“I can resist everything except temptation” Oscar Wilde
I have a reel of ribbon with this quote on, given to me by a stall holder, she obviously saw me coming!
A few months ago I was tempted by another stitch-a-long with Faby Reilly, called the Zoe SAL, the patterns come out once a fortnight and I’ve just completed bock 7. We’re stitching the sides of a box at the moment with a different side representing each season.
This week is a very cute squirrel for autumn, he’s also a very mischievous squirrel as he has shifted very slightly to the right and taken the branch with him!!! OK so I mis-counted at the very first leaf! It’s only one stitch out so I’ll just fudge the beginning and end of the back-stitch. I just need to make sure I end the branch in the right spot so it will meet up with winter when I come to stitch it all together. On Monday the next section pattern is released so it will be all the back-stitching and embellishment.
Having resisted up to now, I have finally put the linen on a roller frame. I don’t find them easy to work with, I much prefer the sitting hoop, but hoops and embellishments such as beads and sequins don’t go well together. I need to check which area we’re stitching next, make sure I’ve finished stitching the backstitch outline that I should have done at the start!
Last month I heard about another stitch-a-long, this time by Tempting Tangles Designs, it’s called Enlightment; Words of Wisdom. It’s described as ‘framed in a leafy border and filled with Quaker trees, other motifs and a thoughtful Zen quotation to remind us of the simple and yet most important things in life.’ The colours are beautiful and of course I couldn’t resist!
This one is also once a fortnight, though luckily they are not released on the same day! Deborah, the designer, uses just four flosses for the design, she uses Dinky Dyes, which are beautiful silk threads, but she also gives a DMC alternative. I decided to use a mixture.
I ordered a gorgeous variegated Dinky Dye called Verdigris and also one called Nutwood which is a subtly shaded rich brown. I had the other two alternative DMC threads in my stash, 502 and 3847.
I found a piece of Permin linen which was just the right size, it’s rather a nice soft shade, I think it might be called French Lace. I started stitching the border with the verdigris silk, I have to say it is beautiful to use. I stitched each cross-stitch individually rather than in rows so I would get the full effect of the variegation.
The only floss I had my doubts about was the 3847, it looked so dark and hard against the soft border. Half of me was saying I just need to trust the designer. I started looking through my stash for potential alternatives. 3848 seemed just a little too light. I remember that I’d bought some Aurifil flosses in peacock colours, I eventually found them but they were too turquoise and bright. However in the same box were the threads from DeVere that I got in my Advent calendar from them. There was a perfect shade, just sort of inbetween the other two. I know, they don’t look that different on the photo…but they do in real life!
I tried it and I think it works. It’s much finer than DMC threads so I’m using three threads at a time. I’m keeping all three options handy as I might alternate between them.
So I now have three cross-stitch projects on the go, together with everything else!
thecraftycreek 
lovely stitching as always.
I used to enjoy mystery SALs but now I just have too many different projects on the go, and only one cross stitch piece, due to lack of time. So I’ll sit back and admire your stitching instead ^^
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re clearly much better than me at resisting temptation 🙂
LikeLike
just not enough hours in each week really, and my cross stitch mojo seems to suffer when summer/hot weather arrives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh! Those teals and soft browns are gorgeous! I’m excited to watch these three stitch up:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the colours 🙂
LikeLike
Love the border of Enlightenment. I haven’t chosen my fabric yet (have a piece of 40 count that I thought would be just right but cannot find it!) My treads will be Weeks Dye Works matching their Dinky Dye choices, and DMC 4030
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s looking pretty so far, it’ll be interesting to see the different colourways on facebook
LikeLike
Squirrels can be so mischievous! You will be busy with two projects on the go but both are so pretty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How unfair is this temptation! It does looks wonderful, though… hmmm…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad to know you occasionally just “fudge” it! Whew–you’re just like the rest of us! And both of these are charming but I absolutely LOVE the colors in the second project!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kerry I regularly fudge it, I’m not keen on unpicking 🙂
LikeLike
Teal’s and brown’s ~ gorgeous! I am glad you gave in to temptation 🙂 Love the top project…seems to me fudging could be an actually part of cross-stitching …wink wink ~ great projects in the works.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Two beautiful projects! It would be fun to incorporate a piece of that ribbon in some crazy quilting. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the colors!
I can relate to the quote for sure, but I am trying to learn to resist. Ha, ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just love your stitching, Margaret. May you continue to be tempted, just so you can show us your beautiful work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What beautiful projects! I can’t imagine how you start to manage so many projects but you do it well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your squirrel is so cute, and this new pattern, so very striking!
LikeLike