Joe's Xstitch

Silent Flight - Update #6

2011-03-26T14:24:00.001-07:00

It has been a long time since my last update, but I blame it all on the tax session. There is only 35 days left in this year's tax session so it won't be much longer before I need to think up a new excuse for not working on the cross stitching ;).

The left side of the mountains are now complete and I have been working on the reflection/shadow of the mountain in the river. It is less then 2" to the bottom of the project which will be a big milestone for me.

March 26, 2011

And as a special treat for anyone following this blog, here is a picture of the back of the project. Not something most stitchers are willing to show, but the other day I toke a good look at the back (perhaps for the first time) and was actually very happy with the organization of the back. I always try to think of the cleanest lines for the back as I am having to jump around on the design, I guess it is paying off.

Silent Flight - Update #5

2010-12-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update on Silent Flight as well since it has been a month and a half. Not as much progress as I was hoping for, but progress is progress. At least you can start to see the mountain range starting to form.

I will be going to Mexico for a vacation in just over a week so I don't expect to get much done this Christmas season, but there is no rush on doing these projects so I am just trying to relax and enjoy it unstead of feeling like I am way behind/too slow.

Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas and a happy new year!

December 11, 2010

View From The Creek - Beginning

2010-12-11T13:54:00.001-08:00

I must be crazy for trying to start a third project but I've really liked this design for some time. It is called View From The Creek. It is done on 25 count fabric and will measure to be 14" x 10 3/8" or 91,350 stitches. The beauty of this design is that there is no backstitching or anything of the sort. I've just gotten the supplies and would like to try and grid this time so it will be a little while before I can actually start stitching as I also have to wind up the thread onto bobbins first.

Here is what the design will look like when it is done.

Silent Flight - Update #4

2010-10-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been almost two monthes since my last update, where does the time go? Clearly, it didn't go into cross stitching ;).

A few week ago we went camping for the last time of the year at Harrison Mills. This is a beautiful, quite spot where Harrison Lake meets the Fraser River between the mountains. I've known for a long time there are several eagle nests in this area which is why I loved this design and that location, the one always reminds me of the other. I could see this design being a picture taking in this area. While we were camping there, a bald eagle glided right over my head, it was really cool and re-inspired me to work on this project again.

With the weather turning to fall/winter there will be less going outside now and hopefully more stitching, but I've thought that before and then still not stitch that much so we will see what happens.

October 27, 2010

Silent Flight - Update #3

2010-09-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I've posted an update. With this endless sky it just feels pointless as the actual picture doesn't seem to change much. But now I have about 2/3s of the endless sky completed and decided to change it up a bit and start working down onto the mountains instead of across and continue working on the sky. This will add more to the picture and give me a break from these same colours. I am considering trying to save the eagle for last as I thought it would look really neat to see the background complete and the space for the eagle remaining. But we will see what happens in the future. I may soon be complaining about the endless mountains next and need a break from them too, LOL.

September 1, 2010

Silent Flight - Update #2

2010-05-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on my progress from the past three weeks.

I've just done some more sky, which seems to be endless at this point. However, the top of the mountain is just below where I've stitched so far. I want to get the top left sky done before I start on the mountains though as I am looking forward to the "new" colours for the mountains.

May 21, 2010

Silent Flight - Update #1

2010-05-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

As I said in my last post, I haven't had much time in the past three monthes to work on my cross stitch, but that didn't mean nothing was done. I did manage to do about 4,500 half stitches, which isn't really much for three monthes, but considering the time of year, I'm happy with the result. I decided to be a little different this time and start in the top left corner instead of in the middle like I am use to doing. I must have counted it out a half dozen times to make sure I start in the right spot, talk about paranoid.

So far it has only been sky that I've worked on but the colours are looking great. Hopefully soon I'll be able to work on the mountain on the left hand side to add some other colours to the picutre. At the end of the line of cross stiches down the right size of what I have completed is where the top of the eagle feathers will begin.

May 1, 2010

Silent Flight - Beginning

2010-05-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have last had a chance to update my blog. Going through tax session will due that to you I guess as I have not had much time to spend on hobbies when some days you are working 13-14 hours. But today is May 1, now tax session is over, yeah! This weekend I am now trying to catch up on some of my chores but I can take some time off to finally update my blog.

On January 19, 2010, I started a new project called Silent Flight (which is also from Dimensions, the Gold Collection) in order to create a rotation with the Glory of Autumn cross stitch. This project will measure 16" x 11" when it is completed and is done on 18 count aida. That means it will be 57,000 stitches when it is done. But it won't be too bad as most of them are half stitches. Only the eagle is full stitches in order to give it the appearance of being in the foreground.

Here is a picture of what it will look like when it is completed:

Here is a picture of the project once I had all the supplies organized and ready to go.

January 19, 2010

Glory of Autumn - Update #8

2010-01-15T18:15:00.001-08:00

Here's a quick update for the 5 month mark of this project. I basically have the top right of the design completed except for about 10 stitches that I am just waitting until I have more of that colour to do.

At this point, I am not sure what I want to do next, do I want to do the next fall tree on the top left, continue with the river bed on the bottom right, or maybe even try starting a second project to have a rotation? I had said with the wreath I didn't want to have multiple projects just to get some finishes under my belt but after 5 monthes on this one with a long way to go (or at least it feels like it to me), maybe a change would be good just to keep it fresh. That sounds kind of appealling at this point.

January 15, 2010

Glory of Autumn - Update #7

2010-01-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. It's hard to believe another decade has come and gone much less another year. It doesn't seem all that long ago everyone was making a big deal about the new millennium but here we are, 10 years into it already.

Here are some progress pictures of where I was on New Year's day. Hey, it only toke me six days to post them, that means I am getting quicker at it.

I managed to get a fair amount done the week before Christmas once I had everything ready for Christmas. With my sister down for the holiday I didn't get any done that week but just after the New Year I had a few days to make some more progress before heading back to work which isn't in these pictures, but that will have to be another update. And since I haven't taken any new pictures yet you know that means it will be at least six days away ;).

January 1, 2010

Glory of Autumn - Update #6

2009-12-13T19:55:00.001-08:00

It's been a busy month since my last update and this coming month looks no better as Christmas is just about here. Since my last update I've managed to get the bush in front of the waterwheel done, one of the four large fall trees completed, and started on my second fall tree. The bush was difficult as it was all confetti stitches so it was really slow going on it.

Looking ahead, once I've got this second fall tree done most of the remaining right side of the project will be half stitches so hopefully that will make up for some lost time as I am now four monthes into this project and still have the goal of wanting to get it done within a year.

December 13, 2009

Glory of Autumn - Update #5

2009-11-09T20:16:00.001-08:00

Here is the to-the-minute update. Last night I completed the foundation and the water wheel so now the building is complete. I still have to do the water part where it is pouring from the shute into the wheel and pouring out of the wheel into the stream. Beside the wheel is the bush which is the same colours as the tall autumn trees which I am going to go work on right now.

November 9, 2009

Glory of Autumn - Update #4

2009-11-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

Here is the updated pictures for the end of October. I hadn't stitched much for a month after the last update but then I toke these progress pictures to get me going again. Here, half the foundation was completed and the water wheel was taking form.

October 31, 2009

Glory of Autumn - Update #3

2009-09-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest update. I have completed the walls and now working on the foundation and the wheel. It has been pointed out to me that I am building the barn backwards because I started with the roof, then the walls, and finally the foundation.

September 24, 2009

Glory of Autumn - Update #2

2009-09-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest picture of the Glory of Autumn project. I have completed the roofs of the barn and now working on the walls. I am hoping to be able to start stitching the fall coloured trees in October as that would be perfect since that is when the trees turn to fall colours here.

September 10, 2009

Glory of Autumn - Update #1

2009-09-10T18:53:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of the start of the Glory of Autumn back in August. I have made some progress since but no more recent pictures. I've started working the barn part first and have the roofs done now along with some of the walls. I am finding this one to be faster progress then the wreath when I am working on it. I hope to be able to do more in the coming weeks as these past 2-3 weeks I haven't done much stitching.

August 22, 2009

Glory of Autumn - Beginning

2009-08-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

I have now started working on the Glory of Autumn project this weekend as well. Everything is bigger this time - the hoop, the fabric, the stitches, and the count, but so far I would have to say that it has also been easier going from 18 count to 14 count cloth. I'll have an update picture soon, but here is a pic of all the material prepared and ready for stitching.

One thing I found with the Shell Wreath project was to use painters tape to tape up the edges to prevent it from fraying while stitching. I was worried about the glue on the cloth; however, when I cleaned the project on completion I made sure to go over the edges well with my hands and it is not sticky at all anymore so I decided to do it again for this project and see how well it works for a bigger project.

August 15, 2009

Shell Wreath - Completed

2009-08-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

I have now completed the Shell Wreath welcome project last weekend. It was about 6 monthes in all for me to get it done, but I made it. This also means that it will have been 6 monthes since I had my last cig next weekend.

This project measures 7" x 5" on 18 count Aida cloth (approx. 10,000 stitches plus backstitching, of which there is a lot. I had plenty of threads of every colour so I wasn't ever worried about running out of it while working on the project. I think back to the first time I saw the pattern for this one and thought that I was in over my head, but I am very glad to prove myself wrong.

I really enjoyed doing this project and looking forward to my next one, Glory of Autumn, which I also started this weekend, but that will be another post.

Anyway, here is a pic of the completed project.

Shell Wreath Completed - August 14, 2009

Now the detail work

2009-07-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest update picture of the Shell Wreath project. This was taken about a week ago as the pre backstitching picture. I have done some backstitching since then but the next update will be when it is complete. I was hoping to get it done before I go on holiday next week, but the backstitching is taking longer then I thought it would as there is quite a bit of it for such a small project. I think for the next project I will do some backstitching as I go or else I might get disheartened having to do so much at the end. In any case, here the last picture I have taken of this project.

I toke this photo and did this write up awhile ago; however, I've had problems with the internet. Hopefully it is fixed now. I'm still working on the backstitch so no update on that yet.

Shell Wreath - July 4, 2009

Shell Wreath - June 29/09

2009-06-29T19:35:00.001-07:00

Shell Wreath - June 29, 2009

Here is the latest update on my Shell Wreath project. I managed to get a fair amount done this past week and now that the finish line is in sight, I want to complete it. I just need to do a few more colours done the left side of the wreath, the background sky bit going around the outside of the wreath, and the backstitching part. I go on holidays this year starting July 21 so my goal is to complete it by then. At this point there is a lot of doing one stitch and then moving lines and doing two stitches, and then moving lines again for a stitch, etc. That makes the progress really slow but I guess that is what will add the details that will make this a nice piece to hang on the wall.

Shell Wreath - June 19/09

2009-06-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

There had been a few weeks of where I wasn't making much progress on the Shell Wreath; however, this weekend wasn't the best weather so I made some good strides. I still haven't started the new project which amazes me as I like to start new projects and try new things but I am really wanting to complete the Shell Wreath first. This doesn't mean I can't have multiple projects going in the future, I just want to try to complete this one first.

Shell Wreath - June 19/09

I have prepared a few things for the next project though, such as sorting the floss. I have also been working on ways to make the next project easier. I've read alot online about not marking the orginal pattern pages which I did on the Wreath. I now know why they tell you to photocopy the orginal pattern as it is quite tattered already and this is only a (relatively) small project. It is getting hard to read in some spots (like where the creases are which have begun to rip). This past week I finally decided to setup my new printer (which has been sitting there for monthes) as it would have colour printing and to my surprise (mainly because I forgot about it), it also is a scanner which worked perfect for making copies of the pattern. So I did figure out how to scan it, enlarge the pattern, and print it in colour (the orginal comes in colour). I also found that when I stitch I like to sit back and have the pattern leaning against my leg (which I have up) and the sheet constantly falls down (and now can't be read) so I am going to try and take the copies and paste them onto cardboard so they will be more stiff and (hopefully) stand up more against the leg and make it easier to write. I'll let you know how well this works.

First Blog

2009-06-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

While, this is my first blog so please bare with me as I go through the learning curve. I have recently picked up a new hobby of cross stitching and I found some nice cross stitch blogs out there so I thought that I would do that as well, if for no other reason then to have my own personal "diary" of my progress so I can go back and view it in the future. I orginally picked up the cross stitching a few months ago as I am trying to quit smoking and thought it would be a great way to keep my hands busy when I wanted a cig. While, it has now been just over 100 days since my last smoke and I am quite proud of that and think the idea of keeping my hands busy has really helpped me though that challenge as well.

I have done some small cross stitches in the past but recently I picked up a kit that is 5" x 7" on an 18 count Aida cloth and have been working on it for the past few monthes. It is the shell wreath kit from Dimensions. This has been my largest project by far to date and I've been really enjoying it. I have completed the inside of the design and all the shells in the wreath. Now I am working on the remainder of the wreath (flowers, ribbons, etc.) and then I just need to complete the backstitching and this project will be complete. I am hoping to get it finished soon as I find I have slown down on the project with the weather warming up since late May and heading outside more as summer has arrived. I have set deadlines in the past to help me stay focused on it; however, I think I was being too aggressive with them as I wasn't sure how much work was involved in it but I do hope to have it done soon.

Shell Wreath - May 15/09

Shell Wreath - May 22/09

Recently I picked out my next project which is also from Dimensions (they have a lot of designs that have caught my eye) which is the Glory of Autumn kit and is 14" x 11" on a 14 count Aida cloth. I think this one will take a long time to complete and will be a real challenge for me to complete as I estimate that it will take me close to a year to finish (based on the time it has taken me to do the shell wreath) and will require perserverance and determination but I believe I can do it. I am trying really hard not to begin this one until I finish the wreath project. Here is a picture of what it will look like when I am done.

Glory of Autumn - Sample Photo

Well, that's enough blogging for now, I hope to update this page every few weeks with what I have accomplished and progress pictures for you to enjoy. Please feel free to comment and give me feedback if you see this blog. Thanks!