This is my latest new one! I've got lots waiting to be done now with all their fabric and threads ready, but I thought I'd go for this Christmas project first and see if I can get it done before December! It's huge though, so it might be hard work. Here's a picture of what it should look like..........
The OH and I went to see his Mum on Saturday, 80 miles away in Peterborough, and there is a shop there which sells Madeira threads so I managed to get a few - enough to start this project anyway. I did some on Sunday. I'm using 14 count white Aida and decided to use 3 strands of thread for really good coverage. The sparkly gold border bit is Anchor Reflecta Gold and is utterly horrible to work with! I'm using 2 strands and finding I have to cut lengths of only about 8 inches at a time, otherwise by the time I've used that much, any remaining is fraying and splitting. There is LOADS of the gold in the sampler too, so it'll be quite hard work. Here's what I've done so far. I thought I would do this on the weekends and finish my celestial project during the week.
Last edited by Sarah Gixxer on Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:00 am, edited 2 times in total.
CURRENT WIPs
HAEDs - Bubble Telescope, Floatilla, Rainbow Embrace, Ray of Light, Iron Dragon, Newport Lighthouse
Fractal 239 Aero Chocolate
You have really made a project for yourself. If I was you and there was this much gold I would trade it out for a different gold thread. But that is just me. DMC metallics are a bear to use. But Thread Heaven is a good helper if you decide to continue with the metallic.
If you are looking for some one to help change you, look in the mirror
What a great project! I wish you good luck with it. I love the 12 days of Christmas song
Agi
"The world, as a colourful knot of threads, has turned into a memory, and now you cannot be sure whether it was real." (Géza Ottlik, Hungarian writer)
Thanks everyone - I'll have another update at the weekend.
Jilly, the shop in Peterborough I went to was Binders Sewing Machine Centre. It's on the road the greyhound track is off - I think it's called Fengate. Their Madeira range is 55p for a 10m pack.
CURRENT WIPs
HAEDs - Bubble Telescope, Floatilla, Rainbow Embrace, Ray of Light, Iron Dragon, Newport Lighthouse
Fractal 239 Aero Chocolate
Ohh a sewing machine shop, my Mum adores them, she used to demonstrate them in a department store, this should be an easy sell
I used to live in Oundle, just down the A605, from there, happy days indeed
The Conker championship is coming up soon
Oi! you watbag, what about my map of Holland LOL!! better shake meself hadn't i, and get back into the celtic ladies....
The only thing superglue sticks is..its own lid on.. Cats were considered gods in Ancient Times..they haven't forgotten this. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing their's...."
ohh is that Joan Elliot? i love her stuff..if it isn't..very similar...lovely!
If you get a comment of a ,I must be holding my http://coffeecupcakescrossstitch.blogspot.com/
skype:coffeecupcakescrossstitch WIP:
Joan Elliot Spring Fairy
Cupcakes
Snuggle Up 2012 HD's
Bohemia
Fairy Friend
That is going to be beautiful when it is finished! You've made great progress so far! Sorry you are having such trouble with the Anchor threads. Have you tried thread heaven? It helps with cotton floss as well and with the metallics it helps to cut down on fraying and knotting.
CF, it is indeed Joan Elliott. The chart covers four pages of the magazine it was in so there's lots to do!
Anyway after working hard on the celestial project all week (and I've done a lot of the backstitch now, only got to stitch around the sun and add a few french knot stars) I've picked up this sampler again.
Getting on well with the central part now (the Partridge in a Pair Tree) so hopefully I will finish him today (except for the gold beads, which will be left till last - they haven't arrived yet anyway). I should be able to post a new picture later with any luck.
Raven, I had never heard of Thread Heaven until I joined this forum, so I shall look out for some next time I'm stash collecting!
CURRENT WIPs
HAEDs - Bubble Telescope, Floatilla, Rainbow Embrace, Ray of Light, Iron Dragon, Newport Lighthouse
Fractal 239 Aero Chocolate
I thought it was Sarah..i love her stuff! i'm going to love watching this one..and I bet it's big! lol
If you get a comment of a ,I must be holding my http://coffeecupcakescrossstitch.blogspot.com/
skype:coffeecupcakescrossstitch WIP:
Joan Elliot Spring Fairy
Cupcakes
Snuggle Up 2012 HD's
Bohemia
Fairy Friend
Have you tried Petite Treasure Braid metallics? I've found them to be far less temperamental and easier to use than other brands, and certainly better than DMC metallics.
~ girls with dreams grow into women with vision ~
WIPs:
The Sweetheart Tree 12 Days of Christmas
Sharon Pope's Gingerbread Cottage
Chatelaine Christmas Mystery 2011
To be honest I haven't really done anything much with metallics at all so I haven't compared different ones. This chart calls for Anchor Reflecta Gold, which I'm using, and is horrible, so I shall know for future reference to try a different one!
Anyway, I spent this afternoon (Sunday) working on this, so here's the next update. I finished the "Partridge in a Pear Tree" and started the boxes for days 2 and 3 of the song. The Pear Tree is just missing a dozen or so gold beads which will be added at the end (they haven't arrived yet anyway).
CURRENT WIPs
HAEDs - Bubble Telescope, Floatilla, Rainbow Embrace, Ray of Light, Iron Dragon, Newport Lighthouse
Fractal 239 Aero Chocolate
This design is beautiful! 
I'm sure you'll enjoy this so much and get it done in no time at all! 
If I was you and there was this much gold I would trade it out for a different gold thread. But that is just me. DMC metallics are a bear to use. But Thread Heaven is a good helper if you decide to continue with the metallic.
