Christmas Presents

[smallhobbit]

I was given some excellent Christmas presents:

Firstly, at my request, SM bought me a Klimt cross stitch kit:



And then debriswoman  gave me a stained glass cross stitch kit:



So I was very happy.  The stained glass kit is smaller and fits neatly in my sewing basket (which I sewed in 2017); the Klimt is much bigger and of course once I had unpacked the kit I couldn't get it all back in again.  Fortunately vix_spes  had sent me a bag, which, it turned out, was ideal for keeping all my cross stitch in:



The Klimt will take me years - here's the beginning stages - two photos each time, one to show the size, one close up:





The stained glass bookmark is progressing faster, although I sew it less often:

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Very nice!! I love both (and the bag, whose quote I recognize from my virtual garden).

[smallhobbit]

Thank you :) I like both too - the Klimt's certainly challenging, so it's nice to have the stained glass as a relief.

[badly_knitted]

Oooh, pretties! Good luck with the stitching, looks like you're off to a good start!

I just stared a new project today, my sister's 60th birthday card, but it's not far enough along to take a photo yet, I've only done most of the first teeny tiny rose that's part of the border. It's an art nouveau lady's head in profile, and there are ten roses scattered around the border with three butterflies. I'm working on 20 count again so progress is gonna be slow...

[smallhobbit]

Yes - a good start, but a long way to go. Your new project sounds lovely, but very fiddly - the Klimt is 16 count which I can cope with - the stained glass is bigger and easier. I look forward to seeing the card when it's progressed sufficiently to be shown.

[badly_knitted]

I'll post photos as soon as I can. Might take a while to make a significant amount of progress,

16 count is good, not too small and two strands give really dense coverage. It looks like a very complex design, which is only to e expected considering it' based on a painting.

I love stained glass, so the bookmark really appeals.

[smallhobbit]

Good. I look forward to seeing them.

The design is decidedly complex, but it's entirely my own fault - I sent SM a link saying 'this is what I'd like'. It's one of my favourite Klimt paintings, and one we saw when we were in Vienna.

I'm very keen on stained glass too.

[badly_knitted]

It is beautiful, I love sunflowers anyway. I'm not as up on art and paintings as you are, obviously, but I know what I like, and I like that one.

I'm sure you can do it, you just need to have patience and not rush. Be very careful with your counting as well, because it might be difficult to tell if you go wrong.

Do you get any of the cross stitch magazines? I'm subscribed to Cross Stitch Crazy, which has lots of smaller designs every month. A lot of the designs I've stitched have been from various issues, as well as other magazines.

[smallhobbit]

I was really taken with the painting - I quite often find that the paintings I like won't be the most popular ones, but something specific will appeal to me.

I've already discovered the need to count carefully. I suspect if I do one stitch in slightly the wrong shade of green it won't be too disastrous, but I generally count everything three times.

I don't currently get any magazines, although I may well subscribe in the future. I don't have the time to do more than what I'm currently doing, so taking up any further projects wouldn't work at the moment.

[badly_knitted]

I count two or three times myself, better to make sure and avoid mistakes if possible. Unpicking is a nightmare.

Stitching a design you really love is always more satisfying.

I like the magazines for future reference, and for small projects, but they also often have hints and tips which I've found useful. It does mean I have a massive stack of projects I want to stitch though...

[angelofthenorth]

Hi, found you through network page. I am in awe of your cross-stitch. I'm an embroiderer but tend to go for lots more simple stuff - see my embroidery tag if you're interested.

[smallhobbit]

Don't look too closely at it ;) I shall certainly have a look at your embroidery.

[adafrog]

Cool.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

[aome]

Bookmark is gorgeous! Hope you're enjoying both it and the Klimt. :)

And I didn't realise you knew vix_spes!

[smallhobbit]

I'm enjoying both of them - I find it totally absorbing, which means time shoots past.

Yes, I go to her concerts when she's playing locally and we very occasionally go to the theatre together.

[margaret_r]

Lovely cross stiches, they will look gorgeous when you finish them. Like the bag too, the quote is so true!

[smallhobbit]

I'm pleased with the way they're going - although it will be a very long time before the Klimt gets anywhere. I was really pleased to find the bag worked, because now I get to use it nearly every day.

[debriswoman]

Both are looking good...and I do like the quote:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - it's good, isn't it.

[solosundance]

Nice! The Klimt is especially lovely (those colours!) but I can see how it might be a challenge, both technically and in terms of time. Keep us updated on your progress when you can - I love seeing pictures (however they're done) building up!

[smallhobbit]

The Klimt is gorgeous - as was the original, which is what led me to looking for a cross stitch in the first place. I can happily spend an hour of an evening stitching and at the end of the time there's just a couple of tiny patches of colour. I shall probably post an update every month, so you should see a gradual transformation.

[moth2fic]

Both really beautiful and should keep you happy for ages, both doing them then enjoying the results!!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. They do - I was peacefully doing a little yesterday evening, looked up and thought 'where's all that time gone?'

[luthienberen]

These are beautiful! I wish you many hours of pleasure, minimal frustration and colourful stitch work.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - the many hours I will definitely have, and yes, it does have it frustrating moments when I make the same mistake twice, but it most certainly is wonderfully colourful :)

[luthienberen]

:) Are you a beginner or quite experienced? I am certain you must be the latter as these look rather difficult (then again, my sewing is appalling).

[smallhobbit]

I started cross stitching this time last year and did three projects so not a complete novice but not greatly experienced either. I had embroidered before and I'd also tried another couple of new sewing crafts in 2017/8. All of which helped.

[luthienberen]

Wow, impressive progress! I wish you well with your new sewing goals :)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you!