Gifted Gorgeousness and IHSW - April

Hi Stunners! 

I'm a little late for GG but kinda on time for IHSW so that balances out, right? 

GIFTED GORGEOUSNESS

For the GG SAL I worked on my sister's gift project - October Rose Zircon by Maxine Gadd from Imaginarium. My deadline is October 2019 so I really need to motor on with this gift. Also I have moved it off the Q-snaps and onto a permanent Millennium frame so my stitching is much faster now as the Q-snap was awkward to work with using the Millennium stand. Fingers crossed, that also making it my focus piece will speed things up. 

Before

After

You can just see the corner of her eye. I started in the middle which is probably the most boring page of the entire chart. *Sigh*

IHSW

IHSW weekend I spent working on Alisha by Myka Jelinka. I was shocked when I checked my cross stitch app and discovered that I haven't stitched on her for 2 years!!!!! So she has been added to the rotation too. 

June 2016

After IHSW 

I was flying through it until I started on the parrot. Confetti city. I am trialing diagonal stitching since I have watched 2 floss tubes vids on it and I think it really helps with the lines when doing a massive chunk of light coloured background. Will see how this goes. I'm going to work on her until I finish the 2 pages. The second page is all just light blue background with a bit of shoe down the botton.

Here's what the chart looks like.

That's all from me stunners! 

I'll be back at the end of the month with all my other progress for March and April.

Take care and may life be magical 

xox Alicia

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL and IHSW February

Hi Stunners!

Yep I'm late again. 

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their amazing comments and cheering on my last post. You guys are the best and absolutely become my muses. Mwah. 

I wanted to reply to each of you individually, which I will, but my computer was struck by lightning! Luckily it was 4am and I wasn't using it at the time not that I would have during an electrical storm. My whole street lost alot of electrical equipment, so for a week all we saw were delivery vans delivering new TV's. Woo Hoo!!

GIFTED GORGEOUSNESS

First up I managed to finish another page on my diamond painting - Galaxy Girl from HAED. This was a gift from my lovely stitchy friend Helvi. So only 3 more pages to go for the row finish. So sparkly I love it. Thanks to Jo from Serendipitous Stitching for organising this SAL. 

IHSW

I'm so loving that IHSW has returned to the realm. Thanks to Joysze and Jo for organising this brilliant SAL. IHSW February I worked on a new start but it was technically a re-start of Rose Zircon. I bought this chart by Maxine Gadd from Mystic Stitch to stitch for my sister. However, I was really really detesting the Mystic chart. It was so hard to read and the symbols were frustrating, which led to it being neglected.

Luckily Maxine decided to open her own cross stitch company Imaginarium and she updated the chart so it's more detailed and with a bizzillion more colours, however the best thing about it, is the chart. It's large print and the symbols are really cool. The symbol key is colour coded so you'll find alot of the similar colours in one section, so there is not alot of page flipping. Love it! Here's the difference in the charts.

Mystic Stitch

Imaginarium

This is where I left the Mystic Chart so I'm looking forward to get to that section to compare.

Mystic Stitch

And this is what I stitched for IHSW, the bottom row of 10x10 grids. Unfortunately the bobbinating took longer than expected so this is more just a Sunday stitch of 600 stitches. I've decided to start in the middle as I am not doing the black background beyond the silver frame. And considering leaving the word "Rose Zircon" off the wip altogether, so I didn't want to have to figure out all the calculating and measuring, I just wanted to START!! 

The needleminders are symbolic too. David Bowie was the first concert I had ever been to and it was with my sister. We have seen Episode IV V VI of Star Wars together and it continues to be our favourite out of all of them so far. As for the Angel Wings, well I have to have some bling and I thought they fitted the colour scheme.

That's all stunners.

I hope everyone is enjoying February so far and may March be even more magical.

Thanks for visiting, you guys are too cool.

xoxo Alicia

Gifted Gorgeousness

HELLO STUNNERS!!! 

I've said in the past that one day I would start my blog post without an apology about lateness. Definitely not going to happen today, my last post was in July and this post is 5 days late for December Gifted Gorgeousness SAL. FAIL!!! 

Sorry sorry sorry for the total AWOL from blogworld. No excuses really but I will blame facebook. Joining (well technically being added) to new groups has led me to overindulge in SABLE and be so spoilt by my amazing and too generous Crafty brothers and sisters, as it has led to way too many new starts and new start SAL's. Something had to give and blogging paid the price eeek.

So I have decreed that in 2016 I'm going to be returning to my roots and also the place I met most of my stitching friends and that is blogging. I've missed reading blogs and keeping up with everyone that way. FB is very instantaneous, yes, but it also is just a quick pow of updates and it's a little hard to keep up with everyone. 

Whereas blogging feels more like a long journey and adventure with friends. So I will be spending more time here than on fb type of social media. 

So let's get to it stunners.

Firstly is the update for my sisters gift. Mystic Stitch - October Rose Zircon by Maxine Gadd. Not much progress I'm afraid but I've changed my way of stitching this. 

If anyone has stitched a MS you will know the pain of their symbols. They are so so so hard to read and the confetti is incredible. I've decided to do it using cross country page by page. I think it's faster for this particular project, and the only way that I can do it without going insane. So unfortunately I've had to abandon my beloved parking technique. 

Notice the beautiful Tardis Qsnap cover and fabric keepers. They were a gift from my lovely friend Kim Howe. Aren't they amazeballs?  The fabric keepers are the best they just keep all that excess fabric outta the way.  

Here is the second one Kim gifted me. I love love love them both but this is my favourite one. Look how regal King Tut looks amongst all the Tardii (is that the plural of Tardis LOL). Thank you so much Kim, I'm truly grateful.

And now for more Gifted Gorgeousness - my Christmas package from the McDougall family. Head McDougall being Sharine. I'll have to post another pic with the Qsnaps in action they look amazing and the horsey one doesn't really show up. And check out the Magical Unicorn that grows in water. I'll have to post a pic when that magic happens too!!! 

And thank you to the littlest McDougall, Hannah for choosing the butt crack Santa card. That kid cracks me up...oooh pun there. Thank you so much Sharine and the McDougall clan you guys are rock stars. 

Now to a bit of stitching. I almost got to the end of page 2 of Carnival Moon. Why is it that the last 1000 stitches always seem to take the longest. Or is that just me? 

The next page is the building and the tower bit. And there are big chunks of colour so hopefully it won't take too long. But once I finish page 2 I'm going to be concentrating on my 2 gift projects.

Ewa's wedding anniversary project which was due in October (hangs head in massive massive shame) and my cousin's baby sampler which I haven't touched since I first started it. See below...head still in shame hang mode. 

So this

Has to become this

I'm determined to make 2016 a year of finishes. As I never managed ONE not even a tiny finish in 2015. It's been a year of new starts, re-starts and total abandonment. Not a good year for the Crafty Princess. I may even have to abdicate the title!!

Nah.

I have plans for a rotation that will help ensure this, but I think I've rambled on enough for one post. Check you later and now I'm off to reaquaint myself with all of your blogs. Sorry if you get comments on blogs that are months old but I want to see all that I've missed. 

To all that celebrate Christmas. I wish you a very very Merry one and may it be magical, special and full of laughter and love. I hope you all had a fantastic 2015 but I wish you an even better 2016.  See you next year stunners. Love you heaps and muchly.

Gotta go Santa is calling me! 

xoxoxo Princess Alicia

Gifted Gorgeousness #1

Hi Stunners!

I have signed up for the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL which is being hosted by the lovely Jo. If you would like to sign up just click on the button on the left and it will take you to the sign up page on Serendipitous Stitching. Basically we post on the 15th of each month (yep I'm late as usual) a wip that has some kind of element of gifting in it. Either something you received or intend on gifting to someone else. As my beautiful Crafty friends are very generous I have alot to choose from. However, I have elected to focus on 5 for now.

For the first one of the year I have been working on a gift for my sister, Gail. It's a Mystic Stitch from Maxine Gadd's Birthstone collection. October: Rose Zircon. 

The fabric is from Colour Cascade Designs. It's an Ice Dye which is really cool. If you can't find a piece of fabric to go with your chart you can design your own. You are allowed to choose up to 4 colours and Tammy dyes it and it's a kind of lucky dip situation. This is Hot Pink, pink and silver. I think it's perfect for this chart as I intend on stitching all the black. 

Page 1

The other pieces I will be working on for this SAL are:

HAED Fallen Angel which is a new start. This chart was RAK'd to me by my very good friend the lovely Nina (Pistot-Stitches)

HAED Feel the Magic which I have finished Page 1. This chart was RAK'd by the beautiful Johanna (stitchstitchknit)

Colour Cascade Designs and Fabrics - I've been waiting for so long. The beautiful Angie (Miamina Musings), Mark and Charlie kindly gave me a birthday gift voucher and I bought the chart with it. Very small start on it so far. I started in the middle so I believe this is her sleeve.

And finally Tilton Crafts - Wishing On Stars. I was RAK'd the chart by the magnificent and one and only Nguyen (Spices up your life). This is a new start as well.

As you can see I have some very generous friends with beautiful taste. Thank you again ladies and I will be thinking of you as I stitch these beauties.

Take care everyone! Big love and hugs to you all 

xox Alicia

Wipocalypse #10

Hi Stunners!

This is getting to be a bad habit of mine, being such a bad blogger.  Sorry but it's going to be a little big this post, but I promise it's mostly pics and not a lot of my stuff and nonsense rambling.

I guess first up should be the Wipocalypse wip so here is my progress on Large Treasure Hunt Bookshelf - HAED

Just over half a page progress. I blame the new Jason Statham Needle Minder for not quite getting the page finish. There were way too many ogling stops, but that stern look gets me back on track pretty quickly now.

Monthly SAL with KIM



For My August SAL with Kim, I decided to restart Rose Cerise, the 2 over 2 on 28ct was not working for me. The stitches looked too big and I found it hard doing over 2 on a chart that was not the traditional HAED shape. The counting did my head in and I made a few counting errors as a consequence, which led to...urgh frogging! Now she is being worked 1 over 1 on 28ct Swallow even weave from the lovely boys at Sew it all Australia.



Rose Cerise - August 2014 SAL

For the September SAL we worked on Magical World from Tilton Crafts. I was happy enough with my progress though I would have loved to have achieved a page finish.

My focus wip for August had been "Lost In You". I managed to get a page finish which satisfies one of my Goals for the HAED BB. Only 4 more to go!

There's her thumb in the lower right corner. The next page has alot and I mean alot of white for her hand and lower arm. So it will be time to don those white cotton gloves! 


THANK YOU TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL EARTHBOUND ANGELS IN MY LIFE.

I'm always humbled by the generosity of all the beautiful crafty people that I am honoured to know. I just want to sing out another thank you to these ladies that gifted me these charts for no occasion. Thank you so much girls I am so grateful and appreciate these lovelies!


A Night of Enchantment from the stunning Downunder Julie



Sharine the gorgeous girl from  Charbella Stitching chose Castle Fest Wendalin Aotenshi


The magnificient lady from Pull the other thread gifted me with the beautiful Peacock my Love


The lovely Helvi chose the gorgeous mystical chart Le Petit



and the fabulous Nguyen of Spices of your of Life sent Wishing on Stars. Which will be my Tilton Crafts new start which Kim has organised in the FB group.



and the naughty little minx also sent me the Lovely Lady Macbeth from Eclectic Blokes Designs.

I want to start them allllll! Do these girls know my taste or what? Thank you so much ladies, you are the stars!

A quick aside, Helvi has recently started "The Key" by Melissa Dawn (HAED) if you get a chance pop over to the site http://firstheavenandearthdesign.blogspot.com and check it out. It's a magnificent chart and Helvi is one of those crazy stitchers that only works one project at a time!!!!! I know right, weird! So Helvi progresses really quickly through her wip and so far it's absolutely beautiful.

On a bit of a sadder note my big sister has been struggling with some womanly issues and has just been advised by her Gyno she will not be able to have her own children. As you can imagine she is devastated. I feel so helpless and so sorry for her.

So I am stitching this chart for Gail (sis) it's called Rose Zircon - October birthstone by Maxine Gadd and the chart is from Mystic Stitch.  And yes as you have probably guessed she's an October baby. The fabric is an ice dye from Colour Cascade fabrics. It's a bit of a lucky dip as you choose up the colours and Tammy dyes it. I think it turned out perfectly for this chart. I chose hot pink, grey, and lilac. I will be stitching all the black background so I think it will really pop on this fabby. Yes? No?

Okay that's all from me stunners. I'm off to start working on Rose Zircon. I'm almost caught up with reading all your blogs, I have about 20 posts to go. So please bear with me. Take care stunners and may only the magical encounter your life.

xoxo Alicia