Which looks better?

Which frame do you think looks better? I've left the cardboard corners on the silver frame for now, so please ignore those.I just can't decide which is better. I don't know the couple it's for, so it's even harder to know what will work best in their house.

I've framed up 'Cuddles' the cat now too. I think he looks lovely! I will be hanging him above my bed, but I couldn't wait to take a photo of him...

Latest finish & some of my favourites

I haven't had chance to stitch a lot recently. I've been busy building Ikea furniture for the spare room (or craft room, as I call it, but don't tell DH!). I have finished the Lizzie Kate wedding snippet though. I wanted to get that done as I'm sure my Dad thought I wasn't gonna stitch it in time. It took a couple of days, and the worst bit was chosing the right shade of chocolate brown for the names. It's for my Dad's neighbours and I've not been in their house, but my Dad wanted me to stitch something for them on his behalf and told me their decor is cream & chocolate. I think it turned out nice, although now he wants me to find a frame for it too!

I thought I'd also show off some of my favourite cross stitch pieces. Below is a card of some beach huts I stitched for my dear friend, Gloria, a couple of years ago. It was her 70th birthday and some of her cross stitching friends each stitched something for her and they were all put in an album. I chose this because she lives near the seaside and it reminds me of visiting her. I also stitched her a dolphin, as we're both dolphin crazy!

Probably the largest thing I've stitched-and finished!-is a lovely Heritage Stitchcraft 'Titanic' picture. I asked for this particular design because out of all the Titanic kits I looked at, this was by far the nicest. I was given it for my 21st birthday (2001) and started stitching it as a stitch-a-long just afterwards. Two other girls, both in USA, were doing the same design. I was the 2nd to finish it....in August 2004! Because it was so special, I had it professionally framed by Sue at SD Framing and I think it looks amazing! It was all stitched on evenweave and every single area is covered. Well worth it, though and it hangs in our living room, above the sofa.

The only other cross stitch I've had professionally framed was Dad's 50th birthday present. I had found a cute Country Companions kit in the sale a while before his birthday and thought I'd amend it a bit to suit him more. Originally the football kit was red, white and blue, but Dad's team is Plymouth Argyle and they play in green, so I changed the colours to shades of green. Easier said than done! I finished stitching it a few days before his birthday and Sue did a fab job framing it-especially given such short notice! Here's the pic of me & Dad (in his Argyle shirt) with the finished piece.

A few finishes

I've been busy stitching, although no more progress on Crisp Afternoon yet. Will do soon, I promise!

I stitched Lizzie Kate's 'Spring' snippet for my Grandma's birthday in March. It was a very last minute thing, as I couldn't think of anything to buy her. I used some hand dyed fabric in 'Fields of Green' and managed to stitch the design in about 3 days! The plan is to stitch the other seasons for christmas/next birthday, so my brother bought a large frame for her and we need to find a mount with 4 apertures in. Will post a pic when I can.

I also stitched Margaret Sherry's 'Not Fat...' for myself. Just got it into my head one day that I *had* to stitch it, so I dug it out, found a piece of evenweave (Dragon Shades, Cuddles) and got stuck in! It took about a week, I think. The backstitching was fiddly, so I was glad I used evenweave, not aida, but the look is fab! I've taken a pic, but it's not been ironed or framed yet.

My friend, Debi, is pregnant and has asked me to stitch her a Humphrey's corner design for the baby's nursery. She chose the kit she wanted and I started stitching it a little while ago. Today I finished all the backstitching on it, so there's no more I can do until she has the baby (due August 4th). It looks sweet, so I hope she likes it.

Next up is a Lizzie Kate wedding snippet for my Dad's neighbours. Hopefully won't take long to stitch.

Oh! I also sent in a letter & pic to Cross Stitch Crazy and it was published in the June 2008 issue! It was of Tommy & the 2 Humphrey's Corner pics that I stitched when he was born-3 and a half years ago!

New Year updates

Well, it's nearing the end of January already. I haven't updated this in ages, but there isn't a great deal to show. I have stitched a little bit more on the Crisp Afternoon.

Also took the Golden Gate stitching to America with me, but only really got chance to stitch on the plane, on the way out. I also managed to stitch a card for my mum and a little picture for my friend. Better than nothing, but I would've liked to have done much more.

See my webshots album for pics of the christmas designs I stitched.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/326308832tSQeTg

Crisp Afternoon update

Stitching slump

I haven't done any cross stitch for a while now. I just don't feel like picking up a needle. No idea why, but I wish I could get back into it. I have loads of great kits to work on.
Me and Mum are off to a stitch show in Harrogate next month. I'm looking forward to it, because it's supposed to be a very good one. Jayne from 'Jaynes Attic' might be there too, and I'd love to finally meet her. She's been so helpful every time I've shopped with her.
Speaking of shopping, I must re-new my subscription to The World Of Cross Stitching... Hopefully that will be more straightforward than it was with Cross Stitch Crazy. Bob took out a subscription for me as an Easter present. The free gift never arrived and we contacted them by phone and post many times. Eventually, Bob managed to get the details of the editor, who finally sent out some kits and extended my subscription for 3 months as an apology for such bad service. Why doesn't anything ever go smoothly? It seems like we have problem after problem with everything!

Not much progress....

I've been feeling that I'm not getting anywhere with the Crisp Afternoon, plus the temptation of lots of new kits, so I admit that I started on something new. I know, I know....I'm very naughty and it's no wonder that I never seem to finish anything. I wish I had more will power, but I don't, so I started working on my Dolly Mamas kit.I've done quite a bit of it, but haven't stitched anything this week, as I've been more concerned with the flooding in Gloucester. My family and friends are there and they have been without running water since Sunday night. Luckily they haven't had any damage to their property, but I really do feel for the people who have been flooded out of their homes and are living in the local leisure centre. I hope they can start rebuilding their lives soon.