End of Model Cross Stitching 3 - Oz Girls by Sandra Vagras @ GeckoRouge, Etsy.com

Yes, you've read it right. I have to stop the commission stitching of this beautiful art piece as I do not have time to continue.

I'm currently working full-time in the retail sector, so I have very limited personal time. And whatever time I have, I'm spending with my family and my Jap course, so very, very, very little time to do any craft. So I'm returning the incompleted piece with the rest of the kit back to GeckoRouge with apologies. I hope to find time in future to work on smaller craft projects.

Model Cross Stitching 3 - Oz Girls by Sandra Vagras @ GeckoRouge, Etsy.com

Started this kit on 18 Nov 2013 and with very, very slow progress.

There are a total of 36 pages of charts and am working on 1 thread since it's 25 count. I managed to complete 1 page over the next 3 months.

And yet another page over another 4 months.

Hope to finish the rest of the 34 pages before end 2014. Doubt if this can be realised as that would mean putting in 7 hours + stitching daily for the next 5 months, which I'm not able to. Well, will do whatever I can. Once I finish the next 2 panels at the bottom, I should be able to see one of the Oz Girls.

Farewell Notebook Gifts

Remember these cross stitched pieces I did a while ago and posted them whenever they were done? Yes, in just 1 day, I managed to attach them to notebooks.

I cut a hole in the notebook, taking care to ensure it is centralised. I then attached the cross stitched piece behind the cover. Next, I cut a frame (2cm wide all round), colours chosen by Billie. I also cut a piece of transparency of the same size as the frame. Then the transparency goes over the pic, followed by the frame. I used the transparency to preserve the cleanliness of the stitched piece, and the best "glass/transparent frame" I can get is the transparency.

Behind the cover, I attached a piece of white cardstock over the entire cover so as to cover the cross stitched piece.

Now, I just hope that Billie's teachers will love them.

Cross Stitch Completed - Catitudes "Contented"

"Contented" is from Cross Stitcher Catittudes Calendar 2003. Stitched on 18ct Aida with 2 strands of DMC floss. Have another 3 more pieces to go for Billie's teachers.

Margaret Sherry, I love your designs!

Cross Stitch Completed - Cute Animals, Rabbit in "Honey Bun" by Margaret Sherry

Margaret Sherry doesn't design cats and cats alone. She has designs of other animals that are so cute. One of them is this Rabbit in Cross Stitcher 2009 Calendar and is entitled "Honey Bun", May 2009.

Learnt the following when doing this stitching -

• Choose the fabric you like. I did this on 16ct Aida which I have forgotten where and when I got it. I did not really like the feel of it, so it slowed down the stitching.
• French knots (FK). It doesn't have to be 2 turns over the needle. Depending on where the FK are going to go to, vary according. 2 rounds over the needle with 1 strand for the rabbit's eyes is perfect but not for the bees' as they appear too big. If you notice, there are some FKs. These are done using 2 strands but 1 round over the needle, so they look just nice.
• Background. I was a little lazy and thought of using 1 strand for the background. However, I know that it will have a lighter effect and changing the colour to a darker one will lose the nice combination of colours (am not good with colours), so I followed the chart.

There are some 3/4 stitches in this chart too, so a sharp needle is advised.

Cross Stitch Completed - Catitudes, Astrocats

This is yet another cute one from Cross Stitcher Astrocats Calendar 2007, by Margaret Sherry. This is the detective from the zodiac sign Scorpio. This time round, am very, very happy with the French Knots (his eyes).

Did this on 14ct aida (ivory) using 2 strands of floss. There are French knots, 3/4 stitches and some stitches that you would need a sharp needle to pierce through the fabric+floss.

Cross Stitch Completed - Catitudes, Astrocats

This is a cute kitty scientist (love the specs). It's from the Aquarius zodiac sign in Cross Stitcher Astrocats Calendar 2007, by Margaret Sherry.

Did this on 14ct aida (ivory) using 2 strands of floss. There are French knots, 3/4 stitches and some stitches that you would need a sharp needle to pierce through the fabric+floss.

Cross Stitch Completed - Catitudes, Astrocats

Yet another piece completed. This is again by Margaret Sherry and it's from Cross Stitcher Astrocats Calendar 2007.

Did this on 14ct aida (ivory) using 2 strands of floss. There are French knots, 3/4 stitches and some stitches that you would need a sharp needle to pierce through the fabric+floss.

After this, another 8 to go. The next 2 are from this Astrocats Calendar too.

Cross Stitch Completed - Catitudes.

This is the first of 10 cross stitch pieces that I will be working on and have it attached to notebook for some wonderful persons.

This grouchy and I-mean-Biz cat is taken from the Cross Stitcher Catitudes Calendar 2003. I just love all those cats in that calendar. Billie has chosen 2 from this calendar for this "project" - those notebooks will ultimately be given to her teachers.

To accommodate the notebook, I have this stitched on 18ct Aida, using 2 strands of DMC floss (instead of Anchor). Will be posting the rest as soon as I'm finished and the final round of this set of posts will be the notebooks.

Model Cross Stitching 2 Completed - Landscape Fields by Heather Galler @ GeckoRouge, Etsy.com

Can you remember Princess Mononoke? I did the model stitching for GeckoRouge too. Well, Landscape Fields was done by another model stitcher but due to unforeseen circumstances, 1 2/3 pages was left undone, at the top right hand corner.

I continued with the stitching and it's now completed.

If you were to look for Heather Galler in GeckoRouge shop in here, you will find all her designs with vibrant colours.

Princess Mononoke Cross Stitch is Completed!

Very happy and satisfied! I grow to love this design as I stitch. This was chosen by Billie because it's Princess Mononoke. So I decided to go along with it. As I start stitching from the wolf, I can feel how real the design is. Then, when I continued with Princess Mononoke, I can feel her spirit. Thanks to the designer Jonas Joedicke. And thanks to GeckoRouge for giving me this opportunity to stitch this.

I will be catching up on other crafts come Monday. Which, I have no idea yet, except that Billie's bag is first priority.

Update on Princess Mononoke Cross Stitching.

Another 3 more pages and it'd be completed!

What's left is the 3 more panels to the right where you will see the spear the Princess is holding.

I like to stitch in daylight. Even with the artificial daylight light, I find it difficult to stitch, so can you imagine the time when the haze was on and we had to close the windows! That was a terrible period. I hope that haze-less skies will continue.

Another Update on Princess Mononoke

I like her headdress. Will have to work harder if I want to complete it by mid-July. Calls for discipline.

Another 5 more pages to go.

Update on Stitching of Princess Mononoke.

Yet another page completed. More man-days as lesser man-hours per day. Need to work harder.

Update on Model Cross Stitching - Princess Mononoke

Now I can see Princess Mononoke's right eye. It's beautiful.

I took 44 hours, an additional of 8 hours from the estimated 36 hours. As you can see, most of it are actually little stitches here and there, so lots of changing needles. Also, I made a mistake between symbol "S" and "5", so I had to unpick.

Nevertheless, all these additional hours are worth it, seeing how it turns out.

I have another 7 more panels to go.

Model Cross Stitching

Some people may find it amusing that I only managed to finish my travel blog 4 months after my holiday. That is because I procrastinate and was doing cross stitching for GeckoRouge besides going for my Japanese lessons.

GeckoRouge is a shop in Etsy. They convert art pieces into cross stitch patterns, kits, bookmark kits and even jigsaw puzzles. You can find them in Facebook.

I have never thought of cross stitching art pieces, but these are irresistible. I would never have a chance to stitch any of these art pieces as I don't have a place to put up all these completed cross stitch art pieces framed.

Saw someone mentioning about being a model stitcher so I decided to try my luck. I was lucky and I chose this piece Princess Mononoke by Jonas Joedicke . Am working on 14ct so the finished size would be 23.29 x 17.00 in.

This is a beautiful piece of art (that's is why I chose this). I love the wolf - he looks fierce, defensive and protective of Princess Mononoke. I was wondering why Princess Mononoke looked masculine which my sister explained that she had to be because she was raised by the wolf. Of course her looks is feminine with a hint of masculinity.

My current progress. This is after 241 hours of stitching. These hours are spent in changing threads, unpicking besides stitching. I count the hours because I want to know my average stitching speed. I started this piece just after Chinese New Year in February and I have another 8 more pages of chart to complete. Hope to finish this by mid Jul.

This stitching is a challenge to me. It's also a test of my patience. I know one thing for sure - I can sometimes forget that I'm hungry when I'm focused. So, for anyone who's wanting to quit a habit or lose weight, try stitching or any craft that interests you.

Another Cross Stitched Notebook

Did this Monty and Binky cross stitch again, but this time attached to a notebook. The previous one that was done up in a card have been sold.

The rose was copied from a wrapping paper and I pierced the outline.

Suzy's Zoo - Gift to Billie's Friend

Did this Suzy's Zoo cross stitch a while ago (last year). Finally found a good cause for it. Comes in handy as a notebook for a friend, especially when the words are "Forget Me Not". Billie gave it to her school friend yesterday.

A Little Something for my Teacher on this Belated Teacher's Day

My Teacher loves cats so I thought I make this for her.

Mmmm..... I think I like the stitching but need lots of improvement on the decoration on the notebook ** Sigh **.  I hope she will like it.

This design is from the Summer Fun by Margaret Sherry. I love her designs. This is not that easy to stitch, especially the roses. Wait till you get to the backstitch. But I still enjoy them all.

I stitched it on 16ct which makes the stitching more difficult to accomplish. One thing for sure is if you stitch her designs on 28ct or 32ct (over 2 squares or 4 squares - cannot remember which is the correct term), it'd be easier as her design uses many 3/4 stitches and the backstitches are usually done at the centre of the square or the side.

Nevertheless, I can never get tired of stitching her beautiful designs.

Another Commission Stitching Project Completed!

This time round, it's a rush-rush job. All because of my idiotic ego. With 15,600 plus stitches, I had the audacity to deliver within 15 days! That will be around 1000 stitches a day and that is half the time I take to complete the other photo cross stitch piece previously in Feb.

This should not be a problem, especially with my speed of 110 stitches per half hour. Simple division shows that I would need to put in 4.5 hours daily. But I forgot the following show-stoppers.

• This is a pic converted from a photo. Therefore there will be 65 colours in it (on the average). How many large blocks of the same colour will you get in one pic? Sad to say, you can use your fingers on 1 hand to count. My speed is based on a block with the same colour, so no ending and starting of floss during that same half-hour. But in this piece, it will take an average of 5 times more to complete 110 stitches.

• You need time to get used to the symbols-colour-coordination in the chart. And some of the symbols are rather close eg. "T" and "T", "[" and "]", "(" and ")", etc. Glad that there is "/" but no "\". So, cross stitch designers, pls try not to distress the cross stitchers with such mistakes.

• Cross stitching is detailed work. Do you think you can work 4.5 hours straight and still look straight after that? There must be some rest after every hour, if not half hour. But if you are stitching shades of green, then you can still see fine after more than an hour.

I managed to get another 4 extra days to complete the work and I managed to complete it then. Phew!

Am glad I finished this work within the shortest of time (believe there are better and speedier stitchers out there) but in the process I have lost time with my family, my sleep and the worst is it kills my interest at cross stitching. Guess I will have to put my needle away for a little while.

Also, due to insufficient time, my stitching is less satisfactory and as such, I don't get that "satisfied" feeling I get whenever I finish a project.

If there is such a project in future, I will definitely not make the same mistake again. I will make sure I have enough time to do the work. So I will base on 400 stitches a day. Must remember that.