Saturday 13 November 2010

Where it all began .........

...my very first 'big' cross stitch.
I went to a stitching party-plan night in 1992, where a  lady was selling charts, fabrics and threads.  I was armed with Dad's chequebook(I was still at high school), blank cheque signed, and I bought all the bits I needed for this picture.  The only cross-stitch I had stitched prior to this was a tiny little kit of an Amish child that my aunt had given me, and I was hooked!  I only wish Dad was so keen to let me loose with his cheque book now. lol
I will apologise now for the quality of pics, I've found it pretty hard to get decent pics of the framed ones with glass in front, so please excuse my poor efforts.  This deer was given to my hubby(before we were married) for a Christmas gift.
Still stitching on Aida here........... I still have a fascination with the Amish way of life and fell in love with this one, loved stitching the quilt blocks in the corner.
I *heart* Hugs and Teddy Bears was stitched while expecting our first baby - I wanted something that would suit boy or girl!  By now I had discovered the joy of linen!
This is a Teresa Wentzler design - I think it's called Floral Bellpull.
These pansies and violets are still one of my favourite finishes, I love the colours and of course pansies are my favourite flower.


This little scissor keep was finished up quite a few years ago.



These littlies have all been finished up this year and I have shared on my blog already.  Blogging motivates you to *finish* things!

Shepherds Bush are one of my all time favourite designers. I also have quite a few of their pieces stitched waiting for framing, but that would be another whole post!

And one of my more recent favourite designers are Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks, who have such simple, pretty designs that are lovely to stitch - I think no back stitch has a lot to do with that.  Years ago most designs had heaps of back stitch which when you've spent so many hours on the fun stuff is the most depressing job around!  A little like stitching the binding on a quilt down, but it takes a lot longer. lol.  Thank goodness not so many do now.
This one is still to be framed(and ironed by the look of it)
Lizzie Kate Christmas Spirit series also needs framed, perhaps that should be a goal before December!
 And then finally one of my many, many, Works in Progress(very slow or non-existent progress), there are far too many of these to picture here, so this is just one, Numbers by Cross-Eyed Cricket, stitched with one thread over one.  This is an old photo, it is actually quite a bit closer than this to finished now. Watch this space...........

It has been interesting to go back and see how my tastes have changed over the years, so thanks for the motivation to get this display together.  You can head over to Chookyblue's to check out her cross stitch and for a blog list of the other ladies who are displaying their cross stitch this weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by, I'm off now to check out the other cross stitch displays...........Nicky 

31 comments:

Annie said...

What a great trip down Memory Lane! You have some beautiful pieces there. I still like the designs with a lot of back stitching and fractionals, but my taste has expanded as well. I think I actually have that bear hug chart in my stash someplace.

Leanne said...

I have the I love teddy pattern - a one day grand baby one??
It's soo fun seeing everyones work.

Love Leanne

Michelle said...

Wow, lot's of beautiful work!

Chookyblue...... said...

wow you have done quite a bit of cross stitch........all beautiful....would be great if you could get the xmas one finished before this xmas.........thanks for sharing all your goodies.........

Raewyn said...

Beautiful work Nicky, I love them all!!

Cardygirl said...

Really lovely work! It is nice to see how you "grew"! Love that Lizzie Kate, Numbers & your Shepherds Bush! Beautiful.

BubzRugz said...

These are all so lovely Nicky - as you said the changes in your choice over the years is fun - I really love those stockings...
Hugz

Pip said...

I really like the little scissor keep. It's been interesting visiting all the blogs and seeing the changes in cross stitch fashion over the years, although it looks as if samplers never go out of fashion.

Lynda said...

So many beautiful, beautiful pieces Nicky. You're right about the theme developing - seems like most of us love SB.

Carol said...

It's wonderful to see the history of your work, Nicky--it looks a lot like mine. How well I remember all the Amish pieces, the teddy bears, and the quilts... Designs have come a long way since the 80s and 90s, haven't they?!

Jenny said...

I enjoyed reading your little 'stitching timeline' and all the pictures... It is funny when you go back and look at the types of patterns you were drawn to when you first started stitching and what you are into now. I started stitching seriously when I was at Intermediate School... I used to do huge pieces! Now I am drawn to the smaller ones (so inspiring because you know you can finish them sooner) and I love how most of the designs today don't have backstitching... Little House & Country Cottage Needleworks are some of my favourites, too, and Lizzie Kate too!

Anonymous said...

They look great!! :) You've done so many! I love Lizzie Kate and LNH too!! I used to get a magazine too which is Cross Country Stitching (I think!) and I still love all the country cross stitches in those.

simplestitches said...

what a fabulous display of work....love those cute bon bons!
thanks for sharing your gorgeous work!
cheers Julz

Christine said...

Thank you for sharing all of these! It really was a trip down memory lane. You did a beautiful job of stitching on all of them!

Deb said...

Lovely pieces. I have cupboards full of fabric, threads and patterns plus loads of unframed ones. I need major motivation to pick up cross stitching now. It's interesting to see how our tastes change over the years.

Julia said...

So many beautiful, lovely pieces Nicky. I love the rolls...hard to choose..I love everything!
Julia ♥

Bev C said...

Hello Nicky,

Thanks for showing how you have progressed with cross stitch. You were so lucky to have an open cheque from your Dad,bless him. Hope you get to do lots more cross stitches.
Happy stitching
Bev.xoxo

jean said...

a wonderful array of cross stitches. You should be very proud.
Thanks for joining in the fun and sharing

Chrissie said...

Love the stockings and the bears, really lovely work

Maria said...

WOW what beautiful work. You sure have been a very busy stitcher. Love them !!

suzitee said...

Wow, so much cross stitch! You have a beautiful collection...well done!

Deb said...

It's so much fun to see your stitching over the years. Our tastes definitely change don't they. I do recognize that last one - I've had that in my stash. I think there was a companion piece with alphabets. I did that one many years ago.

staci said...

Wow Nicky! Your stitching is so lovely and your finishing is beautiful too! You've done some gorgeous pieces over the years :)

loulee said...

The flower bell pull and the pansies are so pretty.
Thank you for sharing.

Leeanne said...

I made the I 'Heart' Hugs and Teddybears x-stitch a few years ago,I really love it.It is the last one I did now I just make quilts.Your X-stitches are beautiful!

Rose Marie said...

Lovely stitchings .... love them all!

Leanne said...

Wow that was amazing you have so many. Not sure I could pick a fav. You have got to love a dad who sends you out with a signed cheque LOL.

Siobhán said...

I enjoyed the trip down stitching memory lane! What gorgeous things you've done! You should be so proud. Looking at your LHN finishes makes me want to run and do some of my charts that I have. I tend to collect them rather than stitch them. I love your SBs, too!

I was thinking of you yesterday... Munster played Australia (I think) and (I think) they won last night. Anyhoo, before the match, they were interviewing a sports guy from NZ about how NZ are the best at rugby and what tips Munster might learn from them, etc. The sports bit went over my head, but I connected the rugby to NZ and then to you. ;) Anyway, just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you!

Lisa said...

All your works are just gorgeous!

Vinniey said...

Wow!! You've done lots of beautiful stitching works, Nicky. Each of them are so gorgeous. :)

Nima said...

wow...that's a bunch of lovely cross stitching

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