Progress Report HCS 7 and the HDHBEM

Hello everyone, at last I have some progress to report.

First up -  the HBHDEM has completed 25 childrens sweaters and cardigans all of which are now buttoned and decorated as necessary.   Next Saturday we will deliver them to the local Hospice Shop but before that in the bright sunlight of Easter we had a marathon photo session. 

Some of the 2011 stock!

And yet there's more!

Buttons on some .....

And decorations on others.

And now guess what the HDHBEM is doing?????   Yes, another sweater!

She aims to beat her record of 25 and has begun the "sweater and cardigan quest 2012" already!!   (And in case you want to know, she is watching Top Gear in total concentration and seemed immune to the photo so I'm safe)

Secondly, I have returned to my first love-  the Historic Countries Sampler.   I am still passionately in love with this and the big central "heart" shaped section came together really well.  This is the progress so far -  over half way now and I can feel myself speeding up in an effort to get to the end.

The America section was actually number 12 of the GOS chart but I am working top to bottom left to right to avoid working over my stitching.   With America complete I made an immediate start on France and the red medallions were the first portion of that.  

After France I go back to the extreme top left and that is England prior to 1700; then Italy, Australia, Scotland and all will be done.   By that stage the New Zealand Inland Revenue should have processed my tax refund and I will be able to visit Sarah the framer ;-)   I already have the space on my wall booked for this.

The Happy Dance

Hello once again - I haven't been away nor have I been sick, only busy trying to complete 'the memory book' and tonight it is finally finished.   This has been both enjoyable and frustrating.   Every stitch was filled with love and prayers for my god-daughter but I also had immense frustration at my own limited design skills.   However, for better for worse this gift is now finished well in time for her eighteenth birthday in a month or two.
Some snaps of the finished piece

Imagination deserted me when I reached the stage of the front cover so it is simple stem stitch and simple words

My god daughter's initials form the large letters on three of the pages and for each letter I have chosen a Bible verse commencing with that letter.  T was done in Assisi work, C was in Cross Stitch and W was in blackwork.  Two of the other pages have medallions of my favourite Wessex stitchery .   I stuck to a grey and red colour scheme and stitched on antique mocha cashel linen to give the pages an aged look.

And on the last two pages I made "frames" and inserted a couple of significant photos.   Look at this one.   We have both changed over the past 18 years!!!

The Memory Book

Good afternoon  -  this has been a loooong week for me but I have managed to do some stitching.   Well to be more precise -  several metres of red lines!

These are the edges of the pages for the great memory book.   Once I have cut the stiffening they will all be whipped together to form the book.
Also managed to complete the C and the W and the appropriate Bible verses against each initial.   Am not 100% satisfied with the W but it shall remain as is.  I wanted a different type of stitching for each initial and the idea was better in the planning than in the execution.

Now I have a small border around the actual 'birth announcement' and then a couple of frames for the photographs that come on final two pages.   Also the 'winchester stitch' motif on page 3.  The fabric for the cover has been purchased but I am still awaiting the inspiration to arrive!   I have really enjoyed stitching this but am itching to get back to my large sampler.   I have a week's annual leave scheduled in May so plan on a marathon stitching session then.

Meanwhile, take care everyone.