Thistle Stop

[Granny]

I originally started this in 2004. Frustrations with the stitching and then hand problems has made this a love-hate relationship. In 2008 I changed optometrists and discovered that slight change every two years for ten years had made me almost blind as a bat. New spectacles and the world was brighter than it had been for a number of years. That gave me the desire to even think of cross stitch again. Then in 2009 when I discovered this forum I had the strength to try this project again. I then starched it. Spray starch did nothing for it so I made Grandma's boiled starch. All my problems obviously started when I bought bargain no-name Aida, washed it to remove sizing so that I could hand-paint the sky using dye. Then I started with the feeder where there are many colors often only one stitch at a time. I got bleary eyed and boggled so I thought griding could do nothing but help. I have had this project in a garage sale, in the garbage bin, etc but now I will conquer it. The first shows the state I was at when I abandoned it. I had just started griding when I thought I better have progress shots. The progress was where I am at 12-26-09. Meanwhile I have started picking out the tree branch because I felt it too blackish so after playing with colors I went to gray brown. There still is a lot of frogging left to do.

[Nachstenliebe]

Oh dear... eyesight is so important! I'm glad that you're able to see the world again. I hope you continue with this design and don't let the set backs deter you.. This will be gorgeous when it's complete!
Faith

[agi]

So good to see something long abandoned come to life again. I hope you will enjoy stitching it this time, it looks so lovely!

[mags]

Oh this is gorgeous. I'm glad the gridding has helped - I can't do anything other than small without gridding. And lets hear it for new spectacles

[minij]

This is a lovely pic, I hope you will get on better with it now and actually enjoy stitching it, good luck

[Granny]

Oh, I am loving it now, both the stitching and the process though I still have some issues with the fabric from time to time. It will not be abandoned. In fact, I have a goal that it shall be finished and framed by Christmas 2010. It is doable, even with other projects and my other major hobby, quilting, taking a large part of my time.

[Rose]

Oh I am so glad that your eyes are better. And that you are sharing this pattern with us. It is a wonderful picture adn it looks great!!!!!!!

[Catwoman]

I am so glad your eyesight is better now and after all your other setbacks, you are making great progress.

[~threadbear~]

I'm glad you're able to continue with this now, it's so lovely. Great to hear your eye's have been helped and hopefully you'll get alot of pleasure out of this project now.

[K1nS]

What a lovely design, you have made a great start on this... I can't wait to see your progress Granny

[Squirrel]

It is going to look gorgeous when it is finished and good on you for persevering with it. I will be interested to read any updates as it is one I have looked at from time to time and thought of doing - not that I need any more to do!

Yes being a quilter as well does cut down on the stitching time but it is great too. I have 2 tops ready to layer together and get into the hand quilting but I also want to cross stitch. Oh me oh my decisions.

Hope your stitching and quilting go well for you. So great your eyesight is much improved.

Squirrel

[Granny]

I have had to give up the hand quilting because of the resistance the batting puts on the needle, no matter what kind I use. With the cross stitch there is no resistance though I always still wear my Hand Eze gloves plus my right thumb support because of DeQuervain's Syndrome which is a bigger problem than the carpal tunnel.

I love the Crossed Wings Designs and I am constantly slapping hands to keep me from ordering more. That is not stopping me from trying to decide which I will do next. I have done the loon, the gold finches, 3 of the 4 extinct birds plus numerous others but living in an apartment now it is the only way I can enjoy the native birds.

I am thinking on giving monthly updates but as I have lost one sheet of the pattern, the part with the two goldfinches, I may have to order it again in order to finish. Maybe we can make a deal on the pattern after I do the two finches.

[Wandatoo]

This is such a pretty design! Best of luck with it.

Crossed Winds has very realistic designs. I did their Great Blue Heron as a gift for my best friend's daughter when she got married. There's a picture of it in my gallery.

Everyone is always asking how long it takes to do larger projects, so I decided to track my time with this one: 354 hours.

[Granny]

I'm sure it's the realism of their designs that keeps me returning to their designs. I have an afghan and I am going to see what I can do to be happy to stitch on it. Then I would like to stitch the small bird designs on it. There are 20 blocks and I believe it would be smashing with the birds in action. It is another one of those mind over matters projects, just like this project was.

[JenEric]

Congrats on picking up this design again. Looking fab. I'm there with you in the blind as a bat arena - contacts are a wonderful thing - though I still have to rest the eyes. Glad you are back to seeing the world again.

[Busy_B]

This is a beautiful project! It looks like a view you see from FIL's window. Have you considered contacting the company and asking about the missing pages?

[Granny]

I've emailed twice but no answer. They are a small, man and wife company, that deals with all aspects from designing to shipping though they wholesale their patterns widely. On my to-do list for today is giving them a phone call. One way or the other I will get that missing page plus some more patterns that I want to use on my afghan. We used to feed and all those on this were visitors. The patterns I want for the afghan are all birds native to our habitat and I have actually seen.

[charmagne_capalad]

Such a fabulous design! Great progress on it as well! Hope the problem with the missing page will be sorted out soon!

[Mabel Figworthy]

What a gorgeous design! Hope you'll manage to get the missing page

[Granny]

I called them and the missing page will be mailed either today or tomorrow. Wahoo!