Finally a new Taj Mahal Mandala Garden update!

Yep the title above says it all,  finally I have a Taj Mahal update!   June pretty much became work on Taj month as it has been neglected since March :(  Having Taj now mounted on a scroll frame on my new lap base made things so much easier and quicker.
On the 11th June Taj looked like this. Top outside border and flower border almost half done.

Then on the 20th June 

Then as of tonight the top outside border is finished and the right side started and almost finished the top flower border. 

I so love this design, and can't believe I put off starting it for a few years as I found it a bit daunting. It is my first Chatelaine but I doubt it will be my last.. truly beautiful to look at and it is not even finished yet. 

Now to get Maggie back out and get that little bit closer to a finish this year.

Happy stitching everyone

Deb

Maggie the Mess Maker update

It's time for a Maggie update.  I have been working steadily on Maggie for well over a month and not following my normal rotation, this caused me to kind of hit a wall on Friday last week. I found I kept getting "lost" in a particular part of the chart and knew it was time for a change.
 I love many of the designs that come in the Dimensions range but I loath working with their charts.  In fact I have done two of their wizards in the past and took great delight in destroying the charts once I finished them as there was never a chance I would stitch them again!

I am now just under 3/4's of the way through Maggie and am hoping after some time this month on Taj Mahal I can get my Maggie mojo back as I would love to finish it this year.

On the weekend I put Taj Mahal Mandala Garden on a scroll frame and loaded it on my new K Creations large lap base.  Love it love it love it! It did take a little while to get used to after working with my hoop seat stand but it didn't take long at all to get back into using a scroll.  Now I have the perfect setup for all those many designs requiring beads. 

Happy Stitching everyone
Deb

A little gift for myself

I stitch in the hoop using one of these lap stands (below)  that comes with 3 different size hoops. I like the fact hoops seem to keep my work that little bit tighter than a scroll frame. I have used scroll frames in the past but prefer hoops. The lap style means I can still stitch two handed and not have to hold on to a hoop with one hand.

However I have a rather long list of designs on my to do list that require beading and hoops and beads don't really go that well together. I'm so very worried about crushing the beads so I decided after much consideration and google searches and going back and forth etc to buy myself something to hold a scroll frame. I ended up splashing out and buying myself the K Creations large adjustable lap frame base.

I have not had a chance to try it out yet but the first design to go on with will be Taj Mahal Garden Mandala this weekend coming can't wait!

Happy stitching everyone

Deb

Diet Kitty 2 - WIP a bit more progress

A few weekends ago I managed to get out of the house and gather together with some like minded stitchy friends for a fun day of stitching, lunching and general laughter and good company.
I haven't seen this wonderful group of ladies in oh so long and it was such a blessing to be in their company again.
While there I decided to work on my small WIP of Diet Kitty 2 as it really is awkward to work on a large design like Maggie, so progress was made on the little kitty. I enjoyed spending time on a simple project on the day so much so I decided to make it a weekend of progress and kitty went from looking like this...

To looking like this...

Happy Stitching everyone, 

Deb