Getting there

Couple more lengths completed today.  At this rate I should have the centre dolphin (yes, I said it! Did you guess they were dolphins! Lol!) finished by the end of this weekend.  Possibly even by Friday, depending on how much I get done tomorrow after staff meeting and how distracting Special Agent Gibbs is.

Day 36

Day 34

Ok, so I'm running out of title ideas.  I did more this evening while watching, need I even say, NCIS. Lol.  Although I must admit I'd rather be inside stitching on an evening like this.  The wind was sometimes louder than the TV! Well, almost.

I had a chat with a good friend of mine at work today.  In exchange for me teaching her to cross stitch, she's going to teach me how to do French knots! Woo hoo! They drive me insane so I just sew little tiny patches until they look like a dot!

Day 34

Little bit

Despite having the afternoon off today, I only got a very small amount done today.  Mostly because my day was spent wandering around the Range and getting quite sad that their range of cross stitch kits is pretty poor.  Then again, I don't get paid until Thursday so maybe that's a good thing! Anyway, I did a little before Cubs this evening then a little bit more afterwards.

Day 33

Almost not quite

I didn't get as much done today as I was hoping.  After church this morning we went straight out to Makro to pick up some bits and pieces and have a general mooch.  While we were there we had lunch.  We then stopped at a friend's house on the way home so by the time I got back it was about 3pm, 3.15.  Although it was a really nice day, just me and my mum mostly, I didn't quite hit the zone with my stitching when I got back,  Think I still did well, though.

Day 32

Background: Check!

That's it! I've done it! I decided against completing the backstitch as I was in the zone for crosses.  So here's today's effort.  I did some this morning while watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, this afternoon while watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and while visiting a friend of mine in hospital who has fractured her ankle and this evening while watching The Wizard of Oz and Batman Forever.  A mostly lazy but productive day!

Day 31

Four corners

So this evening I finally stitched the actual corner stitch at the bottom left side, meaning that all four corners are technically complete.  I still have a little to do in the bottom left portion but I'm confident that this weekend I will finally complete the entire of the background.  Whether that completion includes the background backstitch, I've yet to work out.  We'll see what happens.

Day 30

Closing in...

I see a light at the end of the half-stitched tunnel! I've almost finished the bottom left corner! I did a large amount this morning before work then again this evening after work.  I didn't feel particularly well today so I was allowed to miss staff meeting.  I spent the evening curled up under my blanket, stitching away.

Day 29

Small steps

A return to normal service... Sort of.  I only managed to do two lengths of black in the bottom left corner, but it's better than nothing.  I've got the morning off tomorrow so I'll do some then!

Day 28

It's stitching, but not as you know it!

Well, it is, but not cross stitching.  I didn't get any of my project done this evening because, before the meeting I had to go to (and for a while at my meeting) I was sewing badges onto the uniform of one of our Scouts.

She was invested last week and already has 12 badges on her shiny new uniform.  4 of them, all the Scouts have, but the rest are 6 activity badges (5 she earned at Cubs that are allowed to follow up because they're staged and 1 that she earned before she was invested), a partnership award and her Chief Scout Silver award, the highest honour a Cub Scout can receive.  Not bad for only her first meeting as a full Scout tomorrow!

But anyway, I should be back to 'normal' stitching service tomorrow.

Weekender

Back in my own bed! I got plenty more done today.  I love productive weekends.  I'm on the verge of completing the entire background, shy of most of the backstitching.  I think I may well complete the backstitch in the bottom right corner tomorrow evening, depending on how I feel when I return from Cubs.  There's not really much else I can tell you about it really.  Although, I have decided on a birthday present for a friend.  Not cross stitch, but latch hook, so kinda still stitches.

Day 27

Progression

Why is it that you can stitch and stitch for ages and feel like you're not getting anywhere? I'm so glad I've taken to capturing an image each day or I'd never believe myself when I think about how much I've done.  I just took a look on my phone, comparing today's with yesterday's.  I must say, I'm impressed.

I had a lot of opportunity today to work on it.  At the Scout shop this morning we were very quiet, most probably due to the snow we've had and people not wanting to venture out.  I didn't mind.  There were enough people that came to keep me busy, but enough time to keep me busy on this!

Afterwards, I came home and worked on it again all afternoon while watching old NCIS DVDs.  Following that, I went to a friend's house, which is where I am now, to babysit for their son tonight while they're out.  I must say, it feels strange not being in my own bed.  Doesn't often happen.  Usually when it's not my bed, it's a sleeping bag for camp!

But anyway, I think I've done quite well today if I do say so myself!

Day 26

Snow day!

So I was expecting to be at work from 8.30 until 6pm today.  We were sent home at 1pm due to the snow.  We did have a great time in the garden.  All of the children that came into the nursery today went outside at the same time.  Well, nearly all of them, some of them didn't want to.  But it was still pretty cool with only 20-odd children and knowing there weren't many more inside.  We had a pretty awesome snowball war!

But anyway, on my way home I saw my parents going in the opposite direction.  Luckily I saw them where I did, with their brilliant pointing sign language.  They were on their way to see our friend so I just took a detour and met them there.  I had my lunch there, we stayed for a couple of hours then we came home.  I say we, they went home in their car and I went home in mine.  Via the park and the beach to take some photos! Lol.

As soon as I got home, though, it was crack on with my project.  I think I got quite a bit done.  I completed more of the lower right corner and was going to make a start on the lower left when I unfolded my pattern and noticed that I still had quite a bit of one colour to complete near the top.  So while watching Fireman Sam (with the little boy my mum childminds) followed by Tree Fu Tom, before watching Growned-Up telly, I got on with this.

Day 25

By the way, here are a couple of the photos I took this afternoon.

I've seen the weather worse down at the
beach but this is the first time I've been
down there with my camera.  One word:
Freezing!!

On the move

I went with my mum to her group this morning.  My kit came with me! I did quite a lot while there considering I'm used to spreading out on the sofa at home.  I also did a little more after I finished my lunch and before I had to leave for work.  I had the morning off, see, and once I'd gotten home from a quick shopping trip I had to do some scanning for work, then have lunch which left me about an hour before I had to leave.

I started work at 1.30pm but also had to go to staff meeting afterwards.  I've now actually completed the bottom right corner, meaning no more pulling the fabric through the hoop to try and stitch underneath it.  On that side at least.  Oh well, tomorrow is Friday, meaning another evening's work (around Gibbs and NCIS that is!!) then I have the weekend... Actually, strike that.  This weekend is a Scout weekend.  Saturday morning I'll be in the Scout shop selling Scouting and Guiding merchandise from 9.30-1pm.  The best part of that, apart from the fact that I love the job, is it can be (and I stress can be!) quiet enough to get some stitching done.  I got a lot of my Tiger completed at the Scout shop.  Other times, we're lucky to draw breath we're that busy! My busiest weekend was, strangely enough, the day before the St. George's Day Parade!

But I digress.  I may not have time to do it on Sunday either as I have two training modules to attend at Cricket Camp.  Depending on the time I get back, I may or may not have time in the evening.  I hope so, they don't usually run later than 4 and often we get away early, so here's hoping!

Day 24

Happy birthday, Mum!

I didn't get much of an opportunity to do stitching today.  Although I had the day off, it was my mum's 50th birthday, so we spent the day with her.  It was for that reason that I took the day off actually, so thought I probably should! We went to Hobbycraft.  So could have spent a fortune on all the beautiful kits that were reduced in the sale but I'm completely skint for the next two weeks until payday.  We went into Pizza Hut for lunch which was awesome as always! After that we went into Fareham to do a little more shopping.  Wanted to get some shoes for work using a gift card I got for Christmas, but once again, the shop it was for let me down.  Told me they don't do the shoes I was looking for in the colour I wanted.  Strange, but we found some at the back of the store in the sale but they weren't my size.  Even though the hanger said they were.  Useless in the organisation department, them.  But anyway, then we went home where Mum had a beautiful bunch of flowers waiting for her.  I grabbed my sewing kit to do round our friend's house, then it was back home to get ready for our meal out.  Again!  When we got home I did another few lengths.  Only a little, but more than yesterday and as Emma/Itzy said, every stitch counts.  And quite a few of the stitches I did this evening were cream thread so they don't show up particularly well!

Day 23

Was it worth it?

I'm feeling a serious lack of motivation right now.  Or is it just where I'm so tired? Oh well, did one length's worth.

Day 22

Lazy Sunday

What a lazy day.  I didn't actually get dressed at all.  I only got out of bed once throughout the day to go downstairs.  The rest of the day I only got out of bed to change the DVD while watching the entire series of Once Upon A Time while stitching.  I did go downstairs eventually, when a friend of ours came to visit, but I took my stitching with me so I could continue while watching Dancing on Ice.

I think I got quite a lot done today.  I finally added some more colour, which I quite enjoy doing.  I also reached the bottom right corner of the design.

I'm not sure I'll get any done tomorrow as I've got a full day at work followed immediately by a trip to visit the Mayor with the Cubs.  I won't be home until nearly 9 probably, and I start work at 8.30am.  Another long day.

I do have Wednesday off, but that's for my mum's 50th birthday.  It's actually on Wednesday, not last night.  We booked the day off so we could take her out on the day as well as her having her party.  I can't imagine, for that reason, that I'll get much stitching done that day as mum wants to go shopping with her birthday money and vouchers she got on Saturday and we're going out for dinner in the evening.  I do, however, have the following morning off, so I may get some done then.  Not sure though as mum often goes out on Thursdays and where Dad does a day shift now, I foresee my taxi services being required!!

But anyway, I feel I managed to get quite a bit done today, so that should make up for it!

Day 21

Busy busy busy

I didn't get as much done yesterday as I'd hoped I would, but we were a lot busier than I expected! We had to go to the pub to set up for Mum's party, then when we got back two of my cousins and their partners came over for a visit; one to show off her lovely wedding photos and one brought their 6 week old baby daughter for us to meet.  She's so cute!!

Once they'd left I went for a bath then I only had an hour or two to do stitching before we left for the party.  I also had to spend a lot of time unpicking! The small blue section below the large dark one on the right was wrong!! I'd blended the wrong colours by misreading my card.  I unpicked the section because I'd stopped halfway through it, but all the other parts I'd done wrong I left simply because I'd finished those sections.  Let's just hope I have enough thread!

I took the photo this morning of yesterday's progress.  I'm now currently sat in bed with the electric blanket and my heater on because it's so cold! I've got Once Upon A Time on the TV, my stitching beside me and I think I'm set for the day unless they decide to go anywhere.

Day 20

Distractions

Hmm, only a small amount done again today.  I blame a man named Gibbs.  NCIS season 10 started tonight and I've been waiting a very long time! But I did get a little done during the two classic reruns and the ad-breaks of the new one.

Day 19

Arrival!

Look what arrived in the post today! I'm so excited! I will finish off my other, non-Gecko project first, but I'm hoping it'll be done soon.  This gives me something to look forward to.  I managed to get the label stuck to the guide picture though! Oh no!

Sleepy

I was hoping to get more done this evening but I think the early mornings and late nights are catching up with me.  I've been starting work at 7am this week so I've been getting up at 5.45.  My alarm is set for 6 but for some reason that clock is fast.  It also only takes me about ten minutes to get to work but I like to have some reading time to slowly wake up before I dive out of bed!

But yeah, so I started today at 7 and finished at 4.30 as is the norm, but today was staff meeting so I read in the staff room for half an hour after work then left for a doctor's appointment, then went back to work for the meeting which finished at 7pm.

So here I am, in bed at 9pm! At least I did manage a little bit and tomorrow I'm on an 8.30 start so I can have a bit of a lie in.

Here's to hopefully getting more done tomorrow!

Day 18

More colour

A bit of light yellow green, a bit of purple, some green, some dark green grey... Colour! Woohoo!

Day 17

I'm blue...

I only did a few lengths of thread today, almost all of them blue, but it was after work.  I had a split lunch at work today, meaning I had half an hour at one time, then the other half hour later on.  I was due to finish work at 4.30 and have my second half hour at 3.30.  A quick smile to my senior and we swapped, meaning that instead of going up to the staff room for half an hour, going back to the room for half and hour then going home, I just went straight home half an hour early! :-D

So I get home about 4.15-ish and, after a nice relaxing bath (with Christmas gift bubbles!) I had some time this evening to do a little more.  Oh, then went to Asda to get some bits and pieces and things for my lunches this week.

Ok, I think that's enough waffle for now.  You get the idea.  I had a little time this evening and got more done than in an entire afternoon off yesterday!

Day 16

Poor progress

I only did a tiny bit today, despite having the afternoon off.  I had to go into town to pick up some books for my nursery from the library then pick some things up from Argos.  I then had to go to the doctors' surgery to find out if they could tell me my NHS number and date of my last tetanus injection for CubJam.  Turns out I've not had one since '99!

But anyway, when I got back it was still mid-afternoon and I thought I might get some more done.  Nope.  Put on a film to watch with mum... and just got sucked in! The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is brilliant! Such a lovely film.

But anyway, after that I had to go and get changed for Cubs.  Thought to myself, it's alright, it's another hour before I had to leave.  Nope.  Couldn't find my necker! So I'm having a strop trying to find it! Lol.

But anyway, this is it.  One length of thread added, but at least it's better than nothing.

Day 15

Seeing stars!

Today was mostly spent in the company of little black stars.  That'd be the black cross stitches.  Yes! Cross stitches!! I did a big old chunk of it, too.  This morning, this afternoon, at my Grandma's, while watching Dancing on Ice, while watching Mr Selfridge.  Been focused today! I even did a little bit more light blue purple, so that's at least two sections that aren't green!!

Day 14

Was that a different colour I see?

Yes, but only for a little while.  Found a place to do some blue shades but then it was straight back to green shades again! Hey ho, it's not so bad.  At least it's all different shades of green.

I went into the Range this morning and replaced my broken hoop.  Finally I have one that doesn't feel like it's trying to force itself off again.  Need to find some sandpaper or something though as the edges of it feel a bit rough and keep catching.  Don't think it was finished properly, but for less than £3, what can you do, eh? :-)

Day 13

More green!

I completed as much of the blended aqua green and light blue purple so I selected another symbol.  What do you know? I picked another green one! Five strands of teal green this time!

Day 12

Blue and green

So, since my dear friend, Tiggy, introduced me to blogging, I have made use of this tool for more than just my stitching chronicles.  I'm also a Cub Scout leader in training and so, before the new term starts, I've set up a blog for my Scouting journey too.  Blame Tiggy entirely! I've spent the past three days making entries for everything I can remember from my photo albums that I've done with my Cub Pack since starting there in 2010! So, here's my shameless plug:

Click here for my Scouting Journal

Anyway, back on track, after I finally finished bringing the other blog up to date, I picked up my stitching again.  I had missed it, but I also really wanted to get that other blog up and running ready for the first meeting back on Monday! Sorry! I'm getting off topic again! Cross stitch! Yes... actually, there are hardly any crosses in my cross stitch so far.  By the looks of it, almost the entire background will be half stitches.

But anyway, I've done a lot more of the combined aqua green and light blue purple along the left side, completing the top section now.

Day 11 / 3.1.13

Happy New Year!

Well, what an eventful day... Hmm. Not really.  Spent most of it going through a cupboard and throwing out old smellies I don't use and my jewellery box throwing out old jewellery I don't wear.  Some of it has gone into a bag to go to the next Scout fundraiser.

So anwyay, I didn't get a chance to do too much stitching today.  I did a little this evening before bed.  Literally, only a little.  But a little is better than none at all.  I can't believe I'm back at work tomorrow! Where has that time off gone! But, at least I have the morning off so don't have to set my alarm just yet.

Day 10

Here's this evening's work.  Can you see it? No, me neither.  Not really.  But hey ho.  I'll probably do some more tomorrow evening after work.  I intend, if I can, to go to The Range tomorrow to replace my broken hoop, but we'll see what happens.