Baker Ross Stitching Decorations

A crafter's Christmas is a marathon not a sprint. We're trying to pace ourselves and mostly crack on with cards at the moment but there's always lots to do and I never manage to complete everything on my list. These are a prime example. I bought them last year but never actually got around to doing them so I have prioritised this year. It's a Baker Ross kit and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, although I must be honest I'm not sure that they are worth their full price of £5 for the six.

We painted the wooden decorations with acrylics first (excuse Jessica's choice of lurid pink please!) and then tackled the cross-stitch with full skeins of embroidery thread. They look lovely and are something a bit different for the tree this year.

The Magic of Backstitching

I’ve finally finished a small cross-stitch of Benjamin Bunny that I will take up to Chirk to be framed this week. I used an Anchor kit but neatened up the edges using half and three-quarter cross-stitches that were full stitches on the pattern. I’m not a fan of scruffy edges. Anyway, what I wanted to highlight on this post is the magic of backstitching. The first picture shows the cross-stitch alone while the second photo shows the finished project brought to life with backstitching and a single french knot on the eye. It never ceases to amaze me just how much of a difference it makes, definitely worth ever painstaking half stitch!

    

Another superb piece of craftsmanship by Michael Hill of Compton Framers, Chirk

Having been so impressed by their work on Archie’s birth sampler a few years ago, I decided to use Compton Framers in Chirk to frame my red kite. It is framed tight to the stitches with a simple black frame and a spacer between the frame and aida to prevent the stiches being squashed by the glass. They stretched the fabric for me and mounted it on board that helps the stitches stand out. The glass itself is special artist glass that has superior UV protection and allows the true colours of the design to shine through. Only the best for my kite you understand! I picked it up yesterday and it now hangs in pride of place in our lounge – at last!

What next?

148 hours and 30 minutes over 51 sessions and about 51 months (that’s shameful) but here it is. I finally finished the red kite tonight. I’ll take it to be framed in two weeks time and then it can be displayed proudly in our flat at last…

Unfortunately, this does mean that we do not have any dinner tonight – oops!

This is what 133 hours of cross-stitching looks like…

With rather a lot of the project still to go, this is what 133 hours of stitching on my red kite project looks like. I did six and a half hours today, which is the longest stint I have so far done in one day. What a great way to spend the last Sunday of the summer holidays, especially considering I haven’t actually picked this up since April 2012!

 

It’s only the landscape left to do. Here’s a closer look at the area I’m working on at the moment…

Stitching from Nan-nan’s collection

Mum came across these pieces is Nan-nan’s flat a couple of months ago. We’re not really sure who did most of them but they meant something to Nan-nan so I wanted to share them.

I think the two pieces in the bottom photo are mine and I have vague recollections of doing the one on the right but it was 20 years ago. Mum thinks she must have stitched the handkerchief in the third photograph.

Wedding Gifts

It turns out that there are still some crafty things that I haven’t blogged about from our wedding. In our lounge hang these two fantastic pieces that we were given as wedding presents. Lib made the cross-stitch and Ruth did the stunning drawing of our wedding venue Cley windmill. The only things that I can take some credit for on these photos are the cobwebs and I certainly didn’t make them, I just didn’t bother to clean them! Actually, I hadn’t even noticed them until I took these photos...

I’d better get a duster out before Mum sees this and goes mad!

Cards by Katie Childs and Lib Haigh

I love the simplicity of both Lib and Katie’s cards.

These first three cards are made by Katie. The cross-stitch on linen is lovely and she makes great use of the pinking shears, which are a crafting tool that I don’t own!

This last one is made by Lib using muslin-like material, wax and water-based paint (I think…). Gorgeous.

Summer’s here

So, British Summer Time has arrived and my kite is still about 25 hours from completion but I keep moving forward.

I bought Mum a new bench for the garden at the end of the summer last year and finally got around to making her a cushion for it yesterday. I stitched a zip into it and really wish I’d done the same for my beanbag the other week. Ah well, I live and learn. Anyway, here’s the cushion, which is made of the toughest fabric I own…

Today I managed a four and a quarter session on the kite but it doesn’t look too different from the last time I posted it :¬(

4153 stitches and 28 hours to go…

I am not going to make my published end of March deadline but at least I’m still making progress. I wish that I could stitch all day tomorrow but I have a church parade to attend, two sets of books to mark, 23 reports to write, cover work to set and some STEP III questions to do. However, I am onto my last page of pattern with this project and am still on track to finish within the 150 hours. This is 121 hours of work…

 

During the week I also made Mother’s Day cards for my Mum and David’s Mum. The first is a photo card embellished with recycled bits from cards that I have received whilst the second is a simple stitched flower card as requested by David.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful Mothers and Grandmothers out there…

A quiet crafting weekend in Norfolk

I managed to get three things done this weekend…

1. I made a birthday card using flowers cut out off some fabric and stitched to thick, textured paper and embellished with beads at the centre of each flower.

2. I bought wool for the first time. It’s definitely time that I learnt how to crochet. Watch out for my first attempts over the next month or so.

3. I spent another seven hours on the red kite. I’m now up to a running total of 112 hours spent on the project and upon completing my session today I decided to analyse my stitching speed and estimate just how much time it’s going to take me to complete. If I stitch at today’s pace for the rest of the project, it should take me another 36 hours taking me rather close to the magic 150 hours that I’ve been estimating almost from the start! Given that the six nations starts next weekend, which is a superb stitching companion, I’m aiming for completion by the end of March but don’t hold me to it!

2012–The year of the Kite?

A couple of weeks ago my husband made a request that I make 2012 the year of the Kite. His initial request was that I finish the cross-stitch in January, which is totally unrealistic and damn near impossible. I think the horror in my face must have said it all because he quickly decided to give me a year to complete the project. I have to admit that I’d like to finish it sooner and am really looking forward to having it hanging on the wall.

Anyway, I’ve just made it over the 100 hour mark today. According to my estimates this should mean that I’m about two thirds of the way through. I can’t do anymore today though. Doing fiddly cross-stitch in the dark is not a good idea for your eyes or your sanity (no lights in the lounge at the moment…)

Have a look at what I’ve done now and what I have left to do. Any bets when in 2012 I’ll be done?

    

Now that I come to look at it, it doesn’t appear that I’m two thirds of the way through yet does it? Ho hum…

So, it’s latch-hook rugging for me for the rest of the day. At least I can do that by lamp light!

Christmas Cross-stitch

My fabulous Nan is one of those incredibly difficult people to buy presents for. She’s diabetic and has skin that’s irritated by just about everything. She can’t keep plants alive and thinks that flowers are a complete waste of money. On top of that, I’m not that keen on giving vouchers for Christmas to anyone other than Mum – we always have a day out to spend them together, which makes it so much better! So, every birthday and Christmas presents a dilemma. I’ve now come to the conclusion that the very best thing that I can do is to make things for her. She really does mean the world to me so the idea of spending about three weekends working on these pieces doesn’t phase me. She’s worth every single moment.

I’m intending to make two small, simple patchwork cushions (like the ones in my last post) to adorn her sofa over the next couple of weeks. In addition, I spent this weekend completing a cross-stitch for her. My friend, Steph, gave me this kit a few years ago having decided that she wasn’t too keen on it. I started it from scratch on some left over fabric. The kit’s designed for 16 count canvas but I’ve done it on 14 I think so it’s a little more sparse than intended. I’m used to stitching on 18 holes per inch with hundreds of colours these days so it seemed pretty simple to be honest. Having said that, it did take me the whole weekend. I’m going to mount and frame it in a simple 6 by 4 inch frame then she can get it out every Christmas to celebrate the festive season.

On to the background – hurrah!

After 85 hours of hard work I finished the red kite itself on Saturday…

I then somehow found another 5 hours on Sunday (neglecting all the school work that I probably should have been doing but hell I’m still on holiday!) to devote to beginning the stunning background…

The colours look a bit washed out in this photograph but I assure you that they are vivid and beautiful in real life. Good enough to get a very big “WOW” from David when he got home at any rate! I think my best guess for the completed piece is still 120 hours but we shall have to wait and see.

75 hours 40 minutes and one other tiny craft

Can you get RSI in your thumbs? I’ve often wondered this after a weekend stitching but after a good night’s sleep they always seem to ache a lot less. Anyway, I’ve managed to devote another 11 hours to the wonderful kite this weekend, bringing me to 75 hours and 40 minutes worth of work on this piece…

I don’t normally pick up my pace on a piece until it’s nearing it’s completion, which this one is not. I’m quite impressed with my own motivation this time. However, I have Katryn here next weekend so I’m going to have to put it away for a week or two now.

I just about had time to do one other small craft piece yesterday for hubby’s 30th. The stitching that holds the three pieces together could do with thicker thread but it did take less than 20 minutes to complete so I can’t complain!

Am I half way through yet???

After another 8 hours stitching this weekend I’ve made it to a total of 64 and a half hours working on my red kite now. Whilst David was away I decided which bird cross-stitch I’d like to do next but that seems to be a very long way off at the moment. I have some easier kits stashed away that I think I might do first. Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s the current state of play…

Use of a different framer…

My laptop has returned so I’m feeling inclined to blog again. Whilst David’s been away I’ve done a few more hours of kiting but that’s not what I’m going to share today. I was up in Wales this weekend and finally saw the results of the cross-stitch that I’d taken up there to be framed for Archie. Up until this piece I’ve had everything framed at Frames in Loughton. I do find their service very good but they are a little expensive so I thought I’d try somewhere different.

Mum had spotted a new framers open up in Chirk (actually moved from elsewhere I think) so we popped in. I was really impressed with the framer, Michael Hill, who was very professional and knowledgeable. He had a huge range of frames and other options, including some amazing artists glass. I opted for conservation glass (high UV protection) for this piece, which kept the costs just below Frames. I was tempted by the expensive stuff but it’s so amazing that a tiny mark of highlighter pen on the canvas shone like a beacon! I’ll definitely opt for it when I finally get my red kite framed.

The colours aren’t wonderful in my photo but the frame was a perfect match for one of the reds in the cross-stitch. He did such a good job that I wanted to share his work and highly recommend him. He’s certainly earned my return custom. See what you think…

Thanks to Katryn for holding it up for me!

Should you have anything that needs framing and are within reach of Chirk in North Wales give him a try. He’s open 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday…

Compton Framers, 10 Station Avenue, Chirk. LL14 5LS.

Exciting update on kite as head is complete!

This may not actually be an “exciting” update for many but I’m thrilled to have completed the red kite’s head after 51 hours and 30 minutes of work. I think the head is absolutely beautiful and well worth sharing.

It’s worth noting at this point that one of the unusual things about these kits by X-stitch birds is that they are created entirely of full cross-stitches. No half stitches, no three-quarter stitches and absolutely no back-stitch. Considering this simplicity in pattern, I think you’d have to agree, the result is stunning.

One Wing Down

At just shy of 42 hours worth of work I have completed a wing! Hurrah!!!

The head and body are next on the agenda but I’m not entirely sure when I’ll get around to that. We’re approaching the time at which I tire of the back and finger ache as well as the constant concentration required. I’m beginning to feel the urge to do some more smaller projects. I offered to do some curve stitching for our Maths classrooms over the holiday. With just three actual holiday days left I’ve done exactly none so I’d better get cracking…

Red Kite Update

Today I’ve completed my longest kiting session yet. 5 hours and 15 minutes later David returned home from a day birding in Norfolk and suggested that I’d done just 2 hours. I think the final hour count may come as a bit of a surprise to him if I ever manage to finish it!

Anyway, I’ve now been working at it for 33 hours and 40 minutes. This is the current state of play…

It wouldn’t be quite so bad if it was just the kite that needed stitching but there is a HUGE background to go with it. That was one of the reasons that we chose the design but I’m slightly regretting it right now!