Saying goodbye to 2011....

Just wanted to take a quick minute to wish everyone a happy and blessed New Year. Where ever you are, and however you choose to celebrate, be safe and enjoy the company of friends and family.

A very special thank you goes out to all my blogging friends for your wonderful comments and support...I have accomplished more stitching in the last 3 months with your help than I have in over a year, so thank you for keeping me motivated and allowing me to share in your lives and beautiful stitching! With that said, I will have an update post (with pics!) in the next day or two, I have a lot to show you!

So again, thank you, take care, and all the best to you and yours in the new year!

hugs,
Nikki

IHSW update!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend, and had a bit of time to stitch during this busy time of year! I managed to get some stitching in on Sunday, as Saturday was my dad's "Feedom 55!" party. He turned 55 on December 17th, and retires December 23rd, so very good reason to have a major bash! I ate way too much, and drank a wee bit (so much for weight loss, lol) so I didn't start stitching until around noon on Sunday, but managed to get almost 1000 stitches in on Sadness. Still kinda looks like random blobs of color, but as the next few columns stitch up, it should look a little more like a piece of art rather than random stitches.

At the top, you can see her hair and face come in slowly column by column, but I know the end result will be worth it. Here is a close up on the top part, which is what I worked mostly on this weekend...crazy confetti in the hair, but the detail is amazing!

It's funny, it really doesn't look as nice in the pics as it does in person...maybe because of the closeness of the photos, or the lighting? The colors blend much better when you look at it from farther away it seems.

Anyways, thanks for taking the time to check out my blog, and a big thank you and hugs to Joysze for another sucessful IHSW, I can't wait for the next one in January!

hugs,
Nikki

Long overdue update!

Hi everyone, and a big welcome to my new followers! I can't believe 16 people have taken the time to check out my strange stitchy life on a regular basis! Speaking of stitching, I have some progress on Sadness of an Angel I am pretty excited to share...do you see what I see?!

That's right...something besides background! Here's a close up!

It still doesn't look like much, but I am so excited it is starting to look like SOMETHING! lol. I am now 12280/117600 stitches in, and finally to the start of her hair; I was beginning to think I was never going to get to anything before X-mas...

And also, speaking of X-mas, I did start a few small projects over the last week or so, only have the backstitching (yuck!) left on the first one, so as soon as I am done I will post a pic!

I haven't been stitching quite as much over the last little bit, I figured it was soon time for me to lose the rest of the weight I have been carrying around for the last few years, so I have begun walking again with the dogs. I am managing to get out around once a day, (since the pups are pretty busy with doggie daycare and get lots of exercise) and am hoping to build up to twice a day. When I split with the ex-hubby last October, I lost 32 pounds pretty quickly, stress and all that, but I still have not reached my target weight, I am aiming for 10 more pounds. Been gradually adjusting my diet over the last month and a half to cut down on the junk food, and try a few more healthy choices, which is going okay. My sis and I are going to Cuba in April, so I really really REALLY want to be happy enough with my body to enjoy spending time on the beach and stuff without worrying about who's looking at my spare tire...sigh...I definitely have body image issues. Right now I am around 195 pounds, and am 5'10, so I figure another 10 pounds is realistic, since I have a bigger body frame. Of course, trying to lose weight around the holidays should be interesting, wish me luck! lol

Anywho, I have an hour before bed, pups are tired, and mummy is itching to get back to stitching! Talk to you soon!

hugs,
Nikki

 

IHSW update...finally!

Ugh, what a week! And the weather today just takes the cake; 30+ cm of snow, and freezing rain. Have spent most of the evening shoveling...sometimes it sucks being single and alone...no man to help out with the fun stuff, lol

I managed to get about 1800 stitches in on Sadness, I finished column 3 and onto column 4...and soon, the start of something besides background!

Sorry for the photo quality, so tired, eyes wouldn't focus, and apparently neither would the camera, lol

I also have done a whole bunch more work on Lightening McQueen, but haven't gotten an updated photo...will try and post tomorrow nite...finally my last overtime shift! Woohoo! So hard to try and run a house by myself and keep 2 puppies tired and happy with the free time I have, so working extra hours is especially tiring. But, extra money for X-mas is definitely nice! Limited budget this year, so have been flipping through my X-mas projects books to see if I find any quick stitchy gift ideas. I will let you know what I find!

hugs,
Nikki

Pre IHSW Update

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post...I have been getting some stitching done in between dealing with some personal issues...you know the old saying, when it rains it pours, lol

I could spend all day typing out my horrendous week (it might just happen next post! lol) but on with the stitchy pic!

So Sadness of an Angel seems to be consuming all my stitch time...I can't seem to put it down, even with all the other projects I have on the go. I am up to 7200/117600 completed, but am working full columns instead of pages. It didn't go so well at first (see previous post, lol), but after 'adjusting' a few stitches here and there, you can't even tell where I boo-booed. I am a little thrown off by the pale pinky colors in this design, as it is a black and white, but trusting Michele's charting that it will turn out fine. She does not look like much yet, but the next column is the start of her hair, woohoo!

I am working overtime tomorrow, but hoping to finish off this column and get some of her hair stitched during my IHSW. I can't wait for everyone's progress photos from this weekend (rubs hands together!), there is quite a turnout! So take care, and have a wonderful and relaxing stitchy weekend!

/hugs,
Nikki

Morale support...please???

So I have a stitchy crisis...and silly me for not counting and recounting like I always do...so fellow stitchers I need your help! I recently started Sadness of an Angel, as my sis fell in love with the pattern, and I promised her that in honor of her new house, I would stitch a pattern of her choice as a (late!) housewarming present. So here is my progress so far:

However, at the 1400 stitch mark, I goofed, and have not one, but 2 extra rows...which means the following 1500 stitches are 2 rows off. I can cut short the column at the last color, and try to adjust the following row colors from the 1400 stitch mark on, or I can frog 1500+ stitches...so what do you think I should do? I am really not keen on frogging so much, almost better to toss it and try again...but I have put so much time in this week...any advice or help would be welcome!

On a happier note, I do have another update on Ascendant, which is progressing (slowly!) lol

It doesn't look like much more, but I am 2 1/2 columns away from another page finish! I think she is turning out quite nice, and the sparklies are showing up in the pics now! Yeas!

/hugs

Nikki

I've been a bad bad girl...

So I managed to restrain myself during the HAED sale, and was relieved when I realized it was over on 10/26....then I noticed today it was extended, and suddenly my credit card started calling me to use it...so I bought three charts I have had my eyes on for awhile!



Gaia-Winkler



Sadness of an Angel-Neilsen



The Oracle-Dahlig

Now to find the time for more stitching!

Things have been crazy lately, so I have to apologize for not posting more frequently. This week I finally got a break from working overtime, so I had to play catch-up with housework and shopping. However, I don't have much on the go for the weekend, so I hoping to get some more work in on Ascendant, and have a progress photo posted. I have still managed to get 1000 or so stiches in, but it really doesn't look like I have done much, since the design is so big!

I have been checking everyone's blogs religiously, even if I haven't had much time to comment. You guys do fantatic work! I am almost ashamed at how slow my progress is compared to everyone's! Hopefully I will have some time this weekend to get some comments in, as I can't say enough about how awesome everyone's projects look.

Happy stitching and talk to you soon!

Nikki

Monday, October 17, 2011

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I didn't get a whole lot of time to stitch, as I was working more over-time (sigh) but I did manage to get about 600 stitches in on Ascendant. I finally managed to get a half decent progress pic taken...forgive me, she doesn't look like much, but it is so exciting to see the design slowly taking place! So here she is, with 1 1/3 pages stitched, started August, 2011.

The right corner is where I have started her wings...you can't really see it in the photo, but there is some sparkley there! The picture really doesn't do her justice, she looks much nicer in person. I have set my goal at finishing one page a month, then rotating to other pieces...however, with Christmas (gasp!) coming, I may have to put her on the back burner while I finish up some little projects...but I really don't want to, as she is the only thing I really want to work on atm.

 On another note, I hope all who participated had a great IHSW! I am hoping to be signed up for the next one, as I really love excuses to plunk my butt down and do nothing but stitch! I am eagerly awaiting everyone's weekend progress pics!

/hugs,
Nikki

Monday, October 10, 2011

Great to be back home! It was a long weekend here in Canada for Thanksgiving, so I spent the weekend up at my cottage. No stitching to be had, but did a little work around the yard and inside, but mostly spent time outdoors with the dogs, as the weather was beautiful! It was very warm for October, so swimming was in order! For the dogs anyways, the water was a little cold for me!

Dokota loves to swim, so she spent most of the weekend in the water, with mommy on the shore throwing sticks.

Here is a great shot from my front door, showing the fall colors, and how inviting the water looked!

On to the stitchy details...I am hoping to have a post up on Wednesday for Ascendant (finally!) as I plan on working on her for the rest of the nite, but am working late tomorrow nite, so will have to wait to post my progress until Wednesday. A big thank you to Ewa, for introducing me to all you wonderful stitchers! I was so excited to read your comments and suggestions! I ended up doing a test square with the Kreinik, DMC Light Effects, and DMC B5200 to see which I liked. I finally decided on the DMC Light Effects, as the section that I am working on is the start of her wings, and I really wanted to keep the sparkle there.

So I am off to do some stitching, talk to you all soon!

/hugs
Nikki

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Ok, so this blog thing seemed like a great idea, then I realized how much work it was! I still haven't managed to take all my photos (lighting was bad, and no sunshine in sight!) and I couldn't quite figure out how to add progress bars and pictures for my projects, which I really wanted to do.  Then Ewa came to my rescue! Not only is she a fantastic stitcher, she is great at explaining things! lol
So anywho, I will be slowly (and I mean slowly!) adding pictures and progress over the next few days. On the plus side, I have managed to get lots of stitching in, since it has been raining for 4 days straight here in Nova Scotia. I have mainly been focusing on a Disney kit, Lightening McQueen, for a friend's little one. Here is where I am at so far:

Forgive the hoop lines! I think he is coming along quite nicely, but I am not looking forward to the bane of my stitching existence....backstitching! I have also been working on my HAED focus piece, Ascendant, but hit a snag; the pattern called for DMC 032, which I have as Kreinik blending filament, but I find it too thick and bulky for my fabric. It seems to make a raised section of stitching...so I think I may take it out and play around with some other options. I did pick up some DMC Light Effects in pearl white, so I will try that and see if I am happier with how it looks. As soon as I am satisfied, I will post an update on her...I am really happy with how she is turning out!

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

So I finally worked up the courage to start up my own blog to keep me motivated and on track with my stitching projects. Patience will be required as I figure out this whole blogging thing and start getting my photos posted!