A 2.5 Year Work-In-Progress

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Yesterday I was going through my box of “completed” projects that have not been framed yet, when I came across my little hedgehog pincushion. Well, it was technically two stitched sides of a hedgehog waiting to be turned into a pincushion. I had completely forgotten about this project. I had stitched it up quickly, but then never got around to putting it together. I decided it had been long enough (since September 2015, yikes!) and I got out my sewing supplies. It was a bit trickier than I had thought it would be, because the pattern was from one of my digital magazines. So when I printed out the templates on my printer, they were not large enough. I had to play around with enlarging them before I figured out the correct size. Most of it went together on the machine, which was quick and easy. But the bottom piece of green felt had to be hand sewn on, which was really tedious and painful and today I’m having an issue with trigger finger because of it. Ouch! But finally he was done, and I got to put in the cute leaf shaped pins I had found. He is so adorable and I absolutely love him! I think instead of using him as a pincushion I am just going to keep him on my desk to look at, whenever I need to smile.

You can read my original post about this little guy here.

XXX

Carrie



Another hedgehog

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The other day when my 6 year old wanted to work on her cross stitch, I decided to get out a new project. A Summer Ball is lots of fun to work on, but difficult when you have to stop every couple of minutes. I looked through my “work in progress” tote and found a project I had completely forgotten about. I had not started it yet, but had the materials ready to go. It is a cute little hedgehog which is stitched in two parts and then put together to make a pincushion. It was a free cover kit from a recent British magazine, but as I subscribe to the digital edition, I don’t get the kit. Fortunately, the chart was inside the magazine and I just had to find my own supplies. The design is stitching up very quickly, and I already have most of the first half of the little critter done. The other side is basically the same thing, only in reverse. I can’t wait to get this one done!

I haven’t taken a photo yet, but here is what he will look like. I even managed to find the same pins, although they are a different color.

hedgehogcushion

XXX
Carrie


Uh Oh, More Stash!

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Today a new issue of The World of Cross Stitching came in the mail, and had a free kit with it for a floral sachet. I had also received an adorable kit of a hedgehog with the last issue, which I never got around to stitching. So that’s two new kits to add to my stash. And this year is supposed to be all about de-stashing!

newkits

The hedgehog kit seems a bit daunting, but the sachet looks like it could be worked up in a day or two. I think I might tackle that one as soon as Nefertiti is done, just so that it is not taking up space in my “kits” tote, which is overflowing as it is. That wad of batting they give you for it is huge! Maybe putting some potpourri inside would make it smell nice. I really need to get these free kits stitched up. It is already April and I am kind of disappointed on the number of finishes I have done so far this year. I want to work on A Summer Ball too, but I think I will have to finish at least one small kit before I can get back to work on it.

XXX
Carrie


Halloween Hedgehog – Finished!

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hedgehog4The whole family has been sick lately, and my daughter was home sick from school today. I wasn’t feeling well either, so I managed to get this hedgehog done while on the couch with her, watching episode after episode of  The Magic Schoolbus and Curious George.

The backstitch on the web and hedgehog were hard to follow, because they didn’t follow any kind of path. But I’m happy with the finished result. Happy Halloween!

*Cough*Sneeze*
Carrie


Halloween Hedgehog

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I started this hedgehog Halloween project several weeks ago but lost interest. After finishing my punch needle project, I decided to work on it again and it is finally starting to take shape. The design is by Rhona Norrie and was in issue 207 of The World of Cross Stitch magazine.

hedgehog2

I absolutely adore hedgehogs. I will probably never get to see one in real life, so cross stitching them will have to do!

XXX
Carrie


Just Cross Stitch 2013 Special Christmas Issue

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2013ornamentsThe 2013 special issue of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments is out! I know, it’s only September. But I am excited to get some Christmas stitching done. I would like to stitch an ornament for each of my son’s 4th grade teachers this year (he has two; one for reading and writing and one for math and science). I love the Be Jolly Santa from Angel Stitchin and the Snowman from Needle Bling Designs. Both are featured on the cover. They look like fun and quick projects.

I don’t have this issue in stock yet but it should arrive next week. The price is $9.99 and it features 76 projects, on 115 pages. But for now I have my subscription copy and can get stitching. Well, after the two Halloween projects I have on my to-do list, that is! Tonight the kids will spend the night at grandma’s house which is a treat for them but for me as well. I can go to bed whenever I want, which means I get some STITCHING TIME! I know exactly what I am going to work on – a hedgehog Halloween design by Margaret Sherry. I just can’t get enough of her cute little hedgehogs. The design is from the current issue of World of Cross Stitch.

XXX
Carrie


Finally Finished!

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I thought this Margaret Sherry hedgehog design would be a quick stitch. WRONG! In 30 years of stitching I have never come across such bizarre stitch combinations. Instead of half cross stitches that take up half of the Aida square in a diagonal fashion, these take up half of the square in either a sideways or vertical way. That in itself would not have been a huge inconvenience, but in some areas there would be a half stitch and then a whole stitch, then another half stitch. This means that the whole stitch would be in half of one Aida block and half in the other. Crazy, right? Counting was really difficult for this chart and the backstitch was a pain as well. But I persevered and in the end I think this little guy turned out pretty well. I used Kreinik blending filament in 032 pearl for the bumblebee’s wings, instead of plain white DMC. I think it adds a nice sparkle.

Next up: Autumn Leaves by Janis Lockhart of Cross-Point Designs (Sep/Oct issue of Just Cross Stitch).

Happy Stitching!
Carrie