Hi there,

It's been a long time ago since I last wrote something on here. I just wasn't in the mood and I didn't have a lot of time.

I'm still stitching and have finished some projects, the airplane being the most important one.


My nephew was really thrilled when he got it!
I've made some more projects too. Here are some pictures:

This is a fridge magnet for my niece who loves to skate!

This is an apron I made for a colleague at work, for her birthday.

I made this bouquet of roses but I don't know what I am going to do with it yet. I loved to make it though!

This dragon is made using PCStitch and it's decorating a living room wall in my boyfriend's house.

A nice bookmark to use when I read.

Two more designs I made that decorate a wall in my boyfriend's house.

A Stitch 'n Hang Xmas Teddy Bear I started last year and finally finished just in time for the season.

And finally a non-stitchy item: father Xmas made with terracotta pots.

So you see, I am still busy. I just didn't feel like blogging.

I found out today the website that hosted my files (charts and keys) of my free cross stitch projects has closed down.
I wasn't aware of this and it's a nuisance really. I will have to look for a new host.
In the meantime, if you need anything just leave a message and I'll get back to you!

That's it for today. Enjoy.

I will not write much for a little while.... my boyfriend's mother died yesterday.

A year ago tomorrow....

Never thought stitching would make me feel like
Speedy Gonzales...
But when I look at the progress I made in just 1 day...



Oh boy, am I fast when it comes to stitching! Don't you agree?


That's all for now folks. Talk to you later and enjoy your sunday!

WIP - Hawker Hurricane



Just a short message today to show you how much I've managed to stitch on the plane I'm making for my nephew. I started stitching it on february 14th.
I've only been able to stitch 10 days in all as I've had loads of other stuff to do too.
My boyfriend has moved last weekend to a new house and I've helped him out. He's still rearranging his stuff at the moment and is coming over tonight to my place to stay for the rest of the weekend.
I went over to his new place on thursday and only came back yesterday evening.
At the moment I don't take any stitching stuff along when I go to his place, as there's still loads of other stuff that needs to be done first.

Yesterday we went to a furniture centre and we bought a nice brandnew bedroom!!!
This is a picture of it (we only bought the bed, the wardrobe and both the bedside tables.



Delivery will be only in 2 months time though.



Going to try and stitch a bit at the moment!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a nice and sunny weekend!

The joy of straddled stitches!!!

The pictures of the diagrams used in this message are all property of Heritage Stitchcraft who gave me permission to use them.

Last week I started stitching a brand new project: The Hawker Hurricane I want to give as a present to my nephew.
I had installed myself on my couch with a nice cup of coffee on the side table and my cats purring away next to me.
I started winding bobbins, quite a lot actually, but that didn't put me off! I really, really had my mind set on that airplane!


So I started stitching as soon as I could and stitched 2 evenings...


... I had already noticed the chart wasn't the easiest one I had ever looked at, but as long as I concentrated I would surely be able to stitch it all flawless.
And then I noticed 3 symbols in 2 squares and I lost it! I noticed even more of these weird symbols and I lost it even more. Before going to bed I learned about the existence of straddled stitches and I lost it completely!!!
I am used to the English language when it comes to stitching but my brain got really foggy when I tried to understand about these stitches. I just couldn't understand how it worked.
I tried to get help from google but all I got was messages asking about how to make them stitches so I clearly wasn't alone in the fog.
I also tried to get help on 2 stitching forums but I got contradicting answers.
Someone pointed me out to this tutorial: Heritage Stitchcraft, but it was of no avail for me.
I had never imagined cross stitching to be stressfull, but it got to the point it made me so nervous my friend told me to put it aside for a bit as I was starting to go gaga!


I did mail to Heritage Stitchcraft however and got an answer from them. They were going to send me some diagrams as it was rather difficult to explain in words.
I was relieved I was going to get the proper answer but I was annoyed as that meant I had to wait for the postie to arrive with it.
I put everything aside and started stitching something rather easy whilst waiting for the postman.


Yesterday evening I got home from work and I discovered a nice parcel in my mailbox.
In it I found great diagrams that depict very clearly how to go about making these straddled stitches.


One of these diagrams, the most important one, I put at the top of this message.
I took pictures of the other diagrams and I am encolsing them here as I think they can be usefull, not only to me but to other stitches as well!
Everybody knows how to make a full cross stitch, but still...


This is what horizontal half stitches look like.
Good to know because I thought if I had 2 symbols in 1 square it meant I had to blend threads.... I was wrong!!!


You can also encounter vertical half stitches...


... and what about diagonal half stitches...



Needless to say all these stitches are meant for Heritage Stitchcraft kits and charts. I'm not 100% sure they also apply for other brands.
Also need to point out these stitches are best made when using evenweave and working over 2 threads! I wouldn't want to stitch straddled stitches on 14 count aida! I think I'd give up after the first try!

Anyways, I do hope you all understand the art of straddled stitches by now.
I for one am over the moon! Not only because I finally get it! But also because of the fantastic and quick help I got from Heritage Stitchcraft!
And I'm also very happy with the knowledge that stitchers all over the world still try to help one another! HEARTWARMING!!!!

This was a rather long message but I'm sure it will be usefull for a lot of stitchers.
I am going to finish the small blue rose I'm stitching at the moment and then I will tackle the Hawker Hurricane for once and for all!

Thanks for the visit, leave a message if you feel like it and stitch till you itch!!!

Evening all!
I have loads to tell you but not enough time to write it down at the moment.
It concerns straddled stitches...
... they are rather hazardous for your health...
... but the problem got solved thanks to a great English company:
Heritage Stitchcraft!!!
I will get back on this subject when I have a bit more time, now I'd like to show you the tissue holder Marion made using my cats design:


Doesn't it look gorgeous?! Danke Schönn Marion!!!
Be sure to visit both her blogs, they are great!
Stickerin and her freebie blog

Can't stay for now, I'll be back soon!

No Government? Great Country! #ShameBE

No Government? Great Country! #ShameBE

Need I say more????!!!!

What I have been doing the last couple of days.... well, I thought I'd show you in a short slide show:



I picked up this WIP and have been stitching on it since the 28th of January. I'm halfway through but I don't know when it will be finished. I will have to put it aside soon as I ordered the materials I need for another project I want to make for my nephew, the Hawker Hurricane airplane.
I will keep you posted on this WIP and the airplane one too. And I will put up some more freebies too as we go along.

I've got to quit for now. I've got some housework chores to attend to (laundry... YUK!!!) and I feel like a little bit of stitching later on.
Have a nice day all!

Cats - Cats - Cats - Cats - Cats - Cats
Some of you have been waiting long enough, so it's high time for this one!


This is based on the little kitty cat that's always welcoming you on my blog.
I've made it with the Dutch welcome equivalent as I've noticed I almost never see any cross stitching charts with Dutch words on.
I haven't had time to stitch it myself yet, so be sure to send me pictures if you do!

I've also made a chart with another Dutch expression saying "Hi" = "Hallo"



The charts can be found here:
The "Welkom" chart: CLICK
The "Hallo" chart: CLICK

I rather like these charts a lot and I'm sure I'll do more stuff with this little cat, I just don't know when though...

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a nice weekend!