Jilly, Nikecam and Mabel's BoInk SAL

[coffee_freak]

[Mabel Figworthy]

This poor thread has been sadly neglected (not least by me ) but here finally is another update, thanks to the UFO club !

This is where I was:



And this is where I am now:



And this is how much there is still left to do...



I don't know why this project is so much slower than anything else, but I do find it quite hard work, although I really enjoy seeing it grow. I'm resisting the temptation to "fill in" the squares, as I know the border will NEVER get done if I don't do it first!

I have now used all colours except for the dark blue, and I'm very happy with them, although the orange shows up much "cooler" (less red) than I'd expected.

DH says the corner creature reminds him of our ginger cat Alfie

[agi]

So good to see this again, well done, Mabel!

What I did was, to stitch one part of the border, then immediately fill it in as a reward. Then I stitched another part, and filled it in - it didn't feel so boring this way.

[Angel]

Oh they are so pretty! I'm not a fan of stitching boarders myself, it always go ever so slowly, but I'm in the same boat if I don't get em done at first, they'll never get done. But I've found designs like this...if you do the boarder around one section, then fill it in. But you can't do the sections until the boarder around it is complete, it breaks the boarder up and gives you something to look forward to.

[Lisa]

great work mabel

[Serinde]

All of you have worked so hard on this, and flumpz, your colours are wonderful (did you post which ones you chose?).

Mabel, don't despair! Think of it as a series of interlinked small projects, with the border as the linkage, perhaps. Not to mention the cat portraits on each corner! You can do it!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Well, I charted one of the squares to read " I C [my initials] 2009", so I'd better finish it this year !

[Angel]

hehe maybe you should add *begun* to the block?

[~threadbear~]

Well done Mabel, you'll get there!

[wendywombat]

I did this one as it was produced and I think that was easier as there was always the incentive to get the latest element done before the next came out! Also I had Agi & Serinde stitching with me!!

I think if I was to do it now I wouldn't have the same incentive!

I love the colours you're using Mabel, don't get overwhelmed by it! When it ceases to be fun put it away for a while then come back to it.

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Wow Flumpz! you must have been anxious when that orange bled into the fabric!
I'm glad it turned out OK for you and it now looks absolutely fantastic!! Your light blue is lovely, now mine's finished I wish I'd chosen a darker light blue!

What will you do with it now?

[Slinky]

Hey Flumpz - great finish!! Well done!

I sympathise with you, Mabel, about the tiresome borders, but some of the suggestions to reward yourself for each bit of border completed by doing the box inside it is good advice and is what I would do. AND it helps make sure you don't miscount, not that you would, I'm sure ... !

In fact, it's kind of what I do with backstitch, altho in reverse obviously! I loathe backstitch so much that when a section is complete I don't 'allow' myself to continue on until I have finished the backstitch for that section.

Anyway, good to see you working this project again!

[coffee_freak]

[Mabel Figworthy]

Slinky, I'm trying to stay strong and have an orgy of celtic stitching once the border is finished meanwhile I reward myself by allowing myself one or two mini projects like those stained glass Christmas cards after a bit of border.

[Thursday Next]

flumpz, it came out terrific!! Mabel, yours is coming along stunningly - keep up the good work!!

[nikecam]

here are my efforts with this piece.



i'm really not sure how i like it. i do like the simplicity of just a few colors. i wish i could have used metallics but i haven't had much luck with them. i'm also disappointed that i paid extra money for speciality thread, you really can't tell much difference and i know it will be even less obvious once the piece is framed and hung up on a wall 10 feet away.

there are several other designs on the inkcircles site that i'm very excited to order in the future but i don't think i will bother with hand dyed threads next time.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Hello nikecam, great to have another "joiner"! I like your colours very much, and I do think the variegated effect comes through very well even in a photograph -- are you quite sure it won't be noticeable when it's finished? It is quite subtle, but definitely there. Metallics are nice if you like working with them, but this piece doesn't really need them; in fact the very early illuminated manuscripts used yellow paint where we would now expect gold leaf, so it's quite authentic really !

[Angel]

Mabels stronger than Angel is. Angel needs to fill in boarders as she goes *nodnodnod*

Nikecam, that's such a lovely progress. And I like the speciality threads, they look lovely.

[Busy_B]

[Jilly]

Smashing progress Nikecam.. I agree with Mabel, one you have completed the whole piece the special threads will come into their own

We are approaching this piece so differently Mabel.. I am leaving the very lengthy task of the border until the end..I must be insane
Looks wonderful Mabel

[agi]

Nicecam, I like your version a lot, the colours ore truly beautiful.