Snow, Page 2 and 3 is complete.

Started April 22 and completed June 8.  7546 stitches.

This makes my completed pages (partials included) a nice round 13 so far this year.

She's pretty fantastic so far, and this is the entire width of the top of the stocking.  I'm thinking she's going to be a pretty quick stitch.  There is way more confetti in this than in Adrift (well, the water and bubbles, anyway) and that slows me down a bit, but so far she's a delight to stitch.

Those iPad/iPhone users among us, I must share with you the most brilliant app.  It's called "Thread Tracker" and it's an inventory for thread!  SUPER easy to use, and makes keeping track of your DMC stash a  delight.

This is what it looks like.  You can search a thread, and it's just a quick tap if you use the last skein and need to add it to your list to purchase.  It took me a little bit to set up, especially because I had a lot of repeat colours, but once they were in the system, keeping it up to date is a breeze.  Just a quick tap of the screen and I can see what I need, or, if I'm looking for a specific colour, see how many skeins I have in inventory.    Sadly, this is only available for iPad/iPhone, but hopefully android will come out with something similar soon.   It's worth it!  Trust me!

Adrift is up next, with lots of lovely reds to show off. I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to stitching this page.  Stay tuned! Hopefully I'll have something for you in a few short weeks.

Back to Adrift, Page 26 is Done!!!!!

Started April 23 and finished May 22.  7315 stitches.  *Shakes fist at work for putting a serious damper on my stitching time*

Apparently I told a wee fib when I said the next page would be mostly tail.   Oops, just the tiniest of peek-a-boo tail for this update, but a whole lot of water and bubbles!   Lets just take a moment to appreciate the bubbles, shall we?   Mmmmm.  Bubbles.

I must apologize for the quality of the photo, too.   I used to lay her out on my couch and smooth her down to take a photo, but with this addition, it no longer fits on the couch, with the good light, so I had to place her on the floor and try my best to smooth her out, which, as you can see, wasn't so successful.   I'll have to come up with another plan for the next update, because THAT, my kindreds, WILL be mostly tail.

I also want to share with you that I found a lovely carpenter who has agreed to make me a floss cabinet!  I'm so excited!  It's not as expensive as I was expecting a custom piece to be, but my biggest must have was to have a slot where I can slide my bobbins in to where they will stand without having to lean on the bobbin in front or behind.  I'm sure I'm not alone in the OCD department when I say that taking bobbins out of my box for a project and having the left overs fall over and end up out of order, drives me crazy.  This will eliminate that AND give me quick at-a-glance look at what bobbins are out for projects.
He's got a few projects that he's got to do first before starting on mine, but I will, of course pimp ... brag... er... share the finished piece with you all, along with the carpenters contact information, should any of you want to go the same route. 

I will post pictures as soon as I have this lovely in my grasp.

Snow, Page 1 is Complete

Started March 24 and finished April 22nd. 7546 stitches.

This one was a bit challenging because I couldn't quite see the pattern evolving.  It's easier now that I have a full page, I can see the tip of her ear.   But it was slow moving.  I also tried using the app EZPDF, but I found it arduous, particularly in the fact that it crashed every 15 minutes or so and heated up by iPad to a degree where I was scared it was going to fry it.  I've heard that this app works brilliantly on Android tablets, but Apple, not so much.

I've been using Goodreader, which is an amazing app, for those of you looking for a reliable app.  But it's one short fall is the search only allows you to search a singular symbol at a time, which isn't very helpful.  It's much easier to have a page of the same symbol light up, than a single one, which you are stuck hitting "next" over and over.   So I've tried a few more apps and I've found Documents by Reddie to be pretty good, however, I do think you need to have PDF Expert in order to get all of the bells and whistles, but the search feature works pretty well for iPad.

Maybe Goodreader will offer a better search feature in the future.  It's a brilliant app.

Also, I got my sister back into stitching after a very long break, which is funny, because she's the one who started me down this path when we were girls.  She's working on Annya Kai's "Fall Owl".  She's finished her first page and I thought I'd share her progress.

This is her first time working with grids and the parking method.  Give her some love, I know she reads this.

I'm now back on Adrift, which feels like welcoming an old friend.  It's been a while since I picked her up and I'm really enjoying her.   I'm off to Mexico in 3 days and I'm taking her with me.  I'm not sure how much stitching I'm going to do while I'm down there, but I plan on spending at least one day in a beach chair stitching the day away.

I hope to have an update of Adrift for you soon!

Winter Hat Owl is Complete!!

Page 15 and 16 started Feb 23 and finished March 13, and pages 17 and 18 started March 13 and finished March 24.  A total of 14586 stitches.

And here he is!

 He looks a little washed out, for some reason.  But trust me, he is vibrant and lovely!
So I now get to label this under Completed!  

I'm surprised I got through the final 4 pages so fast, with my work schedule. I wasn't expecting this to be finished until mid April at the earliest, so this is a pleasant surprise.  But I have to say, I marathon stitches last, night, completing the last 1800 stitches.  Don't try that at home! 

So, this little guy will be off to the framers soon, what project is waiting to take his place, you ask? 
Well, I try to make a stocking for my friends as they have babies, so the next project is an overdue stocking for a friend, whose girl is now a year old.  Her brother got the Treasure Dragon stocking, so I felt I needed to stitch something complimentary and special. 

So, I found a pattern I really liked and special ordered a stocking version of it from HaED.
Voila!  I give you Snow by Maxine Gadd.

I'll probably start her tonight, and do a page of Snow before going back to poor, neglected Adrift, who, honestly, I needed a bit of a break from before I jump back in for the final push of pages.  I will be stitching her on 18 ct Magic Guide, 2x2. 

And that's pretty much all that I have for news on my end.  

Thank you all who have followed my journey with this little owl.   Once I get him framed, I will post a final photo of him.  

~Rai Rai

Adrift, Page 25 is Complete

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!   This page was kinda...ok I'll say it, dull.   But it was a really fast stitch, which is always a good thing, amirite?   Page started on Feb 5 and finished Feb 18.  I wish they all could that fast.  Of course, it helps that it's February, the weather outside is drizzly and work isn't too busy. 

I've also hit the 70% mark of the project!   The end is kinda, sorta in sight!

The next page of Adrift is the start of her big, glorious fin.  I think it's going to be breathtaking.

I'm back on the Winter Hat Owl.  I'm stitching the last 4 pages.  It's so close I think I may just work on him until he's complete.  It won't be a fast stitch, though.  I'm working on the bottom of the hat, with its myriad of colours and confetti, and March is looking to be an absolute hellish month for me, workwise, so there likely won't be any updates until mid April.  But trust me, it will be a beaut!

So until then, happy stitching everyone!

~Rai Rai

Winter Hat Owl, Pages 14 and 18 Complete

Started January 20 and finished February 3,  7854 stitches. 

Look at that tiny little foot!  Just look at it!   I think part of me died a little while I was stitching it.
Adorable! 

This gives me my 4th HaED page finish this year, even though I feel like a bit of a cheat for counting partials.   Not enough of a cheat to cease counting partials, mind you.

Only 2 more full pages and 2 partials, and this little guy is done!  I guess it would be prudent to start squirreling money away to frame him now, as he's definitely getting framed!

Back to Adrift now.  New row, and I'm actually going to try gridding with a pen.  Those little red plastic grids can be a bit of a pita. (For those not in "the know" pita is short for pain in the.... well, you get the idea).  I don't think I'll manage another page finish in 14 days, like I did with this one, but I hope to have an update for you in 3 weeks or so.

Happy Stitching!
~Rai Rai

First Page Finish of 2016

Adrift, pages 23 and 24 (of 42)  8550 stitches in total and a row finish!

Not the best photo, I'll admit.  I laid her out on the couch and took her in a hurry.  But she's looking pretty, none-the-less.  I can't believe how much I still have to do on her.  The next row is the beginning of the bottom of her tail.  It's the part I fell in love with most, because she reminded me of a betta fish.  I'm looking forward to finally getting to that part.

Not much to really add at this time, as I've just come home from a 12 hour graveyard, but I wanted to get this up and posted before bed.

Enjoy!

~Rai Rai