs to be changed.So, here goes the pictures - Vicki, HELP!!! :)




I also have a pic of the latest update on my February variegated project...after unpicking and redoing the middle, I have taken the gutsy decision to cut the threads, and now I have to do the stitches on either side of the cut threads:) Yey me:) I have to be honest though, and say that I will have to redo the 4 stars in either corner if there is enough thread at the end of the rest, as they are two stitches too big...if there is not enough thread, then I may have to use a different thread, but I am hoping I won't have to go there...I will be good though and redo them as then the design will be according to the pattern...lol




X Ylva

Nefertiti is finished! 26/10/10

Yey!
I finished my Nefertiti!!! Amazing:)


She was a lot more fun and took a lot less time than I expected. It took me ages to do Tutankhamun, but then he had a lot more colours and also metallic thread which was a challenge.

I will be finishing off a few Christmas projects, finishing off my multicoloured version of Vicki's calendar partwork (February) which I had to frog quite a few stitches as I miscalculated the center. The good thing is that I made sure Vicki helped me calculate what was wrong before I did any cutting...lol

And of course I will work on finally organising my room...eventually...

X Ylva

Belated update on Nefertiti 201010

So, I have finally remembered to do an update on my Nefertiti. She is coming along a lot quicker than I expected, and I am hoping I will finish her by Sunday evening. I just have to stay away from Facebook as much as possible...lol

Nefertiti update 260910

So, here is the latest on my Nefertiti:) She is coming along very nicely...I just don't want to put her down...which means I stay up late when I should be going to bed...but that is a price I am willing tp pay. I was planning on finishing the face and then go on to other things before coming back and finishing her, but I decided to leave the face for last instead as that will bring her to life. I will keep working on her now and then, but will take turns finishing off some Christmas items in between. The other picture is of another Christmas item I have to finish off as an ornament. It is quite cute:) / Ylva

Angel ornament finished 140910

So, this morning I went to the emergency dentist and had one tooth removed...this tooth has been giving me trouble for more than a month, and I've had pain in my neck, jaw and especially my left ear because of it. I went last Saturday to the same emergency dentist and got antibiotics, which unfortunately did not help more than a little. So, today I have been sitting taking it very easy in the sofa, trying to make sure the bleeding did not start over, and so far I've been ok.

I have a picture of the front and back of the ornament, and I think it looks quite cute:) So, this is my first ornament present ready. Yey:)

Angel finished

So, I have finished the angel, now I just have to locate the little box where I keep my charms, so that I can put the snowflake around the sheep's neck...then I need to do the finishing touches so that it is ready to be sent closer to Christmas:)

I did ust Fuzzy Stuff for the sheep, so it looks kinda fluffy:) It was really difficult as the thread is so thick and fluffy, but I managed eventually. Probably not perfect, but very cute:)

Hope to be able to show my finished product tomorrow evening...

Ylva

my first Christmas project

So, here is the first project I'm working on, from Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 2004 by Crosseyed Cricket. It's called Gabby's Angel. I am not using the exact colours, and instead of the teal required for the apron, I am using a lovely multicoloured DMC:) And, for the sheep I will (most likely) be using beads for wool instead of the french knots they ask for...I just cannot do french knots...

Ylva

Update 17th August (ok, posted 19th...)

So, I just wanted to post my latest update on Nefertiti...she seems to be coming along really fast. Perhaps that is as I am doing one bit at a time, and not like normal one colour at a time...I am trying to spend the days working on my craft room, and the evenings stitching in front of the telly... I have a pic of the pillow case I am making for mum - just please remember it is my first try at patchwork, and it is VERY simple indeed...I do like the colours though...wanted to give her something happy. I am planning on stitching along the seams before finishing off...some nice broad stitch to make sure nothing falls apart. Once this is done and I have sent it off, I am going to play around a bit more...I have watched A Quilt in a Day on an american channel...sometimes it is only about farmlife ( which I realised after recording a few episodes which showed no quilting whatsoever...) but some of them are gems for a beginner like me:) So I am going to play around a bit...I think I am going to work on Christmas pressies or at least ornaments...I know it may be early, but normally I realise end of November I have a mountain to climb...this time I am trying to be early:)

X Ylva

I've been a bit remiss

I'm sorry to say that I have achieved very little lately, I have been away a lot though. We have been visiting friends now that I have the freedom of being able to drive. This next week is going to be spent giving the house a thorough clean as I got back from a couple of days in London to the feeling that something has died in my fridge. Once the main house is spotless it's back to the bedroom for me!!

Update 14th August

Hi there,
When we started this blog, I decided to blog once a week...this does not seem to be possible...not really sure why, but some weeks I just don't have much to say...some weeks life gets in the way of stitching, and some weeks seem to go so fast it is Tuesday by the time I remember that I should be blogging...

Anywho, I now have an update on Nefertiti. I should really be working on Vicki's design but I feel a bit nervous about it, so have taken a break. Nefertiti is going so well, and I am really enjoying it, and it has been a while since I really enjoyed stitching this much... Now, I know I did Heavygoing Grizzly recently, but that was more to finish it than because I really enjoyed it. I did LOVE finishing it for my nephew, but I did not love working on it...I enjoyed it but did not love it...if you know what I mean...

So, as you can see it has grown quite a bit:) I just can't wait until I can frame it and put it on the wall next to Tutankhamun:)

So, that is it for this week...hopefully there will be more next week:)

Over and out,

Ylva

Update 27th July

Hi there,
OK, I know I have not done that much, but it feels quite a lot when you cut into the fabric. I am hoping I have done the stitches correctly, but I will know that once Vicki has seen my project and can tell me if I am doing something wrong or if I have done good:)



Now I've got to start cutting in the middle part, which is even more scary...but at the same time it is fun, and my dear hubby is being supportive by saying how wonderful it looks:) Soon I will have the guts to do the same on the original:)

X Ylva

Update 22 July

Hi there...so, I am putting up a picture of my latest project. I am using a different thread on Vicki's partwork for February on a different fabric, so I can practice the stitches and hopefully make less mistakes on the real thing...

I've also done a tiny pic that my mum gave me when she came to visit. I have another one I am working on, but the partwork took precedence when I realised that I could do it on a different fabric...sometimes I get stuck and can't move forward on a project, and then all of a sudden something pops into my head and I just have to work on it...

I will post again when I have finished this practice project, and the next one will be the real thing:) Although...I am gonna have to buy the DMC threads I don't have, as well as the beads...I have beads but they are all in one big bundle with no details of what number they are...lol

I'll keep you posted:)

Ylva

I've lost track of which week it is.

I keep forgetting to post, sorry. This last couple of weeks has been crazy. I managed to get all the stuff off to the magazine which is a part of my list and I've been creating decorations for a school fair, including painting a 5' tall pirate which is not on the list but was fun!!
What is not so much fun is doing my accounts. That is my job for this week. I just wish I knew how to do them!! Every year I end up grovelling for advice. The depressing thing is that every year they look the same, I haven't broken even yet. Oh well - I'll cobble them together as always and keep my fingers crossed.

Week 10

So, I have finally finished my Heavygoig Grizzly:) It has been a few years, but it is now finished, I have washed it and ironed it, and am going to send it to my mum and dad so that dad can make a frame for it.

I have also got started on a patchwork cushion cover for my mum. I will take a picture as soon as I have it sewn together:)

I feel like I am finally getting somewhere, and am no longer just stomping on the same place all the time. :)

Ylva

Weeks 8 and 9 - Not a great couple of weeks.

Monday of week 8 I decided that the time had come to tackle the toilet redecoration. I had bleached it from top to bottom the week before so it was never going to be a more pleasant job than it would be now.

Things started well, I stripped the paint off the air vent as it was covered with a thick layer of yellowed gloss. It wasn't worth painting over it as the yellow was caused by nicotine (when I get this house it was thick with a sticky yellow brown layer, no matter how many times you paint over it, it still seeps through) I then started putting a polyfilla skim over the walls to even them out. The Plaster is very uneven and somewhat crumbly, if I just paper it it would look awful and if I am going to do the job I should do it properly.

Things were looking pretty good for a first day's work. I'd got one wall smoothed out and had started on a second. The air vent was stripped back and painted with a coat of primer, there was dust everywhere but it was progress. Most of the work involved me looking up for long periods of time but I didn't notice any problems beyond a stiff neck.

At the end of the day I bent down to pick up something from the floor and I suddenly felt like my head was exploding. I became very dizzy and had to lie down, could stand up for the rest of the night. The problem is, this hasn't gone away. I've been stuck with migraines and dizziness ever since. I haven't been able to do anything that involves bending down or looking up and the headaches have stopped me doing any admin either. In other words these last two weeks have been a frustrating write off. I really hope that this will sort itself out soon. I have been referred to a physio but it'll be a while before I get an appointment. I wish that I could afford a chiropractor.

Week 9 - update

Hi,
Now, there is not much to update really...I'm working hard on finishing my Grizzly...for some reason I just got going on it, and am about 90% ready. I know I said I was going to do some patchwork for mum, but I realised even though I had bought some fabrics, I did not have enough that matched...I have now purchased 300 3" squares of fabrics of all colours, and then I need to go get some plain cotton for backing, plus the wadding if I am to do anything more than a small quilt...so, on Sunday I am hoping I will be able to post a picture of my finished grizzly, and then the following week I should have something to show regarding patchwork:)

Off to cross stitch,

Ylva

My first finish - update week 8

Amazing...I just realised after putting in the title that it has taken this long to finish a little project...no wonder we need this list!!! But, we need more people to kick us when we don't do the work... Anyway, I have now finished, and taken a picture of my lovely first ever biscornu:) I do not have many fancy buttons at home, so I used what I had that I felt was somewhat suitable...hopefully you agree that it does not look too bad...


Oh, and by the way I am getting close to finishing organising my room thanks to my dear dad who made shelves for me...now I only have to make sure I have things easily accessible in a logical way according to what craft they belong to - embroidery, cross stitch, sewing, craftbooking, cardmaking...never ending list of what I love to do or would love to do - I finished putting my stamps on EZ Mount yesterday...I did quite a few about 2months ago, but my right index finger was numb up until 2weeks ago afterwards...I thought it might have been the glue, but I think it was just the way I held the scissors the same way pinching my nerve...so yesterday when I finished off, I made sure to move the scissor on the finger so the same would not happen...and it did not:)

Now, on to the next project...just gotta check the list to see what that is...most likely a patchwork type cushion cover for my mother...gives me a chance to work on my sewing machine again:)

Over and out,

Ylva