Page finish QS Old Friends

Page 2 of QS Old Friends is finished.

The mans shoulder and hat are appearing.  It's a nice change to see a bit of colour.

A reminder that this is what the finished work will look like.

I've been keen to start some other projects and get a rotation going.  I'll be putting Old friends away on the weekend to work on this one that I have just bought.  This is Ornament The Witching Hour from Heaven and Earth Designs.  Old friends will be my focus piece.

I've also just bought Ornament Healing Rose, again from Heaven and Earth Designs.  I was thinking this one will go in my bathroom.

x stitch project bags, new needlekeepers and stitching journal

I've been watching a bit of flosstube recently and seen a lot of people keeping their WIPS in project bags and also found a couple of tutorials.

I thought this was a good idea so made myself a couple.

Those that know me will be aware that daffodils are my favourite flower.  So the daffodil fabric was perfect for me.  I used the same fabric to make some clear vinyl fronted bags for holding floss skeins. So much prettier than the ziploc plastic lunch bags I've been using.

The second bag features some machine embroidery from a designer I haven't bought from before,  ohmycs.com.  They have some nice designs and are a good price.

Tutorials I followed were from avery claire project bag tutorial, kindred stitcher youtube tutorial and
Calico flosstube #40
 I had 2 Fat Quarters of the Daffodil fabric and the dimensions I used for the large project bag were 12.5" x 12.5" for the front and 15" x 12.5" for the back. For the vinyl bag I had to use what was left over from one of the fat quarters and it worked out around 9x8", using 4, 2" strips for the zipper piece.  The 9x8 piece is folded over to the front to create the binding around the bag so the actual finished size is smaller.

I also made and bought some more needlekeepers

In the top photo, the blue gem is the one I made.  I bought the gem from Geoffs emporium for just 40c and glued a magnet to the back.  I'd bought a set of craft magnets a couple of years ago from a $2 shop.
The bottom 2 photos are actually souvenir fridge magnets bought from a $2 shop.  These are like small trays and attach perfectly to my lowery stand which is magnetic and they are ideal for storing my working needles.  When I'm working on one colour I have 6 needles threaded at a time, so one tray keeps my threaded needles and when I've finished with that needle it goes into the second tray.

I also needed a new stitching journal.

I found this lovely VanGogh journal at PaperPlus. It was a bit more than I intended to pay, but I love it and it will last me for years.
My last journal was started in 2001 and is now full.  I enjoy looking back on what I was doing.  Below is my old journal.

I'm hoping to keep my new journal a bit more organised that the old one.

QS Old Friends page finish

The first page of the pattern  is done.

The shape of the tops of trees is just visible.
I treated myself to a Lowery workstand and I'm loving it. I can stitch without any strain on my hands from holding the q snaps  and there is even enough room for the cat to lie on my knee when I'm stitching.

I haven't  found anywhere to buy it from in New Zealand so bought it from Siesta Frames in the UK.  Amazing service from them and their couriers. I ordered it on Thursday  and received it on Monday.