‘Jolly Happy Soul’ - finished!

So, here’s my ‘Frosty’ (real name, ‘Jolly Happy Soul’) cross-stitch all complete and made up into a little decorative cushion – it’s a Brenda Gervais design. The original was designed as a pincushion I think, but as mine is bigger, I’ll just call it a small cushion. And that’s because I’ve used 28-count linen, instead of the 40-count called for by the pattern ……….. eyes and all that!! Now I hope none of you are cruel enough to attempt a close-up of those cardinal birds, because I can tell you, some of that was guesswork, owing to the one strand of floss over one thread. Even in lovely bright daylight yesterday afternoon, I was struggling with seeing where the needle needed to go – so be kind to me and look through squinted eyes LOL

I just love the way the holly leaves look ……. they have a very vintage look!

To finish it off, I used a dull red colour seambinding ribbon that I was lucky to have plenty of – I didn’t have any white/ivory, but I think I like the red anyway. And on the back, I’ve used a piece of hand-dyed cotton velvet (hand dyed by me several years ago), which also matched in quite well. Depending on your screen, it may look rather bright, but that’s probably the afternoon light I’ve just taken the photos in, so it’s not as bright as it looks.

I’m very pleased with it – I hope you like it too!

Jolly Happy Soul - progress so far!

So here I am lying in my sickbed after my knee op …….. Well okay, I’m not in a sickbed! I am, in fact, becoming quite the master of these here crutches – getting around (so far) pretty well on them.

And while I’m fairly well being waited on hand, foot and finger by my lovely sister-in-law, Ruth, I’ve been keeping myself entertained with my Frosty cross-stitch – actually the pattern is called ‘Jolly Happy Soul’ and it’s by Brenda Gervais. Seeing that I have little else to do (apart that is from all the exercises I MUST do each day) I’ve gotten on quite well.

I’m leaving the trickier parts until last – that being those tiny little cardinal birds, which are stitched with one strand of floss over one thread – can you just about see them on the pattern? Don’t know how I shall mange those. I have considered popping them in the post to the lovely Wendy, who is so clever, she works on 40-count linen (mine is 28-count), but she must have 20/20 vision I’ve decided. Wendy would sort those cardinals in no time! Don’t worry Wendy, I wouldn’t do that really, because then it wouldn’t be ‘all my own work’ ……….. such pride LOL    I shall have to make sure I do them in nice bright daylight and then I might stand a chance. I won’t worry about them though for a couple of days!

I do love the holly leaves; and when the red berries are added, it'll really 'pop'! Maybe I’ll have it done by the weekend!

Easter Parade all made up:0)

Just a short post to show my lovely 'Easter Parade' cross-stitch made up into a small cushion. It is bigger than it's meant to be, but that's down to having done it on the 28-count linen instead of the 40-count. Fortunately, I had some of the same kind of olive green ribbon needed for the edging. I know I didn't have to do it exactly the same, but I like it.

Easter Parade

This post really is especially for Wendy – and I hope she doesn’t faint with shock!! :0)

Approximately four years ago, lovely Wendy sent me many wonderful gifts (see 18th May 2014 post here) including not only a complete cross-stitch kit (pattern, linen and the threads), but it came in an exquisite piece of Wendy’s own work; a cross-stitch pocket. Anyway, after about a year, I put needle to linen and managed probably about 50 stitches …… fully intending to continue with it at the time; however, you know how these things go. Who does not have many WIPs? I always say you’re not a true crafter if you don’t have a least six different projects on the go LOL

So life (and other crafting) got in the way until a few weeks ago when I had the chance of a few days away down in Devon; and I wanted something small to take with me. I thought of taking my new overlocker, but realised that was going a bit far – still haven’t tried it out yet! So my cross-stitch came to mind. And because it was a nice quiet relaxing few days in Devon, I got on quite well with it. And now, after a few more sessions of working on it, late yesterday afternoon (hence the bad light of the photos), I finally finished it. Tada!! So there you are Wendy – I bet you thought it was never to be seen again? The pattern (picture below) is called Easter Parade by Brenda Gervais and I loved it as soon as I saw it – my kind of thing you know :0)

All I have to do now is to make it up into a little cushion, so there will be further pictures – hopefully later in the week. I have some backing fabric and some of that lovely frilly ribbon all ready to go. The only difference from the original is that I did it on 28-count linen. The pattern requirements are to use 40-count – well you have to be joking LOL – I can just about manage 28-count, which Wendy was aware of, so she sent me the 28-count. It was white when it arrived, but I did a bit of coffee staining to make it a similar colour to that in the pattern.

So, after four long years, I say again a big ‘Thank You’ to my very kind and generous friend ……. and I’m sorry it took me so long. Wendy’s actually been badgering me recently about whether I’d yet started on the ‘Mr Frosty cross-stitch kit I bought myself recently (see earlier post), which I’ve bought to keep me entertained after my knee replacement operation on 25^th October, but I didn’t want to tell Wendy what I was really working on :0)

Frosty

I'm going to have to mention the 'C' word ...... so sorry!!

Having been inspired by Wendy, who does one or two cross-stitches now and again - LOL, she is a prolific cross-stitcher! I've just bought myself this little Brenda Gervais cross-stitch kit called 'Frosty' with such lovely prim kind of colour threads. It doesn't look to have a massive amount of stitches, so I hope to achieve a finish!

In a couple of months, I shall be having knee replacement surgery on my left knee, which 'sadly' (LOL) then will be followed by about six weeks off work ............ however will I cope! Anyway, with any luck, I might just manage to complete this in time for Christmas while I recover! Check up on me though please, because I know what I'm like and the promises I make to myself !!