I am a Cross Stitching Addict

I've known for a while that I enjoy cross stitching, but I didn't realize until last night that I'm probably a true addict. This happened when I was staying up, putting in the first stitches of my Greek Mandala, and I had to force myself to put it down. But I bet you're waiting for the new start picture, aren't you.

Greek Mandala by Chatelaine Designs

Stitching on 32-count antique white Belfast

2 over 2 with DMC, various silks, delica beads, and Swarovski crystals

This is just so much fun to stitch - and it's a completely different style of stitching than my HAEDs, which makes it a nice break from them. It's also very easy to break this pattern up into parts and tell myself where I want to stitch to that night and still have it be realistic. So there you go - my first large Chatelaine. I hope you're ready for plenty more where that came from!

I really love how Boyfriend is getting into my stitching. The other day when he was here and I was stitching Middle Earf, he asked if he could make a stitch. I let him, of course, and he seemed so pleased and excited. It was actually ridiculously adorable. Then last night I heard my mom on Skype with my grandma, talking about my stitching. She hi-jacked my scroll frame while I was threading another color to show her. And then my dad walks into my room and starts asking me about my stitching and such. It's a really nice feeling when other people can appreciate your hobby, even if they don't take part. It's really, really nice.

A note about my name. Not sure if I've ever explicitly mentioned this, but I was born in Poland and grew up there. My name, Ewa, is Polish. In case you were wondering, it's pronounced "eh-vuh." Like "Eva" but the "e" is more like the "e" in "bed." If that makes sense.

Now I'm off to shower and drive up to Boyfriend's for a few days with College in hand. The next page is mostly sky so we'll see how far I can get with it. Hope you like Greek and happy stitching!

IHSW & TUSAL!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my previous thread spread post! Made me warm and fuzzy inside! I have since organized all the threads into their own individually-labeled ready-for-stitching baggies and Boyfriend and I went to my LNS and I bought a 30" scroll frame. Since Greek Mandala is the only thing I'm going to be working on that requires a scroll frame, I'll sew it on (read: I'll have my mom sew it on) which will hopefully help with the tension. If it doesn't, I'm buying those clampy thingies Joyce showed me (thanks Joyce!). And, since I have decided to go with a scroll frame for Greek - I'll probably bead as I go, except for the Swarovski crystals since they're huge - those I will do at the end. The delica beads are tiny enough, though, that I don't think it will be an issue.

Now on to the subject of this post: IHSW and TUSAL! IHSW first!

Before:

After:

Middle Earth from Heaven and  Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white Evenweave

1 thread over 1 with DMC

I didn't make as much progress as I wanted to. I seem to be stitching this piece a lot slower than some of my other ones. Could be the 70-something shades of brown, but I could be wrong ;)

And now, for my first ever TUSAL pic. Being Polish, I naturally keep it in a beer glass. It's not located anywhere exciting, unfortunately - just on my nightstand. But here it is!

Boyfriend has gotten into the habit of putting any blonde hairs he finds on me or him in that cup - specifically for the purpose of driving me crazy, so I have to empty it of hair once in a while. Currently it is hair-free and filled with bits and pieces of Tiny Rose Garden, Mario, Middle Earth and College!

EDIT: Boyfriend wishes his side of the story to be heard regarding this. Apparently he does this because my hair gets everywhere. Including into the mouth of his best friend while they were out on a jog and I was nowhere to be seen. True story. 

Greek "Thread Spread"

Ok not thread spread but floss toss. But Boyfriend asked me about my "thread spread" earlier and I couldn't resist.

Today I received my last package of threads for the Greek Mandala and I can't help but share:

Gloriana Silks:

Caron Collections Waterlilies and Dinky Dyes Perle:

Thread Gatherer Silk n'Colors:

Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid SPARKLY!:

DMC Cotton:

Delica beads and Swarovski crystals:

All of it pictured on the piece of 32-count white Belfast. I think Heli and I, from Heli's Stitchery, are going to try to start our first large Chatelaine's together. She is still waiting for her threads and fibers to arrive, and that will give me time to sort things out and set it up - preparing it for stitchery. Hopefully my busy little fingers can help themselves and keep me from stitching it.

For IHSW this weekend I will be stitching on Middle Earf, as Boyfriend has picked it. I've been working on it a bit since the last update on it, so I'll post a before and after.

After:

I've started labeling my stitching with my name and date because I've learned, from the HAED BB, that some people have been using other people's WIPs, etc. for the reward program and/or as their own work. Wishing to avoid that, I've added a little typing on the side - hope it doesn't bother too much. 

Have a great IHSW, everyone! You can still sign up, just by clicking the little hermit crab on the right.

College Page Finish!

I did it! Even though hermit weekend is next weekend (I've already signed up and you should too by clicking the little hermit crab in my sidebar) I ended up hermitting this weekend, too, because Boyfriend ended up injuring his back. I basically didn't let him do anything except sit on the couch and play video games (and watch the niners game - holy crap did you guys SEE it?) while he picked my symbols and I stitched. That means that I finished a page! I won't leave you waiting any longer, here it is!

Before:

After:

College of Magical Knowledge by James Christensen from Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white Evenweave

1 thread over 1 with DMC

I think it's pretty cool-looking, if I do say so myself. Also, I'm officially over 25% done with it.

In other news, I did a bad, bad thing and bought all the silks and DMC for Greek Mandala. Oh my! It set me back a pretty penny - but on the bright side it also made me start applying for part time jobs. Cross your fingers for me, please! I'll do a floss toss as soon as I receive them. As to when I'll be starting it - I honestly don't know! But you'll know when I do. I'll admit myself to be TERRIFIED of it.

Next page of College isn't too exciting as it's mostly sky with a sliver of tree - but all subsequent pages should be awesome. Stay tuned!

Tiny Rose Garden!

No, I'm not done with the Mandala, but I've got some really good progress on it! I'm posting this tonight because tomorrow I'm packing up and heading to Boyfriend's for a few days with College. Hoping for a page finish by the time I come back! Cross your fingers!

Also, I've done some calculating and it looks like I'm going to have to do TWO Tiny Rose Garden Mandalas in order to make one pillow since the design is too small to make an actual pillow. So after I do this one I'll stitch up the next one in the lower right hand corner, then in the upper right and lower left I'll do some sort of words to thank my friend for the gift - but I haven't decided yet. The only thing I have decided is that I'll stitch it with the silk that the algerian eyelet roses are stitched in.

Without further ado, Tiny Rose Garden Mandala before:

And after:

A Tiny Rose Garden Mandala by Chatelaine Designs (freebie)

Stitching on 32 count Hardanger

2 threads over 2

DMC, Thread Gatherer Silk n'Colors and Mill Hill Seed Beads

I've decided that I hate stitching the corner gardens - and I LOVE stitching the fountain. That fountain is going to be blinged out with beads (it still needs one more color stitched into it). I'd like to do the beading now - but will be good and wait until the end.

I stitched Middle Earth (Earf!) for a while tonight just to get something different as I read Lonneke's post (on  Life with Skipper) about self-imposed stitching (and life!) restrictions. I'm definitely a person who lives by rules. I make ridiculous rules about everything from stitching to life. The last time I broke those rules I met my current most amazing wonderful Boyfriend. So, thanks to Lonneke, I stitched on Middle Earth tonight just because I wanted to, even though it was against the "rules."

Go break some rules, everyone! Just don't get arrested! And I'll see you all in a few days.  Thanks for reading!

WIPocalypse, The First Coming

First WIPocalypse time! I've made some good progress so far. I've also added a tab for the WIPocalypse at the top of the page if you want to check my progress there instead of having to flip through all my entries. So here goes!

College of Magical Knowledge pre-WIPocalypse:

January 9th check in:

College of Magical Knowledge by James Christensen from Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white Evenweave

1 thread over 1 with DMC

Mario pre:

January 9th check-in:

Mario - darklilac.com self made chart

Stitching on 22 count white Aida

2 threads over 1 with DMC

Tiny Rose Garden Mandala pre:

January 9th check-in:

A Tiny Rose Garden Mandala by Chatelaine Designs (freebie)

Stitching on 32 count Hardanger

2 threads over 2

DMC, Thread Gatherer Silk n'Colors and Mill Hill Seed Beads

I had such trouble stitching Rose Garden this weekend. I was basically ready to cut it into shreds and throw it to the wind. Boyfriend calmed me down and had me stop working on it that night, which was probably a good call. Going to work on it a few more days and then off to Boyfriend's on Thursday to work on College. 

I'm still catching up on blogs, slowly but surely. Thanks to everyone for their wonderful comments. I love reading them! 

Mario Page Finish!

WOOO! I thought I'd be done with this page sooner, since I really didn't have much left, but it took me a little extra time. Tonight, though, I finished! So now I must work on Tiny Rose Garden Mandala until it's finished, as a thank you... for... THIS:

Sorry about the paint samples on my walls - picking paint colors is difficult (I'm going with the green, by the way). That's the blanket my friend crocheted for me, on my Queen-sized bed. She made each square individually and then had to crochet them all together. It's warm and fluffy and I love snuggling under it. I know a little stitched throw pillow isn't much, but it's something and it came from the heart so that is what I will do.

Now, for Mario.

Before:

After:

Mario - darklilac.com self made chart

Stitching on 22 count white Aida

2 threads over 1 with DMC

I really like how he's turning out. One full and one partial page done to the end of the row, and then I'm going to start working on it vertically starting with the next row. 

I've been trying to find an exercise I like doing. I really liked pole-dancing when I did it, but I can't afford it right now. (If you've never tried it - DO IT! It makes you feel like a sexy, powerful, confident GODDESS. The only side-effect is that once you've gone upside down down a pole without using your hands, you'll want to try your moves on every pole you walk by.) I have gym membership and do weight lifting (I try twice a week but sometimes only do once). I like running when  Boyfriend and I could go together, but we can't right now so no likey. I do like to walk, though. So I'm going to try to walk 50 miles a month for a total of 600 in the year. Keeping track and will report at the end of each month. We'll see how I do! 

College of Magical Knowledge!!

I log into blogger, and WHOA! 99 followers! I have a fun little giveaway brewing in my little head for when/if/pleasepleaseplease I have a job. BUT, until then, I am learning to cook, stitching away, and generally enjoying myself.

I was stitching away over New Year's on College while at Boyfriend's. However, Boyfriend bought me Assassin's Creed for Christmas (along with a beautiful cashmere scarf, thank you Boyfriend!!) on xbox 360, which I don't have, but he does. Of course this means that my stitching suffered a bit while I obsessively completed objectives, searched for flags, and was an awesome assassin. But I'm very happy with the progress and anticipate a page finish upon my next Boyfriend visit.

Before:

After:

College of Magical Knowledge by James Christensen from Heaven and Earth Designs

Stitching on 25 count antique white Evenweave

1 thread over 1 with DMC

I also anticipate finishing a page of Mario in the next couple of days, after which I must finish Tiny Rose Garden Mandala. One of my friends crocheted me a blanket. A huge, beautiful, warm, amazing blanket. I have a Queen-sized bed and it's too big. So I think I will finish up Tiny Rose Garden Mandala, finish it as a throw pillow, make a nice Thank You card, and send it to her. The blanket is just amazing. I'll try to get a picture of it and put it up with the next post.

Until then, I hope 2012 is treating you all right. Happy Stitching!