Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Holy cow!

Many of you know that I am a cross-stitcher. I have stitched for many, many years now as my Mom taught me when I was very young. However, in recent years, my stitching has sadly fallen to the wayside in place of beading. I am making an honest effort to correct that now - and although I am not spending as much time stitching as I used too, I have found that I have missed it - and that it is time to make it a regular part of my life again.

So - for the first time in years - I actually have pictures to show you of my current WIP (that's work-in-progress for those of you who don't know). I am doing this as a SAL (stitch-a-long) with my dear friend, Julie. We started this on April 6th - the day before my birthday - and this is what I have done at this time. Julie is doing some crazy-ass rotation where she rotates projects every 2 weeks - and she has approximately 3,000 projects in this rotation. (OK - I was exaggerating a bit there - it's more like 300. Oh - all right - fine. It's really about 20.) Anyways - she currently has about 200 stitches in hers - mine has about 1600 in this picture. I am determined that she will not get ahead of me on this project. Even though she only works on it for 2 weeks at a time - she does not work, so she is able to devote a LOT of time over those 2 weeks to stitching. This design is called Storykeeper by Selena Fenech - and the pattern is made by Heaven and Earth Designs. You can see the project in it's entirety here


Isn't it cool? I am really loving this piece so far as you can really see it coming together already. HAED's get their detail from shading - not backstitch. So there are loads of colors changes, but you can really see the details in the piece already.

I will have another update fairly soon. I've already but in another 400 stitches since I took this picture before I started stitching yesterday.

So what do you think? Do you like it?




8 comments:

tonileo said...

I love it Julie!! So glad your stitching again, I really need to get back to doing that!!!

mdgtjulie said...

It's looking great Jules. I love how you can see the trees now. Great job!!

Julie said...

Toni!!!!! I am *so* happy to see you here - and yes you really should get back into stitching. =) How was Vegas? I miss the crap outta you!

Yes Julie - I think it is looking pretty good too. (And as you can tell - I finally got the software issue worked out.)

Sweet Seahorse said...

Looking great Julie. Do you work from the outside in? I used to find the centre and then work outwards. I used to do cross stitching too, before I started soaping, then beading, then crochet!!! I have a few old projects partly done, and a few kits yet to start. Now I have the kids I might have to wait a few years before I get back into the cross stitching, as the thought of needles spread from here to kingdom come is not one I relish!
xXx Helen

Nicky Heppenstall said...

I miss stitching, haven't done any for a good couple of years, but I know I'll get back to it, life changes, I imagine I'll be teaching Jodie before long!

Julie said...

Helen - How I work on piece really depends on a project. On this one I have actually started in the upper left hand corner and am working form the outside in since it is a solid stitched piece. Other designs (say Mirabilia) I do start in the center as it is not a solid stitched piece.

I don't blame you for not stitching with 2 little ones around - as you said - WAY too much stuff to get into!

@Nicky - As I said, it's been a long time since I have done any stitching with any regularity. I have a tendency to feel guilty if I am not working on beading, but I am trying to change that. It's something I do enjoy immensely, so I am trying to give myself permission to work on my stitching without feeling guilty about not working on beading.

Aitch said...

This brings back memories to me - I also used to do a lot of cross stitching years ago, before I took up painting. I have several kits still unfinished (some not even started) in the cupboard - and a tapestry piece of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting, which is only half done, in my studio. Lovely to see the detail in your piece!

Julie said...

Thank you Aitch! I am having some issues with Blogger - which is irritating the crap out of me. I tried to comment on your blog - I really love the painting you showcased of the woman with Blue Shoes. But Blogger picks and chooses which blogs I can comment on which is entirely annoying. I think I may contact them to see if I can get a response on what I am doing wrong....lol. I have little doubt that it is user error on my end...hehe.