Winter Watergarden moving along

I made some progress on Winter Watergarden and bought a huge amount of stock during the summer. Pomarium, Tinctorium and Herbularius is kitted up, and I reorganised my speciality threads.

The photo is a little bluish, actually I am stitching it on 32ct antique white Belfast

Old World Vinery Progress

I have been working on this project exclusively this month.

I have found that no matter how many times I read the instructions i ALWAYS make some kind of mistake.  I used two threads instead of one for the half stitches that are purple around the center.  Of course, I had done the whole thing before I realized it, so I am going to leave it.  Grrrrr.

I also discovered that I am terrible at backstitching.  I tried and tried and frogged and restitched, but I just cannot get the backstitching around the leaves just inside the orange border to look right.  So, I made the executive decision to just leave it off.  For the time being anyway.  It feels like I am cheating somehow!

I am also beading as I go even though it is hard to see in the photos.  I am using batting, thanks to recommendations from other Chatelaine stitcher, as I roll it up on the frame.  


I am enjoying this project so much, mistakes and all.  I never cease to be amazed at these incredible designs.  The use of variegated threads mades each stitcher's piece just a little bit different.  With all the errors I make, I think my pieces may be a little overly unique!  But I do love them.

Serengeti Mandala Finished!

It's finally finished!! Whoop, whoop!! This was two years in the making, no thanks to Diablo 3. LOL! Thanks for staying with me through this sporadic journey. ;) I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The Particulars:

Serengeti Mandala by Chatelaine (Martina Rosenberg)

Fabric: 32ct Flax Belfast

Kit from Europeanxs.com

Started: June. 5th, 2014

Stopped: August 18th, 2014

Started again: May, 2015

Stopped: August 16th, 2015

Started yet again: May, 2016

Finished!! June 4th, 2016

Hawaiian Garden Finish

Here is the promised finish picture for Hawaiian Garden, finished in 2015.

It has been a LONG (!!) time since I've posted, and even longer since I have posted regularly. I had trouble getting my pictures to upload and lost my post twice, so I'm going to post these now and will add more detail when I finish the pieces. The box itself is finished (Judy Odell's instructions are fantastic), and the rest will be done soon.

I've also finished Hawaiian Garden and much of Venice since my last post. Hopefully it won't be another two years before I post those pictures, ha.

Heritage Sampler update

I moved the qsnaps last night and took a picture of my overall progress on this monster.

I think I've decided on my personalization but I have not yet decided on color so instead of starting that in the open column, I moved to the border on the right to start working my way towards the center panel.

A Finish and a New Start

I finished all three of the Mini Mandala II series.  I enjoyed them so much.  I am thinking about the other set of small mandalas. (lousy photo, lighting is terrible, but you get the idea.)

I started Old World Vinery for my sister.  I am enjoying it very much.  Am trying not to be too impatient as I know it is going to take me a while.  

I am also working on Knot Garden and will be starting Mini Mandala 05 from the bundle I ordered severeal months ago when it was on sale.  Have not decided on a fabric yet.  Although I adore all the hand dyed fabrics, I am afraid they might detract from the beautiful design and colors so I usually end up sticking with antique white, ivory or champagne linen.

I have put Gardens of London away for a while.  The buildings were getting to me!  

Medieval Octagon

I finished this lovely last night.  I made lots of color changes so it's not quite how Martina designed it but I'm super happy how it turned out.

Secret Victorian Garden finish

I posted every where but here (need to find the slapping forehead emoji).  I started this when it was Mystery X on January 1, 2007.  I kept up with the parts until July or August when I packed up and moved from New Hampshire to Virginia.  It spent years in the WIP box and was in and out of the rotation a number of times, but I decided this was the year it was going to be finished and stopped rotating for a while.

Winter Watergarden was picked by the random number picker to take its place when I start my rotation back up.

Meari's Japanese Garden

I attended a retreat a couple weeks ago and worked exclusively on JG.   Here's what it looked like at the start of the retreat:

 My goal was to finish the 6 o'clock branches.  Tada!

I also finished the left and right bridges, the blue border, and started the gold metallic.  Woo Hoo!

Medieval Octagon part 4

I finished this part last night.