Japanese Garden 4/21/09-9/30/14

I'm finally finished. It took over 5 years but I did it. I am so unbelievably proud of myself. I have never completed such a big, complicated cross stitch project. This project saw so many firsts. Life has changed so much in the 5 years. It isn't perfect either and know what? I'm more than okay with it. 

Can I say I'm a chatelaine addict. I can't wait to start my next one! For now I will bask in the glow of having it done. 

28 ct Mississippi blue linen, silk weavers. Stitched as suggested, npi converted to Hdf.

Last update

This will be my last weekly update on Japanese garden. Next week will see this piece finished.  You will have to wait to see a photo of the entire piece.

I can't believe this is nearly done. I have so many mixed emotions. I'm so excited.

Let the Beading Begin- Japanese Garden

The first two weeks of July I worked on beading Japanese Garden. That was for my open week, then my normal JG week. 

Let me just say, I love beading! What fun. WOW do the beads really make it just POP.  

I am grateful to the chatelaine Facebook groups who helped me get my supplies. I made a tacky bob, which works great. I also got a tip to this bead nabber. Can I just say, best invention ever? I was quite worried about picking the beads up, as my hands shake all the time. I had images of beads everywhere but my handy bead nabber really worked great.  I only lost a few beads and I was able to find them before they got away. 

I have hopes to get this done my my birthday- October 14. I think it's a very realistic goal. I can't believe after over 5 years, I'm nearly there. 

   

Japanese Garden Stitching finished

I finally did it! 5 years later, the stitching on Japanese Garden is finished! I am so very excited.  I have all my beading things ready to start tomorrow.  I started this on April 22, 2009.  It is stitched on 28 ct. Mississippi Blue Cashel Linen by Silkweavers.  

It's not perfect and know what? That's okay with me. It shows my progression I think as I learned. 

Japanese Garden Final side

I decided to work on Japanese Garden for my free week this month. I'm so close to finishing the stitching.  I have the crane and one bridge/ flower set to go.  I'm so excited and pleased with myself. It isn't perfect but that's okay.

Here is my progress last week-



You'll have to wait for a picture of the entire piece until it is finished.

This week is the normal week for JG in my rotation. I will probably not get it entirely finished. Depending on how close I am, I may work on it next week instead of Cirque.

Huge update- HAED, cirque, Japanese Garden

Although I have been stitching, it has been just shy of a month since I last updated.  Needless to say this update will be longer than usual, and more picture heavy.

Going way back, to the beginning of April, I started a new small- Crabby april.  This should be finished next week after I stitch it. I am stitching all the crabby months separate.  I do have 2 DMC colors I need to get in order to finish it next month.

Then I had a week on Cirque. I am still making great progress on this though I did have a small frog visit.  I should still for sure have this done by end of summer if not before.  I apologize for this very crappy photo.  This was actually the best of the bunch.  The colors look terrible washed out on that photo.

Japanese Garden has a few photos this time around.  I finally bought the beads for it. I got them from European Cross stitch.  WOW that is a lot of beads.  They are so gorgeous though. I know it will be worth it in the end.  This was my first order from Cindy, I would definitely use her again. Very great service.

I not only finished the 6 O’clock side, I started the final side, 9 o’clock. The end of the stitching is in sight! I barely even need the pattern to stitch the bridge at this point. I included 2 close ups. One of the gorgeous flowers, one of the pesky crane that I had to frog and restitch. Couldn’t help but add a photo of the entire piece to date. Getting hard to take photos of the whole thing.

Last but certainly not least, My Haed- Dragonflies whisper. It is still coming along great. I am really enjoying stitching on this. This is just about 3 1/3 pages. Included photo of section I’m currently stitching as well as entire piece to date.

Japanese Garden- February update

As you may remember last months progress on JG was minimal due to my stitching the crane wrong. I had to frog the entire over 1 thing and start over.

This month my progress was MUCH more substantial. In fact, I made great progress. I not only finished the flowers and bamboo leaves on the 6 O'clock right side, I stitched the crane, AND started the bridge on the 6 O'clock left side.

I'm ordering the beads today. I've decided to just get the bead pack from ECS.

Other than the Viewer does anyone know how to test fabric on a chatelaine? My next chatelaine is not on the viewer yet, and I'm not sure how to go about testing. It's time to start thinking about fabric and threads for my next one.

Sorry for the photo quality.

frogging over 1

Does anyone like to frog? It's doubtful. I spent the end of last week frogging the 6 o'clock crane. I had it in upside down. I was so annoyed with myself. It took 2 hours to do. I did manage to get it done without ripping the material. Thank god for that.

Thus you'll notice the lack of progress on this piece since my last picture.

This week I have Cirque out for the first time in quite a few months. I hope to make decent progress. I am looking forward to HAED week next week.

Japanese Garden update 1/13/14

Since I am not doing WIPocalypse this year. I decided I would do my very best to post weekly updates. I am working  a rotation. I will be posting updates every monday.

First up was my free week. I decided to work on Fire Goddess.  I got several hundred stitches on the final page in before I realized the dress didn't line up right.  *sigh* I found the mistake..... All the way in the first part. I had known there was a mistake somewhere for a few pages now, but never could find it, so I fudged it.  Well that came back to bite me in the ass. I couldn't fudge the dress. It had to line up perfectly.  So I made a hard decision. Rather than frog 3 full pages, I tossed it. Rather than focus on all the wasted hours, I am choosing to see the lesson in all this.  Take the time to find a mistake, no matter how long it takes. It saves endless time and frustration down the road. Rather to frog a few hundred stitches than to have to toss a piece.

After that I decided to get out Japanese Garden for an extra week work.  I am quite pleased with the progress. This week is my regular rotation slot for it so I *should* get most of the over 1 crane done.  Anyways here is a photo of where I am now, and a photo showing the entire piece last time I had it off the frame.  I appologize for the crappy photo. Taking a decent photo is hard on a dreary midwinter day in Ohio.

In other news, I received a stash box in the mail over the weekend. I have taken out 5 things, and have more than 5 that I will add. I won't be sending it off to the next person until beginning of February.

Angie

Japanese Garden 3 O'clock side finished

I finished the 3 O'clock side of Japanese Garden. I am so pleased with how it is turning out. I am now officially half done with the final part (minus the beading). I am going to put it away for a few weeks. I need a break. I'm pulling out Fire Goddess. I am hopeful to get the 6 O'clock side half done before years end. I included some close ups of the flowers and the over 1 crane.

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Japanese Garden update

A few weeks ago the Chatelaine Facebook group inspired me to pull out my long neglected Japanese Garden. I have been working on it for maybe 10 days now? I am so pleased with the progress. I am currently working on that 3 O'clock side. The crane is over 1 and took about 4 days to stitch. I had to frog the bridge as I was off by one.  Least I found the mistake before I added all the lazy daisy stitches. I am pleased with how they turned out this time. They are much better than my first ones on that 12 O'clock side. I hope to get the remaining vines in tomorrow and start the flowers in the corner, then I will move to the other bridge. I plan to stitch this for as long as I can.  The second photo is much more true to the color of fabric.

WIPocalypse finish and halloween

6 bats and a black cat.  32 count hand dyed Jobelyn. I love how this one is coming along. Instead of saying it won't be done for this Halloween I will say it is very early for next Halloween.  I even have the perfect fabric to finish it with if I don't decide to frame it.  This is an easy stitch, though it does have 2 specialty stitches, they are ones I am familiar with. It's few colors makes it a great project to take with me.


Love Stinks. Part of the Crabby all Year series by Raise The Roof designs. Stitched on tea/coffee dyed 28 count evenweave. I am stitching each piece separately. I have a frame already and I will switch them out monthly.  Eventually I will have a variety of the month series from different stitchers all up by my calendar.

This brings my WIPocolypse total to 7/18. I am still quite hopeful to get to 9/18 at least. 
It is the last week of the month. Usually that would mean Dragonflies Whisper, my HAED. However I have finished my yearly goal already and Japanese Garden has been calling my name.  I have been stitching on the final parts for 3 days now. I am currently working on the 2nd 1 over 1 crane. If I remember correctly, it should take me about a week to finish it.  You will have to wait until next update to see it though.

WIPocalypse 2012- Final

Although I didn't get everything done I had on my list I am pleased with what I did get done.   Here is what I was able to get done. 

Hop Squared- Lizzy Kate-Mystery Yellow fabric

Shades Of Autumn- From Nancy's Needle

Springtime Serenade-Country Cottage Needlework

Coffee Crazy- Lizzy Kate

Joy Love Peace- Country Cottage Needleworks

Crabby All Year Long- January- Raise The Roof


Also on my list but not finished yet-

Fire Goddess-Joan Elliott

Dragonflies Whisper-HAED

A Trio Of Angels- Harmony-Cross Stitcher August 08

Japanese Garden- Chatelaine-


I definitely will be joining next year.


Sierra