I’ve made pretty good progress over the last three weeks with my bee cross-stitch, this piece is for a fabric book on bees. I’ve quite a few bee cross-stitches so I thought I’d put them all in a book, I do like my fabric books!
This is where I was three weeks ago…
Not only have I finished the cross-stitched areas, I’ve done all the back-stitching too! Yes I have my happy dancing shoes on for another finished piece!
The back-stitching proved quite a challenge as I found the chart difficult to read. It’s an old Fleur de Lis kit and they had thoughtfully provided two charts, one with just the cross-stitches on and one with the back-stitches on too. Unfortunately the lines they used were so wide I actually found them difficult to read, it wasn’t easy working out exactly where on the cross-stitch I was meant to be. I have to confess to making some of it up in the end! I’m happy with the end result anyway, the back-stitching makes a huge difference to the finished piece…
You may recall that the bumble bee was the bottom half of the original design, I’ve now started the top half of the picture. My original plan was to break this design into four separate pieces. However I’m now thinking I might stitch the top half as one, with the beehive, honey and honeycomb together, I’ve quite a few cross-stitch bees already and I don’t want the book to just be cross-stitch.
I’ve almost finished the honeycomb. just a few more half cross-stitches and more back-stitching to do…
Hopefully next time I share it I’ll be well on the way to another happy dance. I’ve already got two more patterns lined up, a whitework bee and a blackwork bee and I’ve spotted a lovely embroidery kit of a bumblebee on Etsy. I think with those stitched I’ll have enough bees for my book.
Please visit the other blogs that are also taking part in this SAL. There are so many different projects to enjoy. The participants live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences. We’re posting today at local time. Click the links to their blogs below and see what they’re up to.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Jackie,
Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie,
Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen
thecraftycreek 
I am curious to know how you use or display your finished books – one of the things which has deterred me from doing such things is a wariness of adding more ‘stuff’ to my life when I am trying to reduce clutter.
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I started making books as my walls are full of pictures! I’ve run out of wall space so I need something to do with the little pieces I make. At the moment they’re on a shelf in my sewing room.
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Thank you for letting me know.
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hopefully the fabric books will be treasured by those who come after. Less of them about
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ooh well done! It’s so beautiful and detailed, and you’ve done so much in a single update
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Thanks Linda, it’s been my go-to project for the last 3 weeks!
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This is a truly beautiful project!
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Thanks Claire, I’m pleased with this one.
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This stitchery is beautiful. The backstitching makes it shine. You have been stitching a lot on the next page already. Wow.
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Looks beautiful, the back stitches really make a difference
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This is stitching up beautifully! I love the idea of books. I have a junk journal started where I try and put a small cross stitch piece in per spread.
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This is so beautiful! As a beekeeper I’m particularly enamored with the subject matter 😉 You might inspire me to pick up my needle and give stitching a whirl again (after many, many years apart).
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Wow, you have really done a lot. A fabric book with bees sounds great!
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I just love your sewing books. What a treasure for you and your family to have.
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That’s a ton of progress again this time. I remember back stitching from similar charts in Anchor kits and they really tried my patience. I made it up in the end.
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These small pieces are sweet as honey!
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so different from your seascape, but just as beautiful. The back stitching does make a difference
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They couldn’t be more different really 🙂
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The back stitching makes the whole design stand out! Looking forward to your happy dance.
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Back-stitching makes a huge difference, hopefully it will be finished soon.
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I love the book idea and bees are one of my favourite creatures. You’ve inspired e to have a go myself.
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Go for it, I love making little books!
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